Beck "Leaks" Two New Songs, Plans Jukebox Revolution

In keeping with the changing landscape of music distribution, Beck has released the first two cuts ("Orphans", "Gamma Ray") from his upcoming album Modern Guilt via his iLike page. Both tracks are streaming in their entirety alongside the previously-released “Chemtrails.” Modern Guilt is due to drop on July 8. Unless your local bar has TouchTone jukebox that is. Starting on July 1, over 10,000 Touchtone jukeboxes will make the entirety of Modern Guilt available. Because nothing says pub music like Beck.

Sign of the Apocalypse: Beatles Music on Guitar Hero

Following the success of two weeks of the Beatles‘ music on American Idol, the Fab Four’s catalog may be branching out again: Reps for the band are reportedly talking to both Activision and MTV Games about possibly releasing a Guitar Hero or Rock Band based around Beatles’ tunes.

According to a source close to the negotiations, the final deal could be worth millions, but first must get the approval of both Apple Corps. and EMI. Apple Corps’ tight grip on the Beatles catalog has loosened since Jeff Jones became the company’s chief executive, as evidenced by the band’s music appearing in American Idol, Cirque du Soleil Love show and the film Across the Universe.

“To my view, it’s only a matter of time before we see Beatles songs that are the original recordings in motion pictures, in television work, and yes, maybe even one day in a commercial,” said Sony/ATV chief executive Martin Bandier, who holds more than 200 Beatles copyrights. Whichever video game company wins the battle to release a Beatles-themed game, a source says a deal “could be reached in a matter of weeks.”
/via Rolling Stone

Trendsetters: Radiohead Holds Music Video Contest

At last someone is putting MySpace to good use as prog-rockers Radiohead host a unique contest which highlights just why democracy was invented.
It's one thing to let your fans remix your songs, it's quite another to let them direct an offical music video. This kind of risky venture is hardly a first for Radiohead, as evidenced with "In Rainbows" groundbreaking release format, but it takes serious guts to entrust fans with your art, allowing them to dictate its direction. This time quite literally.

This time, Britain's avante-garde art-rockers are clearly up for anything, putting the creation of their next music video in the public's hands. The final field has been narrowed to 13 candidates as the contest draws to a close, with the champion crowned on June 30.

The winner gets a $10,000 prize, with the video becoming a part of the official Radiohead catalogue. Head over to the band's MySpace to vote for your favorite.
/add'l info via Paste.com

Too Sexy for Coldplay

Coldplay recently revealed that they recorded a song with Kylie Minogue, called Lunar, but it was deemed "too sexy" to make the cut for their new album, 'Viva La Vida (Or Death And All His Friends)'.

"At this point we cannot be that sexy," Frontman Chris Martin said, referring to why the track didn't make the cut for the new album. "It's a song called 'Lunar' and Kylie is particularly brilliant on it.

Martin said that the track would appear on an LP the band will release as early as 2009.

"It will be on a record...some time at the end of next year. It will be track nine, I imagine."

Martin went on the say that another song, a full vocal version of Life In Technicolour', an instrumental song on 'Viva…' will also appear on the album.

Found Footage: Star Wars Done Right

Parody is a difficult thing to do. For any pastiche or satire to work, the tone, style, and mood of the original must first be emulated and then expanded upon. Such is the case with this gem from the Sound Advice Archives: "The Saga Begins" a Star Wars themed parody of Don McLean's "American Pie". What might first seem a simple and straightforward mockery, is upon a closer listen a pitch perfect musical re-interpretation and, in a masterful stroke, Yankovic is able to keep McLean's original internal rhyme scheme. Simple proof that a being a talented musician doesn't mean being all angsty and sad. Plus, it's about a billion times better than Madonna's massacre of a cover version. See "The Saga Begins" below in all its satiric majesty.
Weird Al The Saga Begins

Of Bishops and Ninjas: The RZA's WU-Chess

It is extremely difficult to describe this phenomenon any better than it has already been done on the website proper.

"Designed for chess enthusiasts addicted to hip-hop music, WuChess.com is the place where your favorite music, movies and celebs will be all while you get your game on. WuChess members will get exclusive offers such as MP3s you can't get anywhere else, playing a surprise celebrity guest, access to one of a kind video clips and many more surprises. This is hardcore chess with half the stuffiness.

WuChess understands that it is important that today's youth develop life strategy skills, so to help their efforts a portion of WuChess revenue will be donated to the Hip Hop Chess Federation's scholarship fund.

Welcome to the next level."

For those who think that hip hop is about money, bitches, and bling, hopefully this will be an eye opener.

TOP FIVE: Spring 2008

At the behest of a fellow blogger, whose opinion I respect immensely, I have decided to get back at it. I was feeling sort of down on the state of music recently, only to discover about twenty new bands just in time for spring. Here're the Top Five for Spring 2008:

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
The unsung heroes of SXSW, Seattle's Fleet Foxes specialize in harmonic pop and lazily precise guitar work. They draw from diverse influences and traditions including folk, pop, choral, gospel, sacred harp singing (yup), West Coast music (read Beach Boys), traditional Irish music from Japan, film scores, and their NW peers. Their subject matter ranges from the natural world and familial bonds to bygone loves and stone cold graves. Said one fan, "when we saw them, we were standing in a puddle of our own tears." MP3 - White Winter Hymnal

Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Purists may shy away from this album, but Narrow Stairs is precisely the album Ben Gibbard and Co. needed to propel them from "well knowns" to "standard bearers" for the indie rock scene. While at once being epic ("I Will Own Your Heart", 8:23) and minimal, this effort is far more driving and guitar driven than any of their previous works. Not to be missed, this album will undoubtedly break the top 10 of year end lists. MP3 - Bixby Canyon Bridge

My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
Getting away from "normal rock and roll sounds" has worked remarkably well on this album. There are bits for everyone here including country, electronica, and guitar driven anthems. This album is the first to feature other band members on vocals and is quite a departure from the gentle riffs and falsettos to which fans have become accustomed. MP3 - Sec Walkin

Last Shadow Puppets - Age of the Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets are Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys and the Rascals' Miles Kane. This duo was so inspired by the likes of Scott Walker, early Bowie, and David Axelrod, that they recorded this album of hot-blooded, bold and brassy tracks. Full of drama, wit, and melody, it takes on the form of a Spaghetti Western run amok in Chelsea. The album's lush orchestration was recorded by the 22-piece London Metropolitan Orchestra doing their best Ennio Morricone impression. Look for this duo on select US dates in September with full band and a large string section. MP3 - Age of the Understatement

Vedera - Stages (EP)
Vedera gives us just what we need as the weather heats up: a shimmering, bittersweet blast. This band’s sound recalls the melodic whimsy of artists like Sixpence None the Richer, The Cardigans, and The Sundays. Their take is more straightforward though, as bright moods light up even the most plaintive ballads as the minor chords get cracked open by crystalline tandem vocals, allowing one of the record’s many glittery hooks to burst through. While it may be a bit over produced for some who prefer a more gritty feel, Stages is a refreshing breath of fresh air with a vocalist whose voice is as strong as Neko Case's and as clear as Jenny Lewis's. MP3 - Still Standing

Hot Tip: Joss Whedon's New Musical to feature Doogie, Mal Reynolds

While it's not rock n' roll per se, the latest leak from Whedonesque is intriguing and at least laterally connected to the music scene. According to the official Joss Whedon fansite, a new musical featuring Neil Patrick Harris (Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle) and Nathan Fillion (Waitress, Serenity)is in the works. Whedon said, "During the strike I started writing a musical intended as a limited internet series, 3 episodes of approximately 10 minutes each. Writing with me was my brother Jed, his fiancee Maurissa, and my other brother Zack. To my shock and surprise, we finished it. To my greater shock and surprise, we managed (with the help of many people I'll be praising at length soon) to drag it into preproduction (yes, just as Dollhouse was given a start date two months away and all my comics were due.) And today, after a grueling week of writing everything ever while trying to be a producer, I got to start shooting. A musical.

"This much I will say: It's the story of a low-rent super-villain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he's too shy to talk to. And I'm having the time of my life."

Whedon also offered a bit more casting info for the film, listing:

"'DOCTOR HORRIBLE'S SING-ALONG BLOG'

Neil Patrick Harris.....as Dr. Horrible
Nathan Fillion..........as Captain Hammer
Felicia Day.............as Penny

And a cast of Dozens!"

This is hardly a surprise coming from the mind of Buffy: The Musical, "Once More with Feeling". No information is currently available about when or where this will go live, but the series' name alone is already one of the most creative things announced this year.

Artist Spotlight: Sahara Hotnights

Greetings once again. Welcome to our latest feature, Artist Spotlight. Each month we will endeavor to bring a little attention a little known or breaking new artist. This month, Swedish Fem-Band "Sahara Hotnights"

From the Runaways to the Donnas, the garage has served as a safe haven for women who would rather be rock stars than groupies. Similar in tone and style to fellow Swedes The Hives and Division of Laura Lee, Sahara Hotnights' brash, smashmouth style thrives almost exclusively on heavy riffs, and seamlessly blends the essential elements of garage rock, power pop, punk and an even heavier attitude. Taking their name from an Australian racehorse, the ladies from Hotnights roll out the screeching '70s punk guitars for "Alright Alright (Here's My Fist, Where's the Fight?)," talk riot inducing trash on "Only the Fakes Survive," and rock a fierce and fiery Blondie tribute with "Keep Up the Speed." Their latest album, “What if Leaving is a Loving Thing” is out now on the Stand by Your Band label.
For fans of: Tegan and Sara, The Hives, Tilly and the Wall.

Hear it Now
Alright, Alright (Here's My Fist, Where's the Fight?)

Found Footage: Space Alone

Behold our newest feature: Found Footage wherein whenever we find video of musical relevance or awesomeness, we'll pass it along to you. The first installment is a short and sad animation Space Alone by digital animator/graphic designer Ilias Sounas. While it may seem a bit sci-fi for a music blog, the soundtrack is an excellent example of how music can complement images. Enjoy.

Found Footage - Space Alone