Musical Justice: February 2006

Monday, February 27, 2006

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Hummer Money

The Thermals turn down big bucks from Hummer...

The Thermals, a rambunctious rock band from Portland, Ore., were en route between gigs last year when they got a phone call from their label, Sub Pop. Hummer wanted to pay them $50,000 for the right to use their song "It's Trivia" in a commercial.

"We thought about it for about 15 seconds, maybe," lead singer Hutch Harris said.

They said no.

I Passed... Can you?

First time around, too... Feel free to post your score in the Comments!

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

Saturday, February 25, 2006

The Money Shot: MP3 Blogs and PR

How long before the "new" media becomes as controlled and corrupt as the old media?

"At this point MP3s are a necessary evil," says one New York-based new media specialist. Legality prevents PR firms from leaking material themselves, he says, but when an MP3 blogger is contacted, the expectation is that s/he will leak at least a song or two. The strategy preys on the blog world's unquenchable thirst for the new—both rarities and pre-releases. "I'm doing you a favor and you're doing me a favor at the same time," says another new media specialist. "We'll scratch each other's back."

The Money Shot: Neko Case

The New Porno star talks shit with Macleans...

"Thriller sucks," says Neko Case, sitting in a Toronto breakfast place, listening to Michael Jackson's Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough. "I don't know why the f--- everyone loves Thriller. That shit is cheesy. Off the Wall -- that's the album." This morning, Case, 35, has a beast of a cold -- running nose, puffy eyes and gravelly voice -- and she's in a critical mood. Later she declares: "I'm not into the Beatles. I know every one of their songs, every word -- because my parents played it over and over. But it doesn't seem like music to me. I know it's genius. But I don't ever want to hear it again."

After two weeks of nothing due to the Olympics, the late night gang comes roaring back with something worthy every night this week.

Monday - The Strokes (Letterman), Rosanne Cash (Leno)
Tuesday - Dropkick Murphys (Conan)
Wednesday - Dwight Yoakum (Leno), Belle & Sebastian (Conan), Supergrass (Carson Daly), Ok Go (Kimmel)
Thursday - Rhett Miller (Leno)
Friday - The Subways (Letterman)

Friday, February 24, 2006

Coming Attractions: Golden Smog

Billboard reports on the new Golden Smog CD:

Lost Highway has set July 18 as the release date for "Another Fine Day," the first release in eight years from Golden Smog. The lauded supergroup features Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Soul Asylum's Dan Murphy, Big Star's Jody Stephens and the Jayhawks' Gary Louris, Marc Perlman and Kraig Johnson.Again sporting separate songwriting contributions from Tweedy, Louris, Perlman, Murphy and Johnson, the band's fourth album is composed of 14 originals and a cover of the Kinks' Dave Davies' "Strangers," sung by Louris and Tweedy.

Cast Your Votes!

Paste Magazine wants you to vote for your top 20 living songwriters. So who are they? Springsteen? Dylan? McCartney? U2? Elvis Costello???

Thursday, February 23, 2006

On the Road with... Guster

The boys from Boston are hitting the road...

Wed 03/22/06 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
Fri 03/24/06 West Hollywood, CA The Roxy Theatre
Sat 03/25/06 West Hollywood, CA The Roxy Theatre
Sun 03/26/06 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Tue 03/28/06 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
Wed 03/29/06 Tacoma, WA UPS Fieldhouse
Fri 03/31/06 Orem, UT McKay Events Center
Sat 04/01/06 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theatre
Sun 04/02/06 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater
Thu 04/06/06 East Lansing, MI Michigan St. University
Fri 04/07/06 Cleveland, OH John Carroll University
Sat 04/08/06 Cincinnati, OH Xavier University
Sun 04/09/06 Valparaiso, IN Valparaiso University
Thu 04/13/06 Canton, NY St. Lawrence University
Sat 04/15/06 Geneseo, NY SUNY / Geneseo
Thu 04/20/06 New York, NY Madison Sq. Garden Th.
Fri 04/21/06 New York, NY Hiro Ballroom @ Maritime Hotel
Sat 04/22/06 Storrs, CT Univ. Of Connecticut
Sun 04/23/06 Keene, NH Keene State College
Wed 04/26/06 Durham, NC Duke University
Thu 04/27/06 Selinsgrove, PA Susquehanna University
Sat 04/29/06 Medford, MA Tufts University
Sun 04/30/06 Hartford, CT Trinity College
Tue 05/02/06 Worcester, MA Holy Cross College
Thu 05/04/06 Fitchburg, MA Fitchburg St. College

On the Road with... Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Tiny Mix Tapes details the upcoming Yeah Yeah Yeahs tour.

02.23.06 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
02.24.06 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
02.25.06 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
02.27.06 - Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
03.01.06 - San Francisco, CA Bimbo's 365 Club
03.02.06 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
03.04.06 - Hollywood, CA - Troubadour West
03.05.06 - Hollywood, CA - Troubadour West
04.03.06 - Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
04.05.06 - Philadelphia,PA - Trocadero
04.07.06 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
04.10.06 - Toronto, ONT - Kool Haus
04.11.06 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
04.12.06 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
04.14.06 - Chicago, IL - Riviera
04.15.06 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theatre
04.16.06 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
04.18.06 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
04.19.06 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
04.21.06 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
04.22.06 - Salt Lake City, UT - University of Utah
04.24.06 - Vancouver, BC - Orpheum Theatre
04.25.06 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Ballroom
04.26.06 - Portland, OR - Roseland
04.28.06 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
04.30.06 - Indio, CA - Coachella Music and Arts Festival
05.02.06 - New York, NY - Roseland
05.13.06 - Camber, UK - Camber Sands Holiday Centre (All Tomorrow's Parties)
05.16.06 - London, UK - The Forum
05.17.06 - London, UK - The Forum
05.19.06 - Glasgow, UK - Barrowlands
05.20.06 - Manchester, UK - Academy
05.21.06 - Birmingham, UK - Academy

The Money Shot: Bloc Party

Expect Bloc Party to mix it up a bit on the next CD...

"[We're looking to expand] more along the lines of Radiohead, but it's obviously a bit early to kind of imagine yourself in that mold," Moakes says. "[We're working toward] not being afraid to make music out of quite difficult sounds and have things quite processed. We want to get more texture into what we do, and not have it just like a rock record."

The Money Shot: The Killers Going To Court?

MSNBC reports on the lawsuit...

The former manager of the rock group The Killers has filed a federal lawsuit against the band members and their lawyer, seeking $16 million for what he calls breach of contract. Braden Merrick of Los Angeles alleges in the suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas that he was fired last May, once the Las Vegas-based band gained success. “As soon as he made them superstars they decided to stop paying him,” Howard King, Merrick’s Los Angeles lawyer, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

MJ Weekly Top 20 Airplay Chart: 2.20.06

Debuts this week from the Raconteurs, Jenny Lewis, Futureheads and Margot & The Nuclear So & So's.

Rank Title Artist
1 Sweet Illusions - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
2 Smoke It - The Dandy Warhols
3 Cool Water - Laura Veirs
4 We Can't Make It Here - James McMurtry
5 The Denial Twist - The White Stripes
6 Help Me, Suzanne - Rhett Miller
7 Middle Of Nowhere - Hot Hot Heat
8 Let It Ride - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
9 Living For The Weekend - Hard-Fi
10 Steady As She Goes - Raconteurs
11 Soul Meets Body - Death Cab For Cutie
12 Handle With Care - Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins
13 King Of The Mountain - Kate Bush
14 Jet Pilot - Son Volt
15 Down To Nowhere - Thea Gilmore
16 Dress Me Like A Clown - Margot & The Nuclear So & So's
17 Bandages And Scars - Son Volt
18 Childish Things - James McMurtry
19 Area - The Futureheads
20 The Avalanche - Sufjan Stevens

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

You Probably Don't Want To Know...

Linking to this one as a public service. You might not want to read this, but here's a whole new reason why you shouldn't be crunching on that ice in your fast-food soda...

TiVo Alert

Holy crap! With the disappointing Winter Games taking over NBC's late night programming, it's almost like no one else is even trying. Hasn't anyone ever heard of counter-programming? Sorry we didn't get this done yesterday, but you didn't miss a thing... :sigh:

Tuesday - nada
Wednesday - zilch
Thursday - The Lashes (Late Late Show)
Friday - The Cult (Late Late Show)

On the bright side, NBC returns to regular non-ice dancing programming next week. Looking ahead, I see The Strokes and Rhett Miller on the horizon...

Thrift Shop Top 10

One Louder lists "The 10 Best Albums You Can Find in Almost Any American Thrift Store for $1.00". Here's the entry for Blondie's Eat To The Beat:

Song for song, Eat to the Beat is every bit as good if not better than the Blondie album which came before it (Parallel Lines), yet it always comes up short when accolades are given out. From the balladry and bombast of "Union City Blue" to the space-age disco of "Atomic," Debbie Harry & Co. never sounded so charged with artistic purpose before or after Eat to the Beat. And then there's "Dreaming," likely the best straightforward rock song Blondie ever recorded. If their second best, "Call Me," had been ready a year earlier and included here, you'd likely never find a copy of this album in any used bin anywhere.

Let 'em sing

This is one of the best timewasters I've seen in quite a while... You type the words and they get sung back to you with snippets from some pretty well-known songs. Here are some words/songs I've identified...

I = Chris Isaak, Wicked Game
Love = Led Zeppelin, Whole Lotta Love
You = ACDC, You Shook Me All Night Love
Man = Percy Sledge, When A Man Loves A Woman
Much = Z.Z. Top, Tush

It's kinda like those old radio games where you had to guess all the songs from little bits of each song strung together.

Play along by adding the ones you discover in the comments!

Coming Attractions: Mission of Burma

Good to see that these guys are making it work...

After waiting 22 years between the release of the Vs. debut and its OnOffOn follow-up in 2004, Mission Of Burma must be feeling downright prolific these days as a new album called The Obliterati will be released on May 23 by Matador. Guitarist Roger Miller, bassist Clint Conley and drummer Peter Prescott convened in their hometown of Boston to record the LP at Q Division Studios with producer Bob Weston. All three members of the group wrote songs for the album, which is their first for Matador.

The Money Shot: Coldplay Needs to "Go Away"

A nightmare for their label but a dream come true for some burned out fans...

In accepting an award at Wednesday night's Brit Awards, Coldplay front man Chris Martin said, "Thank you. That's it. We won't see you for a very long time. It's going to be a few years before you see us again. People are fed up with us--and so are we."

Several UK media reports took the remark as a sign that Coldplay is breaking up or taking an extended break, with the London Evening Standard running the headline "Coldplay Quit,'' above an article that said the band will "quit the music scene for up to two years.''

Coming Attractions: Glen Phillips

News for all those Toadlickers out there...

Former Toad The Wet Sprocket frontman Glen Phillips will release his next album, "Mr. Lemons," May 2 via his own Unami label. The 11-track set features guest appearances by vocalists Kim Richey and Garrison Starr plus a cover of the 1980s Huey Lewis and the News hit "I Want a New Drug."

Radiohead Gets Nude

This just in from Billboard...

Radiohead has revived a song that was first written in the "OK Computer" era as it continues to record material for its new album, which is expected for a summer release.According to a post from frontman Thom Yorke on the group's official web site, the track "Nude," which has also been known as "Big Ideas (Don't Get Any)," will feature accompaniment by a string quartet. "It sounds beautiful, as far as I can tell,"
he said.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

You Can't Copy That!

That backup copy of your CDs (or those MP3s on your MP3 player)... well... if the content industry (RIAA, labels, etc.) had their way, you probably would have to buy a new copy for each device you wanted to use or buy a replacement copy instead of keeping your own backup copy...

The [submitted arguments in favor of granting exemptions to the DMCA] provide no arguments or legal authority that making back up copies of CDs is a noninfringing use. In addition, the submissions provide no evidence that access controls are currently preventing them from making back up copies of CDs or that they are likely to do so in the future. Myriad online downloading services are available and offer varying types of digital rights management alternatives. For example, the Apple FairPlay technology allows users to make a limited number of copies for personal use. Presumably, consumers concerned with the ability to make back up copies would choose to purchase music from a service that allowed such copying. Even if CDs do become damaged, replacements are readily available at affordable prices.

Hey Apple... Here Comes Amazon!

Looks like Amazon is a new entry in the digital downloads race... will enough people care? Seems to me that this late entry would mostly appeal to technology laggards and aren't they likely to still be buying their music at mall stores and Walmart?

Now Amazon, the world's No. 1 online retailer, is in advanced talks with the four global music companies about a digital-music service with a range of features designed to set it apart. Among them: Amazon-branded portable music players, designed and built for the retailer, and a subscription service that would deeply discount and preload those devices with songs, not unlike mobile phones that are included with subscription plans as part of the deal.

Music executives privately welcome Amazon's plans, which they see as one of the only credible challenges to Apple's hegemony in both digital music and portable players. Now the question is whether Amazon's massive customer base is enough to offset a long delay in entering the online music business.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Cheap Thrills 2.15.06

A long, long list...

Thanks to today's contributing bloggers. Please support their blogs! To hear these artists and more, click here.

Disclaimer: These links are intended to help promote artists that Musical Justice plays. In the event that you sample an artist here and like 'em, please support those acts by buying legal copies of their music and going to see their live appearances. None of the MP3 are actually provided or hosted by us. We don't guarantee their quality and whenever you download things, you are assuming the risk that you might download viruses, spyware or other nasties. In the event that you are one of the artists listed above and you would like us to remove any links, please contact us and we will do so ASAP.

The Money Shot: She Wants Revenge

Damn... They've got 25,000 Myspace friends and I've just barely cracked 1000...

"The Internet's been huge for us to get our music out, especially Myspace," comments Adam. "We were on there before a lot of bands were, so we'd actually search for people and check out what music they liked, then invite them to come listen to our stuff. Now we're up to 25,000 people on there. It's just amazing how the word's spread through MySpace alone. Even with the radio play we've been getting — and MTV's been showing our new video too — the internet's become the most important thing.

Strummer on Film

There's a documentary on Joe Strummer on the way...

Director Julien Temple, best known for the Sex Pistols films "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle" and "The Filth & the Fury," is working on a new movie about the life and career of late Clash frontman Joe Strummer. Via a slew of archival audio and video footage, interviews donated by journalists and recordings of Strummer's BBC Radio show, the Clash legend will essentially narrate the film.

On the Road with... Billy Bragg

The Brit singer/songwriter kicks off his first US tour since 2003 at SXSW...

Tour Dates:
Fri 03/17/06 Austin, TX Cedar Street
Sat 03/18/06 Austin, TX Yard Dog
Sun 03/19/06 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Cafe
Mon 03/20/06 Chicago, IL TBA
Tue 03/21/06 Ann Arbor, MI The Ark
Thu 03/23/06 Somerville, MA Somerville Theatre
Fri 03/24/06 New York, NY Society for Ethical Culture
Sat 03/25/06 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
Sun 03/26/06 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere
Mon 03/27/06 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere
Sun 04/23/06 Wolverhampton, UK Wulfrun Hall
Mon 04/24/06 Sheffield, UK City Hall
Tue 04/25/06 Bradford, UK Bradford University
Wed 04/26/06 Liverpool, UK Carling Liverpool Academy
Fri 04/28/06 Manchester, UK Bridgewater Hall
Sat 04/29/06 Gateshead, UK The Sage
Sun 04/30/06 Cardiff, UK St. David's Hall
Mon 05/01/06 Barking, UK Barking Broadway
Thu 05/04/06 Leicester, UK Princess Charlotte
Fri 05/05/06 Isle Of Man, UK Villa Marina
Sun 05/07/06 Edinburgh, UK Usher Hall
Wed 05/31/06 Exeter, UK Lemon Grove
Sat 06/03/06 Dublin, IRE Vicar Street

Bogus U2 Merch at Mexican Show

If you bought a T-shirt at the recent U2 show in Monterrey, Bono and the boys might not have gotten their cut...

Irish super rock group U2 took this northern Mexican city by storm with a sold-out concert over the weekend – and counterfeiters apparently took notice. Acting on a warrant, federal agents stormed Ricardo Covarruvias Street in Monterrey, seizing 1,375 pirated U2 items, according to a statement released late Tuesday by the federal attorney general's office.

In all, agents recovered 1,100 T-shirts, 70 hats, 60 DVDs, 60 CDs, 50 magazines and 35 coffee mugs featuring the band. The statement did not elaborate on whether businesses, homes or other buildings were searched in the area, which is close to the Estadio Tecnologico where U2 played a concert Sunday.

On the Road with... John Prine

The Hoosier folkie announces spring tour dates...

March 2006
3 - Knoxville, TN - Tennessee Theatre
4 - Prestonburg, KY - Mountain Arts Center
10 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theater
11 - Carbondale, IL Shryock Auditorium

April 2006
8 - Greenville, SC - Peace Center
9 - Columbia, SC - Kroger Center
21 - Richmond, VA - Landmark Theater
22 - Roanoke, VA - Performing Arts Theater
27 - Wilkesboro, NC - Merelfest
29 - Norfolk, VA - Chrysler Hall

May 2006
5 - Rockford, IL - Coronado Theater
6 - Waukegan, IL - Genesee Theater
8 - Wausau, WI - Grand Theater
10 - Madison, WI - Overture Center
12 - Appleton, WI - Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
13 - Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee Theater
20 - Duluth, MN - DECC Auditorium

June 2006
18 - Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Music That Sucks 2.14.06

My parents would love both of these CDs. 'Nuff said.

Doris Day - The Love Album (Music for your parents to have sex to... again, nuff said!)
Liza Minelli - The Definitive Collection (Uh... music to beat your husband to?)

Buy These Now! 2.14.06

Who loves ya?? Not the record companies... Not a great Valentine's day in terms of new releases. I'd have to give this week a "C-"

Shawn Mullins - Ninth Ward Pickin' Parlor
The Subways - Young for Eternity
Various Artists - I Am the Resurrection: A Tribute to John Fahey (featuring Calexico, Devendra Banhart, Sufjan Stevens and others)
Johnny Cash - I Walk the Line
Los Lobos - Wolf Tracks: The Best of

Beasties vs Beatles, Pt. 2

If you're a fan of mashups, you'll want to check out this sequel to the Beastles...

Let It Beast

New Josh Rouse Video

You can see "Quiet Town" from the upcoming Subtitulo here.

On the Road with... Patty Griffin

Patty hits the road:

The Boston-based folk singer--who is still supporting her 2005 release, "Impossible Dream"--will hit 11 venues, mostly along the Atlantic Coast, on her upcoming outing, kicking off with an April 4 show in Lexington, KY.

Here are the dates...

April 2006
4 - Lexington, KY - Kentucky Theater
5 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
6 - Pittsburgh, PA - Byham Theater
8 - Albany, NY - Empire State Performing Arts Center
9 - Westport, CT - Westport Country Playhouse
11, 12 - Ellsworth, ME - The Grand
14 - Collingswood, NJ - Scottish Rite Auditorium
15 - Easton, MD - Avalon Theater
16, 17 - Alexandria, VA - Birchmere
19 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel
22 - Fort Worth, TX - Fort Worth Arts Festival

Lollapalooza to become a 3 day festival

No word yet on the slate of artists...

Lollapalooza will return to Chicago's Grant Park as a three-day event in 2006. Organizers Capitol Sports & Entertainment confirmed that the one-time touring festival is not only growing in length, but in size as well, taking over more of the park to house eight stages that will present as many as 130 acts.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Cheap Thrills 2.13.06

Quite a bunch of links here including live shows by the Editors, Art Brut, Ryan Adams and Matt Pond PA. Also, you'll find a bunch of new Flaming Lips leaked and linked to here...

Thanks to today's contributing bloggers. Please support their blogs! To hear these artists and more, click here.

TiVo Alert

Slim pickings this week, but you're probably going to watch the Olympics anyway, right? Conan and Carson Daly take the next two weeks off for the Winter Games' coverage...

Monday - Jack's Mannequin (Kimmel)
Tuesday - Lisa Loeb (Late Late Show)
Wednesday - Looks like it's the last night for the Luge...
Thursday - Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Hockey... all the usual suspects
Friday - Fiona Apple (Late Late Show)

MJ Listener Top 20: 2.13.06

This week's top 20 tracks according to listener feedback. The Dandys top this list too, but with a different song. New Sufjan debuts at #6 while the new Raconteurs single hits #18.

1. The Dandy Warhols - All The Money or The Simple Life Honey
2. Against Me - Don't Lose Touch
3. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Handle with Care
4. Hard-Fi - Living For The Weekend
5. The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
6. Sufjan Stevens - She Is
7. Comet Gain - The Fists In My Pocket
8. Death Cab For Cutie - Soul Meets Body
9. The Strokes - Juicebox
10. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Sweet Illusions
11. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Let It Ride
12. Margot & the Nuclear So & So's - Dress Me Like a Clown
13. Nada Surf - What Is Your Secret
14. The Sheila Divine - Hum
15. Lucero - And We Fell
16. The Dandy Warhols - Smoke It
17. Hard-Fi - Hard To Beat
18. The Raconteurs - Steady As She Goes
19. Beck - Girl
20. The Great Unknowns - Something To Do

MJ Weekly Top 20 Airplay Chart: 2.13.06

The week's top tracks as we play 'em on Musical Justice... The Dandys jump up from #6 to #1. Ryan Adams continues to log two tracks in the top 10. Only one new track on the list, Jack's Mannequin squeaking in at #20.

Rank Title Artist
1 Smoke It - The Dandy Warhols
2 We Can't Make It Here - James McMurtry
3 Sweet Illusions - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
4 The Denial Twist - The White Stripes
5 Let It Ride - Ryan Adams & Cardinals
6 Help Me, Suzanne - Rhett Miller
7 Living For The Weekend - Hard-Fi
8 Middle Of Nowhere- Hot Hot Heat
9 Soul Meets Body - Death Cab For Cutie
10 Cool Water - Laura Veirs
11 Hero - Bloc Party
12 Down To Nowhere - Thea Gilmore
13 All The Money Or The Simple Life Honey - The Dandy Warhols
14 City Of Dreams - Marah
15 King Of The Mountain - Kate Bush
16 Juicebox - The Strokes
17 What Is Your Secret - Nada Surf
18 Jet Pilot - Son Volt
19 Don't Lose Touch - Against Me!
20 The Lights And Buzz - Jack's Mannequin

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

On The Road With... Neko Case

Looks like Neko's hitting the road without her Porno buddies...

Singer/songwriter Neko Case will begin a spring tour March 17 in Austin, Texas, as part of the South by Southwest music festival. The trek comes in support of her new album, "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood," due March 7 via Anti-. Two days later, Case will perform on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."The artist is hoping to bring solo artist Kelly Hogan and Visqueen principal Rachel Flotard on the road with her as part of her backing band. Martha Wainwright will open on at least six dates, with other support acts to be announced.

And the tour dates...

March 17: Austin, Texas (Antone's)
March 29: Minneapolis (First Avenue)
March 31: Chicago (Vic Theatre)
April 1: Lansing, Mich. (Temple)
April 4: Monteal (Club Soda)
April 5: Boston (Roxy)
April 6-7: New York (Webster Hall)
April 9: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
April 12-13: Carrboro, N.C. (Cat's Cradle)
April 14: Atlanta (Variety Playhouse)
April 15: Memphis (Hi-Tone)

The Money Shot: The Flaming Lips vs Brittney & Gwen

Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne talks to MTV about their new record, At War With The Mystics...

"There's a line in that song that goes, 'So go tell Britney and go tell Gwen,' and I guess part of what I'm railing against on that song is this preternaturally happy music sung by kids and written by 40-year-old Swedish men. And in between them there's this void," he explained. "I guess the worst offender is like the Black Eyed Peas or Destiny's Child, where they're going, 'I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it,' and I'm like, 'Well, you're 20, what are you going to survive? Getting a bikini wax this weekend?'

What's Up, Cat?

Pollstar reports that Cat Power is cancelling her tour...

Cat Power's upcoming U.S. tour dates with the Memphis Rhythm Band have been canceled, with her label citing "health reasons" as the cause. The brief theatre tour was to begin February 11 in Memphis, with eight U.S. dates booked in addition to a Matador Records showcase at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. "Out of respect for Chan's privacy, we can't give more detailed information, but we hope and assume that you'll respect her privacy during this time as well," the label said. "There will be information about refunds available imminently, and the tour will be rescheduled as soon as possible. "Chan is a good friend and a dear member of the Matador family, and when we have news about future performances, we'll be certain to share it with you here."

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Music That Sucks 2.7.06

Thankfully, a light week of shitty music. Where are all the bluegrass tributes to the Gorillaz when you need 'em? Anyway, these are the most notoriously bad releases for the week...

Whitesnake - The Definitive Collection (The best two words you can say about Whitesnake is "Tawny Kitaen" and even she's not what she used to be... Check out the mug shot! It's never a good thing to have your very own "E! True Hollywood Story" either.)
Pat Boone - Hopeless Romantic (Not in the same league with his heavy metal turn, but Ol' White Shoes is back serving up more soulless white bread ballads. This is about as tasty as thinking too long about the romantic nights it'll encourage in his aging conservative Christian fan base...Gag!)

Buy These Now! 2.7.06

Wow... This is a great week of new releases including Belle & Sebastian, Beth Orton and a career-spanning box set for Richard Thompson. This week gets a solid "A"!

Arctic Monkeys - When the Sun Goes Down EP
Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
Sarah Harmer - I'm a Mountain
Hem - No Word from Tom
Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers - Pandelirium
Magnet - The Tourniquet
Lynn Miles - Loves Sweet Love
The Minus 5 - The Minus 5
Beth Orton - Comfort of Strangers
Kelley Stoltz - Below the Branches
KT Tunstall - Eye to Telescope
Various Artists - Asthmatic Kitty Compilation - Mews Too
Original Soundtrack - Elizabethtown - Volume II (My Morning Jacket, Tom Petty, Ryan Adams and more)
Original Soundtrack - Transamerica (Lucinda Williams, Duncan Sheik and more)
Richard Thompson - RT - The Life and Music of

Cheap Thrills 2.7.06

In the mood for some MP3's?? Here you go! Check out the scorching performance from Prince on SNL this weekend and the new track from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs...

Thanks to today's contributing bloggers. Please support their blogs! To hear these artists and more, click here.

Monday, February 06, 2006

TiVo Alert

Pretty good week of music on late night, led by Conan O'Brien who has great guests on all week. Too bad they're going to be pre-empted starting next week for Olympics coverage. The preliminary view of next week's guests is pretty dire so get ready to get your luge fix...

Monday - Against Me! (Conan), North Mississippi All-Stars (Carson Daly), James Blunt (Kimmel)
Tuesday - KT Tunstall (Conan)
Wednesday - The Fray (Leno), Sigur Ros (Conan), Dwight Yoakum (Kimmel)
Thursday - Aimee Mann (Conan)
Friday - Fiona Apple (Leno)

MJ Listener Top 20: 2.6.06

This week's top 20 current tracks based on the "thumbs-up/thumbs-downs" of Musical Justice listeners...

1. Long Long Time - Guy Forsyth
2. Middle of Nowhere - Hot Hot Heat
3. Handle With Care - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
4. Bandages & Scars - Son Volt
5. Down To Nowhere - Thea Gilmore
6. The Hardest Part - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
7. Waitin' For A Superman - Iron & Wine
8. We Can't Make It Here - James McMurtry
9. All These Things That I've Done - The Killers
10. Help Me Suzanne - Rhett Miller
11. Jet Pilot - Son Volt
12. Smoke It - The Dandy Warhols
13. King of the Mountain - Kate Bush
14. Juicebox - The Strokes
15. The Lights and Buzz - Jack's Mannequin
16. Childish Things - James McMurtry
17. One - Cowboy Junkies
18. Bad Out There - Frank Carillo and the Bandoleros
19. Cool Water - Laura Veirs
20 Hwy 5 - John Doe with Neko Case

MJ Weekly Top 20 Airplay Chart: 2.6.06

This week's top 20 songs on Musical Justice's radio station based on our airplay. Hard-Fi leapfrogs over everyone all the way to debut at #1, while Rhett Miller makes a healthy jump from #13 to #3 with the first single from his upcoming release.

Rank Title Artist
1 Living For The Weekend - Hard-Fi
2 Soul Meets Body - Death Cab For Cutie
3 Help Me, Suzanne - Rhett Miller
4 We Can't Make It Here - James McMurtry
5 Sweet Illusions - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
6 Smoke It - The Dandy Warhols
7 Middle Of Nowhere - Hot Hot Heat
8 Cool Water - Laura Veirs
9 City Of Dreams - Marah
10 Let It Ride - Ryan Adams & Cardinals
11 All These Things That I've Done - The Killers
12 Hero - Bloc Party
13 The Denial Twist - The White Stripes
14 Walking With A Ghost - The White Stripes
15 Something To Do - The Great Unknowns
16 What Is Your Secret - Nada Surf
17 Bandages And Scars - Son Volt
18 Fuck Forever - Babyshambles
19 Dress Me Like A Clown - Margot & The Nuclear So & So's
20 King Of The Mountain - Kate Bush

Friday, February 03, 2006

Cheap Thrills 2.3.06

Great list for the weekend including leaked new music by Josh Rouse, Morrissey and Neko Case...

Thanks to today's contributing bloggers. Please support their blogs! To hear these artists and more, click here.

Marah Playing @ Bonnaroo

This just in from Marah-USA.com adding them to an already potent lineup...

We are pleased to announce that Marah will be performing at the 2006 Bonnaroo Music Festival taking place June 15th - 18th in Manchester, TN. Other confirmed acts include Radiohead, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Phil Lesh and Friends amongst many others.

Pumpkins Reunion

After seeing his solo CD barely make a ripple in the commercial waters, Billy Corgan is reuniting the Smashing Pumpkins...

"When I played the final Smashing Pumpkins show on the night of December 2, 2000, I walked off the stage believing that I was forever leaving a piece of my life behind. I naively tried to start a new band, but found that my heart wasn't in it. I moved away to pursue a love that I once had but got lost. So I moved back home to heal what was broken in me, and to my surprise I found what I was looking or. I found that my heart is in Chicago, and that my heart is in the Smashing Pumpkins.

"For a year now I have walked around with a secret, a secret I chose to keep. But now I want you to be among the first to know that I have made plans to renew and revive the Smashing Pumpkins. I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams. In this desire I feel I have come home again."

Coming Attractions: Richard Thompson

Yahoo reports on the upcoming 5 disc box for Richard Thompson...

Richard Thompson's new boxed set (RT - The Life and Music of Richard Thompson) offers an abundance of his East-meets-West, Coltrane-meets-Django guitar work. He mixes droll humor with the grim reaper, covers Britney Spears and spoofs Janet Jackson, plays storyteller and rock idol, waxes nostalgic for the '40s and then cranks the volume to 11, bouncing all the while from jigs and polkas to country, the blues and music beyond category. On five CDs, it's a lot to absorb, and fun to try.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

On the Road with... Franz Ferdinand AND Death Cab

Franz Ferdinand and Death Cab for Cutie hit the road together this spring. Here are the dates...

March 22: Portland, Ore. (Memorial Coliseum)
March 23: Sacramento, Calif. (Convention Center)
March 24: Reno, Nev. (Reno Hilton)
March 27: Tucson, Ariz. (Centennial Hall)
March 29: Austin, Texas (Backyard)
March 30: Houston (Verizon Wireless Theater)
March 31: Grand Prairie, Texas (Nokia Theatre)
April 7: Durham, N.C. (Cameron Indoor Stadium)
April 8: Camden, N.J. (Tweeter Center)
April 9: Ithaca, N.Y. (Barton Hall)
April 11: Washington, D.C. (DAR Constitution Hall)
April 12: Boston (Agannis Arena)
April 13-14: New York (Hammerstein Ballroom)
April 15: Montreal (Cepsum)
April 17: Toronto (Docks)
April 18: Detroit (State Theatre)
April 19: Chicago (Aragon Ballroom)
April 20: St. Paul, Minn. (Northrop Auditorium)
April 23: Winnipeg, Manitoba (Burton Cummings Theatre)
April 25: Edmonton, Alberta (Shaw Conference Centre)
April 26: Calgary, Alberta (Stampede Corral)

Coming Attractions: The Pretenders

Billboard reports on the Pretenders' box set and tour...

The long-awaited career-spanning Pretenders boxed set, "Pirate Radio," will finally see the light of day March 14 via Rhino. The package features four audio CDs plus a DVD loaded with album tracks, rarities and 15 previously unreleased selections from the Chrissie Hynde-led group, which was inducted last year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

R.E.M. & Coldplay Collaborate for New Orleans Relief

R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and Coldplay's Chris Martin duet on Joseph Arthur's song "Into The Sun" for Hurricane Katrina relief...

Stipe, a Georgia native who recorded R.E.M.'s Automatic For The People in New Orleans 14 years ago, has strong feelings about the disaster and its aftermath. "The news cycle has moved on and I don't want the public to forget about those who were affected by Katrina or to believe that everything is fine now," he says.

"Things are not fine. The storm is still impacting people's lives in a very real way and many have been left desperate. I want to remind each of us that as humans, and certainly as Americans, it is out responsibility to help those in need."

The End of "Greatest Hits" As We Know It?

The NY Times ponders the impact of digital downloads on the music industry's cash cow... the Greatest Hits CD..

Their popularity indicates that fans are flocking to online services like iTunes at least in part to pluck out celebrated oldies, not to mention the occasional 90's alternative memento (Oasis's "Wonderwall" has sold more than 251,000 copies so far) or 80's strip-club staple (Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me" has surpassed 216,000). All of this comes at a time when fans enjoy a wealth of new choices in how to buy and listen to music.

But the popularity of such songs raises a troubling issue for the music business, which relies in part on the huge profits generated by greatest-hits collections, perennially selling classic albums and the continual repackaging of old material. The question: What if fans who might have paid for a full album of "the very best" of an established act instead choose to pay substantially less and simply buy the very, very best song?

The Edge Makes His Case for New Orleans

The Edge talks about Music Rising, his effort to assist New Orleans musicians...

"When I heard about the hurricane, the devastation of the city and the area, I pretty soon started thinking about the musicians, started to think about the cultural loss, not just to New Orleans, not just to America, but really to the world," he told the Associated Press.

Does that mean he's planning to follow band-mate Bono's worldwide activist footsteps? Not likely, he responds.

"Bono is kind of a one-off character in music. His skills as a communicator are amazing, and his powers of persuasion are equally amazing," he said, smiling. "I would never think of trying to take on quite that level of commitment."

The Money Shot: Bono Goes to Washington

Bono wants the U.S. to step up...

Speaking to President Bush and members of Congress at the National Prayer Breakfast, the U2 front man said it's unjust to keep poor people from selling their goods while singing the virtues of the free market, to hold children to ransom for the debts of their grandparents and to withhold medicines that would save lives.

"God will not accept that," he said. "Mine won't. Will yours?"

Depeche Mode, Tool, Franz Ferdinand, Paul Oakenfold, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sigur Rós and Common are scheduled to play the seventh edition of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, which will take over the small desert town of Indio on April 29 and 30. Tickets go on sale Saturday.More than 80 acts are on the bill. Among other notables: Matisyahu, TV on the Radio, Danger Mouse, Damien Marley, HARD-Fi, She Wants Revenge, Cat Power and the Like.

The Money Shot: Radiohead, Beck, Costello @ Bonnaroo

MTV reports that Radiohead, Beck, and Elvis Costello will play a more rock-oriented Bonnaroo...

In previous years, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival developed a reputation for being the most, um, granola-friendly summer concert out there (with a list of headliners that included Trey Anastasio, Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic and the Dead, it's not hard to see why). This year, however, it looks like all that will change.

That's because Radiohead have been confirmed as a headliner, joining an initial list of more than 50 acts that also includes Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, Damian Marley and Matisyahu. Bonnaroo 2006 will be held June 16-18 on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee.

Radiohead — in their only confirmed U.S. summer festival appearance — will top the bill on one of the fest's three evenings, with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers penciled in as another headliner; the third, Phil Lesh and Friends (featuring the former Grateful Dead bassist), is more in line with the festival's traditional fanbase. Other acts scheduled to appear include Elvis Costello and the Impostors, My Morning Jacket, Cat Power, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

Radiohead - Distracted in the Studio

Thom Yorke posts on their blog at Radiohead.com...

so here we are with spike stent in our studio which now looks like NASA. and we are being taken to task. we ar e having to shake the dust off. no more bullshit. stop answering the phones and thinking of excuses to leave the building. instead get on with it. jonny said today that since we were last radiohead, between us, we've had six children or rather our partners have, this may perhaps have something to do with our lack of focus. but as this rock n roll we aint supposed to discuss this.. deny it every happened etc. what bullshit.

The Money Shot: The Gossip Talks

From Seattle Weekly, the Gossip talks about their new record, touring and hitting SXSW...

The idea of all the artists being there together is really fun, because there's lots of people you don't see unless you're on tour. Like, I cannot wait to see Erase Errata. But for the most part, CMJ, SXSW, all that shit is a circle jerk for industry hounds. It's supposed to be for exposure, but if you really don't give a shit about exposure, it doesn't pay off. Except for sometimes you get free Converse, and that rules.

The Money Shot: Split Enz Reunion

Billboard reports on an Aussie reunion tour for Split Enz...

They once sang history never repeats. But the members of Split Enz today (Feb. 1) announced they are reuniting for an Australian arena tour in June, 22 years after they broke up.Melbourne-based Frontier Touring has booked the act for an initial five dates between June 7 to 16. The band still has an active fan club in Australia of 15,000, and the tour is expected to see them play to their largest crowds on the continent.

Monday, February 27, 2006

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Friday, February 24, 2006

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Monday, February 13, 2006

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Monday, February 06, 2006

Friday, February 03, 2006

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

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