Oct/090
Thursday Newsmix: Oasis dries up, plus new Animal Collective and more
We're so British, we invented the Jaffa Cake.
After Noel Gallagher left the band over a month ago, the fate of Britpop superstars Oasis has been, for the most part, up in the air. Today, in an interview with The Times UK, estranged brother Liam Gallagher laid all rumors and speculation to rest: Oasis is no more.
In that interview, Liam spelled out the fate of the band in no uncertain terms: “Oasis is no longer. I think we all know that. So that’s done.” Instead, the younger Gallagher will be entering into the fashion business with a new line of clothing, with any further projects involving the remaining band members to be decided. Meanwhile, Noel is most likely going it solo, though details on any such venture are slim to nil at the moment.
While the demise of such a prolific band does tug a bit at my heartstrings – Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? having been, for better or worse, a major part of the soundtrack to my teenage years – the band has been mostly retreading well-worn ground for the past decade. The time was well past due to call it quits.
* * *
My admiration for Animal Collective’s January release, Merriweather Post Pavillion, should be no secret by now. Hipster echo-chamber aside, MPP is a dynamic, exciting album packed to the brim not only with good musical ideas, but also a sense of melody and accessibility that the band’s earlier material lacked. So when the announcement of another album – slated for this year, too – comes out of nowhere, you must excuse me if I’m a little, er, excited.
Okay, that’s an understatement. This is going to be effing awesome.
The new album, to be titled Fall Be Kind, is slated to be released December 8 on Domino Records. We don’t really have any more info as of yet, but be sure to stay tuned as this exciting story develops.
* * *
Are you the owner of some treasured piece of autographed Joy Division memorabilia? If so, you may want to check that certificate of authenticity. Ex-Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook has admitted to forging the signature of the late Ian Curtis on various JD-related items, thus calling into question the value (both monetary and otherwise) of pretty much every such piece. I think I just heard Curtis roll over in his grave.
* * *
The Beastie Boys‘ Adam “MCA” Yausch is apparently really into Eastern medicine. After having been diagnosed with cancer, Yausch stated in an update released via Rolling Stone, he traveled to Tibet on a retreat, converted (temporarily) to veganism, and attended a seminar by the Dalai Lama. Whatever helps him feel better, I suppose.
* * *
So it looks like Radiohead might be cutting a new album after all. Jeez, make your mind up already, will you guys?
* * *
After initially snubbing an offer to have the band immortalized in a Rock Band game, arena-rockers U2 have stated that they would “definitely… like to be” involved with such a project. Too bad it won’t be nearly as good as The Beatles’ iteration.
* * *
In other music-game news, view the entire tracklist for the upcoming DJ Hero video game here.
* * *
Preview The Flaming Lips’ upcoming album, Embryonic, over at NPR.
Oct/090
Monday Newsmix: Glenn Beck and Muse; plus Method Man and more
I want YOU!! ...to subscribe to MY conspiracy theories.
I’m of the opinion that conservative/libertarian “commentator” Glenn Beck is one of the craziest political voices in the United States, between his religion-based warmongering, thinly-veiled racism, and general tin-foil-hattery. But at least he likes Muse – albeit for the wrong reasons (he erroneously associates the band with libertarianism).
Oh, and he’s also a dirty rotten liar. But we already knew that.
Recently, on his Fox News show, Beck claimed that a spokesperson for Muse insisted that he stop plugging the group on his show. Only, that never happened, according to a representative for Beck’s company. He was just joking. Right.
Regrettably, Muse declined to comment on the situation, thereby ensuring that this story doesn’t go much further than it already has. Otherwise, people might actually realize that Beck and his ilk are “fair and balanced” only because they jury-rigged the scale.
* * *
Wu-Tang member Method Man, along with brother-in-arms Redman, released what’s thus far my favorite hip-hop album of the year back in May. But apparently not enough people bought it, as Meth needed to, uh, supplement his income with unpaid tax money.
This morning, Meth turned himself in for evading over $32,000 in taxes – and that’s not including the attorneys’ fees or punitive damages that any self-respecting judge will saddle the famed emcee with. If convicted – and it looks like he will be, due to the whole “turning himself in” thing – he could face up to four years in the slammer as well.
Any chance of a jailbird-recorded Blackout 3, Methy ol’ pal?
* * *
NPR reports that a collaboration is in the works between David Byrne and Norman Cook, otherwise known as Fatboy Slim. The duo’s planned album, to be entitled Here Lies Love, will be based upon the life of former Filipino First Lady Imelda Marcos, and will feature over 20 guest vocalists, including Cyndi Lauper, Santigold, and Tori friggin’ Amos. Hell. Yes.
* * *
In completely silly news, reggae artist Major Mackerel claims that some guy in New York City slashed him up with a two-foot-long sword. A strange story – and even stranger if it somehow turns out to be true.
* * *
View the tracklisting for the Foo Fighters’ upcoming Greatest Hits album here. Not a bad list, though woefully lacking in tracks from their excellent debut album.
Sep/090
Wednesday Newsmix: Lil’ Wayne & Weezer; plus DJ AM and more
The most wedgie-able man in modern rock.
If you needed any more proof that Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo is a huge dork, then look no further than this news-bite. While speaking to MTV about his band’s forthcoming album, Raditude, Cuomo detailed how he got emcee Lil’ Wayne to “do a rap” on a track entitled, “Can’t Stop Partying.” Without directly coming out and saying that he knows absolutely nothing about hip-hop, Cuomo related that, “Any other rapper would’ve just done, ‘Yay, we’re partying! Let’s drink and have fun,’ but [Wayne] gave it the edge I was looking for.”
And the train-wreck doesn’t stop there. Cuomo continues: “It sounds so dark, like he was gonna get shot or something when he walks out of the studio.” [emphasis mine]
At first, I wasn’t sure whether the singer-songwriter sounded more like my eighty-year-old grandmother or a nerdy white guy with horn-rimmed glasses. But then I remembered that he is a nerdy white guy with horn-rimmed glasses, so I guess his almost total ignorance of an entire genre of music is justified. Sort of.
* * *
Back on August 28, Adam Goldstein – known usually by his stage name, DJ AM – was found dead in his Manhattan apartment. Since then, rumors have circulated concerning Goldstein’s drug use and the possibility that the prolific club DJ died of an overdose. Yesterday, according to official police reports, those rumors have been confirmed.
According to those reports, Goldstein was found with a crack pipe and an array of prescription drugs nearby – most of which he had ingested to some degree. In addition to cocaine, he had taken, among other things, OxyContin, Vicodin, Ativan, and Klonopin before his death. As with other such cases, the combination of a cocktail of narcotics and a powerful stimulant likely put a terrible strain on his heart.
At the risk of sounding too preachy: Please be careful with drugs, guys and gals. All too often, “a little too much” can mean your last.
* * *
In lighter news, drummer Frankie Rose has – unsurprisingly – left yet another band. After drumming for Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls, and – lately – Crystal Stilts, all in the span of a couple of years, Rose has departed the Stilts to form a new band, Frankie and the Outs. The five-piece, all-girl band will make their live debut November 7 at Brooklyn’s Woodser venue, with Rose herself taking up guitar and vocals.
* * *
In line with their myriad previous grabs at nanny-statism, the European Union has announced plans to introduce a bill requiring manufacturers of MP3 players and other similar devices to keep the volume down. Amidst concerns about hearing damage due to loud personal music players, the EU will include in the bill a provision to limit such players to a maximum volume level of 89 decibels. While it’s completely reasonable to request that people keep their headphones turned down, isn’t this a little… you know… excessive?
* * *
Stream Kurt Vile’s forthcoming album, Childish Prodigy, for free thanks to Pop Headwound.
Sep/090
Thursday Newsmix: E Street goes bye-bye, Billy Corgan says hello
Janey said it was time to go, So we closed our eyes and said goodbye to Gypsy Angel Row. Felt so right, Together we moved like spirits in the night.
If you missed Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s world tour this year, then you may need to wait a while longer for your next opportunity. A lot longer. Late yesterday, E Street guitarist Steve Van Zandt revealed that the band will be going on hiatus – perhaps indefinitely.
“[It could be] one year, year and a half, two years off,” Van Zandt stated, later adding, “You never know. This could be our last tour.”
If true, this announcement would mark the possible end of a band that’s been touring together on and off for nearly four decades. But don’t despair too much: after all, the last hiatus lasted “only” four years. I suspect Van Zandt’s just being dramatic.
* * *
The Smashing Pumpkins (now just frontman Billy Corgan and a collection of random dinks) have had a turbulent history, with members coming and going, a full break-up and reformation, a critically panned comeback album, and Corgan’s frequently offensive antics backing it all. This time, however, Corgan aims to get it right for the first time since 2000’s criminally underrated Machina: The Machines of God.
Yesterday, in a long blog post, Corgan outlined the concept for his next album, to be titled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope (a name obviously meant to reference the trippy-quirky-emo name of 1995’s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness). The album – actually a collection of 11 4-track EPs – will “[harken] back to the original psychedelic roots of [the band]: atmospheric, melodic, heavy, and pretty.” Sounds good to me, but what makes it even better is that all 44 songs will be released for free.
Thank you for listening to your fans for once, Billy. Now please don’t screw this one up.
* * *
NEWSBITES
* * *
R.I.P. Mary Travers, folk singer and one-third of influential ’60s folksters Peter, Paul, and Mary.
Jay-Z is set to break the record previously held by Elvis Presley for the most number-one albums in America for a solo artist. Frankly, I can think of few modern recording artists more deserving. Good show, Jay.
Activision CEO Dan Rosensweig acts like a complete jackass in regards to Courtney Love’s objections over the use of her ex-husband Kurt Cobain’s image in Guitar Hero 5.
Timbaland’s upcoming album, Shock Value 2, will contain a song inspired by teen-vampire-schlock novel Twilight, as well as a guest appearance by, among others, Paramore. The only shock value here is Timby’s shockingly bad taste.
Embryonic, the new album by The Flaming Lips, is streaming over at The Colbert Nation website. It’s in a smallish box on the left hand of the screen.
Spiritualized is set to re-release their amazing 1997 album, Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, on November 16. Premium editions will include bonus CDs with nearly three dozen outtakes, demos, and remixes.
Aug/090
Wednesday Newsmix: Kanye’s escapades, Pete Wentz on nude pics, Alice & Elton, and more
Real men wear pink sweatshirts.
To start off with today, here’s the buzz on everybody’s favorite loudmouthed emcee. (Well, at the very least he must be somebody’s favorite, somewhere. Maybe.) Buzz on the ‘net is that Kanye’s girlfriend, former model and exotic dancer Amber Rose, may be carrying his child. Okay, perhaps that’s a bit of a stretch, but gossip website MediaTakeOut.com is reporting that Rose suddenly gave up alcohol and cigarettes – a hefty burden for a woman who must be attenting the most happening parties in the biz. So is there a good reason? I don’t know, but God help any child raised by that couple.
Oh, and in other news, Kanye and director Spike Jonze recently collaborated on a bizarre short film entitled, “We Were Once a Fairytale.” In case you’re interested, the film is set for release on September 8 via iTunes. In the meantime, you can read a brief summary of the film here. It sounds, err, interesting. I think.
* * *
In other musician-celeb news, Fall Out Boy frontman Pete Wentz spoke up yesterday on MTV News in response to two recent scandals involving leaked nude photographs. In the interview, Wentz – who dealt with his own such scandal in 2006 – had this to say to High School Musical actress Vanessa Hudgens and Twilight star Ashley Greene: “Don’t sit out there and make a big deal. Let it go away.”
Pretty sound advice if you ask me; the more one harps on an issue like that, the more the tabloids and gossip outlets will bark up your front door. But I think he missed one crucial piece of advice: No matter who you are, just don’t take nude photos in the first place!
* * *
Ever since Alice in Chains announced their reunion – minus, of course, the late Layne Staley – the Internet has been abuzz about how the seminal grunge band were just trying to make a quick buck off of their former glory. And if anything confirms it, it’s this: none other than Sir Elton John will appear on the reformed group’s upcoming album.
Now, I love Elton’s (early, less poppy) material as much as the next guy, but let’s be honest here: AiC pre-Layne would never collaborate with him, and I can’t see the result being anything more than a bunch of post-grunge cheese. Why can’t we just leave AiC, and the bittersweet memories thereof, buried with Layne?
* * *
Are you one of the many Morrissey fans out there salivating over the two 7″ singles boxsets recently announced by EMI for a fall release? Well, you may want to rethink your purchase, as the man himself has released a statement telling people not to buy them. Apparently Morrissey had no hand in the production of the boxsets, and furthermore, he won’t be receiving a dime from their sales. it’s a pretty awful situation, and – in this blogger’s humble opinion – just one more reason why the major labels need to die out, and fast.
* * *
Speaking of dying out, in a move that came as a surprise to exactly no one, British alt-rockers The Verve announced earlier today that they have parted ways – for the third time. After a falling-out with vocalist Rich Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe and bassist Simon Jones have formed a new band, known as The Black Ships. No word on what the other bandmates are doing yet, but I hope it’s something good.
* * *
In the daily “reunion rumor” news, it seems that bassist Gary Mounfield (aka Mani), formerly of The Stone Roses, has released a statement asking the feuding members of that pioneering alt-rock band to “kiss and make up.” It probably won’t result in any actual reunion, but it’s fun to think about, eh?
* * *
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER for more music and entertainment news stories!
Jul/090
Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch diagnosed with tumor; tour dates canceled
So what'cha want? Chemotherapy.
Sad news surfaced over the weekend as Beastie Boys vocalist/bassist Adam “MCA” Yauch revealed that he has been diagnosed with cancer. As a result, the Beasties – who were scheduled to headline a multitude of festivals over the remaining summer months – have been forced to cancel all of their remaining 2009 tour dates.
The tumor in question, located on Yauch’s left parotid gland, was caught early; therefore, good ol’ MCA will probably turn out just fine. Furthermore, the growth was not in a place that could affect his vocal cords. However, in addition to the tour cancellations, the release date for the group’s new album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, will have to be pushed back.
Here’s hoping you get well soon, MCA. The world just ain’t the same without the Beasties out there busting some nearly-geriatric rhymes.
Jul/090
Two dead in Madonna stage-building accident
...authorities suspect sabotage. Sean Penn was unavailable for comment.
Madonna has hit a ton of locations thus far during her 2009 world tour. But yesterday, had an accident in Marseilles, France occurred just a few days later, a collapsing roof could have hit her. (As it happened, however, it only hit a bunch of construction workers.)
Technicians setting up a stage for the pop diva’s concert, to have taken place on Sunday, fell victim when the partially-built roof to Marseilles’ Velodrome arena collapsed, toppling a crane along with it. Two of the workers died and eight others were injured in the resulting chaos. The concert, obviously, has been canceled.
Madonna herself expressed sympathy at the deaths, stating that she was “devastated to have just received this tragic news.” It warms my heart to see that celebrities can at least feign some empathy. Really.
Now when do we get an apology for your film career, eh?
* * *
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER for more music and entertainment news stories!
Jun/090
Mystery song banned from radio – and for good reason
Have you noticed a certain song missing from your favorite rock radio stations recently? Well, if you have, it may be because the artist(s) who recorded it is/are a bunch of money-grubbing douchebags, and because the station subsequently decided not to play it. The rub of the matter is, however, that nobody knows exactly what the song is.
An organization calling themselves the musicFIRST Coalition (an Orwellian name if I’ve ever heard one) has filed a complaint with the FCC alleging that certain stations have black-listed a certain, unnamed song by a certain, unnamed band. The reason is that the band’s lead singer recently came out in favor of a proposed bill that would require radio stations to pay royalties to artists and record labels.
Sadly, neither musicFIRST nor the radio stations are offering any more hints. But the current #1 likely culprit? Bono, the smug-as-heck lead singer of Dublin arena-rockers U2. Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me.
Hey, I’m just glad to see radio stations finally taking a stand against greedy record labels, even if it’s only to protect their own pocketbooks. Maybe now they’ll – gasp! – start to play something other than a handful of Clear Channel-approved singles?
May/090
BREAKING: Coldplay may leave us out in the, uh, cold
Those of you planning to attend Coldplay’s long-awaited concert at the Post-Gazette Pavillion this weekend may find yourselves out of luck: singer Chris Martin seems to be in poor health, meaning that the show may be off at the last minute.
The Post-Gazette reports that Martin lost his voice this past Wednesday right before a concert in Saratoga Springs, New York, prompting a cancellation of the show. There’s no word either way yet, but if you’re a fan of the band, I wouldn’t be holding my breath.
Sad thing, too; I’ve been slowly warming (no pun intended) to the band’s latest album. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
May/092
Wal-Mart rejects Green Day’s latest album
There’s no shortage of reasons to hate Wal-Mart: anti-competitive pricing practices, treating their employees like garbage, selling racist texts online, and so forth. One of the less serious but most damning issues that keeps periodically popping up, however, is the department superstore’s policy on censorship. You see, they don’t like foul language in music much, so they’ll often ask record labels to censor popular albums (this despite allowing R-rated movies and M-rated video games to be sold alongside their CD selection). Sadly, the latest victim of this phenomenon is the latest album by acclaimed punks Green Day.
Recently, the folks behind Wally World asked the punk rock trio to censor 21st Century Breakdown on the premise that it contains a “parental advisory” sticker. Instead of caving, however, the band took a principled stand and declined.
This isn’t the first time that Wal-Mart has censored a popular album. For one, outspoken Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor also refused to censor his albums at the chain’s request. In addition, the chain banned singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow’s second album after Crow declined to remove lyrics from a song that, uh, pointed out that some of the chain’s stores sold guns. (The title of the song in question? “Love is a Good Thing.” Yeah.)
So kudos to Green Day for refusing to cave. We need more principled mainstream bands like these guys.