De La Soul Announce New Album

And the new "De La" album will be titled "You're Welcome". The album will feature contributions from Chuck D and Flavor Flav as well as Blur's Damon Alburn. De La Soul will be returning the favor by dropping some versus on the new Gorillaz album "Plastic Beach".

Stax Records To Reissue Hot Buttered Soul

Stax Records will continue the current trend of reissues when on June 23rd they will reissue Isaac Hayes' "Hot Buttered Soul". The album was Hayes' second release after the poor selling 'Presenting Isaac Hayes' and almost was not released. If not for Stax losing their whole back catalogue to Atlantic Records Hayes would have returned to his original job of writing songs for other artists. The album consists of just four songs: a covers of Burt Bacharach's "Walk On By", Jimmy Web's "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and two Hayes originals. The reissue will include bonus tracks, photos and liner notes by My Morning Jacket's Jim James.

New Superchunk 7" On The Way

With Merge Records 20th anniversary quickly approaching the band that got it all going Superchunk are back in the saddle. On July 7th they will release the new 7" Crossed Wires. And for vinyl nerds out there the record will be clear!

New Vivian Girls Video "Moped Girls"

New God Help The Girl Video "Come Monday Night"

God help the girl is Stuart Murdoch from Belle & Sebastian and some very cute female singers he auditioned using Myspace.

Kick Out The Jams

Nine Inch Nails and Janes Addiction are on tour right now along with openers Street Sweepers Social Club which features the Bay Areas own Boots Riley. Last weekend Trent Reznor joined Riley for a cover of the MC5 classic.

New Tortoise Video "Prepare Your Coffin"

This black and white clip is the first video off of the bands forthcoming album Beacons Of Ancestorship.

New Cornershop Video "The Roll Off Characteristics (Of History In The Making)"

I remember way back in the day this band was a big deal for a minute when they were signed to the Beastie Boys then record label Grand Royal. Who new they were still around?

New Modest Mouse Video "Satelite Skin"

This song is from an upcoming seven inch that was originally supposed to be released for Record Store Day.

Satellite Skin

The Road Trailer

Man, I can't wait for this!

Big Star Gets Reissues

Big Star are one of the best rock bands ever and on June 16th Ardent/Stax will reissue their first two records. The bands #1 Record and Radio City have previously been available as a double CD but will finally be reissued on vinyl as individual records again.

21st Century Sellouts

Being someone who graduated high school in the mid nineties I got to hear many bands I grew up on referred to as "sellouts". Most of the time I found the accusation to be unwarranted. Who wouldn't want to bring their music to a wider audience and if you can maintain your artistic integrity why not? Shit, Sonic Youth made difficult/great records for almost two decades on Geffen.

So when I call Green Day "sellouts" I don't mean it lightly. The reason being the bands exclusive contract with Stuart (Fox News) Murdoch's paper The Sun for an exclusive stream of their new album. Coming from the punk rock scene in Berkley California that spawned bands like Operation Ivy and Jawbreaker it is disappointing to see them partner up with someone like Murdoch especially since the band hardly needs the exposure. Click headline for the Guardian's story.

Amy Winehouse - Still A Disaster

I get the feeling the people around her are just waiting to cash in when this ship finally goes down.

New Magik Markers Video "The Lighter Side Of... Hippies"

Dead Weather Album Art

Dead Weather is a "supergroup" that features Jack White on drums and The Kills Allison on vocals. Their debut album will be out on July 14 and a tour is in the works including a stop here in Austin During ACL.

Greatest Album Covers

Black Flag - My War



The artwork for Black Flag's second album "My War" was done by Raymond Pettibon who was the bands founder Greg Ginn's younger brother. Pettibon was originally the bass player for the band when they were known as Panic. After discovering that another band had claim to the name Pettibon suggested the name "Black Flag" and designed the classic four bar logo. His pen and ink artwork created a visual companion to the hardcore music of the time with it's often violent and anti authority lyrical and visual themes. These days Pettibon is one of the most saught after artists of our times and commands a high price for his original works.

Wilco (The Album) Cover Art

Wilco's new album will be call "Wilco The Album" not to be confused with self titled. It has a song on it called "Wilco The Song" and a duet with Fiest. And this is the awesome artwork!

New Jason Lytle "I am lost (and the moment cannot last)"

This is the first video from the former Grandaddy frontman's Anti debut out later this month.

I Am Lost (And the Moment Cannot Last)

New Beastie Boys!

Some random copies of the vinyl re release of Check Your Head got a little something extra in the form of new music. Random copies included a 7" which contained the songs "Lee Majors Come Again" and "B Boys in the Cut". You can here both songs over at the fan sight Mic to Mic.

Grizzly Bear On Jools Holland

Yeah so incase you didn't notice this is an elvaluation copy!

Sonic Youth On Later With Jools Holland

Sonic Youth may have a new album coming out but they played on of the classics in this performance on Jools Holland.

New Amadou & Mariam "Masiteladi"

Amadou et Mariam Feat. M - Masitéladi (directors' cut) from laurent Gillot on Vimeo.

Greatest Album Covers

The Clash - London Calling



If your putting out one of the greatest albums of all times you need a great cover to go with it. Thus we have the cover for London Calling the third album by The Clash. The cover features a picture of bassist Paul Simonon about to smash his instrument during the "Clash Take The Fifth" tour. Originally photographer Pennie Smith did not want the band to use the image because she felt it was out of focus. Joe Strummer however felt that the photo captured what Q magazine called the "ultimate rock'n'roll moment - total loss of control". The graphic elements of the cover were a homage to Elvis Presley's first album.

Sonic Youth Play "What We Know" for Jools Holland

Sonic Youth sound invigorated performing this track from their upcoming Matador release The Eternal.

Bruce Spingsteen Covers The Clash

In Philly Bruce and the E Street Band covered the Clash's London Calling.