R.E.M Finish Recording New Studio Album In Berlin
According to recent reports, R.E.M have finished recording their new studio album. The alternative radio giants band have been working on the follow-up to 2008's 'Accelerate' alongside producer Jacknife Lee in Berlin, Germany. The group are due to mix the album in the autumn ahead of release in spring 2011.
R.E.M's manager Bertis Downs said: "I will not report on the sound or the dimension of the recordings so far, to my ears it all sounds like quite a wonderful set of songs."
The band's 15th studio release has yet to be given a title.
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White's Marling single details revealed
Rough Trade has recently announced the details of Laura Marling's upcoming single for Jack White's Third Man Records label. The double A-side 7" features Marling's covers of Jackson C. Frank's "Blues Run The Game" and Neil Young's "The Needle And The Damage Done" and will be released on August 9. The songs were recorded by White at his own Nashville studio. The tracks feature only Marling with an acoustic guitar.
The
blue vinyl is limited to
1,500 copies and was laid down in one 25-minute take. It is available to pre-order now.
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Hill, McGraw flood benefit raises $2 million
It was announced that a benefit concert led by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw reportedly raised more than $2m for theTennessee flood victims. Funds collected at the Nashville Rising event will be distributed through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, reports The AP.
The concert featured performances and appearances by stars like Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Taylor Swift and ZZ Top.
Oscar winner Sandra Bullock also made a surprise appearance on stage. The flooding in May caused more than $2m of damage in the city of Nashville alone.
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Amy Winehouse Recording Comeback Album
It has been nearly four years since the embroiled British singer released her multi-Grammy Award-winning 'Back to Black' record. During her time off from the music business, Amy has battled drug and alcohol addictions and married and then divorced Blake Fielder-Civil.
Now clean and sober and dating a new man, Amy is preparing to go into the recording studio again (reportedly be released in January). She has reportedly written enough material for “three separate albums” but will choose just 14 tracks for her long-awaited comeback. She has promised her record label the LP will be better than anything she has done before.
"It's been an incredible past few weeks for Amy. She has completely turned her life around,” an insider told British newspaper The Daily Mirror.
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MORRISSEY TO RE-RELEASE 'BONA DRAG' WITH RARITIES
Morrissey has announced details of the re-release of his 1990 compilation album 'Bona Drag.'
He will release a re-mastered version of the album, featuring six rare and unreleased tracks, on September 27 of this year. The album's release has been overseen by the frontman, who has also directed the artwork. It will come out on Major Minor Records, the first release on the legendary '60s label since 1970.
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Michael Jackson Dolls Recreate 'Thriller' And 'Billie Jean' Poses
US toymaker Playmates is set to launch a new line of collectable Michael Jackson dolls this fall. The 10” scale figures capture the singer's likeness and fashions. The launch models – which can be viewed below – depict the late King of Pop in his 'Thriller' and 'Billie Jean' videos.
Tom Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of the merchandising company Bravado, said the figures celebrated Jackson's “unmistakable style and irreplaceable talent”.
