British Sea Power Live on Letterman

British Sea Power made their return to Letterman last night to perform "Who's in Control," take a look!

Listen! New ATARI TEENAGE RIOT!

Digital hardcore pioneers Atari Teenage Riot are set to return next month with their new album, Is This Hyperreal?. Since the band returned in 2009, we have been doing extensive coverage of the band's return from live reviews to interviewing Alec Empire.

With the much anticipated release of Is This Hyperreal?, the band released it's first single - the all Nic Endo vocal "Blood in my Eyes." The song, is about human trafficking, take a listen below.

EXCLUSIVE! THE VACCINES INTV!

In many ways The Vaccines came out of nowhere, this past fall once NME sent a writer down to a gig of theirs, that seemed to be it. They exploded, once the infamous music magazine began writing about them, word spread like wild fire through the blogosphere and through various publications. We featured The Vaccines as one of our Rising Artists in November, back when the band didn't even have a website, Facebook page, not even a record deal, they simply had a few songs that floated around the internet. In just a few short moths things changed drastically for the London four piece, they signed with Columbia, played Jools Holland, did a few shows in the US (we covered their US debut) and even got themselves a nice little website, Facebook page and twitter account. Just this week before the band took SXSW they released their much anticipated debut, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? to stellar reviews in the UK, the album will be out this May in the US. Just before the band made their way back to the US for SXSW we caught up with what seems to be the world's most talked about new rock and roll band. Take a look as we spoke to singer Justin Young about the band's beginnings, recording and making it in America.

How did the band come together?

A friend of ours actually started this band (but quit pretty quickly) and convinced myself and Freddie to join. Pete and Arni came a couple of months later. The idea was just to have some fun. We had a practice room we could use for free so we just met up a few times and wrote some songs.

Being a band from London that plays skuzzy surf-rock, is kind of not the “norm” of what one thinks of when thinking of that city. What are your inspirations? Does the city inspire you in any way?

Often not sounding like you're from a certain place when in fact you are comes down to wanting to be something you're not. With us, though, I feel it's more about escapism and paying tribute to the music we listen to. Having said that, London inspires me and us as a band massively. All I sing about is the city's people and places. I’m inspired by those around me and events in my life. And, as I live in London it's only natural that it's going to inspire me.

Within less than a year, the buzz around this band has been tremendous, how do you explain it?

I can't really explain buzz. Band’s don't start the buzz themselves! People do tend to get excited about things very quickly. It’s flattering but it's important to remember that people lose interest just as quickly. It can be dangerous. We have a lot of faith in ourselves as a band and the music we are playing though so it is nice to feel validation. I do think a lot of it is down to the fact that there are very few guitar bands with pop sensibilities coming through at the moment.

You did not even have an EP and hardly a website out to accompany this buzz; does that add pressure to your live shows to really deliver on the hype?

Not really. As we're not the ones making bold statements, the pressure isn't really on our shoulders. It’s on the shoulders of the people talking it up. That said, we're always keen to prove ourselves. When we play, we want people to feel an energy and excitement. We want people to enjoy themselves and to love the songs. You should always feel pressure to perform and deliver. Hype or no hype.

How was it working on your debut?

We’ve done it very quickly and simply in a virtually live set-up with very few overdubs. We wanted to capture a moment and an energy that we feel we achieve live. You’ve got to make your first album first.

It seems to be a trend now that Surf pop is coming back in a big way; with bands such as yourself, Soft Pack, The Drums, Male Bonding, Surfer Blood. Do you think more bands will emerge with this style? Why do you think it is making such big waves again?

I actually wouldn't put us in the same category as any of those bands. I think it's a side to us, but not the most important thing. Obviously when one band comes along and does well or sounds good it inspires a bunch of other people to do something similar. But, I also it has a lot to do with the fact that the music that the bands you mention seem to be inspired by is simple and fun and often sonically very interesting. Revivalism is so inherent within the culture of new bands and new music that its inevitable all forms of good pop music experiences a renaissance at some point.

With the Guardian, NME and various music blogs (including this one), you have been critical favorites. How do you respond to such high acclaim? Does this add pressure to fine tuning your craft?

I think I’ve answered this already. Every band feels pressure to perform. We really love what we do and we loved what we did before other people had an opinion about it. We’ve worked very hard to get our music to a point where we're proud of it. We don't read anything written about us. If you believe all the positive stuff, you have to believe the negative stuff. That’s distracting and as soon as you start questioning what you do, it’s game over. We just focus on what we're doing. Even if no one was talking about us, we'd want to make a great record and play great shows.

The way you guys have been introduced to the world has been very mysterious. Not much is still known about you guys but the basics. What would you like people to know about you that you feel is important and what may surprise them? In simple terms – Spill the beans!

We actually feel we've told people everything that is relevant. People know our names, what we look like, what we've done in the past and the music we play. That’s more than I know about a lot of people! It’s funny that people thought we were trying to be secretive with our blog. We didn't expect anyone to want to know anything so that's why we didn't tell anyone anything. The blog is actually quite revealing. It’s a pretty wide-ranging insight into our influences and inspiration.

So after all the buzz, you proved your worth to those that may still be skeptical or never heard of you before on Jools Holland. What was that like?

That was so great. It was an honour. Quite surreal! I’m sure a few eyebrows were raised as it was very early to do it but I don't think there is a better way to prove yourself than to play your songs with passion to as many people as possible. I’m happy to be judged on our songs. That’s fair.

Your live shows have also been all the rage, what is going through your head taking the stage each night to a crowd who are begging to see you?

We all get nervous about putting on a good show. The best shows are the ones where you feel natural and when you feel like the audience are enjoying themselves. I think we're preoccupied with thoughts of playing to the best of our ability!

With everything that has happened to you on the last 12 months, do you think you are ready to take on America?

Yes! I can't wait to go and give America what we've got.

I ask this to many foreign acts, is it a big deal for you to make it big in the US?

Yes, but no bigger than it is anywhere else. That said, the USA has inspired all of us massively. Culturally and musically. It’s a very important part of this very English band!

Leon Russel on Fallon

Legendary American songwriter Leon Russel came to Fallon this week just after making a surprise visit at Madison Square Garden during his friend Elton John's sold out concert and not to mention being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here he is with The Roots, take a look.

Death Cab Cover & Track Listing

Indie darlings Death Cab for Cutie have given details about their seventh record, Codes and Keys. The album will be out May 30 in the UK and the following day in the US. Take a look at the cover (above) and track listing (below):

1. Home Is A Fire
2. Codes And Keys
3. Some Boys
4. Doors Unlocked And Open
5. You Are A Tourist
6. Unobstructed Views
7. Monday Morning
8. Portable Television
9. Underneath The Sycamore
10. St Peter’s Cathedral
11. Stay Young, Go Dancing

The Wombats on Kimmel!

Liverpool, England's fun punk trio The Wombats hit up Jimmy Kimmel Live last night to perform two songs from their much anticipated album, This Modern Glitch. Catch the band doing "Tokyo" and "Techno Fan" above.

Quick News

TV on the Radio have announced that bassist Gerard Smith has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Just as the band is gearing up for tour and to release their much anticipated, Nine Types of Light, the revealed that the longtime bassist has been battling and fighting the disease. The band announced on their website that "Already we have seen dramatic results. Combine that with Gerard's legendarily willful disposition and it might just be cancer that has the problem." They will be replacing Smith for this current tour.

Fun glam rock band The Darkness have reunited. After a five year hiatus, the English "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" band will be back with a new tour and album.

Damon Albarn might just be the most hard working, clever and interesting man in music these days. The musician is taking time out from his already busy schedule to star and write the music to a new opera. Albarn, who dabbled in opera a few years ago with Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett in Monkey:Journey to the West will now be involved in Doctor Dee. The project was originally supposed to involve graphic novelist Alan Moore, but Moore has bailed on the project. Damon is now in full creative control and will make his stage debut at the Manchester International Festival this July.

After decades of intrigue and even released as a solo album from Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys long lost masterpiece, Smile will be released this year! All parties involved are supporting it's release 44 years after it was to be originally set out to the public as the anticipated follow up to Pet Sounds. Expect a Smile later this year.

Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore will release his latest solo album, Demolished Thoughts, which was produced by Beck on May 24.

According to a post on Incubus-onlineview.com, Incubus have finished their seventh record. The five year long wait and follow up to 2006's Light Grenades should be out by the fall.

Rolling Stone reports that Pearl Jam will hit the recording studio next month to begin work on their follow up to last year's magnificent Backspacer.

Speaking of heading back into the studio, just as they are about to release their much anticipated Angels record, The Strokes will soon begin working on a follow up to their latest disc.

Three collaboration by two musical heavy weights are finally going to see the light of day after 28 years. Queen's Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson, the songs "The State of Shock," "Victory," and "There Must Be More To Life Than This" will at some point be made public. Queen guitarist Brian Ferry spoke to 411 Mania and said "We are now working on some never before released songs that Freddie made with Michael in the early-'80s. I'm not allowed to say too much about it, but they sound incredible."

A new David Bowie live record will be released on April 26. The album, Birthday Celebration - Live in New York City 1997 will feature the Thin White Duke collaborating with Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, Robert Smith, Sonic Youth, Billy Corgan and Frank Black of the Pixies. The iconic concert has never been released and was done during Bowie's Earthling tour. Take a look at the track listing below:

'Little Wonder'
'The Hearts Filthy Lesson'
'Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)' (with Frank Black)
'Fashion' (with Frank Black)'Telling Lies'
'Hallo Spaceboy' (with Foo Fighters)
'Seven Years In Tibet' (with Dave Grohl)
'The Man Who Sold The World'
'The Last Thing You Should Do' (with Robert Smith)
'Quicksand' (with Robert Smith)
'Battle For Britain'
'Voyeur Of Utter Destruction (As Beauty)'
'I’m Afraid Of Americans' (with Sonic Youth)
'Looking For Satellites'
'Under Pressure' (with Gail Ann Dorsey)'Heroes'
'Queen Bitch' (with Lou Reed)
'I’m Waiting For The Man' (with Lou Reed)
'Dirty Blvd.' (with Lou Reed)
'White Light/White Heat' (with Lou Reed)
'Moonage Daydream'
'All The Young Dudes' (with Billy Corgan)
'The Jean Genie' (with Billy Corgan)
'Space Oddity'
'Can’t Read'

The confusing reality that is Beastie Boys release plan for their Hot Sauce Committee series will finally see the light of day. On May 3, the infamous NYC hip-hop trio will release Hot Sauce Committee Pt.2. Hot Sauce Part 1 was delayed due to Adam "MCA" Yauch battling cancer. Take a look at the cover below:

Thom Yorke Has Been Busy

Thom Yorke Live DJ Set @ Low End Theory LA 3.9.11 from Theo Jemison on Vimeo.

Radiohead front man and musical enigma, Thom Yorke dropped by Gaslamp Killer and Flying Lotus LA residency at Low End Theory in LA and did a surprise DJ set last week. Take a look at a clip above.

In related news, Yorke maybe collaborating with another enigma, rapper and producer DOOM. In a rare interview, DOOM spoke with Australian music magazine 3D World and said he and Yore "We're working on some duets, some duet songs and shit. Just like preliminary shit but we’ll probably end up doing a whole record together."

Yorke indeed have a busy week, a recent collaboration with dubstep DJ's Burial and Four Tet appeared online in which Yorke collaborated with. You can hear them below:

Art Brut Cover & Track Listing

English rockers Art Brut will release their fourth album Brilliant! Tragic! on May 23. Take a look at the cover above and track listing below:

"Clever Clever Jazz"
"Lost Weekend"
"Bad Comedian"
"Sexy Sometimes"
"Is Dog Eared"
"Martin Kemp Welch Five A-Side Football Rules!"
"Axl Rose"
"I Am The Psychic"
"Ice Hockey"
"Sealand"

Last year we interviewed Art Brut main man Eddie Argos, take a look at the interview HERE.

RIP Nate Dogg

With deep sadness we report the passing of a West Coast hip-hop legend, Nate Dogg, has passed away at 41 years of age. The cause of death has still not been announced though Nate Dogg has had health problems through the years, suffering two strokes in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Born Nathaniel D. Hale, Nate Dogg's vocal style was distinct and smooth and would be famous for giving the hooks to some of hip-hop's most famous songs. From Warren G's "Regulate" to Dr. Dre's "Deez Nuts" and "Next Episode" to Eminem's "Till I Collapse" to Ludacris' "Area Codes" and many more. Nate Dogg released three solo albums, his final album, a self-titled record was released in 2008.