Muse on 'Colbert'

On Friday, Muse hit up The Late Show and performed "Dig Down" for Stephen Colbert's guests. Take a look!

Quick News

via GIPHY


Steve Jones says the Sex Pistols could reunite just for "money." In an interview with Rolling Stone, Jones also said he and Johnny Rotten do not speak despite both living in LA. He said: "He lives in L.A., I live in L.A., but we just don’t talk. I think the last time I spoke to him was 2008 when we did a tour of Europe. I have no desire to speak to him and he has no desire to speak to me. That’s totally fine. I wish him all the best. I’ve got no resentment toward him. It’s just our marriage went wrong and we got divorced. You don’t want to speak to your ex-wife, do you?”

Muse have confirmed they are currently working in the studio on their new album. No release date has been released nor other details. Info emerged after singer Matt Bellamy posted video of his son drumming with Dominic Howard on social media.

Responding to a fan's question on Twitter, James Murphy says he is still "working on" the new LCD Soundsystem album and "it'll be done soon."

SZA will release her new album, CTRL, later this year.

Producer Brian Kennedy took to social media to leak the news that Lady Gaga is already back in the studio working on the follow-up to her album, Joanne. No word as to what is happening or when anything will be released.

Spoon's new album, Hot Thoughts, arrives in March. The band released the tracklisting, below:
01 Hot Thoughts
02 WhisperI’lllistentohearit
03 Do I Have to Talk You Into It
04 First Caress
05 Pink Up
06 Can I Sit Next to You
07 I Ain’t the One
08 Tear It Down
09 Shotgun
10 Us

Muse FULL Glastonbury Set

Watch Muse's full Friday night Glasto set!

QUICK SPINS

 

Czarface – Every Hero Needs a Villain

The sequel to the surprisingly fantastic 2013 debut from 7L, Esoteric and Inspectah Deck, ups the ante for the follow-up. As the fictional hip-hop hero Czarface was introduced to audiences on the last record like an audio comic book, this go around Czarface meets his villain and the people he needs to fight off to survive. While this concept record is not only a hell of a lot of fun to listen to, it also shines thanks to it’s guests MF DOOM, GZA, Method Man, RA The Rugged Man, JuJu of the Beatnuts and many others. Every Hero Needs a Villain is like the hip-hop version of The Avengers and just as much fun to hear as that flick was to see.

FINAL GRADE: A

Florence and the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

Three albums in, Florence is proving that she is more than just a musical machine, but a modern musical goddess. The Welsh singer with a voice that can make angels cry returned with her most personal album to date. Focusing on personal heartbreak and overcoming obstacles, Florence takes her arraignments and sound to a new level.

FINAL GRADE: A

Jamie xx – In Colour

The perfect record for the summer has arrived. The xx DJ has been making solo records with the likes of Gil Scot-Heron and EP’s under his name, but now with his full on debut, he brings his xx members and shines like the sun. In Colour combines his ambient sounds he is known for but combines calypso, soka, hip-hop, jazz, and raga, all over eletronic beats. This is a record for the beach, sunsets, and lounging.

FINAL GRADE: A

A$AP Rocky – At. Long. Last. A$AP.

Following his triumphant debut, A$AP Rocky’s sophomore release outshines it’s predecessor. His latest hears him battle heartbreak over the loss of his friend and A$AP Crew member A$AP Yams and his experimentation with LSD, where he even took inspiration from an unlikely source for hip-hop – The Beatles. This is a drug infused journey into the mind of a broken man who is looking to rebuild and bringing special guests like Kanye West, Rod Stewart, Mos Def, UGK, Future, and others, it is Rocky himself who shines.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Desaparecidos – Payola

After 13 years, Conor Oberst’s punk band returns to wax after years of reunion gigs and brings out a side in Oberst that many thought was long gone. Desaparecidos is Oberst at his political best in years but also hears him having the most fun he has had in just as long of a time. Payola is a welcome return and glad there is a band out there saying something without too much production or care in the world.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Thundercat – The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam

Following up his masterpiece – Apocalypse, Thundercat returns with a surprise mini-album that stuns and only makes you wish this was stretched out to a full release.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Four Tet – Morning / Evening

Sometimes you just need two songs to sum up your day and Four Tet has mastered that. From the rising sun and reading the news with your cup of coffee, to that sun setting while you are eating dinner, this two-song album captures those moments in sound just perfect.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Rolo Tomassi – Grievances

The British hardcore band return with another balls-to-the-fucking-wall bonkers record that combines mathcore, melodic hardcore and enough punch that makes you feel like you just got out of a boxing ring with Mike Tyson during his ear biting years.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Slaves – Are You Satisfied?

The Britrock inspired duo released their very British and very cocky debut after being one of 2014’s biggest buzz bands. Are You Satisfied? Combines the crass of Sex Pistols and the swagger of Exile-era Stones.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Brandon Flowers – The Desired Effect

The 1980’s called and it wants it’s sound back! The Killers frontman goes back in time for his sophomore solo record and brings a flavor all his own. While musically it is not that mind blowing, he does manage to showcase that if this record came out 30 years ago, he would be one of the biggest stars of that decade, probably bigger than he is now.

FINAL GRADE: B

Leftfield – Alternative Light Source

16 years since their last album, the British nightlife duo are back with their third record and it brings back the trip hop flavor they helped usher in with a new school twist.

FINAL GRADE: B

Sharon Van Etten – I Don’t Want to Let You Down E.P.

Following last year’s Are We There, singer / songwriter Sharon Van Etten returns with an E.P. that showcases some of her best work. I Don’t Want to Let You Down is a window into her soul.

FINAL GRADE: B

Palma Violets – Danger in the Club

One of the most talked about British bands returns with their sophomore album and lose a bit of their punk edge but bring with them a dance-rockabilly vibe on their latest. If their debut was more Nevermind the Bollocks, this record is more Combat Rock.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Darkness – Last of our Kind

Say what you will about The Darkness, but this band knows how to have fun. On their fourth release they stick to the cock-rock glam-meets-hair metal that has been their ticket to audiences for the last decade.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Of Monsters and Men – Beneath the Skin

The sophomore release from Iceland’s indie-pop stars is much more retrospective and ambient than their previous release. Beneath the Skin is a look at humans treating the planet and viewing it, in some cases, from the animals point of view, which was done by fellow Icelander Bjork on “Human Nature.”

FINAL GRADE: B-

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – The High Country

The latest release from the Missouri indie rock darlings is nothing new in sound but just a new release to relish in.

FINAL GRADE: B-

The Vaccines – English Graffiti

In 2011, when The Vaccines arrived they showed so much promise. A new, exciting, young English garage rock band that writes great songs and takes the Britpop ideas of the ‘90’s and mixes it with garage punk. What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? is still one of the best debut’s of the decade. A year later they released their sophomore record, The Vaccines Come of Age, and while it sounded much like their debut, it had a couple songs that were gems like “Teenage Icon,” “No Hope,” and “I Always Knew.” Now as the band has reached international acclaim and are friends with models and Mumford and Sons, like Mumford for their third record they wanted a change in musical direction. English Graffiti unfortunately is boring, dull, and hears a band trying too hard to be something they are not. It really should be called “What Did You Do With The Vaccines?”

FINAL GRADE: C-

Riff Raff – Purple Panther

In many ways you want to look at Riff Raff as the hip-hop version of The Darkness, but you can’t and you simply can’t put your finger on what exactly you are listening to on Purple Panther.

FINAL GRADE: C

Muse – Drones

Since Muse have become a festival and stadium loving band, they have dropped in style. Their latest record, Drones, is surprisingly more disappointing than their last record, The Second Law, which was a disaster. Maybe instead of trying to make the world believe in conspiracy theories, they should conspire to go back to basics.

FINAL GRADE: D

Quick News

Next month, LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy will open a wine bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with his wife called The Four Horsemen.

Kendrick Lamar was honored by the California State Senate on Tuesday as he was named the 35th Districts Generational Icon. Watch his honor celebrations below:


Speaking to iHeartRadio, Matt Bellamy has claimed that Muse's upcoming album, Drones, is their best yet. He said, "I can say this: this album is our best album," he added. "I haven't been able to say that for a while, but this album is our best album – so feel free to start on this one, just don't worry about the others."

A$AP Rocky has shared the various covers to his upcoming A.L.L.A. album which arrives next month. Take a look:

Muse Detail New Album

On June 12, Muse will return with their new album Drones. In a press release, front man Matt Bellamy said, "To me, 'Drones' are metaphorical psychopaths which enable psychopathic behavior with no recourse. The world is run by Drones utilizing Drones to turn us all into Drones. Drones explores the journey of a human, from their abandonment and loss of hope, to their indoctrination by the system to be a human drone, to their eventual defection from their oppressors."

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:

1.         Dead Inside

2.         [Drill Sergeant]

3.         Psycho

4.         Mercy

5.         Reapers

6.         The Handler

7.         [JFK]

8.         Defector

9.         Revolt

10.      Aftermath

11.      The Globalist

12.      Drones

Quick News

Taking to Twitter, Matthew Healey of The 1975 has given fans an update about their new album. He wrote, "our first album was about the pursuit and acquisition of love. our second album is about the preservation and cultivation of love." No word on a release date, but he did tweet last week about something happening in June. We will keep you updated.

El-P took to Instagram to announce that Run The Jewels have started working on Meow The Jewels, the fan funded spin-off record from Run The Jewels 2.

Muse announced that their new album will be called Drones. No official release date has been given, but speculation is that it will arrive this summer.

At the Sundance Film Festival this weekend, Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon and Ghostface Killah announced the documentary, The Purple Tape Files, which celebrates the 20th anniversary Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. The documentary will arrive next month. Raekwon spoke to Complex about the project and said, "Most importantly is about the people being able to get all the answers that they wanted when they heard this album. Cause we was young boys, we was in our prime so getting that shot to really impress the world with your music, we didn’t never think it will be embraced so hardly like this. And 20 years later is time for you to see this film to go into the file cabinets on how this was made.”

Albums Coming in 2015

A new year means new albums and we take a look at the first quarter of releases of 2015 and give a rundown of albums to keep an eye out for this year. 

 

January:

Belle & Sebastian – Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance

Sleater Kinney – No Cities to Love

Joey Bada$$ - B4.DA.$$

Derek Grant – Breakdown

Until The Ribbon Breaks – A Lesson Unlearnt

Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo & Youth

The Decemberists – What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Marilyn Manson – The Pale Emperor

Mark Ronson – Uptown Special

Jamie Cullum – Interlude

February

Chromatics – Dear Tommy

Ghostface Killah & BadBadNotGood – Sour Soul 

Gang of Four – What Happens Next?

Screaming Females – Rose Mountain

Big Noble – First Light

The Church – Further / Deeper

Dan Deacon – Gliss Riffer

The Wombats – Glitterbug

Kate Pierson – Guitars and Microphones

Bob Dylan – Shadows in the Night 

March

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Chasing Yesterday

Cold War Kids – Hold My Home

Testament

Ringo Starr

Carl Barat & The Jackels

Modest Mouse – Strangers to Ourselves

Hot Rod Circuit – Sorry About Tomorrow

Of Montreal – Aureat Gloom

James Bay – Chaos and the Calm 

Madonna – Rebel Heart

April

Faith No More

Twin Shadow – Eclipse

Axell /\ Ingrosso

Marina & the Diamonds – Froot

Other Artists Supposedly Releasing Albums in 2015:

Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams

U2 – Songs of Experience 

Giorgio Mororder – 74 is the New 24

Adele - 24

Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon III

Action Bronson – Mr. Wonderful

Clipse – As God As My Witness

Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele 2: Blue & Cream

Ghostface Killah & MF DOOM – DOOMStarks

Raekwon – FILA

Q-Tip – The Last Zulu

Living Colour – Shade

Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 3

Muse

The Cribs

Airborne Toxic Event

Jake Bugg

The Jesus & Mary Chain

Guns N Roses

King Diamond

Culture Club

Death Cab For Cutie

The Cure

Brandon Flowers

Lorde

The Black Keys

Daughter

Black Sabbath

Nas

David Gilmour

The Vaccines

Against Me!

Foals

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

Mumford & Sons

Rainer Maria

Incubus

Prodigy

The xx

Jamie xx

Tool

Slayer

Deftones

Dr. Dre

Bjork

Bad Religion

Emelie Sande

Fleetwood Mac

King Diamond

Metallica

No Doubt

Motorhead

The Libertines

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Soundgarden

Maxwell

Garbage

Social Distortion

Sparta

Strung Out

Unlocking the Truth

James Blake

Refused

Frank Turner

Radiohead

Robyn

Joanna Newsom

Justice

Great Soundtrack: Millions

A Christmas film that features the music of Muse, Joe Strummer, The Clash, Elbosco, and Feeder? Well, Millions is not a typical Christmas film directed by Danny Boyle, as we know is not a typical filmmaker, and features not-so-typical songs you would associate with the holiday season, but only Boyle could make this work. The 2004 film was a sleeper with audiences, but has gained momentum on DVD and has been praised in the 10 years it has been released, yet, the music of the film and the not-so-Christmas tunes used is one of it's real stars.

Millions tells the tale of two tween brothers who stumble upon millions of British pounds and try and figure out what to do with it. One brother wants to spend it all, while the other wants to give it away. Yet, set in the backdrop of the festive season, the "What would you do with the money?"scenario plays with the audiences head. While that rings through the spirit of the crowd, the music rings through the audience's ears that one would never expect to associate with a film like this.

Quick News

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced it's class of 2015 - leading the pack are Green Day, Lou Reed, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and Ringo Starr, among others. The class will be inducted in April.

Frank Turner has confirmed that he has finished recording his new album in Nashville. All that remains now is that the singer will mix the album and will hope to have it out in the first quarter of 2015.

Muse also confirmed they have finished recording their new album. The band posted a video working with an symphony in Milan, which is where they recorded The Resistance. No word on a release date yet. 

Siouxsie & the Banshees will release an 18-song best-of compilation in January called Spellbound. This compilation is allegedly the first of others to come following a renewed partnership with Universal.

Geoff Rickley of Thursday ranked his former band's albums with Noisey. Take a look at his rankings:
6. Waiting
5. Common Existence
4. War All The Time
3. A City by the Light Divided
2. No Devolucion
1. Full Collapse

The 1975 have been named the hardest working band of 2014 after they visited 29 countries this year and played 195 shows.

According to a new report in The New York Times, D'Angelo rushed the release of his surprise album, Black Messiah. The newspaper interviewed people from his label, friends, and musicians and following the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, and the police officer who killed Eric Garner not being indicted, D'Angelo felt that his music needed to be heard now more than ever. He reportedly told his tour manager Alan Leeds, “The one way I do speak out is through music. I want to speak out.” The label pulled all-nighters to finalize the tracklisting, artwork, and details.

The Wombats have announced that their third album will be called Glitterbug, it will arrive in the first quarter of 2015. Take a look at the cover below:

Modest Mouse have showed off the cover to their upcoming album, Strangers to Ourselves. Take a look below:

Ghostface Killah is clearly on a roll making music. After releasing the new Wu-Tang Clan album and his latest solo record, 36 Seasons, next year he will release his long awaited DOOMStarks record with MF DOOM, his collaboration with BADBADNOTGOOD, and Supreme Clientele 2. Now, to add to that list will be the second Wu Block record featuring Sheek Louch. That album, Hidden Gems, is out next month, take a look at the cover below:

Quick News

Sad News to report, former Cream guitarist Jack Bruce has passed away at 71. 

The Decemberists Colin Meloy was in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Friday, performing on a street corner to announce his band's new album, What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World. No release date was given.

The Klaxons will be breaking up after their current UK tour. The band announced that their upcoming tour will be their last.

Cold War Kids have confirmed that they will release their new album, Hold My Home, in March.

Muse have confirmed that they are in the studio working with AC / DC producer Robert "Mutt" Lange. Their new album is reported to arrive next year.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard spoke about their new album and the departure of Chris Walla. Gibbard said, "Oh, there is undoubtedly a line in the sand here. The position we're in – it's a blessing and a curse – is that people feel very strongly about the period of this band in which they got into us. We're fighting against people who say 'Why can't you make a record like the one I heard when I was 20 years old?' And the answer is we can't. We can just move forward, and create a new period."

While the entire iTunes using world got the new U2 album, Songs of Innocence, whether they liked it or not, the band may have made a full record with Danger Mouse that they just scrapped. While Mouse appears as one of the majority producers on Innocence, they apparently had a full record with him. Edge told Rolling Stone, "We realized, ’OK, we’ve actually not delivered what you might call the hallmarks of our work — the big music.” The band then contacted Ryan Tedder of One Republic, who said, "I have the utmost respect for Danger Mouse. Bono was very straightforward. He was like, ’This is how we work. You’re going to do whatever you do and get it as good as you can and then more than likely your stuff is going to get messed with by somebody else.’ So I hesitated for like five seconds and then Edge was like, ’Man, tear it apart. Do what you want.’” No word on if these songs will or have seen the light of day.

Quick News

Taking to social media, Muse have confirmed that are in the studio working on their seventh record. The album should be arriving next year.

We reported earlier in the week that Wu-Tang Clan's long awaited new album, A Better Tomorrow, was going to be released on Black Friday / Record Store Day according to a recent interview with RZA. While that is still happening, it will also get a wide release on December 3, now that the iconic hip-hop group has inked a deal with Warner Brothers.

Deadmau5 will release a greatest hits album called 5 years of Mau5 on November 4.

Anti-Flag are currently in the studio working on their 10th studio album. The band hope to release their latest record next year.

Frank Turner will will release a new compilation of covers, live tracks, B-sides, and demos called The Third Three Years next month. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
1 Somebody To Love (Queen cover – RSD ’12 7”)
2 Hits & Mrs (Losing Days EP)
3 Sweet Albion Blues (Polaroid Picture EP)
4 Riot Song (Fuck the Fire EP)
5 Something of Freedom (demo)
6 Fields of June (w/ Emily Barker/Red Clay Halo)
7 Happy New Year (w/ Jon Snodgrass)
8 American Girl (Tom Petty cover – home demo)
9 There Are Bad Times Just Around the Corner (Noel Coward cover – Franz Nicolay split EP)
10 Pancho & Lefty (Townes Van Zandt cover – Spotify Session EP w/ Jim Eno)
11 Big Foot (The Weakerthans cover – home demo)
12 Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney/Wings cover – iTunes session)
13 The Corner (Cory Branan cover)
14 Keira (Tony Sly cover – ‘The Song of Tony Sly’ tribute album)
15 Plain Sailing Weather (w/Matt Nasir – The Cutting Room sessions)
16 Tell Tale Signs (w/Matt Nasir – iTunes sessions)
17 The Way I Tend To Be (w/Matt Nasir – iTunes sessions)
18 The Ballad of Me and My Friends (live from Twin Cities, Minnesota)
19 Broken Piano (home demo)
20 Born To Run (Bruce Springsteen cover – The Cutting Room sessions)
21 Dan’s Song (full band – live)

Quick News

TV on the Radio have announced that their new album, Seeds, will arrive this fall. The album will arrive via Harvest Records and was produced by band member David Sitek. Singer Tunde Adebimpe said in a press release, "We've been through a lot of stuff in the past few years that could have stopped the band cold, but I'm glad we got it together and took stock of the unique connection we have between each other because the record is, 1000%, without a doubt, the best thing we've ever done."

Following the announcement that Blur's 1995 Live at Budokan album will arrive digitally next month, Damon Albarn spoke to NME about what is going on with the new Blur record and if it will see the light of day. He said, "There are about 15 songs we recorded in Hong Kong. The annoying thing is, if I'd been able to write the lyrics there and then about being there, we'd have finished the record. But sometimes, if you can't do it all at once, it dissipates really and I don't know what I'd sing about now with that record. There's some great tunes on there, but it may just be one of those records that never comes out. I'd do some more work on it. I like making records in short periods of time if I can. It was a different process with 'Everyday Robots' because that was really thought out, but sometimes it's great to get some amazing energy and do something in 10 days. There was too much commuting between where we were staying and where we were recording and it was a bit too hot. I think that's why we didn't get it finished."

Taking to Twitter, Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy gave an update on the band's new album. He told fans that they are going to have to wait for next summer to hear new music, which is when the album is expected to arrive. He also said, "Its gonna get heavy." 

El-P gave an update on Twitter that the latest Run the Jewels album is "One day away from being fully mixed." We hope to hear the album release announcement soon.

Led Zeppelin will be reissuing IV and Houses of the Holy this fall with bonus content and alternate packaging like they did with their first three albums earlier this year. 

Quick News

The Gaslight Anthem took to Facebook over the weekend to announce they have finished recording their new album. No word yet on when it will be released.

Speaking to KROQ over the weekend, Muse drummer Dom Howard confirmed that the band are going to start working on their new album in May. He said, "We're going to start this year... (Coachella) is our last two gigs, then we're completely done for touring this album. We're going to go back in May and start working on some new stuff, so I think we'll start making it this year... If we can get something out this year, that would be great, but definitely next year."

NYHC legends Madball will release their new album, Hardcore Lives, in June. Take a look at the cover below:

Quick News

Metallica have confirmed they will nix 2014's Orion Fest for next summer. The festival, which debuted in 2012 in Atlantic City and then last year moved to Detroit, will be cancelled due to the band's 2014 European tour schedule.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Muse front man Matt Bellamy talked about the band's new album. He said, "I've got a pretty good picture of what I'd like the next album to be like. It's the comedown and the sort of waking up the next day being like, 'What the fuck? What the fuck? That was crazy'...I kind of feel like it will be nice to reconnect and remind ourselves of just the basics of who we are. I have this strong feeling that the next album should be something that really does strip away the additional things that we've experimented with on the last two albums, which is electronics, symphonics and orchestral work and all that kind of stuff."

In a recent interview with Elliot Wilson from Rap Radar, Q-Tip confirmed he is working with Rick Rubin on Kanye West's latest material. No release date has been issued, but in recent interviews, Kanye has hinted that a new album could arrive next summer. 

Band of Skulls will release their new album, Himalayan, at the end of March in UK and Europe and in early April for the rest of the world. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
'Asleep At The Wheel'
'Himalayan'
'Hoochie Coochie'
'Cold Sweat'
'Nightmares'
'Brothers And Sisters'
'I Guess I Know You Fairly Well'
'You Are All That I Am Not'
'I Feel Like Ten Men, Nine Dead And One Dying'
'Toreador'
'Heaven's Key'
'Get Yourself Together'

In March, Kaiser Chiefs will release their new album, Education, Education, Education, & War. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
1. "The Factory Gates"
2. "Coming Home"
3. "Misery Company"
4. "Ruffians on Parade"
5. "Meanwhile Up in Heaven"
6. "One More Last Song"
7. "My Life"
8. "Bows & Arrows"
9. "Cannons"
10. "Roses"

Quick News

Muse have confirmed that they will begin working on new material early next year.

Speaking to BBC6 Music, Robert Plant has said he found some unreleased and unearth Led Zeppelin songs that feature bassist John Paul Jones on vocals. Plant said, "I found some quarter-inch spools recently. I had a meeting with Jimmy and we baked 'em up and listened to 'em. And there's some very, very interesting bits and pieces that probably will turn up on these things."

According to Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., The Strokes are apparently not recording and making new music to be released next year despite reports.

Arcade Fire's Win Butler is predicting that James Murphy will reboot LCD Soundsystem one day. Speaking to The Sun, Butler said, "We have tried to work with Murphy before but we could never match our diaries," Parry says. "But this time the schedules worked. LCD Soundsystem and Arcade Fire have toured together lots of times. We have always admired each other's band – LCD are our favourite band ever. I'd be shocked if James doesn't reform them one day. They are too good not to."

Muse on Kimmel

Watch Muse perform "Follow Me" from the World War Z L.A. premiere on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

QUICK SPINS

Flying Lotus – Until the Quiet Comes

LA beatmaker and Duke Ellington’s nephew returns, triumphantly, with one of the most original, brilliant, musically intellectual and advanced album of the year. Until the Quiet comes hears FlyLo’s spooky beats infused with jazz, African drums, dubstep, grime, classical, ambient and blues. It is a record that goes to places that have not been heard since Radiohead’s Kid A, an album that features a slew of guests like Erikah Badu, Thom Yorke, Laura Darlington, Thundercatt, and Niki Randa that play off a seamless, dreamlike record that takes the audience on a sonic journey deep into the mind. Think the concepts of Inception and Alice in Wonderland but set to music.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Ben Folds Five – The Sound of the Life and of the Mind

12 years after their last release, Ben Folds Five reunite and pick-up where they left off. The Sound of the Life and the Mind is textbook Ben Folds Five – clever and snarky lyrics, simple-yet-effect sounds and catchy tunes. It is a very welcomed return to have them back.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Frightened Rabbit – State Hospital EP

The Scotland indie rockers give fans a preview of what is to come from them in the studio. State Hospital is a plain but powerful EP that manages to make a lasting impression just featuring four songs.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Apollo & Guilty Simpson – Dice Game

Two of the best emcees in the underground collaborate on a fresh and fierce album that hears two stand out lyrical styles feed off each other. Much like Blackstar’s brilliant debut, Apollo & Simpson are two distinctive styles and flows that work so well together. It leaves us hoping they collaborate again in the future.

FINAL GRADE:  B+

Smoke & Jackal

Mona’s Nick Brown and Kings of Leon’s Jarred Followill join forces to make fantastic Southern rock and roll on their debut EP. While it maybe what you expect to hear from these two, but it certainly packs a punch considering it is just them without a full band.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Alt-J – An Awesome Wave

The biggest indie band in Britain now is Alt-J and their debut An Awesome Wave is arguably the reason. The band find ways to combine ambient beats and vibrant rhythms together that make it a record you can relax to but also dance to should the right DJ get a hold of it to remix.

FINAL GRADE: B+

The Gaslamp Killer – Breakthrough

After being around for nearly 12 years, it is hard to imagine that hip-hop/electro DJ, The Gaslamp Killer has not released a full album – until now! Breakthrough is his first album and on the magnificent Brainfeeder label, The Killer can now stand out. Much like Flying Lotus he mixes styles and beats together in a way that can have rappers drop rhymes over them or have singers lay down a lush vocal mix. Featuring help from Computer Jay, Daedelus, Gonjasufi, Samiyam and others, Breakthrough is the Killers true breakthrough.

FINAL GRADE: B

Trouble Lights – The Endless Prom

There is a reason we picked Trouble Lights as our “Rising Artist” of this month and The Endless Prom is proof. The Iowa electronic rock bands debut takes influences from Bjork, The Knife, Robyn, Scissor Sisters and give a modern spin to bands like Republica and Elastica. The Endless Prom and while kids these days love to dance to the latest DJ cranking out subbass heavy EDM, it is time to go back-to-basics and check out a band that will make you move just as, if not, harder.

FINAL GRADE: B+

A Fine Frenzy – Pines

As A Fine Frenzy said in our interview, “The reason I make music and art is because I just want to communicate and hope and feel and I hope that someone will relate.” After years on a major label and learning more about herself as an artist, musician and human being, A Fine Frenzy realized that the multi-media package that would become Pines needed to happen. Pines is an album, short animated film and book. “I did it without compromise. I didn’t compromise on what I was setting out to do. I approached this record differently and it was a much more organic, grass roots campaign,” she said. Taking inspiration from bands like Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, Nick Drake and the Amelie soundtrack and film, Pines was designed. However, as she put it the record is “about moods, emotions and feelings and I wanted to explore all of this.” At nearly 70-minutes in length, Pines is a musical odyssey that brings the listener to various emotional landscapes and places. Whatever A Fine Frenzy intended on doing, she and her band achieved.

FINAL GRADE: B

Bob Mould – Silver Age

The Former Husker Du frontman goes solo again and flexes serious muscle on Silver Age. The 10^th record features Jason Narducy on bass and on drums by Superchunk's Jon Wurster, and finds its way into the “Classic” Mould category.

FINAL GRADE: B

Amanda Palmer – Theatre is Evil

After a massively publicized and successful Kickstarter campaign to fund her latest, Amanda Palmer and her Grand Theft Orchestra released Theater is Evil. The record, is one of Palmer’s best. With massive orchestral sounds flowing through a rock-meets-vaudeville album, Palmer shows she is much more than a woman you need to follow on Twitter, but someone who spent her fans money wisely.

FINAL GRADE: B

Sirkus Sirkuz - Triology

Former Japanese Popstars beatmaker, Declan McLaughlin aka Decky Headrock goes solo since leaving the Popstars and brings with him a trilogy of EPs.  Each EP is a progression from the last that brings together various eras of dance music, EDM and puts his own spin on what is new in electronica. A worthwhile listen and someone to keep an eye out for.

FINAL GRADE: B

Dinosaur Jr. – I Bet on Sky

The Massachusetts indie rock vets return for their new album and serve up an instant Dino Jr. classic. I Bet the Sky is the band at their finest, taking elements from the early years and showing off they still have enough gas in the tank to rock harder than many young bands out there today.

FINAL GRADE: B

Menomena – Moms

On the Portland indie rockers fifth record, Menomemna prove they are not in this business for any commercial reason and get as strange and diverse as they possible can. Moms may not be the best record from these guys, but they sure show off that they can get deep in their lyrics and sound as they tackle on their material stories and sagas.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Deerhoof – Breakup Song

It is hard to imagine that Breakup Song is the 12^th record from Deerhoof, it also is one of the most simplistic records the indie titans have ever released.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Mellowhype – Numbers

Left Brain and Hodgy Beats of Odd Future serve up their third record as Mellowhype. Unfortunately for the hip-hop duo from the strong collective, this record, falls a bit flat and not as edgy or forward as their previous efforts.

FINAL GRADE: C+

The Soft Pack – Strapped

The California surf-rock band puts out their second record and refuse to fall into the surf-rock category any longer. Strapped is a record that starts off grand and very promising but falls short of victory after the four piece try and do too much with various musical arrangements and styles.

FINAL GRADE: C+

Muse – The 2^nd Law

While Muse were recording The 2^nd Law, they had made mention that they were inspired by the new bro-step trend hitting the globe thanks to Skrillex. Well, Muse may have been inspired by it and used elements of it, but what they did was mask the fact that they made a record that totally takes elements of Queen, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy and U2. Sure, Muse has taken elements of those bands in the past and mixed it with 90’s era Radiohead and we have praised them for it, but now, the copying and uninspiring music adds up to the fact that they have gotten lazy after being so commercially successful. Unfortunately for The 2^nd Law, it proves to be the most forgettable record from a band who has made a career of making unforgettable albums.

FINAL GRADE: D

MUSE on JOOLS HOLLAND!

 Watch Muse perform their new song, "Madness" on the season premiere of Later...With Jools Holland!

Quick News

Lollpalooza announced that along with it's festivals in Chicago, Chile, and Brazil, it will host a new festival in Tel Aviv next summer.

Word on the street is that The Stone Roses reunion record will be out in 2013, they will begin working on it after their summer reunion tour around Europe.

Muse's latest album, The 2nd Law, has been pushed from a September release to October.

Lady Gaga named her new record, the follow-up to Born This Way will be called, Artpop. It will be out in early 2013.

A documentary celebrating The Rolling Stones 50 years together will air on HBO this fall. The film will be directed by Brett Morgan.

While oversea's Frank Turner is one of the biggest names in music, unfortunately here in the U.S. he is still an emerging star (he is a favorite with us!). As he readies his DVD, I Still Believe for his European fans, he will release a live CD / DVD called Last Minutes and Lost Evenings for U.S. fans. It will be out on October 2 and the DVD portion will contain the film, I Still Believe, which is his documentary about headlining and selling-out Wembley Stadium.

Speaking of Frank Turner, if you have been following our news of him, he has released the name of the hardcore band he was starting. Turner, who is now a folk singer, started off fronting the hardcore band, A Million Dead. Now, his new hardcore outfit will be called Mongol Horde.

R.E.M. will release a 25th anniversary edition of their seminal album, Document, next month. The re-release includes new liner notes and is packaged in a lift-top box that has four postcards and will feature a live recording of a 1987 concert in Holland; they will also issue a remastered 180-gram vinyl edition of the release.

Guitarist Freddie Cowan of The Vaccines is set to collaborate with his brother, Tom of The Horrors. Freddie told NME, "There's a concept of all four singles and every member of the band has to write and record their own B-side. Well, I'm probably going to do mine with my brother. I asked him to produce and he’s really up for doing it. I don't know if we’d collaborate on stage because we’ve done it already, but it’d be nice to do a collaboration with someone."

After speaking with Billboard magazine and giving an update on Incubus' summer plans, singer Brandon Boyd found himself in some hot water since he hinted the band will go on hiatus again. Boyd said, "We have no plans, to tell you the truth, at the moment, I have been tinkering around, potentially, with a second solo record. That's probably the most likely scenario. But as far as Incubus right now, we'll probably take another break." Now, the bands manager has spoken out and negated Boyd's comments and said to CBS Local, ""Incubus has always taken a bit of a break after making an album and touring in support of it. After they finish the Honda Civic tour, they’ll have been on the road for a year and a half. Any band would need a break after that."