Rob Levy returns with the music column that keeps on giving: The Curmudgeon. Enjoy.
The great thing about spring is that it is the best time of year to be a music geek. Loads of bands are on tour and lots of exciting new releases are coming out. It is also the time of year when new bands get heard and break out.
Veronica Falls is pretty great. I loved their single, “I Found Love In A Graveyard.” The UK foursome takes the sound of C86 and gives it some punch. They have just released “Beachy Head,” their latest single. You can find them at Amazon here.
[ad#shortpost]
Direct link for the feedreaders.
Free Energy is band to keep an ear out for. They are roading it in support of Stuck On Nothing. (Available on CD or MP3 from Amazon.)
Another band with infinite possibilities is Harlem, who have released their debut, Hippies on Matador. (Available on CD or MP3 from Amazon.)
Despite falling ash from Iceland, the music industry is holding its own and putting a lot of bands on tour. More so then this time last year.
Two Door Cinema Club is going to explode. Their debut, Tourist History, is out via Glass Note Records. Although TDCC had to cancel some American dates because of that wacky volcano they are still supporting Phoenix on some stops. (Available on CD or MP3 from Amazon.)
Direct link for the feedreaders.
Speaking of Phoenix, they’re is scoring Somewhere, the new flick from Sofia Coppola due out next summer.
The aforementioned volcano also forced both Bad Lieutenant and The Mary Onettes to cancel their respective US tours.
Daft Punk has scored the soundtrack for Tron 2.
Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett are working with Alan Moore on an opera based on life of John Dee. [Wolven’s post on that subject is here.]
After leaving Depeche Mode, Alan Wilder took on his side project, Recoil, full-time. The new Recoil compilation Selected 1988-2007 is out now.
Andy Bell of Erasure is releasing a dance-oriented solo album. Non Stop features a guest appearance by Perry Farrell on “If You Love Him.” It’s out in the U.S. on June 8th.
Villagers debut, Becoming A Jackal, is due for a June release on Domino Records.
The Chap is back with more boppy sounds on Well Done Europe, which is coming out on Lo Records this July. (Available now as an MP3 download.)
A band to keep an eye on in the clever department is Cleveland’s Mr. Gnome, who has released a new EP entitled Tastes Like Magic. They recently concluded a short tour in support of the record.
Direct link for the feedreaders.
Alexander Chen of Boy In Static is the force behind a new project called Consulate General. The new album, Person Number, features members of Slowdive. (Available on CD or MP3 from Amazon.)
The XX has remixed “The Afterlife” by YACHT.
The indie dance rock movement refuses to relent as evidenced by new Young Pony Club. Their newest, The Optimist is out on Play it Again Sam.
Big Boi of Outkast is finally releasing his solo album on July 6th. Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty in July. T.I., Andre 3000, and others put in cameos.
Lou Reed is reissuing Metal Machine Music. He also turns up for vocals on new albums from Laurie Anderson and Gorillaz.
Crowded House is releasing Intriguer in June.
Cherry Red Records is releasing The Time, the 2nd from pop pinups Bros. The 1989 album now features loads of remixes and extra tracks.
Also reissued is 1985’s So Red The Rose from Arcadia. Arcadia was a one-off Duran Duran side project that featured Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor. The new version features a second disc of mixes as well as all of their videos.
Knitting Factory Records is reissuing fourteen records made by Fela Kuti between 1974-76.
The first ten Bon Jovi records are getting souped up with special editions and fancy packaging.
Some Friendly, the debut from The Charlatans is being reissued with extra tracks and sessions.
Paul McCartney is reissuing his post-Beatles catalogue to Concord Music Group. This includes his solo records and music he did with Wings. I am sure Macca was overjoyed as punch to learn that he and his former band were recently forgiven by the Vatican for John Lennon‘s remarks about The Beatles “being bigger then Jesus.”
Ozzy Osbourne is cranking out Scream just in time for summer.
It’s like 1990 all over again. Megadeth and Slayer are touring the US and Canada this July and August. Slayer will play all of Seasons In The Abyss while Megadeth will play Rust In Peace in its entirety. Both albums are from 1990.
Billy Idol will be touring the USA this summer.
The Whigs will be on the road this summer opening for The Hold Steady.
Silverspun Pickups recently played massive stadium gigs as a support act for Muse. Now they are embarking on their own tour in June and July.
Metric is also on the road this summer with Muse and also is part of the revived Lilith Fair.