My Poproks

Radiohead have sort of begun releasing tour dates for 2008, a lot like they “sort of” released a record this year. Just kidding. The band put up a handful of UK and European tour dates for next summer in support of their “pay what you want” release, In Rainbows. Included on the list are the Hurricane and Southside festivals in Germany, as well as a confirmed date at the Civica Arena in Italy (SOLD OUT, what’s up eBay?). Other then a few more fests, the dates seem somewhat tentative, with no day or venue confirmed.

June - Dublin, Ireland - 2 dates
June - Paris, France - 2 dates
June - Barcelona, Spain
June - Nimes, France - 2 dates
June 18 - Milan, Italy - Civica Arena
June 20 - Schessel, Germany - Hurricane Festival
June 22 - Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany - Southside Festival
June - London, England - 2 dates
June - Glasgow, Scotland
June - Manchester, England
July - Amsterdam, Netherlands
July 3-6 - Roskilde, Denmark - Roskilde Festival
July 3-6 - Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter Festival
July - Berlin, Germany

You can purchase tickets for the confirmed shows through Radiohead’s tour page.

Rollingstone.com reports that Quiet Riot bassist Kelli Garni released a statement regarding the death of singer Kevin Dubrow. Police at the crime scene “found no signs of foul play and are ruling this an accidental death,” and also believe that DuBrow was dead for about six days before being discovered.

The statement also explained that his friends started to worry when he didn’t show up to either of his girlfriends’ houses for Thanksgiving, and one of them had a neighbor check on him (weird, but true). The neighbor found Dubrow in his bed, and he appeared to have died in his sleep. The cause of death is still undisclosed.

Click above to watch the new White Stripes video for “Conquest”! Jack White trained with bullfighter Dennis Borba to play the role of a matador in the video!

Too bad all of their songs are only 3:25, because this is all kinds of awesome. And yes, as always, Jack White is way…way cooler than you are.

The Moz is no longer without a label, but don’t worry…I’m sure he’s still really depressed.

NME.com reports that Morrissey has signed on with Polydor/Decca for the UK release of his new albums (yes, I said album(s)). He confirmed in October to the BBC that his new album was ready to go. “The plan is to make a new album after this tour. It’s absolutely written and completely ready.”

Morrissey’s manager also told Billboard.com that there is an upcoming hits compilation in the works as well. He also plans yet another tour early next year, and the new album is tentatively due for a September ‘08 release.

That’s right! For the second year in a row, The Killers have released a Christmas song (last year’s “A Great Big Sled” was a donation to iTunes for the (RED) Campaign). The verses are a strange mix of Flower’s signature vocals and a cowboy Santa(?), and the chorus is basically every Killers chorus…but never-the-less, click above to check out the video for “Don’t Shoot Me Santa.”

Nigger’s not dropping ’til February!

What I mean is…Nas’ new album is being pushed back until next year, despite the fact that it’s already the most talked about album of 2007 (not including In Rainbows, but if he throws in a “pay what you want” mp3 release, that may change). Nas’ controversially titled new record, Nigger, was set to hit stores before the holidays, but the new single won’t be released until sometime in January. Surely, it has something to do with the release of his Greatest Hits this week.

He also told MTV news that a supposed leak of a track off the record actually isn’t even on it. Nas says the song “What It Is” must be a mix someone made using their own beat, and definitely will not be on the album. I think a fan just got a little too excited. But really, who’s not looking forward to this? Al Sharpton is especially excited.

Many music news sources have referenced albumsix.com a few times in the past couple of months. They’ve announced that the website is for Weezer’s long anticipated sixth album, and that the release date and album title posted are “official.” Billboard, Rolling Stone, and Pitchfork Media have referenced news from the site as if it is an official Weezer source.

Well, albumsix.com now sports a disclaimer that sets the record straight:

“We are not affiliated with Weezer of Geffen Records.”

The following quote from Rivers Cuomo was posted on the site; “Weezer and Geffen Records have no affiliation with www.albumsix.com. The new Weezer record is not called “Tout Ensemble” and there is no official release date yet for the album.” The creators of the site also wrote that they did not think the hoax would last as long as it did, and ended up starting up their own message board.

So unfortunately, Weezer’s new record is not called Tout Ensemble, and it’s not coming out on April 22nd of next year. Who knows when and if album six will ever come out? Hopefully, this will hold you over.

Oh, Weeze.

Alicia Keys kicked a lot of ass this week! Her new record As I Am debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 Album Charts, while her single “No One” is number 1 on the Hot 100, Hot Digital Songs, and Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs. The album sold 742,426 copies, and is the highest digital selling album by a female artist…ever.  Vibe.com also reports that “No One” is currently the most-played video on BET, MTV, VH1, VH1 Soul and MTV Hits.

The record features songs co-written by Linda Perry (”Superwoman,” “The Thing About Love,” “Sure Looks Good to Me”), and John Mayer (”Lesson Learned”), and they’re all great, and the rest are great, and Alicia Keys is great.

The End.

At some point in the last 10 years, Fuse has become television’s true “music television.” With new original series, countdown shows, and programming that are all completely music related, it’s time to just give up on MTV “playing more videos,” and start watching Fuse.

Anyways, Fuse is premiering an all new original series on Monday November 26th @ 10pm called Videos That Rocked the World. Each episode will focus on a groundbreaking video from pop music’s short video history, and feature interviews by the artists themselves and other artists who love them.

5 Episodes will premiere every night next week, followed by a half hour of that artists video catalog, or Loaded:

Monday
SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT
NIRVANA

Tuesday
LIKE A PRAYER
MADONNA

Wednesday
WALK THIS WAY
AEROSMITH

Thursday
HERE IT GOES AGAIN
OK GO

Friday
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
GUNS N ROSES

Watch clips from the show and vote for your favorites on Fuse.tv.

Bono is talking. So, “Shh.”

This time, the U2 frontman is talking on the iLike.com iCast about the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of The Joshua Tree, which is available on CD, double CD, or 3 disc limited edition box set.  In this clip, Bono discusses “Wave of Sorrow,” a previously unreleased track from The Joshua Tree sessions. You can also sign up for iLike, and get updates on your favorite artists by selecting “iLike” on their profile page. Then you can download their songs to your iTunes and put them on your iPod and it’s iAwesome.

A full video of the clip is also up on U2.com.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have filed a law suit against Showtime’s new series Californication, claiming that they stole the name from the band’s multi-platinum album. The show stars David Duchovney, who is also a co-producer. The title is allegedly in violation of the federal trademark law, and the band wants them to stop using the title immediately. “For some TV show to come along and steal our identity is not right,” said frontman Anthony Kiedis in a statement. Anthony, I’m kind of dissapointed. Sueing a show over it’s name? That’s Californication. (Couldn’t decide whether to go there, or the more obvious X-Files route. Oh hell… Kiedes, trust no one).

Full article on TMZ.com.

5

The Killers Sawdust is a generous offering of goodies, including b-sides, rarities, remixes, and covers from the band’s short two album career. “Tranquilize,” a new track featuring Lou Reed, is by far the highlight. A dark distorted bass-line and a Pink Floyd esque children’s choir hold together the 3 and a half minute short rock anthem. After that, there are some rough edges that make it tough to get through all 17 tracks.

A Joy Division cover comes across as sort of a yawner, while the alternate versions of tracks from Hot Fuss and Sam’s Town aren’t all that alternate. The only one that stands out is a piano ballad-y rendition of the title track of Sam’s Town, and it doesn’t really translate. Another Live From Abbey Road track, “Romeo and Juliet”…well, could never really be bad, but doesn’t sound like The Killers as much as it does Brandon Flowers singing for Dire Straits.

B-sides like “Under the Gun” and “Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf” are decent…for b-sides. Though, stylistically, Flowers is as charismatic as ever, and his signature saddened bellow shines through on the weaker tracks. “Leave the bourbon on the shelf/And I’ll drink it by myself/And I never liked your hair or those people that you lie with/But I’m not satisfied until I hold you tight.”

Don’t get me wrong; any Killers song is catchy as hell. But…for the most part, this is a collection that only an avid fan could love.

The holiday album releases are already in full effect. This week; a plethora of re-releases, reissues, b-side collections, and greatest hits (honestly, don’t you love those stocking stuffers?).

U2 Joshua Tree Deluxe
20th Anniversary reissue of the Joshua Tree, plus a bonus package of b-sides, rarities, photos, and handwritten lyrics.

Amy Winhouse Frank
The Crackhouse’s first record re-released on Universal

Bob MarleyExodus 30th
Pretty self explanatory…

Gorillaz D-Sides
More b-sides and remixes for those of you who can’t get enough Gorillaz b-sides and remixes

High School Musical Hits Collection
High School Musical and High School Musical 2? Yes, please!

Nine Inch Nails Y34RZ3R0R3MIX3D (CD/DVD)
And incase you can’t read that, it says “Year Zero Remixed.” Do they not have a manager? Have to say though, this is pretty awesome. Includes remixes of Year Zero tracks by anyone and everyone, and the files for the songs so you can remix them yourself.

Check out a complete list of releases for tomorrow at newmusictipsheet.com.

9

Even if Radiohead’s In Rainbows was a monumental disappointment, this record would still make pop history. Radiohead started the warnings just a few weeks ago, posting coded messages on their blog Dead Air Space. It was only a week until they posted about their album release, giving fans only a few days to decide what they would pay to download the new album (if you didn’t already know, the price is up to you). As a result, the entire music industry is running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off. It’s almost completely over-shadowed the fact that the album is awesome.

At first listen, it seems as if each song is taken from a different time in Radiohead’s career. From the Amnesiac electronic blips of “15 Steps” to The Bends guitars of “Bodysnatchers,” every phase the band has had seems to be covered in just 10 tracks. Songs like “Nude” and “House of Cards” creep along like bottom tracks of OK Computer, while “All I Need” pounds steadily like the heart of Kid A. There is not one weak link on this carefully crafted and long-awaited release, and surely every critic must be racking their brain trying to find one. They won’t.

Surely a condensed version of a much longer album, In Rainbows is Radiohead in their simplest form. Basic acoustic ballads like “Faust Arp” are few and far between for the band of late, but make an explosive comeback on Rainbows. As abstract as they appear to be at times, Radiohead still know how to make a solid song from beginning to end. Where Kid A and Amensiac (and even Hail to The Thief) tended to be a bit too experimental at times, they still managed to showcase the band’s exceptional songwriting. Though it’s not their best overall, as far as concise pop songs are concerned, In Rainbows is their strongest record since The Bends.

Thom Yorke still has a pretty good understanding of his lyrical ability; while extraordinary, he admits on the aforementioned “Bodysnatchers,” “I’ve no idea what I am talking about/I’m trapped in this body and I can’t get out.” That is definitely true. While In Rainbows is probably Thom’s most blunt lyrical offering ever, he still does his best to keep himself (and all of us) as confused as possible; and he’s still pretty gloomy. “Turn me on to phantoms/I follow to the edge of the Earth/And fall off,” laments Yorke on “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” as the track swims (no pun intended) gracefully on guitars and strings and Yorke’s eerie delivery.

One problem with the record - that is purely of the physical - is the extremely quick run time. The 10 tracks seem to fly by, and it is a bit disconcerting considering the delay. Most of the tracks have already been on rotation in Radiohead’s setlist since the HTTT tour (some even older), but I think the majority of the wait can be attributed to the end of their record deal (the 3 year gap between OK and Kid A notwithstanding). Of course, you may order the discbox from inrainbows.com to hear additional tracks on a bonus disc, vinyl, the works. It won’t be out until December, but what’s 2 months when you’ve already waited 4 years?

PLUG: Independent Music Awards announced their nominees for 2008, and yes, Radiohead counts now. Album of the Year nominees include a little album called In Rainbows, which technically counts as an independent or “self release.” Other nominees include: Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible, Spoon’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (5 Ga’s? Yeah), and Band of Horses’ Cease to Begin to name a few.

Band of Horses (pictured above) took the Album of the Year award last year for their record Everything all the Time. Other categories indlude New Artist of the Year, DJ Album of the Year, and so on. You can vote for your favorites at www.plugawards.com. The event will be held March 6 in NYC. No Artists or presenters have been announced yet.

The Police Reunion tour this summer (which I missed, because I suck) was named the top grossing tour of 2007 at the 4th Annual Billboard Touring Awards on Thursday (yeah, there’s an award for everything). 20 years in the making, the tour grossed a total of $171 million over 53 shows. Other awards included breakthrough award (Justin Timberlake’s “Futuresex/Loveshow” tour, which $115.8 million), top festival (The Download Festival at Donington Castle in Britain), and top arena (duh, MSG).

In a new interview on Rollingstone.com, Panic! at the Disco guitarist/lyricist Ryan Ross talks about the state of recording and Panic!’s new musical direction. “People have taken technology so far, to the point where music is almost sterile these days,” says Ross. Panic! made their first record on a $10,000 budget when they were only 17, and now hope to take a totally different approach.

Now that they’ve listened to their parents Beatle records, they’ve decided to record the new album live in the studio as opposed to one instrument at a time. “It’s a lot harder, but it’s making us play better.” One can only hope (Oh, I’m just kidding around! Everyone loves that “I chimed in” song and they know it)! Read the full article here.

This just in… this is the greatest song ever.

In other news, Lupe Fiasco will be performing the song (”Superstar”) tonight to kick off the mtvU Woodie Awards (AKA: The Slightly Less Crappy Version of the VMA’s).

The show will also feature performances by Rilo Kiley and The Academy Is… (yes, the ellipsis is included in their band name). Don’t get mtvU? Don’t worry. No one does. You can watch the live stream at 8pm tonight on mtvU.com.

Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool is in stores 12/18. Get this record, if not for any other reason but “Us Placers” (Lupe produced track featuring Kanye West and Pharrell Williams…oh and a Thom Yorke sample).

OK, we all know Jack White is cooler then we are, but must he continue to rub salt in the wound? The White Stripes announced that they will release 3 different 7″ vinyls (black, red and white) for their new single “Conquer.” Each release will feature a new track co-produced by Beck, who also contributed vocals, piano, and slide guitar. All 3 can be pre-ordered for a special price of 3 pounds via recordstore.co.uk.

7-inch #1 (Black Vinyl)
Side A
1. Conquest
Side B
1. It’s My Fault For Being Famous

7-inch #2 (White Vinyl)
Side A
1. Conquest
Side B
1. Honey, We Can’t Afford To Look This Cheap

7-inch #3 (Red Vinyl)
Side A
1. Conquest (Acoustic Mariachi Version)
Side B
1. Cash Grab Complications On The Matter

Jack White trained with bullfighter Dennis Borba to play the role of a matador in the song’s video, which premiers Nov. 26th on MTV.

Read more about the matador themed trading cards and posters that will come with each record on The White Stripes official site. Honestly, for 3 pounds (exactly 6.13767 U.S. dollars - thank you Xe.com), that’s pretty effing cool.

In support of their 6th album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, the Foo Fighters have announced their first batch of tour dates for 2008.  Tickets will go on sale Friday the 16th at 4pm. The band plans to add more dates in the near future. Check Foofighters.com for updates.

January 2008
23 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
25 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum
26 - Nashville, TN - Municipal Auditorium

February 2008
18 - Worcester, MA - DCU Center
21 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Spectrum
24 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena