The Kingblind Top 100 Essential Records of all time (Week 2 of 10)

Ok, Here are the rules... Kingblind get their writers and friends to pick 10 records that are essential to their collection. (Kingblind will post in blocks of 10 until 100 is reached)
1. If someone else has one of the records in their selection you CANNOT pick it. Find another gem for the list.. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED!
2. Here is what is NOT allowed in the Top 100 (We are assuming that our fine readers are smart enough to have these records in their collection already.)
NO Beatles, Beach Boys, Stones, Clash, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Who, Stooges, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Sonic Youth, Dylan, Nirvana.
Obviously the point of this is to turn you fine folks onto some great music that you might not have heard before. Every week (on Monday) we will add a new chunk from a new writer until 100 is reached. ENJOY!!

Please welcome our 2nd week of selections (20 of 100) from MC Wondabread (Atlanta, GA)

The Boo Radleys: Giant Steps
This criminally underappreciated album represented the
zenith of ambitious British rocknroll, combining
elements of rock, dub, dance, orchestral pop, and
jazz. You put your peanut butter in my chocolate!

The Pogues: If I should Fall from Grace with God
All killer, no filler. One of a handful of albums
that can claim 100% solidness. Can this be the same
band who perpetrated "Waiting for Herb"? Oh
right.....it wash't.

Lee Hazelwood: The NSVIP's
The NSVIP's Lee Hazelwood was coincidental
intersection of the height of Lee Hazelwood's
songwriting prowess...and his crazy-ass Crispin Glover
60's headtrip prowess. Genius.

Various Artists: Songs in the Key of Z - Irwin Chusid
blows the lid off the "Outsider Music" racket... This
CD (and accompanying book) serve as a "canon" of
music that is by its very nature unclassifiable.
That, and it's the only way I could sneak Jandek and
Wesley Willis into a top 100 list.

Wilco: Summerteeth
Kept safe from the meddling hands of Jim O'Rourke.
Kept safe from the meddling hands of Jeff Tweedy, for
that matter.

Os Mutantes: Mutantes
The Brazilians and Portugese always had the secret
plans for the cultural cuisinart. Mutantes pressed
slice, dice, and puree all at once, and captured
lightning in a bottle.

Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash Sings the Songs that made
him Famous
Sniff.

Gram Parsons: GP
With Emmylou helping to stir the pot, Gram laid down
the template for a bazillion third rate country rock
outfits. Despite that, you can't fault a brother for
making an album this good.

Phil Spector: Back to Mono
Okay. So probably stretching the boundaries of the
assignment a bit, but so what. There's no other way
to shoehorn these alchemical pop nugs into the top 10
where they belong.

Velvet Underground & Nico
Jeez. I can't believe this one isn't on the verboten
list. Anyone who claims that White Light/White Heat
is the best Velvet Underground album is a poseur. Who
woulda thunk that Laurie Anderson could have made Lou
into such a pussy.

Garth Johnson, AKA MC Wondabread flexes his mad skills as the "King of Indie Rock Battle Rap". If he were a toilet, he would definitely be ecologically unsound...not the "low flow" kind.

Link to Kingblind’s Top 100 Essential Records of all time Week 1

'Lost' finds fans at indie awards

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Director Sofia Coppola, who emerged from her famous father's shadow last year with her movie "Lost in Translation," was the toast of the film world on Saturday, as the comedy won top prizes at the Independent Spirit Awards, the arthouse world's equivalent of the Oscars. "Lost in Translation," Coppola's second film, won all four categories in which it was nominated: best feature, director, screenplay and male lead (Bill Murray). Both Coppola and Murray will compete for Academy Awards on Sunday, as will the other three main acting winners, South African native Charlize Theron for "Monster," Benin-born Djimon Hounsou for "In America" and Iran's Shohreh Aghdashloo for "House of Sand and Fog." The Spirit Awards honor films based on such criteria as original, provocative subject matter, budget and the degree of independent financing. The winners were announced during a leisurely luncheon underneath a marquee on Santa Monica Beach, a sharp contrast to the chaotic scene at the Oscars. While both events historically share plenty of nominees, there is little crossover among the winners. Last year, only Michael Moore won both a Spirit Award and an Oscar, for his documentary "Bowling for Columbine." The winner of this year's Spirit for documentary, "The Fog of War" director Errol Morris, will also vie for an Oscar on Sunday.

The Fiery Furnaces "We Got Back The Plague (single version)" (Legal MP3 Download)

This is the b-side to the new "Tropical Ice-Land" UK single, and like the a-side, it is a totally reworked version of a song from the Gallowsbird's Bark LP. The new arrangement is like a Scott Joplin/Sonic Youth mash-up gone awry, but it works in spite of itself. The song's inherant folkiness is foregrounded by the ragtime-y piano, while the noise firmly places the recording in the stylistic present and undercuts any potential modern folky preciousness. (via fluxblog)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

PROBOT- Probot (Album Review)

Dave Grohl may be a grunge (god we hate that word) icon and an alt-rock hero, but deep down inside he's still just a teenage metalhead at heart. And like every teenage metalhead, he has dreamed of making an album with hard-rock heroes like Lemmy, Cronos, Tom G. Warrior and Wino. Luckily for him, he happens to be a teenage metalhead who grew up to pound the skins for Nirvana and top the charts with Foo Fighters -- so not only will those heroes return his phone calls, they'll line up to be part of Probot, Grohl's new side project -solo album -tribute disc – supergroup -whatever. The formula was pretty simple: Grohl wrote, played and recorded nearly all the music in his home studio, then FedExed the tunes to his favourite '80s metal and punk singers, who added vocals. For such a Frankensteinish approach, the results are surprisingly solid. Naturally, Motorhead's Lemmy is the ace of spades in the pack with the brilliantly dumb riff-fest Shake Your Blood. But most of the others also rise to the occasion admirably -- Venom's Cronos invokes the ancient demons on the chugging Centuries of Sin; C.O.C.'s Mike Dean breathes fire on the searing Access Babylon; underground metal messiah Wino unleashes his inner Ozzy on The Emerald Law; Celtic Frost's Tom G. Warrior lets his guttural growl darken the plodding grinder Big Sky; Voivod's Snake adds some bite to the punchy techno-metal of Dictatosaurus; and Mercyful Fate's King Diamond mines his own unique vein of quasi-operatic insanity on the power-ballad closer Sweet Dreams. If there's one quibble, it's the production -- with their compressed dynamics and muddy tones, some of these tracks sound a little too much like the home-recorded demos they originally were. Next time out -- and we hope there is a next time -- Grohl should spring for some time in a real studio. After all, he's a grunge (ugh.) icon, an alt-rock hero -- and, as of now, a heavy metal god.
Track Listing
1. Centuries Of Sin ( W/ Cronos/Venom)
2. Red War ( W/ Max Cavalera/Soulfly, Sepultura)
3. Shake Your Blood ( W/ Lemmy/Motoerhead)
4. Access Babylon ( W/ Mike Dean/C.O.C.)
5. Silent Spring ( W/ Kurt Brecht/D.R.I.)
6. Ice Cold Man ( W/ Lee Dorrian/Cathedral/Napalm Death)
7. The Emerald Law ( W/ Wino /Place Of Skulls/The Obsessed)
8. Big Sky ( W/ Tom G. Warrior/Celtic Frost)
9. Dictatorsaurus ( W/ Snake/Voivod)
10. My Tortured Soul ( W/ Eric Wagner/Trouble)
11. Sweet Dreams ( W/ King Diamond/Mercyful Fate)

Rare Live Elliott Smith (MP3 Download)

Tons of rare live Elliott Smith CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Shows from Stockholm, Seattle, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

Pixies have new website

The Reunited Pixies now have a new website PixiesMusic.com With updated tour info and information about NEW songs. Yes you heard us right.. The Pixies are writing new songs.. HURRAY. (This is NOT an official Pixies website.. As stated by some other sources. Just the most up to date and relevant.)

Catheters on Tour; New Album In May

We've heard little from The Catheters since 2002's Static Delusions and Stone-Still Days, a fuzzed-out platter of punishing Stooges- The Seattle foursome has been kicking out the jams (reference intentional) with various personnel since 1995, and in that time has toured with like-minded bands ranging from the Murder City Devils to Division of Laura Lee. Is singer Brian Standeford truly serious about reincarnating Iggy Pop while Iggy's arguably still alive, or is he just taking the piss? Beat. Ba dum ching! According to Sub Pop, The Catheters are finally rallying to release a new album in May-- of which, in the finest slapdash punk rock fashion, very little concrete information exists besides the title (Howling... It Grows and Grows!!!). John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney, Unwound, The Dwarves) is producing the album, this much is certain. It will rock in the meat-and-potatoes style, this much falls safely within the realm of probable outcomes. Watch this space for a tracklist and more precise release date when they become available. There are tour dates. To wit:
03-13 Palo Alto, CA - Mitchell Park Center * (w/ Solemite)
03-14 Reno, NV - Satellite Bar *
03-15 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court *
03-16 Boulder, CO - Club 156 * (w/ The Swayback)
03-19 Austin, TX - The Ritz (SXSW)
03-20 Houston, TX - Silky's (w/ The Lawrence Arms, Grabass Charlestons, Business Machines)
03-21 Odessa, TX - Earl's *
03-22 El Paso, TX - E9 *
03-23 Albuquerque, NM - Launch Pad *
03-24 Tucson, AZ - Skrappy's
03-25 Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction
03-26 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *
04-17 Sacramento, CA - Boardwalk
* with Your Enemies Friends

Darkness frontman gets death threats

LONDON (AP) -- Retro rocker Justin Hawkins, frontman for The Darkness, has received death threats, a spokesman for the group confirmed Wednesday. "A band of this stature are bound to receive letters of this nature," the spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity. "We do not wish to make any further comment due to the distress it has caused to family and friends." Wednesday's edition of The Sun newspaper said the first threat arrived shortly after The Darkness collected three Brit Music Awards, the equivalent of the Grammys, last week. They won best British group, rock act and album, "Permission to Land," inspired by '70s and '80s rockers. "It was a handwritten letter; very weird," Hawkins was quoted as telling The Sun about the threat. "It's quite flattering that somebody wants to kill me but at the same time it's very scary." "I don't know who it is, but we've got the police involved," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

LIARS- "We fenced other houses with the bones of our own" (Legal MP3 Download)

NYC indie rock for art students. (But damn the new album sure does grow on ya.) AND one of the guys dates Karen O too.. That's 50 indie rock points dude!!
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Lou Reed to release album of meditation music

Lou Reed is planning to release an album of meditation music. He said: "I'm going to put together a CD of some meditation music I made. Good for doing the various chi's to and/or meditation. "These things reflect our interests and we hope those of you with similar tastes might enjoy these creations." Reed says he hopes to include a meditation instruction from Dr S Peng.The singer releases a new double live album, Animal Serenade, on March 22. Meanwhile, he also plans to offer for sale signed prints from his photo book Emotion In Action published last year. A different print will be offered for sale each month for $500.00, he says on loureed.com.

Rapture Touring With BRMC

Dance/punk phenom the Rapture are hitting the touring circuit, but they won’t be doing it alone. Joining them is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and their distinctive brand of sheogazer-meets-psychedelic rock. This collaborative jaunt through the states--which commences March 30--won’t be the only time these bands will be sharing a venue this year, since both are also scheduled to perform at the Coachella Festival. Both groups also recently released new full-length records, and will be supporting their respective efforts on the upcoming tour. Take Them On, On Your Own, released September of last year, is BRMC’s latest endeavor, while the Rapture gave us their full-length debut Echoes in October. The Rapture have been hailed as the progenitors of the “post-punk” revival. BRMC faced similar expectations, albeit of a different, more retro set, with their self-titled debut in 2001. Both have also amassed huge followings in a relatively short period of time.
Tour dates:
03.30.04 - Towson, MD – The Recher Theatre
03.31.04 – New York, NY – The Roseland Ballroom
04.01.04 – Philadelphia, PA – The Electric Factory
04.02.04 – Northampton, MA – Pearl Street
04.03.04 – Ithica, NY – Appel Commons
04.05.04 – Boston, MA – Avalon
04.06.04 – Montreal, CA – Spectrum
04.07.04 – Toronto, CA – The Cool House
04.08.04 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews
04.10.04 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre
04.11.04 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
04.12.04 – Minneapolis, MN – The Quest Club
04.13.04 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
04.14.04 – Lawrence, KS – The Granada Theatre
04.16.04 – Atlanta, GA – Roxy
04.17.04 – New Orleans, LA – The House of Blues
04.18.04 – Houston, TX – The Engine Room
04.19.04 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s
04.20.04 – Dallas, TX – The Gypsy Ballroom
04.22.04 – Boulder, CO – The Fox Theater
04.24.04 – Salt Lake City, UT – Bricks
04.25.04 – Reno, NV – New Oasis
04.26.04 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
04.27.04 – Seattle, WA – Showbox
04.29.04 – San Francisco,CA – Grand Ballroom

Beck Bolsters Brion's 'Spotless' Score

Beck has collaborated with producer/songwriter Jon Brion on a cover of the 1980 Korgis track "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime," for the soundtrack to the upcoming Michel Gondry film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Due March 16 via Hollywood Records, the disc also features material by the Polyphonic Spree and Electric Light Orchestra. Beck was asked to contribute vocals to a new version of "Sometime" by Brion, who scored the entire film. The soundtrack also houses "Light and Day" and a live version of "It's the Sun," from the Polyphonic Spree, E.L.O.'s "Mr. Blue Sky" and two tracks from the Willowz's self-titled 2004 disc also accompany Brion titles like "Collecting Things" and "Sidewalk Fight." "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" stars Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood and Kirsten Dunst. It will open March 19 in U.S. theaters. Since wrapping his Sea Change tour in the summer of 2003, Beck has been working with the Dust Brothers on a Geffen new studio album, which is expected later this year.

The Hot Snakes- Who Died (Legal MP3 Download)

The classic double guitar attack of Rick Froberg and John Reis returns in the form of the Hot Snakes. Best known for their collaborations in Drive Like Jehu and Pitchfork, Reis and Froberg steer members of Delta 72, Burning Brides, and Tanner on a rock and roll collision course straight for your stereo.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Bad Brains- Pay to Cum (Legal MP3 Download)

Hardcore spawned from punk rock in the early '80s as a more violent and more aggressive form of the underground, and DC's Bad Brains were among the most influential and pioneering hardcore groups ever, mixing reggae with their lightning fast bursts of rage.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

NEW WHO!

THE WHO's forthcoming best-of album will contain two new tracks, the band's first since 1982. 'Then And Now' will contain 'Real Good Looking Boy' and 'Old Red Wine', plus 18 classic tracks. 'Real Good Looking Boy' was recorded by Pete Townshend, and vocalist Roger Daltrey, with help from Zak Starkey, keyboardist John "Rabbit" Bundrick, bassist Greg Lake and Pete's brother Simon Townshend, =
Tracklisting for the album is:
* 'I Can't Explain'
* 'My Generation'
* 'The Kids Are Alright'
* 'Substitute'
* 'I'm a Boy'
* 'Happy Jack'
* 'I Can See for Miles'
* 'Magic Bus
* 'Pinball Wizard'
* 'See Me, Feel Me'
* 'Summertime Blues' (live)
* 'Behind Blue Eyes'
* 'Won't Get Fooled Again'
* '5:15'
* 'Love, Reign O'er Me'
* 'Squeeze Box'
* 'Who You Are'
* 'You Better You Bet'
* 'Real Good Looking Boy'
* 'Old Red Wine'
A DVD of the band's 1969 rock opera Tommy will be released in April, while Townshend and Daltrey will perform it for the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall on March 29. The band will also play three sold-out dates at the London Forum on March 22, 24 and 25 and are headlining the Isle of Wight Festival on June 12.

Royal Albert Hall Dates For Paul Weller

Paul Weller has announced two summer dates at the Royal Albert Hall as part of a UK tour. The two London shows, on June 1st & 2nd, come ahead of a number of rural live shows across the UK in support of the Forestry Commission.. Alongside his dates, Paul Weller will be releasing a covers album 'Forty Days And Forty Nights', which will hit record shops later this year.
The summer tour dates are:
June
1st - Royal Albert Hall, London
2nd - Royal Albert Hall, London
12th - Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent
13th - High Lodge Visitor Centre, Suffolk
19th - Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire
20th - Delamere Forest, Cheshire
26th - Sherwood Forest, Notts

Prince Announces New Album, Tour

To celebrate the anniversary of Purple Rain, Prince has announced the upcoming release of a new studio album, Musicology, which will coincide with a nationwide tour launching March 29. The tour, beginning in Los Angeles, will give concertgoers a chance to see Prince perform a series of his well known hit singles for what a recent press release claims is the last time. The 38-city tour (and growing) will take place “in the round,” with a center stage providing more seats for Prince’s throngs of dedicated fans.
Tour dates are as follows:
March 29 Los Angeles Staples Center
March 31 Phoenix Glendale Arena
April 2 Dallas American Airlines Center
April 6 Oklahoma City Ford Center
April 7 Omaha Qwest Center
April 8 Ames Hilton Coliseum
April 10 Champaign Assembly Hall
April 12 Indianapolis Conseco Fieldhouse
April 13 Cincinnati U.S Bank Arena
April 14 Pittsburgh Mellon Arena
April 16 Columbus Value City Arena the Schottenstein Center
April 17 Cleveland Gund Arena
April 18 State College Bryce Jordan Center
April 21 Columbia Colonial Center
April 22 Knoxville Thompson-Boling Arena
April 23 Raleigh RBC Center
April 25 Ft. Lauderdale Office Depot Center
April 26 Tampa St. Pete Times Forum
April 27 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
April 29 Birmingham BJCC Coliseum
April 30 Atlanta Philips Arena
May 1 Biloxi Mississippi Coast Coliseum
May 4 Kansas City Kemper Arena
May 5 St. Louis Savvis Center
May 6 Nashville Gaylord Entertainment Center
June 12 Bossier City CenturyTel Center
Other cities slated for the tour include Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle.

Pixies Reunion Shows Sell Out Immediately

Confirming that interest in the Pixies' music has not waned since the band's 1993 demise, 11 of the 12 shows scheduled for the group's impending reunion tour sold out within minutes over the weekend. At the 1,600-seat Prairieland venue in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, capacity has been doubled to accommodate additional fans. "The demand has been so great," Prairieland events manager Carl Schlosser said. "We are the largest venue, so we'll be that overflow for fans who may have been shut out in other cities." Tickets for the 12th show on April 29 in Davis, Calif., go on sale March 1. The Pixies have logged several weeks of rehearsal in Los Angeles in preparation for the North American dates, which culminate May 1 at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. "We were all a little nervous when we first got together, but within maybe five minutes, everything felt completely comfortable, and it was like the last 11 years had never happened," vocalist/guitarist Frank Black says in a statement. Adds bassist Kim Deal, "I experienced what I call 'muscle memory' -- we'd be playing a song and I didn't even have to think about what note came next -- my fingers remembered what to play." Following Coachella, the group will take a short break before hitting Europe for festivals and headlining appearances. So far, confirmed dates begin with a June 2-5 stand at London's Carling Brixton Academy and also include a June 11 appearance at the Super Bock Super Rock festival in Lisbon, two mid-June shows with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Dublin and Paris and a July 10 set at the T in the Park festival in Kinross, U.K.

Sebadoh Sets First Tour In Five Years

Seminal indie rock act Sebadoh is gearing up for its first North American tour since 1999. Kicking off April 19 in St. Louis, the trek will feature vocalist/guitarist Lou Barlow and bassist Jason Loewenstein performing "with some simple non-electronic percussion we recorded on my trusty Tascam Porta-One cassette four-track," according to Barlow. "I play acoustic guitars and Jake plays electric bass. We strip the songs down but I'd like to think it still 'rocks.'" An April 30 appearance in Northampton, Mass., will also feature Sonic Youth and Barlow's former Dinosaur Jr. bandmate, J Mascis. Proceeds will benefit the Community Resources for People With Autism. The duo initially regrouped last fall to play a 10th anniversary show honoring Domino Records, whose first release was Sebadoh's 1993 album "Bubble and Scrape." At present, Barlow stresses there are "no plans for another Sebadoh record but who knows? I don't." Sebadoh had been largely inactive since the release of its final Sub Pop studio album, 1999's "The Sebadoh." Of late, Barlow has recorded with a new incarnation of his Folk Implosion project and is working on a new solo album, which will feature Loewenstein on drums. The latter's Sub Pop solo debut, "At Sixes and Sevens," was issued in 2002.
Here are Sebadoh's tour dates:
April 19: St. Louis (Duck Room)
April 20: Chicago (Abbey Pub)
April 21: Detroit (Magic Stick)
April 22: Hamilton, Ontario (Underground)
April 23: Toronto (Horsehoe Tavern)
April 24: Montreal (El Salon)
April 25: Cambridge, Mass. (T.T. the Bear's)
April 27: Hoboken, N.J. (Maxwell's)
April 28: Brooklyn, N.Y. (North Six)
April 30: Northampton, Mass. (Greene Hall)
May 2: Philadelphia (Khyber)
May 3: Baltimore (Ottobar)
May 4: Carrboro, N.C. (Cat's Cradle)
May 5: Athens, Ga. (40 Watt Club)
May 6: Atlanta (Echo Lounge)
May 7: Birmingham, Ala. (the Nick)
May 8: Nashville (Exit-In)

Poppyfields Sound the Alarm

Twenty years after the Alarm fired off "68 Guns," the group is back on the charts . . . but nobody knew it. Disguised as a younger outfit called the Poppyfields, the band -- best known in the U.S. for Eighties anthems like "The Stand," "Strength," and "Rain in the Summertime" -- landed a Top Thirty single in the U.K. this week with "45 RPM," thanks to a video featuring the Welsh band the Wayriders lip-synching the tune. "We weren't trying to be malicious," says Mike Peters, the group's founder and only original remaining member, by phone from his native Wales. "We were just trying to open the debate up, because there's so much music that gets played based on image. These days the song and the content get left behind. But now the song kind of squashes the assumption that new music has to be made by new groups. Ultimately, the hope is that maybe now people will sit up and listen to our records again." Peters -- who is considered a folk hero in his native Wales and is slated to be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at tonight's Welsh Music Awards in Cardiff -- says the song is also set for The Poppyfields, the Alarm's forthcoming album. Produced by Steve Brown (the Cult, Manic Street Preachers), the disc was recorded with guitarist James Stevenson, formerly of Generation X and Chelsea, bassist Craig Adams, once of goth rockers the Mission U.K., and drummer Steve Grantley, who did time in Stiff Little Fingers. "When we finished '45 RPM,' I was very excited about what we were doing," Peters explains. "So I figured I'd send it around in an unmarked sleeve to a few DJs and promotions people just to see what the reaction might be. People were like, 'This is great! Are you managing them?' But I didn't let on." Then last November, during an Alarm show at the Knitting Factory in New York, Peters introduced the new song after informing the crowd that he had been to see punk vets Rancid play the night before. "The next day we got tons of emails from folks who had been in the audience who hadn't heard me properly," Peters explains. "They thought it was a Rancid cover. So I thought, there's some mileage in the song. We decided to go the whole way and put the record out with a virtual band name." Peters credits the Wayriders' convincing miming abilities: "When we finished the video, I played it for the guy who does all of our album sleeves and artwork. He had no idea it was us. He said, 'God, it's amazing. They even sound like you!'" As for Eddie MacDonald, Nigel Twist and Dave Sharp, the other founding members of the Alarm, Peters says that there's an open door for them to hop up onstage with the current incarnation of the band at any time. "I was really pleased with how things worked out when we did our VH1 Bands Reunited episode," he says. "It was nice that we were able to close that chapter of the group respectfully."

Brian Wilson Announces that SMILE (The Lost Beach Boys Record) will be released in Fall 2004.

Perhaps the most highly-regarded unreleased record in rock history, the Beach Boys' SMiLE, is reportedly getting its official release 37 years after its creation, in fall 2004. According to a recent report from BBC News Online: "A few months ago Wilson revisited the SMiLE tapes in Capitol Records' vaults and went on to finish the album with his original lyricist, Van Dyke Parks." Recorded between April 1966 and May 1967, SMiLE (working title Dumb Angel) was to be Brian Wilson's "teenage symphony to God," an album that would at once best the Beatles and surpass Wilson's latest masterpiece, Pet Sounds. Working with avant-garde lyricist Parks and the session players featured on Pet Sounds, Wilson crafted the album away from the other Beach Boys, who were then touring. Upon their return from the tour, the group met the album with mixed feelings, arguing that SMiLE's obscure lyrics and insanely dense compositions strayed too far from the norm to be considered for release. As demonstrated on Pet Sounds, Wilson had developed a mastery of the studio as instrument, working with unconventional arrangements that combined modern rock instrumentation with orchestral touches as well as nonmusical objects including water jugs, Coke bottles, hammers, saws, and bicycle bells. Like the 1966 single/masterpiece "Good Vibrations," (which Wilson considers the band's defining achievement) each song written for SMiLE was recorded in pieces, in various studios, during different sessions, and edited later into completed mixes. Recording in this fashion was a long and painstaking process. Wilson continued to experiment with the studio through the recording of SMiLE, but also suffered bouts with severe drug addiction and mental instability that further delayed the album's completion. In perhaps the most-cited example of Wilson's paranoia, he reportedly became convinced that his music was responsible for a series of fires in the vicinity of the recording studio. Another oft-repeated legend says the reclusive genius cancelled several expensive recording sessions due to 'bad vibes,' distancing himself from his musicians, bandmates, record label, and Parks alike. Though nearly half a million record covers and booklets were printed in preparation for the release of SMiLE, Wilson abandoned the project in May 1967 and has scarcely spoken about it since. Pending ligitation with Capitol Records (over unpaid royalties), clashes between Mike Love and Parks over the themes and lyrical content of SMiLE, and Wilson's growing disillusionment with the project all led to its being permanently shelved. That June, Wilson holed up in his home studio with his bandmates and recorded the clumsy Smiley Smile, featuring neutered renditions of SMiLE material-- including a severely altered single of "Heroes and Villains" that was partially recorded in Wilson's drained swimming pool. Some of the more adventurous SMiLE compositions, including the nimble, adventurous "Cabinessence" and majestic "Surf's Up," would surface on later Beach Boys albums, more at the insistence of Carl Wilson than any relevance to the flawed records that characterized the Beach Boys' post-SMiLE output. Carl attempted to resurrect Brian's interest in the project later that decade by attempting to reconstruct the album himself-- only to find he couldn't do it. The SMiLE master tapes remained unheard until 1988, when Capitol engineer Mark Linett was given access to the master tapes and compiled a selection of session tapes and mixes that are believed to be the source of most SMiLE bootlegs circulated to this day. Ten of these mixes were released as part of the 1993 box set Good Vibrations-- including many tantalizing instrumental variations on "Heroes and Villains" that suggested exactly why the circuitous, ambitious, and often self-referential music was so difficult to assemble without direction from its creator. As a result, arguments have surged for close to 40 years over the album's playing order, tracklist, and which versions of songs uncovered from the sessions were meant for album inclusion. With the advent of digital music technology, the phenomenon of "fan mixes" and endless assemblies of the extant SMiLE material have created an even larger cult of fanatics fascinated by the unreleased album's lore and conversant in its most arcane minutia. In June of 2003, far before the announcement of an official album release, Brian Wilson revealed his plans for a SMiLE tour, in which he and his touring group (which includes the Los Angeles band The Wondermints among its 20 members) would make several stops throughout the United Kingdom to perform the legendary album in its entirety. The tour began last Friday, February 20th, at the first of five nights at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England. According to an article in The Guardian, Wilson was cheered by an elated audience, while Parks was greeted by a standing ovation just for taking his seat in the auditorium. A jovial atmosphere reigned during the album's 45-minute performance, which included the orchestra donning firemen's helmets during "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" (a nod to Wilson's goofy insistence that his session players wear them during the 1967 sessions), most of the band abandoning their instruments mid-song to play actual saws, hammers, and drills on "Workshop," and Parks spontaneously joining the band during an encore to dance and play tambourine. Perversely, one of the reasons SMiLE has baffled music fans for so many years is that it was originally concieved in three distinct movements, with each section its own self-contained thematic suite (how Wilson planned to distribute the three sections over two sides of a record will likely remain a mystery). A bootleg recording of the February 20th performance currently making the rounds on file-sharing networks affirms that the completed SMiLE is a brilliant, cohesive and almost seamless achievement-- with passages as stunningly gorgeous as Pet Sounds' most sublime and surprises even SMiLE guru Dominic Priore probably never saw coming.
The tracklist, as related directly from a setlist posted on fansite The Smile Shop:
01 Our Prayer
02 Gee [aka "How I Love My Girl"]
03 Heroes and Villains
04 Barnyard [suite incorporating "Do You Like Worms," "Bicycle Rider," "Heroes and Villains," and "Barnyard"]
05 The Old Master Painter
06 You Are My Sunshine
07 Cabinessence
08 Wonderful
09 Look
10 Child Is The Father Of The Man
11 Surf's Up
12 I'm In Great Shape
13 Workshop [incorporating "I Wanna Be Around" and "Friday Night"]
14 Vegetables
15 Holiday
16 Windchimes
17 Mrs. O'Leary's Cow
18 I Love To Say Da-Da
19 Good Vibrations
The first movement of the live performance incorporated just about every released variation on "Heroes and Villains" somewhere in its fifteen-minute span, with previously unheard lyrics for "Do You Like Worms" and "Barnyard" and a brief snippet of the Crows' doo-wop nugget "Gee" thrown into the mix for good measure. Wilson deviated from the minor-key "You were my sunshine" of the bootlegged SMiLE and brought the traditional song back to the present tense. The "Wonderful" suite binds two of Wilson's most delicate melodies together with the previously instrumental "Look," which cycles through choruses of "The child is the father of the man" (a line Wilson and Parks lifted from a William Wordsworth poem) and new lyrics linking the wide-eyed innocence of "Wonderful" with the resigned majesty of "Surf's Up." Previously unheard string arrangements wind through the latter composition, which was praised by Leonard Bernstein as one of the best songs ever written. The final section, with the much-speculated-upon "elements" suite, includes bits of Johnny Mercer's "I Wanna Be Around," never-heard lyrics for both "Holiday" and pieces of "I Love To Say Da-Da" (the water part of the suite; earth, air, and fire are represented by "Vegetables," "Windchimes," and "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow," respectively). The last of these-- a manic instrumental simulating the clangs of fire engines amid a disorienting wail of strings-- was surprisingly intense in its live incarnation. "Oh god yes, ["Mrs. O'Leary's Cow"] was quite something very loud... akin to something you might hear at a Godspeed gig," wrote fan Peter Stillman on a Smile Shop discussion board. For further reading on Smile, visit the fantastic album fansite The Smile Shop, which features a comprehensive history of the album's session history, interviews concerning its release and creation and countless other insightful tidbits. Domenic Priore's SMiLE scrapbook, Look! Listen! Vibrate! SMiLE!, is another exhaustive source of documentation, speculation, and commentary. (-via BBC UK, P.F. Media, Smileshop.net-)

GREY TUESDAY

FREE THE GREY ALBUM CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

SAVATH & SAVALAS- Apropa't (Album Review)

Following an extremely successful three years as Prefuse 73, Atlanta’s golden boy, Scott Herren, returns with his more laidback project as Savath & Savalas, continuing his journey through beautiful melodic territories started over four years ago with the superb Folk Songs For Trains, Trees & Honey, originally released on Chicago-based label Hefty back in 2000, and a year later on Warp. Escaping his native Atlanta for the sunny shores of Barcelona eighteen months ago, Herren embarked on a journey to find his roots, looking to soak up as much of his father’s native culture as he could. On the way, he hooked up with Catalan singer/songwriter Eva Puyuelo Muns, with who he shares an interest for Latin American music. Immersing himself totally in the Spanish way of life, he started exchanging ideas with the singer, and the result is this heart-felt, emotional collection of melancholic songs, with a profusion of guitars, accordions, concertina, harps finding their way through Herren’s electronic experiments. Entirely recorded at home, in the outskirt of Barcelona, the album was then brought back to Tortoise’s Chicago-based SOMA studio where Scott mixed the album with John McEntire, with additional recording sessions featuring Tortoise drummer Johnny Herndon, Josh Abrams on bass, Paul Mertens and Dave Max Crawford on horns and additional vocals provided by Bride Of No No’s Azita Youssefi. If Apropa’t shares with Folk Songs... a definite nostalgia and luscious melodies, it couldn’t be more different from his work as Prefuse 73. Here, Herren crafts a series of precious melodic structures, forming a stunning backdrop for Muns’s voice to develop and transcend his musical realm. Often joining the Catalan singer on vocal duties as well as taking full control of the sonic landscapes, Scott Herren continuously surprises and charms with simple ideas which, examined closer, prove far more complex than originally perceptible. Unlike on Folk Songs..., where Herren was toying with moody atmospheres, Apropa’t fights its way through the torpor of the day to relax in the cooler early evening, sipping a cocktail at the terrace of a café while girls in cars drive by. From the city hum of the beginning of Introducción to the sun-drenched melodies of Colores Sin Nombre, Um Girassol Da Cor De Seu Cabelo or Sigue Tu Camino (No Sabes Amar…) which closes the album, and the delicate string arrangements and Brazilian feel of A La Nit or Radio Llocs Espacial, every sound has its place and contributes to strengthening the fragile equilibrium that exists between acoustic and electronic, simplicity and abstraction, and above all the balance between Mums and Herren. With this new album, Scott Herren proves once again that he is not only one of the most prolific musicians of his generation, but also one of the most talented. Totally unphased by the success of Prefuse 73 and the status he has gained following the release of One Word Extinguisher, Herren crafts here a delicate and incredibly inviting piece of work. (Review by: MF UK)

The Fallen Rapper Pez by Packard Jennings (Artist)

"Fallen Rapper Prototypes" Mixed Media, 2001
The Fallen Rapper Prototypes are the deceased rappers Tupac Shakur, Eazy-E, and Biggie Smalls. They were sent to Pez Candy Inc. President Scott Mc Whinnie with a letter proposing their production. Packard Jennings' Website

Nortec Collective – Polaris (Legal MP3 Download)

Best known as a place for underage Americans to swallow the worm, Tijuana, B.C. Mexico has also recently given rise to a much more intelligent pastime, Nortec music. Ramon Amezcua (Bostich) kick-started the scene with "Polaris," gaining godfather status in the process.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

New Foo Fighters LP 'Best Balls-out Record'

Fresh from getting his long-running metal project Probot into shops, Grohl said the follow up to 2002's Grammy winning 'One By One' would take a more grandiose route during recording: "We're going to make the best balls-out record we've ever made, and we're going to make it in a studio," Grohl said. "We're not used to studios, only basements." "We've got a couple of songs," he added. "The thing is, we always get excited to make a new record, because it means we'll go back out on the road and have a good time for a year-and-a-half." As with its predecessor, the record will be released by RCA records. Band members Nate Mendel (bassist) and Chris Shifflet (guitarist) are currently taking time away from the Foo Fighters, touring with side project groups the Fire Theft and Jackson United respectively.

The Kingblind Top 100 Essential Records of all time

Ok, Here are the rules... Kingblind get their writers and friends to pick 10 records that are essential to their collection. (Kingblind will post in blocks of 10 until 100 is reached)
1. If someone else has one of the records in their selection you CANNOT pick it. Find another gem for the list.. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED!
2. Here is what is NOT allowed in the Top 100 (We are assuming that our fine readers are smart enough to have these records in their collection already.)
NO Beatles, Beach Boys, Stones, Clash, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Who, Stooges, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Sonic Youth, Dylan, Nirvana.
Obviously the point of this is to turn you fine folks onto some great music that you might not have heard before. Every week (on Monday) we will add a new chunk from a new writer until 100 is reached. ENJOY!!

Please welcome our first 10 selections (10 of 100) from Mr. John Wills (Scotland)

Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
When I first heard this album I really felt I was listening to something new. Ian Curtis' voice and lyrics were incredibly dark and haunting and the music was very sparse. This record came in the middle of the 'New Romantic' hedonism of the late seventies but Curtis, as a sufferer, was writing songs about epilepsy (She's Lost Control) and alienation (Wilderness). It shouldn't have been a success but the British press embraced this band and Unknown Pleasures became a classic.

Roxy Music - For your Pleasure
Great pop art, psychedelic music. I really loved Roxy when Brian Eno was poncing about with bits of tape and the infamous VCS3 synth. This is a great pop record which broke new ground and had the hit single 'Do The Strand'. It also had a cheeky sleeve with Trans-sexual Amanda Lear leading a panther into a Limousine - those were the days eh?

Public Image - Metal Box
An album in a metal box - how could it fail? This saw Johnny and Jah live out their fantasies as art rockers in an incredibly self indulgent work. But it is so unlike anything else I just played it to death. Poptones!

The Soft Machine - Third
Named after a William Burroughs novel 'The Soft Machine' were formed by a collection of anarchic musicians including Robert Wyatt and Daevid Allen in the mid sixties. Looking like sinister English teachers, they were actually jazz punks. They toured with Jimi Hendrix and had regular gigs at Joe Boyd's legendary venue, 'The UFO Club' in London. Like many of the more adventurous bands of the period, the Soft Machine suffered from audience incomprehension and hostility almost every time they played out of London or at a non-underground gig. This album is a period piece but worth being in the top ten. As I can't have the Stooges I'll pick the Softs.

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
A great guitar record where the guitars don't sound like guitars. Very dense claustrophobic music yet really accessible. Described at the time as sonic bliss. I was travelling with MBV on the tour for this album and I will never forget it. Probably the loudest experience I have had.

Happy Mondays - Pills n Thrills and Bellyaches
I have to include those Manchester rascals Happy Mondays. They used to support us when we played upstairs in a pub with no stage. At the time most bands were terribly earnest trying to recreate The Velvet Undergrounds quiter moments and shambling (being not very good at anything on purpose) and then came The Happy Mondays crazy fucked up funk. I hadn't heard anything so irreverently funky since the Pop Group. With Sean's dad rolling the joints for Sean throughout the gigs and Bez's headbanging maracca playing this band took the London scene by the bollocks. This was at last a new punk movement and this album captures them at their best.

Can - Future Days
Could have been any of Can's albums really but this sticks in my mind as my favourite. Has all the Can trademarks - great drumming, great atmospheres. I first heard this album in the Virgin Record Shop which was then a small independent shop with a couch and a pair of headphones. I bought it and a copy of The Seeds album and they made me start exploring music away from the mainstream.Therefore very important to me.


King Tubby - King Tubby meets the Rockers Uptown
King Tubby invented dub. He was a radio repair man in the 1950's and started playing around with filters and sound system amplifiers. His mixes soon got taken up by Lee Perry and Augustus Pablo and the rest is history. This album was a revelation to me in the mid 70's and I suspect many others including the Clash and Jah Wobble.

Kraftwerk - Man Machine
A great inventive new music still copied but never bettered. Fantastic minimal, electronic pop music.

Love - Forever Changes
My number one album. Great songs, great arrangements and the darkest lyrics with the happiest sounds. Arthur Lee was a madman who did some terrible things and wrote some beautiful songs.

John Wills lives in Scotland at the end of an ancient harbour. He played drums in a band called Loop amongst others and has recorded and produced many bands. He has worked with all kinds of people (Bruce Gilbert of Wire, The Go Betweens and Cornershop). He likes to think his cat doesn't rule his life. He is now working in Scotland with The Fence Collective (A bunch of no good alt-folk bands with links to the Beta Band). He is one half of the live sound of Pinkie Maclure who he also writes with and the founder member of The Hydrogen Society who will seep into your lives soonish - maybe. Watch this space. Available for weddings and funerals at reasonable rates.

ALL SMILES IN LONDON

BEACH BOYS star BRIAN WILSON has played the 'lost' album 'SMILE' for the first time ever in LONDON. The singer played the first night of a residency at the London Royal Festival Hall this evening (February 20), the first dates on a tour which will visit other cities throughout the UK this month. The gig itself was split into two sections. The first opened with a fifteen minute acoustic set, followed by a ‘Greatest Hits’ show. During this, Wilson, backed by an 18-piece band, performed a number of songs from ’Pet Sounds’, including ’God Only Knows’ and ’Wouldn’t It Be Nice’. After a short interval Wilson then returned to the stage where ’Smile’ was played for the first time in full. The concept album was originally intended for release in 1967, around the same time The Beatles put out 'Sgt Pepper'. However, Wilson had a breakdown and the album was never finished, giving it almost mythical status amongst fans. Throughout the performance Wilson appeared in good form, leading the band through songs like ’Heroes And Villains’ and ’Vegetables’, that saw each member of the group playing multiple instruments in the same song, while making use of more unconventional items such as hammers and saws. The set ended with a storming run-through ’Good Vibrations’, with the audience, who had come from all over the world to see the show, giving the star a lengthy standing ovation. Lyricist Van Dyke Parks, who worked on the 'Smile' songs with Wilson was also introduced on stage, and he got his own standing ovation.
The tour visits:
• London Royal Festival Hall (21-22, 24, 26-27)
• Bournemouth Pavilion (March 1)
• Bristol Colston Hall (2)
• Glasgow Clyde Auditorium (4)
• Newcastle City Hall (6)
• Liverpool Empire Theatre (7)
• Birmingham Symphony Hall (8)

Coming to Kingblind:

Hello all.. We are revving up here to present the planet with the Kingblind Top 100 essential records of all time. All the rules and regulations will be disclosed on Monday morning.. STAY TUNED for the action!

Kingblind Recommends

Here is what’s on the stereo this week.
(DJ Danger Mouse: The Grey Album)—(Mudhoney: S/T)—(The Hiss: Panic Movement)—(Lambchop: Aw Come on)—(Sun Kil Moon: Ghosts of the great highways)

Alleged MP3 Pirate Sues RIAA, Says Group Uses Mafia Tactics

One of the more than 1,000 alleged downloaders sued so far by the Recording Industry Association of America has fired back with a lawsuit of her own, claiming she's been blackmailed. Michele Scimeca of Rockaway Township, New Jersey, filed a civil lawsuit Thursday accusing the RIAA, a group representing the major record label conglomerates, of violating anti-racketeering statutes by using scare tactics to extort money from alleged file-sharers. Her complaint argues the lawsuits filed by the RIAA are intended to extract financial settlements. "Instead of merely providing service of the complaint upon the various defendants, including Ms. Scimeca, the plaintiffs have opted to include a letter discussing and prompting settlement of the copyright infringement action," states the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. "This scare tactic has caused a vast amount of settlements from individuals who feared fighting such a large institution and feel victim to these actions and felt forced to provide funds to settle these actions instead of fighting the institution." Bart Lombardo, Scimeca's attorney, was not immediately available, but has said the RIAA is essentially asking defendants to pay a little now or a lot later, which he says violates the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act passed in 1970 to help prosecute organized crime. "We are always open to settlement discussions with anyone," RIAA spokesperson Jonathan Lamy said Friday. "If someone prefers not to settle, they of course have the opportunity to raise their objections in court. We stand by our claims." Scimeca, who was one of the 531 people sued Wednesday by the RIAA, also plans to challenge the legality of suing individuals for online file-sharing, although it will be separate from her current lawsuit. In an unrelated press conference Thursday, RIAA Director of Antipiracy Brad Buckles said he was not aware of the lawsuit but that he considered the group's lawsuits successful. "I think we've seen some great strides out of that," Buckles told reporters. "People are beginning to realize that what at first blush might seem like innocent activity, moving files around on the Internet, is in fact theft of property from artists and companies."Scimeca is the second alleged downloader to sue the RIAA. A California man is accusing the association of misleading people into admitting their guilt through its Clean Slate program, which alleges to offer amnesty to remorseful file-sharers. (via mtv news)

Merge Records announces SXSW showcase and Dinosaur Jr. reissues

Merge has announced their SXSW showcase schedule and line up. March 17th is the set date and it will feature Destroyer, The Rosebuds, Portastic, Radar Brothers and Richard Buckner. Merge has announced they will be releasing the latest from Richard Buckner, Dents and Shells, this fall. Merge also has plans to reissue the first three Dinosaur Jr. albums this year. These classics, the s/t first album, You’re Living All Over Me and Bug, will be remastered and will include bonus materials and liner notes. Woo Hoo!

HOLY JOHN BONHAM.. IT’S A TON OF DRUM SOLOS

CLICK HERE TO ROCK OUT
Via Fimoculous

Pepsi/iTunes cheat:

Wanna win every time? Here's how

Steriogram- "walkie talkie man" (Music Video)

New video from Michel Gondry is all stop-motion knitting. CLICK HERE TO VIEW Requires Quicktime, Real or Win Media

Sun Kil Moon: "Ghosts of the Great Highways" (Album Review)

First off let me state for the public record I don't like mushy emotional record reviews were the reviewer gets all kinda sappy and gushes about how a certain record made them feel all warm and fuzzy and full of love or happiness or whatever. I usually get embarrassed and can't read any further. So now having stated that, I'm ready to write the same kind of review I just said embarrass me knowing full well that my snarky friends will laugh at me but I don't care. Sometimes you have to suck it up and know when your beaten. Sun Kil Moon is the first solo outing for Red House Painters honcho Mark Kozelek and man o man is this record beautiful.(commencing gushing). While I was never a big fan of Red House Painters I've always had an appreciation of Kozeleks way with a phrase and his cool,slurring, lazy voice that's always reminded me of Neil Young and that is pretty great in of itself. The record leads off with "Glenn Tipton" an amazing song that references Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston and the twin guitar metal machine of Judas Priests K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton. C'mon, two of the best fighters ever (more on boxing later) and two of the "greatest" metal guitar gods standing side by side in a gently rocking acoustic guitar intro sung in a plaintive direct voice dripping with sincerity.. Sign me up Sun Kil Moon Army! Now here comes gushing of the most embarrassing kind. "Carry Me Ohio" has joined my list of makes my spine all shivery songs. The verses set over a repetitive guitar line set you up for one of of the most beautiful falsetto choruses I have heard. Maybe it's the Ohio in me but this song perfectly captures the way I used to feel on overcast fall days looking out my parents back window at the empty corn field behind their house. "Salvador Sanchez" is one of the best Crazy Horse tributes I've heard and I mean that in a good way. Kozeleks guitar solo just fucking kills me, I'll bet even Neil would nod his head in approval. Now more about boxing. Duk Koo Kim is my favorite song and sort of feels like the binding of this record. For those of you that don't remember or don't know Duk Koo Kim was the boxer killed in the ring by Ohio native Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini in a vicious match that I believe took place in Dayton, Ohio. Maybe this memory colored my perception of this song but I feel kinda sad and oddly homesick for Ohio. Or maybe it's just the fact that song builds and grows in quiet beauty until it breaks down into a mandolin line that actually works with distorted guitar and then it all fades away into acoustic guitar picking, cymbal washes and Incredible String Band psych-folk that sends me back to shivery spine territory all over again. Whew, all this positivity and happiness has made me sleepy. So all you cynical bastards say what you want about me but Sun Kil Moon is the shit and you could benefit from a listen. (Review by: Mr. Shannon Mulvaney)

THOROUGHBREDS!

DAVID BOWIE and THE DARKNESS will headline Ireland's annual music festival OXEGEN, formerly known as WITNNESS. The festival, which will feature over 80 acts over two days, takes place on July 10 and 11, subject to licence. Tickets for the event, held at Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, go on sale on Friday March 5, and are priced at 59.50 Euro for one day, 110 Euro for two days, and 130 Euro for a two-day pass including camping.

Posies Re-Teaming With Big Star

Posies frontmen Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow are recording a new album for release on Rykodisc sometime in the fall. It will be the group's first studio set since 1998's "Success" (Pop Llama), which at the time was said to be the band's last. The pair is also planning to team up with Big Star's Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens next month to begin work on a new Big Star studio record, which may be issued through Rykodisc. Stringfellow and Auer first teamed with Chilton and Stephens in 1993 for a one-off concert at Columbia (Mo.) University, and have played sporadically since under the Big Star moniker. The forthcoming set would be the first studio album under the that name since 1978's cult classic "Third/Sister Lovers." The Posies, meanwhile, have been recording with drummer Darius Minwalla and bassist Matt Harris. The band has two upcoming tour dates scheduled, a Feb. 26 engagement at Seattle's Neumo club and an April 5 show at North Six in Brooklyn, N.Y. Finally, Stringfellow and Auer are also working on separate solo albums. For part-time R.E.M. member Stringfellow, the Yep Roc set, due in July, will be the follow-up to 2001's "Touched" (Manifesto). Auer's debut solo set is still in the works, with no current label deal in place.

Wilco, Tortoise Lead Superfly's Jazz Fest Series

Wilco, Tortoise, Gov't Mule, Galactic and Jurassic 5 are among the acts confirmed to appear during the 8th annual Superfly During Jazzfest concert series. Although not specifically affiliated with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the series will run concurrently with the latter event from April 23 to May 2.Events will be held at such New Orleans venues as the Orpheum and State Palace Theatres, Twi-Ro-Pa, the Mermaid Lounge and the Riverboat Cajun Queen. Tickets are separate from Jazz Fest admission and go on-sale Feb. 25 via Ticketbastard and Superfly's official Web site. Wilco, Garage A Trois and Jon Cleary will headline shows on the April 23 kick-off. Galactic, the Radiators and Charlie Hunter are set to perform the following evening. On April 30 and May 1, Gov't Mule will celebrate its 10th anniversary at the Orpheum Theatre. Former Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band will play at Twi-Ro-Pa immediately following the April 30 Gov't Mule gig. Galactic and Jurassic 5 will share the stage at the State Palace Theatre on May 1, while Sound Tribe Sector 9 drops in on Twi-Ro-Pa. Tortoise, Beans and a special guest to be announced wraps things up May 2 at Twi-Ro-Pa.

Al Green: “I Can’t Stop” (Album Review)

I realize that this is going to sound ridiculous, but you know the scene at the beginning of Austin Powers where after being thawed out (and of course the warm liquid goo phase), he’s perfectly fine and it’s as if a day hasn’t passed since 1967? There’s actually a parallel here with Al Green – it’s as if he were frozen at Hi Studios thirty years ago and was reanimated by producer/collaborator Willie Mitchell because the world needed another great soul album. Time may not have stopped, but you’d never know it by listening to “I Can’t Stop”. It’s almost as if Green had never left the R&B world for the church (spawned by a most bizarre attack by an ex-girlfriend involving scalding-hot grits!). The production is very similar to his early 70’s recordings and the band is actually comprised of some of the same Hi studio musicians and back-up singers. What passes for “soul” music these days is far from it and it’s refreshing that nobody tried to “update” his sound. He comes out of the gate running with the title track and other highlights include “My Problem is You”, “I’d Still Choose You” and “I’ve Been Thinkin’ About You”. It’s noteworthy to mention here that nearly half the songs on the album contain the word “you” in the title. It’s not a very well-guarded secret in the music industry that most good songs must contain references to love, drinking, getting it on, or thoughts of “you”. I think this album could be well-utilized in a “swooning” or “courting” situation or even if you just want to dance around the house with your lady (or man). Valentine’s Day may be over but keep in mind for next year that nothing compliments flowers, wine or chocolate like the timeless Al Green. (Review by: Adam Renshaw)

RIFT OF THE STONE AGE

JOSH HOMME has spoken about NICK OLIVERI leaving QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE. Josh, who has been friends with Nick since they were teenagers, said last week that the split was the "hardest thing" but that he’d rather stay "brothers" with Nick than carry on with the band in its current state. The day after playing his debut show with his other band Eagles Of Death Metal at the London Met Bar (February 10), we spoke to him backstage at Brixton Academy. Josh explained that the split has come as the result of a "number of incidents occurring over the last 18 months" but refused to go into exact details. Rumours had been circulating that Josh has become unhappy with Nick’s partying and that things came to a head on the band's tour of Australia earlier this year. Josh said: "For me it’s the hardest thing. I will never talk shit about my bro or anything like that. Nick and I are still definitely that. I love making music and stuff but it’s more important to me to be brothers with Nick. "Queens Of The Stone Age is a family of intense individuals. Everyone in the band is an individual and that was by design. It was what we were all looking for, to harness the chaos. There’s events that always happen. The thing that always brought Nick and I together is that we have different styles of doing the same thing. Nick is probably one of the most unafraid people I know, and I’m not afraid either. And that’s the reason we’re friends." For his part, Nick is thought to have given a statement to unofficial fan site www.mondogenerator.net. He said: "I'm going to try to talk him into playing music with me. I didn't quit. I just don't get it. I just need to talk to Josh, but now I can't get in touch with him. I didn't get married to get divorced, and I didn't join this band to quit it. I'm not a quitter, I want to make another fuckin' record, I think Queens is a great fuckin' band. It's crazy the band of no rules now has fuckin' rules. I just want people to know because I'm not a fuckin' flake and I didn't quit." Now, Josh is concentrating on the fourth Queens Of The Stone Age album, which will be a return to his roots and inspired by the events of the last year. Recording sessions are due to start in spring, with the album scheduled to come out before the end of the year. Hmmm Kingblind smells a rat does anyone else?

OutKast Film "Speakerboxxx"
Atlanta duo to star in movie musical

With the dust still not settled on last week's three Grammy wins, OutKast are getting ready to film their first film, Speakerboxx. The HBO movie will begin filming in May and star Big Boi and Andre 3000. "It's a 1930s period piece and musical," says the film's writer and director Bryan Barber, who characterizes Speakerboxxx as a mix between The Color Purple and Amelie. "A lot of the music inspired the scenes and the scenes inspired other music." Big Boi and Andre are still the writing music for the soundtrack, which will serve as OutKast's next album and include some outtakes from their Album of the Year-winning Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. "It's funk music," says Big Boi of the OutKast sound. "As long as it's funky and the vibes keep coming we're going to keep grinding it." Barber shot the videos for the group's "Hey Ya" and "Way You Move" videos and recently finished the one for "Roses." Set in the 1950s, the video features a cameo from Paula Abdul and will hit music channels by the end of the month."The idea is like a high school play," Barber says of the clip. "It's like three different cliques at high school. There's a girl named Caroline that's from the Roses clique of people, and then there's the Speakerboxxx gang and the Love Below gang. Basically what happens is a love triangle when Caroline from the Roses clique dates both Dre and Big Boi, and the two find out about each other and fight over her."

The Darkness, Timberlake & Busted Early Brits Winners

The Darkness have walked away with Best Rock Act and Best British Group as the 2004 Brit Awards gets into gear tonight. Other early winners include Busted winning Best Pop Act, Basement Jaxx winning Best British Dance Act and Lemar winning Best British Urban Act. Justin Timberlake grabbed the award for International male solo artist, ahead of a high profile list of nominees, incuding 50 Cent, Beck, Damien Rice and Sean Paul. The pop star is due to present the lifetime achievement award to Duran Duran later tonight and he told the crowd: "It's a fancy award. My first Brit - I'm honoured." The ceremony, underway at Earls Court, London, will see performances from a number of US stars, including Beyonce Knowles and OutKast, a collaboration between Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys and Gwen Stefani, 50 Cent and British rock group Muse.

Sonic Youth Update, Tour Dates

Experimental rockers Sonic Youth will be heading to Texas this spring for a three-show outing, hitting up venues in Austin, Houston and Dallas from March 16 to 18. The band’s website promises more shows to come this summer. They will also play a show in Northampton, MA on April 30. In the meantime, Thurston Moore and company are keeping rather busy--in addition to their four US shows, they are also curating and performing at All Tomorrow’s Parties U.K. on April 3. They will be releasing a deluxe double-disc version of their 1990 hit album Goo in April, and a couple DVDs are also set to drop later this year. The first, a retrospective DVD, is currently in the making, and a revamped DVD edition of 1991: The Year Punk Broke--a documentary of the Sonic Youth and Nirvana tour of 1991--will be released later this year. Lastly, Sonic Youth is back in the studio working on their new album, the follow-up to 2002’s Murray Street, set for release this spring or summer.
Catch Sonic Youth at these dates:
March 16: Austin, Texas (Stubbs Bar-B-Q)
March 17: Houston, Texas (Club V)
March 18: Dallas, Texas (Gypsy Tea Room)
April 3: All Tomorrow's Parties UK
April 30: Northampton, MA (Smith College)

Chemikal Underground Heads To U.S.

Scottish label Chemikal Underground, founded by and home to the Delgados, has launched a North American branch. The group will celebrate the new office with a North American tour, featuring Arab Strap frontman Malcolm Middleton and new Chemikal Underground signee Sluts Of Trust. Since its 1995 inception, Chemikal Underground releases have been licensed through Beggars Banquet internationally, except in the U.K. In addition to Arab Strap, the label's back catalog is home to Mogwai, Aerogramme and Bis. "Chemikal Underground is undergoing an exciting period of expansion and the Delgados are a fundamental part of the label's growth," says group member/label co-founder Stewart Henderson. "When we had the chance to return, we seized it with both hands: Chemikal Underground is our spiritual home in more ways than one." The upcoming tour will launch March 20 at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, and wrap March 31 in New York. Upcoming Chemikal Underground projects include debut albums from Sluts Of Trust and new signee Mother & the Addicts and new albums from the Delgados, Middleton and Arab Strap.
Here are the Chemikal Underground tour dates:
March 20: Austin, Texas (Friends Bar)
March 22: Toronto (Lee's Palace)
March 23: Detroit (Shelter)
March 24: Chicago (Double Door)
March 26: Richmond, Ind. (Comstock Room)
March 27: Cleveland (Grog Shop)
March 28: Boston (Paradise)
March 29: Philadelphia (North Star)
March 30: Washington, D.C. (Black Cat)
March 31: New York (Bowery Ballroom)

Novoselic Won't Run For Wash. Office

Former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic has changed his mind and decided not to run for Washington state lieutenant governor but says he wants to remain active in politics. Novoselic said he would keep working with Music for America to boost voter participation among young people and continue his efforts for election reform but concluded, "the whole thing about running a campaign and being a public servant isn't the way to do it." As previously reported, Novoselic retired from performing last year after his two post-Nirvana projects, Sweet 75 and Eyes Adrift, failed to sustain themselves. He now lives in southwest Washington state. He initially supported Howard Dean for president but will be a delegate for John Kerry at the Wahkiakum County Democratic Party convention. In November, Novoselic said he might run against Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, also a Democrat, who is considered likely to seek a third four-year term this year. "I found out firsthand that it's really considered bad form to run against an incumbent of your own party," Novoselic said. At the same time, he said he found nothing wrong with intra-party battles. "I think every incumbent should be challenged," he said. "Competition serves democracy. Look at what it did to our presidential caucuses."

The Guitar's Technological Crossroads

How do you continue to advance the technology of a product, when the vast percentage of its consumers wants it to remain fixed at a standard developed 35 years ago? Well Gibson Guitars may have the answer. CLICK HERE FOR THE WHOLE STORY

PROBOT: 'Shake Your Blood' (Music Video)

PROBOT's video for "Shake Your Blood", featuring Lemmy (MOTÖRHEAD) on bass/vocals, Wino (THE HIDDEN HAND, ST. VITUS, THE OBSESSED, SPIRIT CARAVAN, PLACE OF SKULLS) on guitar, and Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS, ex-NIRVANA) on drums, has been posted online Check it out:
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD (23.8mb MPEG Video)
The clip was filmed on November 15-16, 2003 in Los Angeles with director Bill Yukich (JAY-Z), and features an appearance by the SuicideGirls burlesque troupe. "Shake Your Blood" comes off PROBOT's self-titled debut, which was released Tuesday (Feb. 10) through Southern Lord Records. "Probot" features Grohl, ex-ZWAN guitarist Matt Sweeney and FOO FIGHTERS producer Adam Kasper accompanying some of metal's most celebrated and respected frontmen, all of whom sang over completed instrumental tracks but who were given free rein when it came to their vocal and lyrical contributions.

Teenage Fanclub: 766 seconds "A shortcut to Teenage Fanclub" ::Jetset Records:: (Album Review)

I love the Teenage Fanclub. Always have, always will. You should love them too. If you don’t, read no further. This is not a record review, a critique. This is an ode, an opus, a paen to the Fanclub. You may remember them. “Bandwagonesque” was Spin magazines Album of the Year in 1991. Beat out “Nevermind”. Hell, beat out everyone else for that matter. But they were sheep in wolves clothing, all flannel clad and flailing on SNL, trying to fit into Geffen’s grunge mold. No one realized these boys didn’t have that particular brand of angst in them. Except the boys themselves, who went on to release some of the most beautiful albums ever. The 21 tracks on “A Short Cut to the Teenage Fanclub” are random slices of the bands career, no chronological order, no rhyme or reason. You could choose any track off any Fanclub album and the result would be the same. Pure genius. “The Concept’ kicks this off, all teen angst and glam rock swagger. “Ain’t That Enough” is heartbreaking. “The World’ll Be OK” is a new one, a hypnotic trance of a thing that makes you believe in the future. “Everything Flows”, an early one full of promise, low on production. “Star Sign”. Perfection, absolute perfection. “Mellow Doubt”, hand claps and harmonies. “I Need Direction” is a plea for help the Beach Boys would have been proud of. “About You”, melody and hope. “What you do to me” is a timeless teen disco anthem. “Empty Space”, another new track for future fans. “Sparky’s Dream” is for summer and forever. “I don’t want control of you” is a grown up promise. “Hang On” has a Nirvana intro that breaks down into a bittersweet reflection of life. “Did I Say’, the final new track, is a visionary meditation on life and love. “Don’t Look Back” is a declaration of adoration not of this world. “Your Love is the Place Where I Come From”, audible heartbreak. “Neil Jung”, jealousy, anger, and sorrow conveyed through melancholy vocals. “Radio”, The Fanclub think pop music rules. “Dumb, Dumb, Dumb”, walking down the street, realizing you are lost in every way. “Planets”, the boys are all grown up, wearing their hearts on their sleeves. “My Uptight Life”, organ intro, this could be The Hollies, The Turtles, hell, even The Beatles. A fine farewell track. So that’s it. This is just a pop record, full of pop music, made by some Glasgow lads who find beauty in the ordinary. The everyday. That is their strength. There is no need for false grandeur. They are grandeur. The lyrics make us relate to every song. The harmonies make even the saddest thought that much more beautiful. They are grace and elegance. They are effortless. They are heartbreak, redemption, magic. They are the soundtrack to our lives. They are the Teenage Fanclub. And you should worship them like gods. (Review by: L.A.M.)

Teenage Fanclub: "Dumb Dumb Dumb" (Legal MP3 Download)

"Dumb Dumb Dumb" - 2001 - 3.3meg - Recorded In London for Student Broadcast Network session.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Broken Thumb Forces BRMC Cancellations

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has canceled the last five dates of its U.K./Ireland tour after guitarist Peter Hayes broke his left thumb in a stage fall. The affected shows begin Monday (Feb. 16) in Dublin and run through Feb. 21 in Sheffield. However, the group will still perform tomorrow in Leeds, after which Hayes will have surgery on his thumb. "For the past few days, Peter has been playing in a cast and although he is suffering from incredible pain, he has managed to get through the recent shows," the band said in an E-mail to members of its fan club. "The last thing the band wanted to do was to cancel any dates. However, it is feared that continuing to play will only make the situation worse, possibly causing permanent damage to his hand."The band is asking fans to hold on to their tickets for the canceled shows in hopes of rescheduling them at some point in the future. Once Hayes has recovered, BRMC plans to head out on a month-long North American tour with the Rapture in April. As previously reported, both groups will appear at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on May 1-2 in Indio, Calif. BRMC is touring in support of its sophomore Virgin album, "Take Them On, On Your Own"

KINGBLIND RECOMMENDS

Here is what's on our stereo this week.
(DJ Danger Mouse: The Grey Album)--(TV on the Radio: Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes)--(Stereolab: Margarine Eclipse)--(The High Strung: These are good times)--(Probot: Probot)

Jucifer :: Warbird EP (Album Review)

We used to get stoned out of our minds in high school go down in the basement and make music like this to annoy the neighbors. It's very loud, even at low volume. It's kinda boring, even at high volume. Sonically, it's up there with bands like Melvins, but falls short of anything so interesting or self-effacing. Very slow, overdriven and less than melodic for the most part. Some standouts of note are track four - "Haute Couture", which is uptempo and pretty rockin'. the beginning of track 5 - "The Shape of Texas" is nice and haunting with a jarring decent back into the chugging sludge which marks the overall tone of the EP. However the whole EP seems to go to great lengths to cover up the real gem that's buried way down on track 6 - "My Stars", a sparce little ho-down that captures a little bit of the soul that was buried by the first 16 or so minutes of harsh angular assault. The EP is capped off by 46 minutes of chirping crickets...and I listened to all 46 minutes to find that when it was over, I'd already forgotten what the first six songs sounded like.
(Review by Total Ronnie O.)

Wilco Come Together At Abbey Road

Wilco are in London mastering their new album at the Abbey Road studios, the same studios where The Beatles recorded all of their classic albums. Although the album is still five months off it has been christened 'A Ghost Is Born'.
Songs recorded so far include:
At Least That's What You Said
Hell is Chrome
Spiders (kidsmoke)
Muzzle of Bees
Hummingbird
Handshake drugs
Company In My Back
I'm a Wheel
Wishful Thinking
Late Greats
Theologians
Less Than You Think
The album was recorded in New York with producer Jim O'Rourke (Sonic Youth) with engineer Chris Shaw (Bob Dylan). The album is scheduled for a June 9 release through Nonesuch Records.

Bowie Says He's Now "Viceless"

Thin White Duke David Bowie said that he's finally "viceless" after recently quitting cigarettes following a lifetime of smoking. After kicking the dirty habit, the 57-year-old Bowie jested: "Well, there's just the heroin. But I'm dealing with that - it shouldn't be long now. Other than that, life is a dream. No, please, I take that back. Yes, I'm afraid I am viceless. I don't drink, do drugs or smoke. I do coffee - gallons of it, still." Bowie, who abused drugs in the 70's (like a madman), also says that after reuniting with Hunky Dory producer Tony Visconti for last year's Reality album they plan to work on a new album after the tour finishes up. In another interview, Bowie admitted that he most likely produced his worst music in the mid-80's, which he refers to as his "Phil Collins era." Ouch! Bowie is currently on tour in New Zealand and Australia. And did I mention that his Reality tour rocked..

The Art of Bill Barminski

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Weezer Announces DVD Contents

Weezer announced exactly what's going to be on its upcoming DVD, making literally thousands of geek rockers wet their pants.
The DVD, Video Capture Device hits stores March 23, and contains every Weezer video plus a plethora of other video odds and ends.
The track listing is:
Undone - The Sweater Song
Buddy Holly
Say It Ain’t So
El Scorcho (directors cut)
The Good Life
Pink Triangle (home made no budget)
Hash Pipe
Island In The Sun (Marcos Siega)
Island In The Sun (Spike Jonze)
Photograph
Dope Nose
Keep Fishin’
Slob (indie style low budget)
Undone - the Sweater song (Alternate version)
"Weezer Goes To NY: The Making of The Blue Album"
In The Garage (live)
Jamie (Live)
"Buddy Holly News"
"Saction" (live)
Say It Ain't So (B-roll version)
Say It Ain't So (live - Dave Letterman)
"Weezer Goes To Van Nuys: The Making of Pinkerton"
El Scorcho (live)
The Good Life (B-roll version)
Pink Triangle (Live and Acoustic)
Mykel and Carli (Live)
My Brain (Live)
"Outlog"
"Stoopid Fresh" (green album preparations)
"How Not To Do An Interview"
Dope Nose (B-roll version)
"Eurotrash" (2002 tour action)
Take Control (Live)
Fall Together (Pre-Show Warmup)
Prodigy Lover (demo session)

Bad Religion 'Strikes' Again

Veteran Los Angeles punk outfit Bad Religion will release a new studio album, "The Empire Strikes First" June 8 via Epitaph. Like its predecessor, 2002's "The Process of Belief," the forthcoming disc was co-written and co-produced by guitarist Brett Gurewitz and frontman Greg Graffin. "It's not ready for public consumption yet, but it's basically recorded and finished," Graffin said. "We really put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make the best album we could. 'The Process of Belief' is considered by many to be our comeback, since Brett and I started writing together again. After so many years doing this, we're really only interested in making a record, writing the songs and producing if we know it will be really good." As for the implications of the album's title, Graffin explains, "We're not in the business of jumping on political events, but this is a particularly interesting time. So we just decided to write a couple of songs about the current [presidential] administration. But in typical Bad Religion style, I think it's general enough that in 10 years time, we won't be embarrassed we wrote these songs. A lot of times people write about things that are too specific and they become dated pretty quickly. The title track just sort of talks about how we don't want to be a part of it, and that's something that is sure to reverberate for many generations." Graffin says another song, "Let Them Eat War" -- a play on Marie Antoinette's historical comment "Let them eat cake" -- is "based on the thought that the current administration puts so much money into this war while our own poor are struggling just to eat." Still, Graffin -- who finished his Ph.D in biology last year -- assures the band covers a range of topics on "The Empire Strikes First." "I've spent a lot of time writing about religion and how it interfaces with science," he says. "So there are a few songs that delve into my thoughts on that. And for me, songwriting has always gone hand in hand with my academics." For Bad Religion fans, 2004 looks like a banner year, as the group will on April 6 release remixed and remastered versions of 1982's "How Could Hell Be Any Worse," 1987's "Suffer," 1989's "No Control, 1990's "Against the Grain," and 1992's "Generator." The film "Along The Way," which was shot on the band's 1989 European tour, will also hit the shelves in DVD form the same day. "When these recordings were originally converted from analog to digital for CD, the mastering technology was pretty primitive," Graffin says of the reissues. "Now the mastering process is so much more sophisticated. So we wanted to put out a better sounding, better quality version of our records and the timing was right. Our catalog is still selling well, so we could justify doing it. And they really do sound killer. They sound very close to the analog versions. In fact when you compare them now, it's very hard to tell the difference between the analog and digital." In addition to a previously announced appearance on the Vans Warped Tour, Graffin promises further U.S. dates to follow and more DVD product from his band. "The Warped Tour is kind of the beginning of our touring for the year," he says. "We're going to be doing another major tour this year, probably in the fall. So we're thinking of doing a live DVD and maybe shooting it at the end of this tour. It's ridiculous how you can walk into a store and there's a whole wall of music DVDs, yet nothing from Bad Religion."

THE GREY ALBUM: RELEASED !!! (MP3 DOWNLOAD)

For the first time available ANYWHERE online: DJ Danger Mouse Presents: THE GREY ALBUM The Grey Album is an art project/experiment that uses the full vocal content of Jay-Z's Black Album recorded over new beats and production made using the Beatles White Album as the sole source material. Danger Mouse insists he can explain and prove that all the music on the Grey Album can be traced back to the White Album and its musical content via sampling. Every kick, snare, and chord is taken from the Beatles White Album and is in their original recording somwhere. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Available for a VERY limited time only.
SONGS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.. OVER 5GB SERVED IN UNDER 24 HOURS.. WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR HOSTING BANDWIDTH. SORRY KIDS.
TRY HERE INSTEAD

Sigur Ros: untitled #1 [a.k.a. vaka] (music video)

New Video from Sigur Ros CLICK HERE TO VIEW In Quicktime, Real and WM formats.

THE CHANGING OF HIS TIMES!

The story of BOB DYLAN's life is to be made into a film.
Paramount Pictures are working with the co-operation of the singer on a biographical film, Reuters reports. The project, which is in the early stages, has been given a working title of ‘I'm Not There: Suppositions On A Film Concerning Dylan’. Dylan is unlikely to play himself in the film, although his music has been licenced for the project, which is being worked on with filmmaker Todd Haynes.

Bjork Gets Boxed . . . Again

New set to collect eclectic singer's singles. Since the release of her last studio album, 2001's Vespertine, Bjork has been rooting through the closet, issuing a plethora of hits, odds, sods, videos and more. Though she's released two box sets in the past two years, a third that will collect all of the Icelandic singer's singles will be released this April. According to a post on Bjork's Web site, she's been toying with a singles set idea for seven years. "This is being released to cater for the demand for the obscure mixes which are no longer available, hard to get or were never released in some countries," the post reads. "It is the complete singles box." The quantity of music contained on the Bjork's singles is bountiful, as she's been issuing singles padded with alternate mixes and remixes as long as she's been releasing albums, starting with 1993's "Human Behaviour" from Debut. The singles box follows last year's four-CD plus DVD set Live Box and 2002's six-CD Family Tree. Several DVDs of live material and videos have also been released since Vespertine. Though details are scant, Bjork's site also promises a new album for 2004.

GARBAGE DRUMMING!

DAVE GROHL has been in a LOS ANGELES studio getting behind the drumkit with GARBAGE, for the band's follow-up to 2001's 'BEAUTIFULGARBAGE'. The collaboration also meant a reunion for Grohl and Garbage sticksman Butch Vig, who produced Nirvana's legendary 'Nevermind'. In a posting on Garbage's official website, singer Shirley Manson said: "Dave Grohl (or Mr Fantastic as our producer has taken to calling him) came by the studio today (January 6) and HAMMERED some drums down on 'Bad Boyfriend' and the result is fucking AWE-INSPIRING!!!!! " She added: "OOoohhh....I am FINALLY having so much fun making this record. It feels like how you imagine making records would be. Exciting and creative and joyous. And we've just made so much progress in a week that I can actually imagine we might finish this damned thing after all!!!!" Vig also said: "Just had Dave Grohl in to play drums on 'Bad Boyfriend' and it's absolutely slamming."The studio where Nirvana recorded part of 'Nevermind' has been demolished in a freak accident involving a 10-ton truck. Smart Studios, in Madison, Wisconsin, were ruined in September when the truck veered off the road after hitting a car at a busy junction near the complex.The studio, owned by Vig, was being used by Garbage for work on the new album. Dramatically, they had left just an hour before the truck hit. The new as-yet-untitled Garbage album is due to be released in February/March next year and Vig describes it as "a lot noisier and darker, less poppy than the last album".

New Digital Turntable From Technics

Known for their quality and durability, Technics SL-1200 series turntables have been a favorite of professional DJs who demand high-performance equipment for optimum creative expression. Now Technics extends this reputation into the digital era with the introduction of the SL-DZ1200 Direct-Drive Digital Turntable with SD Memory Card slot and the SH-MZ1200 DJ Mixer with four-channel play mode and other digital features. "Technics has kept at the forefront of audio technology by introducing legendary changes in the industry," says Jim Kiczek, national marketing manager for Technics turntable products. "That reputation continues with the new digital turntable and matching DJ mixer designed specifically for professional DJs." The new digital turntable allows DJs to play several music formats, including CD-DA, AAC, and MP3. To add to the DJ's performance, the new unit allows sampled data to be digitally stored on a removable and reusable SD Memory Card - a feature that offers high-speed data access, huge storage capacity, and super portability. With the postage stamp-sized card, DJs can transport their music from one location to another or even download music samples* on their personal computer.
Turntable highlights include:
* Outstanding vibration resistance due to a rugged aluminum die cast upper cabinet with large double spring insulator feet and a tough CD mechanism.
* Seamless, instant cueing with four cue pads and memory for 10 cue points per an individual digital media such as a CD or SD Memory Card.
* A traditional platter-edge strobe with a digital readout (BPM, play position, etc.), variable-range (+/-8 to +/-50) and a reset button, "Pitch Lock" (the ability to change the tempo without changing pitch), and "Reverse-Forward" mode. Additionally, the SL-DZ1200 turntable has a vinyl sound simulator, sample pads, dynamic effects, platter Free Wheel (a feature not available on jog-wheel type CD players), adjustable braking rate and a selectable display angle to permit use of the deck in upright hip-hop style. A Direct Drive motor system - offered first in the market by Technics to replace belt drive systems - has a quartz crystal control to provide accurate turntable speed. The new digital turntable offers start-up speed options: a quick start-up time to full speed, making it possible to achieve extremely tight cueing, and a standard start-up characteristic of analog turntables. The unit also features a distinctive slip surface on the platter that allows for "scratching." A perfect companion for the new turntable is the SH-MZ1200 DJ mixer. The new DJ mixer features a unique four-channel play mode feature, which provides surround sound at venues by assigning each track to Right/Left or Front/Rear. The SH-MZ1200 digital mixer is fully equipped with 12 inputs (CD x 2, Line x 3, Phono x 3, Mic x 2, Digital x 2) and 7 outputs (Master x 3, Headphone x 1, Monitor x 1, Recording x 1, Digital x 1). Each channel has its own 3-band equalizer with -24dB (12dB/oct) attenuation. Five self-illuminating Cue buttons select from four source channels and the effects channel, with Monitor Mixing knob and Mono Split Mode for headphone monitoring. Effects controls include level adjustment, Send and Return, a Pre/Post switch and individual effect On/Off switches for each channel.
Other features include:
* An optical Cross Fader, which uses microprocessor controlled VCA technology for extended service life and has three types of curves.
* Left/Right Split for independent fader and equalizer control over the left and right stereo channels.
* Separate Out to send Channel 1 or 2 to the front speakers, and Channel 3 or 4 to rear speakers.
* Fader-triggered start-stop for digital turntables, two digital inputs, and reverse selectors for all faders.

Uncle Tupelo - LIVE. The final concert (Legal MP3 Download)

1994-05-01 Mississippi Nights - St Louis, MO This is the last Uncle Tupelo show before leaders Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy went onto form Son Volt and Wilco respectively
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

MEG WHITE RABBIT!

WHIRLWIND HEAT are to release their new single 'PINK' on February 23, featuring MEG WHITE dressed in a bunny suit on the cover. The White Stripes' drummer - a friend of the band - posed as a white rabbit for the photo when the two groups were touring together in Japan. 'Pink' will be available on 7" only and is a new version of the album track, which originally appeared on last year's debut 'Do Rabbits Wonder?'. Recorded while Whirlwind Heat were on tour in New Zealand, 'Pink' will be backed with a cover of Beck's 'Fume'.

Jay-Z/Beatles 'Grey Album' Blocked By EMI

EMI have issued a 'cease-and-desist' order against hip-hop DJ/producer Danger Mouse to block the release of his 'Grey Album' project, which cuts vocals from Jay-Z's 'Black Album' over The Beatles White Album. MTV reports that the music corporation, who control the rights to The Beatles sound recordings, also issued the order against independent record shops that were stocking the mix CD. The Danger Mouse produced CD is one of many bootlegs doing the rounds that have used Jay-Z's final LP as a backdrop after the hip-hop star released The Black Album on vinyl with no beats underneath his lyrics. Danger Mouse said he would comply with the order not to distribute any more copies and that he did not expect and further legal action, due to the fact that The Grey Album was only pressed as a very-limited release, with around 3000 copies available.

Drive Like Jehu: Live in S.F. (Legal MP3 Download)

san francisco, california - 09.14.94 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Radiohead to release rarities EP

Radiohead are to release a new EP of rarities, remixes and B-sides. The Com Lag EP is being released only in Japan but will be available in the UK on import. It's being released on March 29 to coincide with the band's upcoming tour of the Far East. The EP includes B-sides and remixes taken from all the singles taken from the album Hail To The Thief. Also included on the ten track EP are a live version of 2+2=5 and the Ed Holdsworth video for Sit Down, Stand Up.The full tracklisting is: 2+2=5, Myxomatosis, Paperbag Writer, Scatterbrain, I Will, I Am Citizen Insane, Fog (Again), Where Bluebirds Fly, I Am A Wicked Child and Gagging Order.

THE RETURN OF URGE OVERKILL

That’s right kiddies URGE OVERKILL is back and they are touring. CHECK IT. The 1st UO shows over in 7 years!
Jan 15: The Casbah, San Diego, CA
Jan 16: Troubadour, Hollywood, CA
Feb 3: Grog Shop Cleveland Heights, OH
Feb 4: Club Cafe Pittsburgh, PA
Feb 5: Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ
Feb 6: The Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
Feb 8: The Middle East, Cambridge, MA
Feb 9: The Khyber, Philadelphia, PA
Feb 10: The Continental, Buffalo, NY
Feb 11: Skully's, Colombus, OH
Feb 14: The Double Door, Chicago, IL
Feb 15: The Double Door, Chicago, IL
(both shows supported by The Sights plus a
double secret opener that is gonna bust your nut!)
Feb 24: Iowa City Yacht Club, Iowa City, IA
Feb 25: Kryptonite Bar, Rockford, IL
Feb 26: Shank Hall, Milwaukee, WI
Feb 27: First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Feb 28: The Pyramid, Winnipeg, MB
Feb 29: Luther's Blues, Madison, WI

Drive By Truckers take poor, rural rock out of the South

Patterson Hood says he thinks the South is not as different as many people would have you believe. "The more I tour and see the rest of the country, the more I realize the problems and poverty of the South are spread all over," says Hood, who leads the Alabama Georgia rock band Drive-by Truckers. The Truckers explored this topic with careful lyrical insight but reckless musical abandon on their epic 2001 double-CD, "Southern Rock Opera." The album used the rise and fall of Southern rock giant Lynyrd Skynyrd as an allusion to the South's own tragedy-filled history. For proof of the Truckers' universality, Hood pointed to "The Deeper In," the opening track on their triumphant followup CD, "Decoration Day." A sad, slow-rolling song, "The Deeper In" is about a real-life case of incest between an impoverished brother and sister. "The district attorney said he might have forgiven," Hood sings in his scratchy drawl. "You had lots of reasons to turn out this way." Here's the kicker most people missed: It took place in Wisconsin, not the South. "That's just more irony for the fire," Hood said. Assume nothing about the Drive-by Truckers, who - whether or not they're singing about the South - make fantastic rock 'n' roll out of the plight of poor or rural Americans without being preachy, cutesy, condescending or cliche-ridden. Lyrically and musically, their songs are like a combination of the best parts of Neil Young's and Skynyrd's feuding anthems, "Southern Man" and "Sweet Home Alabama." Far from typical Southern rockers, though, Hood and his bandmates were also raised on punk and indie rock. In particular, the singer was a fan of Minneapolis' Replacements, whose erratic musicianship flew in the face of everything he learned as the son of Muscle Shoals studio bassist David Hood, a player on albums by Aretha Franklin, James Brown and others. "I always thought I simply wasn't good enough as a musician to play in a professional rock band because of my dad's background," Hood recalled. "When I heard (the Replacements), though, I was like, 'These guys ain't no. . . Steely Dan, either.' " While Hood sings and writes most of the songs, the band boasts two other singer-guitarists cut from the same cloth: Mike Cooley, a longtime friend who helped start the group in 1996, and Jason Isbell, who joined in 2001. "I think it's fascinating having these different voices, all singing about many of the same things from different perspectives," Hood said. While writing "Decoration Day," the members endured a heavy load of personal strife. They toured seemingly nonstop to promote "Southern Rock Opera." Money was scarce. Marriages were on the rocks. In separate songs, Hood and Cooley sing about the havoc that the band wreaked on their personal lives. Cooley was apologetic about his rock 'n' roll lifestyle (" 'Lord knows I can't change' sounds better in the song"), but Hood seemed unrepentant ("I never hear a single word you say when you tell me not to have fun"). "Not surprisingly, Cooley's marriage lasted and mine fell apart," said Hood, who is engaged again. For their next record, which they've nearly completed, the Truckers have traded the personal tone of "Decoration Day" for more of a political theme. The CD will be called "The Dirty South," a coy play on the label applied to hip-hop acts such as OutKast and Goodie Mob. While the Truckers are fans of that music, Hood said the title really refers to "everything that went on in our hometowns politically and economically in the late '70s and early '80s." "The Ford plant by my house closed, and all sort of jobs were being lost," he said. Hood mentioned the Michael Moore documentary "Roger & Me," about General Motors plant closings in Michigan, as an influence: "I couldn't get over how much that movie reminded me of home, except the accents were different," he said.

QOTSA SPLIT? Josh kicks Nick Oliveri out of the band!

Josh Homme has kicked Nick Oliveri out of Queens of the Stone Age, Kingblind.com can exclusively report. Josh is fed up of Nick's partying, and has decided he doesn't want him in the band anymore. Also gone is occasional collaborator Mark Lanegan, also known for his acclaimed work with the Screaming Trees, and his own band, The Mark Lanegan Band. As Oliveri wasn't present on the first album, and Lannegan is only a recent collaborator, Josh Homme has the rights to their name. All of the players are working on seperate projects right now. A source said "it was their last tour in Australia that gave [Nick] the push, it was all out of control. But it's not hard to believe they are ready to split after 19 months of solid touring basically. That's rock and roll."In other news, Brent Bjork, drummer from Kyuss and Fu manchu, is recording an album in Joshua Tree (where Eighties Matchbox recently recorded their new record). Brent was in the UK in December playing drums in Nick Oliveri's side project Mondo Generator.

6 IS 9 (Magazine)

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Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds LIVE (Legal MP3 Download)

06-25-2003 Roseland Ballroom NYC Pt. 1 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Townshend to Honor Ronnie Lane

Pete Townshend has signed on to perform at a tribute concert to late Small Faces/Faces member Ronnie Lane on April 8 at London's Royal Albert Hall. No additional acts have yet been announced, although Townshend's official Web site reports, "It is expected that Pete will perform one or two songs at the concert, which will feature a host of stars paying tribute to Ronnie." Tickets go on sale Wednesday (Feb. 11) via the Royal Albert Hall box office. Proceeds will benefit the family of Lane, who died in 1997 after a long battle with muscular sclerosis. Townshend and Lane collaborated on the 1977 Polydor album "Rough Mix," which featured "Heart to Hang Onto" and "Till the Rivers All Run Dry," both of which have remained part of Townshend's solo repertoire.

Beta Band Goes From 'Heroes To Zeroes'

U.K. rock act the Beta Band will return later this spring with its third album, "Heroes to Zeroes." Due May 4 via Astralwerks, the 12-track set was self-produced by the group and mixed by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck). "The first single is 'Assesment' and the video is going to be the history of human warfare," vocalist Steve Mason wrote on the band's official Web site. In November, Mason said, "all four of us are also working on a DVD to come out around the time of the LP. 12 films, three each, to go with 12 tracks. Some of these tracks may not be from the LP but will be new." At deadline, it is unclear if the DVD is still being targeted for release in conjunction with the new album. "Heroes to Zeroes" is the follow-up to 2001's "Hot Shots II,"

Savath & Savalas: Spanish Electronica Groove

Downtempo Hip-Hop Meets Dark-Eyed Catalan Soul in 'Apropa't' Producer Scott Herren -- AKA Prefuse 73 -- packed up his trademark downtempo hip-hop electronica groove and headed to Spain, where he teamed up with Catalan vocalist Eva Puyuelo to form Savath & Savalas. The group's new album Apropa't is inspired by everything from 1970s Brazilian and Spanish psychedelic soul to Southern-fried American hip-hop. Herren put together an ensemble of musicians for the project, including members of Chicago's indie art rock scene. It's an ecclectic mix of styles, incorporating Spanish rhythms, bossa nova strings, even jazz horns. Herren tells Day to Day producer Christopher Johnson the new disc is as much the fulfillment of a personal journey as it is a singular musical achievement.

Public Enemy Ready Two Cds: Chuck D to launch lecture tour next week

Public Enemy will release two albums this year. Due in early summer, How Do You Sell Souls to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Souls? is a classic-soul-minded album, while the fall-targeted New Whirl Odor is an "eclectic, typical Public Enemy record," according to frontman Chuck D. "They're two totally different albums," he continues. "But they come together like a nice double set. I can't write a record without at least mentioning what's going on. I delve real deep on the second album, and dig deep into the music on the first one." The albums and his current lecture tour titled "Rap, Race, Reality and Technology" will all touch on the current events and issues endemic to an election year. "I think this is a year that art can actually speak," D says. "But I don't see enough of it being done. I don't see enough attention given to rap groups that might do it, like the Coup and Dead Prez. The industry is presenting rappers as one-dimensional, and that doesn't hold as much water in 2004."
Chuck D. lecture dates:
2/10: Cleveland, John Carroll University
2/11: Philadelphia, St. Joseph's University
2/12: Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina
2/17: Tuscaloosa, AL, University of Alabama
2/18: Morrow, GA, Clayton College & State University
2/23: Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University
2/24: Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology
2/26: Pullman, WA, Washington State University

Dave Grohl Drums Up Probot

Foo Fighter unites with metal heroes on side project "Chicks dig drummers," says Dave Grohl. Which may be partly why the man is always looking for another excuse to step back behind the drum kit, from his brief but memorable stint in 2002 with Queens of the Stone Age to the debut this month of his long-awaited metal project, Probot. The impending February 10th release of Probot's self-titled debut album was enough to deliver Grohl to headbanger paradise recently on a Hollywood soundstage, where he was shooting the band's first video, sitting in with Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister and seventy models from SuicideGirls.com. The song was "Shake Your Blood," a dead-ringer for Motorhead's "Ace of Spades." Grohl pounded the drums on a rotating stage as Lemmy serenaded a crowd of dancing rock chicks in goth, punk and bondage wear with the words, "I love to see the women bathe/I ain't in denial." Later, Lemmy recognized the scene as "just like a tour in the Sixties, when things were a lot more fun." Grohl says, "We're dealing with Lemmy here. There's got to be women dancing in the video. I've never done something like that, and it just wouldn't work with 'Learn to Fly.' It's the kind of thing you would reserve for something special." On guitar was underground metal vet Wino (St. Vitus, the Obsessed), one of many hard rock heroes recruited by Grohl for the album, which began as a series of brutal basement recordings made between Foo Fighters tours. The collaborations were quick and easy. "I wrote the lyrics in about ten minutes," Lemmy says of "Shake Your Blood." "It's rock & roll, you know. It's not one of those complicated things." Which at least allowed Grohl to feel like a drummer again. "I'd rather be playing drums in that room with seventy Suicide Girls than standing around with a guitar around my neck," he says. The Probot project began three and a half years ago as an escape from his Foo Fighters duties performing "Learn to Fly" and other radio hits every night. It was an excuse to rock hard, tapping into his early days obsessively listening to hardcore and underground metal, the kind of music he says he still listens to before going on stage with the Foo Fighters: Corrosion of Conformity, Sepultura, etc. Grohl initially recorded seven instrumentals with no intention of releasing them or even singing on the tracks. But he slowly farmed out his basic tracks to several metal heroes, who added vocals to the ragged riffs. "I came up with my wish list of all of my favorite singers from this era," he says, "which is '82 to '89 underground metal, and all the bands I listened to at the time: Eric Wagner from Trouble and Snake from Voivod and Cronos [from Venom] and Lemmy and Wino. We started making phone calls trying to find all these people." Grohl played virtually all the instruments himself, though Lemmy and Cronos play bass on their tracks, Wino adds explosive guitar to "The Emeerald Law," and Kim Thayil of Soundgarden plays guitar on two songs. And even though Grohl has made the rare transition from drummer to successful frontman, he knows where he belongs. "I'm a drummer," he says. "I taught myself how to play the guitar, I taught myself how to play the drums, and I kind of fake doing both of them. But drumming comes more natural to me, and it just feels better." The New PROBOT is available today on SouthernLord Records. And the sucker ROCKS.

Pixies Announce Warm-Up Tour Dates

The Pixies' reunion tour will kick off April 14 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, marking the group's first live appearance in over a decade. The alternative rock quartet is rehearsing in Southern California for the 11-date North American club trek, which will visit such unusual locales as Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Boise, Idaho. The run culminates in a May 1 appearance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. From there, guitarist/vocalist Frank Black, bassist/vocalist Kim Deal, guitarist Joey Santiago and drummer David Lovering will head to Europe for a tour that will run from May 28 to July 10. The only confirmed dates at present are support slots for the Red Hot Chili Peppers on June 12 at Dublin's Phoenix Park and June 15 at Paris' Parc des Princes. 4AD/Beggars Banquet is also readying a retrospective CD tentatively titled "Wave of Mutilation" and the DVD "Pixies."
Here are the Pixies' North American tour dates:
April 14: Winnipeg, Manitoba (Burton Cummings Theatre)
April 15: Regina, Saskatchewan (Doris Knight Ballroom)
April 17: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Prairieland)
April 18: Edmonton, Alberta (Red's)
April 19: Calgary, Alberta (MacEwan Hall)
April 21: Victoria, British Columbia (Victoria Curling Club)
April 22-23: Vancouver (Commodore Ballroom)
April 24: Spokane, Wash. (Big Easy)
April 25: Boise, Idaho (Big Easy)
April 27: Eugene, Ore. (MacDonald Theatre)
April 29: Davis, Calif. (Freeborn Hall)
May 1: Indio, Calif. (Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival)

Watt Strikes Up Secondmen: New album from Minutemen bassist due in spring

Last April, Mike Watt took his new trio, the Secondmen, out for a harried set of tour dates -- fifty-four stops in fifty-eight days -- that echoed the travel habits of his original band, the Minutemen. The group was showcasing a new set of songs it began recording in early January in Watt's home base of San Pedro, California, with plans for an April release. As with Watt's previous release (1997's Contemplating the Engine Room, a song cycle focused on Watt's relationship with his father and his band), The Secondman's Middle Stand will be a thematic set of songs; this time out he's focused on the illness that nearly killed him in early 2000. Having initially displayed flu-like symptoms in January 2000, Watt, 42 at the time, was misdiagnosed by physicians, who missed an internal abscess in his pelvic region. After thirty-eight days of fever, vomiting and shakes, the abscess ruptured and sent him to the hospital for emergency surgery. "The infection had me bad," he says. "Healing up, they had to cut three huge holes in me and clean me out, and I had to heal from the inside out. My sister would put this gauze stuff in me and yank it out; she's a saint. I didn't sleep for months. But I learned from it: Doctors are like mechanics, some are shitty. In fact, it was an intern, not even thirty-years-old, who saved my life." His health stabilized, Watt had to go back and relearn his trade. "It was the first time I had to stop playing bass since I'd started playing with [late Minutemen singer/guitarist] D. Boon when I was thirteen," he says. "When I started playing again, I found I'd lost everything. No rhythm, and I'd atrophied. I couldn't make scales and notes." In an odd bit of foreshadowing, Watt relearned his instrument by playing Stooges songs. "Not a lot of chord changes," he says, "but they're a lot about feel." Three years later, Iggy Pop would snag Watt's services as bassist for his resurrected Stooges, who played several shows last year, with some dates set for this spring in Japan. The slow recovery offered the narrative framework for Middle Stand, as Watt likened the process to Dante's Divine Comedy. "It impressed on me that the middle years are kind of drippy," he says with a chuckle. "Nobody talks about them when you're younger. There's old, but no one thinks about middle and then here you are in the middle. You're not a beginner, but you're not old. So I kind of paralleled it to Dante about going through these three worlds. The sickness is the inferno, and the healing purgatory and then there's getting to ride my bicycle, play my bass and paddle my kayak. That fucking illness took so much from me that I thought I should at least be able to take a record from it." Watt's Stooges work over the summer put recording sessions for Middle Stand on hold, which seemed to heighten Watt's eagerness to get in the studio with his fellow Secondmen, keyboardist Pete Mazich and drummer Jerry Trebotic -- both local longshoremen by day. "I couldn't have a better bunch of guys," he says. "They've never recorded an album before, so it's exciting to them." As for the unorthodox lineup, Watt says, "I added the organ to put myself in a different place. To me one of the biggest threats is I Love Lucy rerun syndrome. I try to put myself in situations where I have to improvise and not do the same old same old.

Rare AC/DC (Legal MP3 Downloads)

Rarities and more.. ENJOY CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

The Breeders- Pod Demos (Legal MP3 Download)

A collection of rare demos that were never officially released. Features early versions of songs that would later appear on Pod and Last Splash.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Age Maps

Two photographs of the same person, from different periods of time (child and adult) are spliced together. In this fusion a jump of time is established at the tear.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW

super furry animals live (Legal MP3 Download)

06-06-2000 maxwell's hoboken, nj CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds LIVE, B-SIDES and MORE (Legal MP3 Download)

A ton of live, b-sides and rarities. Enjoy CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

The Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan show: 40 Years ago TODAY

Tower Records Mulls Bankruptcy

Tower Records, the pioneering record retailer that invented the music megastore, is likely to file for bankruptcy to aid a potential sale, a source close to the matter said Thursday. A filing could involve swapping debt for equity in a move to reduce Tower's debt burden and clear the way for a potential buyer, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The bankruptcy was likely to come within a week, the source said. MTS Inc., the privately held parent of the West Sacramento, Calif.-based record retailer, declined to comment on the possible Chapter 11 filing. Such a filing would be nearly a year after MTS decided to sell Tower because it could not pay $5.2 million in debt on $110 million in bonds sold in 1998. Tower Records, begun with a single store in 1960, the same year as the "Twist" dance craze, became internationally recognized for its in-store concerts and a deep selection of popular and obscure music. But the chain has fallen victim to a slump in the music business and its own missteps in a rapidly changing retailing environment."It doesn't surprise me," said Phil Leigh, digital music analyst with Digital Inside Media. "The brick-and-mortar retailers are facing a serious problem. They've got to deal with Borders and Wal-Mart and the trend toward digital distribution." Tower Records owns about 100 stores, down from 171 during its heyday when annual sales topping $1 billion were routine. The retailer's decline began in 1998 as falling sales, lack of hits and discounters such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. cut into profits of traditional record stores. The company borrowed $110 million in 1998 to expand into Great Britain, Asia, Canada and South America shortly after founder Russ Solomon boasted in a magazine interview that his company "can compete with anybody" and predicted a coming industry shakedown in which some companies would die and the "good ones will get bigger." Yet as its troubles mounted, the company became known among music shoppers for steep prices — typically $18.99 for CDs, compared to $4 and $5 less at discount stores.

Record industry enforcer raids Kazaa offices downunder

The enforcement arm of the Australian record industry has raided the premises of Sharman Networks and its proprietor, Nicola Hemming, in what it says is a bid to stop illegal copying of music through the Kazaa network. Yesterday, Music Industry Privacy Investigations obtained court orders allowing its investigators to obtain documents and other electronic records about Kazaa's activities in Australia. Twelve premises were raided in three states this morning.The premises of Brilliant Digital Entertainment and those of three universities - the University of Queensland, the University of New South Wales and Monash University - were among those raided. Among other premises raided were those of Akamai Technologies AAP, NTT Australia, Telstra Corporation and NTT Australia IP. MIPI said proceedings had begun in the Federal Court after a six-month investigation. MIPI said evidence had been obtained during the raids which would be used in the court proceedings. Court action commenced in Sydney as Kazaa operates from offices in the suburb of Cremorne even though it is registered in the Pacific island of Vanuatu. MIPI general manager Michael Speck said the action had been taken "to stop the illegal use of music through use of the Kazaa network." "Kazaa has built a large international business through encouraging and authorising the illegal copying of music users of its network. It authorises this copying without seeking the licence or permission of the owners and creators of the music, nor does it pay any royalties to either the owners or creators of the music," he said. The matter will return to court on Tuesday. Sherman Networks described the actions as “a knee-jerk reaction by the recording industry to discredit Sharman Networks and the Kazaa software, following a number of recent court decisions around the world that have ruled against the entertainment industry’s agenda to stamp out peer-to-peer technology." “There is no doubt this is a cynical attempt by the industry to disrupt our business, regain lost momentum, and garner publicity. The assertions by plaintiffs are hackneyed and worn out. It is a gross misrepresentation of Sharman’s business to suggest that the company in any way facilitates or encourages copyright infringement." “Sharman bought the Kazaa software two years ago with the express purpose of building it into a legitimate channel for the distribution of licensed, copyright protected content which in turn financially benefits artists. This model has already proven to be successful.” MIPI is established and funded by record companies and music publishers and acts as an anti-piracy arm for these organisations. It is affiliated with the Australian Record Industry Association.

My Boxed Valentine

More info has leaked regarding the long-awaited anthology from dreamscape drone legends My Bloody Valentine. Fansite To Here Knows Web has posted what appears to be a thorough accounting for the contents of the as-yet-untitled (though seemingly forthcoming) box set. Expected to be limited to only a few thousand copies, the package will be made up of two separate boxes and a DVD spanning the band's entire career. There's no telling at the moment whether each box will be sold separately or as a single collection, or even what label will release it. Secret info as follows:

Box 1:
THIS IS YOUR BLOODY VALENTINE LP (1985)
GEEK EP (1985)
THE NEW RECORD EP (1986)
SUNNY SUNDAE SMILE EP (1987)
STRAWBERRY WINE EP (1987)
ECSTASY EP (1987)
LIVE 1984-87 (new double-CD)

Box 2:
YOU MADE ME REALISE EP (1988)
FEED ME WITH YOUR KISS EP (1988)
ISN'T ANYTHING LP (1988)
GLIDE EP (1990)
TREMOLO EP (1990)
LOVELESS LP (1991)
LIVE 1987-92 (new quadruple-CD)

While Box 1--a repackaging of previously released, though hard-to-find, music from the group's salad days as a Cramps-ish, quasi-Goth combo to their experimentations with jangly paisley pop--will be unembellished by bonus materials save for the live album, Box 2 easily promises to be the anxiously sought prize for many an MBV fan. The second set feature outtakes and "alternate versions" for all four epochal EPS and two albums issued by the band from 1987 to their quiet disappearance in '92. Of particular interest will be five tracks that were originally slated to appear on 1988's Glide EP (thus making it a full-length and what fledgling rock historians will surely begin to call "the lost album"). Not only have these buried songs been unearthed, they have apparently been re-recorded by Shields with former bandmates Bilinda Butcher and Colm O'Ciosoig. However, there doesn't look like there will be any post-Loveless or new material included from the band's decade-long lull/breakup. Though we may wonder what happened in that 10-year span of public silence, it may be best to end this collection with a triumphant final chapter--the unrivalled masterpiece Loveless--than a patchy postscript. In addition, both live albums are digitally remastered from original soundboard tapes and the DVD will be comprised of all of the band's music videos, three separate live shows spliced together as one, various television interviews and personal "camcorder footage." Considering that there isn't even any official info on the box set, one can expect the speculated release date of late 2005/early 2006 to be optimistic at best. Regardless, after the palatable morsels he dished out for the Lost In Translation soundtrack, it seems Shields is ready to engorge us with a patiently awaited feast. Bring your own acids (regular and ant-).

New Mars Volta Video, Internet Only

The days of MTV domination are over. The Mars Volta have a new video for their latest single "Televators", and it's only available on their website www.themarsvolta.com. Well, ok, maybe we got carried away. Maybe the L.A.-based five-piece won't topple MTV--and thereby all of corporate America--just yet. But they are idealistic, political, progressive and plenty artsy. Anyway, said video is animated, emotive and more than a little scary. Whereas much of their debut full-length De-Loused in the Comatorium explodes with singer Cedric Bixler's wails and shreds with the rest of the band's rumblings, "Televators" creeps and crawls, unraveling slowly and quietly. Fitting for the second to last track on an album inspired by the suicide of a boyhood friend. The video, likewise, is unflinchingly dark, both in its lighting and theme, and undeniably heady, as the gremlin-like protagonist simply wanders around some sort of haunted, imagined forest. Regardless, it's cool, and they're cool, so check it.

The Strokes: Cover The Clash's "CLAMPDOWN" Live (Legal MP3 Download)

Live Strokes covering The Clash CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
(via: I Blast Off)

Little Guns & Roses

What if a bunch of little kids played as GNR.. Well it's happend CLICK HERE Hell.. They will grow up and form bands before we see any new GNR stuff anyways.

DESERT SESSIONS - IN THE DESERT!

DESERT SESSIONS, the project put together by QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE mainman JOSH HOMME, THE SLEEPY JACKSON, THE STILLS and BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, will join a reunited PIXIES, THE CURE and RADIOHEAD at CALIFORNIA’s COACHELLA FESTIVAL this May. Bright Eyes, The Thrills, Moving Units, Turbonegro, Junior Senior, LCD Soundsystem, Wilco and Dizzee Rascal will also perform over the two day long event running May 1-2 at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California. Promoters have been working on putting the fifth instalment of Coachella, for almost a full year but according to partner Paul Tollett, getting Pixies on the bill had been on his personal wish-list for years. "I can’t put it all on me," Tollett said of the band’s upcoming reunion. "I wish I could take the credit. Mark Geiger [co-founder of Lollapalooza] . . . he called one day and said, ‘Don’t tell a soul, but do you think you’d be interested in Pixies?’ I’m like ‘Yeah!’ He said, ‘What about the first play of Pixies?’ I’m like, ‘Even better!’ When you’re a festival promoter you dream of moments like that." Pixies are scheduled to play just before headliners Radiohead on night one of the event. Following Radiohead, German, experimental stalwarts Kraftwerk will perform on the Dance Stage. Tickets go on sale Valentine's Day, February 14 and cost $75 for a day ticket or $141 for a weekend pass.
At press time the full line up is:
• Air
• And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead
• Atmosphere
• Basement Jaxx (live)
• Belle & Sebastian
• Black Keys
• Bright Eyes
• BRMC
• Broken Social Scene
• The Cure
• Cursive
• Death Cab for Cutie
• Desert Sessions
• Dizzee Rascal
• Future Sound of London
• Hieroglyphics
• International Noise Conspiracy
• Junior Senior
• LCD Soundsystem
• Le Tigre
• Moving Units
• The Pixies
• Prefuse 73
• Radiohead
• Sahara Hotnights
• Sidestepper
• Sleepy Jackson
• Sparta
• The Sounds
• Stereolab
• The Stills
• Turbonegro
• The Thrills
• Thursday
• Wilco
• !!!

Air Announce Details of Tour

In a perfect world, the soundtrack for our daily existence would be written by Air. But since this is reality, and not Le Petit Prince, the rest of us will have to settle for a North American tour in the Springtime, when being serenaded by two Frenchmen becomes oddly appropriate. Having just unveiled their latest Parisian paradise, Talkie Walkie, Nicolas Godin and J.B. Dunckel wish to show Le American how to groove to the moog, and sing along in broken French--a language which is incredibly proficient when it comes to breaking down the permutations of a phrase like ?Sexy Boy.? In the midst of all this is of course, Coachella, where the duo?s balmy brand of electronica will be put to the test against the rumblings of German assault team Kraftwerk. Before they glide into our side of the world, Air gets to romance Europe and all its restless natives. Still, it?s us Americans who need Air more than Air needs us. Instead of saying, ?your touch comforts me,? we would all say: ?the smoky solace of an idle caress,? which is the French way of telling us poetry isn?t poetry unless there?s a great deal of tortured sentiment. The idea is that emotion is a perfectly good substitute for reason when one needn?t worry about such trifling matters as time and space. So air it out, and see what it feels like, but don?t be surprised if the ground beneath your feet turns into satin.
Both European and U.S. tour dates:
Feb. 7: Brussels (Cirque Royale)
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)
Feb. 21: Bielefeld, Germany (Ringlokschuppen)
Feb. 22: Hamburg, Germany (Docks)
Feb. 27: Berlin (Columbiahalle)
Feb. 28: Cologne, Germany (Palladium)
March 13: London (Carling Brixton Academy)
April 2: Austin, Texas (Austin Music Hall)
April 3: Dallas (Nextstage)
April 5: New Orleans (Twiropa)
April 6: Atlanta (Earthlink Live)
April 8-9: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
April 10: Philadelphia (Electric Factory)
April 12: Boston (Avalon)
April 13: New York (Hammerstein Ballroom)
April 16: Montreal (Metropolis)
April 17: Toronto (Kool Haus)
April 18: Pontiac, Mich. (Clutch Cargo)
April 20: Chicago (Riviera Theatre)
April 21: Minneapolis (State Theatre)
April 22: Milwaukee (The Rave)
April 24: Englewood, Colo. (Gothic)
April 27: Portland, Ore. (Crystal Ballroom)
April 28: Vancouver (Orpheum)
April 29: Seattle (Paramount Theatre)
May 1: Phoenix (Marquee Theatre)
May 2: Indio, Calif. (Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival)
May 3: Oakland, Calif. (Paramount)

White Stripes LIVE: "The Peel Sessions" (Legal MP3 Downloads)

Live Peel sessions, Interview videos and more CLICK HERE TO DOWLOAD
(via L.H.B)

Beastie Boys Finishing New Album

The Beastie Boys are putting the final touches on the highly anticipated follow up to 1998's Hello Nasty. In an interview with the BBC, group member Mike D. said the album would be a straight Hip-Hop album. "We've been working for a little while in a secret location," Mike D. said. "But there's light at the end of the tunnel and we're mixing now so it's almost complete." The secret recording location is somewhere in New York and the group made a conscious decision to record the entire new album in the city. "We missed a lot about New York because its just a great place to make a record," Mike D. added. "Everything is just up in your face the whole time. I mean we just go up in the studio for however many hours a day, but just getting to the studio you've still gotta deal with people - it's not like L.A." The album may be released as early as June.

Bright Eyes LIVE (Legal MP3 Download)

A ton of live songs from Bright Eyes CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
(via the ever rockin' largehearted boy)

SMILE "This Freaky Slow Dance" (Legal MP3 Download)

Sophomore release from this excellent Orange County, California power-pop trio.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

GBV Gets Busy On New Album

The ever-prolific Guided By Voices recently logged time at Waterloo Studios in Kent, Ohio, to lay down 15 tracks for its next studio album. The as-yet-untitled set is due sometime this summer via Matador, according to the band's official Web site. Longtime collaborator Todd Tobias, the brother of ex-GBV bassist Tim Tobias, will produce. The upcoming set will be the follow-up to last year's "Earthquake Glue," GBV was recently forced to postpone several tour dates after frontman Robert Pollard suffered a back injury, but the shows have been rescheduled, beginning March 5 in Dallas. Meanwhile, Pollard has also been at Waterloo Studios recording his next solo album, "Fiction Man." Due in March via the artist's Fading Captain imprint, the set features songs by Pollard and all instruments played by Todd Tobias.
Here are Guided By Voices' tour dates:
March 5: Dallas (Trees)
March 6: Austin, Texas (La Zona Rosa)
March 8: Columbia, Mo. (Blue Note)
March 9: St. Louis (Mississippi Nights)
March 11: Columbus, Ohio (Little Brother's)
March 12: Louisville (Headliners)
March 13: Bloomington, Ind. (Bluebird)

Ninja Tune Loads Up Retrospective CDs, DVD

Venerable dance/electronica label Ninja Tune revisits its most popular releases on the double-disc retrospectives "Zen CD" and "Zen RMX," due Feb. 10. The label will also issue the "Zen TV DVD," featuring 35 music videos and a 15-minute video megamix by Hexstatic, and a triple-LP edition of "Zen CD." In addition, some of the label's biggest acts are teaming for a spring tour of Europe and North America. "Zen CD" gathers 32 cuts from such Ninja Tune stalwarts as Coldcut, DJ Food, Amon Tobin, Fog, Mr. Scruff, the Herbaliser, Kid Koala, 9 Lazy 9, Luke Vibert and his Wagon Christ alter-ego, Fog and Jaga Jazzist. "Zen RMX" finds such artists as Four Tet, Cornelius, Squarepusher, Manitoba and Ashley Beedle remixing the likes of Coldcut, Vibert, DJ Vadim and the Cinematic Orchestra. Videos from all of the aforementioned artists and then some can be found on "Zen TV DVD," which allows the viewer to watch the clips in their intended order, by artist or chronologically forward and backward. Finally, the Zen TV tour will blast off Feb. 26 in Manchester, England, featuring a rotating roster of acts that includes Coldcut, Kid Koala and Hexstatic. Once the trek touches down March 17 in Boston, the lineup will feature Tobin, Kid Koala, Bonobo, Blockhead and Sixtoo. Visit the label's official Web site for a full list of dates and participating artists.

STAYING IN FOR THE SUMMER!

JACK WHITE has said he'll spend the time between now and the READING AND LEEDS FESTIVALS working on the follow-up to ELEPHANT. The duo, whose UK tour ended last week (January 30) with an NME Awards Show at the London Brixton Academy, will not play over here again until the summer if Jack gets his way. He told John Peel: " We're done with Elephant, and we're not touring any more on that album so, I just need a break. We've toured the world on it, so I guess I got to get inspired again? When you keep playing every night, every night, and we put so much energy every night into it...I don't like to write songs on the road, so I need to just go home and rest."White Stripes release a new single There's No Home For You Here on vinyl on March 15. There are also plans for a DVD, recorded on their recent UK shows.

PEDRO THE LION "ACHILLES HEEL" ALBUM INFO AND MP3

David Bazan and crew have just completed working on PEDRO THE LION’S follow-up to 2002's critically acclaimed/politically enraged Control and those results, herein known as Achilles Heel (JT1095), are slated to be released on CD format May 25th, 2004 (Available for pre-order March 23rd, 2004) while the vinyl version will come out via our friends at Devil in the Woods. Recorded in Washington State at the band’s home studio -- longtime Bazan collaborators TW Walsh and Casey Foubert (Seldom) were joined by multi-instrumentalist/percussive powerhouse James McAlister (Ester Drang) as the group spent a solid month working on the album’s tracks. The concluding record is richly crafted and flawlessly produced as a scathing glance into the crosshairs of the American dream, a heartbreaking sketch of husbandhood and ultimately an exploration of faith as told through eleven perfectly textured vignettes. As sonically mature as it is emotionally complex, Achilles Heel is imbued with the hopeful sadness that only PEDRO THE LION can, and do deliver. Mr. Jesse LeDoux, who designed the last Shins' release, penned the record’s gorgeous artwork. Pedro the Lion: "Discretion" MP3

Polyphonic Touring with Bowie

The Polyphonic Spree, our good ole’ whimsical robed friends, have been slated to open up for everyone’s favorite movie star/Hilfiger model/musician, David Bowie, on his upcoming tour. Tour? Yeah, Bowie has extended hisReality tour through June, since he had to postpone so many dates due to his sniffley sniffles, and for the month of April, Tim Delaughterand his neo-psychedelic pop symphony will be hitchin' a ride and sharin’ germs with the Labyrinthstar. (I know, we bring it up every time, but it’s that good.) The Polyphonic Spree have played with Bowie once before, when the glittery pop star invited the orchestra 'n' friends to open for him at his Meltdown Festival at London’s Royal Festival Hall. And with that kick in the pants, the Spree have been doin’ pretty well for a bunch of choir-robe wearin’ indie kids with an oboe (the most elusive of instruments). So, yeah, catch the ultra-shiny-super-delic combo at a venue near you.
Tour Dates:
March 29 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
March 30 - Boston, MA - Fleet Center
April 01 - Toronto, On - Air Canada Centre
April 02 - Ottawa, QC - Corel Center
April 04 - Quebec City, QC - Pepsi Coliseum
April 07 - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Arena
April 09 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Centre
April 11 - Kelowna, BC - Skyreach Place
April 13 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
April 14 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
April 16 - Berkeley, CA - Community Theatre
April 25 - Denver, CO - Budweiser Events Center
April 27 - Austin, TX - The Backyard
April 29 - Houston. TX - Woodlands
April 30 - New Orleans, LA - SaengerTheater

Pixies Tour Officially A Go

The much-ballyhooed reunion of seminal alternative rock act the Pixies is getting off the ground. Beyond apreviously announced May 1 appearance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., the group is now confirmed to open for the Red Hot Chili Peppers on June 15 at Paris' Parc Des Princes. The quartet has not played live together since disbanding in 1993. Sources have confirmed that dates are being booked, and guitarist/vocalist Frank Black's unofficial Web site reports that the Pixies will first embark on a North American warm-up tour that will lead up to the Coachella appearance. A full-scale tour will follow, encompassing both North America and summer European festivals. Despite all the plans, drummer David Lovering said last week that the group has yet to begin rehearsing. Asked if he looked forward to the prospect of reconvening with Black, guitarist Joey Santiago and bassist Kim Deal, he replied, "Absolutely. I'd given up drums for a long time. I haven't played them in years and years. It would just be fun to do it again. We just have fun playing." Indeed, Lovering has spent the past six years working as professional magician, a pursuit he says is made possible by the ongoing interest in the Pixies' formidable legacy. "I appreciate that it's still sustaining me -- it keeps selling records," he said. "It shows there is some fan base out there [because] it keeps going over and over to a whole new audience of 18-year-olds." As previously reported, to coincide with the reunion, 4AD/Beggars Banquet is eyeing the release of a new Pixies retrospective as well as a DVD featuring music videos and a full 1988 concert. It would appear that Black is forgoing a tour in support of his upcoming spinART double-album "Frank Black Francis" in favor of roadwork with the Pixies, Black has already begun making plans foranother new album, to be recorded with the assistance of Nashville session music.

Up Records Celebrates 10th Anniversary With Weeklong Benefit

Featuring Built To Spill, Modest Mouse, Black Heart Procession, Quasi; Live DVD Forthcoming--
Seattle indie Up Records has announced plans to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a weeklong series of shows featuring some of its most prominent artists. The headliners, not surprisingly, are top-notch acts from Up's roster, past and present. The party takes place over the course of five days: Built to Spill occupies the marquee slot for the first two evenings; Black Heart Procession churns out chilly dirges and hot bossa nova on day three; Modest Mouse holds court on day four; and that other divorced duo, Quasi, closes the week-long "festival" with their unique brand of blues-tainted organ rock. While the schedule alone is impressive enough, the meaning of the event goes beyond milestones. All proceeds from the five shows will be donated to the Washington/Alaska chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a cause close to the hearts of those at Up Records. The label's founder, Chris Takino, passed away after a long battle with Leukemia in October of 2000. Through the celebration, the stewards of the label honor Chris' vision and tradition of artist support while benefiting a worthy organization. The festivities will be captured on film by Lance Bangs, the celebrated documentarian and videographer responsible for Pavement's Slow Century DVD, David Cross' Let America Laugh, contributions to Jackass, and videos for the Shins, R.E.M., and Belle & Sebastian. The event will see eventual release on DVD, again with proceeds benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. While the Up label has not signed any new bands since Takino's death and many of its key acts have moved on to other labels, the Up imprint has continued in recent years by releasing new albums from Caustic Resin, Mike Johnson, Jana McCall, and The Dark Fantastic, as well as the vinyl versions of Built To Spill's Ancient Melodies of the Future and Doug Martsch's solo album, Now You Know. The anniversary show is also timed to coincide with Up's 101st release (give or take a few gaps in the catalogue), the Phil Ek-produced Brent Arnold and the Spheres. The band's debut album is set for release on February 24th. Brent Arnold, who is most definitely a musician's musician, composes scores, plays a wide vareity of instruments, and is no stranger to the Up musical family. He's played on releases from Modest Mouse, 764-HERO, Quasi, Sleater-Kinney, and the Go-Betweens, to name a few. His band stars in the warmup role for Built To Spill on the first night at the Showbox. Complete schedule:
Monday, February 23rd - Showbox
Built To Spill
Brent Arnold and the Spheres
Sick Bees
Jana McCall

Tuesday, February 24th - Chop Suey
Built To Spill
Mark Pickerel (of The Dark Fantastic)
John Atkins (of 764-HERO)
DJ KO

Wednesday, February 25th - Chop Suey
Black Heart Procession
Mike Johnson (with The Evil Doers)
Tiffany Anders

Thursday, February 26th - Showbox
Modest Mouse
Caustic Resin
Tommy Dirtweed (featuring Tom Romich)

Friday, February 27th - Chop Suey
Quasi
Duster
Violent Green
(via PFM)

Metal Urbain: "Panik" (Legal MP3 Download)

The concept was simple yet unique: marry the post-Stooges guitar aggression of the "class of 77" punk school with the artsy electronically-processed aesthetic of Roxy Music, Robert Fripp and Brian Eno. The sound: big killer punk rock guitar hooks, squealing textural synth noises, shouted French vocals, and a cheap, adrenalin-fueled drum machine. While most people were just discovering punk, METAL URBAIN were blazing the trails for what was to become "post-punk", with a sound so distinct that Rough Trade would make them their first ever release. Sure, echoes of METAL URBAIN can be heard in popular indie bands from the '80s like BIG BLACK and JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, but only now, almost 30 years after their first release, can their genius and foresight be fully appreciated.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Nirvana Bump Bizkit Off Dial

"Classic alternative" radio brings back the golden Nineties. CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY

Ronnie James Dio for America

I think we all have found our REAL choice for president CLICK HERE FOR THE ONLY REAL CHOICE

Soul music 101:

Taking a walk through the history of Stax Records. CLICK HERE FOR WHOLE STORY

The Audreys Lp (CD) (Music Review)

The Audreys are a (three piece) band from Chicago. The music is a tight fisted pop glove; the songs are not three chord but are pummeled along by a heavy back beat and a swirling guitar. Leads back the vocals sung in a speak sing monotone with inflection. Comparisons are a short cut to thinking, so I won’t list the cool bands the Audreys remind me of as I nod my head and tap my foot. This produced by Ivan Julian formally of the Voidoids and that’s all you need to know. Fucking great, I like this CD and I got it in the car. The Audreys: a rock 'n' roll band from Chicago The Audrey's website
(by: Jim Hayes- GENIUS)

2004 Super Bowl Ads.

Miss any of the Multi Million dollar ads? Well you can see em' all RIGHT HERE The Kingblind favorite is the chevy trucks soap in your mouth.. Too funny..

Janet Jackson and The Super Bowl

The shot seen round' the world:
Picture 1
Picture 2
The Movie (1.3mb avi)
(via M&C)
****UPDATE ****
Justin Timberlake sent the half-time Super Bowl show into X-rated territory by tearing off half of Janet Jackson's bra. After two touchdowns in the real game, the evening's "top-down" came at the end of a show headlined by Jackson and including the wild man of pop, who was the show's secret special guest, reports an Australian website. The astounding stunt appeared to have been planned all along, with Jackson sporting a strategically placed star over her right nipple, which had been exposed to the watching millions. Later it was confirmed that CBS, which broadcasts the Super Bowl and the half-time show, had approved of the tear-of strip. The word from the NFL is this: NFL Executive Vice President Joe Browne regarding the Super Bowl halftime show: "We were extremely disappointed by elements of the MTV-produced Halftime show. They were totally inconsistent with assurances our office was given about the show. It's unlikely that MTV will produce another Super Bowl halftime."
(update from: Off on a Tangent)

Tortoise Comes Back 'Around' On New LP

Chicago instrumental rock outfit Tortoise will release its fifth studio album, "It's All Around You," in April via Thrill Jockey. The 10-track set is the follow-up to 2001's "Standards,". On cuts like "Crest" and "Stretch (You Are All Right)," the group finds a happy medium between a live-band feel ("Five Too Many," the off-kilter closer "Salt the Skies") and more studio-heavy experimentation ("By Dawn," "The Lithium Stiffs"). The latter cut features vocals from Kelly Hogan, the first Tortoise song with vocals in nearly a decade. "We are employing many approaches to writing and recording, basically drawing on relevant past experiences and techniques to make the ideas come to life," multi-instrumentalist John McEntire said last spring. Tortoise will be on the road in North America in April and May, and will head to Europe in June and July. As previously reported, McEntire and Tortoise drummer Johnny Herndon can be heard on Savath & Savalas' "Apropa't," released earlier this week via Warp. McEntire, Herndon and multi-instrumentalist Dan Bitney are also working on an album of original samples and breakbeats intended for use by DJs and producers.
Here is the track list for "It's All Around You":
"It's All Around You"
"The Lithium Stiffs"
"Crest"
"Stretch (You Are All Right)"
"Unknown"
"Dot/Eyes"
"On the Chin"
"By Dawn"
"Five Too Many"
"Salt the Skies"

WHITE STRIPES TO PLAY READING AND LEEDS FESTIVAL

THE WHITE STRIPES announced last night that they will be playing at this year’s CARLING WEEKEND: READING AND LEEDS festivals. White Stripes were forced to pull out of last year’s Reading and Leeds festivals when Jack suffered a fracture in his left hand following a car accident (July 9). After the incident, the guitarist issued a statement which read: “The White Stripes would like to apologise most sincerely to the admirers of the band who have faithfully purchased tickets to see us perform in the midst of this, a most unfortunate accident. "A bone in the index finger of my fretting hand was shattered in an automobile accident, making it absolutely impossible to play guitar, especially since I've been instructed by doctors that there is no way I can move my wrist until it is completely healed. ”Our shows from the ninth of July 2003 until the middle of September must all unfortunately be cancelled. This includes the festivals in the British Isles, T in The Park, Witnness, Reading, and Leeds. The real shame is that it is virtually impossible to make it up to those admirers who purchased tickets to those festivals with the sole intention of experiencing The White Stripes live performance. We apologize to those people and hope that the other fine performers in the line ups will fulfil a lost space for you.” Black Rebel Motorcycle Club filled in the headlining slot, performing a crowd-pleasing tribute to the Stripes with their version of ‘The Hardest Button To Button’. Following the cancellation, festival organisers Mean Fiddler promised that the pair would return this year to headline.

Wilco, Flaming Lips Sign On For Coachella Festival

Wilco and the Flaming Lips are the latest bands to sign on for the fifth Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, according to the former's official Web site and the latter's official message board. The event will be held May 1-2 at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, Calif. An announcement of the full lineup is expected imminently; tickets go on sale Feb. 14. As previously reported, the roster of acts also includes Radiohead, the first performance by the Pixies since 1993, Kraftwerk, the Cure, Air, Dizzee Rascal, the Thrills, LCD Soundsystem, Electric Six, Sahara Hotnights, Kinky, the (International) Noise Conspiracy, Prefuse 73, T. Raumschmiere, Sidestepper, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, !!!, Atmosphere and rap act Eyedea & Abilities. For Wilco, the announcement comes just days after the departure of multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach for reasons that have not yet been revealed. The group is at work on the follow-up to its acclaimed 2002 disc "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," expected in late spring or early summer via Nonesuch. Coachella is the lone upcoming date on its schedule at present. The Flaming Lips wrap their run on the Big Day Out tour of Australia and New Zealand tomorrow (Feb. 1) in Peth, Australia.