Though I'm also looking very forward to new albums from Wilco (as well as their Ashes of American Flags DVD), Booker T. w/ Neil Young and the Drive-By Truckers, Son Volt, Rhett Miller, Chris Stamey/Peter Holsapple, Tim Easton, Elvis Costello, R.E.M's Reckoning Deluxe Edition and the official release of their working rehearsals from Dublin that led to Accelerate, etc., the new Dylan is among my most eagerly awaited new records of 2009 so far.

Another tune from the new record plus Part 3 of the Bill Flanagan interview here.

Happy 29th Birthday, R.E.M.!

Rolling Stones to Reissue 14 Albums

That would be him. The new record will also feature David Hidalgo of Los Lobos on accordion.

From now until midnight tomorrow you can download "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'" (featuring Mike Campbell) from the upcoming new album at Dylan's website.

Yes, it has. Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 are headed there next month.

Part 2 of the interview is up on Dylan's website now.

The Band Plays On - Lynyrd Skynyrd To Continue

If you haven't so already be sure to check the Comments section for the article.

Neighbors Say Bob Dylan's Malibu Home Is A Stinker

His latest Firemen project has been getting lots of rave reviews as of late and from what I've heard of it they've very warranted. And, while I agree it's not really fair to compare his solo output to his work with the Beatles it's also somewhat inevitable to do so. That said, I do tend to favor his contributions to the Beatles but I'm also not so quick to dismiss the whole of his solo records over the years.

When it comes to these "overrated"/"underrated" threads it never seems to be made clear as to exactly who is doing the rating. Is it in reference to fans? Critics? The general public? That said, if someone wants to say an artist is overrated, it's just their opinion and they have every right to express that opinion. As we can also see, the person that originally started this thread has since been banned so maybe they were never serious and just wanted to stir things up. Personally, even though I've never been a huge Pink Floyd fan (nor do I hate them), I don't think they're overrated by any measuring stick. They, along with many other bands helped spearhead one of the cornerstones of rock n' roll, the psychedelic sound. As for their stage presence, or lack thereof, their approach to that kind presentation sort of comes with the territory for psychedelic bands where the focus is on the music itself rather than the musicians themselves. The Grateful Dead were the same way. They were never the most dynamic band to watch onstage, that's why they always placed such an emphasis on light shows and rear screen projections. Just my take on the matter...

Scheduled to release Tuesday, March 31, 2009 Lynyrd Skynyrd Authorized Bootleg: Live Winterland San Francisco 1976 CD 1. Cry For the Bad Man 2. Saturday Night Special 3. Searching 4. I Got the Same Old Blues 5. Gimme Back My Bullets 6. Tuesday's Gone 7. The Needle and the Spoon 8. Gimme Three Steps/Call Me the Breeze 9. Sweet Home Alabama 10. Free Bird Label Geffen Orig Year 2009 Catalog number 001261902 Discs 1 Release Date Mar 31, 2009 Studio/Live Live Mono/Stereo Stereo Additional Info Remastered Lynyrd Skynyrd Authorized Bootleg: Live At Cardiff Capitol Theatre 11/4/75 CD Scheduled to release Tuesday, March 31, 2009 1. Double Trouble 2. I Ain't the One 3. The Needle and the Spoon 4. Saturday Night Special 5. Gimme Three Steps 6. Whiskey Rock-a-Roller 7. Call Me the Breeze 8. Sweet Home Alabama 9. Free Bird Label Geffen Orig Year 2009 Catalog number 001262402 Discs 1 Release Date Mar 31, 2009 Studio/Live Live Mono/Stereo Stereo

The album cover artwork and the beginnings of an interview with Dylan are up on his website now.

Looks like the new album may have a title after all.

Info on the new Dylan album that's due next month: http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2009/03/new...first_list.html

Cool to see another fan of the Oxford American here. I've never been disappointed with any of their discs that come with the annual Southern Music issue. They're some of my favorite compilations ever. Some damn fine reading you've got to look forward to too.

I saw Geddy and Alex on That Metal Show. Like the whole bands' appearance on The Colbert Report, it really showed their sense of humor which is something that is far too often overlooked by those that are so quick to dismiss Rush as some intellectual sci-fi band.

I love their covers. Too bad they rarely do any in concert anymore.

J. Geils Is Together Again

Fables is also my favorite. They are currently in the process of releasing deluxe editions of those early albums, Reckoning is next. When they get around to Fables I hope the extra material Mike Peters of the Alarm turned over to them from his basement will make the cut for some of the bonus material. If not, I hope it makes it onto the box set (which they say they won't release until they decide to call it a day). Back around the time of Fables they were playing college campuses. It wasn't until the Green World Tour that they graduated to the larger arenas. In case you've never seen them before, the R.E.M. Timeline and Chronicle sites are invaluable tools when researching their touring history and setlists: R.E.M. Timeline R.E.M. Chronicle

I don't know why it took me so long to finally see them in concert either but I was a fan from the moment I first heard Laughing on a local radio station back in the early 80s. The first opportunity I remember having to see them was when they played a benefit for African food aid at Meredith College in Raleigh in 1985 while on tour for Fables of the Reconstruction but I didn't end up seeing them until the following year when they played Duke University with Let's Active on the tour for Life's Rich Pagent. All along they had been playing local clubs such as the Pier in Raleigh and Friday's in Greensboro. I was into the local music scene back then but still those shows managed to pass me by. Thankfully, footage (as well as audio recordings) of some of those concerts have surfaced over the years. Needless to say, I haven't missed a tour since. R.E.M. w/Don Dixon "Wild Thing" (Meredith College 5/27/85) R.E.M. "Laughing" (The Pier 10/10/82) R.E.M. at the Pier with the audience onstage and the band in the audience for Gloria.