Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Music News & Notes

UK and Irish retailers sign up for Record Store Day


It is a worldwide event. More than 50 independent record stores in the UK and Ireland, from Blackcat in Taunton to One Up in Aberdeen, have now signed up for the second Record Store Day, which takes place on April 18.

And organisers have announced a fresh load of exclusive releases for participants to sell, including a series of seven-inch vinyl from Rhino, featuring names such as The Smiths and MC5, and an exclusive mix from Wooden Shjips.

Other planned events on the day include free in-store performances by bands and DJs, signing sessions, free label samplers and goodie bags.

The event, pioneered in the US by Atlanta’s Criminal Records owner Eric Levin and Music Monitor Network’s chief executive Michael Kurtz, is intended to celebrate and promote independently-owned music retailers across the globe.

==============================

Death Cab EP

Death Cab for Cutie is set release a new EP called "The Open Door," featuring songs that didn’t fit the vibe of their 2008 album Narrow Stairs. “It’s not like they’re castoffs or anything; they’re part of the Narrow Stairs experience,” bassist Nick Harmer explained to MTV.

==============================

Oasis EP

Oasis have released an EP for their "Dig Out Your Soul" single called “Falling Down.” A new B-side “These Swollen Hand Blues” will appear on the multi-format single, as will remixes of “Falling Down” by the Prodigy and Twiggy Ramirez. Additionally, a 22-minute “Amorphous Androgynous A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble” remix of “Falling Down” will be available as a digital download.

==============================

Garrett Returns To Midnight Oil

Peter Garrett is scheduled to reunite with his former band, Midnight Oil, for a brushfires benefit concert. He was lead singer for the band for 26 years but he left in 2002 for a life in politics. Since that time, he has been elected to Australian parliament in 2004 and was also appointed Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts in 2007.

==============================

I Saw Santa Kissing Santa Claus Singer Dies

Jimmy Boyd, whose "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause" became a holiday classic, passed away on Sunday from cancer at the age of 70. The song was #1 on the Billboard charts and it sold 2 million records in less than 10 weeks.

Although his big hit was recorded when he was 13, he went on to continue recording and appear on TV shows like Ed Sullivan, The Frank Sinatra Show, Bachelor Father and Date With the Angels.

==============================

Sir Paul Sells Out

Paul McCartney's show at Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on April 19 sold out in seven seconds. That's around 600 seats per second.

==============================

New Devo Music

Devo has announced that they will release a new album in the fall. The as-yet-untitled set will be their first since 1990's Smooth Noodle Maps.

No comments: