The British Are Coming
Radiohead remixed, The Specials reform and The Long Blondes mature.
With the release of second single "Nude" from In Rainbows, Radiohead are now challenging fans to a remix. iTunes and GarageBand are allowing fans to noodle with five separate tracks from the recording. Customers will be sent an access code to rework bass, voice, guitar, strings/effects and drums using the GarageBand or Logic Production software. You can then upload your remix to Radiohead Remix where the listening public has until May 1st to vote.
Here's a story that may have flown past your head. In the spirit of spreading the rock n' roll seed, the country of Ireland is offering concertgoers free tickets to any music festival in Europe in exchange for a helping of sperm. The "Sperm For Tickets" initiative was created to re-supply Ireland's dwindling stock that has seen a decrease of 40 % in the last four years. Citizens of Europe interested in keeping Ireland populated can visit Sperm For Tickets.
British folk sweetheart Beth Orton concluded a short acoustic tour last night at New York's Hiro Ballroom. The two-year absence from the stage can be attributed to her recent pregnancy. Orton mostly played material from 2006's Comfort Of Strangers. "A Place Aside" needed a few different takes, with the first two yielding pitch problems. "You don't understand -- I've been breast-feeding," she quipped. A new album is expected late next year.
The Specials are rumored to be reforming. Front man Terry Hall says that seeing other big name acts take to the road has been a major inspiration. "Because I saw Patti Smith do Horses, and I saw The Pixies reforming... you do it with dignity or don't do it at all. We're still trying to put dates together, but hopefully September/ October time. We need to spend the summer rehearsing... I think it's taken me 30 years to realize we could do it really well." Ghost Town was the last proper release from the original line-up in 1981.The Long Blondes have returned with a laid back and mature follow-up to their Rough Trade debut Someone To Drive You Home. The Sheffield based five piece formed in 2005 and quickly garnered comparisons to fellow townies Pulp. Steve Mackey, bassist for Pulp, produced their debut, instilling a sense of class amongst tracks filled with jerky guitars, dance floor drums and stories of reaching erotic teenage heights.
Lead singer and fashion plate, Kate Jackson, proves why she could be our generations' Chrissie Hynde on Couples lead single. "Century" is an electro-lounge rocker that blends the over indulgence of a young Bryan Ferry with the playful side of the grossly underrated Ohio band The Waitresses. Couples is the cooler, sophisticated older sister who smokes cigarettes, bagged their English teacher and listened to Sleater Kinney way before anyone else did.
The Long Blondes will release Couples in the US via Rough Trade April 8th. Listen to "Century" below.
STREAM: The Long Blondes - Century
Posted by Joe Roth on Apr 02, 2008 @ 12:00 am