Month: May 2011

OLD 97’S PRESENT ‘THE GRAND THEATRE VOL. 2’

Old 97’s introduce The Grand Theatre Vol. 2, their ninth studio album, available July 5th via New West Records.   The new record is a companion to the critically acclaimed The Grand Theatre Volume One, which received 3 ½ stars from both Rolling Stone and American Songwriter.     Released less than a year since…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR FRIDAY, MAY 6th, 2011

GAGA’S “JUDAS” VIDEO IS OUT! The video for Lady Gaga’s new song “Judas” has leaked hours before it was supposed to premiere last night.   It was rumored to feature lots of Christian religious imagery and it certainly didn’t disappoint.   The clip opens with Gaga riding behind a man on a motorcycle.   The…

BLITHE FIELD BREAKS OUT WITH “CRUSHING” MP3

Blithe Field, the newest member of the Waaga family. Blithe Field is Spencer Radcliffe – a 19 year old producer from Ohio, specializing in   messy sample based electronic music. I personally think it sounds like if Gold Panda ditched Ableton to record outdoors on an old sampler that didn’t work at speeds above 120bpm.

WEERD SCIENCE OFFERS FREE EP

After his eight-year daily battle with opiates, Josh Eppard has kicked his addiction and will be releasing his long awaited second full-length album SICK KIDS under his solo moniker WEERD SCIENCE on May 17, 2011. He will be telling his story throughout Spring on The British Invasion Tour and all Summer long on Vans Warped…

TAKING BACK SUNDAY ANNOUNCE NATIONWIDE SUMMER TOUR

Taking Back Sunday has announced a headlining summer tour.   The nationwide run, which kicks off June 14th in Denver, CO and runs through July 31st in Chicago, IL, will feature Thursday as direct support along with Colour Revolt on all dates. The New Regime and We are the In Crowd will open on select…

YALE U PRESS RELEASES NEW DYLAN BOOK

Timed to coincide with Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday (May 24th, 2011), Yale University Press is pleased to publish a book that offers new and thought-provoking insight into Dylan’s life and music.   In the words of Sean Wilentz, Princeton University professor and himself the author of some of the most keenly intelligent writing about Bob…

OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR “THE DAY”

Available in CD, vinyl, digital formats, and included with the Destroyed book of photography, Destroyed the album was written by Moby mostly late at night, in hotel rooms around the world when cities had gone to bed and the insomnia that worldwide travel can induce fueled his need to create. The result is a 15-track…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 4th, 2011

THE BLACK EYED PEAS PLANNING FREE CONCERT IN NYC The Black Eyed Peas will perform a free concert in New York City’s Central Park on June 9th.   The Peas’ Concert 4 NYC will benefit the Robin Hood Foundation, a charity targeting poverty in New York City.   Although the show is free, concertgoers must…

Bryan Gorsira, So Far

Over the years we’ve seen music slowly erode into something quite disturbing. Morph back to a happier time when you will find carefree acting as the embodiment of a carefree society. Music these day, though very technically savvy is missing something. Instead you get bands or artists that act in a very overcompensating way trying…

The Pauses, A Cautionary Tale

There’s no doubt that the three members of Orlando’s The Pauses have the ability to write some fresh-sounded and at times, perky pop songs in the vein of Rilo Kiley. Some of those tunes even appear on A Cautionary Tale. However the title of this three piece’s debut is quite deserving: the album is just…

Slaying it in Atlanta; Sleigh Bells and CSS

The wall of amplifiers hinted at what was in store for us. If you know anything about the bands Sleigh Bells and CSS you know that they both operate at a higher volume than most and bring a signature energetic showmanship.

BREAKING: SONY PLACES OFFER TO WMG

Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, owned by Sony Corp. (6758) and Michael Jackson’s estate, submitted a bid for Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) ahead of yesterday’s deadline, two people with knowledge of the auction said. Sony/ATV is working with billionaire Ronald Perelman and Guggenheim Partners LLC, said the people, who weren’t authorized to talk publicly. Warner…

WOODEN SHJIPS SIGN TO THRILL JOCKEY RECORDS

Thrill Jockey is very pleased to announce that Wooden Shjips will record for the label.   Formed in 2006, Ripley Johnson (guitar and vocals), Dusty Jermier (bass), Nash Whalen (organ), and Omar Ahsanuddin (drums), began with the simple drive to get their music heard.   Their first 10″ was available for free to anyone who…

LAND OF TALK & SAM ROBERTS BAND FREE MP3

Below is a link to download the awesome duet between the Sam Roberts Band and Land of Talk’s Elizabeth Powell entitled “Longitude.” “Longitude” comes from Sam’s upcoming album “Collider” out next Tuesday, May 10th on Zoë/Rounder Records. SKOPE IT HERE! http://samrobertsband.com

NILS FRAHM US DATES

Berlin composer Nils Frahm, has announced a string of North American tour dates with English composer Greg Haines. Starting this week, the rare opportunity to see Nils in the states begins on May 6 lasting until May 13. Hailing from a classical background, today Frahm works as an accomplished composer and producer in Berlin. In…

GRIEVES TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

From the prolific mind of Benjamin Laub, also known as Grieves, comes Together/Apart, the most recent addition to the formidable Rhymesayers Entertainment catalogue, available June 21st 2011, pre-order available here. With the help of longtime collaborator and multi-instrumentalist Budo, his third album is a testament to the hard work he’s put forth since 2007, touring,…

PARACHUTE NEW VIDEO “YOU AND ME”

Parachute is set to release their sophomore album entitled The Way It Was, May 17th on Mercury Records. Produced by John Fields (Switchfoot, the Goo Goo Dolls, P!nk, Paper Tongues), the album features anthemic hit single “Something To Believe In,” currentlyTop 25 on the Hot AC Chart and climbing.

ARMAND MARGJEKA RELEASES “MOMMA” FOR MOTHERS DAY

Though the urge to leave the nest can be strong, it’s hard to leave your mother behind. This sentiment is what Armand Margjeka’s bittersweet song “Momma” is all about. While most of us know what it’s like to be separated from our mothers for a semester, or even a year, Margjeka’s experience is even more…

Skittish, The Perfect Shade of Green

Over the years we’ve seen rock & alternative rock slowly erode into a dumbing down process of overly commercialized, corporate puppet shows. Unfortunately this form of entertainment exists not only in the form of music but also on TV, & Movies as well. Talking to many music fans out there, the response is overwhelming. Give…

THE WHITNEY MYER BAND IS A MUSICAL FAMILY AFFAIR

In life I have learned that there is nothing better than a solid family. Mix that in with a passion for music and you have a beautiful situation. My guest today is a band out of Reno, NV that plays funk & soul music with the best of them. The Whitney Myer Band makes music…

HOLLIE LA OFFERS THE REMIX TO “POISON” MP3

Hollie LA made her recording debut with “Unlocked,” a 6 song EP that showcases some of her most memorable recordings. One thing Hollie doesn’t do is put herself in a box — “I create and write music that reflects who I am and not what everyone else is doing at the moment.”   Together with…

DREAM THEATER ANNOUNCE NEW DRUMMER

A little more than a month after drummer Mike Portnoy’s sudden departure from DREAM THEATER, the band held three days of auditions in New York City. Over an incredibly productive three-day period, the band played, jammed and spoke candidly and at length with seven of the world’s greatest drummers. The remaining members of the band…

ALEX MARKOW MEETS LE BLORR AT THE DELANO HOTEL

Le Blorr is gaining momentum with their new EP Bim Bom with its filthy riffs and momentous drums. Their music ranges from a psychedelic vibe such as their song “Twin Sisters” to the dance your ass off energy of “My Terrific Tushhh”. Sprinkle in a few melt your girl’s heart melodies and with the simplicity…

MATT NATHANSON ANNOUNCES SUMMER TOUR SUPPORTING TRAIN AND MAROON 5

Matt Nathanson has announced he will be opening for Maroon 5 and Train on the second leg of their co-headlining North American tour this summer. The string of dates, kicking off August 28th in Louisville, KY, will follow the June 21st release of Matt’s new album, Modern Love. The new album’s first single “Faster” is…

NEW VIDEO BY COSMO JARVIS

British singer-songwriter Cosmo Jarvis has already courted controversy with his viral sensation “Gay Pirates”. The self-directed video for “Pirates” has received over 420,000 YouTube views since it’s debut last November, and attracted the notice of media on both sides of the Atlantic. Continuing in the thought-provoking vein of “Gay Pirates”, Cosmo has just unveiled the…

AVRIL LAVIGNE POSTPONES JAPAN DATES

Singer/ songwriter Avril Lavigne has postponed her sold out Japanese tour dates scheduled for May 2011 out of respect for the many families that are still grieving or searching for their loved ones following the March 2011 natural disaster and the continued uncertainty of the situation at the Fukushima nuclear plant, further earthquakes and ongoing…

MTV RADIO’S MORNING FACTS FOR MONDAY, MAY 2nd, 2011

24 HOURS OF GAGA ON HBO ZONE THIS WEEKEND! Following the debut of Lady Gaga’s HBO special on Saturday, May 7th at 9 PM, the HBO Zone channel will play the two-hour concert for 24 hours straight.   Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden will run for 24 hours from…

RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, MAY 2011

Mark Wonder, True Stories of Mark Wonder (Groove Attack Records) This to-date retrospective of the Jamaica-born reggae guy begins with the not-really-representatively-poppy “So Long” as guested by Luciano, whose turn is more unplugged-Big Mountain-like than anything else on here, which, in the main, sticks to the roots, ganja-puff skank to rasta-babbling hard stuff to tourist-trap…

THE DIGITAL BRILLIANCE OF PAUL DOWDING

Paul Dowding composes, performs, programs, records and produces all his own music.   He started when he played bass in rock bands in the US and UK.   Upon moving to the US, his keen business mind launched him into a corporate career.   However, he kept things going musically with a band called the…