Tricky Cover & Tracklisting

On May 28, Trip-Hop pioneer Tricky will release his new album, False Idols. The album features contributes from Nneka, Antlers' Peter Silberman, and Fifi Rong. 

In a statement Tricky said this about the LP, "This new album I'll stand behind every track. I don't care whether people like it. I'm doing what I want to do, which is what I did with my first record. That's what made me who I was in the beginning. If people don't like it, it don't matter to me because I'm back where I was." Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below, and hear the first single, "Nothing's Changed."

01 Somebody's Sins 
02 Nothing Matters 
03 Valentine 
04 Bonnie & Clyde 
05 Parenthesis 
06 Nothing's Changed 
07 If Only I Knew 
08 Is That Your Life 
09 Tribal Drums 
10 We Don't Die 
11 Chinese Interlude 
12 Does It 
13 I'm Ready 
14 Hey Love 
15 Passion of the Christ

Quick News

Portugal. The Man have named their new album, Evil Friends. The Danger Mouse produced LP does not have a release date yet.

No Doubt have officially scrapped plans of their current tour to go back into the studio to record a new album.

Stone Temple Pilots have fired Scott Weiland from the band. Weiland, who is currently on a solo tour performing songs from STP's first two albums Core and Purple, found out via the press that he was axed from the band. In a statement Weiland said, "I learned of my supposed "termination" from Stone Temple Pilots this morning by reading about it in the press. Not sure how I can be "terminated" from a band that I founded, fronted and co-wrote many of its biggest hits, but that’s something for the lawyers to figure out. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing all of my fans on my solo tour which starts this Friday. – Scott Weiland."

The Rolling Stones will now have their own exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The exhibit titled, "50 Years of Satisfaction," will have rare photos, memorabilia, films, and will open on Memorial Day Weekend.

Drum and Bass icon Goldie is working on new projects with Flying Lotus, Photek, Burial, dBridge, and Total Science for his new album. No word as to when the new record will arrive.

The Roots' Questlove will release his memoir, Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove this summer. The book will be part his life story and part cultural study.

Speaking to BBC 1, Lana Del Rey discussed how she is going about making her new album. She said, “It’s a little more stripped down but really cinematic and dark. I’ve been working on it really slowly but I love everything I’ve done. I’ve been writing in Santa Monica and I know what the record sounds like. Musically, I’ve worked with the same three guys. Now I just have to finish it.”

Justin Timberlake is set to duet with Mumford & Sons' main man, Marcus Mumford on a collaboration for the forthcoming Coen Brothers movie, Inside Llewyn Davis. Timberlake stars in the film along side Mumford's wife, Carey Mulligan, it will arrive later this year.

Camera Obscura will release their new album, Desire Lines on June 4.

While The National have always made things a family affair - the band features two sets of brothers, singer Matt Berninger (Who does not have a sibling in the band) recruited his brother to film a documentary on the band. Tom Berninger has directed the forthcoming Mistaken For Strangers, a documentary about the bands massive tour and change of life following the release of 2010's High Violet. Mistaken For Strangers is also set to open the TriBeCa Film Festival on April 17. This is the second documentary the band, the first was the Vincent Moon directed, A Skin, A Night. 

Gold Fields on Kimmel!

 Watch the always amazing Gold Fields make their US TV debut and perform "Dark Again (Lights Out)" and "Moves" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Solange on Letterman

Watch Solange perform "Don't Let Me Down" on Letterman.

Iggy & The Stooges Album Trailer

As we mentioned earlier in the week, Iggy and the Stooges will return on April 30 with their new album, Ready to Die. Take a look at the album's trailer featuring music of their new song, "Scarecrow."

Tyler, The Creator with The Roots on Fallon

Odd Future front man Tyler, The Creator took to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to make his solo TV debut and perform a new track, take a look!

Kendrick Lamar on Letterman

Watch Kendrick Lamar perform "Poetic Justice" on Letterman.

Tenacious D on Conan

Watch Tenacious D perform "Rock is Dead" on Conan!

Unknown Moral Orchestra on Fallon

Unknown Moral Orchestra made their TV debut on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Monday. Take a look!

Japandroids on Conan

Watch Japandroids on Conan perform "The Nights of Wine and Roses."

James Blake Cover & Tracklisting

2011's Best New Artist James Blake will return on April 8, with his much anticipated sophomore release, Overgrown. The album will feature guest spots from Brian Eno and Wu-Tang's RZA. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

01 Overgrown
02 I Am Sold
03 Life Around Here
04 Take a Fall for Me
05 Retrograde
06 DLM
07 Digital Lion
08 Voyeur
09 To the last
10 Our Love Comes Back

NINE INCH NAILS TO MAKE LIVE RETURN!

Photo by THE CREATURE

In 2009 Trent Reznor shocked the music world when he said Nine Inch Nails would no longer be a touring band, the band [Reznor] would still make music under NIN. In the summer of 2009, NIN embarked on massive "Wave Goodbye" tour that took them around the U.S. on one leg in a co-headlining venture with Jane's Addiction called NIN/JA. It also saw them make summer festival appearances including Bonnaroo, then took NIN/JA to Europe, where the band would then come back and stage a series of swan song gigs in intimate clubs in New York City, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The tickets to those gigs were, as one could imagine, the hottest tickets in town and was a way for true fans of the band to say goodbye.

Take a listen to our ESSENTIAL NINE INCH NAILS Playlist on SPOTIFY

In the years apart from Nine Inch Nails, Reznor famously won an Oscar for his score for The Social Network, and scored The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Reznor, along with his wife and co-Oscar winning composer Atticus Ross and longtime NIN collaborator Rob Sheridan formed How to Destroy Angels, that band is set to release their debut, Welcome Oblivion, next month.

Now, Reznor has shocked the music world again with the announcement that Nine Inch Nails will tour in 2013 and extensively into 2014. He is bringing along a new line-up of NIN members, notebly including longtime NIN collaborator Alesandro Cortini, former Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery, Telefon Tel Aviv's Josh Eustis, and King Crimson's Adrian Belew.  Already there is speculation that the band will be playing Lollapalooza in Chicago.

Reznor released a statement saying:

NOTE FROM TRENT: 

Nine Inch Nails are touring this year. 

I was working with Adrian Belew on some musical ideas, which led to some discussion on performing, which led to some beard-scratching, which (many steps later) led to the decision to re-think the idea of what Nine Inch Nails could be, and the idea of playing a show. Calls were made to some friends, lots of new ideas were discussed, and a show was booked - which led to another, which somehow led to a lot of shows. 

The band is reinventing itself from scratch and will be comprised of Eric Avery, Adrian Belew, Alessandro Cortini, Josh Eustis, Ilan Rubin, and me. The first shows will begin this summer, followed by a full-on arena tour of the US this fall, and lots of other dates worldwide to follow through 2014. 

Lots of details and dates to come. See you soon. 

TR

Quick News

Congrats to Adele for taking home Best Original Song Oscar for her title track to the latest James Bonds adventure, Skyfall.

Elton John will release his new album, The Diving Board, in September.

Major Lazer have pushed the release of their new album, Free the Universe. The record, which was supposed to arrive this Tuesday, has been pushed and will be released later this year. No exact date has been given.

The National will release their yet-to-be-titled new album in May.

New York City electro-rockers Stellastarr* have been on hiatus since 2009, yet, the front man of the band has been busy. The bands singer, Shawn Christensen is now an Oscar winner. Christensen took home an Oscar for directing the Best Action Short Film, Curfew. In 2008 we interviewed Stellastarr* you can see that interview HERE.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs revealed the tracklisting to their new album, Mosquito, which arrives April 16. The album was produced by TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek, who is also working on the new Beady Eye record. One of the tracks was produced by James Murphy. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
01 Sacrilege
02 Subway
03 Mosquito
04 Under the Earth
05 Slave
06 These Paths
07 Area 52
08 Buried Alive [ft. Dr. Octagon]
09 Always
10 Despair
11 Wedding Song

The legendary Iggy and the Stooges will return April 30 with their new album, Ready to Die. Take a look at the cover below:

Little Boots Cover & Tracklisting

On May 6, UK electro-pop princess Little Boots will return with her new album, Nocturnes. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

1. Motorway
2. Confusion
3. Broken Record
4. Shake
5. Beat Beat
6. Every Night I Say A Prayer
7. Crescendo
8. Strangers
9. All For You
10. Satellite

In 2009 we interviewed Little Boots, take a look at that interview HERE. 

EXCLUSIVE! FIDLAR INTV!

"Fuck It Dog Life's A Risk," that is the motto and the words behind the acronym that make up the band name, FIDLAR. FIDLAR are an L.A. thrash, punk, garage rock band that have been making waves since 2011 and after becoming one of the biggest buzz bands of 2012, the band finally released their self-titled debut last month to much acclaim. The band embrace a slacker, skater lifestyle and have no problem making awesome music to accompany their ideals. Take a look at our interview with drummer Max Kuehn below:


The name of the band is an acronym for “Fuck It Dog Lifes A Risk,” is this a phrase you all went around saying or something you came up with?

A few skater friends came up with the phrase. It was being said for a bit before the band.

Did you think forming this band would be a risk?

Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

You have been called “Skate Punk,” Slacker Punk,” “Garage Rock,” all these terms. What do you consider FIDLAR?

I think we consider ourselves just a rock band. Styles change from song to song.

While the spotlight for many bands these days is on Brooklyn and the NYC area, what is it like to be an LA band now with the East Coast getting so much attention?

I guess it feels cool? There are a bunch of really good up and coming bands from LA, so keep and eye out.

How has LA influenced who you are as a band?

                         

The music from out here has definitely influenced the band a bunch. We all like a lot of LA punk. And even just the fact that we met and started in a studio is something that is more likely to happen in a place like LA.

For someone that doesn’t know, what is the scene out there like?

                           

Super tight. There a bunch of really sick people and really good bands.

This year had to be very special for you, the band was well received and began getting really noticed and you were featured at Lollapalooza among other festivals. How do you top all of this in 2013?

                        

Just touring a bunch and playing new places. 

Being a buzz band or a radar band, are there any pressures put on you to live up to the hype?

                           

I don't think so. The only real difference in our show is that we've gotten tighter  because we are playing all the time.

After going and playing small clubs and playing in your garage, what was it like entering a recording studio for the first time?

                           

We actually recorder our record at our house so we didn't really have the full studio experience. Zac and Elvis actually both used to work at a studio, and the band formed in the studio.

You are releasing your debut via Mom & Pop, what was it like signing with them?

                           

Really great! They are super awesome and they let us do what we want.

What was it like recording your debut?

It was super rad. We did it at Zac and Brandon's house so we had some time to fuck around. 

FIDLAR has seemed to lay down their own set of rules and will not bend for anyone, which is awesome. Was this a theory from the get-go or did you not want to get swallowed up in the media and things surrounding indie bands these days?

                           

We kinda always just do what we want and what's fun. It's important for us to have a say in everything. 

What does 2013 hold for you?

Playing so many fucking shows. It's going to be sickkkkkk

Road to the Oscars® 2013

This is it! Tonight is the night! Seth McFarlane will host this years Academy Awards and while many are still talking about the Katheryn Bigelow, Ben Affleck, and Quentin Tarantino snubs for Best Director, it still seems as if the race is still wide open thanks to Spirit Award wins for Silver Linings Playbook, Golden Globe, BAFTA wins for Les Mis, and Golden Globe, DGA, BAFTA, and SAG wins for Argo. We shall have to wait and see.

It was an interesting year in cinema as no single narrative film really seemed to capture and inspire audiences like in recent years with films like The Artist, The Kings Speech, Slumdog Millionaire, The Departed. While the narrative films left this years race to be anyone's guess, it was a particular documentary coming out of South Africa that had audiences around the globe, not only in tears, but jumping for joy. Searching For Sugar Man, the story of obscure 1960's/70's singer/songwriter Rodriguez had crowds at their feet. For years documentaries have really become one cinema's greatest art forms and alternative voices, but it has been the last few years where docs like Cocaine Cowboys, Exit Through the Gift Shop, The Two Escobars, Senna, Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, have really turned heads, hearts, and minds the way a powerful narrative film would thanks to their brilliant storylines.

As we do every year, here is our list of the 10 Best Films of the Year as well as some Oscar® picks in the major categories, however, this year is different, we are now including documentaries in our list and it should come as no surprise which doc topped our 10 Best list. Tune in to ABC tonight at 7 to see how we did and who won.

10 Best Films of 2012

1 - Searching For Sugar Man 
2- Les Miserables
3- Argo
4- Django Unchained
5 - Zero Dark Thirty
6 - Prometheus 
7- The Sessions
8 - Skyfall
9 - To Rome With Love
10 - The Dark Knight Rises 

Oscar® Picks in 10 Categories:

Best Motion Picture of the Year:
Argo

Best Director:
Steven Speilberg, Lincoln

Best Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Best Actress:
Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Best Supporting Actress:
Anne Hathaway, Les Mis

Achievement in Cinematography:
Claudio Miranda, Life of Pi

Original Screenplay:
Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Argo, Chris Terrio

Best Original Score:
Anna Karenina, Dario Marianelli 

Thom Yorke & Nigel Godrich DJ in London

 Watch a 30-minute clip of Atoms for Peace's Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich DJing in London to celebrate the release of their band's new album, AMOK, which is out next week.

Imagine Dragons on Letterman

 Watch Imagine Dragons perform their hit, "Radioactive" on Letterman.

Quick News

Taking to Facebook, former Dirty Pretty Things front man Carl Barat hinted at a reunion with the band that he formed after the initial split of The Libertines. Barat said, "I'd forgotten there was so much love for the old DPTs. Maybe we could do a gig someday." The posting was met with much favoritism from fans, including us! Here is to hoping for a reunion....also, in the meantime Carl, can you bring the Libertines to the U.S. soon? Thanks.

Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman says he is disappointed in the bands role during their 50th anniversary concerts. Speaking to The Times, Wyman said, "In December 2011 Keith Richards called and said, 'Come on mate, why don't you have a jam with us?' Then they asked if I'd be interested in getting involved in the band for a special occasion. I thought I would get quite heavily involved, so when they said they only wanted me to do two songs I was a bit disappointed. "I only had one rehearsal and no sound-check so I just winged it. It was great, but I didn't want to go to America for two songs. I think they understood. Well, Charlie Watts did."

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready confirmed that the bands new album will arrive this year. He also spoke about the experimental direction the band are focusing on for the new album, he said, "I would say as a cliché answer it's kind of a logical extension of what 'Backspacer' was. But I think there's a little bit more experimental stuff going on. There's a Pink Floyd vibe to some of it, there's a punk rock edge to other stuff."

Gaslight Anthem - Every Word Handwritten Short Film

The Gaslight Anthem created a short film for the title track of last years best album, Handwritten. Watch the bands film, Every Word Handwritten. Much of the video contains clips from the songs original video, but now, in a longer form.

Quick News

Pearl Jam has just become the 22nd band in the history of Billboard Soundscan to sell over 10 million albums. The band's landmark debut, Ten, reached the 10 million mark this week after being released 21 years ago.

Speaking at the Brit Awards, Dave Grohl said he and the Foo Fighters will begin work on their new album this week.

Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan spoke to Entertainment Weekly and dropped major news that his bandmate Martin Gore worked with Frank Ocean for his new album. Gahan said, "Suddenly in the doorway, I sensed this presence, and I realised there was this guy standing there just watching," said Gahan. "An assistant came up to me in between songs and said, 'Do you mind? Frank Ocean is here working in another studio and really wants to meet you guys.' I wouldn't have thought he would have even known who we are, but it turns out he's a big fan. Martin and Christoffer Berg ended up doing a track with him, which I think is going to be part of his new record. Martin did some electronics and some modular synthesizer stuff he really wanted."

A documentary about the iconic Wax Trax! records is in the work. The film will chronicle the rise and fall of Wax Trax! The label was home to KMFDM, Ministry, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Revolting Cocks, Front Line Assembly and more. The documentary will feature artist and employee interviews, home video clips and never-before-seen footage, the film is being assembled by the late co-founder of the label, Jim Nash's daughter Julia.

Pussy Riot's Yekaterina Samutsevich spoke to the Associated Press and said she "no regrets of the performance." She then spoke about the bands now iconic performance at a Russian cathedral that landed them in jail a year ago, she said, ""Many people who did not know about the problem became aware of it: the problem in our society, in the Russian Church."

Taking to Facebook, Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo issued a statement saying he will not participate in the bands forthcoming Australian tour. You can read that lengthy post HERE. Now, Slayer have issued a statement in response to Lombardo's claims:

Slayer confirms that Jon Dette will drum for the band on its Australian tour that starts this Saturday, February 23 in Brisbane. As regards Dave Lombardo‘s Facebook post, Slayer does not agree with Mr. Lombardo‘s substance or the timeline of the events, except to acknowledge that Mr. Lombardo came to the band less than a week before their scheduled departure for Australia to present an entirely new set of terms for his engagement that were contrary to those that had been previously agreed upon. The band was unable to reach an agreement on these new demands in the short amount of time available prior to leaving for Australia. There is more to the account than what Mr. Lombardo has offered, but out of respect to him, Slayer will not be commenting further. Slayer is grateful to its Australian fans for their understanding of this unfortunate last-minute change, and very much looks forward to seeing them at these shows.

Stream Palma Violets Debut!

Stream UK buzz band Palma Violets debut, 180, in the player above weeks before it arrives in stores!

Bernard Sumner Joins The Killers On Stage!

At the Manchester MEN arena on Monday night, New Order front man Bernard Sumner joined The Killers on stage to perform the New Order song "Crystal." In the music video for "Crystal," a fake band named "The Killers" perform, which is where the Vegas electro-rockers got their name. Watch Brandon Flowers and co. explain and jam with one of their heroes.

VINTAGE CLIP - FULL 1992 RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE GIG

 What is believed to be one of the earliest gigs of the legendary Rage Against the Machine, surfaced on the web days ago. It is a full 1992 concert of the band at Zed Records in Long Beach, California. Take a look!

Quick News

The mother of the late Tupac Shakur, Afeni, is "committed" to release all of her son's "entire body of work." In a statement to Billboard magazine, Afeni said, ""I believe it is our responsibility to make sure that Tupac's entire body of work is made available for his fans. My son left many incomplete pieces and even more unfinished ideas. Using the blueprints he gave us, I am committed to fulfilling this duty." Tupac's music and estate is being handled by Jampol Artist Management, who also hold the estates of The Doors, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, and many others.

Milo Cordell, one half of English electro band The Big Pink, has left the band. The other founding member, Robbie Furze vows to continue running the band.

It was revealed on Twitter on Wednesday that Portugal. The Man are currently in the studio working with mega producer Danger Mouse. No word as to when a new LP will be released, but the band has hinted in the past that something will come out this year.

Speaking of Danger Mouse, he reportedly will be working with Frank Ocean on the follow-up to one of last years best albums, Channel Orange. Ocean, also revealed to BBC DJ Zane Lowe that he is "10, 11 songs deep" into his new record.

Method Man & The Roots on Fallon

Watch Method Man and The Roots perform the Wu-Tang classic, "Protect Ya Neck," on Fallon.

Quick Spins

Atoms for Peace – AMOK

Thom Yorke returns with his second solo LP and the debut LP of his side project Atoms For Peace. This band began as the touring band who supported Yorke in 2009 as his backing band when he finally took his 2006 solo release, The Eraser on the road. The band, which consisted of longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Goodrich, Flea, Joey Waronker, and Mauro Refosco, is now much more than Yorke’s solo backing band, they are his full on side project. AMOK is the band venturing into new musical landscapes and taking electronic elements set forth by artists like Four Tet, Flying Lotus, and Burial, and mixing it with acid jazz and world music, AMOK is much more than just a daring Radiohead venture for Yorke, or just a place where music junkies can jam together and make crazy shit, it is a band that is looking to push the musical landscapes and test their limits as musicians and as music fans.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Darkstar – News From Nowhere

If you heard Darkstar’s 2010 breakthrough, North, and heard their latest offering you would believe it is two different bands, however, the change for Darkstar is not one that will leave fans in the dust, it is one to embrace. News From Nowhere hears the British real dubstep band experiment more with colorful synths, layers, tape loops, and vocal experiments to present a colorful array of fantastic music. If North was a dark subconscious record that took listeners to dark places, News From Nowhere is much more cerebral and much more fantasy dreamlike than subconscious.

FINAL GRADE: A

Foals – Holy Fire

The British alternative band return with their third record, and it is simply their best. Foals are an interesting band, they are a band whose sound evolve in all the right ways and you can hear their progression with each record. Holy Fire is their latest offering, which hears the band paint with sound in the listeners ear and manage to take the listener on a journey which will have them moving and wondering the whole way.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Gold Fields – Black Sun

This Australian electro-rock band has been on our radar for a year now and finally they answer the call with their debut, Black Sun, and what a debut it is. One of the best debuts of the year (so far), Gold Fields manage to capture what many bands struggle to do, bottle the energy from their live shows and toss it on a full album. Black Sun is a bouncy, electronic adventure with a sonic style that will have you hitting repeat at the end of every spin of this album.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Iceage – You’re Nothing

The Danish post-hardcore / garage titans return with their most in-your-face album to date. You’re Nothing is a brutal, bone crunching ode to static guitars, pounding drums and brutal hooks.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Inspectah Deck / 7L / Esoteric – Czarface

Three hip-hop titans team up for a trident of intense beats, rhymes, and progress while looking back. Taking queues from hip-hop’s glory days of the 1990’s, Czarface also lays out a blueprint to future collaborative hip-hop groups as to how it should be done. With special guests Action Bronson, Roc Marciano, Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna, Mr. MotherFuckin Exquire, and more, Czarface plays like The Avengers coming together on the mic.  

FINAL GRADE: A-

Screaming Females – Chalk Tape E.P.

The New Jersey garage trio come back after releasing their last full length nearly a year ago and bring something new to the table. In stead of wall-to-wall fuzzy guitars and screaming choruses, Screaming Females explore their limits as musicians and songwriters and take an interesting, but subtle step into their future.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Frightened Rabbit – Pedestrian Verse

The Scottish indie band returns with their fourth record and finds the band tackling broader topics about the world around them rather than the world within them. A much more wide-ranging album in terms of themes, but also manage to make the music still very intimate and not deviate too much for what they are known for.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Push the Sky Away

The legendary Australian singer returns with his iconic band on their latest offering. Push Away the Sky Away is a very minimal record for Nick Cave, it is filled with many creepy and dark spaces, but also keeps their flare intact. Cave, as usual, is a master lyricist and comments on everything from religion, sex, love, society, pop culture (There is even a reference to Hannah Montana and having Miley Cyrus as “the best girl I ever had”) and blends it with erotic delivery. Push the Sky Away is basically Cave reading poetry over music and there is nothing wrong with that!

FINAL GRADE: B+

Beach Fossils – Clash the Truth

The Brooklyn surf-rockers return with a record that does what their last did, bring pop hooks and slick guitar riffs together for a well packaged fun in the sun LP.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Mary Onnettes – Hit the Waves

The Swedish dream-pop band return with a record that hears them opening up a bit more and into new territory. Hit the Waves is a record that hears The Mary Onnettes take on electronic hooks and beats and pull in inspiration from 80’s New Wave to bring back a much more unique sound for them.

FINAL GRADE: B

Jim James – Regions of Light and Sound of God

My Morning Jacket’s Jim James arrives with his solo debut and it is a strick departure from his main band and his other alias Yim Yames. Regions of Light and Sound of God is not a folk record, it is not a rock record, it is record of James trying out new sounds, styles, and musical tastes that he could not do with his other work and for that it is a grand ambition.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Rescues – Blah Blah Love and War

The L.A. rockers return with their new album and while they know how to make a perfect pop-rock song, not much has changed in the bands formula since their 2010 debut.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Puscifer – Donkey Punch the Night E.P.

Maynard James Keenan’s band returns with an E.P. to wet the whistle of fans until a possible new studio record arrives. Mainly recorded with the same line-up of their 2011 release, Conditions of My Parole, Puscifer headed to Keenan’s Arizona vineyard to make their latest offering which hears them cover Queen, Accept, the E.P. is just a sample as to what the band could be doing next in experimenting with electronic sounds and noise.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Ducktails – The Flower Lane

The side project of Real Estate’s Matthew Mondanile is a low-key, somewhat tired and lazy release. The Flower Lane does not say or do much musically, it simply just plays with nothing too interesting happening or going on.

FINAL GRADE: C

Darwin Deez – Songs for Imaginative People

Darwin Deez has always been an interesting character because he simply is just himself and makes no apologies for it, which, by all means is perfect for the music world. Yet, his latest Songs for Imaginative People, he tries to do too much and it does not work. From punk riffs to electronic blips and under his emo style singing. Deez needs to focus on what he can do, rather than what he wants to do.

FINAL GRADE: C-

Face to Face Cover & Tracklisting

On April 9, legendary punk band Face to Face will release their new album, Three Chords and a Half Truth. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

01. 123 Drop
02. Welcome Back To Nothing
03. Smokestacks and Skyscrapers
04. Right As Rain
05. First Step, Misstep
06. Bright Lights Go Down
07. Paper Tigers With Teeth
08. Flat Black
09. Jinxproof
10. Marked Men
11. Three Chords and a Half Truth
12. Across State Lines

Tame Impala on Fallon

 Watch Tame Impala perform "Elephant" on Fallon!

Stream Atoms For Peace - Amok

Amok, the debut album from Thom Yorke's Atoms For Peace arrives next week. You can stream it in the player above!

Playlist

 It is that time of the month - Take a look and listen to February's 27 track playlist on Spotify!

Quick News

Four Tet will reissue his acclaimed breakthrough album, Rounds, in May for its 10th anniversary.

After denying a reunion, Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant has now hinted that he would be open for a reunion tour of the rock titans. Speaking to Australia's 60 Minutes, Plant said, "[Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones] are Capricorns. They don't say a word. They're quite contained in their own worlds and they leave it to me. I'm not the bad guy . . . You need to see the Capricorns – I've got nothing to do in 2014." Whatever that means, fingers crossed the band gets together again!

The Dillinger Escape Plan announced the title and cover to the their new record. The album, One Of Us Is The Killer, will be out later this year. Take a look at the album's cover below:

Fitz and the Tantrums unveiled the cover to their new album, More Than Just a Dream. The record arrives in April, take a look at the cover below:

New York City rapper Anthm will release his new EP, Handful of Dust, later this year. The EP was produced by Blu under the alias, Godleebarnes. Take a look at the EP's cover below:

EXCLUSIVE! Larry & His Flask INTV!

There are very few bands out today that could match up to the amount of energy and high velocity fun that Oregon's Larry and His Flask create on stage. The band, which is a folk-punk band that combines elements of blue grass and Americana and kicks it into high gear with a punk sound have been getting audiences around America moving like they never thought they could. After a successful 2012 touring around the country and linking up with Frank Turner and Jenny Owen Youngs and performing at Riot Fest, Larry and His Flask became one of the most talked about live bands around. As the band works on new material, we spoke to singer and guitarist Ian Cook to find out more about Larry and His Flask. Take a look at our interview below:

First off, nobody in the band is Larry, where does the name come from?

Larry was born on a frigid hollows eve in the year 2003. It was kind of an alter ego our drummer Jamin created for himself. Don't ask me why we stuck with the name, it just happened and here we are now!

What is more important – Larry or his flask?

Definitely the flask!! And whatever may be inside of it!

This band combines together so many different styles and sounds, how did you figure out this was the music you would be playing?

The sound was simply born out of taking six dudes and throwing all their influences together and seeing what happened. We all grew up with punk rock and the local scene really inspired us to start playing. We never really planned our sound, it just kind of naturally came out. The only thing I would say was conscious was our energy. We knew we wanted to throw everything we had at the crowd every night. But other than that, it's still a crapshoot every time we sit down and work on something new. Which keeps everything really fresh and fun.

 With so many of you, how did the band come about?

Larry and his flask started, like I said back in '03 with our bassist Jesse, our drummer Jamin and another guitarist who is no longer in the band. Shortly after the inception I joined. We were pretty much just a shitty local punk rock band playing the local scene every weekend. But things progressed and we lost members, gained members then lost members again until we just said "fuck it!" And went totally acoustic, adding as many members as possible(at one time we had 11 or 12 members!!) and took it on the road. The members you see today is what the lineup got whittled down to and we're still goin' strong!

 Oregon has been giving the music world a plethora of good bands over the last 5-7 years, where does Larry and His Flask fit into that?

Nowhere! Haha. I'm kidding. We're from a couple of pretty small towns in the middle of nowhere. Bend and Redmond. For a long time we kind of avoided Portland due to its over-saturated scene. We focused on the places like we came from. Small towns that deserve to have a music scene. Don't get me wrong, we love Portland, but with so many bands, it was hard to make a splash if you know what I mean. Now it's much different. We just go fucking EVERYWHERE!! But as far as being from Oregon is concerned, we're proud of that.

Your live shows are simply amazing. When you get off stage each night, how exhausted are you or does the adrenaline never wear off?

The adrenaline does wear off eventually. Exhaustion does catch up with us. We're not super-human, We're just always down to party!!

Are you really having as much fun on stage as you show off or is this another day in the office for you?

We're grateful for everyday that we can spend doing what we love. How could we not be having fun? 

After four albums and two EP’s, you are still a new band to most people. Do you consider yourself to be a “new” band now?

Relatively. We kind of feel new still. We're still winning people over every night. When it gets to a point when we're not trying to do that constantly I think we might not feel as new. But on the other hand, with every album you kind of feel new in a way. Showing people new songs takes the same attitude.

 Is a new full-length in the works?

We're always working on new songs! We have almost a whole albums worth of songs for the next one. We're hitting the studio in January to pound it all out. We're all pretty excited about the new stuff. It's a little different but still very Flask. Can't wait to record it!!

Recently your toured with Frank Turner and Jenny Owen Youngs, at the final show of the tour, all of you were praising each other and banding together like a family. What was it like being on the road with all of them?

AMAZING! We all dubbed it the "Friendship Tour". I can't say enough good things about Frank and the Sleeping Souls and Jenny. Lets just say we all made some lifetime friends on that tour.

When I first reviewed you guys, I said “The band, which there is only one to describe is if one things of Mumford and Sons taking a ton of HGH and then doing massive lines of Coke and going on stage, that in a nutshell, is Larry and His Flask.” Do you agree with that assessment?

Ha, I guess. People have described us in so many different ways. Some of them massively in-depth and intricate like yours(some more so). But the most common reaction to what we do is the word " Ridiculous!". Which I like. It's simple, and it's so loaded. It's open for so many interpretations. But I guess I'd say our show is a lot like 6 guys getting up on stage and loving what they do!

The Maccabees on Letterman

 Britrockers The Maccabees made their U.S. TV debut on The Late Show with David Letterman on Friday. Take a look!

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Black Sabbath Album Teaser

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Quick News

Wu-Tang's Ghostface Killah will reissue his landmark solo debut, Ironman this spring. The reissue will feature a 24K Gold CD, a book, the remastered album a puzzle of the albums cover. Speaking of Ghost, he is teaming up with Adrian Younge for a record called 12 Reasons to Die, which will be produced by RZA. The album arrives April 16, take a look at the cover below:

Radiohead have confirmed they will begin work on their new record this summer.

The Killers Brandon Flowers has opened up to Fasterlouder that he would like to make another solo record. Flowers said, "I don't rule anything out. I loved doing my solo record, I loved touring it and singing those songs. I could see that happening again for sure." Flowers released his solo debut, Flamingo in 2010.

Lady Gaga was forced to cancel the remainder of her current Born This Way Ball Tour due to a mandatory hip surgery she has to undergo. We wish Mother Monster a speedy recovery.

Johnny Marr opened up to The Auto Jubilator that after The Smiths break-up, he was asked by Paul McCartney to join his band. Marr said, ""I didn’t do a recording session with him as such, but we did get together for a good long eight-or-nine-hour day, and just played and played and played very intensely, really loudly. Which was pretty great, obviously. He was pretty good! He can play that bass and sing pretty well, I must say. That was a fun time. That was pretty much the first thing I did when The Smiths stopped being together. I’ve seen him a couple of times since. We’ve not played together, but he’s always very friendly and very gracious."

Talk about Hammer of the Gods! Queen's Brian May and Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi are working on making a "riff album" together. In the latest issue of Kerrang! magazine, various fans and guitarist pose questions to the Queen axeman, one of them being Iommi. Iommi asked, "When are we going to get to work on that album of riffs together? You know what I'm talking about…" May replied,"Yes, I do know what he's talking about and I'm very, very keen. The record he's talking about was supposed to be a secret but I guess he's blown it now!"

After his Odd Future bandmate Frank Ocean walked away with a few Grammys this past weekend, Tyler, The Creator has announced his third solo record. The album, Wolf, will be out on April 2. The record will feature three covers, take a look at them below:

Main album cover:

 Deluxe edition cover:

 Alternative cover: