Matchbox Twenty streams up a new one.

Despite Rob Thomas having a fair share of solo stardom, I'm glad he never forgot the rest of his lads at Matchbox Twenty. Their latest album, Exile on Mainstream will be out in stores come October 2, 2007.

It's a double-disc release but with just 6 brand new tracks. The rest, well, sort of like a greatest hit thing to fill up the gaps. I mean, why not just come up with another 5 tracks and have a full album? The lead single (How far we've come) is already being played around and well, it's pretty catchy.

Pre-orders are available at http://matchboxtwenty.com where you could get exclusive band items.

Stereophonics' new album - October 1, 2007

The welsh lads are back with their 6th studio release. Yup, after 2 years, Stereophonics are back! Frontman Kelly Jones spoke to XFM:

"It’s a big sounding record with the energy of the last album but the big choruses and big songs of Performance And Cocktails. It’s a good mix of what we've been up to."

Well, it better be, after being around the scene for 10 years already. Sadly, the album is only set for the UK market for now. For you downloaders, the albums leaked, so there...I'm not promoting piracy whatsoever.

The Foos are back!

Long awaited! The Foo Fighters' 6th studio album is due this month titled 'Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace'. The album marks the 10th year of working with producer Gil Norton. So, be on the lookout for a deluxe edition of the album.



Track listing:
1) the pretender
2) let it die
3) erase/replace
4) long road to run
5) come alive
6) stranger things have happened
7) cheer up, boys 9your make-up is running)
8) summers end
9) ballad of the beaconsfield miners
10) statues
11) but, honestly
12) home

Silence has a sound

Probably the best I've heard from Australia after Silverchair and Powderfinger. The Silents, hail from Perth and pack a punch of garage styled psychedelic rock. Yeah, you probably never heard of these mates yet because they're still in the midst of recording their debut album which is due end of 2007. I've somehow coincidently managed to get hold of a track of theirs, 'Shock & Awe' and it blew my mind away, never expected it to come from down under! The foursome released their debut EP, Flicker and Flames in 2006 with the lead track, 'Nightcrawl'.

So, keep a lookout for Silents, it's gonna be trashy raw!

Kula Shaker awakes from slumber

One of the most psychedelic music I've ever heard come from this lads. I honestly thought they had laid everything down to rest till just now when i came across an article saying that they're back with a new album. KUDOS!

Their new album, Strangefolk is out now and from what I've heard, they're still kicking it old school. They sure do sound 'KULA' .

For those of you who are fans of Fiona Apple and Tori Amos. Behold, another to add to the genre: Regina Spektor! She's a Russian-born American singer-songwriter and pianist who has some cheeky and fun tunes. Real easy listening.

Artist Rating: 7/10

The Pumpkins are Back but are they Smashing and Rocking?

They're back but this time with 2 new names joining the crew, replacing Iha and Auf De Maur. We welcome second guitarist, Jeff Schroeder and new bassist Ginger Reyes.

The new album (due 10 July) is called Zeitgeist (Reprise Records). And what does Zeitgeist mean? It's a German expression that means 'the spirit of the age'. So let's see if these Pumpkins have what it takes for this age's music taste.

So, here's the tracklist folks! The Pumpkins are back!
1. Doomsday Clock
2. 7 Shades of Black
3. Bleeding the Orchid
4. That¹s the Way (my Love is)
5. Tarantula - *First Single
6. Starz
7. United States
8. Neverlost
9. Bring the Light
10. (Come on) Let¹s Go!
11. For God and Country
12. Pomp and Circumstances

Green Day go Simpsons

Well looks like the guys are not only appearing in The Simpsons Movie, they've also recorded their very own version of The Simpsons theme and will actually be released as a single on July 24.

Live Earth Concert Line Up revealed.

7.07.07. That's the date when more 2 billion people unite in this concert to combat climate crisis. It's called LIVE EARTH folks. 24 hours of live entertainment from artists of various genres, 7 continents uniting in this monster event!

Here's the lineup at Wembley, London just recently announced:
Beastie Boys
Black Eyed Peas
Bloc Party
Corrine Bailey Rae
Damien Rice
David Gray
Duran Duran
Foo Fighters
Genesis
James Blunt
John Legend
Keane
Madonna
Paolo Nutini
Razorlight
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Snow Patrol

At the Giants Stadium, New Jersey:
Kanye West
AFI
Kelly Clarkson
Akon
KT Tunstall
Alicia Keys
Ludacris
Bon Jovi
Sheryl Crow
Melissa Etheridge
Dave Matthews Band
Rihanna
Fall Out Boy
Roger Waters
Smashing Pumpkins
John Mayer
The Police

More info at more info at www.livenation.co.uk/liveearth

Daphne Loves Derby

Here's an indie band formed in Washington who are truly greatful to the internet. Thanks to the world wide web, that's how the band met and that's how they pretty much got their demos known to the world, and magically got to actually pick a label.

Daphne Loves Derby's new album is due 27 March, titled Good Night, Witness Light will showcase the bands breathty vocals ala The Shins and lyrics about life's ups and downs.

Silversun Pickups - indie with a dose of grunge

Want dreamy, melodic, stonner, grungy tunes? Get a load of the Silversun Pickups. They've become one of my favourite indie rock outfits ever since i listened to the grungy-the breeders-like song, Well Thought Out Twinkles. It's raw, has a good riff, and a real good swing to it.

Silversun Pickups (SSPU) can be heard in this season's The OC. Tracks include Lazy Eye and Rusted Wheel. According to Eric Shea of Rhapsody.online, "the Silversun Pickups rightfully garner many a comparison to alt-rock '90s heroes the Smashing Pumpkins". Their album Carnavas was released last year (2006). I'm simply hoping to hear more of them soon, after their current Spring tour with Snow Patrol.

ASH - New Album out soon!

Finally! A new album. Y'all remmeber Ash right? Ya' know, Girl From Mars, Goldfinger...yeah anyway, they've got a new album coming up. No official name mentioned yet, it's all hush hush. But Tim Wheeler has announced the lead single to be You Can't Have It All. According to him, "it's a bitch love song dealing with bi-popular emotions. It's got a really big driving bassline and the beat in the verses is almost dancey".

Another track described is Saskia which is said to have an Easter European feel to it. Also said to be inspired by the great Davis Bowie. Now, that's something I wanna listen too.

Already out in the internet is I Started A Fire which sounds well...not that bad. Was actually expecting more from 'em. But given the fact that they're a 3-piece outfit again, the fans may just forgive the lads. That's right, Charlotte Hatherley has left the boysin pursuit of her solo career.

Anywayz....i hope Ash feeds the fans a dose of kool bubble-gum songs if you'd like to call it that. But I'm glad the lads are back.

Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood goes Reggae

That's right folks. The skinny dude of Radiohead's got some Jamaican flava up his sleeves. Jonny Greenwood is the Controler is what the album's called and is due to be released March 6. The album's a compilation of 17 reggae tracks from the archives of the legendary Trojan Records.

Word on the block is that Greenwood went through a 6-month reggae crash course to prepare for this project. I've had a listen to one of his works, Delroy Wilson's This Life Makes Me Wonder. Pretty good stuff MAN!

Gym Class Heroes - so cool, so funky.

With guitars so snappy, bass lines so groovy, and beats that make you head-bop, Gym Class Heroes serves music lovers with a dish of indie cum hip hop. How often do you get that?

Under Pete Wentz's (Fall Out Boy) label, Decaydance Records, this quartet has been labeled "too rock for hip-hop and too hip-hop for rock". Look's like they have a close relationship with FOB, because you can even find Patrick Stump (FOB vocal) featured on Clothes Off (Track 4) from their As Cruel As School Children album.

Tracks to look out for: The Queen & I, Shoot Down the Stars, 7 Weeks.

Fall Out Boy's Infinity on High out in stores now!

Infinity on High. That's the new album by pop-punk-rock band Fall Out Boy. It's in the stores now!

The lead single, This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race was really electrifying when it hit the airwaves. The music video was ...well , entertaining.

Oh, did I mention that Jay-Z is featured on the album too? Yeah...he is on Car Crash Hearts. Check it out guys, this one album you gotta own!

Here's the lyrics to This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race for those who wanan sing along with the music clip at this page:

I am an arms dealer

Fitting you with weapons in the form of words

And don't really care which side wins

As long as the room keeps singing

That's just the business I'm in

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race

I'm not a shoulder to cry on

But, I digress

I'm a leading man

And the lies I weave are oh-so intricate [x2]

I wrote the gospel on giving up(You look pretty sinking)

But the real bombshells have already sunk(Prima-donnas of the gutter)

At night we're painting your trash gold while you sleep

Crashing not like hips or cars,

No, more like parties

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race

Bandwagon's full

Please, catch another

I'm a leading man

And the lies I weave are oh-so intricate [x2]

All the boys who the dance floor didn't love

And the girls who's lips couldn't move fast enough

Sing, until your lungs give out

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race

This ain't a scene, it’s a god damn arms race(Now you)

This ain't a Scene, it’s a god damn arms race(Wear out the groove)

This ain't a Scene, it’s a god damn arms race(Sing out loud)

This ain't a Scene, it’s a god damn arms race(Oh, oh)
I'm a leading manAnd the lies I weave are oh-so intricate [x2]

WOo0 The AdrenalinE!!! It makes me wanna RISE AGAINST!!!

Rise Against! Such energy. Such passion. Such adrenaline. Such is the expression I'd give to this melodic-underground-angst-punk outfit. If this band was a brand, you know what the USPs would be? It would be the seasoned vocals that blend so well with raw guitars.

For the past 2 months, I've been listening to both their albums, The Sufferer & The Witness and Siren Song of The Counter-Culture. Boy have both the entire albums motivated me! You know how it is sometimes when there's this one or two particular tracks that just give you a push in life. A reason to go on and stuff like that. Well, this is one band that does it well for me.

Lyrically, they make one listen to the words. Musically, it just bursts with so much energy. They kinda remind me of the earlier days of Offspring's Smash album. Yeah, it's that kinda energy! Those who have played Need For Speed Underground would be familiar with their hit song, Give it All, a track packed with adrenaline.

All in all, this is one fantastic band. Thumbs up for sure!

My rating: 9.5/10

Experimental post-hardcore-art-punk. What a mouthful. They are 'The Blood Brothers'.

Well, how about it? A band with 2 vocalists, uses the laptop as part of their equipment, loads of screaming and drumming that seems as if the drummer was in a hurry to get to the loo. This is Seattle based band, The Blood Brothers.

These guys have pretty hard stuff. Some tunes got me off fine. Some were just too much for me to digest. Check out their album, Young Machetes and see if you can handle it.

Flyleaf makes beautiful rock

Flyleaf is one outfit that rocks my world! They're loud, a pinch dark, melodious, and raw. Headed by rock chick Lacey Mosley, she delivers songs that carry a positive message although it's musically brought across as heavy. Medium-to-heavey actually. So, to all you pop people out there...rock is not always about death!

Flyleaf's self titled debut album echoes songs about abuse, neglect, addiction and dysfunction, and messages about overcoming adversity. Take f or example the lyrics from Fully Alive:

Telling layla's story spoken,
About how all her bones are broken,
hammers fall on all the peices,
two months in the cover creases,

Fully alive, more than most
ready to smile and love life.
Fully alive and she knows,
How to believe in futures.

What does 'flyleaf' actually mean? A flyleaf is ablank page at the front of a book. It's a dedication page, the place you write a message to someone you're giving a book to. According to Mosley, that's what their songs are about - a personal message that provide a few moments of clarity before the story begins.

Great album folks!

My rating: 7/10

Scarlett Johansson to sing?

That’s right! Yet another film star is having a go at musical stardom. Is it so easy these days? We've seen Hillary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, and *gulp* David Hasslehoff! Now Scarlett? I mean, a basketballer can’t actually be good in baseball can he? There’s no offence to you MJ.

But anyway, Scarlett Johansson is already said to be working on her debut album, Scarlett Sings Tom Waits. Yes, the singer-songwriter Tom Waits who’s responsible for the hit, Ole '55 which the Eagles covered So, little miss beautiful intends to do a cover album of Tom Waits. It’s not gonna be easy, gal! But if she does cut it, she might as well be the perfect celebrity who can sing, act and seduce the fans!

Incubus' 5th Studio Album - 28 November, 2006

Brandon Boyd and the boys have always gained good praises for their sense of alternative rock. I was so delighted to hear that Incubus are at it again with their latest release, Light Grenades, due 28 November.

They've had 3 years of absence and I'll be expecting a whole damn lotta adrenaline rushing songs from them.

Guitarist, Mike Einziger said in an interview with MTV, "...it sounds like 13 different bands playing 13 different songs."

Alright, to some fans, that may sound like a dissapointment. But come on, maybe they won't be way too experimental. They've done so well with the freedom the fans have given them. Their first single, Anna Molly sounds damn good. The music video is even better (it should be playing on the right side of the main page).

Don't forget the grab the album!!!

Track Listing:
1. Quicksand
2. Kiss to Send Us Off
3. Dig
4. Anna Molly
5. Love Hurts
6. Light Grenades
7. Earth to Bella (Part I)
8. Oil and Water
9. Diamonds and Coal
10. Rogues
11. Paper Shoes
12. Pendulous Threads
13. Earth to Bella (Part II)