Bad Boy to release Notorious B.I.G Greatest Hits album March 6

Bad Boy will be releasing a Notorious B.I.G. Greatest Hits on March 6.

Tracklist:

'Juicy'
'Big Poppa'
'Hypnotize'
'One More Chance Remix'
'Get Money'
'Warning'
'Dead Wrong'
'Who Shot Ya'
'Ten Crack Commandments'
'Notorious Thugs'
'Notorious'
'Nasty Girl'
'Unbelievable'
'Niggaz Bleed'
'Runnin' Ya Mouth'
'Want That Old Thing Back'
'Lovin' You Tonight'

Damien Rice playing DAR Constitution Hall May 25, tickets on sale Friday

Damien Rice will play DAR Constitution Hall on May 25. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 2, at 10 AM.

Nine Inch Nails releases "Beside You In Time" live DVD, another Year Zero clue

Yesterday, Nine Inch Nails released Nine Inch Nails - Live - Beside You in Time, which contained another clue: www.securebroadcastinformatics.com.

I can't really say what it means just yet, but there are moving boxes that look like a username/password form: username: carolina password: matt26:45-46. Matthew 26:45-46 in the Bible says (in a very modern translation):

"Then Jesus went back to the followers and said, "You are still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be given to sinful people. Stand up! We must go. Here comes the man that is giving me {to my enemies}." Jesus announced to his disciples that his betrayer was approaching.

David Geffen gets nasty all over the Clinton campaign

It's old news now, but it's still funny:

David Geffen Geffen Records, co-founder of Dreamworks SKG) has been unhappy with Bill Clinton since Clinton refused to pardon Leonard Peltier but did grant a pardon to white-collar criminal financier Marc Rich. Now Gef is getting personal, saying that Hillary Clinton is "the easiest to beat" of the Democratic candidates for President in 2008 and calling Hillary out for refusing to say she made a mistake on voting for war in Iraq.

Hillary has stated "My vote was a sincere vote based on the facts and assurances that I had at the time," Clinton said. "And I have taken responsibility for my votes and I believe that none of us should get a free pass. It is us up to the voters to judge what each of us has said and done."

The Clinton campaign is asking Barack Obama to return David Geffen's $2,300.00 contribution to his campaign, saying "his campaign embraces the politics of trash." Looks like Hilly Clint is slinging the mud!

Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service plots solo tour

Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service is planning a solo tour. David Bazan and Jonathan Rice will open.

Tour Dates:
May 3 - First Avenue, Minneapolis
May 4 - Metro, Chicago
May 7 - Somerville Theatre, Sommerville, Mass.
May 8 - Town Hall, New York
May 9 - Theatre Of Living Arts, Philadelphia
May 10 - 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
May 11 - Cat's Cradle, Carboro, N.C.
May 12 - Center Stage, Atlanta
May 14 - Granada Theater, Dallas
May 15 - Emo's, Austin
May 17 - Royce Hall, Los Angeles
May 18 - The Fillmore, San Francisco
May 19 - Roseland Theater, Portland, Ore.
May 20 - Showbox, Seattle

New England Metal & Hardcore Festival Dates & Lineup

The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will be on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 at the Palladium in Worcester, MA. Some bands have been confirmed (thanks to Lambgoat for the heads up). It will be interesting to see Bury Your Dead and Bloodlined Calligraphy with their new singers.

Some bands confirmed for Friday are:
Bury Your Dead
Devil Driver
Satyricon
Walls of Jericho
Kataklysm
Kylesa
Skinless
The Devil Wears Prada
All Shall Perish
100 Demons
Nora
The Human Abstract
Still Remains
Thy Will Be Done
Nachtmystium
December Aeterali
Merauder
Death Before Dishonor
Suicide Silence
Beneath the Massacre
Skeletonwitch
Stick to Your Guns
The Faceless
Blood Runs Black
Dead Hearts
xDeathStarx
Palehorse
Bloodlined Calligraphy
The Funeral Pyre

Saturday's performers include:
Unearth
Cannibal Corpse
The Black Dahlia Murder
The Red Chord
Job for a Cowboy
Lizzy Borden
Goatwhore
I Killed the Prom Queen
Shai Halud
Since the Flood
Demiricous
Hallows Eve
Cellador
Beyond the Embrace
The Architect
Animosity
Psyopus
If Hope Dies
Ed Gein
The Absence
Gaza
Forever in Terror
Apiary
Sons of Azreal
The Destro
The Network

Citizen Cope spring tour dates. Presale starts tomorrow

Citizen Cope announced some spring dates today. Starting tomorrow, go here for the presale. Password is "cope".

Show Dates:

April 5 - Stubbs Bar-B-Que - Austin, TX
April 6 - Palladium Ballroom - Dallas, TX
April 7 - Cypress Bayou - Rox Night Club - Charenton, LA
April 9 - House of Blues - New Orleans, LA
April 10 - WorkPlay Theatre - Birmingham, AL
April 11 - The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
April 12 - Georgia Theatre - Athen's, GA
April 13 - City Hall - Nashville, TN
April 14 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
April 16 - Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC
April 17 - The Music Farm - Charleston, SC
April 18 - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC - Discounted two show pass
April 19 - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC - Discounted two show pass
April 24 - Higher Ground- Burlington, VT
April 25 - Higher Ground- Burlington, VT
April 26 - Avalon Ballroom - Boston, MA
April 27 - Toad's Place - New Haven, CT

Baltimore City Council passes smoking ban

The Baltimore City Council passed a smoking ban for Baltimore bars and restaurants today. Not sure yet when it will take effect.

New Releases: Regina Spektor Live In California 2006 EP

Regina Spektor has just released a four-song EP that was recorded live in California recently, and you can get it on iTunes or in physical format. I recommend going the digital route, even though I'm a CD holdout, because the EP at Warner Brothers' store is $5, and shipping is $4.

Tracklist:

"Fidelity"
"Field Below"
"Sailor Song"
"Ghost of Corporate Future"

Stream The Arcade Fire's Neon Bible on NME.com. . .hear it before it comes out March 6

Fans of The Arcade Fire rejoice: Neon Bible is available for streaming on NME.com. The album will be released for purchase stateside on March 6.

Lily Allen perpetuates a rock stereotype (or tries, but just looks like a brat) in Australia

MTV reports that Lily Allen likes to brag about her "amazing" shows and trashing dressing rooms. Honey, you're not Motley Crue. Stop trying to live up to some rock and roll stereotype.

The event in question took place after Allen's show in Sydney, AU, and being uber-hip as she is, she posted about it on her MySpace page.

Rage Against The Machine continues touring after Coachella. . .with The Wu-Tang Clan

Rage Against The Machine's show at Coachella won't be a one-off performance, after all. They will join the Wu-Tang Clan for three shows, according to the LA Times: New York on July 28, a Southern California area show Aug. 11 and a San Francisco show Aug. 18.

Regina Spektor US Tour Dates, on sale 2/27

Regina Spektor has announced a few US tour dates (not really all that new, but they go on sale 2/27, so be ready!):

3/28 - Purchase, NY @ Purchase College
4/12 - Savannah, GA @ Savannah College of Art & Design
4/21 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
4/24 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
4/25 - Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
4/26 - Sacramento, CA @ Empire
4/28 - Indio, CA @ Coachella (SOLD OUT)
4/29 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
4/30 - San Franscisco, CA @ The Warfield
5/13 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theater (on sale now)
6/17 - Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo (tickets sold through Bonnaroo)

Year Zero marketing is so awesome!

All this Year Zero marketing and viral stuff is AWESOME. See Rolling Stone's guide to see how deep it goes.

As you peruse the websites, you can highlight the text to read it. Helps a lot on the blurry parts.

Check out the Year Zero album art. Scary stuff.

Madonna forbids Lourdes from dating

Madonna fans not lucky to have slept with her before Guy came along, forget any ambitions of passing the torch to your child, hoping he or she gets to date one of Madonna's kids (that would be the next best thing, right?). According to an MTV News story, Madonna has forbidden Lourdes from men until she is grown. What if it turns out she's into girls, Madge?

Madonna has also "banned Lourdes and her younger brother Rocco from watching TV and eating junk food, makes them earn their treats, and if they leave clothes on the floor they end up in the bin [trash, Americans, that means trash]."

I wonder if they have a naughty stool in their house? "Rocco, terrible behavior! To the naughty stool with you! Ten minutes!"

Guns N' Roses Chinese Democracy delayed again. . .you're not surprised, are you?

Even though there was a leak of the Guns N' Roses single "Better" this week, hardcore fans who still care will be dismayed to hear that Chinese Democracy has been delayed yet again, with no further information, save that the band is currently in mixing stages.

Metallica set to enter studio with Rick Rubin, leaving Bob Rock behind

According to their website, Metallica will return to the studio recording the follow-up to St. Anger next month.

The boys will work with Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Beastie Boys), leaving behind long-time producer Bob Rock (who they apparently are ditching because of the huge St. Anger stinkfest). The album is as-yet untitled and has no planned release date.

More Mastodon tour dates, including Priestess and Mouth of the Architect

Mastodon and Priestess have added Mouth of the Architect to their collection of March US tour dates:

3/19 San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
3/20 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
3/21 Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
3/23 Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep
3/24 Salt Lake City, UT @ Avalon Theater
3/26 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
3/27 Spokane , WA @ The Big Easy
3/28 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre

Other dates:

04/14/2007 Adelaide, AUSTRALIA @ Thebarton Theatre
04/15/2007 Melbourne, AUSTRALIA @ Vodafone Arena
04/17/2007 Sydney, AUSTRALIA @ Hordern Pavilion
04/19/2007 Brisbane, AUSTRALIA @ Riverstage
04/21/2007 Auckland, NEW ZEALAND @ St. James Theatre
06/29/2007 Hovefestival 2007. Arendal, Norway w/Slayer

Tool postpones spring 2007 tour: Does that include Bonnaroo?

Drummer Danny Carey of Tool injured himself over this past weekend, and the previously scheduled tour dates for Spring 2007 have been postponed, and are planned to be "rescheduled" according to Tool's fan club. The question is, though, does that include Bonnaroo? It would logically follow, right?

Album Review: Librarians - Alright Easy Candy Stranger

Any review of a Librarians release is going to have to start with something like "These guys are from West Virginia?" With an indie disco flavor that is very palatable, Alright Easy Candy Stranger sounds as sweet as the treat its title refers to. And most urbanites who think banjos and Deliverance (or, at best, All Good Festival and WVU) when they hear Morgantown will be able to enjoy this accessible gumdrop of a debut full-length.

Synthed-out post-punk dance revival lead-off track "Culture Vulture" has a vocal intensity (something like a caffeine-injected Interpol) that would do Librarians better to carry on the whole album through, and the clapping percussion rounds out a funky tune that has to get these guys some play on WVU's campus station. "Secret Sugar Lip" changes the focus to guitars and garage sound, yet retains the album's shared trait of danceability. Continuing the rock-out sound is "Wax Teeth" with a punk rock bridge that'll make the dancing scenesters want to pogo.

The highlights of the album are "Spend All The Cash" with its multiple vocal parts and simple yet effective guitar hook, as well as "Come On White Girl" and its indie pop chorus "Alright, it's easy. Like taking candy from a stranger," from which the album's title is derived.

It needs to be out there: the indie disco sound and the drab brit-pop vocal tone are not quite timeless, and are in danger of falling out of vogue in the popular arena. Fortunately for Librarians, however, they also incorporate the post-punk guitar and drums of Franz Ferdinand with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and sarcasm that hits the mark. A continued grasp on dance-influenced garage and punk sound will keep Librarians in the pages of the magazines, rather than filing them in the stacks like their namesakes.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Free MP3: The Stooges - "My Idea of Fun"

We're all anticipating the reunion of The Stooges, not to mention their first album in 34 years, The Weirdness, which streets March 20.

Download "My Idea of Fun" and decide if the hype is worth it. This double entendre jam full of fuzzed-out guitars definitely works for me. Though Iggy didn't learn to sing as the years went by.

Van Halen Reunion Tour Nixed

The previously confirmed Van Halen reunion tour will not be happening, according to Pollstar. Looks like that little punk Wolfgang Van Halen won't be filling Michael Anthony's shoes this time around.

New album from Pelican releases May 22, tour with These Arms Are Snakes, more

The new full-length album from Pelican, City of Echoes, will street on May 22nd. Give the title track a listen at Pelican's MySpace page.

Confirmed tour dates for Pelican:

March 4, 2007 - Chicago, IL
Subterranean
10pm
21+
w/ Sweet Cobra, Minsk
Sweet Cobra Insurance Relief Benefit

March 5, 2007 - De Kalb, IL
The House
8pm
w/ Russian Circles, Young Widows

March 6, 2007 - Ann Arbor, MI
Blind Pig
9pm
w/ Russian Circles, Young Widows

March 7, 2007 - Toledo, OH
Headliners
8pm
w/ Russian Circles, Young Widows

March 8, 2007 - Covington, KY
Madhatter Club
8pm - 18+
w/ Russian Circles, Young Widows

March 9, 2007 - Louisville, KY
St. John's Center
8pm
w/ Russian Circles, Young Widows, Dead Child

March 10, 2007 - Nashville, TN
Exit In
9pm - 18+
w/ Russian Circles, Young Widows

March 11, 2007 - Atlanta, GA
Drunken Unicorn
8pm
w/ Daughters, Russian Circles, Chinese Stars

March 12, 2007 - Birmingham, AL
Bottletree Lounge
8:30pm - 18+
w/ Daughters, Russian Circles, Young Widows

March 13, 2007 - Baton Rouge, LA
Spanish Moon
10pm - 18+
w/ Daughters, Russian Circles, Young Widows

March 14, 2007 - Houston, TX
Walters
8:30pm
w/ Daughters, Russian Circles, Young Widows

March 15, 2007 - Austin, TX
Emos
7pm
SXSW Hydra Head Records Showcase
w/ Jesu, Big Business, Daughters
Oxbow, Stephen Brodsky's Octave Museum

March 16, 2007 - Austin, TX
Club Deville
1pm
21+
SXSW Insound Party
w/ Shout Out Out Out, Black Lips, Walter Meego

March 17, 2007 - Fort Worth, TX
Ridgiea Theater
1pm
Ridgiea Music Festival
w/ These Arms Are Snakes, Russian Circles,
Young Widows and more...

March 19, 2007 - Springfield, MO
Outland Ballroom
8pm
w/ Russian Circles, Young Widows

March 20, 2007 - Kansas City, MO
Record Bar
10pm - 18+
w/ Russian Circles, Young Widows

March 21, 2007 - Iowa City, IA
The Picador
9pm
w/ Russian Circles, Young Widows

April 5, 2007 - Prague, CZ
Palace Akropolis

April 6, 2007 - Bielefeld, DE
Ajz

April 7, 2007 - Fernelmon, BE
Rhaaa Lovely Festival

April 8, 2007 - Haarlem, NL
Patronaat
w/ These Arms Are Snakes
April 9, 2007 - Antwerp, BE
Trix
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 10, 2007 - Paris, FR
La Maroquinerie
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 12, 2007 - Lausanne, CH
La Romandie
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 13, 2007 - Esch-sur-Alzette, LU
Out Of The Crowd Festival
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 14, 2007 - Southampton, UK
Joiners
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 15, 2007 - Birmingham, UK
Barfly
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 16, 2007 - Glasgow, UK
ABC2
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 17, 2007 - Manchester, UK
Satan's Hollow
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 18, 2007 - Leeds, UK
The Cockpit
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 19, 2007 - London, UK
Islington Academy
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 20, 2007 - Brighton, UK
Audio
w/ These Arms Are Snakes

April 21, 2007 - Tilburg, NL
Roadburn Festival
w/ Neurosis, Om, Growing, Thrones...

April 22, 2007 - Dresden, DE
Groovestation

May 31, 2007 - Lisbon, POR
Santiago Alquimista

Free MP3: Bright Eyes - "Tourist Trap"

As you wait to catch Bright Eyes at 9:30 Club on March 5, go ahead and download the "Tourist Trap" MP3 from the EP The Four Winds due March 6 and the full-length album Cassadaga which comes out April 10, as previously reported.

Sirius/XM Merger Offer Announced

As reported here yesterday, Sirius has made a $4.6 billion offer to buy XM Radio. Source: Yahoo!

New Tori Amos Album, American Doll Posse, May 1! And Tour Dates Coming Soon!

On May 1st Tori Amos is releasing a new album, American Doll Posse. Written and produced by Tori herself, she intends to launch a tour in support, but dates have yet to be announced.

Hot Shows Coming To Baltimore & DC Through April

Here are some pretty nice shows to check out in the Baltimore/DC area over the next month or so:

FEBRUARY
2/21 The Lemonheads @ Ottobar
2/21 Snowden, Malajube @ Rock and Roll Hotel
2/22 Chin Up Chin Up, Someone Still Loves Your Boris Yeltson @ Black Cat
2/25 The One AM Radio @ Warehouse Next Door
2/28 Guster, Mason Jennings, Jack’s Mannequin, Head Automatica @ 9:30 Club

MARCH
3/1 Guster, Mason Jennings @ 9:30 Club
3/2 The Thermals @ Black Cat
3/4 Scissor Sisters @ 9:30 Club
3/4 Grizzly Bear, Papercuts @ Black Cat
3/4 Rob Crow (of Pinback) @ Rock and Roll Hotel
3/5 Bright Eyes @ 9:30 Club
3/5 Young Knives @ Black Cat
3/6 Badly Drawn Boy @ 9:30 Club
3/6 Clinic @ Black Cat
3/9 The Roots @ DAR Constitution Hall
3/14 The Good, The Bad and The Queen @ 9:30 Club
3/16 Michael Franti & Spearhead @ 9:30 Club
3/19 The Cinematics @ 9:30 Club
3/20 Pete Yorn, Aqualung @ 9:30 Club
3/20 Rodrigo Y Gabriela @ Grosvenor Auditorium
3/23 RJD2, Busdriver @ 9:30 Club
3/23 Silversun Pickups, Snow Patrol, OK Go @ Bender Arena (American University)
3/23 The Walkmen @ Rock and Roll Hotel
3/28 Cold War Kids, Tokyo Police Club, The Delta Spirit @ 9:30 Club
3/29 Ted Leo and the Pharmacists @ 9:30 Club
3/30 MSTRKRFT, John Digweed @ 9:30 Club
3/31 Electric Six, Test Your Reflex @ Black Cat
3/31 Menomena, Land of Talk, Field Music @ Rock and Roll Hotel

APRIL
4/5 Albert Hammond Jr (of The Strokes) @ 9:30 Club
4/7 Kaiser Chiefs, The Walkmen @ 9:30 Club
4/9 Matt Kearney, Rocco DeLuca, The Feeling @ 9:30 Club
4/13 Aqueduct, Junior Boys @ Black Cat
4/17 Ratatat, The Books @ 9:30 Club
4/18 TV on the Radio, The Noisettes @ 9:30 Club
4/23 M. Ward, Norah Jones @ DAR Constitution Hall

Sasquatch Music Festival 2007 Lineup - Bjork, Beastie Boys, Arcade Fire, Citizen Cope, More!

Sasquatch Music Festival will be held over Memorial Day weekend this year, May 26-27 at The Gorge Ampitheatre in George, Washington. Another great lineup, check this out:

Saturday, May 26:

Björk
The Arcade Fire
Manu Chao Radio Bemba Sound System
M.I.A.
Citizen Cope
Neko Case
The Hold Steady
Grizzly Bear
Ghostland Observatory
Electrelane
Two Gallants
The Slip
Loney, Dear
Aqueduct
The Thermals
Viva Voce
The Blow
Gabriel Teodros

Sunday, May 27:

Beastie Boys
Interpol
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Spoon
Bad Brains
Ozomatli
Dandy Warhols
The Black Angels
Mirah
Tokyo Police Club
Money Mark
St. Vincent
Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter
Smoosh
Common Market
The Helio Sequence
Minus the Bear

New Release: Bear Colony - We Came Here To Die

Sitting in my inbox for some time now has been a link to streaming audio for Bear Colony's new album, We Came Here To Die. It came out on February 13 on Esperanza Plantation, and if you like the indie sound, you'll probably dig this. The lead-off, "Sharks", kind of rocks, too. The art was done by former Sub Pop art director Jesse Ledoux (Shins, Pedro the Lion), so that's why it looks familiar.

RJD2 Exclusive Mix on URGE's Digital Decks; Catch RJ at 9:30 Club March 23

For those of you who use MTV's URGE, there is a 52-song DJ mix from RJD2. The mix is part of the Digital Decks series featuring mixes from the world's top DJs. Here's the tracklist:

John Williams (Guitarist) "Excerpts of Spanish Guitar" (London)

Ray Charles "Mississippi Mud" (Rhino)

Pierre Groscolas "Dans Un Mois Ou Dans Un An" (Trema)

Little Beaver "Funkadelic Sound" (Soul Jazz)

Junior Parker "Love Ain't Nothin' but a Business Goin' On" (Simitar)

Johnnie Taylor "Somebody's Getting It" (Columbia)

The Gaylettes "Son of a Preacher Man" (West Side)

Floyd Jones "Sweet Talkin' Woman" (Testament Records)

Muddy Waters "Big Leg Woman" (MCA/Chess)

Sly, Slick and Wicked "If This Ain't Really Love" (Ju-Par)

Heaven & Earth "I Can't Seem to Forget You" (P-Vine)

Rasa"Chanting" (Hearts of Space / New Earth)

Ted Taylor "It's a Funky Situation" (Jewel)

Freddie North "Love to Hate" (Mankind)

David Peoples "Got to Get My Broom Out/ Inst." (Saru)

Ground Hog "Bumpin'" (Gemigo)

Daisy Door"Du Lebst In Deiner Welt" (Ariola)

Eleventh Hour "Hollywood Hot" (20th Century)

The J.B.'s "Gimme Some More" (People)

Alex Williams "The Thrill Ain't Gone" (Soultrack)

Konks "Master Cylinder's Jam"

Chaka Khan "Best in the West" (Reprise)

Georgio Moroder "Knights in White Satin" (Oasis)

People's Choice "I Likes to Do It" (Phil L.A. Of Soul)

Mickey and His Mice "Crackerjack" (Marti)

Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Band "Spreadin' Honey" (Warner)

Dick Oatts "South Paw" (Steeplechase)

Cookie Roberts "The Black House"

John "Jellybean" Benitez "The Mexican" (EMI American)

Donald Austin "Crazy Legs" (Eastbound)

Simtec & Wylie "Do It Like Mama" (Shama)

Tommy Ridgly "Pretty Little Mama" (Blue Jay)

Reggie Griffin "Mirda Rock" (Sugar Hill)

Instant Funk "Go for Yourself" (TSOP)

Belladonna "Lunar Funk"

Hall & Oates "I'm Sorry"

Ray Charles "Georgia on My Mind (RJD2 Modulation & Remix)" (Rhino)

Otis Redding "Otis Breakbeat"

RJD2 "Someones Second Kiss" (Def Jux)

Soul Position "Candyland" (Fatbeats/Rhymesayers)

Starborn Hair Advert "Dewolfe (Remix)"

Linda Jones "Can You Blame Me?" (Neptune)

Tweet "Turn da Lights Off (Tweet Loop)" (Atlantic)

Leela James "Music (Remix)" (Warner Brothers)

RJD2 "Work (Remix)" (Definitive Jux)

RJD2 "One Day (Remix)" (Def Jux)

Soul Position "Huddle Formation (Remix)" (Columbia)

UTADA "Devil Inside (Remix)" (Island)

RJD2 "Rain (Remix)" (Bustown Pride)

The Go! Team "Huddle Formation (RJD2 Remix)" (Memphis Industries)

RJD2 "Get off My Spaceship, Bitch (Breakdown)" (Def Jux)




Looks like a pretty tight mix of old soul, blues, funk, and plenty of RJ's own cuts. Check out the mix here.

RJD2 will be at 9:30 Club on March 23 with Busdriver and Happy Chichester.

Record & Tape Traders Offers Disc-Go Digital Studio: Burn CDs In-Store From Over 50,000 Albums And 500,000 Songs

Now available at Towson & Belair Record & Tape Traders locations is Disc-Go Digital Studio, a kiosk that contains 500,000 songs and 50,000 albums and allows the customer to burn CDs in seven minutes. According to Digital Kiosk Technologies, LLC, the kiosks also allow media to be downloaded to MP3 players, too.

R&TT is making a move to maintain its customer base by reaching out to the new generation of consumers who are content with buying digital format music. As brick-and-mortar stores compete with iTunes and other digital stores, will Disc-Go keep stores alive?

Sirius/XM Merger Starts To Take Shape

A New York Post article today discusses the potential Sirius and XM satellite radio merger. It is an apparent given that the two companies see the merger as the only business decision to consider, but antitrust issues are the problem. With the recent party shift in Washington, the FCC may not be friendly to the two competitors merging into one monopoly on extraterrestrial radio service. As the two companies' lawyers iron out the terms of the business deal, the NYP reports, the effort is to "frame the discussion around the deal itself and not regulatory concerns."

Concert Review - Mastodon Brings The Blood and Thunder To 9:30 Club - 2/17/07

Mastodon graced the stage at the 9:30 Club tonight with a tight and essentially flawless set. With very little to say, they came on stage and commenced a set which would feature mostly songs from Blood Mountain, as well as a few songs from Leviathan, including a personal favorite, "Blood and Thunder".

Mastodon is definitely one of the truly technically proficient bands out there, with a free-form element in their composition, as their tracks can change in tempo from one minute to the next, but an absolute rigidity in their performance, as their live show is as tight and true to the album as they come (which can be a very good thing, when your albums are as good as Mastodon's). The only real criticism of the evening is that drummer Brann Dailor can at times seem to get away from the band with his hammering double bass and double-speed playing. But in a live show with both melody and mayhem played to perfection, one cannot complain about a drummer passionate about his work.

An unreal set, Mastodon deserves your attention every time they come in to your city. When they play live, they can put almost any other band, metal or otherwise, to shame with their perfect instrumentation.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Stream "Survivalism" From Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero

We're all painfully waiting for Year Zero to drop on April 17. To help ease the pain, however, Prefix Magazine has "Survivalism" available to stream.

I'm going to go ahead and say, uhhh, I'm hoping some of the other songs are better. Like "My Violent Heart" which "leaked" (uh-huh) earlier. That's awesome.

Audioslave Breaks Up, Chris Cornell Continues Mediocre Solo Career

Chris Cornell is just burning bridges all around himself as he prepares for the May 1 release of his sophomore solo album, Carry On. So while he prepares to disappear into oblivion while his Audioslave bandmates go back to their Rage Against The Machine glory at Coachella (and cross your fingers, hopefully longer), Cornell issues a statement officially breaking up with Audioslave and denying any potential for a Soundgarden reunion.

Hot Chip US Tour Dates

As they visit the US for Coachella, Hot Chip have scheduled some US shows (maybe to buy their plane fare home?):

April 20 - New York NY @ Webster Hall
April 21 - Washington DC @ 9:30 Club
April 22 - Asheville NC @ Orange Peel
April 24 - Austin TX @ Antones
April 26 - Dallas TX @ Granada Theater
April 28 - Indio CA @ Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival

Wilco Announce Blue Sky Blue Tracklist

Wilco's new album, Blue Sky Blue, is due out March 15. Here's the tracklist:

01 Either Way
02 You Are My Face
03 Impossible Germany
04 Sky Blue Sky
05 Side With the Seeds
06 Shake It Off
07 Please Be Patient With Me
08 Hate It Here
09 Leave Me (Like You Found Me)
10 Walken
11 What Light
12 On and On and On

Source: Pitchfork

New Release: The Autumn Defense

The Autumn Defense have released a self-titled album which is available at Broadmoor Records. If the Wilco members' side project isn't enough, remember that Wilco's Blue Sky Blue comes out March 15. Check the tracklist here.

KRS-One, Nas, Rakim, Kanye West Selling Sneakers, Kanye's Mom Writes Book About "Raising Kanye"

I have, for years, been a HUGE fan of KRS-One. I love how his stuff with Boogie Down Productions, and even his albums up through The Sneak Attack had a lot of integrity while keeping a positive outlook and demonstrating a desire to raise hip-hop to another level. But now he's plugging product for Nike.



This business with Nas, Kanye West, and Rakim (et tu, Rakim?) is just bad. The song is spot on, KRS and Rakim especially can show Nas and Kanye who made the scene that they thrive on. But schlepping shoes for Nike? You guys don't need this. Kanye is all about getting his face on anything (even his mom is going to write a book, "Raising Kanye"), but you don't need to sell out like that.

Neko Case Announces More North American Tour Dates With Jon Rauhouse and Emmylou Harris

Following up on dates announced in January, Neko Case has more tour dates for you:

WED 3/28 - Chicago, IL @ Park West
THU 3/29 - Chicago, IL @ Park West
FRI 3/30 - Chicago, IL @ Park West + (SOLD OUT)
SAT 3/31 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Calvin College ^
SUN 4/1 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom +
MON 4/2 - Columbia, MO @ Blue Note+
TUE 4/3 - Lincoln, NE @ Rococo Theatre +
WED 4/4 - Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theatre/E Town +
THU 4/5 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre +
FRI 4/6 - Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall +
SAT 4/7 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue +
MON 4/9 - Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theatre +
THU 4/12 - Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre +
SAT 4/14 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Bricktown Ballroom +
SUN 4/15 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre +

+ = Jon Rauhouse supports
^ = w/ Emmylou Harris

Myriad Viral Marketing Websites Emerge Regarding Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero

As you know, Nine Inch Nails has a new album due on April 17, Year Zero. A number of websites have appeared, apparently relating to the album:

http://iamtryingtobelieve.com
http://anotherversionofthetruth.com
http://bethehammer.net
http://105thairbornecrusaders.com
http://churchofplano.com
http://www.consolidatedmailsystems.com

Word is that 42 Entertainment, who have done viral marketing for Halo 2 and other high profile items, are behind these sites.

And if you haven't yet, check the tracklist for Year Zero here.

Coachella Tickets Sold Out

Tickets to Coachella have already sold out, which I submit to you is largely due to the Rage Against the Machine one-off reunion performance.

Source: Billboard

Bonnaroo Lineup Officially Announced: The Police, Tool, The White Stripes, and more! Tickets Available Next Week

It's out. Bonnaroo's lineup is, of course, sick. You can view it at the Bonnaroo website, or look here:

The Police • Tool • Widespread Panic • The White Stripes • Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals • Wilco • The Flaming Lips • MANU CHAO & Radio Bemba Sound System • The String Cheese Incident • Franz Ferdinand • Bob Weir & Ratdog • Damien Rice • Ween • Gov't Mule • Ziggy Marley • The Decemberists • Kings of Leon • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Wolfmother • Regina Spektor • The Black Keys • Galactic • DJ Shadow • Gillian Welch • Spoon • Keller Williams (WMD'S) (read a review of Keller's new album, Dream, here • Sasha & John Digweed • STS9 • Old Crow Medicine Show • The Hold Steady • Lily Allen • North Mississippi Allstars • Fountains Of Wayne • Hot Tuna • Feist • Hot Chip • John Butler Trio • Dr. Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys • Aesop Rock • The Richard Thompson Band • Dierks Bentley • James Blood Ulmer • Xavier Rudd • Gogol Bordello • Junior Brown • Tortoise • T-Bone Burnett • Mavis Staples • Clutch • Cold War Kids • Dr. Dog • Paolo Nutini • Brazilian Girls • RX Bandits • The Nightwatchman • The Slip • Girl Talk • Railroad Earth • Martha Wainwright • Rodrigo y Gabriela • Annuals • Tea Leaf Green • Sam Roberts Band • Elvis Perkins in Dearland • Charlie Louvin • Sonya Kitchell • Mute Math • Apollo Sunshine • Uncle Earl • The National • The Little Ones • Black Angels • Ryan Shaw • Lewis Black & Friends • Dave Attell • David Cross •

And more to be announced later! Tickets go on sale next week, February 23. They will start at $184.50. Once that batch is sold out, they go up to $199.50 and then $214.50. Oh, and $21.85 service charge per ticket.

Thrushes - Sun Come Undone Album Review and Free MP3 - "Aidan Quinn"

Hitting streets March 13 is Thrushes' Sun Come Undone. This Baltimore-based band is on a mission to make reverb a household word. Luscious and saccharine, Thrushes' sound replicates the 'wall of sound' like it's a full-time job, and on tracks like "Into The Woods", guitarist Casey Harvey presents a case study in why Rickenbackers and reverb have more in common than simply beginning with "r". The Thrushes sound is never cloying, however; in fact, Harvey's distinctive sound plays perfectly into the simply elegant vocals of Anna Conner, a vocal minimalist who manages to thread her singing into the woven texture of each song.

Complementing the guitar/vocal combination of Conner and Harvey are Matt Davis on drums and Rachel Tracy on bass. Throughout the better part of Sun Come Undone, Davis reveals that he understands the quality that percussion has as a complement to the group's overall sound, while still managing to steal his moments without too much bombast on "Aidan Quinn" and "Heartbeats". Rachel Tracy's bass is often subtly wound into the band's graceful noise pop, but leaves its indelible footprint clearly visible in the introduction to tracks like "Roy" and "The Hardest Part", setting the path for the band's foray into the ensuing song.

On the latter half of the album, tracks such as the patient and instrumental "New Years Kiss" and "Roy", build up to a sustainable crescendo while earlier tracks like "Ghost Train" and "Into The Woods" come on strong much faster, delivering an unforgiving shoegaze sound that can often be as much compared to Jesus & Mary Chain as it can Sonic Youth in the "Bull in the Heather" days.

Worth more than just a listen, Thrushes could find their way into your CD player for quite some time.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Download "Aidan Quinn" by Thrushes.

And don't forget about the Thrushes release party at The Ottobar on March 10.

Tool Announces Even More Tour Dates, Moving Up The East Coast

Tool has announced more dates for its Spring 2007 tour. Movin' on up the east coast, into Canada.


3/31 Baton Rouge, LA @ River Center
4/2 Pensacola, FL @ Pensacola Civic Center
4/3 Tallahassee, FL @ Leon County Civic Center
4/5 Tampa, FL @ USF Sundome
4/6 Orlando, FL @ Amway Arena
4/7 Coral Gables, FL @ Bank United Center
4/10 Duluth, GA @ Gwinnett Center
4/11 Winston-Salem, NC @ Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Arena
4/13 Birmingham, AL @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
4/14 Greenville, SC @ Bi-Lo Center
4/15 Richmond, VA @ Richmond Coliseum
4/17 Reading, PA @ Sovereign Center
4/18 University Park , PA @ Bryce Jordan Center
4/20 Albany, NY @ Pepsi Arena
4/21 Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
4/22 Portland, ME @ Cumberland County Civic Center
4/27 Quebec City, Quebec @ The Colisee
4/28 Montreal, Quebec @ Bell Centre
4/29 Hamilton, Ontario @ Copps Coliseum

Only Son Releases Video For "My Museum", Continues Touring With Regina Spektor

Only Son, AKA Jack Dishel, known for playing with his guitar and an iPod as his band, has released a video for his latest single, "My Museum", on YouTube.





Only Son tours once again with Regina Spektor during Winter 2007:

Feb 15 - Manchester University - Manchester, UK
Feb 16 - Astoria/NME Awards Show - London, UK
Feb 17 - The Spitz - London, UK (headlining)
Feb 18 - Northumbria University - Newcastle, UK
Feb 19 - Queen Margaret Union - Glasgow, SCT
Feb 20 - Leadmill - Sheffield, UK
Feb 23 - Lido - Berlin, Germany
Feb 25 - Stage Club - Hamburg, Germany
Feb 28 - Le Trabendo - Paris, France
March 4 - China Theatre - Stockholm, Sweden
March 10 - Barby Club - Tel Aviv, Israel

Baltimore City Council Prepared To Vote On Citywide Smoking Ban

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Baltimore City Council is one step closer to a vote on a citywide smoking ban. The vote was previously stalled, but is set for a final vote in two weeks. The bill has six supporters but will need two more to pass final muster.

According to the Sun, "If Baltimore approves a smoking ban, it will join New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and dozens of other large cities that have imposed some form of smoking restrictions. Large cities that have not approved such bans include Memphis, Tenn., and Charlotte, N.C."

Coming To 9:30 Club In March: Cold War Kids, RJD2, Lamb of God, and more

Coming to the 9:30 Club in March:

3/23 RJD2 w/ Busdriver & Happy Chichester

3/24 Super Diamond

3/25 Butch Walker and the Let's Go Out Tonites w/ The Honorary Title

3/26 Lamb of God w/ Trivium, Machine Head, Gojira (earl show, 6:30pm Doors)

3/28 Cold War Kids w/ Tokyo Police Club

3/29 Ted Leo and the Pharmacists w/ Love of Diagrams

And keep your eyes open for TV On The Radio and Blonde Redhead at 9:30 in April.
R

The Arcade Fire Announce North American Tour

The Arcade Fire have announced a North American tour. They're already in New York for a couple days before heading back across the pond for some dates, but they'll be back in April, just before Coachella!

02-13 New York, NY - Judson Memorial Church
02-14 New York, NY - Judson Memorial Church
02-15 New York, NY - Judson Memorial Church
02-16 New York, NY - Judson Memorial Church
02-17 New York, NY - Judson Memorial Church
03-05 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre
03-06 Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre
03-08 Manchester, England - Apollo
03-09 Manchester, England - Apollo
03-11 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowlands
03-12 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowlands
03-14 London, England - Brixton Academy
03-15 London, England - Brixton Academy
03-16 London, England - Brixton Academy
03-17 London, England - Brixton Academy
03-19 Paris, France - Olympia
03-20 Paris, France - Olympia
03-23 Stockholm, Sweden - Circus
03-24 Oslo, Norway - Centrum Scene
03-25 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
03-27 Berlin, Germany - Postbahnhof
03-28 Munich, Germany - Elserhalle
03-31 Lyon, France - Transbordeur
04-01 Cologne, Germany - E-Live Music Hall
04-02 Utrecht, Netherlands - Vredenburg
04-04 Brussels, Belgium - Halles de Schaerbeek
04-05 Lille, France - L'Aeronef
04-26 San Diego, CA - Spreckels Theatre
04-28 Indio, CA - Empire Polo Field (Coachella)
05-01 Atlanta, GA - Civic Center
05-02 Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
05-04 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
05-05 Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
05-07 New York, NY - TBA
05-08 New York, NY - TBA
05-09 New York, NY - TBA
05-10 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
05-12 Montreal, Quebec - Arena Maurice Richard
05-13 Montreal, Quebec - Arena Maurice Richard
05-15 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall
05-16 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall
05-18 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
05-19 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
05-20 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
05-27 Portland, OR - Schnitzer Concert Hall
06-22-24 Pilton, England - Glastonbury

Gotta love how they play multiple shows at the same venue in the same city before moving along (5 in NY?!?!?!). How many of you will be buying tickets to EVERY show in your area?

Pretty Girls Make Graves Announce Farewell Tour Dates

As previously reported, Pretty Girls Make Graves are kicking the bucket. However, they have announced a farewell tour.

Here are the dates:

05-10 Milwaukee, WI - Mad Planet
05-11 Iowa City, IA - Picador
05-12 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
05-13 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
05-16 Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar
05-17 Cambridge, MA - Middle East
05-18 Providence, RI - Living Room
05-20 Washington, DC - Black Cat
05-22 Atlanta, GA - Earl
05-23 Tampa, FL - Orpheum
05-28 Austin, TX - Emo's
06-03 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
06-04 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall

Supporting acts will be Call Me Lightning and Moonrats.

The Shins and Clinic In Washington, DC In March (Separate Shows, Of Course)

Clinic will play DC's Black Cat March 6. Tickets are on sale now.



The Shins will be playing DAR Constitution Hall on March 12. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 16.

The Police Announce World Tour, Will Play Bonnaroo

The Police have made it official: there will be a reunion tour. Say, why don't you cruise on over and join the fan club, too?

Here are the confirmed dates, including Bonnaroo:

May 28, 2007 Vancouver BC CA GM Place
Jun 06, 2007 Seattle WA US Key Arena
Jun 09, 2007 Denver CO US Pepsi Center
Jun 15, 2007 Las Vegas NV US MGM Grand Garden Arena
Jun 16, 2007 Manchester TN US Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Jun 18, 2007 Phoenix AZ US US Airways Arena
Jun 26, 2007 Dallas TX US American Airlines Center
Jun 30, 2007 New Orleans LA US New Orleans Arena
Jul 02, 2007 St. Louis MO US Scottrade Center
Jul 22, 2007 Toronto ON CA Air Canada Centre
Jul 25, 2007 Montreal QC CA Bell Centre
Jul 28, 2007 Boston MA US Fenway Park
Aug 01, 2007 New York City NY US Madison Square Garden
Aug 03, 2007 New York City NY US Madison Square Garden

A Baltimore/Washington, DC date is confirmed, but remains to be announced.

Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero Tracklist Fully Revealed

So here it is. Nine Inch Nails has officially released the tracklist for Year Zero:

01 Hyperpower!
02 The Beginning of the End
03 Survivalism
04 The Good Soldier
05 Vessel
06 Me, I'm Not
07 Capital G
08 My Violent Heart
09 The Warning
10 God Given
11 Meet Your Master
12 The Greater Good
13 The Great Destroyer
14 Another Version of the Truth
15 In This Twilight
16 Zero-Sum

Album Review: Keller Williams' Dream

Last week, the Virginian Keller Williams released his ninth studio album, Dream. The album is aptly named, being Keller's "dream album" in which he collaborates with a veritable who's-who of talented artists (most of whom frequent the jam-band scene and the jam festivals), including Bela Fleck, Bobby Read, Bob Weir (formerly of The Grateful Dead, now with RatDog), Charlie Hunter, Derrek Phillips, Fareed Haque (Garaj Majal), Fleming McWilliams (of Fleming & John), Jeff Sipe, John Molo, John Scofield, Martin Sexton, Michael Franti (Spearhead), ModeReko, Samir Chatterjee, Sanjay Mishra, Steve Kimock, The String Cheese Incident, and Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck & The Flecktones). Usually operating as a one-man band, this is a departure for Williams, 16 tracks of eclecticism, with a vast array of instruments and styles.

The lead-off track "Play This" is a tongue-in-cheek take, intended to mix Keller's sound with that of rock radio, with distorted vocals and a lyrical mockery of the pop rock formula. "Cadillac" with Bob Weir is very much like a Dead track, written by Williams with Weir in mind and sung about a surreal ride with Buddha, Krishna, Santa and Jesus as passengers. "Life" is a half plugged-in track with talk box guitar courtesy of Jeff Covert and Keller on slide bass and theremin. "Sing For My Dinner" brings in The String Cheese Incident, with whom Keller has a long-standing relationship, and is one of the better tracks on the album instrumentally, behind perhaps only "Twinkle" with spot-on drumming from John Molo and freewheeling guitar from Steve Kimock. Perhaps the most mesmerizing on the album, "Twinkle" is an instrumental track that capsulizes an improv jam that one would expect to hear at a weekend festival. "Lil' Sexy Blues", another instrumental, employs a bluesy guitar along with the entrancing sound of tablas, creating a unique down-home yet Eastern jam.

"Restraint" is the only solo Keller Williams track on the album, a humorous jaunt about jumping bones. But a song like "Got No Feathers" makes you say "That's John Scofield" after about eight seconds, and displays the real breath of brilliance behind Dream. Unlike recent albums by Santana, Buddy Guy, and Jerry Lee Lewis, all amazing and iconic musicians in their own right, here Keller Williams brings in his heroes to play with him. The older artists are bringing in the currently-hot artists (Rob Thomas, really, Carlos?) to reach the popular audience, but Keller is paying homage to the icons, often taking a back seat to allow their magic to take over.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Visit Keller's website to listen to a podcast in his own words (and that of his guests) about the record. And click the album art to purchase at Amazon.

49th Annual Grammy Award Winners

Kicking off the 2007 Grammys were the Police with their much-awaited reunion (what a happy, loud crowd when Sting's voice was heard!) and a rousing performance of "Roxanne", an apt beginning to a stunning show. Other performances included The Dixie Chicks (introduced by Joan Baez and performing with a string section), Beyonce (3-word introduction by Prince, who also took out a commercial to thank the viewers of the Super Bowl halftime show), Corinne Bailey Rae/John Legend/John Mayer (introduced by Stevie Wonder), Shakira & Wyclef Jean, Gnarls Barkley (dressed as airline pilots), Mary J. Blige (introduced by Terrence Howard), Carrie Underwood/Rascal Flatts (introduced by Reba McEntire), Smokey Robinson/Lionel Richie/Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, Ludacris w/ Mary J. Blige, James Blunt (as if you could stand hearing "You're Beautiful" one more time. Couldn't play "No Bravery"?), Justin Timberlake, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (introduced by Chris Rock).

Here are your winners (the ones that were televised, anyway):

Album of the Year:
Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way

Record of the Year (Producer's award, not performer):
Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready To Make Nice"

Song of the Year (this is an award for the composer):
Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready To Make Nice"

Best New Artist:
Carrie Underwood

Best Pop Collaboration with vocals (presented by Jamie Foxx):
Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder - "For Once In My Life"

Male R&B Vocal Performance:
John Legend - "Heaven"

Best Rock Album:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

Best Rap Album (presented by Kanye West & Common):
Ludacris - Release Therapy

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance:
Christina Aguilera - "Ain't No Other Man"

Best Country Album:
Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance:
John Mayer - "Waiting On The World To Change"

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:
The Black Eyed Peas - "My Humps"

Best Pop Instrumental Performance:
George Benson (& Al Jarreau) - "Mornin'"

Best Pop Instrumental Album:
Peter Frampton - Fingerprints

Best Dance Recording:
Justin Timberlake & Timbaland - "Sexy Back"

Best Electronic/Dance Album:
Madonna - Confessions On A Dance Floor

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
Tony Bennett - Duets: An American Classic

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance:
Bob Dylan - "Somebody Baby"

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"

Best R&B Album:
Mary J. Blige - The Breakthrough

Best Hard Rock Performance:
Wolfmother - "Woman"

Best Metal Performance:
Slayer - "Eyes of the Insane"

Best Rock Instrumental Performance:
The Flaming Lips: "The Wizard Turns On..."

Best Rock Song:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"

Best Alternative Music Album:
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
Sly & The Family Stone - "Family Affair"

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance:
George Benson & Al Jarreau w/ Jill Scott - "God Bless The Child"

Best Urban/Alternative Performance:
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere

Best R&B Song:
Mary J. Blige - "Be Without You"

Best Contemporary R&B Album:
Beyonce - "B'Day"

Best Rap Solo Performance:
T.I. - "What You Know"

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group:
Chamillionaire feat. Krazyie Bone - "Ridin'"

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
Justin Timberlake w/ T.I. - "My Love"

Best Rap Song:
Ludacris w/ Pharrell - "Money Maker"

Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
Carrie Underwood - Jesus, Take The Wheel

Best Male Country Vocal Performance:
Vince Gill - "The Reason Why"

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:
Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready To Make Nice"

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:
Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles - "Who Says You Can't Go Home"

Best Country Instrumental Performance:
Bryan Sutton & Doc Watson - "Whiskey Before Breakfast"

Best Country Song:
Carrie Underwood - "Jesus, Take The Wheel"

Best Bluegrass Album:
Ricky Scaggs & Kentucky Thunder - Instrumentals

Best New Age Album:
Enya - Amarantine

Best Contemporary Jazz Album:
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones - The Hidden Land

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
Nancy Wilson - Turned To Blue

Best Jazz Instrumental Solo:
Michael Brecker - "Some Skunk Funk"

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group:
Chick Corea - The Ultimate Adventure

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance:
Mary J. Blige - "Be Without You"

Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album:
Jonny Lang - Turn Around

Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album:
Randy Travis - Glory Train

Best Gospel Song:
Kirk Franklin - "Imagine Me"

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album:
Kirk Franklin - Hero

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album:
Third Day - Wherever You Are

Best Traditional Gospel Album:
Israel & New Breed - Alive In South Africa

Best Traditional Blues Album:
Ike Turner - Risin' With The Blues

Best Contemporary Blues Album:
Irma Thomas - After The Rain

Best Pop Vocal Album:
John Mayer - Continuum

Best Traditional Folk Album:
Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions

Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album:
Bob Dylan - Modern Times

Best Reggae Album:
Ziggy Marley - Love Is My Religion

Best Comedy Album:
Lewis Black - The Carnegie Hall Performance

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media:
Joaquin Phoenix (& Various Artists) - Walk The Line

Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media:
James Taylor (written by Randy Newman) - "Our Town" (From Cars)

Best Recording Package:
Adam Jones, art director (Tool) - 10,000 Days

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical:
Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:
Rick Rubin

Best Long Form Music Video:
Bruce Springsteen - "Wings For Wheels: The Making of Born To Run"

Best Short Form Music Video:
OK Go - "Here It Goes Again"

Baltimore Artscape Dates: July 20-22, 2007

Artscape Baltimore will run from July 20-22, 2007. The event, as always, is free. Baltimore bands can go to the website to apply for the music showcase. None of the msucial artists for this year have been announced yet.

And, hey, Artscape is so hip, it's even on MySpace.

Last year's artscape featured Michael Franti & Spearhead, Citizen Cope, Common, Ricky Scaggs, Lake Trout, The Secret Machines, G-Love & Special Sauce, Lafayette Gilchrist, Brazilian Girls, Junkyard Saints, and a lot more. Looking forward to this year's list!

Thrushes Release Party For Sun Come Undone March 10 At Ottobar

Local Baltimore shoegaze/noisepop band Thrushes are releasing their debut full-length LP Sun Come Undone on March 13. They are hosting an album release party at The Ottobar on March 10 along with Palomar, Water School, and Squaaks.

Casey from Thrushes was kind enough to send me a copy of the album, which I just grabbed out of the mailbox yesterday, packed with awesome promo material (love their buttons). I'm really digging it so far, so definitely check the band out at the link above, or listen to some songs on MySpace. Expect a review in the near future.

As March 11 Approaches, 311 Plans Nothing But Merch Sales This Year For 3-11 Day Or Thereafter

Fans of 311 can keep their calendars free for March 11 this year. While 3/11 has historically been celebrated amongst the band's fans as "three eleven day", 311 has posted that "there is no 3-11 Day show planned for 2007" and "3-11 Day has been an event that takes place every other year (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006)." It's an off year. So, along with the news that no events are planned for 3-11 day 2007, "At this time, there is no confirmed news on any tour dates or recording sessions" and "We look forward to bringing you more news about the band's future plans as soon as we have news to share." So, basically, 311 is taking some time off. Nothing wrong with that, guys. You're taking time off. Maybe a little, maybe a lot. We'll see you soon.

Oh, and starting tomorrow, there will be some good deals at The 311 Store. The sale runs through 3/11.

50 Cent Starts The War With Cam'ron, Still Loves Jim Jones

50 has decided he's going to bring it, with a video for "Funeral Music", featuring hearse rolling by with the "Cam'ron's Career" written on the side, and then continues a giant hip-hop cliche of G-Unit Soldiers (I thought we were done referring to rap cliques in a military fashion when No Limit went down) flashing guns, money, and scantily clad ladies. The coup de grace is the cartoon animation of Cam'ron's Lamborghini getting shot up, an apparent reenactment of the attempted carjacking in Washington, DC where Cam'ron was shot last year. Interestingly, 50 singles out Cam as the only Dipset member he's beefing with, stating that "From now on Jimmy's [Jim Jones] the boss of Dipset".

I love hip-hop beef as much as the next person, but 50 Cent is taking it to the level that plagues hip-hop today: unnecessary violence. I appreciate 50's attacking Cam's lyrical abilities in the song, but the guns? That is tired, Fif!

Tool Changes El Paso Tour Date To Las Cruces, NM; Baton Rouge, LA Show Confirmed

If you've been paying attention to the West Coast Tool dates, you will want to know that the previously reported El Paso date has been changed to Las Cruces, NM at the Pan American Center. The date remains March 24.

A Baton Rouge, LA show has been announced on Ticketmaster for March 31 at the Baton Rouge River Center. Tickets for that show go on sale February 16 at 10 AM Eastern.

That brings the confirmed dates to:

3/15 - Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino
3/16 - Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino
3/18 - Reno, NV @ Reno Events Center
3/20 - San Diego, CA @ Cox Arena
3/21 - Tucson, AZ @ TCC Arena
3/23 - Albuquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum
3/24 - Las Cruces, NM @ Pan American Center
3/26 - San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center (make-up show from last tour)
3/27 - Corpus Christi, TX @ American Bank Center
3/29 Oklahoma City, OK @ Ford Center
3/30 Southaven, MS @ Desoto Civic Center
3/31 Baton Rouge, LA @ Baton Rouge River Center

Townes Van Zandt Material Now on eMusic

Fat Possum Records recently acquired the studio masters of Townes Van Zandt's recordings, and has made them available in MP3 format on eMusic. Townes has been very influential in alt-country, and met a premature death in 1997. He was 53.

Justin Timberlake Has Something Special For You, Including A New Album

Justin Timberlake performed at Madison Square Garden for the first time in 6 years Wednesday night, and Andy Samberg from Saturday Night Live joined him onstage to perform the ubiquitous viral sketch involving some belts with gift boxes that they did together on the show. JT alerted fans to "Watch out for the new album, late 2007!"

Thanks to Kristen for passing along the word on this one.

Cartoon Network CEO Resigns, Turner Broadcasting Buys Its Way Out Of Trouble

Granted, it's not music related, but the CEO of the Cartoon Network resigned today.

By now, we all know about the marketing stunt for Aqua Teen Hunger Force that caused a terrorism scare in Boston and led police to shut down bridges and send in the bomb squad.

I only want to point out the following:

"The agreement between Turner [Broadcasting, Cartoon Network's parent], Interference Inc. [the marketing agency] and several state and local agencies resolves any potential civil or criminal claims against the two companies.

Two men who authorities say were paid to place the devices in Boston have pleaded not guilty to placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct. Peter Berdovsky, 27, whose attorney has said also [sic] videotaped part of the police response, and Sean Stevens, 28, are both free on bond."

So, the companies that put these guys up to the task, giving them a job, buys their way out of any civil or criminal liability, but the two men are charged with crimes. Turner/Interference is the principal actor by putting these guys to work, and the principals have bought their way off the hook, but the poor citizens are still on it.

Catch The Grammys This Sunday, February 11, at 8 PM ET on CBS

Be sure to catch the Grammy awards this Sunday at 8 PM Eastern on CBS. Performers include Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, James Blunt, Chris Brown, Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley, Ludacris, Wyclef Jean, John Legend, John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, Rascal Flatts, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lionel Richie, T.I., Smokey Robinson, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, The Police, and Carrie Underwood.

Presenters include Joan Baez, Natasha Bedingfield, Tony Bennett, Lewis Black, Black Eyed Peas, Nicolas Cage, Ciara, Ornette Coleman (saxophonist), Melissa Etheridge, Nelly Furtado, Terrence Howard, Jennifer Hudson, Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah, Pink (or P!nk, whatever it is these days), Rihanna, LeAnn Rimes, Chris Rock, Nicole Scherzinger ("The Hot One" of the Pussycat Dolls), Seal, David Spade, and Stevie Wonder.

Check out the Grammy nominees here.

FabChannel.com Live Concert Videos

Live concert video out the wazoo, and it's free! FabChannel.com has an innumerable amount of free concert footage, including Lily Allen, Michael Franti, The Magic Numbers, Cold War Kids, you name it. Have fun!

SXSW: South By Southwest Announces Music Lineup

The lineup for SXSW's music day has been announced. Check the site for the full lineup and schedules, but here is a sampling of the bands. Look at Baltimore representing!

Aesop Rock
Against Me!
All Time Low (Baltimore!)
Apples In Stereo
Arbouretum (Baltimore!)
Aqualung
Architecture In Helsinki
Badly Drawn Boy
Beach House (Baltimore!)
Andrew Bird
Black Lips
Bloc Party
Blonde Redhead
Cache Cache (Baltimore!)
Charalambides
Child Abuse
Cinematics
Dan Deacon (Baltimore!)
Dengue Fever
Ecstatic Sunshine (Baltimore!)
Entrance (Baltimore!)
The Faint
Girl Talk
The Good, The Bad And The Queen
Albert Hammond, Jr.
Kate Havnevik
Hoodoo Gurus
The Horrors
Benji Hughes
Jack O And The Tearjerkers
Jandek
Daniel Johnston And The Nightmares
Junior Senior
Les Claypool/Electric Apricot
Les Savy Fav
Lexie Mountain Boys (Baltimore!)
Lily Allen
Charlie Louvin
Magik Markers
Malajube
Maps And Atlases
Matt And Kim
Meat Puppets
Mountain Goats
Page France (Baltimore!)
Paolo Nutini
Ponytail (Baltimore!)
120 Days
Elvis Perkins
Ponys
Priestess
Prisonshake
Psychedelic Horseshit
Reigning Sound
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Sam The Sham
Satellite Party (Perry Farrell)
Secondhand Serenade
Sloan
Iggy Pop & The Stooges
Jesse Sykes And The Sweet Hereafter
This Moment In Black History
Pam Tillis
Times New Viking
Tiny Masters Of Today
Tokyo Police Club
Under Byen
Chad VanGaalen
The View
Video Hippos (Baltimore!)
Vincent Black Shadow (Baltimore!)
Viva Voce
Mary Weiss
Willowz
WZT Hearts (Baltimore!)

Free MP3: The Western States Motel - "Powerlines"

The Western States Motel wants to capitalize on the success of The Shins by sounding just like them. Indie pop lives!

Download "Powerlines" by The Western States Motel.

Free MP3: Loney Dear - "I Am John"

Loney Dear is Emil Svanängen from Sweden. He's just signed on to Sub Pop for his fifth album, Loney, Noir, and Filter Magazine has been kind enough to make an MP3 available.

Download the jaunty Loney Dear - "I Am John"

The Police To Announce "really big news" After Grammys

Pollstar reports that The Police have scheduled a morning press conference at L.A.'s Whisky A Go Go on February 12, the day after the Grammy Awards where they will open the show with their first reunited performance.

Expect tour dates to be announced. Bonnaroo? Anyone?

Laura Veirs Prepares New Album, Saltbreakers, For Release March 26

Laura Veirs (who was featured on former Kill Rock Stars labelmates The Decemberists' track "Yankee Bayonet" on The Crane Wife) has released information that she will be releasing a new album called Saltbreakers on Nonesuch Records on March 26. The first single, "Don't Lose Yourself," is due March 19.

Laura and band will tour in support of the album from "late March through early June."

Veirs' previous album, Year of Meteors, was her second effort on Nonesuch and released to critical acclaim.

Smashing Pumpkins Album Zeitgeist Due 7/7/07

The source for all things Smashing Pumpkins continues to be their MySpace page, and it reports today that the new album will be called Zeitgeist and will release on July 7, or 7/7/07. But that's a Saturday, you say! Well, they're Smashing Pumpkins. They do what they want. At least Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin do. Who knows what D'Arcy and James Iha do, since they haven't been confirmed as reuniting with Billy and Jimmy.

Summer dates for the Pumpkins:
06-02 Nuremburg, Germany - Nürburgring (Rock am Ring)
06-03 Nuremburg, Germany - Zeppelinfeld (Rock im Park)
06-15 Nickelsdorf, Austria - Nova Rock Festival
06-17 Interlaken, Switzerland - Greenfield Festival

The Roots Prepare New "Synth-Heavy" Album, Kick Off Tour Tonight

The Roots are already working on a follow-up to the six-month old Game Theory, their Def Jam debut. The new album is expected in October 2007 or February 2008, and ?uestlove reports that "We are using a lot of synthesizer, but I don't know if I could call this the electronic album or not."

The Roots, along with Lupe Fiasco, will hit the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore on March 8, and DAR Constitution Hall in DC on March 9.

Complete tour dates:

02.07.07 The Fillmore San Francisco CA
02.08.07 The Fillmore San Francisco CA
02.10.07 Gibson Amphitheatre Universal City CA
02.12.07 House of Blues - San Diego San Diego CA
02.14.07 House of Blues - Anaheim Anaheim CA
02.16.07 Harry O's Park City UT
02.17.07 The Fillmore Auditorium Denver CO
02.19.07 Gypsy Tea Room Dallas TX
02.20.07 Stubb's Bar-B-Q Austin TX
02.22.07 House Of Blues - New Orleans New Orleans LA
02.24.07 House Of Blues - Downtown Disney, Orlando Lake Buena Vista FL
02.25.07 Revolution Fort Lauderdale FL
03.03.07 House of Blues - North Myrtle Beach North Myrtle Beach SC
03.04.07 The Tabernacle Atlanta GA
03.07.07 The NorVa Norfolk VA
03.08.07 Lyric Opera House Baltimore MD
03.09.07 DAR Constitution Hall Washington DC
03.10.07 Radio City Music Hall New York NY
03.11.07 Nokia Theatre Times Square New York NY
03.12.07 Nokia Theatre Times Square New York NY
03.13.07 Avalon - Boston Boston MA
03.17.07 Chicago Theatre Chicago IL
03.18.07 Eagles Club Milwaukee WI
03.20.07 Myth Saint Paul MN
03.22.07 The Pageant Saint Louis MO
03.24.07 The Guvernment - Kool Haus Toronto On
03.25.07 Metropolis Montreal Qu
03.31.07 West Coast Blues & Roots Festival Fremantle, AU
04.03.07 Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts - Verizon Hall Philadelphia PA
04.04.07 Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts - Verizon Hall Philadelphia PA
04.07.07 East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival Byron Bay, AU
04.08.07 Great Escape Festival Sydney, AU
04.10.07 Enmore Theatre Newtown AU
04.12.07 Thebarton Theatre Adelaide, AU
04.13.07 Metro Nightclub Melbourne, AU
04.14.07 Metro City Perth
04.29.07 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Indio CA

Ozzfest 12 Kicks Off July 7, And Will Be Free

Ozzfest 2007 will be free. Yes. F-R-E-E. The news broke today at Pollstar's Concert Industry Consortium. Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne explained that Ozzfest 12, which kicks off July 7 in San Bernardino, CA, is not going to cost fans a penny.

The tour will continue through 25 cities including San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Hartford, Charlotte, Atlanta, West Plam Beach and Nashville. Final dates have yet to be confirmed.

"For the last few years," says Sharon, "ticket prices have steadily climbed as artists demand more and more money for summer tours. We certainly want everybody to make money, however we also want the kids to be able to afford to come out and have an incredible experience. If we continued with the traditional touring festival model, we would have no choice but to raise ticket prices again this year."

The bands will not be paid, but reap their reward in exposure to a massive number of fans. The good news is that, for a summer festival which has been bleeding its fans dry as the years pass and tickets skyrocket, fans are finally getting some love. The bad news is that Ozzfest will likely not draw any blockbuster headlining bands this year, since they don't need the exposure.

To gain entry into the event, fans will go to www.ozzfest.com or www.livenation.com to find links that will direct them to special sponsor sites where tickets can be secured. More details regarding the process are forthcoming.

New Bright Eyes Album, Cassadaga, Pre-Packaged With An Orchestra

Billboard.com reveals that the new Bright Eyes album, Cassadaga, will come with "an orchestral swell" on at least one track. The album features guest contributors like M. Ward, Gillian Welch and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Quasi).

Cassadaga track listing:
"Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed)"
"Four Winds"
"If the Brakeman Turns My Way"
"Hot Knives"
"Make a Plan To Lose Me"
"Soul Singer in a Session Band"
"Classic Cars"
"Middleman"
"Cleanse Song"
"No One Would Riot for Less"
"Coat Check Dream Song"
"I Must Belong Somewhere"
"Lime Tree"

The album is due April 10.

New Releases For Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Hitting your local record store today, and worth checking out (click on the art to pick up at Amazon):

Bloc Party - Weekend In The City

Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block

John Waters - A Date With John Waters

Keller Williams - Dream (I'm expecting a promo of this one soon, so I should post a review by the end of this week)

Kool Keith - Ultra-Octa-Doom

Apples In Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder

Public Enemy - Fight The Power: Greatest Hits Live - One of my favorite rap groups ever. Politically minded hip hop rules.

8-Bit Operators - The Music of Kraftwerk - I don't know. Nintendos hacked to make Kraftwerk songs? I'd rather listen to Kraftwerk.

NIN's Year Zero Has A Website, Slowly Names Tracks

Dying to know more about the new Nine Inch Nails album, Year Zero? Then go to the Year Zero website. Looks like the track listing is slowly appearing. So far, track two: "The Beginning of the End". Refresh! F5! All the time!

Tori Amos In Line For New Album, World Tour

The fabulous Tori Amos fan site Undented has posted information about a tour date on June 2 at the Grand Amphithéâtre at Le Palais des Congrès de Paris. The site also includes a mention of an article in Lighting & Sound International that discusses some masters in an "on-going project with Tori Amos", which is interpreted to mean her forthcoming 2007 (projected late April) album.

Matt Chamberlain, Tori's drummer (and also formerly of Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians, Fiona Apple, as well as a short stint in Pearl Jam), reports on his site that "a bunch of stuff is brewing up for this summer with a Red Headed piano playing female," so expect official tour dates soon.

Two New Confirmed Tool Tour Dates

Two new confirmed dates for Tool:

3/29 Oklahoma City, OK @ Ford Center

3/30 Southaven, MS @ Desoto Civic Center

Arctic Monkeys To Release New Album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, April 24

The Arctic Monkeys have finished their sophomore album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, and have scheduled a US release date of April 24 (April 23 everywhere else). The first single, "Brainstorm", will drop April 16.

"It's quite a bit heavier in some places -- there's also some really nice songs on there," producer James Ford tells Billboard.com of the new album. "Some of the songs maybe [have] more depth to them. [It's] maybe not quite as instant as the first one."

Does that mean the album will clock in at longer than 28 minutes? Or will this be another shorter-than-your-lunchbreak barnstormer?

The tracklisting for Favourite Worst Nightmare:

"Brainstorm"
"Teddy Picker"
"D Is for Dangerous"
"Balaclava"
"Fluorescent Adolescent"
"Only Ones Who Know"
"Do Me a Favour"
"This House Is a Circus"
"If You Were There, Beware"
"The Bad Thing"
"Old Yellow Bricks"
"505"

iPod & Windows Vista Not Getting Along, Cite Compatibility Issues

A Digital Music News article points out that Windows Vista and Apple iPod are already having difficulties early in the relationship. While one might think iPod is getting jealous of Vista's current attention-grabbing behavior, the fact is, they just might not be compatible, but are perhaps willing to work out the kinks.

I called one relationship counselor, and he had this to say: "Life and love are both four-letter words, and each has one syllable, but they are complex things." That means that anyone who wants Vista should wait for the Service Pack before upgrading, or your iTunes and your iPod could get all screwy.

Apple, Inc. (Computers) and Apple Corps (Records) Resolve Their Long Dispute

Apple Computer and Apple Records have been in a legal dispute over who the real "Apple" is for over 20 years. The most recent fracas involved Apple's iTunes, as Apple Computer agreed in 1991 that, in order to continue using its name, it would not enter the music business. The recent settlement replaces the 1991 agreement and gives Apple Computer ownership of all the trademarks related to "Apple" so it can continue using its name and logos in iTunes. In addition, Apple Computer will license certain of those trademarks back to Apple Corps for their continued use.

No word yet on when the Beatles will be available on iTunes.

Rick Rubin Reportedly In Talks to Co-Chair Columbia Records

Rick Rubin, producer extraordinaire and head of American Recordings, is reportedly in talks to co-chair Columbia Records, according to The New York Times.

The only hitch is that Rubin and American are tied to a contract with Warner Music Group for three more years. He may have to negotiate his way out of the contract to move over to Capitol, which would be his first time in an exec chair.

Prince Rocks The Super Bowl, Somehow Becomes "The Safe Choice" For Halftime

Did you catch that 12-minute mind-blow called the Halftime Show last night? With renditions of "Let's Go Crazy", "Baby I'm A Star", "Proud Mary" (the Ike & Tina Turner version of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song), "All Along The Watchtower" (the Jimi Hendrix version of the Bob Dylan song), "Best Of You" (Foo Fighters), and "Purple Rain" (fittingly played outside in the rain, Prince wowed everyone, much more than the almost entirely lousy commercials did (I won't speak as to the game, since I know nothing of football). And it is an amazing thing when Prince can take anybody's song and play it better than they can (not a surprise with Dylan, whose songs are always better when played by other artists. Try Rage Against The Machine's version of "Maggie's Farm").

I'm still upset with the man in purple for telling me he was retiring to be a Jehovah's witness and then backtracking, but it's a good kind of upset, because otherwise I would not have been able to see him shred like that ever again!

The only downside to Prince is that he is no longer the avant-garde, risque character he was back in 1984. The Baltimore Sun has an interesting story on how Prince has evolved into a "safe" choice for the halftime show. No more "Gett Off" or "P Control" from him, but I'll settle for amazing live performances of the safe ones if that's all he's giving.

LA Times: The Album Isn't Dead

A story in today's LA Times discusses the long-lived topic of the death of the album. That is, the album as a format, meaning physical album sales. I can't say it really spends much time on the topic of the LP; instead, it is more of a mention of Fall Out Boy's new album followed by a name-dropping slew of indie rock artists, referencing Bloc Party, Arcade Fire, Cat Power, The Hold Steady, and more.

The point of the article appears to be that no one cares any more about album releases, and that the music industry has become singles-driven. But Top 40 has been around for a long time, and as long as there have been dance clubs, DJs have been spinning the hot singles. The album as an experience will not die any time soon, if ever. Certain genres beg for the album to be taken in as an experience, not for songs to be consumed as 4-minute morsels that lose their appeal as the radio overplays them.

While Fall Out Boy leans more towards a single-friendly type of simple, fun (for some) band, they lack the complexity of an Arcade Fire album, and draw a different type of fan: FOB fans seek music as primarily entertainment, while fans of Arcade Fire (just an example, relax) follow music as a lifestyle or, at least, a passion.

We're dealing with a lowest-common-denominator of sorts. Art that is more easily accessible appeals to a broader purchasing audience, plain and simple. Music that is on radio stations with more gigawatts reaches more people, and gets more people to spend. The Catch-22 is that bands can't play the whole album on the radio, they have four minutes and one single to get our attention, and to get us to buy. And many more people are buying only what they hear instead of shelling out ten dollars for the whole album.

A hypothetical: The Bloodhound Gang release an album, and a single hits the radio. At the same time, Nine Inch Nails releases an album, also with a single on the radio. Which one is going to sell more singles on iTunes, and which one will sell more physical albums? NIN will sell the albums. Why? Trent Reznor creates the album as an experience. Bloodhound Gang creates the song as consumable entertainment. The "high[er]" art will sell in LP form, while the "low" will sell the fun single.

The album's not dead. Digital has just freed us so that we can pay 99 cents for that one song, when ten years ago we had to pay seven dollars for the extended single. At that price, you might as well go whole hog and drop thirteen on the whole record. The album lives. The consumer just has better options.

MP3 Download Problems Resolved

I've had a couple reports today of problems downloading MP3's from my file server. I believe that I have resolved the problem. If not, please let me know!

Album Review: Pontiak - Valley Of Cats

I wasn't prepared for this. I get a promo CD in the mail, and usually I'm expecting a lo-fi bathroom recording by a couple of teenagers who want to be the next Panic! At The Disco.

Lo and behold, Pontiak knew what I was expecting, and decided to drive me out to the swamp and beat me down with guitar riffs I haven't heard on an indie release in months. If you, dear reader, need a comparison, Pontiak's Valley of Cats is much more like Murder By Death than the Panic! I was expecting. It's blues, it's muddy, dirty, greasy, Southern rock best served with a shot of Jack Daniel's in a lawn chair outside the double-wide. This sound makes me feel good about coming from the sticks. But don't call Pontiak a Baltimore band, the sound coming from these three brothers is straight from their home: Rappahanock, Virginia.

The album opener, "Crows On The Move", drives the point home right away that Pontiak is rock at its Southern roots. A three piece band, Pontiak sounds more like an armada of dirty bass and guitars, raw vocals, and smashing drums. The album even proudly brings out pianos, banjo, a harpsichord and a Moog, and the boys never make it sound overdone.

Pontiak breaks out the baddest on the harder tunes including "Salt Flats", "TransAtlantic", "Eyes" (with its riff that is reminiscent of a steam engine barreling down the tracks with no slowing down), and my favorite, "Crows On The Move", but the slow blues jams (try "Hydrogen Fires") are the kind of thing that digs down inside and drags out the unspeakable, just what blues are supposed to do.

One of the finest aspects of Valley of Cats is the literal and figurative narrative that the songs deliver, from lyrics of murder to chord progressions that send the listener's emotions into a tizzy. You'll yell, you'll sing, you'll float, you'll sink, you'll love it.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.


Visit Pontiak and buy the album.

Massive Bamboozle Fest 2007 Lineup Announced

Bamboozle is coming to The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey on May 5 and 6 this year. Headlining bands, as previously announced are My Chemical Romance (May 5) and Linkin Park (May 6). The lineup doesn't name Kelly Clarkson as rumored, but there are still names to be announced, people. I know I've got my fingers crossed.

The full lineup, so far:

Saturday, May 5:
My Chemical Romance
Andrew WK Pep Rally 2007
Bayside
Between The Trees
Biker Women
Boys Like Girls
Captured By Robots
Cartel
Cute Is What We Aim For
Great American Freedom Machine
Hellogoodbye
Hit The Lights
Hot Rod Circuit
Houston Calls
Lordi
Lydia
Madina Lake
Mae
Making Babies
Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster
Meg And Dia
Men Women And Children
Moros Eros
Muse
New Found Glory
Paramore
Phil Bensen
PlayRadioPlay
Ronnie Day
Secondhand Serenade
The Almost
The Locals
The Receiving End Of Sirens
The Spill Canvas
The Starting Line
This Providence
Valencia
Whole Wheat Bread feat. Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock

Sunday, May 6:
Linkin Park
All Time Low
Anberlin
Armor For Sleep
Brand New
Captured By Robots
Catch 22
Circa Survive
Daphne Loves Derby
Envy On The Coast
From First To Last
Haste The Day
Hit The Lights
It Dies Today
Jack’s Mannequin
Norma Jean
Plain White T’s
Relient K
Revolution Mother
Saves The Day
Say Anything
Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Schoolyard Heroes
Sherwood
Silverstein
State Radio
The Bled
The Blood Brothers
The Dear Hunter
The Devil Wears Prada
The Early November
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The Rocket Summer
The Sleeping
Thrice
Uncle Kyle Is My Hero
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Yellowcard
Young Love

Tickets are $35 for each day

Music Now 2007 With Sufjan Stevens, My Brightest Diamond, More

After a successful first year in 2006, the Music Now festival returns to Cincinnati this April 5-7. Curated by Cincinnati-born musician Bryce Dessner, guitarist of rock band The National and the instrumental band Clogs, the Music Now Festival will present musicians from around the world, ranging from rock, experimental, contemporary classical and world music in a three-day event at the exquisite Memorial Hall in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

Festival highlights include a small theater acoustic performance by Sufjan Stevens (appearing with string quartet), a double-bill with Icelandic string quartet Amiina (best known as frequent collaborators of Sigur Ros) and indie-songstress My Brightest Diamond, and the US debuts of renowned flamenco guitarist Pedro Soler, and the haunting experimental Czech duo of Vojtech and Irena Havel. The Festival will kick off with a marathon-style concert featuring a solo performance by Soler, world premieres of string quartets by Sufjan Stevens and Maria Sigfúsdóttir of Amiina, and a collaborative set by Clogs featuring many of the festival performers.

Ecstasy The Flower: Sonic Scene Release Party, Courtesy of Ell Records

Ell Records, coming out of Frederick, Maryland, is hosting a CD release party for Ecstasy The Flower's Sonic Scene on Saturday, February 10th at the Cultural Arts Center at 15 W. Patrick Street in Frederick. Doors open at 6 PM. Special guest: Reggae Dance Party

Sonic Scene dropped this past Tuesday, January 30, and along with Ell Records is already blowing up the spot with plenty of buzz on MySpace and PureVolume. Check out the first single, "The Ardennes Forest Must Have Been Very Cold on 16 December 1944", and get rocked.

Meet John Waters At Record & Tape Traders In Towson Tonight!

John Waters will be at Record and Tape Traders in Towson, Maryland tonight at 6:30 PM. The above-referenced album comes out on February 6, but if you go tonight and pre-order it at the store, you'll get the art, and John Waters will sign it for you!

Thanks to Kristen for encouraging me to post this one.

Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello Discusses RATM Reunion

Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello recently took a few minutes to talk about the recently-announced reunion, saying that there was a political element involved with the band getting back together (you don't say?). As Morello put it, "It occurred to all of us that the times were right to see if we can knock the Bush administration out in one fell swoop, and we hope to do that job well."

Morello told MTV that, although the Coachella show is a one-off, he would not rule out future collaboration.

50 Cent Beefs With Styles P, Cam'ron On Hot 97

Label beef galore!

50 Cent paid a visit to Hot 97, the always-willing-to-fuel-some-label-beef station yesterday. While on the show, in came a phone call from Styles P, incensed by the show's discussion of Fif's involvement in the delay of Styles P's sophomore effort, Time Is Money (and Styles ain't making none, by the sound of it).

Not only was the beef between 50 and Styles P, but Cam'ron ("Horse & Carriage", anyone? Yeah, he's Dip Set now, but whatever. "Horse & Carriage". That's all I'm saying.) even made a call to the show, taunting 50 about album sales. In the past, 50 Cent has derided indie label Koch Records as a place for washed up rappers to go and die.

Cam pointed out that Jim Jones (on Koch) has moved 330,000 units, while Lloyd Banks (on 50's G-Unit) has moved 300,000. Cam even went so far as to call 50 by his Christian name, Curtis. 50, audibly frustrated at this point, said, "You're getting ready to cause a whole different situation. Watch it."

In an effort to put an end to the circus show, Jim Jones called in (after 50 had left), saying "Ain't nothing going down, its just aggressive competition. It got a little blown out of proportion [but] we don't want nobody to take it beyond that."

I don't know, Jim, that sounds like beef of the Hot 97 variety.

Thanks to SOHH for the story.

New Tool Dates: San Diego, CA & Erie, PA

Tickets go on sale February 2 at 10 AM Pacific for Cox Arena in San Diego, California, and on February 10 at 10 AM Eastern for Tool in Erie, Pennsylvania at Forward Hall.

Free MP3: Somme - "Massless"

"I would contend that we are the post-rock instrumental version of Rob Crow, and you would absolutely love our music[.]"

That's what was in my inbox. Post-rock, instrumental, I was kind of sold on that, so I had to listen. The Rob Crow reference was absurd, though. Somme is a Chicago duo that combines the sounds of Slint, Pelican, and somehow, in an abstract way, Khanate all into one. Granted, Somme did tell me they were post-rock, not post-hardcore, so don't expect to be blasted into Hell with crazy feedback, though you will get pounded with some vicious drums. A little less drone than Khanate, no vocals like Pelican (sometimes) has, and a little too crisp to be Slint, but if you listen, you'll hear what I mean.

"Massless" is an epic instrumental. Gargantuan drums and the long picking of an SG, it's six minutes well spent.

Download "Massless" by Somme from their MySpace. UPDATE: Links should be working now. Let me know if there are still download problems!

Stream A New Track From Franz Ferdinand

Everyone is posting tracks today on their MySpace pages. Even Franz Ferdinand. To stream the track, go here.

As Alex from the band explains, "We wrote it a couple of months ago as a theme for a Scottish film called Hallam Foe, directed by David Mackenzie who directed Young Adam and Asylum. The title character is played by Jamie Bell who was the lead in Billy Elliot."

Sexual tension, voyeurism, dark humour, Scotland and death are themes of the film - all of which seem good ingredients for a song by the Ferdinand. Nick and I read the script and went to screenings of early edits in the Glasgow Film Theatre which gave us the ideas for the melody and lyrics. Other Domino artists appear on the soundtrack including Psapp, Unpoc and Sons & Daughters."

Dexys Midnight Runners Making A Comeback, Post First Track In 22 Years

According to NME, Dexy's Midnight Runners ("Come On Eileen") have just posted a new track on their MySpace from their forthcoming album, It's OK Joanna.

When asked to comment by Any Given Tuesday, frontman Kevin Rowland said, "Don't call it a comeback, we've been here for years." OK, he didn't say that. But the MySpace page does say "In 2003, Dexys were at last reinvented for a critically acclaimed and rapturously received tour. Again, it wasn't a greatest hits tour, and many of the ideas approaches that were received with bewilderment in 1985 were employed again. But this time, those ideas were understood and very warmly welcomed. The world had caught up with us. 2007 could be a good year for fans of Kevin and Dexys."

The Shins Blow Up The Charts With Wincing The Night Away

In an age where Johnny Cash can posthumously debut at Number 1 on the Billboard charts, and the Dreamgirls soundtrack can hold the pole position for weeks on end by posting the lowest numbers for any #1 album in Billboard history, The Shins have debuted at #2 with Wincing the Night Away, after moving 118,000 units in the first week of release.

Norah Jones & M. Ward Tour Dates

Winning over the hearts of indie kids and Mike Patton lovers alike, Norah Jones has got it goin' on. I'm a fan, it's true. And if you're an M. Ward fan, you're about to love her, too. The two will be touring together on the following dates:

04-13 Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theatre
04-14 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
04-15 Portland, ME - Merrill Auditorium at City Hall
04-17 Providence, RI - Providence Performing Art Center
04-18 New York, NY - Theatre at Madison Square Garden
04-20 Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
04-21 Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Casino
04-23 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
04-24 Greensboro, NC - War Memorial Auditorium
04-26 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
04-27 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
04-28 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
04-30 Birmingham, AL - BJCC Concert Hall
05-01 Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre
05-02 St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre
05-04 Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theatre
05-05 Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theatre
05-06 Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
05-08 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
05-09 Cleveland, OH - The State Theatre at Playhouse Square
05-11 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall
05-12 Montreal, Quebec - St. Denis Theatre



Buy her new album so you can learn all the words before you go.

Stream Bloc Party's Weekend In The City!

Available for streaming is Bloc Party's Weekend in the City. Click the album art or album title to pre-order, or hit the record store on February 6.