The Killers cover Joy Division’s “Shadowplay”
First, The Killers were helping aid the comeback of the ironic mustache, and now, the Nevada-based quartet is hopping on the Joy Division train. Yesterday (Oct. 4), The Killers released the first single off of their B-sides album Sawdust. The song, “Shadowplay,” is an original from the iconic Manchester band. The rest of Sawdust's offerings will be presented to the world on Nov. 13. Still, if you don’t want to wait for the new - or at least newly recorded - songs, the boys have some dates left on their tour and will be playing at The Echo Project in... read more
CMJ showcase schedule finalized
You've heard the names, weathered the hype storm, gotten your festival passes in order... now it's time to start figuring out just who the hell you're going to see at the CMJ Music Marathon from Oct. 16-20. Every band now has a time slot and a venue to call its own, so scoot on over to the CMJ website and start tracking down your favorites. We suggest keeping a map of New York City close at hand so you can start drawing out the labyrinthine route that you're going to cut through the city in search of the next great... read more
Feist returns to (further) conquer North America
Modest Mouse's chart victories and Of Montreal's fly endorsement deals notwithstanding, Leslie Feist really has emerged out of nowhere to become the indie world's crossover success darling. And that now ubiquitous iPod Nano ad of hers is just the tip of the iceberg. Feist has become a hip name to drop among bloggers of all stripes, she's dominated the late night TV circuit, and now she's making a triumphant return to North America on her latest tour. Swooning yet? You'll feel it all: November 6 - Portland, Ore. @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall 7 - Seattle, Wash. @ Paramount Theatre... read more
Flaming Lips, Killers, Phil Lesh and more play Echo Project
The typical summer music festival is often categorized by a poorly ventilated, cramped tent and sweat-drenched unwashed clothes, not to mention the fermented stench of your concert buddies standing beside you. Now, we cannot promise that The Echo Project will be any different, but we can hope. With the festival scheduled to take place Oct. 12-14 just outside of Atlanta, the weather will most likely prove to be a little more bearable than the smoldering heat of Bonnaroo, Coachella and Austin City Limits. Furthermore, the 350-plus acre venue/campsite, promises mist tents and potable water available for all. Still not... read more
Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, more to rock J.A.M. Awards
[Above: Run-D.M.C., Jam Master Jay at far left] While rock supremacy theorists continue to harp on the worst that rap has to offer (just wait until you read the hate mail we got for that Kanye West cover!), the hip-hop community has continued to churn out provocative artists. On Nov. 29, the J.A.M. (Justice, Arts & Music) Awards aim to shed light on "the most positive aspects of rap" with an industry clambake and all-star concert at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. Given the sordid history of certain other hip-hop extravaganzas, it's nice to see one with positivity as its M.O.... read more
Nirvana's MTV Unplugged comes to DVD
Nirvana's unanticipated swan song on MTV's Unplugged stands as a pretty iconic performance. Okay, make that a ridiculously iconic performance. Surrounded by an almost funereal backdrop, Kurt Cobain and company proved that they didn't have to jack up the amps to make an impact, turning in haunting renditions of original tunes "Dumb" and "All Apologies," as well as excellent covers of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World" and Meat Puppets' "Lake of Fire." Recorded just under five months before Cobain's suicide, the show took on a new weight when it first appeared on CD in November of 1994.... read more
Michael Andrews: The man behind Walk Hard's soundtrack
When you're trying to put together a film soundtrack that parodies varying styles from the earliest rock 'n' roll to disco to contemporary sounds, you need something more substantial than Weird Al Yankovic. So when Judd Apatow started working on Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, he probably had his old collaborator Michael Andrews on speed dial. Although he hasn't yet attained the profile of fellow composer Jon Brion, Andrews has put together quite an oeuvre. He began inauspiciously enough, working on the score for a little show called Freaks and Geeks. Later came his work on films like Donnie... read more
Toyota and Urban Outfitters Free Yr Radio
Tyta & Urbn Outftrs wnt u 2 Free Yr Radio. Oh, sorry, we got a little carried away there. Free Yr Radio is the name of a campaign between Toyota and Urban Outfitters to support independent radio, and to make sure that you can turn on the radio and actually find a non-commercial station. To that end, Free Yr Radio is releasing a CD on Oct. 20, which will be available at Urban Outfitters stores and at the store’s website. The CD features live cuts, b-sides, and previously unreleased material from bands like Sonic Youth, The Rapture and Klaxons. All... read more
Norah, Cat Power appear on My Blueberry Nights soundtrack
The Playlist has revealed that Norah Jones, Cat Power, and Ry Cooder will all provide music for the soundtrack to My Blueberry Nights, acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai’s English language debut film. Jones, incidentally, also stars in the film, which follows the story of a heartbroken woman who waitresses her way across the country in search of, you know, un-heartbrokenness. Due out in January, the soundtrack, which will be released on Blue Note Records, will feature “The Story,” a song written by Jones specifically for the film. The record will also feature two cuts from Cat Power's album The... read more
David Bowie's latter years get boxed up
Once a respected artist hits those twilight years, things tend to get a bit rocky. Either it's repeat your old formula for success with diminishing returns, go off on wild experimental tangents, or just croak so that people will start saying nice things about you. David Bowie, of course, never quite followed a traditional career arc. Living up to that old chameleon reputation of his, Bowie's last several albums have continued to function as subtle variations of what came before. He's never quite been stuck in a rut, nor has he gone off in too radical a direction. Columbia Records... read more
Pipettes reschedule tour dates
As we told you previously, The Pipettes had to cancel the first leg of their North American tour due to visa issues. But now, some of those dates have been rescheduled. With the start still planned for L.A. on Oct. 25, The Pipettes are currently set to tour through Nov. 21. Looks like neither hell nor high mounds of government paperwork will be able to keep the darling girl group from making its way across the Atlantic. October 25 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Echoplex 29 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Bimbo's 365 Club 31 - Portland, Ore. @ Wonder... read more
Ed Harcourt releases Best Of album
Over the span of his career, Ed Harcourt has kept his output of music pretty steady. Having released five albums in the past seven years, he may not be as prolific as Bob Pollard, but he has definitely been working hard. But with the potential for creative rest, the singer/songwriter is releasing Until Tomorrow Then – The Best Of. The retrospective, which is set to be released Nov. 20, will include songs from each of Harcourt’s previously released works. Harcourt will be touring throughout the UK for the rest of October. There is no news yet on a U.S.... read more
Of Montreal can't stop touring, recording
Either Of Montreal really is the coolest band in the world to play in, or else it's some sort of creepy, indie-rock cult. How else does one explain the group's relentless touring and recording schedule? By now, it's safe to say that Kevin Barnes has the prolific songwriting addiction to match that of Robert Pollard or Ryan Adams. But even more remarkable is the fact that his backing band seems willing to follow him to the ends of the Earth on his quest to freak out every rock club he can find. And still the band's stage show grows more... read more
Fallout over Radiohead's In Rainbows continues
We've said it before, and we'll probably say it several more times between now and Oct. 10: Radiohead's "pay what you want" digital release of In Rainbows is one of the more interesting and potentially important album launches of our time. Say what you will about past Radiohead coverage - the constant incremental updates, hyperbole, and rumor-mongering - this one actually matters. So as the entire web-music infrastructure marshals its resources to report, discuss, and analyze the phenomenon, we'll be trying to keep readers up to date with it all. First off today, Billboard.com reports that - surprise! - the... read more
Lily Allen makes her big screen debut
It seems that our favorite UK hip-pop princess Lily Allen will stop at nothing to make her fans smile. Aside from delivering her refreshing brand of musical goodness, she has been actively engaging in collaborations with the likes of Common and nabbing a mtvU Woodie of the Year award nomination. Now, Allen is jumping into her first silver screen performance. Allen is slated to play Lydia Bennett in an upcoming spoof movie of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Supporting cast also includes Russell Brand, who will play the conniving George Wickham, and film veteran Carrie Fisher will take on the... read more
Stereogum celebrates R.E.M.'s Automatic For The People
Their OK Computer tribute defied all expectations. Now the folks at Stereogum are giving us another remarkable tribute package. This Friday marks the fifteenth anniversary of Automatic For The People, the album where R.E.M. decided to go "mature" and never looked back. Highlighting the website's Drive XV package is an all-star covers version of Automatic, featuring tracks from The Wrens, Rogue Wave, Meat Puppets, Shout Out Louds and more. Each track appears as a downloadable mp3 or a stream, with liner notes from the covering band and R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills. Tying it all together is a thoughtful essay from... read more
Bid on eBay to help Poco drummer with medical expenses
[Above: George Grantham and daughter, Gracie] Today’s lesson: becoming a seminal country rock musician does not necessarily guarantee easily-paid medical bills. Ever since Poco drummer George Grantham suffered a stroke three years ago, shortly following the release of CD/DVD Keep the Legend Alive, his loved ones have struggled to cover his expenses by accepting donations through the George Grantham Benefit Fund. Now, Grantham’s daughter Gracie has stepped up efforts by asking her father’s “many cohorts and admirers on the performing side of music” to donate valuable, one-of-a-kind music business paraphernalia for a charity auction on eBay. Besides Poco items... read more
Free Simian Mobile Disco remix available for download
We’ve been bumping Simian Mobile Disco’s new album Attack Decay Sustain Release since the summer (remember summer?), and honestly, we can’t get enough of these DJing Brits. This winter, they’ll be touring Europe in support of both The Klaxons and The Chemical Brothers (Check the schedule here). Until SMD decides to come back stateside, though, American fans can enjoy the duo’s new remix of Celebration's “Hands Off My Gold”, now available free online through Celebration’s record label, 4AD. Related links: SimianMobileDisco.co.uk SMD remix of "Hands Off My Gold" Video for Celebration’s “Evergreen” Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com. ... read more
Wu-Tang actually interpolates Beatles song, leaks mp3
UPDATE (Oct. 4): It turns out that we had a lot of things wrong with the Wu-Tang/Beatles story when we first posted it a couple of days ago. First of all, the new Wu-Tang song is called "The Heart Gently Weeps," not "My People Gently Weeps," as was originally reported by Billboard and republished here. Much better title, we say. Perhaps more importantly, there is no actual "sample" of the original Beatles song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," as Wu-Tang's RZA clarified on the group's MySpace blog. It's just an "interpolation"... same chord progression, but performed live in the... read more
Jay Sweet appears again on Boston’s FOX 25
Today, Paste’s editor-at-large Jay Sweet had his latest appearance on “FOX Rocks in the Morning” on Boston’s FOX 25. One of the topics discussed was Bruce Springsteen’s latest album Magic, which came out today and is the first studio recording that The Boss has done with The E Street Band in five years. The cover of our new issue, featuring Iron & Wine was also mentioned, along with 4 to Watch artist Jesca Hoop, who has actually performed at the news station on a previous occasion. But perhaps the most important issue that was brought up by Sweet was Paste’s... read more
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