RENMINBI READY TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ON 5/6
April 30, 2008
RENMINBI (REN–MIN–BEE) will finally release their long-awaited debut full-length The Phoenix on May 6th, 2008.
Co-founders Lisa Liu and SMV are the chief operators of RENMINBI, and their collaboration lies at the heart of the band’s music.
Liu’s driving, adventurous guitar explorations, which underscore her urgent, intricate and expressive style, find a balance in the sometimes earthy, sometimes ethereal keyboard work of SMV.
We’d like to celebrate the release of The Phoenix by offering a free HIGH QUALITY mp3 of “The Shore.”
http://www.myspace.com/renminbi
May 22, 2008 - 8:00pm
Official CD Release Party
Pianos
158 Ludlow St.
New York, NY 10002
w/ The Naked Hearts, Something In Spanish &?Forest Fire
Everyone who attends this show gets a FREE copy of The Phoenix. Already bought a copy? Bring it and get a free T-shirt!
GIRL’S NIGHT OUT AT THE BITTER END! - 5/21/08
April 30, 2008
NJ SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND LAUNCHES A NEW EVENT
THE BLACK BOX REVELATION SET TO CRASH INTO THE UNITED STATES WITH DEBUT ALBUM AND TOUR
April 30, 2008
Belgium’s The Black Box Revelation will impact on U.S. shores this Summer with their first American tour and the release of their raw and blistering debut full-length Set Your Head On Fire. The album was produced by Triggerfinger drummer Mario Goossens and mixed by Greg Gordon (Wolfmother, Jet, Soulwax.)
The young duo consisting of 18 year old Jan (guitar/vocals) and 16 year old Dries (drums) are friends from Brussels who began playing together as The Mighty Generators (when they were 12 and 14 years of age) but soon kicked out their bass player, rechristened themselves and eventually finished second in their country’s influential Rock Rally contest in 2006. An EP, Introducing The Black Box Revelation was cut in 2007 with buzz generated for it by a funny, mean and bloody video for the track “Kill For Peace (And Peace Will Die.)” Live demand for BBR exploded and they were invited to play large-scale open-air festivals such as Dour and Pukkelpop.
Jan & Dries then went in the studio to cut Set Your Head On Fire which was met with unanimous love from the European press, and the single “I Think I Like You” rapidly scaled the rock radio charts.
http://www.themusebox.net/bbr/
Portishead - Third
April 30, 2008
Ever wonder what an album would sound like if Tori Amos ate a bit too much acid before she went into the studio? Third, the long awaited release on Mercury Records from Portishead, is out in stores April 28, 2008.
Third represents Portishead’s return to the scene after a hiatus since 1999. With a spot at Southern California’s famed Coachella Valley Music Festival; Portishead looks to come back with a bang. With songs like ‘Machine Gun’, the bang is back for this band.
However, in a bit of a departure from past Portishead, there is not as much of the smooth songs with slick DJ mixing/scratching behind beautiful vocals. From the first track ‘Silence’, to ‘Hunter’, and a few others… Portishead’s album Third makes excessive use of electronic beats. In an almost industrial twist to many of the songs, the sound effects drown out too much of an obviously amazing voice. The flow of the album is interrupted all too often by someone at an effects console getting a little too happy pushing random buttons.
For the die-hard female fans of Portishead, Third is a worthy addition to your collection - if you have some extra money you were planning to spend frivolously anyway.
Reviewed by: Gary Jacobs
Rating: 
The Dirtbombs Play the Middle East Downstairs
April 29, 2008
I enjoy the Dirtbombs. I’ve always liked their music, but never loved them. My opinion is different now. I love them live. Their albums are fun and great running music, but the live show blows their recorded stuff out of the water. I guess they’re just one of those bands that’s better live than on disc (which is so much better than the other way around).
SET MY FRIENDS ON FIRE SIGN TO EPITAPH RECORDS
April 29, 2008
Experiemental Electro-Grind Duo Sign To Epitaph Records And Plan Fall Debut.
Ironic and completely original, I Set My Friends On Fire have signed to Epitaph Records with plans to release their debut album in the fall.
Consisting of Matt (Vocals) and Nabil (Instruments/Programming/Vocals), ISMFOF defy conventional genres by cross-breeding electronica with elements of grind and hardcore for one of the freshest sounds around. Formed in late 2007, the duo became an overnight hit with their incredible rock/screamo cover of Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat,” which attracted over 50,000 plays per day and the attention of Epitaph owner Brett Gurewitz. In March of 2008 the band signed to Epitaph Records and began writing music for their first album due out this fall.
www.Epitaph.com
www.Myspace.com/isetmyfriendsonfire
Stoli Heads To NYC To Chat With Kelly Greene
April 29, 2008
Working here at Skope Magazine is like a dream. Not only do I get to discover new artists that inspire me but I get to interview & interact with them too. This next artist I heard 3 weeks ago and I could not believe what a soulful & inviting voice she has. That artist is the beautiful, talented, and very chill Kelly Greene. Kelly is busy preparing to release her second CD and I just had to see where she was at with that and life in general.
AIR TRAFFIC NORTH AMERICAN TOUR WITH ELBOW IN MAY!
April 29, 2008
Air Traffic’s Fractured Life is quickly building momentum with its brilliantly brutal mood music. After climbing to #1 on the Specialty Album chart, they have also just re-entered the Top 100 Itunes “Next Big Thing” album chart.
Calvin Richardson - Video for “Sang No More”
April 29, 2008
Here’s the video for “Sang No More”, the first single from Calvin Richardson’s forthcoming album “When Love Comes.”
http://www.myspace.com/calvinrichardson
R.E.M.’S LATEST VIDEO FOR HOLLOW MAN
April 29, 2008
“Hollow Man,” the second single from R.E.M.’s new album Accelerate, premiered exclusively on MySpace TV on Wednesday, April 23rd. The video for “Hollow Man” was created by Crush Inc. - a cutting edge graphic-design and production studio based in Toronto.
LINK TO VIDEO:
