Booker T. Recent News

Booker T. & The Drive By Truckers with Bettye LaVette Live From The Artists Den

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:02:00 -0800

Hulu is currently featuring Booker T. & The Drive By Truckers with Bettye Lavette performing Live From The Artists Den. Watch the performance below!

Booker T. Jones Wins 2010 Grammy Award; Legendary Soul Artist Wins Best Pop Instrumental Album

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:02:00 -0800

Anti- Records offers heartfelt congratulations to Booker T. Jones for his Grammy Award win in the category of “Best Pop Instrumental Album” for his spectacular album Potato Hole.

Booker T. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and previously won Grammys in 1997 for work with his band Booker T. and the MGs as well as a lifetime achievement award in 2007.

Potato Hole was Booker T's first new album in nearly two decades, and the lead single "Warped Sister" was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental (losing in that category to the legendary Jeff Beck.)

On the Friday prior to the Awards Ceremony, Booker T. appeared at the MusicCares benefit event honoring his old friend Neil Young (who contributed guitar on Potato Hole) As part of what Rolling Stone Magazine called "a true power trio" (along with Keith Urban and John Fogerty) Booker T. played keys on a rousing rendition of Young’s anthem "Rockin' in the Free World."

“Potato Hole” and two other tracks from the album, "Hey Ya" and "Space City," were included in The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop poll which tabulates votes from over 697 music critics' to distill the most important music of the prior year. Potato Hole was also recognized by No Depression in its Top Albums of 2009. Booker’s signature Hammond B-3 sound was also featured on the latest album by celebrated punk band Rancid.

The song "Pound It Out," from Potato Hole will be featured in Ken Burns’ forthcoming "Tenth Inning," an epilogue to the filmmaker's acclaimed nine-part "Baseball" documentary series. Following the Grammy ceremony, Booker T. departed California to embark on a whirlwind tour of Japan, before returning Stateside to work on his as-yet-untitled follow-up to Potato Hole.

Anti Records Reviews An Exceptional 2009

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:12:00 -0800

Legendary Artists, A Breakout Album for Neko Case, A Triumphant And Soulful Offering From The Swell Season, Six Grammy Nods for Anti Artists, Tom Waits Live Album and Much More

William Elliott Whitmore: Animals in the Dark - On his Anti debut Whitmore reflects on life and loss and the world surrounding his Iowa horse farm on the banks of the Mississippi. The album showcases Whitmore’s classic songwriting and mastery of the acoustic guitar and banjo, but adds elements such as strings, an organ and a pedal steel, giving the songs a more expansive, cultivated sound. 2009 saw this unique artist captivating audiences around the world with his haunting and timeless sound.

"Animals reinforces his reputation as one of today's most transcendent folk artists." - Kansas City Star

"There's a time-honored truthfullness to William Elliott Whitmore that can't be rehearsed and most certainly can't be faked. It's tonally apparent in the world-weary ache of his baritone voice; it's lyrically manifested in the god-fearing mannerisms of simple protagonists; and it's buried deep within the gutsy pride and righteous integrity with which the Americana singer confronts issues of moral wrongs, institutional control, and fundamental rights throughout Animals in the Dark." - The Absolute Sound

NASA: The Spirit of Apollo - A joyfully sometimes surreal musical expedition overflowing with inspired collaborations -Tom Waits growls over Kool Keith, Karen O taunts while Ol' Dirty Bastard gives shout-outs to Wu Tang and N.A.S.A from the grave, and David Byrne, Chuck D and others expound on the evils of "Money." In spite of the range of performers, the pairings make perfect sense. Live the band features dancing aliens which is always a plus.

“The Spirit of Apollo is what happens when the imagination is let out of its cage. Good things happen.” – Urb

N.A.S.A.'s dope beats and wet-dream collaborations make Apollo an absolute must-have. - Alternative Press

Neko Case: Middle Cyclone – A stunning album by one of the preeminent songwriters and performers today. This is the record that finally transported Case from heroine of the underground into a deservedly larger spotlight. A riveting tour de force which has already graced many best of polls including those of Spin, Pitchfork and the top position on Amazon’s “Best Music of 2009” list. The album has also received Two Grammy nominations for “Best Contemporary Folk Album” and “Best Recording Package” (for the striking album cover)

“Case has one of the most powerful sets of pipes in pop” - Rolling Stone

“Neko Case’s songs are full of claws, wolves, tornadoes, birds of prey and the occasional gust of wind. But her voice is the real force of nature.” – New York Times Magazine

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott: A Stranger Here - The renowned troubadour steps out of the country/folk arena that has shaped his legend and examines pre-WWII blues songs in a wholly unique way. A Stranger Here proves another wonderful tome in the library of one of the great American storytellers. The album has been nominated for a Grammy in the category of “Best Traditional Blues Album” and has garnered the album’s esteemed producer Joe Henry a nomination in the “Best Traditional Blues Album” category.

“Ramblin’ Jack Elliott is, along with Pete Seeger, one of America’s finest living folk singers. Seeing him play is a treat, but hearing him tell long, meandering stories — he didn’t get that nickname for nothing — is transformative.” - New York Times

“Both beautiful and brave in its purity" - Performing Songwriter

Bob Mould: Life and Times - A cathartic and vital album by an influential artist marks the respective anniversaries of the formation of Husker Du and Mould’s lauded solo effort Workbook with an album of unflinching self-reflection. Standouts like "Wasted World" and "I'm Sorry Baby, But You Can't Stand In My Light Anymore" highlight an artist completing a cycle decades in the making, his talent undiminished, his perspective acute.

"Passion, beauty, intelligence, grace: it's all here." – Filter

"This newest collection is moody and minimalist, and it showcases Mould’s introspective side. The most compelling songs evoke the speed, energy, and passionate commitment that justly made Mould an icon." - New Yorker

Jason Lytle: Yours Truly, The Commuter - Two years after Grandaddy's demise, Lytle returns with an immaculately crafted pop soundscape that mirrors both the dramatic environment of Lytle's newly-adopted Montana and the vintage twang of the Central California farmland that inspired hiss earlier work. Electronic flourishes collide with acoustic guitars and soulful piano parts, perfectly recreating Lytle’s signature lo-fi-electro atmospheres.

“A richly textured work that is lovingly crafted and affectingly poignant." - Alternative Press

“A textured homage to the lush and laid-back West Coast dream life of his youth…it’s like Bruce Springsteen’s open highway finally reached a melancholy kid from Modesto.” - Spin

Booker T: Potato Hole – The trailblazing soul man has written the most audacious chapter of his career with his first solo album in decades. Backed by the Drive-By Truckers with Booker's signature Hammond B3, the album bristles with energy and heart. The album has earned a Grammy nomination for Jones in the category of “Best Pop Instrumental Album.”

“There are no chart-baiting superstar guest vocalists or gimmicks, just gut-punching, funky, loose-limbed, rock 'n' soul jams recorded in down-and-dirty sessions without an inch of fat.” - Boston Globe

“Potato Hole proves as extraordinary, delirious and laugh-out-loud weird as anyone might dare hope.” – Uncut

The Field: Yesterday & Today - The innovative sound artist expands his ever transfixing audio palette, continuing the oblique sampling strategy of his critically praised “From Here We Go Sublime” while building up the rhythmic architecture to startling new heights.

“Full of driving, dirty beats, crisp bells and hats that delicately pepper the high end, this sonic treasure offers plenty of infectious grooves.” - DJ Times

“Yesterday & Today is gorgeous, overwhelming, lush and (mainly) wordless, and it reeks throughout of inarticulable emotion.” - Prefix Magazine

Bettye LaVette: Change is Gonna Come Sessions – The soul singer extraordinaire revisits her forgotten post-Atlantic Records years as a nightclub singer and Broadway performer with a mix of classics including a heart wrenching rendition of Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child" and an acclaimed version of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," which LaVette performed at the Obama Inaugural Celebration.

"There's no one more soulful than Bettye LaVette…Bettye makes great music now because of her obstacles. She has a fire in her belly and a passion that was never squashed over the years...you just hear it and feel it in everything she sings." - CNN.com

“a compelling and intimate set of songs that adroitly combine a smoky jazz club, Saturday night rent party and Sunday morning church service. “ - Creative Loafing

Busdriver: Jhelli Beam – The art rap progenitor returns to jolt rap back into shape with virtuoso vocal stylings and poignant (and at times dadaist) lyricism. This record not only effortlessly trumps all previous mind-bending performances of his earlier works, but gives them new context; highlighting their dexterity with nuggets of election year paranoia and absurdist humor.

"Everything on Jhelli Beam makes sense. Every word is a picture. Every sentence pushed over the one before it the way dominos fall when they're lined up in a row....This is creativity - this is the reason for being: to preceive/ingest, and digest, and poop it out." - LA Record

“Busdriver's crazy, quick verses sprint from inside-out humor to social criticism alongside challenging beats that reward repeated listens. Exciting, odd stuff." - Chicago Tribune

Solillaquists of Sound: No More Heroes - With this release the Orlando-based hip hop quartet have accomplished the rare feat of creating a body of work that's as palatable to the public as it is groundbreaking, imaginative, and rewarding to listeners looking for something more in the soundtrack to their lives.

“authentic and raw, blending elements of dubstep, afrobeat, folk, most
obviously hip-hop, but surprisingly more synth-beats infused in a background of beautiful harmonies.” - 7x7 Magazine

“A lyrically potent, melodic, and danceable piece, make sure to cop one of the best records the year has to offer.” – Sputnikmusic

Joe Henry: Blood From Stars - The revered solo artist and Grammy-winning producer’s music spans many genres but the dominant sound on Blood From Stars is a rich blues tonality that swells into ravishing epics that jump the rails to incorporate folky jazz and bent Sinatra-esque washes of sampled strings. Henry’s eleventh album is a tour de force of lush arrangements and seductive song lines. The acclaimed musician/producer was also nominated for a Grammy for his work guiding Ramblin Jack Elliott’s release, A Stranger Here.

"Joe Henry is like that unexpected piece of dark chocolate at the bottom of the ice cream dish: something rich, sweet and so surprisingly good that you wonder how it escaped you before. This album captures a sensuous musicality, whether it's torch songs or avant-garde and traditional jazz, raw blues or pumped up soul escapades." – RELIX

“For connoisseurs of craft, Henry’s writing is an absolute joy, drawing effortlessly on classic pop, roots, and folk traditions and alchemizing these various strains into a single, sweet sound.” – American Way Magazine

Os Mutantes: Haih or Amortecedor - Still psychedelic, influential, political and playful after all these years – the near mythical has crafted triumphant return with their first record in 35 Years. Revered by luminaries such as Kurt Cobain, the Flaming Lips Devendra Banhart and Beck, the Mutantes have delivered one of the most original and enjoyable albums of the year.

"a superb, politically tinged reunion effort....their new songs remain as bold and fascinating as their old ones." – New Yorker

"Haih Or Amortecedor is rhapsodic, an endearing tribute, and a welcome addition, to one of pop music’s strangest group of musicians." – Popmatters

Islands: Vapours – The ever evolving Montreal outfit returns with an album that flits back and forth between moody synthesizers and drum-machine-heavy beats and an array of intriguing sonic textures, all the while remaining firmly rooted in the classic pop sensibilities and melodic hooks the band is celebrated for. 

"infectious and weird....masterful, refreshing synth-pop, served up pure and simple.” – Blackbook

"one of our favorite albums of the fall. It's just some lush, pop goodness." – Paper Magazine

Rain Machine: Rain Machine - Kyp Malone’s solo project features ten unflinchingly original and emotional songs mixing elements of modern jazz, blue-grass and blistering guitar driven rock into a refreshing new sound. As singer and guitarist for celebrated band TV on the Radio, Malone proved himself both a captivating and delightfully unpredictable musical force. On Rain Machine, he shows himself a singer and a lyricist of startling talents.

“Malone steps out with an emotionally open debut just as experimental and daring as his work with TVOTR.” – USA Today

“The tunes sound a bit like a rain dance—tribal bells, trance-inflected refrains, the occasional howl—but one that's been fed through the post-apocalyptic fury of TV On The Radio. The result proves a compelling sonic exploration, knotty and exultant as ever.” – The Onion

Dead Man’s Bones: Dead Man’s Bones - Initially intended as play about a monster-ghost-love-story, Zach Shields and Ryan Gosling eventually scrapped the stage show and recorded Dead Man’s Bones, a refreshingly original album featuring doo-wop songs about werewolves, haunting melodies telling tales of zombies with broken hearts, and children singing the joys and pains of being alive or being dead.

“Simultaneously sweet and spooky, heart-stirring and imaginative; a wonderful requiem to our forgotten fear of the dark" – LA Weekly

“A decidedly beautiful thing" – MOJO

The Swell Season: Strict Joy – The follow up to their Oscar winning “Once” soundtrack, Strict Joy finds the duo of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova evoking the bittersweet aftermath of their real life romance and breakup with an album of stirring folk tinged blue eyed soul.

“a lush, lovely, heartfelt gem.” – NPR

“Strict Joy is a joy from start to finish, as few bands manage to mix intimacy and sweeping songcraft with such finesse.” – All Music Guide

Alec Ounsworth: Mo’ Beauty - a soulful and intriguing solo endeavor from celebrated singer/songwriter Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Recorded in music-steeped New Orleans with an all star cast of local talent, the end result is a display of masterful songwriting and arguably Ounsworth’s best work yet.

"Mesmerizing and profound" – The Onion

"The sharpest arrangements and best songwriting of his short career: Almost every tune on Mo Beauty equals or betters those on CYHSY's lauded 2005 debut, mixing spooky folk with frantic fun. Ounsworth's regular band may have a shaky future, but he doesn't." – Spin

Tom Waits: Glitter & Doom Live – This two disc collection perfectly documents Waits' sold out, acclaimed 2008 “Glitter and Doom” tour. The music disc features Waits' in his eclectic glory shifting seamlessly from an array of characters: carnival barker, preacher, country singer, soul balladeer; cabaret singer and storyteller. Disc Two is a selection of the comic bromides, strange musings, and unusual facts that Waits traditionally shares with his audience during the piano set.

“One of the most charismatic and straightforwardly entertaining live artists you are ever likely to see or hear. (..) Pick disc one for the uninterrupted junkyard blues and bewilderingly tender crooning: choose disc two for trivia and lies dredged from the back pages of the Fortean Times and delivered sans songs with the impeccable timing of a seasoned professional still in love with the stage and his audience.” – Time Out London

“Equal parts Captain Beefheart and Louis Armstrong as he examines the full spectrum of life, from the grimly grotesque to the sweetly sentimental… It’s an utter delight.” - NME

* Mavis Staples: Live: Hope at the Hideout - While technically released at the end of 2008, it’s worth mentioning that Mavis’ blistering live album has just earned the legendary soul singer a well deserved Grammy nomination in the category of “Best Contemporary Blues Album.” Mavis was previously awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2005 Grammys for her collective work with the Staples Singers.

Lightning Deals at Amazon Featuring Tom Waits, Neko Case & The Swell Season

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:12:00 -0800

Celebrate the holidays with great deals on ANTI releases! This week, Amazon.com is offering a series of Lightning Deals, featuring Neko Case Middle Cyclone, The Swell Season Strict Joy, Tom Waits Glitter and Doom Live Booker T. Potato Hole, Mavis Staples Live: Hope At The Hideout and Ramblin' Jack Elliott A Stranger Here. Click here to check out all the deals!

Thursday, December 17th
2pm - 3pm PST
The Swell Season - Strict Joy (Limited Deluxe Version)
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

Friday, December 18th
9am - 12pm PST
Tom Waits - Glitter and Doom Live

3pm - 6pm PST
Booker T - Potato Hole
Mavis Staples - Live: Hope At The Hideout
Ramblin' Jack Elliott - A Stranger Here

Anti- Records Artists Nominated For Six Grammy Awards!

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:12:00 -0800

Capping off an already incredible year for the Anti- Records family, the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards nominees have just been announced and it seems several esteemed Anti- artists have been nominated for a total of six separate awards. We here at Anti-Epitaph would like to extend sincere and extraordinarily enthusiastic congratulations to Neko Case, Booker T. Jones, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Mavis Staples for being so deservedly honored by their peers in the music industry.

Anti- Records 2009 Grammy Nominees:

Best Contemporary Folk Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) Middle Cyclone, Neko Case

Best Rock Instrumental Performance – “Warped Sister” from Potato Hole, Booker T. Jones

Best Pop Instrumental Album- (For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.) Potato Hole, Booker T. Jones

Best Traditional Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental) A Stranger Here, Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Best Contemporary Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental.) Live: Hope At The Hideout, Mavis Staples

Best Recording Package, Middle Cyclone, Neko Case & Judge, art directors (Neko Case)

*The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards show will occur on January 31 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

SISTER LABELS ANTI- AND EPITAPH RECORDS JOIN FORCES TO HONOR RECORD STORE DAY

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:04:00 -0700

TOM WAITS, BOOKER T. JONES and BAD RELIGION Create Special Limited Edition 7”s for Second Annual Celebration of Independence

Epitaph’s founding artist, Bad Religion, and two of ANTI- Record’s most enduring figures, Tom Waits and Booker T. Jones, are set to release limited edition 7” vinyl singles on April 18th in honor of the second annual Record Store Day.

Record Store Day unites indie retailers “as a celebration of the unique culture surrounding over 700 independently owned record stores in the USA, and hundreds of similar stores internationally.” Special releases, in-store appearances and general revelry will surround these stores and bring community awareness to these cultural institutions who are surviving, even thriving, in the changing music environment.

Tom Waits will release a three song vinyl 7” with live tracks from his overwhelmingly acclaimed 2007 Glitter and Doom Tour. “Lucinda” and “Ain’t Going Down to the Well” were recorded in Atlanta GA, while “Bottom of the World” comes from Waits’ performance in Edinburgh, Scotland. Together, these three songs are the first live recordings released since Waits’ Big Time came out in 1988.

Booker T. Jones is releasing a two song 7” with studio tracks – “Warped Sister” and “Reunion Time” -- from his upcoming ANTI- debut Potato Hole, his first solo album in over 20 years which features backing from the Drive-By Truckers, guitar tracks by Neil Young and Booker T’s unmistakable Hammond B3 organ stylings.

Bad Religion will celebrate Record Store Day with the first-ever re-release of the record that started it all: 1981’s 6-song 7” EP. In a tribute to RSD 2009, Bad Religion founder/Epitaph owner Brett Gurewitz wrote “I got my start by going around to record stores like Moby Disc and Middle Earth and giving them The Bad Religion 7” to sell on consignment. I’d go back every couple of weeks to see if they needed any more and while I was at it I’d always check out the zines, flyers and new punk releases. These places were more than stores, they were gathering places and hubs of information. They were the heart of the LA Hardcore scene and it would never have existed without them.”

For more information, please visit the official Record Store Day website.

Booker T. Festival Hat Trick This Summer: Soul Master to Play Coachella, JazzFest, Bonnaroo

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:03:00 -0700

Booker T. will hit the festival circuit this summer, performing with the Drive-By Truckers, who also join Booker on his new album 'Potato Hole' (Anti- / April 21). He will perform at Coachella (April 18), JazzFest (April 24), and Bonnaroo (June 11-14, exact performance date TBD), with additional dates with his own band to be announced shortly.

Asked about writing the material for 'Potato Hole', Booker notes that "I really feel like I've been opened up again, I've got the creative muse working for me. It's like I have discovered a new method, a little road I can take to open it up, and I'm excited about playing this music."

'Potato Hole' is already drawing praise from critics. Pitchfork debuted the song "Warped Sister" last month, writing that "Booker T. clearly takes the lead, opening with gigantic chords before coaxing out a surprisingly catchy melody from his organ. He gets so much texture and nuance out of his instrument that it sounds like it's actually forming words."

Listen to Booker T.'s illuminating recent interview with John Schaeffer on WNYC "Soundcheck" here:
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/2009/03/05/segments/125202

Check here for Booker's complete tour schedule:
http://www.bookert.com

ANTI- RECORDS ARTISTS REFLECT ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:02:00 -0800

Today, ANTI- Record's blog posted a wonderful piece written by Booker T. Jones, reflecting on the meaning of Black History Month in this historic year. With a long history of living outside racial boundaries - Booker T. and the MGs had both black and white members at a time when much of the country was integrating only under the protection of the National Guard - Booker T.'s was the perfect voice to bring attention to Black History Month on the Anti blog.

For the month of February, the Anti blog will feature weekly musing on being black in America in 2009 written by ANTI- Records' African American recording artists in honor of Black History Month. Bettye LaVette writes about this momentous Presidency, Mavis Staples ponders the power of music to both heal and communicate and Solillaquists of Sound's Swamburger talks of his experiences as a black male, a black artist.

In his piece, Booker T. writes: "In September '08, weeks before the election, while walking in Washington DC with my wife Nan, I was struck with an awareness I had never had before. It was as though I knew, with an unreal sense of certainty, of a real estate transaction that was about to transpire. And I was walking on that very piece of real estate. We were walking from the Lincoln Memorial towards the Capitol Building on the Mall... on this same soil, I was walking, and remembering hymns written by Mrs. Lucy Campbell, and sung by the likes of Mahalia Jackson and Martin Luther King, that said this too shall pass. I, a black male, was walking un-accosted, with my wife, who has white skin. And so, I knew, true to the dreams and instructions of the white men who wrote that inspired document that got us started, anything was possible."

Read the rest of Booker T.'s insightful and hopeful essay and check back weekly for new entries at the ANTI- label blog.

Booker T. Finds a Groove in the Potato Hole

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:02:00 -0800

New Album on Anti- Records featuring Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young Out April 21

Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer Booker T.’s new album Potato Hole will no doubt inspire hip-shaking and toe-tapping, but also some head-scratching over the disc’s intriguing title.

In fact, the expression “potato hole” dates from the days of American slavery. Explains Booker: “people dug holes into the dirt floors of their slave cabins to hide, cool, and store food. These people rose above their circumstances not only to survive but to thrive.”

He continues, “"potato hole," for me, stands for a funky place or joint where people go to groove to the music, let go of their worries, and have a good time. When I was in college in Indiana, there was a joint in the basement of a house in the 'hood where we would go to drink, play records and party. We called it "The Hole." Potato Hole is dedicated to that spirit.”

Potato Hole, featuring the Drive-By Truckers as Booker’s backing band and Neil Young on guitar on 9 of 10 tracks, will be released April 21 on Anti- Records. Booker T. is confirmed for JazzFest and Coachella performances in April with additional tour dates to follow.