Murder By Death have gone into the studio to begin work on their third album, set for release in the spring of 2006. The Bloomington, IN four-piece have enlisted former Jawbox frontman and noted producer J Robbins (The Promise Ring, Dismemberment Plan, Jets To Brazil) for the follow up to the critically acclaimed "Who Will Survive and What Will be Left of Them?" and will record in his studio The Magpie Cage, in Baltimore, MD. A demo track entitled “Dynamite Mine” can currently be heard on the band’s website.
The band, who are currently unsigned and looking for a label to partner with on the new release, has also announced an East Coast tour to preview their new material. After a year of heavy roadwork with artists as diverse as Lucero, Against Me!, The Weakerthans and Thursday, Murder By Death will headline two weeks of dates beginning beginning November 4th in Chicago, IL.
Impossible to categorize, Murder By Death’s haunting mix of gritty rock-n-roll, broodingly narrative lyrics, and dark, enchanting piano and cello has inspired a cult following. Their second album, “Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them”, a whiskey-soaked concept album about the devil wreaking havoc on a small town, was declared "perhaps one of the most beautifully crafted records...ever" by Alternative Press, with Stuff Magazine saying "You'll like it if you like Johnny Cash, Radiohead and homemade blood."
For their third release, titled "In Bocca Di Lupo", Murder By Death has created a different kind of concept album, inspired by Dante's Inferno. In true Murder By Death style, the songs are incredibly diverse - there is a tango, a seafarer's chant, waltzes, and heavy hitting rock songs. "In Bocca Di Lupo" will feature an array of additional musicians throughout the songs, including upright bass, a horn section, and a gospel choir.
"Music is supposed to be about intensity and feeling, but there's no thinking-Jesse Hasek
behind the music that's out there today
"We all pushed each other and refused to hold back. I feel like this is the first real Ill Niño record. We busted our asses on this one. This is whatHaving already seen Ill Nino once before (opening for Sevendust in 2003), I knew exactly what to expect when this 6-piece took the stage. Lightning fast riffs and a frenetic pace highlight this band from Brazil. With 2 percussionists, these Sepultura-disciples are able to have a full-time tribal percussionist, which helps define their sound. Christian Machado's vocals slice through each song, with an incredible ferocity and urgency. Formed in 1999 and signing with Roadrunner in 2000, they released their first two albums "Revolution/Revolucion" and "Confession" in 2001 and 2003, respectively. They churned through favorites such as "This Time's for Real," "What Comes Around," and "How Can I live." With their new album dropping this Tuesday (September 27th) titled One Nation Underground, they played some new material in support. One song that caught my ear was "What You Deserve," a catchy song that really stuck with me for a while. I found out later it will be there first single, so look for the video soon! Machado described the album as natural and unconventional. He said they listened to Salsa, Merengue, and Santeria to get ready to make this record. And as you can tell by his quote, he is incredibly proud of it. So when you go to the store TODAY to buy the new System of a Down and Index Case, make sure you pick up Ill Nino's One Nation Underground as well. Check them out!
Ill Niño should have been since the very beginning."
-Christian Machado
"We like coming to Des Moines because this is a very pissed-0ff part of the
country. We hope we can give you a place to vent your rage" - David Draiman
Listening to XM’s Deep Tracks for a few hours the other day, I was privy to their “Two Cool Old 45s” segment. For those who are unfamiliar, Deep Tracks is a channel that proclaims itself as being “dedicated to careers.” As a result, the station plays mostly deeper album cuts, reprises, live stuff, rare covers and longwinded jams. It is not a rarity to hear 12 minute long Frank Marino guitar solos or an obscure Charlie Daniels protest song (back when he was still a liberal). The channel has an old-school AM feel to it, and employs several slow talking, baritoned DJs just for good measure.
The “Two Cool Old 45s” segment, however, breaks the regular mold of the station and features two former A-sides from two classic bands in a row. Usually, these former hit songs abide by a unifying theme. For the particular segment I listened to, the theme was “summertime” and both ‘Hot Fun in the Summertime’ and ‘I Get Around’ were featured. While I certainly have always enjoyed the Beach Boys tune, it was Sly and the Family Stone's ‘Hot Fun in the Summertime’ that struck my fancy. In fact, I must ashamedly admit I had never heard the song until this time. Part of that, though, was due to my limited exposure to such hits as ‘Everyday People’ via television car advertisements---I resultantly just sort of wrote the band off and paid them little heed.
I like a number of things about ‘Hot Fun in the Summertime.’ The fact that it opens up with a gruvis piano lick goes a long way in my book. The Motownesque rhythm and harmonization, supplemented by a full brass and woodwind orchestra is appealing too. The refrain is whimsical and easy going, embodying the true spirit of summer. The song is relatively simple and innocent, and it clocks in at an amazingly short two-and-a-half minutes. I also swear that Genesis borrowed the background bass-beat and implemented it in their hit single ‘Misunderstanding.’ I suppose the timing surrounding me hearing the song was a factor as well. Considering that another summer has slowly fallen through the cracks, this Sly and the Family Stone number aroused feelings of longing and remembrance of the most recent June, July and August months.
I realize that I may be somewhat out of the loop, as many of you have assuredly heard ‘Hot Fun in the Summertime’ many a time before. However, I feel that even a discovery for only myself can serve as a rediscovery for the rest. With that said, dust off your vinyls and give ‘Hot Fun in the Summertime’ one more spin before the last of the warm season passes.
I believe in a thing called love. I also believe that Justin Hawkins and company, falsetto and all, are soon to release their second studio effort. The Darkness' One Way Ticket to Hell...And Back should hit stores November 28. The first single, 'One Way Ticket,' will be available to the DJs November 14.
Manchester alt-rock icons Oasis have garnered five nominations for the 2005 Q Awards. The band will be competing with Coldplay, James Blunt, Green Day and U2 for such awards as Best Track and Best Album.
World Leader Pretend orginates from New Orleans, Louisiana, and it has been said they culled their name from an R.E.M. song. Their latest album Punches contains a number of stimulating tunes, yet it has been their latest single, entitled 'Bang Theory,' that has peaked my interest as of late.
The DVD will boast with a 30-minute documentary, concert footage and a TVspecial about the event with a total of 18 songs. Also included is a bonus live CD culled from an recent AOL Sessions performance. A single DVD version will also be sold, with the documentary and 14 live tracks.
While such an unforgiving schedule may play havoc with the lives and sanity of some people, Hawthorne doesn’t seem to mind the lifestyle.
“No, it’s fine with me. I don’t really have any vested interest in going home,” Hawthorne says. “I don’t have a girlfriend or anything like that and my family lives in a different city than I do, so I don’t mind. There are times when it is trying but for the most part being on tour is fine.”
"No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun -- for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax -- This won't hurt."
Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce intend on reuniting October 24-26 for a few shows at New York's Madison Square Garden. Collectively known as Cream, the band disbanded in 1969 proceeding the release of their now classic album Wheels of Fire and the playing of their final show at Royal Albert Hall soon after. Their aptly titled, final studio album Goodbye came out in 1969. Although the group were together for a mere two years, they helped to lay the foundation of blues based rock for decades to come.
Sunday night, in celebration of Labor Day, The Lonely Note crew and a couple friends got together to watch my favorite movie of all time - Bloodsport. This epic 1988 martial arts film not only showcases Jean Claude Van Damme at his best, but it is also a benchmark in musical scores. Van Damme's half-hour long flashback, serving to retell of his background training, could easily be one of the longest flashbacks in film history; however, it would seem like an eternity without the right musical accompaniment to move it along.
