Excellent Online - stone roses

Clearing the May Backlog in June...

theajaysharma — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:56:11 +0000

So my life in May was pretty much on hold because I was switching jobs. And as regular readers might be aware, any slight modification in my life results in massive neglect to excellent online (hey, we've been doing this for over ten years, that says something right?). I was contacted by a recruiter for a Seattle-based company back in February and went through several phone interviews. After each one, I'd wait a week then politely ask for the status. Another week would go by then a response saying that I've advanced to the next step. So persistence is their first test. How badly do you want this job? Bad enough for you to keep emailing us?

After four phone interviews (all with their appropriate delays), I get invited for the onsite. I was pretty anxious this whole time but the onsite interview really kicks it into overdrive. Now I'm plagued with thoughts like, "how am I going to find a place to live in Seattle" or "will I adjust to the lack of sunshine." Truely first world problems because obviously I can adjust to anywhere.

While this is happening, I interview with a local company (I'm in southern California, btw) and they offer me the position but I tell them that I cannot accept until I interview in Seattle. I'm not going to bore you with the details of the interview other then to say it was a full day (10:30am-5pm, also interviewed during lunch!) and was the most intense interview I've ever had. They asked if I wanted to stay in Seattle an extra day to check out the city. But I was a big bag of nerves and wanted to get home as soon as possible and get back to my wife and kid. The weekend was more of the same, a nervous wreck. They were going to notify me on Monday evening about the status so I was super pissed that I didn't get a response until Tuesday morning. They declined. Bummer.

So I accepted the position from the other local company and while I'm sad that I'm not moving to Seattle, I think staying down here is good for me for right now. So that's why there hasn't been a post in a while. ;)

BLUR BLUR BLUR BLUR (and some other stuff)

theajaysharma — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:38:03 +0000

I skipped last week since it was a slow news week. Not actually slow since all the music blogs had tons of crap they were reporting. Just nothing new or interesting to me. (In a bad mood, sry)

Smattering of News That's All Over the Place.

theajaysharma — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:33:16 +0000

The news was a little light last week as I spent a bunch of time in the hostpital with my wife as she was recovering from giving birth to our son. YAY! I'm a father!

Tons of Good Shows Coming Up...

theajaysharma — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:41:23 +0000

Lots of good tour news last week. I bought tickets to see Godspeed but got my scheduling messed up because it's on the same day as Coachella. Damn, would've loved to see Godspeed at Big Sur, CA. If you ever get a chance to drive up the California coast, do it. But remember, it's a LONG drive so make sure you plan accordingly.

Godspeed, Avalanches, Stone Roses, Chemical Brothers live film, Adam Ant tour dates? So much stuff this last week.

theajaysharma — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:21:44 +0000

Lots of stuff this week. I'm using the "predict a coachella appearance" expression a bit too much for my taste. There are just a lot of tour dates announced and they all put bands in Southern California in late April. In any case, lots of good stuff this week, enjoy!

Groovy Train: Explosions in the Sky, New Elbow, She & Him, Radiohead, Strokes, Suede, Stone Roses-ish, Pixes

theajaysharma — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:12:01 +0000

Lots of good stuff, especially the new Elbow track if you missed it. Plus the clip of Noel talking about how influential the Stone Roeses' Spike Island gig is pretty cool.

Thursday Afternoon Delight: Pulp reunite, Nirvana covers, non-news for Radiohead, Neil Young Started the Fire, and more...

theajaysharma — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:34:17 +0000

Lots of odd items in the roundup today. My favorite is the Neil Young story about his Hybrid car exploding. That's just good/bad stuff right there.

UPDATE: Mani: "...Peter Hook's wallet stuffed with Ian Curtis' blood money..."

theajaysharma — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:43:15 +0000

Freebass was a bass super group formed by Peter Hook and some prominent bass players. Last week Andy Rourke (ex-Smiths) left the band and now Mani is taking a dig at Peter Hook as well. He writes on twitter (of all places):

"Three things visible from space, Great Wall Of China, Peter Hook's wallet stuffed with Ian Curtis' blood money, Man City's empty trophy cabinet!" he tweeted, adding: "I've actually got an ongoing career, so I don’t feel the need to exploit my past glories. I exist in the here and the now."

"It's where it belongs mate… in the fucking bargain bin before it's even released," he wrote. "You live and learn."

I, personally, was thinking along the same lines, sorta torn about Peter Hook going on the road to play Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures" album in full with no other members of Joy Division. Then again, it's probably the closest thing I'll ever get to seeing the band so it might be worth it.

UPDATE on Sept 14: Mani has apologized for his outburst and Peter Hook forgives him. Personally I'm way to cynical as this whole thing could've just been manufactured to bring attention to their Freebass album which comes out next week.

YASRC: Yet Another Stone Roeses Compilation

theajaysharma — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:31:14 +0000

I think the 20th Anniversary version of the legendary Stone Roses debut album pretty much summed it all up. That had all the demos and live stuff anyone could want. But not happy with that, the powers that be decided on releasing YASRC. This one, titled 'Collection', is a little odd since it's mainly just random tracks from their Silverstone days (1988-1990). It's not a "best of" or a "b-sides" or even a "remix" album, it somehow includes a sample of all of those tracks, a collection if you will. The tracklisting is below thanks to Slicing Up Eyeballs.

Also over at Slicing Up Eyeballs, you can download a cover of "I Wanna Be Adored" by the Raveonettes. You almost can't mess up that song and it's a great cover.

The Supergroup "Freebass", drop Andy Rourke. Release CD Next Week

theajaysharma — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:02:39 +0000

We've only barely mentioned Freebass in the past, it was during Excellent Online's crappy "digg-wannabe-days" (sorry everyone, I now love reddit). Anyway, Freebass is a supergroup that features Peter Hook (New Order), Mani (Stone Roses, Primal Scream), and Andy Rourke (Smiths). It was a triple-bass supergroup. Yes, they now have a drummer and a singer too. Earlier this year they released their first EP, Two Worlds Collide, and their album, It's A Beautiful Life, in digital form only. Next week they're going to release the CD version of their EP and with that release, Andy Rourke is departing from the band. According tho their official site, "Andy Rourke was initially involved in the conception of the group and contributed to the EP and a few tracks on the LP , He is now living in NYC and will not be joining the band for live dates."

Oasis Update: Mani's Joining Noel Live & Liam is Misunderstood

theajaysharma — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:14:08 +0000

Two bits of news from NME:

First up is that Noel Gallagher is playing the a show for the Teenage Cancer Trust later this month and he'll be joined by none other then Mani (from Primal Scream and Stone Roses fame.

Secondly, Liam snubbed Noel when he accepted an award for Best Brit Album and then threw the award in the crowd. Apparently, he was just misunderstood! He only thanked the band because all the news circulates around Liam and Noel and he "thought it was only right to mention to other lads who played on the album and the best fans in the world". And when he tossed his award into the crowd, "I thought it was a nice gesture to give this to the fans. Obviously it was misinterpreted as per usual."

Stone Roses to release five singles this year

theajaysharma — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:18:06 +0000

Five singles by The Stone Roses are set to be reissued this summer in conjunction with the 20th anniversary reissue of their self-titled debut album. - Source

John Squire's Stone Roses reunion 'Statement' to be auctioned

theajaysharma — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:18:03 +0000

Former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire is set to auction off a piece of artwork he created to send the message that he is not interested in reforming the legendary Manchester band. - Source

Stone Roses Reunion Looking Likely

theajaysharma — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:18:46 +0000

If seeing Mani with Primal Scream won't cut it, apparently John Squire finally got Ian Brown to "sign on the dotted line" for 21 dates in the UK and USA this summer. Always hearing these rumors, but let's hope this is the one. - Source

Ian Brown denies Stone Roses reunion reports

theajaysharma — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:18:33 +0000

Ian Brown's publicist has denied reports that The Stone Roses are to reunite. - Source