Bryan Wawzenek
After reuniting and playing a bunch of shows last year, Soundgarden said their goal for 2011 was to make a new album. According to frontman Chris Cornell, that process begins next week.
“We start recording in about a week in Seattle,” he told Spin.com. He said that Adam Kasper – who produced the band’s last studio album, 1996’s Down on the Upside – will return to helm this project.
Read the rest at Gibson.com
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Danzig Announces US Spring Tour
Danzig has announced the Deth Red Sabaoth Tour this Spring with special guests Devildriver and 2Cents. The month-long, 22-city trek beings in Las Vegas on April 29th, hitting all regions of the US, and ends May 28th in Tempe, AZ. This comes on the heels of Danzig's recent nomination for best vocalist at the 2011 Revolver Golden Gods Awards. Tickets go on sale to the general public this weekend, March 4-5th.
Read more at pluginmusic.com
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an interesting post about album cover art!
Best Power Metal Album Covers
Whether you're a seasoned listener or a heavy music neophyte, if you see some kind of mythological winged creature or a 'Masters of the Universe'-inspired landscape on an album cover, chances are it's from a power metal band. While this over-the-top brand of artwork is definitely an acquired taste (as is the genre itself), we hope you enjoy this list of our 10 favorite power metal album covers.
Read more at noisecreep.com
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More of the Monkees: U.S. Tour Announced
Andrew Vaughan
An Evening with The Monkees – The 45th Anniversary Tour will begin on June 4 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida. The three Monkees – Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork will play 27 cities before winding up the tour in Los Angeles in July.
Aside from the hits like “I’m a Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville,” “Daydream Believer,” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” The Monkees will perform album tracks including songs from their cult movie, Head.
Read the rest at Gibson.com
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some of these I have already listed, here but there are some new ones here and more info on some special Record Store Day releases:
Polyvinyl Records unveils eleven limited edition vinyl releases for Record Store Day 2011
Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity (LP, with MP3)
Limited to 1000 copies and pressed on 180-gram translucent green vinyl. The album has been out of print on vinyl for years and is under exclusive license through Kill Rock Stars. In addition to the original album it includes ‘Makko Shobu’ and a new mix for ‘Matchbook Seeks Maniac’.
Mighty Clouds – Mighty Clouds (LP with MP3)
Limited to 500 on 180-gram black vinyl. Mighty Clouds is the new project from Fred Thomas (Saturday Looks Good to Me, City Center) and Betty Marie Barnes (SLGTM). Their self-titled debut is a split release between Polyvinyl and Life Like.
Owen – O, Evelyn (7″ with MP3)
Limited to 2000 on black vinyl. O, Evelyn is a new 7″ from Mike Kinsella (American Football, Cap’n Jazz) recorded and released specifically for Record Store Day and limited to 2000 copies. The A-side features the title track, while the B-side is a cover of The Smiths ‘Girlfriend in a Coma’.
of Montreal – The Past Is A Grotesque Animal (12″ with MP3)
Limited to 1,000 on 180-gram black vinyl. Packaged in a hand screenprinted jacket, the A-side features the album version of ‘The Past Is A Grotesque Animal’ from 2007′s Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? The B-side is a new version of ‘The Past Is A Grotesque Animal’ that was made for the Spike Jonze short film I’m Here, in which a fake robot band called The Lost Trees perform the song. The song was re-envisioned by of Montreal chief musician Kevin Barnes, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ guitarist Nick Zinner, and members of the Moonrats.
Architecture in Helsinki – Places Like This Special Edition (LP with MP3)
Architecture in Helsinki’s Places Like This is being reissued as a limited edition run of 500 copies on 180-gram pink vinyl. Places Like This is one of the the band’s highest selling albums to date and has been unavailable through retailers for close to a year.
Joan of Arc – Joan of Arc Presents: Don’t Mind Control Special Edition (LP with MP3)
Limited to 500 on 180-gram blue vinyl. Joan of Arc Presents: Don’t Mind Control features new songs by Tim Kinsella, Owen, Cale Parks (Aloha), Vacations (ex-Chin Up Chin Up), Ghosts and Vodka (ex-Cap’n Jazz), Euphone, The Cairo Gang, and many more. This release will be a super deluxe edition with 18×24 poster, gatefold jacket and bonus 24-song download of the soundboard recording of the Don’t Mind Control Variety Show.
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Broom Special Edition (LP with MP3)
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s debut album Broom is being reissued as a limited edition run of 500 copies on 180-gram white vinyl. Never before on colored vinyl, the super deluxe edition of this LP features three songs not found on the CD along with a download code that includes two digital bonus tracks. It also includes an exclusive poster.
Deerhoof / XIU XIU – Almost Xiu Xiu, Almost Deerhoof (Split 7″ with MP3)
Almost Xiu Xiu, Almost Deerhoof is the latest in a series of collaborative 7″ singles, featuring guest vocalists singing self-composed lyrics and vocal melodies over a Deerhoof instrumental track. Side-A features Xiu Xiu vocalist Jamie Stewart as well as added instrumentation on Deerhoof’s ‘Almost Everyone, Almost Always’, which is featured on Deerhoof’s latest album, Deerhoof vs. Evil. Side-B features Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier returning the favor for a track that appears in its original state on Xiu Xiu’s Dear God, I Hate Myself.
Vivian Girls – I Heard You Say (7″ with MP3)
Limited to 2000 on black vinyl. Vivian Girls’ I Heard You Say 7″ features their brand new single on Side-A, taken from the upcoming full-length album and Polyvinyl debut, Share the Joy. Side-B, ‘I Won’t Be Long’, is exclusive to this release.
Mates of State – Team Boo Special Edition (LP with MP3)
Limited to 500 on 180-gram red vinyl. Team Boo is Mates of State’s classic 3rd full-length and one of their best selling to date. Team Boo was engineered by Jim Eno (of Spoon) and John Croslin (who recorded albums for Spoon, Guided By Voices, Beulah and countless others). This special Record Store Day edition includes five digital bonus tracks.
Busdriver – ATM (7″ with MP3)
Limited to 1,000 on baby blue vinyl. Ass to Mouth b/w ‘Colour Wheel’ is the first offering from Busdriver’s highly anticipated untitled full-length.
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NPR.com has a lengthy story about vinyl, well worth checking out!
Slow And Steady: Vinyl Survives
by Jacob Ganz
Read the rest of the article at npr.org
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a great story at boston.com about a medium that has been part of our music culture for many years
Post master
He may not be a rock star, but graphic artist Nate Duval gets to work closely with some of the best
By Christopher Muther
Read the rest of the interview at boston.com
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and in music history for today:
In 1931, the first jazz album to sell a million copies was recorded. It was "Minnie The Moocher" by Cab Calloway.
In 1956, Elvis Presley makes his first appearance on the Billboard charts when "Heartbreak Hotel" debuts at #68. Although many staff members at RCA Victor believed that the release was a mistake, the song would rise to #1 on the US Pop chart for 8 weeks and spend 17 weeks at the top of the Country chart. Many years later, "Heartbreak Hotel" would be ranked #45 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In 1957, the head of the Catholic archdiocese of Chicago, Samuel Cardinal Strich, bans Rock and Roll from Catholic schools in his district.
In 1966, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Richie Furay, Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin created the group, Buffalo Springfield. Their stay on the Rock music scene would only last a couple of years before the group would fragment. Stills teamed up with David Crosby of The Byrds and Graham Nash of The Hollies to form Crosby, Stills and Nash, while Young released several solo projects before joining them. Furay got together with Jim Messina and Randy Meisner to create Poco in 1968. Palmer dropped out of the lime light while Martin toured as Buffalo Springfield with fill-in musicians.
In 1967, The Jeff Beck group, featuring a virtually unknown singer named Rod Stewart, along with bass player Ron Wood and drummer Aynsley Dunbar, make their debut in London, England.
In 1971, South African radio lifts its five-year ban on Beatles' music.
In 1980, London auction house Sotheby's holds its first ever auction of Rock memorabilia. Among the notable items sold were four US dollar bills signed by The Beatles that went for £220 ($528).
In 1983, a member of a motorcycle gang tells a US Senate Judiciary hearing that his friends have a contract out on The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and that two assassination attempts have already failed.
In 1984, one-hit wonders Nena start a three-week run on top of the U.K. singles chart with “99 Red Balloons.” Originally sung in their native German, “99 Luftballons” was re-recorded in English. The original version went on to become a #2 hit in the U.S.
In 2008, Norman Smith, who was the chief engineer on Beatles recording sessions between 1962-65, dies at the age of 85. Nicknamed “Normal Norman” by John Lennon, he recorded the early Pink Floyd. As Hurricane Smith he had unexpected Top 5 U.K. hits in 1971 with “Don’t Let It Die”and “Oh Babe, What Would You Say” the following year
If you see them, wish them a happy birthday today! Robyn Hitchcock (1953) and Jennifer Warnes (1947)