Crystal Castles, Broken Social Scene, Deerhoff to headline New York's CMJ Festival

As New York's CMJ Muisc an Film Festival approaches, the bands to headline the festival this year have been ANNOUNCED. To headline this years festival, or at least play at it, are: Deerhoff, Broken Social Scene, Crystal Castles, the lovely Roisin Murphy, Lee Perry, The Cool Kids, Yo Majesty, A Place to Bury Strangers, Annual, and others. If youre sick of music or the band thats on just sucks (but with a lineup like that, tchhh not likely.), there are always film screenings, panels, and many more for festival-goers to do.

Want Some More From The Kaiser Chiefs?

Want some more from the Kaiser Chiefs? Well here it is: they are releasing their new album on the 13th of October (14th in the US) and its called: Off With Their Heads. And as the cherry on top: there are three "very rare" free tracks to download off of their site, entitled From The Neck Down, Telling Me To Go, and Less Is More. Enjoy.

Sock To Go

What I'm Listening to:

Dr. Dog - Fate
Death Cab for Cutie - Bixby Canyon Bridge
My Morning Jacket - Two Halves
The Rascals - I'll Give You Sympathy
Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
MGMT - Electric Feel.

Listen to it, they're worth it.

CD Review - Rascalize by The Rascals

So... Miles Kane, eh? Alongside with Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner, he's The Last Shadow Puppets. And if they hadn't been there, this would be a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ALBUM. It's hard not to hear the way Alex Turner has influenced him on the album, because this could be a hint on the third Arctic Monkeys album.

The album itslef is nothing special, really. The title track and opener, Rascalize, is pretty monotone and boring, with a single riff and the same beat playing throughout the whole song, with some synths playing at the end of each backing vocals filled chorus. The rest of the album is pretty much the same, some of the tracks are a hint quicker some slower. The only track that has the stuff to stick out for me is "I'll Give You Sympathy", which uses loud guitar to be, "different" from the rest of the album. Actually, just to listen to the last three tracks on the Arctic Monkeys' Favorite Worst Nightmare, and you'll get the idea.

Download tip: "Fear Invicted Into The Perfect Stranger".

6.9/10

Jack White and Alicia Keys record new Bond song

White Stripes lead guitarist/vocalist Jack White and R&B singer Alicia Keys are currently, or have recorded the song for the new James Bond, Quantum of Solace. The song is called "Another Way to Die" and a release date for the song itself is yet unknown, but the movie itself will be released on November 31st of this year in the UK, and on December 7th in North America.

Last Shadow Puppets nominated for Mecury Prize

The Last Shadow Puppets, Alex Turner's side project with The Rascals' (new album Rascalize out now, review coming soon) Miles Kane are nominated for this year's Mercury Prize, alongside Elbow, Adele, Estelle, British Sea Power, Burial, Laura Marling, the jazz band Portico Quartet, Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, Neon Neon, Radiohead and Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant alongside Alison Krauss. My personal favourites are British Sea Power, but good luck to all of them.

Wolfmother split up

The australian hard rock band Wolfmother have decided to end their work together after one album, Wolfmother, released in 2006. The album itself received good to excellent critics, and a Grammy award in the category "Best Hard Rock Act". The band has declared the departure of keyboarder Chris Ross, which then lead to the departure of the band's drummer, Myles Heskett, as the main reason for their split up. Frontman Andrew Stockdale said that even though most of the band had left, he would continue under the name Wolfmother, and search for new musicians to play with him.

CD Review - Attack & Release by The Black Keys

The Black Keys - sometimes they were there, sometimes they weren't. But now they're here, and their rocking as ever. Back with their new release, Attack & Release, The Black Keys are changing all kinds of music, but especially indie rock. 

The first Black Keys album was released in 2002, and is called The Big Come Up, which was followed closely by Thickfreakness. The band then released their third and highly praised album Rubber Factory, which was called one of the best albums of the year by many music magazines, in 2006 , and Magic Potion in 2007. Now the band has released Attack and Release, their fifth studio album, which was originally supposed to be a collaboration between the Ike Turner and the band, but was cancelled due to Turner's death in December '07.

Their fifth studio album is a mix of classical rock mixed with funk a la Jimi Hendrix, and a White Stripes/Eric Clapton kind of blues. A good example of these styles are the two songs Strange Times and Psychotic Girl, two songs which show the influences and styles of the band.

7.9/10

CD Review - Walk It Off by Tapes n' Tapes

After Tapes n' Tapes released their first official album on Ibid Records, The Loon, there were a great deal of questions arousing. Who are they? Where do they come from? Well, Tapes n' Tapes are THE indie band from Minneapolis. And they ROCK.

Their second official release, and their first release on XL recordings, home of bands such as Arctic Monkeys, or Radiohead, is called Walk It Off. The album is classic indie rock with a touch of alternative on the opener Le Ruse and a touch of blues/funk on the first single of the album, Hang Them All. Most of the other tracks on the album fit into one of these categories, or just both. All in all a pretty excellent album, but there is still A LOT to work on for Tapes n' Tapes.

8.7/10

Futureheads' This Is Not The World

Just like Death Cab for Cutie, indie pioneers The Futureheads are also back with a new album, This Is Not The World. The album will be released on the 26th of May, and will be "punkier than the last album." Album review to come.

Death Cab are back!!

Death Cab for Cutie are back. The new album, Narrow Stairs, will be released in the U.S. on the 13th May, and according to MTV review writer James Montgomery, it could "make them very famous, or kill their carers." An album review to come as soon as the album is released.

CD Review - Consolers of the Lonely by the Raconteurs

Just like Alex Turner for his side project The Last Shadow Puppets, Jack White was busy with The White Stripes in 2007, and had no time to waste while working on The Raconteurs second album, Consolers of the Lonely. But in his haste, has he still managed to make Consolers of the Lonely an important album in the history of The Raconteurs, or not?

The answer is yes. The album has a variety of songs going from the opener, Consoler of the Lonely, an alternative track, to The Switch and the Spur, a song using a variety of instruments, going from the piano to the electric bass. All in all a very White Stripes-ish album, yet parting slowly from this style.

7.7/10

CD Review - The Age of the Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets

Alex Turner did not have much time for this album, yet it is still an important element for the year 2008. The opener and first single, The Age of the Understatement, starts with an acoustic guitar and violins ,which fits to Alex Turner's raw yet warm voice.  None of the tracks reminds much of the Arctic Monkeys, except Separate and Ever Deadly, the 4th track on the album. This has some elements from the last couple of tracks on the Arctic Monkeys Favorite Worst Nightmare, released in April 2008. The last 4-5 tracks are dark, yet melodic tracks, which could have come straight out of a James Bond movie. Overall, the album is melodic, dark, "written for James Bond", and simply brilliant.   

8.3/10

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The brazilian electroband just announced just announced the title fro their new album : Donkey.

The new album is due in stores in July.

Alex Turner becomes Shadow Puppet

Alex Turner, lead singer and guitarist of the Arctic Monkeys, has just released an album, The Age of the Understatement, with his new band, The Last Shadow Puppets, along with childhood friend and fellow musician Miles Kane from The Rascals. Album review coming soon.