This Is Why I Love Amanda Palmer

Amanda Palmer doesn't need a record label.  Nor does she need any of the traditional infrastructure of the recorded music industry.  She consistently finds a way to make music outside the normal channels.

Now that she's ready to release her first studio album in four years, Amanda needs to raise some money. She's using the incubator site Kickstarter to help find investment from fans and other interested parties.  

Because she knows how to reach her people, Amanda was able to raise $100,000 in just seven hours.  As I write this, she has 4,790 backers pledging $250,832.  And there's still a month to go in the campaign.

Check out what she's doing here and pay close attention to the added-value material that she promises with this release.  Brilliant.

More Music from the Inbox: 01 May 2012

Travel mixed with computer failures has caused a bit of a back-up in the Music Recommendation Dept. here at the website, so please accept our apologies for not providing a steady stream of new tunes over the last week or so.

However, with this installment of More Music from the Inbox, we're just about caught up and ready to resume a more even twice a week schedule.  Brent Chittenden provides final judgement this time.

If you've submitted material for review and you don't see your music here, it's because it didn't make it through our double-filtering process.  The world of music reviews can be cruel.

Artist: Fixer (UK)

Album: Pop Meat / Your Corrupter EP

Incredibly tight harmonies (like Beach Boys tight... 100% serious) and pop sensibilities that seemed to like they were dipped in a healthy dose of Britpop and with a hint of chip tunes, Fixer have something incredibly unique going for themselves and I can’t wait to hear more.

Sounds Like: The Beach Boy growing up at Glastonbury and playing Nintendo.

Link / Listen / Watch

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Proving That He's the UK's Jack White, Damon Albarn Releases Another Project

Like Jack, Damon can't sit still.  He always has to be working on something.  His latest project is Dr. Dee, which was inspired by--get this---the life of John Dee, a mathematician and all-round boffin who was a trusted advisor to Elizabeth I.  

The album is a spin-off from a stage production that first ran last year in Manchester and will play at the English National Opera as part of the Olympic program.  A tracklisting follows this trailer.

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And Your London Olympic Headliner Is...

...uh, Duran Duran?

They'll headline a show in Hyde Park on July 27, which will coincide with the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.  And just so no one will miss what's happening in the east end of town, giant screens will be erected all over the park.

Stereophonics have been picked to represent Wales at the gig while Paolo Nutini will fly the Scottish flag and Snow Patrol will be there for Northern Ireland.  Tickets go on sale Friday.

Seriously, couldn't they have picked someone better than Duran Duran?  Was Paul McCartney busy?  Even half The Who is better than DD.  Jesus, get Noel Gallagher.  Or Paul Weller.  New Order's back together (sort of). If you're going to dip into the 80s, why not them?  My personal pick is Bowie but I somehow fear he's not well enough.

Any other suggestions?

Tired of fun.'s "We Are Young" Yet? Try This Clever Cover