While In Search Of... was a great album (both the analog and digital versions), Fly Or Die left a lot to be desired, and yet everyone will no doubt lose it when Pharrell & Co. drop their next album N*3*R*D, sometime soon.
This new track isn't anything amazing, but fortunately, the humour in the clip saves the song from complete mediocrity. Say what you like about their music, at least the guys are funny.
So The Mars Volta's fourth studio album, Bedlam In Goliath, is out today - and already there's new material on the horizon in the form of yet another solo album from lead guitarist Omar Rodriguez Lopez.
Entitled Calibration, its released on the 25th of February and features contributions from Chilis guitarist John Frusciante, keyboardist Money Mark and TMV partner in crime Cedric Bixler-Zavala.
This confirms the band as one of the most prolific of our time, Four studio albums, a live album, and now five solo albums - its like the 70's all over again!
Check out some clips here, and you can find tracklist details over at Line of Best Fit.
It's not often that a videogame will introduce you to great new music, but BioWare's meticulous sci-fi RPG Mass Effect has done just that.
The game's end credits are soundtracked by a very fitting, very unheard of Canadian band called Faunts and their excellent track M4 (Part II). Using ambient synth work and stacatto guitar it manages to evoke 80's music without sounding forcefully hip or rehashed.
And so, every year, I'm reminded that Big Day Out really isn't all that big.
Update: official poster released on Pitchfork. It's easier to read than a paragraph of text.
Stuart Price, Jonny Blake, Adam Blake and Beatrice Hatherley form Zoot Woman, a UK band who play the sort of dance/electronic music that is easy to listen to and sometimes seems made for advertising. They've made the track "We Won't Break" from their forthcoming album available at RCRDLBL, and the video is up on Youtube. If you're already familiar with the band then you'll know what to expect.
After hearing it, I'm looking forward to the new album; their 2003 self-titled album was on constant rotation for me when it was released. Oh, and if you think the name Stuart Price sounds familiar, he also goes by the monikers of Jacques Lu Cont, Les Rythmes Digitales, and Thin White Duke. Don't hold his Starsailor remix against him.
MP3: Zoot Woman - "We Won't Break" (via RCRDLBL)
So the story goes that Justice were all set to release Fabriclive 37, the next in the hugely popular mix series, but the powers that be at Fabric just didn't like what the French duo came up with. "Too eclectic", they said. We thought it would be lost forever, but good news: Justice decided to give it away as a Christmas mix. You can grab it courtesy of Asian Dan.
The "eclectic" tracklist is:
01 Sparks - Tryouts For The Human Race - Virgin
02 Rondo Veneziano - La Serenissima - Universal
03 Goblin - Tenebrae - Cinevox
04 Daft Punk - Ouverture - Virgin
05 Surkin - Next Of Kin - Institubes
06 SymbolOne - Love Juice - SymbolOne
07 Korgis - Everybodys Gotta Learn Sometimes - Angel Air
08 Midnight Juggernauts - Ending Of An Era - Mindight Juggernauts
09 The Paradise Ft Romauld - In Love With You - Vulture
10 Justice - TTHHEE PPAARRTTYY (Acapella) - Ed Banger
11 Chic - Everybody Dance - Atlantic
12 Frankie Valli - Who Loves You - Warners
13 Das Pop - Underground - Das Pop
14 Julien Clerc - Quand Je Joue - EMI
15 Daniel Balavoine - Vivre Ou Survivre - Barclay
16 Richard Sanderson - Reality - Barclay
17 Zoot Woman - Grey Day - Wall Of Sound
18 Fucking Champs - Thor Is Like Immortal - Drag City
19 The Rave - Mother - The Rave
20 Fancy - You Never Know - Fancy
21 Frank Stallone - Far From Over - Universal
22 Sheila - Misery - Warners
23 Todd Rundgren - International Feel - Warners
MP3: Justice Xmas Mix
This one's been around a little while, but if you haven't heard already, head to Okkervil River's website and grab their mix-tape of covers and b-sides, 'Golden Opportunities'. If anything, it'll help you ride out the time until we start getting some new albums rollin' out for '08.
Okkervil River - Golden Opportunities Mixtape
Here is the webcast the band made to wish everyone a happy 2008. Enjoy!
