KINGBLIND: Music, Art & Entertainment

Them Crooked Vultures: Live on SNL (Video)

2010-02-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

Them Crooked Vultures performed �Mind Eraser, No Chaser� and �New Fang� on Saturday Night Live on 2/6. Dave Grohl also appeared in a sketch. Check it out below:

"Mind Eraser, No Chaser"

"New Fang"

"Dave Grohl in Skit"

The Soft Pack play 10 shows in one day (Video)

2010-02-08T01:55:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, San Diego's the Soft Pack played 10 shows in one day in the Greater Los Angeles area to promote their new LP (which is out today, by the way). Put together by the dudes at FYF, and L.A.'s Videothing went along to document the insanity:

Johnny Depp Directing Doc About Rolling Stones� Keith Richards

2010-02-08T01:23:00.000-08:00

A rep for Johnny Depp has confirmed that the actor will direct a documentary on Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, Variety reports. News of Depp working on a doc about the guitar god first surfaced in an interview with Russia�s Politika, where Depp said his editor is in the process of going through miles of archival footage. �I�m very touched that Keith agreed to show up in front of my cameras,� Depp said.

Depp has long credited Richards for inspiring his portrayal of Capt. Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, and Richards made a surprise cameo as Sparrow�s pirate father in At World�s End. Richards and Depp appeared together on the cover of Rolling Stone before the film�s release, and the pair displayed an almost father-son relationship. �I was almost afraid to meet him for a long time, because there is always a fear that your heroes are going to be shitheads,� Depp joked to RS.

According to Variety, in addition to the documentary, Richards� autobiography is due in fall 2010.

LCD Soundsystem Soundtrack Details

2010-02-08T01:18:00.000-08:00

The new Noah Baumbach film is called Greenberg and it features a score by LCD Soundsystem mastermind James Murphy. The soundtrack boasts 11 Murphy solo pieces and one new LCD Soundsystem song, along with tunes by Nite Jewel, Albert Hammond, Galaxie 500, the Sonics, and Duran Duran.

Talking about the soundtrack to Drowned in Sound recently, Murphy said it "sounds NOTHING like LCD, really. it's made to fit the movie, not be 'my record'." Segue: LCD Soundsystem's new album is due out later in the Spring.

The Greenberg soundtrack is out in the UK March 22 on DFA/Parlophone. The Greenberg movie is out in select U.S. cities March 26.

A list of songs on the soundtrack awaits:

Greenberg Soundtrack:
01 James Murphy: "People"
02 Nite Jewel: "Suburbia"
03 James Murphy: "Sleepy Baby"
04 James Murphy: "Thumbs"
05 Albert Hammond: "It Never Rains in Southern California"
06 James Murphy: "Plenty of Time"
07 James Murphy: "Photographs"
08 James Murphy: "Gente"
09 Galaxie 500: "Strange"
10 LCD Soundsystem: "Oh You (Christmas Blues)"
11 James Murphy: "Birthday Song"
12 James Murphy: "Dear You"
13 The Sonics: "Shot Down"
14 Duran Duran: "The Chauffeur"
15 James Murphy: "If You Need a Friend"
16 James Murphy : "Please Don't Follow Me"
17 James Murphy: "Photographs (Piano)"

Leonard Cohen Tour Postponed 6 Months Due to Back Injury

2010-02-08T01:12:00.000-08:00

He may be 75 years old, but if the worst result of playing 191 tour dates after a 15-year live hiatus is a minor onstage collapse in Spain and a recoverable back injury, requiring �the same 4 to 6-month regimen of physical therapy as athletes do with similar injuries,� then Leonard Cohen is young for his age, I say.

Only days after accepting a Grammy for lifetime achievement in Los Angeles, CA, living legend Leonard Cohen has been forced to postpone 9 European tour dates due to said injury in his lower back.

�Doctors have confirmed that Mr. Cohen is otherwise in terrific shape, thanks to years of exercise and careful diet, and simply needs appropriate time to recover,� said his manager, Robert Kory, in a statement sent to the press.

Cohen�s spring shows have been moved to the fall, but who knows, perhaps he�ll be working on that rumored new album a bit in the meantime. Either way, get well, Mr. Cohen!

Today in Jack White News: Dolly Parton, Live Surprise & More

2010-02-08T01:09:00.000-08:00

I�m as guilty as the next White Stripes/Dead Weather/Raconteurs fiend for posting every time our fearless leader sneezes, but even I can�t keep up with the Third Man man at this rate, man. Two big Jack White headlines today alone are making their way through the newsbeast, not to mention a third from earlier in the week.

First off, if you�re a Pro Tools-wielding friend of any living legend within walking distance of White�s Nashville abode, you better watch out because the man we�ll endearingly refer to as the Luddite Lothario is looking to lure more famous prospects to his all-analog studio. First there was Loretta Lynn, of course, then Wanda Jackson, and now White has set his sights on country music legend Dolly Parton.

�Well, I have been approached [by] � Jack White,� Parton told Spinner. �I�ve thought about doing it with [Jack]. He seems to be a fan but who knows. You never know what I might do.� Wow, playing hard to get with Jack White? I love it. Be sure to give Van Lear Rose another listen, though, and something tells me it�ll be an easy decision.
Also, did you hear about the new Third Man Records live series? Well, you have now, but we also now know more about the first release: Last night, Third Man Records artists Dex Romweber Duo played a live show at their Nashville headquarters, which was recorded to 8 track analog reel to reel tape for an upcoming vinyl LP release.

And here�s the kicker: White performed at the show too, prefacing his take on one of the duo�s tunes with, �Thank you for coming to my house.�

Yeah, yeah: Enter �the house that Jack built� joke here.

The Kingblind Android mobile app is now available.

2010-02-08T01:02:00.000-08:00

Kingblind.com is pleased to announce that we have finished development of our new Android app. This app is available now through the Android Market and is 100% free. Our app will track all the latest post from Kingblind as well as our current tweets. (just click categories to switch between our main content and our twitter feed.) Now our little iPhone app has another friend online.

To download the Android app just login to the Market on your Android phone and search for kingblind, the Install is just a touch away. Enjoy, and send us your feedback.

Spoon: Written in Reverse (Music Video)

2010-02-05T09:56:00.001-08:00

The Strokes return to studio

2010-02-05T02:02:00.000-08:00

The Strokes are back! Kind of! Or on their way to being back, anyway!

The early-decade New York rock kings are already set to headline two festivals this summer-- England's Isle of Wight and Scotland's RockNess. And now Spin points out an update on the band's website. According to the Strokes themselves, they've returned to the studio, where they're working on the long-awaited follow-up to 2006's First Impressions of Earth.

The band is working with producer Joe Chiccarelli (White Stripes, Shins, My Morning Jacket) and mixer Gus Oberg. They also promise to post "video vignettes" from the sessions on their website.
(via pfmedia)

Zooey Deschanel To Star In HBO Pilot Based On Pamela Des Barres 'I'm With The Band: Confessions Of A Groupie'

2010-02-05T01:55:00.000-08:00

Zooey Deschanel has signed on to star and executive produce a HBO half-hour pilot adaptation of Pamela Des Barres' famous memoirs, "I�m With The Band: Confessions OF A Groupie."

The story centers on Des Barres' experiences in the 1960's juggling the excitement of rolling with famous musicians and actors like Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page and Don Johnson as well as the heartbreak and emptiness of being substituted for the next pretty young thing. It's a well-worn book in rock circles and a pretty decent read. So a weekly HBO "Almost Famous" type thing? Could be.

Deschanel's manager Sarah Jackson will also produce along with "Curb Your Enthusiasm" executive producer, Tim Gibbons. No time frame is given on production or screening but it'll probably be vying for a spot on the fall schedule.

Interestingly, it'll see Deschanel follow a path taken by fellow actor/indie-musician Jason Schwartzmann, who stars in HBO's detective-comedy "Bored To Death," as well as big name directors Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann who are helming pilots for "Boardwalk Empire" and "Luck" respectively.

The Soft Pack: S/T (Album Review)

2010-02-05T01:43:00.000-08:00

Lets get something out of the way. Yes, the Soft Pack was the band formerly known as the Muslims. It�s the exact same band. And no matter what you feel about the name change, its here to stay and has nothing to do with their San Diego beach-brand of easy garage punk. So get over it!

Besides, the name change seems to all make sense now. No way could they have released this album under their previous moniker. Their debut release was full of pissy, stripped-down rock �n� roll that landed them somewhere between the Dead Boys, the Modern Lovers, and Chuck Berry with a surfboard. Layered with a thick helping of dry sarcasm and a who-the-fuck-cares attitude of kids growing up in a beach-side town, their debut was raw, catchy, and undeniable soundtrack music for summer days and road trips. Releasing it under the name �The Muslims� worked in that it hinted at the LP�s derisive posturing and purposeful lack of reverence to something so topically (and ridiculously) volatile. This is rock, man. Who cares if it�s PC, right?

On their second full-length from Kemado, though, the boys have grown up a bit and exposed a little more of their sensitivity. The rock isn�t gone, but just eased up a bit and accompanied by some of that Southern California sound more deliberately. This becomes immediately apparent on �Answer to Yourself�, where the crunching and steady building beat is garnished with a small guitar riff straight from Dick Dale�s garage. The previous track, �Down on Loving�, includes the heavy strums of an acoustic guitar behind the high-end major chords and some sweet backing vocals. Even the first line of the song hints at the region they originate from: �I see the sun in the sky and it looks so good.� Don�t be fooled, though. It�s not all summer fun. The upbeat sound of the track is darkly balanced by singer Mark Lamkin�s simple but perfectly cynical lyricism. By the one-minute mark a screeching guitar solos erupts like a stuttering Hot Rod over all the happiness, and we realize that the Soft Pack is messing with us. This isn�t smiles and sun, but congested, smog-filled insanity. It�s both the Southern California of yesteryear and being stuck in traffic at 5 PM on the freeway. This is a bleached-out madness.

The first half of the album mostly chugs along at this same paced, upbeat intensity, and picks up where their debut LP left off with a smidgen more polish. However, their sound begins to delve into uncharted territory for the four-piece with �Pull Out��a track that cheekish-ly supports the secession of California. The driving guitar line is ripped right out of the surf-rock playbook, while Lamkin�s vocals sound precariously close to Rick Froberg from now-defunct San Diego rock band Hot Snakes, who also have a satirical ode to their home state (See: �Let It Come�). Followed by �More or Less�, a straight jangle-pop number, and the sinister-sounding tale of lost surfers in �Tides of Time�, it becomes fully apparent that the Soft Pack is less interested in following the well-worn path of garage rock revivalism. Instead, they maintain their �77-punk influences and mix it with a bit of sunshine and saltwater near flawlessly.

Lazily, you can lump them up with Wavves, the Smith-Westerns, Jay Reatard, or even the Strokes, along with a whole slew of other rock-bands keeping it lo-fi and simple. That would be unfair, though. These guys don�t have the same affinity for their distortion pedal as Nathan Williams, and they probably don�t have hair-stylists like Casablancas and co. If anything, the Soft Pack is filling in for the hole that the Hot Snakes left when they broke up. Even then, that would be ignoring their obvious ties to the locales from early �60s beach pop to Agent Orange or even the surf-y fuck-off O.C. party band the Ziggins.

Most importantly though, the Soft Pack never sound clich�, but excitingly new, even if their influences can be clearly identified. Somewhere in a dense, urban LES neighborhood in NYC, art-kids are baffled by these guys� sound and passing around this album on their iPod in abstract painting class. They don�t get it, though. Take a trip to San Diego, dude. These guys aren�t art-kids or fashionable rock revivalists�they�re just being themselves. Lucky for us.

Tim Goldsworthy parts with DFA?

2010-02-05T01:08:00.000-08:00

British producer Tim Goldsworthy has reportedly left DFA Records and returned to the United Kingdom.

Goldsworthy ran DFA with James Murphy and Jonathan Galkin since 2002, and was especially involved in producing early records by The Rapture and The Juan MacLean. At this point, the parties involved tell conflicting stories about Goldsworthy's departure.

Reached for comment by e-mail, Galkin told Resident Advisor: "Tim Goldsworthy moved away to somewhere in the United Kingdom, without informing anyone here at DFA. We have had no word from him since he left the United States. So we moved on with our lives and our business. Simple as that. He most definitely took a piece of us when he left, but we wish him the best with whatever he gets up to next."

Meanwhile, Goldsworthy downplays the significance of his sudden move. "I haven't left," he says, explaining that his physical departure did not mean he was finished with the label. "If that was the case then, well, Murphy's never there, cause he's always touring or in the studio, so that would mean he left, I don't know, nine years ago or something?" Goldsworthy, who is still one of DFA's partial owners, says he relocated mostly because the bulk of his work is in the UK, and because he considers it a better place to raise his family. He points out that he has done very little work with DFA in the past two years, though he would be willing to do more production or remix work for the label "if something good came along and I got offered it." As of late, Goldsworthy has done remixes for Goldfrapp, Massive Attack and DJ Hell's collaboration with Bryan Ferry.

Video: Nick Cave, Shane MacGowan & Co in the Studio + New Haiti Benefit Info

2010-02-05T01:06:00.000-08:00

As promised, we�re following up with more deets on that epic Haiti charity single put together by Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, renaissance man Nick Cave and actor/musician Johnny Depp. If you recall, MacGowan, Cave, Depp and Primal Scream�s Bobby Gillespie were reported to have teamed up to cover Screamin� Jay Hawkins�s �I Put a Spell on You.�

But that�s not news, that�s olds (to paraphrase Ricky Gervais). The new bit is that the already-epic team was joined by Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, Mick Jones of The Clash, and Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders�and the session was covered by the UK�s Channel 4 (video below). Notably absent from the television segment was Depp.

The whole project was �old school, pulled together in a matter of days,� according to MacGowan�s partner, writer Victoria Clarke. And true to their old school roots, the group�s totes not threatened by certain other celebrity singles to be released to benefit relief efforts in Haiti. Matlock lists them off: �Well, I�d take Quincy Jones. I�m not quite sure about Lionel Richie, and I�m very not that concerned about the Simon Cowell one, musically. But if he�s doing that, that�s cool.�

And this sort of a project is right up Hynde�s alley, anyway: �I�d do any charity that I was asked to do. Cause it�s just singing, I mean, it�s a no-brainer�. It�s when you�re asked for personal effects to give to auctions that it seems a bit creepy, because that�s your gear.�

No new information on the release date�the song�s still slated for late February, so put it on your calendar. Proceeds from the track will go to Concern Worldwide, an Irish charity with a 16-year presence in Haiti.

Flaming Lips to cover Dark Side of the Moon at Bonnaroo

2010-02-04T01:15:00.000-08:00

After playing Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety at their 2010 New Year's Eve gig in Oklahoma City, the Flaming Lips are set to reprise the feat at this year's Bonnaroo, according to an interview with Wayne Coyne at Spinner. The singer revealed that they would play a regular Lips set followed by the Dark Side set in the small hours of the first night of the festival, which goes down June 10-13in Manchester, Tennessee.

"We did it at the New Year's Eve show just knowing everybody's gonna be taking acid, staying awake until five in the morning," Coyne said. "I don't think it'll be that much of a stretch to think Friday night at 2:30 in the morning at Bonnaroo would be that much different than being in Oklahoma City on New Year's Eve." Sounds about right.

Jay Reatard Cause of Death Revealed

2010-02-04T01:06:00.001-08:00

The Memphis Commercial Appeal report that quotes Shelby County Medical Examiner Karen E. Chancellor as saying Jay Reatard died last month from "cocaine toxicity, and that alcohol was a contributing factor in his death." So sad... Jay, you will be missed. He was 29 years old.

The Worst Rock'n'Roll Management Decisions In History

2010-02-04T01:06:00.000-08:00

AS WE GET OLDER dreams of stardom inevitably slip away - who wants to be stomping round a stage at an age when a nice snooze holds more appeal than a line of cocaine? But what about management? How hard can that be? Surely you can just look at the fictional likes of Spinal Tap's Ian Faith and Flight Of The Conchords' Murray Hewitt and do the exact opposite and thus guarantee success. But in fact, things can go very wrong indeed, as these case studies show.

1. Brian Epstein

The 1963 Beatles/Seltaeb merchandising fiasco is well documented. In short, Beatle business "supremo" Brian Epstein, or more accurately his lawyer David Jacobs, sold the band's image rights to posh bloke Nicky Byrne, an acquaintance from the Chelsea party scene. To Byrne's surprise Jacobs accepted a mere ten per cent of any fees for his client, accepting his first speculative offer. Not believing his luck, Byrne flew to the USA, sold licences to eager manufacturers and lived the high life, running up a cool $100,000 in personal expenses. With the Wall Street Journal estimating that 1964 could see Beatles-branded goods turning over a hundred million dollars - forget T-shirts and badges, wig factories were working round the clock - Epstein rapidly renegotiated terms, then he was countersued. The whole industry ground to a halt just as the multi-millions were there for the taking, as worried investors like JC Penneys and Woolworths cancelled huge contracts. By the time matters were satisfactorily solved, the moment for exploitation had passed, and the band had grown moustaches. But no-one wanted Beatles faux-face-fuzz by 1967.

Consequences: No-one else got the money, so it all became a bit notional. But everyone since has kept tight control on their merch rights.

Moral: Don't dole out lucrative contracts to men you meet at parties, even Chelsea parties. (This also applies to matters of national security.)

2. Rob Gretton

One of the obvious benefits of pop stardom is never queueing or paying to get into a nightclub. Hell, these days entire 'careers', admittedly of the Paris Hilton micro-talent ilk, involve the exchange of cash for one's presence. But New Order, and their manager, ex-club DJ Rob Gretton flipped the norm on its head and effectively subsidised Manchester's Ha�ienda club for the Mancunian public for years. Eventually the club took off, becoming popular enough to attract criminals and drug dealers and notoriety and frequent closures by local authorities, but at a huge cost. As management pretty much consists of keeping the talent alive and not losing all their money, the late Gretton didn't score too well - Ian Curtis killed himself under his charge, and New Order's biggest-selling single came in a sleeve that cost so much it was sold at a loss. But he's still remembered, which is the most a manager can hope for.

Consequences: In his dotage, Joy Div/New Order bassist Peter Hook has to DJ and write entertaining books of anecdotes in an attempt to recoup the lost gazillions.

Moral: Manchester might be Britain's second cultural centre after London, but all the serious financial business takes place elsewhere - London, Leeds, Edinburgh, even Halifax.

3. Doc McGhee

He doesn't like to publicise his background - hell, even ascertaining his old medical school is problematic - but Doc McGhee famously crossed the line between shady and criminal when he was convicted in 1988 of smuggling 40,000 pounds of marijuana into the United States. Instead of receiving a long jail term, the manager of Bon Jovi, M�tley Cr�e and Skid Row was ordered to host a charity event to promote anti-drug awareness. And so in August 1989 the Russian public was sentenced to a concert featuring such famous clean livers as Ozzy Osbourne and the Cr�e (whose Tommy Lee thumped McGhee in a dispute over the running order). So far, so cunning, but also playing were eternal German plodders The Scorpions who were thus inspired to write the flatulent Wind Of Change, which now accompanies every single shot of mulleted East Germans on every documentary on the fall of communism ever. McGhee, a believer in what he calls 'full contact management' (ie. hitting the artiste), currently manages Kiss and that bloke out of Hootie & The Blowfish.

Consequences: Post-Soviet Russia started with stadium rock - did they ever have a chance?

Moral: Even the best intentions have unpredictable consequences, possibly involving whistling.

4. Larry Parnes

Mr Parnes, Shillings and Pence was Britain's leading starmaker in the late-'50s, giving exotic new names to hopeful rock'n'rollers like Marty Wilde (n� Reg Smith), Vince Eager (n� Roy Taylor) and Joe Brown (n� Joe Brown). By the late-'60s, though, he had moved into traditional theatricals. But when he and the legendarily abrasive Don Arden, father of Sharon Osbourne and latterly seen as the other elderly male stumbling around the kitchen on The Osbournes, fell out over plans to co-produce a Broadway hit in London the late Arden, never a man to waste a grudge, devised an unusually imaginative revenge. At the time no-one could comprehend why the rich and successful promoter and manager Don Arden had released a scarily straight version of Sunrise, Sunset from musical Fiddler on the Roof. But, as he later revealed in his not entirely reliable autobiography Mr Big, the billboard campaign was restricted to one London site, a hoarding opposite Parnes's bedroom window, where a giant image of scary old Don stayed up for a fortnight, greeting his victim each morning.

Consequences: None really. It might not even be true - the late Arden never let facts get in the way of a good story.

Moral: Do unto others, yadda yadda.

5. Bernie Rhodes

Starmakers And Svengalis, Johnny Rogan's exhaustive history of British pop managers, divvied them up into categories: sensible accountants and lawyers, who generally ensured everyone ended up wealthier than before yet rarely made history; wild and imaginative enthusiasts as rock'n'roll as the talent; and the impossibly loyal, ready to lay down their life, or at least remortgage their home, for their charges. These days Bernie Rhodes is best known as the subject of the sardonic 'Bernie Rhodes knows, don't hargue!' cry at the start of The Specials' Gangsters. But as manager of The Clash he was rarely sensible and certainly not ready to lay down his life for them. But the Clash core of Joe Strummer, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon, all from fractured family backgrounds, were easily seduced by his fantastical, fanatical belief in rock's unlimited potential, even recalling him after ditching the conventionally profitable Peter Jenner/Andrew King team that replaced him. Yet Bernie overstepped the mark when Jones was squeezed out of his own band in an internal coup worthy of Soviet politics and he took over his co-writing role on the band's valedictory and much reviled Cut The Crap. Like the USSR, Bernie has been left behind by history.

Consequences: Westway To The World, Don Letts's excellent documentary history of the band, doesn't even mention their last record.

Moral: The talent is the talent, and the management is the management.

6. Dads

What about family? Surely a father will defend his children's interests? Not necessarily. Murry Wilson's stewardship of the Beach Boys was basically an attempt to reinforce his control by belittling them at every opportunity, something his sons, rather more mature than dad, generally ignored. At one point they simply gave him a mixing console unconnected to anything else for him to play with in the studio while Brian carried on directing a couple of orchestras. But selling off their entire publishing catalogue for less than a million bucks in 1969 wasn't too smart - Brian, long fragile, supposedly claimed it was akin to losing his children. Even those dads who aren't acting out some freaky psychodrama via their kids can miss the point. I was once told of the time Paul Weller's late father John, ex-boxer and bricklayer, arrived to renegotiate a recording contract. Bullishly demanding a large advance for his boy Paul, the collected execs checked that they'd heard right then instantly agreed to the figure, which was fully half of what they were expecting to pay.

Consequences: Some financial - although an advance is a loan and big ones can be more a curse than a blessing.

Moral: You can't always rely on dad. As Macca said of Brian Epstein, "He always used to go to his dad for advice, but his dad knew how to run a furniture store in Liverpool..."

7. Doing It Yourself

As a rule, successful musicians aren't beset by self-doubt; if they fancy their chances at acting or writing children's books or winning Celebrity Big Brother, no-one is going to say 'yeah, right'. And if anyone should, then someone else can always be found to tell them they can, nay, must. So why shouldn't they have a go at representing themselves? The Beatles' example is cautionary: after Epstein's death in 1967, they tried getting by with just a little help from their friends, but their business affairs went even more spectacularly awry. Even less astute was John Fogerty, who for all his genius at recreating early rock, made some spectacular mistakes, such as signing a contract weighted entirely in the record company's favour, and rejecting the chance to feature on the Woodstock movie and album - who now knows that Creedence Clearwater Revival headlined the biggest and grubbiest of all hippie gatherings? Was he bitter? Yep. I own a CCR biography with a detailed index- under 'Fogerty, John', the longest entry covers 'bitterness and anger', ahead of 'songwriting', 'interviews' and even 'legal suits'. Clearly artists need management, or who else can they blame when it all goes tits-up?

Consequences: Years of misery, except for the lawyers.

Moral: The talent is the talent, and the management is the management. Let's say that again.

Black Grapes Reform for One-Off in Britain...

2010-02-04T01:01:00.000-08:00

Londonist:

Anybody remember the Shaun Ryder-fronted late-period Madchester outfit Black Grape? They were, for one album at least, the band the Happy Mondays could have been. And they�re back, for one night only, this Easter.

Formed after the Mondays collapsed into a long, dark, maudlin Tuesday of the soul, Black Grape managed to shuffle out one unexpectedly great album, 1995�s It�s Great When You�re Straight� Yeah. Featuring a cover image of Carlos the Jackal, It�s Great�. saw the rump of the Mondays pull it together for just long enough in the studio to emerge with a dozen decent tunes and a surprisingly strong chart showing, reaching platinum status in the UK and spawning a number one hit, the Catholic church-baiting �Reverend Black Grape�. But the group�s trajectory was short and explosive: 1997�s sophomore release Stupid Stupid Stupid stiffed in the charts, and Ryder fired his bandmates shortly afterwards.

NME:

Speaking about the reunion, which will coincide with the release of a Shaun Ryder greatest hits album, Ryder said: �It�s great, it�s interesting, it�s part two. I�ve had a break and now I�m back to do it. [fellow Black Grape member] Danny Saber and I have a great working relationship and the time is right.�

Rapper Kermit is confirmed to appear in the reformed band alongside Ryder and Saber.

Phoenix's Thomas Has Mixed Emotions Over Grammy Win

2010-02-03T09:12:00.000-08:00

While Phoenix's 2009 album, 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' has sparked buzz around the French export, the band never realized they would actually go home with the Grammy for Best Alternative Album on Sunday night.

"It sounds like a joke," Phoenix singer Thomas Mars told Pitchfork soon after doing their victory dance. The band got to sit near Slash and Alice Cooper, and Neil Young approached them to congratulate them on their win. However, Mars still felt like the honor was slightly bittersweet.

"It's weird because it's very nice, but you feel some sadness to it, too," Mars said. "It's hard to enjoy the moment. It felt like we're already on the other side of something, so the four of us are all trying to protect each other. I don't know if that's a French thing. I think Serge Gainsbourg always said he was writing sad songs when he was happy and writing happy songs when he was sad, so there was always this feeling that you're anticipating the next thing."

Although Mars was hoping to see more indie bands like Dirty Projectors or MGMT perform on Grammy night, Pink's acrobatic performance was his favorite. "People were scared she would fall," he said. "Someone behind me said, like, 'Artists can do that?!'"

And if you're wondering where Mars will be displaying his new golden gramophone, it looks like he'll have to shift a few of girlfriend director Sofia Coppola's accolades to make space for his award. "It has to go on a shelf somewhere -- my girlfriend has so many awards and now I have one to put on the shelf, too," Mars said.

Spike Jonze Recruits Flea, Nick Zinner and Aska Matsumiya for New Song

2010-02-03T01:06:00.000-08:00

Filmmaker Spike Jonze has tapped Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner to help out on the soundtrack for his new short film, 'I'm Here'. The musicians appear on the song, 'There Are Many of Us,' which was written and sung by Aska Matsumiya of the Sads.

The song, released Monday as an iTunes download, highlights the 30-minute Jonze short, which just made the rounds at Sundance. Subtitled 'A Love Story in an Absolut World,' the film was commissioned by Absolut Vodka and is about two L.A.-based robots who fall for each other, will see an online release next month.

Jonze fans and curiosity seekers alike can check out the 'I'm Here' trailer. In related news, L.A. Weekly reports that Matsumiya will release a solo EP under the moniker ASKA via Manimal Vinyl sometime this spring.

British Editor Implores Morrissey to Write Autobiography

2010-02-03T01:03:00.000-08:00

When Morrissey announced in late 2008 that he was planning to write his autobiography, fans all over the globe were excited at the news, especially Lee Brackstone. The Faber editorial director recently wrote an open letter on the U.K. independent publishing house's blog to the former Smiths singer in the hopes he would have the memoir published there.

"It would be the fulfillment of my most pressing and persistent publishing dream to see that 'ff' sewn into the spine of your life," Brackstone wrote. "Just any other publisher won't do. You deserve Faber and the love we can give you. History demands it; destiny commands it."

And it looks like Morrissey has expressed interest in working with Faber on the project. "A year ago a few publishers here offered big money [for Morrissey's book], there's been correspondence all over the place and I'm pretty sure he's well away with it," Brackstone told the Guardian.

Morrissey revealed to BBC Radio 2 that he wanted to set the record straight and correct any misconceptions about him and his life by writing an autobiography in October, 2008. Since then, Morrissey hasn't signed with a publishing company as of yet and any projected release date is still unknown.

Aaron Neville Records Updated New Orleans Saints Fight Song

2010-02-03T01:02:00.000-08:00

Even before the Chicago Bears recorded their now-famous 'Super Bowl Shuffle,' the New Orleans Saints had an anthem of their own. Of course, the 1983 Saints, who went 8-8 on the season, didn't fare as well as the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears, so 'Who Dat?' never made it out of the huddle. But now that the 2009 Saints are headed for the biggest NFL game, the club has an updated anthem -- and native son Aaron Neville is singing the Saints' praises once again.

Using the same arrangement, Carlo Nuccio -- of 'Who Dat?' fame -- has produced 'Glory Bound,' hoping this year's Saints will defeat the glory against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday.

The original anthem was created during the 1983 season to promote enthusiasm for a team that had gone a combined 63-159 up to that point. So Nuccio, along with brothers Sal and Steve Monistere, combined 'When the Saints Go Marching In' with a chant yelled by Saints fans: "Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?"

Neville, a native of New Orleans, sang the 'Saints Go Marching In' part while several Saints players recorded the chant.

"I had been with the Saints since the late '60s when they used to come see me and my brothers," Neville recently told the Times-Picayune. "It was a special treat for me, being in with some of the Saints doing the 'Who dat?' cheer."

For the updated anthem, Neville still sings 'When the Saints Go Marching In,' but bayou transplant Theresa Andersson adds a gospel touch to added, Super Bowl-appropriate lyrics. Proceeds from the downloads will benefit a health insurance program for New Orleans musicians.

Of course, the Colts also have an updated anthem of their own: Indianapolis band Mudkids, who recorded 'Rock N' Roll (Go Blue)' during the Colts' championship season in 2006, have recorded 'DO IT AGAIN!! (Colts '10).'

Johnny Depp is Directing a Keith Richards Documentary

2010-02-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

Between Jack White�s recording new music for the Rolling Stones guitarist and today�s news that Johnny Depp is directing an upcoming documentary on the man, I�d say Keith Richards� legacy is in pretty good hands. In an interview with Politika (via/translated by the Playlist), Depp dropped the latter bit that he�s finally ready to follow up his last middling directing effort, 1997�s The Brave. Here�s the translation of Depp�s comments, which were originally published in Serbian:

Now that I�m wiser, and that enough time has passed, I can experience directing again. Already next week I�ll start working on a Keith Richards documentary. While I�m in Drvengrad, my editor is already working on kilometers of archive footage and footage of his concerts. I�m very touched that Keith agreed to show up in front of my cameras.

Not a huge surprise that these guys have teamed up, as they�ve been friends for years, and Depp�s portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is basically a Keith Richards impression (complete with wardrobe).

Anyway, let�s hope this doc has subtitles.

Jack White: Third Man Pop-Up Shop Coming to SXSW, Dead Weather LP2 in April

2010-02-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

It may be relatively quiet on the Third Man front for now (save for that teaser trailer, of course), but fear not, whenever Jack White and company hole up at their Nashville headquarters for a couple weeks, records will be made and new tunes will be on the way. In fact, White has filmed 6 music videos in the past week alone! At least that�s what he just told Australian radio station Triple J in a telephone interview from his Nashville home, among other exciting details�

�[The Dead Weather are] finishing recording the last couple of songs and then I�m going to start mixing in the next two weeks, so yeah it should be out in April,� White said, adding later that he is singing the lead vocal on the band�s first single, �Blue Blood Blues,� from the upcoming follow-up to last year�s Horehound.

So what does the new record sound like so far? �[T]he album is bluesier and heavier than we ever thought we could be,� White revealed.

But that�s not all, people. White also dropped a bit of news that is sure to excite all those lucky enough to be attending next month�s SXSW Fest in Austin, TX: a �Third Man Records and Novelties� pop-up shop will be coming to town for the music/film festival, following successful one-offs in New York City, London, and Los Angeles.

It�s a great little interview, and I left some interesting deets out, so be sure to have a listen here for more updates from the man in red, white, black, and (nowadays) yellow.

Noel Gallagher, Arctic Monkeys, The Who for Teenage Cancer Trust

2010-02-02T02:35:00.000-08:00

Noel Gallagher is to play his first solo shows since disbanding Oasis, performing twice at this year's Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) shows, which take place in February and through March.

The guitarist, who has previously supported the charity, performing with Oasis as well as appearing solo, will this year headline the Royal Albert Hall, on Mar. 25 and 26

The annual TCT shows co-organised by the Who's Roger Daltrey -- the charity's patron -- will also see concerts by Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode and Foo Fighters/Led Zeppelin rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures.

Daltrey has also revealed that the Who's headline show on Mar. 30, will be the group's only UK live show in 2010.

A reformed Suede, minus Bernard Butler, have also been persuaded to perform for the charity which raises essential funds to build specialist teenage cancer units within the NHS. Suede will play on Mar. 24.

Tickets for all TCT shows go on sale Friday Feb. 5.

The full line-up for the 2010 Teenage Cancer Trust gigs is:
Depeche Mode (Feb. 17)
Them Crooked Vultures (Mar. 22)
Jimmy Carr, Noel Fielding and Rhod Gilbert (Mar. 23)
Suede (Mar. 24)
Noel Gallagher (Mar. 25, 26)
Arctic Monkeys (Mar. 27)
JLS (Mar. 28)
The Specials (Mar. 29)
The Who (Mar. 30)

The National Finish 5th Album

2010-02-02T01:52:00.000-08:00

Remind us never to go around to the National's house for the holidays. The Brooklyn, N.Y., indie heroes are currently putting the finishing touches to the follow-up to their critically-acclaimed 2007 effort 'Boxer' and all is not harmonious in the studio as they hash out the final details of mix and arrangement selection. "A week after the record's done, we [will] all laugh about the mean and horrible things we've said to each other," frontman Matt Berninger has told Pitchfork. "It's like a family at Christmas: Sometimes you say the worst things possible to each other, but you know you'll come back next Christmas."

Still, at least the bandmates have experience at this kind of intra-group squabbling in the run-up to new album D-Day. Berninger said, "When we were making 'Boxer,' it got so tense between all of us that we worried whether we could even continue being friends and being a band toward the end. It was just so stressful on everybody. This time around, it's still as tense, but we're not worried. We realize that this is just what happens to us when we're near the end of making a record."

The singer has also revealed that the National's as-yet-untitled fifth set will see a return to the band's bombastic roots following their relatively restrained fourth effort, and that the disc will feature a reprise of Sufjan Stevens' guest singer slot on 'Boxer', albeit this time in the form of "some weird little backing vocal melodies -- no words."

The National will hit the road in late April for a brief North American and European in support of the new collection, which is due to hit stores in May.