Guillermo del Toro directing The Hobbit: confirmed
We reported back in January that Guillermo del Toro had privately announced he'd be directing The Hobbit and its sequel (There and Back Again?). Three months later, and we've finally gotten official word from New Line and MGM that he'll be in charge of the features. "I am indeed blessed to become a part of the filmmaking community that Peter, Fran and their extraordinary team of collaborators have created in New Zealand,"said del Toro in a statement. Hobbit lovers everywhere can finally stop holding their breath. With Peter Jackson producing and del Toro directing, the project's big question now is... read more
Paul Weller's 22 Dreams to be released in the U.S. on June 24
Paul Weller hadn’t recorded anything for three years, but it’s not like he took time off to nap. While he was out of the studio, he played concert series in New York City and Los Angeles, earned Lifetime Achievement honors at the 2006 Brit Awards and reissued a deluxe edition of his timeless record, 1995’s Wild Wood. And that’s all fine and good. Great, even. But this summer, there’s another Weller-related cause for excitement. His new album, 22 Dreams, will hit stores June 24 on Yep Roc . And it’s been a year in the making. 22 Dreams will feature... read more
José González releases remix EP, announces tour
With his sophomore album, In Our Nature, singer/songwriter José González proved he had more to him than the brooding covers he was known for, which included renditions of the Knife’s “Heartbeats,” Kylie Minogue’s “Hand on Your Heart,” and Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” Songs from the album, his most recent release, are featured on a new remix EP, which comes with the announcement of a summer headlining tour. The In Our Nature Remixes EP is available only as a digital download and features songs remixed by Todd Terje, Penchenga Nord, Beatfanatic, Landberg & Skogehall and others. González begins... read more
Hüsker Dü rarities compilations in the works
File this under "Something I Learned Today." Fans of legendary indie rockers Hüsker Dü (IE: former idealistic college students from the '80s now begrudgingly working corporate jobs) will be excited to learn that a rarities compilation and live album are in the works for the group. This summer, Garage D'Or Recording Company (Can we stop for a second and just ponder was an awesome name that is for a record label? Thanks.) will release First Strike, a collection of 14 early Hüsker Dü demos from 1979. That's right: 1979. The year our Hüsker Düdes got together to for their first... read more
Yoko Ono sues Expelled for undisclosed damages
John Lennon's ex-wife, Yoko Ono, made her way back into the headlines last week when she sued the filmmakers of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, the documentary featuring none other than Ferris Bueller's economics teacher (anyone? anyone?), erm, Ben Stein. The movie, which claims that scientists who support intelligent design are routinely fired or censored, features Lennon's "Imagine," a song Ono says the filmmakers never received permission to use. She's joined in the suit by Lennon's two sons, Sean Ono Lennon and Julian Lennon. The producers of the film released a statement saying, "We are disappointed...that Yoko Ono and others have... read more
Dr. Dog, Del McCoury, Method Man, more go Forecastle
This is the seventh year for Forecastle in Louisville, Ky., and the festival has broadened its range accordingly. The fest announced a new venue last June, and has booked Method Man, Dr. Dog, Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s, Disco Biscuits, Morning State, Z-Trip and Del McCoury to headline. Other notable acts include Snowden, Unwed Sailor, Peter Searcy and Film School. And Prizzy Prizzy Please, but mainly because we just like saying their name. “It’s the best line-up in the festival’s seven year history,” said festival founder and producer JK McKnight in a recent statement. “It’s twice the size... read more
Guitar Hero IV to incorporate more instruments, vocals
The fourth installment of the wildly popular Guitar Hero franchise will incorporate more instruments and add vocals. In an interview with Portfolio magazine, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said that the addition of more instruments and vocals were a few of the significant changes gamers could expect when Guitar Hero IV hits stores later this year. Kotick said these elements were meant to increase the appeal of a game franchise that has already managed to cross a few generation gaps. “The age appeal is something we've never seen before -- seven-year-olds who have no idea who Aerosmith is are playing the... read more
Al Gore hints at an Inconvenient sequel
When Al Gore's documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, was released in 2006, it won praise from critics and audiences alike, and scored an Academy Award (not to mention put Gore in the running for the Nobel Prize, which he would eventually be awarded in 2007). A variety of rumors have sprung this week about the possibility of a second film, Gore himself even telling The Sun that he "will make a sequel to the 2006 documentary." However, a statement that Paramount Pictures released this week denies the existence of such plans, making the validity of Gore's statement a little unclear. Related... read more
Jeff Mangum Sings: NMH singer featured with Instruments
Jeff Mangum is perhaps one of the most reluctant musicians to ever inspire a cult following. In March, the indie music world rightfully celebrated the tenth anniversary of Mangum's masterwork with his band Neutral Milk Hotel, the stunning In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. Since he stopped recording under that moniker a decade ago, there's been endless excitement and speculation attached to every project in which he's been involved even the tiniest little bit. Content to stay far away from the spotlight, however, Mangum's appearances have been few and far between. The latest fodder for Mangum fanatics, then, arrives in... read more
Cayamo 2009 dates announced
Boy, those folks at Sixthman sure are on the ball. It’s only April, two short months after the 2008 Cayamo cruise, and yet they already have the dates booked for 2009. The singer-songwriter cruise will feature many of the same artists from this year’s event: Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt (whom Paste editor-in-chief, Josh Jackson, interviewed on the boat), Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin and Buddy Miller. There is also the promise of more great artists being introduced as the year goes on. Cayamo, which focuses on folk, blues and Americana, will be sailing out of Miami on Norwegian Cruiselines on February... read more
Son of Rambow's Garth Jennings hints at animated feature
The director behind Son of Rambow and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is developing the storyline for an animated film. No word yet on the specific type of animation, though it could be reminiscent of the cartoon bits used throughout Rambow. In a recent interview, Garth Jennings was none too generous in giving too much away before they get the storyline set in place. “There is something about giving an idea too much oxygen before you’ve had the time before you actually set it in stone,” Jennings told /Film. “The minute you get it right, you tell everyone because... read more
My Bloody Valentine to headline inaugural ATP festival
My Bloody Valentine will be headlining the inaugural ATP New York music festival Sept. 19-21, marking the band’s first U.S. appearance in 16 years. British concert promoter All Tomorrow’s Parties is hosting ATP New York at Kutshers Country Club in Monticello. Described as a “boutique festival,” the event will feature about 30 bands, and a capacity of less than 3,000 people. Other headliners for the three-day festival include Built to Spill, the Meat Puppets and Thurston Moore, which will also feature on-site amenities including tennis courts, golf course, swimming pool and nightly DJ sets. My Bloody Valentine only recently announced... read more
The Pharcyde, Nas, Tribe, Mos Def head up Rock the Bells
Rock the Bells is sort of an anomaly. It’s rare to find successful hip-hop arena tours, and in 2007, Rock the Bells was the top-grossing hip-hop event in the country. Following last year’s performances by a reunited Rage Against The Machine, this summer’s Rock the Bells tour will feature performances by A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def, De La Soul, Rakim, Method Man & Redman, Dead Prez and a reunion of the group Pharcyde, amongst others. Also billed to perform are a handful of emergent artists including Washington D.C.’s Wale, Flosstradamus and others from the electro-hip hop scene. “This... read more
Judd Apatow and Nick Stoller try to Get Him to the Greek
Forgetting Sarah Marshall was released not even a week ago, but already we have news on yet another Judd Apatow endeavor for Universal. Nick Stoller will return to direct. Jonah Hill and Russell Brand will also reunite on screen, this time to star. Both Hill and Brand played supporting roles in Forgetting, but the initial idea for developed during one of the table reads for the film. “Even though they are such different actors with different styles, I thought there could be a great buddy comedy there,” Stoller told Variety. The idea grew into a film about an insurance agent... read more
Ang Lee, James Schamus re-team for Taking Woodstock
If we were to say that some Hollywood director and writer were teaming up to make yet another movie about the Summer of Love’s most adapted festival, Woodstock, would you turn on your favorite Grateful Dead album in anticipation or shrug with utter indifference? Okay, well, what if we were to say that Ang Lee and James Schamus —the same team responsible for Brokeback Mountain and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon—would be the ones behind the film? And that while retaining the word "Woodstock" in its title, it would not be about the festival proper, but how it came to be?... read more
Cannes announces 2008 lineup
Cannes, the premier worldwide film festival, has finally announced the lineup for its 2008 event. Before we begin with analyzing the choices, let's take a look at this year's selections: In Competition 24 City, China, Jia Zhangke Adoration, Canada, Atom Egoyan Changeling, U.S., Clint Eastwood Che (The Argentine, Guerrilla), Spain, Steven Soderbergh Un Conte de noel, France, Arnaud Desplechin Daydreams, Turkey, Nuri Bilge Ceylan Delta, Germany-Hungary, Kornel Mundruczo Il Divo, Paolo Sorrentino, Italy Gomorra, Italy, Matteo Garrone La Frontiere de l'aube, France, Philippe Garrel Leonera, Argentina-South Korea, Pablo Trapero Linha de Passe, Brazil, Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas La Mujer sin... read more
Richard Swift unveils new online documentary series
Los Angeles singer-songwriter Richard Swift is shooting and editing a new online documentary series to give viewers a little bit of insight into the otherworldly workings of his imagination. Swift’s Ground Trouble Jaw series is pure oddball fun, complete with wacky situations and special effects in the vein of director Michel Gondry. Episode 3 of the series, “Attack of the Tape Monster!,” chronicles the creation of a vicious tape monster that quickly turns on its creators, a'la Frankenstein. The shaky black and white footage is a throw-back to 1950s horror films, complete with sinister bolts of lightning. The first five... read more
Conor Oberst to release solo album on Merge
It's barely been a year since the release of the last Bright Eyes full-length, Cassadaga, so yesterday's news came as a bit of a bleeding-heart-stopper. Turns out that instead of collaborating with M. Ward, as we guesstimated late last year, the gooey center of Bright Eyes—Conor Oberst—has been holed up in a magical land of elves somewhere in Mexico, quietly working on the first solo album he's made since before he was legal (to drive, perv!). It must've been tough for Merge Records to keep this under the lid for months, seeing as they'll be the first label besides Oberst's... read more
Flaming Lips, Roots, Girl Talk to rock Des Moines festival
This Independence Day, Des Moines will welcome what appears to be Lollapalooza's Midwestern baby sister at Iowa's own inaugural summer music festival 80/35. In addition to Iowa localites, the fest will feature the Flaming Lips, The Roots, Yonder Mountain String Band, Drive-By Truckers and Girl Talk on July 4 and 5. And in case you were wondering, 80/35 stands for the juncture of Interstates 80 and 35 in downtown Iowa in Western Gateway Park. As one Iowan MySpace user puts it, "I pooped a little when I heard the Lips were coming to town!" There you have it, folks. Iowa's... read more
Aimee Mann talks @#%&! SMILERS with Paste
A few weeks ago, Aimee Mann (whose smiling face graced our second issue ever) took some time out of her busy schedule to chat with Paste editor-in-chief Josh Jackson. The two talked about the power of keyboards, séances, being bad at blogging and, of course, @#%&! SMILERS, Mann’s imminent new album. Her new record is scheduled to hit stores shelves June 3, and Mann will be touring this summer as well. Curious about what she had to say for herself? That’s what we thought. Eavesdrop on the conversation here. Related links: Feature: The Evolution of Mann AimeeMann.com Feature: Paste’s 100... read more
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