Primal Scream Criticise "Lack Of Creativity & Ambition" In New Bands

In an interview with the Irish Times, Primal Scream mainman Bobby Gillespie has spoken about the lack of ambition and creativity he sees in today's rock bands. "I bumped into Paul Weller the other day and we went for a coffee and we were talking about the lack of ambition which seems prevalent in rock right now," he said. 

"You read interviews with bands and it's all about being rich and famous and being the biggest band in the world. There doesn't seem to be a lot of artists out there any more. It seems to me that if you were a serious young person and you had something to say that you'd be looking at other disciplines. In music, everything seems lightweight and conformist and not very artistic. Everybody seems to be settling for the status quo."

"Rock music is no longer where creativity is and it's no longer taken seriously by creative people. It's been absorbed into the mainstream culture and has become too conformist and normal. There doesn't appear to be many great minds at work in music right now."

(facebook.com/primalscreamofficial)

Tags: Primal Scream

The Stone Roses Sign Two Record Deals

 The Stone Roses have signed two new record deals ahead of their planned reunion shows next year.

A spokesman confirmed: "The Stone Roses are pleased to announce that they have signed a record contract with Universal Music in London and with Columbia Records in New York."

The move is set to make the band millions, after Ian Brown, John Squire, Mani and Reni announced details of three homecoming shows at Manchester's Heaton Park in June, with further festivals appearances at V, T In The Park and Spain's Benicassim.

Fire Records To Reissue First Three Pulp Albums

As part of their Embers series, Fire Records will be reissuing the first three Pulp albums. Pulp's 1983 debut "It"; 1987's "Freaks" and 1992's "Seperations" will come newly re-mastered and beautifully repackaged with additional bonus material and brand new liner-notes by Everett True.

The version of It features includes a single version of 'My Lighthouse', an alternative mix of 'Blue Girls', as well as the previously unreleased 'Sink Or Swim' and 'Please Don't Worry' from Pulp's John Peel session in 1981. The second disc of Freaks comprises tracks from the two non-album singles from the same era, 'Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)' and 'Dogs are Everywhere'. Two further b-sides 'Tunnel' and 'Manon' complete the package. The bonuses on Separations are 'Death Goes To The Disco', 'Is This House', as well as an extended version of the single 'Countdown' and the previously unreleased 'Death Comes To Town'.

The reissues of each album are set for the 13th February 2012. 

Goldfrapp to Release Singles Collection

On Feburary 6, Mute/Parlophone will put out a Goldfrapp collection called The Singles, which draws material from their five full-length albums. 

Opening with calling card 'Ooh La La' the compilation features some hit singles, remixes and two new tracks. Goldfrapp have added two brand new, previously unreleased cuts to 'The Singles': ‘Yellow Halo’ and 'Melancholy Sky' apparently cut the tempo, with the slow building atmospherics a world away from their trademark disco stompers. 

The Singles Tracklisting:

1) Ooh La La
2) Number 1
3) Strict Machine (Single Mix)
4) Lovely Head 5) Utopia (Genetically Enriched)
6) A&E
7) Happiness (Single Version)
8) Train
9) Ride a White Horse (Single Version)
10) Rocket
11) Believer
12) Black Cherry
13) Yellow Halo
14) Melancholy Sky

The Charlatans To Perform 'Tellin Stories' In Full On UK Tour

The Charlatans will be performing their celebrated 1997 number 1 album ‘Tellin’ Stories’ live in its entirety at London HMV Hammersmith Apollo and Glasgow Barrowland in June 2012.

The performances will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the band’s fifth studio album. ‘Tellin Stories’ saw The Charlatans enjoy their commercial peak in the mid 90s, and spawned enduring fan favourites such as ‘North Country Boy‘, ‘How High‘ and ‘One To Another‘. It is also notable for being the final Charlatans record to feature contributions from original keyboard player Rob Collins, who died in a car accident during the recording of the LP.

Tickets for the two shows are due to go onsale from this Friday, December 9th, at 9.30am, with a pre-sale available on the band’s official website tomorrow (December 7th), also from 9.30am. 

Blur Plan Christmas Re-Union

Reforming in the summer of 2009, Blur have taken their time before announcing their next move. In an interview, bass player Alex James revealed that Blur were preparing to meet up once again over Christmas. "We're getting together for a Christmas drink next week which is nice. We still see each other all the time, more since we were all living out of a suitcase". 

Continuing, the bass player confirmed: "We'll probably record again."

Reflecting on Blur's success, Alex James doubted if the music industry could support a younger version of themselves. "I don't think Blur would be signed if they were around today. It's a shame, but you can't really be in an indie band these days. You can't really be in Half Man Half Biscuit or Crispy Ambulance today, you can't make any money."

Spiritualized Complete New Album 'Sweet Heart Sweet Light'

Spiritualized are set to release their new album 'Sweet Heart Sweet Light' on March 19th.

Issuing a statement, J Spaceman said: “When you make a record, it has to be the single most important thing in your world. This time around, I wanted to do something that encompassed all I love in rock ‘n’ roll music. It’s got everything from Brötzmann and Berry right through to Dennis and Brian Wilson. I’m obsessed with music and the way you put it together and I don’t believe there are any rules.”

The tracklisting for 'Sweet Heart Sweet Light' is as follows:

1) Hey Jane
2) Little Girl
3) Get What You Want
4) Too Late
5) Heading For The Top
6) Freedom
7) I Am What I Am
8) Mary
9) Life Is A Problem
10) So Long You Pretty Things

Blur To Receive Outstanding Contribution To Music Brit

Blur are to receive the Outstanding Contribution to Music accolade at the BRIT Awards in February. The quartet are thrilled to receive the prestigious honour, which comes 21 years after they released their debut album 'Leisure'.

Frontman Damon Albarn said: "It's great to have recognition for all the work and all the heartache and all the joy that's gone into this band."

Guitarist Graham Coxon said: "Being in a band this long is like a kind of time travel. We're the same gang we ever were, we've just landed in a different era. Or possibly we're a totally different Blur still playing the old tunes in 1991 forever. I haven't decided. But it's always nice to get a Brit Award."

The BRIT Awards takes place at the O2 on February 21st.

The Chemical Brothers To Release New Film 'Don't Think'

The Chemical Brothers are set to release the concert film 'Don't Think' on January 26th, for the first time, their entire live experience has been caught on camera. 

Filmed on location at Fujirock Festival, the film is an accurate depiction of a Chemical Brothers live show and a tripped out salute to the duo's output. The first fully immersive concert film mixed in glorious Dolby 7.1, surround sound the band themselves have stepped in to oversee the final mixdown.

Director Adam Smith - who has worked with The Chemical Brothers for the last eighteen years - used the festival environment as an opportunity to explore some unique shots and angles, including following certain audience members during the set. 

'Don't Think' is set to première in limited cinemas on January 26th, before opening across Europe on February 1st (February 3rd in the UK).

BOTM December 2011 - REAL ESTATE

Real Estate was formed in Ridgewood, New Jersey in 2008. After issuing singles on the Underwater Peoples and Woodsist labels, the band's 2009 self-titled debut received critical acclaim. Tours followed supporting acts such as Girls, Kurt Vile, Woods, and Deerhunter. In 2010, Real Estate performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona.

In 2011, Real Estate signed with the Domino Recording Company and on October 17th 2011 the band released Days, their second album and first for Domino. A coming of age moment for childhood friends Martin Courtney (Guitar and Vocals), Matt Mondanile (Guitar) and Alex Bleeker (Bass), Days was recorded over the course of five patient months in a remote New Paltz, NY barn-cum-studio with the help of Kevin McMahon (Titus Andronicus, The Walkmen).

Days sees the band tighten and refine their brand of timeless, melodic and genuine music- consolidating the breezy sketches of their earlier work into considered, graceful pop songs.

Several songs, like the album's rousing first single "It's Real" were written by Courtney in the way he wrote some of his first songs, laying out their architecture first on a bass rather than a guitar, allowing him to evolve the song's basic melody. Lyrically and melodically part of what makes Real Estate's music so vital are the moments where the disarmingly simple is made unexpectedly profound.

(facebook.com/realestateband)

Tags: Real Estate