Pixies Play Fallon, Fans Pick Second Song on Twitter
Aside from his penchant for starring in bad Queen Latifah movies, Jimmy Fallon’s usually got the public’s interest in mind. A man of the people, if you will. With his affable persona and regular-dude smile, he emits a charming you-went-to-high-school-with-me vibe. Further proving this, when indie-rock icons the Pixies stop by his show on Nov. 24, viewers have the chance to vote on which song the band will play in addition to the classic “Debaser.”... read more
New Dead Weather Album Coming in 2010
Jack White supergroup the Dead Weather is already planning a 2010 sophomore record release, even though their debut, Horehound, has been out for less than a year.... read more
Watch the Trailer for The Decemberists Video Album, Here Comes the Waves: The Hazards of Love Visualized
The Decemberists has set a date for the online premiere of its “full-length video album,” titled Here Comes the Waves: The Hazards of Love Visualized.... read more
Watch Jason Segel Hilariously Perform Onstage With The Swell Season
We probably should’ve seen this one coming, honestly. The Swell Season: earnest, beautiful folk rock made by two former lovers. Jason Segel: lovably oafish dude who got totally naked in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. And they’ve all been in movies! Three peas in a pod, right?... read more
Sugarland: Gold and Green
All I want for Christmas is a cohesive record As with Sugarland’s previous studio efforts, lead singer Jennifer Nettles suffers from a vocal identity crisis on the duo’s new holiday-themed Gold and Green. Does she want to be a saccharine adult-contemporary crooner (“Gold and Green”), a wailing gospel beacon (“Coming Home”) or the twangy country girl next door (“Nuttin’ For Christmas”)? Here, such shifts seem contrived, robbing Nettles of any relatable authenticity. What little sincerity the set has comes from Kristian Bush singing lead on “Maybe Baby (New Year’s Day)” and “Holly Jolly Christmas.” Unfortunately, the latter is all but... read more
Catching Up With... David Rawlings
Although the records are released under Gillian Welch’s name, she and David Rawlings are essentially... read more
R.E.M. Working on New Album, Michael Stipe Working on Beard
A couple days ago, R.E.M released two short videos filmed by a covert/hirsute Michael Stipe. Haphazardly focusing the camera on the occasional electric guitar or amplifier, Stipe meanders through the rooms where his band is recording its 15th studio record. According to Pop Candy, Grammy Award-winning Jacknife Lee is producing the new album, still in its early stages. Not many other details are known at the moment, but you can watch Stipe’s Blair Witchy cinematography below:... read more
Jonathan Richman to Celebrate Turkeys on Saturday
Just because turkeys are traditionally killed and eaten for Thanksgiving doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the holiday as well. This is America, after all—a land of equal opportunities for man and bird alike.... read more
Watch Vampire Weekend's "Cousins" Video
Vampire Weekend’s Contra may not drop until Jan. 12, but we’ve got tons of goodies to hold us over until then. Along with first single “Horchata,” today the video for “Cousins” hit the good old reliable interwebs. This second single is out now digitally, and will hit stores on a 7" vinyl Dec. 15. "Cousins"’ video is a dizzying trip back and forth in an city alleyway, with the VW lads showing the same playful spirit that drives their music. Directed by Garth Jennings (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and produced Hammer and Tongs (Jennings and creative partner Nick Goldsmith),... read more
Ears We Trust: Robert Earl Keen
In this long-running feature, music-industry tastemakers tell us what they’re listening to and loving. Today’s columnist: Texas singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen.... read more
EMI Becomes First Record Label to Provide Hulu-Exclusive Videos
EMI has struck a deal with Hulu to become its first record-label partner, and is set to distribute music videos and concert footage exclusively through the video-sharing site.... read more
Without Venue, Jelly Pool Parties Could Dry Up
Brooklyn’s 5-year-strong Jelly Pool Parties have been providing free, awesome music to thousands each summer, with acts like Grizzly Bear, Girl Talk and Simian Mobile Disco playing no-cost shows. The concert series was originally held at the McCarren Park Pool, but then moved to the East River State Park in the summer of 2009 to accommodate bigger bands and bigger crowds. But according to the New York State Parks Department and the Open Space Alliance, the park may not be available for Jelly 2010.... read more
Bonnaroo 2010 Dates Announced, Holiday Payment Plan Offered
Even though this darn global warming business makes even mid-November feel like summertime, truth is it’s been almost six months since this year’s Bonnaroo took over Tennessee. Which, of course, means it’s prime time to look ahead to Bonnaroo 2010, which will go down June 10-13 next year. But before the music-festival season hits, the winter festival season will; this year, the good folks at Bonnaroo have wrapped both into a neat little package—starting Nov. 27, the fest is offering discount holiday-rate tickets online.... read more
Billboard Changes Up Charts to Reflect Catalog Titles, Folk Music
Recent changes to Billboard charts will soon give both Michael Jackson and Ani DiFranco some overdue recognition.... read more
Wale: Attention Deficit
On major label debut, mixtape star looks to the West Born of Nigerian parents in our nation’s capitol, Wale rose to prominence in 2008 with The Mixtape About Nothing, where he used his favorite program as a framing device for his technically adroit diatribes on race, rap, and authenticity. “The Kramer,” for instance, sampled Michael Richards’ infamous Laugh Factory tirade, and subsequent apology, to bookend a fearless dissection of racist language. Wale also adopted Seinfeld’s habit of knowing self-deprecation to send up stale rap conventions, titling a track with three guest stars (including mixtape staple Bun B) “The Feature Heavy... read more
Best of What's Next: Mayer Hawthorne
For Andrew Mayer Cohen, the Motown-influenced tunes were just musical doodles... read more
Go Your Own Way: Norah Jones and The Swell Season Recover From Broken Hearts
Is The Fall a breakup record? “I think in a lot of ways it is, and in a lot of ways it isn’t,” says Norah Jones of the follow-up to 2007’s Not Too Late. Her split that year with longtime boyfriend Lee Alexander made the gossip pages, despite her silence on the subject. She has no intention of sharing her thoughts on the matter today, either, though she’s generous with the fries accompanying her hefty veggie burger at the East Village restaurant where we’ve met. “Will you have some?” she asks. “I won’t eat them all.”... read more
MySpace Looking to Purchase imeem
Rupert Murdoch’s bleeding social networking site, MySpace, is making some drastic moves to eek a profit out of a Facebook/Twitter-dominated industry, one of them a possible pay model to earn back some of the $20 million the site spends on streaming royalties every month. Next could be the acquisition of free-streaming music site imeem.... read more
Sam Fogarino Talks New Interpol Album, Courtney Love
"[Our Love to Admire] was not our most cohesive moment," he says... read more
The Who to Play Super Bowl, Says Another Anonymous Source
Another person unwilling to reveal their name has told another publication that The Who will indeed perform at Super Bowl XLIV, adding to the anticipation of the NFL’s (and the band’s) apparently-pending official announcement.... read more
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