Live Review - The Revival Tour @ Irving Plaza

There is something about musical camaraderie that is, not only reassuring, but also joyous. Seeing musicians and friends get on stage to perform together is something fans love, no matter what the genre. When The Rolling Stones had their 50th Anniversary in December, they brought out a slew of guests from Jeff Beck to The Black Keys to Lady Gaga and Springsteen to join them. It was not just a once in a lifetime occasion to see these musicians play together, it was also fantastic to see that they were all friends. On a much smaller scale, that is the thesis to The Revival Tour. The Revival Tour, which is an all acoustic tour, began five years ago, is still going strong and this years line-up came through New York on Thursday night featuring Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, Rocky Votolato, Dave Hause of The Loved Ones, Jenny Owen Youngs, and Toh Kay of Streetlight Manifesto, and mostly backed by Chuck Ragan's backing band.

The line-up walked on stage just after 8pm and embraced each other arm-in-arm and sang songs about drinking and Davey Jones, before retreating to the wings for Toh Kay to begin his solo set. The Streetlight Manifesto singer was like a Latin flamenco guitarist on his axe. Kay, who had many fans singing his songs from the packed Irving Plaza, was unlike the other members of The Revival Tour and did not have many of the other members of the line-up come on stage and sing with him. The whole experience of The Revival Tour is that at any given moment someone from the line-up could come out with whoever is on stage and jam with them. Kay had none of that and his set, in many ways, suffered for it.

After Kay, it was Brooklyn's Jenny Owen Youngs turn to hit the stage. Youngs, who is a firecracker on stage sang many songs off her new album, An Unwavering Band of Light, and had Ragan, Votolato, and Hause come on stage and play with her. Youngs, who is the only female on this leg of the tour clearly held her own with the boys and was so much fun to watch. Cracking jokes in between songs and covering Johnny Cash, it is no surprise that her name spells out JOY, because that was what he set was full of.

It was then onto Rocky Votolato, the singer-songwriter has become a cult favorite over the years and during his 20 minute set it was proof as to why. His music is about wearing your heart on your sleeve and making no apologizes for it. With most of the members of Rival 2013 joining him on stage, it was a fantastic set.

Then came Dave Hause of The Loved Ones. The Philly singer may be small in stature but he is tall in heart and soul. Hause, who sings about blue collar living and loving, took his punk-goes-acoustic set into a sing along with fans in the room. Always with something engaging to say and very humbled by the turnout, his set was one of the highlights.

It was then time for the main event, Chuck Ragan. The man who has curated, organized, and been the glue of The Rival Tour since day one is the wise man of the road and the father figure to each and every person on this tour, past, present, and future. Ragan, a giant man who looks more like a lumberjack than he does a singer in a punk band, is one of today's greatest songwriters and concentrating his set on his last (and best) solo album, Covering Ground, songs like "Wish on the Moon," "Valentine," and the powerful "Nothing Left to Prove," was enough to bring tears to anyones eyes and warm the soul of anyone with a big heart. While Ragan looks like he could have been the ancestor of a prize winning boxer, he is a very gentle giant and his kindness is the reason The Revival Tour lives on year after year.

While Ragan's set would down, the members of the tour returned to the stage for one final sing along and after over three hours of music, the price of admission would never cross the crowds mind, because  witnessing this tour is priceless.

Kendrick Lamar on Kimmel

 Watch Kendrick Lamar perform "Poetic Justice" and the radio friendly aka censored version of "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Quick News

Shoe-gaze post-punks Crocodiles have confirmed they have finished recording their new album. The California band will head to London to mix it.

New Jersey punks The Front Bottoms will release their new album, The Talon of the Hawk on May 21.

British singer Miles Kane will release his sophomore solo LP, Don't Forget Who You Are, in May.

Because of being slated to play at a Tibetan Freedom Concert over 15 years ago, electro legends Kraftwerk are banned from playing in China. Kraftwerk, who were supposed to play the Freedom Concert in the 90's could not perform because of weather conditions, however, the Chinese government are denying the German electronic pioneers from headlining this years Strawberry Fields Festival in Beijing at the end of May because of their involvement in the Freedom Concert all those years ago.

Once again, Ministry are no longer. Frontman Al Jourgensen is ending the group, after reuniting them in 2011. However, after another health scare for Jourgensen and the loss of bandmate and best friend, Mike Scaccia last year, Ministry will be no longer. The band will release their final record, From Beer to Eternity in September.

The poster for the forthcoming CBGB's movie is out. The film, CBGB, stars Alan Rickman, Taylor Hawkins, Freddy Rodriguez, Rupert Grint, and more. Take a look below (Click to Enlarge):

Atoms For Peace NYC DJ Set

Just a few weeks ago, Atoms for Peace's Thom Yorke & Nigel Godrich DJ'ed a special gig at New York hot spot Le Poisson Rouge. Take a look at a string of HD clips the band strung together.

Glasvegas Cover The Beatles As Beatles Tribute Band

 In the bands home city of Glasgow on Tuesday, Glasvegas shocked fans at the King Tut's Wah Wah Hut by coming as the opening band, The Savage Stage Bells, who were a Beatles tribute band. They may have only done five Beatles songs, but it made an impression on the audience. Take a look at Glasvegas - sorry, we mean Savage Stage Bells, performing "Help."

Divine Fits on Kimmel

 Divine Fits performed "You Got Lucky," and "Like Ice Cream" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Take a look!

Wavves on Letterman

 Wavves made their TV debut Tuesday night on Letterman to perform their new song, "A Demon to Lean On." Take a look!

Live Review - The 1975 @ Mercury Lounge

It is hard to get New Yorkers to get anywhere on time. So when an early show featuring British buzz band, The 1975 was happening on Wednesday night at Mercury Lounge, it was not surprising that the gig was sold out, it was surprising that over 200 New Yorkers crammed the tiny venue and waiting with anticipation for the band to make their Big Apple debut.

The band, who took SXSW by storm have been making waves thanks to their single "Chocolate" off their current EP, Music for Cars was released earlier this month. The Manchester, England, band have the atmospheric anatomy of one of Manchester's most famous bands -- Joy Division, but also have an amazing pop element to their sound that makes their music not only something that will send shivers down your spine, but also make you want to throw your arms in the air and dance.

"Good Evening, New York. I have always wanted to say that," proclaimed singer / guitarist Matthew Healy. The band, which seemed wide eyed and excited to be in the City that Never Sleeps, seemed to soak up the attention they were getting in the room as the crowd were screaming and chanting at the end of each song. "You have no idea how much that means to us, and how we feel," Healy said, the humble singer and band know how to work a room. Their songs are so slick and their live show is so polished, it is hard not to like them. The band, who are currently recording their debut album, as well as a fourth EP, told the audience, "We want our record to feel like a John Hughes movie." In fact, their songs do, they are bright and moody and filled with hope and despair, it is an interesting juxtaposition but The 1975 know how to make it work, and their hard work seems to be paying off. Healy said, "In January we went straight from my bedroom, on tour and we haven't been home since, and now we are in New York," the singer echoed the sentiments from the rest of his band, who were in awe that people in New York not only heard of them, but came out on a Wednesday evening to see them. While this was the bands first gig in this city, this is far from the last time we will hear from them, they will be back in June, but by then it will be this show people will still be talking about.

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With This I Think I'm Officially A Yuppie

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Kid Cudi Cover & Tracklisting

On April 23, Kid Cudi will release his new album, Indicud. The epic rap record will feature 18 tracks and a slew of guests from RZA, A$AP Rocky, Father John Misty, and Michael Bolton (yeah, we are taken back by that one too). Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

01. The Resurrection Of Scott Mescudi
02. Unfuckwittable
03. Just What I Am feat. King Chip
04. Young Lady feat. Father John Misty
05. King Wizard
06. Immortal
07. Solo Dolo Part II feat. Kendrick Lamar
08. Girls feat. Too Short
09. New York City Rage Fest
10. Red Eye feat. Haim
11. Mad Solar
12. Beez feat. RZA
13. Brothers feat. King Chip & A$AP Rocky
14. Burn Baby Burn
15. Lord Of The Sad And Lonely
16. Cold Blooded
17. Afterwards (Bring Yo Friends) feat. Michael Bolton & King Chip
18. The Flight Of The Moon Man

Quick News

Kings of Leon have finished recording sixth record, the band will have it out in September.

The Boxer Rebellion will release their new album, Promises, on May 14.

Former Mars Volta / One Day as a Lion drummer Jon Theodore is now the new drummer for Queens of the Stone Age. He will replace Joey Castillo, who left during the early recording stages of the bands forthcoming record Like Clockwork, the rest of the record was tracked with Dave Grohl on drums. Theodore will act as the bands touring drummer.

Gorillaz Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn's opera - Monkey: Journey to the West will make its North American debut this July at New York's Lincoln Center.

Tyler, The Creator shared the tracklisting for his forthcoming new album, Wolf. Appearing on the record are many of his Odd Future cronies, Pharrell Williams, Erykah Badu and many more. The album arrives next week. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
01 "Wolf"
02 "Jamba" [ft. Hodgy Beats]
03 "Cowboy"
04 "Awkward"
05 "Domo23"
06 "Answer"
07 "Slater" [ft. Frank Ocean]
08 "48"
09 "Colossus"
10 "PartyIsntOver/Campfire/Bimmer" [ft. Laetitia Sadier, Frank Ocean]
11 "IFHY" [ft. Pharrell]
12 "Pigs"
13 "Parking Lot" [ft. Casey Veggies, Mike G]
14 "Rusty" [ft. Domo Genesis, Earl Sweatshirt]
15 "Trashwang" [ft. Na’kel, Jasper, Lucas, L-Boy, Taco, Left Brain, Lee Spielman]
16 "Treehome95" [ft. Coco O, Erykah Badu]
17 "Tamale"
18 "Lone"

Wale on Fallon

On Monday night Wale brought along special guest Tiara Thomas to perform "Bad" on Fallon. Take a look!

Kid Cudi on Kimmel

 Watch Kid Cudi perform two new songs, "Immortal," and "Just What I Am,"on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Little Green Cars on Fallon

Indie rock darlings Little Green Cars made their TV debut on Fallon last night. Take a look!

Live Pix - Sigur Ros @ MSG

We posted our review of Sigur Ros at Madison Square Garden earlier, but now we have some pictures to share. Our photographer RICH D SMOOV was on hand to capture some of the action and intensity of the Icelandic band. Take a look! 

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MS MR Cover & Tracklisting

On May 17, New York City duo MS MR will release their debut album, Secondhand Rapture. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

1 Hurricane
2 Bones
3 Ash Tree Lane
4 Fantasy
5 Dark Doo Wop
6 Head Is Not My Home
7 Salty Sweet
8 Think Of You
9 Twenty Seven
10 BTSK
11 No Trace
12 This Isn't Control

Quick News

Sad news to report, superstar California DJ Scott Hardkiss passed away at age 43. The cause of death has not been determined. Our thoughts go to his friends and loved ones, he will be missed.

Pussy Riot member Yekaterina Samutsevich spoke to 60 Minutes, wearing the infamous colored ski masks the band wore during their 2012 "Punk Prayer" that landed them in jail, and continued the bands fight against the Russian government and leader, Vladmir Putin. She said, "We want the government to leave power, because we consider it illegitimate. But we're advocating for a peaceful overthrow. The elections weren't legitimate. There was vote rigging. There was false counting. It was clear that the president put himself in power. Putin has brought in a new level of repressive government measures in Russia."

During an interview with German newspaper BILD, Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan spoke about his 1996 overdose that nearly killed him. The singer, who rarely speaks about the incident opened up and said, ""The first thing I realised in the hospital was that I exited my body. I was floating underneath the ceiling and could observe exactly what was happening underneath me: Paramedics were running around my body and tried to save me. I screamed that I wasn’t actually lying down there but above them. I believe it was my soul screaming which had already left my body and became a witness of what happened to my body. At that point I was clinically dead, my heart wasn't beating. These seconds seemed like hours to me. And suddenly, there was a complete, frightening darkness around me. As if someone had turned off the light. When he finally came around, the star woke up in handcuffs for being in possession of drugs. "When I woke up, I was tied to the bed with handcuffs. Policemen were standing in front of me and read my rights to me. I was arrested because of possession of cocaine and heroin."

In the wake of last years bus accident that nearly took the lives of the members of Baroness, bassist Matt Maggioni and drummer Allen Blickl have left the band. The band will replace the members and each left on good terms, Baroness vows to soldier on.

Joining Dave Grohl, Elton John, Trent Reznor, and Jake Sheers, Arctic Monkeys front man Alex Turner will be a guest on the forthcoming Queens of the Stone Age album, Like Clockwork. The album arrives in June.

Justice will release their new live album, Access All Arenas on May 7. Take a look at the cover below:

Live Review - Sigur Ros @ MSG

Music is an interesting art form, it has the power to captivate, stoke imagination, say things that words cannot, but most of all it can make a listener feel things that words and visuals could struggle to do. On Monday night, Icelandic symphonic rockers, Sigur Ros, performed their biggest North American headlining date yet at New York’s Madison Square Garden. While the show was not sold out, it was still very packed with fans from all over the world wanting to emote to the sounds and visuals Sigur Ros are known for.

Just before 9pm, the band took the stage but they could not be seen thanks in part to giant curtains that boxed the stage. Opening with the tender “Yfirboro,” and “Ny Batteri,” it was as if Sigur Ros was ready to transcend musical and theatrical boundaries and take the audience on a journey of the mind through their music. As the band was performing inside the curtain box, a strobe light display and visuals projected on the box so the audience had something to look and aid in engaging in the music. After a handful of songs, the curtain fell, exposing the band and their string, brass, and wind ensembles on stage and a giant horizontal screen behind them. Much like on the curtain box, the screen had visuals that ranged from nature to outer space guide the audiences musical journey.

The band, which sings all of their songs in their native tongue, proved that music is our universal language. While many in the audience probably do not speak Icelandic or learned of the country’s language through the music of Sigur Ros and Bjork, it is still enough to give you chills. The amazing musicianship, and the power of singer Jonsi’s falsetto voice that can reach the octaves of some world renowned opera singers and the sustaining power, is something to knock anyone off their feet. His voice is simply its own instrument. With his signature bow on his guitar and abusing the strings like an intense violinist, Jonsi was waving his skinny body in motions that would have broken the backs of some front men. In the near two hours the band was on stage, the power and beauty of Sigur Ros really came alive. They know how to work a giant room and still make every little sound, blip, and note be heard from the first row over to the nosebleeds. There is a reason why these art rockers from Iceland have gained so much world wide attention over the years, it clearly has no effect on what language they are singing in, their music is enough to tell a story and make you feel something.

Langehorne Slim on Conan

Langhorne Slim performed two new tracks on Conan, Monday night. The folk singer played "The Way We Move," and "Found My Heart," and on the second song had Conan join the band on guitar. Take a look!

Snoop Lion Cover & Tracklisting

On April 23, Snoop Dogg under his new alter ego - Snoop Lion will release Reincarnated, the Major Lazer produced reggae influenced album that turned The Doggfather into a Rhasta Monster. Take a look at the cover above and the star-studded tracklisting below, as well as the new video for the first single, "Lighters Up."

01 Rebel Way
02 Here Comes the King [ft. Angela Hunte]
03 Lighters Up [ft. Mavado & Popcaan]
04 So Long [ft. Angela Hunte]
05 Get Away [ft. Angela Hunte]
06 No Guns Allowed [ft. Drake & Cori B]
07 Fruit Juice [ft. Mr. Vegas]
08 Smoke the Weed [ft. Collie Budz]
09 Tired of Running [ft. Akon]
10 The Good Good [ft. Iza]
11 Torn Apart [ft. Rita Ora]
12 Ashtrays & Heartbreaks [ft. Miley Cyrus]
13 Boulevard [ft. Jahdan Blakkamoore]
14 Remedy [ft. Busta Rhymes & Chris Brown]
15 La La La
16 Harder Times [ft. Jahdan Blakkamoore]

EXCLUSIVE - My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult INTV!

For over 25 years Chicago industrial / disco rockers My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult have been pulverizing audiences around the globe with their cyber slamming and pulse pounding sounds. Last year the band celebrated their quarter century by returning to the road as a recharged and reinvigorated band. While the 1990's were their heyday, the Thrill Kill Kult is still proving that they can hold their own as they get older and with the slew of bands they have inspired over the years. While the band have had a revolving door of musicians, we spoke to one of the founders and centerpieces of the legendary band, Buzz McCoy about their longevity, music, overcoming drug use, and the fall of Wax Trax! Records. Take a look at our interview with McCoy below.


Many industrial bands like yourself, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails and others formed in the Midwest of America. What is it about that region that you think could have spawned such an aggressive and diverse style of music? 

Something in the water perhaps? Sub zero winter temperatures. Lack of sleep. Too much coke, speed and vodka? Probably all those factor in.

Did you ever think that you would be doing this for 25 years?

I thought for sure I'd be dead by now, so the answer is definitely no! But since that's not the case, I'm glad I have it to do.

Now that the band has celebrated their 25^th anniversary, what is your fondest memory doing this?

Just meeting a lot of cool, great people / fans over the years, many of whom still come out to shows after all this time... sometimes with their kids!  It's kinda like facebook, but you actually get to engage in conversation and share a drink or two with strangers instead of posting pictures and commenting.

25 years later, is this still just as fun as it was when you first started?

Fun? I suppose it's good to be able to create and have others enjoy it.. But to me fun is jet-skiing or something like that. This band thing can be a lot of work!

Elements of the occult, sexual fantasies, grind house films, have all played an important role in the bands image and music. Who came up with the idea to use these elements?

It's kind of how Groovie Mann and myself bonded and became friends when I first moved to Chicago. We would get burritos to go from the mexican market down the street,  along with a few VHS tapes. They had an amazing collection of b movies, and foreign horror flicks for rent. We would stay up all night watching and laughing for hours. We share similar tastes when it comes to bad taste. We just naturally incorporated those elements into our musical styling.

One of the first labels you signed with was the legendary Wax Trax! Records, a label that took chances on left of center musicians and something new. Do you feel they were pioneers in what they were doing? How come we see a lack of Wax Trax! beliefs today, even though labels seem to be the decline?

Jim and Dannie just loved music! And sometimes the more off the wall, the better. They both had a unique outlook on life and art. It takes people with a lot of passion and vision to take the chances they did. People nowadays are just looking for a buck, or to be famous. That wasn't the case with Wax Trax.

You at points were unfairly labeled to be a “Satanic” band due to the amount of devil and occult imagery you were using on stage and in your public persona, yet, none of your music ever really had anything to do with this. Did it piss you off that people would rush to judgment before listening to anything?

Of course not. We love exploiting religious imagery of any persuasion. It's fun to watch people get so worked up over such nonsense. Those kind of people have no affect on us. They need help. That's why they use religion I guess.

The last record you released was 2009’s Death Threat, is a new album in the works?

We did a song around Christmas, which kind of set the mood -  but lately we have been busy finishing up our debut "Bomb Gang Girlz" album which comes out July 31st! Next we are getting ready for tour this fall. After that we will hit the studio again and see what happens...

After all these years making music, is it more of a process putting together a setlist for every gig?

Sometimes. This year was a little more challenging because we wanted to showcase something from every album. the set list is also dictated by whatever the band's incarnation is at the time too. We can't do a lot of songs with "diva" back-ups vocals without Jacky Blacque with us. We can't play our guitar songs without a guitar player in the line-up.

This band has seen and done it all in terms of exposure within the music industry, seeing the downfall of major labels, the internet boom, music videos actually being played on TV. What advice do you have for younger bands starting out today?

Just stay true to your art/music, and know you can only really rely on yourselves. Others just want to ride your coattails until you trip and fall.

What are your thoughts on the music industry today?

I really don't pay much attention to music, or the associated industry. As a band, we never really did. We never really fit in and played along. We didn't want to. We just do what we do and pay any attention to the so called music biz. 

Do you ever feel jealous or angry, if not both, about how fast it is for someone to get recognized today, unlike when you started out starving for what you were doing?

Not at all. We never wanted to be famous or anything like that. We weren't looking to get rich. I hate being recognized. Just cuz your famous or your songs get played continuously on the radio doesn't necessarily mean your any good at what you do, or even that you're remotely interesting or talented for that matter.  Look at Lady Gaga. Snore! If someone thinks she's outrages, then they haven't been exposed to a lot in life. 

The band went through a big line-up changes through the years. Is the current line-up of My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult seem secure and intact right now?

The band is myself and Groovie, and whoever/whatever characters we feel fill the roles needed for any particular chapter in our sordid little tale. We will always evolve. It's part of being a kult. Lol. We do have some great current live musicians this tour. Justin Bennet, our drummer, has been with us for 10 years or more. Bassist Mimi Star will return this year. She is awesome. Jacky will be making guest appearances in select cities.

How long will you keep doing this for?

Who knows. perhaps this could be the last tour, or not. I don't speculate. We kind of live by the "every day could be your last" philosophy. I wouldn't want to make a big deal and announce a farewell album or tour, just to turn around 4 or 5 years later with a "comeback" album/ tour. That pisses me off when bands do that. And so many do! I guess they spent their inflated "last tour" ticket price cash too fast and have to start touring again.. I guess we'll just go on until one of us keels over dead. ..or gets committed!

Daft Punk Confirm New Album / Watch New Trailer

Earlier this month, a mysterious ad featuring the Daft Punk helmets aired during Saturday Night Live. No one knew what to make of it and then posters featuring the helmets began popping up in major cities like New York, London, Paris, Los Angeles, but still no word on a new album.

Yesterday, as we broke into our social networks, iTunes and Sony confirmed that a new album from the French electronic legends will be out on May 20/21 called Random Access Memory. Take a look at the cover above.

As they did a few weeks ago, Daft Punk teased a new trailer for their record on SNL and confirmed everything about the reports that got out during the day on Saturday. Take a look at the trailer below:

Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller Join Damon Albarn & Graham Coxon at Teenager Cancer Trust

 Saturday night at the Noel Gallagher curated 2013 Teenage Cancer Trust concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall, Gallagher joined his former Britpop rivals Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon of Blur on stage to perform the Blur classic, "Tender." Also on hand was the Modfather himself, Paul Weller. Take a look at the history making moment shot by YouTube user Alistair Burns.

Vintage Clips - The Strokes on Letterman

 On Tuesday, The Strokes will release their fifth album, Comedown Machine. To celebrate the release of the New York City rockers latest, we are looking back at all their appearances through the years on The Late Show with David Letterman. Take a look!

Thanks to YouTube user Max91TheStrokes for stringing the clips together.

Deerhunter Cover & Tracklisting

On May 7, indie rockers Deerhunter will release their new album, Monomania. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

01 Neon Junkyard
02 Leather Jacket II
03 The Missing
04 Pensacola
05 Dream Captain
06 Blue Agent
07 T.H.M.
08 Sleepwalking
09 Back to the Middle
10 Monomania
11 Nitebike
12 Punk (La Vie Anté:rieure)

Sigur Ros on Fallon

 In their first TV appearance in over a decade, Sigur Ros performed the title track off their forthcoming album, Kveikur, on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Fun fact, it was Late Night with Conan O'Brien that they made their first US TV appearance,

Quick News

D.C. rapper Wale will release his new album, The Gifted on June 25.

After a series of health setbacks this winter on his failed U.S. tour, Morrissey has been "cautioned" by doctors to stop touring. Speaking to Mexican radio station, Reactor 105.7, Moz said, "I had a very bad time. I had internal bleeding and I was rushed into hospital and I had lost a lot of blood. They tried to patch me together over the following five weeks but it didn't work… I was on lots of IV drips for almost five weeks, and each time it seemed as though I was back to robust health I would decline... I had lost so much blood I had become anaemic, but I'm still receiving ongoing treatment and I am very optimistic now. It almost became absurd the number of things that happened to me, but everything just attacked me at once. The double pneumonia - everything was really a result of the fact I had lost so much blood, so the immune defenses were very, very low and couldn't cope with anything, so therefore the slightest gust of wind and I would have a terrible cold."

New Jersey emo-punks, My Chemical Romance are throwing in the towel. On Friday night, the band released a statement saying, "Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We've gotten to go places we never knew we would. We've been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We've shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure."

After releasing the awesome, R.A.P. Music last year, Killer Mike has confirmed that he is currently working with El-P again for the sequel to the album, R.A.P. Music II. He also has confirmed that Harry Fraud will help out with production for another record, I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind IV. The rapper says both albums will be out next year.

Echo & the Bunnymen have confirmed that they will record their new studio album this summer and hope to have it out before the end of the year. Singer Ian McCulloch confirmed to The Quietus that the record will be called, In The Garden of Meedin'.

Queens of the Stone Age have confirmed that their new album will be called Like Clockwork and will be out in June via Matador Records.

Sigur Ros Cover & Tracklisting

On June 18, Icelandic musical geniuses Sigur Ros will return with their new album, Kveikur. This album comes a year after last years experimental and mellow, Valtari. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below, as well as the first video for the single, "Brennenstein."

1. "Brennisteinn
2. "Hrafntinna"
3. "Isjaki"
4. "Yfirbord"
5. "Stormur"
6. "Kveikur"
7. "Rafstraumur"
8. "Bláprádur"
9. "Var"

Quick Spins

Suede – Bloodsports

Suede or The London Suede (depending on what part of the world you are from) return after 11 years with their latest, Bloodsports and show everyone in music – This is how you make a comeback. One of the finest comeback records ever released, Bloodsports hears the Britpop legends refreshed, reenergized, reinvigorated, and most of all renewed for the next chapter of their careers. From singer Brett Anderson’s unique powerul falsetto voice to the bands inspiring guitar and rhyme sections, each song of Bloodsports is a fight to show why this band still matters and why in 2013, we need Suede more than ever. If each track is a new round in this fight, they come back swinging harder, faster, and stronger with each building song.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Depeche Mode – Delta Machine

The legendary British electro rockers return for album 13 and prove that 13 is a lucky number. Depeche Mode have had an amazing career of going strong for four decades now and like a fine wine get better with age, yet, Delta Machine maybe their finest serving in years. Taking queues from their 90’s angst days of Violator, Songs of Faith and Devotion, and Ultra and mixing it with their heavy electronic and experimental sounds of 2005’s Playing the Angel. If anyone had any doubt about Depeche Mode in 2013, the band roar to prove they are here to stay.

FINAL GRADE: A

Sound City – Real to Reel

Dave Grohl’s mega supergroup featuring Foo Fighters, Trent Reznor, Stevie Nicks, John Fogherty, Brad Wilk, Queens of the Stone Age, Rick Springfield, Paul McCartney, come together for the soundtrack of Grohl’s documentary about the iconic California recording studio. While this is a soundtrack it plays more like an ode and collaborative record about the studio that gave us legendary records like Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors and Nirvana’s Nevermind. A majority of the songs are originals and laid down to tape to get the ambiance of Sound City captured the way it should be. This is a fun rock and roll record and an great tribute.

FINAL GRADE: A

Palma Violets – 180

The most talked about new rock and roll band in England answers the call of the buzz built around them with their furious debut, 180. Hailed by NME, Q, and even The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn as an incredible live band, Palma Violets capture their punk and R&B inspired tone on their first album.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Jimi Hendrix – People, Hell, and Angels

The fourth posthumous release from the greatest guitarist to ever live gives more insight into what could have been. The songs on People, Hell, and Angels are songs Hendrix was working on for his follow-up to Electric Ladyland. Fully restored, it takes his signature raw power guitar laid over funk, R&B, and psychedelica and is textbook Hendrix. A must for any collector.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience

With his first album in seven years, Justin Timberlake embraces the old and ties in the new. Like Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, Fitz & The Tantrums, Timberlake takes the throwback soul / big band sound of the 50’s and 60’s and mixes it with Prince-esque funk and hip-hop inspiration. The album’s main issue is that unlike Timberlake’s previous solo records, this does nothing to change the face of pop, he just does (like those mentioned earlier) what they have, just on a much more slick level. With production from Timbaland, J-Roc, The Tennessee Kids and more, Timberlake makes a slick and sexy record but sings nearly every song about his wife, Jessica Beil, who he clearly seems to be madly in love with – sorry ladies, it looks like JT is not going anywhere for a while in the girl department.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Demigodz – Killmatic

The hip-hop collective returns with their latest savage offering, Killmatic. Taking an inspirational script from the 90’s glory days of hip-hop, Demigodz offer a brutal and intense rap album that will turn them on to a new audience and be well received by their original fans.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Wire – Change Becomes Us

 The legendary English punks return with their 13th album and give an interesting take on how this record was made – taking unreleased sessions and songs that were originally written between 1978-1980 and re-recording them and reworking them for a brand new album of never-before-heard new music. In typical Wire fashion, it has balls and rocks.

FINAL GRADE: B

Billy Bragg – Tooth & Nail

The iconic British voice of reason returns with his 14^th studio album and in it he brings forth a new slew of songs of social change, justice, love, and hope. While many refer to Bragg as the punk Bob Dylan or folk’s Joe Strummer, Bragg uses those who have inspired him and those who paved the way for something we always need – a voice of reason.

FINAL GRADE: B

Kate Nash – Girl Talk

The English singer / songwriter returns with her third record and unlike her previous efforts, Nash combines folk and garage together for a unique blend of angst girl rock.

FINAL GRADE: B

Everything Everything – Arc

The English electronic rockers returned with their sophomore album, and bring a much more intricate art sense to what they already accomplished with their debut, Man Alive.

FINAL GRADE: B

Charli XCX – True Romance

After being delayed for a full year, English pop songstress Charli XCX finally releases her debut. True Romance is a sexy, raw, honest, and intense trial in emotion that features electronica, darkwave, coldwave, and R&B sounds together. True Romance could have been worth the wait.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Virgins – Strike Gently

The New York City garage rockers return with their sophomore release, and after getting a major push by a major NYC garage band – The Strokes, The Virgins are ready for their close-up. Mixing in new wave and electronic hooks, The Virgins certainly have one of the catchiest records released so far.

FINAL GRADE: B

Clutch – Earth Rocker

The Maryland stoner rockers return with their latest offering, and like much of Clutch’s prior work, it is a hard charging, systematic trial of thunderous sounds and rhythms. They are not messing with a formula that have made them a popular cult band.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Eric Clapton – Old Sock

Slow Hand comes back with his latest studio album and it is an uninspired and often times, lazy record and just an excuse to get his friends together. Old Sock includes Sir Paul McCartney, Chaka Khan, Taj Mahal, and Steve Winwood and is 95% all covers and two new songs.

 FINAL GRADE: C

Chelsea Light Moving

Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore offers a new solo album with a new band and is some of Moore’s most disconnected and furious songs he has ever written. It seems as if he does not know what he wants as an artist and thus trying everything he can with his new band.

FINAL GRADE: C

Stereophonics – Graffiti on the Train

The Welsh rockers return with their eighth album and much like their last offering, Keep Calm and Carry On, Graffiti on the Train is an uninspired and boring rock record. It is a shame to see a band like ‘Phonics to fall flat two records in a row after releasing some of the 90’s best albums and ‘00’s very good albums like Language, Violence, Sex, Other and Pull the Pin.

FINAL GRADE: C-

Pig Destroyer – Mass and Volume E.P.

The Virginia grindcore band known for some of the most brutal sounds release an E.P. of some of their worst material and unreleased tracks. While the principle for Mass and Volume is all for a good cause, charity effort to benefit the family of recently-deceased Relapse Records employee Pat Egen, it is some terrible work from a band known for fantastic, slaughtering, heavy music.

FINAL GRADE: D 

The National Cover & Tracklisting

On May 20 / 21 The National will release their sixth album, Trouble Will Find Me. In a press statement singer, Matt Berninger said, "For the past 10 years we'd been chasing something, wanting to prove something. And this chase was about trying to disprove our own insecurities. After touring High Violet, I think we felt like we'd finally gotten there. Now we could relax-- not in terms of our own expectations but we didn't have to prove our identity any longer." This is one record we are really excited about. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

01 I Should Live in Salt
02 Demons
03 Don't Swallow the Cap
04 Fireproof
05 Sea of Love
06 Heavenfaced
07 This is the Last Time
08 Graceless
09 Slipped
10 I Need My Girl
11 Humiliation
12 Pink Rabbits
13 Hard to Find

Quick News

It has been confirmed that the Shane Meadows documentary on The Stone Roses, Made of Stone, will be released in June. The date comes to mark the bands one year anniversary since reuniting last year and performing two homecoming gigs in Manchester, England.

Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger is collaborating with Pearl Jam for their new album. The guitarist is actually composing and arranging strings for the Seattle bands forthcoming new album.

Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence," and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, along with Chubby Checker's "The Twist," will be added to The Library of Congress' National Recording Registry for Preservation. Also among the additions this year are Leontyne Price, Ornette Coleman, The Ramones, The Bee Gees, Clarence Ashley, Doc Watson, Philip Glass, Betty Carter, Junior Wells, Jimmie Davis, Frank Yankovic, The Blackwood Brothers and The Neville Brothers.

Talk about being way ahead of the curve, five years ago we introduced you to English band Tripwires as part of our monthly Rising Artist picks. Yet, as the years went on the band seemed to quiet down a bit, but now, finally, they are releasing their debut album, Spacehopper in June via French Kiss. Take a look at the album cover below: