Happy New Year!

I've Seen It Coming

Happy New Year, Radiohead fans.

If you like Radiohead and are planning on staying in on New Years Eve, the band will be broadcasting a special webcast performance. The performance will be able to be seen at radiohead.tv or simulcast on the Current TV channel on your traditional television set.

If you haven't downloaded it already, the CD is out on New Year's Day.

(via Boing Boing)

And I Feel Fine

You're never going to guess who covers R.E.M...

Link to toorandom.tumblr.com.

You're Never Gonna Die

Pink Floyd reunited in 2005 for Live 8, and now, drummer Nick Mason says it may happen again.

“If there was a suitable reason or things change a bit in the next year or two and everybody suddenly thinks, ‘Well, actually, I really would like to do that’ then I think it’ll happen,” Mason explained, but “the only thing that would generate it would be something the equivalent of Live 8.”

Ok, that's hardly saying Pink Floyd will reunite, and I'd rather hear this from Gilmour or Waters, but hey, dreamers can dream.

Did You Hear About This One?

Very cool - R.E.M. and The Boss jamming together.

(via Uncut)

You Thought I Dropped a Dud in Your Face

I have to admit, I've been wildly indifferent to Weezer not soon after their debut came out. That album was a blue light special in a shop full of gangsta (c)rap and pop trifles (literally - working at Best Buy at the time, we fought often about which album we would play - Weezer was always my pick). I don't listen to it often, but when I "rediscover" it, I'm always genuinely excited (Say It Ain't So and My Name is Jonas are stellar). I'm one of those few that found Pinkerton to be less than thrilling (although I've been meaning to revisit).

Nonetheless, I'm especially intrigued by the release of Rivers Cuomo's demos, Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo.

including a big chunk of songs from the scrapped sequel to The Blue Album, Songs from the Black Hole

That may be enough to get a download out of me. It was released this week.

I'm On My Way

Not Lame continues living up to its name by offering the new self-titled Wisely album nearly a month before it's released!

BRAND NEW 2008 release!! IN STOCK AND SHIPPING NOW!! Due for release on January 15th, but we have it early for you all to ship right here in the present

And, in your best Popeil voice, "but wait, there's more"...

orders until January 15th, 2008 will ship with a 2-song CD-R (no download link!) of two unreleased songs from Willie, exclusive to Not Lame. They are: "Automaton" (unreleased). NOTE FROM WILLIE: "Pardon me if it sounds like I'm "Goin' Mobile" from The Who." "Complicated Friend" (written for the Turbosherbet album in 1997) NOTE FROM WILLIE: "I rewrote some lyrics , shortened it. Always thought this song shoulda gotten more love from people - maybe now with this new clarity."

Happy happy, y'all.

Buy here.

Previously...

Tis the Season to Be Jolly

Are you feeling a shortage of holiday tunes this year? After all, you can only take so much of those old, schmaltzy Johnny Mathis tunes. The Canucks are feeling the spirit and offering a full album of holiday tunage. Joyeux Noël!

Nettwerk Music Group and the Vancouver Sun is please to announce another free digital download album. It's Seriously Westcoast Vol.2 - Happy Holidays. Seasonally themed and features 15 songs from such artists as Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan, Medieval Baebes, Jars of Clay and many more.

Download here.

Bringing Me Further Down Than I've Already Fallen

There is nothing good in this. Nothing.

Everywhere Was a Song and a Celebration

With funding, this has potential:

The vitalization of the Des Moines music scene continues to grow with the announcement of 80/35, an annual two-day summer music festival launching on July 4 and 5, 2008.

Des Moines houses the Midwestern connection hub of interstates 80 and 35, bringing a number of bands and fans traveling the “summer festival circuit” through the city. Major, cutting-edge acts that drive through Des Moines for festivals in Chicago, Milwaukee or Kansas City will now have a stop at 80/35.

I'll hope for the best. I give credit to the Des Moines Music Coalition. They're trying their damnedest.

Voices Escape Singing Sad Sad Songs

Wilco is hitting the road early next year, kicking off with an "unprecedented 5 night stand" at the Riv in Chicago. Sent to their email list:

Over these 5 nights the band will endeavor to perform every song in their now extensive ouvre (or is that canon)? This includes all the studio recordings and their contributions to the Mermaid Avenue records. Plus, who knows what else? To further clarify, the plan is NOT to do the material sequentially or chronologically. Rather, they're just going to attempt to cover it all over the 5 shows. It'll be a real blast, we're certain.

A real blast, indeed. If the idea of taking a road trip to Chicago in mid-February sounds awful, Wilco is coming back to the Val-Air Ballroom in Des Moines on March 9. Pre-sale is going on now here. The public sale begins Friday via Ticketbastard.

Lime and Limpid Green, a Second Scene

Billboard.com is featuring the 25 best rock posters. I've seen 25 better posters elsewhere, but some of these are pretty good, particularly Pennywise, The Beatles (naturally), The Decemberists, and of course, Pink Floyd.

Forever and Ever

Capitol is releasing Oh By the Way this week, a comprehensive box set that includes every Pink Floyd studio album.

The 40th Anniversary year of Pink Floyd ends with a typical flourish – the release of OH BY THE WAY, a spectacular limited edition box set which contains, for the first time ever, the band's 14 studio albums. These classic albums are presented in mini vinyl wallets with all the original extras also miniaturised. Floyd's longtime design wizard, Storm Thorgerson, has designed a sumptuous box, as well as miniaturising the original sleeve artwork.

Sounds like a required addition to any self-respecting Pink Floyd fan's collection (assuming you have the budget for such a thing).

Buy it here.

Watch a video here.

I Was Crying, Left to Die in this Godforsaken Place

Grammy nominations were announced today. Kanye, Winehouse, blah blah. I can't bring myself to say much more. Blah.

Story here.
Full list here.

Waiting in the Wings

Radiohead is talking with iTunes about a digital release for In Rainbows when it's released in the way we're all accustomed to next month. This is big news as they've been one of the few holdouts.

A deal with iTunes would represent a massive breakthrough on a number of levels, and one that apparently would require a shift in position from one of the parties.

You'd think that means Radiohead will require purchase of the whole album rather than individual tracks akin to the band's agreement with 7digital.

Also, from w.a.s.t.e...

We also thought you'd like to know that the download area that is 'In Rainbows' will be shutting its doors on the 10th December so if you've not yet downloaded,
here is the place to go www.inrainbows.com

The discbox will still be available at w.a.s.t.e. until they have all gone. We then have no plans to make further stock.

Take Her to the Christmas Dance

Guster is treating you to holiday gifts this season. Guster would like you to visit their advent politically correct, secular-enough holiday calendar for a new deal everyday, which could include free downloads, store discounts, etc. Guster is offering a free sticker with every store purchase today, for instance.

Me gusta Guster.

I'll Close My Eyes and Listen to You Read the Story

This is the gift of a lifetime (let alone the 2007 holiday season) for any power pop lover in your life! The Posies will record a cover song of your choosing if you win this eBay auction. That's it. Nothing more to say. No restrictions of any kind, so if you've really been itching to hear the Posies' take on Who Let the Dogs Out, well, by all means waste your money.

And, according to an update from TheirSpace:

Actually, Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer will each cover the same song—two covers for the price of one! The winner will also receive a copy of their split EP Private Sides. Priceless!

As of this post, it's up to a measly $57.

Why don't you, wake me, shake me

We've mentioned NotLame on here time and time again, so why stop now? NotLame has released a book focused entirely on Power Pop, Shake Some Action. The book is jam-packed with Power Pop goodness. A definitive history of the genre from the early 70's to today, interviews with artists and rare photographs are just a sampling. There's also a 24 track CD loaded with rareties. But it's only available for a limited time so act now. Might be a good gift for the power pop fan in your life. Or blog (hint hint).

Come Back and Focus Again

Radiohead goes YouTubing with their new video for Jigsaw Falling Into Place.

Revel In Your Abandon

Tom Petty is headlining the Super Bowl's halftime show. He puts on a great show, but I really don't want to see his nipple.