Lily Allen: ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’

Artist name: Lily Allen Album name: It’s Not Me, It’s You Label: EMI Genre: Pop Release date: February 9, 2009 ZMErating: 8/10 Website: lilyallenmusic.com Lily Allen’s debut album, Alright, Still was something of a guilty pleasure for me, even though it shouldn’t have been all that guilty at all. It was an unabashedly great pop album (and one that spawned too many imitators, of which only Kate Nash was tolerable) but that fact always managed…

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Download: Grizzly Bear – ‘Cheerleader’

We’ve really been keeping our eyes and ears piled on Grizzly Bear’s new, still untitled, album progress for a while now, even numbering it amongst our top 10 anticipated of 09. The follow-up to 2006’s gorgeous Yellow House is currently, more or less, ready, since recordings were finished since December, but work is still in progress, as far as mixing is concerned. Seems like GB is looking for some really good production work, although I’d…

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Axl Rose on his first interview in 9 years!

We were a bit worried where Axl Rose had disappeared for the last few months, since the release of Guns ‘n’ Roses’ highly-anticipated and equally disappointing Chinese Democracy, but it’s nice to hear the big man is safe and sound. Not that most of us care where his overly sarcastic ass might be, just that, I guess, people kinda miss his controversial being. Anyway, I don’t know how, but Billboard just managed to talk him…

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Hot Streaming: Booker T, Neil Young & The Drive-By Truckers – ‘Warped Sister’

I’m not sure there’s a modern rock band more steeped in the history of rock n’ roll than the Drive-By Truckers. Band leader Patterson Hood is the son of David Hood, a key figure in the old Muscle Shoals music scene; they were the backing band for the forgotten queen of soul, Bettye Lavette’s Scene of the Crime album; and their last album, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark, featured Spooner Oldham (who is being inducted into…

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Spinal Tap Ready To Return

In what’s potentially the greatest news you will ever hear, Spinal Tap are set to make a long-awaited return to the studio to put together a new album. The album – their first since 1992 – has been confirmed as in the works by bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) during an appearance on BBC radio, and will “be for download as well as on conventional media later this year.” The much-vaunted, legendary band – who…

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The Hold Steady Positively Raging

Most rock n’ roll tour documentaries are fairly painful to endure, if we’re to be honest with ourselves, full of self-important man-children who think their philosophies on life, music and the laydeez are compelling viewing, and oh-so-artistic shots of the artists coming off stage (invariably with a towel wrapped around their head or neck) and collapsing into a chair. Rock stars are, generally, not people you want to spend a lot of time around. An…

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Preview: Chris Cornell – ‘Scream’

Chris Cornell certainly has plenty to be screaming about today – his upcoming, Timbaland-produced record leaked yesterday, giving the entire internet a chance to experience the end product of this unusual and much-maligned collaboration. In a completely unrelated turn of events, we can offer a preview of some tracks you might not have heard previously. We all know Long Gone, Ground Zero and Part of Me were breaking new ground for Cornell, even if they…

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Bands to Watch: Ocean Street

Ocean Street sound has been described as a “melodic collision of Southern-Soul and Songwriter-Rock” despite their honest sound that dismises any labeling. Not exactly a brand-new-smoking-hot outfit, the members of Ocean Street have been cutting their teeth for a long time in places like Tallahassee, Baton Rouge, Atlanta, Nashville and the shores of Panama City Beach.  I can picture this band performing any beach town in the world but, more than that, I can feel…

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Bruce Springsteen pwned the Super Bowl

I’m European, so, like most fellow inhabitants of the old continent, I have little to nothing in common with American Football (soccer – now that’s a gentleman’s game), but the Super Bowl is something I grant myself watching from time to time. This Super Bowl, however, I skipped and I kinda regret it now. Make no mistake, not for game, but rather for Bruce Springsteen’s epic performance during half-time. The Boss just owned from multiple…

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Flight of the Conchords on North American tour

The insanely awesome satire band, Flight of the Conchords, just mapped out a North American tour, which will see the duo performing across most of the US and traditional Canadian venues. After last year’s highly successful self-titled debut, Flight of the Conchords is also prepping a new album, set for a April 14th release date, although a title has yet to be revealed. Click here for presale info (password sugarlumps). [via donewaiting] 4/6/09 Tampa Bay…

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