Graham back in Blur?

I'd take this with a huge rock of salt, but according to The Daily Mirror, Graham Coxon's back in BLUR. According to the Mirror, Graham met with the other members of Blur last week and all has been forgiven. They quote a "music industry insider" as saying, "The meeting went well - probably better than any of them expected... It's very positive for everyone and Graham will still be able to do his solo work as well as working with the band again." Hmmm...

UPDATE FROM SHANE 20 Oct 6:30pm CST: Looks like, in fact, the salt rock wins out. Designer Magazine is now claiming to have the first interview with Coxon since The Mirror broke this news story. According to the interview, Coxon is NOT rejoining Blur. His direct quote:

It's not true at all. Of course not. Is anything you've ever read in the Mirror true? Can you read any evidence that what the headline said was true within the piece? All that piece says is that I'm definitely recording another solo album with Stephen Street, it doesn't really say anything about me joining Blur at all. So the headline is wrong for what the piece is. It should be ignored.

From the horse's mouth? Who knows. The interview DOES confirm that Coxon recently met up with the other three members of the band, but, according to Coxon, it was to "mend stuff emotionally," not creatively.

Marc Almond Seriously Hurt

MARC ALMOND, onetime frontman of legendary 80's band Soft Cell, has been critically injured in a weekend motorcycle accident in London. Almond was riding passenger when the motorcycle he was on was struck by a car. Both Almond and the cycle's driver were ejected onto the street. Almond was taken to hospital with critical head and neck injuries, and spent the night in surgery. As of this posting, he is out of surgery and listed in critical but stable condition. We'll try to keep you updated as news progresses. Marc's official website has set up a way to send notes to Marc as he hopefully recuperates.

My headphones are ablaze

I am so enamored with new sounds right now I can't hold my radio silence any longer... my headphones are ablaze. I know people love to pigeonhole me in my favorite self-proclaimed genre... but we (the royal) are breaking free of the eurosugarindiegirlvoxpop jello mold this autumn. Ladies and Gentlemen... (pause for dramatic effect)... this fall is officially softvoxguitarpop autumn. Let it be known far and wide that the world has been waiting for a bit of guitars and harmonies (all right, maybe it's what I've been waiting for).

Sorry, that was a bit of an overshot but my enthusiasm cannot be bridled at the moment. I am twirling about day and night to the sounds of so many pour-your-heart-out artists that I can't help but be a bit zealous. So what's got me so riled up?
Kevin Tihista's Red Terror - Wake Up Captain
"On my knees in the alleyway, crying out your name... people look at me in shame. All that I can say is that I never knew that I could ruin a life." - Damn The Weather
I know it's only October, but I am about to call this my front runner for album of the year. There, I've said it. Feel free to hold me to it. If any artist manages to change my mind I'll be absolutely shocked.
I was a fan of Kevin's music before... but he's taken this record so much further musically and emotionally than he's ever done before. The nuances and subtlety of this release are just crying out for headphones. Every time I hear Wake up Captain, I discover my new favorite song... as every track is so perfectly paired with kevin's forlorn vocals and orchestral/acoustic pop (with the occasional horn section thrown in for good measure to make you wake up and take notice).
Listen to a few tracks: Kevin Tihista's Red Terror - Good Wings | Kevin Tihista's Red Terror - Family Curse
Buy The Record at: Parasol

The Marlboro Chorus - Youth Medium
"Weird song and pictures and absolute sounds, form in your ears when you calm down. But there's no absolution, for freaks and their minds." - The Black Iron Prisoner
I know you all must think I have some sort of personal relationship with the Marlboro Chorus boys as often as I sing their praises. Really that isn't the case, I swear it. Their music, although relatively unknown, is JUST THAT GOOD. Yes, in an all caps shouty sort of way. They'0re like a pop merry-go-round that never ends... making you dizzy at every ironic slurring harmony until you're all smiles. Combine happy-go-lucky acoustic guitars, punchy drum beats, a sly banjo, slap happy tamborines, gruff yet idyllic vocals... and you might be in the vicinity of this sunny day paradise.
Listen to a track: The Marlboro Chorus - Youth Medium
Buy The Record at: Parasol or Insound

The Ocean Blue - Waterworks EP
"Orange glow, the radio reminds me that you're not here and I'm aware. Now I'm reminiscing all the things we share... staring at the leaves, talking to the trees, all of these especially sunshowers." - Sunshower
It's been far too long since we've heard new material from The Ocean Blue and this EP is only going to make the fans more antsy for a full length release. It's a simple six songs (including two instrumental)... but is all things good about the Ocean Blue, then some. A bit of jangle, a bit of celestial guitar and enough to convince the world that the Ocean Blue are far from gone.
Listen to a few tracks: The Ocean Blue - Golden Gate | The Ocean Blue - Ticket To Wyoming
Buy the record: The Ocean Blue
(If you're in California... don't hesitate to run to see them this weekend.)

Fancey - Fancey
"Melody on the airwaves taking me out." - Carry Me
Blissful... just blissful. A glorious solo effort by New Pornographer, Todd Fancey. All the greatness of synths, fuzzy guitars, male/female vocal plays and the occasional disco beat create an absolutely gorgeous record to get completely lost in. Snap along kids... Fancey's world of 70's inspired melancholy and bliss is too cool for words.
Listen to a track: Fancey - Rock n Roll Rhythm
Buy the record: FuturePopShop or Insound

Hercules - In The Alleyway
"Sometimes I look at all the brokenhearted fools and lose my mind. It's a mad world that helps you up just to knock you down another time." - Good For You
I'll be the first to admit that this record is a grower. A few listens on your standard stereo and you might miss it. This is definitely a headphones subtle record of straight-out-of-the-60's diddies. Yes, diddies. The minimalism on this record, is just the sort of thing to drive Brian Wilson mad (and by that i mean crazy excited, not psychotic). It's summer, autumn and winter rolled into one growling wurlitzer complete with strings and the occasional ethereal guitar.
Listen to a track: Hercules - Can't Go Out
Buy the record: FuturePopShop or Insound

Kings of Convenience - Riot On An Empty Street
"So I lost some sales and my boss won't be happy but there's only one thing on my mind. Searching boxes underneath the counter, on a chance that on a tape I'd find a song for... someone who need somewhere... to long for." - Homesick
A bit of a break from my otherwise American indie autumn... but it's really just a short jump to Scandinavia. There really isn't anyone doing contemplative acoustic pop better than this Norsk duo. You've got to be a little bit sappy and a lot a bit in love with the world to tackle the sticky sweetness... but it's oh so worth it. The simplicity of every chord change just pulls at my heart. Besides, I dare you to watch the video below without grinning like the village idiot.
Listen to a track: Kings of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You (Video)
Buy the record: Insound
(While your at it... pick up a copy of Erlend Ã~ye's DJ Kicks record... absolutely brilliant mix.)

Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Please Describe Yourself
"I get up when I like. Wear anything I like. Don't keep up with the cool. I make up my own rules." - Lounger
Ok this isn't quite softvoxguitarpop... in fact delete every word in that except "pop". This Scottish foursome hasn't even released their record domestically yet... and I know the hype machine is quickly taking hold but for good reason. Were you an XTC fan? How about Aztec Camera or Squeeze? You'll quickly recognize all the same enthusiasm of a band not-yet-jaded and playing their instruments the only way they know how... however they damn well please. It's all attitude, ska beats and dueling piano/guitar riffs.
Listen to a track: Dogs Die in Hot Cars - Lounger
(Click media... then audio and you'll find a link)

There are so many more records I could talk about... Stars, Mosquitos, The Brunettes, The Thrills, Le Concorde, Charlotte Hatherley, The Dears (although thank goodness the world has finally taken notice to the brilliance that is No Cities Lost)... oh I could go on and on... but let's leave a bit of the enthusiam for another day. So throw on some headphones and click a few of the links above for the perfect soundtrack to the falling leaves.

Four Swervedriver Live Albums For Free

Over at the the Official Swervedriver Website, they just put up four live albums that are free to download. Adam Franklink, the lead singer, has given his "okay" for the release just as long as they are traded freely and not sold. The albums have been compiled by the Swervedriver forum members using the best live versions of each track. If you want higher quality versions then you can download the FLAC version from Sharing The Groove. I'm download that version right now and I'll be seeding this Bit Torrent for another week or so.

The End of Luna

Well it's not instantaneous, but it is happening. Dean Wareham is going to let LUNA go the way of Galaxie 500...

On October 26, we will release our seventh studio album, Rendezvous, on Jetset Records. This will be Luna's final record. We will tour the United States and Europe over the next six months, playing our last shows in 2005." We've received a lot of kind emails, people asking why the will be going into retirement next year. Of course with a decision like this, the reasons are multifold. Here are ten explanations I have been giving to journalists:

  1. Rock and Roll is killing my life.
  2. The Universe is Expanding.
  3. There are too many bands out there, travelling around, singing their songs etc.
  4. Too much time spent in 15-passenger vans. According to 20/20, these things flip over.
  5. Too many hands to shake, that means germs.
  6. Too many dinners at Wendy's.
  7. People are dying in Iraq.
  8. This is what bands do (with a few exceptions, like R.E.M. and Metallica, and the Rolling Stones). Those bands, however, are multibillion dollar corporations. You don't break that up unless the government forces you to.
  9. Hotel Electravision.
  10. Time to Quit.

Dean Wareham

 

FBI's Remaining Lennon Files To Be Released

The FBI were keeping tabs on JOHN LENNON in the early seventies for his anti-war stance. Jonathan Wiener, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, has been in a twenty year battle with the government to get the files released. In 1997 the FBI released 300 pages of their files but Wiener continued the suit and finally won for the remaining ten pages to be released.

Meister Album Available Now

This week sees the Shifty Disco UK release of the debut record from MEISTER, a new supergroup revolving around Japanese guitarist Ryo Matsui... and for once, they're not lying when using the tagline "supergroup," as the line-up on this album reads as a who's-who of our favorite musicians. Matsui's band is rounded out by Nick Beggs (yes, THAT Nick Beggs out of Kajagoogoo) on bass and Loz Colbert (ex-Ride) on drums. The album also features a revolving door of guest vocalists, including Sice (ex-Boo Radleys,) Manda Rin (ex-Bis,) Idha (wife of ex-Ride guitarist and current Oasis bassist Andy Bell,) Gary Stringer (of Reef fame,) and more! The easiest way for stateside folks to grab the album is via the fine folks at OxfordMusic.Net. We've used OxfordMusic.Net for Shifty Disco orders in the past, and they're VERY timely, reliable, and all-around good people. This is a do-not-miss record for the musicians involved alone!

Joe Pernice has baseball fever

In honor of his beloved Red Sox who apparently have a chance this year at World Series play... Joe Pernice has penned a new song available for download on his website. An ode to Manny Ramirez, the song "Moonshot Manny (Pega Luna Manny)" came about as...

"At some point in the middle of the season I started singing, "Manny hit me home with a moonshot, baby" to the TV set every time Manny would step up to the plate. Just as my falsetto was shaping up fairly and the tune was actually becoming a song, my wife started singing it too. Then our friends joined in. Pretty soon a gang of us was dancing around the apartment, singing the tune and making a racket of our own."

All proceeds for the song are being donated to First Night Boston, a community-based outreach and arts education program.

Trashcan Sinatras - Philadelphia - 09/19/04

Trashcan Sinatras
Philadelphia, The Trocadero
Sunday September 19, 2004

The thing that struck me immediately when walking into the Trocadero the night that the Trashcan Sinatras played was the posters of the cover art for Weightlifting with the words "Welcome back..." written on the bottom. There was a tangible sense that the TCS were returning to finally make right all the wrong that they have endured in the past several years. With a new, gorgeous album, their "classic TCS lineup" in place (with Davie Hughes on bass), I was hoping I would get to see the band in top form and I did.

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Fancey - Fancey

Fancey Sure to Put Some Sunshine into Those Cold Autumn Days
March Records

FanceyWhoever designed the front-cover artwork for Fancey's self-titled debut must have had the lead-off track, "Carry Me," on repeat.

The brightly-colored orange (yes, the fruit), topped by the retro-style "Fancey" logo, screams "sweet, sunny pop inside" and that's just what "Carry Me" is. Although the song starts off with very subtle, emotive organ for the first few bars, it soon blooms into a full-blown summertime indie-pop anthem that will make you want to run through the sprinklers with all your friends.

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