Twelve damn years.  And still the heartache and disbelief persist.  American treasure Randy Newman recently performed Losing You, his poignant ode to a lost one, and has just released the video. We assume the timing of the video’s release is as an homage to the ones we lost on 9/11/01.  Here’s to them (may they rest in peace) and to Randy Newman.  After watch another performance of the song by Newman, including an introduction by the songwriter in which he explains the song’s theme.  At bottom are the song’s lyrics.

“Was a fool with my money
And I lost every dime
And the sun stopped shining
And it rained all the time
Did set me back some
But I made it through
But I’ll never get over losing you

Do you know, I love you
Do you remember me
Should’ve told you
Cause it’s true
I get over losing anything
But I’ll never get over
Losing you

When you’re young
And there’s time
You forget the past
You don’t think that you will
But you do

But I know
That I don’t have time to wait
And I’ll never get over
Losing you

I’ve been cruel
I’ve been hungry
Not for a while
I guess most of my dreams have come true
With it all here around me
No peace do I find
Cause I’ll never get over losing you
No I’ll never get over losing you”

We finally discovered The Staves and their facile way with harmonies in May, equating them to the great American sister group The Roches. Since then we have been enamored by the three sisters’ music and on the lookout for more examples. Today it rained Staves in the way of two new videos from La Blogotheque and Myles O’Reilly’s Arbutus Yarns.  Check out below as the group first stave off a downpour at a Cornwall beach to perform their song Mexico in an impromptu shelter for La Blogotheque, all the while evoking Joni Mitchellisms (always fine by us).  The harmonies beginning at 2:01 are well worth the wait.  And then watch as the group is filmed by O’Reilly performing Icarus under cloudy skies at a park.  More sweet music from The Staves sure to brighten any dark day.

Janelle Monáe has released her second album The Electric Lady and let the world know by seizing the Letterman Show stage and Dave’s desk last night to perform Dance Apocalyptic.  Monáe raged around the studio in front of her 8-piece band in white and striped get-ups (with token conga player), cavorting with the cameras and Paul Shaffer before jumping up on Letterman’s desk and letting loose.  She then slammed a mic stand down and walked out the doors in a tour de force performance.

Before she came out, Letterman told the audience to “Get ready, and get ready again” for Monáe because the last time she had been on his show (her TV debut) she had “turned the dump over.”  Once again Letterman knew what he was talking about, and afterwards he equated her to the likes of James Brown when he pronounced her “the hardest working woman in show business.”  Spot on.  Check it out below.

After all sorts of traumatic tease, Arcade Fire today released the title song and official video from their new album entitled Reflektor scheduled to be released on October 29th.  At 7:42 long, the song continues to grow on you as it plays out.   In addition to the usual winning vocals by Win Butler, the song features Regine Butler singing in French and added vocals of David Bowie (which can be heard most prominently from the 4:56 mark on).  We’ll get back to you on the meaning of the video’s visuals, although we’re pretty sure the above graphic represents some kind of anagram homage to this website.  Check out the full lyrics of the song at bottom, which seem to be a timely indictment of life and human-relationships in the devolving “smart”-phone gestalt.

The new album was produced by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, and the new song bears his strong imprimatur.  After the official video, check out the Behind the Scenes video behind the video, which was directed by Anton Corbijn (Tom Waits, etc.).  All bodes well for the new album.  Word has also arrived that Arcade Fire will appear on the season opener of Saturday Night Live.

“[Verse 1]
Trapped in a prism, in a prism of light
Alone in the darkness, darkness of white
We fell in love, alone on a stage
In the reflective age

[Pre-Chorus – Régine Chassagne]
Entre la nuit, la nuit et l’aurore.
Entre le royaume des vivants et des morts.
If this is heaven
I don’t know what it’s for
If I can’t find you there
I don’t care

[Chorus]
I thought I found a way to enter
It’s just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)
I thought I found the connector
It’s just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)

[Verse 2]
Now, the signals we send, are deflected again
We’re still connected, but are we even friends?
We fell in love when I was nineteen
And now we’re staring at a screen.

[Pre-Chorus – Variation – Régine Chassagne]
Entre la nuit, la nuit et l’aurore.
Entre le royaume des vivants et des morts.
If this is heaven
I need something more
Just a place to be alone
Cause you’re my home

[Chorus]

[Bridge 1]
It’s just a reflection of a reflection
Of a reflection of a reflection
Will I see you on the other side?
We all got things to hide
It’s just a reflection of a reflection
Of a reflection of a reflection
Will I see you on the other side?
We all got things to hide

[Verse 3]
Alright, let’s go back
Our song escapes, on neon silver discs
Our love is plastic, we’ll break it to bits
I want to break free, but will they break me?
Down, down, down
Don’t mess around

[Chorus]

[Bridge 2]
Thought you would bring me to the resurrector
Turns out it was just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)
Thought you would bring to me the resurrector
Turns out it was just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)
Thought you would bring to me the resurrector
Turns out it was just a Reflektor (It’s just a Reflektor)

[Outro]
It’s a Reflektor
It’s just a Reflektor
Just a Reflektor
Will I see you on the other side?
It’s just a Reflektor
Will I see you on the other side?
We all got things to hide
It’s just a Reflektor
Will I see you on the other side?

John Prine is simply one of the greatest American songwriters of all-time.  Classified early-on as one of the legion of “next Dylans,” Prine nonetheless gave nothing away, transcended with his heart-of-gold storytelling, and drew more humanity from his human fans.  Through thick and thin (and after suffering various illnesses that would have killed the average man) he has stuck with America and it’s chords-a-plenty.  Last night he appeared on The Colbert Report to sing a couple of gems.  Check ’em out below.  And sing on, John Prine, sing on!

After protracted TV and radio silence, TV on the Radio has been back with a vengeance recently, releasing two fantastic singles Million Miles and Mercy, along with official videos.  Last night TVOTR appeared on the Letterman Show to play their mercifully great new song Mercy.  Check it out below.  You know you’ve nailed it on the Letterman Show when Dave goes nuts with his effusive praise.  Great stuff.

Following on the heels of her critically-acclaimed 2013 album The Stand-In, Caitlin Rose has just released a cover of The National’s perfectly-poignant Pink Rabbits (one of our favorite songs on their album Trouble Will Find Me). Watch her performance of the song below.  In an interview with ELLE, Rose said this about cover songs:  “‘If it’s rushed and doesn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, it’s a very big disappointment…. There’s not much point to doing a cover if you aren’t changing anything…. My singing style is very straightforward so the only way I can cover things is by simplifying.'”  Given Matt Berninger’s signature vocals and the band’s firm delivery of their songs, we’re not sure The National’s songs are good cover candidates.  What’s your opinion of Ms. Rose’s effort?  Did she simplify or add to the original?  We do like the horns added near the end of her version, but are reserving judgment for now.

TV on the Radio haven’t made clear what their future music release plans are, but they have been piquing our interest with repeated teases. First they released the official video for new slow-song Million Miles.  Now comes the official video for the uptempo and wisdom-laden Mercy.  Have mercy! We like the sound of that.  Check out the video and song below.  The song’s great lyrics follow the video.

Mercy:

“I caught a glimpse of professional evil
on the day our poor hearts died.
I fell in love with professional evil
on the day you left my side.

I see tons of people
looking lost and lethal
and I think we’re all the same
So I scale a steeple and I take a leap
and I just can’t keep the stain

from my soul
it burns so cold
it’s got to go
through my soul
through my soul

Things fall apart in the blink of an eye
better keep yours open wide.
Things fall apart in the blink of an eye
and we can’t be satisfied.

I seen tons of people
looking lost and lethal
and I know we’re all the same.
And though it’s gone forever
and there’s nothing to keep
but I still can’t scrape the stain

from my soul
it burns so cold
Oh watch it go
through my soul
through my soul

Have mercy Lord, what can we do
Got over me, got over you
Gone overboard
Gone two by two

Look over me, look over you
(My life)
I know my life
Can’t be my life
My life, can’t be my know my life
Can’t be my life
My life can’t be my know my life
Can’t be my life
My life can’t be my know my life
Can’t be my life

I’ve lost a love of my life
I’ve lost a love
Have mercy
Have mercy, mercy, mercy
on my life”

While idling through Ireland this summer Bruce Springsteen invited native son Glen Hansard up on stage to sing a languid, but riveting, version of Drive All Night.  Ya gotta love Springsteen’s nodding acknowledgement when Hansard first steps to the microphone and belts it.  Check it out below

Last night San Francisco’s Dodos (the band) showed up on the Letterman Show and performed Confidence off of their critically-acclaimed new album Carrier.  Hang in at least till the 2:24 mark when the band and song take flight, justly earning the accolades of the host.