“The Devil” has been confirmed as the 3rd single from PJ Harvey’s White Chalk, according to pjharvey.net. It will be accompanied by a previously unreleased b-side titled “Liverpool Tide” and will be officially released digitally, on CD and vinyl on 3/10. The song opens White Chalk and showcases a much higher tone than she’s used vocally on previous records.
Click here for video of a solo performance of the song from a few months ago on Danish television.
You can now read the entire text (previously just an excerpt) of the feature/cover story from Rolling Stone detailing what they call “the most public downfall of any star in history” - that star being Britney Spears. The article is basically just a chronicle of the events and relationships that have all led to this point, including a view into the workings of the mob of paparazzi that surrounds her at all times. It’s all pretty much as crazy as you would imagine, which is scary in and of itself. Read it online here.
Wilco have contributed a new song to the soundtrack for the NBC show Heroes, one of the more upbeat breakup songs you’re likely to hear for a while (”I hate you one hundred percent, I mean that kindly”), at least until the new Alanis leaks.
Bob Dylan, David Bowie (yup, it’s the obvious song choice), Imogen Heap, and Iggy Pop are also featured on the Heroes soundtrack, which was released in March.
Thom Yorke will be the guest DJ on NPR’s “All Things Considered” program tomorrow, Thursday, 2/14. M. Ward, Mark Ronson and Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst have all DJ’d for the show in the past. The format of the show usually involves the artist selecting about 10 songs, with a song of his/her own followed by a choice from another artist’s catalog.
Check out the list of past sets from guest DJs on the All Things Considered website.
“All Things Considered” is available for download in podcast format every Thursday at 4:15 PM ET.
Earlier today, rumors surfaced that Jack White’s band the Raconteurs would spontaneously release their new album, Consolers of the Lonely, next Tuesday 3/25, the masters for which reportedly were only handed into the record label last week. The Raconteurs’ official website now confirms the release.
It’s not surprising White would be motivated to take this ambush approach to the album’s release after his furious response to the White Stripes’ Icky Thump leaking early via a Chicago radio show.
“We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the EXACT SAME TIME so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding it’s availability, reception or perception,” the Raconteurs said in a statement.
Wilco finished a five-concert run at Riviera in Chicago last night, during which (as promised) they played every single song from all 6 of their official studio albums. Their sets also included several b-sides and rarities (including “Just a Kid” from the SpongeBob SquarePants Movie soundtrack) as well as many repeated standards from night to night (Tuesday night’s show was broadcast live on WXRT in Chicago). Wilco’s live shows are consistently solid and worth catching any chance you get, but in the meantime here are clips of “Jesus, Etc.” (from their documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart and a nice introduction to the band for those not familiar with them) and “Impossible Germany” from their most recent album, Sky Blue Sky:
On Friday, Goldfrapp made one of the first live promo appearances for the release of Seventh Tree on the BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge, performing the lead single “A&E” and a gorgeous cover of “It’s Not Over Yet” by the Klaxons/Grace.
You can stream the entire performance at the Live Lounge site. The cover is also available here:
Though her album was released in late February in the US, only just recently heard Adele’s first single “Chasing Pavements” from her debut album, 19, and have been playing it like crazy ever since. As the album title suggests, Adele is only 19-years-old and grew up in England, where the record debuted at #1. Here’s the official video for “Chasing Pavements”:
Here with the official video for Lykke Li’s “I’m Good, I’m Gone,” one of the most bizarrely awesome videos you’re likely to see all year, boasting a new aesthetic quite accurately described by a friend as “old-lady-acid-trip-through-high-school.”
Arcade Fire are reportedly recording the soundtrack to director Richard Kelly’s next movie, titled “The Box” and intended for release later this year. The movie stars Cameron Diaz and James Marsden.
Producer Markus Dravs, who most recently worked on Coldplay’s new album, is working with the band on the soundtrack.