KINGBLIND: Music, Art & Entertainment

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:38:00 +0000

Stereolab announce North American Tour Dates

Stereolab will hit the road in support of Chemical Chords (due to be released, via 4AD, on 8/19/08) Laetitia Sadier will open the latter leg of the tour with her other group, Monade.

09.20 Costa Mesa, CA: Detroit Bar
09.21 Pomona, CA: Glass House
09.24 Austin, TX: La Zona Rosa
09.26 Atlanta, GA: Variety Playhouse
09.27 Athens, GA: 40 Watt Club
09.29 Carrboro, NC: Cat's Cradle
09.30 Washington, DC: 9:30 Club
10.01 Philadelphia, PA: Trocadero
10.02 New York, NY: Irving Plaza
10.03 New York, NY: Irving Plaza
10.04 New York, NY: Irving Plaza
10.06 Boston, MA: Paradise *
10.07 Montreal, Quebec: Club Soda *
10.08 Toronto, Ontario: Phoenix Concert Theatre *
10.09 Detroit, MI: The Crofoot *
10.10 Chicago, IL: Vic Theatre *
10.12 Minneapolis, MN: First Avenue *
10.14 Denver, CO: Gothic Theatre *
10.17 Seattle, WA: Showbox *
10.18 Portland, OR: Wonder Ballroom *
10.19 Vancouver, British Columbia: Commodore Ballroom *
10.21 San Francisco, CA: The Fillmore *
10.22 San Francisco, CA: The Fillmore *
10.23 Los Angeles, CA: Henry Fonda Theatre *
10.24 Solana Beach, CA: Belly Up Tavern *

*: w/ Monade

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:28:00 +0000

Spiritualized Announce North American Tour

Spiritualized have announced a tour of North America, which will see the band return to their full, electric sound.

The band recently toured with their �Acoustic Mainlines� show in November and April, including a performance at the legendary Apollo in Harlem, New York, which featured a performance of gospel-classic �Oh, Happy Day�.

On the forthcoming dates, the band will be performing songs from their back catalogue, as well as tracks from their soon-to-be released sixth studio album, �Songs in A&E�, due out May 27.

The dates are:
Chicago, IL Pitchfork Music Festival (July 19)
Indianapolis, IN The Vogue (20)
Nashville, TN City Hall (21)
Atlanta,GA Variety Playhouse (22)
Washington,DC 9:30 Club (25)
Cleveland,OH House of Blues (August 1)
Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom (2)
Montreal, CA Parc Jean Drapeau (3)
Toronto Toronto Islands Park (September 6)
Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl (17)
Austin, TX Austin City Limits (27)

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:19:00 +0000

My Morning Jacket Reveal Headlining Tour

My Morning Jacket will follow up its performance at Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn., with a headlining run, beginning June 20 at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The route includes theaters, large clubs and amphitheaters, and almost all dates will be "an evening with" format, featuring extended sets from the band.

The tour is in support of the band's June 10 ATO release "Evil Urges."

MMJ frontman Jim James says the band will work plenty of the new material into these shows.

"That's the problem we always have sitting around trying to make a set list," he said. "You want to play the new ones, but you also want to do some of the older ones. That's why keep playing longer and longer."

As in the U.S., MMJ will play a couple festivals in Europe, then focus on
headlining, with a return to Europe in the fall.

MMJ is also set to appear as musical guest on Saturday Night Live May 10.

Here are My Morning Jacket's tour dates:

(All dates are "An Evening with My Morning Jacket" except * = w/ the Black Keys)

June 20: New York (Radio City Music Hall)
Aug. 16: Louisville, Ky. (The Great Lawn at Louisville Waterfront Park)
Aug. 18: Kansas City (Uptown Theatre)
Aug. 19: Council Bluffs, Ia. (Stir Cove)
Aug. 21: Morrison, Colo. (Red Rocks Amphitheater*)
Aug. 23: Dallas (Palladium Ballroom)
Aug. 24: Austin (Stubbs)
Aug. 27: Atlanta (Fox Theatre-Atlanta)
Aug. 29: Miami (The Fillmore Miami Beach @ the Jackie Gleason Theater)
Aug. 30: Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (House of Blues- Orlando)
Aug. 31: Myrtle Beach, S.C. (House of Blues- Myrtle Beach)
Sept. 02: Charlottesville, Va. (Charlottesville Pavilion)
Sept. 03: Washington, D.C. (Constitution Hall)
Sept. 05: Philadelphia (Festival Pier Penn's Landing)
Sept. 06: Boston (Bank of America Pavilion)
Sept. 19: Berkeley, Calif. (Greek Theatre)
Sept. 21: Los Angeles (Greek Theatre)
Sept. 23: Tempe, Ariz. (The Marquee)
Sept. 24: Las Vegas (The Joint)
Sept. 25: San Diego (SDSU Open Air Theater)
Sept. 27: Portland (McMenamins Edgefield)
Sept. 28: Seattle (McCaw Hall)
Oct. 2: Minneapolis (Orpheum Theatre)
Oct. 3: Milwaukee, Wis. (Riverside Theater)
Oct. 4: Detroit (The Fillmore Detroit)
Oct. 9: Chicago (Chicago Theatre)
Oct. 10: Chicago (Chicago Theatre)

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:54:00 +0000

Amy Winehouse arrested for suspected drug possession

Amy Winehouse was arrested in London today (May 7) on charges of suspected drug possession.

The arrest is connected to a video in which the singer was seen smoking what appears to be a crack pipe at her London home in January. The Winehouse video was subsequently posted on The Sun's website, as previously reported.

In a statement issued today, Winehouse's spokesperson said: "Amy Winehouse voluntarily attended a London police station today by appointment. She was arrested in order to be interviewed and is co-operating fully with enquiries.

"The interview relates to a video handed to police earlier this year."

Winehouse entered a rehabilitation clinic shortly after the video appeared.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:39:00 +0000

GANG OF FOUR MINUS TWO

The original and best-loved line-up of famed post-punk icons Gang of Four reunited in 2005 to great acclaim and success - unfortunately all good things must come to an end. Bassist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham are moving on, although singer Jon King and guitar-player Andy Gill will continue, focusing on writing and recording new music as Gang of Four. Burnham last performed with the band at All Tomorrow�s Parties in the UK in December 2006, while Allen played a few shows alongside drummer Mark Heaney in 2007, and recently worked on new material with King and Gill.

Allen says, �At the beginning of April, I decided that I could no longer continue to be a member of Gang of Four. My ability to give 100% to the band is limited and I feel that if I can�t do so, then I shouldn�t continue. As I expand my research and thinking about contemporary music distribution on Pampelmoose.com, and as I focus on online technology and social networking at Nemo Design here in Portland, I find myself conflicted about how the band�s new music should be released. To retain any credibility for Pampelmoose.com about what the future of music distribution will look like, I have to move on and not hold back Jon and Andy�s music plans. I have had a side project for a while now with John Askew of Tracker and Menomena�s drummer Danny Seim called Faux Hoax (pronounced Folks), and I look forward to fun times finding ways to get our music into peoples� hands in unique ways.�

Burnham writes, �It was a great couple of years of intermittently reminding people old and new, far and wide just how powerful the original four of us were together. Age only increased our power and focus onstage, and it was a rare pleasure to work with the original band once again. Being in a band requires handling the business side of it too, and that became boring and the constant travel became debilitating. I am soon to start my Doctorate, as well as broadening my teaching at more than one college here in Massachusetts, so my free time has become increasingly limited, making it difficult to be involved with them going forward. Musically, I am recording and writing with members of Boston noise-merchants, The Bags and I have also been doing some recording lately with Mike Watt. I wish Jon and Andy luck with their new musical endeavours; I am sure they will be interesting.�

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:01:00 +0000

My Bloody Valentine announce North American tour

My Bloody Valentine have announced that they will play a handful of dates in the north America this autumn.

The newly reunited band previously announced that they will curate All Tomorrow's Parties between September 19 and 21 in New York, where they will give their first US performance in 16 years.

Now the band have added a handful of dates in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, extending their US jaunt.

The tour dates are:

New York, NY Roseland (September 22, 23)
Toronto, Ontario Ricoh (25)
Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom (27)
San Francisco, CA The Concourse (30)
Los Angeles, CA Santa Monica Civic (October 1, 2)

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:00:00 +0000

Neil Young To Release Archive On Blu-Ray

Neil Young plans to release his entire music archive on Blu-ray discs, a sign that the discs' capabilities are building appeal among musicians as well as movie studios.

Blu-ray discs hold much more data than DVDs, are easily updated over the Internet and offer better picture and sound quality.

Young revealed his plans Tuesday at a Sun Microsystems Inc. conference in San Francisco. Santa Clara-based Sun makes the Java technology that gives Blu-ray discs their interactive menus and ability to accept updates over an Internet connection.

The first installment of Young's archive will cover the years 1963 to 1972 and will be released as a 10-disc set this fall on Reprise/Warner Bros. Records.

Young said the archives will be released chronologically and include some previously unreleased songs, videos, handwritten manuscripts and other memorabilia, in addition to the high-resolution audio that Blu-ray technology is known for.

Fans can download more content like songs, photos and tour information directly to the Blu-ray discs as the content becomes available.

Blu-ray's rival format HD DVD effectively died with maker Toshiba Corp.'s announcement in February that it will no longer produce HD DVD players.

Most of the Blu-ray discs manufactured so far have been used for high-definition movies.

Musical artists such as AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen and Destiny's Child released concert videos on Blu-ray discs, but Young's support of the technology for his ambitious archive project demonstrates more fully the capabilities of Blu-ray as a music medium.

Earlier technology didn't offer the ability to browse archive material while listening to songs in high-resolution audio, Young noted.

"Previous technology required unacceptable quality compromises," he said in a statement. "I am glad we waited and got it right.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:00:00 +0000

Mates Of State Prep Fifth Album, Tour

Eclectic pop duo Mates Of State will return May 20 with �Re-Arrange Us,� the group�s fifth album since 2000 and second for Barsuk.

Fans will notice that the 10-song set drifts away from the organ-heavy arrangements of the band's past in favor of piano, a decision that vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Jason Hammel describes as making the group nervous, but a needed change.

�One of the biggest concerns [was] that there�s no abrasiveness,� Hammel tells Billboard.com. �We didn�t want to be construed as going soft.�

To avoid that, the duo hired three different producers: Death Cab For Cutie�s Chris Walla, Spoon drummer Jim Eno and Peter Katis.

�It was great to get everyone�s personalities into that record -- and for us, to flesh out the non-organ stuff. We wanted to achieve this with different production qualities,� Hammel says.

One of the defining features of Mates Of State is that Hammel and creative partner Kori Gardner also happen to be married; but as musicians, they�re just recently becoming comfortable working together in the studio.

�The nature of being an artist is a personal thing,� Hammel explains. �You have to have that comfort zone before being critiqued. Those first two records, we fought the whole way through. Thankfully, we reached the common ground with [2006�s] �Bring It Back�; we didn�t fight at all. We both started to feel like we could express our ideas without judgment.�

The CD version of �Re-Arrange Us� will feature a unique packaging design that will allow fans to create their own cover art, involving different photographs the band will include.

The duo is currently rehearsing for a lengthy summer tour, including festival appearances at Lollapalooza, All Points West and Austin City Limits.

�It�s a bigger sounding show than what we�ve done,� Hammel says. The tour will include two cellists and a violinist, who will also fill in on percussion and sampling duties.

Here are Mates Of States tour dates:

May 16: New Haven, Conn. (Toad�s Place)
May 22: San Francisco (Slim�s)
May 24: Bend, Ore. (Les Schwab Amphitheatre)
May 25: George, Wash. (Sasquatch Music Festival)
May 28: Los Angeles (Henry Fonda Theater)
June 6: Lawrence, Kans. (Wakarusa Music Festival)
June 7: Omaha, Neb. (The Slowdown)
June 8: St. Louis (The Bluebird Theatre)
June 10: Oklahoma City, Ok. (Bricktown Ballroom)
June 11: Dallas (Granada Theatre)
June 13: Austin, Texas (Emo�s)
June 14: Little Rock, Ark. (Rev Room)
June 15: Memphis (Hi-Tone)
June 17: Newport, Ky. (Southgate House)
June 18: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Mr. Smalls Theatre)
June 21: Philadelphia (Popped! Music Festival)
July 25: Pemberton, Bc. (Pemberton Festival)
Aug. 1: Chicago (Lollapalooza)
Aug. 8: Jersey City, N.J. (All Points West)
Sept. 26: Austin, Texas (Austin City Limits)

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:58:00 +0000

Pete Doherty Is Released From London Jail

Pete Doherty was released from a London jail Tuesday after serving a partial sentence for breaking his probation.

The Babyshambles frontman had served 29 days of a 14-week sentence. It wasn't immediately clear why he was released early.

Doherty's drug use has frequently landed him in court. Last year, he pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis, as well as a variety of driving offenses.

His recent jail sentence came after the 28-year-old singer was reportedly late for several probation appointments.

Doherty is best known as the on-off boyfriend of model Kate Moss.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:57:00 +0000

The Police Announce Last Show Ever

The Police and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today (May 6) announced at a press conference in Times Square the band's final concert ever, to be held in New York on a date still to be revealed in August.

This final concert -- for which ticket and venue information have yet to be announced -- will be a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the production of arts programming for public television stations Thirteen/WNET and WLIW New York. Tickets will be available nationally online via the Thirteen/WNET and WLIW Web sites.

Additionally, Sting and the Police announced that they will contribute $1 million to Mayor Bloomberg's MillionTreesNYC initiative -- a gift the city will match -- to plant trees all over New York City.

At the press conference, held in Times Square, Sting commented: �Some people may be surprised to know that the greatest single contribution to greenhouse gases is deforestation. We all want cleaner and cooler air, and planting trees is the best way to achieve that.

�We have a long history in New York," he added. "We came here first in 1978. We want to leave a gift that will last for decades.�

The contribution by the Police to the MillionTressNYC initiative -- which aims to plant 1 million trees by 2017 -- will fund the planting of 10,000 trees across all five of New York City�s boroughs.

Mayor Bloomberg commented: �We hope the donation by the Police will inspire many more people to get involved.... A lot of people make a lot of money, spend a little bit of it, and don�t give any of it away. So these guys are role models.�

In response to a question about whether the final Police show would take place in Central Park, Bloomberg responded, �The venue will probably be indoors, but that�s all I�m going to say.�

During the conference, the mayor presented each member of the Police with his own key to New York City, and Sting presented the mayor with an all-access backstage pass that he said could be used at �any Police concert.�

The Police began the final leg of their reunion tour May 1 in Ottawa, the first of about 50 shows taking place this summer in amphitheaters, arenas and stadiums primarily in North America and Europe. Most stops are in markets not played in 2007, when the Police was the top tour of the year at more than $212 million gross and nearly 2 million in attendance, according to Billboard Boxscore.

Produced by Live Nation and RZO Productions, the Police reunion tour captured the Top Tour (gross) and Top Draw (attendance) awards at last November's Billboard Touring Conference in New York.

Joining the Police this time around in North America are Elvis Costello &
the Imposters. In between the 33 North American dates, the Police return to Europe for a number of major festivals. The tour is expected to be one of the top five highest-grossing tours of all time, with revenues topping $340 million.

As of today, the last Police date on the books is Aug. 5 at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, N.Y.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:22:00 +0000

Stereolab:: Three Women (Music Video)

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:30:00 +0000

Mark Ronson: 'New Kaiser Chiefs album echoes debut'

Mark Ronson has confirmed that he is producing the forthcoming new Kaiser Chiefs album, and has claimed that it will echo the band�s debut album, 'Employment'.

Speaking to BBC 6Music, the producer said that guitarist Whitey had been particularly prominent in the recording process, and his guitar work will shape the sound of the record.

Ronson also joked that the band had veto-ed his suggestion to use his trademark horns on the album.

"They�ve got brilliant songs," he said of the band's new material. "[They hark] back to the urgency of the first album, songs like 'Every Day I Love You Less And Less' and 'I Predict A Riot'.

"The second record was brilliant, but it was more mature and paced. Whitey's guitars on all this stuff are so brilliant. I feel like that energy hasn't necessarily come out on a Kaisers record before.

"There�s no trumpets on it [the new album]. For one song I said, 'You know what would be good on this? Horns.' Ricky [Wilson, singer] was like, 'No'.

Ronson went on to explain how much fun he was having with the band, who he admires greatly. "I'm a huge Kaiser Chiefs fan," he said. "'Employment' is one of my favourite records of the last ten years. There�s that excitement of getting to work on something you�re such a fan of already.

"Each one of them in any other band would be the funniest member of that band. It's almost like The Beatles � that razor sharp wit. Sometimes when I�m in the room recording I feel like I've won a competition to be the sixth Kaiser Chief."

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:16:00 +0000

Nine Inch Nails release new album free online

Nine Inch Nails have made their new studio album, 'The Slip', available to download free.

The album is available to download now from the Nine Inch Nails website. It will receive a conventional CD and vinyl release in July. The album download includes a PDF with art-work and album credits.

'The Slip' was produced by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor plus Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder. In a statement to fans Reznor said: "Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years. This one's on me."

Nine Inch Nails previously released an album, 'Ghost I-IV' online in March, with fans choosing how much to pay to download it.

The track-listing of 'The Slip' is:

'999,999'
'1,000,000'
'Letting you'
'Discipline�'
'Echoplex'
'Head Down'
'Lights In The Sky'
'Corona Radiata'
'The Four Of Us Are Dying'
'Demon Seed'

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:53:00 +0000

Tom Waits Announces Summer Tour

Early this morning (May 5), Tom Waits announced a summer tour via Tomwaits.com.

In what appeared to be highlights from a press conference, it was later revealed to viewers that Waits was talking to an empty room, with staged audience questions being broadcast by a record player amid rows of empty chairs.

Dubbed the �Glitter And Doom� tour, Waits will play 13 shows,
kicking off June 17 in Phoenix.

His �press conference� did not indicate who will be accompanying him in his backing band, or if this will be a solo affair, but Waits did offer up the acronym �PEHDTSCKJMBA� as the �guiding word� for this summer�s tour.

Taking the first initial from each city, Waits explained that the "pretty profound" acronym stands for �People Envy Happiness, Dogs Though, Sense Courage Knowing Jubilation Means Better Assets.�

Waits last toured in 2006, playing eight dates primarily in the Midwest. This time, he�ll mostly hit southern markets. It was also hinted that European dates are in the works, as well.

Here are Tom Waits tour dates:

June 17-18: Phoenix, Ariz. (Orpheum)
June 20: El Paso, Texas (Plaza Theatre)
June 22: Houston (Jones Hall)
June 23: Dallas (Palladium)
June 25: Tulsa, Ok. (Brady Theatre)
June 26: St. Louis (Fox Theatre)
June 28: Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Theatre)
June 29: Knoxville, Tenn. (Civic Theatre)
July 1: Jacksonville, Fla. (Moran Theatre)
July 2: Mobile, Ala. (Saenger Theatre)
July 3: Birmingham, Ala. (Alabama Theatre)
July 5: Atlanta (Fox Theatre)

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Sat, 03 May 2008 17:53:00 +0000

Troubled Winehouse 'not ready' for Bond theme

LONDON, England (AP) -- Producer Mark Ronson says he and Amy Winehouse have abandoned recording the theme to the latest James Bond film because the singer is not ready to work.

Winehouse is "not ready to record any music," producer Mark Ronson said.

Ronson says the singer is "not ready to record any music." He produced much of Winehouse's Grammy-winning "Back to Black." He made the comments in an interview with Sky News on Friday.

Ronson says the two started work on the track for the upcoming Bond movie "Quantum of Solace" but it would take "some miracle of science" to finish it.

Winehouse's troubles with drugs, the police and her rocky romance with her jailed husband Blake Fielder-Civil have kept the singer in the spotlight.

Police gave her a formal warning last week after she scuffled with two men during a raucous night out.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:12:00 +0000

Nicole Kidman set to play Dusty Springfield

Actress Nicole Kidman is set to play legendary singer Dusty Springfield in a film of her life.

Kidman will also produce the film through film company Fox's Blossom Films company.

It will reunited her with writer Michael Cunningham, who wrote the 1998 book 'The Hours', which was turned into a 2002 movie in which Kidman played an Oscar-winning role.

However, Universal films is developing its own Dusty Springfield film, with 'The West Wing' actress Kristin Chenoweth set to star.

Madonna was also rumoured to be interested in starring in with a TV film about the singer, reports Variety.

No release date for either film has been announced.

Springfield died from breast cancer aged 59 in 1999.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:09:00 +0000

The Hold Steady Details 'Positive' 4th Album

The Hold Steady has finalized the track listing for its fourth album, "Stay Positive". The 11-song set is due July 15 via Vagrant Records and features contributions from Drive By Truckers' Patterson Hood, J. Mascis and Doug Gillard, formerly of Guided By Voices. The Brooklyn rock group also reconvened with John Agnello, who produced 2006's "Boys And Girls In America."

"There's less party talk," frontman Craig Finn tells said of the new material. "I don't think anything is a radical departure, but there are things that I wanted to talk about. I was influenced a lot [by] getting old, and attempting to age gracefully. The idea is to not wake up washed up. You want to keep progressing, intellectually."

Indeed, tunes such as the slow, bluesy ballad "Lord, I'm Discouraged" and "Stay Positive" see Finn's narratives reflecting on themes of maturity. Fans will also notice that the band has opted to change up its sound on some tunes, opting for a harpsichord on "One for the Cutters" and a banjo on "Both Crosses."

"I think four records in, you're thinking what have we done before?" Finn says. "What should we do here? You have these initial habits, but you're fighting those -- and that's healthy, to make things sound different."

"I think we've tackled the big huge rock riff," adds guitarist Tad Kubler of the band's past. "And I think we wanted to extend what we're used to doing. Step out of our safety zone."

For Kubler, that meant trying out a slew of new gear, including a talk box on "Joke About Jamaica" that he says "was so ridiculous, I had to try it out."

Finn's vocal delivery has gone through some changes as well. He has been engaged in singing lessons since the release of "Boys And Girls In America."

"One of the things I found out [is] I always hear more melodies than I was projecting," Finn says. "I hopefully got better, communicate more than I'm hearing."

The Hold Steady plans to launch a large tour following the record's release, with July dates already lined up for Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party and Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago.

Here is the track list for "Stay Positive":

"Constructive Summer"
"Sequestered In Memphis"
"One For The Cutters"
"Navy Sheets"
"Lord, I'm Discouraged"
"Yeah Sapphire"
"Both Crosses"
"Stay Positive"
"Magazines"
"Joke About Jamaica"
"Slapped Actress"

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:51:00 +0000

Apples in Stereo:: Electronic Projects For Musicians (Album Review)

After seven albums and 15 years, Denver �s Apples in Stereo are bound to have a few extra songs lying around. On Electronic Projects For Musicians, the sugary power pop five-piece take those throwaways and b-sides and release them for the first time on one disc.

For the most part, this collection is a great addition to the band�s oeuvre. Shine (In Your Mind), a b-side from Fun Trick Noisemaker, and Onto Something, originally from a 1996 split-single, are classic Apples tracks, while the previously unreleased Dreams shows why the group has staying power. However, some songs could have been omitted, like the obnoxious TV theme-ish The Apples Theme Song, or the silly Stephen Stephen, a funny but forgettable tune the band sang on the Colbert Report. Still, this disc is worth checking out if you�re still an Apples in Stereo fan.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:49:00 +0000

R.E.M. Will Revisit 'Early Days' On Summer Tour

After delighting fans with rarities such as "Second Guessing" and "Animal" at its performances thus far this year, R.E.M. is promising to dig further into its vaults for its return to the road on May 23rd.

"[For] the last Dublin shows [in June and July 2007], we went back and learned a whole bunch of stuff from the early days we hadn't played in a long time, just to see where we came from, and it was pretty inspiring to play those," guitarist Peter Buck said.

Regarding upcoming dates, Buck says, "We're obviously going to play the new record ['Accelerate']; we've been playing nine songs off it, which is 28 minutes or something, so there's a lot of space for us to do stuff from all through our career."

The early material the band has been dipping into is in keeping with the harder-rocking nature of "Accelerate," which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 (and No. 1 in the U.K.) in April. Buck says that playing songs from 2004's commercially disappointing "Around the Sun" live, in fact, helped steer the direction of the new set.

"I think Mike [Mills] particularly was saying, 'God, I wish we could get back and record ['Around the Sun'] right now,'" Buck recalls. "I had no interest in making another record the way we'd been working -- book eight months in a studio and see what happens. I never liked that. I always complained and I always suggested that we work quicker and more spontaneously. The other guys [Mills and frontman Michael Stipe] weren't into it.

"I think maybe the reception ['Around the Sun'] got kind of shocked them and made them realize ... I was right, we can't work like this any longer."

And if Buck has his way, R.E.M. will never take the long, exacting route again.

"I can't imagine ever going back to the way we were working prior [to] this," says the guitarist, who already has "a ton of songs" written for R.E.M.'s next album. "I think everyone agrees that this record is really a strong record and it's strong because of the way we approached it. So when we start making the next record, I think this is the way to at least start doing it."

R.E.M. plays in North America -- including the Sasquatch! Music Festival in Quincy, Wash. -- until late June and will spend the summer in Europe starting in early July. The group's "Austin City Limits" episode debuts on May 24 on PBS outlets.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:29:00 +0000

Swervedriver Coachella 2008 Last Train to Satansville

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:14:00 +0000

Roger Waters' flying pig found

INDIO, California (AP) -- When things go bad for a huge inflatable pig, don't expect it to be pretty.

The pig, cut loose during Coachella, was found in pieces a few miles away.

A helium-filled swine, released into the night sky during Roger Waters' headlining set Sunday at the Coachella music festival in the Southern California desert, has been found in pieces.

Two couples found tattered halves of the pig in their yards, a few miles from the festival grounds.

Concert organizers had offered a $10,000 reward for the pig's return. On Tuesday, pieces of the plastic carcass were examined.

"That's definitely our pig," producer Bill Fold said.

Susan Stoltz found a plastic heap in her driveway Monday, but said she didn't know what it was until she read about the missing pig in the Desert Sun newspaper.

"My kids are going to think I'm so cool," she said.

Another resident of the same neighborhood, Judy Rimmer, said she found a piece of the pig draped over a front-yard plant.

The two couples will split the cash reward, Fold said.

As tall as a two-story house and as wide as two school buses, the pig was led from lines held on the ground Sunday as Waters played a version of Pink Floyd's "Pigs" from the 1977 anti-capitalist album "Animals."

Then it just floated away.

"It wasn't really supposed to happen that way. I don't have the details," festival spokeswoman Marcee Rondan said.

The pig displayed the words "Don't be led to the slaughter" and a cartoon of Uncle Sam holding two bloody cleavers. The other side read "Fear builds walls" and the underside read "Obama" with a checked ballot box for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:04:00 +0000

The Ting Tings recruited for Apple iPod ad

The Ting Tings track 'Shut Up And Let Me Go' is featured on new Apple iPod and iTunes TV advert.

The track is taken from their debut album 'We Started Nothing', which is out on May 19 (and available to download from May 18).

The clip is already being aired in the US and set to spread over 22 countries over the coming weeks. They follow in the footsteps of bands like The Vines and Jet, plus legends including Bob Dylan, U2 and Paul McCartney, who have all supplied music for the iconic ads. You can watch The Ting Tings's iPod ad below.

Meanwhile the band are set to release their new single 'That�s Not My Name' on May 12.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:00:00 +0000

Winehouse's 'Bond' Theme 'Speculation'

Amy Winehouse might well be working on the theme song to the next installment of the James Bond series, but her record company is downplaying the move.

Winehouse has been in the studio working with Mark Ronson, producer of her hit sophomore album "Back To Black," an Island Records spokesman confirms.

"She has been doing some work in the studio, but [the Bond theme] is speculation, basically."

Ronson told BBC 6Music that the pair had been working on a track for the upcoming Bond film "Quantum Of Solace." He told the digital station that there was no official guarantee that the fruits of their recording efforts would be included in the action movie, which is due for a theatrical release in November.

"It would be lovely," adds the Island spokesman, "but there's nothing to confirm at this stage."

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:01:00 +0000

Elbow- The Seldom Seen Kid (Album Review)

If 2005�s �Leaders Of The Free World� was Elbow�s on-tour love letter to Manchester, this is the sound of them returning and re-evaluating their relationship with the city. Mancunians have a curiously tempestuous relationship with their hometown that renders them both partisan and pessimistic and it�s an emotional conflict that Guy Garvey wrestled with during the conception of this fourth Elbow record. It was a tumultuous two years that saw the band marooned without a record contract and dealing with the death of their friend Bryan Glancy, a local singer-songwriter and the �seldom seen kid� of the album�s title.

�I�ve been working on a cocktail called grounds for divorce�, asserts Garvey of his hometown on the brilliant Zeppelin-ish lead single �Grounds For Divorce� � and it�s this sense of emotional upheaval that permeates the entire album. A semi-comic duet with Richard Hawley (�The Fix�) aside, it�s their darkest record in years � �Some Riot�, for example, is a return to the claustrophobia of 2001 debut �Asleep In The Back� � but also one with euphoric peaks at every turn. Lush epics such as �Starlings� and �Mirrorball� dominate the landscape and none more so than �One Day Like This� � a seven-minute gospel-tinged masterpiece built for a chorus of thousands at Glastonbury this summer.

�The Loneliness Of A Tower Crane Driver� is the jaw-dropping centrepiece, however: a majestic orchestral lollop that details the pitfalls of success and which sounds like a dinosaur learning to ice-skate. Like almost everything here it�s an awe-inspiring labour of love that both soothes and swells the soul.In spite of the turmoil of its conception, �The Seldom Seen Kid� is a stunning record, a career-best from a band whose consistency has seldom been matched by any British indie band this decade.

noreply@blogger.com (mblind) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:56:00 +0000

John Lennon lyrics to go up for sale

John Lennon's handwritten lyrics for the hit song 'Give Peace a Chance' will go under the hammer at auction in July and are expected to fetch �200-�300,000 ($400-$600,000).

Christie's said that the lyrics were being sold by comedy writer and presenter Gail Renard, who was 16 when Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their famous 'bed-in' at a hotel in Montreal in 1969.

According to Christie's, Renard and a friend sneaked into the Queen Elizabeth Hotel where the recently married Lennon and Ono were holding a protest for peace, and became friendly with the couple.

Lennon gave Renard some mementos, including the lyrics, telling her: "One day they will be worth something."

Lennon also helped launch Renard's early career as a writer by calling the editor of 'The Beatles Monthly' magazine in London and instructing him to publish her piece about the bed-in.

During the 'bed-in' for peace in Montreal, which followed a similar stunt in Amsterdam, Lennon and Ono opened their doors to the world's media.

The highlight of the event came when Lennon led the recording of one of the world's most recognisable anthems, 'Give Peace a Chance'.

The lyrics are being sold as part of Christie's Rock and Pop Memorabilia sale on July 10, reports Reuters.