Part 5 of Perfect Circle: An R.E.M. Story from the AV Club at The Onion: Part 5: Feeling Gravity’s Pull (Fables Of The Reconstruction)

Very well done documentary about Carson's unprecedented three decade reign as the kind of late night television. For those that may have missed it, you can watch it online here.

Brief Steve Earle documentary released by his E-Squared record label at the time of his I Feel Alright album back in 1996.

I think folks are just frustrated that Page has yet to deliver on any of the new music he continues to allude to so they take out their frustrations via their dissatisfaction with his book, website, the releases of the Death Wish II and Lucifer's Rising soundtracks on vinyl and now, this photograph collection. It reminds me of when Robert Plant refused to tour with Zeppelin following their performance at the 02 in 2007 due to his previous commitment to the Raising Sand tour with Alison Krauss. I can't count the amount of times I saw him bashed and insulted in these forums. Now, Page is the subject of the same sort of behavior. No amount of foot stomping and temper tantrums on the part of his fanbase is going to change anything. If and when Page decides to deliver on his promise of new music, he will. In the meantime, no one has any obligation whatsoever to buy any of these products or to visit his website. All good things in all good time...

The friend that pointed that out to me is also a musician so that probably had a lot to do with it. I recognized the musicianship in "So Into You" and "Imaginary Lover" but the soft rock side of those songs just didn't appeal to me. Also you have some cases where bands known for being exceptional studio musicians don't veer much (or any) from that blueprint on stage. I don't recall ARS being wild improvisers in a live setting but they definitely knew how to wow an audience. Yep, I posted about it here. I know there used to be several fans of the Burrito Brothers and Gram Parsons here but that was before FB, Twitter and the like really took off and those members disappeared. As I've mentioned to others, it's hard to gauge interest on any given topic but it doesn't hurt to take a chance, you'll never know if you don't. The worst that will happen is the thread will drift off of the page.

I think some of the people that used to post here regularly have gone onto FB, Twitter, etc. Plus, there's just plain ol' life changes to take into account.

From the Cavaan blog

They're watching the annular solar eclipse in Japan.

For a limited time, you can watch Pearl Jam Twenty online at PBS' American Masters website.

Heart's Strange Euphoria box set which is due for release on June 5th. If you purchase it through Amazon you get a bonus EP called Heart Zeppish which includes their covers of "Going to California", "The Battle of Evermore", "What Is and What Should Never Be", "Immigrant Song" and "Misty Mountain Hop". More details on Strange Euphoria here.

I haven't researched it or anything but I think it's safe to say there has been an inordinate amount of musicians that have passed away so far this year. Also, you have people like Booker T (of Booker T and the MGs) posting about the passings of folks like Chris Ethridge (Flying Burrito Brothers) on their Twitter/Facebook feeds. Unfortunately, even the majority of the mainstream music press doesn't even report these deaths so in all likelihood, we wouldn't even hear about them otherwise. In fact, it was Booker T that first posted about Levon Helm falling ill again several weeks ago before it was ever reported by the mainstream press. Most of those outlets didn't even mention it until Robbie Robertson gave Levon a shoutout during the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies shortly after Booker T's post on Twitter. That's the world we're living in in 2012. I don't have a hard time dealing with it, especially when the source is a credible one such as Booker T but that isn't always the case.

Album rock stations in my area always played cuts from that era of Fleetwood Mac, particularly "Albatross" and "Oh Well". I'm sure there were others but those are the first two to spring to mind. I also like the Buckingham-Nicks era of Fleetwood Mac but don't see it as a "step down" from anything, it was just a shift in styles, something they've done more than once over the course of their career.

The solar eclipse as seen from space

Thanks for the heads up.

Yes, he did but I had to look it up to confirm. I've never followed the Atlanta Rhythm Section all that closely so that news passed me by. Back when I first heard of them I wasn't all that taken with them but after a friend filled me on what good musicians they are (and were), I decided to check them out the next time they came to town. I probably saw them around 3 times back in the 80's when they'd play Roadies in Goldsboro, NC. My friend was right, they were (and still are) damn good musicians and I always enjoyed seeing them live.

From Fox News Atlanta:

David Lee Roth Explains Postponed Van Halen Tour Dates (Rolling Stone)

Ayguebonne Forest, France

Yes, I have. Several people have posted about it and it was quickly debunked as being false information. One member even kept posting it even though every thread they started on the subject was deleted.

Black Sabbath issue statement on Bill Ward photo cropping (Brooklyn Vegan)

Sons of Bill and the Black Lillies during Artsplosure in downtown Raleigh this afternoon.

You mean there's not actually 8 days in a week? That's it, I'm suing the Beatles.