Following his most stunning album to date (2006’s double-disc Straight to Hell) Hank Williams III delivers another raucous tribute to the outlaw tradition, Damn Right, Rebel Proud. Minus excellent experiments like those found on the second disc of Straight to Hell, Damn Right, Rebel Proud is otherwise loaded with concise tunes that astonishingly feel familiar well beyond their years, like timeless classics on a favorite jukebox. Read more…
Harmonix, the name responsible for the launch of the massively successful Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises have struck an exclusive deal with the folks at Apple Corps Ltd. regarding the development of an interactive music game solely based on the music of The Beatles. The game has no title or release date, but here’s what’s known so far:
–The game will not be apart of the Rock Band franchise.
–The game will take players on a journey through the career and music of the legendary Liverpool quartet combining new types of interactive gameplay with imagery of the band.
–The music will come from the master recordings of the band’s UK releases without remastering and Giles Martin will serve as the music producer. Surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as well as Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison will also be involved in the game’s creative vision.
Atlanta face-melters Mastodon have emerged from the studio with details of their 4th album, Crack the Skye. Recorded in their hometown with super producer Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Rage Against the Machine), this effort will be comprised of 7 tracks and 50 minutes of music. Everything on this outing will center around a four-part epic titled “The Czar,” a song exploring the album’s Czarist Russia theme.
Crack the Skye is set for release in early 2009. Shortly after it hits the shelves the band will hit the road. Tour dates can be found here.
Here’s the tracklisting for Crack the Skye
Oblivion Divinations Quintessence The Czar (I) Usurper (II) Escape (III) Martyr (IV) Spiral Ghost of Karelia Crack The Skye The Last Baron Read more…
The Hives are being sued for allegedly plagiarizing another songwriter’s riff on the track, “Tick Tick Boom.”
Songwriter Jason Shapiro told L.A. Weekly that he enlisted the help of a musicologist to compare his track, “Why You?” with The Hives’ number.
“He [the musicologist] said the part in question – the main riff and vocal melody – was very similar and its uniqueness led him to believe it wasn’t just a coincidence” says Shapiro.
Mute Records will release the M83 catalog in its entirety on vinyl on November 25.
M83 also announces an upcoming November/December tour – sharing some stages with Kings of Leon.
Dates are as follows: 11/11 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl 11/12 Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall 11/13 Washington, DC @ Black Cat 11/14 New York, NY @ Webster Hall 11/15 Philadelphia, PA @ Starlite Ballroom 11/16 Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street Nightclub 11/18 Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs 11/19 Montreal, QC @ Studio Juste Pour Rire 11/20 Toronto, ON @ Opera House 11/21 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge 11/22 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club 11/25 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s 11/26 Vancouver, BC @ Richards On Richards 11/27 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge 11/28 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore 11/29 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater 12/1 Brighton, UK @ Brighton Centre with Kings of Leon 12/2 Nottingham, UK @ Trent FM Arena with Kings of Leon 12/4 Newcastle, UK @ Metro Arena with Kings of Leon 12/5 Sheffield, UK @ Sheffield Arena with Kings of Leon 12/7 Glasgow, UK @ SECC with Kings of Leon 12/8 Liverpool, UK @ Echo Arena with Kings of Leon 12/10 Birmingham, UK @ NIA with Kings of Leon 12/11 London @ The O2 Arena with Kings of Leon 12/14 Bournemouth, UK @ BIC 12/16 Manchester, UK @ Evenings News Arena with Kings of Leon 12/17 Cardiff, UK @ International Arena with Kings of Leon 12/19 Dublin, IRELAND @ O2 with Kings of Leon 12/20 Belfast @ Odyssey Arena with Kings of Leon 12/22 London, UK @ Wembley with Kings of Leon Read more…
Felix and Oscar have nothing on Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse, as the latter showcase their true eccentricities as Gnarls Barkley on their sophomore album The Odd Couple. Coming off an accomplished debut, the duo questionably resist the urge to focus on anything positively pertaining to success. Instead, the lyrics reveal a story of heartbreak despite production that is populated with the handclaps and cymbals reminiscent of Motown’s merry groups.
Gnarls Barkley announce the release of a new 6 song EP that features four versions of the song “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” from the band’s record The Odd Couple.
Other songs featured on the EP are a new number titled “Mystery Man” and a live version of “Neighbors.”
17 years after the simultaneous release of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, following several confirmations and push-backs, Guns N’ Roses looks as close as it ever has to actually releasing the oft-fabled Chinese Democracy. The band and Best Buy have officially announced that the album will be available November 23 on CD, digital download and vinyl (w/ free digital download option).
For those itching for taste, “Chinese Democracy,” the album’s title track and first official single hit the airwaves today, “Shackler’s Revenge” is a playable song on Rock Band 2 and “If the World” can be heard during the closing credits of the Ridley Scott-directed Body of Lies. br> Chinese Democracy can now be pre-ordered here. Read more…
Partially leaving his campaign against the state of hip hop in Hip Hop Is Dead, Nas bears the weight of a messenger yet again with his controversial untitled ninth album. The album subtly combines elements of political consciousness, pop cultural commentary, and the personal struggle and hardships of the African-American experience. Read more…
Easily one of the truly golden voices of Bluebeat, Ska, Rocksteady and Roots Reggae, Alton Ellis has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 70.
Rising out of the extremely fertile musical landscape that was Coxone Dodd’s Studio One sound imprint, Ellis, backed by the harmonies of The Flames, recorded several songs that became Jamaican music standards like “Cry Tough,” “Girl I’ve Got A Date,” “All My Tears (Come Rolling)” and “Ready Rocksteady.”
Alto Ellis is survived by his sister and 15 Children. Read more…
