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

Air To Release New Album: Le Voyage Dans La Lune

Air are set to release their new album 'Le Voyage Dans La Lune' on February 6th. The French duo have completed an eleven track album, which expands on the themes of the recent soundtrack for the classic 1902 short film 'Le Voyage Dans La Lune'. 

The album features vocals from Beach House's Victoria Legrand, who contributes to 'Seven Stars'. Meanwhile, members of Brooklyn trio Au Revoir Simone constructed the lyrics for 'Who Am I Know?'.

'Le Voyage Dans La Lune' Tracklisting:

1) Astronomic Club
2) Seven Stars
3) Retour sur terre
4) Parade
5) Moon Fever
6) Sonic Armada
7) Who Am I Know?
8) Décollage
9) Cosmic Trip
10) Homme lune
11) Lava.

BOTM November 2011 - WU LYF

WU LYF (World Unite Lucifer Youth Foundation) are a band from Manchester, England that originally became known for creating a mystery about themselves by declining requests for interviews and not releasing much information to the press. The band describes their music as "heavy pop". Their manager, Warren Bramley, has previously worked with Tony Wilson at Factory Records.

Go Tell Fire to the Mountain is their debut album, the band declined all offers from established record labels and released the album on 13 June 2011 on their own label L Y F Recordings.

The album was recorded live in a disused church in Ancoats, Manchester and mastered in Glasgow by Paul Savage (Mogwai), Mr. Dave Jay kept the babys boys on the beat and played additional drums on L Y F and D i R T, the result of which is 10 tracks of huge uncompromising Heavy Pop.

Singles: 'Heavy Pop' / 'Concrete Gold' (12" single, 2010)

'Dirt' (7" single, 2011)

'We Bros' (12" single, 2011)

The Stone Roses Confirm Return

Finally, Manchester legends The Stone Roses, have officially announced that they are to reform for two special shows at Manchester’s Heaton Park on June 29th and 30th 2012. They have also confirmed plans for a world tour there after, with new songs included in the set .

The press conference (October 18th) was attended by all 4 members of their classic line up, Reni, Mani, John Squire and Ian Brown. Brown said: "This is a live resurrection that you're all invited to."

When asked about his thoughts on the current state of music, Brown replied: "It's boring and bland at the moment."

Tickets for the two shows go on sale this Friday (October 21st) at 9.30am. They have confirmed the following shows: June 29 Manchester Heaton Park // June 30 Manchester Heaton Park.

Watch: M83 Premieres Music Video For ‘Midnight City'

M83 has premiered the video for his excellent single 'Midnight City'. 

The song is taken from his new double album "Hurry Up We're Dreaming" out tomorrow, October 18th via Mute.

Directed by Fleur & Manu, this video is a tribute to Village of the Damned, Close encounters of the Third kind and other Akiras. No kids were hurt in the process! 

Watch the video below.

(facebook.com/m83)

Tags: M83

Manic Street Preachers Won't Be Releasing Anymore Singles

Manic Street Preachers have revealed that they won't be releasing anymore singles.

In an recent interview bassist Nicky Wire said: "I think for a certain incarnation of the band it is a sort of end. I dunno if we'll be releasing singles again. The way everything in the music industry has changed, for an old guitar band like us to be bothering the charts seems somehow quaint."

He added: "It's definitely not the end of the band, we're still in love with each other and the notion of one final re-invention. We're trying to think of a final third way.''

The band will play London's O2 Arena on December 17 to celebrate the release of their complete singles collection 'National Treasures'.

The Maccabees Announce New Album Details

Brighton UK indie band, The Maccabees have announced that their new album 'Given To The Wild' will be released next year on January 9 (UK).

The band teamed up with producers Tim Goldsworthy and Bruno Ellingham (LCD Soundsystem and Massive Attack) to record the new album over the past year.

The 12-track album is said to be inspired by such acts as The Stone Roses, David Bowie and Kate Bush.

Check the traclist for 'Given To The Wild' below: 

01. Child
02. Pelican
03. Feel to Follow
04. Ayla
05. Glimmer
06. Forever I’ve Known
07. Heave
08. Go
09. Unknow
10. Went Away
11. Slowly One
12. Grew Up at Midnight

Kaiser Chiefs Worried About Future Of Guitar Bands

Kaiser Chiefs' Frontman Ricky Wilson gave a rather depressing depiction, stating that he is "not sure" if indie will survive. "Necessity is the mother of invention and there will always be music. Whether it will be a viable career for five guys with guitars I'm not sure at the moment but you know, they'll be there in a garage somewhere."

Simon did, however, point out that the music business is changing all the time, and he can't predict where things will turn next.

He said: "When he started [2008 album] 'Off With Their Heads' things like twitter didn't exist, things have moved on, when we did that, singles were sort of dying, then, now, singles are massive again and albums are on their way out.

"We just want people to hear the music, so it's about making it accessible to everyone. Change is good." They recently talked about the lack of attention given to the physical version of 'The Future Is Medieval'.

"The publicity around the 'choose your own version' overshadowed the CD so much that still no-one knows it's out" said Simon Rix.

(facebook.com/kaiserchiefs)

Tags: Kaiser Chiefs

BOTM October 2011 - RED DRAPES

Red Drapes are a four-piece from London, UK. Their melancholic sound and strong lyrical emphasis takes influence from post punk and new wave bands of the 80’s, The Smiths, Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen and The Cure.

Immersing themselves in the metropolis ideal of London, Red Drapes began to create melodious portraits of lovelorn places and their inhabitants. People, the self, and the romanticised notion of cities failing are all subject matters and lyrical stimulus.

Themes of isolation, banality, unhappiness can be felt and a dystopian and somewhat nihilistic view of modern life is documented and encapsulated in their songs.

Their debut was a five-track EP called 'Ep.1', produced by Laurie Latham (Echo & The Bunnymen). This immediately caught the attention of German label Humming Records who released the European version in February 2011.

The band have finally released their debut album called 'Suffer In Silence' (Artwork by Jing Lu) and you can buy it in their UK merch store: http://reddrapes.bigcartel.com/.

**Plus: 'False Alarm' reached the Top 100 in the category BEST TRACKS OF 2010 of Kool Rock Radio's Annual Report.

Roger Daltrey: 'Contemporary Music Lacks Lead Singers'

Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who, says there aren't many contemporary singers who could "lead" a band.

Speaking to the Associated Press, the veteran frontman said: "A lot of the new people they choose on shows like American Idol and things like that - I don't ever hear lead singers. They always seem to pick people that are great singers, fabulous singers, but they've never got the voice that makes a great lead singer." 

He went on to name drop some of music's best singers: "You hear ten seconds of Rod Stewart, you know it's Rod Stewart," he said. "Ten-seconds of Mick Jagger, that's Mick Jagger."

Daltrey's tour wraps up in the United States on Oct. 25 in Seattle, Wash. He'll visit Canada for five dates after.

Alex Turner: Arctic Monkeys Is a 'Bad' Name For a Band

Arctic Monkeys frontman has admitted his band’s name isn’t the best, and has laid the blame squarely at the door of his bandmate Jamie Cook.

“I’ve no idea where it came from” he told. “It was Jamie’s fault, he came up with it and he’s never even told us why. If he even knows, he’s keeping it a secret from me. This is the first band I’ve been in. A lot of people in bands have a few goes at it before they find the one that works but with us, we all started playing guitar and everything at the same time.”

“There might have been other ideas for offshoots at the time, but the Monkeys was the first one. It sound like a first band name, doesn’t it? It’s so bad that the tribute bands don’t sound worse. I saw there’s an Aertex Monkeys, that’s pretty clever.”

Noel Gallagher "Oasis Were The Last Great, Traditional Rock'n'Roll Band"

Noel Gallagher, who releases his debut solo album on October 17,  spoke with Time about the band's success and says that it came from their existence before the internet came along.

"We came along before the internet so, if you wanted to see us, you had to be there," he said.

"It makes me feel like a righteous old man. We don't live in an era where indie rock bands sell 60 million albums. Oasis were the last great, traditional rock'n'roll band."

He also said he was approached about making a solo record as far back as Oasis' landmark Knebworth shows in 1996.

"I distinctly remember somebody sidling up to me saying, 'It's time for the solo record now'. But I always said I wouldn't do it if the band was together."

Noel Gallagher begins his first solo tour on October 23 in Dublin.

Shaun Ryder Can't Remember Anything From 1990 To 2006

The legendary Happy Mondays' frontman Shaun Ryder, has declared that he had to ask his friends for help writing his autobiography - because he couldn't remember anything between the years 1990 – 2006.

Shaun, who spent more than 10 years fighting addictions to heroin and crack cocaine, told the Daily Star: "The memories stop in 1990 and restart in 2006. Writing it did take a lot of time but we got it all right in the end. 

"Of course I never wrote a diary on the road so I had to look at old copies of magazines and newspapers and sort out what was what." “I was out of it, so had to talk to a lot of my mates who were with me at the time and ask what they remember. But the book is very truthful.”

Ryder’s autobiography, Twisting My Melon, is out now.

Manic Street Preachers Unveil Video For 'This Is The Day'

Manic Street Preachers have just released the video for their new single 'This Is The Day' which is a cover of the track originally released in 1983 by The The.

The single is taken from the MSP forthcoming best of album 'National Treasures', which is out on October 31st and and features 37 of the bands previous single releases.

The group will play a one-off gig at London's O2 Arena on December 17 to celebrate the record's release.

Watch it below:

BOTM September 2011 - EVANS THE DEATH

Named after the undertaker in Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, Evans the Death's first steps took place when Dan and Katherine met each other at a gig a couple of years ago, but it was only after recruiting Dan's schoolfriends Matt and Rob, and younger brother Olly, that Evans the Death began playing the kind of shows that made both them and their audiences sit up and take notice.

Having evidently spent a good proportion of their young lives attuned as much to the lyrical dexterity of Morrissey, Lawrence Felt, Edwyn Collins, and Jarvis Cocker, as to the scuzzed up melodic exuberance of early My Bloody Valentine, Pavement, The Pixies, and the I Am Kurious Oranj era of The Fall, the band effortlessly blend precocious musical literacy with the kind of unerring self-awareness which makes for a perfectly pitched pop sensibility.

Their imminent first release, latent-cold-war-paranoia love-song 'Threads', produced by Rory Bratwell (Test Icicles/RAT:ATT:AGG/Kasms), is as urgent, unsettling, and hook-laden a calling card as could be wished for.

Elegantly handled self-deprecation, mordant wit and a willingness to embrace your own awkwardness go a long way when you have th sophisticated grasp on the things that make music exhilarating, nervy, and vital which Evans the Death manifestly do. With their compellingly unhinged and hyper-intelligent pop the band look set to blaze a trail through 2011 and beyond.

Radiohead From The Basement Released In Full - Watch

Radiohead's have released the full Live From The Basement performance of 'The King Of Limbs'.

The video includes live renditions of all eight tracks from the band’s recent studio album ‘The King Of Limbs‘, as well as two non-album tracks, 'Staircase' and 'The Daily Mail', the former being premiered online last month. The performance of the latter track includes an appearance from Clive Deamer, who drummer Philip Selway has described as "one of my favourite drummers".

Watch “Radiohead: The King of Limbs — From The Basement“ below:

The Smiths Lost 1992 Documentary Released Online - Watch

The Smiths filmed a short documentary in 1992 meant to be part of a press promo for the band’s 'Best' album in the early '90s.

Well, the documentary has now been put online to promote 'The Smiths - Complete Duluxe Edition Box Set', which will see eight of their albums re-released., newly remastered by Johnny Marr and set for release on October 3.

There will also be a limited edition boxset of the whole back catalogue along with rare artwork, a DVD of videos and high-quality prints of the disc's sleeves available to buy.

Watch the documentary below:

Ladytron Reveal New Single 'Mirage' - Listen

Ladytron are to release a new single, called 'Mirage', on September 12th 2011 taken from their fifth studio album 'Gravity The Seducer'.

Mirage follows the release of White Elephant and as band member Mira Aroyo explains “scenes that are set up in Mirage return and reflect in later track ‘Melting Ice”.

The new album was recorded in the Kent countryside with co-producer Barny Barnicott (Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Editors) at the helm. For Gravity The Seducer, the band wanted a grander sound, incorporating more baroque elements.

Says Hunt – “it is more of a jump than the last album was, more ethereal & melodic, a touch more abstract in places than we've gone before, baroque ‘n' roll. It was a pleasure to make, took us right through last summer. It's our best record in my opinion," he continues.

You can listen to previews of four of the new album tracks, including 'Mirage', below.

 

BOTM August 2011 - CAPITAL CITIES

Los Angeles based electro-pop duo Capital Cities isn’t afraid to let the Southern California sunshine seep into their music. Synth-tastically bright, danceable and catchy, yet maintaining a depth that reflects the band’s roots in San Francisco, Paris and Armenia, it’s loaded with appeal.

Perhaps it’s the vintage Juno-106 heard punching out across their self-titled debut EP, or the unique timbre of frontmen Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian’s blended vocals. Either way, Capital Cities’ songs are genuinely connecting with people.

TV personality Chelsea Handler recently selected their single "Safe and Sound" to be featured on her live comedy tour playlist. Perhaps more impressive is the duo’s collaboration with one of their longtime musical heroes on their first release.

They formed a relationship with Simon Mills (UK electronica group BENT) in 2010 that ultimately led to him producing their track "I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo."

In 2008, Merchant and Simonian met by chance through Craigslist and formed a composing team. After writing hooks and jingles for numerous high-profile ad campaigns, they realized their musical chemistry was destined to create something more personal. In 2010, Capital Cities was officially born.

With all they have accomplished in less than a year, Capital Cities has proven to be fast on the rise as a band to watch. The band's debut EP is up on iTunes and physical copies can be purchased through CD Rama.



Morrissey Speaks About Lady Gaga and Modern Pop Music

Morrissey, not a fan of modern pop music.

In a interview with Billboard he was asked whether he felt artists like Lady Gaga were anything new or different to what he had witnessed during his time in the music industry.

"I say without bitterness that it is nothing new. I like the idea of women who are in full control, but I am tired of seeing singers who cannot deliver a song without the aide of seven hundred and fifty frenzied dancers assuming the erotic," Morrissey said.

"It is actually fraudulent, and the exact opposite of erotic."

 

He then went on to mock Madonna, comparing her to Edith Piaf.

He said: “Edith Piaf was seven inches high, always wore a modest black dress, and sang without stage sets or lights, and her voice roared above the wind, with the most incredible powers of communication.

“I'd like to see McDonna [Madonna] attempt that.”

Band of the Month July 2011 - RISK RISK

The Risk Risk project started in 2009 when Stefan decided to make a record with limited, but cool analogue hardware. What he was looking for was that original, authentic early 80s sound, and he found out that most of the character of that early records was just in the fact that a lot was handplayed and not programmed in a computer.

"This is 1983" was produced without a computer and large parts were simply played by hand directly on multitrack. Using all-analog sound generators, his voice and a pair of Carrera sunglasses, Risk Risk creates classical synth pop with catchy choruses and hand-played synth lines.

Stefan started doing electronic music in 1988 with just one monophonic analogue synthesizer, a Roland TR 606 drummachine and a 4 track tape recorder. With a big interest in melodic music, he likes synth bands like Gary Numan, The Twins, A Flock of Seagulls, Kraftwerk and Italo Disco music. The music he made before "This is 1983" was never released on any record label. Stefan gave Sebastian from Astro Chicken a rough demo of his songs and he liked it (Sebastian was a colleague from work who has passion for electronic music). From that point, he worked almost a year on the songs until they had a record in their hands.

"Risk Risk has an amazing sound, heavy basslines and minmal beats with dark voices, pure eighties style with strong influences of italo disco and synth. It will remind you of Gary Newman, Ultravox (John Foxx era), Devo, Mi-Sex and Rational Youth. Stefan found the formula that every band looks for: to make a catchy album on first play. Kool Rock Radio highly recommends the Risk Risk experience to everyone. 'This is 1983' will be one of your favourite albums of the year (9/10)."

▬ Kool Rock Radio

Motley Crue's Tommy Lee: 'The days of the album are over'

Tommy Lee recently spoke to NoiseCreep about his belief that the days of full length albums are over.

"No one buys them anymore." he says. "I'll never make another full record I think. It's a waste of time cause people can only ingest a song at a time, so why not make bitching songs at a time and release them. If you want to call them singles, great, whatever; or at its maximum, an EP, four songs, done, boom. I just really feel like the days of the entire record are long gone."

"I don't listen to anybody's full record anymore," admits Lee, "and when I did, I don't think I listened to the whole record. I guess I'm just a fan of switching it up. I want to hear some of this, some of that. Maybe it's my child-like short attention span, but I'm not a fan of that long, drawn-out fucking album anymore. I don't think most people are; if you look at sales most people are buying songs at a time and they're just not really buying records."

"That's just a sign of the times," says the drummer. "There's so much more out there to play with that grabbing anybody's attention and keeping it there for an hour and a half - good luck."

Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner: I Don't Mind Being Compared To Oasis At All

Alex Turner has revealed that he doesn't mind that the Arctic Monkeys get compared to Oasis in North America.

The band, who released their anticipated new album 'Suck It And See' this week, said that Oasis were an important band to them growing up.

When asked about whether he minded being compared to Oasis, frontman Alex Turner, told Reuters: ''Not really, I mean, it's like we're both a British rock and roll band, we're kind of bound to get compared to Oasis in other countries."

He added: ''We are both from the North, similar haircut. But musically, it is a little bit different. I mean, we are huge fans of them, growing up and all that, they were a really important band for us. I don't mind being compared to Oasis at all."

He also said that though he believed the band's fourth LP was mellower than their previous efforts, it also contained fast paced songs like those in their early work.

Turner said: "I think it's pretty frantic at times. It has its moments that are a bit more like the chimey guitar thing, like reverberated out that occurs in quite a lot of the songs and I suppose that does give it quite a mellow aspect. I guess probably compared with the first two, it is not as fast and crazy. But it has moments like that."

BOTM June 2011 - LOWLINE

Hailing from The south of the city, Lowline formed in 2007 after a chance meeting at a Fall show. With a similar predeliction for Krautrock and Post-punk including The Chameleons, The Clash and Echo and The Bunnymen, the band soon won a reputation as 'the black sheep' of the Manchester music scene – eschewing traditional venues preferring to set-up their own shows in semi-derelict warehouses in Salford and Ancoats and winning a loyal fanbase in the process. Oasis producer Owen Morris soon caught the scent as did Roses/Primal Scream bassist Mani and The Verve's Nick McCabe.

With two Morris produced, self-released, singles selling out by word of mouth; subsequent airplay by recognized radio stations; tours with The Enemy, The Happy Mondays and The Charlatans followed as did a burgeoning interest from record labels. The band then entered a stage of in-voluntary hiatus caused by simultaneous accidents to both guitarist Andy Hewitt and vocalist Robbie Rush resulting in hospital treatment to both.

Holed up in an Ancoats rehearsal studio for the past eighteen months Lowline have emerged with an album that reflects the city they see, a record of dark, brooding, apocalyptic, psyche-rock. LOWLINE released their long awaited, self-titled debut LP on Saturday May 28th.

**Lowline reached the TOP 10 of Kool Rock Radio's Best New Bands list in 2008 and their singles 'Monitors' and 'Outside' were also included in the TOP 20 Best Tracks the same year. In 2009, 'Gun In My Side' was included in the TOP 20 Best tracks.

New Order To Issue Unreleased Track

Some days ago legendary band New Order announced that an unpublished track would be released soon and today the mystery's been revealed.

The track is 'Hellbent' and will be available for the first time in an unique compilation, as Joy Division and New Order join forces in "‪Total: From Joy Division to New Order‬". 

It will be a 18-track compilation covering the most important songs of both, which goes from 1976 to 2005; the album's been mastered by Frank Arkwright, and the cover's design has been made by Factory Records' graphic designer and ex-director Peter Saville.

Today it's exactly 31 years ago that ‪Ian Kevin Curtis (15 July 1956 ‬-‪ 18 May 1980) committed suicide‬. Curtis ‪was the songwriter, lyricist, singer and occasional guitarist of the English post-punk band Joy Division. Suffering from epilepsy, a failing marriage, and bouts of depression, Curtis ‬ended his life‪, on the eve of Joy Division's first North American tour.‬

The compilation will be out ‪June 6 in the UK on Rhino Records. Here is the tracklist.

1. Joy Division, “Transmission” (From Factory Records FAC 13 7” Single)

2. Joy Division, “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (From Factory Records FAC23 7” Single)

3. Joy Division, “Isolation” (From Factory Records FAC25 12” Album)

4. Joy Division, “She’s Lost Control” (From Factory Records FACUS2 12” Single)

5. Joy Division, “Atmosphere” (From Sordide Sentimental SS33002 7” Single)

6. New Order, “Ceremony” (From Factory Records FAC33 7” Single)

7. New Order, “Temptation” (From Factory Records FAC63 7” Single)

8. New Order, “Blue Monday” (From Factory Records FAC73 12” Single)

9. New Order, “Thieves Like Us” (From Factory Records FAC103 12” Single)

10. New Order, “The Perfect Kiss” (From Factory Records FAC123 7” Single)

11. New Order, “Bizarre Love Triangle” (From Factory Records FAC163 7” Single)

12. New Order, “True Faith” (From Factory Records FAC183 7” Single)

13. New Order, “Fine Time” (From Factory Records FAC223 7” Single)

14. New Order, “World In Motion” (From Factory Records FAC293 7” Single)

15. New Order, “Regret” (From London Records NUO1 7” Single)

16. New Order, “Crystal” (From London Records NUOCD8 CD Single)

17. New Order, “Krafty” (From London Records NUOX13 12” Single)

18. New Order, “Hellbent” (Previously unreleased track)

The Answering Machine Announce Split

The Answering Machine have announced they have split up.

The Manchester band, who formed in 2005, told fans in a handwritten letter via their website the reason for the split.

The letter read: "Over the last week or so we’ve been doing some soul searching. We are very sorry to have to tell you that we have decided to stop making music as The Answering Machine. We'd like to thank every single one of you for coming to our shows, buying our records and supporting our band right up until this point."

"It obviously hasn't been an easy decision for us and we don’t want to make things harder/more upsetting for us by doing a 'farewell tour' or a 'last ever gig'. We are happier bowing out on the positive note we started on six years ago''

The band continued, saying that they have decided to release a special 12-inch vinyl edition of their second album ‘Lifelines’.

"That said we’d still like to do something special as both a mark of respect to you guys for being there with us all the way. So, we will be releasing 'Lifeline' (our second album) in a 12inch vinyl very soon as a goodbye and a celebration of all that we’ve achieved."

The Answering Machine's debut 'Another City, Another Sorry' was released in 2009.

Read The Answering Machine's farewell letter in full, here.

Pink Floyd Announce Three New Releases

As part of deal with EMI...

British music heavyweights Pink Floyd have announced they will be re-issuing remastered versions of their 14 studio albums starting on September 26th and running through to February next year.

The 'Why Pink Floyd?...' releases form part of the bands' recent agreement with EMI and will include CDs, DVDs and a brand-new single-album ‘Best Of’ collection.

Roger Faxon, CEO of EMI Group, said: ”This is a unique collaboration between EMI and one of the most creative and influential bands in history.”

The legendary band, who are still one of the most successful and iconic artists of all time, recently signed an agreement with EMI which has allowed the development of a multi-format programme of packages, many containing archive material that has been collated during an extensive process between EMI and Pink Floyd for a range of media formats

The first release will be an expanded deluxe and special edition version of Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' on September 26.

On November 7, the band will release the new retrospective 'A Foot In The Door - The Best of Pink Floyd'.

And on February 27, 2012 'The Wall' - ‘Immersion’ and ‘Experience’ editions, Vinyl LP and digital editions will be released.

In January, Pink Floyd signed a new deal with EMI after ending a legal battle with their record company.

Further info about the releases can be found at the site whypinkfloyd.com where you can also pre-order the albums.

Morrissey Completes Work On New Album

Morrissey has revealed to fans that work on his new studio album is over, despite not having a record label to release it on.

Writing to fans, the singer explained that the material is "ready" despite not being signed to a label. "The follow-up to (2009's) 'Years Of Refusal' is ready and fluttering wildly against the bars," he explained. "There is still no record label and the years shuffle like cards. My talents do not lie in DIY."

The full statement deals with the way his comments on the Royal Wedding were reported. Interviewed by Radio Four, Morrissey explained that the Q&A session was heavily edited by the BBC.

"If my interview sounded chopped and cropped, that's because it was," he wrote. "I had spoken fluently about the royal dreading, but an Iranian censorship confiscated all of my views. It is distressing, but in all manner of British media in 2011 we are only allowed to hear the same old thoughts and feelings expressed over and over and over again."

Morrissey will tour the UK and Scandinavia in July.

BOTM May 2011 - The Exploding Boy

The Exploding Boy is one of the most talked about Swedish alternative pop/rock bands in the whole of Europe, were the band got amazing reviews for their previous album 'Afterglow' (2009).

The band followed up the release of 'Afterglow' with more than 30 live shows in Germany alone. The singles 'London', 'Heart Of Glass' and '40 Days', from the above mentioned album; all climbed up to top 10 on the official German alternative chart (DAC).

'The Black Album' is the band's third full length release. The album was preceded by the digital download 3-track single/EP called The Human EP on April 15. The first single from the album is a double A-side release (only digital) with the songs 'Human' and 'Torn'. A third song was added to the single to show the broadness of the band. All three songs can be found on 'The Black Album'.

**The Exploding Boy reached the TOP 10 of Kool Rock Radio's "Best New Bands" list in 2007 and their single 'Shot Down' was also included in the TOP 10 "Best Tracks" the same year.



Watch Beastie Boys Full Short Film Online

Beastie Boys have posted the entire 30 minute version of their film 'Fight For Your Right - Revisited' online.

'(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)' began as a joke and ended up as a global hit, propelled by a video which showed Beastie Boys to be a trio of obnoxious brats.

They now decided to re-visit their classic hit earlier this year. Planning a 30 minute short film, the trio roped in virtually every comedian they could think of with plenty more coming out the woodwork. The short film tells a fictitious story of what happened to the Beastie Boys following the events of their 1987 music video of the same name.

Posting a clip earlier this month, the three minute preview contained appearances from (deep breath) Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Steve Buscemi, Shannyn Sossamon, Kirsten Dunst, Ted Danson and plenty more. The actual Beastie Boys appear as well fresh from completing their new album 'Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2'.

With the record set to drop on Monday (May 2nd) the trio have posted the entire 30 minute version of 'Fight For Your Right - Revisited'.

Check it out below...

Kasabian To Release 'Epic' Album In October

Kasabian have promised fans an "epic" bout of new material on their forthcoming album.

Currently holed up in a studio in San Francisco, Kasabian are planning a number of festival slots this summer. Due to appear at RockNess, the Leicester group will also perform at Spain's Bilbao BBK.

Set to debut new material, it seems that the group's fourth album is almost complete.

Speaking to ThisIsLeicestershire, a rep from Sony / BMG explained that the group were at the mixing stage. Producer Dan The Automator has taken control, with sessions hidden away on the West Coast.

Continuing, guitarist Serge Pizzorno explained that the new album would be another "epic" instalment. "Well, it's epic," he claimed.

"It's big songs that make you feel like anything's possible. It's a really positive record. I suppose it's a combination of all three records but we've just taken it a bit further."

Continuing, the guitarist claimed that Kasabian aimed to improve with each record. "I'm really excited about it, because after the last record, people really liked it and wanted to know what was next, and I'm happy to say that it's got better. I'm excited about playing it live – there are tunes on there that are going to take people to a new place."

Kasabian are set to release their new album in October.

(facebook.com/kasabian)

Tags: Kasabian

The View To Release New EP In June

Following the release of third album 'Bread & Circuses' in March, The View has announced details of a new EP called 'Cutting Corners', which is due out on June 13.

Fresh from releasing a cover of 'I Need That Record' the band are plotting an upcoming EP.

The  five track EP will feature the tracks 'Sunday' and 'Happy' as well as three exclusive, brand new tracks 'Sideways,' 'Alone' and a Tim Hutton mix of 'Sunday.'

The tracklisting for 'Cutting Corners' is:

1. Sunday (album version)
2. Happy
3. Sideways
4. Alone
5. Sunday (Tim Hutton mix)

The View have just completed a huge sold out tour of the UK but will play the following shows:

Saturday 30th April – Camden Crawl (Kentish Town Forum)

Friday 13th May – The Great Escape (Concorde 2)

Thursday 19th May – Liverpool Sound City

Friday 8th July – T In The Park

Sunday 10th July – T4 On The Beach

Friday 26th August – Leeds Festival

Sunday 28th August – Reading Festival

The View are due to release 'Cutting Corners' on June 13th.

Sony Engineer Norio Ohga - Father Of The CD Format - Dies At 81

Former Sony president Norio Ohga, who helped transform the music industry with the development of the compact disc format, has died at the age of 81, the company said.

The invention of the CD arguably saved the music industry. Under threat from home taping, record labels struggled to find a way to reinvigorate their back catalogues and inject investment into new talent. Pioneered by Sony, the CD sent sales to record levels. Famously billed as being virtually indestructible - can you really smear jam on them? - the CD soon became the primary means of listening to music.

Sony engineer Norio Ohga led this change. President of the Japanese company from 1982 to 1995, Ohga actually began life as an ambitious young opera singer.

Drawn into the world of engineering, Norio Ogha soon focussed this ambition on new technology. When discussions about the possibility of the compact disc began, it was Ogha who insisted that the CD should be 12 cm in diameter - enough to safely carry Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Later, Norio Ogha would preside over the purchase of the Columbia label and also launched Sony's games division - who would in turn produce the Playstation.

Commenting on the loss, Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation said, "When I first joined Sony in 1997, Ohga-san was serving on the frontlines of Sony management as Chairman and CEO. His numerous and successful endeavors were well-known both inside and outside of Sony. Witnessing Ohga-san's leadership firsthand was truly an honor, and one I continued to enjoy and benefit from in countless ways in the years that followed."

"By redefining Sony as a company encompassing both hardware and software, Ohga-san succeeded where other Japanese companies failed. It is no exaggeration to attribute Sony's evolution beyond audio and video products into music, movies and game, and subsequent transformation into a global entertainment leader to Ohga-san's foresight and vision."

"I offer my deepest condolences on his passing and pray that he may rest in peace."

Liam Gallagher Changes Hotel To Avoid Brother Noel

Liam Gallagher moved hotels this week to avoid his brother and former Oasis bandmate Noel, according to reports.

According to the Daily Star, Liam had been scheduled to stay at the Hope Street Hotel when current band Beady Eye played the O2 Liverpool Academy. However, the singer discovered that Noel was also booked into the luxury accommodation, as he travelled to watch Manchester City play Liverpool.

A source said: “Liam wasn’t having any of it, he refused to check in and demanded to be moved to another hotel.”

The feuding brothers are not thought to have spoken since an argument in August 2009 led to the demise of the iconic Britpop band, when guitarist Noel announced his departure.

Since then, Liam has established Beady Eye and they are currently on their first full UK tour.

(facebook.com/LiamGallagherOfficial)

Tags: Liam Gallagher

Listen: Radiohead Single Leaks

New tracks from Radiohead have emerged online ahead of Record Store Day.

Set to be released tomorrow (April 16th) the new 12 inch from Radiohead is highly unusual. The vinyl release is being kept to a strictly limited edition.

The first physical pressing of two new tracks, 'Supercollider' and 'The Butcher' have been kept under wraps. Referring to the new 12 inch, the drummer claimed that the material is offcuts from recent sessions. "The Butcher is from the King Of Limbs sessions," he revealed.  "Supercollider was recorded during that period and finished off after the album came out."

The tracks were not jettisoned from the album because of quality, but more due to neither fitting into the LP's overarching structure. As a result, the quality of the new release is high. Leaking online, fans have been able to hear exactly what they will be queuing for tomorrow...

Meanwhile 'The Butcher' is a far more focussed track - beat heavy, but not at the expense of songwriting.

As part of the Record Store Day celebrations, Ed O'Brien praised the role of independent record shops. "Record stores are some of the most important places for people coming together [and] choosing music that they love," O'Brien said, "so anything we could to help out in these very hard times, we wanted to do."

Listen to both below...

Radiohead - Supercollider

Radiohead - The Butcher

Pulp Launch Cover Competition

Pulp have launched their new competition to find unusual cover versions of their material.

It's been a decade since the classic line up of Pulp last took to the stage, which is more than enough time to forget how to play some of the more obscure elements of their back catalogue.

Using YouTube to refresh their memory, Pulp discovered a few bizarre yet wonderful cover versions. Deciding that these were worth hearing, the band confirmed plans to launch a new contest.

Gathering their favourites, the band invited fans to submit their own versions. PulpTube will whittle down these renditions until a winner is found, with the voting stage of the competition now open:

"Friends – during the process of learning to play the old songs again we have been consulting the versions posted by various persons on the internet. Very educational! So we thought we’d share some of our favourites with you."

"View them online at http://www.pulppeople.com/ and vote for YOUR favourites – or upload your own renditions if you think you could do better. Please get involved. It will be fun. We’re offering a musical prize to the winner (if we can find them out in cyberspace)."

"Less than two months to go before the first show. Hmmm – can’t wait to meet you face to face. In the meantime... Keep the faith."

For more information click HERE.

Johnny Marr Leaves The Cribs

Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, has left The Cribs in order to focus on his own solo career, it's been announced.

Marr joined the group in 2008 and featured on their latest album 'Ignore The Ignorant'. In a statement, he said: "Touring and recording with Ryan, Gary and Ross has been fantastic and 'Ignore The Ignorant' is something I'm really proud of.

“We ended up doing much more than we originally set out to, and I've made three good friends."

Marr told Billboard that he is currently working on new solo songs and planned to put out two new albums over the next year.

He also said he hoped to continue his film soundtrack work after scoring the movie Inception alongside Hans Zimmer.