Music News Net

THE KILLERS New Album Streaming Before Release

     MUSIC NEWS- Seems we have a trend here, Guns N Roses CHINESE DEMOCRACY, THE FIREMAN (Paul McCartney) and  Kanye West streaming their new albums in full before releases.  And now, The KILLERS are streaming their new one, Day and Age  before the cd / download release on November 24, via Island Records.  Like the others, you can listen to KILLERS new effort of their  MySpace Page.  The artists and labels must assume you're likely to buy the release if you can hear it first legitimately. 

Or not.  See other Killers news.

ANNIE LENNOX, Best Of CD Arrives After Delay

     MUSIC NEWS - After a release delay due to her illness, The Annie Lennox Collection has been officially announced  with a Febr 17, 2009 release from Annie Lennox, the most successful female British artist in pop music history.  A 14-song retrospective will end her relationship with Sony BMG, and brings together her best solo work on a single disc, and includes two new songs available exclusively on this release.  Covering 15 years, The Annie Lennox Collection will also be available in a Deluxe CD/DVD edition includes hits from her four top-selling solo albums Diva (1992), Medusa (1995), Bare (2003) and last year's Songs of Mass Destruction.  Her timeless music selected for this collection reflect the essence of the singer's instantly recognizable brand of soul music on tracks like "Why," "Walking on Broken Glass" and "No More 'I Love You's'" -- a song that earned Lennox one of her four Grammys.  "It seems like the time has come to release the Collection this year," Lennox says of her first best-of set. "I'm very proud of these songs. They are timeless and have become 'classics' in their own right."

The retrospective also includes two new songs that Lennox recorded specially for this collection. The first, "Pattern of My Life," was written by Tom Chaplin of Keane. The second is a cover of "Shining Light," a song originally recorded by Ash in 2001. "I first discovered this song by Ash about six years ago, and I simply couldn't stop listening to it. It's so exultant that it virtually shimmers," Lennox says.

A dynamic activist, Lennox recently received the Red Cross Services to Humanity Award, the YouthAIDS outstanding achievement award, was named the 2008 Glamour Inspirational Woman of the Year and sang for Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebration this summer in London. And, this year the American Music Awards (AMAs)  will give Annie Lennox (Eurthymics) with a special Award of Merit given to some of the industry's most influential artists (Prince, Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley). During the show, Lennox will also give a special performance which will be her first since having back surgery in August, 2008. The show airs live from the Nokia Theatre in L.A. on Sunday, November 23 (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on ABC.

John Lennon Forgiven by Vatican for "Beatles More Popular Than Jesus" Remark

     MUSIC NEWS-  Some 40 years ago, some Christians were infuriated by the Beatles' claim that they were "more popular than Jesus".  Now, the Roman Catholic Church has made peace with the group! In Saturday's edition of the Vatican's official newspaper, the paper absolves John Lennon of his famous remark, saying that "after so many years it sounds merely like the boasting of an English working-class lad struggling to cope with unexpected success".  In a lengthy editorial marking the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' famous White Album, L'Osservatore Romano bestows lavish praise on the group.

"The talent of Lennon and the other Beatles gave us some of the best pages in modern pop music," said the newspaper, which has recently tried to drop its stuffy image by covering popular culture events such as the Oscars and inviting articles from Muslim and Jewish contributors. Only "snobs" would dismiss the Beatles' songs, which had shown "an extraordinary resistance to the effects of time, providing inspiration for several generations of pop musicians", said the newspaper, regarded as the Vatican's official paper. It was in March 1966 that Lennon made his infamous claim. See full report here from the Telegraph/UK. 

SWITCHFOOT Releasing "Best Of" Compilation CD

     MUSIC NEWS -  After releasing six full length albums, the San Diego alt rockers,  Switchfoot, have put their heads together to gather up the goodies for their first "best of" release, The Best Yet (see track list and details below).  The album, was recently released on Columbia/Legacy, includes one special original track that was featured on the 2008 movie soundtrack of the Disney film The Chronicles of Narnia:Prince Caspian .  For film's dvd and this cd release, the band put the finishing touches on the video for "This Is Home" which you can view on our Today's Video Clip  page. 

Switchfoot, comprised of Jon Foreman (vocals, guitar), brother Tim Foreman (bass, backing vocals), Jerome Fontamillas (guitar, keys, backing vocals), Drew Shirley (guitar), and Chad Butler (drums),  in addition to their music and love of surfing, has maintained a strong commitment to social and humanitarian causes ever since their rise into rock's top tier.  Since the band’s inception, they have been actively involved in such projects as DATA, Bono’s THE ONE Campaign, Invisible Children, Habitat for Humanity, and To Write Love on Her Arms.  They also founded the Switchfoot Bro-Am, a surfing and music benefit-event.  In conjunction with their new indie label, lowercase people records (formed in October 2007, after their departure from Columbia).  The is also wrapping up their current tour.  The release of THE BEST YET follows (by two weeks) Switchfoot’s conclusion of the groundbreaking 23-city “Music Builds” Tour.  A portion of the funds raised during the tour benefits Habitat for Humanity affiliates located in the tour cities (see remaining live dates listed below).

Give a listen- "This Is Home" Audio Streams:
Windows Media

Quicktime

Ready Europe? David Byrne is Touring in 2009 !

    MUSIC NEWS- Former Talking Head David Byrne has extended his current concert tour starting on March 9, 2009, in support of his new release, the collaboration with Brian Eno.   Following his February 27 show in NYC, Byrne heads overseas to launch a major spring tour of Europe (see itinerary below).  On the road, the Talking Heads founder and his band are showcasing music from August's "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today," (available this week on digipak cd)Byrne's first collaboration with Eno in 27 years.

Well known as the force behind Talking Heads and later as creator of the highly-regarded record label Luaka Bop, David Byrne’s recent musical works include Grown Backwards, Byrne’s debut for Nonesuch Records, the Talking Heads box set, the Knee Plays CD from Robert Wilson’s 1984 stage piece the CIVIL wars and Big Love: Hymnal, music from season two of the HBO series. Byrne is currently working on a number of upcoming musical projects as well, including Here Lies Love , a song cycle with Fatboy Slim based on the life of Imelda Marcos.

The idea for the new album came about during a 2006 visit the two had after Nonesuch Records re-released the pair's 1981 collaboration, "My Life in the Bus of Ghosts," according to a press statement.  "I recall Brian mentioning that he had a lot of largely instrumental tracks he'd accumulated, and since, in his words, he 'hates writing words,' I suggested I have a go at writing some words and tunes over a few of them, and we see what happens," Byrne said. "When we started this work, we started to think we were making something like electronic gospel: a music where singing was the central event, but whose sonic landscapes were not the type normally associated with that way of singing," added Eno. "This thought tapped into my long love affair with gospel music which, curiously, was inadvertently initiated by David and the Talking Heads."   "The live shows will maybe try to draw a line linking this new material with what we did 30 years ago, a little bit anyway," Byrne said.  Make it a point to see him live !

(DB photo by David Clinch)

UPDATE 3/14/09 - New summer tour dates

June 2009
1 - Shelburne, VT - The Green at Shelburne Museum
3 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre (NYC area)
5 - Philadelphia, PA - Mann Center
12 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music Festival
14 - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre
18 - Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival
20 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
24 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre

FALL OUT BOY New CD, Live Concert and OnLine Airing

     MUSIC NEWS- Chicago band Fall Out Boy has signed up with Fuse.tv, the only national music television network, to celebrate the release of their anticipated new album, "Folie a Deux," with a live concert in the band's hometown of Chicago at the historic Chicago Theatre on Tuesday, December 2.  Then, "Fall Out Boy: Live from The Chicago Theatre," will premiere on Fuse.tv on Tuesday, December 16, at 9:00PM EST/PST.  This will coincide with the release of "Folie à Deux" (cd and vinyl) .  As you may remember, their new release was originally due in early Novembe, but was delayed due to the USA election day by the band.  Tickets for the Chi concert, will go on sale at 10:00AM CST on Friday, November 28 for $10 via Ticketmaster.  Most of the of tickets will be available at The Chicago Theater box office day of show only. Check out Fuse.tv  for more ticket information. 

"We're thrilled to be working with Fall Out Boy to commemorate the launch of their newest album and provide fans with a front row ticket, live from the Chicago Theatre and on-air at Fuse," said Matt Farber, EVP, Programming, Development & Digital."  Fall Out Boy have built up a loyal following through relentless touring; they have performed over 1200 shows since their inception in 2000. Their single "I Don't Care" is #5 on Itunes Alternative chart, and the band has 5 songs in the Top 100 on Itunes Alternative Chart, including "I Don't Care." The band's 2007 release Infinity on High was #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and was the follow-up to From Under the Cork Tree ( 2005).  Hailing from Chicago, Fall Out Boy is comprised of  Patrick Vaughn Stump (vocals/guitar), Pete Wentz (bass), Joe Troh–man (guitar), and Andy Hurley (drums) They have won three MTV Video Music Awards and have received a Grammy nomination as well.

Check out other Pete Wentz news, on his upcoming art show, and promo videos for the tv airing below-

See Sold-Out Shows! Tickets Available on StubHub.com (ad)

LCD Soundsystem NOT Disbanding

     MUSIC NEWS - To make sure you're clear on this, LCD Soundsystem is NOT breaking up. James Murphy cleared up the confusion the other day.  Also, source of the original claim that the group was about to split up, Hot Chip member and LCD Soundsystem live guitarist Al Doyle, has also said it's not true.  He wrote recently on Hot Chip 's official website, Doyle said: "A news article has appeared [on the BBC website] and elsewhere, quoting me as saying that LCD Soundsystem is over, or that they have split up. I would like to clarify that LCD have not disbanded, nor could the entity be disbanded in the sense that it has always had a revolving cast of players - it would be like saying that The Fall had disbanded, or Prince has split up. LCD Soundsystem is James Murphy, and he's allowed to take time off, do other things, and come back, or not come back. And he doesn't have to tell you or anyone else about it".  He went on to say ; "I didn't know if anything was going on with LCD next year, which is the truth, and that's all I should have said, but I gabbled on a bit because that's the way I am and I didn't imagine in million years that anyone would concoct a story out of it... Anyway, I should probably stop doing interviews after this, which is already my second chance. But the main point to take away is that more LCD music is in the pipeline, which is surely good news for everybody".  Glad to hear it , and as well always say, you have to be careful with the press.  Ok, got it??

LINKIN PARK Moves Up Release of ROAD TO REVOLUTION, Wins an AMA

        MUSIC NEWS -  The band has moved up the release date of their  Road to Revolution to November 24^th ; one day earlier than planned.  Starting on Monday, the LIVE CD/DVD that captured the band’s June 29, 2008 show at the Milton Keynes National Bowl, during Linkin Park's  sold-out European leg of this past summer’s Projekt Revolution tour, will be available in stores everywhere (order now at MNN) .  The other good news is there's a brand new clip from the DVD. Check out “Bleed It Out” Live from Milton Keynes.  ENJOY !

UPDATE 11/24/08 -  The band took home the American Music Award for Favorite Alternative Rock Music Artist last evening in Los Angeles. Chester Bennington and Phoenix were on hand to accept the award. Guitarist, Brad Delson, writes “We're so honored to have won an American Music Award last night, and are incredibly grateful to everyone who voted for us online. We worked for a year and a half to make Minutes to Midnight, and spent an additional eighteen months on tour supporting it. I hope you enjoy the album as much as I still do.”

Neil Young and Drive-By Truckers to Help Out BOOKER T. on New Album !

     MUSIC NEWS - NEIL YOUNG and The Drive-By Truckers are scheduled to help out on Booker T Jones (Green Onions fame) 2009 instrumental album, his first in 20 years!  Drive-By Truckers will be Booker T's backing band and Neil will have a lead guitarist role.  "Potato Hole" is due out April 21, 2009, and the 10-song release will include covers of "Hey Ya," Tom Waits' "Get Behind the Mule" and the Drive-By Truckers' "Space City".    You may recall that soul man BOOKER T. JONES  has helped Neil out frequently, namely on Neil's "Are You Passionate" album (2002) and on his 1993 tour.  Jones and his Booker T + The MGs bandmates were Young's backing group on the much praised album, so now  Mr Young's returning the favor. 

BOSS HOG Returns to NYC Stage, First Time in 8 Years !

     MUSIC NEWS- The legendary NYC punk blues band, Boss Hog will return to the New York stage on Wednesday, December 17, at the Bowery Ballroom, headlining an evening of their deliciously outrageous, perverse rock’n’roll, degenerate burlesque, and chasm-like grooves.  Led by the wildly sexy and completely unpredictable punk chanteuse Cristina Martinez and her blues-exploding husband Jon Spencer, this will mark Boss Hog’s first hometown show since 2000. 

The band has evolved over the years, with a rotating line-up that featured members of New York’s noisiest gentry, Pussy Galore, the Honeymoon Killers, and the Unsane, before finally evolving into the classic team of Cristina Martinez, Jon Spencer, Hollis Queens, Jens Jurgensen, and Mark Boyce for the decidedly slinkier Boss Hog. The entire entourage will be on hand for this return.   Over the years they have shocked and amazed with their sui generis cocktail of sugar-coated hooks and poisonous riffs, seductive stage show, and subversive, sweaty rhythms. For their newest round they will be drawing on their entire legacy.   To explain their eight-year hiatus, Cristina says, “It’s been two torturous terms of Republican disease and culture death. Now that we're free, it's the perfect time for us to bring back our own brand of sick in celebration.”   Adds her live-in guitarist, Jon Spencer, “This whole ‘change’ thing isn’t new… Boss Hog represented change with every album we made!” 
 
The show will also feature the country punk moxie of Tennessee's Those Darlins, the parade of burlesque goddesses Harvest Moon and Dirty Martini, with special guest DJ Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.   If you recall, Boss Hog’s 1989 debut was as a last-minute fill in at CBGBs. Don't miss it.

Velvet Revolver Needs a New Label, They Part from Sony's RCA

     MUSIC NEWS-  With the the long-awaited release of Axl Rose's version of Gun N' Roses' Chinese Democracy upon us (and internet leaks already), seems that Velvet Revolver has been dropped by their record label, RCA.  Despite rumors that it was due to low sales figures, it's apparently not the case, at least according to Slash. His official fansite, snakepit.org reports: "Slash says that while it is true that VR is no longer with RCA, the truth is not as negative as the rumor. The band owed RCA money for a third album, which at this time they are unable to produce (no singer). The band and RCA parted amicably.  When they are recording the new album, it most likely will be for a new label".  VR features ex-GnR members Slash (at left) , Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum, along with guitarist Dave Kushner.  The band released two albums via RCA/Sony BMG; Contraband (2004), and its follow-up, Libertad (200&).  The band has continue to tour until April of this year, when they dumped singer Scott Weiland for weird behavior and drug use. Weiland has since returned to his old band, Stone Temple Pilots .  Since the summer, VR has been auditioning several possible replacements for Mr Weiland. Among the rumored candidates are ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach, former MTV VJ Steve Isaacs (who sang for The Panic Channel), ex-Spacehog vocalist Royston Langdon and Lenny Kravitz (which has been outrighted denied by Lenny and VR).

COLDPLAY Days Winding Down ?

     MUSIC NEWS - Brit rocker Chris Martin has once again suggested that he may retire from all things music, maybe as soon as next year.  Seems like Coldplay won't become the next U2 or Rolling Stones with endless releases and tours.   Martin told the British Daily Express newspaper; "I'm 31 now and I don't think that bands should keep going past 33. So, we're trying to pack in as much as possible. Up until the end of next year, we'll just go for it in every sense. I don't believe in time off. We've still got most of our hair, we can still fit into our musical trousers and we've got to make the most of that". The group has already hinted that their next (fifth) album will be their last. Their current album, Viva la Vida is, as you know,  one of the top selling records of 2008 worldwide.   We wonder what Chris's career plans are.  MNN won't argue with that, but we heard the "last album, last tour" cry before from bands.  Five albums may be too soon to quit !!!

btw, their current tour continues, see dates below-

Paul Doucette, Matchbox Twenty, Side Project Band and New Album

     MUSIC NEWS -  Break and Repair Method recently released their debut album, called Milk the Bee on indie label Bluhammock.  The Break and Repair Method is the side project of Matchbox Twenty drummer Paul Doucette.   He stepped back from his traditional matchbox gig did all of the song writing and played the majority of the instruments.  He uses a new term for the sound of this effort, calling it “pop depression” due to the contrast of the pretty pop melodies and dark lyrics.  Check out the video for "You Won't Be Able to Be Sad or listen, here.  And the band still has some midwest concert dates this month, to check out (listed below), opening for Matt Nathanson.   Let us know what you think of this new band.

Sign Up to the MNN Mailing List and Enter to Win a Wii System

ENTER TO WIN- Sign up to the MNN mailing list by December 15, 2008 and you will be automatically entered to win one of ten Nintendo Wii systems from MNN and FanBridge!   If you're already signed to on the MNN mailing list, just go back and update any info (like adding their name/myspace/etc.) by December 15 to  be entered.  Don't worry, we don't share/sell mailing list info, we don't mail often and you can be removed at any time.  Thanks and good luck from all at MNN !!

NEIL FINN Gets Wilco, Radiohead Members to Record on Next Album !

      MUSIC NEWS - Crowded House leader Neil Finn will donate all the profits from his next album to international aid organization, Oxfam.  And, the New Zealander is assembling an all-star cast of musicians, including members of Radiohead, Modest Mouse and Wilco, to complete the album at his recording studio in Auckland, NZ over Christmas Holiday and early in the new year.   The project is a follow-up to the live album Seven Worlds' Collide, (2001) which featured music recorded at a series of concerts by Finn and musical guests in Auckland.   Many of the same friends of Neil, such as former Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr and Radiohead's Ed O'Brien & Phil Selway, are involved in the new album, along with four members of US roots-rock group Wilco, including singer and songwriter Jeff Tweedy.  Finn, who has performed concerts to raise money for Oxfam previously, said that supporting the aid organization would "make these sessions particularly meaningful".  "The Seven Worlds Collide concerts were an amazing experience for all of us, and we're delighted to have found an opportunity to gather again, this time to expand the concept and the line-up."  Of the new album Finn told the Herald (NZ newspaper); "It will be really intense," "We have got to pull off making an album in less than three weeks and that is a really big ask for anybody."

 

Additionally, Crowded House will tour Australia later this month for a few gigs.