Around here, there’s never an off day, especially with the presence of Twitter, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, M.I.A., Damon Albarn, and a whole slew of others. So while you were busy opening gifts, returning said gifts, and toasting to the turn of the decade, we were doing all of it with our eyes glued to our laptops and iPhone screens. And while our loved ones may have been perplexed by our seemingly untreatable addiction to keeping up with every bit of breaking news, they’ll never understand that our greatest gift is being able to keep you — our loyal readers — completely up to date on everything that relates to the music that we all love so much.
The best part about a lot of the news that happened over the “break” was that much of it involved artists giving things away for free. M.I.A, jj, Rick Ross, Yeasayer, Klaxons, and Gorillaz all released the fruits of their labor gratis before Radiohead, Trent Reznor, and Muse handed out videos to keep your eyes as stimulated as your ears. To cap it all off, Kanye West — our top artist of 2010 — ended his Twitter hibernation with a slew of delightfully manic Yeezy-tweets that culminated in his New Year’s Eve performance with Jay-Z and Coldplay. Throw in news about Lady Gaga’s new album and fresh tracks from Dr. Dre, Eminem, Beady Eye, Lupe Fiasco, and Bright Eyes, and what you’ve got is proof that 2010 marked the year that we stopped getting days off.
So without further adieu, here are the the biggest stories that you may have missed all rolled into one quick read. And yes, we did include the “Usher Plagiarizes Homer Simpson” story, too. Happy New Year!
Gorillaz release The Fall
As promised, Gorillaz delivered their iPad-created album, The Fall, as a free stream and/or download (the latter is available only to fan club members) via gorillaz.com. According to the band’s website, the record was written and performed by Damon Albarn and Co. using an iPad and additional instruments: Korg vocoder, ukulele, microKORG, omnichord, Moog Voyager, melodica, guitar, piano, and Korg monotron. Recent collaborators Mick Jones and Paul Simonon add guitar and bass on two tracks, while Bobby Womack sings and plays guitar on track 13, “Bobby in Phoenix”. The entire record was recorded between Montreal and Vancouver over 32 days during the band’s 2010 North American tour.
New Radiohead-authorized concert film
What would Christmas be without a bit of Radiohead?. As you may remember, Thom Yorke and friends played a charity one-off in Los Angeles last January to benefit victims of the Haiti earthquake. You may also remember that attendance was limited to 1,400, which meant you probably didn’t go. However, thanks to a group of dedicated fans, a band-authorized DVD featuring footage from the performance is now available for download.
The collection was put together to further benefit the ravaged country, and not only did Radiohead officially approve the project, but they also chose the charity to which those who download the film are encouraged to donate: Oxfam. What’s more, Kii Arens, the creator of the original “bandaid” poster for the show, contributed artwork for the DVD.
The DVD’s content features contributions from 14 video tapers and four audio tapers. All 24 songs played that evening are included, and the package can be downloaded as a 2-disc DVD with four alternate audio tracks, as well as a HD 1280×720 mp4 movie. You can find all the necessary links here. Those who download are asked to donate to Oxfam.
Lady Gaga announces new album
Along with a Muppets cameo, Lady Gaga’s world domination will continue into 2011 with the May 23rd release of her third LP, Born This Way. The album’s lead single/title track will be released on February 13th.
The New Year’s news, which was delivered via Twitter, follows Gaga’s initial announcement of the album during the VMAs last September. Many details, including the album’s tracklist and cover art, are still forthcoming, but the pop superstar has been performing a new track called “You and I” during recent live performances. Video evidence below.
In support of the album’s release, Gaga has already mapped out a healthy 2011 tour. Find confirmed dates here.
Klaxons release free EP
Klaxons celebrated Christmas 2010 with the offering of a brand new EP, Landmarks of Lunacy. Arriving only four months after the release of their sophomore effort, Surfing the Void, the EP features five unreleased tracks, which were recorded with Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford during the Surfing the Void sessions in 2008. Stream and/or download the EP’s five tracks here.
jj release Christmas Eve Mixtape
They open their presents early in Sweden, as is evident by this Christmas Eve offering from jj. Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander just unleashed a new mixtape entitled KILLS, featuring samplings of Jay-Z, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, M.I.A., and Biggie. Download it here.
Rick Ross releases new mixtape
If you’re looking for less Swedish dream-pop in your hip-hop, then try Rick Ross’ brand-new mixtape, Ashes to Ashes. The 10-track effort features T.I., Wale, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Ne-Yo, Birdman, and even the late Barry White. Grab the free download here.
Yeasayer release free live album
Dear Wonderful Fans,
To celebrate the close of 2010, your amazing support, and numerous requests, we have decided to unlock the Yeasayer vault and release this live show recorded at the lovely Ancienne Belgique in Brussels. We are letting you, the fans, name the price. See you in 2011.
2k10 was not a year to remember for M.I.A., so you can understand why she’s wasting no time in kicking 2k11 off on the right foot. As promised, Miss Maya delivered a New Year’s Eve mixtape, titled Vicki Leekx, and you can grab the 19-track effort as a free download right here. Production credits include Switch, Rusko, Blaqstarr, and ex-BF Diplo. R.I.P. truffle-gate.
Jay-Z, Kanye, & Coldplay celebrate the New Year in Vegas
Because a co-headlining performance by Jay-Z and Coldplay in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve wasn’t ridiculous enough, someone also doled out a ton of money for surprise guests Kanye West, Beyoncé, and John Mayer. (Now you know why Kanye was drunk tweeting from an airplane.)
Check out some clips below, including the first ever live performance of Kanye’s “Homecoming” with Chris Martin. Fucking epic.
Kanye West, Jay-Z, & Chris Martin – “Homecoming”
Kanye West & Jay-Z – “Good Life” + “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
Kanye West & Jay-Z – “Run This Town”
Kanye West – “Runaway”
Chris Martin & Beyoncé – “Halo”
Coldplay – “Yellow”
Watch: Kanye West’s “Monster” video
For reasons still unknown to everyone but Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy‘s six-month-long hype machine was put to bed before the album even came out. G.O.O.D. Fridays have ended (minus that unexpected Xmas gift), as has his tweeting. There have been no late-night performances, no new singles released, and his lone public appearance this month was to attend the Lakes game on Christmas with Kim Kardashian’s mother. Consequently, sales of his fifth LP have plummeted since its release. (Our second favorite album of 2010 currently sits at 19 on the Billboard Top 200.)
So, what now? Well, West’s joint collaboration with Jay-Z, aka Watch The Throne, appears to be his number-one priority currently, and rumors of an “All of the Lights” video surfaced a few weeks back. But until then, the best we got is a leaked-yet-unfinished rip of West’s long-awaited “Monster” video, featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Nicki Minaj. Justin Vernon couldn’t make it, or Kanye never bothered to finish it. Either way, check out the clip above.
Nine Inch Nails, Muse release pro-shot concert footage
Two of music’s biggest bands gave their fans some pro-shot concert footage for Christmas. Above, you’ll find a HD clip of Nine Inch Nails performing “Somewhat Damaged” during their August 2009 show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City (via Antiquiet). Below, you’ll find HD clips of Muse performing “Uprising” and “Citizen Erased” during their September 2010 show at Wembley Stadium in London. The Muse videos are also available in a controllable multi-angle format on the band’s website.
Michael Stipe & Patti Smith’s “walk-in performance” at MoMA
While you were watching the Giants’ 4th-quarter collapse to the Eagles, Patti Smith and R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe made a trip to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, where they honored the 100th birthday of French writer/political activist Jean Genet with a “walk-in” performance in the middle of the museum. Stipe opened with a cover of David Bowie’s song about Genet, “The Jean Genie”, before Smith dropped a 20-minute improvisation of Genet’s biography.
Courtesy of the MoMA, you can watch the entire shindig above. Museum director Klaus Biesenbach’s account of the performance is also available at that link and is a must-read. Also, because we’re on the subject of Stipe-Smith collaborations, be sure to check out R.E.M.’s new studio album, Collapse Into Now, when it hits stores on March 9th. The two icons appear together on the album’s final track, “Blue”.
Watch: Beady Eye – “Four Letter Word”
Countless UK publications call Oasis’ 1994 debut, Definitely Maybe, one of the country’s greatest albums. Hell, in a 2006 poll, the album was even ranked ahead of Sgt. Pepper’s and Abbey Road as the best of all time. But according to Liam Gallagher, Different Gear, Still Speeding, the forthcoming debut from his post-Oasis outfit, Beady Eve, is “as good as Definitely Maybe, if not better.” We’ll have to take Liam’s word for it until the album drops February 28, 2011, via Beady Eye Records, but in the meantime, check out its latest single, “Four Letter Word”, in the above video.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee is still waiting for Noel to arrive.
Check Out: Eminem ft. Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, & 50 Cent – “Syllables”
2010 comes to an end with perhaps the most star-powered jam of the year. Below, check out the Eminem, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Stat Quo, and Ca$his-featuring “Syllables”. No word on its origin, but we’re already dreaming of a “Swagga Like Us”-type performance at next year’s Grammys. Too bad our Artist of the Year couldn’t make it.
Dave Grohl, No Doubt, Steven Tyler honor Paul McCartney
Like Springsteen did last year, Paul McCartney made a trip to the Kennedy Center in the first week of December 2k10, where he was honored for “enriching, inspiring, and elevating the cultural vibrancy of our nation and the world.” Oprah was of course there, too. And much like how Springsteen was serenaded by a star-studded lineup of performers that included Eddie Vedder, Sir Macca received the royal treatment. A reunited No Doubt, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and songstress Norah Jones, American Idol‘s Steven Tyler (per the request of McCartney himself), and the equally legendary James Taylor and Mavis Staples all paid tribute to the music legend with renditions of his most noteworthy gems.
The shindig took place on December 5th but finally aired on CBS tonight. Above, you can watch No Doubt’s Beatles melody and Grohl and Jones dueting on ”Maybe I’m Amazed”. Below, find Steven Tyler’s Abbey Road tribute, as well as Taylor and Staples’ duet of “Let It Be”.
Steven Tyler’s melody + James Taylor & Mavis Staples – “Let It Be”
Check Out: New Bright Eyes - ”Shell Games”
In a recent interview with Billboard, Conor Oberst suggested that his forthcoming Bright Eyes album, The People’s Key, would be a bit more “rocking” than some of his more recent efforts. Now you can hear what he means by streaming the album track “Shell Games” below. The track can also be downloaded here.
The 10-track People’s Key arrives February 15th via Saddle Creek Records. The album’s artwork can be found above and its tracklist below. Those who pre-order via iTunes will receive the non-album bonus track “Singularity”. Opt to send your money to Saddle Creek instead and you’ll earn “Singularity” as well as another bonus track, “In the Real World”.
Welcome back, Bright Eyes.
Flaming Lips to release new songs in every month of 2011
While The Flaming Lips have always had a penchant for turning heads, (remember when they used blood to print tour posters?) frontman Wayne Coyne has revealed that his band – which has released almost 20 albums since 1984 – probably won’t release an album in 2011. Instead, the new year will find the Lips releasing new songs every month while completely capturing the recording process on film.
“We just want to [release the material] some other way,” Coyne, 49, told Rolling Stone, “not that I think the old way was boring, but to spend another two years with the same 13 songs, it’s just like fuck.” While Coyne hasn’t completely ruled out physically releasing material, he says that the band wants to try to live through their music as they create it instead of having it be a collection of the last couple years of their lives.
He doesn’t know what method the Lips will utilize to distribute the material, but Coyne doesn’t seem keen on just releasing a song and video when a song is finished. “The dilemma is whether we’re going to release it on vinyl, cereal boxes, or some of it on toys we make,” he explained. “Sometimes the music is the simplest part of any of these things.” It all sound characteristically crazy, so while Coyne may be brainstorming ideas, it looks like all we’ll have to do in 2011 is sit back and enjoy the ride.
Underworld scores Frankenstein musical
When Underworld and director Danny Boyle decide to collaborate, good things usually result. Case in point: Trainspotting. So it’s understandable why Boyle has again tapped the UK electro legends for a project, this time in the form of his forthcoming Frankenstein musical. Though details remain limited, The Guardian reports that Underworld will be providing a “soundscore” to the adaptation, which is set to debut in London on February 5th, 2011. Tickets for the production are now on sale.
Green Day ready double-disc live set for March
Back in August, Billie Joe Armstrong hinted that Green Day would issue another live album. Now, it’s coming. Titled Awesome as Fuck, the double-disc set will include audio stripped from shows all across the world during the band’s 21st Century Breakdown Tour, in addition to a DVD, which will focus on their two shows in Tokyo, reports Green Day Authority. If you managed to catch their headlining performance at Lollapalooza this past summer, then you’ll know you’re in for a treat. Here’s hoping, however, that the album itself will feature some of the new tracks they sound-checked earlier this year. That’d be swell.
Albarn’s sister, Jessica, recently released a children’s book entitled The Boy In The Oak,and according to The Playlist, plans are already in the works for a star-studded film adaption. Big brother Damon will provide the music, acclaimed actor Jude Law will narrate, and Luke Losey (whose resume includes collaborations with Orbital and Mercury Rev) will serve as director.
The Playlist reports that the story “centers on a young boy who lives in a cottage with a big old oak tree out back. He doesn’t really care about the tree and certainly doesn’t know it is enchanted, but all that changes as the fairies living in the oak are about to cast a spell that will change his life forever.” Sounds pretty cute, and given the talent lining up to bring this one to life, we’re definitely curious.
The film’s official release date is still forthcoming, but screenings are expected to begin in Spring 2011.
Dispatch announces reunion tour
A new year means new reunions, and here’s our first: Vermont outfit Dispatch will reunite next summer for their first U.S. tour in nearly a decade. Though the celebrated trio has played a series of one-offs throughout the 2000s, the six-date leg will mark their first extensive road trip since disbanding in 2002. The fun is set to begin at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, on June 4th, with stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, Harrison, NJ, Atlanta, and Boston to follow.
A fan ticket pre-sale will begin January 21st, with the general on-sale to follow on January 28th. A portion of all proceeds will go towards education programs in local communities.
As an added bonus, Dispatch is offering all four of their studio albums as free digitial downloads to fans who help spread the word about the tour via Twitter and Facebook. Click here for more details.
Dispatch 2011 Tour Dates:
06/04 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks
06/08 – Chicago, IL @ Millennium Park
06/11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theare
06/18 – Harrison, NJ @ Red Bull Arena
06/21 – Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park
06/25 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
Queens of the Stone Age hit the studio
“Everybody seems excited and ready to go… We’ve got so many ideas started already; I guess we’ll see what turns out to be everybody’s favorite. It’s very much still (Josh Homme’s) band, but I think all of us really feel like we’ve found our space in it and can contribute to it as well.”
Though rumors of a new Queens of the Stone Age album have fit nicely alongside the band’s 2010reissues, we now have official word that the follow-up to 2007′s Era Vulgaris is indeed on the way. In a new interview with Billboard, guitarist/keyboardist Dean Fertita confirmed that the band will begin recording their sixth LP in January. And 2k11 just got all that much more insane.
Thrill Jockey offers Matt Friedberger subscription
If you’re a bit overwhelmed by The Fiery Furnaces‘ plans to release 10 band-related albums in 2011, then we’re happy to report on a bit of a refuge from the musical storm. If you head over to Thrill Jockey Records, the group’s label, you can order all six albums in Matthew Friedberger‘s Solos series, plus two full-length bonus LPs featuring Friedberger and special guests, on vinyl to be shipped as they’re released. Because copious amounts of rock and roll isn’t worth it without convenience.
This offer, limited to just 700 sets, retails for $70 in the U.S. and is the only way to get each release, as they’re not being sold in record shops and other retailers. (eBay, on the other hand, might be a different story…) The first album, Napoleonette, ships in January and features Friedberger and piano music. After that, you can expect albums in March, May, July, September, and November. No word yet on what the others will be called, but the second LP will feature Friedberger being accompanied by a guitar.
If you can’t wait for your first release, you can always download the track “Shirley” here.
Around here, there’s never an off day, especially with the presence of Twitter, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, M.I.A., Damon Albarn, and a whole slew of others. So while you were busy opening gifts, returning said gifts, and toasting to the turn of the decade, we were doing all of it with our eyes glued to our laptops and iPhone screens. And while our loved ones may have been perplexed by our seemingly untreatable addiction to keeping up with every bit of breaking news, they’ll never understand that our greatest gift is being able to keep you — our loyal readers — completely up to date on everything that relates to the music that we all love so much.
