Listen To The New Arctic Monkeys Album Right Now
AM, the latest album from Arctic Monkeys, is now streaming in full on iTunes ahead of its official release on Friday 6th September (just click the image below). Produced by long-term band associate James Ford and recorded in the Californian desert as well as in studios in LA, AM features the (inquisitively titled) singles ‘Do I Wanna Know?’, ‘Why’d You Only Call Me When You High?’, and ‘R U Mine?’. The full album has been described by Arctic Monkeys as a fusion of The Beatles’ classic chops, the grinding rock style of Black Sabbath, as well as the informed production of hip hop luminaries Outkast and Wu-Tang Clan. The Sheffield rock scamps are the latest big name band to use the pre-streaming iTunes model for a major release, not much of a surprise considering its becoming a more common occurrence after the impressive sales figures from some of the year’s biggest album releases have shown that free streams don’t cannibalise physical sales and paid downloads, and in some cases even bolsters them. Those blockbuster releases include Mumford & Sons, Jay Z, Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk, and most recently, Nine Inch Nails’ Hestitation Marks. Speaking of which…
Trent Reznor Talks To Himself For 40 Minutes About NIN Album
With Hesitation Marks, the first Nine Inch Nails album in half-a-decade, now in the hands and ears of fans, Trent Reznor has answered some of the more pressing questions about the new album in an audio interview… with Trent Reznor. A bonus track listed on the Deluxe Edition of Hesitation Marks as ‘Trent Reznor In A Conversation With…’ had everyone guessing who the NIN linchpin would discussing the album with, and as the full 42 minute clip now appears online, it’s now revealed that the in-depth discussion is a monologue. “So the intention here was to have a conversation,” explains the 48-year-old musician on the track. “We were going to choose an interesting person to ask interesting questions and I would respond with interesting answers and we would have an interesting piece of audio to listen to,” but Reznor instead decided to talk candidly about his anecdotes making Hesitation Marks on his own. Maybe a shame considering the album’s list of collaborators (such as King Crimson’s Adrian Belew, Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, or even long-term cohort Atticus Ross), but the full listen reveals some interesting details – including some demo recordings of album tracks and arrangements. As far as making-of’s go, it’s not as stimulating as the video tour diary for NIN’s visually stunning world tour, but it is a unique insight into the mind of the NIN ringleader. (via Alan Cross)
Watch iTunes Festival 2013 Concerts For Free
The iTunes Festival has kicked off this September in London, where for the entire month, a huge series of acts are lined up to perform each night. The full 2013 lineup includes a series of ace double headers including Sigur Rós & Polica, Queens Of the Stone Age & Palma Violets, Arctic Monkeys & Drenge, Kings of Leon & Jimmy Eat World, Chic feat. Nile Rodgers & Janelle Monaé, and plenty more. ‘But it’s all the way in London?’ we hear you gripe, well the iTunes Festival app is making sure that you miss none of the action. Available for free from Apple’s store, the iTunes Festival app allows users to watch live or on-demand on their iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. You can also watch for free on desktop with iTunes, or if you prefer the full-screen TV concert experience, you can watch through your HD with an Apple TV device (best with a few mates). Now entering its seventh year, the iTunes Festival has roped in over 370 artists across its history, including Sir Paul McCartney and Crowded House (at the first ever event in 2007) as well as Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Paul Simon, Oasis, and many more. (via iTunesFestival)
(Click to enlarge. Image: ‘iTunes Festival, London 2013’)
Placebo To Host Online TV Show
Headed to Australia next February as part of the mammoth Soundwave 2014 lineup, Placebo are launching Loud Like Love TV, described as a “unique and candid 90 minute online TV show,” that will stream worldwide, live from YouTube Space London. The online program will feature new and exclusive content from Placebo members Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal, and Steve Forrest, who will act as presenters of the ‘net-based TV show, named after their latest album Loud Like Love. There will be band interviews, chats with the album’s collaborators, live performances, behind the scenes footage, competitions and live link ups to YouTube’s spaces in LA and Tokyo. The online stream will kick off on Tuesday 17th September AEST here (or bookmark us and watch below when it goes live), but Google are offering the chance for three lucky fans to ask the band questions live through a Google hangout (details here). (via LoudLikeLove)
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Download Little Hurricane Covers Album… For Free
San Diego dirty blues duo Little Hurricane, who were in Australia for a whirlwind tour this time last year, have released a collection of covers songs as the follow-up to their debut album Homewrecker. But the best part isn’t that the new release, called Stay Classy, features cracking, grimy blues renditions of popular artists like Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Moby, and Elbow, it’s that the entire 10 track collection is available to download for free from Little Hurricane’s bandcamp page. The duo of Anthony “Tone” Catalano and Celeste “CC” Spina are currently in the studio working on their second full-length album, scheduled for release in early 2014, but in the meantime enjoy these ace covers (our personal favourite? Cranking the dirt on Elbow’s ‘Grounds For Divorce’, which will have you scrunching up your face and grinning in head-nodding glee).
