Author Archive
Mel Gibson, Jesus Doesn't Love You
July 1st, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
Conservatives and anti-Semites the world over must really hate Mel Gibson right now. Since the release of The Passion of the Christ, Gibson has been increasingly viewed as a figurehead for right-wing reactionary views, but Gibson has fucked up yet again. The Mad Max star has been caught on tape launching a profane, racist tirade directed at Oksana Grigorieva, his former lover and mother of his seven-month-old child, before directing his ire upon one-time James Bond star Timothy Dalton. Read the rest of this entry »
The Reformation Era: Five Bands That Will Never Reform
July 1st, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
Is there any band out there that is not set to reform? In the latest Reformation news, the news that the line-up responsible for Guided By Voices stellar 1993-1996 period is about to reform and tour for the Matador Records 21st birthday party in Las Vegas, leaves us wondering – are all bands eventually going to kiss and make up, tour endlessly and become a cartoon copy of something that was once great (Hello, Pixies)? Click through for five bands that will probably buck the trend and never reform.
Villagers Earn NPR "First Listen", Debut Album Stream
May 21st, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
We love Villagers and starting on June 1, NPR.org will stream their debut album Becoming A Jackal for one week, leading to the album’s US release on June 8. O’Brien, who will kick off a solo East Coast tour on June 17, performed a stripped down version of album track “Home” for Yours Tru.ly recently. Watch the video here for a taste of what’s to come. And click through for East Coast tour dates.
The Pink Panther Strikes Again In Paris
May 21st, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
The Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, is a noted art enthusiast. So you can imagine his disbelief when he found out that a thief had broken his way into the Musée d’Art Moderne and decided to leave with five masterpieces – a Picasso, a Matisse and a Modigliani. But instead of casigating the thief for his actions, the Mayor’s office were praising him for his stealthy beahavior - “Er, the alarm was apparently deactivated. They must have been a sophisticated bunch. The guards saw nothing,” said Christophe Girard, Mr Delanoë’s Deputy Mayor in charge of Culture. He also : “To get into the museum so fast by disassembling a window, choose five specific works and then slip out unnoticed by the guards, that is quite impressive.”
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Today In Music
May 19th, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
Not willing to face up to the fact that it was a complete dud, Axl Rose is suing his former manager Irving Azoff for allegedly sabotaging sales of comeback album Chinese Democracy.
Elvis Costello has decided to join a cultural boycott of Israel by pulling out of his concerts there next month. Would it not be more beneficial to the beleaguered Palestinians if Costello actually did play his gigs as planned and donated the proceeds to a worthy cause?
Metal heroes Isis are about to break metal hearts the world over by breaking up after their current tour.
Speaking of metal, which star would you most commonly associate with the genre of sci-fi concept metal? Why, Ryan Adams of course! The mercurial country singer has made his own sci-fi metal album (with help from Voivod, of all people) entitled Orion and you can purchase it on vinyl from his website here.
The Chemical Brothers share their music festival philosophy
And finally, you can watch Beach House cover Gucci Mane over at Prefix
PiL: Live At Terminal 5
May 19th, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
The simple fact that the two of the most well-known PiL songs (‘This Is Not A Love Song’ and ‘Rise’) were the most tedious performances at the band’s first New York gig in aeons says it all. Playing to a highly reverent crowd, Johnny Rotten’s latest PiL are sonically punishing, spearheaded by Lu Edmonds glass-shattering guitar work which crashes into Rotten’s caterwauling wail to create a deafening, scree like wall of sound which was underpinned by the extremely taut and rigid bass and drums. This was retrofuturism in action – the sound of the future circa 1979.
My Morning Jacket Charity Donations
May 18th, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
Shortly after completing their recent tour with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Louisville’s My Morning Jacket will be taking their exhilarating live show back on the road this August. Sub Pop’s Avi Buffalo will be supporting the group for the San Diego date as well as their LA show at The Greek Theater. The run will also include a stop at Denver’s Mile High Festival, and MMJ will be supporting the brilliant Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers on several dates. For all of the Jacket’s headlining dates, the guys will be donating $1 from each ticket to a local charity. Click through for dates and the full list of organizations along with links to their websites for more information.
R.E.M. Fables of the Reconstruction Re-Issue
May 18th, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
While guitarist Peter Buck moonlights with Snow Patrol, the R.E.M. re-issue series continues apace with the re-release of Fables of the Reconstruction on July 13, reminding us of that time when the band were actually worth listening to. Recorded in London during the winter of 1985, the album was produced by Joe Boyd (Nick Drake, Fairport Convention) and acts as the conduit between the band’s early murky, college-rock sound and their later glossy, pop period.
Joy Division Anniversary: Music Turned Into School Symphony
May 18th, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
If Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis had not hanged himself 30 years ago today, how different would things be? Would the band be fresh from making a comeback at Coachella? Would we have been spared the unseemly sight of New Order: The Fat Years? Either way, we will never know. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the singer’s death, Schoolchildren from his hometown of Macclesfield, near Manchester, are set recreate Joy Division’s music as a symphony. Read the rest of this entry »
This Will Destroy You: Album & Tour
May 18th, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
Texas post-rockers, the aptly named This Will Destroy You, are heading out on the road after a successful European tour and recording their latest album which will be entitled Tunnel Blanket with producer John Congleton (Explosions in the Sky, Modest Mouse, Chiarlift). You can exclusively check out their “Communal Blood,” which will also be available as a limited (500) album pressing that will only be available at concerts. Tour dates after le jump.
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Evelyn Evelyn Album, Videos & Tour
May 17th, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
Evelyn Evelyn, the world’s only conjoined twin singer-songwriter duo “discovered” by Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls and renowned minstrel Jason Webley, have released their debut album and will be touring the US beginning May 17. For a taste of what’s coming to a theater near you, check out the videos of “Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn?” and “You Only Want Me ‘Cause You Want My Sister,” filmed at Evelyn Evelyn’s performance at OBERON in Cambridge, MA. To learn more about Evelyn Evelyn, check out their “Behind The Music” documentary here. Click through for dates.
Free Energy New Video & Tour
May 17th, 2010 by Colm McAuliffe
Free Energy’s new video for “Bang Pop” premieres today exclusively on MySpace. Directed by Josh Nussbaum and produced by Ben Nabors, the video was shot in a middle school just outside of the band’s homebase of Philadelphia. Produced by DFA’s James Murphy, Free Energy’s debut album, Stuck On Nothing, is out now on Astralwerks/DFA Records. The band has just announced new dates with Mates of State and their shows at NXNE following their dates with Jukebox the Ghost – click through for more details.
