Monday, June 30, 2014

Tricky New Album Info


Following the release of last year's awesome, False Idols, Tricky will release his new album Adrian Thaws (That is his real name) in September. Take a look at the cover, above, and the star-studded tracklisting, as well as hear the new single, "Nicotine Love," below:

01 Sun Down [ft. Tirzah]
02 Lonnie Listen [ft. Mykki Blanco & Francesca Belmonte]
03 Something In The Way [ft. Francesca Belmonte]
04 Keep Me In Your Shake [ft. Nneka]
05 The Unloved (Skit)
06 Nicotine Love [ft. Francesca Belmonte]
07 Gangster Chronicles [ft. Bella Gotti]
08 I Had A Dream [ft. Francesca Belmonte]
09 My Palestine Girl [ft. Blue Daisy]
10 Why Don't You [ft. Bella Gotti]
11 Silly Games [ft. Tirzah]
12 Right Here [ft. Oh Land]
13 Silver Tongue - When You Go

Robert Plant at Glastonbury


Watch Robert Plant sing "Little Maggie" from his Saturday set at Glastonbury!

Kasabian at Glastonbury


Watch Kasabian perform during their Sunday headlining closing set at Glasto!

London Grammar at Glastonbury


Watch London Grammar perform "Sights" during their Sunday night set at Glastonbury!

Black Keys at Glastonbury


 Watch The Black Keys perform "Fever" during their Sunday night Glastonbury set!

Jack White's Full Glastonbury Set


Watch Jack White's full Sunday evening Glastonbury set!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

EXCLUSIVE! The Heartbreaks INTV!

In 2010, we introduced you to English rock band The Heartbreaks, in the years that have followed since the welcomed introduction, they have stolen our hearts as musicians and as people. After releasing one of 2012's best albums with their debut, Funtimes, the band return this year with a new sound and new attitude, but still bring the same joy to music as they did four years ago. Their latest, We May Yet Stand A Chance, was released last month and the slick guitar work and Britpop sound has evolved into doo-wop meets classical and samba licks that will impress anyone that four guys from Northern England have created this sound and used it so perfectly. It is Phil Spector's glorious Wall of Sound meets the orchestras of Ennio Marricone with a Latin fury. As the band hits the European festival and tour circuit for the summer, we spoke to singer and guitarist Matthew Whitehouse about their new album, new sound, and when we can expect them back in the U.S. Take a look at our interview below:
 
The new album hears you take on a different sound, but still sticking to the fundamental principles as a band. Was that your intention going into the studio or did it just happen organically and unexpectedly?

I mean, everything we do happens pretty organically… It was a great process making this record as, while the first was recorded over such a long period with so many different people, this was just the four of us, and Producer Dave, in a studio for six weeks making exactly what we wanted to make. It gave a real cohesion to the sound and we were, for the first time in so long, completely on the same wavelength.

What did you learn about yourselves making this album that you didn’t know before?

That we’re right miserable bastards. Although I always had a suspicion.

Who were some of your influences making this album?

We really streamlined what we listened to for this record… I guess the template was roughly ‘melodramatic, widescreen pop’ and I guess that roughly incorporates Scott Walker, Echo and the Bunnymen, Ennio Morricone… We went to see Morricone in Verona when we were over playing a couple of shows last year in fact. Every human emotion over the course of a two hour show! Extraordinary.

The title of the record, “We May Yet Stand A Chance,” is a bold statement. What does it signify to you?

I think there’s a certain self-deprecation to it. Which is our sense of human (or lack of). It ties in with the lyrical theme of the record though really. Things often seem bleak but, you know, we may yet stand a chance.

The cover of the record is also pretty bold, it is the four of you pulling a casket into the sea. Why the morbid reference?

Well the first record, Funtimes, used all this bright iconography when really the album, lyrically at least, wasn’t a particularly happy one. And that went over everyone’s heads... We played it a bit more literal this time.

Is this your sink or swim record?

It’s our kitchen sink record.

The Heartbreaks have been a band that has seen such amazing highlights over the years. What has been the standout moment of your career thus far?

Oh, Sal! It’s gotta be New York… That was a real trip. Do you remember sitting on the 19th floor at the Standard and looking out over the meatpacking district and the high line and all those tug boats singing their deep and sonorous hymns of commerce? I think I was truly happy in that moment.

We know how much you love your hometown of Morecambe and how it still plays a key role in your music. How does the town still influence you?

It’s inescapable, I think. I used to feel like I’d been born a long way from where I was supposed to. But I guess that’s just the arrogance of anyone growing up in a small town. Now I know how important it’s been in shaping me and the band.

Did you ever think that hailing from such a small place that your dreams would come true?

Yes. We had unfailing belief in that.


The last time we all spoke was when you were in New York City in 2011 for Fashion Week. One wild night among us all, when can we, and I, expect you back here?

We’d love to go back. It’s just impossible not to feel coloured by the place. I miss it.

Full Metallica Glastonbury Set


Watch Metallica shut the critics up and bring the fire & thunder to an epic Saturday night headlining performance at Glastonbury! Take a look at their full set above!

St. Vincent at Glastonbury


Watch St. Vincent play "Digital Witness" Sunday at Glasto!

James Blake at Glastonbury


Watch James Blake perform "Retrograde" Sunday night at Glasto!

The Horrors at Glastonbury


 Watch The Horrors play their new single, "Now You Know" from their Sunday set at Glasto!

Jake Bugg at Glastonbury


Watch Jake Bugg play "What Doesn't Kill You" at Glasto!

Pixies at Glastonbury


Watch Pixies play "Where is my Mind?" from their Saturday set at Glastonbury!

Manic Street Preachers at Glastonbury


Watch a clip of Manic Street Preachers play during Saturday's day sessions at Glastonbury!

Mogwai at Glastonbury


Watch Mogwai perform "Remurdered" Saturday at Glasto!

Lana Del Rey at Glastonbury


Watch Lana Del Rey perform "Ultraviolence" at Glasto!

The Internet at Glastonbury


 Watch Odd Future spin-off The Internet perform Saturday at Glasto!

The 1975 at Glastonbury


Watch The 1975 perform "Robbers" from their performance at Glastonbury over the weekend!

Friday, June 27, 2014

RIP Bobby Womack


Very sad news to report, iconic soul and R&B singer Bobby Womack has passed away. He was 70 years ago. A representative for his label, XL delivered the sad news to Rolling Stone. No cause of death has been announced, but it was know that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's last year. Womack just performed at Bonarroo a few weeks ago.

Over the years he has had a slew of health problems aside from the Alzheimer's, he had battled cancer in 2011, suffered from diabetes, and had a pneumonia in recent years. In 2012, Damon Albarn and XL president Richard Russell produced his last album, The Bravest Man in the Universe. It has been reported that Womack was currently working on the follow-up to that album.

In 2010, we had the honor of seeing Mr. Womack perform with Gorillaz at Madison Square Garden for their collaboration together, "Cloud of Unknowning." While he sat in a chair singing his lyrics, nothing could compare to his voice.  A voice that entertained, inspired, and enlightened so many.

Womack, best known for his hits like "Across 110th Street," "Where Do I Go From Here," "I Can Understand It," and more, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. He will surely be missed.

Blondie at Glastonbury


Watch Blondie perform "Atomic" during their Friday evening set at Glasto!

Del La Soul at Glastonbury


Watch De La Soul during their Friday afternoon performance at Glastonbury!

CHVRCHES at Glastonbury


Watch CHVRCHES perform during their Friday Glasto set!

Interpol at Glastonbury


Watch Interpol perform "Anywhere" from their Friday evening set at Glastonbury!

Four Tet at Glastonbury


Watch part of Four Tet's Friday Glastonbury set!

Lykke Li at Glastonbury


 Watch Lykke Li perform "No Rest for the Wicked" during her Friday night set at Glasto!

Arcade Fire at Glastonbury


Watch Arcade Fire perform "We Exhist" from their Friday headlining set at Glastonbury!

Spoon on Kimmel



Watch Spoon perform "Rent I Pay" and "Rainy Taxi" on Kimmel!

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Jamie xx Boiler Room Set


Jamie xx recently did a Boiler Room set on top of his label, Young Turks' London HQ. Now, the full set has been posted. Take a look!

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Robert Plant Announces New Album


This September, Robert Plant will offer his latest solo effort, Lullaby and...The Ceaseless Roar. Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, as well as listen to the first single, "Rainbow."

1. ‘Little Maggie’
2. ‘Rainbow’
3. ‘Pocketful of Golden’
4. ‘Embrace Another Fall’
5. ‘Turn It Up’
6. ‘A Stolen Kiss'
7. ‘Somebody There’
8. ‘Poor Howard’
9. ‘House of Love’
10. ‘Up on the Hollow Hill (Understanding Arthur)’
11. ‘Arbaden (Maggie’s Babby)


Quick News

Former Swell Season lady and Oscar winner Marketa Irglova is working on her second solo album, Muna, it should be out later this year.

At the end of this summer, Jimmy Eat World will reissue Static Prevails, Clarity, and Futures on 180-gram colored vinyl.

On July 29, Diplo will release his new mixtape called Random White Dude Be Everywhere. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
01 Diplo: Revolution [ft. Faustix & Imanos and Kai]
02 Diplo & Alvaro: 6th Gear [ft. Kstylis]
03 Yellow Claw, Diplo & LNY TNZ: Techno [ft. Waka Flocka Flame)
04 Steve Aoki, Diplo & Deorro: Freak [ft. Steve Bays)
05 Diplo & GTA: Boy Oh Boy
06 Diplo: Biggie Bounce [ft. Angger Dimas & Travis Porter)
07 Diplo: Express Yourself [ft. Nicky Da B)
08 Diplo: Revolution (Danny Diggz Remix) [feat Faustix & Imanos and Kai]
09 Diplo & GTA: Boy Oh Boy (Thugli Remix)
10 Steve Aoki, Diplo & Deorro: Freak (Rickyxsan Remix) [ft. Steve Bays]
11 Diplo: Biggie Bounce (Tony Romera Remix) [ft. Angger Dimas & Travis Porter]
12 Diplo: Express Yourself (Party Favor Extended Remix) [ft. Nicky Da B]

Yeah Yeah Yeahs front woman and our 2013 Officially A Icon, Karen O. will release her solo debut, Crush Songs in September on Julian Casablancas' Cult records via Kobalt. Take a look at the cover below:

Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas will release his new solo album with his band, The Voids, called Tyranny. Like Ms. O's record, the album will be out on Cult via Kobalt. Take a look at the cover below:


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Live Pix: Dave Chappelle / Nas @ Radio City


On Monday night, Dave Chappelle & Nas blew the roof off of Radio City. Take a look at RICH D SMOOV's Live Pix of the historical night!






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Live Review: Dave Chappelle / Nas @ Radio City

It was an unprecedented return to the stage, the announcement of 10 performances at Radio City Music Hall by reclusive comedian Dave Chappelle. At the halfway mark, Chappelle welcomed Nas backed by a full orchestra for his 5th concert, after going four nights alone at the landmark New York venue. Other nights will include The Roots, Janelle Monae, Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, backing Chappelle. Many would ask, why now? Where has be been? Well, for starters in the 10th anniversary of his landmark Block Party concert in Brooklyn from the summer of 2004 and it has been at least 10 years since Chappelle has done anything of this magnitude. So, in theory, why not. As the shows rolled out their announcements, more were added due to demand, but each addition was a special edition of entertainment.

For Monday nights installment, it was the iconic funnyman and the iconic Queens rapper together on one stage. As soon as you entered Radio City, it was transformed into a utopia that could only come from the mind of Chappelle. In the lobby a jazz band performed, while on the main stage a DJ was spinning classic hip-hop, there was an opening comedian and enough anticipation you could cut with a knife. At 8:35, Chappelle was ready, the crowd was ready, and while it was his fifth night doing this, it seemed like it was his first. As a white scrim played his large shadow smoking a cigarette, he strutted on stage like James Bond to thunderous applause. He joked about how he has been away for a decade and says it felt like being locked up. "People come up to you and say, damn, you got thick!," he joked. He touched on everything from leaving his show behind, "It seemed like a good idea at the time," to what he has been doing, “A fucking phenomenal decade of just goofing around. Hell of a thing to quit a show like that," to Donald Sterling, "A rich, white dude said some racist shit. Color me surprised!" It was classic Chappelle. He joked about his family life, his excessive masturbating, his sex life, race issues, gay rights issues,  and he gave it that flair that only he could. For the one hour he was on stage, it was as if Chappelle never went away and if this is a comeback, it was a comeback for the ages.

After a brief break, Chappelle returned to the stage to introduce Nas, saying, "There is so much that can be said about this guy, but we all know it. It doesn't need to be said. Here is Nas!" Just a year-and-a-half after Nas sold-out Radio City at his New Year's celebration in 2012, he was back, this time with a 50-piece orchestra performing most of his classic debut, Illmatic in full. With the help of DJ Green Lantern and an additional drummer, Nas took his classic album, which is celebrating it's 20th anniversary this year, to a whole new world. He admitted that he only had rehearsed with the orchestra once, which was the day before the show. The songs were slightly down tempo, but it was a whole new experience to see those tracks and hip-hop's finest take on a classical form. In between songs as the orchestra tuned, Nas opened up about what it was like growing up in the harsh Queensbridge projects, it was insight into the mind of a genius that still has an effect on him, 20 years later. After performing just the first six tracks off Illmatic with the orchestra, Nas jumped into a safe greatest hits set that included, "Hate Me Now," "I Can," "Made You Look," "If I Ruled the World," with just Green Lantern and a drummer backing him. What was a solid set, would have been made greater with him finishing the album and keeping the strings around for "Hate Me Now," but for what it was worth, it was still a sight to be seen. Before closing into his epic, "One Mic," Nas thanked Chappelle for inviting him to be apart of his history, he thanked the orchestra and then the crowd. As he was coming to a close, Chappelle joined him for the final bows, marking the end to an extraordinary night.

Broken Bells on Letterman


Watch Broken Bells perform "Control" on Letterman.

Body Count on Conan


Watch Ice-T and Body Count perform on Conan.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Philip Selway New Album Details


Radiohead drummer Philip Selway has announced details of his second solo album. The latest offering, Weatherhouse, will be out in October. Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:

01 Coming Up for Air
02 Around Again
03 Let It Go
04 Miles Away
05 Ghosts
06 It Will End in Tears
07 Don’t Go Now
08 Drawn to the Light
09 Waiting for a Sign
10 Turning It Inside Out

Full Q-Tip BBC Radio 1 Documentary

Take a listen to the full BBC Radio 1 hour-long documentary on Q-Tip!

Quick News

Prince apparently has two albums he is sitting on that do not have a release date. According to The Star Tribune, one album is with his band 3rdEyeGirl, and the other is under his own name.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1 in a documentary about his career, Q-Tip announced that he will be reissuing Tribe Called Quest's flawless 1991 album, Low End Theory, with bonus cuts and a possible alternative cover, which features a nude Naomi Campbell with the Tribe logo. He said, "We’re going to come to 25 years on Low End Theory pretty soon, and I’m going to put out a special edition. I’m announcing it here first to the world. I will be putting out a special edition 25th year anniversary album. We’re going to include all of the stuff you guys probably never heard, different mixes. And one of those songs I’ll include when we get to the Low End Theory is this song that we did – I think it was called “Silence” and Leaders of the New School were on it.

Q-Tip also discussed his forthcoming solo album, The Last Zulu and said it is "The evil twin of Tribe," and was influenced by Miles Davis, Beach Boys, and Pink Floyd.

Speaking to Gigwise, Luke Pritchard of The Kooks opened up about the band's upcoming LP, Listen, which is due in September. The Kooks apparently have such a drastic new sound, according to Pritchard. He said, ""I think of this album as a debut album. We could have renamed the band, it felt that different. The first three albums were chapter one, this album is the first of chapter two. You know what? We don't to be an indie band, we never wanted to be an indie band. We want to reach a broader spectrum musically. I played a few songs to the label, and they were like 'fuck wow'. I thought it would be the opposite. I thought it was more avant garde - and that's where I wanted to go."

According to NME, My Bloody Valentine will return to the studio this fall to create an EP of new material.

Taking to Facebook, Carl Barat has shared a new picture of The Libertines with the caption, "Happy Togetaaaah." Take a look at the photo below:

Friday, June 20, 2014

Quick News

Influential SoCal punks Ten Foot Pole will release their first album in a decade next year. No title or release date has been given, but that is great news on new material!

HBO will air a four-episode mini-series of Beyonce's "Mrs. Carter World Tour." The show, Beyonce: X10,  air June 22, it captures the singer backstage and getting ready for her successful 2013 tour, as well as concert footage shot from around the globe.

LA's Nico Vega will release their long awaited new album, Lead to Light, next month.

Speaking to Billboard, D'Angelo's manager Kevin Liles said the singer will be back with a new album and tour this year, saying, "There'll be an album this year: there's 14 records so far, we might have a couple of bonus records, but all the recording is basically done and we're mixing and mastering now. Definitely, he'll be back. We'll probably start an international tour in October, we'll come back [to the U.S.]. We're doing a James Brown tribute in August [at the Hollywood Bowl] and some one-off things. But the touring will probably start in October and 2015."

The always cryptic Brand New have given as much of an update as to what is going on with them as a fan could hope and expect from the influential Long Island band. Posting on their website, they said, "A lot has gone on in the last few weeks. Some writing, some recording, some new gear, some studio building. We will update you more soon." If that means a new record, it is time for fans to get excited.


John Doe on Letterman



Watch iconic X frontman John Doe perform on Letterman!

Atmosphere on Conan


Watch Atmosphere perform "Kanye West" on Conan!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Live Review: Asgeir @ Mercury Lounge

Musicians that come out of Iceland are as connected to the glorious nature around them the way their feet are connected to the ground. It is something that is attached to them at all times. From Bjork to Sigur Ros, Of Monsters & Men, and now, Asgeir, nature plays a central theme in their music. The Icelandic singer / songwriter, Asgeir, has been a staple back home. As one of his countries biggest young talents, he is setting his sights now on America. Backed by a four-piece band, he brought his music to a sold-out Mercury Lounge for an early show on Thursday night.

Asgeir released the English language version of his debut, In the Silence, last year. Now, he has been in the States touring this past Spring to bring attention to what he is doing. Selling out one of New York's most iconic clubs is not a bad way to start. Asgeir split his set up between half-English and half-Icelandic lyrics. The music is a bit interesting, combining folk over dub tracks and tape loops as Moog synthesizers and a live drummer playing both a regular kit and an e-kit play on. The music is very atmospheric as well as nurturing to the audience on a blistering hot evening in New York. At points, the songs sounded like audio waves coming at you from the stage and you had to surf them with your ears to navigate the various sounds emulating from what the musicians were doing. While he was on stage for about an hour and didn't say much to the crowd, Asgeir displayed his raw talents and showed New York what the fuss about his is back home. Now, let's see if the same happens across the country.

Sam Smith on Letterman


Watch Sam Smith perform "Stay With Me" on Letterman.

The Both on Conan


Watch The Both perform "No Sir" on Conan!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Great Soundtrack: Krush Groove


Film's like Wild Style and Krush Groove that brought hip-hop out of the streets of New York and into the masses, their soundtracks are just as important, if not more important, than the film's themselves. In 1985, Krush Groove was released and was loosely based on the early days of Def Jam records being formed in The Big Apple. With real acts like Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Kurtis Blow, LL Cool J, Fat Boys, and Chaka Khan having small parts in the flick, they also lended their talents to the soundtrack.

While the film was a sleeper hit when it was released, the then-only vinyl pressed soundtrack topped the R&B charts at 14. When CD's were invented, only 1,000 copies were pressed, Now, 29 years later, this soundtrack helped propel hip-hop to an audience that would have been shunned for far to long from the genre. With other musical contributes from Debbie Harry, Gap Band, and Shela E., Krush Groove's soundtrack is one to treasure.

Recommended Reading: Hammer of the Gods


While this month see's the epic reissue of Led Zeppelin's first three albums, it puts one of the greatest bands of all time back in the center stage where they belong. The story of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham is the stuff of legend. In 1985, journalist Stephen Davis, who toured with the band in 1975, released the unauthorized biography of the band, Hammer of the Gods.

This book is one of the best documented stories of Zeppelin, from their formation, inside look into their touring and recording, and their end after the passing of Bonham in the early 80's. After all of these years, Hammer of the Gods is hailed as the definitive Zeppelin book and until we get Page's autobiography later this year, it will remain on top as the best book written by the musical force that was Led Zeppelin.

Dry The River Announce New Album


England's Dry the River will release their sophomore album, Alarms in the Heart in August. Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:

1.   Alarms in the Heart
2.   Hidden Hand
3.   Roman Candle
4.   Med School
5.   It Was Love That Laid Us Low
6.   Gethsemane
7.   Everlasting Light
8.   Rollerskate
9.   Vessel
10. Hope Diamond

Quick News

Bjork will be getting her own retrospective at MoMA next year, with an exhibit that runs from March 7 through June 7, 2015. In a press release, MoMA said, "The Museum of Modern Art announces that it will present a full-scale retrospective dedicated to the multifaceted work of the composer, musician, and artist Björk in 2015. Organized by Klaus Biesenbach, Chief Curator at Large at MoMA and Director of MoMA PS1, the exhibition Björk draws from more than 20 years of the artist's daring and adventurous projects and her seven full-length albums--from Debut (1993) to Biophilia (2011)--to chronicle her career through sound, film, visuals, instruments, objects, costumes, and performance. The installation will present a narrative, both biographical and imaginatively fictitious, cowritten by Björk and the acclaimed Icelandic writer Sjón Sigurdsson. Björk's collaborations with video directors, photographers, fashion designers, and artists will be featured, and the exhibition culminates with a newly commissioned, immersive music and film experience conceived and realized with director Andrew Huang and 3-D design leader Autodesk."

Speaking to NME, former La Roux musical companion, Ben Langmaid talked about his departure from the electronic duo, saying, "When we began writing again in 2011 the early ideas we had needed a lot of work. We were on the same page and both wanted to improve on the first album. We were united in that. 'Let Me Down Gently' is one of my favourite tracks. I don't remember having a problem with it. But I do remember asking our manager if we could start things with this song when we first played it to him two and a half years ago. We've had creative differences in the past (what band hasn't?) but we always got through them and usually the music benefits. I am truly saddened that it has ended this way, but I am immensely proud of what we achieved together. We wrote five great songs together, all of which are on the album. I'm looking forward to the record being a great success and I shall enjoy watching it unfold. I have immense pride in the part I played; no one can take that away from me."

For the first time ever, Queen will release their landmark 1974 concert at The Rainbow in London. Queen: Live at the Rainbow '74 will arrive in September. Take a look at the cover below:

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the N.W.A. biopic, Straight Outta Compton has been cast. Ice Cube's son, O'Shea Jackson Jr., will play his dad;  Marcus Callender will play Dr. Dre; and Eazy-E will be played by Jason Mitchell. The film is set to be released next year. Take a look at the cast photo that Dr. Dre posted:

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Quick Spins

 
MastodonOnce More Around The Sun
Metal monsters Mastodon bring back their militia to the masses. Once More Around The Sun is a fastidious follow-up to The Hunter, it features the commercial rock appeal of that record, coupled with the brutality of Leviathan and the mystery of Crack the Skye. Once More Around The Sun may not be Mastodon at their best, but it is one of this year’s best thanks to it’s pulse pounding riffs and no-nonsense rock and roll.
FINAL GRADE: A

Parquet Courts Sunbathing Animal
The New York City punk indie darlings return with Sunbathing Animal and it is Parquet Courts at their usual best. The talk-singing from frontman Austin Savage and the jangling hooks from the rest of the band are what fans have come to love from this band and this record is no different.
FINAL GRADE: A-

Hercules & Love Affair The Feast of a Broken Heart
The NYC electro-pop masters return with their third album and still bring as much thunder, joy, and excitement to any dancefloor, however, this time they make it much more sentimental.
FINAL GRADE: B+

The Front Bottoms Rose EP
After releasing two fantastic albums and a handful of EP’s, The Front Bottoms return with another extended play that seems to be a window into their next album. The lyrics are smarter, the music is tighter, and the fun is still there. If this is in fact a preview to what future material will sound like, it has been such a joy watching them evolve as a band.
FINAL GRADE: B+

ThundereggC’mon Thunder!
One of music’s most underrated songwriters returns with his 21st album and makes us still scratch our head as to why the Egg has not hatched to the masses.
FINAL GRADE: B

Lana Del ReyUltraviolence
New York City hipster songstress Lana Del Rey returns with her Dan Auerbach-produced sophomore album and while she continues with her melodrama, she also realizes the exactly who she is as an artist, person, and pop culture figure.
FINAL GRADE: B-

Sierra Leone Refugee All-StarsLibation
The African rockers return with their fourth album and still manage to bring the world together in the power of their songs and shrink the globe’s flavors into an albums worth of material.
FINAL GRADE: B-


Echo & The BunnymenMeteorites
The cold-wave and new-wave gods return with their 12th album and while they won’t gain any new fans with their latest offering, they sure will not lose any of the old ones by now. Meteorites a solid record with no surprises.
FINAL GRADE: B-

RiFF RaFF Neon Icon
The long awaited debut from the child born from a Versace egg has been hatched onto our universe. The whole aura and mystery surrounding RiFF RaFF has superseded his musical ability but that is just fine, the whole package is a reminder that we sometimes need to not take ourselves too seriously.
FINAL GRADE: B-

MadballHardcore Lives
The NYHC legends return with their first album in ages and it does not disappoint. It is classic, hard hitting Madball that stays true to form.
FINAL GRADE: B-


Hamilton Leithauser Black Hours
The Walkmen may be on hiatus, but that doesn’t mean that frontman Hamilton Leithauser is going to stop making the music his band became known for. Leithauser may have made the best Walkmen record that never existed. Featuring swelling orchestral maneuvers, touching and relatable lyrics, plus his uncanny voice, Black Hours could hold fans over until the band possibly gets back together again.
FINAL GRADE: B-

CrowbarSymmetry in Black
The New Orleans sludge gods fire back with a record that doesn’t hear them stray away from their typical dark, murky metal form.
FINAL GRADE: B-

KlaxonsLove Frequency
It has been four years since we have gotten new music from Klaxons and in that time things have changed – “Nu Rave,” the genre they were placed in has nearly disappeared, keyboardist James Righton married Keira Knightley, and yet, fans are still excited to hear what they have to offer. Love Frequency is their latest serving and while it is a fun and eccentric listen, it lacks much of the interesting musical nature their previous efforts had and all of the songs seem to blend in together as if you are hearing the same track with different vocals. We expected more from a band as interesting as them.
FINAL GRADE: C+

SwansTo Be Kind
The experimental New York icons return with their 13th album, and it is a massive undertaking. To Be Kind is all over the place. Featuring drone, post-punk, thrash, and experimental sounds over the course of a double-album, after a while, the music blends in together and you forget what is what. Had this record been narrowed down to a single disc, it could have packed a bigger punch.
FINAL GRADE: C-

Body CountManslaughter
After eight years apart, Ice-T thought it would be a good idea to resurrect his thrash-metal band that was popular in the early 90’s. After hearing Manslaughter, we feel we need to be put in a body bag.
FINAL GRADE: F

Monday, June 16, 2014

Gaslight Anthem New Album Details


As we mentioned earlier today, The Gaslight Anthem will release their new album, Get Hurt in August. Now, the band has also released the cover & tracklisting to the upcoming LP. Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:

1 Stay Vicious
2 1,000 Years
3 Get Hurt
4 Stray Paper
5 Helter Skeleton
6 Underneath The Ground
7 Rollin' And Tumblin'
8 Red Violins
9 Selected Poems
10 Ain't That A Shame
11 Break Your Heart
12 Dark Places

Quick News

Inspirational Carpets have confirmed they will release their first new album in 20 years this September. The band are currently working with poet John Cooper Clarke on lyrics.

Speaking to Gigwise, The National's Matt Berninger said the band will being work on a new album this October. Berninger said, "We always work on little things and email back and forth. We have no idea whether it's going to work or not, but that's as far as we've got with the new record: trying to work out a plan and a different approach. That might fail miserably, but then we'll try it a different way.Everybody's been talking about it and people have different ideas about what kind of record they want to make. But every time we all talk about that, it never helps anyone figure it out. It's never a very good creative catalyst to say 'I'm going to make this kind of record'. It's never been that helpful for me at least, let's just wait to see where things go organically and naturally. It's not going to be a hip-hop record, I'm pretty sure. I wish we could but I'm terrible at that, I've tried."

This fall, The Beatles will release a 14-LP box set of their recordings in mono. The packaging will also include a 108-page hardcover book with new essays and insights into the records. 

Speaking to Billboard over the weekend at Bonnaroo, James Blake confirmed his is half-way done with his new album and is looking to release it early next year. Blake confirmed he is working with Kanye West and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon on the new record. He also said, "I've had a completely different life since the first album. I’ve had a lot more freedom since the first album, too. The [album] I'm writing now, I've had more focus doing this than I have before. I’m having more fun.It’s hard to say what will end up on the record, but it’s exciting."

Could a new Libertines album be on the way? It might just happen. Speaking to The Daily Record, Pete Doherty said, "A new record is exactly what we're talking about, that's the dream, really. Finish off all those ideas that we never completed back in the day, all those songs we never played for anyone else that have been floating around in the ether. We're also wanting to try out a few new ideas so it wouldn't just be old stuff. I don't want to tempt fate but we both have the desire, so I think it will happen. It's important to be honest and there's still a lot we have to say. We're still relevant."

Billy Idol will release his autobiography, Dancing with Myself, this October.

Gaslight Anthem New Album Teaser!


The Gaslight Anthem will release their new album, Get Hurt, in August. Take a look at the teaser video above

Sunday, June 15, 2014

RIP Casey Kasem


Sad news to report, the voice of American radio has been silenced. Casey Kasem passed away after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease and dementia. He was 82. 

The Detroit born, Kemal Amen Kasem, who went by the name Casey, would start the Sunday morning radio-cast "American Top 40," which still goes today, hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Kasem was also the voice of Shaggy on the Scooby-Doo series.

For many, including myself, Kasem's voice and passion for music was a way to see and hear not just the sounds the artists he played put out, but to hear that there is more. He made America understand that the soundtrack to their generations is just as important as a painting hanging in a museum. He will be missed.

As he always said when he signed off each broadcast, "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars." It is now among the stars Kasem will be. May he rest in peace.

Quick News

Weezer have confirmed that Cars frontman Rick Ocasek will be producing their new album. Ocasek famously produced the band's debut, Blue, and 2001 comeback LP, Green.

Thirty-eight years after it's debut, The Ramones debut has finally been certified gold. A much overdue congrats to a record that changed music and countless lives (including mine).

Speaking to BBC's Zane Lowe, Rick Rubin has confirmed that he and Kanye West are working together again on the follow-up to last year's Yeezus. No word as to when the record will be done.

NBC is developing an eight-episode series based on The Beatles. The series will be written by Tudors creator Michael Hirst. No word on when the series will air.

Actor Tom Hiddleston has been tapped to play Hank Williams in an upcoming biopic on the iconic singer. The film, I Saw The Light, will arrive next year.

Writing an editorial piece for The Guardian, Radiohead's Johnny Greenwood confirmed that the British band took "a year off," to do side-projects. Greenwood has been scoring film's since 2007, but has now dabbled further into classical music. The insightful article talks about his love of classical and making classical in the digital age, take a look HERE.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Janelle Monae on Letterman


Watch Janelle Monae perform her cover of David Bowie's "Heroes" on Letterman!

Jack White on Conan



Watch Jack White perform "Temporary Ground" and "Alone in my Home" on Conan!

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Live Review: The Last Internationale @ Mercury Lounge

Brad Wilk's name is synonymous with power. From drumming in Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and on Black Sabbath's latest record, that man can do anything he wants. So, what would make him want to tour the country in a small van, play tiny clubs for little-to-no money and live like an up-and-coming rock star? The answer is Delila Paz and Edgey Pires. The duo who make up The Last Internationale. The band, which formed last year and features Long Islanders Paz and Pires on vocals / bass and guitar, respectively, take a social and political stance with their music that goes to 11. Wilk, who initially joined the band as a studio drummer is now on the road with them and is a full time member and will release their Brendan O'Brien-produced debut this August. To prep for the occasion and get ready for the summer ahead, The Last Internationale performed to a sold-out crowd at New York's Mercury Lounge.


Hitting the stage for an early show at 8 p.m., the trio walked on to thunderous applause before even hitting the opening notes to "Killing Fields." Straight away it was evident that this was not just some band with a celebrity drummer, this is a full on working machine that functions on three equal measures and can blast the people out of any room. Paz's voice is a cross between Grace Slick and Patti Smith and her thick bass grooves echo that of Jefferson Airplane with a proto-punk feel. Pires' guitar work is outstanding, it was as if he was born to be a rock star and no need to explain Wilk, these three bring new meaning to the term "power trio." Paz, who is as beautiful as she is powerful, has the spirit of Joe Strummer in her lyrics and the stage presence of Debbie Harry. She captures the crowd with her raw energy and charm while never missing a beat. For the nine songs they played, it was enough rock and roll to make any ever question if the genre was dead, and clearly those who did think it was need to be reeducated. With songs like "Fire," "We Will Reign," and "1968," it only makes us wait impatiently for this debut, because if they sound as good on record as they do live, The Last Internationale may have made the debut album of the year.

Live Pix: Governors Ball Day 1 Highlights


Over the weekend, the 2014 installment to the annual Governors Ball took place in New York's Randall's Island. Our very own RICH D SMOOV was on hand to capture Friday's highlights before he went to see OutKast return to NYC! Take a look! 

Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley


Phoenix

La Roux

TV on the Radio


OutKast


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