Wiki of Ratking Announces Solo Debut

Ratking member Wiki will be releasing his solo debut, Lil Me, next Friday, he just announced.

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and watch the video for the first single "Livin with My Moms."

01 WikiFlag (pt.1 prod. Madlb / pt.2 prod. Sporting Life)
02 Livin' with My Moms [ft. Nasty Nigel] (prod. Black Noi$e)
03 Seedy Motherfucker (prod. Black Mack)
04 Hit the L [ft. Hak] (prod. Sporting Life)
05 Old Blocks New Kids [ft. Jadasea] (prod. Sporting Life)
06 Cherry Tree [ft. Micachu] (prod. Micachu & Sporting Life)
07 God Bless Me [ft. Sporting Life & Skepta] (prod. Skywlkr)
08 Club Shit (prod. DJ Lucas)
09 Lil Me (prod. Sporting Life)
10 3 Stories (prod. Kaytranada)
11 Whole Half [ft. Antwon & Jesse James Solomon] (prod. Yung Gutted)
12 Sunday School Dropout [ft. Hak] (prod. Harry Fraud)
13 Patience [ft. Antwon] (prod. Sporting Life)
14 Crib Tax (prod. Kaytranada)
15 Ioneedmuch [ft. Teddy AF] (prod. Sporting Life)
16 Sonatine [ft. Slicky Boy] (prod. Lee Bannon)
17 Sun Showers [ft. Teddy AF] (prod. Black Mack)

Animal Collective Detail Their Upcoming Album

 In February, Animal Collective will release their new album, Painting With. 

Take a look at the various covers, above and below, which feature the faces of the band members, and the tracklisting, below, as well as the new single "FlroiDada."

 1. FlroiDada
2. Hocus Pocus
3. Vertical
4. Lying in the Grass
5. The Burglars
6. Natural Selection
7. Bagels in Kiev
8. On Delay
9. Spilling Guts
10. Summing the Wretch
11. Golden Gal
12. Recycling

Quick News

Are Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole releasing that joint album in February? According to Kendrick's sister's Instagram, she may have revealed the info in a post on accident following the emcees "Black Friday" surprise single. In the post, which was taken down but then reposted by Reddit users, she wrote: "Collab drop #Feb16 so be on the look out for that as well." We will have to wait and see.

Speaking to Hypetrak, MF DOOM is plotting a big 2016. He said: "I got a lot of good shit coming up this year. I know I've been off y'all's scope for awhile because I've been in the cut. I've been healing and resting up and shit. Getting ready to fuck y'all up." He was coy as to what it exactly was, but may speculate a new solo album and possibly the long awaited DOOMStarks collab with Ghostface Killah. 

Could The Arcs be releasing their sophomore album next year? That might be the case after Black Keys front man and Arcs main man Dan Auerbach told Billboard that they were really close to finishing their next record.

Taking part in a Facebook Q&A with his band ELVY,  Matt Berninger said that his main band, The National, will not be releasing a new album next year despite playing new songs live and saying that the unheard batch of tracks is really 'fucking good," when they spoke to Stereogum this month.

Download Biggie X Star Wars Mashup Mixtape

DJ's Richie Branson and Solar Slim AKA Otaku Gang have mashed up Biggie's Life After Death with Star Wars samples for the mixtape Life After Death Star. 

Take a listen to the album or download it HERE.

Chairlift Detail New Album

Chairlift will release their new album, Moth, in January. 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below and hear the new single "Romeo."

Look Up
Polymorphing
Romeo
Ch-Ching
Crying In Public
Ottawa to Osaka
Moth To The Flame
Show U Off
Unfinished Business
No Such Thing As Illusion

Kendrick Lamar / J. Cole Sample Each Other

On Black Friday, two of the best around Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole sampled each other for two brand new freestyles.

Take a listen and hear Kendrick sample Cole's "A Tale of 2 Citiez" and Cole sample Kendrick's "Alright" for two songs they are each calling "Black Friday"

2015 The Albums: Honorable Mentions

So it begins.....the rollout of various music lists from us as we look back at the year that was and present our picks for the most recognizable albums of the year. 

Over the last nine years, it has become a Thanksgiving weekend tradition for us to issue our first list -- Honorable Mentions. This is the first of three lists we will bring out over the next three weeks, next week we will present our coveted League of Their Own and then finally, the Top 10 albums of the year. 

Here we go -- our Honorable Mentions, albums that were very good, but not good enough to crack the Top 10 but still worth of note.

As we always do, we breakdown the list in short form and then with explanations.

2015 Honorable Mentions in Short Form (In No Particular Order):

A$AP Rocky - At. Long. Last. A$AP  

Czarface - Every Hero Needs a Villain

Vince Staples - Summertime '06

Foals - What Went Down

Sleater-Kinney - No Cities to Love

Beach Slang - The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel Like Us

Read: 2015 Officially An Icon - Ghostface Killah

Now, in Long Form (In No Particular Order):

A$AP Rocky - At. Long. Last. A$AP 

Following his triumphant debut, A$AP Rocky’s sophomore release outshines it’s predecessor. This record hears him battle heartbreak over the loss of his friend and A$AP Crew member A$AP Yams and his experimentation with LSD, where he even took inspiration from an unlikely source for hip-hop – The Beatles. This is a drug infused journey into the mind of a broken man who is looking to rebuild and bringing special guests like Kanye West, Rod Stewart, Mos Def, UGK, Future, and others, while it is Rocky himself who shines.

 

Czarface - Every Hero Needs a Villain 

The sequel to the surprisingly fantastic 2013 debut from 7L, Esoteric and Inspectah Deck, ups the ante for the follow-up. As the fictional hip-hop hero Czarface was introduced to audiences on the last record like an audio comic book, this go around Czarface meets his villain and the people he needs to fight off to survive. While this concept record is not only a hell of a lot of fun to listen to, it also shines thanks to it’s guests MF DOOM, GZA, Method Man, RA The Rugged Man, JuJu of the Beatnuts and many others. Every Hero Needs a Villain is like the hip-hop version of The Avengers and just as much fun to hear as that flick was to see.

Vince Staples - Summertime '06
It is ambitious for anyone to do a double album. It is ambitious for a hip-hop artist to do a double album since only two have been named classics – Biggie’s Life After Death and Wu-Tang Forever. It is even more ambitious for a hip-hop artist to do it for his debut. That is what California’s Vince Staples did with Summertime ’06, a record inspired by the most memorable summer of his life and how he plans to make his mark in the music world today. Here is a rising voice that is reaching for more than just the stars.

 Foals - What Went Down
British indie rockers Foals have been pushing the boundaries with their sound since they busted onto the scene a decade ago. Their latest album is an epic adventure that makes the listener feel as if they are surfing the highest waves and then crashing down at the beach after 48 minutes and 12 seconds.

 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. This record arrived earlier this year and stayed with us all the way through. It's outlasting quality proved that these ladies not only can still roar but make instant classic albums.

Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us

The Philly punk band releases one of the most anticipated albums in the genre. Beach Slang do it in such a fashion that it just makes you want to stop what you are doing and just enjoy life as you listen to it. The record is chock full of sing along songs that will be stuck in your head for hours and that isn’t a bad thing.

Read Our Interview with Beach Slang

Stay Tuned Next Week When We Announce The 2015 "League of Their Own" Recipient.

VINTAGE CLIP! Eagles of Death Metal on Conan

Following the release of Eagles of Death Metal's full VICE interview about the Paris tragedy, many (not our readers) are still learning who the are. While the band will now be forever surrounded by what happened in Paris, we look back in this VINTAGE CLIP as to the band that they actually are -- a fun, balls-to-the-wall rock and roll band.

Take a look at this VINTAGE CLIP of the band performing "Speaking in Tongues" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 2008.

Holiday Playlist Vol. IX

Every year the holiday season seems to start earlier and earlier. Normally we post our annual holiday playlist on December 1 but since we can't beat the  machine, we are joining it and going in a few days earlier. 

Here is a list of songs that won't make you suffer this holiday season. Find 'em and take a listen!

-       Summer Camp – “Christmas Wrapping”

-    The Killers - "Dirt Sledding" 

-       Poly Styrene – “Black Christmas”

-       The Crookes – “It’s Just Not Christmas Without You”

-       The Fall – “Hark the Harold Angels Sing”

-       REM – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”

-       Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – “In This Home On Ice”

-       Jackson 5 – “Jingle Bells”

-       Maps – “Stay Another Day”

-       Mother and the Addicts – “Oh No! It’s Christmas Time Again!”

-       Galaxie 500 – “Listen, the Snow is Falling”

-       Patsy Kaye & The Beatniks – “Beatnik's Wish”

-       Billy Idol – “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

-       James Brown – “Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto!”

-       My Morning Jacket – “Christmas Must Be Tonight”

-       Parenthetical Girls – “Post-Christmas Time”

-       My Morning Jacket – “Wonderful”

-       John Zorn & Mike Patton – “The Christmas Song”

-       Dog is Dead – “Christmas Wrapping”

-       Summer Camp – “All I Wonderful Christmas is You”

-       Anya Maria – “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”

-       Blackalicious – “Toy Jackpot”

-       Darker My Love – “Snow is Falling”

-       Bishop Allen – “You’ll Never Fade Away”

-       The Soundtrack of Our Lives – “Jingle Hell (Stuck in the Chimney)”

-       Johnny Marr and the Healers – “Free Christmas”

-       Ray Charles – “Winter Wonderland”

-       Parenthetical Girls – “There is Always Tomorrow”

-       Tracy Thorn – “Tinsel and Lights”

-       Sufjan Stevens – “Sister Winter”

-       The Head & The Heart – “What Are You Doing New Years Eve?”

-       Heartless Bastards – “Blue Christmas”

-       Andrew Bird – “Auld Lang Syne”

-       Los Campesinos! – “The Trains Don’t Run (On Christmas)” 

For Past Holiday Playlists See Below:

Holiday Playlist Vol. VIII - Click HERE
Holiday Playlist Vol. VII - Click HERE
Holiday Playlist Vol. VI - Click HERE
Holiday Playlist No. 5 - Click HERE
Holiday Playlist Vol. IV - Click HERE
Holiday Playlist Vol. III - Click HERE
Holiday Playlist 2.0 - Click HERE
Holiday Playlist Vol. I - Click HERE

Underworld Returning Next Year

The legendary Underworld will release their first album in six years this March with Barbara Barbara, we face a shining future.

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

01 I Exhale02 If Rah
03 Low Burn
04 Santiago Cuatro
05 Motorhome
06 Ova Nova
07 Nylon Strung

Wild Nothing Detail New Album

Wild Nothing will release their new album, Life of Pause, in February. 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the first singles, "To Know You" and "TV Queen."

01 Reichpop
02 Lady Blue
03 A Woman's Wisdom
04 Japanese Alice
05 Life of Pause
06 Alien
07 To Know You
08 Adore
09 TV Queen
10 Whenever I
11 Love Underneath My Thumb

Quick News

Sigur Ros will head on tour next year where they will debut and road test new material of their upcoming album and unreleased material. The band said in a statement: "all we can say right now is it’s going to be different, with new unreleased songs, a new show and maybe some other *new* things. beyond that, we can only ask you to trust us on this one."

Wu-Tang Clan have sold their rare album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, for reported 'millions' to an undisclosed buyer. The only catch is that it can only be heard 88 years from now. 

De La Soul have finished their fan funded album, And the Anonymous Nobody, it will be out in April.

British band Flowers will release their sophomore album, Everybody is Dying to Meet You in February.

Speaking to fans on Dimestore Saints, Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon discussed his upcoming solo album and said: "It is a lot more work to record and write your own record and do everything, thank God I had Butch, who plays a ton of instruments I can’t play. When I went into this I wanted it to have energy at times but not sound like Gaslight, which is tough because it’s my songs in both." The record is out in January.

Adele on Fallon

Watch Adele perform "Water Under the Bridge" on The Tonight Show.

My Morning Jacket on Colbert

Watch My Morning Jacket perform "Tropics" on The Late Show.

Eagles of Death Metal, U2, Foo Fighters Open Up About Paris Attacks

Following the tragedy of November 13 in Paris, musicians like U2, Foo Fighters and Jarvis Cocker are paying tribute to the City of Lights, while Eagles of Death Metal tell the tale of tragedy.

Read: U2 Pay Tribute to Paris Victims

Cocker, the former Pulp frontman lives in the city and debuted the spoken word song "November 13, 2015," on his BBC radio show. The song features the lyrics:"I was going to bed, when a friend rang and told me to turn on the TV. I was worried about my son. I rang the friends house, but his parents were not home yet. They'd gone to the theatre. I didn't want to panic them. I listened to the radio through the night. In the morning, I rang the friends house, and my son had left to catch the metro half an hour earlier. I was worried. He arrived home. We went to buy a new phone and some trainers, but all the shops were closed. I ended up buying a book about Kate Bush."

Listen to Our French Mixtape

U2 are rescheduling two concerts they had in the area the weekend of the attacks. The concerts will be streamed on HBO. Bono said in a statement: "So much that was taken from Paris on the tragic night of November 13th is irreplaceable. For one night, the killers took lives, took music, took peace of mind - but they couldn’t steal the spirit of that city. It’s a spirit our band knows well and will try to serve when we return for the postponed shows on December 6th and 7th. We’re going to put on our best for Paris.”

Read: Bono Calls the Paris Shooting: 'First Direct Hit on Music'

Foo Fighters released a free EP called St. Cecilia, which fans can download on their website. In a letter to fans,  Dave Grohl said: "Now, there is a new, hopeful intention that, even in the smallest way, perhaps these songs can bring a little light into this sometimes dark world. To remind us that music is life, and that hope and healing go hand in hand with song. That much can never be taken away. To all who were affected by the atrocities in Paris, loved ones and friends, our hearts go out to you and your families. We will return and celebrate life and love with you once again someday with our music. As it should be done."

For the first time since an attack at their concert at Le Bataclan, Eagles of Death Metal are speaking out about the tragedy that killed 89 people inside the venue.

Read: Eagles of Death Metal Release Statement Follow Paris Massacre

Co-founder and singer Jesse Hughes sat next to bandmate and fellow co-founder Josh Homme, who was not at the concert, and recalled the events to Shane Smith of VICE. The full interview will air next week on Vice.com.

Quick News

Joining Beyoncé, Noel Gallagher, Brian Eno, and Blue Ivy on the new Coldplay album, A Head Full of Dreams, is President Obama. The band are sampling his performance of "Amazing Grace" for the song "Kaleidoscope." Chris Martin told The Sun he used the song because "of the historical significance," and because of the line "I'm lost but now I'm found."

Following a five year hiatus, The Coral will return next year with the new album Distance Inbetween, arriving in March.

Pusha  T will release his new album Darkest Before the Dawn next month.

David Bowie's new album, Blackstar, or ★, as it is supposed to be called apparently, has been inspired by Kendrick Lamar. Speaking to Rolling Stone, longtime Bowie producer Tony Visconti said: "We wound up with nothing like that, but we loved the fact Kendrick was so open-minded and he didn't do a straight-up hip-hop record. He threw everything on there, and that's exactly what we wanted to do. The goal, in many, many ways, was to avoid rock & roll." LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy also played percussion on two songs. The record arrives in January.

Wolfmother are returning next year with Victorious, take a look at the cover, below:

Avett Brothers Announce New Live Album

Next month, The Avett Brothers will release their new album, Live, Vol. 4 and features two new songs, "Satan Pulls the Strings" and "Rejects in the Attic."

The album was recorded at their New Year's Eve concert in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

This is sure to keep fans apatite quenched until their new album arrives next year which they are currently working on.

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

1. Satan Pulls the Strings
2. Laundry Room
3. Another is Waiting
4. Shame
5. Kick Drum Heart
6. Rejects in the Attic
7. Ten Thousand Words
8. Talk On Indolence
9. Auld Lang Syne
10. The Boys are Back in Town
11. I and Love and You
12. Slight Figure of Speech
13. Happy Trails

VINTAGE CLIP! Brand New on Conan!

Next month, Brand New are set to release the demos of their 2006 album The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. Take a look at the tracklisting, below:
1. Good Man
2. 1996
3. Brother's Song
4. Missing You
5. Nobody Moves
6. Luca
7. Fork and Knife
8. Yeah (Sowing Season)
9. Battalions

To mark the occasion, as we wait for new music from the band, take a look at a VINTAGE CLIP of the band on Late Night with Conan O'Brien around that time to perform the song "Jesus Christ." 

R. Kelly on Fallon

Watch R. Kelly bring the sexy to The Tonight Show.

U2 Pay Tribute to Paris Victims

U2 were scheduled to play Paris on Saturday night as part of an HBO special but the show was cancelled following the atrocities in the city.

Read: Bono Calls Paris Shooting: 'The First Direct Hit on Music'

On Wednesday night, the iconic Irish band played Belfast, Northern Ireland for the first time in 18 years and paid tribute to the victims with a song about Paris -- "City of Blinding Lights." 

Take a look at the performance from U2Gigs.com

The managers of Le Bataclan, the venue where Eagles of Death Metal were performing when the shootings happened told Billboard that they will reopen.

Read:  Eagles of Death Metal Release Statement Following Paris Massacre

"It will reopen, no question about it," Dominique Revert, a co-manager says. "Hearts will be heavy for a few months, a few years. But we will reopen. We will not surrender."

Quick News

Speaking to BBC Radio 1, Jamie xx has confirmed that The xx will release new music next year. He said: "We start again in the studio tomorrow up until Christmas. It's going well and we're just enjoying it. We've been doing it for so long now. I'm really looking forward to wrapping that up as well."

Adele spoke to Zane Lowe about her new album, 25, and says she is sticking to her signature sound. The songstress said: "Sometimes I wish I had it in me to attempt to evolve record by record like legends do. But I don’t think I could pull it off. There’s only one Madonna." She also spoke about the songs, saying: “The love songs on this record are about overcoming obstacles in relationships. And that’s actually the best feeling in the world."

Wolfmother will release their new album, Victorious, in February. Singer Andrew Stockdale spoke to Billboard about it and said: "I listened to it yesterday, or a couple of days ago, played it to a friend and just seeing people really freak out over 'Victorious' and seeing the way it hits them – the beat and the chorus – it’s almost like having a second life now, and it’ll have another life as well when it comes out. I’m digging it. I’m cool with it."

Bayside have confirmed they are writing their new album. No release has been set.

The long awaited Freddie Mercury biopic will begin filming in June with Ben Whishaw is set to play the late singer.

While Straight Outta Compton dominated the box office when it arrived in August, the soundtrack will finally be released in January when the movie comes to DVD.

David Bowie will release his new album, Blackstar, in January. Take a look at the cover, below:

 

Watch The 10 Minute Short Film Bowie Made for the "Blackstar" Music Video

David Bowie Shares 10-Minute Short Film Music Video

In January, David Bowie will release his new album, Blackstar. Now, he has released the title track via a short film of the same name. Take a look!

Albert Hammond Jr. on Kimmel

Watch Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. perform his solo single "Razors Edge" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Trey Anastascio on Conan

Watch Trey Anastascio perform "The Song" on Conan!

Newsletter

Today marks another milestone for this little website, we celebrate our 9th anniversary! 

It was nine years ago today that I sat in my parents basement in Long Island and created what was then "With This I Think I'm Officially A Yuppie," clearly some changes have been made to the site and name and we have interviewed hundreds of artists continue to go on. 

Thanks for sticking with us all these years and keeping us going, we really appreciate it!

Also, most importantly, thanks to all the music and artists that really make us work to finding the best new sound and keeping what already has been given alive and classic.

Officially A Icon: Ghostface Killah

When we celebrated our 5th anniversary in 2011, we honored our first five years with an artist that made our time as a website worthwhile and we named Damon Albarn our first recipient of Officially A Icon to his contributions to music and art. Since then we have named the likes of Questlove, Karen O., and Danger Mouse as our past icons.

Now, the grace period is over.

One of the fieriest members of one of the most influential rap groups of all time and one of the most successful and unique solo artists of Wu-Tang Clan -- Ghostface Killah aka Tony Starks aka Ironman has given his verbal slice and dice to collaborations, his own albums and most of all to the Wu. He was even recently named one of Billboards Top 10 Rappers of All Time.

In the last year, Ghostface has released three albums ranging from different themes and collaborations. From last December's 36 Seasons as he rapped being a super hero to this year's double whammy, Sour Soul where he linked up with rising Canadian jazz trio BADBADNOTGOOD and the sequel to his brilliant 2013 album, 12 Reasons to Die featuring an orchestral arraignment by Adrian Younge. 

While Ghost keeps pushing his own boundaries, he shows no signs of slowing down and for that, we want him around forever.

Eagles of Death Metal Release Statement Following Paris Massacre

Taking to Twitter, Eagles of Death Metal have released a statement following the atrocities in Paris last week when members of ISIS opened fire at their concert at Le Bataclan. 

pic.twitter.com/YxuCIbRI05

— EaglesOfDeathMetal (@EODMofficial) November 18, 2015

In the words of the band, "love overshadows evil." 

Queens of the Stone Age front man Josh Homme, a member of Eagles of Death Metal who was not on the tour, is raising money for the families of the Paris attack victims through his Sweet Stuff Foundation.  For more information and to donate, click HERE.

Listen! The French Mixtape

"Vive la musique, vive la liberte, vive la France, and vive EODM.”

Read: Bono Calls Paris Tragedy: 'First Direct Hit on Music'

Anti-Flag Announce New Album

Punk vets Anti-Flag will release their new album, Cease Fire, next month.

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

1. Coward In My Veins
2. The New Jim Crow
3. Kill The Rich
4. Twenty Years Of Hell
5. Bring Out Your Dead
6. The Consumer's Song
7. Mumia's Song
8. Wake Up
9. The WTO Kills Farmers
10. No Future
11. The Ink And The Quill (Be Afraid)
12. The Great Depression
13. The Ghosts Of Alexandria
14. Close My Eyes

Tricky Forms New Band, Releasing Album Next Year

Trip-hop legend Tricky will release a new album with a new group he has formed called Skilled Mechanics and their self-titled debut will arrive in January.

The group features DJ Milo, Luke Harris, Oh Land, Ivy 艾菲, Ann Dao. The record contains originals, as well as two covers including Corey Taylor's "Bother" and Porno For Pyros' "Diving Away."

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

1. I'm Not Going [ft. Oh Land]
2. Hero [ft. Ann Dao]
3. Don't Go
4. Beijing To Berlin [ft. Ivy 艾菲]
5. Diving Away
6. Boy
7. Bother
8. How's Your Life
9. Here My Dear
10. We Begin' [ft. Francesca Belmonte]
11. Well
12. Necessary
13. Unreal [ft. Xdare]

Public Image Ltd. on Colbert

Watch PiL perform "Double Trouble" on The Late Show.

Quick News

Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford has confirmed the news that he has worked on the upcoming The Last Shadow Puppets recording and that the duo, Alex Turner and Miles Kane, are done with their sophomore album and it will be out next year.

The National spoke to Stereogum recently about their history as a band and said that they are working on new music. Singer Matt Berninger said: "I think we’re actually writing in a room together more than we ever did. We’re excited about that. It’s changing the National, the way we’re doing it." Guitarist Aaron Dessner added: "We're not afraid, I think, to write hooks now," and added that the songs are "a bit razory, brighter" and "a little bit harsher." The record is expected to arrive next year.

File this under things that fucking rule: Bill Murray will be releasing a Christmas single with Phoenix in support of his Netflix holiday special. The song, "Alone on Christmas Day" will arrive on December 4.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Phife Dawg says he is still surprised how big A Tribe Called Quest got. He said: "I never expected it to be this big. I just thought we were going to be celebs in the hood. Like, honestly, within 25 years, when you go to places like Australia and Japan and Amsterdam and London and Germany and these people know [the songs] word-for-word, it's crazy. So it's nothing but a blessing at the end of the day, but I don't remember a lot. It's kind of a blur." He also still stresses that the group are currently no more, despite their recent performance on The Tonight Show. He said: "I can't really talk about it, to be honest. Because when I talk, my mouth gets me in trouble. I'm the type of dude that tries to keep it 100 and I always get in trouble for it. But I will say: it's dumb, and I don't agree with it and we're doing the fans a great injustice by not getting together and rocking, and that's all I can really speak on as far as that goes."

Billy Gibbons on Conan

Watch Billy Gibbons perform "Treat Her Right" on Conan.

Playlist

November's 26-song playlist of random musical musings is here. Take a listen!

Ra Ra Riot Announce New Album

Ra Ra Riot will return next year to release their fourth album, Need Your Light in February. 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the first single "Water" which was produced by Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij:

1. Water

2. Absolutely

3. Foreign Lovers

4. I Need Your Light

5. Bad Times

6. Call Me Out

7. Instant Breakup

8. Every Time I'm Ready To Hug

9. Bouncy Castle

10. Suckers

Quick News

After breaking up in almost four years ago, Ween are reuniting next year for a tour.

British band Dry the River are breaking up. The band announced the news via Facebook, saying: "We've had an incredible seven years, but we've decided it's time to move on to new endeavors. This message is a thank you, really – your figurative and literal support has single-handedly kept us going."

Speaking to Neil Turbin, King Diamond guitarist Andy LaRocque said that the band will begin working on a new album in February.

Speaking to NME, Brandon Flowers said that The Killers may return next year with a new album. The singer said: "We’re writing - we’re in the early stages. In a perfect world" fans will be able to hear new music "at the end of 2016 maybe. If The Killers want to take a year or two off then there’s no reason for me not to make a solo record but if the fires are burning in the band then there will be a Killers record."

In an interview with i-D, Missy Elliot said it was Pharrell that was a major catalyst for her comeback after appearing at the Super Bowl earlier this year.  She said: ""After the Super Bowl, he hit me up like 'Yo, what are you doing?'... He said 'I'm not trying to push you, but people miss you. Do you see what happened out there? Have you seen the charts?' He was like 'I want to get in the studio with you.' Who turns down Pharrell?" She added: "He said to me, 'You call me any time you feel like that, because I have went through that same thing in my life and I want to make sure I pull you up. I've been there and I know what that feels like.'"

EXCLUSIVE! Naked Raygun INTV!

In the early 80s, Chicago's Naked Raygun became one of the most influential and one of the first punk bands to emerge from the Windy City scene. The band, who influenced everyone from Dave Grohl to Alkaline Trio and Rise Against, and many of the modern era. Now, after reforming a decade ago, the band will release new music next year. We spoke to singer Jeff Pezzati about their comeback, influence and how opening for Foo Fighters this summer at Wrigley Field was a career highlight. Take a look at our interview, below:

Getting back together and recording a new record, what was it like being back in the studio?

Being in the studio has always been a great experience. I mean who wouldn't like their ass kissed while ordering food delivered at any time .... all while surrounded by a place that looks like the inside of the Battalstar Galactica...and an engineer who is turning knobs making lights flash the likes of which I can only begin to fathom their purpose.

Is 'Broken Things" about patching up the relationships within the band and picking up the pieces?

Eric wrote the song , so you should really ask him.... I read into it as reaching a point in your life when you thought things should be on automatic and finding out that despite all of your planning, things haven't  turned out so seamlessly..

What took so long to make new music?

All of the band writes songs...... usually a member will have a large piece of the song completed before bringing it up to the band. I personally find that as time has gone on I have become very picky about what I think is good and what I dismiss as 'not good enough'. 

In 2016, we get our first new Naked Raygun record in decades, what can fans expect?

More of the same, thought provoking, catchy tunes.

For many, the band were introduced to a whole new audience thanks to Foo Fighters' 'Song Highways," what did it mean to you to have Dave Grohl call you heroes and influences to him?

It was very humbling. I mean here's a guy who has been extremely successful in two bands - telling us that we had  an effect on him. It's nice to know that the passing of the torch has been completed and we did our little part to mold musical tastes away from the 'Darkside.'

Hailing from Chicago, you opened for the Foos this past summer at Wrigley, what was that moment like?

It was arena rock at its finest. I wish that more of our friends and fans had been able to get tickets.

Chicago has changed drastically since you first started, does the city still have an influence on you?

Yes it sure does. Chicago is in our blood. It means a to to me that our largest fan-base is here. I love this town and all it has to offer.

Punk owes so much to you guys, being pioneers of a certain sound, do you ever look back on your career and just say, 'Wow?' 

I don't look back that often but when I do I wished that we had toured more and written a couple of more albums. I think we could have done more.

What brought on the reunion 10 years ago and what was it like getting back on stage together with each other?

Eric got the band back together for a Riot Fest show and he also arranged for us to play a Stiff Little Fingers song with the great Jake Burns - who had relocated from Ireland to Chicago - Unreal !!!!!

**Photo by Katie Hovland**

Bono Calls Friday's Paris Tragedy: 'First Direct Hit on Music'

U2 canceled their Paris concert which was to be livestreamed on HBO in the wake of the senseless tragedy in Paris. Bono told Ireland's RTE that the senseless event was 'the first direct hit on music' following a shooting at a Eagles of Death Metal concert. Take a listen to Bono's interview about what had gone on.

Listen to Our French Mixtape on Spotify

Thundercat paid tribute to the city posting a new song, "Paris" to Soundcloud.

A Tribe Called Quest on Fallon

Backed by The Roots, the legendary Tribe Called Quest reunited on The Tonight Show to perform "Can I Kick It?" on Fallon!!

Listen to Our Essential Tribe Called Quest Playlist on Spotify

Christine & The Queens on The Daily Show

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Get More: The Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook,The Daily Show Video Archive

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Get More: The Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook,The Daily Show Video Archive

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Get More: The Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook,The Daily Show Video Archive

Watch France's Christine & The Queens perform "Tilted," "It," and "No Harm Done" on The Daily Show.

The Internet on Colbert

Watch The Internet perform on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Unreleased Jeff Buckley Album Arriving in 2016!

An album of mainly covers and a few originals from the late and great Jeff Buckley will arrive next year. 

The album, You and I, will be given to the world in March. Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:

1. Just Like A Woman (Bob Dylan cover)
2. Everyday People (Sly & The Family Stone cover)
3. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' (First recorded by Louis Jordan)
4. Grace (original)
5. Calling You (Jevetta Steele cover)
6. Dream Of You And I (original)
7. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (The Smiths cover)
8. Poor Boy Long Way From Home (traditional blues song, Bukka White cover)
9. Night Flight (Led Zeppelin cover)
10. I Know It's Over (The Smiths cover)

Hear his Sly & The Family Stone cover and an NPR report on the backstory of this upcoming record.

Dave Gahan on Kimmel

Dave Gahan and Soulsavers performed "The Last Time" and "Shine" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

George Ezra on Colbert

Watch George Ezra perform "Blame It On Me" on The Late Show.

Great Soundtrack: The Graduate

When a group or an artist signs on to do a soundtrack it can go either way -- sometimes it is music that just fits the film and doesn't go beyond that but sometimes it goes beyond the film and becomes more than that as it hits the lists as not just a great soundtrack but great album. For Simon & Garfunkel, their 1967 soundtrack to The Graduate went beyond a collection of songs for a film but massively successful album for the duo.

Songs like "The Sound of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," "Scarborough Fair," "The Bright Green Pleasure Machine," were more than just singles, they became timeless masterpieces of pop culture and music. While The Graduate remains one of the greatest films of all time that still resonates today, the soundtrack is just as important and became the blueprint to what an artist can do working with songs for a movie.

Recommended Reading: Left of the Dial

Music journalists have very fascinating lives and even more interesting conversations with the artists they are writing about and speaking with. In 2013, journalist David Ensminger released Left of the Dial, his full, unedited transcripts of interviews he did with artists from Ian MacKaye, The Damned, Youth Brigade, Mike Watt, Jello Biafra, Circle Jerks, The Dicks and a slew of others. The book is extra special since it comes from a man who was one of the leading writers and figures of the early punk underground. As his career rose, so did the artists he spoke with who helped pioneer the sounds and genre.

Unlike most books on the scene, this one is a compilation of interviews from people then and now and seeing what they were like before and after and sometimes during the heyday of music and touring chaos. Left of the Dial is a read for any fan of punk and DIY.

Hear an Unreleased ODB Track!

RZA was allegedly cleaning out archives in the Wu Mansion when he came across this unreleased song from the late Ol' Dirty Bastard called "Obey Me." Take a listen!

Quick News

Great news to report, Bad Brains' Dr. Know is no longer in critical condition after being admitted to a hospital for an undisclosed illness earlier this month. 

Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson has signed on to write his autobiography which is expected to arrive in fall 2017.

Anthrax will release a new album early next year called For All Kings. The band will hit the road next year with Lamb of God.

90s ska heroes Save Ferris are reuniting and are crowdfunding a comeback EP. For more info and to donate, click here.

The Big Pink will release a new EP next year called Empire Underground. 

Ty Segall will release his new album, Emotional Mugger, next year. Take a look at the cover, below:

Chris Cornell on Kimmel

Watch Chris Cornell perform "Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart" and "Josephine" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Ellie Goulding on Fallon

Watch Ellie Goulding on The Tonight Show!

Joss Stone Temple Pilots on Kimmel

Joss Stone Temple Pilots isn't the name of some new indie rock band, it was part of #MondayMashup on Kimmel and the British singer fronted the legendary 90s band for "Interstate Love Song." Take a look!

VINTAGE CLIP! Coldplay on Jools Holland in 2000

Following the announcement of their new album, A Head Full of Dreams, watch a VINTAGE Clip of Coldplay performing their first massive single "Yellow" on Later... with Jools Holland in 2000.

LISTEN: Our Essential Coldplaylist on Spotify

EXCLUSIVE! The Kickback INTV!

Earlier this month we introduced you to The Kickback, a fantastic new band from Chicago that impressed us at CMJ and look like they have a bright future ahead of themselves. The band, whose sound we felt was a cross between The Stone Roses and Wheatus, have incredibly catchy songs that certainly evoke dark humor and off-beat lyrics. The band released their debut, Sorry All Over the Place, earlier this year and have been touring the album non-stop, gaining new fans along the way. We spoke to singer and front man Billy Yost about his lyrics, the band's formation and inspirations. Take a look at our interview, below:

Moving from your parents home was a big deal, what eventually prompted you to make the move to Chicago instead of New York or LA? 

While I’d toured a bit and visited a lot of cities in college, I was still a recent grad from South Dakota who had spent the bulk of his developmental years within half-a-mile of corn at any given time. New York and LA both seemed like such a foreign concept that it just wasn’t appealing. Our band at the time lived in a farmhouse outside of Vermillion, SD where I went to school and I just remember we literally stood in the kitchen after practice and picked a city. It’s a good music town. It’s still the Midwest. And I didn’t feel in danger of becoming a complete asshole. 

The band came about via Craigslist ads, when how many people did you audition before figuring out this is the band you want? 

I found out really quickly that the more ludicrously specific you are with a Craigslist ad, the fewer the responses but the better the odds. “Looking for a guitar player” usually nets you about 57 replies from 50 year-old dudes (no disrespect, I will be there, too) who want a once-a-month gig and can maybe play an out-of-town show ever other year with clearance from the babysitter (again, no disrespect at all. Music’s for everybody, right?). After I figured out the approach, the rest was just sort of waiting for Jonny and Eamonn to respond. I knew Eamonn would be right as soon as he emailed me back and I creeped on some Youtube footage I found. Jonny’s a little bit of a different beast and I think freaked out everybody our first practice, but it was all for the best. There weren’t any other bass players but Eamonn. I think maybe two other guys jammed with us before Jonny. 

Chicago seems to be a place that is fulfilling and amazing but you had a pretty frightening experience when you first moved there. You had gotten robbed, what happened? 

Our van got broken into pretty quickly after we moved, then somebody came in through the bathroom window of my brother and my apartment and stole a random assortment of valuable-ish items. We lost a bunch of music we were working on. It was just a rough time trying to get on our feet and being freaked out about moving in the first place. Moreover, I take about three baths a day and the bathroom is a room I take pretty damn seriously, so it felt kind of a like a direct shot at my pride. I called my girlfriend at the time just flipping out and she had to talk me off the ledge. It was ridiculous. 

How has Chicago influenced your lyrics and work as a songwriter? 

I’m not sure on that one. I know the city has given me a lot of perspective about just how little I matter, and in a good way? I watched the Wilco documentary every night for about six months when I moved here. I’d fall asleep right around the part they where they kick out Jay Bennett until I started having nightmares about it. My lyrics, for better or worse, tend to be pretty selfish. It’s mostly me. I know it took me a while to grow up here. It’s been an ugly couple of years, but I’m glad I was in Chicago for it. There are people here that you would define categorically as “Solidly Midwestern.” And a boatload of them. They’re the people you want on your side and on whose side you’re proud to rep. 

The band released their debut, 'Sorry All Over the Place,' what does the title of the record stand for? 

It’s a footnote from David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest. There’s a filmography of a bunch of fictional movies that this fictional character made. Sorry All Over the Place was one of the unfinished ones. When I saw the title, I was sitting in the bathtub and started laughing. This book weighs multiple pounds, and it was the only time I’d been at risk of ruining a book in the tub. The title was there before most of the songs were. 

What do you want people to know about The Kickback? 

I love it so much.

Jim Eno from Spoon was sent one of your demos and liked what he heard that he helped produce your record. What was it like working with him? 

Jim is the slightly-less-known “Nicest Guy in Rock and Roll” after Dave Grohl, I think. Jim is a guy you want to be around. He makes the room a better place. I think we stressed him out. He said no band had made him eat that many meals over the console before, but he was also the cheerleader of the deal. We needed him to be because my typical working mode is varying shades of “pissed off” and “not-quite-as-pissed-off.” It’s a drag to be around in a creative environment. But we’d wake up to a text that said, “This shit is going to be hot!” and there’s just no accounting for how much having one of your musical heroes be actively excited about recording your stupid songs can push you through the low times. Jim is one of my favorite people. 

You made the record in Eno's studio in Austin, did that city influence your songs? How did the music change from Chicago to Austin? 

We were either A) in the studio or B) sleeping, so had Jim’s place been parked next to a year-round Christmas store and strip club, I think the record would have sounded the same. Smell, maybe. Maybe. 

From influences that range from Spoon, The Police, to 60s rock to David Foster Wallace, how do you sum up The Kickback? 

Right now I’d like to be Mike Patton singing for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. That’s just this week, though. We’ll see. 

It took seven years to make this band, now that it is here, what are your goals? 

That’s tough. The band name should have changed a few times over the years, but I’ve just hung on to it. The four of us have only been together for about two-and-a-half years. This is the group. This is us. I hope you like it. I hope we can get to a place where we feel too successful and like we’ve sold out every ideal we’ve ever had and abandoned those people that cared most about us. We’ve been in the van for a long time. It’s a nice sick thought at 2 a.m. driving through northern Pennsylvania. I just would like the next record to be better than the last. And to have statues erected in our honor. 

What is next for The Kickback? 

I want to do a holiday special in a television studio. Puppets. Forest scenes. Group tidings and goodwill towards men. That would be great. 

What was the transition from South Dakota like to a big city such as Chicago for you?

There were considerations that seem pretty routine for a lot of people that took some real adjusting for me. Things like locking the door. I mean, it was genuinely the first time I’d had to remember that this was part of the morning routine. If you’ve spent any time in the Great Plains, you account for miles in minutes. If it’s 30-miles away, it will take 30-minutes. And you wave a lot in the car. “Hay seed” is I believe what comes to mind here.