Sad news out of Athens, Ga.: The Georgia Theatre, a converted movie house that opened as a music venue in the ’70s, caught fire this morning and was heavily damaged, according to reports. (The fire was so severe that interrupted electrical service to Athens’ downtown area.) The Theatre was scheduled to host many shows during next week’s Athfest, as well as concerts by Jenny Lewis and Idolator pal Lucas Jensen’s band Venice Is Sinking in the coming weeks. Building owner Wilmot Greene is optimistic, however, saying that because the exterior walls seem to be OK a gut renovation of the space is possible. [Athens Banner-Herald; HT Lucas] More »
What were the 80 most important musical recordings, artists, trends, events, and performances of 2008? What were the eight things this year that broke our hearts—or, at least, our ears? We’re happy to announce 80 ’08 (and Heartbreak), Idolator’s year-end overview. The list is below the jump.
The New York-based label Team Love has decided to offer up select parts of its catalog for free digital download in an effort that it’s referring to as “The Team Love Library.” The label, which has put out Jenny Lewis’ Rabbit Fur Coat and a bunch of records by the tap-dancer-assisted Tilly And The Wall, will put a smattering of its albums, as well as some rarity-type goodies, up every month for download to people who have signed up for a virtual library card. The explanation:
In the era of Autotune, Jenny Lewis went analog. Acid Tongue is a testament to the sheer power of true musicianship. An organic, forceful album that feels like the upswing of a good beer buzz, it hops from folk to country to blues with impressive ease and effortless charm, and the title track is its triumphant centerpiece.
From time to time, we like to round up the all-important, all-summarizing last sentences of the biggest new-music reviews. After the jump, we look at the critical reaction to Jenny Lewis’ new solo album Acid Tongue, which just came out in the U.S.
In addition to making hit records and wearing funky sunglasses, Kanye West is also very good at helping other celebrities gauge just how famous they are. It’s called the Kanye Famous Test, and it’s quite simple: if Kanye West sees you in a public place, mistakes you for an innocent civilian, and forces you to listen to his new material (presumably to get the commoner perspective), you are not yet Kanye Famous. Jenny Lewis? Apparently not Kanye Famous.
ARTIST: Jenny Lewis
TITLE: Acid Tongue
WEB DEBUT: Sept. 10, 2008
RELEASE DATE: Sept. 23, 2008
Rilo Kiley remains an all-time favorite band. But their latest album, Under the Blacklight, broke my spirit. Where was the bittersweet loneliness? Where were the trademark prickly-yet-vulnerable lyrics? All the essential elements of Rilo Kiley were absent. In my initial stages of grief, I just drove around listening to their first two albums, wallowing in the past. But then I got to thinking, what’s behind this woeful nosedive in quality? Could it have been the switch to a major label? Lack of creative focus? Finally I landed on an answer: pants. More specifically, the length of Jenny Lewis’s pants and skirts.
