friday

Legendary indie rockers reunite

Paul Westerberg, Tommy Stinson and Chris Mars have reformed legendary US indie act The Replacements. The band reunited to record two new Westerberg-penned songs - "Message To The Boys" and "Pool & Dive" - for a forthcoming best-of, according to billboard.com. Don't You Know Who I Think I Was? is set for release in the US in June. Tracklisting:

"Takin A Ride"
"Shiftless When Idle"
"Kids Don't Follow"
"Color Me Impressed"
"Within Your Reach"
"I Will Dare"
"Answering Machine"
"Unsatisfied"
"Here Comes A Regular"
"Kiss Me On The Bus"
"Bastards Of Young"
"Left Of The Dial"
"Alex Chilton"
"Skyway"
"Can't Hardly Wait"
"Achin' To Be"
"I'll Be You"
"Merry Go Round"
"Message To The Boys"
"Pool & Dive"

Replacements: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3500833
Westerberg: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3500739

Bloc Party preview second album

[source: NME.com] Bloc Party treated fans to a sneak preview of their eagerly awaited second album during a triumphant gig at London's Royal Albert Hall last night. Opening the set with new track "Waiting For The 7.18", the band then tore through live favourites "She's Hearing Voices", "Banquet", "This Modern Love", "Two More Years", "Helicopter" and "Like Eating Glass". However, the group also previewed five songs set to appear on the follow-up to 2005's breakthrough debut, including "Hunting For Witches", "Uniform", "Wet" and "Blue Moon". Throughout the 65-minute set, singer Kele Okereke - who was sporting a white T-shirt with a black question mark design - was in good form, joking with the crowd. "This is actually the second time we've played at the Royal Albert Hall," he quipped. "Last time I was here I played with the school district choir when I was 12 years old." As the band launched into new track "Blue Moon" during the encore, the singer dedicated the song to a group of teenage cancer sufferers who were in the audience and thanked the crowd for coming to the show.

/artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3520022

George Michael given drug caution

[source: NME.com] London police have issued George Michael a caution for cannabis possession. The charge comes after the singer was arrested in February when officers found him asleep at the wheel of his car. According to BBC News, Michael reported to a central London police station to accept the caution. The star was found unconscious at the wheel of his car, near London's Hyde Park at 1.50am on February 26. The former Wham! singer was initially arrested on being unfit to drive. "We were called by a member of the public to a man seen slumped over the steering wheel of a car on the street close to Hyde Park Corner. A search of the man revealed what was believed to be controlled substances," a Metropolitian Police spokesman said at the time. Following his arrest, Michael admitted the incident was "my own stupid fault" and said the police had acted properly. "I was in possession of class C drugs, which is an offence, and I have no complaints about the police, who were professional throughout," he said at the time.

George: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501647
Wham: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3506659

Lee Harding teams with Figgkidd

Australian Idol bubblegum punk rocker Lee Harding is teaming with fellow pop-punk act Kid Courageous, 80s synth-pop act Town Hall Steps and local rapper Figgkidd for a series of all-ages shows throughout New South Wales in April. Check out Harding's official site for tour dates.

Harding: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3540683
KC: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3518255
Figg: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3508029

site: http://www.leeharding.com.au/newsEvents/home.do?newsId=20030829003071


Smells like... plastic

And so it has come to this... Kurt Cobain, the late Nirvana singer who was paranoid about selling out his indie roots throughout his short career, has been transformed into a plastic resin action figure. In the figurine, Cobain is captured mid-chord wearing the same clothes he was wearing in the generation-defining Smells Like Teen Spirit music video. The Kurt doll goes on sale in the US this June.

/artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3502764


Donavon Frankenreiter announces new album, Oz tour

Donavon Frankenreiter will release a new album, Move By Yourself, in May. The singer/songwriter returned to traditional recording techniques by using two-inch tape and no click tracks. The album's title track will be the first single and was serviced to radio this week. Frankenreiter has also announced he'll return to Australia for a series of his own shows and support shows for Pete Murray in April. Head to www.donavonf.com for all tour and ticketing information. Frankenreiter last toured Down Under in 2005 with Jack Johnson, G-Love and
Xavier Rudd.

Pete murray: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501566
Jack: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501551
Xavier: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3502693
G-Love: artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3507349

thursday

Wolfmother declare The Darkness "hams"

[source: NME.com] Wolfmother have attacked The Darkness for making rock a laughing stock. The Sydney three-piece, who've impressed with their gonzo rock riffs, believe their British rivals are more a comedy act than a rock band. "The Darkness are obviously hamming it up. They're so over-the-top," drummer Myles Heskett said. "I think they're trying to be funny. We're not about that. We're just playing the music we like. We don't have any control over how other people perceive us." Despite Wolfmother's obvious rock credentials, Heskett said there was one band that surprisingly isn't an influence on them: Led Zeppelin. "I don't have any Zeppelin albums," Heskett told Texan paper the Star Telegram. "We all dig Black Sabbath, but we didn't exactly pull out our record collections or anything. We're into lots of things."

Wolfmother: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3537444
The Darkness: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501244

Gracelands a historic landmark

He's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Now Elvis Presley's had his former Memphis home declared a National Historic Treasure by the US Federal Government. In a ceremony at Gracelands, Interior Secretary Norton described the honour as America's "highest recognition for historic properties". Elvis's former wife, Priscilla, said Elvis was immensely proud of Gracelands. "This home was his private corner of the world that he shared with his family and his closest friends," she said. "To him, having Graceland… was a tangible symbol of how far he had come from his very humble beginnings. Elvis would be honoured and moved to know his beloved home is now recognised as a National Historic Landmark."

Elvis: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501580

Shane Nicholson's Faith & Science

Former Pretty Violent Stain frontman Shane Nicholson will release his second solo album in May. Nicholson says Faith & Science is a step on from acclaimed debut It's A Movie. "It's A Movie was about taking a step back for a while and doing things really organically and slowly," Nicholson admits. "I understand that record was really melancholy, but that's what I wanted to make at the time. I knew it would give me the platform to make the kind of record I have now with Faith & Science, which I think is more dynamic. I think of it as It's A Movie on steroids!" Produced by Nicholson's brother-in-law Nash Chambers (Nicholson is married to Kasey Chambers), Faith & Science features contributions from Diesel and Midnight Oil's Jim Moginie. The album's first single is "I Know What You Need".

Midnight oil: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3523234
Kasey: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3502032
Diesel: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3508031

Fed, Fed baby!

Not content with marrying Britney Spears, Kevin Federline has revealed details of his debut rap album, Playing With Fire. "My album is sure to set dancefloors across the world on fire!" K-Fed said in a statement. Music lovers will do anything to kill this record…

Britney: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501556

DJ Shadow previews new album

[source: NME.com] DJ Shadow has unveiled the first fruits of his new album sessions, and says his forthcoming third album will be "very different". The reclusive artist is currently working on the follow-up to 2002's The Private Press. A video for a track called "3 Freaks", which features underground rappers Keak Da Sneak and Turf Talk, can be streamed from Shadow's official website (djshadow.com). On his site, Shadow writes: "Stylistically, it's very different from The Private Press. Some have said Press was an inward-looking album. If that's true, this album is the opposite, and that suits me just fine. I've also stopped worrying if my changing taste in music costs me fans. You can't please everybody all the time, but you can please yourself."

/artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3503218


Cigarettes and Suitcases for SFK

Something For Kate's highly-anticipated fifth album won't be released until July, but first single "Cigarettes and Suitcases" has hit radio, with Triple J adding it to high rotation. The single goes on sale in May. SFK recorded their still-untitled fifth album in Los Angeles with producer Brad Wood, who most recently worked on Ben Lee's Awake Is The New Sleep.

SFK: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501569
Ben Lee: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3517375

Arctic Monkeys talk new material

[source: NME.com] Arctic Monkeys claim they have nearly written the follow-up to debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Eager to head back into the studio to start work on the second album, they've revealed they have ten new songs penned. "The second album will be different, I think," singer Alex Turner said. "We've already got more than ten songs because we've been writing for a long time. The last song that went on the [first] album - 'You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Looking Straight At Me' - was written last May. So there are all the songs that we've written since then and they're all a bit different. I'll just be excited about getting back into the studio." The singer also revealed the band enjoy playing a few games with their success. "I think we write great tunes and we ruffle feathers pretty well," he told Nuts magazine. "When you're in a position to do some feather ruffling, it's not always a bad thing. I don't know even why we do it - we just like being f###ing naughty little boys sometimes."

/artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3543198

wednesday

Pretty far for a white guy

Dexter Holland, vocalist for SoCal punks The Offspring, recently ran the 42km Los Angeles marathon in a bid to raise money for The Innocence Mission, a charity that provides DNA testing for criminal defendants. The singer finished the run in just over five hours, placing 7900th. "I hit a wall at about [26kms]," Holland said in a statement, "but I'm glad I was able to finish. I shouldn't have eaten those tacos for breakfast!"

/artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501681


Cassandra Wilson is go

In 2001, Time magazine hailed jazz artist Cassandra Wilson "America's best singer". Now she's set to dazzle again, this time with legendary producer T-Bone Burnett at the helm. For her forthcoming April release, Thunderbird, Wilson swaps the sparse acoustic guitar sound that defined mid-90s albums like Blue Light 'Til Dawn and the Grammy-winning New Moon Daughter for a keyboard-driven roots sound inspired by the inclusion of keyboardist (and co-producer) Keefus Ciancia. Other artists appearing on the album include guitarists Marc Ribot and Colin Linden, bassists Mike Elizondo (electric) and Reginald Veal (acoustic), and drummers Jim Keltner, Bill Maxwell and Jay Bellerose. "Working with T-Bone took the songs into a whole other place," Wilson explained. "He guided me into the deepest recesses of the material, and that attention to detail and nuance allowed me to delve into my own innermost emotions." What's emerged is a post-modern, primal take on roots music. Tracklisting:

"Go To Mexico"
"Closer To You"
"Easy Rider"
"It Would Be So Easy"
"Red River Valley"
"Poet"
"I Want To Be Loved"
"Lost"
"Strike A Match"
"Tarot"

/artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3509712

CD sales fall, downloads rise

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) today announced the wholesale recorded music results for the calendar year ending December 2005. While a decline in the size of the physical market was observed, there were strong signs the digital market is expanding rapidly. The wholesale value of the digital market in 2005 was almost $8,000,000 (or around 1.5 per cent of the overall value of the wholesale market), and it's likely to experience significant growth during 2006. In recognition of this, ARIA will be making an announcement later this week about the launch of the new digital track chart.

INXS Australian promo tour
After a hugely successful first leg of their US/Canadian tour, INXS return to Australia in April (9th to 13th) for a promotional visit to support new single "Afterglow" and to announce their Australian tour. Fans will also get the chance to see the band in full concert via two special shows — a MMM Garage Session and a MAX Session at the Opera House. The band are currently on a two-week break after a sold-out US tour that drew strong reviews. The LA Times declared "[new singer] J.D is good, really good. And the crowd loves him", while the Hollywood Reporter said "INXS looks and sounds invigorated". The band launch into the second leg of their US/Canadian tour on April 20 and will tour for a further three months.

INXS: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501530

Architecture on the road

After a mammoth 2005 traipsing the world promoting second album In Case We Die, you'd think Architecture In Helsinki would be sick of touring. But not even the anticipated stench of 11 sweaty people in the same small bus can dampen their enthusiasm for a return to Europe for a one-month, one-day-off tour de France, Holland, Germany, England, Belgium and, of course, Italy (home of the finest salami found in any petrol station in the donkey-eating universe). But before then, AIH are serving up two pre-tour snacks at the Northcote Social Club (Wednesday April 5 and Wednesday April 12). Tickets on sale now.

AIH: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501530

Surprise, it's Paul Simon

His recording career is, incredibly, edging towards the 50-year mark, but
Paul Simon still wants to Surprise. At least, that's the title of his highly-anticipated new album. Billboard reports Surprise - a collaboration with long-time U2 producer Brian Eno - is set for release in May. The album, Simon's first since 2000's You're The One, will include the Oscar-nominated "Father And Daughter" from the 2002 soundtrack for The Wild Thornberries. Tracklisting:

"How Can You Live In The Northeast"
"Everything About It Is A Love Song"
"Outrageous"
"Sure Don't Feel Like Love"
"Wartime Prayers"
"Beautiful"
"I Don't Believe"
"Another Galaxy"
"Once Upon A Time There Was An Ocean"
"That's Me"
"Father And Daughter"

Paul Simon: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3500342
U2: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3504356
Brian Eno: /artistDisplay.asp?artistid=3501859