La Roux is set to release their self-titled debut album on 29 June 2009.

Press info.:

“The self-titled LP is a kaleidoscope of emotions, touching on everything from heartbreak to disappointment to invincibility – all in true spine tingling La Roux measures that create an instant resonance. With former singles “Quicksand” and “In For The Kill” still sounding fresh as a daisy, future single “Bulletproof” is a stone cold smash in waiting and marks the start of the summer. Ranging from the high crystal-clean falsettos of “Fascination” to the brooding lulls of ballad “Cover My Eyes” (that features London Community Gospel Choir), the breadth of the album and La Roux’s diversity is clear.”

There’s a new webisode on La Roux’s MySpace featuring some behind the scenes action from the NME Awards. Notes: La Roux prepares for the 2009 NME Awards and her performance with Franz Ferdinand, more.

Watch video – La Roux NME webisode:

NME Radar April/May 2009 Tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

April 29th – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
April 30th – Bristol Thekla
May 1st – Wrexham Central Station
May 2nd – Oxford 02 Academy2
May 3rd – Cardiff The Globe
May 6th – Manchester Academy 3
May 7th – Leeds Cockpit
May 8th – Preston 53 Degrees
May 10th – Glasgow King Tuts
May 13th – Birmingham 02Academy 2
May 14th – Portsmouth Wedgwood Rooms
May 17th – Stoke Sugarmill
May 18th – Norwich Waterfront
May 19th – London KOKO

Buy Music:

La Roux on amazon.co.uk

La Roux on amazon.com

La Roux Official Website
La Roux MySpace

The latest La Roux news!

Spotify Session live at YOYO
First up the red haired one has teamed up with the digital service of the moment to release the La Roux – Spotify Session live at YOYO. In a first for the service, three tracks recorded during La Roux’s oversubscribed four-week residency at YOYO are available exclusively to Spotify premium users from today, Friday 27 March 2009. The session features tracks from La Roux’s forthcoming debut album, due out in the summer, including both singles released so far, “Quicksand” and “In For Kill”, alongside live favourite “Tigerlily”. The session will be made available to all Spotify users from 3 April 2009.

Free download bundle
Meanwhile, the original studio version of “Quicksand” is available to download free from LaRoux.co.uk for a limited time. The track is being paired with the demo version of “Fascination” as an exclusive digital bundle available only from the official site.

Stop-Motion video of Quicksand filming:

La Roux on amazon.co.uk

La Roux on amazon.com

NME Radar Tour + US dates
La Roux has been announced as the headline act on the NME Radar tour with support from Heartbreak, Magistrates and The Chapman Family. The tour which has famously given a leg up to the likes of Crystal Castles, White Lies and Friendly Fires, will kick off in Nottingham on 29 April ending with a grand finale at London’s Koko on 19 May. Before then, they will play a handful of dates in the US. Head to LaRoux.co.uk for the latest tour dates and information.

La Roux March/April/May 2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

27 Mar Shepherds Bush Empire London
28 Mar Shepherds Bush Empire London
3 Apr Studio B Brooklyn, New York
4 Apr Les Saints Montreal
5 Apr The Drake Toronto
9 Apr Popscene @ 330 Ritch San Francisco
11 Apr Palm Springs White Party Palm Springs, California
12 Apr Roxy Los Angeles, California
23 Apr Le Point Ephemere Paris
24 Apr Lovelite Berlin
29 Apr Rescue Rooms Nottingham
30 Apr Thekla Bristol
1 May Central Station Wrexham, Wales
2 May Zodiac Oxford
3 May The Globe Cardiff, Wales
6 May Academy 3 Manchester
7 May Cockpit Leeds
8 May 53 Degrees Preston
10 May Kings Tuts Glasgow, Scotland
13 May Academy 2 Birmingham
14 May Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth
15 May Honey Club Brighton
17 May Sugarmill Stoke
18 May Waterfront Norwich
19 May Koko London

La Roux Official Website
La Roux MySpace

MySpace announces that one of the most critically acclaimed bands Spiritualized will be playing a club show at The Echo in Los Angeles on September 19, 2008 as part of MySpace’s Secret Show series.

Two days prior, the band played the massive Hollywood Bowl, and The Echo is by far the most intimate show the band is playing this year.

The Secret Show is a free, exclusive performance for the MySpace community.

The Echo
1822 Sunset Bvd
LA Ca 90026
Doors at 8pm, first come first served.
Band onstage 9pm

Spiritualized released their long awaited sixth album, ‘Songs in A & E’ this past Spring. Serious illness struck Spiritualized frontman and songwriter Jason Pierce – aka J. Spaceman in 2005, and his time spent in intensive care interrupted the completion of the recording, but inevitably perhaps, the setback turned into an inspiration as critics and fans alike have recognized the album not only to be one of the band’s best work, but its most personal too.

Pitchfork said of the new album that it was “Spiritualized’s best work in ten years.” Pierce recently wrote and recorded the soundtrack to the new film, Mr. Lonely, directed by Harmony Korine (Julian Donkey-Boy and Gummo).

Spirtualized is recognized as one of the most original bands in the world. The band’s 1997 album ‘Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space’ was bestowed “Album Of The Year” honors by NME in 1997, beating out Radiohead’s ‘Ok Computer’ and The Verve’s ‘Urban Hymns.’

MySpace Music has organized more than 150 Secret Shows since the franchise launched in February 2006 with artists like Gnarls Barkley, The Offspring, Neil Diamond, Slayer, Fran Ferdinand, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs performing in cities around the world.

For more information about the artists and upcoming schedule, visit the official MySpace Secret Shows profile at:

MySpace Secret Shows

Spiritualized 2008 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

20 Sep 2008 Street Scene San Diego, California
21 Sep 2008 Treasure Island Festival San Francisco, California
23 Sep 2008 Ogden Theater Denver, Colorado
25 Sep 2008 Lakewood Theatre Dallas, Texas
26 Sep 2008 Meridian Houston, Texas
27 Sep 2008 Austin City Limits Austin, Texas
8 Oct 2008 ABC Glasgow, Northern Ireland
8 Oct 2008 ABC Glasgow, Northern Ireland
9 Oct 2008 Carling Academy Newcastle, Northeast
10 Oct 2008 Leeds University Union Leeds, Northeast
11 Oct 2008 Manchester Academy Manchester, Northwest
13 Oct 2008 Oxford Academy Oxford, South
14 Oct 2008 Portsmouth Pyramid Centre Portsmouth, South
15 Oct 2008 Birmingham Academy Birmingham, Midlands
16 Oct 2008 London Roundhouse London, London and South East
18 Oct 2008 Cyprus Avenue Cork, Cork
19 Oct 2008 Vicar Street Dublin, Dublin
3 Nov 2008 Trädgårn GÖTEBORG
4 Nov 2008 KB Club- kulturbolaget Malmö
5 Nov 2008 Berns Salonger Stockholm, Stockholms län

Spiritualized MySpace
Spiritualized Official Website

Black out the windows, sound the alarm and take cover…Primal Scream are set to rampage through the UK this winter as headliners of the notoriously anarchic NME Rock ‘N’ Roll Riot Tour!

Starting in Oxford on November 20th, 2008, Scotland’s favourite sons will be blowing up venues throughout country on their 16 date extravaganza, culminating in a historic homecoming date at Glasgow’s SECC on December 13th.

Front man Bobby Gillespie said: “We’re so happy to be doing this tour because we can rock and we can have a riot. Right now we’re playing better than ever, we’re having a great time, we’re having a ball. When people come to the show they’re really gonna get their money’s worth!”

The tour, which has famously given a leg up to the likes of the Kaiser Chiefs, The Enemy and Razorlight is set to round off an already extraordinary year for the band who played a triumphant headline set at T in the Park last month, giving music lovers a taste of the white knuckle ride they can expect from the forthcoming tour.

Fans were also treated to a taste of new material from the Primal’s ninth studio album, out now on B-Unique. ‘Beautiful Future’, which debuted in the UK top ten this week, was produced by Bjorn Yttling [Peter, Bjorn and John] and Paul Epworth (Bloc Party) and features contributions from some of the music world’s most eclectic talent including CSS’s Lovefoxxx and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age).

Conor McNicholas, NME Editor, said: “The NME Rock N Roll Riot Tour has found a killer headliner with Primal Scream. Their classic-laden back catalogue encompasses everything from dancefloor euphoria and Rolling Stones raunch to electronic punk, but it’s the devastating laser-guided pop of their new album ‘Beautiful Future’ we’re looking forward to most. This is shaping up to be an amazing tour. Bobby Gillespie has always described his band’s output as being ‘high energy rock ‘n’ roll’. Come and see just how right he is.”

The 2008 NME Rock’N'Roll Riot Tour dates in full:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to NME or Primal Scream Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

November 2008

20th OXFORD, Academy
21st CARDIFF, University
23rd BRISTOL, Academy
24th SOUTHAMPTON, Guildhall
25th READING, Hexagon
27th NOTTINGHAM, Rock City
28th LONDON, Hammersmith Apollo
30th NORWICH, UEA

December 2008

1st SHEFFIELD, Academy
2nd BRIGHTON, Dome
4th BIRMINGHAM, Academy
5th CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange
8th LEEDS, Academy
9th NEWCASTLE, Academy
11th MANCHESTER, Apollo
13th GLASGOW, SECC

Tickets are available exclusively for 48 hours at NME Gigs from Wednesday 30th July at 9am.
NME Ticketline: 0871 2301094
NME Ticketline: 0871 230 1094
All tickets are priced £22.50 (plus booking fee) except in London where they are £25.00 (plus booking fee)

NME Official Website

Primal Scream MySpace
Primal Scream Official Website

After much speculation in the previous week, Eric Avery has agreed to join former band mates Jane’s Addiction for a one-night-only performance at the first ever US NME Awards.

The iconic foursome will be crowned with the Godlike Genius Award during the ceremony and performance, to take place at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, April 23, 2008.

Jane’s Addiction is joining the likes of The Clash, New Order, Primal Scream and Manic Street Preachers, who are among the acts to have picked up the Godlike Genius prize at the UK awards.

Eric Avery has continually declined offers to reunite with the band and instead focused on his musical endeavors, most recently, a debut solo LP, ‘Help Wanted’, released on Dangerbird Records.

Help Wanted on amazon.com

“I’ve chosen to reject the prospects of reuniting in the past, for personal and philosophical reasons. I have always considered reunions to be a way to make a quick buck, and it sells short my own experience of it the first time around,” Eric Avery attests. He adds, “The reason I started to even consider this is because it’s honoring the past instead of trying to recreate it.”

NME will bestow this award upon Jane’s Addiction because, as they state, “[they've] done more than any other band to introduce American alternative music to the mainstream, founding the touring Lollapalooza Festival and giving what frontman Perry Farrell refers to as the ‘alternative nation’ a real cultural focus and voice.”

Watch Eric Avery video – “All Remote and No Control”

In other news, Avery will join his former Jane’s bandmate Dave Navarro on his weekly “Spread TV” show on maniaTV, Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 11pm EST.

Although the two have remained long-term friends, this is the first time Eric Avery and Dave Navarro will appear together on camera since the Jane’s breakup. With their shared experiences in Jane’s as well as Deconstruction, nothing will be off limits in this setting for candid, free-form conversation.

Links and archived episodes can be seen at:

Dave Navarro Spread TV on maniaTV

For more info about Eric Avery and ‘Help Wanted’ visit:

Dangerbird Records

Eric Avery Myspace
Eric Avery

The band’s fourth album, which was released on 17 March, 2008, has received rave reviews and they are the only band in history to get 9/10 four times in the NME.

And the band intend to give the record a full live outing, as Guy Garvey explained to 6 Music: “I think the way we are gonna do it is we’re gonna tour the UK and the States and Europe.

“And then when we’ve done that, we’re gonna play the whole album as a show. I’m not sure where yet but a couple of mayor cities per country perhaps but eventually we’ll play the whole of the album as a continual show.”

Read the full interview at BBC 6 Music.

‘The Seldom Seen Kid’ is out now. Listen to it here:
www.theseldomseenkid.com

Elbow on Myspace
Elbow Official Website

With some acts on the Glastonbury Festival 2008 lineup having just been revealed and ticket registration opening up, Paul Stokes, News Editor at NME Magazine, has started a new online debate on this world famous festival.

Paul wants to know where you see the Glastonbury festival ending up…

Has the ticket registration process killed off the spirit of the festival?

Was it inevitable that the festival would become more commercial as the years went on?

Is there actually anything that can be done to return the ‘true spirit’ to the festival or should it simply be about the music?

Watch video – Paul Stokes from NME talking about Glastonbury:

Glastonbury Festival 2008 will be held June 27-29. Acts scheduled to play include Kings of Leon, Jay-Z, The Verve, Massive Attack, Hot Chip, Elbow, CSS, Leonard Cohen and British Sea Power.

Register to buy tickets between 9am on Friday, 1st February, 2008, until midnight on Friday, 14th March 2008. Go to Glastonbury Festivals Official Website and Registration: Glastonbury 2008 for more information. Tickets are set to go on sale at 9am on Sunday April 6th 2008.

About Friction.tv

Friction.tv, founded in February 2007 as the home of online debate, is considered a ‘Speakers Corner’ of the internet. This free service provides a destination for individuals to share thoughts, promote causes and spark debate around issues of importance to them.

Friction.tv is a platform for users to upload and respond to content. The videos can be embedded into individual web properties, blogs and can be shared across social networks.

Friction TV has established many partnerships, including Yahoo, Channel 5 (Sky News), LBC Radio and Friends of the Earth.

Friction.tv: Paul Stokes video link and comments

Friction.tv Official Website

“Hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg has announced that he will host the Snoop Bowl, a youth football game to be held in Arizona the day before the Super Bowl.

The sixth annual game will feature the Snoop Dogg All-Stars, a California youth football team coached by Snoop Dogg, pitted against local Arizona youth football players.

Football legends including Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart will be on-hand, with all proceeds going toward his charity, the Matt Leinart Foundation, which supports disadvantage youth through learning centres, sports activities and granting wishes.

“The Snoop Bowl gives the kids a reason to work and play hard throughout the season, knowing that it all culminates on this day,” Snoop Dogg said in a statement. “It is about so much more than the game, the Snoop Youth Football League gives kids hope and meaning outside of just the sport.”

The Snoop Bowl is set to take place February 2, 2008 at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona.”

Read the full story

Snoop Dogg’s new album is called Ego Trippin’ (out March 17 in the UK)

His new single, “Sensual Seduction” is out March 24.

Snoop Dogg on amazon.co.uk

Snoop Dogg – Ego Trippin’ on amazon.com

Watch Snoop Dogg – Sensual Seduction video

Snoop Dogg on Myspace
Snoop Dogg Official Website

Cage The Elephant (average age of 20) are a five piece from Bowling Green, Kentucky who are set to win hearts and minds in the UK in 2008 as they bring their incendiary live show back to the UK.

Like Beck’s anti-hero anthem “Loser”, Cage The Elephant’s first single “In One Ear” is a tounge-in cheek riposte to any possible doubters: “They say the devil is my pal / I do a lot of drugs / The crowd will only like me if they’re really f*@k!ing drunk”. Ushered in by a bass line of Herclean proportions, it soon becomes apparent Cage The Elephant don’t just want to rock hard, they want to make people dance.

Onstage fights and broken amps being hurled into the audience are just some of the elements likely to occur at a Cage the Elephant show. Most importantly, the staple of all of their live performances is brilliant rock ‘n’ roll music: as thrillingly aggressive as the Stooges and as anthemic and raw as the Kings of Leon’s first LP, coupled with the groove of Rage Against The Machine, this is a band that will remind you why you fell in love with rock ‘n’ roll.

Led by brothers Matt and Brad Shultz, the band create a real sense of drama, tension and heart-in-mouth thrills with their onstage love-hate relationship. A recent show saw lead singer Matt compliment his brother by launching him across the stage, face first, into the front row barrier: Brad returned the favour with an equally affectionate gobful of spit to his brother’s face.

The band are one of the buzz acts in the US going into 2008. This is off the back of their explosive performance at Lollapalooza last summer and some riotous gigs during main tour supports with Queens of the Stone Age and Wolfmother. On the QotSA North American tour last year, Cage won over many of the Queens’ fans and struck up a strong rapport with the band during their time together on the road.

Cage The Elephant then came across the pond to support Foals, The Ravonettes and Wombats on their respective UK Autumn / Winter tours. Some legendary nights were had and friendships struck as Cage proceeded to tear up venues and win many new friends up and down the country.

Lock up your daughters: Cage The Elephant are coming to town…

Upcoming show: NME Show with 9 Black Alps – Koko, Camden, London – Friday 8th February, London

More UK live dates to be announced shortly.

Their proper first single “In One Ear” is set for release March 10th, 2008 on Relentless / DSP. Format: CD single / 7″ vinyl / digital download (download release: March 2nd).

“Who needs indie whimsy when you’ve got scorched-earth desert punk as venomous as this?” – NME

Cage The Elephant are: Matt Shultz – Vocals; Brad Shultz – Guitar; Jared Champion – Drums & Percussion; Daniel Tichenor – Bass/Vocals; Lincoln Parish – Lead Guitar

For further details please check:

Cage the Elephant on Myspace

We have just a handful of bands for you to peruse, here on Band Weblogs. Don’t forget to click on the bands’ website links to learn more about them and to listen to their music.

5 Bands to watch in 2008:

1. The Rushes
The Rushes are Gerard, Dan, Joe and James. Most of them met studying in Leeds. James and Gerard are post-irish, pseudo-catholic-guilt-ridden brothers from Birmingham, Dan is from London and Joe is from Colchester. They like songs more than scenes and are currently near completion of recording their first album for Island Records with producer Victor Van Vugt (Athlete, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey). The Rushes will release the first single from the album, ‘Corners’, in March 2008. Other tracks to watch out for are the brilliant “Will You Won’t You” and “What You Waiting For” – the early demo’s of these songs were released last year and can be heard on the bands myspace.

The Rushes on Myspace
The Rushes Official Website

2. Parka
Hailing from Scotland but now based in East London, Parka have already toured with the likes of Switches, Foals, Boy Kill Boy and The Young Knives this year and amassed more and more supporters along the way. Their recent XFM Scotland session saw the band cover Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” and had the studio rolling about in hysterics by the time they got to the chorus. Parka have also been featured in the Hot New Ones in the NME chart on MTV2 with the angular video for previous single “If You Wanna?”. Parka prepare to release a brand new version of “Disco Dancer” on January 7th, 2008.

Parka on Mypace
Parka Official Website

The three bands below have had a single out in 2007, but we are feeling them for 2008 so have a listen:

3. The Courteeners
Liam Fray was known around the North West prior to the formation of The Courteeners as one of Manchester’s most promising and popular songwriters. Having tired of being unable to make the big sound that he yearned for on his own, he recruited fellow Middleton dwellers, Campbell (drums), Cupello (bass) and Conan (guitar). All known to each other since school days, (Campbell lived next door but one), the transition from solo singer to band was a short and seemingly pre-ordained transition. Early shows at D-Percussion and around the Manchester area saw the band build a fanatical local following in a very short space of time and their shows soon became must attend events in the city.

When the 500 capacity Academy 3 show sold out in July prior to the band signing a record deal or even releasing a note it was clear that they were on the verge of something very special. Tickets for their Academy 2 show (1000) in October sold out as they went on sale. The Courteeners made their first appearance in London in August, playing to another sold out room that saw the mania of their Northern shows translated into a Southern context. That gig saw the music industry fall for the band and “Cavorting” became an NME single of the week whilst mentions in the tabloids and plays on Radio One only served to increase the sense that something important was happening. The next single “What Took You So Long” is set for release January 14th, 2008.

The Courteeners on Myspace

4. The Ghost Frequency
Armed with shards of broken guitar and the acidic crunch of retro analogue synths, The Ghost Frequency came screaming out of North East London like a heart on fire. In a small besmirched bedroom, with a driving fascination with electronic sound and Post-Hardcore, Doran, Murphy, Barney and Ross began piecing ideas together 10 months ago.

An impressive plethora of diverse influences (from At The Drive-In and Dead Kennedy’s, to Dead Boys, Richard Hell and all things New York punk, to the raw driving 80’s synthesis of DAF and The Normal) began to encourage The Ghost Frequency’s fast and unforgiving sound. Coupled with a love for Electro Breakdance from Cybotron plus Spank Rock and MIA and the writings of Haruki Murakami, the amalgamation was set to completion by Doran’s unhealthy preoccupation with Kate Bush, and the arrival of drummer Ben.

The Ghost Frequency are: Doran (vocals / synth), Ross (guitar / synth), Ben (drums), Murphy (guitars) and Barney (synths / computers).

The Ghost Frequency on Myspace
The Ghost Frequency review on Band Weblogs

5. Malakai
Malakai are a two-piece band from Bristol, UK. They comprise of Gee (vocals) and Scott (music). Their sound is a mix of beats and samples, drawing on a wide range of influences from dub to sixties pop, all tied together by Gee’s distinctive voice.

Discovered by Geoff Barrow from the Bristol band Portishead, to date Malakai have released a limited-edition 12″ on Barrow’s Invada label, called ‘Fading World’. ‘Fading World’ was followed up by their debut EP 1 on Island Records in September 2007. The lead track from EP 1, titled “The Battle” was Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe’s “Single of the Week” for w/c 9th July 2007 and The Guardian newspaper featured Malakai as their “New band of the day”.

Malakai on Myspace
Malakai Official Website

The Twang’s new single, “Push the Ghosts / Drinking in LA”, is available to buy from today, November 26th, 2007.

To celebrate, the band have announced a pair of extra special live shows, including a homecoming Christmas party:

20 December 2007 – Birmingham Academy (support from The Sunshine Underground, Look See Proof, plus more TBC)

Also added to the tour schedule:

9 February 2008 – Shepherd’s Bush Empire (NME Awards Show)

The Twang 2007/2008 winter tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to The Twang’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

3 December 2007 Quattro Osaka, Japan
4 December 2007 Quattro Nagoya, Japan
5 December 2007 Quattro Tokyo, Japan
10 December 2007 Academy **XFM’s WinterWonderland** w/ The Stereophonics Glasgow
14 December 2007 G Mex w/ The Happy Mondays Manchester
15 December 2007 Academy w/ The Coral Liverpool
20 December 2007 Carling Academy Birmingham
29 December 2007 Fat Sams Dundee
31 December 2007 The Ironworks Inverness

FEBRUARY 2008 UK TOUR DATES

6 February – Colchester, University
7 February – Warwick, University
8 February – Northampton, Roadmenders
9 February – London, Shepherds Bush Empire
11 February – Lincoln, University
12 February – Leicester, University
13 February – Dudley, JB’s
14 February – Frome, Cheese and Grain
16 February – Guildford, University
17 February – Falmouth University
18 February – Bournemouth, University
19 February – Reading, University
21 February – Swansea, University
22 February – Bangor, University
23 February – Bradford, University
24 February – Lancaster, Sugarhouse
26 February – Edinburgh, University
27 February – Hull, University

The Twang on Myspace
The Twang Official Website

The ever-changing lineup of musicians that play the songs of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Mark Oliver Everett (aka E), unveils both its first “best of” compilation, ‘Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. 1, 1996-2006 (CD+DVD)‘, and its first collection of rarities, B-sides, film contributions and unreleased tracks, the ‘EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006 (2CD+DVD)’, each issued by DreamWorks/Geffen/UMe, scheduled for release on January 21, 2008.

All videos are available for the first time on DVD and all music is digitally remastered with both packages packed with never before seen photos, artefacts and Everett’s notes about each track.

‘Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. 1, 1996-2006′ spans the first decade of the EELS with 24 selections on CD and 12 promotional videos on DVD. The CD opens with four tracks from the band’s 1996 debut ‘Beautiful Freak’, two tracks from the Eels’ highly acclaimed second album 1998’s ‘Electro-shock Blues’ follow plus a previously unreleased Jon Brion remix of “Climbing To The Moon.”

Four songs from 2000’s ‘Daisies Of The Galaxy’, which NME dubbed “a masterpiece in almost every way,” are represented on the Essentials album plus three tracks from 2001’s ‘Souljacker’, which Time Magazine crowned as one of the best albums of the year, was acclaimed overseas with NME calling it “downright brilliant” and the London’s Sunday Times named it Album Of The Year, writing that “the conventional wisdom that (the earlier album) ‘Electro-shock Blues’ was E’s masterpiece will have to be reassessed: it was clearly just one of his masterpieces.”

2003’s live-in-the-studio Shootenanny! (awarded four stars by Rolling Stone) adds two fan favorites, while five songs from the highly acclaimed, and best charting album in the band’s history ‘Blinking Lights and Other Revelations’ are included. Also on the Essentials album are the previously unreleased “Get Ur Freak On,” a live version of “Dirty Girl” from 2006’s ‘With Strings: Live At Town Hall’ and “I Need Some Sleep” from the Shrek 2 soundtrack.

Highlights within the 50 CD tracks ‘EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006′ are longtime concert favorite “Living Life” from the Daniel Johnston tribute album, the previously unreleased 2006 cover of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put A Spell On You” and other covers including James Carr’s “Dark End of The Street” and Prince’s “If I Was Your Girlfriend.”

Useless Trinkets also includes a large handful of BBC performances, unique live versions of “Novocaine For The Soul” and “My Beloved Monster,” tracks from films – The End Of Violence, Holes, Levity and How The Grinch Stole Christmas and many previously unreleased tracks including the original collections title track which frontman Everett performs backed by a 28 piece orchestra. The DVD features six performances from the EELS’ Lollapalooza 2006 performance, including a gospel rave-up take on “My Beloved Monster” and a high octane rumble through “Souljacker part I.”

‘Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. 1, 1996-2006′ and ‘EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006′ prove why, following that 2006 Lollapalooza performance, Rolling Stone wrote: “EELS define coolness.”

The EELS are one of music’s most acclaimed and idiosyncratic enterprises, accomplishing what The New Yorker calls “that rarest thing in contemporary pop: a unique sound.”

Tracklistings:

Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. I, 1996-2006 (CD+DVD)

1 Novocaine For the Soul
2 Susan’s House
3 My Beloved Monster
4 Your Lucky Day in Hell
5 3 Speed
6 Last Stop: This Town
7 Climbing to the Moon (Jon Brion Remix)*
8 Flyswatter
9 I Like Birds
10 Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues
11 It’s A Motherfu?@!r
12 Souljacker Part 1
13 That’s Not Really Funny
14 Fresh Feeling
15 Get Ur Freak On*
16 Saturday Morning
17 Love of the Loveless
18 Dirty Girl (live at Town Hall)
19 I Need Some Sleep
20 Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)
21 I’m Going to Stop Pretending That I Didn’t Break Your Heart
22 Trouble With Dreams
23 Railroad Man
24 Losing Streak

EELS Video Collection DVD:

1 Novocaine For the Soul
2 Susan’s House
3 Rags to Rags
4 Your Lucky Day in Hell
5 Last Stop: This Town
6 Cancer For the Cure
7 Flyswatter
8 Souljacker Part I
9 Saturday Morning
10 Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)
11 Trouble with Dreams
12 Dirty Girl (live at Town Hall)

*previously unreleased

EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006 (2CD+DVD)

DISC 1:

1 Novocaine For the Soul (live from hell)
2 Fu@!er
3 My Beloved Monster (live from tennessee)
4 Dog’s Life
5 Susan’s Apartment
6 Manchester Girl (BBC)
7 Flower (BBC)
8 My Beloved Mad Monster Party (BBC)
9 Animal
10 Stepmother
11 Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas
12 Your Lucky Day in Hell (Michael Simpson remix)*
13 Altar Boy
14 Novocaine for the Soul (Moog Cookbook remix)
15 If I Was Your Girlfriend (live)*
16 Bad News
17 Funeral Parlor
18 Hospital Food (BBC)
19 Open the Door (BBC)
20 Birdgirl on a Cell Phone
21 Vice President Fruitley
22 My Beloved Monstrosity
23 Dark End of the Street (live)*
24 The Cheater’s Guide to Your Heart (live)*
25 Useless Trinkets*

DISC 2:

1 Mr. E’s Beautiful Remix
2 Souljacker part I (alternate version)*
3 Dog Faced Boy (alternate version)*
4 Jennifer Eccles
5 Rotten World Blues
6 Can’t Help Falling in Love
7 Christmas is Going to the Dogs
8 Mighty Fine Blues
9 Eyes Down
10 Skywriting
11 Taking a Bath in Rust
12 Estranged Friends*
13 Her
14 Waltz of the Naked Clowns
15 I Like Birds (live)*
16 Sad Foot Sign
17 Living Life
18 The Bright Side
19 After the Operation
20 Jelly Dancers
21 I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (live at Town Hall)
22 Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues (live at Town Hall)
23 I Want to Protect You*
24 I Put a Spell on You (live)*
25 Saw a UFO*

EELS Lollapalooza 2006 DVD:

1 Saturday Morning
2 Eyes Down
3 My Beloved Monster
4 A Magic World
5 Not Ready Yet
6 Souljacker Part I

*previously unreleased

Eels 2008 UK tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to the Eels Official Website for the latest news and information.

February 25 2008 – London, Royal Festival Hall
February 26 2008 – Birmingham, Town Hall
February 27 2008 – Manchester, Bridgewater Hall
February 28 2008 – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
March 1 2008 – Gateshead, Sage
March 2 2008 – Brighton, Dome

For more information and the latest news go to:

EELS Official Website

Related: BBC Four documentary about Mark Everett and his father

If 2006 was all about promise for The Twang, 2007 has been all about delivery. Tipped by seemingly everyone at the start of the year, the five lads from Birmingham set about living up to such extravagant praise from the off whilst keeping their feet firmly on the ground.

First stop was the recording of debut album, the gold certified ‘Love It When I Feel Like This’ in Wolverhampton with long term associate Gavin Monaghan eschewing the big studios to keep it real. Next stop was a hectic touring schedule that saw the band’s fanbase explode and further saw the lads go to the people across the UK, a decision that has seen The Twang retain some of the most loyal and committed fans of the moment.

Then the promise was fulfilled, “Wide Awake” and “Either Way” becoming mainstays on radio, NME covers but, more importantly to the band, a Top 3 album position and increasingly big shows remain the high points of the year for The Twang. The summer saw them slay T In The Park, Phil unsure as to whether the huge crowd were all watching his band until the hands went in the air from front to back on “Either Way”, a packed John Peel Tent at Glastonbury despite the lake in the middle of the audience, two packed NME / Radio One tents at Reading and Leeds respectively and continued sales for the debut album that the band had thought about since the day they formed.

As The Twang journey around the UK on their biggest tour yet and another sell out to add to the list the boys have re-imagined one of the stand out tracks from the live set and the album for a single release on November 26th, 2007. Built around a cheeky sample of the bassline for Salt n Pepa’s “Push It” by Jon, “Push The Ghosts” has been twisted a little to emphasise the dance floor nature of groove and come out as a sparkling floor filler for the winter months ahead.

It seems even more appropriate – given that this is a song about their ambitions for the band – that it arrives to cap what has been for all five the best year of their lives. The single comes as a Double A with the band’s praised re-interpretation of Bran Van 3000’s “Drinking In LA” for Radio One’s 40th birthday celebrations, given a Midlands twist and a delicious lop sided groove. The formats also feature an unreleased acoustic version of “Push The Ghosts” and new tracks “First Sight” and “Put Your Faith”.

The Twang band members are: Phil Etheridge – vocals; Saunders – vocals; Stuart Hartland – guitars; Jon Watkin – bass; Matt Clinton – drums.

The Twang October/November 2007 UK tour dates:

Dates could change! Go to The Twang’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

18.10.07 – Loughborough Uni
20.10.07 – Leeds Uni
21.10.07 – Keele Uni
22.10.07 – Norwich UEA
24.10.07 – Nottingham Rock City
25.10.07 – Birmingham Academy
26.10.07 – Brixton Academy
28.10.07 – Cardiff University
30.10.07 – Brighton Dome
31.10.07 – Exeter University
01.11.07 – Bristol Anson Rooms
02.11.07 – Oxford Academy
03.11.07 – Southampton Guildhall

The Twang Official Website
The Twang on Myspace

This came to light when word spread it was one of their tracks on the Klaxons B side and numerous fans contacted the band saying they recognised the song as “Y.O.Y.”, the B side to the Priscillas new single “Superhero”.

The girls are just as baffled as to how the track got there. Maybe some magic or mysterious forces have been in action?

…a Superhero perhaps?

…or the power of rock n roll?

“Superhero/Y.O.Y.” is set for release in October 2007 on Dirty Water Records.

The Priscillas are currently in the studio recording their new album with producer Marc Waterman.

The next live date is on the BBC Introducing… stage at Bestival on 7th September 2007 and at Bardens Boudoir on 15th September.

You can hear the mystery track on the NME website

The Priscillas Official Website
The Priscillas on Myspace

The ultimate UK summer compilation CDs have been released this month, capturing the sounds that have been buzzing around UK radio stations over the last few weeks: NME Presents The Essential Bands – Festival Edition.

The NME Essential Bands – Festival Edition compilation includes two discs with bands that will be all over the UK festival circuit this summer. NME has chosen some of the hottest bands today for the compilation discs, which feature songs by Muse, Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, Snow Patrol, The Killers, Klaxons, Kasabian, Gossip, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, CSS and more.

“2007 is going to be a bumper year for festivals. There are more events than ever before, meaning every music fan will have the chance to catch some of their favourite bands in the great outdoors. I’m predicting one of the greatest summers on record, and this CD is the ultimate soundtrack to it.” – NME editor, Conor McNicholas

Disc One:

Kaiser Chiefs – Everything Is Average Nowadays
The Killers – Bones
Gossip – Standing In The Way Of Control
Razorlight – Before I Fall To Pieces
Kasabian – Shoot The Runner
Muse – Starlight
The Twang – Wide Awake
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Weapon Of Choice
Fall Out Boy – Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
Jet – Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
The Rumble Strips – Alarm Clock
The Automatic - Raoul
The Rapture – Pieces Of The People We Love
CSS – Off The Hook
Noisettes - Scratch Your Name
1990s – See You At The Lights
The Maccabees – Precious Times
Pull Tiger Tail – Let’s Lightning
Cold War Kids – Hang Me Up To Dry
Jarvis Running The World

Disc Two:

The View – Same Jeans
Klaxons – Gravity’s Rainbow
Maximo Park – Our Velocity
Bloc Party – The Prayer
Low vs Diamond – Heart Attack
The Hours – Back When You Were Good
Keane – A Bad Dream
Thirteen Senses - All The Love In Your Hands
Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position
Little Man Tate – This Must Be Love
Gruff Rhys – Candylion
Bright Eyes – Four Winds
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. – War Of The Worlds
Alterkicks – Good Luck
Long Blondes – Giddy Stratospheres
The Wombats – Backfire At The Disco
The Rakes – We Danced Together
Enter Shikari – Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour…
!!! – Must Be The Moon
The Cribs – Men’s Needs

For a taste of the new NME Presents The Essential Bands – Festival Edition compilation CDs, listen to samplers:

Kaiser Chiefs – Everything Is Average Nowadays

Kasabian – Shoot The Runner

Razorlight – Before I Fall To Pieces

The Gossip – Standing In The Way Of Control

The Killers – Bones

Buy NME Presents The Essential Bands – Festival Edition on Amazon.com

Buy NME Presents The Essential Bands – Festival Edition on Amazon.co.uk

By: Jenny May