Thursday, January 31, 2013

Depeche Mode - "Heaven" video premiere

Depeche Mode premiered the official video for "Heaven" today. The band shot the video in New Orleans with director Tim Saccenti.  Take a look below:



Dave Gahan appeared on KROQ in Los Angeles this morning for an interview and talked a bit about "Heaven," calling it "a great shot in the arm," and talked a bit about the bluesier feel to the new album Delta Machine. Gahan explained, "we make music and we steer it in which way it's gonna go.  To be honest when we feel like we're in a direction where we're repeating ourselves I think we try and reinvent it."  Gahan briefly talked about touring plans, and revealed the North American tour will likely kick off in late summer (August or September) and will begin on the West coast. 

Listen to the full interview with Dave Gahan over at KROQ (download the podcast) or stream it below:



"Heaven" is available to download digitally from iTunes and Amazon starting at midnight February 1st.  The band's full length album Delta Machine drops March 26th. 

It's John Lydon's birthday...

It's John Lydon's birthday today - celebrate with one of the best Lydon non-musical moments of all time: In 1997 Lydon appeared on Judge Judy after musician Robert Williams sued Lydon for breach of contract (among other things). As it turned out, Lydon brought his normal loveable self to court and even though Judge Judy threatened to stop the proceedings once or twice she was clearly entertained by Lydon and his antics. Enjoy the episode below:



May as well watch this too:



Here's one more:

The New Fabian Society - Exhibition of Hate

Another great band from Glasgow: a newish post-industrial punk/psychedelic two piece called The New Fabian Society.  The band have been around for somewhat over a year and released their second ep - the four song Exhibition of Hate ep (the follow up to their first ep, Exhibition of Love) last year, and recently partnered with French label Old Vibrations Records.  Fans of darkish/garage/Joy Division-esque music should love this.  TNFS themselves cite bands including The Stooges, My Bloody Valentine, Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Mogwai as indirect or spiritual influences, but are quick to point out they do not "sound or think anything like them." 

Stream a couple of tracks from the ep below ("Streets Are Riots" is the standout track from the ep) and purchase Exhibition of Hate on bandcamp.

"Streets Are Riots"



"We Parted Ways"



The New Fabian Society's first ep Exhibition of Love is also available to purchase on bandcamp. Stream "Devious Minds" from Exhibition of Love below:

"Devious Minds"



Catch up with The New Fabian Society on Facebook and Twitter.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Peter Hook sets the New Order drama aside & gives a great interview to MTV

Peter Hook has done a LOT of press lately as he's been promoting his memoir Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division (published this week in North America). MTV Hive posted their interview with Hook, and it's one of the best interviews because, unlike most of the other sit-downs with Hook, he doesn't spend too much time bashing his ex-bandmates in New Order.  Though there is some of that, interviewer Eric Spitznagel manages to keep Hooky focused on recounting some pretty interesting stories, like the time New Order played a 20 minute version of "Everything's Gone Green" after someone threw a knuckle duster (brass knuckles) at them at a gig:

"That’ll fucking teach them to throw a knuckle-duster at me."

Hook also told MTV Hive his Joy Division memoir isn't filled with rock & roll excess but claimed a New Order book would be much, much dirtier:

"...the New Order book will be like Mötley Crüe...when I write that book, there will be some filthy, dirty, dark secrets coming out."

The best part of the interview is when we learn Peter Hook goes looking for Joy Division bootlegs each Sunday and he owns a Joy Division dildo (I don't want one, by the way, so save your money). Wonder if he's run into this.

Read the gloriously awesome interview with Peter Hook over at MTV Hive. Kudos to Eric Spitznagel on a great read!  Read more from Spitznagel here.

"Everything's Gone Green" (NYC, 1981)

Depeche Mode - Heaven

The new Depeche Mode single "Heaven" leaked overnight, prompting the band to premiere the track a little earlier than intended.  The official Depeche Mode stream of "Heaven" is available here.  The official video for "Heaven" premieres February 1st.  The single will be available digitally starting February 1st and physically February 5th.  "Heaven" precedes the band's full length album Delta Machine, which arrives on March 26th. 

Delta Machine will be released as a standard and deluxe set - the standard version includes 13 songs; the deluxe version includes a bonus disc with four extra songs. The tracklisting for both versions plus the "Heaven" maxi-single is posted below.

Martin Gore and Dave Gahan have previously commented on the sound of Delta Machine - Gore said it is musically similar to Violator and Songs Of Faith and Devotion, while Gahan previously commented that the album has a soulful, sort of live vibe.  Both Gore and Gahan have issued further comments about Delta Machine:

Gore: “Writing this album was incredibly daunting as I wanted the sound of this collection to be very modern. I want people to feel good about listening to this record, to get some kind of peace. It’s just got something magical about it.”

Gahan: “With this release we’ve completely shifted our idea of how to create an album. When we hit a wall where we realize the album is beginning to sound too normal, we’ll mess it up and really give it that organic Depeche Mode Sound. Delta Machine is no different, and I can’t wait for all of our fans to hear it.”

Depeche Mode kick off their world tour on May 7th in Tel Aviv. Though dates for the North American leg have not yet been revealed, Depeche Mode have indicated the dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tracklisting for "Heaven" single:

01 - Heaven
02 - All That’s Mine (b side bonus track)

“Heaven” CD MAXI:
01 - Heaven
02 - Heaven (Owlle Remix)
03 - Heaven (steps to heaven rmx)
04 - Heaven (Blawan Remix)
05 - Heaven (Mathew Dear vs Audion Remix)

Tracklisting for Delta Machine:

STANDARD:
01 - Welcome To My World
02 - Angel
03 - Heaven
04 - Secret To The End
05 - My Little Universe
06 - Slow
07 - Broken
08 - The Child Inside
09 - Soft Touch / Raw Nerve
10 - Should Be Higher
11 - Alone
12 - Soothe My Soul
13 - Goodbye

DELUXE EDITION: (includes hardcover 28-page booklet)

DISC 1
01 - Welcome To My World
02 - Angel
03 - Heaven
04 - Secret To The End
05 - My Little Universe
06 - Slow
07 - Broken
08 - The Child Inside
09 - Soft Touch / Raw Nerve
10 - Should Be Higher
11 - Alone
12 - Soothe My Soul
13 - Goodbye

DISC 2
01 - Long Time Lie
02 - Happens All The Time
03 - Always
04 - All That’s Mine

The Black Keys - Recording new album in Michigan

The Black Keys have been busy working on the follow up to their Grammy nominated 2011 album El Camino. The band spent some time last week in Benton Harbor, Michigan, recording tracks for the album. Patrick Carney revealed in an interview with Australia's Triple J radio that the Black Keys were drawn to Benton Harbor's Keyclub Recording Co after learning the studio's mixing console is a a rare Flickinger console originally custom built for Sly Stone:

"We went to the studio in Michigan because they had this really cool mixing desk that used to belong to Sly Stone. We actually found out about the studio from The Kills who are friends with us and they've made their last three records there."

According to Carney, the album is far from done but there's a "90 percent" chance the album will be finished by the end of 2013. Read the full interview with Patrick Carney here.

The Black Keys are in Nashville for the time being, but will be heading to Los Angeles to perform at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. The ceremony takes place February 10th at the Staples Center and airs on CBS at 8pm ET.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Peter Hook Answers New Order's Criticisms

And the New Order/Peter Hook saga continues...

New Order and ex-bassist Peter Hook have been active this month - New Order released Lost Sirens, and Peter Hook performed his short New Order (classic albums) tour in the U.K. and has been preparing for the North American launch of his book Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division. Both New Order and Hook have done interviews surrounding these activities and the press has eagerly stirred the pot when it comes to the bad blood between parties.

Last week The Telegraph published an interview with New Order that, while not the main focus of the piece, included some harsh words for Hooky's book. The next day Spinner published their own interview with New Order, and the whole article was devoted to the rift between the band and Hooky. Now Billboard has jumped into the fray and published a new Q & A with Hooky. The exclusive interview is Hooky's rebuttal to New Order's criticisms laid out in the Spinner and Telegraph interviews. A few quotes from Peter Hook's interview with Billboard are posted below:

"The thing that I dislike about them most is the way that they just keep playing the greatest hits all the time. That was one of the things that I hated when I was there -- when we were actually New Order, as opposed to a New Order tribute band, which is what I feel that they are now. They are as much New Order as I am Joy Division. In a funny way, now that I'm New Order, they are as much New Order as I am New Order."

"You lot must love it, though. It's a journalist's gift, this argument."

Probably the best quote from the interview is Hooky stating the obvious:

"This does need to stop. It's getting beyond a joke. Even I'm looking at it now and going, "Oh, my God. This is ridiculous." I mean, we're both musicians trying to earn a living and get on with it and this constant sniping is not good for either of us and it is very, very childish..."

Indeed. As a huge fan of Joy Division and New Order, it's painful for me to see both sides taking these public swipes. Fans who can stomach the fighting may want to check out the full interview in Billboard. For those who haven't read the original interviews, start with the piece in The Telegraph and Spinner, then read the new interview with Peter Hook in Billboard.

Peter Hook's memoir Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division is now available in book stores in North America.  Visit your favorite neighborhood bookshop to purchase a copy, or buy online through Amazon. Fans can also see Peter Hook live during his two-week promo tour in America.

Short clip of Peter Hook's promo tour kickoff last night in NYC



1/29 - NYC @ Strand Bookstore (host Sasha Frere Jones/The New Yorker)
1/31 - San Francisco @ Jewish Comm Ctr (host David Pescovitz/Boing Boing)
2/01 - Los Angeles @ Skylight Books
2/02 - San Diego @ M-Theory Records
2/04 - Cincinnati @ Joseph Beck Booksellers
2/05 - Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art
2/06 - Huntington, Long Island @ Book Revue
2/07 - Boston @ Brookline Booksmith (host Scott Heim/author)
2/08 - Boston @ Porter Square Books

Monday, January 28, 2013

Uncle Liam Gallagher throws celebration for niece

There may be a rift between Gallagher brothers Liam and Noel, but apparently their relationship hasn't affected Liam's role as uncle to Noel's daughter Anais. According to a report in the Daily Mail, Uncle Liam recently took Anais out for a birthday lunch to help celebrate her thirteenth birthday. The party also included Liam's two sons, his wife Nicole, and Meg Matthews (Noel's ex-wife and mother of Anais). No word on whether Noel was invited, but if he was invited, he declined the offer. Take a look at pictures from the birthday lunch including a group shot and a sweet picture of Liam and Anais.

Soundgarden - Live In Detroit

Soundgarden played a sold out show in Detroit last night at the Fillmore. During the band's encore, a fan climbed onto the legendary statue on the right side of the stage (the axe-wielding knight statue). The fan managed to loosen the 7 foot axe from the statue, and swung it around, until bassist Ben Shepard grabbed it and handed it over to Chris Cornell. Watch video of Axe-gate below - unfortunately the video doesn't capture the actual loosening of the axe, but you can see the band's reaction. Cornell quite smoothly turned the axe into an awesome stage prop!

Read a review of the concert by Detroit News. The set list is also posted below:

"Incessant Mace" (encore)





"Tighter & Tighter" (first ever live performance)



"The Day I Tried To Live"



Setlist

Spoonman
Jesus Christ Pose
Gun
Let Me Drown
By Crooked Steps
Rhinosaur
Hands All Over
Taree
My Wave
The Day I Tried to Live
Been Away Too Long
Hunted Down
Drawing Flies
Non-State Actor
Blow Up the Outside World
Fell on Black Days
Ugly Truth
Tighter & Tighter
Zero Chance
Flower
Outshined
Bones of Birds
Burden in My Hand
Pretty Noose
Mailman
Rowing

Encore:
Rusty Cage
Incessant Mace

Sunday, January 27, 2013

My Bloody Valentine - Live in London

My Bloody Valentine is playing a warm up gig for their tour in London tonight.  NME reports the band debuted a new song and Kevin Shields told the crowd the new album may be released within "two or three" days.  We'll keep our fingers crossed, but in the meantime, read the NME report here watch video from the show (including new track "Rough Song") and check out some fan comments (via Twitter) below.

UPDATE: (January 28 @ 9 am)  All the MBV video has now been pulled.

UPDATE: (January 30 @ 10:30 am) Audio of the new song "Rough" has reappeared here (will probably get pulled later). About 20 minutes of video from the Brixton show is also available below:

UPDATE: (January 30th @ 4pm) Audio of "Rough" and other video pulled.















Noel Gallagher - She Must Be One Of Us

Yet another unreleased Noel Gallagher demo has surfaced. Last week a demo titled "Oh Lord" debuted on You Tube and now a rockin' and somewhat bluesy track titled "She Must Be One Of Us" has appeared. Give it a listen:

"She Must Be One Of Us"



"Oh Lord"




Bob Mould - Austin City Limits

Watch the full episode of Austin City Limits featuring Bob Mould. The episode also features Delta Spirit. Bob Mould is playing a handful of shows in North America in March, including a stop at the Magic Stick in Detroit on March 2nd.

Watch Bob Mould / Delta Spirit on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

Morrissey - Hospitalized in Royal Oak

As Billboard reported yesterday morning, Morrissey has been admitted to William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. On Thursday, Morrissey's tour was scheduled to play the Whiting Auditorium in Flint, but mere hours before the show, the Flint gig and two others (Minneapolis and Chicago) were postponed due to "band member illness." Moz had been spotted earlier in the day on Thursday at Somerset (at Gucci!) so it seemed the illness pertained to a member of his backing band, but apparently not. According to Morrissey's publicist, he has been admitted to Beaumont for tests relating to a possible bladder infection.

UPDATE: As first reported by a Brooklyn Vegan, Morrissey has been diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer and has postponed tour dates. Morrissey's tour is now scheduled to resume on February 9th in Las Vegas. Ticketholders for the postponed shows are encouraged to hold onto tickets as there will be an attempt to make up the dates.

A summary of the tour situation follows:

Canceled

1/24 Flint, MI @ Whiting Auditiorium

Postponed (make up shows TBA)

1/25 Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theater
1/27 Chicago, IL @ Chigago Theater (sold out)
1/28 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel (sold out)
1/29 Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium (sold out)
1/31 Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Center for the Performing Arts (sold out)
2/02 Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall (sold out)
2/05 Clear Lake, IA @ Surf Ballroom
2/06 Lincoln, NE @ Rococo Theatre (sold out)

Tour resumes as scheduled:

2/09 Las Vegas, NV @ The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
2/10 Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
2/12 El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls
2/13 Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
2/15 Pharr, TX @ Pharr Events Center
2/16 Beaumont, TX @ Jefferson Theater (sold out)
2/18 Dallas, TX @ Palladium
2/21 Denver, CO @ Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
2/22 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kingsbury Hall
2/24 San Francisco, CA @ Davies Symphony Hall (sold out)
2/27 San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theater
3/01 Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center (with Patti Smith)
3/02 Sparks, NV @ John Ascuaga's Nugget - Rose Ballroom
3/04 Davis, CA @ Robert Mondavi Center at UC Davis
3/06 Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
3/08 Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
3/09 San Francisco @ Regency Ballroom

Poor Moz. He didn't have the best time at his 2011 show at the Royal Oak Music Theater, and now he's back in Royal Oak...



Saturday, January 26, 2013

Iggy + The Stooges prep new LP 'Ready To Die'

The Stooges are set to return with their first new material since 2007's The WeirdnessReady To Die was produced by Stooges' guitarist James Williamson, who returned to the band in 2009 and last appeared on 1973's Raw Power.  According to a report in HitFix (via Spin) the new songs were described as "old school Stooges" and "raw" by the album's engineer Ed Cherney.  So far an official release date hasn't been scheduled, though it will likely be out sometime before the summer.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Songs For Slim - Digital & commercial vinyl release


The Ebay auction for Songs For Slim by the Replacements (benefit for Slim Dunlap) ends throughout the day today - the first auction (1/250) ends at 11am ET, and the last (250/250) ends at 11:27 pm ET. Interested bidders can take a look at all the copies here and bid on Ebay.

A commercial release for The Replacements' Songs For Slim has officially been announced - the ep will be released digitally on March 5th and on vinyl April 16th. The five song covers ep is the first material featuring Paul Westerberg & Tommy Stinson in many years (Chris Mars opted not to take part in the reunion, however he did record a cover of "Radio Hook Word Hit" by himself for Songs For Slim). The ep is a benefit for Slim Dunlap, the ex-Replacement who suffered a stroke in February 2012.

The track listing for Songs For Slim is posted below.

Side A:

1. Busted Up (Slim Dunlap)
2. Radio Hook Word Hit (Slim Dunlap)

Side B:

1. I'm Not Sayin' (Gordon Lightfoot)
2. Lost Highway (Hank Williams)
3. Everything's Coming Up Roses (from Broadway musical Gypsy)

The next auction in the Songs For Slim series features a split single with Steve Earle and Craig Finn. The auction is scheduled to start on February 15th. Full details are expected to be announced shortly.

The Stone Roses - World Tour + War & Peace release

After spending last summer in Europe playing reunion gigs, the Stone Roses are finally playing their first North American dates since 1995. The Stone Roses headline Coachella this year! Since the band is playing both weekends of the festival...makes you wonder what they'll be doing during the week in between Coachella gigs! ;)

Tickets for Coachella go on sale January 29th at 1pm ET/10am PT and will likely sell out immediately, so make arrangements to get tickets immediately when they go on sale. Blur, New Order, Johnny Marr, Spiritualized, and Franz Ferdinand are among some of the other exciting acts from the U.K. playing Coachella 2013.  Full lineup poster here.

Additional dates for the Stone Roses are expected to be announced shortly.


Meanwhile a biography on the band titled Stone Roses: War & Peace is finally going to be released in North America on April 2nd. The 352 page book tells the story of the band through interviews with key members in the Roses' camp plus includes 40 previously unseen photos.  The biography was released last year in the U.K. and received excellent reviews from critics and fans alike - Liam Gallagher, who is probably the band's BIGGEST fan, said the book is "like Quadrophenia. They're the best band in the world, no question. I followed them around when I was 16 and 17, it's amazing."

Author Simon Spence was interviewed by Q last year and revealed the book was originally only to be about Reni, but evolved into a book on the full band:

"In August 2011 Reni sat down for a meal with Ian, the first time they had met in years. I also heard stories of Mani and his wife babysitting Squire's kids. I presumed this was good news for the book. Yes, looking back, when I was asked how quickly I could turn the book around (initially we had been working toward an October 2012 publication date) that was a clue. In September, when I was told that all four were down in London meeting with promoter Simon Moran, I put the two and two together."

"I chose the title, with a nod to Tolstoy, after the first draft of the book came in at around 250,000 words. It was nabbed from a Squire one liner: When asked what Elephant Stone was about, he said: Love and Death. War and Peace. Morecambe and Wise. I actually felt it fitted with the band's career."

Read the full interview with Spence here, check out extracts from the book here, read several reviews of Stone Roses: War & Peace here and pre-order now from Amazon.

A documentary on the Stone Roses' reunion filmed by director Shane Meadows is in the works and expected to be released later this year. According to a recent report in NME, Meadows is editing a ton of video captured from October 2011 (when the band announced their reunion) through their live shows last August. The report includes a quote from a source who claims the film will also include "never seen before archive footage." Read the full report over at NME.

For more info on the Stone Roses, visit the band's official website.

STONE ROSES - 2013 confirmed tour dates

02/21: Dubai @ Media City Amphitheatre
02/23: Jakarta @ Lapangan D-Senayan
02/26: Auckland @ Vector Arena
03/01: Brisbane @ The Riverstage
03/02: Brisbane @ Doomben Racecourse
03/03: Perth @ Arena Joondalup
03/06: Sydney @ Hordern Pavilion
03/07: Melbourne @ Festival Hall
03/09: Sydney @ Royal Randwick Racecourse
03/10: Melbourne @ Flemington Racecourse
03/11: Adelaide @ Bonython Park
04/12: Coachella @ Indio, California
04/19: Coachella @ Indio, California
06/07: London @ Finsbury Park
06/08: London @ Finsbury Park
06/14: Isle Of Wight Festival, UK
06/15: Glasgow @ Glasgow Green
08/09: Tokyo @ Summer Sonic Festival

Stone Roses - collection of live appearances from 2012 in Barcelona & Lyon



Related posts:

Stone Roses biography: War & Peace
Video: Stone Roses "secret" Olympics show
Stone Roses live in Barcelona

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Coachella 2013

The lineup for Coachella 2013 was FINALLY announced earlier today.  At long last the Stone Roses return to North America for their first shows since 1995!  They'll headline along with Blur, Phoenix, and the Red Hot Chili PeppersNew Order, Nick Cave, Johnny Marr, Social Distortion, OMD, Descendents, Violent Femmes, Modest Mouse, and Postal Service are among other exciting acts announced!

Like last year, Coachella will take place over two weekends with identical lineups for both.  Weekend 1 takes place April 12 - 14, and Weekend 2 takes place April 19 - 21.  Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 29th at 1pm ET/10am PT and are expected to sell out quickly (early bird tickets went on sale last summer and sold out immediately).  Visit the official Coachella website for details on tickets and other FAQs.

"I Am The Resurrection"

Morrissey - Tour dates canceled/postponed

Morrissey canceled his show scheduled for tonight at the Whiting Auditorium in Flint. The show was canceled due to "artist illness" and will not be rescheduled. Refunds are available at point of purchase...

Morrissey has postponed the January 25th show in Minneapolis, as well as the January 26th show in Chicago.  Make up dates for BOTH of those shows are expected to be announced and ticketholders are encouraged to keep their tickets.

The tour will resume January 28th in North Carolina.

Read more about the Chicago postponement here.  Info on all three shows is posted now over at True-To-You.

Morrissey tour itinerary

1/28 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel (sold out)
1/29 Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium (sold out)
1/31 Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Center for the Performing Arts (sold out)
2/02 Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall (sold out)
2/05 Clear Lake, IA @ Surf Ballroom
2/06 Lincoln, NE @ Rococo Theatre (sold out)
2/09 Las Vegas, NV @ The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
2/10 Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
2/12 El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls
2/13 Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
2/15 Pharr, TX @ Pharr Events Center
2/16 Beaumont, TX @ Jefferson Theater (sold out)
2/18 Dallas, TX @ Palladium
2/21 Denver, CO @ Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
2/22 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kingsbury Hall
2/24 San Francisco, CA @ Davies Symphony Hall (sold out)
2/27 San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theater
3/01 Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center (with Patti Smith)
3/02 Sparks, NV @ John Ascuaga's Nugget - Rose Ballroom
3/04 Davis, CA @ Robert Mondavi Center at UC Davis
3/06 Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
3/08 Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
3/09 San Francisco @ Regency Ballroom

Depeche Mode - Delta Machine

Depeche Mode have finally announced details regarding their 13th studio album. The album is titled Delta Machine, features 13 tracks, and drops on March 26th. The first single, "Heaven" precedes the album and will be released commercially on February 5th, with the official video to premiere February 1st.

Delta Machine will be released as a standard and deluxe set - the standard version includes 13 songs; the deluxe version includes a bonus disc with four extra songs. The tracklisting for both versions plus the "Heaven" maxi-single is posted below.

Martin Gore and Dave Gahan have previously commented on the sound of Delta Machine - Gore said it is musically similar to Violator and Songs Of Faith and Devotion, while Gahan previously commented that the album has a soulful, sort of live vibe.  Both Gore and Gahan have issued further comments about Delta Machine:

Gore: “Writing this album was incredibly daunting as I wanted the sound of this collection to be very modern. I want people to feel good about listening to this record, to get some kind of peace. It’s just got something magical about it.”

Gahan: “With this release we’ve completely shifted our idea of how to create an album. When we hit a wall where we realize the album is beginning to sound too normal, we’ll mess it up and really give it that organic Depeche Mode Sound. Delta Machine is no different, and I can’t wait for all of our fans to hear it.”

Depeche Mode kick off their world tour on May 7th in Tel Aviv. Though dates for the North American leg have not yet been revealed, Depeche Mode have indicated the dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

Additionally, a new book about Depeche Mode titled Monument will be released in April in Germany. The book is a comprehensive look at the band and includes a full gigography, unpublished photos, and interviews. 

For more on Depeche Mode, visit the band's official site.

Tracklisting for Standard and Deluxe version of Delta Machine:


STANDARD:
01 - Welcome To My World
02 - Angel
03 - Heaven
04 - Secret To The End
05 - My Little Universe
06 - Slow
07 - Broken
08 - The Child Inside
09 - Soft Touch / Raw Nerve
10 - Should Be Higher
11 - Alone
12 - Soothe My Soul
13 - Goodbye

DELUXE EDITION: (includes hardcover 28-page booklet)

DISC 1
01 - Welcome To My World
02 - Angel
03 - Heaven
04 - Secret To The End
05 - My Little Universe
06 - Slow
07 - Broken
08 - The Child Inside
09 - Soft Touch / Raw Nerve
10 - Should Be Higher
11 - Alone
12 - Soothe My Soul
13 - Goodbye

DISC 2
01 - Long Time Lie
02 - Happens All The Time
03 - Always
04 - All That’s Mine

The tracklisting for the “Heaven” CD single:



01 - Heaven
02 - All That’s Mine (b side bonus track)

“Heaven” CD MAXI:
01 - Heaven
02 - Heaven (Owlle Remix)
03 - Heaven (steps to heaven rmx)
04 - Heaven (Blawan Remix)
05 - Heaven (Mathew Dear vs Audion Remix)

Soundgarden - Live in New York City

Soundgarden have been rocking out playing shows on their King Animal tour - the band wrapped up a series of shows in New York City last night and from all reports the gigs have been phenomenal! Vernon Reid from Living Colour was in attendance at last night's show and posted some rave reviews on Twitter:




Meanwhile, during Tuesday night's show in NYC, a rockin' fan named Jeremy was invited onstage and got to play guitar with Soundgarden! Take a look at video of the awesomeness below and catch up with Jeremy on Twitter!





Tomorrow Soundgarden kick off a two-night stand at Toronto's Sound Academy before heading to Detroit for their sold out show Sunday night.

For more awesome live video from Soundgarden, click here.

Iggy Pop - Documentary + new track "Asshole Rules The Navy"

An Iggy Pop documentary filmed during the Stooges' reunion tour has appeared on You Tube. The film features an interview with Iggy plus tons of footage of Iggy + the Stooges tearing it up live. Watch the full documentary below:



Meanwhile, Iggy Pop recorded two songs for Johnny Depp's double disc collection of pirate songs, Son Of Rogues Gallery Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys. One of the songs featuring Iggy is available to stream - take a listen to "Asshole Rules The Navy" by Iggy Pop and A Hack & A Hacksaw below:



Son Of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys also features contributions from Nick Cave, Michael Gira, Robyn Hitchcock, Marc Almond, and Matthew Sweet, as well as a duet with Michael Stipe and Courtney Love. The full tracklisting is posted below along with another track from the album featuring Shane McGowan. Pre-order the collection from Amazon.

"Leaving Of Liverpool" (Shane McGowan, Johnny Depp, Gore Verbinski)



Disc: 1

01. Leaving of Liverpool (Shane MacGowan w/ Johnny Depp & Gore Verbinski)
02. Sam's Gone Away (Robyn Hitchcock)
03. River Come Down (Beth Orton)
04. Row Bullies Row (Sean Lennon w/ Jack Shit)
05. Shenandoah (Tom Waits w/ Keith Richards)
06. Mr. Stormalong (Ivan Neville)
07. Asshole Rules the Navy (Iggy Pop w/ A Hawk and a Hacksaw)
08. Off to Sea Once More (Macy Gray)
09. The Ol' OG (Ed Harcourt)
10. Pirate Jenny (Shilpa Ray w/ Nick Cave & Warren Ellis)
11. The Mermaid (Patti Smith & Johnny Depp)
12. Anthem for Old Souls (Chuck E. Weiss)
13. Orange Claw Hammer (Ed Pastorini)
14. Sweet and Low (The Americans)
15. Ye Mariners All (Robin Holcomb & Jessica Kenny)
16. Tom's Gone to Hilo (Gavin Friday and Shannon McNally)
17. Bear Away (Kenny Wollesen & The Himalayas Marching Band)

Disc: 2
01. Handsome Cabin Boy (Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention)
02. Rio Grande (Michael Stipe & Courtney Love)
03. Ship in Distress (Marc Almond)
04. In Lure of the Tropics (Dr. John)
05. Rolling Down to Old Maui (Todd Rundgren)
06. Jack Tar on Shore (Dan Zanes w/ Broken Social Scene)
07. Sally Racket (Sissy Bounce (Katey Red & Big Freedia) with Akron/Family)
08. Wild Goose (Broken Social Scene)
09. Flandyke Shore (Marianne Faithfull w/ Kate & Anna McGarrigle)
10. The Chantey of Noah and his Ark (Old School Song) (Ricky Jay)
11. Whiskey Johnny (Michael Gira)
12. Sunshine Life for Me (Petra Haden w/ Lenny Pickett)
13. Row the Boat Child (Jenni Muldaur)
14. General Taylor (Richard Thompson w/ Jack Shit)
15. Marianne (Tim Robbins w/ Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs)
16. Barnacle Bill the Sailor (Kembra Phaler w/ Antony / Joseph Arthur / Foetus)
17. Missus McGraw (Angelica Huston w/ The Weisberg Strings)
18. The Dreadnought (Iggy Pop & Elegant Too)
19. Then Said the Captain to Me (Two Poems of the Sea) (Mary Margaret O'Hara)

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Kraftwerk related news: Karl Bartos, OMD, La Dusseldorf

Karl Bartos (ex-Kraftwerk) is preparing to release a solo album titled Off The Record on March 15th. As he's previously revealed, the album will contain tracks he wrote while still in Kraftwerk, though the songs were never released. The first single from the album is titled "Atomium" and will be released worldwide on February 1st. Take a look at the official video which premiered on Pitchfork yesterday:



In more Karl Bartos related news, OMD confirmed they've re-recorded a new version of the song "Kissing The Machine," a track Andy McClusky originally recorded with Bartos' side project Elektric Music in 1993. The new version will appear on OMD's forthcoming album English Electric. The old version is streaming below:



Finally in more Kraftwerk-related news, La Düsseldorf (featuring the late Klaus Dinger of Kraftwerk, along with his wife Miki Yui, and members Kazuyuki Onouchi, and Satoshi Okamoto) are preparing to release their final album. The album was recorded between 2000 and 2007 and was finished by the band in 2010 after Dinger's passing in 2008.

Japandorf drops on March 25th. Check out the first single, "Immermannstrasse" below:



To learn more about the album, head over to The Quietus.

Pearl Jam - Live dates announced

Pearl Jam announced two HUGE shows today! Both evenings will be 'An evening With Pearl Jam' and will not include an opening act. Here are the dates:

July 16 - London, Ontario Budweiser Gardens - Ticket link
July 19 - Chicago, Illinois at Wrigley Field - Ticket link

The general onsale for the London, Ontario show is February 9th at 10am ET, the general onsale for the Chicago show is February 9th at 11am ET - please note the ticket links are not active yet. Ten Club members will have early access to tickets before the general sale.

An additional show in Boston is highly rumored, plus Pearl Jam have also revealed they will be announcing dates for a fall tour of the US in the coming months.

Visit the official Pearl Jam website for more info.



Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Noel Gallagher - Listen to unreleased demo Oh Lord

A demo of an unreleased Noel Gallagher song has appeared on You Tube. According to uploaders (two different uploads appeared over the last 24 hours) the track was recorded in 2010 during the sessions for Noel's solo album. Check it out below (via @steomorgan77 )



Adam Ant back with new album + answers fan submitted questions

Adam Ant returns today with the new album Adam Ant is The Blueblack Hussar Is Marrying The Gunner's Daughter. The new album features 17 tracks and is available on iTunes and Amazon.

In promotion for the album, Adam Ant has been doing a few interviews with the press. The Quietus featured Adam Ant in their ongoing Bakers Dozen series - take a look at the 13 albums he selected as his all time favorites.

Some interview footage with Adam Ant is posted below - the first video is a recent interview with the BBC - footage of Adam's early work is included along with snippets from his new video "Cool Zombie."



A collection of six videos featuring Adam Ant answering fan submitted questions is posted below:











Monday, January 21, 2013

New Order interview: Have they stopped arguing at last?

A new feature and interview with New Order titled, 'New Order interview: Have they stopped arguing at last,' was published by The Telegraph today. Though most of the interview was conducted in the fall of 2012, the piece includes additional info obtained from the band near the end of last year. A good portion of the interview discussed the recording of New Order 1989 album Technique and its impact on electro/dance music, plus they discuss the recently released outtakes album Lost Sirens.

New Order also confirmed they are indeed in the studio working on a new album. According to the interview, Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, and Gillian Morris are working on new material as a trio, and there are plans to tour in 2013, so perhaps something new will be released later this year ahead of the live dates.

As is the case with most recent interviews with New Order, Peter Hook and his memoir Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division eventually became the topic of discussion. The Telegraph asked New Order if they've read Peter Hook's memoir. Part of their response:

Stephen Morris: "...it's every anecdote he's ever told about Joy Division over the years"

Bernard Sumner: "...it's patently obvious that he's so bitter and twisted"

Gillian Morris: "...I thought you didn't speak ill of the dead"

The Telegraph also asked if they could imagine Hook ever returning to New Order, to which Sumner replied, "I don't need to read his book and I don't need to answer that question. I think he answered it himself."

The full article is a great read for New Order fans. Read the entire feature over at The Telegraph.

"Ceremony" (recorded in Manchester, June 1981)



"Round & Round" (1989)



For more on New Order and Peter Hook:

Peter Hook playing classic New Order LPs while New Order create new sounds
Video: Peter Hook wraps up his New Order tour in Manchester
New Order Lost Sirens full album stream
Playable records created from a 3D printer
Video: New Order live at Bestival 2012

The Foreign Resort bring the shoegaze & dark 80s

Copenhagen's The Foreign Resort made a splash last year at South By Southwest with their mix of shoegazey and dark synth sounds (the band cites Joy Division, My Bloody Valentine, Jesus & Mary Chain, and M83 among their influences). Last week they unveiled their majestic video for "Tide," the latest single from the 2012 release Scattered & Buried.

Take a look at the video below (looks FANTASTIC on a large screen - do yourself a favor and enlarge the video to enjoy the images to their fullest extent).



Stream a few songs from Scattered & Buried below and buy the album off iTunes and Amazon.







Enjoy some other videos from The Foreign Resort

"Take A Walk" (from 2011 self-titled ep and a new remix is featured on Scattered & Buried)



"The Starlit Sea" (from their 2009 debut album Offshore)



Catch up with The Foreign Resort on their official website.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Trip back to the 80s with Memorex

Revisit the 80s with an hour long video featuring snippets of ads, products, and images from the decade compiled by Smash TV. The video, titled Memorex, was created using footage from over 40 hours of VHS tapes (what, no Beta?) from back in the day. A pretty cool soundtrack provides the backdrop for the flashy images - for those interested, the full tracklisting is posted below and is available to download here. Via Gizmodo



Memorex Intro
VHS Head - Ident
Boxcutter - TV Troubles
Cuticle - Towel
Leyland Kirby - Neon Lit Atoms
Peaking Lights - Synthy
Hype Williams - Mitsubishi
Boards Of Canada - On A Rolling Sea
LA Vampires Featuring Matrix Metals - So Unreal
Rene Hell - Bordes Of Heaven
Laurie Anderson - O Superman (Smash TV Rewind)
VHS Head - Seen Enough
Outer Limits Recordings - Julie
Boards Of Canada - Dave (I'm A Real Traditionalist)
Ford & Lopatin - Rock Center Paranoia
Hype Williams - Businessline
LA Vampires Goes Ital - Tons Of Love
Boards Of Canada - Iraq Says / Nine-Rubber Wisdom
N With Guitars - Milky White
Loverboy - When It's Over (Brian E Remix / Smash TV Rewind)
Thompson Twins - If You Were Here (Smash TV Rewind)
Memorex Outro

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Peter Hook - New Order LP tour - Manchester

Peter Hook wrapped up his New Order classic albums/singles tour in Manchester last night.  Video and setlist from the January 18th show at Manchester Cathedral is posted below. Excellent video from the January 17th show at Koko's in London has now appeared and is posted here. Hooky's next stop is a one-off promo/book signing gig in Paris, then he heads to North America for a two week promo tour for his book Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division.



"Ceremony"



"Your Silent Face"



"Dreams Never End"



"Age Of Consent"



"Senses"

Friday, January 18, 2013

Morrissey - Autobiography update

For almost two years we've been hearing about a Morrissey autobiography - Moz first revealed in a 2011 interview with the BBC that a memoir was in the works.  Last year a few reports indicated the book would be out before the end of 2012 (including affirmation from the Moz himself), but those reports proved to be false.  According to a new report in the Los Angeles Times, Morrissey recently seemed to indicate the book would be published by Penguin Classic, but after New York Capital contacted the Penguin headquarters in New York, two spokespeople claimed to "have no knowledge of any plans for publication."

Though it's a somewhat confusing situation, it does appear a Morrissey memoir has been written and will be released, it's just unknown at this time who will be publishing it and when exactly it will be released.

Read the full report in the Los Angeles Times here, but you'll also want to click over to read the Capital New York piece they referenced.

By the way, the original BBC interview from April 2011 (where Morrissey first discussed the autobiography) is available to stream here.

"I Know It's Over"

Wire - New LP Change Becomes Us + Wire book coming in March

In December, Wire announced the spring release of a new album titled Change Becomes Us. The album features newly recorded material originally written (but never released) in 1979 & 1980. According to the band, some of the songs originally existed as impromptu/one-off sketches, but after some work live and in the studio, the tracks organically evolved into what they term a "fascinating hybrid." Pitchfork debuted the first track from album, "Doubles and Trebles" on Wednesday and can be heard here.

Meanwhile, a book on Wire written by Wilson Neate will be also be published in the spring to coincide with the release of their album. Read & Burn: A Book About Wire, isn't an official Wire biography, however all the key players in Wire were interviewed and participated in the book. The band themselves are expecting it to be more of a "warts and all" exploration of their complex relationship (and not a sugarcoated or fluffy/kiss up type of book).

Change Becomes Us and Read & Burn: A Book About Wire will be released on March 26th and can be pre-ordered through the official Wire store (Read & Burn is bundled with the album). The tracklisting for Change Becomes Us is posted below:

01 Doubles & Trebles
02 Keep Exhaling
03 Adore Your Island
04 Re-Invent Your Second Wheel
05 Stealth Of A Stork
06 B/W Silence
07 Time Lock Fog
08 Magic Bullet
09 Eels Sang
10 Love Bends
11 As We Go
12 & Much Besides
13 Attractive Space

Peter Hook plays New Order at Koko's in London

Peter Hook performed in London last night as part of his New Order classic album/singles mini tour.  Much like Wednesday's show in Wales, the fan reviews have been mostly positive.  The Sun's review of the show is posted here.

Tonight Hooky wraps up the tour at Manchester Cathedral in Manchester.

Video from Koko's has been posted below, plus click over to check out fantastic photo shot by @pmwitcher at last night's show in London.

"Age Of Consent"



"Your Silent Face"



"Ceremony"



"In A Lonely Place"



"Blue Monday"



"586"



"Everything's Gone Green"



"Temptation"



"Hurt"



"Ceremony" (London, January 17th)


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Peter Hook on Lost Sirens: "Absolutely Delighted"

Yesterday the Hollywood Reporter posted a short interview with Peter Hook. Hooky was asked about the newly released New Order outtakes album Lost Sirens and revealed he was "absolutely delighted" with the release:

"What really made me happy is when I listened to the tracks and realized how good they are,” Hook says. “It came as such a relief to realize that, ‘Oh God, we did do some great things together.’ We did have a great time writing that music. We were very, very together in the writing of [The Lost Sirens], and that was the nice part."

Hook also (of course) discussed the schism with his ex-bandmates as well as his new memoir Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division. Read the full article: New Order's Peter Hook: 'It's The End An Era' here.

For more on Peter Hook:

Peter Hook performed New Order classic LPs in Cardiff
Peter Hook performs classic New Order LPs while New Order create new sounds
Peter Hook launching Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division book tour in North America

Morrissey's gigs named 'best of 2012'

Morrissey's shows in Chile, Lima, Jakarta, and Istanbul were named as some of the best overall gigs in 2012 by music journalists and fans. Read details over at True-To-You.

Morrissey is currently on the road in North America through March. Dates are posted below along with a performance of "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" from the January 12th stop in Atlantic City.



1/18 Reading, PA @ Sovereign Performing Arts Center
1/19 Port Chester, NY @ Capitol Theatre
1/21 Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall
1/22 Columbus. OH @ LC Indoor Pavilion
1/24 Flint, MI @ The Whiting
1/25 Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theater
1/26 Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theater (sold out)
1/28 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel (sold out)
1/29 Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium (sold out)
1/31 Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Center for the Performing Arts (sold out)
2/02 Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall (sold out)
2/05 Clear Lake, IA @ Surf Ballroom
2/06 Lincoln, NE @ Rococo Theatre (sold out)
2/09 Las Vegas, NV @ The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
2/10 Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
2/12 El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls
2/13 Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
2/15 Pharr, TX @ Pharr Events Center
2/16 Beaumont, TX @ Jefferson Theater (sold out)
2/18 Dallas, TX @ Palladium
2/21 Denver, CO @ Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
2/22 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kingsbury Hall
2/24 San Francisco, CA @ Davies Symphony Hall (sold out)
2/27 San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theater
3/01 Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center (with Patti Smith)
3/02 Sparks, NV @ John Ascuaga's Nugget - Rose Ballroom
3/04 Davis, CA @ Robert Mondavi Center at UC Davis
3/06 Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
3/08 Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
3/09 San Francisco @ Regency Ballroom

Peter Hook live - New Order classic LPs gig in Cardiff

Peter Hook performed New Order classic albums Movement and Power, Corruption and Lies at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff, Wales last night. Video from the show hasn't appeared as of yet, nor has an official review of the show (check back later for updates). Twitter was there, however, and a smattering of tweets from those who attended the gig are posted below. Peter Hook & the Light perform classic New Order albums tonight at Koko's in London, then wrap up the mini-tour at Manchester Cathedral in Manchester on Friday. Hooky then heads to North America for a two-week promo tour for his book Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division.

UPDATE: Very positive review of the gig in Wales Online

UPDATE: Video from the show has now been uploaded and is posted below:

"Your Silent Face" (Cardiff, January 16th)



"Ceremony" (Cardiff, January 16th)



"Procession" (Cardiff, January 16th)













Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Peter Hook playing New Order LPs in concert while New Order create new sounds

Tonight Peter Hook kicks off a three date New Order classic album tour in the U.K. - each night of the tour he'll perform Movement and Power Corruption and Lies in full with his band The Light.  After the mini-tour is over, Hook heads to North America for a two week promo tour in support of his book Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division.  Hook's memoir was published last fall in the U.K. and will finally be released January 29th in North America.

Meanwhile, Hooky's ex-bandmates in New Order are back in the studio working on new material.  Last year Bernard Sumner revealed he'd like to return to a more electronic/synthy sound on the album.  If Gillian Gilbert's tweet is any indication, it appears things are going swimmingly in the studio!


Earlier this week New Order released their outtakes album Lost Sirens which was recorded during the sessions for Waiting For The Sirens' Call prior to Peter Hook's departure. The album is streaming in full over at Rolling Stone, and is available to purchase digitally through iTunes, Amazon, and Rhino. Pre-order physical import copies on cd and vinyl through Amazon.  A domestic physical release is not planned.

For more on Peter Hook & New Order take a look at some previous stories:

New Order Lost Sirens full album stream
Peter Hook announces North American book tour in support of memoir
Interview with New Order's Bernard Sumner + Stephen Morris
New Order live: Pro-shot video of Bestival '12 gig

Kim Deal - Stream limited edition single

Earlier this year Kim Deal announced the launch of her 7" solo series and released the first single, "Walking With A Killer" backed with the instrumental track "Dirty Hessians." The limited edition pressing is now sold out, but is available digitally through iTunes and Amazon. Deal will be announcing the next single shortly, so interested fans might want to sign up for her email list to be apprised of official info when available. 

"Walking With A Killer"



"Dirty Hessians"



Meanwhile, the Breeders announced a few European dates for their 20th anniversary Last Splash tour. The band is expected to announce more dates (including North American gigs) shortly. The 20th anniversary release of Last Splash, which will be titled LSXX, will be released in April.

For more on Kim Deal and the Breeders:

Video: Kim Deal playing Pixies/Breeders classics at ATP gig
Kim Deal talks upcoming solo series & Breeders reissue in new interview
The Breeders announce 20th anniversary release of Last Splash

KMFDM song premiere: "Ave Maria"

KMFDM are preparing to release a new album on February 26th titled Kunst. Last year the band premiered the album's title track, and they've now premiered another new song titled "Ave Maria" and released a video with samples from the entire album. Stream "Ave Maria" and the video sampler below and pre-order Kunst through Metropolis Records or Amazon.





01. Kunst
02. Ave Maria
03. Quake
04. Hello
05. Next Big Thing
06. Pussy Riot
07. Pseudocide
08. Animal Out
09. The Mess You Made
10. I(heart)Not

KMFDM hit the road for a month long tour of North America in March. Dates are posted below. For more info visit KMFDM on their official site.

03/08 - Portland, OR - Star Theater
03/09 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent
03/10 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre
03/11 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory
03/12 - Phoenix - AZ - Crescent Ballroom
03/17 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
03/18 - Falls Church, VA - State Theatre
03/19 - Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero Theatre
03/20 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
03/21 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
03/22 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Small's Theatre
03/23 - Chicago, IL - HOB
03/24 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
03/25 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
03/27 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
03/28 - Salt Lake City UT - The Depot
03/29 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
03/30 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo



Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Ocean Blue - Live in Chicago

The Ocean Blue performed two shows over the weekend - on January 12th they played a Korda Records showcase in Minneapolis, and the next night they played Schuba's in Chicago.  Check out some fan-filmed footage from the January 13th show in Chicago below:

"Mercury"



The Ocean Blue released two songs on a Korda Records compilation at the end of 2012. Stream the tracks below and purchase the full Korda Kompilation here or here. A full length album from the Ocean Blue is expected out by spring of 2013 (date still to be announced).





Songs For Slim - Auction begins today


The Ebay auction for Songs For Slim by the Replacements begins today.  As widely reported, the five song covers ep is the first material featuring Paul Westerberg & Tommy Stinson in many years (Chris Mars opted not to take part in the reunion, however he did record a cover of "Radio Hook Word Hit" by himself for Songs For Slim). The ep is a benefit for Slim Dunlap, the ex-Replacement who suffered a stroke in February 2012.  A total of 250 copies of the ep have been pressed and will be auctioned off to help raise money for Dunlap's medical bills.

Here's how the auction will work: The first copy of Songs For Slim will go up on Ebay starting at 11am ET (8am PT/4pm BST) today.   Every three minutes a new copy of Songs For Slim will be put up until all 250 copies are on Ebay.  All the copies will be on Ebay by tonight at 1:27 am ET (10:27 PT) - and each auction will last for 10 days. 

UPDATE: Auction is now live. Here's the link!

The track listing for Songs For Slim is posted below.

Side A:

1. Busted Up (Slim Dunlap)
2. Radio Hook Word Hit (Slim Dunlap)

Side B:

1. I'm Not Sayin' (Gordon Lightfoot)
2. Lost Highway (Hank Williams)
3. Everything's Coming Up Roses (from Broadway musical Gypsy)

As previously reported, Songs For Slim by the Replacements is the first in a series of benefit albums for Dunlap.  Other artists including Frank Black, Peter Buck, Jakob Dylan, John Doe, Lucinda Williams, and many others are preparing to release music as part of a Songs For Slim series.  Other releases in the series will be handled similarly - the initial pressings will be auctioned off on Ebay, then digital and commercial vinyl versions will be released.  So far, two other auctions have been scheduled: a Steve Earle/Craig Finn split single is scheduled for a February 15th auction and Lucinda Williams/Tommy Keene release will follow on March 15th.