Pitchfork: The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s:

Pitchfork has produced a quite staggering list of 200 top albums of the decade. It's amazing to read through it and remember all those records. They are releasing them all week and so far they have 200-151. Of personal note I fondly remember the Elliott Smith album - Figure 8. It introduced me to the masterful and sadly missed musician.

Read the list here

The Flaming Lips - Behind the Scenes

Here's Wayne backstage at the Colbert Report with Bradford Cox (Deerhunter). Enjoy!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Exclusive - Backstage with The Flaming Lips and Deerhunter
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Protests

Ben Kweller - Luxury Wafers session [mp3]

Ben Kweller is a favourite of About The Music's. His self titled 2006 remains in our opinion one of the finest guitar - pop records around.

If you haven't heard him yet, you could do worse than to check out this mp3 of the Luxury Wafers sessions.

Fight [mp3]

Wantin' Her Again [mp3]

Things I Like To Do [mp3]

You can also watch a video of the performance here.

Thom Yorke and Flea form supergroup

This just in from The Guardian



Thom Yorke has recruited Flea, the bassist from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers to play slap bass on his solo tracks. The band which will play live dates next week, also includes Joey Waronker, Mauro Refosco and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich.

t's not yet clear if the band intend to write their own material, or if they've simply been put together by Yorke to recreate the increasingly weird noises that fester inside his head. One thing is clear, though: for anyone who has ever heard Yorke's solo material and thought, "Interesting stuff Thom … but this abstract bleepy wailing could really do with some funky slap bass", it really is your lucky day.

Tryone Wells - audio stream

Singer/songwriter Tyrone Wells is the latest act to gain exposure on the hit TV show Grey?s Anatomy. His song ?Sink or Swim? was recently featured in the promos for the sixth season premiere.

Listen to the full track here:

Windows

Quicktime

It sounds very Coldplay - but that's not a bad thing. He does have a great, immediately accessible voice. Check it out.

Wells launched his career in 2003 with a number of indie releases. His fourth album and second major label release, Remain, is full of passion, with a lush production value that showcases his powerful voice. Remain, featuring the track ?Sink or Swim,? is available now in stores and on iTunes.

iPhone on Orange in UK

A bit of a techy one this, but the O2 exclusivity for the iPhone in the UK is now coming to an end (as long rumoured). Orange will start selling both the iPhone and the iPhone 3GS later this year. The exact date is undertermined.

This may be enough to tip the balance and make me purchase one. No word on price plans yet.

Avett Brothers - I and Love and You - video

The Avett Brothers are pleased to premiere their first video from their upcoming September 29th release “I and Love and You” on MySpace today!

If you've been reading the blog you'll know that we're very excited about the forthcoming Avett Brothers release. Check out the video of this wonderful song.

Enter Shikari

Enter Shikari are a british, St. Albans-based quartet of kinda electro, kinda rocky shouty loud music. Their new album, COMMON DREADS will be released shortly. Some say it will come to define the era into which it was born: one of recession, paranoia, state control and the fallout of decades of accelerated capitalism. But – and this is important – also an era of hope and creativity, humanity, hedonism, irreverence and fun. Just check out lead single ‘Juggernauts’.

Anyway, lead singer Rou Reynolds sat down for a brief Q&A about the new record.

Your first album Take To The Skies--released on your own Ambush Reality label--debuted at #4 on the U.K. chart, becoming one of the most successful self-released rock albums ever. With your choice of major label offers in the U.K., why did you decide to release it on your own and what did you learn from it?

At the time, we didn't really feel like we had a choice--we'd been touring for around two years properly without any press or label interest. We'd done everything along the way ourselves from the booking to the designing and printing of T-shirts to recording our demos. It was only as we released "Sorry You're Not A Winner" that the interest suddenly boomed and by that time we realized we could do it ourselves with the help of the family we had built up around us. I'm glad it happened just as it did as I'd hate to be tied up in a major label deal now in this current era of uncertainty.

On COMMON DREADS, you teamed with producer Andy Gray (U2, Tori Amos, Korn, Gary Numan) and holed yourselves up in the isolated Isle of Wight. How did this work for you? What did you feel the result was for COMMON DREADS?

It was superb-- it couldn't have been more of an opposite experience from the recording of our first album. That was rushed down in two weeks and I've never been happy with the way the vocals sound. This time around, it was a conscious decision to get away for a few months and experiment. Andy (Gray) was wicked as well--he was up for anything from burning pianos (“Havoc B”) to breaking into churches and recording organs (“Fanfare”) to singing outdoors in boxers whilst it was snowing at 1:00AM to get that real 'cold' vibe (‘’All Eyes On The Saint’’). It was a real fun experience and I'm really proud of the result! COMMON DREADS really captures the live feel of the band and our vision.

What would you describe as the most powerful song to you on this album? Which new song do you really enjoy performing right now?

That’s a tough one--I'd probably have to go with “Fanfare.” It was all done pretty last minute, so I guess it came out as a final outpouring of frustration with both our countries’ aggressive foreign policies this past decade. I'm loving performing “Havoc B” at the moment--Chris pulls down some vicious sub bass to get the ground shaking and at the end hearing the crowd join in with the chanting creates such an unbelievable sense of unity.

What was the inspiration behind the song “Juggernauts?”

We campaigned to stop a local superstore giant here in the U.K. from building a store right in the center of our town. It was just a nice quaint victory that was really inspiring to see everyone getting involved. The song itself is about how important it is to feel involved and to have a sense of belonging to your community and how our current economic and social system actively discourages this.

The name ENTER SHIKARI came from a boat that belonged to your uncle. Why did you choose it and what do you feel it means?

Shikari means “The Hunter” in many Indian languages. My uncle was a fisherman and back when I was a kid I used to go out onto the high seas with him and just thought it was an awesome word. When we made the band, it just kind of fitted into what we had to do. We knew to make changes in this world you have to get out there and hunt yourself. It just seemed apt for how we were working as a band (the whole DIY style) as well as our political outlook.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

Lady Gaga.

The Beatles reissues

What a cash machine. Following 09/09/09 The Beatles have broken multiple chart records around the world. In the major music markets of North America, Japan and the UK, consumers purchased more than 2.25 million copies of The Beatles' re-mastered albums, individually and in two multiple-CD boxed sets, one in stereo and one in mono, during the first five days of release (excluding non-traditional retail outlets whose sales are not tracked by the chart compilers).

On Billboard's Comprehensive Albums chart, which lists the most popular album releases in the US, including current and catalogue titles, The Beatles set a new record for the most simultaneous titles by a single artist (18), including five of the top 10 and nine of the top 20.

Watch Film Trailer Starring the Shins

Some Days Are Better Than Others, a new film features former Sleater-Kinney guitar hero Carrie Brownstein and Shins frontman James Mercer. McCormick described the film as being about "lonely people trying to create their own abstract forms of communication. You could call it a charmingly melancholy look at abandonment."

Watch the trailer here

U2 360 tour - Cardiff - 22 August 2009

I've finally got around to uploading some of my photographs from the U2 360 show in Cardiff. What a great night. Here are some of the memories. Click on the picture to go to a bigger version.

From New Album 27/08/2009 21:41

From New Album 27/08/2009 21:41

From New Album 27/08/2009 21:41

From New Album 27/08/2009 21:41

New Flaming Lips video

I Can Be A Frog - watch the video here

SINGER/SONGWRITER JAMES YUILL TO RELEASE TURNING DOWN WATER FOR AIR: EARTH & FIRE VERSIONS

That's quite a long title but here's the gist of it:

There's a guy called James Yuill. He's a singer-songwriter with diverse influences ranging from the folk-rock ballads of Nick Drake to more progressive productions turned out by the likes of Radiohead and the Chemical Brothers (but who hasn't been influenced by Radiohead?).

His folktronica sound blends traditional acoustics and down tempo vocals with digital sounds and techno enhancements.

Anyway today he releases a new digital version of his debut album Turning Down Water For Air.

Turning Down Water For Air: Earth & Fire Versions is a re-recording of Yuill’s entire debut album; he actually turned each track on its head to create new versions in the opposing style to that in which they were originally conceived.

Stand-out tracks like “No Pins Allowed,” “No Surprise,” and “This Sweet Love,” which were originally more electronic-tinged are now stripped down and called “Earth Versions.” The folkier original album tracks like “How Can I Lose” and “You Always Do” are now laced with an electronic edge, making these “Fire Versions.”

If you like the sound of this why don't you check out the:

FREE DOWNLOAD OF "THIS SWEET LOVE" EARTH VERSION

Want to know more? Check out http://www.jamesyuill.com

The Avett Brothers - free stream of new album

I've been listening to the forthcoming release of The Avett Brothers' new album for a few days now.

It's called "I AND LOVE AND YOU" and I'm hooked.

A friend from Utah told me to check them out in the summer and despite not having listened to them before I can tell that they will quickly become a favourite. Paste Magazine has reviewed their album saying that "it's like Ryan Adams before the speedballs took over - they have an ability to mine the heart and sould of the modern american man". (or words to that effect).

The title track is a slow ballad, as the rest of the songs are, but one that demands your attention. It features the perfect melody and the sweetest harmonies together with proper lyrics and a wonderful chorus.

You can listen to the album, in full, yourself. It streams exclusivly on NPR MUSIC this week.

Beginning today, and running through September 29, NPR Music will host an Exclusive First Listen of I and Love and You on their , website, where fans will be able to get a sneak peak of the new album a week prior to release. NPR Music’s distinctive Exclusive First Listen series recently showcased new music from such innovators as Wilco, Moby, Bjork and Neko Case.

On Tuesday, September 29th The Avett Brothers will release I and Love and You, their major label debut on American Recordings/Columbia Records. I and Love and You was produced by multi Grammy Award winner Rick Rubin. The band is set to perform the title track on the Late Show with David Letterman on Monday September 28. The band will also be seen performing another new track, “Laundry Room,” on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Tuesday October 6th.

The band’s diverse style and consistent touring, along with independent releases, have helped the band build a loyal and rabid fan base. Rolling Stone recently highlighted the band in their ‘Artists To Watch’ proclaiming "Over the course of a decade The Avett Brothers perfected a blend of bluegrass picking, country harmonies and rock & roll energy." While O Magazine proclaimed “The North Carolina rock band creates elegiac Americana.” The Avett Brothers have toured most of 2009 testing out new material, as well as their older songs. This year alone, the band has performed at SxSW Music Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, as well as upcoming stops at Newport Folk Festival, Mulberry Mountain Festival, Outside Lands Festival, Britt Festival, Austin City Limits Festival and more (see full itinerary below).

The Beatles - Official Widget

Get the widget for yourself here

Brand New - Daisy

BRAND NEW ANNOUNCE ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCES

With Brand New's album, Daisy, hitting stores in just under one week the band has announced a string of special acoustic performances at independent retailers across the country. Fans must purchase Daisy at one of the selected retail stores to receive a pass that will guarantee them access to the acoustic set. Pass distribution begins on 9/22, the day Daisy is released, but quantities will be limited to one pass per purchase. Check the list below for a retailer closest to you, and make sure to visit www.myspace.com/BrandNew for all the latest Brand New news.

ST LOUIS, MO
October 6th at 4pm
VINTAGE VINYL
6610 Delmar Blvd
University City, MO 63130
**Pass distribution begins on 9/22!**

SAN FRANCISCO, CA
October 16th at 4pm
RASPUTIN RECORDS
1820 S. Bascom Ave
Campbell, CA 95008
**Pass distribution begins on 9/22!**

LAS VEGAS, NV
October 23rd at 4pm
ZIA
4225 S Eastern Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89119
**Pass distribution begins on 9/22 at both Las Vegas ZIA locations**

DALLAS, TX
October 30th at 4pm
GOOD RECORDS
1808 Lower Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
**Pass distribution begins on 9/22!**

CHARLOTTE, NC
November 9th at 4pm
MANIFEST DISC
6329 S. Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28217
**Pass distribution begins on 9/22 at both Manifest locations**

Free smashing pumpkins album

The Guardian reports that Billy Corgan has announced an enormous, 44-song Smashing Pumpkins album, to be given away for free. Starting around 31 October, the band will make the new songs available on their website, one by one, "with no strings attached".

Teargarden by Kaleidyscope will be the eighth album by the Smashing Pumpkins, and the first to be recorded with only one original member. Instead, Corgan is joined by Jeff Schroeder, Ginger Reyes, and 19-year-old drummer Mike Byrne.

Check the Smashing Pumpkins website come the end of October.

THE AVETT BROTHERS Video Series & NPR Song of the Day

The Avett Brothers are presenting a series of 13 clips, each showcasing a song from the new Rick Rubin produced album, I and Love and You.

Using live footage shot at the recent Charlotte, NC headlining show, and incorporating band and fan interviews, the Brothers hope to show the unique and close relationship they have with their fans, the excitement of an Avett Brothers live show, and the incredible music that is on I and Love and You.

Check out the first three videos here:

“I and Love and You” on AOL SPINNER



“January Wedding” on SPIN



“Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” on MY OLD KENTUCKY BLOG

The Avett Brothers “Slight Figure of Speech” is today’s NPR Song of the Day!

Check it out here


I and Love and You is available everywhere on September 29, 2009

New Thom Yorke video

Thom Yorke has announced that there will be a video released for his cover of Mark Mulcahy’s song “All For The Best,” directed by Melinda Tupling, which will be screened for the first time at the September 20th benefit concert for the project Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs Of Mark Mulcahy, in stores September 29th on Shout! Factory.



The concert will be held at Music Hall in Williamsburg, NY, featuring performances by Frank Black, David Berkeley, surprise guests, and new additions to the roster include Butterflies of Love, The Autumn Defense, Ray Neal, Chris Harford, the Late BP Helium, The Parkway Charlies, Winterpills, The Gravel Pit, The Mericans, Lo Fine, Biet and Gryphon, School for the Dead, Spouse, and Senator.



Thom York’s version of “All For The Best,” has received early raves from critics. The cut was called “gorgeous” by Pitchfork, “awesome in every way” by EW.com, “absolutely jaw-dropping” by BLURT, and Stereogum wrote “fans of Radiohead, Miracle Legion, and Mulcahy should equally enjoy.” The song is being released as a single in the U.K. with a limited number of 7” being made available there and in the U.S. The recording of song, which features both Thom and Andy Yorke, was the first time that the brothers have worked together. Andy Yorke also contributed the title track to the album, “Ciao My Shining Star,” with his band Unbelievable Truth.