The Indigo Girls are showing off "the power of two" with the release of Poseidon and the Bitter Bug on the duo's own label IG Recordings. This is the pair's first independent effort since its 1987 debut, Strange Fire. This "Poseidon adventure" is also available in a limited edition with a bonus disc containing stripped-down acoustic arrangements of the set's material. Highlighting this release are the closing track "True Romantic," Emily Saliers' "What Are you Like?" and a reworking of "Driver Education" from Amy Ray's solo album, Prom. Kick off Pride weekend with an outdoor concert, as The Indigo Girls are performing at Ravinia on Friday, June 26.
Iconic out singer-songwriter Gretchen Phillips returns with her first new album in five years with I Was Just Comforting Her. Here, Phillips seamlessly glides from the bitter retro twang of country music on "Honey, I Feel So Good" to the progressively electro-hued "Your Drinking" and "Red State/Blue State" to the seductive jazz leanings on the steamy "Swimming." Escaping the summer in The Lone Star State, the Texas Music Hall of Fame inductee will be at Women and Children First Books, 5233 N. Clark, on Saturday, June 20, at 8 p.m.
Sure, Sandra Bernhard recounts an evening with Stevie Nicks in one of her memoirs, but a concert keepsake from a night with Nicks in The Windy City is now available. The DVD Live in Chicago and its companion album, The Soundstage Sessions, have Nicks' signature warble and doe eyes in fine form. Here, Nicks delivers staples like the restructured "Stand Back" and an orchestral version of the beloved "Landslide" as well as a cover of "Crash into Me" by Dave Matthews. This marks the first of her shows to be recorded live since 1985. Bonus tracks "Enchanted," "Gold Dust Woman" and "Edge of Seventeen" are available exclusively on iTunes. Recently, Nicks told The New York Times that Lindsay Lohan can purchase her life story for a biopic "over my dead body." When the right star is found, that will make quite a film.
On her fourth outing, Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics, India.Arie finds herself in a much better space. Her insights are beautifully married to a neo-soul sound. On "Psalms 23" she remains hopeful: "You won't get the best of me, even though you broke my heart, I'm gonna pick up the pieces." On top of finding balance and enlightenment through music, Arie serves as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. The Grammy winner's take on Don Henley's "The Heart of the Matter" can be heard in the trailer to Sex and the City: The Movie. Arie's tour will have a stop in Chicago on Sunday, May 17, at The House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn.
Country-music sensation Martina McBride debuted on top of the country charts and crossed over to the top 10 on the pop charts with her 10th studio album, Shine. The Kansas native is even reaching out to her LGBT audience with a cover article in Out magazine—a rarity in the more conservative country genre. Don't worry, though: McBride's "What Do I Have to Do" is not a remake of Kylie Minogue's hit of the same name. Two of my friends met McBride as her career was about to take off at one of her shows. Both said how beautiful, talented and down-to-earth she was, all of which transcends into her music.
It's back to the "trailer park" for Beth Orton. The British singer-songwriter has reissued a limited edition of her folk-meets-electronica full-length debut, Trailer Park. This set cemented the buzz that Orton created by teaming with The Chemical Brothers as well as William Orbit, before he worked on Madonna's Ray of Light. This remastered double-disc set features Orton achingly singing on the singles "She Cries Your Name" and "Touch Me with Your Love." The latter is remixed by Andrew Weatherall ( Primal Scream, New Order, One Dove ) . The bonus disc contains B-sides, the instrumental version of "Touch Me with Your Love," rarities and covers of "It's Not the Spotlight," a minimalist take on the Ronettes' "I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine" and "Dolphins." Chicago's Terry Callier guests on "Dolphins" as well as on "Lean on Me." The Legacy Edition of Trailer Park will tie over fans, as Orton will release much-awaited new material later this year.
George Michael singing about cheating on his girlfriend with another woman? It must have been the '80s. The chart-topper "Careless Whisper" recently has been redone by Seether. The South African band morphs this evergreen from its familiar soulful power ballad into a writhing uncomfortable rock confessional, replacing the saxophone solos with dirty guitar licks. Seether's version is available as a single on iTunes. Many have done remakes of "Careless Whisper," including flash-in-the-pan British dance vocalist Sarah Washington, Bananarama, Dave Koz, Tamia and The Gossip. Seether named itself after Veruca Salt's breakout song.
The Red Hot organization is back with the double-disc compilation, Dark Was the Night. This set will ready listeners for Lollapalooza and Pitchfork music festivals with contributions from mainstays in the alternative music scene such as Grizzly Bear, Antony Hegarty, Sufjan Stevens and Chicago darling Andrew Bird. Here, My Brightest Diamond strips down Nina Simone's classic "Feeling Good." Dark Was the Night also features some peculiar pairings such as Feist with Grizzly Bear on "Service Bell" and The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez doing "Cello Song." Other charitable compilations in this series include the Cole Porter tribute Red, Hot + Blue and the lively Red, Hot & Dance.