The Roundtable: Nap Time
Who do you want to play you to sleep?
Everybody loves to sleep, and some people like music to listen to while they sleep. I, for one, hate listening to music while I try to sleep, but this week our writers get asked a tough question. What band would you pick to play you to sleep for the rest of your life?
Mark Steffen - I'm going to have to go with Xiu Xiu...
Posted by Wes Soltis on Oct 23, 2009 @ 9:00 am
The Rakes Call It Quits
The Rakes call it quits, cancel tour.
The UK quarter the Rakes have decided to officially call it quits effective immediately, canceling all future shows in the US and UK. In a statement issued by the band, they state "After much deliberation we have come to the shared conclusion that we can't give it 100% anymore and regret to announce that The Rakes are calling it a day...Writing your own obituary is a surreal thing to do but we want to give particular thanks to our much-loved fans, all the great people we've worked with over the years, our management and loyal record label. We feel privileged to have had the opportunity to write music together and perform around the world. Genuinely, thanks for the good times.... That was one hell of a party! But now, we really must get some sleep."
The band formed back in 2002 and released two albums during their career, Capture/Release in 2005 and Ten Messages in 2007. The Rakes latest, and now final, album Klang is set to release October 27 in the US. Klang has received great reviews overseas in the UK for it's fresh take on their already established style.
Posted by Amy Dittmeier on Oct 22, 2009 @ 10:00 am
Girls Are Rad: Cober
Sheila Bommakanti of Cober is a one-woman wonder with a double-necked guitar.
Creating and self-releasing four albums worth of material—two of which with nothing more than a double-necked guitar and two Marshall half-stacks—is impressive enough, but Sheila Bommakanti does it all herself under the moniker Cober...
Posted by Leah Urbom on Oct 22, 2009 @ 9:00 am
New Music From Brett Anderson
Brett Anderson is 'The Hunted.' 'Slow Attack' due out November 2nd.
Suede's former front man Brett Anderson has been a pretty unhappy camper ever since his highly influential band split in 2003. I can't attest to his personal life, but musically he's turned the doldrums into an art form. His two solo recordings thus far, Brett Anderson and Wilderness, are bare boned, laid back and self-reflective; a male version of Tapestry, if you will. Call it maturity or call it casting off the shackles of his bombastic goth-glam 90's experience, but Anderson has settled nicely into his half-sad bastard, half-English gentlemen music role quite well.
His latest album, Slow Attack, sees Anderson walk triumphantly out of the fog, battered and bruised but with a smile on his face. Whereas his two previous albums flirted with the sparse tones of chamber pop, Brett seems to have grown a pair on this one - especially with first single "The Hunted." His voice has regained its guttural strength and haunting control. Recalling the highly under appreciated Dog Man Star album from Suede, fans will appreciate the lush orchestration and complete mid-song reckless breakdown.
Slow Attack will be available November 2 via Brett's own label, BA Music.
Posted by Joe Roth on Oct 21, 2009 @ 9:00 am
Lady Gaga and Kid Cudi Anounce The Monster Ball Tour
Kanye Gets Replace By Cudi in Gaga’s Tour Starting November 27th
Looks like North America got an exchange for the Lady Gaga and Kanye West “Fame Kills’ Tour. This time, instead of Yeezy, Kid Cudi steps up to the plate to perform with Gaga in “The Monster Ball” tour. Not a bad trade if you ask us. The tour boasts to be the first “pop-electro opera,” and will open in Montreal November 27th...
Posted by Andrew Macnider on Oct 21, 2009 @ 8:00 am