Dec 8

Wilco reveal new album plans
[source: NME.com] Wilco are preparing to release their sixth studio album.
The band have been busy working on the follow-up to 2004's A Ghost Is Born at The Loft, their studio and home base in Chicago. Long-time associate Jim O'Rourke will mix the still untitled, self-produced album in New York, with a May release tentatively scheduled.
O'Rourke, who recently moved to Japan after parting ways with Sonic Youth, has worked with the band on their previous two albums. He has also performed with Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and drummer Glenn Kotche in their Loose Fur side-project.
Wilco have performed a dozen new songs at concerts over the last six months. They are: "Let's Not Get Carried Away", "Side With The Seeds", "What Light", "Shake It Off", "Impossible Germany", "On And On And On", "Lullaby For Rafter And Beams", "Patient With Me", "Walken", "Let's Fight", "Is That The Thanks I Get?", "Maybe The Sun Will Shine".

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Wilco.aspx


Arctic Monkeys and U2 nominated for Grammys
[source: NME.com] Arctic Monkeys have been nominated for a Grammy award in the Best Alternative Music Album category for Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.
U2's collaborations with Mary J Blige ("One") and Green Day ("The Saints Are Coming") have also earned the Irish group two nominations.
The Raconteurs are up for two gongs: Best Rock Album for Broken Boy Soldiers and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group for "Steady, As She Goes".
Coldplay and Keane will also fight out the Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group category, Coldplay going into battle with "Talk" and Keane with "Is It Any Wonder?".
Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" is nominated in the Best Rock Song category, but they face stiff competition from The Killers' "When You Were Young".
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are nominated in the Best Alternative Music Album for Show Your Bones, while Thom Yorke is nominated for The Eraser.
Gnarls Barkley are up for four nominations, including Album Of The Year for St Elsewhere, and Record Of The Year for "Crazy".
The winners will be announced at the 49th Grammy ceremony, which takes place on Wednesday December 13 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

U2: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/U2.aspx
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Yeah-Yeah-Yeahs.aspx
Gnarls Barclay: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Gnarls-Barkley.aspx
The Killers: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Killers-The.aspx
Mary J Blige: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Mary-J-Blige.aspx
Coldplay: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Coldplay.aspx
Arctic Monkeys: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Arctic-Monkeys.aspx


Scissor Sisters announce Australian shows
[source: NME.com] Scissor Sisters have announced details of five Australian shows.
The band, who released new single "Land Of A Thousand Words" on Monday December 4, will play their first date on Thursday February 1 at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.

Tour dates:

Thursday February 1 – Newcastle Entertainment Centre
Friday February 2 – Brisbane Riverstage
Monday February 5 – Sydney Entertainment Centre
Thursday February 8 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Friday February 9 – Melbourne Vodafone Arena

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Scissor-Sisters.aspx


Kaiser Chiefs and U2 back copyright campaign
[source: NME.com] Kaiser Chiefs, U2 and Maximo Park are among 4000 bands who have taken out a full-page newspaper advert demanding "fair play for musicians".
The musicians are calling for an extension of British copyright law on sound recordings from 50 to 95 years, to bring it into line with American provisions.
PJ Harvey, The Who's Pete Townshend, Sir Paul McCartney and The Clash's Paul Simonon have all signed the advert, which appears in the Financial Times.
"We call upon the UK Government to support the extension of copyright in sound recordings," the advert reads.
The ad follows the publications of the Government-commissioned Gowers Report, which recommended the protection should not be extended.
The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has previously campaigned for the UK to be brought into line with the US, which has a 95-year limit.
According to the Financial Times, the Government has accepted all the recommendations of the report, which found the UK's IP regime "fundamentally strong".

Kaiser Chiefs: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Kaiser-Chiefs.aspx
PJ Harvey: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Kaiser-Chiefs.aspx
U2: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/U2.aspx
The Who: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Who-The.aspx
Paul McCartney: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Paul-Mccartney.aspx


Super Furry Animals plan "speaker-blowing" comeback
[source: NME.com] Super Furry Animals have enough material for three new albums, according to frontman Gruff Rhys.
The band are currently mixing the follow-up to 2005's Love Kraft and Rhys says the album, due out in spring on new label Rough Trade, will be "speaker blowing". But an orchestral album is also planned for release at some stage.
"We just finished mixing the new record, but we're working on about three different Furries records at the moment. We've got so much music, which we'll put out gradually," Rhys said.
"We've got about 20 hours of music recorded. The next record's a bit of a racket. By the end of the last tour we had dumped all the slow songs are were just doing rocky numbers. At that point we were rehearsing a batch of new songs and that influenced their direction.
"At the moment, we're just trying to make sense of what we've mixed and we're having a period of reflection, as we always have after finishing things. We're not in a mad rush but the sooner [it's released] the better, I suppose."
Rhys, who will issue his second solo album, Candylion, on Monday January 8, also disclosed how some of the other new material sounded.
"We've got an orchestral record on the way – completely instrumental. But that will take a while."

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Super-Furry-Animals.aspx


Spice Girl takes on Eddie Murphy
Melanie Brown, best known to pop music fans as Scary Spice from British super-group Spice Girls, has hit back at former boyfriend Eddie Murphy.
The pair had been dating since June 2006 and Brown recently fell pregnant. But the American comedian/actor has demanded a paternity test to prove he's the father.
Murphy appeared on a Dutch TV show on Tuesday December 5 and announced the split, which allegedly came as a surprise to Mel B.
Yesterday, Brown released a statement to celebrity blog http://www.prezhilton.com.
"I am obviously upset and distressed at some of the comments made by Eddie Murphy to the media," she wrote. "I have no idea why anybody would want to conduct themselves in this kind of manner. I was astonished about what Eddie said [and] there is absolutely no question that Eddie is the father."

Spice Girls: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Spice-Girls.aspx


Want to buy Elvis's wedding ring?
Fans of The King with cash to burn can bid for the chance to own Elvis Presley's diamond and platinum wedding ring.
Featuring 24 diamonds, the ring is part of a selection of movie and TV memorabilia up for grabs at Hollywood's Profiles In History auction house.
The ring is expected to fetch between $127,000 and $190,000.
"This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a true piece of pop culture history," PIH owner Joe Maddalena said.
There's no word on whether Priscilla Presley will be bidding.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Elvis-Presley.aspx


eBay takes Big Day Out to court
Global auction website eBay has initiated legal action against Big Day Out promoters after the festival introduced ticket measures to reduce scalping.
The BDO have changed ticket terms and conditions to read "[tickets] will be voidable" instead of "may be voidable" if they're on-sold. The move allows BDO promoters to cancel any ticket scalped.
"I have no objection to people selling porcelain tea sets, but [eBay are] facilitating the sale of a Big Day Out ticket when there's no certainty the tickets they are selling won't be cancelled," promoter Viv Lees said.
The BDO, along with other promoters, have made many attempts to encourage eBay not to sell festival tickets online, claiming 5,200 tickets were on offer for the 2007 shows. Tickets for the Sydney, Gold Coast and Melbourne Big Day Out are sold out.

The festival's line-up includes:

The Crystal Method: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Crystal-Method-The.aspx
Muse: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Muse.aspx
My Chemical Romance: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/My-Chemical-Romance.aspx
The Killers: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Killers-The.aspx
Jet: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Jet.aspx
John Butler Trio: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Jet.aspx
Kasabian: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Kasabian.aspx
Trivium: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Trivium.aspx
The Streets: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Streets-The.aspx
Spank Rock: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Streets-The.aspx
The Sleepy Jackson: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Sleepy-Jackson-The.aspx
Scribe: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Scribe.aspx
Something For Kate: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Something-For-Kate.aspx
Lupe Fiasco: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Lupe-Fiasco.aspx
Little Birdy: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Little-Birdy.aspx
Lily Allen: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Lily-Allen.aspx
The Presets: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Presets-The.aspx
Diplo: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Diplo.aspx
The Drones: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Drones-The.aspx
Evermore: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Evermore.aspx
Eskimo Joe: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Eskimo-Joe.aspx
You Am I: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/You-Am-I.aspx
Hot Chip: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Hot-Chip.aspx

Britney: "I'm just getting started"
Defending herself against reports of parental neglect (and a lack of underwear), pop princess Britney Spears has spoken out about her recent bout of partying with Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.
"It's been so long since I've been out on the town with friends," the 25-year-old singer wrote on her website.
"It's also been two years since I've even celebrated my birthday. Every move I make at this point has been magnified more than I expected, and I probably did take my newfound freedom a bit too far. Anyway, thank God for Victoria Secrets' new underwear line! I look forward to a new year, new music and a new me. I'm just getting started… Happy Holidays everyone!"

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Britney-Spears.aspx


Usher heads back into the studio
US R&B singer Usher is back in the studio, hard at work on an upcoming longplayer that's set to drop mid-2007.
"I feel it's about time for me to come out with an album," the singer told MTV.
Working in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, on the follow-up to 2004's Confessions, Usher says he's inspired by the lack of "classic" artists currently making the rounds.
"I'm not extremely enthused about where music has gone," he revealed. "I say that coming from listening to artists like Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson… those great artists and iconic musicians. I feel music is at a standstill."
Helping him out in the studio is Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, Robin Thicke and the production teams of Dre and Vidal, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Usher also denied rumours that he's playing James Brown on the big screen, insisting he's too busy opening restaurants, developing a fragrance and promoting R&B group One Chance (who're signed to his Us Records label).

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Usher.aspx


Shannon Noll and Natalie Bassingthwaighte duet
This week sees the release of "Don't Give Up", a cover of the classic Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush hit, by none other than ex-Australian Idol singer Shannon Noll and Rogue Trader frontwoman Natalie Bassingthwaighte. The pair performed the track, which appears on forthcoming compilation Home: Songs Of Hope & Journey, on Channel 7's Dancing With The Stars last week. A percentage of proceeds from the album will be donated to Beyond Blue, the national initiative against depression.
Other artists featured on the LP include Human Nature, Alex Lloyd, Guy Sebastian & Amy Pearson, Anthony Callea, David Campbell, The Inches and Young Divas.

Shannon Noll: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Shannon-Noll.aspx
Anthony Callea: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Anthony-Callea.aspx
Alex Lloyd: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Alex-Lloyd.aspx
Young Divas: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Young-Divas-The.aspx
Human Nature: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Human-Nature.aspx
David Campbell: http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/David-Campbell.aspx