Kraftwerk: Pop Art BBC Documentary Now Streaming

The acclaimed 2013 BBC 4 documentary Kraftwerk: Pop Art about the German techno giants Kraftwerk is now streaming. Take a look!

Ben Howard on Letterman

Watch Ben Howard perform "I Forgot Where We Were" on Letterman.

Quick News

Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett has confirmed that the animated band will return. In a series of Instagram posts, Hewlett said, "Yes Gorillaz Returns." The artist featured new animations of characters / bandmates Murdoc and Noodle.

Speaking to The Fader, Chance the Rapper dived into new info about his upcoming album Surf that he is doing with The Social Experiment, a band he is apart of. The interview speaks about how Chance is just a member of the band like anyone else and that he is not the focus of the group. Group member Donnie Trumpet emphasized this point saying, "If they only wanna listen to the songs with Chance The Rapper, they're gonna have to listen to the whole project cover-to-cover because I'm not gonna tell them which songs [he's on]. The important thing is just to listen. Listen to the music, then send it to your grandma." Chance then mentioned that his long awaited new solo record will arrive after Surf comes out and will feature Andre 3000, J.Cole, and Frank Ocean.

Big Sean has revealed the tracklisting to his upcoming Dark Sky Paradise, which will arrive next month. Take a look:
1. Dark Sky (Skyscrapers)
2. Blessings feat. Drake
3. All Your Fault feat. Kanye West
4. IDFWU feat. E-40
5. Pay No Games feat. Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign
6. Paradise (Extended)
7. Win Some, Lose Some
8. Stay Down
9. I Know feat. Jhené Aiko
10. Deep feat. Lil Wayne
11. One Man Can Change the World feat. Kanye West & John Legend
12. Outro
Deluxe Bonus Tracks:
13. Deserve It feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR
14. Research feat. Ariana Grande
15. Platinum and Wood

This is a just because photo. It is not news just fucking awesome. Friday night, Run The Jewels opened for Jack White at Madison Square Garden and brought out Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine to perform "Close Your Eyes (and Count to Fuck)." To commemorate the special event, Run The Jewels posted this incredible backstage photo:

Death Cab for Cutie on Letterman

Watch Death Cab for Cutie perform "Black Sun" on Letterman.

Courtney Barnett Announces Debut

Rising Australian singer / songwriter Courtney Barnett has announced details of her much anticipated debut album. The record, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit will arrive in March via Mom + Pop. 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:

01. Elevator Operator

02. Pedestrian at Best

03. An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in NY)

04. Small Poppies

05. Depreston

06. Aqua Profunda!

07. Dead Fox

08. Nobody Really Cares if You Don't Go to the Party

09. Debbie Downer

10. Kim's Caravan

11. Boxing Day Blues

Quick News

Passion Pit will release their new album, Kindred in April.

Speaking to NME, Gary Jarmin of The Cribs explained that seeing Dave Grohl in their New York recording studio was a good omen for the band as they recorded their forthcoming record, For All Of My Sisters, last year. Gary said, "We left to go get pizza and withing three minutes we returned with Dave Grohl. We played with him in Ireland and he was like, 'The Cribs? I love you guys!' We thought it was a really good omen for the first day of the record - it was just like a rabbit's foot or something." For All Of My Sisters arrives in March.

Rocky Votolato will release his new album, Hospital Handshakes in April. 

In an interview with Dummy, former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante has announced he will release an acidhouse record under the name Trickfinger in April. Frusciante said, "I started being serious about following my dream to make electronic music, and to be my own engineer, five years ago," commented Frusciante, who quit RHCP in 2008. "For the 10 years prior to that, I had been playing guitar along with a wide range of different types of programmed synthesizer and sample-based music, emulating what I heard as best as I could. I found that the languages machines forced programmers to think in had caused them to discover a new musical vocabulary…". Take a look at the tracklisting below:
'After Below'
'Before Above'
'Rainover'
'Sain'
'Exlam'
'85h'
'4:30'
'Phurip'

Ringo Starr Announces New All-Starr Album

On March 31, Ringo Starr will release his latest solo album, Postcards From Paradise. On the record, the former Beatle enlisted Joe Walsh, Benmont Tench, Dave Stewart, Ann Marie Simpson, Richard Marx, Amy Keys, Peter Frampton, Nathan East, and Glen Ballard.

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below.

1.      Rory And The Hurricanes

2.      You Bring The Party Down

3.      Bridges

4.      Postcards From Paradise

5.      Right Side Of The Road

6.      Not Looking Back

7.      Bamboula

8.      Island In The Sun

9.      Touch And Go

10.    Confirmation

11.    Let Love Lead

Photo credit: Rob Shanahan

QUICK SPINS

 

Joey Bada$$ - B4.DA.$$

Brooklyn’s Joey Bada$$ just turned 20 but has been turning heads since he was 17. After a series of acclaimed EP’s and mixtapes, Bada$$ arrives in grand fashion with his full length debut, B4.DA.$$ and brings with him a touch of 90’s glory days and a willingness to showcase he is one of the leaders of the new school. While 2014 suffered as a lackluster year for hip-hop, Bada$$ goes firing on all cylinders at the top of the new year with his debut. A ferocious look into the mind of someone who doesn’t seem to be in the music for the fame but for the message.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Bjork – Vulnicura

The last time Bjork dazzled her audience was in 2011 with her app album, Biophilia, now, the Icelandic princess who has always discussed nature, life, and science, travels inward for the first time to discuss herself. Vulnicura is Bjork at her most vulnerable. It is a breakup record that plays out like the plotlines of an Oscar contending film that rips from the headlines and heartstrings of Bjork’s own life. The album is an expression of her breakup with artist Matthew Barney and culminates three months before the split, the heart of the breakup, and the recovery after. With production by Arca and The Haxan Cloak, heartbreak never sounded so bittersweet.

FINAL GRADE: A

Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love

For the first time in a decade, punk heroines Sleater-Kinney return with their eighth album and showcase that even if life gets in the way of this band they will not lose their touch.

FINAL GRADE: A

Mark Ronson – Uptown Special

Leave it to Mark Ronson to craft one of the best soul and funk records of the last 15 years. The British beatmaker and producer gets everyone from Stevie Wonder to Bruno Mars on Uptown Special and crafts a concord of sound that will get any party started from here to whatever uptown special you may be going to.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Marilyn Manson – The Pale Emperor

Marilyn Manson continues to make music but not headlines. The God of Fuck was a textbook shock rocker in the 90’s but as the turn of the century emerged his fame seemed to diminish. While he never left the spotlight, he was not exactly the center of attention any more, he left that for Lady Gaga and reality TV stars to try and shock the media. But Manson still put out music and still worked as an artist and actor, recently appearing on the final season of Sons of Anarchy, but the AntiChrist Superstar was not the man in the spotlight and because of that it may have lead to a creative vein being cut open and allowing Manson to craft one of his finest records. The Pale Emperor is his ninth opus and doesn’t hold back. It plays like a cinematic voyage into the mind of a man who strived for celebrity, achieved it and then wanted to get away from it as fast as he could. It is a record as complex as the man who crafted it and a record just as compelling as the man whose story it is.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Derek Grant – Breakdown

Alkaline Trio’s drummer goes right up to the front of the stage with his solo debut, Breakdown. Grant, known for being the backbone of the punk rock trio that has gained so much attention through the years showcases his tender and emotional side on Breakdown. If you thought you new Grant before, think again, you will look at the musician in a whole new way from now on.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Until the Ribbon Breaks – A Lesson Unlearnt

The long awaited debut from one of music’s most promising groups, Until The Ribbon Breaks, finally has arrived. It is hard to tell if it was worth the wait but fans of the group who have been waiting for A Lesson Unlearnt will enjoy what they hear, while new fans will emerge curious to the sound and style this sexy band can make.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Bright Light Bright Light – There Are No Miracles EP

One of the most underrated songwriters, singers, and entertainers, Rod Thomas aka Bright Light Bright Light returns teasing us with a new EP, There Are No Miracles. This EP, like his previous efforts, showcases his ability to make you dance and get emotional at the same time.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Belle & Sebastian – Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance

Nine albums in and Scotland’s Belle & Sebastian are still as cute as ever. Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance is a fun and pun filled record that still shows their strong writing style while keeping with what has got this band so much attention through the years.

FINAL GRADE: B

Title Fight – Hyperview

Take what you know about punks Title Fight and throw it out the window. Their latest, Hyperview, is a shoe-gaze rock record that shows that they have the testicular fortitude to head into a new direction and not alienate the fanbase that has developed around them like cult.

FINAL GRADE: B

J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive

One of the last records of last year happened to be one of the most solid and surprising and no, we are not talking about D’Angelo, it came from J. Cole. Cole, who surprised fans with 2014 Forest Hills Drive gets really personal and vivid about what it was like for him growing up and developing into the man he has become.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Decemberists – What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World

Colin Malloy of The Decemberists has a knack for telling a story in his songs, it has what has made him one of America’s most prolific and acclaimed songwriters of the last 20 years. So, on his band’s latest effort, their ninth record, he tries to find beauty in tragedy and finds tragedy in beauty. The record, is typical Decemberists but it is Malloy who is the star of the show. From singing about personal experiences to trying to wrap his head around the Sandy Hook shootings of 2012, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, is his cathartic experience to get his emotions in order.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo and Youth

There was a point in Lupe Fiasco’s career where it seemed he was poised to be the next Kanye and get on the level of acclaim that Kendrick Lamar would get in 2012 after his debut. None of those things ever panned out. No one is clear if it is because of label disputes or just Fiasco’s own demons that prevented the talented emcee from Chicago to get to become one of the biggest names in hip-hop. Yet, this gets addressed on his latest Tetsuo and Youth. His fifth album is one of his most solid and concrete in years and not just trying to craft singles but really try and craft a full record. On Tetsuo and Youth, Fiasco gets personal and gets political, it is one of his most ferocious to date and worthy of a listen.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Lazyeyes – New Year EP

Emerging Brooklyn shoe-gaze favorites, Lazyeyes, return to start 2015 off with a new EP. New Year EP is the band at their best and preparing fans to what is to come in the year ahead.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Madonna – Rebel Heart

While Madonna has always set trends, lately her records have just been going with the trends. The Material Girl enlisted Diplo for her latest album and while he is one of the biggest producers in the business now, the icon can’t get into the groove. Rebel Heart like her last two albums, Hard Candy and MDNA, are just derivatives of what its out now. She tries too hard to try and stay relevant instead of trying to create what will be popular next or the blueprint for other artists to follow. The fact that Mike Tyson is the most interesting thing on a Madonna record is the most shocking part of this whole scenario.

FINAL GRADE: D 

Twin Shadow Details 'Eclipse'

In March, Twin Shadow will release his new album, Eclipse. The record, which is his third, will be put out via Warner Bros. 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, as well as the album teaser, below.

01 Flatliners
02 When The Lights Turn Out
03 To The Top
04 Alone Feat. Lily Elise
05 Eclipse
06 Turn Me Up
07 I’m Ready
08 Old Love/New Love Feat. D’Angelo Lacy
09 Half Life
10 Watch Me Go
11 Locked & Loaded

Quick News

For the first time in 13 years, Desaparecidos will release a new album. Their label, Epitaph confirmed the news that Connor Oberst's other outfit will have new music later this year.

Strung Out will release their new album, Transmission Alpha Delta, in March.

Future User, the new band fronted by Rage Against the Machine's Tim Commerford will release their debut #SteroidsOrHeroin next month. Commerford spoke to Rolling Stone about his new endevour and said, "The fearlessness of Rage will forever be a part of me and that daring attitude has been the inspiration for all the things I'm trying to say with the Future User."

Speaking to MusicStoreLive.com Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter said that the band will begin recording their new album next month. He said, "We are actually writing a new record and we're gonna… We're supposed to be going in to record it next month, but we're taking it as it goes. I mean, we're not all the way ready now, but we've still got time and we're working on it."

Big Sean will release his new album, Dark Sky Paradise, next month. Take a look at the cover below:

Calexico Detail New Album

Calexico will release their new album, Edge of the Sun in April. The record will feature a slew of guests like Neko Case, Iron & Wine's Sam Beam, Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell, DeVotchka's Nick Urata, Gaby Moreno, among others.

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the first single "Cumbia de Donde."

01 Falling from the Sky
02 Bullets & Rocks
03 When the Angels Played
04 Tapping on the Line
05 Cumbia de Donde
06 Miles from the Sea
07 Coyoacán
08 Beneath the City of Dreams
09 Woodshed Waltz
10 Moon Never Rises
11 World Undone
12 Follow the River

Glen Hansard Releasing Jason Molina Tribute EP

In March, Glen Hansard will release a tribute EP to his late friend, songwriter Jason Molina, who passed away in 2013 due to alcohol abuse-related organ failure. All of the tracks on the record were written by Molina in some fashion, whether for a band or for a solo project. All of the profits of the EP titled, It Was Triumph We Once Proposed...Songs of Jason Molina, will be donated to charity in Molina's honor.

Take a look at the cover, and tracklisting below and hear the first single "Being in Love," below.

01 Being in Love
02 Hold On, Magnolia
03 Farewell Transmission
04 Vanquisher
05 White Sulfer

ZZ Top on Kimmel

Watch ZZ Top perform "I Gotsta Get Paid" and "Tush" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Quick News

Taking to Twitter, Matthew Healey of The 1975 has given fans an update about their new album. He wrote, "our first album was about the pursuit and acquisition of love. our second album is about the preservation and cultivation of love." No word on a release date, but he did tweet last week about something happening in June. We will keep you updated.

El-P took to Instagram to announce that Run The Jewels have started working on Meow The Jewels, the fan funded spin-off record from Run The Jewels 2.

Muse announced that their new album will be called Drones. No official release date has been given, but speculation is that it will arrive this summer.

At the Sundance Film Festival this weekend, Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon and Ghostface Killah announced the documentary, The Purple Tape Files, which celebrates the 20th anniversary Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. The documentary will arrive next month. Raekwon spoke to Complex about the project and said, "Most importantly is about the people being able to get all the answers that they wanted when they heard this album. Cause we was young boys, we was in our prime so getting that shot to really impress the world with your music, we didn’t never think it will be embraced so hardly like this. And 20 years later is time for you to see this film to go into the file cabinets on how this was made.”

Run The Jewels Full La Blogotheque Concert

Watch a full concert Run the Jewels did for France's La Blogotheque inside an abandoned railway station.

Ryan Adams on Late Late Show

Judd Apatow was the special guest host on The Late Late Show on Friday and brought along his pal, Ryan Adams, who was accompanied by Don Was, to perform a special version of "Gimme Something Good." Take a look!

Quick News

Noel Gallagher is giving Oasis fans the slightest glimmer of hope that the iconic band will reform one day, but there is a catch. Telling Q magazine, Gallagher says Oasis will only reunite for the money. He said, "Nobody has made us an offer. I’ve been in the same room as Liam, and even then nobody’s said, 'Weren’t Oasis great? You should re-form.'" Gallagher says. "But if I was ever going to do it, it would only be for the money. This isn't me putting it out there, by the way. Would I do it for charity? No way. We’re not that kind of people. For Glastonbury? I don’t think Michael Eavis has got enough money. But would we get back together one day? As long as everybody is still alive and still has their hair, it’s always a possibility. But only for the money."

Ever wonder what it would be like to work with Bjork? Venezuelan producer Arca, who just worked on the Icelandic princesses latest, Vulnicura, tells The Fader what the experience is like, saying, "The amount of trust that she placed in me, and the amount of trust I placed in her from the get-go, set the tone for our working together. It was weirdly enlightening, exciting, ecstatic, celebratory, interesting, and therapeutic—everything that an artistic collaboration should be."

 Speaking to NME, CHVRCHES' Martin Doherty said the band want to channel Prince and Michael Jackson on their sophomore album, which they are currently working on. Doherty said, "When you listen to a Michael Jackson song or a Prince song, you realise there's absolutely nothing in it but an amazing bassline, drums and singing. We want to channel some of that."

The most surprising thing about Madonna's new album, Rebel Heart, is not that it was leaked months in advance or rushed to iTunes, it is that boxing champ and pop culture icon Mike Tyson raps on the record. Tyson explained what happened to Rolling Stone and how he appeared alongside Nas on Madge's song, "Iconic." The champ said, "Madonna calls you and tells you to come somewhere, you go. I didn't know what the hell I was going there for. I'm just there having a good time and hanging out with Madonna. She has her producer there and I go into the studio and I didn't know if she wanted me to talk or rap. I just go in there and start talking. I'm talking about my life and things that I have endured. I'm saying some really crazy stuff. It was really intense." Tyson then said he drew inspiration from former Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini, saying, "When I did it, I think about being some guy like Mussolini and they're really arrogant, but you try to come from a positive perspective and be uplifting. You watch Mussolini on television — even though we don't understand what he's saying — he is so mesmerizing. I look at myself in that way. I know people may say 'this guy's a fascist' and all this stuff, but man, you can take positivity from watching him. No wonder why Hitler was attracted to him. This guy's a hypnotic figure. There's so much pride behind what he's saying. I'm not even Italian and I feel the pride he's projecting. He had that street swag; he was doing this stuff with his hands and moving his head before it was even hip-hop."

Next month, Pharrell will be one of the latest in a long line of musical guests to make an appearance on The Simpsons. Take a look at Pharrell-Simpsonophied, below, the episode airs on February 8.

VINTAGE CLIP: Bjork & PJ Harvey @ Brit Awards '94

Bjork surprised fans this week after she rush-released her new album, Vulnicura to iTunes (physical copies arrive in March on original street date) and PJ Harvey made headlines this week when began her "live" recording of her new album where fans can watch her record what she is doing.

We decided since these powerful music women made news in their own right this week, 21 years ago they made headlines together at the 1994 Brit Awards where they did a killer cover of The Rolling Stones' "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." Take a look at this VINTAGE CLIP!

Fan Made J Dilla Video Gives 'Donuts' Visuals

Days before J Dilla's untimely death in 2006, he released his swan song, the epic instrumental album Donuts. While the record never had any videos to it, Dilla fan and YouTube user HoustonLovesDilla has recently released a visual component to the record. Take a look and listen!

Listen! Early Jay Z Demo Surfaces

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Before Reasonable Doubt, Jay Z was hustling to become a rapper and gain recognition. Last week, one of his early demos was loaded online and take a listen to what he was saying and trying to craft before he had a contract.

Quick News

Speaking more to NME, Justin Young of The Vaccines said that their new album English Graffiti was inspired by an article he read in The New York Times about the globalization of culture. Young said, "We live in a really weird time. We're voyeurs. We're constantly looking at this constructed reality online. We feel super-connected, but I don't think we are. I feel a massive disconnect between what we perceive to be real and attainable and what actually is."

Also speaking to NME were Palma Violets who are currently working on their sophomore LP. Guitarist Sam Fryer gave an update on the album and said, "We're a 'moment' band. We're still 21 or 22 and this record sounds youthful. As soon as we heard those 15 demos from The Doghouse, we knew we were making something great."

Another person chatting to NME this week is Paul Weller. The Modfather talked about his upcoming LP Saturn's Pattern and said, "It's just bonkers in places but it's really melodic, there's great tunes on there. It's a little bit of a leap into the unknown, really. I don't know where it will take me, I have no idea. I wouldn't say it's dance because I wouldn't do a dance record as such, but it's got a lot of movement to it. It's gone past my expectations, in a way."

Jack White is set to appear on his own TOPPS baseball card representing the Detroit Tigers after the musician threw out the first pitch a game over the summer. Take a look at the card below:

Lupe Fiasco on Meyers

Watch Lupe Fiasco perform on Late Night with Seth Meyers!

Belle & Sebastian on Conan

Watch Belle & Sebastian on Conan!

Playlist

Take a look at January's 29-song playlist and hear it on Spotify!

Great Soundtracks: Beavis & Butt-Head Do America

When it first arrived in theaters in 1996, Beavis & Butt-Head Do America had the highest grossing opening for a December film in history. It would eventually be beaten by Scream 2 and a little film called Titanic but the two slacker cartoon characters from MTV rode high in the Silver Screen. The celebrated characters from the brain of Mike Judge defined the 1990's and their film brought that success full circle. While the film is still a cult classic, it's soundtrack is one of the most unique gatherings of artist on one disc.

The soundtrack to Do America was not your typical movie soundtrack - it featured everyone from 90's favorites like No Doubt, White Zombie, and Rancid as well as LL Cool J, Isaac Hayes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, AC / DC, Butthole Surfers and most surprisingly, Engelbert Humperdink. Not to mention music from Madd Head, Southern Culture on the Skids and Ozzy, Do America captured a decade whose sound was all over the place and put it on wax. Whether the producers behind the soundtrack intended to do it or not, this soundtrack may or may not take you back into the film but it will certainly take you back to that era.

Recommended Reading: Morrissey Autobiography

In the fall of 2013, no autobiography had fans lining up around the world more than Morrissey's Autobiography. The former and controversial Smiths' singer always has so much to get off of his chest and mind and never holds back his feelings on anything, so, when it was finally put into words after years of discussing, his Autobiography was an international best-seller.

In the book, Moz dishes on his childhood, his constant gloomy state, his battles with record labels and bosses, near death encounters he had with friends, he touches on his personal life and sexuality but the main reason we grabbed the book was to find out what he would say about the end of The Smiths. While the end of one of the most iconic bands to ever form would be a key talking point, he mentions it in a few short pages. The unique layout of the book took readers off guard, it is a one chapter, 457 page document of his life. He writes his book the way he writes his lyrics, with conviction and allows you to hang onto every word as if it was the most defining moment in literature. After you finish the chronicle, you will either appreciate Morrissey more or just be annoyed by him. Bigmouth has struck again!

Quick News

Al Gore and Pharrell announced that Live Earth will return this summer after an eight year hiatus. The concert, which will raise awareness about climate change, will take place in six cities Paris, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Sydney and Cape Town, on July 18. No line-up has been announced yet.

The Specials will reissue their first three studio albums with each getting a remastered touch and a bonus disc of material featuring demos, live cuts, and b-sides. They will arrive in March.

The Vaccines have confirmed that their new album will be called English Graffiti and while we await a release date, singer Justin Young spoke to NME about their upcoming third LP. He said, "I started to feel that being timeless isn't a good thing. I wanted to make a record that was important in 2015 and sound like 2015, sonically and emotionally," Young says. "People just aren't ambitious in rock music. If you take hip-hop or pop, they're a lot more adventurous, they break a lot more rules. If you listen to some of the stuff on the radio right now, it's fucking far out. We wanted to make something that sounds amazing next year and then terrible in 10 years! If you listen to anything from the 1990s now, it sounds fucking awful, but that's part of its identity."

Speaking to Rolling Stone about their upcoming album, New Order's Bernard Sumner said the band has shifted in styles and what they do in the studio as they have gotten older and since Peter Hook is not in the band anymore. Sumner said, "The lines have gotten a bit blurrier than they used to be. We've become songwriters instead of instrumentalists."

Damon Albarn is no stranger to the stage and now he is reinterpreting Alice in Wonderland for the adventurous new musical Wonder.Land which will open the Manchester International Festival in July. Albarn co-wrote the music. Take a look at the event poster below:

The Mountain Goats will release their new album, Beat the Champ in April. The record is a concept album all about pro-wrestling -- awesome. Take a look at the cover, below:

Sleater-Kinney on Conan

Watch Sleater-Kinney perform "Surface Envy" on Conan.

Quick News

Haim have confirmed they are in the studio working on their sophomore album. No release date has been set, but speculation seems to believe that the record could arrive before the year's end.

The Strokes' Nikolai Fraiture has started a new band called Summer Moon. The band also features members of Au Revoir Simone and The Like. No word yet if the band are going to record.

Work has begun on Run the Jewels' cat-inspired album, Meow the Jewels. Speaking to NME, El-P said that the fan-funded project to transform the band's music into cat noises is taking flight. El-P said, "Meow The Jewels has just started production. We were handling all of the charitable aspect and getting money to where we had to get it first, and we'll be making an announcement about that soon. I'm not sure how long the whole thing will take because it's not all in my hands – we've got a bunch of people and producers on board to make cat noises and I need to wrangle it all together. Everybody announced so far is still involved – Prince Paul, Dan the Automater, Just Blaze, Skywlkr, Baauer, Zola Jesus, Gaslamp Killer and myself. There's a lot of really amazing people involved – which is ridiculous, considering that if I actually had to make real music then it might have been the greatest album ever made!"

One of the many former members of The Fall, Brix Star-Smith is set to release her memoirs next year titled The Rise, The Fall & The Rise. Star-Smith was a key member of the band in the 1980's and was married to leader and singer Mark E. Smith.

The City of Portland, Oregon, has announced that today is Decemberists Day in celebration of the band's new album. Take a look at the Proclamation below:

Foo Fighters' Nate Mendel To Relese Solo Debut

Using the moniker Lieutenant, Foo Fighters bassist Nate Mendel will release his solo debut, If I Kill This Thing We're All Gonna Eat For A Week in March.

The album features guests like Foo's bandmate Chris Shiflett, Helmet's Page Hamilton, The Head and The Heart's Jonsiah Johnson, and Mendel's former Sunny Day Real Estate bandmate Jeremy Enigk, as well as drummer Joe Plummer. 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and listen to the single "Rattled."

1.     Belle Epoque

2.     The Place You Wanna Go

3.     Believe The Squalor

4.     Rattled

5.     Prepared Remarks

6.     Some Remove

7.     Sink Sand

8.     Artificial Limbs

9.     Lift The Sheet

Liturgy Announce New Album

Brooklyn metal outfit Liturgy will release their new album, The Art Work in March. Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the new single "Quetzalcoatl."

01. Fanfare 

02. Follow

03. Kel Valhaal

04. Follow II

05. Quetzalcoatl

06. Father Vorizen

07. Haelegen

08. Reign Array

09. Vitriol

10. Total War

Night Terrors of 1927 on Meyers

Watch Night Terrors of 1927 on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

The Cribs Detail New Album

In March, UK band of brothers The Cribs will release their new album, For All My Sisters. The album was produced by legendary Cars frontman Ric Ocasek. 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below as well as hear the first single, "An Ivory Hand," and a teaser of the album.

1. Finally Free
2. Different Angle
3. Burning For No One
4. Mr. Wrong
5. An Ivory hand
6. Simple Story
7. City Storms
8. Pacific Time
9. Summer Of Chances
10. Diamond Girl
11. Spring On Broadway
12. Pink Snow

Quick News

Sad news to report, A$AP Crew producer A$AP Yams passed away over the weekend. Yams was 26. No cause of death has been determined or announced. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and bandmates.

Chris Cornell took to social media over the weekend to announce that he is back in the studio working on his new solo album.

PJ Harvey has officially begun her "live" recording of her new album. Fans in London can watch Harvey record her new record right before their eyes. The album is due at the end of the year.

Toro Y Moi will release his new album, What For? in April.

Killer Mike has written an amazing op-ed for Okayplayer in honor of Martin Luther King Day. Take a look and read the very poignant piece HERE.

In 2011, following the release of his solo debut, Noel Gallagher was supposed to release a record with Amorphous Androgynous, yet, the record never saw the light of day and Gallagher now confirms to NME that it never will. He said, "Initially when they delivered it they managed to pull off the trick of recording the quietest CD of all time. When I got it I couldn't hear it and was like, 'Is it broke?' But for all the great ideas on it… I was in the middle of a tour, that last album had blown up, the mixes weren't right. And by the time I got back off tour I was just like, 'I'm not fucking putting out another record, I can't be arsed'. I was frazzled and had glandular fever. I was fucked."

Carl Barat has confirmed via Twitter that he is en route to Thailand to begin work on the new Libertines record with the rest of the band. The band are recording in Thailand as Pete Doherty finishes rehab in the country.

Madonna will release her new album, Rebel Heart, in March but due to an early iTunes release that digital version currently appears on Apple's music store to purchase. Therefore the tracklisting to the Material Girl's latest has been revealed, take a look:
01. Living For Love
02. Devil Pray
03. Ghosttown
04. Unapologetic Bitch
05. Illuminati
06. Bitch I’m Madonna (feat. Nicki Minaj)
07. Hold Tight
08. Joan Of Arc
09. Iconic (feat. Chance The Rapper & Mike Tyson)
10. HeartBreakCity
11. Body Shop
12. Holy Water
13. Inside Out
14. Wash All Over Me
15. Best Night
16. Veni Vidi Vici (feat. Nas)
17. S.E.X.
18. Messiah
19. Rebel Heart

Airborne Toxic Event released the cover to their upcoming album, Dope Machines, take a look:

The cover to Bjork's upcoming LP, Vulnicura, has already been released. Take a look, below. That record arrives in March.

Mew Announce 1st Album in 6 Years!

Danish band Mew will release their first album, +- in April. This will be the band's first album since 2009's acclaimed No More Stories Are Told Today. +- also features a guest spot from Bloc Party's Russell Lissack on the song "My Complications." 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the first single "Satellites." 

01 Satellites
02 Witness
03 The Night Believer
04 Making Friends
05 Clinging to a Bad Dream
06 My Complications
07 Water Slides
08 Interview the Girls
09 Rows
10 Cross the River on Your Own

Live Pix: Mayhem @ Webster Hall

On January 10, metal monsters Mayhem and Watain slayed through Webster Hall. Our very own RICH D SMOOV was on hand to capture the action of Mayhem that Saturday night. 

Take a look:

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VINTAGE CLIP: New Order on Top of the Pops

Apparently today is "Blue Monday" the bluest / most depressing of the year, to mark the day, New Order posted their 1983 Top of the Pops performance of their mega-hit "Blue Monday." Take a look and as they said on social media, "Hopefully this might cheer you up."

The Identity of Gang of Four's Andy Gill

**Photo by Leo Cackett**

 

“I fucking love America,” iconic Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill told me as we had drinks at SoHo Grand. Gill, who was in New York in November to promote his band’s upcoming album, What Happens Next, discussed what still makes him tick and what still drives him to make music after nearly 40 years. “It is the most fun I will ever possibly have,” he said about recording, “It is painful, hard work, and all encompassing. There is no down time and it is always on your mind. To me, that is the only way to do it.”

Gang of Four formed in 1977 in Leeds, England, at Leeds University after the initial influx of punk bands that came from London and New York. The band ushered in a new wave of punk, known as post-punk. “I loved the idea of a ridged structure that sort of got destroyed,” he admitted and it is his guitar work and that idea that has influenced Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Nirvana, REM, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. His syncopated and jagged licks, coupled with singer Jon King’s unique staccato vocals gained them immediate attention. Their 1979 debut, Entertainment! has been hailed as one of the best albums of the 70’s and one of the best debut albums of all time. “I loved The Velvet Underground, but I love James Brown, but I love Bob Marley, I was not going to buy into one or the other or anything else. I am going to try and do things in a new way. For me it has to be funky,” he spoke on his early influences.

The formation of Gang of Four came when Gill and King were curious by their surroundings at Leeds. Gill reflected, “The idea of Gang of Four was something that Jon and I created between ourselves. Between the two of us. The music side was left to me, but the concept of it was something we did together.” Using punk to encourage their sound; sex and politics as a base for their lyrics, Gang of Four began in the most collegiate way. Gill mentioned, “We were art students, so, you could basically do whatever the fuck you wanted, when you fucking wanted. We would sit around playing chess, drink a bottle of gin, and I would have the guitar and start playing and make up things there and then.” While they pondered their concept and idea to possibly have a band, they came to New York in 1976 and stayed with a young music writer, Mary Harron (who would later go on to direct American Psycho and I Shot Andy Warhol) and she introduced the young men to the New York music scene and CBGB’s, “New York is not your typical America, it is very different,” Gill reflected on the Big Apple. After meeting and seeing artists like Television, Patti Smith, things became clear. Gill said, “We went to New York, we met all of these people and it was like, ‘So, why wouldn’t you have a band?’ It was the obvious thing to do.”

After all of the years and various line-up changes, Gang of Four continues to march on. In February, they will release their first record in four years, their ninth album, What Happens Next, which is why being in New York to do a press tour was so special to the legacy of this band and to Andy Gill. “The way I go about making music and doing the sound thing is not that different than what I was doing in ’77,” he stated, which is why the new album has already gained much critical praise. What Happens Next is focused on identity—the identity of the band, which is now based in London, and Gill’s own identity with that city, “To what extent London is kind of English or something, is kind of a mute point because it is everything. It is Arabic, it is Russian, it is interesting.”

Aside from leading Gang of Four, Gill has found much acclaim behind the scenes as a producer. He has worked with bands from Latvia, France, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and China, “I love working on other peoples records." At 59, he is still a student and it comes from his producing work, “You learn so much from other people. It is not always obvious at the time, but you really do pick things up. Everyone views making music differently.” While working with bands that may or may not know his native tongue, his production on other artists from around the world prove that music is our universal language.

“I always feel that good art makes you see a truth and that is what you struggle to do,” he said. As Gill finds his identity in his current songs, it is another batch of tracks to add to an influential arsenal of music that has been the blueprint of what alternative music should be to musicians around the globe. If anyone has ever said music can’t change the world, clearly has never put on a Gang of Four record, because it is those records that show what happens next.

Lightning Bolt Announce New Album

Those crazy motherfuckers in Lightning Bolt have announced their first album in over five years. Their latest offering, Fantasy Empire, will arrive in March. Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:

01 The Metal East
02 Over the River and Through the Woods
03 Horsepower
04 King of My World
05 Mythmaster
06 Runaway Train
07 Leave the Lantern Lit
08 Dream Genie
09 Snow White (& The 7 Dwarves Fans)

Quick News

Anti-Flag will release their new album, American Spring, this spring.

After nearly 25 years together, numerous times on hiatus, countless hits and massive records, not to mention a stint with Jimmy Page, The Black Crowes are calling it quits for good. In a statement, guitarist Rich Robinson said, "It is with great disappointment and regret that after having the privilege of writing and performing the music of the Black Crowes over the last 24 years, I find myself in the position of saying that the band has broken up."

A Tupac Shakur exhibit will open at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles ahead of this year's Grammy Awards in February. The exhibit will showcase memorabilia and a history of the iconic rapper.

Airborne Toxic Event will release their fourth album, Dope Machines, next month. Take a look at the tracklisting, below:

Marvel comics has honored Run The Jewels with their own comic book covers and designs influenced by the duo's album artwork. Take a look at the covers below:

Sleater-Kinney on Letterman

Watch Sleater-Kinney perform "A New Wave" off their new album on Letterman.

Run The Jewels on Conan

Watch Run the Jewels perform "Lie, Cheat, Steal" on Conan!

Unheard Tupac Interview Surfaces

A month before his untimely death, Tupac gave an interview on the set of his final film, Gang Related, with co-star Jim Belushi. Now, for the first time, the unheard interview has surfaced online. Take a listen on how Pac goes wax poetic on his name, and foreshadows his own demise.

Arca Shares Hood By Air Soundtrack

Arca gave an exclusive performance at the Pitti Uomo 87 fashion event in Florence, Italy, and performed his full soundtrack to Hood By Air's show. At the event, he shared his score called Sheep and dropped in on Soundcloud. Take a listen and check out the tracklisting below:
1. Mothered
2. Pity
3. Drowning
4. En
5. Faggot
6. Submissive
7. Umbilical
8. Hymn
9. Don't / Else
10. At Last I Am Free (interlude)
11. Immortal

Quick News

Could Ceremony be releasing new music this year? According to a post from their label, Matador records, they tweeted a picture with the words "Ceremony 2015" prompting fans to believe the California hardcore band will have a new album this year. No official word has been given.

J. Spaceman has tapped Killing Joke's Youth to produce the new Spiritualized album. In a statement on Spirtitualized's Facebook page, they wrote: “Very pleased to announce that Youth will be in the producer seat for the new Spiritualized record. Jason Spaceman has started recording in London at Youth’s studio and will complete the recordings in Spain.” No word on a release date.

Athens, Georgia funky rockers Reptar will release their sophomore album in the spring. No details aside from the announcement have been given. 

Action Bronson Freestyles for Hot 97

Watch the one and only Action Bronson freestyle for Funk Flex on Hot 97.

Steel Panther on Kimmel

Watch Steel Panther perform "If You Really, Really Love Me," and "Party Like Tomorrow is the End of the World," on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Changes Bowie

"Time May Change Me, But I Can't Change Time."

This month marks the 68th birthday of David Bowie and has we know the musical innovator himself has had some amazing styles and trends over the years. To mark the occasion, artist Helen Green crafted a fantastic GIF and photo that celebrates the ch-ch-chages of Bowie over the last 50 years. Take a look and enjoy! 

The South African Mixtape

As we mentioned, we were on holiday in London and while on our flight making playlists of songs available, British Airways seemed to highlight a lot of artists coming from South Africa to help promote new flights from the airline going to that country.  While listening to the playlists, the idea came across to begin a new playlist series we would like to call "The National Mixtape," every quarter or so, you will get a mixtape of artists from a foreign land  for you to get a flavor and taste of what music is like on the other part of the globe.

Nelson Mandela's land is no stranger to this site,  we have featured interviews from South African artists like BLK JKS, The Parlotones, and John Wizards, and felt with the African Cup of Nation's soccer tournament coming up, this was the perfect country to start this project.

As we are always keep our ear to what is going on in that country and beyond and we hope this playlist serves as that.

Take a listen and share with your friends. 

Childish Gambino on Kimmel

Watch Childish Gambino perform "Sober" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Joey Bada$$ on Fallon

Watch Joey Bada$$ backed by BJ The Chicago Kid, Statik Selektah, and The Roots on The Tonight Show!

Mariachi El Bronx on Conan

Watch Mariachi El Bronx perform "Wildfire" on Conan!

Quick News

Gallows announced that their new album will be called Desolation Sounds and will arrive in April.

Speaking to MTV, Lorde gave fans an update on her new album saying, "For me I have to kind of write a project lyrically before I attack it musically. So I've written a lot of amazing stuff and I'm just tentatively starting to make it music." However, fans should not hold their breath as thew New Zealand songstress admitted that she has "no timeline" to finish the record.

The untitled Tupac biopic directed by John Singleton will begin production in June. The film should be out in 2016 and is said to show the iconic rapper's rise to fame and his untimely death.

Bjork took to social media last night to announce that her new album, Vulnicta will arrive in March. She also posted that "6 songs written by björk, 2 songs co-written with arca, 1 with john flynn
string arrangements by björk. 6 songs produced by björk & arca, 1 by björk & arca & the haxan cloak, 2 by björk. mixed by the haxan cloak except 2 songs mixed by the haxan cloak and chris elms
mastered by mandy parnell." Take a look at the announcement below: