In My Eyes Indisposed In Disguise

Who's playing Lollapalooza this year? The official site keeps you guessing, but Rolling Stone has some logical answers:

At the top, it appears as though the reunited Soundgarden, Phoenix and the Strokes will be among the six headliners at Lollapalooza thanks to some strategically placed Os, while rumors of Green Day, Lady Gaga and Arcade Fire also headlining appear to be true given the number of letters and words in the artist names.

It's entirely speculation at this point, but it sure makes sense to me. Add in New Pornographers and this could be a hell of a lineup!

Advance 3-day passes on sale now!

All Full of Fever

Matt Pond PA's new album The Dark Leaves ships on April 6, but you can pre-order it here and here. They're also touring in support:

April 15 w/ Ben Folds @ House of Blues - Cleveland, OH

April 16 w/ Ben Folds @ Chaifetz Arena - St. Louis, MO

April 22 w/ Eugene Mirman @ Rococo Theater - Lincoln, NE

May 5  w/ Bobby Long @ Chameleon Club - Lancaster, PA

May 6 w/ Bobby Long @ Allen Street Stage - State College, PA

May 7 w/ Bobby Long @ Mac's Bar - East Lansing, MI

May 9 w/ Bobby Long @ The House Cafe - Dekalb, IL

May 10 w/ Bobby Long @ Mad Planet - Milwaukee, WI

May 11 w/ Bobby Long @ Slowdown - Omaha, NE

May 12 w/ Bobby Long @ Fox Theater - Boulder, CO

May 14 w/ Bobby Long @ Bottleneck  - Lawrence, KS

May 15 w/ Bobby Long @ Mojo's - Columbia, MO

May 17 w/ Bobby Long @ Hi Tone Cafe - Memphis, TN

May 18 w/ Bobby Long @ Square Room - Knoxville, TN

May 19 w/ Bobby Long @ Live Wire Music Hall - Savannah, GA

May 20 w/ Bobby Long @ 40 Watt - Athens, GA

May 21 w/ Bobby Long @ Village Tavern - Mt. Pleasant, SC

May 22 w/ Bobby Long @ Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC

May 24 w/ Bobby Long @ The Southern - Charlottesville, VA

May 25 w/ Bobby Long @ Otto Bar - Baltimore, MD

Seeing the artwork I can't help of think of the wood-grainy warmth of my very youthful years in the 70s. Hope the music evokes a similar feeling.

Now It's Time to Prove That You've Come Back Here to Rebuild

Tomorrow marks the release of Barenaked Ladies' new album and the first as a four-piece after Steven Page's departure last year. According to BNL's web site, All In Good Time gives the remaining members room to breathe and explore the space. The 14-track album was produced by Michael Phillip Wojewoda, who produced their first album, Gordon.

I hope this new album is better than the last couple which for me were blah at best.

iTunes
Amazon
Web

There's No Other Show Like It 'round Here

The New Pornographers' new CD is called Together and will be out May 4. To whet your appetite, they are streaming two new tunes on their Facebook page, including the fantastic single Crash Years with Neko Case on lead vocals.

You can download the single now via iTunes! If you're like me you won't be able to wait for the full release.

Escape Yourself and Gravity

U2 is offering a very limited remix album set with 13 tunes from Pop up to No Line on the Horizon called Artificial Horizon. So why not Pop Horizon?

This triple-disc set, pressed on purple vinyl, is set to become a collectors must-have like its illustrious predecessor, 1995's 'Melon: Remixes for Propaganda'.

Yes indeed it is vinyl only. You only have until May 14 to order it. You will also get a bonus track not found on the set - a Snow Patrol remix of Unknown Caller.

Buy and preview here. 

It's Not Hard to Let It Go From a Mess to the Masses

Phoenix is offering a free download of Live in Sydney. You see, it was recorded live - in Sydney - hence the name. Did I mention the download with eight tracks is free? (via 'fork)

If you haven't seen the kids' choir version of Lisztomania, you really should. It's quite fantastic. The kids really get into it...

I've Taken All the Spirits Down From the Shelves

Superdrag's John Davis has recorded a tune in memory of Alex Chilton called Cerulean Blue (For Alex Chilton), not to be confused with Cerulean by The Ocean Blue. You can download it free. Lovely.

The normal "old house electrical hum/4-track cassette hiss" caveats apply, but they hardly matter. With regard to the track itself, John said simply, "I wrote this one for Alex. I couldn't help it."

MP3: John Davis - Cerulean Blue (For Alex Chilton)

Love Me Leave Me

Teenage Fanclub is back with a new album! Shadows will be out in the UK on May 31 - no details yet on a US release date. Baby Lee is the first single, which you can stream here. It's exactly what you'd like to hear from TFC.

I Hang on Every Word

Crowded House will release a new studio album called Intriguer this June (worldwide anyway - no details yet on a US release date)! They are also touring in support of it.

Their last album Time on Earth proved Neil Finn still has it. Can't wait to hear the new one and hopefully see them live again for the first time since they toured in support of their masterpiece Woodface.

Television Dreams of Tomorrow

First the album. Then the Broadway musical. Soon the movie!

Green Day's American Idiot musical might be turned into a movie thanks to Tom Hanks and ABBA. Negotiations are hot and heavy.

How punk can you be if your album is made into a musical and a movie based on the musical? I bet John Lydon wishes he had this kind of payday ahead of him.

New Love Just Seeps Right In

She & Him's new album Volume Two hits your local commercial establishment today. If you no longer have one of those, you'll be glad to hear Amazon.com is selling the MP3 album for only $4.99. Let's assume that's for today only.


Download Volume Two

Like a Record, Baby

If you've ever had a hankering to revisit classic issues of Spin Magazine, Google Books now offers every single issue of the rag online!

No More Compromise

Sarah McLachlan has announced her new album The Laws of Illusion will be released June 15. Pre-order now from her website and you can have exclusive first access to Lilith Fair tickets.

Speaking of Lilith Fair, dates and locations are staring to trickle out. After checking out the lineup though, not sure if I'd travel to Chicagoland or Atlanta to see the show. I'll wait for Minneapolis or Kansas City. Man it would be cool to see Metric.

I Never Travel Far Without a Little Big Star

No!

R.I.P. - Alex Chilton (via)

The singer and guitarist, best known as a member of '60s pop-soul act the Box Tops and the '70s power-pop act Big Star, died today at a hospital in New Orleans. Chilton, 59, had been complaining of about his health earlier today. He was taken by paramedics to the emergency room where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death is believed to be a heart attack.

Terrible.

Headed for the End of the World

They keep going and going and going - BoDeans are set for yet another new album called Mr. Sad Clown on April 6. I don't like clowns.

Pre-order from Amazon.com or Newbury Comics. If you go with Newbury and do it soon you'll be able to get an autographed booklet with your CD! Go.

Well Alright, It's Okay

She and Him's new album creatively titled Volume Two is out next Tuesday, 3/23 (pre-order here), but thanks to the magic of public radio online, you can stream it in its entirety at NPR right here! Most delightful and exactly what you might need to soundtrack the spring thaw.

Check out the new video for In the Sun featuring Zooey D. at her most adorable...



Upcoming shows...

Friday, May 28th, 2010 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Rio Theater
Saturday, May 29th, 2010 - Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre
Sunday, May 30th, 2010 - Bend, OR @ Le Schwab Amphitheater
Friday, June 4th, 2010 - Milwaukee, WI @ Verge Music Festival
Saturday, June 5th, 2010 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Sunday, June 6th, 2010 - Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Theatre
Monday, June 7th, 2010 - Chicago, IL @ Millenium Park (Downtown Sound Series)
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 - Toronto, ONT @ Phoenix Theatre
Thursday, June 10th, 2010 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues

Thanks for the heads up on the video, Jason.

It's You Who's Asking For More

Rooney's third album is Eureka and will be available June 8. Their last album was chockfull of Jellyfishy goodness so I have high expectations for the band named after the principal character in Ferris Bueller who ended up liking boys younger than Ferris a little too much in real life.

Never Been Good With Change

June 22 is my wedding anniversary. This fact is irrelevant to you.

June 22 is the release date for the new Stars album The Five Ghosts. This fact may be relevant to you if you're a fan of Stars. After seeing this video though, you might change your mind.



Perhaps we shouldn't be allowed to see the creative process. It can be ugly at times and I scratch my head wondering how those terrible vocals and less-than-appealing personality end up into something quite nice in the finished package. Perhaps I'm just being cranky, but this is how I prefer my Stars: 14 Forever.

Tracklisting:
Dead Hearts
Wasted Daylight
I Died So I Could Haunt You
Fixed
We Don't Want Your Body
He Dreams He's Awake
Never ...Been Good With Change
The Passenger
Last Song Ever Written
Winter Bones

Tour coming soon.

Mother Do You Think They'll Like The Song (Updated)

Pink Floyd today sued EMI Records for breach of contract over online music sales. According to the band their music is to be sold only as an album. EMI is of course denying the issue claiming the contract only covers physical albums and not digital sales.

I can understand the band's stance. Albums like The Wall or The Dark Side of the Moon are much more powerful in their complete presentation than their individual songs. But every now and then you just want to hear a song or two.

Regardless, if you haven't cherry-picked your favorite Floyd tunes, now might be the time.

Floyd Favorites in iTunes and Amazon

Update: Get out there now. A judge ruled in favor of Floyd. Individual tracks may be disappearing soon!


via electronista

I Can Feel That Someone's Blasting Me

Ben Folds is rockin' the suburbs and cities this spring:

3/13/10 House of Blues (Myrtle Beach, SC)
3/14/10 The Tabernacle (Atlanta, GA)
3/16/10 House of Blues (Orlando, FL)
3/17/10 University of Florida Phillips Center (Gainesville, FL)
3/19/10 The Fillmore Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)
3/20/10 The Norva (Norfolk, VA)
3/21/10 The National (Richmond, VA)
3/23/10 Jefferson Theater (Charlottesville, VA)
3/24/10 Rams Head Live (Baltimore, MD)
3/25/10 Meymandi Concert Hall (Raleigh, NC)
3/26/10 9:30 Club (Washington, DC) - SOLD OUT
4/6/10 House of Blues (Boston, MA)
4/7/10 The Klein (Bridgeport, CT)
4/9/10 Wellmont Theatre (Montclair, NJ)
4/10/10 Hershey Theatre (Hershey, PA)
4/12/10 Town Hall (New York, NY)
4/13/10 Town Hall (New York, NY)
4/15/10 House of Blues (Cleveland, OH)
4/16/10 St. Louis University (St. Louis, MO)
4/18/10 University of Dayton (Dayton, OH)
4/19/10 VIC Theatre (Chicago, IL)
4/20/10 VIC Theatre (Chicago, IL)
4/21/10 VIC Theatre (Chicago, IL)
5/7/10 Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater (Austin, TX) - TICKETS ON SALE SOON
5/8/10 House of Blues (Houston, TX) - TICKETS ON SALE SOON
5/9/10 House of Blues (Dallas, TX) - TICKETS ON SALE SOON

Quite a hefty tour! Tix are all on sale now unless otherwise indicated. Go to his official site for links and more details.

Memory Brushes the Same Years

Evidently the rumors are true. Simon and Garfunkel are touring this spring despite their initial announcement indicating the Jazz & Heritage Festival would be their only show. "Old Friends" In Concert dates:

24-Apr Sat New Orleans LA Jazz & Heritage Festival on sale now
29-Apr Thu Vancouver BC General Motors Place 3/12 @ 10AM
1-May Sat Edmonton AB Rexall Place 3/12 @ 10AM
2-May Sun Calgary AB Pengrowth Saddledome 3/12 @ 10AM
4-May Tue Saskatoon SK Credit Union Centre 3/12 @ 10AM
5-May Wed Winnipeg MB MTS Centre 3/12 @ 10AM
7-May Fri Fargo ND Fargodome 3/6 @10AM
8-May Sat St. Paul MN Xcel Energy Center 3/13 @ 10AM
9-May Sun Madison WI Kohl Center Arena 3/13 @ 10AM
12-May Wed Toronto ON Air Canada Centre 3/12 @ 10AM
14-May Fri Ottawa ON Scotiabank Place 3/12 @ 10AM
15-May Sat Montreal QC Bell Centre 3/13 @ 10AM

I fully intend to FINALLY see them in Minnesota! Cannot wait.

Just Take a Look

Today Bleu debuted his new video for No Such Thing As Love full of waify ladies who sure are perty. I felt a little pervy for watching it at work though.



No Such Thing As Love is from Bleu's latest A Watched Pot. Download it from Amazon or iTunes.

Can't Stop Those Kids From Dancing

OK Go is out with a new video to wow us. Wow.



That's right - Too Poppy is joining the viral bandwagon. We just wish the tune wasn't only so-so. If you disagree, download the album Of the Blue Colour of the Sky here.

Back In Time

Keane is releasing a new EP on May 10 called Night Train - cool art! Tracklist:

1. House Lights
2. Back In Time
3. Stop For A Minute (feat K'Naan)
4. Clear Skies
5. Ishin Denshin (You've Got To Help Yourself) (feat Tigarah)
6. Your Love
7. Looking Back (feat K'Naan)
8. My Shadow

Keane has always been one of those bands I sense I should listen to more often given their prime spot in the Too Poppy Spectrum of Aural Goodness and yet I don't. Go figure.

Pre-order the EP now here and reserve your numbered copy of a "beautiful" limited edition digipak. Really? Beautiful? Reminds me of the day when W2P and I were members of JAM - Jewel Box Advocates and Manufacturers. The primary goal was to eliminate wasteful long boxes (despite their usefulness in postering my bedroom walls) and ensure the jewel box was the practical and most protective standard. Digpaks?! Gack.

Ah, my first foray into policy advocacy. Good times.