Track list leaks for Shirley Manson’s solo album
Garbage front woman Shirley Manson began working on her first solo album back in 2006. For this project, the Scottish songbird has been collaborating with the likes of Jack White, Billy Corgan, and Beck. She’s also teamed back up with U.K. film composer, David Arnold, who previously helped her write the theme song for the 1999 James Bond flick The World Is Not Enough. Though no title has been announced for Manson’s new release, the alleged track list has been leaked to the press. There have been speculations that the solo album will drop sometime in March of 2008, but... read more
Tapes 'n Tapes finish second album
You might recall a certain album called The Loon, a much buzzed-about 2006 release that rose to prominence through (allegedly) dubious methods. Well, can the gentlemen of Tapes 'n Tapes pull the aquatic bird out of their hats a second time? Therein lies the sophomore album dilemma: give the blog hounds what they want and face accusations of complacency, or strike out in an unexpected new direction? To hear frontman Josh Grier tell it, don't expect anything too radical from his group for its sophomore release. "We wanted to make a rock record, but there weren't any over-indulgences," Grier told... read more
U2 releases a “Wave of Sorrow” on Facebook
As we have previously reported, U2 will be releasing their reissue of The Joshua Tree on Nov. 20, but those of you who are just itching to get a piece of the new material they have added to the deluxe edition of this classic album are in luck. The Irishmen have teamed up with iLike on Facebook to pre-release “Wave of Sorrow,” a track that the group recorded for the album’s release 20 years ago, but never finished until now. iLike is a Facebook widget that launched this year. Members of the online social network can add the application and... read more
Quarterlife makes transition to television
While it may seem like a small thing that NBC is picking up the television show Quarterlife, it will probably make some huge waves in the world of production. Quarterlife is a series of 8-minute short films that have been streaming online--a completely independent Internet show. Even 5 years ago that would have been pretty unthinkable, and that it's gained enough of an audience to be picked up by an actual television station is a pretty monumental achievement. The series is being picked up by NBC for distribution as a six-episode drama, which works out pretty well considering that it... read more
Seth and Liz make Kevin Smith's Porno
There's been speculation on the stars for Kevin Smith's upcoming Zack and Miri Make a Porno ever since it was announced, although I think mostly because people wanted to know who they'd get to see in a porno. This has been especially true since Rosario Dawson, who the role was originally written for, opted out in order to work on a film where she'd get, you know, paid. Well, the wait is over, and Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks have been cast for the lead roles in the upcoming film. Smith said on his blog, "I knew I wanted to... read more
Spoon brings its rhthm & soul back to the States
Sometimes it's easy to take Spoon for granted. The band does everything with such polish and consistency that each new album arrives as an almost foregone conclusion. Yeah, it's going to contain two or three of the greatest songs released that year, it's going to be eminently listenable and all of the critics will bow down to it. But with so many of the band's contemporaries sputtering from album to album, Spoon's hitting streak seems all the more impressive. These guys are worth treasuring, even if they are masters of the sonic understatement. So for those out there who slept... read more
Aimee Mann embarks on second annual Christmas tour
Sonny and Cher, Captain and Tennille, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. These are all musical artists who have made the holidays even hokier with their campy renditions of Christmas carols and amateur attempts at humor. Most viewers would rather watch It’s a Wonderful Life for the 128,384,477th time than sit through the corny comedy sketches and ridiculous wardrobe choices. But, wait! Look into the distance. There is a light shining above, a star of hope for all that are willing to follow. What star you may ask? It’s the glimmering rays of the goddess singer/songwriter Aimee Mann, and she brings... read more
Band of Horses dumps Wal-Mart, lives better
Ever since Of Montreal landed a medium-rare wad of cash from Outback Steakhouse, things have gotten a bit weird in the world of indie sponsorships. Wilco teamed with Volkswagen, the Go! Team abandoned its previous policy of no music for ads, and then Band of Horses dropped a bombshell on us: using material from Everything All The Time to shill for Wal-Mart? The world's 19th largest economy? Whoa, guys... isn't that crossing some sort of line? Apparently, lead Horse Ben Bridwell agrees. In a phone interview with In-Forum.com, Bridwell announced that his band was pulling out of its deal with... read more
Bodies of Water sign to Secretly Canadian, do Take Away Show
A couple of issues back, Paste sent out a proclamation that Bodies of Water were one of four bands to watch for the month of September. Well, November's not even through yet, and Bodies of Water have already made good on that two-month old promise by landing distribution for their exhilarating effort, Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink. And it's not just any ol' boutique label that's sending the record to stores; it's the mighty Secretly Canadian, home to Paste faves like Jens Lekman and Antony & the Johnsons. Previously released on the group's Thousand Tongues label, Ears Will... read more
Bruce Springsteen extends Magic tour into spring '08
There's been something especially triumphant about the latest reunion between Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. It's come at just the right time - with rock music and the world at large still in search of new heroes, with the Boss' original fans now old enough to get nostalgic and a new generation of musicians discovering the man's past masterpieces. Maybe the critics prematurely anointed Springsteen as a savior when he first emerged from the highways and smog of New Jersey, but it's safe to say that he's now comfortable with being a universal icon. The latest Springsteen tour... read more
The Mist
With about a hundred film credits to his name, the works of Stephen King... read more
What actor would you like to see play Bob Dylan in I'm Not There?
Todd Haynes' I'm Not There hits theaters this week with six actors playing Dylan (including Cate Blanchett). Who else would you like to see portray Dylan? [614 votes total] Kirstie Alley (12): 2% Rob Schneider (31): 5% Dave Chapelle (136): 22% Jackie Chan (28): 5% Haley Joel Osment (42): 7% Queen Latifah (30): 5% William Shatner (134): 22% Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (46): 7% Bea Arthur (102): 17% Other (53): 9% Full Results Comments... read more
John Mayer rocks the boat
We’ve all heard of the Titanic, the Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria, and most pertinently the Mayflower. But, when it comes to nautical travels, have you ever heard of the Mayercraft Carrier? It’s just the latest musically themed cruise concocted by Sixthman. In the past this same company has been able to marry a maritime atmosphere with musical artists like Emmylou Harris, Barenaked Ladies, Patty Griffin, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. So what talented artist do they have stowed away for this next voyage? If you haven’t figured it out from the kitschy boat title, it’s none other than the guitar... read more
Neville Brothers return for New Orleans Jazz Festival
The national discourse may have long since shifted elsewhere, but in a recovering New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina still colors local discussion. So even when folks talk about the city's flagship cultural event, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, it's all in "pre-" and "post-Katrina" terms. Just like the rest of the city, the event hasn't quite been the same since disaster struck in 2005. However, 2008 marks the point where the festival appears to be nearing its past splendor. The celebration will once again expand to seven days, and will also welcome the grand return of the Neville Brothers,... read more
Record label, plus .mp3 blog, minus vowels = RCRD LBL
You don't have to be a magna cum laude business grad to know that the music industry is changing. It's safe to say that everyone involved in this game, from the Big Four label CEOs to the lowest level Pirate Bay deck swabber, agrees that things can't stay the way they are. We've got the RIAA suing ex-Kazaa users for six figures, swinish torrent sites feasting on gigabytes of illegally acquired content and CD sales figures plummeting lower than ever before. So what's the next step in digital music evolution? Most folk agree that the Radiohead model isn't for everyone.... read more
The Fiery Furnaces extend North American tour dates
The Fiery Furnaces must be running on fumes by now. The quirky indie-rock group has been touring pretty consistently since this summer and it's showing no signs of slowing down. Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger must be junkies for the live show experience, because the Furnaces are extending their tour for the umpteenth time. Originally scheduled to finish off their global trek on Nov. 30 in Antwerp, Belgium, the band has now extended the tour all the way to Dec. 15. The final performance (for now at least) is scheduled to be in Chicago, where they will bring their Window City... read more
Foo Fighters announce U.S. tour, go green
Earlier this year, the Foo Fighters re-released their epic 1997 album The Colour and Shape along side their sixth studio album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. In the wake of their old/new recordings Dave Grohl and Co. have been performing for our over seas neighbors. Now, the Fightin' Foo is bringing the show back to the motherland. With U.K. dates wrapping up this weekend, the band has finally announced some U.S. gigs. Foo Fighters will pick up their tour on Jan. 23 in Dallas, Texas. If you’re ready to support the Foo Fighters and want to ensure that you get... read more
Mos Def teams with Kanye West on new album
Last we reported on Mos Def, he had just extricated himself from his prickly relationship with Geffen Records, and was headed for the Downtown imprint to start work on new material. Well, guess what? Mr. Kanye West is onboard behind the boards for the new Mos album. As Billboard reports, West will produce some of the tracks on the as-yet untitled, release date-less record. The two hip-hop giants have collaborated before, both unofficially as well as formally on West's "Drunk and Hot Girls." Mos Def has also scheduled a Jan. 21 performance dedicated to late producer and friend Jay Dee... read more
New Moby album arrives this March
It's no secret that DVR technology has commercial producers running scared. With the previously unimagined power of being able to fast forward through pesky ads at the consumer's fingertips, TV commercial writers have to fight more than ever for viewers' attentions. But what's this... a pale white knight on the horizon? Why, it's Moby, the undisputed master of TV commercial background music! You just know that the ad industry has been salivating for this guy to reemerge with some of those sweet, sweet sounds ever since Hotel underwhelmed listeners in 2005. On March 10, those suits and music fans alike... read more
Dylan, Jack White, others finish Hank songs
Bob Dylan is heading up a project to have several artists write music and record some of Hank Williams' final lyrics, according to Steppin’ In It bassist Dominic Suchyta, who played on one of the tracks. “This project started when Bob Dylan acquired the ‘lost’ Hank Williams songs,” Suchyta tells Paste. “Essentially, the lyric sheets Hank died with in his briefcase. Jack is my oldest friend, we talk on occasion and he asked me to come down and record. Dylan had contacted him to see if he'd like to finish some of these tunes.” White recorded the song at Blackbird... read more
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