Cold Retires

It’s always unfortunate to see a well-established rock band call it quits, but, as the saying goes, no good thing ever lasts.

The Jacksonville band, Cold, has decided to split up. This comes after their fourth studio album, A Different Kind of Pain, experienced a weak sales performance. Singer Scooter Ward addresses the issue in an official statement on the band’s message board. The following excerpts are highlights from the full message.

"When you put a song out on the radio, it is what it is. It's a gamble on your life and your career and your hope. People just didn't react the way we had hoped they would."

"Instead of being upset and bitter about this, we reflect on what we did do. We got to touch people's lives for the better part of a decade. We got to experience things we only dreamed about all our lives and for that we are grateful. God, I love you guys so much! And I'm more worried about y'all than I am myself."

"I know that some of you need our music like we do too. And I'll never quit writing songs for y'all. Sam [McCandless, drums] and I are going to start a new project. If God allows us to do this (which I have confidence that he will), you will hear songs again from us some day."

At the very least, it’s good to know that a few members of the group will stick around the music industry.

"Thank you guys for being our family for the last 10 years. We love you all and please try to understand our decision."

There it is. Another one bites the dust. Why couldn’t it be Good Charlotte?

Have a taste of Golden Smog

Golden Smog has broken their eight-year hiatus to release Another Fine Day. The new album is a follow-up to 1998’s Weird Tales. According to Billboard, this latest musical effort was put together in two separate sessions last year. These recording sessions yielded the 15 tracks on the album.

Another Fine Day is to be released on July 18 from Lost Highway Records.

Golden Smog is an Alt-country supergroup comprised of Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Jody Stephens (Big Star), Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum), and Gary Louis (the Jayhawks).

Another Fine Day Tracklist:
01. You Make It Easy
02. Another Fine Day
03. 5-22-02
04. Long Time Ago
05. Corvette"
06. Beautiful Mind
07. Listen Joe
08. Cure For This
09. Hurricane
10. Strangers
11. Frying Pan Eyes
12. Gone
13. Never Felt Before
14. I Can
15. Think About Yourself

Tool Tour Dates

Tool has wiped the dust off their amps and are preparing for a series of European tour dates this summer. The tour will kick-off on May 26 at the Superrock festival in Lisbon, Portugal.

For those of us who have been waiting ever-so-patiently, Tool is rumored to be releasing their follow-up to Lateralus in early May. The as-yet-untitled disc will be Tool’s fourth studio album and should be met with much fanfare, due to it being five years since Lateralus was released.

Tour Dates:

May 2006

26 - Lisbon, Portugal, Superrock Festival
27 - Madrid, Spain, Festimad
29 - Barcelona, Spain, Razzmatazz
30 - Lyon, France, Transbordeur
31 - Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, Rockhal

June 2006

2 - Germany, Rock AM Ring
3 - Germany, Rock IM Park
4 - Landgraaf, Holland, Pink Pop Festival
6 - Hamburg, Germany, Sporthalle
7 - Berlin, Germany, Columbiahalle
8 - Dusseldorf, Germany, Philipshalle
11 - Glasgow, Scotland, Academy
13 - Hammersmith, UK, Apollo
16 - Switzerland, Interlaken Festival
17 - Vienna, Austria, Nova Rock Festival
19 - Milan, Italy, Filaforum
21 - Rome, Italy, Foro Italico
22 - Bologna, Italy, L R Arena
24 - Poland, Katowice Spodek
25 - Prague, Czech Republic, T Mobile Arena
27 - Amsterdam, Netherlands, HMH
28 - Paris, France, Le Zenith
29 - Belgium, Werchter Festival

July 2006

1 - Denmark, Roskilde Festival
4 - Kristiansand, Norway, Quart Festival
7 - Gothenburg, Sweden, Metal Town Festival
9 - Finland, Turku Festival

The Guitarist For Maximo Park Only Has One Arm (Temporarily)

Guitarist Duncan Lloyd of Maximo Park has broken his arm, the press says. Consequently, the band announced on their website that they will be unable to play Royal Albert Hall March 30:

“Dunc broke his right arm. We hope he gets better soon, obviously, but it looks like we won’t be playing at the Albert Hall, since he is the guitar player! More news will follow, but at least we won’t have to cancel a whole tour. Small Mercies.”

Lloyd injured the appendage the night of the NME Awards.

Radiohead Tribute Album

Radiohead has a number of tribute albums on the market, so how about one more? The latest tribute, Exit Music: Songs for Radio Heads, is loaded with Radiohead’s pre-Hail to the Thief hits and performed by some unlikely groups. The disc features artists like ?uestlove (of the Roots), Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), and Meshell Ndegeocello.

I haven't thought about Ndegeocello for years. Last I heard of her, she was playing "Wild Night" with John Cougar Mellencamp. Great track, but Van Morrison's original version rules. I know this is a bit of a detour, but blogging doesn't have to follow strict writing procedure.

Exit Music: Songs for Radio Heads is expected to hit shelves on April 18.

Track Listing:
01 Shawn Lee: "No Surprises"
02 The Randy Watson Experience with Donn: "Morning Bell"
03 Sa-Ra Creative Partners: "In Limbo"
04 Pete Kuzma with Bilal: "High and Dry"
05 Mark Ronson with Alex Greenwald: "Just"
06 Rjd2: "Airbag"07 Matthew Herbert with Mara Carlyle: "Nice Dream"
08 Lo-Freq: "Blow Out"
09 Meshell Ndegeocello & Chris Dave: "The National Anthem"
10 The Bad Plus: "Karma Police"
11 Sia: "Paranoid Android"
12 Osunlade with Erro: "Everything In Its Right Place"
13 Wajeed featuring Monica Blaire: "Knives Out"
14 Cinematic Orchestra: "Exit Music (For A Film)"

Armstrong's 'Mechanical Man"

Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong hasn’t been resting on his laurels, despite picking up a Grammy for record of the year (Boulevard of Broken Dreams). His latest project has been lending his voice to the Charles Manson puppet in the upcoming "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!" movie.

The Green Day frontman has also recorded his first solo effort, entitled “Mechanical Man,” for the movie’s soundtrack. Fans of the popular pop-punk group will find Armstrong’s song to be a departure from the norm. The track has been described as a “horn- and electro-laden whimsical pop number.”

You can listen to the new track by visiting Green Day’s fan site, greenday.net.

World Wide Suicide

Pearl Jam's newest single, 'World Wide Suicide,' will debut to global audiences March 13. Some of those who've gotten a sneak listen of the tune claim it sounds similar to PJ's late-90s track 'Do The Evolution.'

A concrete date has not yet been set for release of Pearl Jam's unnamed and newest album since Riot Act.

Radiohead and the Moz

It has just been confirmed that Radiohead and Morrissey will be headliners for the 2006 V Festival.

Festival director Bob Angus:

"We're very proud to be presenting Radiohead, one of the most important bands in live music today, as headliners for this year's V. To secure Morrissey- a man that has influenced so many great artists - as the other main stage headliner ensures yet another excellent V line-up. It's acts like these that give our festival its unique eclectic feel and keeps our audience coming back for more."

The V Festival is scheduled for August 19-20 in Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire.The V Festival will feature a strong supporting line-up of the following:
Beck
Bloc Party
Kasabian
Paul Weller
Editors
The Ordinary Boys Keane
Faithless
Fatboy Slim
Groove Armada
The Charlatans
Starsailor
The Go! Team
The Magic Numbers
Sugababes
James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)

First Rollins, Now Morrissey

In a continuing trend that Ted first posted about, another government agency has nabbed another musician for questions regarding international terrorism. This time it was the FBI pulling aside former Smiths singer Morrissey.

Similar to Henry Rollins, an artist previously profiled by the Australian Government, Morrissey has been a critic of George W. Bush and the Iraq War. However, while Rollins could easily defeat the entire army of Suriname with his bare hands, the gentle-looking Morrissey would seem to have a hard time swatting a fly.

Yet despite his harmless demeanor, Morrissey was thought to be a threat to both Britain and the US. He explains:

"They were trying to determine if I was a threat to the government, and similarly in England. But it didn't take them very long to realise that I'm not."

Is it any wonder why many think we aren't winning the war on terror?

Kaiser Chiefs Content Staying in England

Despite pressure to tap the more lucrative music market of the US, Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson has confided that his band has no current desire to launch a stateside tour. Recently taking home three Brits and experiencing overwhelming popularity in Britain, Wilson elaborated on his band's unexpected reason for not taking its show to the New World:

"We're really happy with what we've got over here," Wilson said. "You have to give up years of your life if you want to break America."

Another Backmasking Article

Remember Ted's post on backmasking? Yesterday there was an article in the Seattle Times profiling Jeff Milner, creator of the famous site that reveals those secret musical messages. News of his website has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and averages roughly 5000 visitors a day. Not too shabby for a Canadian college student.

Also featured in the Times article is a link to Talkbackwards.com, a webpage that automatically reverses .wav files you upload.

Weezer Covered By Actress Emma Roberts

In the worst news since Kidz Bop hit the market, I have learned that Weezer's 'Island in the Sun' has been covered by 15 year old Emma Roberts and will be featured in the soundtrack to the tweenster comedy Aquamarine.

When asked about her initial feelings towards covering the tune, Roberts said:

"I was like 'Yeah, I guess.' I had heard it a trillion times so I know it by heart already. I like Weezer so it was cool."

Eloquent words for such a young lady. Aquamarine hits theaters this Friday.

Country Music Evil?

Wow, I never thought I'd hear somebody claim that country music was contributing to the downfall of American culture.

According to a Spero News writer named Michael Westfall, the country music industry contains a "number of ethically impaired male singers...[whose] staged videos have contrived images of them as out of control macho men and super party animals." To top it all off, he claims that the posterchild for the morally reprehensible honky tonk lifestyle is, of all others, Willie Nelson:

"This 71-year-old braided balladeer's new 'gay' music holds the promise of further polluting America's airwaves."

Westfall is referring, of course, to Nelson's Valentine's Day performance of gay cowboy song "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other)." The performance followed not too long after gay cowboy movie Brokeback Mountain was nominated for at least three Oscars.

And if you think this Westfall fella is off his rocker, you're probably right. At his blog, The American Conservative Worker, he has authored several "articles" pertaining to the Satanic influence of the ACLU and the music industry.

Ted's Song of the Week - 2/27/06

I Still Believe
Tim Cappello
The Lost Boys Original Soundtrack

For this week's selection, I went in a slightly different direction and chose something from way back in the day. "I Still Believe" is a song that just oozes 80’s flair and cheesiness. This song is utterly fantastic as its gentle intro fades into the equivalent of a saxophone mating call. Coupled up with an intense beat and simplistic lyrics, this is a song that will stick in your head long after the image of this greased-up Fabio look-alike is painfully forgotten (see picture at right).

I ran across this gem last week while watching “The Lost Boys” with fellow Lonely Note contributor Tae. Even if you dislike the song, there is no denying that the vampire flick is a cult classic.

Tim Cappello, a former member of Tina Turner’s band, has been described as a “one man band” and an "interchangeable but unforgettable musician." His most recent musical venture was with the 1999 version of Ringo Starr’s All Star Band. I guess you have to get work wherever you can.

Tim Cappello - I Still Believe


Lyrics:
I been in a cave - For forty days
Only a spark - To light my way

I wanna give out - I wanna give in
This is our crime - This is our sin

But I still believe - I still believe
Through the pain - And through the grief

Through the lies - Through the storms
Through the cries - And through the wars

Oh, I still believe

Flat on my back - Out at sea
Hopin’ these waves - Don’t cover me

I’m turned and tossed - Upon the waves
When the darkness comes - I feel the grave

But I still believe - I still believe
Through the cold - And through the heat

Through the rain - And through the tears
Through the crowds - And through the cheers

Oh, I still believe

I’ll march this road - I'll climb this hill
Upon my knees - If I have to

I’ll take my place - Upon this stage
I’ll wait till the end of time -For you like everybody else

I’m out on my own - Walkin the streets
Look at the faces - That I meet

I feel like I Like I wanna go home
What do I feel? - What do I know?

But I still believe - Yes, I still believe
Through the shame - And through the grief

Through the heartache - Through the tears
Through the waiting - Through the years

For people like us - In places like this
We need all the hope - That we can get

Oh, I still believe

Bono's Bid For Sainthood

Is it possible for Bono to stay out of the news? Once again, the highly-recognizable frontman of U2 has made Lonely Note headlines by receiving Chile’s highest award for the arts.

In a ceremony on Sunday, Chile President Ricardo Lagos honored the singer with the Neruda Award and a charango, a traditional Andean instrument.




President Lagos comments:

"When we were talking before, Bono told me that one must study throughout one's life," Lagos said. "So for his next concert here, I hope he's learned how to play the charango."

Bono is obviously a popular figure in Chile, because he also received Amnesty International’s 2005 "Ambassador of Conscience" award. This award was also bestowed upon the other members of U2 during a ceremony before the band’s concert in Santiago.

Chile’s President-elect Michelle Bachelet statement to U2:

"You are a reminder to all of us that the world is not changed only by politicians and governments. The world is changed by all of us."

Killers To Play Ultra Music Festival

Spin magazine called them "the new masters of dance rock," and now they are truly living up to that name. The Killers will play the Ultra Music Festival March 25 in Miami, Florida.

The Ultra Music Festival, which usually attracts traditional dance artists, is trying to expand its offerings by slating alternative artists with strong dance influences. In addition to The Killers, other alternative artists that will be performing include Hot Hot Heat and Hard-Fi.

Audioblog: Red Hot Chili Peppers Confirm Lollapalooza Performance

Listen below for an audio update on the Red Hot Chili Peppers:

'Well-Groomed Libertines' Handle Fame Well

They've sold out an 11-date North American tour, hawked hundreds of thousands of their debut in their native England, and they've managed to become the most obsessed-about artist(s) on the blogosphere since Pete Doherty and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

The flavor-of-the-moment, the Arctic Monkeys, have accomplished more in their young lives than many bands ten years their senior. Yet the instant fame hasn't skewed nor jaded the 20-somethings from Sheffield. In fact they've been referred to as a well-groomed version of The Libertines.

"I feel like I should just flip out and do something crazy," Alex Turner, the scrappy-voiced Arctic Monkeys frontman, said by phone before a gig in Norwich, England. "It's boring when people tell me I'm really well grounded. I feel a little bit sensible..."

With a stateside album having been released this past week, will the Arctic Monkeys's British success translate to America? Nic Harcourt, music director of L.A.'s KCRW, thinks so:

"I don't think it's hype. Hype to me is when someone is taking something and building it up," Harcourt said. "I think it's natural and organic and it's real. Do I think it will translate to America? Yes I do."

Deftones Finish Latest Album

The Deftones have reportedly finished their fifth studio album. The forthcoming album remains untitled, but internet rumors include “Saturday Night Wrist” and “Beware of the Water.”

The band has been hard at work on this latest musical effort, which has taken nearly two years to complete. Unfortunately, due to near-breakups, divorces, and other personal problems, it has left the fans waiting long for the follow-up to 2003’s self-titled album.

Drummer Abe Cunningham:

"I don't want to sit here and complain because these things happen to everyone," Cunningham says, "but if there was a VH1 'Behind the Music' special on us, it would be the perfect episode with divorces and all kinds of crap. It was just lack of communication. Thankfully, we've been reattaching our limbs."

The album still needs to be mixed, but expectations are positive within the group.

"Actually, if you look at our last record, I refer to it as 'Dark Days' because that's basically what it was," Cunningham says of 2003's self-titled effort. "It's kind of an incomplete record from my viewpoint. I think it's a good record [with] a lot of good songs but the new album, from start to finish, is a very complete record and has all of the extremes that we like. I'd say it's kind of hard."

The release date is not certain, but it is expected to be released within the year. It could possibly be released in late spring.

I can’t wait for the new album to drop. The Deftones have yet to release a record that disappointed me. More album details to follow.

Ozzy Knows the Way

If one were to invest in a vehicle satellite navigation system, wouldn't it be great to hear the Ozzman bark directions? The mumbling rock star's voice is now available for download to these navigation systems. So, if you ever get lost, Ozzy will get you back on track!

An example of Ozzy's directions:

In 400 metres you have reached your f***ing destination.” If a car loses its signal he shouts: “I’ve lost the f***ing satellite!”

Voice Skins, the manufacturer of the service, offers two versions of Ozzy's directions: swearwords and bleeps.

Ozzy’s X-rated rants are selling double the combined total of all the other stars used for voice-overs which can be downloaded on to satnavs.

Other voices available for download include Sharon Osbourne, Tony Blair, Clint Eastwood, Victoria Beckham, Queen Elizabeth, and Marilyn Monroe.

Remaining AIC Members Will Perform At Trump's Taj Mahal

This is a follow-up to Ted's post:

Alice in Chains will play in the United States. March 10 they are scheduled to play Trump's Taj Mahal in Atlantic City as part of VH1 Classic's Decades Rock Live Tribute to Heart. Filling in for the deceased Layne Staley is William DuVall, singer for Comes With The Fall. In addition to the Atlantic City showing, Alice in Chains has been confirmed to play the NovaRock Festival in June.

With all the flurry of Alice in Chains activity, do I smell a comeback? I certainly hope so.

Rolling Stone Spotlights She Wants Revenge

Rolling Stone has a pretty decent profile of She Wants Revenge. With a tagline of "L.A. hip-hop dudes channel Joy Division," the article goes on to discuss the band's not-so-known hip-hop past, and discusses their love and admiration for Prince and The Cure.

Read the entire article here. Listen to their hit below:

She Wants Revenge - 'Outta Control'

Muse Not To Release 'Crying Game' As Next Single

Contrary to Rolling Stone's report last week, Muse will not be releasing 'Crying Game' as their next single. Muse's album, slated for a May release, is said to be influenced by a number of off-the-wall items.

Collectively, the band explained on their website that the record is inspired by:

“...awol soldiers, zeta reticulans, the sound of joe meek’s tape machine being thrown down the stairs, the private thoughts of general zhu chenghu, feeling strangely comfortable collecting fire wood while wielding an axe and of course, how to store pasta for 12 years using nitrogen flushing.”

A Sex Pistols Grammar Lesson

The Sex Pistols have something to say, so damn the cumbersome process of writing it all out. In a statement released on the band's website, the legendary punk group has denounced the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Next to the SEX PISTOLS rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine.

The Sex Pistols were set to be inducted into the hall alongside Black Sabbath, Blondie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Miles Davis. However, that won't be the case.

Congradulations. If you voted for us, I hope you noted your reasons. Your anonymous as judges. but your still music industry people. Were not coming.

If some of you cringed at the atrocious butchering of the English language, I want you to know that it is completely verbatim. If anything, I know how to spell "congratulations."

The hall of fame induction is to be on March 13 at New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel.

To check out the original statement, click here.

The Daily Bono Report

Once again, Bono is back in the Lonely Note news. The U2 singer and Bob Geldof have been nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. Other nominees for the coveted honor are Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Nobel watcher Dan Smith (former head of the Peace Research Institute in Oslo) comments:

"They are the typical kind of high-profile, celebrity nomination."

However, Smith has said that that the Nobel prestige would likely be used to propel some lesser-known person into the world spotlight.

The award is always presented in Oslo on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of its founder, Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel.

Zappa to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Jammys

Nominees for this year's Jammy Awards have been announced. Honoring artists who "live and thrive in the live music environment," the ceremony will grant Frank Zappa a lifetime achievement award. Past recipients have included Buddy Guy and Steve Winwood.

In addition to the achievement award, there are several other categories being contended for by some pretty solid bands---new and old alike:

Tour of the Year:
Allman Brothers Band/Moe.
Big Summer Classic
Benevento Russo Duo with Mike Gordon
Trio! (Bela Fleck, Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty)
Voodoo Caravan
Widespread Panic

Live Album of the Year:
Gomez - Out West
Mars Volta - Scab Dates
Matisyahu - Live at Stubbs
New Monsoon - Live at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Widespread Panic - Live At Myrtle Beach
Wilco - Kicking Television

Studio Album of the Year:
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses
Benevento Russo Duo - Best Reason To Buy The Sun
Brothers Past - This Feeling's Called Goodbye
Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon - Sixty Six Steps
My Morning Jacket - Z
North Mississippi Allstars - Electric Blue Watermelon

For the rest of the awards categories click here.

Pete Doherty Wins Sexiest Man

What is the world coming to? In an unbelievable turn of events, heroin addict and sometime singer, Pete Doherty, was named NME’s Sexiest Man at the Shockwaves NME awards. I guess that "waking up in a gutter" look is the hot new thing.

I was also shocked to discover that James Blunt’s Back To Bedlam was named Worst Album of the Year. He just won Best Pop Act and Best British Male honors at the 2006 Brit Awards last week! Never have I seen such glaring opposing positions in the music world.

The rest of the awards were business as usual. Kanye West garnered Best Solo Artist, The Strokes received Best International Band, and Madonna was voted Sexiest Woman.

The special honor of Hero of the Year was bestowed upon Bob Geldof for his involvement with last summer’s Live 8. I wish I could be a hero….

For more news on award winners at the Shockwaves NME awards, click here.

Minnesota Radio Station Threatens Lawsuit Against Al Gore's Current

Former American Vice President Al Gore's television channel, Current, is facing legal threats from Minnesota radio station "89.3 The Current." After Gore's channel debuted last year, the St. Paul broadcaster changed their slogan to "The Current," even though they had never referred to themselves in that fashion before the creation of the TV channel. Now, the radio version of Current is claiming trademark infringement by Gore's version, and is now demanding cash.

The Subways Will Rock North America

Beginning March 1 at Atlanta's Loft, The Subways will launch a North American tour. But you better catch them while you can, as these stateside shows are only a month long.

Aquaint yourself with 'Rock and Roll Queen' below:

The Subways - 'Rock and Roll Queen'

Artists Speak Out

New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom will be ringing to the music of the “Bring ‘Em Home Now” concert on March 20. The concert will feature a bevy of talented acts like R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Rufus Wainwright, and Chuck D.

“Bring ‘Em Home Now” was designed to bring attention to the third anniversary of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq. The musical acts have taken it into their own hands to speak out against the prolonged occupation of U.S. troops in the Middle East.

Fischerspooner’s Casey Spooner comments:

"It is impossible not to react to the current state of affairs through personal action and artistic production," Fischerspooner's Casey Spooner says. "We have been at war for three years. One desperately feels the need for someone to speak some sort of truth, either poetic or factual."

Proceeds from the concert will go to the Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace.

Other artists confirmed for the event:
Fischerspooner
Bright Eyes
Devendra Banhart
Peaches

Stephen Colbert's Synth-Pop Days

This clip is a couple of weeks old, but hilarious nonetheless. For those old enough to remember the glitz, glam and excess of 1980s pop music videos, you'll get a kick out of this comedy sketch. Watch O'Reilly-parody, Stephen Colbert, in his "80s music days" peform the song 'Charlene (I'm Right Behind You).'

You Are What You Listen To??

Have you ever wondered if there is a correlation between the music you listen to and the type of person you are? Musical tastes often come up in conversation, but does it reveal anything about that individual’s personality?

According to psychologists Jason Rentfrow (University of Cambridge) and Sam Gosling (University of Texas), knowing an individual’s musical likes can provide for accurate personality profiling.

Strangers can accurately assess another person's level of creativity, open-mindedness and extroversion after listening to his or her top 10 favorite songs. Rentfrow thinks that personality clues are conveyed in the music's tempo, rhythm and lyrics.

Some of the more interesting observations in the article from Psychology Today include:

Drama Queens
Compared with other music fans, opera aficionados are three times more likely to endorse suicide as a solution to family dishonor, says Steven Stack, a psychologist at Wayne State University in Michigan. Don't blame Madame Butterfly. Stack says dramatic personalities are drawn to opera, not influenced by it.

Parental Advisory
Parents often worry that music—whether it's Elvis or Eminem—promotes sexual or aggressive behavior in teens. Rentfrow's work has found no direct link.

In fact, fans of gangsta rap or heavy metal are often more timid and shy than other kids, he says.

Boom Town
Extroverts gravitate to music with a heavy bass line, according to a Northeast Louisiana University study.

Check out the rest of the profiles. I thought a lot of them made sense, but some may surprise you.

Sprint Nextel Snubs Indie

Independent music group Digital Rights Agency has criticized Sprint Nextel for not including independent recording artists in its download catalog:

“It’s simply unacceptable that Sprint continues to exclude independent labels from its full-track download service,” DRA Managing Director Tuhin Roy said in a prepared statement. “It’s difficult to understand how Sprint will compete with services like iTunes or Verizon’s Vstream (sic) if, 25 percent of the time, it will be unable to deliver the music than (sic) its subscribers are looking for.”

Newcastle's Orange Evolution To Be Headlined By Hard-Fi

Gaining a larger fanbase and selling more concert tickets, England's Hard-Fi is fast becoming the "cash machine" they sing about. Returning to the Orange Evolution music festival in 2006, the indie quintet will be headliners once again. Joining them will be Mylo and The Futureheads.

Not aquainted with Hard-Fi's sound? Check out 'Cash Machine' below:

Hard-Fi - 'Cash Machine'

Gorillaz Ditch Tour to Play Video Games

The cartoon group Gorillaz will be ditching their world tour plans, because the cost of concert animation is too expensive. As an example, their latest performance at the Grammy Awards cost approximately $1.5 million to produce.

Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett comments:

"We're just not gonna be able to do a proper tour. We've tried really hard to work out a way but the costs would be just astronomical."

Instead of a world tour, you can visit with the rock primates via cell phone.

The Gorillaz have created a mobile game, entitled Gorillaz Entertainment System, to be available for phones in April 2006

The game, created by Jamie Hewlett and his studio design team at Zombie Flesh Eaters, features four mini-games that star each member of the Gorillaz.

If you’re interested in learning more about the game, check out www.mrgoodliving.com/Gorillaz.

Thursday's Album Details

Thursday have named their forthcoming album A City By The Light Divided. This latest musical effort is expected to carry the same themes of war and politics that were primary characteristics of their 2003 album War All the Time. The release date is set for May 5.

The band traded in their long-time producer Sal Villanueva for Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips) on their fourth studio album. It will be interesting to see how this change affects the group’s signature sound.

The first single, “Counting 5-4-3-2-1,” should be released to radio soon.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs To Hit The Road

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are ready to get out and spread the word. Their upcoming tour will be in support of their upcoming sophomore album Show Your Bones. Their travels will take them through Canada, Europe, and all over the U.S. Additionally, the art-rock trio will be adding a fourth member, Imaad Wasif, for touring duties.

Guitarist Nick Zinner comments on the YYY’s website:

"As y'all can imagine, we've been hella busy getting ready to rock you". And rocked you shall be, fair citizens from the DC to the PDX and everywhere in between. With anticipation for the March 28 release of Show Your Bones reaching illicit levels, young folk would do well to snatch these here tix up real fast-like.”

YYY's Tour Dates:
02-23 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
02-24 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
02-25 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
02-27 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
03-01 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
03-02 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
03-04 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour
03-05 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour
04-03 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
04-05 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
04-07 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
04-10 Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus
04-11 Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
04-12 Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
04-14 Chicago, IL - Riviera
04-15 Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theatre
04-16 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
04-18 Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
04-19 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
04-21 Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
04-22 Salt Lake City, UT - University of Utah
04-24 Vancouver, British Columbia - Orpheum Theatre
04-25 Seattle, WA - Paramount Ballroom
04-26 Portland, OR - Roseland Ballroom
04-28 San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
04-30 Indio, CA - Empire Polo Field (Coachella Festival)
05-02 New York, NY - Roseland
05-13 Camber, England - Camber Sands Holiday Centre
05-16 London, England - The Forum
05-17 London, England - The Forum
05-19 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowlands
05-20 Manchester, England -Academy
05-21 Birmingham, England - Academy

Nine Inch Nails

Thursday, February 16th 2006 @ Wells Fargo Arena -- Des Moines, IA

FINALLY, a good concert came to Des Moines that the 'Concert Guy' wanted to go to. I passed on Nickelback and Trapt a few weeks ago, frankly because I don't like either band. And last weekend was Seether and Shinedown, two bands I had recently seen at The Rave and The Val Air Ballroom, respectively. I had been in severe concert withdrawl since early December (311), and my ears were HANKerin' for a good pounding. Well, Trent Reznor and Co. did the trick!

Your truly attended the concert at the brand new (July '05) Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines, IA, home of the Iowa Stars. Recent bands to play this venue have been Tom Petty, The Black Crowes, Green Day, Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi, and soon to be Aerosmith and Cheap Trick in March (NO, I won't be attending!) The stadium seats over 15,000, but I was disappointed by a very small crowd of only 5,000 that made it out to the show. Maybe it was the cold (temperatures were barely zero that night), but c'mon Iowa we can do better than that! We have to support these great acts so they keep on coming! ANYWAY, I was definitely not alone at this concert, as the ENTIRE Lonely Note crew came down from the cold oases' known as Ames and Cedar Falls to witness the spectacle.

Reznor, clad in a t-shirt and jeans (and a shaven head!), blasted out of the gate with "Mr. Self Destruct" off of his 1994 release The Downward Spiral. I felt like I was in an African Safari when NIN opened the show behind a canvas net, much like you'd see around beds of places trying to keep the bugs out (more on this later). He then tore into "Sin" and "Terrible Lie," smashing his mic-stand at the end of the latter. It was at this moment that I saw the most life out of bassist Jeordie White (aka Twiggy Ramirez) all night. He went crazy on his microphone stand a few times during the song, eventually firing into the crowd. Jeordie has definitely calmed down since his Manson days, not moving on stage for most of the show. In fact there were times that I forgot he was even up there. I think he could have afforded to crank up the amp on his bass a few times, but then again that's why I'm not in a band! I'm so used to hearing his powerful thundering, heard most clearly on his double and triple-layered bass lines on A Perfect Circle EP's. The same with drummer Josh Freese. Many claim him to be one of the best drummers in the world. He might well be, but he definitely didn't do anything spectacular during the 2 hour, 24 song show (frankly I was more impressed with Shannon Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars!). Guitarist Aaron North is a nut case, constantly bouncing around stage and twisting his guitar around his neck. It was a little fishy to hear Mr. North never miss a note as he was twisting his guitar. Maybe he's that good (probably), but I was thinking to myself during the show that he might have been getting some help from a backup track(?)

One thing that was not in question was Reznor's voice. It was just as strong as it was the day Pretty Hate Machine came out in 1989. I like to call it the "anti-Jonathan Davis Syndrome." What I mean by this is his voice is just as strong or stronger as it always has been, unlike Korn's lead-man, whose voice seems to get blander and blander, and more like a whine with each subsequent album (but still much love to Korn, they are still one of my favorite bands!). Trent has a certain power in his voice, and it was apparent when he moaned "You corn fed f***ing pigs" as he began "March of the Pigs." He then went into "The Frail" and "The Wretched," before finishing up segment with a powerful version of "Closer." He thanked the crowd for coming out, and couldn't even remember if he'd been to Iowa before (he has: way back in 1994). Then he gave a shout out to Slipknot, saying how hard it was to play after them on stage. OK -- I love Slipknot and am very proud of them being from Iowa, but does every freaking band that comes through here have to name-drop them? I know there isn't much else here, but they make it seem like Iowa is all Slipknot and nothing else, when it isn't! (ie check out Index Case). Recent concerts I have been to that have done this are Ill Nino, Shinedown, 311, and Chevelle (I think).

After that, the concert turned into the Discovery Channel, as "The Net" went back across the stage, and for 3 songs Reznor played movie clips of dividing cells, baboons hunting, ants attacking, and tons of exploding bombs and other politics. I felt like I was in a freaking IMAX! The song "Beside You in Time," played during this "interlude" was perfect for describing the angst Reznor was trying to portray in his messages. That was definitely one thing that was great about this show -- the blinding lights and lasers that dominated the stage added so much to the concert, that I thought I was watching a theatre production. The lights were so convincing and powerful that you could feel the music, not just hear it. The lights, combined with the net, gave the entire band a silhouette effect, of which they played a good part of the concert shrouded in. Every time Aaron's guitars pounded, Jeordie's bass boomed, and Trent banged his head, you could feel a powerful energy well up inside of you. After the "movie", NIN played some more recognizable tracks, such as "Every Day is Exactly the Same" and "The Hand that Feeds," off of their 2005 gold-certified release With Teeth. "Wish" was awesome, as well as his solo acoustic "Hurt". I thought the best song of the night was the second-to-last one, "Starf***ers," Trent's lament against Marilyn Manson and Courtney Love. Sans an encore, Reznor and Co. ended off the night with my favorite NIN song, "Head Like a Hole." The crowd left on a great note.

Overall, NIN put on an exceptional show. You don't see too many concerts like this, and I highly recommend getting to see them if you get a chance while they are still on tour. After all, they probably won't tour again for another 5 years! Opening the show was the band Moving Units, a band you will like if you are a fan of Franz Ferdinand (they sound exactly like them!) After the show, myself and the 3 other Lonely Noter's (and a few friends) headed out to personal fave watering hole The Royal Mile for some 11% alcohol Belgian beers. What a great night!

Upcoming "Hank" concerts: Ben Folds, Hawthorne Heights, Rob Zombie, Korn(?), Audacious P, and possibly Wilco and Fall Out Boy

Ted has a problem

(Disclaimer: All comments made in the following blog are in no way an insult to the staff of Spin magazine.)

This post can be seen as a follow-up to the article that Steve put up just hours before.

I just got the latest issue of Spin Magazine in the mail, but i was somewhat disappointed with their readers poll. It could just be me, but there are some glaring contradictions in the poll that i felt the need to point out.

Quick! Can you spot the flaw in the following poll categories:
Best Live Act
1. My Chemical Romance
2. Green Day
3. U2

Worst Live Act
1. Ashlee Simpson
2. Fall Out Boy
3. My Chemical Romance

hmmmmm.....Is it possible to be the best live act and one of the worst at the same time? Even in the unlikely event that the aforementioned artists were the only live acts of the year, wouldn't U2 fall into the third slot for worst live act?

Another great category of errors was for the best Spin cover. In a remarkable feat, My Chemical Romance snagged both Best and Worst cover honors (the June issue). Apparently, the polling process is a little flawed in this department.

Finally, to round out my bash-session, I came across the category of Sex Goddess. I think the readers got it right with Gwen Stefani. No doubt about it. An argument could even be made for first runner-up Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. However, I have no idea how Angelina Jolie made it to the second runner-up in this category. Hello?? Does Angelina have a record out? Sure, she's beautiful and talented, but she doesn't sing. She doesn't even play the tambourine.

I'm just satisfied that Fall Out Boy received Worst Band and Worst New Artist.

Test Icicles To Split

It's already over before it really began. The up-and-coming Test Icicles have called it quits so soon after producing For Screening Purposes Only. The news came after the group cancelled their London concert as the opening-slot for Nine Black Alps.

"The band have just come off a European tour and are exhausted from the constant pressures of touring, subsequently they have cancelled their show at the NME Awards and US tour. The band will play their UK tour in April. Details of a final single to be taken from the album to announced. There are currently no plans to make another album or tour beyond this."

As a result, plans for a U.S. tour have been cancelled. However, the Test Icicles are being decent enough to finish part of what they started by playing their UK tour in April.

April 2006 tour:
18 - Glasgow Garage
19 - Sunderland Manor Quay
20 - Manchester Academy 2
21 - Coventry Coliseum
22 - London Astoria

Walk The Line DVD Release

The following was taken directly from CMT:

The Oscar-nominated movie Walk the Line will be released on DVD on Feb. 28 in three versions. Options include a single-disc widescreen edition, a single-disc full-screen edition and a two-disc version with extended musical sequences, three featurettes and collectible postcards. Each of the three versions will include commentary by director James Mangold and 10 deleted scenes. The Oscars will be presented in Hollywood on March 5. Joaquin Phoenix is nominated for best actor for his portrayal of Johnny Cash. Reese Witherspoon is nominated for best actress for her role as June Carter.

I thought the movie was fantastic. It was simply incredible that Joaquin and Reese did the actual vocals for the movie's soundtrack.

The Return

It seems unbelievable, but it’s true. Alice in Chains is back!

Rumors have been floating around the web that the legendary grunge group would be reuniting, but there was no real evidence to support the claims. That is, until you hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.

AIC guitarist Jerry Cantrell has posted information about the reunion on his website. The following is his message to the fans:

I hate to keep on saying this, but as most of you have heard Alice will be performing at Nova Rock in Austria. This is true. Alice is back. Europe is a long way to go for just one show, so I feel that we are going to have a lot more to do. Because this is Europe and a big festival don't count on any special Alice tickets but you never know what the future brings. Let me explain why things went down the way they went down. It was not the way we wanted it to happen. The festival promoter secured a bunch of really big bands like Metallica, Guns n' Roses and Alice. The promoter decided to have a big press conference on Monday. We had not finished securing the "business side" of the show by the time Monday rolled around. Because Monday was President's Day, our office was closed and we could not make a decission regarding releasing the info to you guys. Our European agent, because our office was closed made an executive decision to release the show info. We fully support his choice but could not say anything untill we spoke to him to get the full story and due to the time difference and travel we could not make the announcement until just now.

Guys, please remember that nothing is official unless it comes from our office. We like to surprise you but sometimes that is not always possible.

Jerry, Mike, Sean and the managment team are doing our best to keep you guys informed. You mean a lot to the guys and they want you to know that.

Rock On! and Hello Europe.

I feel the rumblings of more stuff coming down the road.

CEOJC

I nearly choked on my cereal when I read this. Cross your fingers and wait. There’s bound to be more AIC updates in the near future.

Where Are They Now?: Seven Mary Three

So what has Seven Mary Three been up to since the turn of the millenium? Well, if this press release is any indication, nothing much. It turns out the once platinum-selling band has been reduced to playing free shows at the pregame events of the Orlando Predators, an Arena Football team.

Sadness.

Feeling nostalgiac, I've included the band's greatest hit below:

Seven Mary Three - 'Cumbersome'

Readers of Spin Magazine Laud My Chemical Romance

Readers of American music publication Spin have been very kind to New Jersey band My Chemical Romance. They have voted the group Band of The Year, Best Song ('Helena'), Best Live Act and Best Breakout Band awards. Lead singer Gerrard Way was given further honors when he was voted Sex God of 2005.

Unfortunately, not all music groups were treated so nicely. Mall-punk abomination Fall Out Boy was named Worst Group of the Year and Worst New Artist.

J-5 and DMB Collaborate On New Single

According to Jurassic 5's Marc 7even, the hip-hop group has teamed up with Dave Matthews Band to produce 'Work It Out.' From the Jurassic 5 message board, 7even elaborated on the project:

"Our first single off our still entitled lp will be a song called Work It Out featuring Dave Matthews Band the video will be shot in the next 40 days and we will drop another 12 inch off our album before the video is released. When i get more info ill hit you guys up."

Although the collaboration seems unlikely, Dave Matthews Band and Jurassic 5 have worked together musically before. Both bands were a part of the Vote for a Change tour in 2004.

Killers Ex-Manager Files 16 Million Dollar Lawsuit

Braden Merrick, the fellow who discovered The Killers, has recently filed suit in Las Vegas. He's claiming that the band breached their contract when they severed ties with him. He's also claiming that The Killers have grossed in excess of $25 million all because of his promotions.

Brandon Flowers says of the band's relationship with Merrick:

"Braden was a rep for Warner Bros. and he was just looking for bands. Las Vegas was in his territory, so he was checking out LVlocalmusicscene.com," Flowers said. "He wanted to sign us to Warner Bros. initially. He got us some showcases, and they didn't want us. He stayed with us and ended up being our manager until we got a record deal, and he's still here."

Artist Spotlight: Dead Next Door

Recently, I have been in communication with a London-based quartet called Dead Next Door, and have been listening to their debut EP consistently over the past couple of weeks trying to get a feel for the songs. The band released the six-song disc, titled Time to Fight, in mid-January on their own DIY label, Prison Records, and has been working hard to make a name for itself.
Having played energetic live shows throughout London and Wales over the past two years, getting two tracks featured in the independent thriller, Splinter, and having just finished a music video for the song 'Twenty Seven', making a name for itself is precisely what DND has been up to.

From the last couple weeks that I have been spinning the cd during my commute, I have come to the conclusion that I really enjoy the album. Though I don't like to marginalize a band by summarizing its sound into defined boundaries of comparisons, I find that such associations are often a manageable way of sorting my thoughts on what I listen to - hence, several names are going to be dropped here. From my very first listen to DND's album, two primary names have stuck in my head: Nirvana and The Church.

While both alternative rock in nature, these two groups were from very separate places in the genre, which is what makes such a combination unexpected. Nirvana was fueled by a certain self loathing and societal angst, and possessed a raw punk attitude which favored guitar distortion and strung-out vocals. The Church, on the other hand, was a culmination of that softer side of emotion and reflection that could distinctly be described as "college rock in the late 80's." To combine these two different bands successfully, there would be a need for both feedback-driven chords and a clean, reverb-drenched lead guitar. The rhythm section would straddle between the need to headbang and the need to dance like a fool. To top things off, the vocals would be in a particularly difficult place - with lyrics that require a sense of both insecurity and pain, but still try to maintain a careful introspection of feelings to remain uplifting. Regardless of the band's personal intent, I feel like Dead Next Door encompasses these traits pretty accurately. Obviously, I wouldn't want to narrow a band's entire sound so entirely, but as a knee-jerk reaction, Nirvana and The Church seem to have recurring places throughout the album.

Sharing the name of the EP, the opening track 'Time to Fight' begins with steady drums and builds in with softly echoing guitars, and eventually into the calm verse, heavy chorus structure that made groups like Nirvana popular. On a personal favorite track, 'Twenty Seven', elements of inspiration hint towards The Cure, and frontman Andreas' nasal, and somewhat muttered vocals take the lighthearted tempo of the track and seems to reduce it into feelings of elegy. In the lyrics he laments, "Can't start again when you're 27, can't leave your home at 37, can't start a life at 47, can't leave...your home is here with me", there is an understanding that life is short and you can't go home again. The fourth track, 'Metro', begins with the same sort of pristine lead guitar as aforementioned; however, it then morphs into an acoustic-led piece that would have sounded at home on Nirvana's Mtv Unplugged in NY.

While the vocals on Dead Next Door's debut don't always possess a wide range, Andreas doesn't try to sing as anything he's not, and in turn, works comfortably with the rest of the music. Dead Next Door may not emerge as the most original rock band in history, but a unique look at alternative genres and a working-class sound gives the band a strong performance for any debut - especially one that was self produced. I would definitely recommend giving DND a listen. For a further taste, you can visit the group's Official Website and Myspace pages. Time to Fight is available now through the band's merchandise section.