SUPERCHUNK- "HYPER ENOUGH" (Legal MP3 Download)

From Chapel Hill's finest.. Here is some classic Superchunk.. Enjoy CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Trouble in Mouse Land

Roy Disney has resigned from the Disney Board of Directors, and has sent a scathing email to Michael Eisner explaining, in exorciating detail, exactly why he's leaving the company his uncle founded.
1. The failure to bring back ABC Prime Time from the ratings abyss it has been in for years and your inability to program successfully the ABC Family Channel. Both of these failures have had, and I believe will continue to have, significant adverse impact on shareholder value.

2. Your consistent micro-management of everyone around you with the resulting loss of morale throughout the Company.

3. The timidity of your investments in our theme park business. At Disney's California Adventure, Paris and now in Hong Kong, you have tried to build parks "on the cheap" and they show it and the attendance figures reflect it. Link to letter
**
from boing boing

The Mummies- "Death By Unga Bunga!!" (Album Review)

The deadest garage band around couldn't fit into today's trendy garage-rock scene if they wanted to. Self-proclaimed kings of budget rock The Mummies rose straight from the tombs of '50s rock and '60s garage, bringing along dirty, vintage instruments, muffled recording, and stripped-down, snarling energy. The Mummies, who came to life in 1988, may be dead (they returned to their graves in '92, but were briefly resurrected in '93 and again in '94 for European tours), but they left a priceless treasure behind, and it's a gloriously fucked-up one at that. The Mummies, a quartet comprising lead singer/organist Trent Ruane (formerly of Untamed Youth and the Phantom Surfers), drummer Russel Quan (who played with the Phantom Surfers, Count Backwards and The Bobbyteens), guitarist Larry Winther and bassist Maz Kattuah (current Phantom Surfers drummer), first rose from the dead in 1988 with an affinity for mocking '60s fashion-driven garage and a diehard drive for catching the dirtiest, most lo-fi sound around. Their debut LP, Never Been Caught , was released on vinyl by Telstar Records in 1992; Telstar released it on CD for the first time in 2002. The re-release included that album's original 17 tracks plus an additional five, including a cover of The Beatles' "I'm Down." Shocking the underworld for a second time, the band opted again to put out a — gasp — CD this year, making many of their hard-to-find or out-of-print singles available on one handy CD. The new CD, called Death by Unga Bunga!! , acts as a sort of Mummies best-of collection, drawing from a variety of '45s and EPs, including their entire Planet of the Apes EP, the B-side, "Your Lover," to the 1992 single Stronger Than Dirt, and "Uncle Willie" from the 1994 Norton Records compilation Turban Renewal: A Tribute to Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs , bringing the reissue to a total of 22 raw, sloppy boom-shake-boom songs. Death is so thoroughly inspired by early '60s garage (with small doses of surf and rockabilly), it'd be easy to mistake the record for a gem from the past (and I'm talking long before '92). The infectious, upbeat "Food, Sickles & Girls" is what they want, what they want, yeah, yeah, yeah, while "Your Love" is what they need "to kiss you and hold you tight." The latter tips its hat to Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band with its driving, pared-down rhythm. The thrashing, threatening "I'm Gonna Kill My Baby Tonight" reveals a rebellious punk influence, while the raw (well, they're all raw) "(I Should Better Be Lookin' for) Dangerman," exhibits a blues one. Led by ultra distorted vocals, "That's Mighty Childish" swaggers and thrusts, the dark, fuzz-drenched "(You Must Fight to Live) On the Planet of the Apes" pokes fun with a straight face, and "Babba Diddy Baby" features Chuck Berry-like licks, pained screams and the beat, the beat, the beat. The Mummies kill it, kill it dead, and it's glorious.

Kingblind’s top fifteen albums of 2003

1) Happy Songs for Happy People
Mogwai
Adventurous Scot rockers Mogwai may never shake reputation for creating brutal music, but Happy Songs for Happy People demonstrates that they can do more than render the aural equivalent of being sucked out a spaceship airlock. Until now, Stuart Braithwaite had taken on the role of Mogwai's bandleader by proxy, his tumultuous guitar playing serving as the outfit's hallmark. Now, however, multi-instrumentalist Barry Burns has stepped to the fore--albeit, with much more restraint--crooning effects-heavy vocals on "Hunted By a Freak" and teasing out a meditative piano line on the ghostly "I Know You Are But What Am I?" Indeed, more than any other Mogwai work, this album aims to create sheer bliss. Even the amp-busting crescendo of "Ratts of the Capital" matches its dark-metal pomp with chiming orchestra bells and starburst lead-guitar lines. No sudden banjo interludes or guest vocals jar with the album's slow passage toward its conclusion. Mogwai sound is lush and powerful. And our pick for the top of the list.

2) These Are Good Times
The High Strung
This one came out of left field folks.. A total late arrival to Kingblind, But my god what a record. Originally from Brooklyn NY now transplanted to the motor city their sound is that of nervous agitated melodies that make you stomp your feet and shake your fist in the air this the kind of record that makes people form bands and play music in the first place. Truly brilliant rock.

3) Electric Version
The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers' debut album was the stuff of legend, a near-perfect collection of catchy songs filled with lush sonics, anthemic sing-alongs, and retro pop hooks. Seemingly out of nowhere, the band--featuring Zumpano's Carl Newman, Destroyer's Dan Bejar, and alt-country goddess Neko Case --forged a power pop masterpiece. Electric Version is, thankfully, not all that different. For its 45 minutes, the album never eases up on its great influences; you're treated to a baker's dozen of memorable tunes that harken to prog-rock, New Wave, and the British Invasion. The lyrics are goofy, the production fills your stereo (like the best, most upbeat tracks by Wilco or the Flaming Lips ), and the alternating vocalists keep things fresh. The songs only get better as the album progresses; "Chump Change," "Ballad of a Comeback Kid,"and "July Jones" are three that standout. Somehow this indie supergroup is making classic rock ... today

4) Dangerous Magical Noise
The Dirtbombs
I had my worries that the Dirtbombs couldn't possibley follow up their classic "Ultraglide In Black" album, but my fears were washed away upon my first spin of "Dangerous Magical Noise". Where the last album was all covers of old soul songs this baby is originals, yet all the soul and passion is still in place. At times this album rocks harder than the last and has more of a Detroit rock style bombast (i.e. Stooges, MC5 style) and at times it recalls 70's glam rock ("Motor City Baby" is a real nod to T.Rex). Mick Collins proves once again that he has one of the most golden throats in all of rock music yet again too...I could listen to this guy sing the phone book. I love this band and I love this album

5) Elephant
The White Stripes
Jokingly referred to as the White Stripes' British album, Elephant is scattered with cultural references that give away the fact it was recorded far from home. Just listen to the lyrics on "Seven Nation Army" ("From the Queen of England to the hounds of Hell") or the album outro, in which someone chips in, "Jolly good, cup of tea?" But while there are new twists here, from Meg White discovering her voice to a tongue-in-cheek threesome with Holly Golightly, Elephant is no great departure for Jack and Meg White. They still push their creativity (and the boundaries of their eight-track) to new heights. Check out the startling, Queen -inspired "There's No Home for You Here," while the deep bass line on "Seven Nation Army" makes it a classic indie dance track. But while some songs fly off into new realms, there's plenty of their trademark straight-up bluesy rock, notably the overtly sexual "Ball and Biscuit." And there's Jack's plaintive, resolutely modest and yet theatrical voice. Just great stuff

6) All Your Summer Songs
Saturday Looks Good To Me
The new album "All Your Summer Songs" is a venture even deeper into Saturday Looks Good To Me's unique and mysterious sound. Thirteen songs blend deft songwriting and remarkable production, exploding in bouncy fits of reverb and sunshine reminiscent of the happiest Motown singles or Beach Boys moments, and perfectly paced with heartbreakingly sad songs that shake and shimmer like miniature symphonies playing somewhere in the distance. A huge cast of friends and musicians lent their talents to the making of this album, including guest vocalists like Ted Leo, Tara Jane O'Neil, Jessica Bailiff, members of Ida, Secret Stars, His Name Is Alive and others. The end result is a classic pop record. The rare type of music that inspires immediate intrigue and spontaneous dance parties, staying on repeat and stuck in your head for months at a time.

7) Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Well before the release of this solid but slender debut, the Brooklyn-based Yeah Yeah Yeahs were the subject of so much international press hype that the White Stripes were probably taking quick, nervous peeks over their shoulders. Fever to Tell captures a lot of what’s good about the trio--mostly the caterwauling energy of their club shows and the suitably raw trash-can thump of the band. Great stuff and sooo much fun.

8) Youth & Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
Already tagged with the unfortunate critical label of "southern-fried Strokes ," the full-length debut by the brothers Followill (Nathan, Jared, Caleb) and cousin (Matthew Followill) may well have its roots in their itinerant evangelist father Leon blasting his sons with relentless doses of ‘70s rock as they traveled the South from one preaching gig to the next. But the way the Kings channel sources as disparate as Led Zeppelin 's "That's the Way" into "Joe's Head" or the Who 's "Circles" into their ""Molly's Chambers" seems almost subconscious; after a decade of bands trying to reinvent the rock wheel, it's refreshing to hear one content to gleefully pry it loose and send it spinning in their own peculiar directions. The Strokes wish they could make an album this good.

9) Chutes Too Narrow
The Shins
The Shins' sophomore album is a joy from start to finish, though it's rather different from their 2001 leftfield pop genius stunner Oh, Inverted World . That album was like a warm embrace from a long-lost pal. True to its title, all of the songs were of a piece, seeming to inhabit one landscape, with an invitingly similar sound throughout. Chutes is more far-reaching and decidedly eclectic. Each song is essentially its own genre exercise. There's singer-songwriter James Mercer's surprisingly Perry Farrell -ish wail on the almost indie-metal opener, "Kissing the Lipless"; the lovely pedal steel lilt to "Gone for Good"; the moody folktronica of "Those to Come"; and the Cars -gone-rockabilly riffing on "Turn a Square." The strongest song, the acoustic "Young Pilgrims," is stripped-down and brilliant. On every tune, Mercer packs more hooks and melodic invention than most bands do on one album. As a whole, it's an even better record than Inverted World .

10) It Still Moves
My Morning Jacket
I heard so much buzz about MMJ that I had to listen to this. Usually, I don't trudge into the record shop and listen free to the CD with headphones, but on this one I did and within seconds I was sucked into the wonderful sound of this band. There are comparisons to everyone under the sun, but MMJ reminds me of vintage Allman Brothers circa 1970/71, hitch-hiking on desolate country roads with a backpack. This album is real Americana roots and is wonderful to hear again. It isn't as commerical as Lynyrd Skynyrd in their heyday, but it is something more deep, dreamy and creamy. Relish the 74 minutes of bliss!

11) Sea & The Rhythm
Iron & Wine
This twenty-minute EP is a five-song companion piece to Sam Beam aka Iron & Wine’s exceptional 2002 debut, The Creek Drank the Cradle . Culled from sessions in Sam’s Florida house between 1999 and 2002, everything that made that left-field album of often beautiful and sometimes strange folk music is here. There’s Beam’s deft banjo and slide guitar playing, his hushed and lovely but somehow very intense vocals, and those wonderful cryptic Southern Gothic lyrics. The words are sung clearly and they’re worth chewing over; infused with religious overtones and muted irony, they’re never corny and invite multiple interpretations. A highlight is the audience favorite "Jesus the Mexican Boy," one of his most beautiful and touching songs to date. PS: Your copy did not get water-damaged; like the intentionally lo-fidelity recording sound, it’s supposed to look like that!

12) Decline of British Sea Power
British Sea Power
British Sea Power have the talent and vision to be a truly inspirational new guitar band. Whether they hone their craft well enough to make a significant enough leap in their future endeavors remains to be seen, but as of right now they have injected the British indie scene with real vigor and purpose. This record is super cool stuff, with nods to Bowie, The Pixies and The Birthday Party throughout

13) De-Loused in the Comatorium
Mars Volta
De-loused in the Comatorium was inspired by the life of Julio Venegas, a childhood friend of some of the members in the band. Venegas, an artist in the El Paso region, slipped into a coma for a week after a drug overdose, and experienced a series of dreams, and battles between the good and bad aspects of the human conscience. He emerged from the coma in the end, but ultimately decided to take his own life. De-loused in the Comatorium narrates the internal struggle of Venegas, his addiction, his fearlessness and his thoughts while comatose until his life came to self-inflicted end. Yet the lyrics are very abstract, which probably represent the psychological and subconscious battle. Yet abstractions have been constant with Cedric Bixler ever since his days fronting At The Drive-In. Musically, however, Comatorium is eclectic, bizarre, bewildering, and mesmerizing. Comparisons to art rock legends Rush are frequent, yet this is a lot more intense and complex than anything ever put out by Rush. Yes, Bixler's vocals are high-pitched, like Rush frontman/bassist Geddy Lee's, yet they are a lot more hostile and urgent. The guitars aren't also as carefully composed as those of Rush, and the drumming isn't nearly as multifaceted or virtuosic. However, the songs on Comatorium are long, sprawling and interesting, usually going through several phases before its conclusion. This is a throwback to progressive rock. It is indulgent, ambitious and bombastic, much like prog-rock bands that have come and gone in the past, but yet The Mars Volta always keeps the music exciting. They also have a sense of direction on where the music needs to go, something a band like Rush was very good, at as opposed to past albums by Yes or Dream Theater, which insisted on the band members aimlessly noodling or overexploiting their musical talents. The band members started out playing in bands where raw emotion was the fundamental constituent of the songs they created, and did not rely on classically trained instrumentation. In fact, most of this album sounds like ATDI with longer songs with elements of old Santana, Pink Floyd's Meddle and Miles Davis circa 1969. De-loused in a Comatorium is not an album; it's an encounter. It reflects a tragedy so musically and so abrasively. It is not mainstream in the slightest, so don't expect a 12-minute jamfest like "Cicatriz ESP," or even a short 4 minute song like "Inertiatic ESP" to come on the radio anytime soon. It's full of enigmas, questions, emotions and reflections. Whether the Mars Volta is your style of music or not, De-loused in the Comatorium is probably the most interesting and uncompromising album released this year.

14) New Romance
Pretty Girls Make Graves
The New Romance is immediately impressive and gratifying, each subsequent listen unearthing an increasing number of underlying subtleties. Each of Pretty Girls Make Graves' members have contributed 110% here, and their ambitious zeal, coupled with their remarkable technical depth, has made for a utterly breathtaking full-length. One could almost analyze The New Romance's many layers to the death, if the desire to air-guitar wasn't so damn distracting.

15) So Much for the City
The Thrills
Dublin Has Produced a Fair Number of Bands that Make Music with a Universal Appeal to Many Far Beyond the Banks of the Emerald Isle. The Thrills Join that Roster with this Debut Album. Their Sound Though May Be a Bit Surprising to the Uninitiated as it is Unabashedly Rooted in the California Sounds of Brian Wilson Mixed with a Fair Amount of the Beatles and 70's Pop Bands as Well. Derivative? Maybe...but It Really Works...and Works Quite Well, Thank You Very Much. EMI Are So Proud of These Guys that They were Ushered Into Abbey Road to Record the Album on Much of the Same Equipment as Many of their Heroes. You Can Now Hear the Results on this Sparkling Initial Bow to the World.

AIR returns with new album and tour.

French duo Air has begun confirming dates for 2004, beginning with a nine-show run in the U.K. The trek kicks off Feb. 9 in Brighton and will wrap Feb. 19 in Southampton. Air's long-awaited new album, "Talkie Walkie," will be released Jan. 26 internationally and the following day in North America via Source/Astralwerks. A single, "Cherry Blossom Girl," arrives Jan. 12.
Here are Air's tour dates:
Feb. 9: Brighton, England (Brighton Dome)
Feb. 10: Birmingham, England (Academy)
Feb. 11: Nottingham, England (Rock City)
Feb. 13: Manchester, England (Apollo)
Feb. 14: Glasgow (Academy)
Feb. 15: Dublin (Olympia)
Feb. 17: Cambridge, England (Corn Exchange)
Feb. 18: London (Brixton Academy)
Feb. 19: Southampton, England (Guildhall)

The Buzzcocks Tour North America

Veteran U.K. rock act the Buzzcocks will kick off a North American club tour Friday (Nov. 28) in Chicago. The eight-date trek wraps Dec. 6 in Philadelphia, and is the group's first run of shows in the region since its stint opening for Pearl Jam this summer. Afterward, the Buzzcocks return to the U.K. for 11 more dates through Dec. 21 in Norwich. The group is touring in support of its self-titled Merge Records album, released in March. A new single, "Sick City Sometimes," is due Monday (Dec. 1) via Damaged Goods and at the shows, backed by the previously unreleased "Never Believe It" and a live version of "Paradise."

NYC Corner To Bear Ramone's Name

Joey Ramone's name will grace a street corner near the East Village club that the trailblazing Ramones helped turn into a punk rock destination. The corner of Second Street and Bowery near the legendary CBGBs will be christened "Joey Ramone Place" for the band's lead singer, who died of cancer in 2001 at 49. The Ramones, whose four members grew up in Queens, recorded their first album in 1976 and were known for songs including "I Wanna Be Sedated" and "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker." The ceremony to name the corner for Ramone, who was born Jeffrey Hyman, is scheduled for Sunday (Nov. 30)

The Worst Album Covers Of All Time

Too funny.. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THEM

Album Lennon signed for killer for sale

The album John Lennon autographed for his assassin just five hours before the former Beatle was killed went up for sale on Friday for $525,000. The copy of Lennon and wife Yoko Ono's "Double Fantasy," which sold for $460,000 four years ago, is being sold in part due to the recent frenzy of interest in Beatles memorabilia, according to the owner of the Web site selling the album. "Beatles memorabilia is at an all-time peak," said Gary Zimet, owner of http:/www.momentsintime.com. "For years, their material was grossly undervalued." Last week, Lennon's handwritten lyrics to the song "Nowhere Man" were sold at Christie's for $455,000 -- more than four times the expected price. According to the site, the album's cover and dust jacket contain the "forensically enhanced" fingerprints of Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman. Chapman shot the pop star outside the Dakota apartment building, Lennon's Manhattan home, on December 8, 1980. The album was later found in a flower planter near the building and was used as evidence against Chapman.

The Ultimate Gadget

Would you like the same cell phone as Madonna or your favorite Hollywood star. Well Vertu is your company. They range from 5,500 to 20,000 dollars, And come with you own personal concierge service, Gold or platinum finishes and much more. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

TRS-80- "Time Leverage" (Legal MP3 Download)

TRS-80 are a Chicago-based trio who mix up live drums, samples, and an array of vintage analog circuitry to create pulsing hypnotic sound collages. Their unique sound explores the boundaries of today's electronic underground, while delivering head-bobbing grooves that keep the listener entranced.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Dead Meadow - "Shivering King and Others" (Legal MP3 Download)

Washington DC's Dead Meadow makes some of the heaviest rock you'll find, but they mix the brutality with an enchanted beauty the likes of which you've never heard before.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Olivelawn- "HATE" (Legal MP3 Download)

From the skate parks and suburban malls of early '90s San Diego, this ferocious foursome comes screaming with a window-shattering blend of sarcastic, grungy punk rock.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

The Quadrajets- "All My Rowdy Friends are Dead" (Legal MP3 Download)

These Southern trash rockers deliver the goods with a vicious guitar-driven attack laced with Old Crow and Louisiana hot sauce. They'll get you twisted in knots trying to keep up, and once they're done you'll be quivering for more.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Joe Strummer- "Redemption song" (Music Video)

New video from the late Joe Strummer.. Enjoy.. CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT Requires REAL

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

FROM YOUR PALS AT KINGBLIND.COM
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE !!!!

The British are coming !

When I was on tour and we played Boston.. You won’t believe what I saw.. A London black cab. Well.. It was painted yellow. But hell.. They are in the states.. TOO COOL. CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT

DRIVING BY THE UK!

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS will be heading out on a tour of the UK at the end of this month, kicking off at the MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3 on November 30. The country rockers, who released their latest album 'Decoration Day' last month (October 6) will be appearing at a handful of dates across the country including two nights at London's Borderline on December 3-4. The band first hit the road in 1998 and played over 400 shows in two and a half years while recording and releasing three independent albums. Their gruelling touring schedule didn't let up either after releasing their fourth album 'Southern Rock Opera' in 2001, as the band then played over 250 shows in 14 months.
Drive-By Truckers will be playing at:
Manchester Academy 3 (November 30)
Glasgow King Tuts Wah Wah Hut (December 2)
London The Borderline (3-4)
Sheffield The Fez Club (5)

Lost Roky Sessions Released: New collection sheds light on rocker's bizarre legacy

Roky Erickson's reputation as a mad musical genius is both well documented and well deserved. Beginning with his stint fronting psychedelic pioneers the 13th Floor Elevators in the late Sixties, all the way through his post-mental institution, sci-fi-themed solo albums of the Eighties, Erickson created a body of work that's as inscrutable as it is brilliant. But a new collection of previously unreleased rehearsal recordings, Don't Knock the Rok! , helps shed light on the troubled Texan's bizarre career. The demos were made in 1978 while Erickson and his band the Aliens were preparing to record The Evil One with Credence Clearwater bassist Stu Cook. The new twenty-three-song set, culled from the archives of Roky's one-time manager and producer Craig Luckin, features a spate of early rock and doo-wop covers from the 1950s -- from Bobby Vee and Dion and the Belmonts to Buddy Holly and Elvis -- as well as a smattering of tuneful-but-twisted originals in the same vein as the material Erickson eventually laid down on The Evil One The demos were made by Luckin, who always had tape rolling while Roky and the band -- guitarist Duane Aslaksen, electric autoharpist Billy Miller, bassist Steven Morgan Burgess (now deceased) and drummer John "Fuzzy Furioso" Oxendine -- rehearsed at Cosmo's Factory in Berkley, California. Never intended for release, the recordings were originally made to help in the development of new material. And the oldies covers were simply something the band did at the beginning of practices to set the tone for the rest of the session. "It was Roky's idea to use the oldies as a warm-up thing," explains Luckin. "They didn't do it every day -- it tended to be once a week he wanted to do oldies as a way to get everybody warmed up and in a good mood." Judging by the performances, Erickson was generally the only one who really knew the songs, leading the stumbling Aliens through a host of tunes that were clearly dear to him. His bluesy howl is frequently all that's in the proper key, faltering only when he struggles to remember a lyric or work out a chord progression. Behind him, the rest of the band just muddles through. "These were one-time-only performances of songs we never played before," explains Miller, the former Alien who today goes by the name Billy Angel and plays in the Roky-influenced Blood Drained Cows with former Angry Samoans vocalist/guitarist Gregg Turner. "These were done for recreation with no intention of ever playing them again, much less recording them for release." The seven original tracks included on Don't Knock the Rok! are also quite rough, but some, in more polished form, have previously been issued on other releases, most of which are currently out of print. "You Drive Me Crazy" and "Can't Bring Me Down" appeared on the group's second album, Don't Slander Me (1986). According to Luckin, that set will soon be re-released by Ryko. Of the originals, only "Heartstrings" and "Untitled," which are more like ideas for songs than actual songs, have not been issued elsewhere. The process of assembling Don't Knock the Rok! began three years ago when Luckin and producer Karl Derfler patched together a five-song demo to send around to labels, and a copy found its way to Norton Records' Billy Miller (no relation to the Aliens' autoharpist of the same name). A huge fan of the oldies that Erickson was covering on the tape, Miller agreed release a selection of the rehearsal tracks if enough could be put together for a full-length album. Miller, along with his mastering engineer, Howard Rappaport, even ended up doing some of the editing and patching together of different tapes. "His vision was what made this come to be," says Luckin of Miller. "It wasn't something that I ever marketed." Luckin has more material in his archives that he hopes will soon see the light of day. He's recently been discussing with Roky and his brother (and legal guardian) Sumner Erickson the possibility of releasing acoustic material Roky recorded with onetime Sir Douglas Quintet guitarist John Reed in the Seventies. Luckin also says that a best-of collection by Roky Erickson and the Explosives (Roky's Austin-based post-Aliens group) will be out sometime in 2004. More information about Roky Erickson is available at rokyerickson.net. The Don't Knock the Rok! track listing:
A Teenager in Love
Angel Baby
You Drive Me Crazy
Stand By Me
Heartstrings
Untitled
What to Do
You're the One
Bashful Bob
One Last Kiss
Take Good Care of My Baby
Things That Go Bump in the Night
Wake Up to Rock and Roll
Can't Be Brought Down
Money Honey
You're the One
Love Is Strange
True Love Ways
You're the One
Our First Kiss
Heartbreak Hotel
Bumble Bee Zombie
Hushabye

Azure Ray- "Hold On Love" (Legal MP3 Download)

If you waited all night for the sunrise only to be thwarted with a sweet and warm summer rain at dawn, your simultaneous sense of serenity and despair would be much like listening to this graceful female duet. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

SEND THEM BACK!!

We knew stealing that music was wrong . Stealing is never OK. But, it was just too easy. So we told ourselves we were just "sharing" the music, because everyone knows that sharing is a good thing. But then we learned what we were really doing. We heard our favorite recording artists telling us that our "sharing" is really shoplifting and piracy. We were stealing from the musicians and singers we love! That was when we looked at each other and said: "No more! It's time to make it right by giving back what we stole!" And that's just what we did! We sent back all the MP3's we'd illegally downloaded. Everyone one of them! Won't you join us in sending them back? Send them back! Right back to the Recording Industry of America Association, the industry association that helps our favorite artists keep on making the music we love. Send them back! We did...and we feel great! It's Easy! Here's How!! CLICK HERE.. You'll feel much better

IBM Glass Engine -

Enables deep navigation of the music of Philip Glass. Personal interests, associations, and impulses guide the listener through an expanding selection of over sixty Glass works. CLICK HERE TO BEGIN

JACK OF ALL TRADES

JACK WHITE is to contribute five tracks to the ’COLD MOUNTAIN’ film soundtrack, including two new songs ’NEVER FAR AWAY’ and ’CHRISTMAS TIME WILL SOON BE OVER’ .The White Stripes guitarist will also play the traditional ‘Wayfaring Stranger’, ‘Great High Mountain’ and a cover of legendary bluesman Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ on the compilation. As well as appearing on the soundtrack, White has a small role in the film as an itinerant singer and musician. ‘Cold Mountain’ – a Civil War -era drama and adaptation of Charles Frazier ’s book - is set to open on December 25 in the US and stars Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger As reported the album, released in North America on December 16, will also feature songs from bluegrass artist Alison Krauss and pianist Gabriel Yared.
The tracklisting for ‘Cold Mountain’ is:
Jack White ‘Wayfaring Stranger’
Reeltime Travelers ’Like a Songbird That Has Fallen’
Tim Eriksen, Riley Baugus & Tim O'Brien ’I Wish My Baby Was Born’
Alison Krauss ’The Scarlet Tide’
Tim Eriksen & Riley Baugus ’The Cuckoo’
Jack White ’Sittin' on Top of the World’
Tim Eriksen ’Am I Born To Die?’
Alison Krauss ’You Will Be My Ain True Love’
Sacred Harp Singers at Liberty Church ’I'm Going Home’
Jack White ’Never Far Away’
Jack White ’Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over’
Stuart Duncan & Dirk Powell ’Ruby With the Eyes That Sparkle’
Cassie Franklin ’Lady Margaret’
Jack White ’Great High Mountain’
Gabriel Yared ’Anthem’
Gabriel Yared ‘Ada Plays’
Gabriel Yared ’Ada and Inman’
Gabriel Yared ’Love Theme’
Sacred Harp Singers at Liberty Church ’Idumea’

Low "Misfits Show" (Legal MP3 Download)

31 October 1998, Spaceland, Los Angeles, Ca.. Low performed "Words", "Turn", and "Over the Ocean" in the style of the Misfits. This file is 5.1 M (5:30) and includes all three songs (128kbps, 48kHz). CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

KINDERCORE RECORDS FOUNDERS FILE SUIT AGAINST THE TELEGRAPH COMPANY, I.D.E.A. INC.

Kindercore Records founders Daniel Geller and Ryan Lewis today filed a lawsuit against I.D.E.A. (International Development of Entertainment Alliances), also known as The Telegraph Company, Kindercore General Manager Jerod Gunsberg and I.D.E.A. CEO Stanley Hartman for breach of contract, slander, libel, and a host of other infractions. A strategic partnership formed in 2001 between the Kindercore label and Telegraph was intended to strengthen the label's administration and further the aesthetic and ideals that Geller and Lewis had established. The partnership quickly devolved over the 18 months that the relationship existed, culminating in the recent announcement that Kindercore was folding.Geller states, We were as surprised as anyone on November 12th to learn that Kindercore would be closing. We were also surprised on November 14th to find out the label was not closed and would now be run by Stan Hartman who had previously stated to us that he wanted nothing to do with the creative side of running a record label. In the beginning, Geller and Lewis expected that their partnership with Telegraph would allow them to continue guiding the artistic direction of Kindercore while also allowing more time for them to work on their own music. Geller and Lewis perform in bands on the Kindercore label - I Am The World Trade Center and The Agenda respectively. Lewis says, We're artists at heart and have always been about the music. We saw this partnership as a chance to keep the label going in the same artistic direction that we had established and to also uphold our commitments to our artists. Instead, after the agreements were signed, Geller and Lewis began to see their roles at the label rapidly diminish, a situation that came to a head when Kindercore signed two bands that Geller and Lewis had passed on (in one case) and had never even heard (in the other). Compounding this lack of control over their own company, Geller and Lewis‚ own bands were then dropped from the label, a curious move considering that I Am The World Trade Center is the second biggest selling act on Kindercore. Since being in bands on the roster was essentially the last real connection we had with the label we started, we had no other choice but to await further news on the future of Kindercore, Geller says. At this point, we're very concerned for the bands that are still associated with Kindercore. Lewis elaborates, stating that he and Geller are doing everything we can to bring a quick resolution to this situation. Bringing this legal action was the last thing we wanted to do, but we felt it was the only thing we could do to help the friends and artists who had faith in us when we entered into this arrangement with Telegraph. Quinn Heraty, of the law firm Heraty Hall, is representing the plaintiffs. A legal fund has been established to help offset the tremendous costs associated with furthering this action. Please click here to contribute: Legal inquiries can be directed to kindercore@heratyhall.com or by phone to 212-979-3728. Press inquiries can be directed to Joshua Bloom at Fanatic Promotion, LLC. 212-616-5556 | josh@fanaticpromotion.com | www.fanaticpromotion.com Thanks for visiting and taking the time to learn more about our situation. As you know, pursuing a lawsuit is a costly proposition and we can use any and all help that fans of Kindercore and music in general can provide. Please know that we intend to use any positive outcome from this case to help benefit the artists and friends of Kindercore. We started this label with the goal of putting out great music and helping our friends get heard. It has been a long journey and until control recently fell out of our hands, Kindercore always operated with this goal in mind. Certain events in the last 18 months have led to a rapid change in the artistic and business direction of Kindercore records. Our alliance with Telegraph/I.D.E.A. started with good intentions, but as the relationship progressed we realized that our vision for the label was being compromised. Our involvement in the label slowly diminished as our new partners took control of the creative direction of the label after already assuming control of business operations. Kindercore as it exists today no longer has anything to do with the ideals we started with in 1996. We feel our guidance and care and the contributions of our friends and colleagues gave the label a heart and soul that provided something really special in a business driven by sales and marketing. We hope our fight reopens the door that was recently closed and allows us to continue to work with artists we love in bringing our unique contribution to the indie world. Our lawsuit against The Telegraph Company and I.D.E.A. Inc. is a very expensive endeavor. In order to keep the fight going, we will need all the help we can get. We will be organizing benefits in the near future. Anyone interested in helping with a benefit in their town or bands that would like to help out by playing a benefit can contact us at kindercore@heratyhall.com. Any donations, no matter how small, are extremely appreciated.

The Album covers that never were.

Imagine thumbing through CDs at your local music store and not recognizing anything you see. The titles are identifiable, but the familiar album covers have been replaced with completely different artwork. That's the unique idea behind this project conceived by music archivist Michael Ochs and graphic designer Craig Butler, who hope to take "album cover art to a whole new level." Ochs and Butler approached 100 established graphic and fine artists and asked them to create "the definitive album cover of their favorite recording artist." The inspired offerings will no doubt rock your world. The creativity flows with James Brown hangin' ten, Elvis Presley in Russia, and Johnny Cash the subject of a shrine. Many of the works in this exhibition can currently be seen at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, but keep an eye out for the nationwide traveling exhibit starting next year. CLICK HERE TO VIEW SITE

KRAFTWERK TOURS

German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk have confirmed a rare tour of the U.K. and Ireland, beginning March 15 at the Dublin Olympia Theatre. The five-date visit will conclude at the Brixton Academy in London on March 20. These shows will be the group's first in the region since 1997, and its first tour overall since 1991. The first tour date will coincide with the release of new single "Aero Dynamik," through EMI. The label says the single will be a different version than the one that appears on Kraftwerk's latest album, "Tour de France Soundtracks," and will be accompanied by a selection of remixes.

RHCP guitarist coming out with new sold album

Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante will release a new solo album, "Shadows Collide With People," Feb. 25 via Warner Bros. The set features guest appearances from bandmates Flea and Chad Smith, as well as the Bicycle Thief's Josh Klinghoffer. It will be the follow-up to 2001's "To Record Only Water for Ten Days," Frusciante also contributed five songs to the soundtrack for Vincent Gallo's controversial film "The Brown Bunny." The album will be released only in Japan this week.

Senators go after P2P

Six U.S. senators have written to executives of peer-to-peer networks, calling on them to protect copyrights and cease their role in the distribution of pornography, The letter -- sent Friday to executives of Grokster, Bearshare, eDonkey2000, Blubster, LimeWire and Streamcast Networks -- says the companies "have a legal and moral obligation to conform to copyright laws and to end the pornographic trade over these networks." It calls for sites to incorporate "effective copyright and pornography filters" and post clear warnings to consumers about the legal risks of using P2P software. It also asks P2P companies to change the "sharing" default setting of their software. "The only way to avoid being a forced distributor, and thereby avoid being subject to a copyright-infringement lawsuit for 'sharing,' is to change the default settings," the missive states. The letter is signed by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.); Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.); Gordon Smith (R-Ore.); Dick Durbin (D-Ill.); Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.); and John Cornyn (R-Texas).

SPREE OF GOODWILL

THE POLYPHONIC SPREE capped off an evening of thank you’s to LA’s independent radio station KCRW with a triumphant gig on Saturday night (November 22). The Texas ensemble headlined the listener supported National Public Radio station’s fund raising event, ‘A Sounds Eclectic’ evening, at LA's Universal Amphitheatre, atop a bill that included Damien Rice, Beck, Liz Phair and Jurassic 5 The Polyphonic Spree ’s frontman Tim DeLaughter told KINGBLIND.COM his band came to perform tracks off their album ’The Beginning Stages Of...’ due to KCRW’s longtime supporting their music. "This radio station was responsible for exposing our band. It was the very first station in America to play the The Polyphonic Spree ," he said. "It’s been a big huge help for us trying to get started over here. This is our way of saying thank you very much." Damien Rice, during his performance (which received a standing ovation) also praised the station, which he too credited for debuting his music to an American audience. In between renditions of ’Cannonball’ ’, ’The Blower’s Daughter’ and ’Cold Water’ he gave praise to the listeners. "Thank you to everyone that supports KCRW. It’s a fucking amazing station and we wouldn’t be here touring the States if it wasn’t for them." Earlier in the evening Beck played a short acoustic set which included ’Nobody’s Fault But My Own’ and a ’Where It’s At’ meets Nelly’s ‘Hot in Herre’ mix. He also paid a brief tribute to tragic troubadour Elliott Smith, who committed suicide last month. The evening closed with an aftershow party featuring Cut Chemist of Jurassic 5 and Felix Da Housecat.

Won't you be my friendster.

Attention.. Friendster is like crack.. God I can't stop.. Thanks Ashley and Michael..

When he's not playing with Portastatic, Matt McCaughan (Mac's little brother) drums in a Michael Jackson tribute band.

"Who's Bad seeks to recreate the sound and energy that is Michael Jackson's music. By merging the traditional rock rhythm section of bass, drums, and guitar with keyboard, horns, and vocals, Who's Bad performs hits from the beginnings of Michael Jackson's stardom to the present, while preserving the integrity of his music. Because our repertoire spans all decades of Michael Jackson's music, Who's Bad is the perfect musical solution to any of your partying needs."
WEBSITE

Sonic Youth-"Silver Rocket" (Legal MP3 Download)

How about some nice rare Sonic Youth.. Here is a demo of SILVER ROCKET.. Enjoy
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

KINGBLIND RECOMMENDS:

Here is what's on Kingblind's stereo this week:
The High Strung: These are good times-- The Shins: Chutes too Narrow-- British Sea Power: The Decline of BSP-- The Thrills: So Much for the city-- My Morning Jacket: It Still Moves

Harrison’s 1st guitar gets $469,200

George Harrison’s first guitar — “a real cheapo” his parents gave him — has sold at auction for more than $469,200. THE GUITAR WAS part of an annual Beatles sale by music memorabilia firm Cooper Owen, conducted Thursday at the Hard Rock Cafe in London. Bids were taken at the cafe, by phone and on the Internet. Harrison’s father spent about $5.95 for the Dutch-made Egmond guitar. In The Beatles Anthology book, Harrison described it as “a real cheapo, horrible little guitar but it was OK at the time.” Another guitar, which Harrison gave to his late friend Spike Milligan of The Goons, sold for about $25,500. Auction items also included autographed photos, a contract to play a club show and a corduroy coat that John Lennon once wore.

The Shins- "So I say" (Music Video)

New video from The Shins. From their excellent new record "Chutes too Narrow" CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO Requires Quicktime

PINBACK- "Lyon" (Legal MP3 Download)

While a rotating cast of instrumentalists find loose assembly under the Pinback name, the partnership of Armistead Burwell Smith IV and Rob Crow is at the heart of the some of the most complex, postmodern indie pop happening on the West Coast. In the first few days of 1998, Armistead Burwell Smith IV (of San Diego-based 3 Mile Pilot ) and Robert Crow (of Thingy and Heavy Vegetable ) formed a part-time recording project under the name Pinback. The simple plan grew more involved while 3 Mile Pilot took an indefinite hiatus and Crow put a number of his musical projects on hold. Recording on Smith 's home computer, the duo enlisted 3 Mile Pilot drummer Tom Zinsor , and by the following August, Pinback had finished recording 14 songs of delicate, canonic pop that was tentatively slated for release on San Diego's Vinyl Communications. However, when interest in the band skyrocketed after a Tim/Ker label showcase at the North by Northwest Music Festival, the record got tied up in a bidding war that caused a slew of contractual problems and held the record in limbo for almost a full year. When they were eventually cleared from all former obligations, Pinback finally signed with New Jersey's Ace Fu Records, who released their eponymous debut in early 1999, almost a full year after it was recorded. With their long histories in West Coast indie circles and the marriage of the players' diverse musical backgrounds, Pinback scored immediate critical success. The Some Voices EP that followed the next year on Tree Records displayed a slightly more low-fi and elemental side of the band while building on the intelligently constructed songcraft of their eponymous debut. Blue Screen Life , the band's second studio effort, exuded something more musically pure from Pinback. Gone was the frilly rock nonesense. Instead, Pinback went for more of a melodic nature with classic indie flair. Absolutely Kosher released Offcell in June of 2003. Pinback continues to slowly push themselves a bit further with complex song structure, while maintaining their indie pop sensibilities. Look for a new full length in 2004 on Touch and Go. Here is a MP3 from their first full length. Enjoy.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MP3

KINSKI "Newport" (Legal MP3 Download)

Building, pulsing rhythmic guitar clean psych rock. For fans of Mogwai, Tristeza, and Roy Montgomery alike. about: "While debating the merits of analog vs. digital recording in a Seattle pub, guitarist Chris Martin and bassist Lucy Atkinson were interrupted by the bartender, drummer Dave Weeks. He said, definitively, that analog was superior; thus Kinski came into being. This same spontaneity would come to define their multi-layered noise-rock, reminiscent of Sonic Youth at their most experimental. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MP3

STARS HONOUR STRUMMER

The video for JOE STRUMMER’s second single from the posthumous ’STREETCORE’ was recorded on Sunday (November 16) in NEW YORK. The promo for ’Redemption Song’ focuses on the making of a mural of the late Clash singer. The spray-painted mural is on the wall of the East Village Bar, Niagara. The video features appearances from Rancid, actor Matt Dillon, Jesse Malin, and many more of Strummer’s New York friends. Archive footage of The Clash’s 1982 Shea Stadium shows, and footage of Strummer's last band The Mescaleros at London’s Brixton Academy, will also be used in the video. The double A-side single ’Redemption Song’ /’Arms Aloft ‘ is released on December 15.

Warp Records To Provide Entire Catalog For Download Via Bleep.com

Warp Records, the London-based left-field electronic record label and film company, will take music into uncharted territory as they become the first label to provide the world with their entire discography (old and new) as pay-per-track MP3 downloads. Now this seems like a step in the right direction (whatever that direction may be). The amusingly named Bleep.com, set to launch next month, will provide listeners with high quality MP3's and opts to be the quickest and most reliable source for Warp's occasionally hard-to-find releases. This idea borders on the same notion some parents have of letting their kids drink and smoke pot-- as long as they do it at home where they can be supervised. Of course, those parents don't sell their kids the booze and weed for 99 cents a crack either, so forget that analogy for a second. The site's truly revolutionary aspect remains the idea that the entire catalog will remain available, in part or in whole, indefinitely. This caters directly to the hearts and minds of file-sharing users who frequently seek rarities, out-of-print recordings, singles and b-sides through peer-to-peer trading networks. A service like Bleep.com eliminates the need for users to host rare files or spend hours scouring for the few rare songs they can't find or are only available in poor-quality or corrupted files. !!!, Anti-Pop Consortium, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Boards of Canada, Broadcast, Plaid, Prefuse 73, and Squarepusher are among the label mainstays whose entire Warp output will be available through the service, which is being designed by the estimable Designers Republic and Kleber (the same madmen responsible for the Warp site's distinct look and feel).

!!! reveal album details

California funk-punk err...yeah, !!! have revealed details about their forthcoming album. Following on the tails of the glass-ceiling smashing single Me and Giuliani Down By the School Yard (A True Story) and “self-titled” album, !!! are hoping to have a new album out by spring at the latest, and the tentative title Looking Down on Heaven has sprung from lips across the pond. While no further details have been announced, the band may be previewing new material when they have a brief... err, one night visit to London when the Mean Fiddler plays graceful host on the 3rd of December before they head off to France for their last live date of the year. The band have linked to some live video footage of themselves and the equally marvelous Out Hud on their site, but we can give it to you straight. cha cha. CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT A !!! MUSIC VIDEO

Kindercore Records says goodbye

Almost immediately after our reporting the impending demise of the Kindercore and Telegraph Company labels last week, the press was forwarded some very interesting correspondence indicating some kind of power struggle (and at the same time some kind of a meltdown) taking place at whatever remains of the Kindercore empire. Evidently some Kindercore bands were taken somewhat by surprise that their label might no longer be operational: indeed, one Kindercore band informed us that the first they heard of their label's extinction was when they read about it in this very organ. Others felt unable to comment on the situation due to their pending search for a new label, and still others had absolutely no clue what was going on. Whom you believe might depend to some extent on where your loyalties lie (or whether you actually care, which is not something we're taking for granted here): Our original story, linked below, was based on a statement regarding the labels' closure issued by Jerod Gunsburg, the New York-based label manager and spokesperson, and a correspondence with the press confirming the circumstances surrounding the closure. But on Friday, the press was forwarded a bizarre press release from one Stanley Hartman, the Kansas-based CEO of IDEA, which owns Kindercore and The Telegraph Company and handles their distribution. The somewhat comical rant presented a scenario in which Kindercore's phone bank was literally jammed with calls from well-wishers and distributors frantic to secure copies of Dressy Bessy and Maserati/Mercury Program discs. Uh-huh. Compounding the already shaky credibility of this document (a Word attachment titled "Press releasae.doc"), Hartman went on to claim that Kindercore is in fact "shipping record numbers" and that a Kindercore artist was recently booked on The Daily Show , which doesn't in fact book musical acts (we'll assume he meant the Carson Daly show, where Dressy Bessy was a recent guest). He then contradicted just about every point of Gunsburg's press release from the previous day: "[We] are expanding our distribution, and have some amazingly good new music in the works. We are also working all current releases... The last thing we were expecting was a press release conveying that we were ceasing operations completely." Curiously, several posts discussing the labels' closure on the official Kindercore forum-- including Gunsburg's eulogy for the label and best wishes for the now-homeless bands-- were deleted by forum moderators on Friday. This week, moderators deleted the entire Kindercore general discussion topic, which had been overrun with anonymous posters second-guessing the status of the label and bands and re-posting censored topics. Gunsburg had the following to say about this: "Any information that [IDEA] is now releasing about Kindercore still operating is in direct contradiction to what they informed the label staff... It saddens me that the artists are being dragged into this. This sort of palace intrigue is what you would expect from a major media conglomerate, not from an indie rock label that placed a premium on artist development." Finally, Hartman himself weighed in on the matter with us: "The label is active and running. We are not defunct." It seems that of all the bands that were on the Kindercore roster before this whole thing blew up, maybe three remain in Kindercore's good graces-- those being Japancakes, Paper Lions and Maserati, the latter two of whom are merely "talking about another release." Everybody else is toast, which is to say that Of Montreal, Dressy Bessy, Mercury Program, Jet By Day and Agenda are, in Hartman's verbiage, "not currently under contract for another record." Gersey, Palomar and I Am The World Trade Center, whose forthcoming albums formed the bulk of Kindercore's projected 2004 release schedule, are "not releasing their records [on Kindercore] and are finding other homes," Hartman told us. Hartman also mentioned the possiblity of three further signings in 2004, adding that the new Kindercore "will only be working with four active artists on the label at one time." Something seems slightly amiss with Stanley's math here, but that's not the main point to take away from this, unless you consider math skills an important part of running a successful business operation with some level of financial acumen. In response to this, Gunsberg remarked that "if the Kindercore and Telegraph labels do continue, which is highly suspect in and of itself, they will bear no resemblance to what they have been and were growing into." So, the bottom line, if such can be gleaned from this sorry saga, is that at the very best Kindercore seems to be seriously downsizing. At the worst, well, we don't really want to think about the worst case scenario, but it sure does look like a lot of bands don't have a label anymore, and so far as we can tell, there's really only one band that is definitely and unequivocally still on board. So, ladies and gentlemen, we give you Japancakes-- the only survivor from the bloody Kindercore massacre of November 2003. With the entire weight of the Kindercore publicity operation behind them, the mind boggles at the giddy heights Japancakes will be able to attain in 2004 and beyond. We were going to end this with some kind of pithy and witty punchline, but you know what? Sometimes a story just speaks for itself.

“The Encyclopedia Of Heavy Metal” by Daniel Bukszpan (Book Review)

Stop reading this, get off the damned Internet, go to the nearest Barnes & Noble, find Daniel Bukszpan’s “The Encyclopedia Of Heavy Metal,” plop down twenty bucks and buy it. I don’t care if you don’t listen to loud, heavy music. I don’t care if you can’t appreciate lots of color photos of garishly dressed, longhaired white folks in really silly poses, grimacing. It’s a safe bet you know somebody who does, and the holidays – as they say – are “right around the corner.” This is quite simply the greatest bathroom book since “The Book of Lists 2.” Why? Gather around and I’ll tell ya… Throughout my adolescent fascination with hard rock music, I sought out and read every cheap bio, slick gossip rag and “authoritative” reference book I could find on the subject. My collection of Circus magazines could (and often did) completely cover the floor of my room. The common thread connecting virtually all of this literature was the piss-poor “journalism” involved in producing the even worse “writing” of these pieces. Inconsistencies, contradictions, unsubstantiated hearsay and downright stupidity all seemed to be necessary evils to get a book about heavy metal published. This must have bothered Daniel Bukszpan in his youth as well, because he’s just churned out 300 pages of the funniest, most intelligent rock writing this side of Justin Vela: “When it comes to German power metal bands who dress like pirates, there can be little disagreement that Running Wild is hands down the finest example. Anyone who would attempt to dispute this truism doubtless has their own German power-metal band in which the members dress like pirates, and is seeking, truculently, to defame their betters in the hopes of advancing their own career.” There are lots of fun facts, too: “In a somewhat unorthodox quest to find closure, (Mayhem’s spectacularly deceased lead singer’s) band mates used the many available shards of his skull to make necklaces.” And the photos! Hundreds of ‘em! You’ll even find an outtake from Soundgarden’s infamous “lily pad” photo shoot for Charles Peterson’s October 1988 cover of The Rocket newspaper. Handwritten lyrics, backstage passes, jacket patches and other memorabilia round out the book’s overall design, and the effect is impressive. Doom metal, black metal, death metal, prog, thrash, shred, NWOBHM, glam, stoner rock… it’s all represented here, from Uriah Heep to Sleep. There’s even a foreword by Ronnie James Dio, wherein he confesses his unholy love for Paul Rodgers from Bad Company! The book is not without a few missteps. Bukszpan fails to explain why an entry for the power pop group Cheap Trick is included in a book named “The Encyclopedia Of Heavy Metal”, and a few of the band photos are reversed (making correct identification of the members impossible). But when one of the photos in question is a great 1979 shot of Judas Priest roller-skating merrily through Central Park, these sins are forgivable. Whether you can’t remember what year Pantera’s Metal Magic album came out (1983) or you just want to finally read an honest assessment of Living Colour’s career (one without the common but erroneous label of “funk metal” applied to a band who were similar to the true metallic funkateers Fishbone in pigment alone), or hell, even if you merely like making fun of really bad hairstyles, this is the book to buy. Just make sure you have a shelf in your bathroom big enough to hold it.

The Beatles- Let it Be naked (Album Review)

Though it is still faithful to much of the feel of Let It Be, the presentation of Naked, including the slight bits of modern-day editing, reveals that it is revisionist history, not the final word. Which doesn't hurt it as a record -- these are great songs, after all -- but it is a bit disappointing that this long-awaited project wasn't executed with a little more care and respect for the historical record.

The Darkness hit the road

The Darkness, England's very own late-'70s hard-rock indie metal minimalist power rock band, of course. Enjoying minor success in their native land with the release of their EP I Believe In A Thing Called Love , The Darkness struck real acclaim with their recent album. And now with a brief U.S. tour on the itinerary before flying off to Japan and their homeland, their Metal-gone-wrong (very wrong) sound can be evaluated in person. Maybe. The dates:
11-19 Chicago, IL - Double Door
11-21 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
11-22 Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
11-25 Osaka, Japan - Club Quattro
11-26 Tokyo, Japan - Zepp
11-27 Nagoya, Japan - Club Quattro
12-03 Plymouth, England - Plymouth Pavilions
12-04 Bournemouth, England - International Centre
12-05 London, England - Brixton Academy
12-06 London, England - Brixton Academy
12-08 Birmingham, England - TBA
12-09 Edinburgh, Scotland - Corn Exchange
12-10 Manchester, England - Carling Apollo Manchester

Lennon’s lyrics sell for $455,000

John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics to the song “Nowhere Man” were sold for $455,000 — more than four times the expected price — at an entertainment memorabilia sale at Christie’s Tuesday. THE LYRICS to the Beatles song were expected to fetch between $80,000 and $100,000 at the New York auction, according to Christie’s spokeswoman Margaret Barrett. The sale’s other premier item, the Oscar for best director won by Michael Curtiz for “Casablanca,” sold to famed magician David Copperfield for $231,500. It had been projected to sell for between $200,000 and $300,000.

Goodbye Turntables: The New DJ Revolution: mp3j's (and iPods)

You are a DJ but you don't have any bulky gear. You don't need to drive to a gig, the subway / underground will do just fine. You also don't need an assistant to carry milk crates of heavy vinyl. Everything you need is in your pockets and the size of a cigarette pack. You only have 2 iPods, but together they hold enough music to play for several months straight, 24-7, without a single repeat. You are a mp3j. Somewhere in East London the turntables are motionless. The only thing spinning is a chorus of iPod hard drives, or the ceiling (if you're friends with the bartender). Sounds pretty cool huh.. Well CLICK HERE to read the whole story.

Wilco Gets Busy On New Album

Wilco is in a New York studio recording the follow-up to its acclaimed 2002 album "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," Kingblind.com has learned. As with that set, which was released by Nonesuch after Wilco parted ways with Warner Bros., the band is working on the sessions with producer multi instrumentalist Jim O'Rourke. Chris Shaw, best known for his work on Bob Dylan's "Love and Theft," is engineering. The album, tentatively titled "W*lco Happens," will most likely not be released until late spring. Tracks include "We are Finished Waiting for You Now" and "Hell Is Chrome." Last month, the band made its maiden appearance at Neil Young's annual Bridge School Benefit, but currently has no live shows on its schedule. However, bassist John Stirratt will play tonight (Nov. 18) in New York with his side project, the Autumn Defense, which also features multi instrumentalist Pat Sansone. The group will then appear Thursday in Hoboken, N.J., Dec. 5 at the Apple Store in Chicago and the following night at Schuba's in the Windy City. The Autumn Defense's sophomore album, "Circles," was released in October by Arena Rock and features a guest appearance by Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy. Wilco, which also includes multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach and drummer Glen Kotche, will soon be heard on "Monsoon," the upcoming album from former Pavement principal Scott Kannberg's Preston School Of Industry. The group contributed to the cut "Get Your Crayons Out" for the set, due Feb. 17 via Matador.

Townshend, Daltrey To Salute Albert Hall

The Who principals Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey have signed on to perform at a March 29 concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of London's Royal Albert Hall. However, a spokesperson for the venue denied any knowledge of the planned event. It's also unclear if Townshend and Daltrey will perform on their own or backed by a band."Roger and I are facing our 'new' Everly Brothers format with excitement and trepidation," Townshend wrote on his official Web site. "I sense great chaotic madness ahead." Townshend reports that he and Daltrey recently recorded a new song, "Real Good Looking Boy," with help from touring Who drummer Zak Starkey, keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick and Townshend's brother Simon. "[They] played brilliantly and Roger and I were bloody useless," Townshend said. "But what do you expect of two such creaky old tossers?" Emerson, Lake and Palmer's Greg Lake filled in for touring bassist Pino Palladino, who is on the road with Simon & Garfunkel. And while that session appears to mark the first steps toward the first new Who album in more than 20 years, Townshend's latest post is vague on the details. "I am back in my own studio again preparing songs and visual material for some kind of future project, which I hope will provide a pathway of some kind for Roger and me in the future," he said.

Kingblind Tour: The Overview

Adam Franklin (Swervedriver) and The Roy Owens Jr. Tour
Best Club(s): The Khyber: Philly, PA-- The Room: Charlotte, NC-- Knitting Factory, NYC
Best Backstage/ Hospitality: BAR: New Haven, CT
Best Beer: Brooklyn Lager (NYC)
Best Band(s): Opening Band (The Information "From Boston" & Saturday Looks Good to Me "Detroit, MI")
Best Monitors: Washington D.C., Velvet Lounge
Best Overall Sound: Echo Lounge-- Atlanta, GA
Worst Load in: Washington D.C., Velvet Lounge
Best Load in: Echo Lounge: Atlanta, GA-- Khyber: Philly, Pa
Best Crowd: The Room, Knitting Factory (TIE)
Overall Winner of best host: Ashley and Michael ..(BOSTON)-(YOU ROCK)
Most Drunk Night: NYC
Least Drunk Night: Athens, GA
Nicest Soundman: Raleigh, NC
Thanks to everyone who came out to all the shows. What a blast.. Touring again in JAN.. Stay Tuned.

The (International) Noise Conspiracy Sign With American Recordings

Scandinavian garage punks The (International) Noise Conspiracy have made the somewhat shocking move of signing to Rick Rubin's American Recordings (itself a part of the Island/Def Jam conglomeration). The move is a bit of a surprise given the bands staunchly anarchic political stance, but they justify it as merely a way to get their message to a larger fan base. And who says anarchy doesn't sell? It might be worth pointing out that frontman Dennis Lyxzén was also in Refused, who were not only included on Priority's Rebirth of the Loud disc back in 2000 alongside such indie flag wavers as Incubus, Snot, and Ice Cube, but also have a track in the new Tony Hawk's Underground video game. Not that we at Kingblind care about such things. With the recent success of bands such as the Strokes, the White Stripes, and especially the Hives, it's not too surprising that Rubin would be interested in the band: "I think they're a great live band-- they have incredible stage presence. And we're helping making an album that conveys as much as they have onstage on record. Which I don't think has been done before." In other words, "Sure, their records suck, but they rock my beard off live!" Expect the new disc in 2004.

LIBERTINES CALL FOR THE BUTLER!

THE LIBERTINES' eagerly awaited second album is to be produced by former SUEDE star BERNARD BUTLER , according to the guitarist himself. Butler has already worked with the band previously on their 2002 debut single 'What A Waster' and their last single 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun'. Posting on his official website, bernardbutler dot com, Butler revealed: "I am waiting for Carl (Barat) to recover to start work on the new Libertines album, hopefully in December." He added: "In the meantime I am recording the McAlmont & Butler record and it will include 'Muddy Waters' , as well as 'Speed' and 'Freaks' which we have been working on this week at Rak studios." As previously reported, Libertines star Carl is struggling to regain 20/20 vision after a booze-fuelled accident that’s led to two operations. Carl and reunited bandmate Pete Doherty had been together in Wales, catching up and working on songs for their second album, which should be released next year. While relaxing after a day working on the new songs, Carl took a bottle of whiskey and retired for a long hot bath. He got out, slipped and cracked his head on the sink, seriously damaging his left cheek. Later he was rushed to hospital then later to a specialised Eye Hospital in nearby Hereford where he was diagnosed with a fractured cheekbone and a damaged tearduct. An emergency operation was undertaken in attempt to fix the problem.

Kingblind is back.. and Iggy Pop

Kingblind is back from tour. And man what good times.. The entire eastern seaboard and over 3000 miles driving! Whew. How about a nice music video as a welcome back.. HERE'S IGGY POP ON LETTERMAN REQUIRES REAL PLAYER

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