Conor O' BrienJust before you could say “whatever happened to that Fionn Regan guy?” out he pops from the woodwork, with a talk of a new album – The Shadow Of An Empire – and a selection of performances across the UK to showcase his fresh material. After his critically acclaimed debut, “The End of History”, was released way back in 2006 and nominated for both the Mercury Music Prize and the Choice Award, the Irishman (from…
New Video: Grizzly Bear – ‘Ready, Able’
Chris Wheatley
Check out this rather disturbing new video for Grizzly Bear’s ‘Ready, Able’ below. The video, directed by Allison Schulnik, see’s some clay animation woodland character acting very strangely indeed. Make sure you check out some of Allison’s other work, extremely creative. ‘Ready, Able’ is an album track from the bands latest LP ‘Veckatimest’. No word as of yet whether the song will be released as a single. Watch this space for more details.
Ham Sandwich: Out of the Darkness
Al Byrne
Hooray! I love when I get to talk about Irish indie heroes Ham Sandwich, as I’ve done before here, wherein I recount how their gig both melted my face, and rescultped it in a new, smiling, more handsome fashion. But now? Now I bring news of their new single, Out of the Darkness, which is available from here and here, and it’s streaming here. It’s the first song to be made available from their upcoming…
Songs of the decade: “99 Problems”
Steve Lampiris
Jay-Z | “99 Problems” | 2004 The thing about Rick Rubin is that he’s concurrently the most and least talented producer of the Aughts. It’d be fascinating if he weren’t so sought after and considered a sultan of sorts. But since he is, it’s horribly irritating because you never know what the results are gonna be, whether he’s producing an entire album of sparse yet hard-hitting beats, masterminding a phenomenal comeback record, ruining Weezer or…
Bon Jovi: ‘The Circle’
Album name: The Circle Artist name: Bon Jovi Genre: Rock Released: November 2009 Label: Island ZME Rating: 7/10 Website: bonjovi.com There are two possible scenarios that come to mind when I try to picture a Bon Jovi songwriting session. Obviously, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora are there. They’re probably joined by their co-writer of choice – say, Desmond Child or Billy Falcone or whoever – and they’re brainstorming ideas for a spanking new set…
One size to fit ’em all: The Weezer Snuggie!
Tibi Puiu
Weeze Snuggie
Sufjan Stevens’ 50 states project is ‘such a joke’
Sufjan Stevens once had a plan so ambitious, so preposterous, that it seemed like one of those ‘just crazy enough to work’ things – write a concept album about each of the 50 states. He started off with the midwest when he released the lush “Michigan” in 2003, before carrying on with the magnificent 2005 “Illinois”, which, among other gems in the tracklist, features “Chicago”, Sufjan’s best song to date by far! Something happen afterwards,…
Download: Spoon – ‘The Mystery Zone’
Like most of you might have already heard, the new Spoon album, titled “Transference”, will be out in early 2010, in January, making for an awesome kick start of the new year. Judging from the few new songs the band have been playing live on tour and “The Mystery Zone”, a new leaked song off Transference, it’s going to be one hell of a album! Over at MySpace, Britt Daniel notes: This is the first…
Them Crooked Vultures release free single on iTunes
Them Crooked Vultures have released a new single from their forthcoming self-titled album called “Mind Eraser, No Chaser.” It’s named after the drink, and the song’s lyrics discuss the “dangerous side-effects.” The song’s typical of what’s already been heard from the band: skittery, sideways riffs running rampant, Dave’s kit pounding and Josh’s swagger behind the mic. It’s playful, it’s fun, it’s awesome. But don’t waste any more time reading this. Go get it. [Keep in…
New Tegan and Sara video: ‘Back In Your Head’ (live @ Conan O’Brien)
Last week, Tegan and Sara’s sixth full length studio album, “Sainthood”, dropped with tons of praise from both critics and fans alike. Upbeat and catchy it’s nearly impossible not to like the Canadian twins, and I’m sure Conan loved them last night when the girls stopped by and played the banging “Back In Your Head.” Tegan and Sara have announced that they will launch their first extensive tour of the U.S. in nearly two years…