Off the band’s 1996 release, Fasion Nugget (the same album that gave us the ever-popular cover of I Will Survive), The Distance has the ability to take on so many meanings, and mean nothing all at the same time. But getting past the lyrics, there might be few songs of this style released in the late 90s that had a groove quite like this. It’s tough to listen without being caught up in the simple, yet effective, bass line that sets the tone for the entire song — and really makes the song what it is. And it never stops. It goes the distance, making the song a truly memorable track. The video is another story of its own.

What are your memories of The Distance?

More news from John Legend and The Roots as they unveiled the official album cover for their collaborative effort Wake Up! (Sept 21). The album will feature remakes of original classics including Marvin Gay’s “Wholy Holy” and all-star guest appearances from Common, Melanie Fiona, CL Smooth, and Black Thought. Check out the official tracklist below!

Official Tracklist:

01. Hard Times
02. Compared To What
03. Wake Up Everybody feat. Common & Melanie Fiona
04. Our Generation (The Hope Of the World) feat. CL Smooth
05. Little Ghetto Boy (Prelude) feat. Malik Yusef
06. Little Ghetto Boy feat. Black Thought
07. Hang On In There
08. Humanity (Love The Way It Should Be)
09. Wholy Holy
10. I Can’t Write Left Handed
11. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free
12. Shine

[via ThisIsRNB.com]

So what say you, is Ms. Spears a sinner or a saint?

Updated: Pulled from YT.

Desaparecidos, (from left, Ian, Conor, Denver, Matt, and Landon) are reuniting for the first time since 2002. They will play a benefit show on July 31 in an effort to aid the Nebraska American Civil Liberties Union in its fight against a proposed anti-illegal immigration bill.

Now, the small town of Fremont, Neb. is proposing a similar bill, and Omaha’s own Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos) hinted in a recent letter to Arizona promoter Charlie Levy that a boycott of his own state wouldn’t be out of the question if the bill is ultimately passed statewide.

Whether you are in favor of or opposed to such bills being enacted, music fans are now being rewarded as a result of the outrage. It was announced earlier this month that a show in opposition to the bill, promoted as Concert for Equality, will be held on July 31, raising awareness of the issue.

Proceeds from the sold out show will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska to aid in its fight to overturn the newly proposed law.

Saddle Creek Records mainstays Bright Eyes and Cursive will be among the 13 bands performing in the nine-hour music fest. Joining them will be the reunions of Lullaby for the Working Class, and Desaparecidos.

It will be the first show since 2002 for Desaparecidos, offering fans an opportunity to remember the sounds of the short-lived Saddle Creek super group. Though no new music is expected, fans will be treated to a heavy dose of the band’s lone release, Read Music/Speak Spanish.

“This whole event is Conor’s baby,” Desaparecidos guitarist Denver Dalley said of the band’s singer. “He thought of it and made it happen. He wanted to raise awareness to the issue and make a difference.

“We have all been talking about getting back together in some fashion for years, but it finally worked out for this event.”

While Desaparecidos will have fun reuniting and playing a show with some of their best friends and favorite bands, Dalley, Oberst and crew will really be speaking out for an issue they feel strongly about — playing for their future with the hopes of making a Greater Omaha.

Concert for Equality schedule

Q&A with Desaparecidos’ Denver Dalley

It’s been almost a decade since Desaparecidos last played a live show. What reaction are you anticipating from your fans?

It’s already been pretty intense. People are driving or flying in from all over the country, and from even England (that I know of anyway). Everyone on both sides of the stage are extremely excited for this reunion, and we are all hoping that there is more to come beyond this event.

For those interested in your music but haven’t been keeping up, what has everyone been up to since Desaparecidos parted ways?

Well, Conor has been doing Bright Eyes, his solo records, and Monsters of Folk. Ian released a record under the name Rig 1. Landon put out multiple records with his band, Little Brazil. Matt had The ‘89 Cubs, Race for Titles, and a few others. And I’ve put out records under the names Statistics, Intramural, City Light, Sean Na Na, and Two of Cups.

Any chance the show will spark a full reunion tour?

There’s always a chance. We are all hoping to do more, but I think we want to get this much under our belts and see how it goes. We are working to reissue the vinyl. Maybe we could do some touring when that comes out. There’s really no way of telling yet.

As a former resident of Omaha, I appreciate your song “Greater Omaha.” At Concert for Equality, will that song take on a new meaning?

Definitely. It’s funny, that song seems to have the ability to be so specific and so broad at the same time. While we think of its meaning to our hometown, I’ve had several conversations with people who relate it to their hometown — in the States and abroad.

What are the chances the show might be recorded and released as a live show cd/dvd?

There has been talk of that, as well as some sort of streaming webcast, but I honestly haven’t heard anything more on that.

Is there any possibility of a nationwide protest/mega tour with Desaparecidos or any of your other friends at Saddle Creek, or other labels that share similar views?

There are a lot of bands getting involved with this issue. The Sound Strike site has a lot of information about that. I know other bands are taking action and playing benefit shows or protesting, and there has been talk of us doing other events. …When all is said and done, we couldn’t be more excited to be talking again, and (are) eternally grateful that people still want to listen.

The song itself sounds a bit dated, so it’s probably a track that was meant for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, but didn’t make the final cut. Pretty ironic hearing Ms. Hill sing the verse “repercussions, things can sure come back to you.” While the song is pretty bland in comparison to much of her stellar work, it’s still great to hear her voice. Wish she’d make an album already…

[via Oh No They Didn't]

Past Lauryn Hill Coverage:

Recap: NPR Interviews Lauryn Hill for 50 Greatest Voices Series

Lauryn Hill Added to Rock the Bells Festival

By now, everyone has probably heard about Arizona’s anti-illegal immigration bill, and the controversy that has followed.

Not only have citizens of Arizona and surrounding states voiced their opinions in opposition, many of the nation’s most beloved bands and artists are now threatening a boycott of the state until the legislation is overturned. The outrage has sparked a campaign and Web site, called The Sound Strike, against such bills, and the first of what is expected to be many shows in protest is set to hit stage tonight.

The politically-charged Rage Against the Machine are scheduled to join forces with Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band at 6 p.m. in Hollywood, Cal.

While The Sound Strike has been in full force, Oberst and his friends at the Omaha-based Saddle Creek Records have been planning a benefit show of their own, billed as Concert for Equality, complete with 13 bands including SC’s Bright Eyes and Cursive, alongside the reunions of Lullaby for the Working Class and Desaparecidos.

Look for more on Concert for Equality and an exclusive interview with Desaparecidos guitarist Denver Dalley on Monday. Until then, check out the schedule highlighting the July 31 show.

Concert for Equality

Date: Saturday, July 31
Location: Omaha’s Benson neighborhood (A main stage will be set up outside, with bands also performing inside The Waiting Room).
Time: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Note: Ticket holders will be allowed to go back and forth between the outdoors stage and The Waiting Room. However, access to the final two sets inside beginning at 11:30 p.m. will require a Deluxe ticket.

Schedule after the jump!

*The Waiting Room
Outside stage

Check out the song titles and listen to first single “Hang With Me” after the cut.

Body Talk Pt. 2:
1. In My Eyes
2. Include Me Out
3. Hang With Me
4. Love Kills
5. We Dance to the Beat
6. Criminal Intent
7. U Should Know Better [feat. Snoop Dogg]
8. Indestructible (acoustic version)

Check out previous Robyn coverage here.

We all know by now that Katy Perry has a flair for the dramatics, but today the sassy singer took it to new heights as she livestreamed the cover art unveiling for her upcoming album Teenage Dream (Aug 24). About five months ago, Ms. Perry contacted contemporary artist Will Cotton to geek out over his artwork. As luck would have it, Mr. Cotton was a fan of Ms. Perry and dreamed of making her the subject of one of his confectionery landscape paintings.

And the rest is history. The portrait (above), was revealed today live on the singer’s website and it will grace the cover of her upcoming album Teenage Dream. Cotton’s work also serves as the inspiration for the visuals in Ms. Perry’s music video for “California Gurls” — with his trademark cotton candy clouds, candy stick forests, and gingerbread cabins prominent features of the fantasy scenery.

There you have it. A match made in sugary sweet pop art history. So what do you think, fan of Teenage Dream cover art? Yay or Nay? Sound off in comment section.

This just proves how behind I am in terms of hot “new” music. Here I sit, preparing to write a big post on the upcoming Jimmy Gnecco debut (he of the amazing Ours), when I realize that the album actually came out today. In my defense, I lost track of time and date months ago. The other good news is that I can listen to the album on Rdio, which is a pretty big win.

Anyway, I’ll let you queue up the live recording of “Bring You Home” before I launch into my thoughts on The Heart.

Jimmy Gnecco – Bring You Home (Live)

First off - The Heart is, more or less, an acoustic album. Electronics are sparse, if there were any at all, and the thundering heartbeat of songs like “Live Again” is nowhere to be found. We do have handclaps, though, which made me pretty excited.

Still, with all the atmosphere Jimmy brings to his music, both in Ours and on his solo debut, you’re not really getting a truly “stripped” audio experience.

As with all of the Ours albums, the most compelling instrument is Gnecco’s voice. Simultaneously soaring and mournful, there aren’t a whole lot of vocalists out there putting this much pure talent and raw emotion into every song. Because of the consistency there, you’ll probably find that The Heart compliments your collection.

Succinctly: If Ours is music to coast into the night with, then The Heart is music for the murky first light of a cloudy day. It’s not happy, but it feels more resigned and less plaintive – like a final kick before the dawn.

If you’re not familiar with Ours, or would like to test out my opinion by comparing them to the above track, here’s the video(s) for “Live Again” and “God Only Wants You” off of the 2008 album Misery (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy).

If you’ve seen pop rockers Runner Runner’s recent music video for “So Obvious,” you already know they have a love/hate relationship with cell phones, don’t we all these days? Yet, they still want to hook you up with an iPhone 4. Swell guys, huh?

To enter, visit TRT’s contest page, watch the recent video, then fill out the entry form completely and hit submit. It’s that simple. Contest ends on August 7th so be sure to get your entry in now!

You can also stay up on all Runner Runner news by checking out the band’s SayNow number, (714) 646-4692, to chat with them and leave messages. They’re also heading out on the road with Secondhand Serenade this summer, so be sure to check out the tour dates on their MySpace, “like” them on their Facebook, and follow them on Twitter (@runnerrunner).