If you like your music to take you to the land of crazy shameless ass-shaking, then you like !!!. Life's that simple.

To gear up for the band's latest offering Myth Takes, !!! have launched a new website. This is welcome news to fans who were probably tired of their overly crappy previous website. The new album came out just last week, and continued to get love from Pitchfork. You can make your own decision by clearing some furniture and heading over to the site, where the album is streaming for prospective buyers.

The band this week announced some summer dates in the States in addition to their current European trek. I can highly recommend this band live. Even though I believe you have to be in the mood for listening to a !!! CD, seeing them live is an anytime affair. Their energy is so infectious!!!

Tour Tour Tour.

Interpol guitarist/songwriter Dan Kessler talked to BBC 6 last week about the band's forthcoming yet-to-be-titled follow-up to 2004's Antics.

Kessler reports that the band enjoyed experimenting during the sessions for its third LP and let the guitars take a lessened role.

The new album is due out in June via the band's recently inked deal with Capitol Records. The NYC art rockers made the jump to the majors from its former indie home at Matador Records this past summer. The descison came after Interpol joined forces with 3D Management, the company that also handles Coldplay's business affairs.

Interpol is currently in the UK finishing final mixes for the new album.

Recommended Viewing:
A 2005 live performance of "Not Even Jail," from Antics.

There's nothing much new to tell you about Björk's new album that SG didn't cover last month. If you don't know anything yet, I recommend catching up.

However, word on the street is that there was a release date. It was brief, but Pitchfork reported today that the new album, which features beat work from Timbaland, collaborations with Antony Hegerty (Antony and the Johnsons) and Brian Chippendale (Lightning Bolt), had a "to be confirmed" date of May 5th, 2007.

The date on the Website has been replaced with Xs in the hours since Pitchfork first reported it – except for a mystery 7th, so you know the day kinda, just not the month. But if you take Pitchfork's word for it, the date has been penciled so you can begin salivating about a possible May release. Or not.

Those of us who came of age in the '80s and early '90s lived during a time when Madonna was the number one female music and culture icon. The kids who came of age in the '90s got a much cooler and progressively more interesting version of Madonna in the form of Björk. Mostly because she was interested in taking pop music new places and collaborating with an array of other uniquely talented artists, much like Madonna, but wasn't trapped by or concerned with fame the way Madonna was to a fault.

Björk is currently finishing up her proper follow-up to 2004's all-vocal Medulla (She released a soundtrack for her husband Matthew Barney's film, Drawing Restraint 9, in 2005). A posting on her website reveals that the elfin songstress will release the hotly anticipated album this spring and has collaborated with a host of other artists on it including Timbaland, Antony Hegerty, and Brian Chippendale from Lightning Bolt.

The website also reports that a tour is in the works for all those that can't get their fill with just owning Björk's 4-disc(!) Live DVD box set.

Recommended Viewing:
In celebration of the new album, here's a smattering of "great Bjork video moments."

"Hyperballad" live on Later with Jools Holland


Björk & PJ Harvey performing The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" at the 1994 Brit Awards


French & Saunders' awesome parody of Bjork


The infamous "Björk Goes Nuts, Attacks Reporter" video.

Nashville sons-of-a-preacherman, Kings Of Leon, will return in March with their third LP, Because of the Times. Frontman Caleb Followill revealed to Spin magazine that the title is a play on the record's popularity gamble.

Followill is promising that Times will be "bigger sounding" and "more anthemic" than 2004's Aha Shake Heartbreak. The album was produced and recorded in Nashville by Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Rufus Wainwtright) who also worked on Heartbreak and 2003's Youth & Young Manhood

Followill & Co.'s audience has been expanding thanks to recent tours with U2 and Bob Dylan. While on tour with U2, Bono apparently gave the Kings some elder statesmanly advice.

The non-married Kings play NME's Award Tour at the Astoria in London on Ferbruay 27, 2007.

Recommended Viewing:
Kings Of Leon's performance on Later with Jools Holland

Ted Leo is busy getting some shut-eye before he and his band, The Pharmicists, launch a tour this spring in support of their new album, Living with The Living, out March 20th via Touch & Go Records.

Leo tells Billboard that fans should not expect the blunt bashing of President Bush heard on 2004's Shake The Sheets.

However, the singer hasn't completely left his politics off the record, a perusal of the tracklist will prove this, with song titles like "Fourth World War", "Army Bound", and "C.I.A." and the song "Bomb.Repeat.Bomb" is about 1950's covert U.S. military operations in Guatemala.

The Pharmacists tour will run through 2008. Get lots of sleep, Ted.

Recommended Viewing:
Ted Leo/RX video for "Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone"

Scottish band Idlewild have announced the release of their follow-up album to 2005's Warnings/Promises. The LP will be called Make Another World. The band will be coming back with their extremely underrated and literary-brand of rock that first garnered them major attention in 2000 with the release of their second full-length album, 100 Broken Windows. The album was recorded over the summer with Windows' producer Dave Eringa, who has also worked on records by Manic Street Preachers and Kylie Minogue. The album will be preceded by a single, "If It Takes You Home" (available for streaming on their Myspace page now), on December 4th via a limited edition seven inch vinyl or as a free download when you sign the mailing list on the band's official site. This will be followed by an additional single ("No Emotion") in late January, with the album not far behind in February. This comes hot on the heels of singer Roddy Woomble's solo LP, My Secret Is My Silence, which was released this past summer. Guitarist Rod Jones also has a side project with Los Angeles singer-songwriter Inara George called George Is Jones, who will be releasing an album sometime this winter.

Idlewild recently signed to Sanctuary Music's Sequel imprint in the U.S. along with The Cooper Temple Clause. Both bands were signed in an effort to restructure and relaunch Sanctuary after it nearly went under this past year.

Idlewild kicks off a tour of the UK this week, check out the dates below.


Tour Dates:

11/29/2006 08:00 PM - The Plug, Sheffield

11/30/2006 08:00 PM - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

12/01/2006 08:00 PM - Fleece, Bristol

12/02/2006 08:00 PM - University Academy 3, Manchester

12/03/2006 08:00 PM - TBA

12/04/2006 08:00 PM - Scala, London

01/23/2007 08:00 PM - ABC
300 Sauchiehall St., Glasgow, G2 3JA - £16
Support from De Rosa as part of the annual Celtic Connections festival.

Further Perusal:
Woomble and Jones perform an acoustic version of "You Held The World In Your Arms" from Idlewild's 2002 release The Remote Part

Veteran alt-rocker, Kristin Hersh, will be taking a break from her bands Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave with the release of her sixth solo album, Learn To Sing Like A Star, on January 23rd. Hersh has been mostly busy recording and touring with her current-band, 50 Foot Wave, in the four-year interim between 2003's The Grotto and Star. Hersh self-produced the record's 14 tracks and Muses bandmate David Narcizo lent a hand on drums. 4AD (Hersh's longtime label-home) is talking the record up big, calling it

Yep Roc Records will release the album in the U.S. and 4AD will do the honors for the rest of the world. A single, "In Shock", including 3 b-sides will precede the album in early January. Hersh will join her bandmates in Throwing Muses (sans Tanya Donelly) for a one-off show at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall on December 16th, following on January 11th with a London solo show, where she will play Learn To Sing Like A Star in it's entirety.

Track-Listing:

Upcoming Shows:

KRISTIN HERSH
02 Dec 06 Portland, OR - Mission Theater

11 Jan 07 London, England - Arts Theatre,
6-7 Great Newport Street, Soho

THROWING MUSES
16 Dec 06 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
with 50FootWave

Recommended Viewing:
a 1994 Television Performance of Hersh's classic "Your Ghost"


and a recent rocked-out version by her band, 50 Foot Wave


Further Perusal:
Throwing Music

In a posting on Interpol's website, the NYC gloomsters have revealed that they have begun work on their third full-length since 2004's Antics. The yet-to-be-titled LP will be the band's first after leaving indie label Matador for the big-league Capitol Records this past summer. The move came after the band switched over to Coldplay's management company, who are also signed to Capitol. The band had this to say about the recording sessions:

Expect Inerpol's third to drop sometime in late 2007.

A dark chill is coming your way this spring with the release of Los Angeles-based band Midnight Movies' sophomore effort, Lion The Girl, on March 6th. The band (Gena Olivier - vocals, organ, Larry Schemel - guitar,
Sandra Vu - drums, Ryan Wood - bass, keyboards) has let out a sneak preview with the release of first single, "Patient Eye". If the single and its B-Side, "Golden Hair", (a James Joyce poem-via-Syd Barrett song-via-Slowdive cover) are anything to go on, the follow-up to their self-titled debut album will be psychedelic, ominous, and laden with lilting beauty. The single was produced by Steve Fisk (Nirvana, Screaming Trees) and is available for download at iTunes.



Recommended Listening:
Listen to "Patient Eye (Single Edit)" here.
(Right Click, "Save Target As...", to download)

Recommended Viewing:
"Patient Eye" Video on YouTube.com

It's been three and a half years since Merrick, NY's Brand New unleashed their Morrissey-wannabe video for "The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows" on to the none-the-wiser TRL Generation. Returning sharper and with better chops, Brand New are set to release their third album, The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me, on November 21st. The album is their strongest to date and is set to send all those eyeliner-emo bands, in which Brand New are all-too-often lumped in with, back to their respective Hot Topic cashier jobs (no offense to those who have to actually toil said jobs). The album features the arena-ready first single "Sowing Season (Yeah)" and songs of epic nature such as "Degausser", the nearly eight-minute "Limousine" and sincere-yet-not-cheesy ballad "Jesus Christ". The band, however, have not dropped their Morrissey/Smiths infatuation a bit, as evident on the very "Bigmouth Strikes Again"-esque "Not The Sun". One can be sure to see singer Jesse Lacey's best mirror-practiced-Morrissey-pout when the inevitable video is made (the song screams "single!"). Brand New is currently on tour through February of next year.

Tour Dates:

11/18/06 Cole Field House - University of Maryland, College Park, MD
12/4/06 University of Maine Alfond Arena, Orono, ME
12/6/06 Arrow Hall, Mississauga, ON
12/7/06 SUNY Binghamton, Binghamton, NY
12/8/06 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
12/9/06 Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA
1/25/07 Postbahnof, Berlin, Germany
1/26/07 Backstage, Munich, Germany
1/29/07 Flex, Vienna, Austria
1/30/07 Abart, Zurich, Switzerland
2/1/07 Live Music Hall, Cologne, Germany
2/2/07 Fabrik, Hamburg, Germany
2/3/07 Melkweg, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2/5/07 Guildhall, Southampton, UK
2/6/07 Apollo, Manchester, UK
2/8/07 Academy, Newcastle, UK
2/9/07 Academy, Glasgow, UK
2/11/07 Academy, Birmingham, UK
2/12/07 Uni, Cardiff, UK
2/13/07 Hammersmith, London, UK

(Jesse Lacey practicing his Morrissey)

Click the album art below to pre-order your copy of The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me and receive a free CD single of "Sowing Season" featuring an exclusive B-Side:
Stream Entire Album Here.

Here's an easy way to make an album, and one that will sell. The only caveat is that you need a back catalogue and a name that was made famous by your incredibly legendary husband. Ok, two caveats.

That was step one. Step two is you offer up said back catalogue to incredibly talented and hot, young artists, and ask them to rework one of your songs, and you provide them with the original vocal track.

Done. Well, then you have to release it in February on Astralwerks.

That's the Yoko Ono guide to getting your name back in to the hearts of the youth.

When Yoko picked up the phone she called Jason Pierce (of Spiritualized), The Flaming Lips, Cat Power, Antony (from Antony and the Johnsons), Polyphonic Spree, Peaches, Le Tigre... you get the idea. The results are Yes, I'm a Witch an album that walks the line of remixes, duets, and covers. It's like a venn diagram in a CD. The artists were offered the background music as well, but apparently almost all just took the vocals and reworked the supporting music. Go figure.

Oh, Yoko. You got an awesome rolodex.

Still Got It

LCD Soundsystem is good. And they've got a new album coming out in March, about which I know shit about. I could talk about all of James Murphy's remixes and the shit he did for Nike, but I know shit about that too. Apparently, that mofo has a friggin album coming out in March, and if you thought "Daft Punk..." was friggin awesome, or "Tribulations" really summed shit up for you, then you should do a fist pump right now.

Life is good. No, life sucks. But sometimes, you gotta celebrate, and this is as good a reason as any. Friggin life!! You get me?

To make sure you realize this time it's serious, LCD Soundsystem is going on tour. So far it's only in Europe, but Europe is great, and what are ya gonnna do? You can't change the world.

My back hurts too.

Alt-country heartthrob Conor Oberst is bringing his Bright Eyes back for a new album this Spring. While this past summer, Oberst promised the subject matter would veer away from the political partisanship he'd focused on for some time, the folky, storytelling might not have the good time vibe fans might be hoping for.

Conor told Spin that the new album might be a little dark.

Just because he's cute doesn't mean he hasn't got deep things to talk about, like everyone being a vampire and totally sucking the life-force from mother earth.

Of the new songs, Conor alludes to references made to Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Tsunami in Southeast Asia. To take a break from the apocalypse, we can turn our attention directly to Conor on "Cartoon Blues," where the recurring theme of being overwhelmed by the world's preconceptions and misconceptions returns. Poor Conor.

Oberst says the new songs won't necessarily address these subjects in explicit terms, more like jibber jabber:

The new album, which still promises country flavored ballads, rock, and psychedelia, is going to ditch the "grade school symphony" sounds that pepper Bright Eyes' other albums in an attempt for a more refined sound with a full chamber orchestra. Mike Mogis has once again been tap as the producer to helm the singer/songwriter's collective.

Look for first single "Classic Cars" soon.

Low is returning with album number 8 with a likely title of The Violet Path. The album will be their second since signing with Sub Pop and like last year's The Great Destroyer, the new album is produced and engineered by Dave Fridmann.

The new album which is penciled in for a March or April release is focused on death and murder says Sparhawk.

When isn't it a good time to talk about death and killing?

The trio has a handful of shows lined up this winter, before beginning an earnest supporting tour in the Spring.

As you were aware, some amalgam of the Smashing Pumpkins are back in the studio. Recently, Jimmy Chamberlin has started making submissions to the Smashing Pumpkins' myspace blog. In what he has dubbed "Jimmy's Love Letters," the band's drummer has written to fans about his feelings concerning the new material that him and Corgan are working on.

So far Chamberlin is keeping his promise to make the submissions a regular habit, with a second update not two days later where he describes working with Roy Thomas Baker, famed producer from sessions with Queen and the Cars. They have apparently wrapped up work with Baker and continue to forge ahead with Terry Date (Pantera, Soundgarden).

No word on when the Space Train pulls into the station, or what the album will be named when it does. At least we have confirmation that Jimmy is involved. Still no word on Iha, or D'Arcy.

Spoon are in the homestretch of finishing up their newest LP. The follow-up to Gimme Fiction should be ready for an April or May release from Merge records. According to Britt Daniels, things are really starting to gel in the studio.

Daniel says the musical direction isn't clear to him yet, but the producer considers it a new direction for the band.

The band are hopeful for a November deadline, and will focus all their efforts on studio work until the LP is completed. There is a show in Austin for December 1st, at a small festival with Peaches, Dead Meadow and Octopus Project, but no further scheduling will be made until the band have wrapped up the album.

Of the new album, Daniel suggests fans will likely be familiar with songs "Don't Make Me a Target" and "Rhythm and Soul," which have become live staples during Spoon's live dates over the past year.

The new Clap Your Hands Say Yeah LP is finished. The sophomore effort, helmed by famed producer Dave Fridmann, wrapped up recently. It's possible there will be a few revisions by its January 30th release date, but the as yet untitled record is done for all intents and purposes.

Lee Sargent spoke recently with Pitchfork, dropping a few hints as to what fans can expect:

The differences they speak of are mainly to the complexities of the arrangement. The band's style remains intact. However, Dave Fridmann lent a little flourish to the quintet's unique brand of indie rock:

Displaying their regular entrepreneurial spirit, the band will be taking on assignments regularly designated for the label themselves. Wichita Records will handle the distribution in Europe and abroad, but the North American release will be, like the self titled debut, completely independent.

In Live news, the CYHSY are putting on a New Year's celebration in New York at Hammerstein Ballroom. Presale tickets are available here, regular sale occurs Friday.

NME is reporting that Jarvis Cocker, formerly of PULP, is set to release his solo debut this year.

The album is titled simply Jarvis and has a November 13th release date. The album is said to have been produced with school friends Sam Lockwood and John Watson whom he met from his days at Central St. Martins. Sam and John have reportedly contributed lyrics to several songs on the album as well.

NME did not report the tracklist, but mention that "Running the World," the song about political cunts, which has been circulating the internet all summer, is conspicuously absent.

A brief tour is already scheduled for October and November, with more dates possible to follow.

Photo Location

Apparently, before the Arctic Monkeys had even won the Mercury award they had begun work on their new album. Rehearsals began last week for the quartet, and there's nothing but optimism right now.

Drummer Matt Helders spoke about the new album:

Alex Turner also talked about the band's progression:

What the fuck is owt? Maybe that's a typo.

As for the £20K the band pocketed for winning the Mercury, their website reveals that the band plans to donate the winnings to "a worthy charity which [they] would prefer to keep private." We all know what kinda charity that is.