South Africa’s BLK JKS, recently signed with Secretly Canadian, will embark on a string of U.S. tour dates March 2, 2009 in Bloomington, IN, where they are recording their forthcoming full-length. The tour continues to New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Austin. Please see below for current confirmed schedule; more dates will be announced shortly.

BLK JKS on amazon.com

BLK JKS on amazon.co.uk

After an action packed 2008 that found the band playing their first U.S. shows, receiving critical acclaim from the likes of The New York Times, Billboard, The Guardian and Dazed and Confused, the band is poised to build on the success with a March 10 re-release of their ‘Mystery’ EP, which has been re-mastered and re-sequenced.

BLK JKS came to the U.S. in the spring of 2008 after a chance meeting with über-producer Diplo while he was on tour in South Africa. The band’s appearance on the cover of the Fader, as well as sets at the Fader issue release party and South by Southwest, sparked recording sessions at New York’s famed Electric Lady studios that resulted in the Mystery EP. The record was produced by Brandon Curtis of The Secret Machines, who came to BLK JKS as a fan of the band.

BLK JKS consists of childhood friends Linda and Mpumi who grew up on the same block in Johannesburg’s East Rand where they taught themselves guitar. They initially formed the band in 2000.

Early BLK JKS shows and recordings garnered attention for their stacks of guitar drone and head-nodding beats. After the band’s current lineup took shape with the addition of bassist Molefi and drummer Tshepang, both of Soweto, they embarked on a schedule of heavy touring throughout South Africa that earned them a loyal national following.

The limited edition release of BLK JKS’ now out-of-print 2007 ‘Lakeside’ vinyl-only 10″ marked the band’s international debut, selling at select record stores worldwide.

“A movement unto themselves.” – Fader

“The band’s quick-fingered, multilayered vamps well up out of murky echoes, piling jubilation atop the anxiety, before submerging again.” – The New York Times

BLK JKS March 2009 Tour Dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

March 2 Bloomington, IN Cinemat
March 3 Rock Island, IL Rock Island Brewing Company
March 4 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
March 6 Los Angeles, CA Natural History Museum
March 9 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Shop
March 13 Brooklyn, NY Union Hall
March 14 New York, NY Santo’s Partyhouse
March 18-20 Austin, TX SXSW TBA

BLK JKS Official Website
BLK JKS MySpace

I can’t believe it. Guns N’ Roses is finally releasing the long awaited ‘Chinese Democracy’ on November 23, 2008. MySpace is currently streaming the album in its entirety – which I’m listening to now. Axl sounds good…at times great and sometimes not so good…and the band is tight – with some excellent guitar solos. Even if you’re just mildly curious, it’s worth checking out. There’s certainly a mixed bag of music, and I’ve found myself listening to some of the songs more than once to get a better feel for them.

Guns N’ Roses on amazon.com

Chinese Democracyon amazon.co.uk

Opening track “Chinese Democracy” has a cool intro, and rocks out with cool vocals – Axl sounds great, using the lower register of his voice.

The vocals are questionable on “Better”.

There’s a mix of the old, familiar “Axl voice” from the days of ‘Appetite for Destruction’ and ‘Use Your Illusion’ throughout ‘Chinese Democracy’, and a more… theatrical … voice, like on piano based “Street of Dreams” and “This I Love” – which includes a great guitar solo, and dare I say – a harp? Are they the new “November Rain”? Wow – “If The World” grooves with a fat bass and a mix of funk, rock, contemporary jazz feel, an electric Santana/Slash-like guitar solo, an acoustic spanish-like acoustic guitar solo, and a soulful, high pitched vocal delivery by Axl. Hmmm. Different. I’m undecided on this one. There’s A LOT going on here. I *think* it could grow on me.

“Scraped” is a strong rock track. It has that old school Guns N’ Roses feel with catchy backing vocals. At times, “Sorry” is somewhat reminiscent of Pink Floyd, with its dark mood and lyrics. I like the laid back groove – with spanish style acoustic guitar subtly played throughout, and a beautiful electric guitar solo. Not sure about the vocal delivery during the first verse, but sounds much better as the song goes on. There’s even some whistling tucked back in the mix toward the end of the song, which brings back memories of “Patience”, however the song sounds nothing like it. This could be another grower. Actually the more I listen to it, the more I like it – and – according to information on Wikipedia, former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach, a longtime friend and supporter of Axl Rose, recorded backing vocals on “Sorry” at Electric Lady Studios, which is interesting, considering I’m a huge Jimi Hendrix fan (Electric Lady Studios was created by Hendrix).

I’m sure for those who sit down with this album and really take it all in, there will be a good mix of opinions regarding favorite and least favorite tracks. It certainly makes for good, maybe even heated, discussion, especially amongst old school Guns N’ Roses fans.

The entire album probably won’t be streaming on MySpace for long, so this is a great way to preview the album before you buy – if you decide to buy, that is.

It’s hard to believe that ‘Chinese Democracy’ is actually released. Whether it’s any good or not, could this have been the most anticipated album in the history of rock music? Has the fire burned out or has it been worth the wait?

Chinese Democracy Track Listing:

1. Chinese Democracy
2. Shackler’s Revenge
3. Better
4. Street Of Dreams
5. If The World
6. There Was A Time
7. Catcher N’ The Rye
8. Scraped
9. Riad N’ The Bedouins
10. Sorry
11. I.R.S.
12. Madagascar
13. This I Love
14. Prostitute

Guns N’ Roses MySpace

Guns N’ Roses Official Website

By: Jenny May

There’s no shortage of Al Green fans. The R&B legend has helped shape the genre and continues to do so, as is evidenced by his latest studio album ‘Lay It Down’, out now on Blue Note Records. The project features the sophisticated R&B voices of singer-songwriters and Al Green fans John Legend, Anthony Hamilton and Corinne Bailey Rae, and it was co-produced with Green by two of hip-hop’s most innovative players, drummer Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson from the Roots and keyboardist James Poyser, the go-to guy for high-profile artists ranging from Erykah Badu to Common.

Watch “Let’s Stay Together” video:

Al Green – Lay It Down on amazon.com

Lay It Down on amazon.co.uk

The album has been a 2 1/2 year labor of, as Al likes to put it, L-O-V-E. Born from a series of inspired sessions between Green and Ahmir at the famed Electric Lady studios in Greenwich Village that yielded the most high-spirited, funky and often lushly romantic songs of Green’s latter-day career, ‘Lay It Down’ is a refreshingly old school jam, with everyone laying down the music together, face to face, heart to heart, soul to soul.

“The reason why we are doing this is because we all idolize Al Green,” declares ?uestlove. “Even today, nobody has range like him.”

The sound is purely Al Green, with the artist duets and Ahmir and James’ deft touches bringing it into 2008. As Green explains: “They didn’t want to get too far out from the foundation that [Hi Records producer] Willie Mitchell and I built – “Call Me,” “I’m Still In Love With You,” “Let’s Stay Together.” We want to keep all of the aura, but we would like to have freedom enough to spread our wings and express ourselves. The Roots, all the guys from Philly who came up to do this stuff with us—they were incredible. I could relax because I knew the people were capable.”

Add in Brooklyn’s celebrated Dap-King Horns (Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse), guitarist Chalmers “Spanky” Alford (Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joss Stone) and bassist Adam Blackstone (Jill Scott, DJ Jazzy Jeff), among others, and you’ve got a modern soul-music dream team, fronted by the most expressive voice in the business.

“It’s an honor to be able to work with Al Green, who I have always loved and respected,” says John Legend, who duets with Green and Corinne Bailey Rae on the single “Stay With Me (by the sea)”. “He has been an important part of black music history, and pop music history for that matter. Al really is a magical singer.”

Photo Credit: Christian Lantry

Al Green MySpace
Al Green Official Website

Following his feted 2007 solo debut ‘Yours To Keep’, Albert Hammond, Jr. and his merry men (cohorts Matt Romano, Marc Philippe Eskenazi and Josh Lattanzi) return with a new album ¿Como Te Llama? out July 8, 2008 on Black Seal Records.

The title, rung out of casual conversation between Albert and Matt over some vino tinto, hints at the classic, summery music held within.

The record was recorded over 5 weeks at Electric Lady Studios and produced by Albert along with engineer Gus Oberg and drummer Romano. “I’m really proud of the power this record has,” says Albert. “I feel like my melodies and song arrangements have matured. Lyrically, I tried to have the words flow out more freely and not try to write one song but many. I would just sing and sing and then arrange the words afterwards.”

¿Como Te Llama? Tracklisting:

1 Bargain Of A Century
2 In My Room
3 Lisa
4 GfC
5 The Boss Americana
6 Rocket
7 Victory At Monterey
8 You Won’t Be Fooled By This
9 Spooky Couch
10 Borrowed Time
11 G Up
12 Miss Myrtle
13 Feed Me Jack Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Peter Sellers

For more info go to:

Albert Hammond Jr Official Website
Albert Hammond Jr Myspace