Will the last penguin to leave the building please turn out the lights?

By Fred Mills

Early on, they said that Berkeley Breathed's Opus was but a pale imitation of its legendary predecessor from the ‘80s, Bloom County. The award-winning cartoonist quickly proved the naysayers wrong, crafting an edgy, frequently rapier-sharp strip that benefited in particular from being a Sunday-only affair.

Freed from the punchline constraints of the 3- or 4-panel daily format, Breathed was able to form narratives that, true to all great literature, had lift-off, trajectory, arc and landing - and sure, sometimes that landing was rough, as no satirist can be expected to hit the mark each time out. Bur more often than not he was right on the money, skewering week after week the more ridiculous elements of our culture, with the Republican Party and conservatives in general comprising the lion's share, natch. Between Opus and of course Doonesbury, you could reliably open up the Sunday funnies each week and be guaranteed of getting some real food for thought in between the mushy sentimentality of, say, For Better or for Worse or the dumbass anthropomorphism of Sherman's Lagoon.

Like Bloom County (1980-89), Opus was pointedly political, and as befitting its namesake, had a soft, squishy middle within which beat the heart of a true romantic, a soulful cat (penguin, actually) who cared so deeply about life and the people and animals who populate our lives that he sometimes couldn't bear it all. Not for nothing did Opus have to shove everything into his anxiety closet from time to time.

However, compared to Bloom County's visual style, Opus was rendered in virtually 3-D terms, something that also put folks off initially but which came to be a genuine signature, one which leapt off the pages of the otherwise flat, 2-D Sunday comics page. (Breathed's Bloom County successor, Outland, ran from 1989-95 and shared some of the Opus visual trademarks, and of course the Opus character became a mainstay of Outland, too.)

You'll notice I'm using the past tense. Yesterday,  Nov. 2, marked the final Opus strip - it started in 2003 - and it was put together, starting a few weeks ago, as a kind of cliffhanger, with Opus sequestered in a cell at the city pound while his human foil Steve Dallas tried to track him down. I won't spoil the ending, other than to say that after you look at your newspaper you'll have to go to the following website for the final panel: www.humanesociety.org/opus. It's done in conjunction with the Humane Society, which has declared this week National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week.

For more details go to the Humane Society site HERE.

For more of Berkeley Breathed, go HERE.

Why did Breathed decide to retire his popular penguin? In one sense, doing it on the eve of this year's election couldn't be more appropriate, and with any luck, come Wednesday morning, Opus will be able to wake up wherever he is, take a look around, and say to himself, "We won." Maybe he'll get that trip to a paradise island he's dreamed about for so long after all.

Breathed himself had commented as long ago as last year how he'd like to see Opus and Bush both head off into the sunset at the same time. He elaborated this week to the Los Angeles Times, "30 years of cartooning to end. I'm destroying the village to save it. Opus would inevitably become a ranting mouthpiece in the coming wicked days, and I respect the other parts of him too much to see that happen. The Michael Moore part of me would kill the part of him that was important to his fans." In an interview with the Washington Post he added, "With the crisis in Wall Street and Washington, I'm suspending my comic strip to assist the nation. The best way I can help is to leave politics permanently. ... I call on John McCain to join me."

It's telling that Bloom County, beloved of college students throughout the ‘80s, and Opus (which was set in the fictional Bloom County) both appeared during the most relentlessly conservative periods - borderline fascist, even - of recent American history, the former during the Reagan years, the latter during Bush II's reign. Those are the kinds of periods when we desperately need the voices of satire and reason, such as Breathed's, and we can only hope that when we're forced to endure the next such period that Breathed, or someone that grew up on Bloom County and Opus  and shares his particularly twisted yet poignant outlook, will create yet another memorable comic.

Good night, Opus. Sweet dreams.

By Blurt Staff

With Election Day closing in and a special political issue recent of BLURT magazine going live last week (click on the magazine image on the right side of the homepage) we thought we'd bring you a series of BLURT-produced exclusive set of interviews and performances with Tom Morello to pass the time. In our video section right now!

Or go to these direct links:

8 People and a Latte Machine

Guitar Hero

Bad Presidents

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

6:05 AM & 1:30 PM IFC: Tom Dowd and the Language of Music

7:00 AM CBS: The Early Show: Pink

9:00 AM SYN: Live with Regis and Kelly: Plain White T's

10:35 AM Showtime Family: All We Are Saying

2:15 PM Showtime: Moog

4:00 PM VH1C: Live Aid: The Day the Music Changed the World

6:30 PM PLD HD: Monterey Pop (1968)

9:00 PM Starz Edge: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

10:00 PM RAVE HD: Later With Jools Holland: Beck , Doves , Kubb , David Sanborn , M. Ward

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Elvis Costello , Jenny Lewis , Paris Hilton

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Sugarland

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Eagles Of Death Metal

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: The Decemberists

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Young Jeezy , Nas

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

SATURDAY, NOV. 1:

9:00 AM PLD HD: Unplugged (VH1): Black Crowes

2:00 PM FUEL: Check 1, 2:  Motorhead

12:00 PM TCM: Speedway (1968) W/Elvis Presley , Nancy Sinatra

1:00 PM FUSE: Green Day: Making of "Wake Me Up When September Ends"

2:00 PM Fuse: Live From Voodoo Experience

2:00 PM TVONE: James Brown: The Man, The Music & The Message

3:00 PM PLD HD: Glastonbury 2008

5:30 PM Ovation: Imagine: John Lennon

9:00 PM PBS: Austin City Limits:  My Morning Jacket

10:00 PM & 1:00 AM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Anastacia

10:00 PM ETV: Saturday Night Live (E!):  Cameron Diaz / Green Day

10:00 PM MOJO: Reform School Girls (1986) w/Wendy O. Williams

11:30 PM NBC: Saturday Night Live:  Ben Affleck / David Cook

SUNDAY, NOV. 2:

9:30 AM Comedy Central: The Colbert Report: Wilco

9:30 AM PLD HD: Everest Rocks: Glenn Tilbrook , Cy Curnin , Slim Jim Phantom , Jamie West-Oram , Mike Peters , Nick Harper

11:00 AM Great American Country: Master Series:  The Boxmasters

12:00 PM HDNet Concert Series: Cross Canadian Ragweed - Back To Tulsa

1:30 PM HBO: Real Time With Bill Maher: John Legend

3:00 PM HDNet Concert Series: Collective Soul - Home

4:00 PM NBC: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Tribute on Ice

6:00 PM PLD HD: MTV Live: Coldplay

7:00 PM HDNet: The Cure - 4Play in Charlotte

9:00 PM & 12:00 AM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Anastacia

9:00 PM RAVE HD: Beautiful Noise: Grace Potter

10:00 PM PBS: America at a Crossroads: Dissonance and Harmony: Arabic Music Goes West w/Nile Rodgers , Jack Blades , RZA , Charlotte Caffey , Ilham Al Madfai , Saad El Soghayar

10:00 PM PLD HD: Bob Dylan Don't Look Back

10:00 PM VH1C: Listening To You: The Who at The Isle of Wight

12:00 AM VH1C: David Byrne's True Stories (1986)

Johnny Ramone's widow Linda Cummings goes over to the dark side...

By Fred Mills

Joey Ramone's brother Mitchell "Mickey" Leigh, who's had a long career in music including stints the Rattlers, Lester Bangs' Birdland and the Slashtones, has taken exception to recent pro-McCain political activities that Linda Cummings has been engaged in recently. Cummings, of course, was with Joey until leaving him for Johnny Ramone, eventually marrying the notoriously pro-Republican guitarist. See below for a statement issued over the weekend by Leigh.

***

STATEMENT FROM MICKEY LEIGH:

"It has been brought to my attention that Linda Cummings, using the name "Ramone," has recently been in the media joining with the Palin family and the McCains to attempt to aid their campaign for the Presidency.  As a President of Ramones Productions, and brother of Joey Ramone, I just want it to be clear that Linda Cummings does not represent the political views of the Ramones.  Surely, as for Joey Ramone, the only Ramones song he would sing at a Republican campaign event would be 'Glad To See You Go!'

"I should add that when Johnny stated 'God Bless George Bush' at the 2002 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame awards, I realize now that he was on to something.  Because if it were not for George Bush and his handling of our country the past 8 years, I doubt so many Americans, including so many highly regarded Republicans, would now be getting behind Barack Obama.  So, yes, God bless George Bush for paving the way to Obama."

~ ~ Mickey Leigh

[Photo Credit: Debbie S.]

Festival organizers shrug shoulders and say "Well, duh."

By Brian Creech

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has been given the "Outstanding Greener Festival" award for 2008 by the Awards Committee at A Greener Festival. <agreenerfestival.com> A Greener Festival considers themselves the arbiter of all things green in the live music industry around the world, and offers tips and research on how to green up your music life through its website.

The "Outstanding Greener Festival" is the highest accolade one can receive, and was awarded to Bonnaroo this year along with only six other festivals globally. Thirty-one festivals are considered for the award. 

"We couldn't be more pleased to receive this award," said Bonnaroo's sustainability coordinator Laura Sohn. "We put a lot of work into reducing the impact the festival has on the environment and it's nice to be recognized." 

In and official press release, organizers say," Recognizing that green issues are of paramount importance to the organization, its patrons, and the world at large, Bonnaroo is proud to present an event that is not only a good time, but also an example of an environmentally sound gathering that helps our planet remain hospitable to life." 

In order to up the ante in 2008, rumor has it that each band will share a drumset made from recycled tires, aluminum cans, and recycled paper mâché. 

Van the man will be sweatin' to the oldies...

By Blurt Staff

It's a pair of firsts: the first ever international webcast from the Hollywood Bowl, and the first time Van Morrison has allowed a live concert broadcast

KCRW.com will make history on Friday, November 7 by providing the first-ever live concert webcast from the legendary California venue featuring the equally legendary Irish singer. The Santa Monica-based public radio station will broadcast a 45-minute set of timeless classics by the Rock and Roll Hall of famer.

According to KCRW, "While the KCRW library hosts an extensive catalogue by Van Morrison, this is the first time the station has collaborated with the artist. The show will be presented in conjunction with Listen To The Lion Films & www.vanmorrison.com. They will be recording the second half of the concert for the upcoming release Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood Bowl.  His band that night will feature the original musicians, bassist Richard Davis and guitarist Jay Berliner, who played on his classic album Astral Weeks. This is the 40-year anniversary of the album's release."

Unlike most KCRW-produced content, the show will NOT be archived so viewers will have to tune in on Friday, November 7 at 8pm to catch it live.

"All of the music directors at KCRW have a personal relationship with Van's music and it has been a thread throughout the history of the station," said Morning Becomes Eclectic producer Ariana Morgenstern. "KCRW has a long history with both the Hollywood Bowl and this artist so it seemed like a natural fit to bring this concert to the largest audience possible."

Find the show at http://www.kcrw.com/vanmorrisonlive. Full screen viewing will be available.

And for all you Morrison die-hards who are bummed you won't get the Astral Weeks portion of the show: That's why God created file sharing and torrent sites, eh?

All five shows will be instant sell-outs, so don't delay....

By Fred Mills

The Avett Brothers have announced their end-of-year and New Year's Eve festivities, and as with 2007, they'll be rocking the Tarheel State.

On December 26th, 27th and 28th they will be playing at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC and on the 30th and 31st, they'll be ringing in the New Year at the Belk Theater in Charlotte, NC.

Tickets for all five shows go on sale this Friday, 11/7, at 10AM:

Orange Peel: www.theorangepeel.net

Belk Theater: www.gotickets.com/venues/nc/belk_theater.php

In case you've lived under a rock lately, the Avett's are probably the top attraction in the Carolinas at the moment, having just sold out three shows in a row, Friday in Greensboro, Saturday in Greenville, SC, and Sunday in Chapel Hill. They're also in the midst of working on their major label debut with producer Rick Rubin.

Go HERE to read our review of their Asheville show from last December.

Blackie Lawless declares national emergency, compares Obama to Hitler, barfs up debunked claims, endorses McCain. Oh, and he's not a racist.

By Randy Harward

For reasons ranging from insubstantial-yet-cool to somewhat noteworthy-throwing raw meat at their fans, covering The Who without sucking, releasing at least three classic metal albums, bucking censorship lynch mob the PMRC, just plain rocking balls-W.A.S.P. rules. But band founder and frontman (and erstwhile New York Doll) Blackie Lawless, is a stone cold, mouth-breathing, egomaniacal, pseudo-intellectual jackass.

Today he had his publicist send out a letter titled, "Read in Case of National Emergency." The title alone is ridiculous, but with each line it gets-one would think, impossibly-more retarded.

One needs not expend the energy to ignore the fact that, in an actual national emergency, the last guy we'd turn to is the singer of a shock-rock band that peaked early and exists now as an ego boost to its increasingly unreliable and unhinged sole original member. That much is forgotten one or two paragraphs into the idiotic epistle. By the end, the jaw of any sentient being with at least a GED will scrape the toes of their shoes.

Lawless declares his love for the country and Constitution, and that he's not a John McCain supporter-he's an equal opportunity government-hater, suspicious of Democrats and Republicans alike.

"I grew up and lived with the ideals and philosophy of the ‘counterculture' generation," writes Lawless. ‘Peace and Love', ‘Flower Power', ‘Stop the War', ‘Never Trust Anybody Over 30'. ‘Stop the War' was absolutely correct! Vietnam was a disaster and more than 50,000 U. S. soldiers died for that mistake. But the rest was a load of naïve, idealist, ‘we can change the world' CRAP! Not that some of those sentiments weren't a good idea. It's just that this generation of self-serving, selfish, spoiled brats has now come of age."

Lawless henceforth blames these "brats" for perpetuating "the greed and the lies of the Wall Street bailout and a laundry list of other political atrocities too numerous to mention [emphasis added]." He also says they probably think the founding fathers are "some new rap group," calling that "an indictment on their parents" for not teaching them "the values and history of this nation."

He then bemoans Americans' gluttonous, vain, financially irresponsible lifestyles, and how the people who touted the "Woodstock/Marxist scream-dream"-who he refers to as "yuppies" (weren't they largely Reaganites?)-are the ones in charge of the extremely biased liberal media that has "conspired to deceive, manipulate, suppress the truth, promote their candidate at all costs and bury any story that does not put a halo around the head of that candidate." You know the candidate of which he speaks, but Blackie spells it out for us. "It is with this that the American People are brought Barak [sic] Obama."

To support his Obama paranoia, Lawless proceeds to fall back on debunked, or at least satisfactorily addressed, theories including but not limited to how Obama's "redistribution of wealth" comments ("he is a Marxist in Socialist clothing"), and has supposed terrorist ties. ACORN, Rev. Wright/America-hating, tax increases, etc.

"This man is a product of that extreme leftist-Marxist movement that has been building in this country for over 40 years. He is a product of the Harvard far left. He is the face and mouthpiece of a movement that is hell-bent on breaking up the U. S. Constitution and reassembling it to conform to their vision. He is a lawyer, the Democratic Johnnie Cochran, in which every time he speaks gives a closing argument. He is the embodiment of the New Democratic Machine...

"Never in the history of the United States has any presidential candidate had a shroud of controversy surround them as has Obama. If someone would have told me two years ago that anybody with these associations could get nominated for their party, or even dog catcher, much less President of the United States, I would have said your [sic] insane."

Speaking of! Lawless explains that the reason he started this letter with the first seven words of the Constitution is "to reference a radio interview Obama did in which he says the U. S. Supreme Court did not go far enough in attempting to provide reparations to African-Americans and that the Earl Warren edition of the Supreme Court was not liberal enough. That Court was probably the most liberal in U.S. history." Lawless says that "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is "not a guarantee of wealth or any form of happiness, but the chance to raise one-self up" and "this government never has, nor ever will, nor ever should provide for anything more than this.

"It is ironic that Obama's supporters so often refer to him as a new John F. Kennedy. Senator Obama should be reminded that it was JFK... that said ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for you country.' That is the true American spirit!

"[Obama supporters'] belief is win... at any cost... the Constitution be Dammed [sic]! If that's not prejudice, I don't know what is. If it is true that ‘What is past, is prologue' then we need look no further than Obama's books. His blueprint is there in black and white. Literally and figuratively."

Uh...wow. But it gets better. Or worse:

"The books Obama has written about himself are very clear as to his true ambitions concerning his leftist, Marxist views but the average person will not take the time to read them. In the 1920s while in prison, a young Adolf Hitler wrote Mein Kampf... which outlined his entire plan for world domination and the extermination of the Jewish race. No one would read it, and then when they did it was too late... any book that was not approved by the Nazi Party was burned. The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx at one time was required reading in our schools. This book is Obama's ‘how-to' guide with his ideal of the ‘redistribution of wealth'... Somewhere Karl Marx with his godless, utopian vision is laughing in delight."

It's not like we expect Blackie Lawless to be a fountain of wisdom. It's just that the hubris, the undiluted delusion of this letter, is astonishing. Lawless-who plays a guitar adorned with the Confederate flag, just like many other "undecided" voters, is simply justifying his latent racism. It can't be because he's made an informed decision based on both candidates' stances or qualifications ‘cause all he has to say about McCain is:

"I will vote for McCain, not because I believe in all he stands for, but as a mandate against Obama, to keep him from becoming president."

[You can read the entire letter below. Wouldn't want him to be able to say we took him out of context.]

"Read in Case of National Emergency"

by Blackie  Lawless


"We the people of the United States'. These are the first 7 words of the Constitution of the United States of America. As I stood in the reception area of the Pentagon in Washington D.C. early this year, a large recreation of that Constitution was posted on the wall. It's the first thing you see as you enter the building. "We the People of the United States", I stared at it and said: "I'd die for that idea"!

I've written in the past, I love my country, but I'm scared to death of its government. That idea for me has taken a new twist in this coming election.

I'd first like to point out that I am not a John McCain supporter. I have been critical of the U. S. Government for years, and I, like most of my fellow Americans am angry and frustrated with the lying, manipulation and partisanship of the elected officials, both local and national, Democrat and Republican, of this country. 

The Founding Fathers of this Country wrote this Constitution, with all it's Amendments, as THE Cornerstone that this country would be governed by.  We Americans now find ourselves on the eve of, without a doubt, THE most important election of our lifetime.  In a time of World uncertainty, the volatility of the global financial Markets, the Middle East at war, Russia invading Georgia, Iran and North Korea attempting to develop nuclear weapons and with that Iran threatening to "Wipe Israel Off the Map", the entire world is at a dangerous point in history.

I grew up and lived with the ideals and philosophy of the "Counter Culture" Generation.  "Peace and Love", " Flower Power", "Stop the War", Never Trust anybody Over 30".  "Stop the War" was absolutely correct!  Vietnam was a disaster and more than 50,000 U. S. Soldiers died for that mistake.
But the rest was a load of naïve, idealist, "we can change the world", CRAP!

Not that some of those sentiments weren't a good idea. It's just that this generation of self-serving, selfish, spoiled brats has now come of age. They are the ones that now have perpetuated the greed and the lies of the Wall Street Bailout and a laundry list of other political atrocities too numerous to mention. The weakness of true conviction to teach their children about the values and history of this Nation. Their children know nothing of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Washington, Lincoln or the understanding that this Great Nation was built on the Dreams, the Tears, the back breaking Labor, the unending sacrifice and the Blood spilled by the generations before them that sacrificed their all, including the men and women that gave their lives, and the ones that will give their lives in defense of this "Great Experiment", this Great American Dream.  If you don't think so, go up to most any of their kids on the street and ask them about the Founding Fathers. More than likely they'll think its some new rap group. It's not just a glimpse into poor enlightenment. It's an indictment on their parents.

The generation that was going to change the world certainly did. Their gluttony for botox, living on credit cards, busy being fabulous and its all about me, me, me cause I'm better than you. "All You Need is Love".. I'm sorry pal, you missed the boat, all you really need is some guts and character. I'm disgusted and ashamed to be part of it.  Instead, that generation with their 'Woodstock / Marxist"  Scream - Dream are the ones which now control the majority of the mainstream media in this country. That includes almost all Television and almost all Newspapers. They are the ones that now bring the extreme liberal, radical 60's utopian vision of their world to the American people. The extreme liberal bias of the mainstream American Media which are now controlled by these "Yuppies" have conspired to deceive, manipulate, suppress the truth, promote their candidate at all costs and bury any story that does not put a halo around the head of that candidate.  It is with this that the American People are brought Barak Obama.

This man is a product of that Extreme Leftist - Marxist movement that has been building in this country for over 40 years. He is a product of the Harvard far left. He is the face and mouthpiece of a movement that is Hell Bent on breaking up the U. S. Constitution and reassembling it to conform to their vision. He is a lawyer, the Democratic Johnny Cochran, in which every time he speaks gives a closing argument. He is the embodiment of the New Democratic Machine.

When I was a kid everyone I knew were Democrats, but these are not your fathers Democrats anymore. They are part of some liberal elite that looks down on the ideals that made this Country great.  This Leftist Machine has hidden the truth from the American People (and the World) and continues to deceive at any cost.

Right now, as I write, the L. A. Times Newspaper has a videotape, which it refuses to release to the American Public, which shows Obama at a farewell dinner celebration for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Spokesman Rashid Khalidi. He was also a spokesman for Yassir Arafat. In this tape are the recorded verbal attacks on Israel and the Israeli People and reference to Israel as a terrorist state.

Reportedly, the Domestic terrorist Bill Ayres, who as part of the "Weather Underground" terrorist organization bombed several U. S. targets including the Pentagon and the home of a U. S. Judge and killing 2 policemen in the process, was also at this dinner.  Obama has been close friends with Khalidi and Ayers for many years. The oath of President requires that the President will "protect the United States against all enemies, both Foreign AND Domestic".  Guess he didn't read that part!

Now, what should be of utmost concern to the American People are the repeated denials by Obama, that he has no ties to any of these people. If he has nothing to hide why not be truthful with the American Public and request the L. A. Times to release this videotape for us all to see. If it turns out to be nothing then at least the truth will be served.  From Obama's 20 year association with the Reverend Jeremiah Wright who has repeatedly said: "It's not God Bless America, No, No, No, It's God Damn America!

Obama sat in Wrights church and listened to this Treason for 20 years.
Wright also performed Obama's marriage and Baptized both of his children. Obama was an organizer for Acorn, the group now accused of massive voter registration fraud. Some working for Acorn have already been jailed for this. Obama was also Acorns lawyer for a time. Obama recently donated over $800,000 to Acorn.  He accuses Americans for "clinging to their guns and religion".  Never in the history of the United States has any Presidential candidate had a shroud of controversy surround them as has Obama. If someone would have told me 2 years ago that anybody with these associations could get nominated for their party, or even dog catcher, much less President of the United States, I would have said your insane.

My reasons for starting this letter with the first line of the Constitution is to reference a radio interview Obama did in which he says the U. S. Supreme Court did not go far enough in attempting to provide reparations to African- Americans and that the Earl Warren edition of the Supreme Court was not liberal enough. That Court was probably the most liberal in U.S. history.

It is not the job of the Supreme Court to be liberal or conservative. It is to interpret the Constitution. period. It is not to legislate from the bench based on the "general consensus of the people" as stated in a recent Supreme Court ruling, but rather to make its rulings based on the precise wording of the Constitution. If at some point "the people" wish to have any new amendment to the Constitution based on their modern day ideals, then all 50 states must ratify it..period.  This is the Obama quote from that interview with radio station WBEZ.FM in Chicago. This is not taken out of context. It is the entire quote:

"The Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth, and of more basic issues such as political and economic justice in society. To that extent, as radical as I think people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn't that radical. It didn't break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers in the Constitution, at least as its been interpreted and Warren Court interpreted in the same way, that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties. Says what the states can't do to you. Says what the Federal government can't do to you, but doesn't say what the Federal government or State government must do on your behalf, and that hasn't shifted and one of the, I think, tragedies of the civil rights movement was, um, because the civil rights movement became so court focused I think there was a tendancy to lose track of the political and community organizing and activities on the ground that are able to put together the actual coalition of powers through which you bring about redistributive change. In some ways we still suffer from that".

These are things he would NEVER say in front of a national audience. He only says and does these things when he thinks his base group is listening. In this interview he is making it clear that if elected, he would nominate Supreme Court Justices that will put forth his agenda's, "redistribution of wealth", his idea of "economic justice" and "redistributive change" which are other words for reparations for slavery and a Marxist redistribution of wealth which is no more than welfare.
Thomas Jefferson wrote in The Declaration of Independence about 'Life, Liberty and the PURSUIT of Happiness. This PURSUIT is not a guarantee of wealth or any form of happiness, but the chance to raise one-self up. This government never has, nor ever will, nor ever should provide for anything more than this.
It is ironic that Obama's supporters so often refer to him as a new John F. Kennedy.

Senator Obama should be reminded that it was JFK in his inaugural address that said "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for you country".  That is the TRUE American Spirit!

On the issue of taxes, in effort to "spread the wealth around" he first defined the rich as making $300,000 then he said it was $250,000 then he said $200,000, then a few days ago Joe Biden said it would be $150,000. So, what's the real number?  This is more about him not being truthful with the public.

Will all of his tax schemes of taxing anyone who makes over $250,000  (or whatever it is) a year destroy our economy, yeah, just like Jimmy Carter did in the 70's and Herbert Hoover before him. It's not the individual that makes that much money that's the issue. If this were only about individuals then that could be argued.  But what he doesn't tell you is what it does to businesses. Most any business that creates that much revenue MUST employ a number of people. If the business is taxed upwards of 30% or more then those jobs are gone.its that simple.

There have been a lot of charges about racism in this election from the Obama side. I personally have never been a racist. Any of you that know me, know I've said many times that after my Father, Muhammad Ali has been the biggest influence in my life.  But there definitely is racism in this election.  96 to 97% of African-Americans polled in this election say they will vote for Obama. Never in the history of this country has ANY candidate ever had such overwhelming numbers from any group. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian or other. The traveling Political,  Racist, Circus called Acorn, which Obama worked with for years, is creating and sponsoring voter fraud across the country by registering illegal immigrants, the Dallas Cowboys and Mickey Mouse. This is no joke. Acorn has actually done this and much, much more. Their belief is win .. at any cost.. the Constitution be Dammed!

If that's not prejudice, I don't know what is.

The books Obama has written about himself are very clear as to his true ambitions concerning his Leftist, Marxist views but the average person will not take the time to read them,  In the 1920's while in prison, a young Adolf Hitler wrote "Mein Kampf" (My Struggle) which outlined his entire plan for World Domination and the extermination of the Jewish race. No one would read it, and then when they did it was too late.. any book that was not approved by the Nazi Party was burned. The "Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx at one time, was required reading in our schools. This book is Obama's "How To" guide with his ideal of the "Redistribution of Wealth". If you don't think so, go back and look at the above radio interview. Somewhere Karl Marx with his Godless, Utopian vision is laughing in delight.

If it is true that "What is Past, is Prologue" then we need look no further than Obama's books. His blueprint is there in black and white. Literally and figuratively.

I will vote for McCain, not because I believe in all he stands for, but as a mandate against Obama, to keep him from becoming President.  Yes, I will cling to my guns and my religion, and continue to believe in the Constitution, the Cornerstone of our society and trust that this is STILL a "Government of the People, By the People, For the People".

The point of all this is, that no matter whatever any of us encounter in life, look for the truth. The truth can and will stand up to anything. If that truth cannot stand up to scrutiny then you must see it and call it for what it truly is.  If any would be Messiah comes along and he looks like it, acts like it and smells like it then you call him what he truly is. a Marxist, in Socialist clothing!

I challenge all Americans to go back and READ the Constitution of the United States, READ the Declaration of Independence.

Decide for Yourself

God Help Us. . God Bless America

I encourage anyone who understands this letter and is moved to action, to send this letter in an email to everyone you know, to all who will listen!

- Blackie  Lawless

It's a vision thing... tune written by Patterson Hood after the 2004 election....

By Fred Mills

The Drive-By Truckers have just offered a free MP3 to coincide with tomorrow's presidential election. Titled "Uncle Phil and Aunt Phyllis in the Month after the Election," it was written by Patterson Hood (as he explains below) shortly after the 2004 election when he was still "in a state of semi-shock."

The tune has been posted for download at the band's official website - just look for the link below Hood's screed on the site.

And tomorrow, while you have the song buzzing in your head, carry it with you while you head out to vote.

***

From Patterson Hood:

I wrote this song the week after the 2004 Presidential Election. I was in a state of semi-shock and near-depression as my daughter's birth was impending and I was depressed to think of her born into the world during a Bush Presidency.

It was recorded live in the studio at Chase Park Transduction with me on the microphone, David Hood (my Dad) on the bass guitar, Johnny Neff  playing some sleazy sounding electric guitar, Brad Morgan playing the drums, and David Barbe on the B3. It was late at night and everyone's spirits were high.

I am throwing this out as my election week gift to you.

Please get out and vote.

I will be voting for Obama because I think he has the guts, vision judgment and smarts to guide us through these troubled times and help America regain her prominence in the 21st century.

It's time for a change and not four more years of bullshit.

Jr. has wrapped the Camaro around too many telephone poles and it's time to take his keys away.

LONG LIVE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

Respectfully Yours,
Patterson Hood
Drive-By Truckers

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:15 AM & 3:10 PM TMC: Standing in the Shadows of Motown

8:00 AM TVONE: Tom Joyner Sky Show: Al Green

9:00 AM Bravo: The West Wing: Election Day (Foo Fighters)

9:40 AM & 5:20 PM Starz Edge: Dixie Chicks - Shut Up and Sing

11:00 AM PLD HD: Peace One Day w/John Legend , Lenny Kravitz , Bryan Adams , Annie Lennox , Peter Gabriel

2:00 PM Ovation: Live from the Artists Den: Patty Griffin

2:00 PM TVONE: Only the Strong Survive (2002) w/ Jerry Butler , The Chi-Lites , Isaac Hayes , Ann Peebles , Wilson Pickett , Sir Mack Rice

4:00 PM SYN: The Oprah Winfrey Show: A Two-Day Election Event: Oprah's Voting Party w/Daughtry

6:00 PM BET: 106 & Park: Q-Tip

6:30 PM Comedy Central: The Colbert Report: Wilco

8:00 & 11:00 PM Ovation: The Miles Davis Story (2001) w/Charlie Parker , Dizzy Gillespie , Herbie Hancock , John Coltrane , Miles Davis , Joe Zawinul

9:00 PM FUSE: Pootie Tang (2001)

9:15 PM IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Manu Chao

10:00 PM HBOC: Real Time With Bill Maher: John Legend

11:30 PM PBS: Tavis Smiley: Raphael Saadiq

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: (West Coast Only) Blues Traveler

Did we mention that today is Election Day...?

By Blurt Staff

From our good friends at Bloodshot Records, unfiltered:

***

Music Lovers:

The protest song is one of our oldest musical traditions, so it's no surprise that in the 15 years Bloodshot Records has been releasing records, it's artists have been vocal participants, with biting social commentary and damn fine music. We offer you, in honor of the coming election, the Bloodshot Records Election Mix '08.

The Waco Brothers' "Cowboy in Flames" is as relevant as when it was written 12 years ago: "All the rest on the bottom / oil men still on top." Graham Parker uses his rapier wit to pillory the current administration's policies on "Stick to the Plan." On "Cure for the Common Cold," Ha Ha Tonka's Brian Roberts -- a cancer survivor -- takes the US health care system to task: "Don't get sick in America." Chris Ligon is just one of the many musicians who gathered on The Executioner's Last Songs, an album that calls for a moratorium on the death penalty. Andrew Bird's contribution to the Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook collection is "I Shall Not Be Moved," a traditional hymn that was later adopted by labor union singers in the '40s. And while Andre William's "Can You Deal With It?" could broadly describe the worst-case scenario, we include it on the mix for the fun fact that Andre Williams and John McCain are the same age.

***

Below is a online stream of some of Bloodshot's best protest moments, enjoy it and don't forget to vote!

VOTE BLOODSHOT '08 MIX:

http://www.imeem.com/bloodshotrecords/playlist/ZIAF-kvH/vote_bloodshot_08_music_playlist/

TRACKLIST:

1. Cordero, "En Este Momento" (from En Este Momento)
2. Firewater, "Hey Clown" (from The Golden Hour)
3. Ha Ha Tonka, "Cure for the Common Cold" (from Buckle in the Bible Belt)
4. The Bottle Rockets, "Align Yourself" (from Zoysia)
5. Waco Brothers, "Cowboy in Flames" (from Waco Express: Live and Kickin' at Schubas Tavern)
6. Graham Parker, "Stick to the Plan (from Don't Tell Columbus)
7. The Meat Purveyors, "Look On Your Face" (from Someday Soon Things Will Be Much Worse!)
8. Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, "I Never Thought I Could Feel This Way For A Boy" (from Live at KEXP: Volume 4)
9. Andrew Bird, "I Shall Not Be Moved" (from Old Town School of Folk Music: Volume 4)
10. Chris Ligon, "Great State of Texas" (from The Executioner's Last Songs)
11. Starkweathers, "Burn the Flag" (from For A Decade of Sin: 11 Years of Bloodshot Records)
12. Andre Williams, "Can You Deal With It?" (from Can You Deal With It?)

By Fred Mills

I'll keep this short and sweet: Go vote.

An editorialist recently characterized voting as a privilege, not a responsibility. I completely disagree - unless you did something stupid, became a convicted felon and are now barred from voting, it's a right and a duty. Lord knows I sat enough elections out during my 20s and 30s, so I think I've got a pretty good handle on how ridiculous a person appears when they bitch and whine about the way things are going in this country yet they don't even rise to the occasion when they have the chance every four (or two) years to make a difference.

Here's my story: in 1972 I wasn't quite yet of voting age, but I campaigned vigorously, in my own way, for McGovern. I'd grown up in a political-inclined household - my mom was on the local school board when integration finally reached full implementation in NC, and my dad was a state legislator, so I knew right from wrong and the difference between justice and injustice - and deep down I knew that Nixon was a venal criminal and not someone worthy of representing my country in the highest office. I took a lot of grief that fall at my high school, too; I distinctly recall being one of three kids in my history class who raised their hand for McGovern when the teacher took a straw poll in order to relate what was currently going on in America to our civics lessons. I also remember telling folks about "this Watergate deal" I'd heard about on the news and they just laughed at me and said I was dreamin'. Maybe it was a bad dream, I dunno. But I still wore my McGovern-Shriver button proudly (and I still have it). I was crushed and heartbroken when Nixon beat McGovern in a landslide. And the sense of vindication when Nixon resigned a few years later wasn't enough to raise me up, and for a good while I considered myself a political agnostic.

Cut to 2004: crushed and heartbroken again. So many worked so hard - editorializing, organizing, performing, canvassing, etc. - only to see the Bush machine steamroll over Kerry (and possibly over due process, too).

This year's like 2004, sort of - but very, very different, too. In a very real sense, it feels like 1972 again, or at least I feel like I did in '72: hopeful, defiant, proud, scared, prone to weird waves of conflicting emotions so intense that my teeth feel like they're vibrating at times. This despite all of the insanity that's currently surrounding us - for a visual encapsulation of what I'm trying to get at, go view the "Wassup 2008" video, and make sure you watch it to the very end.

I voted two weeks ago, and right after I post this to the website I'm going to take my 7 year old son out canvassing and working the phones for Obama. How are you going to spend the next 10-odd hours?

Go vote, if you haven't already. Become a part of history today.

This has been a BLURT public service announcement - with guitars.

Brooklyn garage-pop band picked to open Kinks singer's 12-date U.S. tour-and back him up, too.

By Blurt Staff

Brooklyn's Locksley, a band that bears many similarities to the Kinks, has been tapped to open Kinks singer Ray Davies' 12-city U.S. tour in November and December. In must be a deliriously good turn of events for the baby band, but there's more to it: They get to back Davies up, too.

Locksley (visit them on MySpace) is currently headlining MTV's national Choose or Lose tour, which wraps tonight in Vienna, VA. After an in-store performance Nov. 8 at Vintage Vinyl in Woodbridge, NJ, Locksley will take a few weeks off before joining Davies in Tampa, FLA on Nov. 28. Tour dates are below.

TOUR DATES

Nov-28 Tampa FL - Tampa Theatre

Nov-29 Miami FL - The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie

Gleason Theater

Nov-30 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live

Dec-02 Atlanta GA - Variety Playhouse

Dec-03 Nashville TN - Wildhorse Saloon

Dec-05 Atlantic City NJ - Borgata Music Box

Dec-06 Poughkeepsie, NY - Bardavon 1869 Opera House

Dec-08 Washington DC - 9:30 Cub

Dec-10 Providence RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel

Dec-11 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Dec-12 New York NY - Hammerstein Ballroom

Dec-13 Asbury Park, NJ - Paramount Theatre

Fabchannel.com streaming entire performance from Amsterdamn’s Paradiso.

By Blurt Staff

Looking for something to take your mind off today’s election? Check out this free full Calexico show on FabChannel.com. It’s from the Tucson band’s sold-out show at the Paradiso in Amsterdam earlier this Fall. Calexico starts a U.S. tour this Friday at Antone’s in Austin, TX. Complete dates below.

Tour Dates:
Friday November 7 - Austin, TX - Antone's * TICKETS
Saturday November 8 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater * TICKETS
Sunday November 9 - St. Louis, MO - The Duck Room * TICKETS
Monday November 10 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge * TICKETS
Wednesday November 12 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle * TICKETS
Thursday November 13 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club * TICKETS
Friday November 14 - Philadelphia, PA - Theater of Living Arts * TICKETS
Saturday November 15 - Tarrytown, NY - Tarrytown Music Hall * TICKETS
Sunday November 16 - Somerville, MA - Somerville Theater * TICKETS
Monday November 17 - Montreal, QC - Le National + TICKETS
Tuesday November 18 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre + TICKETS
Thursday November 20 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom * TICKETS
Friday November 21 - Chicago, IL - Metro * TICKETS
Saturday November 22 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe * TICKETS
Sunday November 23 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown ^ TICKETS
Monday November 24 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre # TICKETS
Tuesday November 25 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre % TICKETS

* with The Acorn
+ with Cuff the Duke
^ with Mal Madrigal
# with Gregory Alan Isakov
% with the Handsome Family

“Bona fide hustler” releases How Many Votes Fix Mix EP, watches “Paper Planes” hit #5, opens school, starts label, launches clothing line.

By Blurt Staff

M.I.A., that pop culture terrorist, is blowing up. First, her 2007 album Kala is sticky with the critical drool, and her “Paper Planes” single has entered the Top Five on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart—and T.I., with Kanye West, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, uses a sample of the tune on “Swagga Like Us,” from his # album Paper Trail. Now M.I.A.’s opening a school, starting her own label, launching a clothing line (which, yeah, is kind of old news), and dropping the How Many Votes Fix Mix EP, which features two new tracks and a remix of “Boyz” featuring Jay-Z. The gory details, straight from the press release:

Reenergized, re-recognized, and reverberating worldwide, M.I.A. will release the How Many Votes Fix Mix on iTunes October 28th (and everywhere else November 4th.) The Digital EP will feature a remix Boyz featuring Jay-Z as well as two unreleased tracks: “Shells” and “Far Far.”

And as the world takes to Kala, M.I.A. takes on the world—literally. This past August, Maya Arulpragasam (aka, M.I.A.) partnered with non-profit organization Youth Action International and opened the rebuilt and renovated Becky Primary School in Liberia. New additions include more classrooms, a library, computer labs, and a new playground. Plus, free tuition for its 625 students. She also launched her own clothing line, featuring T-shirts, jackets, and hoodies of her own design.

M.I.A. started her own label, N.E.E.T., which stands for Not in Education, Employment, or Training. Her first signing is Baltimore’s own Rye Rye, whose debut album is due early next year.

GET INVOLVED: www.youthactioninternational.org/yai

GET DRESSED: http://shop.miauk.com/category/13409-okley-run

GET DOWN: http://www.myspace.com/mia

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

8:00 AM TVONE: Tom Joyner Sky Show:  Chaka Khan

10:00 AM RAVE HD: Other Voices: Ryan Adams , Cathy Davey , The Crimea , Foy Vance

11:30 AM NICK: Yo Gabba Gabba!: Cornelius

3:00 PM Great American Country: Master Series: The Boxmasters

3:30 PM PLD HD: Hall & Oates: Our Kind of Soul

4:00 PM VH1C: BBC Crown Jewels: Rock Goes To College: The Police

5:30 PM Noggin: Yo Gabba Gabba!: Smoosh

9:00 PM & 1:00 AM IFC: 24 Hour Party People (2002) w/Siouxsie and the Banshees , New Order , The Buzzcocks , The Sex Pistols , Joy Division , Happy Mondays

9:00 PM RAVE HD: From The Basement: Damien Rice , Autolux , eels , Architecture In Helsinki

11:00 PM IFC: Sex Pistols - The Filth and the Fury (2000)

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Brad Paisley

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Tracy Chapman

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: John Legend

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Phil Lesh

1:30 AM ETV: Saturday Night Live (E!): Christina Aguilera / Maroon 5

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Yelle

Change.

True.

First time on these shores in eight years for Springsteen's pal.

By Blurt Staff


Based in Paris but born in the USA, legendary songwriter Elliott Murphy will embark on his first American tour in eight years.  The tour kicks off December 2008 in the Northeast U.S. (New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, DC, Albany, Larchmont, Amagansett), and continues on to the West Coast, where he hasn't played in 12 years) in January 2009 (San Francisco, Felton, Tehachapi, Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach). Elliott will be accompanied by his longtime guitarist extraordinaire Olivier Durand.  More shows will follow in Spring 2009.

Murphy's long been considered a true songwriter's songwriter - Springsteen is a big fan, and Murphy is a regular onstage guest of the Boss whenever he tours Europe and makes it to France. For this rare arrival on our shores, Murphy will be promoting his 30^th album, Notes From the Underground. Don't be surprised if Springsteen pops up at one or more of his shows.

Opening all shows will be NYC-based multi-cultural singer-songwriter Jann Klose, who was born in Germany and raised in Kenya, South Africa, Hamburg and first came to the US as an exchange student in Cleveland.  His latest album, Reverie, was issued earlier this year.  Recent shows included collaborations with Annie Haslam and John Tout of Renaissance, sharing the stage with Marty Stuart, Rosanne Cash and Roger McGuinn at Martin Guitars' 175th Anniversary Concert, and a special show at the German Embassy in Washington, DC.

The Elliott Murphy story:


Elliott Murphy was born to a show business family in New York and began his career by winning the 1966 New York State Battle of the Bands, and then followed a troubadour's odyssey across Europe included a bit part in Federico Fellini's film "Roma." His career was launched by the critical success of his debut album AQUASHOW followed by LOST GENERATION (Produced by Doors producer Paul Rothschild), NIGHT LIGHTS (featuring Billy Joel), JUST A STORY FROM AMERICA (featuring Phil Collins and Mick Taylor) and an extraordinary duet with Bruce Springsteen on his 1996 masterpiece SELLING THE GOLD.   In October 2008, he was honored with a monumental exhibition in Paris' Town Hall entitled "Elliott Murphy - Last of the Rock Stars - Retrospective" featuring hundreds of posters, photos, videos, album covers and memorabilia.

Elliott Murphy is also a published author of short story collections  (most recently Café Notes) and two novels (Cold And Electric and the neo-western Poetic Justice) as well as penning the liner notes for the Velvet Underground album 1969 Live. Elliott has lived in Paris for 18 years and has performed at such prestigious venues as the Montreux Jazz Festival as well as opening for Bob Dylan at the Pistoia Blues Festival.

Elliott Murphy tour dates:

Dec 10 2008 Johnny D's   Somerville, Massachusetts
Dec 12 2008 The Stephen Talkhouse   Amagansett, New York
Dec 13 2008 Valentine's   Albany, New York
Dec 15 2008   The Living Room   New York, New York
Dec 16, 2008   Velvet Lounge    Washington, DC
Dec 17 2008   World Cafe Live   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dec 18 2008   Watercolor Cafe   Larchmont, New York
Jan 7, 2009     Café Du Nord    San Francisco, California
Jan 8, 2009     Don Quixote's   Felton, California
Jan 10, 2009   Hotel Café, Los Angeles, California
Jan 11, 2009     Mama's Hilly Beans, Tehachapi, California
Jan 13 2009    Acoustic Music San Diego  San Diego, California
Jan 14 2009   The Blue Cafe   Long Beach, California
Jan 16 2009     NAMM 2009 Anaheim, California

Two disc set with remixes, videos....

By Fred Mills

Call it an early Christmas present for Feist fans: her acclaimed 2007 release The Reminder gets the deluxe/expanded treatment on Dec. 2, courtesy Arts & Crafts, as a two-CD set that features a slew of remixes (Chromeo, Grizzly Bear and others) plus the four music videos originally created for the album.

Also available for folks who don't want to buy the same album twice will be a standalone The Reminder: Bonus Content. It will contain the audio tracks from Disc 2 but not the videos.

***

The Reminder: Deluxe Edition

(From the label: "Feist's worldwide multi-Platinum album, The Reminder, will now be available as a deluxe edition featuring key remixes (some of which have never before been available commercially), and duets with Mocky and Constantines. The deluxe physical edition includes a bonus enhanced CD with additional exclusive video content, including Feist's latest video for the song ‘Honey Honey.'")

Disc 1:

1 So Sorry
2 I Feel It All
3 My Moon My Man
4 The Park
5 The Water
6 Sealion
7 Past in Present
8 The Limit to Your Love
9 1234
10 Brandy Alexander
11 Intuition
12 Honey Honey
13 How My Heart Behaves

Disc 2:

1 I Feel It All (Escort Remix)
2 Sealion (Chromeo Remix)
3 My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Classic Mix)
4 1234 (Van She Remix)
5 Fightin' Away the Tears [with Mocky]
6 So Sorry (One Mic Mix)
7 My Moon My Man (Grizzly Bear Remix)
8 Broken Social Scene: "Lover's Spit (Redux)"
9 Islands in the Stream [with Constantines]
10 My Moon My Man [video]
11 1234 (Director's Cut) [video]
12 I Feel It All [video]
13 Honey Honey [video]

The Reminder: Bonus Content

(From the label: "Key remixes (some of which have never before been available commercially) from Feist's worldwide multi-Platinum album, along with duets with Mocky and Constantines.")

1 I Feel It All (Escort Remix)
2 Sealion (Chromeo Remix)
3 My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Classic Mix)
4 1234 (Van She Remix)
5 Fightin' Away the Tears [with Mocky]
6 So Sorry (One Mic Mix)
7 My Moon My Man (Grizzly Bear Remix)
8 Broken Social Scene: "Lover's Spit (Redux)"
9 Islands in the Stream [with Constantines]

***

Speaking of some Feist videos.....

Coming the day after Nov. 4... didn't something historic happen then?

Fred Mills

11-5-08

Thrill Jockey's indiepop worldbeat avatars Extra Golden has created a smokin' 7-minute tune paying tribute to - you guessed it - President-elect Barack Obama, titled, sensibly enough, "Obama." Nice timing, that, and the perfect post-Nov. 4 gift.

Currently the Kenyan-American band has two releases out on Thrill Jockey, Hera Ma Nono and Ok-Oyot System,

We've got the YouTube video for "Obama" posted below, and you can check out the free-for-download MP3 here:

Obama

Steven Wilson releases solo album next year

By Mandy Rodgers

Born in England, Steven Wilson's musical influences came at an early age, particularly when his mom and dad bought each other differing albums for Christmas. His dad received Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, and his mom got Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby. As Wilson listened to both albums intently, these musical styles meshed and influenced his own musical creations, like the critically acclaimed prog-rock band, Porcupine Tree. He started Porcupine Tree to be a solo effort, but he's gotten help from several musicians over the band's history and nine albums.

Wilson is also a member of other bands, including Blackfield, No-Man and Bass Communion, but he felt the music written for this effort would be best released solo. Insurgents was recorded in two years across the world from Mexico City to Japan to Israel and has ten new tracks from anthems to ballads to experimental efforts.

Though the record is set to hit on February 10, a deluxe (read: expensive) high-quality version expected to be released in late November. Two versions are available, one CD and one vinyl, both contained in a hardback book with photos and including bonus records. For more information or to preorder visit, www.insurgentes.org.

Songs from debut album will be featured

By Mandy Rodgers

Clues formed in 2007 with Alden Penner (Unicorns) and Brendan Reed (who's worked with Arcade Fire). Based in Montreal, the band has kept a seriously low profile for the past year, only playing small, unadvertised shows and remaining a mystery on the web with not even a MySpace or Facebook profile. This year Ben Borden, Lisa Gamble and Nick Scribner joined the band from other outings in Montreal's art scene. In 2008, Clues also worked on developing the online music store VillaVillaNola.com dedicated to bands just like Clues who worked an underground scene in Montreal without media exposure.

The group's debut album is set for release next spring on Canadian tastemaker Constellation Records. According to the label, "the band's shows are frenetic and theatrical: multiple drummers, unique instrumentation and a bent Commodore 64. The small tour began last night night in New York City.

Clues Tour Schedule:

Tuesday, November 4 - NYC @ The Exit Art Gallery

Wednesday, November 5 - Bard College, Upstate NY @ SMOG

Thursday, November 6 - Burlington, VT

Friday, November 7 - Dartmouth College, NH @ Fuel

Saturday, November 8 - Bennington College, VT @ The Student Center

The Angry Young Man's autobiographical song resonates post-election.

By Randy Harward

Graham Parker wasn't thinking of Barack Obama when he wrote "I Discovered America" from his 2007 album Don't Tell Columbus (Bloodshot Records), but the song sure suits how I felt last night when Obama won the presidency.

I was one of the politically apathetic guys energized by George W. Bush and the Republicans' theft of the 2000 election and subsequent squandering of the post-9/11 international goodwill in the form of a war for oil. I bitched about Bush and evangelized about Kerry, then voted, and watched a majority of the country vote for another Bush term. Then came Katrina, and the Iraq War lingered. The country had gone batshit. 

But finally, the tide began to turn when the Dems kicked some booty in the 2006 election--and proceeded to accomplish nothing. Hope, as I knew it, was lost.

But last night, that was magical. If I sound like an erstwhile virgin in love, it's because I am. The United States of America, having elected Barack Obama, appears to be back on her meds and looking forward to four years of badly needed change. Last night, I feel like I rediscovered America. Parker's song---in which flat-earthers tell him to quit, but he still finds hope and fends off a "milquetoast rearguard" of Christian soldiers selling ice cream, and feels that the "might chains of darkness" have lifted---has been running through my head since 11 p.m. EST last night.

I have a feeling it'll be on repeat for a while.

"I Discovered America" - Graham Parker

Lyrics:

THERE WAS SMOKE UP TO MY EYEBALLS

POISON BURNED MY THROAT

BUT I SAID I'D KEEP ON GOING

WHEN EVERYONE SAID DON'T

WITH MY BONY-CHESTED T-SHIRT

SOME STOLEN GUITAR LICKS

NAVIGATING BY DEAD RECKONING

IN 1976

AND WHEN THE MIGHTY CHAINS OF DARKNESS

HAD ME ON THE ROPES

EVERYONE SAID QUIT NOW

THAT'S WHEN I FOUND HOPE

SO PLEASE DON'T TELL COLUMBUS

DON'T TELL HIS QUEEN FOR SURE

THAT I HAD THE ACCURATE COMPASS

AND I DISCOVERED AMERICA

WELL THE GUY IN THE FIVE AND DIME STORE

SAID IT AIN'T ANYWHERE AROUND HERE

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE

ALONG WITH YOUR MAD IDEA

SO I LOOKED INSIDE YOUR CLOSET

AND YOUR BROKEN TV SET

YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE BORN HERE

BUT YOU HADN'T FOUND IT YET

WELL I KNEW ONE DAY SHE'D LET ME IN

I KNEW I'D GET THE GIRL

AND LIVE IN A TOWN CALLED VETERAN

PORK CAPITOL OF THE WORLD

WELL THEY'VE DAMMED THE YANGTSE RIVER DAMN IT

THERE'LL BE HELL TO PAY

BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU DO

WHEN THE YANGTSE RIVER GETS IN YOUR WAY

BUT I HAD THAT POSITIVE FEELING

I KNEW I WAS ON THE RIGHT TRACK

WHEN A FLAT EARTH SOCIETY MEMBER

TOLD ME I MUST TURN BACK

HE SAID I'D REACH THE ABYSS

AND KEEP ON GOING DOWN

SO I GAVE HIM MY LAST PENCIL

AND I FLATTENED HIM TO THE GROUND

THEN AN ARMY OF CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

BROKE THROUGH THE RANKS AND CHARGED

WITH THEIR ICE CREAM VENDOR BUDDIES

AND THEIR MILQUETOAST REARGUARD

THEY HAD WHEELBARROWS FULL OF ELASTIC

AND PAPER MACHE HEARTS

AND THINGS I DID NOT RECOGNIZE

IMPALED UPON THEIR DARTS

AND WHEN THE MIGHTY CHAINS OF DARKNESS

HAD ME ON THE ROPES

EVERYONE SAID QUIT NOW

THAT'S WHEN I FOUND HOPE

YEAH THAT'S WHEN I FOUND HOPE

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM NBC: Today: Elvis Costello

8:00 AM TVONE: Tom Joyner Sky Show: The O'Jays

11:30 AM NICK: Yo Gabba Gabba!: Hot Hot Heat , Mix Master Mike

2:00 PM MOJO: London Live!: Sugababes , The Rifles , Delays , Editors

3:00 & 6:00 PM Ovation: Profile: John Cale

4:00 PM VH1C: BBC Crown Jewels: In Concert: Neil Young

5:00 PM VH1C: BBC Crown Jewels: Sounds For Saturday: The Music of The Faces

6:00 PM VH1C: BBC Crown Jewels: Old Grey Whistle Test: Lynyrd Skynyrd

7:30 PM Ovation: Music Express: Metallica

9:00 PM Biography: The Monkees

10:00 PM Biography: Davy Jones

10:00 PM Ovation: Live from the Artists Den: Aimee Mann

10:00 PM Sundance: Iconoclasts: Bill Maher and Clive Davis

11:00 PM Sundance: Live from Abbey Road: The Kills, Sara Bareilles, The Fratellis

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Q-Tip

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Hinder

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Lordi

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: T.I.

2:30 AM Comedy Central: Chappelle's Show: De La Soul, Black Star

George McConnell debuting new material on web

By Mandy Rodgers

After starting guitar at age 15, George McConnell has made a career of being a lead guitarist in bands Beanland, Kudzu Kings and Widespread Panic. When he had spare time, he ran a vintage guitar store in Oxford. Now, McConnell is releasing his new music as a tribute to past music conventions.

These new songs will be only available for download on his Web site, www.georgemcconnell.com.

The songs will be released in twos in a "Virtual 45" format, like the "A-Side" and "B-Side" of music long ago. McConnell said he remembers the days of buying one song, only to find a song you liked better on the other side, and that's the kind of music he wants to get back to. The first two 45s are debuting this week with the first pairing, "In Walked You" and "Goodbye So Long" and the second, "Hollywood Babylon" and "Feel No Pain."

[Photo Credit: Eric Drew]

Domino drops latest album on Jan. 20

By Blurt Staff

With a new album en route via Domino on Jan. 20, Animal Collective has announced a trifecta of promotional dates to coincide with the release of Merriweather Post Pavilion. The ever-engaging outfit plays NYC, Chicago and L.A. on Jan. 20, 22 and 23, with more dates no doubt being scheduled right now.

Prior to that there will be Jan. shows in the UK and England, while at this very moment they're headed to Santiago, Chile, as part of a short South American tour.

Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming BLURT coverage of the band.

Incidentally, if you had been savvy enough to go to the band's website and track down a certain hidden link, you could have attended a special private listening party for the new album. Click it and weep: www.myanimalhome.net/images/invite.jpg

Animal Collective Tour Dates:

11-06 Santiago, Chile - Industria Cultural
11-08 São Paulo, Brazil - Planeta Terra Festival
11-09 Buenos Aires, Argentina - La Trastienda
11-13 Lima, Peru - Centro Fundación Telefónica
1-12 London, England - Koko
1-13 Glasgow, Scotland - Glasgow School of Arts
1-14 Manchester, England - Club Academy
1-15 Brighton, England - Concorde 2
1-16 Paris, France - Bataclan
1-17 Leuven, Belgium - Stuk
1-18 Berlin, Germany - Postbanhof
1-20 New York, NY - Grand Ballroom
1-22 Chicago, IL - Metro
1-23 Los Angeles, CA - Fonda

And the pro-Obama hits just keep coming....

By Fred Mills

"Did I fall or was I pushed? In celebration of November 5, Jonny's birthday amid bonfire and fireworks in the UK and the dawn of a new era in politics in the USA, I humbly donate a remix of 'Harrowdown Hill' that was finished ages ago during the band webcasts, a small reminder of the dark days of Bush's."

That's Radiohead's Thom Yorke, announcing a free download of his 2006 The Eraser song "Harrowdown Hill" - remixed, remade, remodeled and retitled ‘Tchk Harrowdown Jump Rmx" for the occasion, which sounds like a pretty good deal anyway you cut it.

Go to the band's Dead Air Space website and look for the Wed, 05 November news entry on the front page.

In case anyone doesn't have long memories, not too many  artists were stepping up to give away free stuff when Bush got elected or re-elected....

Damon Albarn tries to make a monkey out of a BBC reporter...

By Fred Mills

It might just be a case of him monkeying around, but erstwhile Blur frontman Damon Albarn is sparking some tantalizing rumors about a possible Blur reunion.

Yeah, us neither.

But for those of you who don't think Blur was the most overrated band to come outta Britain since Zodiac Mindwarp and are literally dripping between your thighs at the prospects, read on.

In a report filed this morning by the BBC, Albarn - who has been hard at work on the next Gorillaz album as well as getting his Monkey: Journey to the West opera staged in London starting next week - indicated that he'd been lunching with his old Blur bassist Graham Coxon (who himself has definitely been monkeying around, if you believe the reports of Coxon teaming up with professional crackhead Pete Doherty).

"It's very possible I'll go back to Blur, it really is very possible," Albarn told a reporter, explaining, "The truth be known Graham and I have been hanging out together a bit. We had lunch the other day."

Promoters, start your checkbooks. These things don't just happen out of pure friendship....

Two days after the election, we are feeling the love...

By Fred Mills

"Man, that "Obama Remix" is on fuckin' repeat over here... what a feeling to be proud of your country! Hope you fellas are feelin' the love... the hope... the progress."

Thus reads a memo just slipped over the BLURT transom - our correspondent is referring, of course, to Louisville-based cellist Ben Sollee's "A Few Honest Words Remix". Seems that DJ 2^nd Nature has performed his wizardry once again (he previously gave My Morning Jacket's "One Big Holiday" a reworking), tackling Sollee's pre-election tribute to Barack Obama. And while this all went down way back in September, it's as timely as ever now. Check out the MP3 here:

A Few Honest Words Remix  

Meanwhile, head over to Sollee's MySpace page. You can check out Sollee's tunes, along with a really compelling video clip for the Obama song. And yes, we are feeling the love, the hope, and the progress - since the wee hours of yesterday morning, it feels like a great weight has been lifted off everyone's shoulders. Scroll down after the tour dates to view a YouTube clip of Sollee doing "A Few Honest Words" with the DJ 2^nd Nature remix (directed by Ty Risby).

Ben Sollee Tour Dates:

Nov 6 2008     8:00P

            The 5 Spot       Atlanta, Georgia

Nov 7 2008     8:00P

            Nighlight         Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Nov 8 2008     8:00P

            Iota      Washington, Washington DC

Nov 11 2008   8:00P

            The Bell House           Brooklyn, New York

Nov 12 2008   8:00P

            Mercury Lounge         New York, New York

Nov 13 2008   8:00P

            Great Scott      Boston, Massachusetts

Nov 14 2008   8:00P

            World Cafe Live         Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Nov 15 2008   8:00P

            Club Café        Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nov 17 2008   8:00P

            Schuba's          Chicago, Illinois

Nov 18 2008   8:00P

            400 Club         Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nov 21 2008   8:00P

            TBA    Seattle, Washington

Nov 22 2008   8:00P

            Balcony Bar At The Hawthorne Theatre        Portland, Oregon

Nov 24 2008   8:00P

            Cafe Du Nord             San Francisco, California

Nov 25 2008   8:00P

            Hotel Cafe      Los Angeles, California

Dec 11 2008    9:00P

            The Dame        Lexington, Kentucky

Back to school with the king of Turntablism...

By Blurt Staff

DJ Qbert has just announced the opening of his "Qbert Skratch University", an online video learning site, which will break virtual ground in early 2009 in partnership with ArtistWorks.

Qbert is often billed as the "Undisputed King of Turntablism", which may seem like hype unless you've actually seen the cat on the wheels of steel. According to a press release from ArtisWorks, he'll be using "a series of progressive videos to teach all levels of Scratching techniques from basic to exotic and beat juggling. This format of exchanging videos with a legendary Turntablist where the entire community learns is the first of its kind. Turntablists around the world use simple and innovative video management technology created by ArtistWorks. Student members post videos on the University site and using the latest in Internet video technology, Qbert responds to student videos, offering his personal guidance and suggestions."

"There is no central place or community for farflung Turntablists to gather, so this platform will provide them with a great opportunity" says David Butler, Founder and CEO of ArtistWorks, Inc. DJ Qbert adds, "It's cool that Skratching has so many fans around the world and we can all be in one place now and learn from each other no matter where we live."

For more details, go to www.artistworks.com.
 

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

8:30 AM & 2:30 PM MOJO: London Live!: Franz Ferdinand , Will Young , Killa Kela

9:00 AM SYN: Live with Regis and Kelly: Dido

11:30 AM NICK: Yo Gabba Gabba!: Jimmy Eat World

1:00 PM ETV: Saturday Night Live (E!): Seann William Scott / Sum 41

3:40 PM Encore Drama: Dancer in the Dark (2000)  w/Bjork

4:00 PM VH1C: BBC Crown Jewels: Sight & Sound in Concert: Thin Lizzy

6:00 PM Ovation: Grateful Dawg (2000)  w/Grateful Dead, David Grisman, Bela Fleck, etc.

8:00 PM Ovation: Round Midnight (1986) w/Herbie Handock, Dexter Gordon, etc.

8:00 PM VH1 Classic in Concert: AC/DC Live at Donnington

9:00 PM CMT Crossroads: Def Leppard and Taylor Swift

9:00 PM MOJO: London Live!: Placebo , Jenny Lewis , The Watson Twins , Matt Willis , Feeder

9:00 PM RAVE HD: Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison

10:00 PM Sundance: loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies

10:30 PM & 1:30 AM IFC: Henry Rollins Uncut: New Orleans

11:30 PM PBS: Tavis Smiley: The Smothers Brothers

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: TV On The Radio , Lance Bass

12:00 AM FUEL: The Daily Habit: Hank III

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Robin Thicke

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Chromeo

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip

2:00 AM Sundance: Live from Abbey Road: The Kills, Sara Bareilles, The Fratellis

In which we open up our mailbag and let you peek inside. Don't throw up, please.

By Fred Mills

In between strategy and planning sessions (held down at the local Hooters, natch) and trips to the john every 15 minutes for a "jolt" (you know what we're sayin'...), we here at BLURT central actually devote some time going through our in-boxes and spam folders to make sure that nothing currently going on within the music industry escapes our steely gaze. We pride ourselves at being way ahead of the fucking curve.

Of necessity, as a major media player we also have to field a lot of correspondence that is, shall we say, somewhat misdirected. (Memo to the person that keeps sending us Buckcherry updates: thanks!) We're not sure if these are acts of p.r. desperation, inexperience-bred naivete, or a willful ignorance of what BLURT is all about.

On the latter point, an occasional glance out our website and digital magazine might be helpful in terms of how labels and publicity firms target their pitches. But that's out of our control. What we CAN control, however, is what we do with the dang emails, which is where you, gentle readers, come in. Presenting the first in an occasional series: Dumb PR Pitch O' Week. Guarantee: all dialogue repeated verbatim. Some names may be changed/deleted to protect the clueless. Void where prohibited by law. Caveat emptor. Enjoy!

***

Hi There

I want to pitch you Colin Armstrong for feature or profile or guest on your show. 

He found his passion for music in his early years. Though it's not uncommon for independent singer/songwriters to play the guitar and piano, Colin's love of music evolved into learning how to play the bagpipes at just twelve years of age. He knew then that music was his calling. By the time he was fifteen, he was touring Europe and competing with bagpipes internationally, which lead to an invitation to play shows with the infamous band KORN. That's when Colin got a glimpse of the rock lifestyle-while meeting and hanging out with Billy Idol and Robbie Krieger of the Doors.

Today, he is a world-class bagpiper.

Colin's first break came when he won the "BE A STAR" contest on Los Angeles' leading rock radio station STAR 98.7. The victory landed him a demo deal with Hollywood Records.  Although he was excited to garner a development deal with a prominent label, he didn't feel like the time was right-- he wanted to work on his material. Good wouldn't suffice, it had to be great.

In order to reach his musical goals, Colin knew he had to continue to write, record and hone his skills, gathering the best material possible for his future debut album. In the meantime, Colin's song "Lonely Fall" won "Best Male Vocal" and "Best Song" at the San Diego Music Awards followed by a "Best Pop Vocal" nomination for his song "Hey Yoko" at the Los Angeles Music Awards. His song "In Your Eyes" was also chosen for the top ten finals of the 2007 American Idol songwriter contest. It didn't end here, early 2008 brought Colin a worldwide publishing agreement with NorthStar Media who placed one of his songs, "Nothing More to Say" on the hit Lifetime network show "Army Wives."

Colin and his team have been busy in the second half of 2008 finishing up his record, forming his band and getting ready to hit the road in support of the January 2009 release of his full length debut album, "Lost and Anonymous." Produced and mixed by Mikal Reid (Mick Jagger, Ben Harper, Aerosmith, Wang Chung), Colin has also collaborated with several A-List songwriters.

Colin Armstrong's debut album "Lost and Anonymous" will be available in January 2009 and I'd love for you to consider a review or feature with Colin.

Please let me know of your interest in this unique artist!

Album en route from sometime in 2009.

By Fred Mills

According to a blog posting yesterday afternoon at the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' official MySpace page the NYC band is polishing off its next album. The followup to 2006's Show Your Bones is projected for a 2009 release (no month listed yet) and is described as "very different from last year's EP" (Is Is, issued by Fontana in July 2007).

"What does it sound like?" continues the band, in the posting. "Not much like anything you've heard from us before. Does it sound like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs? You bet you're [sic] sweet ass it does."

And you know we love the Yeah Yeah Yeahs - grammar-challenged or otherwise - so we'll be banging on the YYY mainline when the time comes. You can bet you're [sic] sweet ass on that. See below for the entire blog posting.

[Photo credit: Josh Wildman]

***

Thursday, November 06, 2008

By Blurt Staff

You've read our review of his New West album A Love Extreme. You've read our feature on the man and his music. You've probably even spotted some of his videos playing on our BLURT TV. You know you dig the cat - Hughes, Benji Hughes, the Tarheel sensation.

So if you're really nimble with your mouse clicking, surf over to WNCW-FM in North Carolina. Hughes is at the radio station, about to do an interview and play some tunes. Here's the link: www.wncw.org . That's BLURT pal DJ Joe Kendrick doing the honors, by the way.

So, sure, this is a gratuitous plug for friends of ours - get you own web site if you don't dig it!

By Fred Mills

Record shows. Record flea markets. Record swap meets. Whatever you call ‘em, if you've ever been to one you know they're a gas-gas-gas, as Jumpin' Jack Flash might put it. And if you're in the vicinity of North Carolina - you know, that formerly red state that flipped this past election for Obama and turned blue, yo! -this weekend, head over to Asheville, NC, and check out the Second Semi-Annual Asheville Sound Swap. It takes place Sunday from 11 a.m. onward at the Grey Eagle Club. Full details below.

The southern bureau of BLURT will be on hand, hanging out and trying to talk dealers out of some rare vinyl, and a bunch of local deejays from low-power station WPVM-FM will be in the house spinning tunes. Meanwhile, over at the bar you'll be able to purchase adult beverages (but bring the kids - they got apple juice and cokes, too) as well as some tasty Cajun cooking. How do we know all this? Because we were at the first Sound Swap that was held earlier this year. I quote myself from a port-mortem I penned awhile back:

Not long ago I was at a local record swap meet, and the organizers did a bang-up job. They brought in tables on a Sunday morning to a local music venue, had a DJ set up on the stage to entertain us with tunes (spinning albums, natch), and over at the bar refreshments and food could be purchased. Hell, soft drinks and coffee were free until noon. Then you could even buy beer. And while the thought of being crowded into a room with several hundred anal-retentive music obsessives might not sound all that appealing on paper, in execution it's a whale of a lot of fun, whether waxing (pun intended) nostalgically about some platter from your teenage years that you've just tugged from a vendor's crate, or marveling at how many brand new vinyl releases are cropping up nowadays (many of them on indies that really go the extra yard in terms of design and packaging), or simply going off on the myriad tangents that anal-retentive music obsessives tend to go off on when crowded into a room with one another.

So anyway, here's the scoop, straight from the organizers, the mighty cool dudes at Harvest Records and Tomentosa Records. Make sure you track down BLURT and say howdy. Please, no p.r. schmoozing... it's a Sunday, after all. And shouldn't you really be in church?

***

SECOND SEMI-ANNUAL ASHEVILLE SOUND SWAP

The show is FREE to the public, and will run from 11am-5pm on Sunday, November 9th 2008 at the GREY EAGLE in Asheville, The Grey Eagle is at 185 Clingman Ave in Asheville's River Arts District.  (Google Map here.)

This show, as you know, is sponsored by us (Harvest Records, www.harvest-records.com) and our friends Tomentosa Records. Harvest is a physical shop located up the road from the Grey Eagle (Google Map here); we will actually be closed the day of the show, but open 11am-9pm on Saturday & Monday. Please stop by if you're around! Tomentosa Records (www.tomentosarecords.com) is an online mailorder site specializing in the obscure. Check it out!!

What, another goddam Christmas album?

By Fred Mills

Here at BLURT we typically take a dim view towards Christmas records. (Why is everyone compelled to record their version of "Rudolph"? Why doesn't anyone film amateur home Christmas porn tapes instead?) But this one's a righteous release, we think.... Here's the scoop on the Wee Hairy Beasties.

***

Led by head Mekons Jon Langford (aka "Cyril the Karaoke Squirrel") and Sally Tims ("Monkey Double Dippey") along with singer Kelly Hogan ("Marjorie the Singing Bee," who's worked with Neko Case, Pine Valley Cosmonauts, The Rock*A*Teens) and the mighty jug band talents of front porch settin', old-timey blues band Devil In A Woodpile, the Wee Hairy Beasties releases Holidays Gone Crazy on November 4, 2008, through their new label Wee Beatz, a subsidiary of Carrot Top Records.

Chicago's motley kiddie band crew come to your house with a covered hot dish of brand new songs for the holidays, stewing up a diverse bunch of new tales: creepy lullabies, nighttime stories about lonely vampires, and sunny day action tunes about playing in the sand.

Check ‘em out on the web:

www.greenlightgopublicity.com/clients/?client=weehairybeasties

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

SATURDAY, NOV. 8

9:30 AM IFC: Henry Rollins Uncut: New Orleans

12:00 PM RAVE HD: Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison

2:00 PM Ovation: Bonefish Grill's Notes From The Road: Ben Folds

4:00 PM PLD HD: Music In High Places: Ryan Adams in Jamaica

6:00 PM RAVE HD: From The Basement: Sonic Youth , Jose Gonzalez , Laura Marling

8:00 PM RAVE HD: Soundstage: Farm Aid 2003

9:00 PM PBS: Austin City Limits: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings / Carolyn Wonderland

11:00 PM RAVE HD: Later With Jools Holland: Paul Weller , Carlos Santana , Anthony Hamilton , Bettye Lavette , John Cale , Sheryl Crow

11:30 PM NBC: Saturday Night Live: James Franco / Kings of Leon

12:15 AM IFC: Trapped In The Closet R. Kelly

1:00 AM ETV: Saturday Night Live: Salma Hayek / Christina Aguilera

SUNDAY, NOV. 9

9:00 AM Sundance: Live from Abbey Road: The Kills, Sara Bareilles, The Fratellis

12:00 PM Ovation: Bonefish Grill's Notes From The Road: Matisyahu

1:15 PM IFC: Radiohead: Meeting People Is Easy

2:00 PM CMT Crossroads: Def Leppard and Taylor Swift

5:10 PM HDNet: LIVE! from Central Park SummerStage: Yeah Yeah Yeahs

6:30 PM HDNet: Megadeth: Blood in the Water

9:00 PM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Travis

10:00 PM BET Jazz: Graffiti Bridge (1990) w/Prince

11:30 PM VH1C: Led Zeppelin: Live

12:05 AM HDNet Concert Series: Kool and the Gang - Live in Denver

By Blurt Staff

The name "Barack" is derived from the Swahili word "baraka" (which itself is derived from the Arabic word "bariki").

It means "blessing." But then, if you followed the campaign, you already knew that. Now you can feel it.

Any questions?

Change.

True.

Ah, but what about that metal plate in my head, Axl -- the one that records alien transmissions?

By Fred Mills

Chinese Democracy starts to get the big roll-out starting TODAY in New York, Dallas and Chicago via open-public listening sessions at selected venues. The festivities continue tomorrow night in L.A. and Minneapolis, then on through the week leading up to the Nov. 23 release at - exclusively - Best Buy.

Naturally the mega-retailer is taking pre-orders on the album, which is expected to become the biggest seller of the year. The CD pre-order price is $11.99 (vinyl is $19.99), and fascinatingly, if you go to the Best Buy preorder page and then click on the customer reviews link, there are already 91 reviews of the album posted to the site - 88% of customers would recommend this product to a friend (80 of 91), for an averaged rating of 4.5 (out of 5). This, of course, before the damn thing is even released!

(This reminds me of a funny thing that happened last year with BLURT predecessor Harp magazine: we solicited artists' Top Ten list for 2007, and several of them selected Radiohead's In Rainbows - this, of course, before the damn thing was even released! As we all know, In Rainbows achieved an impressive no-advance-leak status... Yes, with some bribing, I could be convinced to disclose which artists apparently traveled to the future and listened to the album prior to scribbling their Top Ten lists for us.)

Anyhow, to sweeten the deal, if you do the Best Buy preorder thing, you can take your receipt with you to one of the listening parties and not only receive a free/exclusive Chinese Democracy teeshirt while supplies last (what, no Dr. Pepper?), but you'll get bumped to the front of the queue at the venue. (In theory, at least; they're calling this "front of the line access" but of course if EVERYBODY pre-orders the album they'll wind up canceling out everyone else's access.

One last thing: no cell phones or recording devices are allowed in the venues. Now THAT is paranoid. Wouldn't want folks out here in Normalsville, USA, without access to a major city hosting a listening party to get to hear the album ahead of time, eh?

Hey, go for it, kids! What's the worst that can happen? And if Axl gives you a beatdown, you can write a book about it!

***

Those listening parties:

NYC

11/17 at 7PM

ALL AGES

WEBSTER HALL - THE STUDIO

125 E 11th St.

New York, NY 10003



DALLAS

11/17 at 8PM

21+ OVER

WHISKY BAR

1930 Greenville Ave,

Dallas, TX 75206



CHICAGO

11/17 at 8PM

21+ OVER

JOE'S

940 W. Weed St .

Chicago, IL , 60622



LOS ANGELES

11/18 at 9PM

ALL AGES

THE ROXY

9009 West Sunset Blvd.,

West Hollywood, CA 90069



MINNEAPOLIS

11/18 at 6:30PM

18 + OVER

FINE LINE

318 1st Ave

N Minneapolis, MN 55401



ATLANTA

11/19 at 7:30PM

ALL AGES

TABERNACLE

152 Luckie Street

Atlanta, GA 30303



SAN FRANCISCO

11/20 at 7:30PM

21+ OVER

MEZZANINE

444 Jessie Street,

San Francisco, CA 94103



BOSTON

11/20 at 8PM

ALL AGES

CAVERN CLUB at HARD ROCK CAFÉ

22-24 Clinton St.

Boston, MA 02109



DETROIT

11/20 at 7 PM

ALL AGES

St. ANDREWS HALL

431 E Congress St.

Detroit, MI 48226

On the eve of her release from an eating disorders treatment center, Juliana Hatfield shares.

By Blurt Staff

Music fans obsess over the minutiae behind their favorite songs, and often get a generic “I like to leave them open to interpretation” answer. If not that, then a longwinded, anticlimactic and unsatisfying, sometimes even pompous, explanation. Only rarely does a songwriter share something worthwhile. Last night, Juliana Hatfield laid down 1300 words of pure candor about “Universal Heartbeat” from her 1995 album Only Everything.

“What a trip; I'm better for it,” Hatfield says, starting the post with a quote from her song. “That will be me, when I get through this thing I am going through. This song is all about depression. When we make it to the other side we can feel triumphant (“landing on a crowded shore, high-fiving”) and so grateful for having survived. Also we can't help but develop an empathy for the suffering of others after going through something so painful.”

She wrote Sunday night from an eating disorders treatment center she checked into after “unraveling” and hitting a personal low weight of 100 pounds. “I wasn't fully conscious of it,” she wrote. “Others around me noticed it before I did. A good friend forced me to confront the fact that I was in serious trouble. ‘You need to get well’ were his words.”

Hatfield explains that anxiety led her to restrict food as a coping mechanism. “Sometimes I feel like a human pincushion. Every painful emotion hits me with ridiculously exaggerated force. And the anxiety feels like hands inside of me, squeezing my guts really hard.” She went to such extremes as limiting herself to a Clif Bar for breakfast or a handful of trail mix for lunch.

Much more if revealed in the post, which you can read below and, despite its subject, has a confident tone. Looking forward to her release today, Nov. 10, Hatfield declares, “I refuse to succumb; to accept that I can't fix this. I want desperately to be a better, happier, healthier, saner person and companion. My will to endure is, so far, unkillable.”

“I need to believe this. I need to try and manifest this, and to live it. If nothing else, I've already gotten some kickass songs out of this latest experience.”

Way to go.

Entire post:

UNIVERSAL HEARTBEAT

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

What a trip; I'm better for it": that will be me, when I get through this thing I am going through.

This song is all about depression. When we make it to the other side we can feel triumphant ("landing on a crowded shore, high-fiving") and so grateful for having survived. Also we can't help but develop an empathy for the suffering of others after going through something so painful.

Maybe those of us who feel and think deeply, who suffer a lot inside, who are kind of mental are not to be pitied for our frequent aches, but should be patted on the back for sticking it out when it hurts so much. We who don't ever give up and who continue to believe that things can -- that WE can -- be better. We are alive, we are not numb. We fight on and on and on. We fight our self-destructive urges. We refuse to close up our hearts and become bitter and dead inside in order not to experience the frequent hurts of an ultra-sensitive soul/mind/heart.

Sometimes I feel like a human pincushion. Every painful emotion hits me with ridiculously exaggerated force. And the anxiety feels like hands inside of me, squeezing my guts really hard.

For the most part I have not ever been inclined to escape with drugs and alcohol. In the drugs-and-alcohol sense I am and have always been very straight. My coping mechanism -- or one of them; the one that kicked into high gear again most recently -- has been restricting food.

We swim through the deep dark oceans to reach the crowded shore; lots of people have made it through the same sort of experiences. We are not alone. It just feels like we are when we are in the thick of it. And after one of us endures one of these things, she may be transformed into a more humble and compassionate person, "high-fiving" all the other freaks and mental defectives and addicts who have continued to survive and to try.

I am having to come to terms with the fact that at age 41, I found myself unraveling. Or, rather, I unraveled. I wasn't fully conscious of it. Others around me noticed it before I did. A good friend forced me to confront the fact that I was in serious trouble. "You need to get well" were his words.

He was there when I woke up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat -- pajamas soaked, hair wet, sheets wet, even the pillow with a head-sized wet spot on it (where my head was). He witnessed my fatigue; my falling asleep every time he put on a movie for us at night; I tried so hard to stay awake with him to watch "Sunshine" and "Network" (for about the fifth time -- I love that one. I never get sick of it) and "The Strangers" and the DVD with Robert Thurman talking with the Dalai Lama, but they are all blurry in my mind.

I was dehydrated and anemic -- anemia caused by malnutrition -- and I didn't even know it; I didn't realize the seriousness of my problem until I had already entered dangerous territory. My anxiety was so great and all-consuming (funny choice of words considering I was "consuming" so little) that at some point I lost my appetite completely and it was no more about restricting food but became an almost inability to eat. My weight went as low as it has ever been in my adult lifetime.

They tell me here at the E.D. treatment center that people have been hospitalized for being as low (at my height) as I was when I came here. (I found that kind of alarmist and hard to believe -- I was still skeptical and in a little bit of denial, like everyone is when they first come in for treatment for anything anywhere -- but it scared me anyway.) In this environment they shorten "eating disorders" -- the name of our problem -- to "E.D.," and say it like a man's name ("Ed"), like he is a bad man; an evil man whom we need to cast out of our lives, our psyches.

Before computers you never would have found me blabbing (blogging [blogging is blabbing]) so openly like this about this. This is me being modern. Damn these computers and this Interweb and the pressure on us musicians to update constantly and to communicate. It encourages, inspires oversharing. It's so easy to say too much and to feel safe giving away one's private secrets. But screw it. I have nothing to hide. I've been embarrassing myself publicly for over twenty years. Why should I stop now? A heart that hurts is a heart that works. I will shout it from the rooftop (as I contemplating jumping but then ultimately don't [jump, that is], and walk back indoors). I am not dead inside. I still care about right and wrong. I refuse to succumb; to accept that I can't fix this. I want desperately to be a better, happier, healthier, saner person and companion. My will to endure is, so far, unkillable.

They make us eat six times a day. Three meals and three snacks. We all sit in the kitchen together and there is a monitor at the head of the table making sure we eat everything on our plates and drink everything in our cups. This is called the refeeding process. It must be done slowly and steadily, with more food added on as time progresses so we don't shock our systems. So we are not in danger of ending up like Karen Carpenter -- she gained too much weight too fast after starving for a long time, and her heart couldn't take it.

The bathroom doors are locked so the bulimics can't go in and puke. (I myself have never been a purger.) When you need to go, you must ask a monitor to unlock the door for you and after she lets you in she stands just outside the door and then you must either count while you are on the toilet, loud enough so that she can hear you, right up until the moment you exit, or you must let her flush for you after you are done -- so that there is proof that you didn't vomit your food into the toilet.

Every morning they wake us up at seven and we all put on hospital johnnies, first thing, and go and have our vitals (temperature, blood pressure) checked and have ourselves weighed. I have gained five pounds so far. I'm doing well. I'm a model patient, weight gaining-wise. My mental/emo health is another story -- a longer story, a work in progress.

All I want is to be well and to have energy and to get back on track and to have my quiet little life back. It was a lonely and solitary life, but it was mine. And I was basically healthy-ish. And I was free, in a sense.

I'm going to be released on the 10th, maybe before you read this.

I will play all my currently scheduled gigs, barring unforeseen acts of God.

"When the damage is done, you're damaged goods." I am damaged goods. Truly. But I don't want to complain. I am what I am. Others have it worse than I do. In fact, "it could be worse" is my motto and my mantra.

"Dark and repulsive though it is, suffering has been revealed to us as a supremely active principle for the humanization and the divinization of the universe."

- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

I need to believe this. I need to try and manifest this, and to live it. If nothing else, I've already gotten some kickass songs out of this latest experience.

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM ABC: Good Morning America: Alicia Keys

7:00 AM CBS: The Early Show: The Four Tops

9:00 AM SYN: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Taylor Swift , Justin Timberlake

9:00 AM SYN: Live with Regis and Kelly: Seal

11:00 AM ABC: The View: Elton John

4:00 PM RAVE HD: Soundstage: Tori Amos

6:00 PM Sundance: Iconoclasts: Bill Maher and Clive Davis

7:30 PM Starz Cinema: Dancer in the Dark (2000)  w/ Bjork

8:00 PM RAVE HD: From The Basement: Sonic Youth , Jose Gonzalez , Laura Marling

8:00 & 11:00 PM VH1C: Tom Petty: The Story of Mudcrutch

9:00 PM CMT Crossroads: Def Leppard and Taylor Swift

9:00 PM VH1C: Genesis - A History

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Alicia Keys

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Kaiser Chiefs

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Low vs Diamond

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Conor Oberst

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: The Sounds

Now you know why this one's considered "alternate" and, uh, "rare"...

By Fred Mills

In a sense, Elvis Costello grew up with MTV; you can still catch some of his early/mid ‘80s clips on VH1 Classic for proof - the good, the bad and the ugly.

This one's among the "ugly."

"The Only Flame In Town" hailed from EC's justly-maligned 1984 album Goodbye Cruel World, and aside from the fact that the song, uh, sucks, somebody at Columbia Records talked our hero into removing his trademark specs when filming the clip. Bad move. Indeed, a substitute clip was apparently also filmed, and that's the one that went into rotation on video channels. It was only marginally better, but that's beside the point - take a look at EC squinting at the camera and prepared to do some squinting yourself.

The ultra rare sans glasses video is below, followed by the more familiar one. Caveat: the audio is slightly out of synch in the former, but hey, it's all lipsynched anyway so who cares!

The Mars Volta's guitarist serves up another solo helping.

By Blurt Staff

Yesterday Stones Throw Records digitally released Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodriguez Lopez's solo album, Old Money. Although it is his umpteenth solo release, it's the first for the label. Omar has intimated that the album may have been intended as The Mars Volta's follow-up to 2006's Amputechture until he veered in another musical direction. More details, ripped from the press release: 

The addictive melodies and passionate execution of each performance render Old Money perhaps the most accessible of his non-Volta recordings, and the perfect entry point to anyone not yet familiar with what this prolific artist has to offer.

The album fits comfortably between the guitarist's monumental work with The Mars Volta, and his prior rock-based solo releases such as 2007's The Apocalypse Inside Of An Orange. Loosely based on the concept of exploitative industrialists and, well, their old money, the album presents a 10-track collection of concise rock compositions, which range from progressive to psychedelic to downright funky. Many of these sounds could easily be at home on a Volta record proper had they meshed with Cedric Bixler-Zavala's vocals; Rodriguez Lopez has hinted that this record was a potential follow up to the 2006 Volta release Amputechture until he changed his musical direction.

Through the assistance of many of the players familiar to any fan of his "day gig", Rodriguez Lopez goes straight for the jugular with an unrelenting trio of opening tracks: the lead-in "The Power of Myth," the haunting, Middle Eastern-psych flavored "How to Bill the Bilderberg Group," and the blistering "Population Council's Wet Dream." The results are formidable and easily rank among the most exciting moments of Rodriguez Lopez's solo output. The remainder of the album is equally as memorable and certainly the product of acute inspiration on behalf of its creator. Though clear influences of popular ensembles such as Pink Floyd and Santana can be discerned, a deeper study reveals the cross-continental influence of Israeli garage psych heroes The Churchills, French proggers Ame Son and Magma and Turkish guitar-god Erkin Koray - amongst others.

THE OMAR RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ GROUP (w/CEDRIC BIXLER) AT THE FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2007:

Guitarist stricken with unknown ailment, has been in London hospital since Nov. 3. Tour will continue.

By Blurt Staff

Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher is in a London hospital, reports the band’s label, Warner Brothers. No details were provided, except to say that the Atlanta-based band will continue their European Unholy Alliance Chapter 3 package tour with Slayer, Trivium and Amon Amarth. Doctors will continue to monitor Kelliher’s condition which, according to the press release, “is improving at press time. Doctors and Bill are hopeful that he will rejoin his bandmates in time for their headlining tour of Europe which begins Nov. 30, in Utrecht, Holland and will end on Dec 7, at the All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival in Somerset, England. More details to follow as they develop.”

"MOTHER PUNCHER" Video:

Only four dates set for the rest of the year...

By Fred Mills

As acclaimed as the Black Kids have been this year you'd think they'd be steaming forward with the ongoing Partie Traumatic promotion. (Read the BLURT review HERE.) Indeed, they spent most of July, August, September and October on the road - so maybe they've earned a break.

Anyway, the album's bound to figure highly on scores of year-end best-of lists, so you know you wanna check it out if you haven't already. And if you live in Providence, Boston, L.A. or Austin  you'll have a chance to check ‘em out in person during December.

Those tour dates:

December 6 - Providence, RI @ Club Hell
December 7   - Boston, MA @ Wilbur Theatre (WFNX show)
December 10 - Los Angeles,  CA @ Club Nokia (Indie 103 show)
December 11 - Austin, TX @ Emos (KROX  show)

Then they start prepping new LP...

By Fred Mills

Currently in the midst of a co-headling tour with the Hold Steady (and selling out venues across the land), the Drive-By Truckers have just announced a string of dates for January. These will be primarily in the South - including the band's annual DBT Nuci's Space Benefit in Athens on January 15 - and after that the group will break to work on their next studio album, the followup to this year's Brighter Than Creation's Dark.

In a missive penned for the DBTs website, main Trucker Patterson Hood commented on the Hold Steady trek, saying, "We are pleased to report that it has so far been even better than we had hoped or expected on every level, they are a great band and fantastic guys to hang out with. They bring it every single night and the bar seems to get raised with each show. It was announced yesterday that Chicago is sold out as are both nights in Minneapolis. This has truly been a great way to end our best year ever. Thanks very much to everyone who has come out and supported us this year."

A great year indeed - Brighter has wowed both critics and the public, as has the band's nonstop roadwork. Expect the album to figure prominently in BLURT's year-end best-of wrapup.

Drive-By Truckers Tour dates:

 
Thu Jan 15 Athens GA 40 WATT - NUCI'S SPACE BENEFIT
Fri Jan 16 Athens GA 40 WATT
Sat Jan 17 Athens GA 40 WATT Wed Jan 21 New Haven CT TOADS PLACE
Thu Jan 22 Sayreville NJ STARLAND BALLROOM
Fri Jan 23 Baltimore MD THE RECHER
Sat Jan 24 Richmond VA THE NATIONAL
Thu Jan 29 Knoxville TN VALARIUM
Fri Jan 30 Asheville NC ORANGE PEEL
Sat Jan 31 Asheville NC ORANGE PEEL

Stuff you can only get at BLURT - need we say more?

By Blurt Staff

We just added several new interviews with Tom Morello and comedian Tony Clifton (what about the babes!). Check 'em out here! And keep checking out our video section for interviews and performance segments filmed exclusively for BLURT.

Individual segment links:

Tony Clifton Pt.1: www.blurt-online.com/video/view/155/

Tony Clifton Pt.2: www.blurt-online.com/video/view/154/

Tom Morello "Bad Presidents": www.blurt-online.com/video/view/141/

Tom Morello "Guitar Hero": www.blurt-online.com/video/view/143/

Tom Morello "8 People and a Latte Machine": www.blurt-online.com/video/view/145/

Allie Goolrick queries Back Door Slam about their musical ménage a trios.

By Blurt Staff

Hey Blurters: Check out the second official Blurt Out Loud podcast. (It follows our debut Blurt Out Loud podcast, logically enough, which featured the Old 97s in Athens, GA.) This one's got our multimedia mistress Allie Goolrick getting the lowdown from killer UK power trio Back Door Slam - she talked to them at the Austin City Limits music fest earlier this year. Stay tuned for a track as well, "Come Home."

Keep your eyes peeled on BLURT for upcoming podcasts with Sharon Jones, Mason Jennings, Langhorne Slim, Dead Confederate and kid rocker Uncle Rock! We'll post ‘em to the video section below along with a host of other BLURT exclusives.

***

And meanwhile, catch BDS on tour currently with Gov't Mule:

Nov 11 2008  8:00P

            Royal Oak Music Theatre 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule        Royal Oak, Michigan

Nov 12 2008   8:00P

            The Venue at Horseshoe Casino 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule          Hammond, Indiana

Nov 13 2008   8:00P

            The Rave 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule          Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Nov 14 2008   8:00P

            Pantages Theatre 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule          Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nov 15 2008   8:00P

            Pantages Theatre 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule          Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nov 16 2008   8:00P

            Harrah's N 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule        Kansas city, Missouri

Nov 19 2008   8:00P

            Orpheum Theater 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule         Flagstaff, Arizona

Nov 20 2008   8:00P

            House of Blues 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule             Anaheim, California

Nov 21 2008   8:00P

            The Fillmore 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule     San Francisco, California

Nov 22 2008   8:00P

            The Fillmore 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule     San Francisco, California

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM CBS: The Early Show: Gloria Gaynor

8:00 AM & 2:15 PM IFC: Henry Rollins Uncut: New Orleans

9:00 AM SYN: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Dido

11:30 AM NICK: Yo Gabba Gabba!: Smoosh , Mark Mothersbaugh

1:30 PM FUSE: Loaded: Rise Against

3:00 & 6:00 PM Ovation: Jazz Heroes: John Coltrane: Blowing for his Soul

3:30 & 6:30 PM Ovation: Jazz Heroes: Ella Fitzgerald: The Singer Not The Song

4:00 PM Ovation: Profile: Yoko Ono

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Charlie Haden

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Beck

12:00 AM Encore Drama: Velvet Goldmine (1998)

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Julianne Hough

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Joshua Radin

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Yelle

All the Wu and nothing but the Wu....

By Blurt Staff

Premiering tomorrow night (Nov. 13) on BET will be the Gerald K. Barclay's documentary Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan. The film traces the group from its Staten Island beginnings through the present and features interviews as well as never-before-seen performance footage. (Arriving in stores next week, too, is the CD soundtrack containing tracks from Wu-Tang albums as well as the various members' solo efforts.

We've got the trailer to the documentary, below. Feel the Wu!

Meanwhile, go HERE to read our recent interview with RZA, and then HERE for our GZA interview.

"Internet Superstar," huh? In which we open up our mailbag and let you peek inside. Don't throw up, please.

By Fred Mills

In between strategy and planning sessions (held down at the local Hooters, natch) and trips to the john every 15 minutes for a "jolt" (you know what we're sayin'...), we here at BLURT central actually devote some time going through our in-boxes and spam folders to make sure that nothing currently going on within the music industry escapes our steely gaze. We pride ourselves at being way ahead of the fucking curve.

Of necessity, as a major media player we also have to field a lot of correspondence that is, shall we say, somewhat misdirected. (Memo to the person that keeps sending us Buckcherry updates: thanks!) We're not sure if these are acts of p.r. desperation, inexperience-bred naivete, or a willful ignorance of what BLURT is all about.

On the latter point, an occasional glance out our website and digital magazine might be helpful in terms of how labels and publicity firms target their pitches. But that's out of our control. What we CAN control, however, is what we do with the dang emails, which is where you, gentle readers, come in. Presenting the second in an occasional series: Dumb PR Pitch O' Week. Guarantee: all dialogue repeated verbatim. Some names may be changed/deleted to protect the clueless. Void where prohibited by law. Caveat emptor. Enjoy!

Previously:

Colin Armstrong www.blurt-online.com/news/view/1292/

***

Hi,

I wanted to chat with you about my client internet superstar, Jonathan Coulton. Fans who have loved Jonathan Coulton's recordings since his breakthrough Thing A Week broke online in 2005 now have a new reason to celebrate with the launch of BEST. CONCERT. EVER., his first live concert DVD. Releasing February 10, 2009 at national retail outlets BEST. CONCERT. EVER. features 20 of this unique musical comedian/ geek popstar's most popular songs. DVD extras include interviews, documentaries, and an audio commentary. It's the ultimate JoCo Live Experience.

 
I'm confident that your audience, whether they're uninitiated, new to the Coulton fandom or completely "JoCo Loco," will be interested in learning more about BEST. CONCERT. EVER.

Below is a link to his site where you can download some songs (for free) and the article that ran in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. I suggest SkullCrusher Mountain & Future Soon (From Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow), Code Monkey (an anthem for his fans! - From Thing a Week Three). And, of course, Baby Got Back (From Thing a Week One). (The ones with smiley faces next to them are free.)

http://www.jonathancoulton.com/store/downloads/

"The Golden State" in five golden versions....

By Fred Mills

11-12-08

That's right, $4.99 will getcha the new John Doe EP, and it's got a pair of very special guests: Eddie Vedder and Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker. The two turn up on one of five versions of Doe's song "The Golden State" which, quite sensibly, also bequeaths The Golden State EP its title.

The song originally appeared on Doe's 2007 full-length A Year In The Wilderness as a duet between Doe and Kathleen Edwards. It's joined by the Vedder-Tucker version plus a remix, a live take and an "electric demo" version. You can get more details, including how to order the EP, at Yep Roc's John Doe page.

Oh, and here's something interesting: you can get an MP3 download of the original song for FREE at Amazon.com....

The Golden State EP:

The Golden State (ft. Eddie Vedder and Corin Tucker)
The Golden State (Neighbors remix)
The Golden State (electric demo version)
The Golden State (live at WXPN)
The Golden State (album version, ft. Kathleen Edwards)

You love ‘em, you hate ‘em... who knows!

By Blurt Staff

Jack White's second favorite Detroit band the Von Bondies have just announced their third studio album (and their debut for Majordomo/Shout! Factory), expansively titled Love, Hate and Then There's You. It's due Feb. 3 and is described by the band's handlers as picking up "from the tighter, more nuanced sound of the Von Bondies' huge 2004 hit single "C'mon C'mon"... a Von Bondies album with a renewed sense of purpose, as illustrated by the riff-happy tracks like the first single "Pale Bride" and the anthemic leadoff track "This Is Our Perfect Crime," and they also captivate the listener on pounders like "I Don't Wanna."

Yup.

According to VB leader Jason Stollsteimer, who, along with drummer Don Blum, is one of two remaining founding members (a new bassist, Leann Banks, recently signed on), "It's a new band. You don't want to avoid your history but it is a new direction. It wasn't on purpose. It's just where we were going." The album was produced by song doctor Butch Walker along with Rick Parker (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club).

The group devoted most of this year to touring in support of their We Are Kamikazes EP. They inked a deal with Majordomo after appearing at SXSW in Austin and also put a good deal of time into fine-tuning new material. Explains Stollsteimer, "The songs are kind of sinister-sounding but there's this overall lift feeling to them," he says. "There's always going to be bad days but hopefully you're not going to have a cynical person that only remembers the bad. And you need bad days to realize what's good in life. I try to put that in lyrics."

Incidentally, you can preview a number of the newer songs at the band's MySpace page....

Track Listing:

1. This Is Our Perfect Crime
2. Shut Your Mouth
3. Pale Bride
4. Only To Haunt You
5. 21st Birthday
6. She's Dead To Me
7. Chancer
8. Blame Game
9. I Don't Wanna
10. Accidents Will Happen
11. Earthquake
12. Modern Saints

[Photo Credit: Kevin Knight]

The duo's third work slated for Feb. 17

By Mandy Rodgers

Brendan Anderegg and Koen Holtkamp were friends in middle school and continued their bond through time at the School of Art Institute of Chicago where they began some musical collaboration and formed the Apestaartje music label in 1999. Then, the duo decided to form Mountains and released two albums on Apestaartje. Thrill Jockey will release its third album, Choral on Feb. 17.

According to Thrill Jockey, "Mountains seamlessly blend pastoral electronic sounds with both field recordings and a plethora of acoustic instruments. The resulting sound scapes are broad in scope and rich in detail. The effect is incredibly sublime and hypnotic as the sounds slowly wrap themselves around each other and alter themselves in the mind of the listener."

Choral was recorded in Brooklyn during spring and winter of 2008 and was cut primarily live with minimal dubs. Mountains uses different methods of instrumentation, for instance with ice water and books in "Map Table." The six-track record will be available on CD and LP, but the vinyl version is limited to 1,000 copies and also has two exclusive bonus tracks.

Track Listing:

1Choral

2Map Table

3Telescope

4Add Infinity

5Melodica

6Sheets Two

Tickets go on sale Nov. 14 for erstwhile Christian rocker turned lez icon.

By Mandy Rodgers

So she kissed a girl, liked it and now gets to tour 50 cities in five months? Not a bad break, considering Lindsay Lohan did the same thing and only got a short spot on Ugly Betty.

Katy Perry, in case you've been under a rock lately. had a breakthrough hit with this year's catchy, yet isolating single "I Kissed a Girl." Blogs went nuts. "Is this girl a bisexual? Who is Katy Perry in the first place?" Those who look for controversy, found it. "How dare she discuss such things." And cherry chap stick lost its once innocent connotation to one of a different, more adult tone.

Perry's album One of the Boys contains songs like "Hot N Cold," "If You Can Afford Me" and the very peaceful, lacking uproar "Ur So Gay," which are all sure to be heard on the tour. For the North American dates, Alphabeat will join her, and for the European concerts, 3OH!3 will perform.

Yes, Perry has had a successful year full of tongues wagging about her lyrics and teens excited about listening to pop/rock their parents would staunchly disapprove of but thinking of Perry without kissing and sexuality is nearly impossible. Perhaps the First World Tour will give audiences a different perspective on the singer/songwriter. Maybe she'll even break out some tracks from her 2001 Christian album, Katy Hudson (her birth name changed after actress Kate Hudson's success) and really force everyone to rethink her career and its future.

KATY PERRY WORLD TOUR:

Jan 23          Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market
Jan 25          Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Jan 26          Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Jan 28          San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Jan 29          Sacramento, CA @ Empire Events Centre
Jan 31          Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern
Feb 2           Tuscon, AZ @ University of Arizona
Feb 3           Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Feb 5           San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
Feb 22          Stockholm @ Nalan
Feb 23          Copenhagen @ Vega
Feb 25          Manchester @ Academy
Feb 26          London @ Koko
Feb 27          London @ Koko
Mar 1           Amsterdam @ Melkweg the Max
Mar 2           Paris @ Elysee Montmarte
Mar 4           Munich @ Kesselhaus
Mar 5           Frankfurt @ Batschkapp
Mar 6           Hamburg @ Grynspan
Mar 7           Brussels @ Ancienne Belgique
Mar 20          Houston, TX @ House of Blues
Mar 21          Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
Mar 23          Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont
Mar 24          Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Mar 26          Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Mar 27          Detroit, MI @ Clutch Cargos
Mar 28          Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
Mar 30          Toronto, ONT @ Kool Haus
Apr 5           Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
Apr 7           New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
Apr 10          Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Apr 11          Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
Apr 14          Nashville, TN @ Cannery
Apr 15          Atlanta, GA @ CenterStage
Apr 27          Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
Apr 28          St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Landing

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

8:00 AM TVONE: Tom Joyner Sky Show:  Keith Sweat

10:00 AM Sundance: loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies

2:00 PM Ovation: The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music

4:00 PM Ovation: Elvis Costello & the Imposters: Club Date

5:00 PM VH1: Rock Docs: NWA: The World's Most Dangerous Group

7:00 PM RAVE HD: Soundstage: Lyle Lovett

7:30 PM IFC: Radiohead: In Rainbows

8:00 & 12:00 BET: Wu: The Story of the Wu Tang Clan

8:00 PM Univsion: Latin Grammy Awards: 9th Annual Latin Grammy Awards w/Café Tacuba , Julieta Venegas , Kany Garcia , Alejandra Guzman , Gilberto Santa Rosa , Olga Tanon

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Sarah McLachlan

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Ben Folds , Regina Spektor

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Boz Scaggs

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Cold War Kids

1:00 AM VH1C: Tom Petty -The Story of Mudcrutch

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: 3oh3

Powerhouse percussionist behind Hendrix goes to the great drum circle in the sky.

By Rev. Keith Gordon

Mitch Mitchell, best-known as the powerful presence behind the drum kit of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, died of natural causes in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at the age of 62.

John "Mitch" Mitchell was born on July 9, 1947 in London, England. As a young teen, Mitchell starred in the BBC television program Jennings, but his love of American jazz, blues, and rock music turned him away from acting towards music. During the early-60s, Mitchell honed his craft as a session musician, playing on the Pretty Things' second album, and later performed with Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames.

Fate came calling in 1966, however, when Mitchell beat out Aynsley Dunbar (allegedly by a coin toss) for a seat with the Jimi Hendrix Experience alongside bassist Noel Redding. Although some critics have claimed through the years that the guitarist was saddled with two white musicians in order to appeal to a wider rock audience, the truth is that Mitchell provided an essential element to the Hendrix legacy.

Mitchell's inventive jazz-rock fusion style of drumming allowed him to riff easily behind Hendrix's improvisational flights of fancy, and his work on songs like "Fire" and "Manic Depression" make a strong argument for Mitchell as the consummate rock drummer of the 1960s.

Mitchell played behind Hendrix in the Experience from 1966 until its break-up in 1969, performed as part of the guitarist's band at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight festivals, and was a member of the final Experience line-up at the time of Hendrix's death in 1970.

Post-Hendrix, Mitchell hooked up with April Lawton and Mike Pinera in Ramatam, recording two albums with the band. Over the next three decades, Mitchell kept a low profile, recording sporadically with artists like Randy California, Robert Wyatt, Bruce Cameron, and Junior Brown.

At the time of his death, Mitchell had just completed the month-long, 18-city "Experience Hendrix" tour, a celebration of the life and music of Jimi Hendrix. The tribute featured guitarists like Jonny Lang, Eric Gales, and blues legends Buddy Guy and Hubert Sumlin performing classic Hendrix tunes in front of the rhythm section of Billy Cox and Mitchell. The tour's last date was in Portland and Mitchell had decided to stay in the city for a few days before returning to England.

Mitch Mitchell's life should be celebrated, not only for the part he played in creating the enduring music of Jimi Hendrix, but also for his influence on a generation of rock drummers that followed his lead.

All the concert news ‘n' reviews that's fit to print.

By Blurt Staff

More concert coverage from your friendly neighborhood BLURT - this time, we've got Stereolab in Portland, She & Him in San Francisco and the Sonics in Seattle.

• *Bob Ham stalked Stereolab at the Wonder Ballroom in Portland last month (Oct. 18), saying of the space age bachelor padders, "[The] songs reflected back to this American audience the many errors of our ways. Even if Laetitia Sadier didn't take the time out to dedicate their glossy ode to movements in global finance "Ping Pong" to "our current credit crunch," the message was loud and clear: the times they are-a changin' once more."
• *A couple of weeks later in nearby Seattle, Gillian G. Gaar braved the groovy ghoulies of Halloween and the Paramount Theatre to catch the legendary Sonics. "They performed their first Northwest show in 35 years," notes Gaar, "bringing down the house with the kind of shrieks and wails that have thrilled discerning listeners from the Beatles to the Cramps to Nirvana."
• *And a week later in San Francisco, Jud Cost was utterly smitten by M. Ward and Zoey Deschanel, aka She & Him, commenting, simply, and with no trace of irony, "This could be Sonny & Cher for a new generation!"

Check ‘em out at the provided links, or simply scroll down the BLURT front page to the reviews section. We've also got new book, DVD and CD reviews being added daily.

We interrupt our regular programming to bring you this arrival in today's in-box.

***

How To Save A Major Automobile Company

 
Auto manufacturers taking advantage of a government bailout must only sell clean and green vehicles that do not contribute to global warming.

By Neil Young

Find a new ownership group. The culture must change. It is time to turn the page. In the high technology sector there are several candidates for ownership of a major car and truck manufacturer. We need forward looking people who are not restricted by the existing culture in Detroit. We need visionary people now with business sense to create automobiles that do not contribute to global warming.

 
It is time to change and our problems can facilitate our solutions. We can no longer afford to continue down Detroit's old road. The people have spoken. They do not want gas guzzlers (although they still like big cars and trucks). It is possible to build large long-range vehicles that are very efficient. People WILL buy those vehicles because they represent REAL change and a solution that we can live with.

 
The government must take advantage of the powerful position that exists today. The Big 3 are looking for a bailout. They should only get it if they agree to stop building autos that contribute to global warming now. The stress on the auto manufacturers today is gigantic. In order to keep people working in their jobs and keep factories open, this plan is suggested:

 
The big three must reduce models to basics. a truck, an SUV, a large family sedan, an economy sedan, and a sports car. Use existing tooling.

 
Keep building these models to keep the workforce employed but build them WITHOUT engines and transmissions. These new vehicles, called Transition Rollers, are ready for a re-power. NO NEW TOOLING is required at this stage. The adapters are part of the kits described next.

 
At the same time as the new Transition Rollers are being built, keeping the work force working, utilize existing technology now, create re-power kits to retrofit the Transition Rollers to SCEVs (self charging electric vehicles) for long range capability up to and over 100mpg. If you don't think this technology is realistic or available, check out the Progressive Insurance Automotive X prize. Alternatively, check out Lincvolt.com or other examples.

 
A bailed out Auto manufacturer must open or re-purpose one or more factories and dedicate them to do the re-power/retrofit assembly. These factories would focus on re-powering the Transition Rollers into SCEVs but could also retrofit and re-power many existing vehicles to SCEVs. These existing vehicles are currently sitting unsold at dealerships across America.

 
Auto manufacturers taking advantage of a government bailout must only sell clean and green vehicles that do not contribute to global warming. No more internal combustion engines that run exclusively on fossil fuels can be sold period.

 
No Big Three excuses like "new tooling takes time". New tooling is not a requirement for SCEV transition rollers.

 
Build only new vehicles that attain the goal of reversing global warming and enhancing National Security.
 

Government legislation going with the bailout should include tax breaks for purchasers of these cars with the new green SCEV technology. The legislation accompanying the bailout of major auto manufacturers must include directives to build only vehicles that attain the goal of reversing global warming while enhancing National security, and provide the financial assistance to make manufacturing these cars affordable in the short term while the industry re-stabilizes.

 
Eventually the SCEV technology could be built into every new car and truck as it is being assembled and the stop gap plan described above would have completed its job of keeping America building and working through this turbulent time.  
 

Detroit has had a long time to adapt to the new world and now the failure of Detroit's actions is costing us all. We pay the bailout. Let's make a good deal for the future of America and the Planet. Companies like UQM (Colorado) and others build great electric motors right here in the USA. Use these domestic electric motors. Put these people to work now. This plan reverses the flow from negative to positive because people need and will buy clean and green cars to be part of World Change. Unique wheel covers will identify these cars on the road so that others can see the great example a new car owner is making. People want America to win!

 
This plan addresses the issue of Global warming from our automobiles while enhancing our National Security and keeping Detroit working.

Headbanging clip for "Lost in the Headlights"...

By Blurt Staff

Those demented art-metal mavens of Chicago instro combo Pelican recently answered the phone in their practice space - it was MTV on the line, tell ‘em they wanted to feature their new video for "Lost in the Headlights" (from last year's highly regarded City of Echoes, issued by Hydra Head).

Cut to today: the clip premiered online at MTV's "Headbangers Blog"  and will debut over the airwaves this Saturday, Nov. 15, on MTV2's "Headbangers Ball" program between 2 and 3 am EST and 11 and 12 pm PST.

We've also got the clip for ya, below, so dig it, baby!

According to the band, they created a previous video for "Dead Between the Walls" and this new one picks up "a loose story line" carried over from the earlier clip. It was shot on the rooftops of downtown LA and the woods of the Angeles Forest by longtime band/label associate and cohort Kenneth Thomas of Scrouge Productions.

The award will be presented during a ceremony in Manhattan on Dec. 10

By Mandy Rodgers

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers gives a Foundation Champion Award every year, and this year it's going to Judy Collins "for music in the service of humanity." Collins, a long-time singer/songwriter, has supported many causes since the 1960s, like civil rights, the environment and the Vietnam War. Her 1970 album, Whales and Nightingales, was dedicated to the endangered species, humpback whale. Collins also served on UNICEF. After her son's death in 1992, she began promoting awareness for depression and substance abuse victims, and wrote the 2003 book Sanity and Grace: A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength.

Collins has dabbled in many musical genres throughout her career like folk, pop, rock and show tunes, all while looking into her own social activism. She worked with singer-songwriters Richard Farina, Joni Mitchell and Randy Newman and won a Grammy Award in 1968 for Best Folk Performance. Marilyn Bergman, president of The ASCAP Foundation, announced that Collins will receive her award on Dec. 10 in the Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center Manhattan.

More blooze-fuzz-drone-tones than you can shake a shoegazer at!

By Fred Mills

Okay, so that headline is misleading  - the legendary late ‘80s British band is not getting back together anytime soon that we know of. Contemporaries both sonically and spiritually of Spacemen 3, My Bloody Valentine, Jesus & Mary Chain, Swervedrive, etc., Loop folded at the end of that decade, leaving behind a lot of broken hearts and busted eardrums but plenty of good cranial-uncorking memories, too.

Bandleader Robert Hampson subsequently put together his ambitious ambient/experimental project Main (he also performed, for a short while, with Godflesh), which lasted until about 2006, at which time Hampson commenced operations under his own name. According to Hampson's website he has a solo album due this month via the Touch label, although details are somewhat sketchy. Meanwhile, the other erstwhile Loop members had formed the Hair & Skin Trading Company and released several well-regarded albums.

Now, though, word comes from Hampson via his Loop-oriented "sister website," Heaven's End, that the long out of print Loop back catalog has been remastered for reissue. Rumors surfaced about this last year, and since then periodic updates have been posted to the site but nothing much in the way of concrete information was disclosed.

No longer - next week in England 1987's Heaven's End and 1988's Fade Out will see the light of day once again, each expanded to two-disc versions featuring relevant B-sides, alternate mixes and Peel session material. See full track listings below. Then early 2009 should see the arrival of 1988 compilation The World In Your Eyes as a two-volume set.

This leaves 1990's A Gilded Eternity still in CD reissue limbo, of course, although it is available in digital form at most online download retailers.

According to the Heaven's End site, "Remastered from the original analogue sources, these two releases will be released on the same day [and] will be housed in a Mini Vinyl style card sleeve, which reproduce the original artwork which has been slightly modified to fit the gatefold format and including inner bags for both discs. All due care has been taken to release everything that is available to us in some chronological order, sadly a couple of tapes have been too badly damaged or lost to make a complete edition, but these will be the definitive editions...there won't be any 'special editions' to rip you off with, that's a promise. As for vinyl, it is planned to do a limited run of 180g pressings, but these will only be repros of the original lps without the bonus material. The bonus material will only be available on the Compact Disc issues and not for digital downloads, mainly because of the costs of having to pay ungodly rates on the Peel Sessions. So, the Compact Disc issues will be unique in their own right."

"There is not a great wealth of outtakes or different versions but we [have strived] to get everything we can find that warrants inclusion, all remastered from the original sources. The World In Your Eyes will now be known as The World In Your Eyes Vols. I & II. These are of course compilations of all the original 12" vinyl singles originally released on [labels] HEAD and CHAPTER 22, plus compilation tracks and rare archive material. To avoid confusion, the original Chapter 22 compilation of singles called Eternal, which was issued against the wishes of Loop at the time, then reissued as "Dual" on Reactor in the 90's is now called The World In Your Eyes Vol. II."

Oh, and we're also advised that Hampson is designing special limited edition Loop teeshirts that will be sold at the site.

Lastly, a quick check of Amazon.com indicates that the two albums will be available in the U.S. on Dec. 9 via the Atila/Revolver label - preorders for Heaven's End are currently listed at a mere $14.99, while Fade Out goes for $18.98, but either is bargain by any estimate for such mind-expanding tuneage.

Loop on!

Track listings:

Heaven's End:

CD1
Soundhead
Straight To Your Heart
Forever
Heaven's End
Too Real To Feel
Fix To Fall
Head On
Carry Me

CD2
Rocket USA
Soundhead (1st Mix)
Head On (1st Mix)

Peel Session 1
Soundhead
Straight To Your Heart
Rocket USA

Fade Out:

CD1

Black Sun
This Is Where You End
Fever Knife
Torched
Fade Out
Pulse
A Vision Stain
Got To Get It Over


CD2
Black Sun (Feedback)
Torched (1st Mix)
Got To Get It Over (1st Mix)
This Is Where You End (House In The Woods Demo Mix no. 7)

Peel Session 2
Pulse
This Is Where You End
Collision

Fade Out Guitar Loops (House In The Woods Recording June 88)
I
II
III
IV
V

With a buzz in our ears we will play the album endlessly.

By Fred Mills

Due in stores next week or now if you're a frequenter of the official Sigur Rós website 18 Seconds Before Sunrise is a deluxe edition of the recent album Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. I came out in June on XL, and yes, that's right, you've barely paid off your credit card bills from that month when you get the opportunity to buy it all over again!

But maybe it's worth it. According to the band's label it's stuffed with goodies:

• A 200-page, cloth-bound hardback book of fine art photos of the band by acclaimed photographer Eva Vermandel. (These photos, taken in the UK, Mexico, Iceland and the US during the recording, mixing, mastering, video making, rehearsing and touring of this album, give fans a beautiful, intimate look into the band's process.) Each edition is individually numbered.
• Exclusive DVD: The DVD contains 2 films by filmmaker Nick Abrahams, one documenting the live recording of the song "Ara Batur" with a full orchestra and choir at London's legendary Abbey Road studios, and the other a film poem, shot on Super-8, which reflects the power, magic and essential intangibility of the band. Together with the Gobbledigook video (directed by Arni and Kinski) the exclusive DVD is 55 minutes in length.
• A unique strip of original 16mm film from the Gobbledigook video
• A cd copy of Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

Er, that last bit isn't exactly a special feature, but nevermind. We're further advised that the band "canvassed what fans wanted from a special edition via a thread on their message board (large format pictures, a behind the scenes film, something no-one else would own) and then set about delivering just that.  The result is unlike anything you are likely to see from any other band. Quite simply sensational."

Yes. Quite.

Go HERE for more info, to check out pics of the package and to download a trailer from the DVD.

Writes special song, films video, in honor of the election win.

By Fred Mills

Let's see, something special happened on the night of Nov.4... hmmm.... Oh yeah, that's right. Apparently Joseph Arthur's dad was pretty chuffed to, so he called his son up, they yakked about Obama, and then Arthur wrote a song, "Change Has Come."

He subsequently performed the song two nights later at the Music Hall of Williamsburg before what we're told was "an enthusiastically rowdy and hopeful audience." No shit.

A few hours later there was a "guerilla video shoot" at 5:00am at Brooklyn Bridge Park - otherwise known as "Jo's Place."

View the live video below. Change, yeah. True.

"Change Has Come' - studio version: www.myspace.com/josepharthur

Arthur's album Temporary People will no doubt figure prominently in this year's BLURT year-end Top 50, coming to a friendly neighborhood website near you very soon....

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM ABC: Good Morning America: John Travolta

11:30 AM Comedy Central: Tenacious D

2:00 PM BET Jazz: Timeless: Keith Sweat

4:00 PM CMT Crossroads: Def Leppard and Taylor Swift

4:00 PM SYN: The Oprah Winfrey Show: Melissa Etheridge

6:00 PM RAVE HD: Other Voices: Ryan Adams , Cathy Davey , The Crimea , Foy Vance

6:30 PM FUSE: Fuse On Tour: Fall Out Boy , Secondhand Serenade , Alkaline Trio , Thrice , The Gaslight

Anthem

7:00 PM VH1C: Bruce Springsteen - Live in Barcelona

9:00 & 12:00 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Gaslight Anthem

9:00 PM Sundance: Live from Abbey Road: The Subways, Gnarls Barkley, Herbie Hancock

10:30 PM IFC: Henry Rollins Uncut: South Africa

11:30 PM PBS:Tavis Smiley: Sarah McLachlan

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: The Answer

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: David Cook , Miley Cyrus

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: T-Pain

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Constantine Maroulis

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Ray Davies

1:30 AM IFC: Henry Rollins Uncut: South Africa

2:40 AM 5StarMAX: Almost Famous (2000)

3:00 AM FUEL: Check 1, 2:  Goons of Doom

Texas-based band supports tour through January.

By Mandy Rodgers

From Austin, BLURT fave The Sword has been making things happen in a metal kinda way since 2003. Comprising John "J.D." Cronise (vocals/guitar), Kyle Shutt (guitar), Bryan Richie (bass) and Trivett Wingo (drums), The Sword is joining Metallica's North American tour. The group has released the two albums Age of Winters and Gods of the Earth, and this tour is helping promote the latter. The doom metal group is performing at the entire 32-date Death Magnet Tour with Metallica, while other bands switch in and out of the tour, including Machine Head, Lamb of God and Down.

The Sword just finished stints in Europe with Bay Area band, a performance at 2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival and at Ozzfest. Metallica is promoting its ninth studio album, Death Magnetic with this tour.

Tour Schedule:

METALLICA / DOWN / THE SWORD, except (*) THE SWORD headlining
off-dates

*November 14 Hilton Head, SC @ Shoreline Ballroom 18+
November 17 St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center All ages
November 18 Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center All ages
*November 19 Fort Worth, TX @ Lola's
November 20 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center All ages
*November 21 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks 18+
November 22 Little Rock, AR @ Alltel Arena All ages
November 23 New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena All ages

METALLICA / LAMB OF GOD / THE SWORD

December 1  Seattle, WA @ Key Arena All ages
December 2  Vancouver, BC @ GM Place All ages
December 4  Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome All ages
December 5  Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome All ages
December 7  Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place All ages
December 12 Ontario, CA @ Citizens Bank Arena All ages
December 13 Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center All ages
December 15 San Diego, CA @ Cox Arena All ages

December 17 Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum All ages
December 18 Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum All ages
December 20 Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena All ages

METALLICA / MACHINE HEAD / THE SWORD

January 12 Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center All ages
January 13 Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena All ages
January 15 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center All ages
January 17 Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center All ages
January 18 Boston, MA @ TD Banknorth Center All ages

January 26 Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena All ages
January 27 Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena All ages
January 29 Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum All ages
January 31 Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center All ages
February 1 Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center All ages

All the concert news ‘n' reviews that's fit to print.

By Blurt Staff

More concert coverage from your friendly neighborhood BLURT - this time, we've got Butch Walker in Atlanta and the Toadies in New York (including exclusive photos).

• *Lavinia Jones Wright caught the Toadies (in concert and on film) at Webster Hall in NYC on Nov. 6. Of the Texas band's welcome comeback, Wright notes, "Those huge nostalgic hits wove together seamlessly with the newer songs for a truly great show."
• *Then this past Monday night in Atlanta, BLURT intern Mandy Rodgers was front and center for intimate performance at the Loft by hometown hero Butch Walker. "This concert wasn't meant to be loud, crazy or surprising like the stellar one earlier in the year. It was, instead, a chance for Walker to tell his story anew to Atlanta, and a reassurance that, after returning from personal tragedy, he and his music are still adored by the home town fans."

Check ‘em out at the provided links, or simply scroll down the BLURT front page to the reviews section. We've also got new book, DVD and CD reviews being added daily.

[Photo Credit: David Reich]

Er, actually, that's a comprehensive, researched history of the band, not an actual diary from the band, but we just liked the headline...

By Mandy Rodgers

Matt McGee is a long-time U2 fan and since 1995 has helmed a Web site devoted to the band. The site, www.atu2.com, is the oldest, independent U2 fansite out there and for his efforts, McGee has won numerous awards from radio shows and magazines, including Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone. All of his hard work and long-researched nights are paying off now with the release of his own semi-biography of the legends, U2: A Diary.

McGee has long considered himself a U2 historian and contacted Omnibus Press for an opportunity to write a book about the rockers. The pitch he gave the company didn't go through, but they asked him to write a sort of diary (like they had previously published about the Beatles) about U2, and he immediately agreed. To gather information for the book, which follows Bono's parents' wedding all the way to the present, McGee enlisted the help of his avid Web site readers. Fans from around the world sent in stories, anecdotes and information about U2 for McGee's compilation. One man from Ireland, Donal Murphy, made several trips to a library in Ireland for information, including the wedding of Bono's parents.

The Web site, www.u2diary.com, served as a ground for conversation and revelation throughout the book's creation. McGee continues to update the blog, now to include news about the book's release and articles written about it. Many key moments in U2's history are highlighted, like U2's first studio session at CBS Records, Bono's visiting Central America in 1986 and his work to support the ONE Campaign.

"He's God's man for this time." - Ricky Skaggs, on George Bush

By Fred Mills

Jack White always got a surprise or two up his sleeve, we'll grant him that. Why, just putting together the rockin' Raconteurs raised a few eyebrows (and we mean that in the most positive sense imaginable... the band kicks ass). Barely two weeks ago White and the Raconteurs dropped yet another 7" single, two versions of "Old Enough" (one of them acoustic and backstage at Bonnaroo) from their latest album Consolers of the Lonely.

Now comes word that the band has recorded yet a third version of "Old Enough," this one in Nashville with bluegrass superstar Ricky Skaggs and Knoxville-based songwriter Ashley Monroe. Apparently a video was shot during the sessions as well, so watch for that on a YouTube channel near you.

Photos from the sessions, taken by famed shutterbug Autumn DeWilde, can be viewed HERE.

Strange bedfellows are nothing new in the world of music, of course, and one should always welcome the meetings-of-minds that can yield unusual and inspiring musical collaborations.

At the same time, it never hurts to be reminded of the personalities behind the music - a little perspective and context, in other words. And there's some whoppingly fine context for Skaggs, to say the least. This is a life-long card-carrying Republican who's been a vocal supporter of George W. Bush from the get-go, and has made outrageous, inflammatory statements from the stage that would have you believe that Dubya strides arm-in-arm with Our Savior The Lord Jesus, is blessed by divine inspiration, and operates literally on a day-to-day basis of divine intervention.

Here are a few choice Skaggs quotes he made a couple of years ago to Baptist Press (read the entire article HERE - a Google or two will net you plenty of other similar quotes):

• "I'm not ashamed to share the stage with our wonderful president. I'm not ashamed to be seen with him. I may not be politically correct. I don't care. I love him. I pray for him. He's God's man for this time."
• "Long before he was elected, we just had a feeling in our heart that he was the right person. We heard him speak. We heard things about him. We knew he was a Christian man... I felt like that was who I certainly wanted to get behind and support, especially in light of what we had had eight years before in the White House."
• "It's just a great thing to know that he loves the Lord, that he seeks God for decisions. The wind of controversy and public opinion does not blow him to the left or to the right. It does not move him one way or the other, and I pray that it doesn't."

Er, Ricky, if Bush has been getting his policy decisions directly from God, then either God gave him some seriously fucked up advice, or there was some static on the line and he misheard the Big Man... How's your 401[k] doing these days, by the way? Know any families whose sons came home in body bags?

But hey, can't we all just get along? The election's over, after all. Well, that depends on how deep the scars of the past eight years run for you, now, doesn't it? Bush certainly was the "man for this time" in one sense. You betcha. So all you Republicans out there still have a lot to answer for that.

By the way, we have absolutely no verification whatsoever that Brooks & Dunn are planning to record a White Stripes tribute album....

[Photo Credit: Autumn DeWilde]

Two days of fun just got more funner....

By Fred Mills

So you're been a smart cookie and already bought your tix to the two-day Warren Haynes Christmas Jam and... say WHAT? You DON'T have your tickets yet? Are you NUTS? The dang thing sells out every year - time is a-wasting, bubba. You already missed out on the pre-sale last week, but luckily the official public on-sale commences tomorrow morning, Nov. 15, at 10 am EST. See below for more details.

To recap, click over to our previous announcement of this year's Jam HERE. In a nutshell, this is the 20^th anniversary bash and it's expanding to two nights, Dec. 12 and 13, in Asheville NC. Already announced as performing were Gov't Mule, the Allman Brothers, Steve Earle and others, and today word arrived that erstwhile Led Zep bassist John Paul Jones, Coheed & Cambria, Roosevelt Collier, Karl Denson and Audley Freed have also been added to the lineup.

Observed Haynes in a statement, "John [Paul Jones] sat in with us [Gov't Mule] at Bonnaroo and after seeing him at the Led Zeppelin concert in London, we spoke about him performing at the Christmas Jam and I'm thrilled he can make it." Additionally, Haynes came onstage recently at a C&C show to guest on a version of "I Shall Be Released," and after hitting it off with the band, invited them to make the trek south as well.

For full details, go to the official Christmas Jam website. Single Day and 2 Day Tickets will go on-sale to the public through Ticketmaster and at the Asheville Civic Center Box Office on Saturday November 15th at 10AM Eastern. Tickets for each night are $55 + $1 Facility Fee. VIP Tickets are still available. As always all proceeds from the Christmas Jam will be donated to Habitat For Humanity.

The 20th Anniversary of The Christmas Jam

Friday December 12^th

Allman Brothers Band
The Del McCoury Band
The Derek Trucks Band
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk

Saturday December 13^th

Coheed & Cambria
Steve Earle
Michael Franti with Jay Bowman Acoustic
Gov't Mule
Johnny Winter

Also Appearing - Day To Be Determined

John Paul Jones
Joan Osborne
Travis Tritt

Special Guests Also Scheduled To Appear:

Mike Barnes
Roosevelt Collier
Karl Denson
Ruthie Foster
Audley Freed
JJ Grey
Col. Bruce Hampton
Robert Kearns
Kevn Kinney
Eric Krasno
Mickey Raphael
& Many More

Eighth solo album and first one in three years.

By Blurt Staff

Tommy Keene is set to release his first solo album in nearly three years, In The Late Bright, on Feb. 17 via Second Motion Records. The 11-track album, co-produced by Keene and R. Walt Vincent (Pete Yorn, James Blunt), was recorded in Keene's Los Angeles home earlier this year and features what's being described as "a wide range of songs from the rollicking opener, "Late Bright," to his first recorded instrumental ("Elevated") and the wistful "Save This Harmony.""

In recent years powerpop godfather Keene has worked with both Paul Westerberg and Robert Pollard as their right-hand man on guitar. Additionally, his most recent release, Blues and Boogie Shoes, was a collaboration with Pollard they dubbed the Keene Brothers.

In The Late Bright marks Keene's eight full-length album and his first for newly-founded Second Motion Records out of Chapel Hill.

In The Late Bright track listing

1. Late Bright                                                 

2. A Secret Life Of Stories                            

3. Save This Harmony                                    

4. Tomorrow's Gone Tonight                        

5. Goodbye Jane                                            

6. Nighttime Crime Scene

7.  Elevated

8.  Realize Your Mind

9.  The Right Time To Fly

10. Please Don't Come Around

11. Hide Your Eyes

Allie Goolrick queries Back Door Slam about their musical ménage a trios.

By Blurt Staff

Hey Blurters: Check out the second official Blurt Out Loud podcast. (It follows our debut Blurt Out Loud podcast, logically enough, which featured the Old 97s in Athens, GA.) This one's got our multimedia mistress Allie Goolrick getting the lowdown from killer UK power trio Back Door Slam - she talked to them at the Austin City Limits music fest earlier this year. Stay tuned for a track as well, "Come Home."

Keep your eyes peeled on BLURT for upcoming podcasts with Sharon Jones, Mason Jennings, Langhorne Slim, Dead Confederate and kid rocker Uncle Rock! We'll post ‘em to the video section below along with a host of other BLURT exclusives.

***

And meanwhile, catch BDS on tour currently with Gov't Mule:

Nov 11 2008  8:00P

            Royal Oak Music Theatre 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule        Royal Oak, Michigan

Nov 12 2008   8:00P

            The Venue at Horseshoe Casino 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule          Hammond, Indiana

Nov 13 2008   8:00P

            The Rave 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule          Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Nov 14 2008   8:00P

            Pantages Theatre 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule          Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nov 15 2008   8:00P

            Pantages Theatre 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule          Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nov 16 2008   8:00P

            Harrah's N 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule        Kansas city, Missouri

Nov 19 2008   8:00P

            Orpheum Theater 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule         Flagstaff, Arizona

Nov 20 2008   8:00P

            House of Blues 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule             Anaheim, California

Nov 21 2008   8:00P

            The Fillmore 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule     San Francisco, California

Nov 22 2008   8:00P

            The Fillmore 'Kinder Revolution Tour' With Gov't Mule     San Francisco, California

Viva la Runt!

By Fred Mills

Where were you in '73? If you answer, "Out purchasing that spankingly fine debut album from the New York Dolls" you're lying through your teeth just as sure as if you said you bought the first Velvet Underground album when it came out. Oh yeah, yeah -  maybe your big brother told you about the band, or maybe you heard about this cool magazine called Rock Scene that extolled the virtues of the NYC scene, or maybe you even knew a slutty little gal friend with jones for hitting the Lower East Side in search of Quaaludes and rooster-haired rock dudes to hang out with.

 We understand.

Actually, maybe you likely you didn't even pay attention until the reunited Dolls played the Spin mag day party a couple of years ago at SXSW and all of a sudden you were scrambling to claim some belated hipster cool. Yes, we understand.

So punk, now here's your chance to get in on the ground floor (slight return): in January, Todd Rundgren is going into the studio with the Dolls - essentially founding members David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain, plus pals Sam Yaffa, Steve Conte and Brian Delaney - to record the band's next album. Rundgren of course produced the '73 debut. Atco/Warners will release the record and the band will hit the road for a lengthy tour, so your 2 imperatives are clear.

Johansen enthused in a statement, "We're really excited to be working with Todd gain. We're hoping to recapture the same magic on the forthcoming album [that was on the debut]."

Here's hoping that "magic" doesn't include the indifference of the buying public and the outright hostility from the record company - because that is what was going on in 1973, revisionist historians aside. You, gentle citizens, can make a difference this time around.

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

SATURDAY, NOV. 15:

11:00 AM & 5:00 PM IFC: Henry Rollins Uncut: South Africa

2:30 PM FUSE: Lil' Wayne's World

4:00 PM PLD HD: Genesis - When in Rome

5:00 PM RAVE HD: Later With Jools Holland: Morrissey , British Sea Power , Nate James , Ida Maria , Joe Brown , Mayra Andrade

7:30 PM IFC: Grand Theft Parsons (2003)

8:00 PM PLD HD: Rothbury 2008 W/Dave Matthews Band , John Mayer , Widespread Panic

9:00 PM PBS: Austin City Limits:  Aimee Mann / Iron & Wine

9:00 PM PLD HD: Across the Sea - Weezer Live in Japan

9:30 PM NBC: Saturday Night Live:  Anna Faris / Duffy

10:00 PM ETV: Saturday Night Live (E!):  Lindsay Lohan / Usher

11:00 PM VH1C: That Metal Show: Lita Ford

11:30 PM NBC: Saturday Night Live:  Paul Rudd / Beyonce

12:30 AM MTV2: Saturday Rock The Deuce:  Oasis

1:00 AM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Glasvegas

SUNDAY, NOV. 16:

7:00 AM A&E: Biography: Jimi Hendrix

8:00 AM A&E: Biography: Janis Joplin

10:00 AM PLD HD: Hall & Oates: Our Kind of Soul

2:00 PM PLD HD: Across the Sea - Weezer Live in Japan

2:00 PM & 12:00 AM VH1C: That Metal Show: Lita Ford

5:00 PM VH1C: BBC Electric Proms: Paul McCartney

5:30 PM CWTV: 4Real: M.I.A. 

8:00 PM HDNet: New Order - Live in Glasgow 

8:00 & 9:00 PM Smithsonian: Sound Revolution: Blues Beginning w/B.B. King , Ike Turner , Buddy Guy , Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown , Etta James

8:00 PM VH1C: Movie: In His Life: The John Lennon Story

8:15 PM NBC: NBC Sunday Night Football: Bruce Springsteen

11:00 PM VH1C: BBC Crown Jewels: Rock Goes To College: Tom Petty

12:00 AM MTV2: MTV Europe Music Awards: Katy Perry , Beyoncé , Kanye West , Estelle , Pink , The Killers

[Photos: Lita (off the web, from an old CREEM pic; Bruce, from staffer's bootleg CD cover!]

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

9:00 AM SYN: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Emily Bear

1:00 PM VH1C: That Metal Show: Lita Ford

2:30 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Gaslight Anthem

4:30 PM Noggin: Yo Gabba Gabba!: Supernova , Biz Markie

5:00 PM Sundance: Runnin' Down a Dream: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

8:00 PM Great American Country: Master Series:  Glen Campbell

10:00 PM Smithsonian: Sound Revolution: Blues Beginning - B.B. King , Ike Turner , Buddy Guy , Clarence

"Gatemouth" Brown , Etta James

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Prince

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Barry Manilow

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Kanye West

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Blitzen Trapper , Snoop Dogg

1:30 AM ETV: Saturday Night Live:  Britney Spears

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: P.O.D. , Wayne Brady

[Please don't sue us, Pr##ce - we only use your name aa a recommended TV listing, not to pimp our fansite. Love, the artists formerly known as Harp.]

But how the heck do we get those two bonus tracks, Boss?

By Blurt Staff

"Towards the end of recording 'Magic,' excited by the return to pop production sounds, I continued writing. When my friend producer Brendan O'Brien heard the new songs, he said, 'Let's keep going.' Over the course of the next year, that's just what we did, recording with the E Street Band during the breaks on last year's tour. I hope 'Working on a Dream' has caught the energy of the band fresh off the road from some of the most exciting shows we've ever done. All the songs were written quickly, we usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end."

That's Bruce Springsteen talking, of course, in a statement released this morning to announce the Jan. 27 release of his next album, Working on a Dream. Recorded with Magic producer Brendan O'Brien in Atlanta (additional recording in NYC, LA and New Jersey), it features 12 cuts (see track list below) plus a pair of bonus tracks, "The Wrestler" and "A Night with the Jersey Devil."

The official press release was unclear as to whether those two extras will be included on the CD or will be targeted as iTunes exclusives, etc. However, sharp-eyed fans already know the sources of both tracks: "The Wrestler" is a track the Boss penned for the new Darren Aronofsky film of the same name starring Mickey Rourke, while "Jersey Devil" is the special Halloween goodie Springsteen handed out a couple of weeks ago as a video and free MP3.

Oh, and the title track? That's the tune Bruce was playing at Obama rallies leading up to the election. See a YouTube clip of him doing the song, below.

Track Listing:

1. Outlaw Pete
2. My Lucky Day
3. Working on a Dream
4. Queen of the Supermarket
5. What Love Can Do
6. This Life
7. Good Eye
8. Tomorrow Never Knows
9. Life Itself
10. Kingdom of Days
11. Surprise, Surprise
12. The Last Carnival

Bonus tracks:

The Wrestler
A Night with the Jersey Devil

Damn. Check out those peace symbols...

By Blurt Staff

Not to be outdone by all the imminent wall-to-wall Chinese Democracy coverage, Slash stepped into the media spotlight the other day - and this time, for a rather worthy reason. The erstwhile Guns N' Roses guitarist, along with his wife Perla Hudson, spoke out against California's recently-passed Proposition 8, which of course stands to institutionalize discrimination in the state unless the burgeoning counter movement can mobilize effectively gain headway among citizens and voters.

Go to www.jointheimpact.com for details on that, and meanwhile check out the YouTube video below featuring Slash. We've come a long way since "One In A Million," eh baby?

Underneath the Owl due March 10.

By Blurt Staff

En route for March 10 is the next album from Austin's Riverboat Gamblers, the Mudrock-produced Underneath the Owl (East West). This will be the followup to their 2006 Volcom Records release To the Confusion of Our Enemies; see below for the bio scoop.

Meanwhile, to drum up some advance buzz, the group's offering up a free MP3 of the first singe, "A Choppy, Yet Sincere Apology". There are several places you can nab it from:

I Like:

www.ilike.com/artist/The+Riverboat+Gamblers

Pure Volume:

http://www.purevolume.com/riverboatgamblers

Official band website:

http://www.theriverboatgamblers.com

***

On the band:

Originally formed in 1997, the Gamblers built a local following and busted out of the Denton TX college scene in 2001 on the back of their self-released 7" single "Jenna Is A No Show". With that the band began to take the show from the dives bars and house parties of UNT on to the rest of the country. Austin punk legend Tim Kerr produced their self-titled debut album that was released on the D.C. based Vile Beat Records. A couple years later, despite rabid major-label interest (in part derived from an explosive set at 2003's South by Southwest festival), the Gamblers released their second album "Something To Crow About" through San Francisco's Gearhead Records. In 2006 the band recorded and released their debut for Volcom Entertainment, "To The Confusion Of Our Enemies", and hit the road with Against Me!, Eagles of Death Metal, Horrorpops, The Rollins Band, X, Joan Jett and co-headlined the inaugural Volcom Tour in the U.S. with label mates, Valient Thorr.

Photo Credit: Gary Copeland

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM ABC: Good Morning America: Quincy Jones

7:00 AM RAVE HD: Montreux Jazz Festival: Bright Eyes , Feist , Mos Def

12:00 PM PLD HD: Glastonbury 2008

2:50 PM Encore Drama: Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)        

3:30 PM VH1C: That Metal Show: Lita Ford

4:00 PM RAVE HD: The Dave Fanning Interview: Iggy Pop

4:30 PM RAVE HD: Talks with Dave Fanning: Billy Joel

6:00 PM Sundance: Iconoclasts: Venus Williams and Wyclef Jean

7:00 PM MTV2: 50 Cent: The Money and the Power: Shit to Sugar

9:15 PM IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Shane MacGowan

11:30 PM & 1:30 AM Comedy Central: The Colbert Report: Paul Simon

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Carla Bruni , Johnny Cash [now THAT will be an interesting trick... maybe a duet on "J' taime"? ]

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Adele

12:00 AM IFC: Radiohead: In Rainbows

12:00 AM VH1C: The Story of Mudcrutch

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Paramore

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: The Bacon Brothers

1:00 AM IFC: Radiohead: Meeting People Is Easy

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Serj Tankian

2:45 AM Sundance: Black, White + Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe

Hey, speaking of "J'taime"...

Either a fantastic marketing tool, or a potentially bottom-line crippling blunder... or both!

By Blurt Staff

Thought they'd try to weasel out of it, didn't you? The makers of Dr. Pepper, that is- way back in the spring they announced they'd give a soft drink to every person in America if Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy comes out before the end of the year. (At the time, Axl Rose issued a statement, saying he was "surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr Pepper." ) And you know the rest: the record is indeed coming out, next week in fact, and all this week there are special listening parties being held in selected cities across the country (read about that HERE).

Dr Pepper plans on dispensing free sodas. Well, on November 23 - and only on November 23 - thirsty Americans can log on to the official Dr Pepper Web site and register all of their vitals, so that the company can mail them a coupon for a free 20-ounce can of the drink.

Once that coupon arrives in the mail, redeem it wherever Dr Pepper is sold. The last step in the process, according to the soft drink's press release: "Drink your Dr Pepper slowly to experience all 23 flavors. Dr's orders."

Registration for the free Dr Pepper coupons is available only for 24 hours, beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 23, and the coupons will have an expiration date of February 28, 2009. Obviously, there is a coupon limit - one per person.

Playing a reunion show in NYC on Dec. 17....

By Blurt Staff

It's the naked truth: Boss Hog, that legendary band from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s featuring the mighty Jon Spender and leggysexycool (and frequently nude, as anyone who recalls the group's eye-popping record sleeves... see below...) Cristina Martinez, is back. What would Brooke Shields Cindy Crawford say? She'd say rock da house!

Here's the info that just got slipped over the BLURT transom:

***

Legendary New York band Boss Hog will be returning to the New York stage on Wednesday, December 17, headlining an incendiary evening of outrageously perverse rock'n'roll, degenerate burlesque, and chasm-like grooves. Led by the wildly sexy and completely unpredictable punk chanteuse Cristina Martinez and her blues-exploding husband Jon Spencer, this will mark Boss Hog's first hometown show since 2000. 

 
Boss Hog's 1989 debut as a last-minute fill in at CBGBs saw the beginning of a rotating line-up featuring members of New York's noisiest gentry, Pussy Galore, the Honeymoon Killers, and the Unsane, before finally evolving into the classic team of Cristina Martinez, Jon Spencer, Hollis Queens, Jens Jurgensen, and Mark Boyce for the decidedly slinkier Boss Hog. The entire entourage will be on hand for this powerhouse return. 

 
Over the years they have shocked and amazed with their sui generis cocktail of sugar-coated hooks and poisonous riffs, deliriously seductive stage show, and subversive, sweaty rhythms. For their newest salvo they will be drawing on their entire legacy.

 
Explaining their eight-year hiatus, Cristina says, "It's been two torturous terms of Republican disease and culture death. Now that we're free, it's the perfect time for us to bring back our own brand of sick in celebration."

 
Adds her live-in guitarist, Jon Spencer, "This whole ‘change' thing isn't new... Boss Hog represented change with every album we made!"

 
Joining Boss Hog at the Bowery Ballroom is a full compliment of rhythm and grind, featuring the country punk moxie of Tennessee's Those Darlins, the titillating parade of burlesque goddesses Harvest Moon and Dirty Martini, and special guest DJ Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

***

Got all that? Good. Now about those record sleeves....

Dates Kick Off January 28 At Carnegie Hall

By Blurt Staff

 
ANDREW BIRD has confirmed dates for the first leg of a North American tour in support of his forthcoming new album Noble Beast. The tour will begin just after Noble Beast's release with Bird's first ever headline engagement at Carnegie Hall on January 28.

 
This run of theater headlines will be opened by LONEY DEAR with the exception of Carnegie Hall, which will feature DOSH as support.

Presales with low-fee surcharges for most shows are already underway at http://www.andrewbird.net/. General on sales will be this weekend.



 
28-Jan
CARNEGIE HALL
NEW YORK, NY

30-Jan
THE ORPHEUM THEATRE
BOSTON, MA

3-Feb
CLUB 9:30
WASHINGTON, DC

4-Feb
THE VARIETY PLAYHOUSE
ATLANTA, GA

6-Feb
THE PLAZA THEATRE
ORLANDO, FL

7-Feb
HOUSE OF BLUES
NEW ORLEANS, LA

12-Feb
THE PARAMOUNT THEATER
AUSTIN, TX

13-Feb
THE EL REY THEATRE
ALBUQUERQUE, NM

14-Feb
THE RIALTO THEATER
TUCSON, AZ

18-Feb
THE ORPHEUM THEATRE
LOS ANGELES, CA

19-Feb
THE FILLMORE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

20-Feb
THE FILLMORE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

21-Feb
THE ROSELAND THEATER
PORTLAND, OR

23-Feb
THE MOORE THEATER
SEATTLE, WA

24-Feb
THE KNITTING FACTORY
BOISE, ID

25-Feb
THE MURRAY THEATER
MURRAY, UT

26-Feb
THE OGDEN THEATER
DENVER, CO

27-Feb
SLOWDOWN
OMAHA, NE

LONEY DEAR will open all shows except Carnegie Hall, where DOSH will be playing the opening set.

We're still in love with that video too...

By Blurt Staff

Swedish songbird Lykke Li will play North American dates from coast to coast in February, treating audiences to the pop gems from her critically lauded debut album, Youth Novels, released in the U.S. earlier this year on her own label, LL Recordings. Produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn and John, the album's no doubt on a trajectory to topping numerous year-end best-of lists.

She'll also be performing "Dance, Dance, Dance" and "I'm Good, I'm Gone" at mtvU's Woodie Awards - where's she's also up for the "Breaking Woodie" breakthrough artist award - airing on mtvU and mtvU.com on November 19 at 8 p.m. EST, MTV2 on November 21 at 7 p.m. EST and November 22 at 11 p.m. EST and MTV on November 22 at 10 p.m. Yttling and Brooklyn's all-keyboard band Au Revoir Simone will be playing as part of Lykke Li's live band for the show, and guest Q-Tip also joins her on stage for a collaboration on A Tribe Called Quest's "Can I Kick It".

BLURT feature action: www.blurt-online.com/features/view/61/

Random label hype:

From the splash she made at this year's SXSW, to her wildly successful spring tour with El Perro del Mar, to selling out her first full U.S. headlining tour this fall, music lovers can't seem to get enough of this 22-year-old songstress - proof of the undeniable magnetism of her music and her unique connection to her fans. Lykke Li has been winning over audiences across the globe with her minimalist arrangements, sugary voice and fierce dance moves. Whether she's keeping the beat with a cymbal, singing into her megaphone, using a necklace full of percussion or captivating the crowd with her amazing voice, Lykke Li wows every audience that sees her. Using only a guitar, bass, keyboard and drums, each song is reworked for the stage so that is gets everyone moving. Lykke Li has even been known to throw in a few brilliant covers, reinterpreting everyone from Vampire Weekend to A Tribe Called Quest.

Tour dates:

1/31/09           Washington, DC @ Sixth and I
2/2/09             New York, NY @ Webster Hall
2/4/09             Montreal, PQ @ Club Soda
2/6/09             Toronto, ON @ Phoenix  
2/7/09             Chicago, IL @ Metro
2/8/09             Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity
2/11/09           Vancouver, BC @ Commodore
2/12/09           Portland, OR @ Hawthorne
2/13/09           Seattle, WA @ Showbox
2/15/09           San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
2/17/09           Pomona, CA @ Glass House    
2/18/09           Dallas, TX @ Granada   
2/19/09           Austin, TX @ Antone's

[Photo  credit: Nilina Mason-Campbell]

That sexy "Breaking It Up" video plus the even more amazing alternate version:
 

Chicago's Handcuffs release album, stay focused, remain lighthearted...oh, and get the BLURT nod of approval, too. Presenting our very first BLURT-Sonicbids "Best Kept Secret" pick - for more details on how to qualify, go to BLURT's Sonicbids page.

By Mandy Rodgers

The Handcuffs rock duo was born after a chance newsstand encounter between Chloe Orwell and Brad Elvis in matching purple suede jackets.

Though the serendipitous description of Orwell and Elvis's first meeting on the band's official Website is not entirely true, the real jackets were stolen from them.

"That's how cool they were," says Orwell now. "But, fortunately, the relationship lives on. No one can ever steal that away from us. We like to think that whoever stole our jackets will meet up someday in a parallel universe."

The two first played music together in Elvis's Chicago-based band Big Hello where Orwell helped write music and sang lead. Big Hello gave the two significant exposure, but they decided to venture into new territory after realizing they were the ones holding the group together.

"It's as if we were handcuffed together in a positive, creative way," says Orwell, of the band's name. "Brad came up with the name, and we both just thought it was a really good rock ‘n' roll moniker."

Now, they have enlisted the help of bassist Emily Togni (via Craig's List) and guitarist/keyboardist Ellis Clark (through a nightclub) to round out the band's sound.

Although they're all friends, the core of The Handcuffs is still Orwell and Elvis.

"We really like playing with them. They have a good positive energy," says Orwell. "And they're kinda fine with that - to be along for the ride."

After releasing a new album, Electroluv, on Dec. 2, the group plans to record and tour next year but feels most rewarded by the little things.

"The biggest rewards are often the ones that are seemingly the tiniest, like a fan says, ‘you changed my life with that song' or your BLURT's ‘Best Kept Secret,'" says Orwell.

"All the small things," adds Elvis.

"Good name for a song - oh wait, somebody already did that," jokes Orwell.

***

Handcuffs on the web:

www.thehandcuffs.com

www.myspace.com/thehandcuffs

New album due Feb. 10.

By Blurt Staff

Ben Lee's announced his next album for New West Records, due Feb. 10 and titled The Rebirth of Venus - dedicated, quite logically, to Venus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty.  As Lee put matters in a statement, he wants to celebrate feminine qualities "such as compassion, nurturing, creativity, spontaneity, intuition, playfulness, tenderness and warmth...are qualities that we all, men and women, need to cultivate." 

Produced by Brad Wood, who also produced Awake Is The New Sleep, critically acclaimed debut Grandpaw Would and sophomore album Something To Remember Me By, the album will be for a good metaphysical AND physical cause:  A portion of proceeds from albums sold will be donated to FINCA's Village Banking program.  (FINCA offers financial services to low-income women entrepreneurs.  This creates jobs, builds assets and generally improves the standard of living in these destitute communities. )

The album's cover re-creates Botticelli's Birth of Venus, but with a rock and roll twist.  Ben is featured in the clamshell with fiancé Ione Skye and band mates as angels above him.  Other musicians who appear on the album include Missy Higgins, Cary Brothers, Patience Hodgson of The Grates, Nic Johns, John Alagia (producer of Ripe) and longtime collaborators and musicians Lara Meyerratken and Nic Johns. 

The backstory:

Lee has been living as a working musician for over half of his lifetime.  Beginning at the age of 14, he has stayed grounded and spiritually focused.  Aside from the honor of winning four ARIA Awards (Australia's equivalent to the Grammy), Ben has started to make regular appearances with various symphony orchestras throughout Australia.  Following the first set of sold out symphony performances with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, Ben will play with the Queensland Orchestra in Brisbane featuring hits such as "Catch My Disease," "Cigarettes Will Kill You," "We're All In This Together," and more.  He also wrote and produced the original soundtrack to the film "The Square," which is nominated for Best Soundtrack at the 2008 AFI Awards (Australian Equivalent to the Academy Awards).

Ben's songs have been used in over 30 film, TV and commercial syncs off his last two albums.  In the last year he's had syncs on "Grey's Anatomy," "One Tree Hill," and Kohl's Department Stores in the US and Coca Cola internationally.  His music was also recently used in the trailer for "He's Just Not That Into You," starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Anniston, Drew Barrymore and Scarlett Johansson.  Awake is the New Sleep (Ben's first release for New West Records) garnered rave reviews, career-high worldwide sales, and a hit in the track "Catch My Disease."  The album went Double Platinum in Australia, where the single went on to become the first ever independently released #1 radio song in Australian history and went Top 10 in Canada, Spain and the Benelux, and Top 20 in the US. 

Track Listing:

1. What's So Bad (About Feeling Good)

2. Surrender

3. Sing

4. I Love Pop Music

5. Rise Up

6. Yoko Ono

7. Boy With A Barbie

8. Bad Poetry

9. Blue Denim

10. Wake Up To America

11. I'm A Woman Too

12. Families Cheating At Board Games

13. Song For The Divine Mother of the Universe

El Cid club also features Super Sexy burlesque show...

By Fred Mills

"Jane's is doing another show in Los Angeles on November 20th at El Cid. At the moment I don't have any information on ticket availability or time, but I'm sure it will be made available before I get back to a computer. If not, I will for sure post it as soon as I can. I do know that this will be another intimate setting much like the La Cita show, however, the venue is a bit larger. Hopefully we can all avoid another fire masrshal fiasco!"

That's Dave Navarro, posting to his Dark Matter blog, about the Jane's Addiction reunion show this Thursday night at Los Angeles' El Cid venue (4212 W. Sunset Blvd.). Technically, every first and third Thursday the venue holds what they call "The Super Sexy Show Starring the Hollywood Pin Up Girls" (see below)- but then, what could be more appropriate as a floor show at a Janes' concert.

Navarro also gave away a pair of tickets via his blog and noted that  he "will be giving out another pair on Wednesday evening live on Dark Matter - Indie 103.1FM (12a-2a)."

The group played a show last month, on Oct. 23 at La Cita, featuring the original lineup of Navarro, Perry Farrell, Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins. This followed an impromptu 4-song performance back in April at the U.S. NME Awards where the band was given the Godlike Genius Award. To date Farrell has steadfastly pooh-poohed any notions of a full-blown Jane's reunion, and Avery has been on notably poor terms with the other three members in the past, but hey, if pigs can fly, and we know now that they can, anything's possible.

This just in, fellow indie rec shop geeks...

By Blurt Staff

NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers) has confirmed it will sponsor Record Store Day, April 18, 2009, for which planning has already begun. The sponsorship of the leading trade association for music retailers, wholesalers, distributors, record labels, multimedia suppliers, suppliers of related products and services, and individual professionals and educators in the music business will help the organizers prepare for the targeted event in April '09 as well as continue to keep promoting Record Store Day and the unique culture of indie record stores all year long, in the media and on www.recordstoreday.com.

"NARM is so pleased to be sponsoring Record Store Day 2009," said President Jim Donio. "The extraordinarily successful debut of Record Store Day in 2008 served to perfectly underscore how vibrant and vital record stores are to communities and economies around the world. NARM hopes that its support will enable organizers to make next year's event an even bigger and better celebration of independent music retailers' passion and commitment to the music that enriches and inspires us all."

Event organizers include the Music Monitor Network, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Alliance of Independent Music Stores (AIMS) and Newbury.

Music Monitor prez, Michael Kurtz says, "The Music Monitor Network was happy to see NARM get involved with indie-retail's recent Noise In The Basement Creative Conference in Baltimore and is excited to have NARM's sponsorship of Record Store Day. We look forward to now turning our attention to Record Store Day and working with Jim Donio and his crew on Record Store Day 2009. It will be hard to top last year's event but we are going to put our heart and soul into it."

Don Van Cleave of Coalition of Independent Music Stores adds, "The Coalition of Independent Music Stores is very stoked to include NARM in this year's planning for Record Store Day. While the event is targeted at independent music stores, the good vibes from last year's celebration were felt at all of the music retailers that NARM represents. NARM will help us to spread the message that stores that sell music are a very important part of the culture of music. We are looking forward to their help."

April 2008 marked the first Record Store Day event to great success with over 300 stores participating, not only stateside, but overseas as well. Paul McCartney, Norah Jones, Henry Rollins, Shelby Lynne, Tech N9ne, Raheem DeVaughn and scores of other artists and music industry luminaries all offered votes of confidence to Record Store Day which spiked revenue for indie retailers and inspired coverage in such media outlets as National Public Radio, the New York Times, Rolling Stone, the BBC, and even American Idol. In addition, retailers hosted in-store appearances and performances by both top name and local artists, including Metallica, (who started it all with the announcement of the Record Store Day vinyl re-issue of some of their classic albums, along with an in-store signing session), Panic At The Disco, Dresden Dolls, Regina Spektor, Steve Earle, and Billy Bragg.

NARM advances the promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of music by providing its members with a forum for diverse meeting and networking opportunities, information, and education to support their businesses, as well as advocating for their common interests. NARM's retail members operate thousands of physical, digital and mobile storefronts that account for about 85% of the music sold in the U.S. market. Established in 1958, NARM is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.

Black Keys singer-guitarist to release solo debut, Keep It Hid, Feb. 10

By Blurt Staff

Don’t call it a breakup—'cause we've heard diddly (and squat!) about the Black Keys breaking up, but when one guy of a two-man band goes solo, it does activate that paranoid section of the brain. ‘Specially ‘cause The Black Keys are one of the last bands we at Blurt wanna lose. Even if it means Dan Auerbach will still make solo records. You know, like Keep It Hid, which is something we did hear about. It’s comin’ atcha February 10, 2009. In true solo fashion, he produced and engineered the record his own se’f. And he’ll go on tour starting February 28 in Washington, D.C. at the 9:30 Club. Here are more dates. And a Black Keys video.  

Dan Auerbach tour dates:

02-28 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

03-01 Boston, MA - Paradise Club

03-02 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg

03-03 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

03-05 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom

03-06 Chicago, IL - Metro

03-07 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue

03-10 Seattle, WA - The Showbox

03-11 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom

03-13 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo’s 365 Club

03-14 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM CBS: The Early Show: Pink

7:00 AM NBC: Today: Carla Bruni

8:00 AM TVONE: Tom Joyner Sky Show: The Whispers

10:30 AM & 8:30 PM Comedy Central: The Colbert Report: Paul Simon

12:35 PM IFC: Radiohead: In Rainbows

3:00 PM RAVE HD: Other Voices: Daniel Lanois , Kate Walsh , Super Furry Animals , Sons & Daughters

7:00 PM Smithsonian: Sound Revolution: Blues Beginning w/B.B. King , Ike Turner , Buddy Guy , Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown , Etta James

8:00 PM PLD HD: mtvU Woodie Awards: Santogold , Vampire Weekend , Lykke Li , All Time Low , Chromeo , The Cool Kids

9:00 PM CMT: 2008 CMT Music Awards

9:00 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit:  Dan Brisse, Zac Marben, The Secret Machines

11:00 PM HBO: Real Time With Bill Maher: Diddy

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Guns N' Roses

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Nickelback

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Leona Lewis

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Margot & the Nuclear So and So's

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Sarah McLachlan

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Katy Perry

Raft of tribute bands on the show this week causing fanboy's hairy palms to turn grey...

By Fred Mills

Okay, okay, we'll let you in on the joke too: in our daily TV listings we had Prince appearing on the The Late Show With David Letterman Monday night, followed by Johnny Cash last night, and finally Guns N' Roses tonight. Emails ensued. We kept a poker face. Prince, sure; he's weird enough to do it on a whim. And Axl Rose as well, not to mention the fact that he might be feeling at least a tiny bit of marketing pressure for Chinese Democracy, which is being unveiled via listening parties across the country this week, followed by the official release next week.

But seriously folks - Johnny Cash?!? What, you were expecting a hologram, or one of those ghastly Nat King Cole/Natalie Cole duets cobbled together with film restoration and digital wizardry?

Let's summarize what we know thus far: "Prince" was tribute band Purple Reign, and the Cash aesthetic was tackled by the Cold Hard Cash band. Tonight's Gunners gig is held down by the fairly well known trib act Mr. Brownstone, with tomorrow night's Neil Diamond slot manned by a group called Super Diamond (love that name, guys). Friday, though, is a James Brown revue by The Allstarz, so be very, very afraid.

And maintain that red face, too, bro.

Conscious Alliance Announces The 5^th Annual "Holiday Meal Drive" To Support Hungry Families This Season.

By Blurt Staff

Here comes a public service announcement... with guitars!

***

Not-for-profit Conscious Alliance - feeding America's hungry through music - ramps up this year's holiday giving with the announcement of their 5th annual "Holiday Meal Drive."  With the support of musicians and their fans, and this year in partnership with Whole Foods Market, the organization will deliver full holiday meals to impoverished Native American Reservations for the fifth year in a row.  The organization also hosts the Rebel Alliance Jam XIV - a holiday benefit show at Boulder, Colorado's Fox Theatre on November 29^th featuring Keith Moseley, Scott Law, Jeff Sipe, Gibb Droll, and special guest Kyle Hollingsworth.

Conscious Alliance launches their holiday campaign on the heels of October's hugely successful "Back to School Snack Tour." The project brought much needed healthy snacks and school supplies to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  Hot Buttered Rum joined the organization for the trip, and offered very special musical performances at local schools on the reservation.

Conscious Alliance's 5th annual "Holiday Meal Drive," in partnership with Whole Foods Market, hopes to deliver 2,500 full holiday meals to four impoverished Native American Reservations: Pine Ridge, SD; Lame Deer, MT; Houma, LA; and Tohajiilee, NM. This requires that the drive collect $25,000 in donations; last year the organization collected $16,000. As in previous years, the organization is reaching out to their alliance of music industry artists and their fans for support.  Participating artists include The String Cheese Incident, STS9, Umphrey's McGee, the Disco Biscuits, Yonder Mountain String Band, and many others. Individuals who want to donate to the 5 ^th annual "Holiday Meal Drive" are encouraged to visit http://www.consciousalliance.org/donate.htm to pledge.

In other Conscious Alliance holiday traditions, this year's holiday benefit show will take place on November 29^th at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, Colorado.  The Rebel Alliance Jam XIV features Keith Moseley, Scott Law, Jeff Sipe, Gibb Droll, and special guest Kyle Hollingsworth. Tickets are $18, Doors are at 8:30 PM / Show at 9:00 PM, Ages 21+, For tickets and information visit www.foxtheatre.com.

Conscious Alliance's fall project, the "Back to School Snack Tour," recently delivered much needed healthy snacks and school supplies to Wolf Creek Reservation School on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  600 students in grades kindergarten through eighth received over 750 healthy snack bags and school supplies, including notebooks, pens, folders, backpacks, colored markers and paper. 

Not-so-traditional string band Hot Buttered Rum joined Conscious Alliance for the journey after performing a two-night fundraising concert series in Boulder, Colorado.  The band helped load and deliver the 24 foot box truck full of donated goods, and performed three special interactive shows for the students, as well as a free show for the larger Pine Ridge community.  The Pine Ridge community welcomed Hot Buttered Rum as family.  While the community knows well the generous support of bands and their fans, this was the first time any band had come with Conscious Alliance to the reservation.  While there, members of Hot Buttered Rum did an interview with KILI Radio, the voice of Lakota Nation, and were invited to partake in a traditional Lakota Sioux sweat lodge ceremony.  "It was very uplifting to be part of the Conscious Alliance experience on the reservation," says Nat Keefe of Hot Buttered Rum. "And it opened our eyes to a new way for the Hot Buttered Rum organization to be involved in service and activism." 

For 2009, Conscious Alliance continues to find ways for artists and their fans to participate in the organization's service projects, including offering students opportunities to start a Conscious Alliance Student Group at their college. 

Visit www.consciousalliance.org for more information.

Held last night, Nov. 18, at The Roxy in Los Angeles

By Jose Martinez

Ladies and Gentlemen, it does exist! Pigs may very well be flying, Hell may finally have frozen over, and democracy may have actually struck China because I just got home from listening to the long awaited, much anticipated (and maligned) Chinese Democracy.

The rock & roll equivalent to the fabled unicorn (you know, they just don't exist), let me tell you first hand that Axl Rose's revamped Gun N' Roses' Chinese Democracy is for frickin' real! As fans lined up alongside Sunset Blvd's famed Roxy, back where the band started oh so many years ago, no one knew exactly what to expect.

Invited guests like GNR alumni Del James (whose short story "Without You" inspired the "November Rain" video), as well as former Geffen A&R exec Tom Zutaut who originally signed the band, and LA club legend Dayle Gloria made their way into the venue, along with GNR bassist Tommy Stinson in attendance, most fans hoped and prayed for a surprise, unannounced performance by the band. But that wasn't the case.

Instead, a packed Roxy crowd got to hear the new album (available exclusively this Sunday at Best Buy stores, as well as online at BestBuy.com and iTunes) in its entirety. Blaring through the club's sound system, this was the ultimate stereo experience. Kicking off with the title track to Chinese Democracy, fans were treated to a record that is simply unparallel to anything else out right now. The record (which will be reviewed more thoroughly next week) runs the gamut, from heavy rockers to lush (semi ballads) to songs that go back and forth in between. Axl and Company took 15 years to make Chinese Democracy and even though no record can ever live up to that hype, this, after only one listen in a crowded club with several drinks, in my opinion, may just be the record of the year. 

Even though I've heard all but two of the 14 tracks in various stages of illegal downloads over the years, they still do not disappoint. The songs that managed to remain leak-free like "Scraped" and "Sorry" are absolute monsters. Axl clearly believes that bigger is better as these songs are on par with epic classics like "Estranged" and "November Rain."

Chinese Democracy isn't the return of Appetite as there definitely is a nod to the Use Your Illusions roaming, if not quite laser focus, sound, but it definitely has that old school GNR attitude with a new, modern (dare I say grandiose) take.

Tracks

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

This week's remaining Chinese Democracy listening parties include:

ATLANTA
11/19 at 7:30PM

ALL AGES

TABERNACLE
152 Luckie Street

Atlanta, GA 30303

SAN FRANCISCO

11/20 at 7:30PM

21+ OVER

MEZZANINE

444 Jessie Street,

San Francisco, CA 94103

BOSTON
11/20 at 8PM

ALL AGES

CAVERN CLUB at HARD ROCK CAFÉ

22-24 Clinton St.

Boston, MA 02109

DETROIT
11/20 at 7 PM

ALL AGES

St. ANDREWS HALL

431 E Congress St.

Detroit, MI 48226

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

7:00 AM CBS: The Early Show: Carla Bruni

11:55 AM TMC: New York Doll

2:30 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Secret Machines

6:00 PM Ovation: Best of Montreux Jazz Festival 2004: Cheap Trick , Patti Labelle , Meshell Ndegeocello , Suzanne Vega , Deep Purple

9:00 PM FUEL: The Daily Habit: Friendly Fires

9:00 PM PLD HD: Don't Look Back Bob Dylan

10:00 PM VH1C: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1973)

11:00 PM PLD HD: Music In High Places: Ryan Adams in Jamaica

11:30 PM PBS: Tavis Smiley: Cat Stevens (Yusuf)

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Neil Diamond [note: see our news item on this performance]

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Tenacious D

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Hives

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Brian Wilson

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Third Day

1:00 AM FUEL: Check 1, 2:  The Cool Kids

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Panic at the Disco

2:00 AM RAVE HD: Rave HD Concerts: Warren Haynes - The Benefit Concert 2006

Famed Hollywood venue to throw posthumous 65th birthday party.

by Blurt Staff

On December 8th, Jim Morrison would turn 65, if he was still alive.  It's hard to imagine the 1960's happening so long ago that one of its pioneering figures would be retirement age if he had survived the decade. Barney's Beanery, a favorite West Hollywood hangout of Morrison's will help him usher in social security age by throwing him a party that he probably would have gotten falling down drunk at.

In the late ‘60s, Morrison and Janis Joplin were regulars at Barney's Beanery, with Jim famously barred from the dining establishment for allegedly urinating on the bar.  Barney's will commemorate the event with a memorial plaque to mark the exact place.

"We decided to celebrate this occasion because Barney's is a place where Jim Morrison hung out often," says Barney's Beanery principal David Houston.  "Whatever point in time you go back to, whoever was making history in pop culture, they seemed to have a foot in the Beanery."

Both Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors will be on hand that evening for a special live broadcast on L.A. rock station 95.5 KLOS, hosted by "Last D.J.," Jim Ladd. The three will discuss and sign copies of Live at The Matrix 1967, a live CD on The Doors' Bright Midnight Archives and Rhino Records. The two-CD set, which was recorded in San Francisco over two nights in March '67, will be available on November 18th. The shows took place shortly before the group broke on through with their hit Summer of Love single, "Light My Fire." Winners of a 95.5 KLOS contest will get to meet and greet Manzarek and Krieger.

Rhino's Live at The Matrix 1967 is the fourth of the Bright Midnight Archives releases, and features liner notes by all three surviving members of The Doors and brand-new cover art by renowned San Francisco artist Stanley Mouse. Whereas the three previous collections documented The Doors' final 1970 tour, this latest edition takes you back to the early days, when the band was still working out arrangements and lyrics.

No truth to the rumors that Viagra has a planned "Mr. Mojo Risin'" marketing campaign using Doors songs set to roll out this winter....

We interrupt our regular programming to bring you another Youngian  arrival in today's in-box. Go HERE to read his previous op-ed from last week.

***

So You Want A Big Electric Car

By Neil Young

President-elect Obama¹s plan to put a million electric vehicles on the road in 10 years is do-able and should be surpassed by its own momentum. As people discover the many advantages of electric vehicles (EVs), this momentum will build. Not only are these cars green and responsible, they also enhance National Security. From all we¹ve been told about EVs we know a little. They are cleaner. We¹ve heard about plugging them into our homes to recharge overnight. But most of us don¹t know much about electric cars yet.

The momentum of the Electric Vehicle Age will stem from enhanced performance, smoothness of acceleration, quietness, and superior control.

The way an electric car can be tuned to behave a certain way for a certain driver allows for a whole new feeling in the driving experience. People just don¹t know how cool these cars are.

Existing designs can be manufactured as electric cars with no change to the tooling of the existing designs. Adapting kits are possible. Build electric versions on these existing tools to keep people working and get people interested in buying again. The technology to make these new electric vehicles exists today right here in this country.

From Wichita Kansas we get this report: A 1959 Lincoln Continental repowered to be a self charging electric vehicle by a small group of engineers and local services, is now achieving up to 65 mpg in informal tests. Work there continues. The goal of the project is to attain up to and beyond 100mpg for the biggest and heaviest car made in 1959. The car has been driven in California and Kansas and shown to over 15,000 people. In an audience of 12,000, one tenth of the people raised their hands when asked if they would like to have a car like that.  That Lincoln represents a future for Detroit.

It is the possibility of Big Clean cars that do not promote Global warming.

Let¹s build them now, as well as economical small clean and green electric cars and let¹s put people to work. We already have the existing tooling and the facilities and manpower.

From Detroit we get this report: We have devoted significant resources to this project: Over 200 engineers and 50 designers are working on the Volt alone, and another 400 are working on related subsystems and electric components. That's how important we think this is, and that's how much stock we place in the future of extended-range electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt. Tony Posawatz, Vehicle Line Director ­ E-Flex Systems and the Chevy Volt, GeneralMotors Corp.  The GM, FORD and Chrysler CEOs then each boarded private personal business jets to be paid for by taxpayers money, and flew to Washington to ask tax-payers to give them a 25 Billion dollar infusion to save hard working American¹s jobs. Have they changed direction but it¹s just too early for our senators and congress representatives to see it yet? I don¹t think so.  Maybe introducing a new high-performance fossil fueled Shelby Mustang and jumping into a private jet to go to Washington for a bailout was not such a good idea.

Efficient technology can power the existing designs we have today.

We don¹t need a car that looks different with a new sunroof over the back seat creating an air conditioning challenge as a feature.

We don¹t need new tooling to start building electric cars now.

We need kits to adapt what we are currently making to today¹s demands.

We need new thinking from new leaders and we need new perspectives from unions.

Today the news is Hybrids. Everyone is making them. Some of these hybrids offer very poor mileage in the 20-30 mpg range. They may be already on their way out because of the inherent inefficiency of their design.  An electric motor and an internal combustion engine both driving the wheels in one car may not be the most efficient approach.

Forward thinkers are wondering about that inefficiency and working on ways to solve it. Plug in Kits are now available for Prius and Ford Escape, allowing these vehicles to plug in for a re-charge, increasing their efficiency and reducing their negative impact on the environment. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) look like the future, but are they the future?

There are huge limitations. The battery is the biggest. An average EV is only good for a short trip before it needs a charge. Maybe 40 miles or so is a good estimate. Some electric cars get a long range like 100 miles before they lose power and have to recharge. The Tesla (a super light sports car) goes over 150 miles on a charge. Two things that all basic EVs have in common is they are small in size and they have to stop and re-charge. If you run out of power you are down. Just like gas. To re-charge, you need a power source. It may be your home, or it may be your parking garage at work. It might be a charging system that is privately owned and is a business enterprise (Better Place), or it may be a public utility service (PG&E). You may have a cable to plug in that identifies you so your account can be automatically charged. One thing is for sure. You need to re-charge.  So you are going to be more conscious of your energy use.

Not every EV has to plug in. For some, it¹s optional. Cars like the Chevy Volt have an onboard generator to re-charge batteries or power the car.

These cars are Self-Charging EVs (SCEVs). That means on long trips you use gasoline. A long trip is over about forty miles in a Volt, on level ground.

When the battery starts to die, an onboard generator rescues it and powers the electric motor, while slowly recharging the battery. This sequence cycles on and off while you take a long trip. Mostly the generator is on Š using gasoline, a fuel widely seen as a National Security disadvantage. The Volt generator will charge the batteries faster if the car is not moving, by using gasoline.  On short trips, you won¹t even use the generator. You will go the first 40 miles on plug-in power. An average commute in the USA is about 35 miles.

Efficiency in the self-charging electric car is the big decider.  If the efficiency of your charging system allows you to make electricity with less financial cost than buying it from the grid, then your car can power your house and turn the meter backwards to reduce or eliminate your electric bill. Potentially, you may even be able to sell electricity to the grid someday. That would be a good reason to buy a SCEV with a highly efficient self-charging system. These cars are mobile power plants.

Big electric cars are left out of the story so far by major manufacturers.

They have made some very poor hybrid SUVS. SUVs, big sedans, pick-up trucks are all by the wayside. They have been relegated to dinosaur status. But don¹t count them out. A big Self-Charging SUV with a super efficient self-charging system would create enough power to support 6 homes. You could be part of a distributed power system by using the grid backwards, selling power back to your Utility Company.  In this approach, power enters the grid from plugged-in vehicles, avoiding the loss found in the lines when power comes to you from a central Power Plant located miles away.  Imagine a big electric car that earns you income.

But you just wanted a big electric car. You may be surprised to know why size is important. Big SCEVs, while taking big power to run, and requiring large battery banks and big electric motors, will undoubtedly be getting up to 100 mpg or more in the near future.   A big developmental car, Lincvolt, seen at Lincvolt.com , is proving this technology. Big SCEVs may well be earning you money while you are charging the grid. They may be re-charging with super efficient self-charging systems, and even using Domestic Green bio-diesel fuel, a fuel that does not contribute significantly to Global Warming. Big may be an unexpected Green alternative.

All the concert news ‘n' reviews that's fit to print.

By Blurt Staff

More concert coverage from your friendly neighborhood BLURT - this time, we've got Joe Jackson in Miami Beach and the Mountain Goats in D.C. (including exclusive photos).

• *Roxana Hadadi caught the Mountain Goats at storied Washington venue the 9:30 club on Nov. 6, with ace shutterbug Adam Fried (who shot the pic above) in tow. "By performing more than 20 songs from a number of different albums and releases," writes Hadadi, "the Mountain Goats proved yet again why they're one of indie-rock's best, most un-pigeonhole-able live bands - and definitely one of the genre's most accomplished."

• *Then this past Monday night in Atlanta, Lee Zimmerman saw Joe Jackson and his band (plus opening act Thea Gilmore) at the Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theatre. In concert, observes Zimmerman, "the band recreated the material's pulsating underbelly and sense of urgency and exhilaration that found each song so bold and effusive in their recorded incarnations."

Check ‘em out at the provided links, or simply scroll down the BLURT front page to the reviews section. We've also got new book, DVD and CD reviews being added daily.

[Photo Credit: Adam Fried]

Latest installment in his wildly popular "Their System Doesn't Work For You" blog....

By Blurt Staff

We've got Anti-Flag frontman Justin Sane's newest blog entry posted over in the BLURT blogs (makes sense) - this time out, it's titled "I'm Not Giving Obama A Free Pass, Neither Should You," and it's easily his most thoughtful commentary to date.

In it, he urges us as citizens to both support the President-elect but to also be mindful of how things unfold in the new administration, and most important, to let your voice be heard. Writes Sane, "There are measures we can take to influence President-elect Obama, and the first step in that process is for each and everyone of us to write and/or call him when we feel he is on target and when we feel he is not. I am personally committed to this action, starting today, and I urge you to do the same on the issues that matter most to you; be it the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, health care, education, the environment, energy, gay rights, the Supreme Court, Wall Street giveaways, military recruiters in schools, Federal Communications Commission reform (the Fairness Doctrine) - any and every issue you hold near and dear."

To read the entire blog, go HERE.

Meanwhile, don't forget to read (or download) the November issue of the BLURT digital magazine - just click on the magazine image in the right-hand corner of our homepage - as we have a political roundtable discussion with Justin Sane, Tom Morello and Danny Goldberg.

Eels use ‘Yes Man' to sneak out a new song

By Brian Creech

I wasn't going to watch the newest Jim Carrey movie, Yes Man.  I'm a busy man, with more important things to do, like breathe or wash dishes.  I also had thought the man sold all of his cool points to the devil when he donned a pair of green tights to star as the Riddler.  And then my ears perked up and I started to see "the obnoxious one" in a new light as I learned that yes Man is soundtracked nearly entirely with classic Eels songs.

Mixed among the classics is a new song entitled "Man Up."  This is the first bit of new music to be released by the Eels since 2005's "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations."  It sounds older and a bit more lovelorn than we've grown to expect, but it still slides along nicely with other Eels classics like "Fresh Feeling" and "Trouble with Dreams."  The eager and curious can find the song at www.myspace.com/eels.

Fans of Zooey Deschanel's recent singing career can also rejoice.  The earnest vixen-cum-cabaret singer-cum-indie goddess sings on four songs with her band Munchausen By Proxy.  While it may not be a "She and Him: Volume 2,"  it is still enough to tide over the idle.  The Yes Man soundtrack drops on December 9th.

Song Listing:

1  Man Up - EELS

2  Bus Stop Boxer - EELS

3  To Lick Your Boots - EELS

4  The Good Old Days - EELS

5  The Sound Of Fear - EELS

6  Wooden Nickels - EELS

7  Flyswatter - EELS 

8  Blinking Lights (For Me) - EELS

9  Somebody Loves You - EELS

10  Sweet Ballad - Munchausen By Proxy (featuring Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva)

11  Uh-Huh - Munchausen By Proxy (featuring Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva)

12  Keystar - Munchausen By Proxy (featuring Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva)

13  Yes Man - Munchausen By Proxy (featuring Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva)

Might as well check it out... water cooler conversation fodder, y'know...

By Fred Mills

Sick of all the Guns N' Roses hoopla over the upcoming Chinese Democracy album, slated for release on Sunday at Best Buy (hey! Go to church, confess your sins, then head over to the mega-mall and start sinnin' all over again with Axl & Co.!)? Yeah, we are too. But that doesn't stop us from telling you that the album is already being streamed in its entirety on MySpace.

Go to the group's official MySpace Music page: http://www.myspace.com/gunsnroses to listen to it.

According to one preliminary review, "The album starts with weird distortion on the title track that resolves after a minute into an old-style guitar riff. When the drums kick in and Rose unleashes one of his trademark screams, there's a hint of the hair-raising opening ``Welcome to the Jungle'' on the band's best-selling `Appetite for Destruction... A little subtlety would help now and again and the lyrics don't make much sense, but delicacy and cogent arguments haven't been calling cards for Guns N' Roses. The general aim is to raise the tempo, push the volume and forget restraint. Self-indulgence without guilt is the only way to go. Chinese Democracy is packed with radio-friendly songs, all of which swagger with the self-confidence that makes resistance -- and criticism -- useless."

More GN'R, BLURT style:

THIS

THAT

AND THIS

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

8:00 & 11:00 AM Ovation: Sult - Spirit of the Music Special w/ Emmylou Harris , Elvis Costello , Van Morrison , Mark Knopfler , Sinéad O'Connor , Dónal Lunny

12:00 PM PLD HD: Storytellers: Coldplay

2:15 PM IFC: Movie:  Roadside Prophets (1992)

4:00 PM VH1C: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1973)

7:00 PM MTV2: mtvU Woodie Awards: Best of The Woodies 2008 w/Santogold , Vampire Weekend , Lykke Li , All Time Low , Chromeo

8:00 PM IFC: Radiohead: Meeting People Is Easy

9:00 PM BET Jazz: Club J Concerts: Chic

10:30 PM & 1:30 AM IFC: Henry Rollins Uncut: Northern Ireland

11:00 PM VH1 Classic in Concert: Kiss - Live from Los Angeles

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Scott Weiland

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live:  Tracey Ullman

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Vampire Weekend

1:00 AM Oxygen: The Tyra Banks Show: 50 Cent

1:30 AM ETV: Saturday Night Live (E!): Black Eyed Peas

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Panic at the Disco

2:00 AM VH1C: That Metal Show: Lita Ford

You must be crazy if you miss this broadcast...

By Blurt Staff

Live, from Texas, it's Austin City Limits! Okay, so the shows are pretaped, sue the producers. This week's a corker, however, so while we try to shy away from plugging individual teevee shows - we do have our daily and weekend "Channel Guide" listings on the BLURT site - we'd be remiss if we didn't tip you to the news that Gnarls Barkley and the Thievery Corporation will be frammin' on the jim-jam on ACL this week (most PBS affiliates broadcast on Saturday nights, but check local listings as always).

 "Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse almost epitomize the title of their second CD, The Odd Couple," said ACL producer Terry Lickona, in a statement. "Cee-Lo brings a devilish sense of humor to the ACL stage but quickly establishes some serious r&b cred with his powerful vocals.  Last summer's anthem ‘Crazy' gets the whole room singing along.... Thievery Corporation continues to re-invent electronic music. This show is a swirl of genres, theatrics and special guests that never ceases to surprise."

(Fourteen performers accompanied Thievery Corporation's Eric Garza and Rob Hilton for this special ACL performance including Brazilian musician, singer/songwriter and actor Seu George, who provides, according to Lickona "a new school electro-samba interlude, if you know what I mean.")

To view or link to clips from each artist performing on this week's show please visit: http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/

More ACL incoming: Foo Fighters (1/17), Manu Chao (1/24),  Nick Lowe / Swell Season (1/31), Drive-by Truckers / Ryan Bingham (2/7), Sarah McLachlan / Duffy (2/14).

Havilah out February 17, 2009 on All Tomorrow's Parties Records

by Blurt Staff

Recorded in a Melbourne a house in the middle of a forest that Drones' singer Gareth Liddiard and partner/bassist Fiona Kitschin discovered in January, the Drones' fourth album, Havilah, will be released in Australia by ATP Recordings on February 17, 2009. The full track listing is below - also check out the awesome 8-minute video for their earlier tune "Jezebel."

Liddiard began writing new songs for the album in the foothills of Mt. Buffalo, and the album was recorded in two weeks by engineer Burke Reid. 

He said about the experience, "It's like a little world unto itself in the forest.  It's a beautiful place. You can't always find a good spot to record, but if you can find a house like this that's a bonus."

The albums name Havilah refers to a biblical land near the Garden of Eden and the valley in which the album was recorded.  The album though should not be in any way confused with paradise.

"It's not like going on a summer holiday." Liddiard said. "This time we were ready for something that was less of an ordeal every time we had to play it. And I wanted to write songs that were a bit more abstract, so you can make up your own mind about them."

Track Listing

1.      Nail it Down

2.      The Minotaur

3.      Drifting Housewife

4.      I am the Supercargo

5.      Careful as You Go

6.      Oh My

7.      Cold and Sober

8.      Luck in Odd Numbers

9.      Penumber

10.    You're Acting Like it's the End of the World

Season finale of hit HBO series to feature "World Can't Have Her" on Sunday, Nov. 23.

By Randy Harward

For the third time this year, uber-indie rockers Cobra Verde will have a song in a high-profile TV show. First, the FX series Sons of Anarchy used the Cleveland band’s “Riot in the Foodcourt” from their new album Haven’t Slept All Year (CobraVerde.com). Then HBO’s vampire show True Blood used CV’s cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Play With Fire.” Now another HBO series, Entourage, is including another Slept track, “World Can’t Have Her,” in its season-closer on Sunday night.  

“Woohoo,” says Cobra Verde main man John Petkovic in a press release, which goes on to say that the True Blood exposure resulted in “more than 1,500 downloads of the song  in the first two days after the show's airing alone. It also brought Mick Jagger out of his castle to come track us down. (Ugh, I won't get into that now...)”

Petkovic also points out that there was one other Cobra Verde TV moment—when they playing a Foreigner tribute band (they do “Waiting for a Girl Like You”) on… wait for it… The OC. See it at: http://www.cobraverde.com/media/

Stay tuned to Blurt for an upcoming interview with Petkovic!

Rumored to be working with Michael Jackson, eh? Can we give this guy some more rope to hang himself with? In which we open up our mailbag and let you peek inside. Don't throw up, please.

By Blurt Staff

In between strategy and planning sessions (held down at the local Hooters, natch) and trips to the john every 15 minutes for a "jolt" (you know what we're sayin'...), we here at BLURT central actually devote some time going through our in-boxes and spam folders to make sure that nothing currently going on within the music industry escapes our steely gaze. We pride ourselves at being way ahead of the fucking curve.

Of necessity, as a major media player we also have to field a lot of correspondence that is, shall we say, somewhat misdirected. (Memo to the person that keeps sending us Buckcherry updates: thanks!) We're not sure if these are acts of p.r. desperation, inexperience-bred naivete, or a willful ignorance of what BLURT is all about.

On the latter point, an occasional glance out our website and digital magazine might be helpful in terms of how labels and publicity firms target their pitches. But that's out of our control. What we CAN control, however, is what we do with the dang emails, which is where you, gentle readers, come in. Presenting the second in an occasional series: Dumb PR Pitch O' Week. Guarantee: all dialogue repeated verbatim. Some names may be changed/deleted to protect the clueless. Void where prohibited by law. Caveat emptor. Enjoy!

Previously:

Colin Armstrong www.blurt-online.com/news/view/1292/

Jonathan Coulton www.blurt-online.com/news/view/1321/

***

PRODUCER REDONE MAKING A WORLDWIDE IMPACT WITH CHART TOPPING LADY GAGA DEBUT

Los Angeles--- Songwriter/producer, RedOne, aka The Melody King is enjoying world wide success as producer of Lady Gaga's debut CD The Fame. The first single, "Just Dance" has vaulted into the Top 20, on The US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. It peaked at # 1 on the Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart, It also peaked at #1 on the Top 20 Canadian Singles Chart, #11 on the Top 100 Norwegian Airplay chart, #7 on the Denmark Top 40 music chart, #15 on the RIANZ New Zealand Top 40 Singles Chart and # 16 on the Switzerland Top 100 singles chart.

"Poker Face," the second RedOne production from the CD, is also a proven hit. It's already #1 on the RIANZ New Zealand Top 40 Singles Chart and at #3 on the Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. In the United States The Fame debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Electronic Albums Chart and #17 on the Billboard 200 Chart, with sales of 24,000 copies sold in its first week. The LP was also #1 on the Canadian Album chart.

Having established himself as a top global producer and songwriter, RedOne has kept close ties with the international community that launched him into prominence. Born in Morocco, RedOne set off to Sweden, ground zero for the thriving pop music scene in the early 90‘s. Inspired by the kinetic energy, a penniless RedOne took odd jobs and slept on a recording studio floor just to stay close to the music. After a short stint in a rock band, he began to refine his producing and songwriting skills and scored a publishing deal with BMG. RedOne's sound is a convergence of rhythms of his native Morocco and the Euro-pop that inspired him early on. His career jumped off with successful stints writing and producing CD tracks by Nordic artists such as the wildly popular A*Teens. In 2004, RedOne hit it big with the European smash "Step Up," winning both Swedish Grammy and Scandinavian Song of the Year awards with frequent co-writer Bilal Hajji. In March of 2006, RedOne produced a "mash-up" of Shakira‘s "Hips Don't Lie" featuring Wyclef Jean which brought him international attention from various artists and record companies.

It's rumored that RedOne was recently in the studio with Michael Jackson along with his production partner Akon to mastermind Jackson's new album due in 2009. He was also one of the producers responsible for the musical success of New Kids On The Block new CD The Block, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. Aside from working with Lady Gaga, RedOne is in the studio non stop and has upcoming releases with some of the most respected artists in the business including Enrique Iglesias whose Greatest Hits LP released November 11^th which features the RedOne produced single "Takin' Back My Love" (featuring Ciara). He's currently in the studio with Toni Braxton and Sean Kingston and has also worked with Brandy (Epic), Lionel Richie (Island), Kat Deluna, Flypside (Interscope), Menudo (Epic), Varsity (Virgin), and Tami Chynn's SRC/Universal debut which he co-produced with Akon. He has also garnered praise for his previous work with Robyn, Cheetah Girls, Christina Milian, Tiffany Evans, and 3LW, to name a few.

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

SATURDAY, NOV. 22:

12:00 PM HBO: The Brady Bunch Movie (1995)

12:00 PM RAVE HD: From The Basement: PJ Harvey , Super Furry Animals , Free Blood , Operator Please

1:00 PM VH1C: That Metal Show: Lita Ford

2:30 PM TVONE: James Brown: The Man, The Music & The Message

5:00 PM VH1C: Heavy: The Story of Metal

6:00 PM RAVE HD: Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison

9:00 PM PBS: Austin City Limits:  Gnarls Barkley / Thievery Corporation

9:00 PM VH1C: Movie: Heavy Metal (1981)

10:00 PM ETV: Saturday Night Live (E!): Ashton Kutcher / Gwen Stefani

11:00 PM MTV2: mtvU Woodie Awards: Best of The Woodies 2008 W/Santogold , Vampire Weekend , Lykke Li , All Time Low , Chromeo

11:00 PM VH1C: That Metal Show: Yngwie Malmsteen

11:30 PM NBC: Saturday Night Live: Tim McGraw / Ludacris / T-Pain

12:00 AM MTV2: Celebrity Deathmatch: Mick Jagger , Steven Tyler

SUNDAY, NOV. 23:

6:00 AM RAVE HD: Soundstage: Bill Laswell,  Buckethead , Bootsy Collins , Tabla Beat Science , Pharoah Sanders

7:30 AM Comedy Central: The Colbert Report: Paul Simon

11:35 AM TMC: New York Doll

12:00 PM Rave HD Concerts: Kaiser Chiefs: Live at the Trabendo

1:00 PM PLD HD: MTV Live: R.E.M.

2:30 PM HDNet Concert Series: Son Volt Live - Okemah & the Melody of Riot

5:30 PM Great American Country: Garth Brooks: One Man, One City, One Night

6:00 PM PLD HD: SoulStage: Q-Tip

8:00 PM ABC: American Music Awards: Kanye West , Alicia Keys , Taylor Swift , Pink , Jonas Brothers , Rihanna

8:00 PM & 1:00 AM HDNet: Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Revisited w/Cowboy Junkies , Ryan Adams , Natalie Merchant , Vic Chesnutt , Jeff Bird

9:00 PM VH1C: Tommy (1975)

10:00 PM & 12:00 AM Comedy Central: A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! w/Elvis Costello , Feist , Toby Keith , John Legend , Willie Nelson (see preview, below)

11:00 PM Smithsonian: Sound Revolution: Traveling Blues w/Eric Clapton , Carlos Santana , Robert Cray , Sweet Honey in the Rock , Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

12:00 AM VH1C: That Metal Show: Yngwie Malmsteen

Colbert Christmas Preview:

One of those must-own legendary albums, no less!

By Blurt Staff

When England's Guardian newspaper assembled its list of "1,000 Albums to Hear Before You Die," the 1973 debut album from Blue Ash made the grade alongside all the established classics - pretty remarkable considering the album in question, 1973's No More, No Less, had been out of print for 30 years. Thirty-five years after its release, Collectors' Choice Music has reissue dthe album, complete with liner notes from founding bass player (and band historian) Frank Secich.

 
Blue Ash formed in 1969 with a clear set of influences - The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, The Byrds, The Searchers, The Hollies, The Beau Brummels and all the British Invasion and West Coast bands of the mid-‘60s. They developed a following in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia. Wilson Pickett even stopped by a session and remarked, "You guys aren't bad . . . for white boys."

 
The band was signed to Mercury Records in 1972 by legendary rock critic and A&R man Paul Nelson. At the time, bands like Badfinger, Big Star and the Raspberries were reviving pop in the era of prog rock excess and singer-songwriter self-absorption. Nelson had just signed the New York Dolls, who commanded some of the highest critical accolades of their day but never caught on at radio, which was in a confused state between free-form and what was to become album-oriented rock. This fate would befall Blue Ash as well, despite a chiming pop single titled "Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her?)."

 
No More No Less was released in May 1973 and immediately received rave reviews Rolling Stone, Creem, Fusion, Phonograph Record, Rock Scene, Rock, Bomp!, Zoo World and dozens of other magazines throughout the country. The band opened for the likes of Aerosmith, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent and Nazareth. Dick Clark played them on American Bandstand. Alas, in June of 1974 the band was dropped, with Nelson fired soon after. The band recorded one more LP in 1977 for Playboy Records before calling it a day in 1979.

 
The story could have ended there. But a funny thing happened on the road to oblivion. Blue Ash somehow became cult heroes. In 2004, Not Lame Records released a two-CD set of previously unreleased Blue Ash demos and outtakes called Around Again. Soon after, the band reunited for the first time in 25 years for half a dozen Midwest gigs (the band will appear November 15 in Youngstown as part of the International Pop Overthrow Festival). They remain good friends to this day, and maintain a MySpace page at www.myspace.com/officialblueash which streams the band's classic songs.

 
The late Bomp Records founder Greg Shaw once told Secich, "You guys made a great album with No More, No Less, and whether an LP sells 5 million copies or 500 copies, nothing will ever change the fact that you made a great album."

 
The first-ever CD release of No More, No Less by Collectors' Choice has been long awaited by Blue Ash fan worldwide. It will also give a whole new generation insight into this archetypal power-pop band. As Secich wrote in the liner notes, "Somewhere, Paul Nelson and Greg Shaw are smiling."
 

Joy Division... New Order... Durutti Column...Section 25...  A Certain Ratio... Happy Mondays... and more. Need we say more?

By Fred Mills

Well, it's about time. Due Jan. 12 - in the UK, at least, but it will certainly show up on these shores eventually, just like that Joy Division box, initially offered in the UK and later in the US - via Rhino Records is A Factory Box Set, four discs' worth of, you guessed it, Factory Recs' bands. All the usual suspects are present and accounted for (except for ESG) along with some genuinely memorable obscuros like The Distractions, Minny Pops and the Stockholm Monsters.

Raise your hands if you faithfully collected (like I did) every single Factory platter you could get your hands on back in the day...

Cofounded by the late, great Tony Wilson, Factory was the  soundtrack for fanboys, trainspotters and bedsit types alike during the label's late ‘70s/early ‘80s salad days, but more to the point, much of the music has genuinely stood the test of time. If you scan that list of tracks below and don't agree, you probably never heard much of the Factory output, so shame on you.

Track Listing:

Disc 1:

01 Joy Division: "Digital"
02 Cabaret Voltaire: "Baader Meinhof"
03 A Certain Ratio: "All Night Party"
04 OMD: "Electricity (Original Version)"
05 Joy Division: "She's Lost Control"
06 The Distractions: "Times Goes By So Slow"
07 Joy Division: "Transmission"
08 The Durutti Column: "Sketch for Summer"
09 X-O-Dus: "English Black Boys"
10 Joy Division: "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
11 A Certain Ratio: "Shack Up"
12 Section 25: "Girls Don't Count"
13 Crawling Chaos: "Sex Machine"
14 A Certain Ratio: "Flight"
15 The Names: "Night Shift"
16 New Order: "Ceremony (Original Version)"
17 Minny Pops: "Dolphin's Spurt"
18 John Dowie: "It's Hard to Be an Egg"
19 Crispy Ambulance: "Deaf"
20 Section 25: "Dirty Disco"

Disc 2:

01 New Order: "Everything's Gone Green"
02 Tunnel Vision: "Watching the Hydroplanes"
03 The Durutti Column: "Messidor"
04 A Certain Ratio: "Knife Slits Water (LP Version)"
05 Royal Family and the Poor: "Art on 45"
06 Swamp Children: "Taste What's Rhythm"
07 New Order: "Temptation"
08 52nd Street: "Cool as Ice"
09 New Order: "Blue Monday"
10 Cabaret Voltaire: "Yasher (John Robie Remix)"
11 Quando Quango: "Love Tempo"
12 The Wake: "Talk About the Past"

Disc 3:

01 New Order: "Confusion"
02 Marcel King: "Reach for Love"
03 Section 25: "Looking From a Hilltop (Restructure)"
04 Stockholm Monsters: "All at Once"
05 Life: "Tell Me"
06 The Durutti Column: "A Little Mercy (Duet)"
07 James: "Hymn From a Village"
08 Kalima: "Trickery"
09 A Certain Ratio: "Sounds Like Something Dirty"
10 Quando Quango: "Genius"
11 Happy Mondays: "Freaky Dancin'"
12 Miaow: "When It All Comes Down"
13 The Railway Children: "Brighter"
14 Biting Tongues: "Compressor"
15 New Order: "True Faith"
16 Happy Mondays: "24 Hour Party People"

Disc 4:

01 New Order: "Fine Time"
02 Happy Mondays: "W.F.L. (Think About the Future)"
03 Revenge: "Seven Reasons"
04 Happy Mondays: "Hallelujah (Club Mix)"
05 Electronic: "Getting Away With It"
06 Happy Mondays: "Step On (Lionrock Remix)"
07 Northside: "Shall We Take a Trip"
08 New Order: "World in Motion"
09 Happy Mondays: "Kinky Afro"
10 The Durutti Column: "Home"
11 Electronic: "Get the Message (DNA Remix)"
12 Northside: "Take 5"
13 Cath Carroll: "Moves Like You (Remix)"
14 The Other Two: "Tasty Fish (12" Mix)"
15 Happy Mondays: "Sunshine and Love"

First album since 1998... fanboys, start your engines!

By Blurt Staff

On the heels of the Superdrag reunion last year came performances at Bonnaroo and Monolith that were the talk of 2008. For 2009 the band's going more than just one better - they're putting out a new record. Titled Industry Giants, it will be the first studio album by the reunited line-up of Coffey, Davis, Fisher, and Pappas since ‘98's Head Trip In Every Key. It's due March 17 from Superdrag Sound Laboratories/Thirty Tigers.

According to the band's handlers, "Industry Giants finds Superdrag's music moving forward, and nullifies the unwritten law, which dictates that all reunion albums must be bitter disappointments.  The songs say something meaningful about the world that speaks to everyone, and at times they rock harder than Superdrag has ever been known to rock before."

Mainman John Davis, who produced the album, said in a statement, "I can't wait to get the record out.  I can't wait for people to hear it.  I wish it could come out tomorrow."

Superdrag on the web: www.superdrag.com

***

Superdrag redux:

Though Superdrag may be best known for their 1996 major-label debut Regretfully Yours and the hit single "Sucked Out" that helped launch the band towards international success, the follow-up Head Trip In Every Key, issued in 1998, was widely regarded as the band's creative peak.  Amidst label woes and line-up changes, namely the departures of founding members Pappas and Fisher, the band would issue their third and fourth full-lengths In The Valley Of Dying Stars and Last Call For Vitriol to universal critical accolades, and expand their hard-won fan base through incessant touring, with the help of bassist Sam Powers and guitarist Mic Harrison.  Many of Superdrag's latter-day fans have never had an opportunity to see the original line-up onstage together until their greatly anticipated reunion in 2007.  Superdrag continued touring through 2008 with and now are releasing the highly anticipated Indusrty Giants on March 17, 2009.

All in the name of drawing eyes, folks, it's all about drawing eyes....

By Fred "Meta" Mills

The Smashing Pumpkins are in the midst of their 20^th Anniversary Tour, complete with alternating setlist whenever they play back-to-back dates in the same city, loads of unreleased material being unveiled, and an expanded lineup that includes a second keyboardist, a horn section and a multi-instrumental string player. The tour kicked off October 31 and wraps December 3 with two nights in Los Angeles; see below, after the break, for additional details.

Meanwhile, there's that little matter of the headline, above. Pitchfork, in an editorial this morning, called the tour a "shitshow" citing "poor setlist choices" and "awful-sounding music" (subjective assessments, but hey), but mainly laying into leader Billy Corgan for his supposed meltdown in Chicago the other night and an ensuing rant captured for all posterity on YouTube (see below) and presumed intentions on the frontman's part ot "confuse and infuriate" his audience.

"I don't buy that this intentional audience befuddling is some kind of pure pursuit of an artistic muse," wrote the Pitchfork reporter. "It seems like the flailing around of an artist who has declined and is unwilling to face that truth even when his own fans proclaim it so by their reactions to his art."

And then on and on and on, psychoanalyzing Corgan - as the article-cited Stereogum also did - before essentially concluding that the Pumpkins and Corgan in particular are irrelevant, uninteresting and going nowhere.

All one website's opinion, of course, but - meow! Assume the fetal position, Billy!

Dontcha love a good catfight? So much for Pitchfork giving the Pumpkins plenty of hometown love like they useta! Here's hoping Corgan will have some responses on his blog, which appears not to have been updated in nearly a month.

***

Smashing Pumpkins tour info:

The 20^th Anniversary Tour line-up is: BILLY CORGAN (vocals & guitars); JIMMY CHAMBERLIN (drums); JEFF SCHROEDER (guitars); GINGER POOLEY (bass); LISA HARRINGTON (keyboards); KRIS POOLEY (keyboards); STEPHEN BRADLEY (horns); GABRIAL MCNAIR (horns); and GINGGER SHANKAR (strings).

The five-week run is being highlighted by multi-night stops in such cities as Chicago, Toronto, New York, Washington, Boston, Kansas City and Los Angeles (a special two-night ticket bundle will be available for all multi-night engagements). In Chicago--where BILLY CORGAN and JIMMY CHAMBERLIN continue to be based--the Pumpkins are playing four sold-out shows at two different venues.  In cities where the band is set to play one night, they plan to deliver a unique one-off set.

Before the tour kicked off, the band performed their new single "G.L.O.W."-- the #1 most added song at Modern Rock radio its first week out and now positioned at #12 on the Modern Rock chart--on two TV shows: SPIKE TV's "Scream Awards" and on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live."  Now independent artists who are releasing music in unconventional ways, the pioneering and influential Pumpkins are making "G.L.O.W" available via the Guitar Hero® World Tour game.  This marks the first time a band has recorded a new song exclusively for the franchise which will be released afterwards, giving Guitar Hero® fans exclusive access to Smashing Pumpkins music before anyone else.  In the Rolling Stone review of "G.L.O.W.," Kyle Anderson wrote: "This monster, which will appear on Guitar Hero: World Tour, plows over Billy Corgan's late-blooming prog sensibilities to make way for a volcanic Siamese Dream-style riff and an end-of-days bass roll" (11/13/08).

Remaining Tour Dates:

Fri        11/21               Chicago, IL                              Auditorium Theatre

Sat       11/22               Chicago, IL                              Auditorium Theatre

Mon     11/24               Kansas City, MO                     Midland Theatre 

Tue      11/25               Kansas City, MO                     Midland Theatre

Wed    11/26               St. Louis, MO                          Fox Theatre

Sat       11/29               Las Vegas, NV                        The Pearl

Sun      11/30               San Diego, CA                        RIMAC Arena

Tue      12/2                 Los Angeles, CA                     Gibson Amphitheatre

Wed    12/3                 Los Angeles, CA                     Gibson Amphitheatre

Chicago's Handcuffs release album, stay focused, remain lighthearted...oh, and get the BLURT nod of approval, too. Presenting our very first BLURT-Sonicbids "Best Kept Secret" pick - for more details on how to qualify, go to BLURT's Sonicbids page.

By Mandy Rodgers

The Handcuffs rock duo was born after a chance newsstand encounter between Chloe Orwell and Brad Elvis in matching purple suede jackets.

Though the serendipitous description of Orwell and Elvis's first meeting on the band's official Website is not entirely true, the real jackets were stolen from them.

"That's how cool they were," says Orwell now. "But, fortunately, the relationship lives on. No one can ever steal that away from us. We like to think that whoever stole our jackets will meet up someday in a parallel universe."

The two first played music together in Elvis's Chicago-based band Big Hello where Orwell helped write music and sang lead. Big Hello gave the two significant exposure, but they decided to venture into new territory after realizing they were the ones holding the group together.

"It's as if we were handcuffed together in a positive, creative way," says Orwell, of the band's name. "Brad came up with the name, and we both just thought it was a really good rock ‘n' roll moniker."

Now, they have enlisted the help of bassist Emily Togni (via Craig's List) and guitarist/keyboardist Ellis Clark (through a nightclub) to round out the band's sound.

Although they're all friends, the core of The Handcuffs is still Orwell and Elvis.

"We really like playing with them. They have a good positive energy," says Orwell. "And they're kinda fine with that - to be along for the ride."

After releasing a new album, Electroluv, on Dec. 2, the group plans to record and tour next year but feels most rewarded by the little things.

"The biggest rewards are often the ones that are seemingly the tiniest, like a fan says, ‘you changed my life with that song' or your BLURT's ‘Best Kept Secret,'" says Orwell.

"All the small things," adds Elvis.

"Good name for a song - oh wait, somebody already did that," jokes Orwell.

***

Handcuffs on the web:

www.thehandcuffs.com

www.myspace.com/thehandcuffs

BLURT is pleased to introduce its newest addition to our blogger community, Widespread Panic bass player Dave Schools.

Written with a cynicism that came of age during the Reagan years and honed over thousands of miles spent in vans and tour buses bouncing ideas off of equally sick and twisted minds, A Swift Kick to the Solar Plexus is a collection of random essays comprised of whatever the author feels like writing at the time of deadline.

Many of these essays will be SATIRE of a highly tasteless nature, therefore, if you laugh or chuckle, good for you. Perhaps you need professional help. If you're insulted by anything contained herein, may we suggest that you write your local Congressman, because you're more likely to get a response from there than you are if you write to the author or the editors of this e-zine. But at least you can feel good about yourself.

Go HERE to read  Schools' initial entry. Panic on!

Compiled by Blurt Staff

206 digital, satellite and hi-def channels and nothin' on? Not likely. Here are BLURT's top music television picks of the day. The time is followed by the network/cable/satellite channel, then the name of the program and/or featured artist(s). All times are EST. For a comprehensive hour-by-hour listing, go to the VH1 Rock On TV site. Note that for certain channels, shows frequently repeat during the day on or subsequent days.

TIME (EST) / CHANNEL / PROGRAM / ARTIST(S)

9:00 AM: SYN: The Bonnie Hunt Show: Lance Bass

11:00 AM ABC: The View: Tony Bennett

12:00 PM Sundance: Derailroaded: Inside the Mind of Larry "Wild Man" Fischer

5:00 PM SOAP: Beverly Hills, 90210: Love Hurts w/The Flaming Lips

9:00 PM RAVE HD: From The Basement: Beck , Jamie Lidell , Jarvis Cocker

11:00 PM FUSE: Akonomics 101 w/Akon

11:00 PM PLD HD: Wattstax w/Isaac Hayes , The Bar-Kays , Luther Ingram , Johnnie Taylor , Rufus Thomas , Carla Thomas

11:30 PM PBS: Tavis Smiley: James Taylor

11:35 PM CBS: The Late Show With David Letterman: Kanye West

11:35 PM NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Jonas Brothers

12:05 AM ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Killers

12:35 AM NBC: Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Tom Morello/The Nightwatchman

12:37 AM CBS: The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Low vs Diamond

1:35 AM NBC: Last Call with Carson Daly: Young Jeezy

3:00 AM BBCA: The Graham Norton Show: Tori Amos

Hey, see what you miss by not checking out celebrity new on weekends?

By Blurt Staff

First, an apology: We apologize for occasionally frequenting the UK tabloids' websites. But, hey, we're so used to standing in the checkout line at the local Bi-Lo waiting to have our groceries, beer and smokes rung up while we glom the latest celeb trash update that we can't help peeking at the overseas online tabloid milieu, too, just to find out who on the other side of the pond playing the Peruvian marching dance,  who's headed to rehab, what star has a simmering beef with some other star, who's been adopting the proverbial "wide stance" in the public bathrooms, and of course what public figures have been getting the most trim.

We're exhausted just typing that last paragraph. So let's cut to the chase: Amy Winehouse, according to a report in the most recent News Of The World, has apparently declared her marrage to the recently-released-from-the-slammer Blake Fielder-Civil to be over. Kaput. Pushing up daisies. Singing with the choir invisible. A dead parrot, er, union.

"It's over," Winehouse was attributed as saying to friends/associates (note that these quotes are not culled from official, on-the-record interviews, but from the proverbial "sources" that tabloids rely so heavily on). "There's no way back for us now. It was never going to last. We were only together for SEX. I fancied him like mad, like no one else I've ever known. But it's not enough, is it?"

No, no, Amy, it's not. It's never enough, in fact. First, there's love, then there's marriage, and then there's the fucking baby carriage. Your as-yet-unborn crack kid thanks you for the latter part remaining unresolved with Blake.

For the rest of you, if you want to read about (we quote directly from the news report here, including the capitalization), Winehouse's man's reported obsession with model Sophie Schandorff, stuff regarding a "wild sex life," drugs and "kinky stuff," "a string of female lovers" and "LESBIAN ROMPS and sordid THREESOMES," click on the provided link.

Wow, who writes this crap. (Waitaminnit... we just did...)

Just make sure you don't get distracted by the stuff on the right-hand side of the page - you know, the stories about "Church Girl Is Porn Star," "Sex: I Have 200 Orgasms A Day" and "Hookers Tell About Millionaire Stars"  and other, uh, stuff. Come to think of it, though - beats the hell out of standing in line at Bi-Lo...

These are hookers, not Amy and Blake:

Six, count ‘em, six CDs worth, all housed in a big-ass box that will sit on your shelf with all those other boxes....

By Fred Mills

Due December 8 in the UK from the Sanctuary label is a massive six-CD box set from the mighty Kinks. Titled Picture Book, it spotlights the group's earliest material for Pye ("You Really Got Me," duh) then moves chronologically through the Reprise, RCA and Arista years, eventually concluding with 1996's To The Bone (which was initially self-released but later saw a more widespread release on Capitol).

Scattered throughout, of course, are the expected rarities, live cuts and demos, plus a hefty 60-page book. Kinks mainman Ray Davies assembled the whole deal, naturally, and it marks a bit of a coup for Davies in one sense: the band's back catalog, though reissued many times over, remains in semi-disarray due to assorted licensing hiccups, so to have, say, Pye tracks rubbing shoulders with RCA material is pretty significant. See full track listing, below.

There's no word yet on an official American release for the box, however. Interestingly, Amazon.com is showing a Dec. 16 date, but that's for a title listed with import status. Sanctuary has distribution through Universal, so it's likely we'll see the box on these shores eventually.

However, you'll be able to order the box directly through Ray Davies' official website, so never fear! And if you do so, you just might be able to nab some special, as yet unspecified, context goodies.

According to a posting at the site:

This site will be taking pre-orders on the box set soon as well as running a special contest which will be exclusive to the websites and not on Amazon.

This is the first ever Kinks box set in the bands 40 year plus history. It has been compiled with the supervision of Ray Davies and contains 138 tracks spread across 6 CD's. There are many unreleased tracks, alternative takes and demos for the hardcore fans as well as all of the Kinks classics. It includes material never released outside of the UK and up to the bands break-up in the mid nineties.

The six cds are housed in a heavy lift lid classic style box with a 60 page booklet featuring a intro by Ray Davies as well as interviews with Ray, Dave and Mick and a full retelling of the Kinks story penned by esteemed rock critic Peter Doggett. It also contacts a full official time line and discography.

We also plan to have new merchandise for the box set including mugs and shirts so check back soon.

Disc 1:

01 Brian Matthew Introduces the Kinks
02 You Really Got Me
03 I'm a Hog for You Baby
04 I Believed You
05 Long Tall Sally
06 I Don't Need You Anymore
07 Stop Your Sobbing
08 I Gotta Move
09 Don't Ever Let Me Go
10 All Day and All of the Night
11 Tired of Waiting for You
12 Come on Now (outtake with two false starts)
13 There Is a New World Opening for Me (Kassner publishing demo)
14 Everybody's Gonna Be Happy
15 Who'll Be the Next in Line
16 Time Will Tell
17 Set Me Free
18 I Need You
19 See My Friend
20 Wait Till the Summer Comes Along
21 I Go to Sleep
22 A Little Bit of Sunlight (Kassner publishing demo)
23 This I Know (demo)
24 A Well Respected Man
25 This Strange Effect (With Brian Matthew speaking over intro)
26 Milk Cow Blues
27 Ring the Bells
28 I'm on an Island
29 Till the End of the Day
30 Where Have All the Good Times Gone
31 All Night Stand (Demo)
32 And I Will Love You
33 Sittin' on My Sofa

Disc 2:

01 Dedicated Follower of Fashion (alternate stereo take)
02 She's Got Everything
03 Mr. Reporter (Ray vocal)
04 Sunny Afternoon
05 I'm Not Like Everybody Else
06 This Is Where I Belong
07 Rosie Won't You Please Come Home
08 Too Much on My Mind
09 Session Man
10 End of the Season
11 Dead End Street (first version)
12 Village Green
13 Two Sisters
14 David Watts
15 Mr. Pleasant
16 Waterloo Sunset (mono mix)
17 Death of a Clown
18 Lavender Hill
19 Good Luck Charm
20 Autumn Almanac
21 Susannah's Still Alive
22 Animal Farm
23 Rosemary Rose
24 Berkeley Mews
25 Lincoln County
26 Picture Book
27 Days
28 Misty Water

Disc 3:

01 Love Me Till the Sun Shines (Top Gear session with Brian Matthew intro and outro)
02 The Village Green Preservation Society
03 Big Sky
04 King Kong
05 Drivin'
06 Some Mother's Son
07 Victoria
08 Shangri-La
09 Arthur
10 Got to Be Free
11 Lola (mono single version)
12 Get Back in the Line
13 The Moneygoround
14 Strangers
15 Apeman
16 God's Children
17 The Way Love Used to Be
18 Moments
19 Muswell Hillbilly
20 Oklahoma USA
21 Twentieth Century Man
22 Here Come the People in Grey

Disc 4:

01 Skin and Bone
02 Alcohol Live
03 Celluloid Heroes
04 Sitting in My Hotel
05 Supersonic Rocket Ship
06 You Don't Know My Name
07 One of the Survivors
08 Sitting in the Midday Sun
09 Sweet Lady Genevieve
10 Daylight
11 Mirror of Love
12 Artificial Man
13 Preservation (U.S. single)
14 Slum Kids (live)
15 Holiday Romance
16 Face in the Crowd
17 No More Looking Back
18 Sleepwalker
19 The Poseur

Disc 5:

01 Sleepless Night
02 Father Christmas
03 Misfits
04 A Rock 'N Roll Fantasy
05 Little Bit of Emotion
06 Attitude
07 Hidden Quality
08 A Gallon of Gas
09 Catch Me Now I'm Falling
10 Nuclear Love (demo)
11 Duke (demo)
12 Maybe I Love You (demo)
13 Stolen Away Your Heart (demo)
14 Low Budget (live)
15 Better Things
16 Destroyer
17 Yo-Yo
18 Art Lover
19 Long Distance

Disc 6:

01 Heart of Gold
02 Come Dancing (demo remix)
03 State of Confusion
04 Do It Again
05 Living on a Thin Line
06 Summer's Gone
07 How Are You?
08 The Road (live)
09 The Million-Pound-Semi-Detached
10 Down All the Days (To 1992)
11 The Informer
12 Phobia
13 Only a Dream
14 Drift Away
15 Scattered
16 Do You Remember Walter? (live)
17 To the Bone (demo)

This breaking news just in: John Lennon and Generalissimo Francisco Franco are BOTH still dead. No firm decision made yet on Jesus, however.

By Fred Mills

According to European media reports the Pope, via Italy's L'Osservatore Romano (described as the "semi-official Vatican newspaper"), has granted a more-or-less pardon to John Lennon for his notorious 1966 comment about the Beatles being bigger than Jesus.

For those who've only heard about the incident from their grandparents, Lennon had told a reporter during an interview with the London Evening Standard, "Christianity will go," he said. "It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right... We're more popular than Jesus now. I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me."

Subsequently the American media and religious powers-that-be in America essentially crucified Lennon in public - right wing nuts even organized Beatles record-burning events - and the pop star was eventually browbeat by his handlers into issuing what was considered, at that point in time at least, a career-saving apology-by-way-of-clarification of what he really meant.

Said Lennon, "I was not saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious thing. I apologise if that will make you happy. I still do not know quite what I've done. I've tried to tell you what I did do, but if you want me to apologise, if that will make you happy, then OK, I'm sorry."

Well, that made folks "happy." Then the Beatles went back to their business of becoming bigger than Jesus.

But for chrissakes - here we are, 42 years later, and a bunch of tight-assed clergymen are descending from the mount to let John off the hook after all these years? Wrote the Romano, in an article published this past Saturday marking the 40^th anniversary of The White Album, "The remark by John Lennon, which triggered deep indignation mainly in the United States, after many years sounds only like a 'boast' by a young working-class Englishman faced with unexpected success, after growing up in the legend of Elvis and rock and roll."

Lennon was right - about the "thick and ordinary" part, that is. His original comment was frontloaded with an astute insight into what was happening with young people at the time and certainly what was bubbling under culturally. It was social commentary he was making, not a cocky young man's boast or even a condemnation of Jesus.

"Working on a Dream" at Bruce's official site and at iTunes.

By Blurt Staff

Bruce Springsteen's single "Working on a Dream" is available now in the iTunes Store and will be available on www.brucespringsteen.net  today starting at noon EST.

 Free downloads will be available through both sites today. The track will be a paid download in the iTunes Store from tomorrow exclusively through December 9.

The song is the title track from the Boss' forthcoming album, due Jan. 27 from Columbia. It's the second freebie he's offered to fans in less than a month; at Halloween he made available a free download of "A Night With the Jersey Devil," a song that will be included with the new album as a bonus track.

The Kinks reunion rumors start here!

By Fred Mills

So with the music world abuzz over the news of the forthcoming Kinks box set (including, uh, BLURT), commentary invariably is turning to the will they/won't they reunite - the legendarily warring Davies brothers, that is.

Ray, of course, perennially fuels reunion rumors seemingly every time he's interviewed, most recently in a BBC interview in which he disclosed he was writing new material with an eye towards a possible reunion ("It depends if there's good music. We want good new music. I'd like to do it as a more collaborative thing than we used to do," Davies told the BBC), additionally reiterating what he'd said earlier this year, that it would also hinge his brother Dave's health. The younger Davies suffered a stroke in 2004.

Here's what Ray Davies also told BLURT last spring in an interview with Jud Cost:

BLURT: Will there ever be a Kinks reunion? I read somewhere that Dave hadn't spoken to you in six months.

I spoke to Dave about a month ago. And Dave really would like to do it. But it's not just me and Dave. If it could be done at all, I think everybody's got to have their heads into it. Some of the guys in the various bands we've had over the years get together and play every so often for fun. I went to one gig they did and just listened to them. It was Mick Avory on drums, John Dalton on bass and John Gosling on keyboards, and a couple of the girl backing vocalists from Preservation turned up. I was amazed how tight the band was. They call it the Cast Off Kinks.

BLURT: I've seen you and Dave play many times, and I've never seen you strike each other onstage. Or is that just part of the myth?

I think it's more like we'd throw a punch, miss and hit a wall. [laughs] If we'd been from somewhere like Nashville I think we'd have blown each other away by now. There was a lot of sibling rivalry. These things run deep. You can't analyze it, you can't say who's right and wrong. And you can't define what makes it go wrong. There's just an edge there that rubs up the wrong way.

So... that sounds like a "maybe."  And actually, time and time again, media pundits have poo-pooh'd the likelihood of a reunion, primarily citing some less-than-complimentary comments Dave made in the past about Ray. Pitchfork stated flatly that Dave "still seems to hate Ray's guts." And Billboard, Rolling Stone and other outlets, relying on a screed Dave posted to his official website in November of 2007, apparently took it as gospel that Dave's "It would be like a poor remake of ‘Night of the Living Dead,' Ray has been doing Karaoke Kinks shows since 1996" is the final word - despite it being a year old, and in rock ‘n' roll terms, that's very old, out of date news indeed. (Note: the www.davedavies.com website appears to be temporarily down.)

Well, far be it from us to jumpstart yet another Kinks reunion rumor. But you can read below what brother Dave very recently told journalist Cost (this time for an interview published in the latest issue of Magnet magazine). Clearly, Dave would be up for it, although it appears he's thinking only in terms of performances and not necessarily cutting new material, so read into it what you will. But "doing some Kinks shows" definitely meets the definition of "reunion."

So there you have it, in black and white and on the public record.

Dave Davies, to Jud Cost/Magnet:

"I don't see anything wrong with doing some Kinks shows. But I don't know if I'd feel too happy about going into the studio with Ray, because he's off his head, man. He's like spoiled. He's the frist person on this planet who would own up to thinking he's a genius. Real geniuses don't realize that they are."

Just off tour with Minus the Bear and gearing up for more...

By Blurt Staff

Tarheel country-fuzz popsters the Annuals, who recently completed a hugely successful tour with Minus the Bear, have announced an upcoming 2009 headlining tour in support of their sophomore record, Such Fun, out now on Canvasback Music. This tour will see support from Jessica Lea Mayfield and friends What Laura Says, who are signed to Annuals' label, Terpsikhore.  With two drum kits, six members, loads of instruments and performances packed with energy, the Annuals live experience is called "an absolute must for any music lover.  "

Such Fun embraces "a vast landscape of musical richness," combining frontman Adam Baker's accomplished songcraft with an instrumental palate that is even more colorful than their previous album, Be He Me.  With a cover painting by Bob Ross, a video for first song "Confessor" by Terry Gilliam's right-hand man Daniel Auber, and live shows that are winning over new fans every night, Annuals are being hotly tipped for year-end best-of lists already.

Additionally, Annuals recently received the honor of being influential tastemaker station WXPN's "Artist to Watch" for the month of November.  To learn more, check out XPN's website - http://xpn.org/music-artist/artist-to-watch/artist-to-watch-2008-11

Annuals Tour Dates:

1/20/09           Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
1/21/09           Iowa City, IA @ Maintenance Shop

1/22/09           Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle

1/23/09           Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop

1/24/09           Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo

1/25/09           Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa

1/27/09           Boston, MA @ Paradise

1/28/09           New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

1/30/09           Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's

1/31/09           Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle

2/6/09             Charlotte, NC @ The Visulite Theatre
2/7/09             Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
2/8/09 &nbs