It’s not exactly surprising that Neil Hannon has been tapped to write a musical for the London stage, as his songwriting lends itself well to flowery and theatrical arrangements. NME reports that the piece for The National Theater will be an adaptation of Arthur Ransom’s 1930 novella Swallows and Amazons. Hannon just recently contributed [...]

[Read more →]

As an avid Throwing Muses fan, I used to be so much more on top of what Kristin Hersh was up to, but I seem to have fallen down on the job. I just stumbled upon the video for her newest solo single from the album Learn to Sing like a Star, and it’s good [...]

[Read more →]

Now that Pretty Girls Make Graves has announced its final tour dates, ex-members have already formed new bands. Seattle’s The Cave Singers have only recorded a few demos, but that hasn’t stopped some preliminary talks with Matador. Ex-PGMG bassist Derek Fudesco is now finger picking a classical guitar on songs that inform a dark, [...]

[Read more →]

It’s true that the moment Blonde Redhead signed with the legendary 4AD records, the band’s sound changed significantly. Sure, it could be argued that its last record for Touch and Go, 2000’s Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons, hinted at the process with a notable reliance on keyboards, but once 2004’s Misery is a Butterfly [...]

[Read more →]

I wasn’t too hepped up on the idea of a Jesus & Mary Chain reunion because they’d kind of drifted into indifference on their last few records. But news of Scarlett Johansson singing with the Reid brothers would certainly make a reunion show a little more worthwhile. First, Johansson’s rumored to be recording an [...]

[Read more →]

Booji Boy (Mark Mothersbaugh’s on stage alter-ego, satirizing the infantile regression of Western culture, of course) sings “Red Eye Express” off Duty Now for the Future, much to the confusion and delight of an unsuspecting French audience. It’s undated, but from the stage set-up it looks to be about 1978. The video quality is lacking, [...]

[Read more →]

Blur frontman Damon Albarn, the voice behind Gorillaz, has confirmed to BBC Radio 2 that the multi-media cartoon quartet won’t be recording any more albums: “There won’t be another pop record.” Instead, the final project for the pretend-band will be a film with Terry Gilliam rumored to direct, for which Gorillaz will write the [...]

[Read more →]

Something about The Fratellis put me off the moment I heard them. The music is harmless enough, as they plunder everything that is trendy right now, but it just sounds too contrived in its happy-go-lucky garage-pop facade. The blatant Arctic Monkeys rip-off is just unsettling. I realize the Arctic Monkeys have sold a ridiculous amount [...]

[Read more →]

Ever the class act, Sharon Osbourne hopes that Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme “gets syphilis and dies. Eloquently adding, “I hope his dick fucking falls off so his mother can eat it.” Her very tasteful tirade is in response to Homme’s comments regarding why his band would never participate in her [...]

[Read more →]

Kansas City’s Anodyne Records has reissued Shiner’s once-limited Making Love EP to give it the full promotional push it missed out on the first time around. Shiner’s been defunct now for four years, so I’m not sure why re-release this EP now, especially with no bonus material. Perhaps, Anodyne just wanted to do this [...]

[Read more →]

The quality is crap, obviously recorded in the audience, but you can tell the song itself is pretty amazing. Interpol may have faux-broken up four times since the Antics tour ended, but the band is back on track, perhaps, even more agressive than ever before.

[Read more →]

Low needed to get 2005’s The Great Destroyer out of its system. Too many years of turtle-paced rock would wipe any band out, so it’s no wonder Low needed a chance to turn up the volume and flesh out the rock, however briefly.
It was the first time the band had ever pushed the beats-per-minute [...]

[Read more →]

I can’t believe this aired on TV. Man, Ice Cube was a sellout even in his heyday. At least he used to sell out with style. Now he’s just fat and starring in unwatchable family comedies.
“Get your girl in the mood quicker, get your jimmy thicker, with St. Ides Malt Liquor.” Gold.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/t3KRqiiWx8U" width="425" height="350" [...]

[Read more →]

If this guy ends up getting clean, I have no faith in drugs. He’s showing up to court appearances, reuniting with ex-bandmates, showing up to gigs, etc. Pete Doherty’s acting responsibly? Yawn. God, next thing he’ll actually marry Kate Moss and then you know finding Jesus is right around the corner.

[Read more →]

Punknews.org has the scoop on Be Your Own Pet: “We’ve all been writing for the next record. Everything is getting really exciting around here! We go into the studio with Steven Mcdonald (Redd Kross) in June and then we will have the record in your hands in following months. (fall release date!?)”
Hailing from Nashville, TN [...]

[Read more →]

The original Bad Brains line-up is set to release Build a Nation on the Megaforce label this month with Beastie Boy Adam Yauch producing.
This isn’t the first time the band has reunited. 1995’s God of Love saw the original line-up attempt a comeback for Madonna’s Maverick label (with millions of dollar bills dangling above [...]

[Read more →]

NME has news that Radiohead has posted a clip of a new song called “15 Step” on the deadairspace section of their official site. You have to click on the HODIAU DIREKTION banner to hear it.
For those less inclined to play aong with Radiohead’s cryptic and weird little cyber games, or, simply find them too [...]

[Read more →]

UPDATE: Led Zeppelin didn’t play. Whew.
To what extent the surviving members of Led Zeppelin are “reforming” remains to be seen, but Phil Collins will also be present at Alantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun’s memorial tonight at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Let’s hope Collins isn’t tempted to play John Bonham again and step anywhere near the [...]

[Read more →]

Double Viking has compiled its list of the top five hottest indie women, explaining it thusly: “There’s something about indie chicks that is both endearing and frustrating. They’re endearing because they write honest songs and they strive to progress musically. They’re frustrating because so many of them just don’t try to be attractive. [...]

[Read more →]

Mute Records has signed Maps, a.k.a James Chapman. We Can Create is set for release on June 19. A purveyor of, as the Guardian dubs it, “bedsit electro melancholia”, Chapman has an affinity for My Bloody Valentine and dark, haunting melodies, which, as the Guardian also succinctly put it, sounds like “Aphex Twin with tunes.”
Chapman [...]

[Read more →]