Archive for October, 2010
G.O.O.D Friday Joy
Kanye West‘s newest G.O.O.D Friday release is “The Joy,” featuring Pete Rock, Jay-Z, Charlie Wilson, Kid Cudi, and a sample of Curtis Mayfield‘s “The Makings of You.” You can download the track here.
Kid Cudi Over Rapping, Forms Rock Band
At the preview for his new album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager in New York City, Kid Cudi revealed that he will be slowing down on hip hop to focus on his newly-created rock band. Cudi and producer Dot Da Genius have formed Wizard, which will allow Cudi to focus more on his guitar-playing and singing (in the vein of new single “Erase Me”).
“I’m just over rapping. I don’t get any fulfillment out of it anymore. I don’t get fulfillment out of writing a 16. That’s why you don’t ever hear me on Kanye joints like that,” Cudi explained to MTV. “I’m more passionate when he’s like, ‘yo Cudi, come up with a hook.’ Cause he asks me to put verses down but I’ll try to procrastinate or disappear or something. I just really get more fulfillment out of singing now. I’m teaching myself the guitar, that’s my new found love. I never thought that I could play an instrument. Picked it up, surprised myself. It’s been two and a half months I’ve been playing, I’m already starting my next project. It’s a rock album, I’m doing a band with Dot [da Genius] called Wizard.”
Kid Cudi’s sophomore album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager is set to be released on November 9, 2010 via G.O.O.D Music.
New Thrice Merch
Thrice has opened a new webstore with new merch for sale.
Jack’s Bassist and New Update
Jack’s Mannequin have announced that their new bassist is Mikey “The Kid” Wagner. Read an update from Andrew here.
Black Friday Single from Iron and Wine
Iron and Wine will release a new three-song single on Black Friday, available only at independent record stores. The single will feature new tracks “Walking Far From Home”, “Summer in Savannah”, and “Biting Your Tail”.
Good Things Can Be Free
The Dangerous Summer‘s new song “Good Things” is available as a free download on Amazon. Do yourself a favor and download if you do not have the song already.
“Good Things” is featured on the vinyl edition of the band’s full-length album Reach For The Sun. Read my review of the album here.
New Cee-Lo Single and Album Preview
Cee-Lo Green has released a trailer for his album, The Lady Killer, being released November 9th. There is a preview of his new single, “Bright Lights Bigger City”, which you can buy on iTunes or listen to here.
New Mogwai
Mogwai‘s newest record will be called Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will on February 15, 2010 via Sub Pop Records.
Portugal. The Man Video
Check out a new music video for Portugal. The Man‘s “Guns and Dogs” here. The track comes from the band’s 2009 release The Satanic Satanist.
Interview: louellen
louellen (RIYL: The National, Elliott Smith, Interpol) are an indie rock band hailing from South-East England comprised of Christian Corless (Vocals, Guitars), Richard Picot (Guitars, Vocals), Harry Thomas (Bass) and Joss Pennington (Drums). louellen layers intricate guitar melodies with dark, driving vocals and drums to create a broody, yet beautiful sound. The band is currently busy recording their debut EP at The Dairy in Brixton, London.
We had a chance to talk to Christian and Richard, the founding members of the band.
Could you please state your names and what you do in the band?
Christian, I play guitar and sing.
I’m Richard, I also play guitar.
How did you guys meet and form the band? Did you know each other before forming?
Christian: I’ve known Harry and Richard for years. I met Joss (Drums) a couple of years ago through Richard in Huddersfield, where he was going to university, but only really got to know him when he joined the band. It’s kind of a weird situation as far the formation of the band; Richard and I have been writing songs and playing around with ideas for a 2 years or so. At first, for lack of any other choice, we performed the songs using a laptop for the drum track etc. We wanted Joss to join the band for a while, so when he finally offered up his services we were more than happy to get him on board, that’s when the band was properly formed, I guess.
Richard: Christian and I met a few years back who also introduced me to Harry (Bass). At that point we were all kind of doing different things, I was doing a singer/songwriter thing and playing some local shows with that. I had some extra guitar parts I needed playing, so Christian helped me out with that occasionally. We always shared the same tastes and ideas in music and what I was doing wasn’t really cutting it for me. So we made a band and got friends to help out with drums but it never really came into it’s own. I went away to university where I met Joss, and that was it, we asked if he would be interested in joining the band and thankfully, he agreed. (more…)
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