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Archive for January 2006
I have this strange cold right now it seems. It’s weird because usually I can pop my ears, everything drains and I feel better. This cold is strange and more intense. It’s as if something is blocked inside my head. I will probably go to the doctor soon enough, but for now I feel like total hell. I’ve been fighting it for three days, trying to stay home and get my rest. Nothing doing, it’s not going anywhere yet.
For now, I’m updating Scenestars a lot and trying to nurse this crud out of my system. Go over and listen to some new Neko Case, Dresden Dolls, The Raconteurs, Editors, Maximo Park and Belle and Sebastian. I’d recommend staying slightly outside my area just in case I’m contagious, I don’t even know what this is yet. Anyone want to donate some serious cold-killing medications to the cause? Feel free to call or email me. Your donations of useable medicine are welcomed and accepted.
Ever since I got my hands on Editors first single, “Munich” and their debut album The Back Room in early 2005, I began to sing the praises of this band left and right. I just can’t get enough, and it seems I am not alone in my love. During the first round of Editors hype, I heard all the noise of, “Oh they sound like Interpol, who needs another Interpol?” But recently, the tide of comparison has, to my pleasant surprise, started to turn into an embrace. It’s a strong, intense, and ferocious debut that intensifies in their live show according to recent reports. NYC’s Mercury Lounge and Rothko hosted sold-out shows by the band recently and Editors left bodies of fans in their wake.
This album, still tragically only available as an import, will soon find its way into the U.S. via Kitchenware’s distribution deal with Sony/BMG. It couldn’t come soon enough. Here’s a chance for you to hear what all the hoo hah is about for yourselves.
While I’m here, I think I’ll throw in some B-Sides for you to hear as well. Check out “Find Yourself A Safe Place”, “French Disko”, “Let Your Good Heart Lead You Home”, “Heads In Bags”, “Come Share The View”, and “I Buried The Devil”. I don’t think any further evidence is necessary as to how magnificent they are, but I’ll gladly hear more as it comes along.
For now, you can still purchase all of their material as import. It is money well spent.
Click here to stream Editors The Back Room (Hi Bandwidth Cable/DSL/T1)
Detroit what? The Raconteurs, the collective name of the long-awaited project recorded by Brendan Benson, Patrick Keeler (of The Greenhornes), Jack White (from that White Stripes band), and Jack Lawrence, have launched their official website today. Now, don’t be alarmed that it looks like an old VT-100 terminal. It’s not really 1982, but in the world of The Raconteurs it is. Two new songs can be heard on the site, “Steady As She Goes” and “Store Bought Bones”. This is one of the most hotly anticipated albums of 2006, and after hearing the tracks you’ll be able to tell why. I’m seriously digging this.
UPDATE: You Aint’ No Picasso has one of the tracks up for download, head on over and download that sucker.
Congratulations to Manda Dotson and Peter “The Soviet Panda”! You each correctly answered the question and will be receiving one of these delicious Maximo Park limited edition 7″ singles!
Q:Who is the photographer responsible for the photographs adorning the covers of Maximo Park’s recent slough of releases?
A:Yes, it is Ian Davies. A quick look around will reveal that though the pictures are Robert Longo influenced, Ian is credited as the photographer on Maximo Park’s releases!
Thanks to everyone who submitted answers & stay tuned for another cool giveaway later this month.
I’ve never been a fan of Dresden Dolls directly, though by proxy I’ve tried to fall in love with them a bit at a time. Their music represents some sort of big, flashy, dramatic and act-y vaudeville-ish interpretaton of music that I reserve for Liza Minelli and Joel Grey in Cabaret. Well, life may be a cabaret, old chum, but even Bob Fosse himself would never have been able to smell what Dresden Dolls were cooking up with their soon-to-be-released album Yes, Virginia. Far flashier and less narrowly produced-sounding than their previous outings, Yes, Virginia seems more like an out-of-control off-Broadway musical than a rock album. John Cameron Mitchell (creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch) would proudly stand up and tuck his penis pubicly before generously applauding numbers like “Sex Changes”, “Modern Moonlight”, and the pointedly tongue-in-cheek number “Dirty Business”. The subway never gets stuck between stations on this album, and it will undoubtedly propel Dresden Dolls to the most established role amongst the ever-growing crop of what I call “Fosserock” artists.
Neko Case is the busiest woman in rock, it seems. Last year, her band New Pornographers’ album Twin Cinema topped dozens of 2005 year-end lists, and Neko’s lengthy and impressive solo career sees no slowing down. With 2006’s Fox Confessor Brings The Flood, she stays firmly in the neo-hip cowboy boots of a woman standing too close to the edge and reporting back what she sees gracefully. Aside from its deeply honest and direct lyrics, Fox Confessor also showcases a weightier and more diverse musicality from Neko. Unreliant of the monotonic vibrations of previous outings, her new material is fresh, refined and distinct. Songs like “Star Witness” and “Margaret vs. Pauline” come across as alt.country classics. “Dirty Knife” is indicative of the more identifiable Neko Case, immediately registering upon first listen as Neko Case than to draw similarities to other artists. Fox Confessor will be the album that solidifies Neko Case as the pre-eminent female songwriter of this generation. Transcendant of genre and style, the songs continue to grow on me with each listen. I look forward to seeing Neko live in concert again soon.
Advance Ordering Is Available Now From Amazon.Com
One of Newcastle’s finest exports and fastest-rising stars are the power pop wunderkinds of Maximo Park. Often lumped into comparison with bands like The Strokes and Franz Ferdinand, their particular brand of jangly powerchords and fun set them apart from the pack and have earned them a following amongst their countrymen and those stateside. Having flooded the market with a series of new releases, including A Certain Trigger (which earned them a Mercury Prize nomination) and a series of singles including “Apply Some Pressure” and “Graffiti”, the band will issue this retrospective-of-sorts on February 21st which includes demos and unreleased B-sides. Have a listen to it and tell us what you think.
OH NO IT’S ANOTHER SCENESTARS CONTEST!!!
Be one of the first two people to answer this question correctly and win one of these two limited edition 7″ Maximo Park singles!
Part One
Limited Edition Orange Vinyl; Contains Brand New Track -
My Life in Reverse
Part Two
Limited Edition Transparent Vinyl; Contains Brand New
Track - Isolation, as well as Live in Japan version of
Apply Some Pressure.
Email your answers to: scenestars.net [at] gmail [dot] com
Q: Who is the photographer responsible for the photographs adorning the covers of Maximo Park’s recent slough of releases?
The first two correct answers will each win one of these very limited-edition 7″ vinyl (one will win Part One, one will win Part Two).
Click here to stream Missing Songs by Maximo Park (Hi-Bandwidth Cable/DSL/T1)
Pre-order it from Amazon.Com right now for only $9.99 by clicking below.
First of all, I’m late to the game on this but condolences go out to the friends and family of Chris Penn. He was a very talented actor and, as Winona Ryder said at Sundance, “He was much more than Sean’s little brother.” His work speaks for itself, and I was saddened to hear of his passing today.
Secondly, I got a piece of celebrity gossip in my Inbox from a friend seeking validation of its truth. I read the item, and sat there shaking my head thinking, “Who in the hell dreams up this crap and why?” All in a day’s work, or lack thereof, I’m sure. But to the nincompoop who dreamed up this piece of ridiculous misinformation, what was your purpose?
TIMBERLAKE RESPONSIBLE FOR RICCI AND GOLDBERG SPLIT?
Actress CHRISTINA RICCI split with boyfriend ADAM GOLDBERG after filming
with JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE made her realise she wants a boyfriend who is as
successful as the singer.The MONSTER actress filmed BLACK SNAKE MOAN with Timberlake in his hometown
of Memphis, Tennessee, and the two became close friends.A set source tells US Weekly magazine, “She saw Justin doing all that he is
doing and started to really like him. When she came back from filming she
broke up with Adam and said she wanted more. Adam is furious about it.”The co-stars didn’t become romantically involved, but the friendship caused
Ricci to re-evaluate her three-year relationship with the SAVING PRIVATE
RYAN actor.The actress has put the Los Angeles home they shared on the market for
$3.1 million (GBP1.72 million).
For sure it’s none of my business, but I can report with certainty it’s a bunch of total malarkey. Maybe I’m naive, but I couldn’t think of one “set source” who would waste their time coming up with this nonsense. If you hear anyone repeating it elsewhere, tell them it’s bullshit and then give them a list of better things to do than talk about Christina Ricci.
