Neko Case All Over the Radio Sunday; New CD Out Tuesday

As I've written before, Neko Case's new CD Middle Cyclone comes out on Tuesday, March 3rd, and the whole album is streaming free online at NPR Music. And speaking of radio, Neko Case has been making the rounds and was heard on two radio programs today.

She was interviewed on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday in the morning, and in the afternoon was on Chicago Public Radio's Sound Opinions show, which featured some of the new songs as well as discussion with Neko and other members of the band. At their Web site you can stream the show or download it as an MP3, and also just listen to Neko and her band performing the tunes.

In these interviews you'll learn about why weather events figure so prominently in her new songs, why she's been collecting old, free pianos from Craigslist, and why the new CD ends with a 30-minute field recording of crickets chirping.

Shop for Neko Case albums and downloads at Amazon.com

Pylon Guitarist Randy Bewley Dies at Age 53

Just when the influential 1980s band Pylon was staging a series of reunion concerts, guitarist Randy Bewley has died at age 53. He reportedly suffered a heart attack on Monday and died on Wednesday. Pylon emerged from the same Athens, Georgia scene that gave rise to R.E.M. and the B-52s, a year before R.E.M. Bill Berry, the former R.E.M. drummer, once called Pylon "the best band in the world," even though Pylon had already broken up at that point.

I wrote about Pylon in December when they played their return engagement in New York. Unfortunately I didn't make it to that show, and it seems pretty clear that Bewley's death means the end for Pylon. Losing one member is obviously a blow for any trio, and for Pylon Bewley's guitar playing was responsible for much of the group's distinctive sound. Online Athens notes that many guitarists have cited Bewley's influence on their own playing.

Besides playing the reunion shows, Pylon last year released a collection of many of their recordings on one CD called Gyrate +.

It's sad that Pylon was exciting old fans and winning new one with its reunion gigs, which were showing people why the band has been such an influence on later groups.

Oscars 2009 - Nominees, Oscars Ballot, How and Where to Watch, Videos, Red Carpet, and More!

After all the talk and hype, the 2009 Oscars are almost here, and the official Oscars Web site has all the information you need to follow the awards. You'll find the official list of nominees, coverage of the red carpet arrivals, details on TV coverage, and more. You'll also find videos from the nominated films, and exclusive video clips from Oscars telecast of years past. And you can play along at home live and pick the winners as the telecast unfolds.

The 2009 Oscars will be televised in the U.S. on ABC starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time / 5 p.m. Pacific, Sunday, Feb. 22nd. As fast as I know there will be NO Webcast of the show, so anyone telling you that you can "watch the Oscars online" is just scamming you.

You can get the official Oscars ballot here, in a handy PDF document. You can print the Oscars ballot, download it to your hard drive, or email it to friends and have a friendly competition to see who can get the most categories right.

For one of the interesting side stories to "Slumdog Millionaire," expected to be the big winner tonight, read about Loveleen Tandan, the Indian co-director of the film.

Neko Case Back With a New Album; Here It Streaming Free

Neko Case is probably best known as a member of the indie rock band The New Pornographers, but in her time away from that group she's been making albums that lean more toward country and alt-country. She's set to come out with her sixth solo album, "Middle Cyclone," on March 3rd. You can hear Neko Case's new album streamed free online starting on Monday, Feb. 23rd.

Neko Case is doing a few shows in Europe in mid to late February, then playing the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas before embarking on a nationwide U.S. tour. Check the Neko Case tour dates here. Case's Web site mentions that there is a new music podcast called Sleepers coming from the artist, but it doesn't say when.

Neko Case's haunting voice is a throwback from another era, reminiscent of classic crooners Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette. If you like female country singers of the past, with a modern twist, check out any of Neko Case's previous albums.

Shop for Neko Case albums and downloads at Amazon.com

Podcasts for Valentine's Day

OK, I'm late in posting music for Valentine's Day, but these two podcasts are great for any time. First you can stream or download CBC Radio 3's second-annual Make-Out Podcast, featuring songs about love, longing, and lust from Canadian indie artists like Basia Bulat, Broken Social Scene, and more. And host Grant Lawrence adds his own acerbic twist to the proceedings, along with an assortment of odd photos you can see if you're using an iPod or computer that allows you to view photos.

For some Latin love music, check out the Valentine's Day edition of the Rimo Latino podcast. It's got love songs in all kinds of Latin genres, from orchestral to rock en Espanol, fro artists including the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Selena, Mosquitos, and Julieta Venegas.

Happy Valentine's Day, enjoy the music, and don't eat too many chocolates.

Fox's Dollhouse: Joss Whedon (and Eliza Dushku) Back on TV

With "Dollhouse" Joss Whedon, the creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Firefly," returns to network TV, and he's brought along as his star one of the most popular "Buffy" alums, the very lovely Eliza Dushku.

In the show she plays a woman named Echo who is one of a number of people recruited to work for the shadowy company of the title, which exists to supply high-priced talent for high-worth clients who have a wide range of needs, from a sexy companion for a wild birthday weekend to a rock-solid negotiator to handle a kidnapping and ransom transaction. The recruits are trained for the diverse missions by having their memories and experiences wiped clean, and new memories and experiences implanted.

Meanwhile, a Federal agent is on the trail of the Dollhouse, though he has trouble convincing his superiors that the enterprise even exists.

Entertainment Weekly says that Eliza Dushku is good, but the show "needs more life." You can read EW's review of "Dollhouse" here.

If you weren't able to catch the first episode, "Ghost," on TV tonight, you can catch watch "Dollhouse" online for free at Fox's episode viewer. [Note: no longer available for streaming.]

"Dollhouse" fans get to ask, and answer, their questions about the show at Fox's official "Dollhouse" wiki.