"You're The Kind Of Girl" from forthcoming album on Truth & Soul.

By Blurt Staff

There aren't many artists who keep their cool well into their fifth decade in the business, but R&B veteran Lee Fields is one. With a career spanning 43 years and having toured the world over with his raucous-yet-tender voice, the music he's making today is the best of his career. He will release new album A Faithful Man March 13, 2012 on Brooklyn's Truth & Soul Records. Listen to the album version of debut single "You're The Kind Of Girl":

You're The Kind Of Girl by truthandsoulrecords

Faithful Man is Fields' follow-up to the well-received 2009 album My World, and his second album for Truth & Soul -a label reinventing the Motown-style soul factory for a brand new era. The album interprets and then pushes the formulas of good soul thanks to Truth & Soul producers and co-owners Jeff Silverman and Leon Michels, as well as the high level of musicianship of everyone involved. (These are the same individuals that co-wrote, produced and played on Aloe Blacc's global smash I Need A Dollar, and have provided the backdrop for records by El Michels Affair, Adele, Liam Bailey, Ghostface Killah and Jay-Z, to name a few.)

Born and raised in the small town of Wilson, North Carolina, Fields spent his teenage years singing in church and listening to the classic sound of '60s Memphis. By the late sixties, Lee was touring with the bands who would lay the foundation for funk music, including Kool and the Gang, Sammy Gordon and the Hip-Huggers, and Little Royal. And back in the 1970s, Fields was nicknamed Little JB for his similarity to James Brown.

Faithful Man Track Listing:

Faithful Man  

I Still Got It    

You're The Kind Of Girl        

I'm Still Hanging On  

Intermission   

Wish You Were Here 

Who Do You Love    

Moonlight Mile          

It's All Over But The Crying  

Walk On Through That Door 

Whether you fancy becoming an actor in an indie film or simply want a tour of Glasgow, this one's for you, geeks!

By Blurt Staff

Pitchfork is reporting that Belle and Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch has initiated a fundraising campaign through Kickstarter in order to finance the film he's trying to get off the ground. Titled God Help the Girl, it's an outgrowth of his B&S offshoot project God Help the Girls, which had a 2009 album and EP.

According to the report, Murdoch is working with L.A. producer Barry Mendel (Bridesmaids, Munich, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Sixth Sense, Rushmore). Premiums associated with the Kickstarter campaign include enamel buttons, autographed posters, "bound copies of the script," a guitar slated to be used in the film, an actual walk-on role in the film, and a dinner date with Murdoch that includes a tour of Glasgow. No doubt the latter two goodies slot in at the higher tiers of contributions...

As of this writing the campaign was 14% funded ($14,631 pledged) with 58 days to go. The official description reads thusly:

"God Help The Girl is a musical film written and to be directed by Stuart Murdoch, leader of Belle and Sebastian. Set in Glasgow, Scotland over a long, lazy summer, the film is about a girl called Eve who is in hospital dealing with some emotional problems and starts writing songs as a way of getting better.  Her music leads her to a guy called James and a girl called Cassie each with talents and musical dreams of their own.  The story emanates from the universal idea of having a dream and how living it can free you from your troubles." 

Another superstar gets the social networking bug. Meanwhile, let's give props to one of the Blurt staffers for his Petty-related work (see below).

By Fred Mills

Billboard.com is reporting on the Twitter-hosted Q&A session yesterday between Tom Petty and his tweeting fans - in a novel twist, the artist (who has admitted he's been slow on the social networking uptake) took questions via Twitter ( @tompetty) and responded in the standard 140-or-less characters format. ("Very frustrating...  not enough space to answer" was one comment he made about said format.)

In addition to some of the expected banalities associated with tweeting, Petty did disclose that he's got a new album planned ("too soon to know details") and that he hopes to "make another great album." Also, he's been working on an expanded edition of his 1994 classic Wildflowers, will put together another Mudcrutch project eventually, and will definitely release some of his album in the Blu-ray format.

Petty and his Heartbreakers announced a 2012 tour earlier this week that will include 9 American dates (including April 28 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival) plus a series of European shows. Full itinerary can be found below.

Meanwhile, we here at BLURT can't help but giving props to one of our own: Associate Editor Andy Tennille, who worked as the official tour photographer on Petty's 2010 road trip, recently had to of his choice photos appear on the record sleeve of Petty's Black Friday limited edition live LP Kiss My Amps Live. Check out the front and back images - and congrats to Tennille. Yes, we are jealous...

Tour Dates:

April 19: 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO

April 21: Verizon Arena, Little Rock, AR

April 24: Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, NM

April 26: INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita, KS

April 28: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA

April 29: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park, Alpharetta, GA

May 1: Germain Arena, Estero, FL

May 3: Amway Center, Orlando, FL

May 5: Frank Irwin Center, Austin, TX

June 3: Mile One Centre, St. John's, NL

June 7: 02 Arena, Dublin, IR

June 8: The Marquee, Cork, IR

June 10: 02 World, Hamburg, GER

June 12: Open Air, Horsens, DK

June 14: The Globe, Stockholm, SWE

June 15: Norwegian Wood Festival, Oslo, NOR

June 22: Isle of Wight Festival, UK

June 24: Hallenstadion, Zurich, SWI

June 25: Lanxess Arena, Cologne, GER

June 27: Grand Rex, Paris, FR

June 29: Piazza Napoleone, Lucca, IT

June 30: SAP Arena, Mannheim, GER

Compilation of the The Cramps' early singles plus some tracks from the same period that were never issued on that format. Let's review what we've learned thus far via some video clips below, too.

By Blurt Staff

Leave it to the crate-digging and trash-loving archivists at Spain's Munster Records to dig up a Cramps box. Arriving in stores next week: File Under Sacred Music: Early Singles 1978-1981, a limited edition box of ten 7"ers - also released as a single CD - featuring  six replica sleeves and four new sleeves especially designed for the edition, plus a booklet of photos and memorabilia.

Such timeless Lux Interior/Poison Ivy gems as "Human Fly," "Drug Train," "Garbage Man" and "Goo Goo Muck" will be included, natch. See the full tracklisting below.

Partnering with Munster for the project is no less a Cramps authority than UK journalist Lindsey Hutton, so without further ado we'll turn this news clip narrative over to him so he can explain further in his own signature style. Take it away, Lindsey...

***

From Lindsey Hutton:

"I've no idea why The Cramps don't seem to figure in a lot of alleged histories of punk or just plain music in general. This could be down to them being utterly or unpigeonhole-able (is that even a word?) or just outright ignorance. Perhaps a bit of both but hey, let's not concern ourselves with that. The band changed the face of culture. Period. Without bothering "the charts" or playing too many stadiums, their seismic effect on everything you hold dear will be felt for all time.

"This ancient knowledge - some of their grooviest gravy - is presented here for your delectation and delight. So get a crack-a-lackin' with blasting these twisted hymns morning, noon and night. And while the ruckus is in full swing, pray to whoever might listen that Ivy will get around to compile the ultimate document of her undulating combo in commemoration of their services to entertainment. The bloody gears of this here rockin' machine will be rolling way beyond the foreseeable future.

"Reasons outwith anyone's control might mean that you can't see the band anymore but no one - no how - will be able to make this thing stop. Meanwhile, dig into this feast for the little ghouls that understood all along or indeed anyone with a decent set of ears."

TRACKLIST:

1. SURFIN' BIRD

2. THE WAY I WALK

3. HUMAN FLY

4. DOMINO

5. LONESOME TOWN

6. MYSTERY PLANE (Original mix)

7. FEVER

8. GARBAGEMAN

9. TV SET

10. THE MAD DADDY (Original mix)     

11. DRUG TRAIN

12. LOVE ME

13. I CAN'T HARDLY STAND IT

14. TWIST & SHOUT

15. URANIUM ROCK

16. GOO GOO MUCK

17. SHE SAID

18. THE CRUSHER

19. SAVE IT

20. NEW KIND OF KICK

21. ROCKIN' BONES

22. VOODOO IDOL

Also check spring tour dates below.

By Blurt Staff

The first song from Sleigh Bells' forthcoming sophomore album, Reign of Terror, is called "Born to Lose," and you can check it out here:

Sleigh Bells - "Born To Lose" by TheNJUnderground

Produced by guitarist Derek Miller, and written by Miller and singer Alexis Krauss, Reign of Terror is the highly anticipated follow up to 2010's Treats.

Prior to Reign of Terror's release, Sleigh Bells will embark on a full tour of Florida, where Miller grew up, with fellow Floridian Diplo and Brooklyn's Liturgy.Dates are below.

Tour dates:

2/3/12              Gainesville, FL @ Florida Theater

2/4/12              Tampa, FL @ The Ritz

2/6/12              Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall

2/7/12              Tallahassee, FL @ The Moon

2/9/12              Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird Live

2/10/12            Orlando, FL @ Firestone

2/11/12            Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution

2/14/12            Miami, FL @ Grand Central

Not a bad way to mark a 50^th anniversary.

By Blurt Staff

The founding members of The Beach Boys, one of the world's most legendary bands in popular music history, will reunite for a global 50^th Anniversary CELEBRATION in 2012.  Beach Boys Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks will come together for a new studio album and commemorative catalog releases with Capitol/EMI and a 50-date international tour to begin in April with a headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival ("Jazz Fest") as well as other exciting events to be announced. 

Brian Wilson says, "This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again."

Mike Love says, "We got together at Capitol Records and re-recorded ‘Do It Again.'  Brian and I wrote that song which went to number 1 in Great Britain, Australia and elsewhere some 44 years ago.  Brian paid me a compliment saying, ‘How can a guy sound that great so many years later?'  Later on, while working out some harmonies on a new song Brian had written, I got a chance to return the compliment.  It was a thrill to be around a piano again with Brian, Alan and Bruce and experience firsthand the brilliance of Cousin Brian's gift for vocal arrangements.  I am very much looking forward to David Marks joining us and thrilling with his surf guitar licks.  Music has been the unifying and harmonizing fact of life in our family since childhood.  It has been a huge blessing that we have been able to share with the world.  Wouldn't It Be Nice to Do It Again?  Absolutely!"

Al Jardine says, "The Beach Boys were recently inducted into the California Hall of Fame. From our humble beginnings as brothers, cousins and friends, we have been honored to sing the praises of California, and I'm really excited for our fans to be able to see us again in concert on the world stage, and to celebrate our 50th anniversary together with a new studio album."

Bruce Johnston says, "I will be looking forward to singing Brian Wilson's melodies and Mike Love's lyrics once again in concert with many of the original band members, but imagine what we all could come up with vocally in a recording studio atmosphere under Brian's musical direction."

David Marks says, "I'm really looking forward to celebrating this important milestone in The Beach Boys' history with the other guys, and with Capitol Records - where it all began 50 years ago. It means a lot to me that we can all reunite and pay tribute to the fans who have kept the music alive."

The Beach Boys have already recorded several songs for their new album, to be released in 2012 by Capitol/EMI, with more tracks to be recorded before its completion.  The as-yet-untitled album, the first to feature all of the band's surviving original members in decades, is being produced by Brian Wilson and executive produced by Mike Love.  

The Beach Boys and Capitol/EMI have also teamed up for a 50^th Anniversary campaign spotlighting the band's entire catalog, with several new commemorative releases planned for 2012, including a new hits collection and a career-spanning box set.

Roger Faxon, CEO of EMI Group commented: "It's no exaggeration to say that The Beach Boys are one of the greatest and most loved bands that the world has ever produced, and true American icons. We are incredibly proud to take this next step with them as our partnership enters its fiftieth year, and I can't wait to see the band back together doing what they do better than anyone else."

Colin Finkelstein, COO of EMI Music North America said: "We're honored to continue Capitol/EMI's historic partnership with The Beach Boys as they celebrate their fiftieth anniversary.  The Beach Boys bring the best of California's sun and surf culture to people all over the world with their music, and we're really looking forward to working with the band on the new album and commemorative catalog releases - a real CELEBRATION of fifty years!"

Quint Davis, producer/director, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival says, "It's an honor to present the original Beach Boys reunion at Jazz Fest 2012.  Hosting the greatest artists of our era has always been the primary mission of Jazz Fest, and certainly The Beach Boys are unsurpassed as an iconic American musical and cultural institution. Every spring Jazz Fest is the number-one destination for good vibrations and fun, fun, fun; on April 27th, when The Beach Boys reunite on our biggest stage, it's going to feel like a thrilling homecoming for everyone lucky enough to be there.  We're all looking forward to experiencing the magic and the joy."

"Born To Die" due out on single Jan. 23.


By Blurt Staf


Although songstress Lana Del Rey's new "Born To Die" has a certain Lana-by-numbers feel to it - swaying, languid and lush, widescreen production, etc. - the new Woodkid-produced video she just unveiled is pretty entertaining. Something about blood and tigers, hmmm... and lots of murky love scenes. Watch it, below. The full album will be release Jan. 30.

Port Of Morrow drops in the spring.

By Blurt Staff

The Shins have confirmed a March 2012 release for their fourth album, Port Of Morrow. It will be released jointly on James Mercer's own Aural Apothecary label and Columbia Records.

Port of Morrow was recorded in Los Angeles and Portland over the course of 2011 with Mercer as usual handling all songwriting duties, lead vocals and the majority of instrumentation. The record was produced by Greg Kurstin and mixed by Rich Costey. The attached cover art was created by Jacob Escobedo.

Tracklisting:

1. The Rifle's Spiral

2. Simple Song

3. It's Only Life

4. No Way Down

5. September

6. Bait and Switch

7. Fall of '82

8. For A Fool

9. 40 Mark Strasse

10. Port of Morrow

An exact release date as well as touring plans will be announced shortly. As with the dates earlier this year, the upcoming tour will see James Mercer leading a Shins lineup of Yuuki Matthews (bass), Jessica Dobson (guitar), Richard Swift (keyboards) and Joe Plummer (drums).

Er, it's not exactly the poll you were probably thinking of, however...

By Fred Mills

We asked, you squawked: a couple of weeks ago we heard about Perry Farrell causing Brazilian music fans to get up in arms over some comments he made to a reporter regarding their general lack of savvy about music. OOPS! Perry later backpedaled, somewhat, but not before the news raced around the internet faster than a plate of olives through an alcoholic's intestines. Naturally, then, our thoughts turned to other notable verbal gaffes that rock stars have made over the years, going all the way back to when Frank Sinatra famously condemned the then-nascent rock ‘n' roll music and John Lennon's ill-advised (though misinterpreted) comments about the Beatles being bigger than Jesus, all the way up to the near-present, with both rapper Tyler, The Creator and the always-up-for-a-provocative-quote Courtney Love uttering choice gay slurs on record and from the concert stage.

In between, of course, were such gems as spewed by Elvis Costello (using the ‘N' word in 1979), Bob Dylan (dismissing women as credible performers in 1987), and even Limp Bizkit motormouth Fred Durst (on why he didn't bother to vote in the 2008 elections). Role models all!

So we polled the BLURT readership on who among the aforementioned, and several others, deserves to be inducted into the Foot-In-Mouth Hall of Fame. It was no friggin' contest: Kanye West ran away with it, taking a whopping 27% of the tally. Although to be honest, since he was nominated on the basis of "anything" he spouts off about rather than some specific misdeed, perhaps the deck was stacked. But screw it; this is our poll, not yours.

To that end, your friendly neighborhood BLURT came in, uh, 2^nd in the online poll (for "creating dumb online polls" - hey pal, if they're so dumb, howcum you be votin' in ‘em week after week, har har...), although it was a distant 15% to Kanye's 27%. But the ever-reliable Elvis Costello was nipping at our heels thanks to that notorious ‘N' word incident, nabbing 13%. And he thought that he had finally lived it down with the passage of time... no way, bro.

View the complete results below, and don't forget to vote in our new poll in which we ask you to pick your favorite album of 2011.

Mark a big "G" for "Genedetta"...

By Blurt Staff

Sometimes having the biggest mouth, the fattest bankroll and the largest stash of chutzpah still isn't enough to make you immune from life's little inconveniences - such as having your website thoroughly disrupted by hactivist group Anonymous. Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, you will recall, had exactly that happen to him about a year ago, in October of 2011, not once by twice in Anonymous-spawned denial-of-service campaigns, after thoroughly pissing off the hackers. (Gee, who hasn't Simmons pissed off at some point or another?)

Yesterday, though, Kevin Poe, of Manchester, Conn., was arrested and arraigned on federal charges related to the Simmons hack, according to a report by Billboard.com, which noted, "Poe used a computer program favored by Anonymous that sends extremely large requests over a network in an attempt to overwhelm a target computer, according to the indictment."

Poe had been indicted in Los Angeles on a count of conspiracy and a count of "unauthorized impairment of a protected computer." He was released on $10,000 bond and could face up to 15 years in prison.

***

Meanwhile, back in June, Simmons also predicted that Obama would prevail in the 2012 Presidential election, but he's been generally quiet on developments since then. Maybe he'll blog about the political race on his website?