The Music Tank

Hell has frozen: Chinese Democracy

Fake — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:27:23 +0000

If you think you can take it, the long overdue and decreasingly relevent new album by Guns N’ Roses “Chinese Democracy” is completely available as a stream on the band’s MySpace page.

My take? From the few tracks I have listened I can make the assumption it could have been much worse, but it’s really rock for adults more than anything else now.

Play Xbox with Tenacious D

Fake — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:58:31 +0000

Next in line for the Xbox Live’s Game With Fame, Tenacious D will be playing Rock Band 2 on Xbox LIVE® November 20 to celebrate the recent release of The Complete Masterworks 2 DVD . More info can be found on Xbox.com.

Stranger Than Fiction Week 42

BlackMage — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:30:26 +0000

Right into it!

CARNIVAL OF LIGHT

From CNN:

A “lost” Beatles track recorded in 1967 and performed just once in public could finally be released, according to Paul McCartney.

“Carnival of Light” — a 14-minute experimental track recorded at the height of the Beatles’ musical experimentations with psychedelia and inspired by avant-garde composers such as Karlheinz Stockhausen — has long been considered too adventurous for mainstream audiences.

In an interview for BBC radio, McCartney said his bandmates and their producer George Martin had vetoed its inclusion on the exhaustive Anthology collection.

McCartney confirmed he still owned the master tapes, adding that he suspected “the time has come for it to get its moment.

“I like it because it’s the Beatles free, going off piste,” McCartney said.

Almost everything recorded by the Beatles from their early days in Liverpool and Hamburg to their break-up in 1970 has been released.

In the 40 years since its recording, “Carnival of Light” has acquired near mythical status among Beatles fans who argue that the existence of the track provides evidence of the group’s experimental ambitions beyond their commercially successfully pop career.

The improvised work features distorted electric guitars, discordant sound effects, a church organ and gargling interspersed with McCartney and John Lennon shouting random phrases like “Barcelona” and “Are you all right?”

McCartney would need the consent of Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison, to release the track.

That sounds incredible. I wasn’t sure about the whole thing but the part they describe as “gargling interspersed with McCartney and John Lennon shouting random phrases like “Barcelona” and “Are you all right?” sounds wonderful.

STRANGE HEADLINES

I don’t even want to write about these, I just want you to bask in the glory of these headlines from various corners of the interweb.

Lidnsey Lohan’s Girlfriend Calls PETA A Bunch of Animals
Kanye West Says He’s Like Princess Diana

If you don’t understand the irony and weirdness of those, I don’t know what to tell you.

HEADLINES THAT SHOULDN’T SUPRISE YOU

Velvet Revolver Dropped By Label?
Michael Jackson Back In Court
Madonna To Britney: “Forget About Marriage”

QUICK RANDOM BLURBS

I’ve started listening to Eminem for some reason. I’m not even a big fan of hip hop but there’s something about his music that just appeals to me. Very excited at the annoucement of “Relapse”, his new album coming out first quarter of 2009.

Not so excited about all these rumors of Led Zeppelin touring without Robert Plant. First off, Chris Cornell, Scott Stap or the dude from Alter Bridge won’t cut it. Maybe Robert Plant just doesn’t want to rub his dick all over the legacy that is Led Zeppelin. I don’t care that the Plant-less Zep won’t take the Led Zeppelin name, it’ll still be Led Zeppelin karaoke and I don’t want to see it.

Excited about the new album from The Bronx that dropped last week. Since the music stores are really cool around here, they don’t carry The Bronx.

Just like they don’t carry the new Eagles of Death Metal album, “Heart On”. Not cool.

Still busy as all hell, trying to get back to news posting. Keep it locked, I’m out.

Illa J and the Yancey Boys

Half-Baked — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:41:53 +0000

John “Illa J” Yancey has really shined since his brother, James “J Dilla” Yancey, passed onto the other side on a February day of 2006. Having learned from his brother and being in his entourage, Illa J finally decided to jump into his music career after his brother passed. This month, Illa J released his first solo record intitled “Yancey Boys” referring to his self and his brother. J Dilla plays a big part on this album, providing all of the production for his little brother.

With the release of “Yancey Boys”, Hip-Hop Official decided to do a two-part interview with Illa J. You can check those below and look up the “Yancey Boys” album.

Hip-Hop Official.com - Illa J interview part 1

Hip-Hop Official.com - Illa J interview part 2

The Human Abstract tour with Dir En Grey, then Protest The Hero

Fake — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:50:39 +0000

The Human Abstract, fresh from completing a U.S. tour with Trivium and All That Remains is back on the road this time with Japanese act Dir En Grey. The tour, which started last week in Orlando, Florida, wraps its ways around the country before winding down in Englewood, Colorado on December 5.

The Music Tank’s own Luc (Zimmy) will be attending the Montreal show and was unable to drag me in that time around. No crazy japanese act for yours truely.

11/14              New York, NY                       Terminal 5
11/15              Montreal, QB                         Le Medley
11/16              Toronto, ON                          Kool Haus
11/18              Pontiac, MI                            Clutch Cargo’s
11/19              Chicago, IL                            House of Blues
11/20              Minneapolis, MN                  First Avenue
11/22              Milwaukee, WI                      The Eagles Club
11/23              Sauget, IL                              Pop’s
11/25              Houston, TX                          House of Blues
11/26              Dallas, TX                              Palladium Ballroom
11/28              Tempe, AZ                             Marquee Theatre
11/29              Los Angeles, CA                  Wiltern Theatre
11/30              San Francisco, CA              The Warfield
12/02              Portland, OR                         Hawthorne Theatre
12/03              Seattle, WA                           Showbox
12/05              Englewood, CO                    Gothic Theatre

Then in March the band will tour the UK alongside the mighty Protest The Hero and The Chariot.

3/3                   Plymouth, UK                       White Rabbit
3/4                   Leeds, UK                              Rios
3/5                   Glasgow, UK                         IvoryBlacks
3/6                   Sheffield,UK                         Corporation
3/7                   Nottingham,UK                     Rock City
3/8                   Milton Keynes, UK               The Pitz Club
3/9                   London, UK                           Underworld

Q-Tip on the Juan Epstein podcast

Half-Baked — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:26:58 +0000

At the occasion of the launch of his second solo album, Q-Tip got back into Hot 97’s studio to follow up on a much passionate discussion started a few months back with Peter Rosenberg & Cipha Sounds on their Juan Epstein podcast.

You can download both episodes below.

Download: Juan Epstein Season 2, Episode 15 - Q-Tip part 2
Download: Juan Epstein Season 2, Episode 7 featuring Q-Tip

Cold War Kids making of

Fake — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:23:23 +0000

Directed by Vern Moen, “02.08 to 06.08” is a 34 minute film about Cold War Kids and the making of “Loyalty to Loyalty”.

The film will be featured exclusively on YouTube for one week only and is available for purchase with the deluxe edition of the “Loyalty to Loyalty”, available now.

The film includes insight on the history of Cold War Kids, loads of behind the scenes studio footage, and interviews with the band and their families.

Stranger Than Fiction Week 41

BlackMage — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:39:36 +0000

Busy, busy, busy, that’s all I’ve been. Haven’t been able to make it to my computer to save my life. Thus the lack of an STF last week and the lack of news since forever. Trying again though. HB really picked up the slack, kudos.

EVERYBODY’S GONNA BE HAPPY

From 411mania.com:

Frontman Ray Davies has made no secret of his desire to reform The Kinks - not for a trip down nostalgia lane – but to record new material. Now, Davies must be a happy man: the band are writing together again with the hope of recording a “collaborative” album.

Ray Davies checked in with the BBC: “We’ve started a little bit of this and that, but it is too early to judge the quality. It depends if there’s good music. We want good new music. I’d like to do it as a more collaborative thing than we used to do.”

Davies sited Snow Patrol, Razorlight and one or two “unsigned” talents as potential collaborators: “I don’t just want to do usual suspects - I’d love to do something with Johnny [Borrell], but I’d like to find new bands. Unsigned even. I usually like the underdogs.”

That’s pretty cool, I’m down with the Kinks. No witty comment. Maybe that he misused the word “sited”. And I probably just spelled “misused” wrong so I should shut up.

HURRY UP AND GET THE HELL OUT PAUL

From Angryape.com (best site name ever):

Noel Gallagher won’t be quitting music just yet, as he’s waiting until Paul Weller hangs up his guitar first.

“I have always felt that as long as Paul Weller’s doing it - and he’s 10 years older than me - I’m doing it,” says the Oasis guitarist.

“The question is always there, at the back of my mind. When I was 30 it was like: ‘Well, I’ll be out of this by the time I’m 40.’ Now I’m 41 and I still really love it. And I think we are still valid as a band. I guess you face this worry in your 40s and come out the other side, when maybe age matters less.”

The title really said it all.

So, remember that one off Led Zeppelin show earlier this year? Yeah, hope you like hearing about it.

From Blabbermouth.net:

Former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has spoken out for the first time about rumors that he’s been asked to fill in for Robert Plant on a proposed Led Zeppelin reunion tour. The trek would feature original guitarist Jimmy Page, original bassist John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham taking over on drums for his late father, John Bonham.

“I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert Plant on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn’t to say I won’t be,” Cornell told MTV News. “I’ve heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it’s just an online rumor or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss tour.”

No, no, no, a thousand times no! Dear God, I can’t think of a better replacement off the top of my head, but please not Chris Cornell. Hell, you shouldn’t replace Robert Plant at all!

From 411mania:

Led Zepplein will embark on a tour in the coming months without Robert Plant. Plant has no plans to work with the band again. In an interview with the BBC bassist John Paul Jones said the band “are trying out a couple of singers.” Alter Bridge front-man Myles Kennedy is rumored to fill in for Plant on the tour. Billboard sites sources that if this happens, a Creed reunion tour is possible.

Oh great, Scott Stapp lite. He wouldn’t do Zep justice either.

Blabbermouth hands me some good news:

Despite being reported as saying he’d be interest in fronting Led Zeppelin on a tour if offered, Chris Cornell has now said he finds the idea of a Zeppelin reunion tour without frontman Robert Plant “depressing”.

Cornell has been linked to the vacant singing position since it emerged that John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Jason Bonahm planned to tour minus their frontman. Plant ruled himself out of any further performances with the group earlier in the autumn.

“I would never do anything like that whether I were approached or not,” Cornell is quoted as saying. “It just doesn’t make any sense to me at all. I would not want to go see me performing Led Zeppelin songs with the two other guys that used to be in a band called Led Zeppelin while Robert Plant is out somewhere touring.

“That’s not a ticket I would buy. God bless ‘em, but that’s not Led Zeppelin. I find it completely depressing. I’d never do anything like that. I mean just out of respect to the legacy of the band.”

Pay attention and follow suit Myles.

God, that STF was full of talking about old people.

I shall return next week and to the news feed! Just what HB and Fake don’t want I’m sure!

Kanye’s “Heartless” video

Half-Baked — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:49:09 +0000

After the recent leak of his video for his upcoming single “Heartless”, Kanye West decided to grace the web with the high-quality version of the Hype Williams-directed video (see below).

Kanye didn’t stop there. He also gives us a new version of “Love Lockdown” and the mastered version of “Heartless”

Love Lockdown | via zShare

Heartless | via zShare

Kanye West’s “808’s and Heartbreaks” is due for a November 25th release date.

88-Keys - The Death of Adam EPK

Half-Baked — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:09:45 +0000

88-Keys’ album The Death of Adam is less than a week away from getting released. We got the Early Press Kit just for you in order to dive into Keys’ rich musical tones. Also, check your magazine stands as 88-Keys graces the cover of the most recent issue of URB Magazine. The Death of Adam drops November 11th.

Q-Tip’s “The Renaissance” is finally here

Half-Baked — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:00:37 +0000

This week marks the release of Q-Tip’s second solo record “The Renaissance”.

Be sure to take a listen to the single “Move” produced by the late great J Dilla sampling The Jackson 5’s “Dancing Machine”.

We got the video below, enjoy the retro groove!

The Streets’ “Heaven for the Weather” video

Half-Baked — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:34:35 +0000

The Streets just released the video to his upcoming single “Heaven for the Weather”. The single will be out starting December 1st. Enjoy the sick tune and also, go take a look to our review for Everything is Borrowed!

The Streets - Everything is Borrowed

Half-Baked — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:52:55 +0000

Mike Skinner, aka The Streets, is now at his fourth studio album release. Having broke through the UK musical scene akin to the early 2000’s UK-Garage invasion, Skinner did more than enough to mark an important step into an artist’s career: establishing his own sound. Most artists need a few albums under their belt in order to do so, it wasn’t the case for The Streets as his production followed a linear evolution throughout his first three records.

Everything is Borrowed
Never backing down on the exploration front, we get a glimpse of Jazz on tracks like I love you more (than you like me), which goes without saying, is not in the typical soundscape of Skinner. The usual choir-type chorus are intricate to the album, hear Heaven for the Weather or the title track Everything is Borrowed for examples. The result is one half of up-tempo songs mixed with an equal number of ballads à la Mike Skinner graced with piano, accordeon and strings.

Mike Skinner’s writing style and delivery help bring the emotions of the subjects matter to the forefront. While not as transcending as the storytelling style that made his second album “A Grand Don’t Come For Free” the critically acclaimed record it is, “Everything is Borrowed” works well as a roller-coaster of emotions, present as much in the music as in the lyricism.

This album is surely a segway into a more drastic sound change for The Streets. “Everything is Borrowed” plays as a testament of Mike Skinner pushing his own enveloppe into a result that will suit longtime fans as well as newcomers.

My bottom line: Pick this one up, it will grow on you!

Album highlights: Heaven for the Weather / Never Give In / I Love You More (Than You Like Me) *see video below

Eagles of Death Metal Dates

Fake — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:50:38 +0000

Eagles of Death Metal alongside a link to them performing “Wannabe in LA” last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, sent us an update for their north american tour :

11/05: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
11/06: Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
11/08: Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe
11/09: Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
11/10: Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
11/11: Detroit, MI @ Small’s
11/13: Toronto. ON @ Mod Club
11/14: Montreal, QC @ Studio Jpr
11/15: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
11/16: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Wiliamsburg
11/17: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
11/18: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
11/20: West Chester, PA @ The Note
11/21: Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
11/22: Atlanta, GA @ CW Center Stage
11/24: New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
11/25: Houston, TX @ The Meridian

Common video interview

Half-Baked — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:01:52 +0000

Okayplayer did an interview with Common. He speaks his mind on the coming of his album “Universal Mind Control” as well as the Chicago hip-hop scene. In the video you can see excerpts of Common’s live show and to his upcoming video clip for his next single “Announcement”. Universal Mind Control drops December 9th.