Now Streaming: New CDs from Titus Andronicus, K'Naan, Bat for Lashes, & More

With all the wonderful punk noise that Titus Andronicus has been making since it burst upon the scene a few years back, it's easy to forget that they have only two albums out. That changes in a week with the release of their third album, "Local Business," and you can preview it now at NPR Music (see link to their "First Listen" series below). Another eagerly awaited album there is "The Haunted Man" by Bat for Lashes, the follow-up to her 2009 release, "Two Suns."



Speaking of eagerly awaited releases, Spinner has "Country God or the Girl" by K'Naan, the Somali-Canadian rapper (see the video for "Hurt Me Tomorrow" above). What does his music sound like on his first album following his worldwide mega-success, including his song "Wavin' Flag" being used as a World Cup anthem by Coca-Cola? Like many people, I'm interested to find out.

Spinner also has the latest by Donald Fagen, best known for being half of Steely Dan. Also this week are new albums by ZZ Ward, Widespread Panic, and more, as well as second chances to stream the latest from Jason Lytle and Trey Anastasio.

NPR First Listen:
"Local Business" by Titus Andronicus
"The Haunted Man" by Bat for Lashes
"Book Burner" by Pig Destroyer
"Mars" by Sinkane

[Updated Oct. 16th:] Spin.com:
"Lost Songs" by ... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead

Spinner.com's Listening Party:
"Til the Casket Drops" by ZZ Ward
"Country God or the Girl" by K'Naan
"Our Nature" by Savoir Adore
"Sunken Condos" by Donald Fagen
"Wood" by Widespread Panic
"Kinder Machines" by Beaten By Them
"Geronimo" by Piney Gir
"Animator" by The Luyas
"Traveler" by Trey Anastasio
"Dept. of Disappearance" by Jason Lytle

Watch Global Festival Online NOW - Foo Fighters, Neil Young, Black Keys, & More

This is a late reminder, I know, but the free Global Festival concert is going on right now in Central Park (it started at 4:30), and you can watch it free online at YouTube or Yahoo.

The Global Festival is going on now in Central Park's Great Lawn.

The concert features the Foo Fighters, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, the Black Keys, Band of Horses, and K'Naan. For more information on the Global Festival, visit its website here. In addition to the live webcast going on now, there will be two additional showings so that people around the world can see it at a convenient time. The other showings are on Sept. 30th at 2:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. EDT.
 

NYC Concert Notes: Tickets for K'Naan, Fun., David Johansen On Sale Friday

Here are links to tickets for a few upcoming concerts in New York City that are going on sale Friday, Sept. 7th. (And if you're in the New York area, a reminder that you can see Bob Mould and Cymbals Eat Guitars FREE at Williamsburg Park in Brooklyn that night.)

Some of the interesting shows going on sale Friday:

• Fun. at Irving Plaza, Tues., Oct. 30th (on sale: 12 Noon)
• K'Naan at Highline Ballroom, Thurs., Nov. 1st (on sale: 12 Noon)
• David Johansen at Highline Ballroom with The Last Bison, Los Texmaniacs, and Eliana Burki, Sun., Jan. 13th (on sale: 12 Noon)

And for music fans in the upper Westchester area, there's good news in that the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester has reopened and has a full slate of concerts. Bob Dylan opened the new Bowery Presents venue earlier this week, and upcoming events include Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang (Sept. 9th), The Roots and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band (Sept. 14th), The J. Geils Band (Sept. 19th), and Regina Spektor and Only Son (Oct. 3rd). (See Capitol Theatre upcoming shows here.)

Although Port Chester isn't very close to me (unless I'm visiting friends in Westchester or Connecticut), it's great to see another music venue opening in the greater NYC area. For a long time in New York, you only heard about clubs closing down; it's good to hear of new ones coming online.

Free Album Streaming: New CDs from Sharon Van Etten, Paul McCartney, K'Naan, Heartless Bastards, & More

Paul McCartney's new album, "Kisses on the Bottom," is one of the notable new releases streaming online this week, but the album I'm most interested is "Tramp," the latest from Sharon Van Etten (which I've written about before).

Sharon Van Etten's "Tramp" is streaming online this week; hear a live set she performed at WNYC below.

Granted, I pre-ordered "Tramp" and have had the digital version of the album for a couple of weeks, although it doesn't formally come out until February 7th. It's a solid progression from her breakthrough album, "Epic," and was produced by Aaron Dessner of The National, with whom Van Etten has worked with and toured.

(You can listen above to a live performance she did at WNYC a couple of weeks ago, or download the audio here.)

Paul McCartney's new album will no doubt be the most-streamed release this week. I can't say I've really been a fan of McCartney's work in recent years, and cute titles like "Kisses on the Bottom" and "Memory Almost Full" haven't gotten me enthusiastic about him. But I'll probably check this new album out anyway.

Other notable releases streaming online this week: the new album from Heartless Bastards, the follow-up to "The Mountain" ...  an EP from Somali-Canadian rapper K'Naan (best known for the rousing anthem "Wavin' Flag,") ... the new album by Kami Thompson, daughter of British folk legends Richard and Linda Thompson ... and a collection of unreleased recordings by the late folk singer Karen Dalton, who counted Bob Dylan among her many fans.

And if you missed Leonard Cohen's new album on NPR Music or KCRW last week, it's streaming on AOL Music this week.

KCRW Album Preview:  (also streaming at NPR First Listen)
"Kisses on the Bottom" by Paul McCartney
"Tramp" by Sharon Van Etten
"Arrow" by Heartless Bastards

Spinner.com's Listening Party:
"More Beautiful Than Silence" (EP) by K'Naan
"Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin" by Aretha Franklin
"Out of Frequency" by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
"Nature Experiments" by The Big Sleep
"1966" by Karen Dalton
"Love Lies" by Kami Thompson
"sami.the.great." by sami.the.great.

AOL Music Listening Party: 
"Old Ideas" by Leonard Cohen
"Idiot Heart" by Carsie Blanton
"Golden Gate Groove: The Sound of Philadelphia Live 1973" by Various Artists
"Putumayo - Brazilian Beat" by Various Artists

"Wavin' Flag" - K'Naan's Soaring Anthem Taking the World (Cup) by Storm

If you've been watching TV in the lead-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, you've probably heard "Wavin' Flag," the anthemic song by Somali-born Canadian rapper K'Naan. That's because the song has been chosen as Coca-Cola's official World Cup anthem, to be used in its commercials and other promotional efforts.

"Wavin' Flag," originally on K'Naan's 2009 album "Troubador," has been revamped and revised into a number of "celebration mixes" that are being used around the world, featuring duets with K'Naan and different local stars: Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram for the Arabic version; Spanish superstar David Bisbal for the Spanish version. (An English-language version that's being used internationally features K'Naan with will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and French DJ David Guetta).

K'Naan performed "Wavin' Flag" at the World Cup Celebration Concert on June 10th, which was shown live in a worldwide webcast. (The concert will be broadcast in the U.S. by ABC on Friday, June 11th at 8 p.m. Eastern.)

For a more stripped-down, but still stirring, version of "Wavin' Flag," see the acoustic rendition K'Naan and band did for the CBC's "Q" show last year.

For more background on the performer, see this article I wrote on K'Naan and his remarkable journey on Xomba.com.

New York Concerts on Sale: Vampire Weekend, Sharon Jones, Peter Gabriel, K'Naan, Mo'nique

UPDATE: Tickets now on sale for second Vampire Weekend show (9/16)
- - - - -
Here's the latest in my semi-irregular listing of New York area concerts that are going on sale soon or that recently went on sale. As usual, there's a good mix of big stars and up-and-coming artists who are popular.

Going on sale Friday, February 26th or Saturday, February 27th:

* Vampire Weekend, September 15th, Radio City Music Hall (SECOND VAMPIRE WEEKEND SHOW ADDED for September 16th; tickets on sale now)

* Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, May 1st, Apollo Theater (April 30th show already on sale)

* Mo'nique, April 9th at Prudential Center (Newark) & April 24th (The Theater at Madison Square Garden)

Now on sale:

* Peter Gabriel (with 54-piece orchestra), May 2nd & May 3rd, Radio City Music Hall

* DJ Rekha, April 23rd, The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza

* K'naan and Wale with John Forte, March 31st, The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza

* April Fools Comedy Show hosted by DL Hughley, April 1st, The Theater at Madison Square Garden

More to come next week.