In Rainbows NYE Cast

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Quick News

Congratulations to Radiohead's Johnny Greenwood and The Frames Glen Hansard, each nabbed awards last night for their contributions to film at the Critics Choice Awards. Greenwood grabbed the Best Original Score for his work on Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood, and Hansard took home with his songwriting partner Markéta Irglová for Best Original Song "Falling Slowly," from their film Once.

Incubus' Ben Kenney and DJ Chris Kilmore are hitting up clubs on the West Coast together for a series of dates. No word on if or when they will make it out East.

In more new album news, Billy Bragg announced track listing and release dates for his latest, Mr Love and Justice. The album will only be coming out in the UK at the moment (DAMN IT!), but hopefully will pick up distribution here across the pond. Here is the track listing and Mr Love and Justice is expected on UK shelves March 3.
1. I Keep Faith
2. I Almost Killed You
3. M For Me
4. The Beach is Free
5. Sing Their Souls Back Home
6. You Make Me Brave
7. Something Happened
8. Mr. Love & Justice
9. If You Ever Leave
10. O Freedom
11. The Johnny Carcinogenic Show
12. Farm Boy

Live Review-Fire Flies @ Mercury Lounge

Normally a small New York City club headlining act, the Fire Flies took on the big leagues tonight as an opener at famous New York hot spot Mercury Lounge. For a Monday night they played to a nice crowd and got everyone singing and dancing and forgetting the fact that its only the beginning of the week. Playing song's off last year's release Two New Sciences, the Brooklyn boys opened their set with "Mechanical Love," and the crowd quickly realized what they were in for. Singer Dan Romer braced his guitar and looked at his band mates and into the crowd like a star struck fan, what he and his band mates proved to the audience tonight is that they are fans of who comes out and supports them. Drummer Seth Faulk kept the beats so fresh that he was crossing his arms and waving his hands and sticks in the air like a great 80's drummer, and it was just so much fun to watch. Half way through the bands 35 minute set, guitarist Will Far's guitar began to cut out during "Worst Man I can Be," but the band had no worries, they had their fans singing the lyrics louder than any guitar could ever make sound. By the end of the track, Will had his guitar in tact and the band kept on storming through. Closing the set with the bands staple "It's a Party," made the crowd go absolutely nuts and it sure became the best party in the city on this unusually warm Monday Night. The Flies hit up Boston tomorrow night and anyone in the New England area, make sure you see them! These boys are going places!

2008 Albums to Look Out For

2007 may have come and gone, only to make room for an exciting year. We have much to look forward to in 2008, the electing of a new President (Thank God!), the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 22), and of course another year of great soon to be released music. Here is a breakdown of some of the year's records to keep an eye out for.

Coldplay - Still Untitled
Expected Release: Summer
Recording the record in both old Spanish churches and cramped recording studio's in England and mixing part of it in New York, one of my favorite British acts are really looking for the international appeal on their fourth record. Also calling to the table Timbaland and Brian Eno to produce the record.

U2 - Still Untitled
Expected Release: Fall
From working with Rick Rubin to the band's dynamic duo of Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. From going to Morocco to Ireland, U2 are not far behind Coldplay as far as a conglomerate of locations and people are considered for the bands 11th studio recording.

Death Cab for Cutie - Still Untitled
Expected Release: Spring
Much like another indie band hitting the studio this year, The Hold Steady, Death Cab is rumored to be channelling Jack Kerouac for their 6th disc.

Portishead - Still Untitled
Expected Release: ????
The band has been completely mum about their much awaited third release. An album that was supposed to come out last year, has fans keeping their fingers crossed that it makes it way in 08.

The Love Ones - Build and Burn
Expected Release: 2/5/08
The Philly punkers--now a four man group, will storm stages and record stores with the release of their second disc. Produced by members of the Bouncing Souls, this release is sure to kick ass.

Patent Pending - Still Untitled
Expected Release: Summer
As their myspace page will tell you, they are "Writing fresh jams," yet we all can wait to see what these Long Island punkers can crank out in the new year.

Weezer - Still Untitled
Expected Release: ???
With his graduation from Harvard and his solo recordings behind him, River's Cuomo can now relax and go back to making good music...and something better than Make Believe.

The Verve - Still Untitled
Expected Release: Spring
Probably out of all of the comeback's in 2007, this announcement was one of my favorites. I simply cannot wait for this release!

The Cure - Still Untitled
Expected Release: Spring
Originally supposed to come out this past October, the bands double disc and tour will be pushed back to this spring.

Bauhaus - Going Away White
Expected Release: June
The original Goth rockers will put out their final recording and possibly do a farewell tour after reforming only 3 years ago.

Protest the Hero - Fortress
Release: January
The craziest band to ever come out of Canada. Mixing thrash, hardcore and punk will release their sophomore disc. By the singles they have posted on their myspace page as an indication, Fortress will melt your face off.

Movie of the Month - "Rope"

The master of suspense strikes again with a film more suitable for theater than screen. The masterfully done Rope, maybe one of Alfred Hitchcock's lesser know bodies of work, but happens toEnter away message text here. be one of his most technically superior. Looking as if it was shot in a single tracking shot, Rope, shot in ten takes but only looking like one, the greatest trick Hitchcock pulls on his audience is to be careful that not all things are as they appear. The story of film is about two young college students in the 50's who are afraid of a classmate that happens to be superior in intelligence than they are. With that in mind, they decide to kill him and hide the body in their apartment before guests for dinner party arrive. Among those guest is their former professor, played by Jimmy Stewart. Stewart, more cunning than any character he ever played, is on his former students tail and looks to expose them for what they are. Rope may not be as dynamic or suspenseful as Hitchcock's other work, however it is sure one that is not to be missed.

Underrated Classic - Green Day "Insomniac"

1994 marked a turning point in music. It was the year in which Kurt Cobain would commit suicide, the east and west coast declared lyrical war on each other, and the British were invading (again). Yet with all of this going on, sounds from all over started to focus not on the dark and murky tones grunge was made famous for, but started to become more colorful. 1994 will also be remembered as the year Green Day broke out with their third record, Dookie. An international critical and commercial success. They not only brought something new to the table, but created Pop-Punk, a genre that would later influence everyone from Blink 182 to Fall Out Boy. Mixing their radio friendly anthems with songs about being high, getting laid and most of all having fun. For Green Day, following up Dookie would not only prove the bands longevity and creativity but would also push the band to out due themselves time and time again. 1995's Insomniac, maybe the most overlooked in the band's post Dookie catalogue, but is the album that would shape the band and declare what would come of them years later. It's far darker tone and more abrasive old school punk sound may have turned fair weather fans away, but had the rest of us listening for more. Unlike its predecessor, Insomniac only marked three singles in the U.S.; "Geek Stink Breath," "Brainstew / Jaded," and "Walking Contradiction." Insomniac was the only Green Day record of its kind as far as a traditional punk sound goes, yet that all changed with 2004's American Idiot. I like to think this was the platform for the band to create American Idiot, one of this decades best records and an album this generation can boast about for being their own. However, without Insomniac and its traditional punk style combined with the angst against George W Bush, the inspiration for the bands biggest success may never have come.

Lupe Fiasco Live on Letterman

A full bearded David Letterman returned to "The Late Show," last night after cutting a deal with the WGA. With his return, he still showed his love of new music, Lupe Fiasco performs one of the best songs out there now, "Superstar," off his latest The Cooler.

Quick News

The original College Rockers R.E.M. will be releasing their 14th studio album April 1st, entitled Accelerate. Let's hope it is better than Revel and Around the Sun.

The Hold Steady have emerged from their rehearsal space in Brooklyn and will be hitting the studio soon to record a follow up to 2006's breakthrough Boys and Girls in America. The band posted this on their website: "Since the band's beginning, this is the longest we've gone without being in the studio. I've never looked forward to being placed in a giant aquarium with headphones like I have been lately." The band hopes to have the record out by years end--reserve a spot on your top 10 lists now and don't say I didn't warn you!

Radiohead's Thom Yorke spoke exclusively to the BBC about the CD and Vinyl release of In Rainbows. Check out what Yorke had to say here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7167759.stm

Indy Watch

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! With the new year, I have exciting news to report...Harrison Ford and Shia LaBeuof both grace the cover of this month's Vanity Fair (hits new stands today). Take a look at the article with photographs by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz. The cover story features commentary from Ford, Spielberg and George Lucas..plus the world's first look at Cate Blanchett in costume as Agent Spalko. Check out the link below with the photos, and online exclusive video of behind the scenes and interviews.

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/02/indianajones200802

May 22 cannot come soon enough!