Reign of Terror, the sophomore album from Sleigh Bells, drops on February 21st, and the first single “Comeback Kid” follows in the same vein as the blisteringly loud Treats. It’s available for download on iTunes as of today. I can honestly say, after hearing this and the equally impressive “Born to Lose,” I am more stoked for this release than any other currently.
Watch the trailer below for Shut Up and Play the Hits, a documentary chronicling LCD Soundsystem’s final days. The film follows James Murphy and crew around before their last show at Madison Square Garden. The film will premiere at Sundance later this month.
It’s not groundbreaking or anything, but this year’s lineup for Coachella is certainly better than last year’s, and this year the event goes down on two weekends in April. The headliners are legit, and the reunions are pretty solid too (Mazzy Star, Pulp, Refused, At the Drive In.) If C3 and ACL know what’s good for them, some of these artists, including the headliners, Araabmuzik, the Weeknd, The Shins, EMA, Kendrick Lamar, Azealia Banks, and several others, will make the journey south in October. I wouldn’t hold my breath, though.
The day has finally come, or as the band put it on their Twitter feed: “This station is now operational.” El Paso’s finest At the Drive In have announced they are getting back together for…something. Some shows/festivals/a tour, maybe? At this point, nothing has been determined, though I’m not holding my breath for a new album, as Jim Ward is pretty knee-deep in his solo material and the Mars Volta are currently working on their own new release. Still, this small tidbit of news from a band that hasn’t played together in eleven years is certainly exciting. It’s likely they’ll play a date in Austin, so I may actually get to hear “Pattern Against User” live! That’s one to check off the bucket list.
After last year’s introspective foray under his real name, ladies man The-Dream has returned, and he’s up to his usual deviant tricks. No word on whether this new track will be on the upcoming The Love IV: Diary of a Mad Man.
Grammy nominations are in, and Kanye’s been snubbed again. I mean, it’s nice and all that Yeezy leads the pack with seven nods, but no Album of the Year? No, instead that goes to….Bruno Mars? Oh, Grammys. Missing the mark….at least there’s something consistent in the music industry.
The aforementioned Mars earned six nominations, few of which he will win; Foo Fighters got the same amount, being deservedly recognized for their best album in years. But Adele, also in the six category, is the artist who will clean house this time around. She’s the perfect safe, AC-friendly, Grammy-loving, overrated nonsense the world rallies around. Like Taylor and Norah before her, Adele will bore us to tears with each tearful acceptance speech. God, please let Yeezy get up there and start yelling.
And then there’s Bon Iver, who scored some notable categories, including Alternative Music Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist (which in Grammy terms means “first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist”, so….yeah….can you say “arbitrary?”). So of course already he’s being hailed as the next Arcade Fire, who upset Grammy Nation last year by winning Album of the Year. Which was amazing and awesome. Unlike Bon Iver’s new, underwhelming, undeserving, overrated second album that’s ALREADY making everybody’s year-end list.
Here’s the straight poop: while Arcade Fire may have pulled the underdog bit last year, it’s not happening this year. I’d be surprised if Bon Iver walked away with anything at all. Alternative’s going to Radiohead. Record and Song are going to Adele, as is everything else. So who gets the BNA curse? It’s either the Band Perry (who I wouldn’t mark off right away, the Academy has shown in the past they love this lethargic style of country….remember Lady Antebellum?) or it’s going to Nicki Minaj, who has just blown up this year. So sorry Justin Vernon, you’re no Win Butler.
Radiohead, Skrillex, Lil Wayne, Foster the People, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Mumford and Sons round out the top nominees, and Daft Punk received recognition for their score to Tron. Also, I think I saw Fleet Foxes in the Folk category somewhere. So yeah, don’t let the nominations cloud your thinking….just because it seems like who they pick has been improving, who they actually award has not. Same as it ever was….I’m getting bored just typing this. February can’t get here sooner!
Occupy Red 7? Continental Club? ACL Live? Apparently we’ll know at noon. Check here first.
Since Billie Joe tweeted earlier this week about a new secret show Thursday, fans have been running amok with speculation, including yours truly. And when someone spotted Billie Joe on a plane heading to Austin, and then Tre on 6th street, I got REALLY excited. Apparently some Green Day-related art has been posted on 6th, and so everyone I know is checking venue calendars and calling promoters. Shit is bananas right now.
It’s not official whether the show is in actually here in Austin tomorrow night, but you can bet I’ll be checking the Internet probably every ten minutes. Friends in moderately high places have speculated venues like Stubb’s, Emo’s East, East Side Drive In, and ACL Live. The last one is a good bet, in my opinion, since there’s a swanky new hotel just above it. But I honestly have no clue. When I do, you can bet I’ll be camping out to grab a spot. If I miss Green Day in a small venue in the ATX, I will never forgive myself.
In the meantime, here’s a taste of things to come.
The plain-speaking mind that brought you “Trapped In the Closet” is planning for a spring 2012 release of his autobiography. The title? Why, Soula Coaster of course. And now Kells has a new untitled track dedicated to all them haters bringing “negative shit” about how he was “washed up” because his voice was shot. If this song is the evidence, it’s pretty apparent R’s vocals are far from gone. Quite the oppostie, in fact. And the hook? “Shut Up, Shut up, I’m talking to you.” Catchy as all hell. Kelly’s back, baby!
Best line: Referring to the reproductive power of his music – “How many babies been made off me? OMG.” Listen at Pitchfork….you just have to.
Take Care, the new album from Drake (cover art above), drops November 15th, and by the amount of leaked tracks you would think half the album’s already been heard by the masses. Not even close. Today, to add to “Marvin’s Room,” “Make Me Proud,” and “Headlines,” we have three new leaks.
Rap Up’s got the first, a collaboration with the much-blogged-about Weeknd called “Crew Love.” The Source hooks you up with the Rick Ross-guesting “Lord Knows,” and Pretty Much Amazing has the title track featuring Rihanna and sampling Jamie xx. Â What do all these leaks have in common? Â They’re all awesome. Â And they all hint at Drake’s sophomore effort being one of the finest rap albums of 2011.
