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New Arrival keeps The Faith

Faithless have announced they are to release a new album. To All New Arrivals is the bands fifth studio album (they have a best of knocking about too). The First single is call Bombs goes on sale on download from 23rd October and in the shops 20th November. The Album goes on sale on 27th November.

Damien Lets Album Do The Talking

Damien Rice will not be doing any promotion for his new album  “9” which will be out in November, apart from touring and playing songs we assume. The singer has expressed no desire to speak to the media and talk up his latest offering. it’s the type of call you can make when you sell over 2 million copies of your first solo album I suppose.
The track list is as follows:

1. 9 Crimes
2. The Animals Were Gone
3. Elephant
4. Rootless Tree
5. Dogs
6. Coconut Skins
7. Me, My Yoke And I
8. Grey Room
9. Accidental Babies
10. Sleep Don't Weep

Nine Crimes will the first single.

Banksy Does Paris

Banksy. Not a name that will ring many bells in popular culture. If you want instant name recognition few can top Paris Hilton. The former is renowned (in certain circles) for his subversive talent, the latter is famous for being famous.

Banksy is a guerrilla artist who is known for his sight specific graffiti stencils and artistic high jinx. The Bristol boy has smuggled his demented works of art and sculptures into some of the most famous museums in the world such as the New York National History Museum where they have gone undetected for days. He stands out because of his talent ( he wont use his real name). So what does he have in common with the girl named after a hotel?

The answer is simple, they have both released a Paris Hilton CD. She used a major record label and promotion company and he used DIY tactics and distributed them himself to over 50 record shops through out the UK. She told everyone who would listen what she was at, he made nary a peep as he smuggled his alternative copies into stores. His covers have a topless Paris on ‘em and a dogs head superimposed on the leggie blonde on the inside. He also gave her the remix treatment with song titles like Why Am I Famous? What Have I Done? and  What Am I For? A spokesman for Virgin Megastores said staff were searching for affected CDs but it was proving hard to find them all.
“I have to take my hat off - it’s a very good stunt,” he added.

As to why Banksy would target Paris Hiltons stab at pop here is the mans motto;

“The time of getting fame for your name on its own is over.
Artwork that is only about wanting to be famous will never make you famous.
Any fame is a by-product of making something that means something.
You don't go to a restaurant and order a meal because you want to have a shit.”

‘Nuff said.

Paris Hilton - Paris

Paris Hilton is here to stay, whether we like it or not. Famous for little more than being born rich, her career path has been something of an enigma. She has been a reality TV star with The Simple Life, she's been a adult film star with One Night in Paris, she had a stab at acting in last years House of Wax remake and now she's launching a music career.

 

It used to be that talent was a commodity which record companies looked for in new artists. At one stage artists actually had to be competent singers. But that was a long time ago.

 

The first thing that comes to mind when you pop Paris in the CD tray, is "just how bad can it be?" Very, is the answer to that questions. Her cover of Rod Stewart's Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?, is one of the most inept covers I have ever heard. On the entire album there are only two tracks that standout, Jealousy and Stars are Blind. The reason for this is simple, they're the only tracks on the album that wouldn't feel out of play in an adult film. Which is somewhat ironic, considering Hilton's past.

 

This is the kind of ego massaging, self indulgent masturbation that inst fit to grace petrol station bargain bins, but will not doubt shift more copies than most. Avoid.

Outkast - Idlewild

Outkast are known for crafting epic albums. It's not uncommon for them to pass the 70 minute mark. Take Speakerboxx/The Love Below. A 39 track juggernaut which managed the almost unthinkable, a double album that justified it's existence. Idlewild clocks in at roughly, 78 minutes. To many artists thats length of an album would constitute two and in some cases three albums worth of material.

The album is, in part, the soundtrack to their upcoming film. Till it arrives, we can only judge Idlewild as a stand alone album.

 

Outkast's knack for taking genres and rearranging them is legendary. No other artist can mix and match musical genres with the inventiveness or wit of Outkast. Many artist throw every conceivable trick into the equation, but crucially, Andre and Big Boi know when to take things back aswell.

 

It's almost impossible to pick a high point on an album so full of great tracks, but N2u and Call to Law are exceptional. Both tracks showcase Outkast for the creative and musical geniuses that they are.

 

Few albums are as captivating, original, and madcap as Idlewild.

Warped Tour 2006 - Various

Warped Tour 2006 Compilation

Before the days of Myspace and Pandora, one of the best ways to discover new bands was through CD samplers. In fact, I discovered many of my favorite bands down through the years through Epitaph's Punk-O-Rama CDs which, brought punk to a much wider audience.

 

SideOneDummy follow the trend with this gigantic 51 track, 2 disc, low cost sampler. All the bands featured took part in this years Warped tour.

 

There really is something for everyone here, old school punk, folk punk, punk rock, ska, emo, metal , reggae, etc. The bands range from giants of the industry, Rancid, NOFX, to virtual unknowns.

 

Unfortunately, like most samplers there is a large amount of sup par crap to wade through. For every great song there theres at least three less than great.

 

Worth a few listens but remember, this is the sort of album that the skip button was invented for.