Calexico & Opinions on AC/DC and Bob Dylan

Jim and Greg welcome eclectic indie rockers Calexico. Tune in to hear the band's cinematic mix of rock, folk, blues and even mariachi. And stay tuned for the latest music news and reviews.

Calexico
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Music News

A new British survey shows that people who illegally file-share can be deterred by warnings from their internet service providers (ISP's). Thus far letters, fines and lawsuits from record companies haven't discouraged music consumers from their illegal activity, so it seems that ISP's might be their only hope. The question remains as to whether or not sharing files is really a crime, but as Jim points out, this puts ISP's on the level of institutions like the postal service, who monitor illegal activity.

Another study out of the UK links music tastes with personality. Jim and Greg have always gone by the motto that you are what you listen to. Now there is science to back that theory. Dr. Adrian North of Heriot-Watt University surveyed over 30,000 people to find out what your musical preferences say about you. Find out how you measure up.

Black Ice AC/DC

Black Ice

According to Dr. North's study if you like harder rock you tend to be gentle and creative, but also suffer from low self-esteem, and a bad work ethic. On the plus side you will probably be happy to hear the next review. Classic hard-rock group AC/DC is back with a new album called Black Ice. After waiting eight years for a new release, fans are probably curious to hear what's new. The answer is not much. While they are trying out a new distribution model by making their album available only at Wal-Mart, AC/DC is not trying out a new sound. On Black Ice you'll still hear the band's hallmark rhythms and riffs. Jim and Greg aren't disappointed though. They've heard this sound for over 30 years and it's still a great one. Greg just wishes their new release was as short and sharp as their former ones. He gives it a Try It, and Jim goes with a Buy It.

Calexico

Jim and Greg are huge fans of Calexico, the show's guests this week, but they do present a challenge. The Tuscon-based group incorporates so many different musical influences that they are almost impossible to define. Singer and guitarist Joey Burns explains that he's a fan of "Desert Noir," but even that doesn't fully describe their use of Latin, African and jazz rhythms and instrumentation. The best way to get your head around Calexico's sound is to hear it. They perform live versions of tracks from their new album Carried to Dust.

Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006 Bob Dylan

The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs - Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006 (Bonus Track Version)

Bob Dylan has added another album to his "Bootleg Series" called Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006. Its songs were primarily from the recording sessions for three albums: Oh Mercy, Time Out of Mind and Modern Times, but for Jim and Greg it's almost like a brand new Dylan album. Greg explains that these new versions give a fresh perspective that isn't bogged down by Daniel Lanois' original production. Jim was not a huge fan of this Dylan period, but he loves that he can hear the singer/songwriter having fun with the songs. Both critics give Tell Tale Signs a Buy It.

Dear Listeners,

For more than 15 years, Sound Opinions was a production of WBEZ, Chicago's public radio station. Now that the show is independent, we're inviting you to join the band and lend a hand! We need your support more than ever because now we have to do all the behind-the-scenes work that WBEZ handled before (like buying insurance and paying for podcast hosting, ugh). Plus, we have some exciting ideas we'd like to try now that there's no one to tell us no!

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