Osso Quartet Reimagines Sufjan Stevens' Enjoy Your Rabbit
Consider the upcoming release from Asthmatic Kitty a musical block party. Brooklyn's Ditmas Park neighborhood is a hotbed for creativity, home to Sufjan Stevens, The National's Bryce and Aaron Dessner and the string quartet Osso. Oct. 6 will see the fruit of this proximity, when Asthmatic Kitty releases Run Rabbit Run, the reimagination of Stevens' 2001 electronic record Enjoy Your Rabbit. ... read more
Found in: Music, NewsDifferent Songs With The Same Names
There are a lot of songs out there—every artist runs the risk of doubling up on a title or two. Here are some of our favorite songs with the same titles. As you read this list, my fellow editor Steve is writing a song called "Stairway to Heaven" for his band Attractive Eighties Women. And it's not a cover. ... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DaySufjan Stevens Song Winner Holding Listening Parties
In November 2007, from the man that infused old carols with new whimsy via his annual Christmas EPs, came the challenge of The Great Sufjan Song Xmas Xchange. For this contest, Sufjan Stevens invited fans to submit their own homemade holiday songs, promising to exchange the rights to one of his own unreleased compositions for the rights of the winning track. ... read more
Found in: Music, NewsFive Amazing Albums in My iTunes You've Never Heard Of
Since Wired editor Chris Anderson wrote his book a few years ago, there's been a lot of talk about "The Long Tail" from a business perspective. But the truth of the music business is that the cream doesn't always rise to the top. Hidden among those thousands of albums available at iTunes and Amazon that sell in the low thousands—or even hundreds—of records are little treasures that just escaped our collective notice. Ranging from the completely obscure to the fairly obscure, these are albums I've fallen in love with over the years that, for whatever reason, didn't get the widespread... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the Day50 Best Bob Dylan Covers of All Time
As we began to compile this list of the 50 Best Bob Dylan Covers of All Time—asking for input from Paste readers, writers and editors—someone suggested that it might be easier to compile a list of artists who haven't covered Dylan. I've listened to literally hundreds of Dylan covers over the course of the past week, trying to weigh choices like, "Who's version of 'Tomorrow Is a Long Time' is better, Nick Drake or Nickel Creek?" But I don't mean to make it sound like grueling work. My biggest take-away from this exercise is that going to Dylan for source... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayPaste's Signs of Spring Playlist: Running
There are many signals that usher in the changing of the seasons (celestial equinoxes, changing sleeve lengths, authoritative groundhogs), but the big tell will always be the absence or presence of outdoor exercisers. Here at Paste, we can tell it's springtime, not from the pollen that covers Atlanta in a frustrating yellow layer, but rather the spandex-clad runners who fill the sidewalks and our side-view mirrors. Atlantan runners, joggers and walkers serve a dual purpose: They remind us that the chill is over and that it's never to late to start that New Year's resolution. Then again, they could just... read more
Found in: Blogs, PlaylistSufjan Stevens' Illinoize features Outkast, Aesop Rock, more
Montreal-based producer Tor is gunning for the King of Unlikely Samples title with his new, free mixtape, Illinoize, which mixes Sufjan Stevens with Outkast, Brother Ali, Aesop Rock and Big Daddy Kane, amongst others.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsThe Greatest Art Ever Made About the Midwest
The new Cam’ron single “Get It In Ohio” is, amongst other things, an ode to the Midwest. In the grainy video, Cam and friends drive through slushy streets and complete business transactions in parking lots—and even if this doesn’t conform to your personal Midwestern experience, there’s a shock of recognition in seeing the heartland represented so proudly in a rap song. As someone who spent a fair amount of time in the Midwest myself, this got me thinking about other memorable songs, albums, movies and literature about the oft-ignored expanse of real estate known pejoratively as “flyover country.” Here are my... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayThree Great Albums for Three Great Causes
Musicians have a long, storied history of lending their talents to worthy causes. But I don't remember ever coming across a trio of benefit records hitting around the same time that are this cool. I would have recommended the following albums if the proceeds went to pay for Donald Trumps hair implants, but they actually go to to organizations that fight human trafficking and AIDS and provide aid to children affected by war. So go buy them. Now.... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayTwenty Songs not by The Decemberists About Kids Meeting Unfortunate Ends
The Decemberists offered up "The Rake's Song," a track from their upcoming Hazards of Love LP, as a free download last week, which means that lots of people were probably struck with the same two thoughts that hit me upon my own first listen. One, this is a song about a dude killing his kids. Two, there are not many songs about that. ... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the Day
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