You would think that after their Grammy award winning album 21st Century Breakdown, touring behind the album, releasing their own Rock Band game and putting their American Idiot musical on Broadway this year, Green Day would want to rest up a bit.
But the Bay Area punks are already looking forward as they’ve begun work on the next album, according to singer Billie Joe Armstrong.
“We did some demos in Berlin, some in Stockholm, some just outside of Glasgow and some in Amsterdam,” Armstrong said to Kerrang!. “We wanted get [the songs] down in some early form.”
While this is definitely exciting news, I’m hoping that it also means the band is done writing these epic concept albums. While I’m a big fan of American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown holds a place in my record collection, I really want these guys to stop trying to save the world and just give us punk-rock again.
Have you tried releasing your teenage angst towards your parents by singing lyrics from “21 Guns”? Doesn’t exactly have the same impact as “Basket Case” would. Here’s hoping that we get a fast, loud and solid album filled with new anthems to get crazy to.
Normally, when a band makes an album and it leaks online, they have a tendency to get upset. The label rushes to change the release date earlier so people will still go and buy the record and the band gets cheated out of money they could have made due to people downloading it illegally. It’s not fun for any band.
Then you have the case of indie-rockers MGMT. Their new album, Congratulations, which isn’t hitting record stores until April 13th and is one of the more hyped up albums of the year. Recently, however, the record made its way online via a leak and people already have it on their iPod for free. But did this upset the Brooklyn, NY boys? Not at all.
MGMT has streamed the album online at their official website so now it’s available for everyone to check out. The band even addressed the leak with a message on the site.
“Hey everybody, the album leaked, and we wanted you to be able to hear it from us. We wanted to offer it as a free download but that didn’t make sense to anyone but us.”
Good to know that these guys are taking it in stride and making the most of what is, normally, an upsetting situation. So go to the site, listen to it as often as you want and then support their kind gesture by going out and buying the record.
The Rock it Out! Blog’s final day at SXSW was amazing. First of all, I had my SXSW party with the ever amazing website Consequence Of Sound. A stellar lineup including Sweet Apple, The Protomen, Look Mexico, Happy Hollows and more made it an incredible first party for me. I plan on doing it again next year.
I also got the chance to interview Ben Blackwell from Third Man Records and got some new info regarding the second Dead Weather album Sea Of Cowards. You can read more about the album at Antiquiet, TwentyFourBit, CoS and right here on the RiO!B.
The night ended with a raucous (and free) show from Street Sweeper Social Club (Tom Morello and Boots Riley). I’m beyond glad I got to go to SXSW and be a part of it while meeting new friends and seeing great shows and new bands. Already planning SXSW 2011 and I’ve got some big ideas.
It’s day 3 of the RiO!B’s adventure through Austin, TX and the South by Southwest festival.
Today’s episode features the bands We Are Scientists, Titus Andronicus. Jukebox The Ghost, Casxio, The Cab and Witchburn. It’s my last day at SXSW so today should be a damn good one. Especially since my party with Consequence of Sound happens today!
Enjoy the episode, guys. The final vlog will be up tomorrow.
The first day of the music portion of SXSW also happened to land on St. Patrick’s Day which is a double dose of insanity.
Between all the drunken tomfoolery, there were a bunch of great bands that played. I was lucky to catch shows from Toro Y Moi, Real Estate, Veraprasta and Jason Collett from Broken Social Scene.
It’s not only St. Patrick’s day today but it’s also Jack White Day as this is the second story about the man I’ve put up in the last couple of hours. But this is one you’re definitely gonna want to check out.
White’s newest band, The Dead Weather, are planning on releasing their second album this year. Which means, when you’re releasing a new album, a single has to precede it. Which is what the Dead Weather are doing with their new single called “Die by The Drop”.
The single is out on March 23rd but you can check out a snippet of it over at Amazon.com (via Antiquiet). There’s also a b-side called “Old Mary” which you’ll also be able to check out.
It’s also being reported that the new album is being called Sea Of Cowards and it should be in stores on May 7th. If my math is correct, that means it will be under a year since the band released their debut album. It feels so good knowing they want to give us new music as quickly as possible.
The Rock it Out! Blog has invaded Austin, TX for the South by Southwest festival which means one thing: lots of drinking!
Oh wait…there’s also a ton of bands playing. From famous groups like Stone Temple Pilots and Muse to unknown and up and coming bands (like the ones playing mine and Consequence Of Sound’s party this Friday, March 19).
These episodes are daily vlogs of all the happenings taking place at SXSW. Live shows, interviews and free tacos and beer are just a few of the things I expect to take part in and I’ll be filming it all for you to watch. So if you couldn’t make it down here, allow the RiO!B to be your eyes and ears.
Metallica is coming up with a new plan to take over the touring world: by putting on a show that they say will rival Pink Floyd’s The Wall tour.
The tour will take place in 2011 and the band is already plotting where the shows will be. “They will only play in 10 cities but it will be a huge undertaking. It will be Metallica’s equivalent of The Wall,” said Metallica’s manager Peter Mensch (via CoS).
As for what will happen during the actual shows? Mensch won’t give specifics but he does throw out a small teaser. “Between you and me, some of it is recycling stuff that people did 25 years ago, but no one’s smart enough to know that we recycled it.”
Metallica is currently all about shaking up the live world. The band has teamed with Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth for the “Big Four of Thrash” shows in Europe this summer.
As for where their 2011 shows will take place, that information has yet to be revealed. But with only 10 shows happening, you can bet that those cities will probably lose their minds…and their hearing.
In a move that will probably satisfy rock and hip-hop fans alike, it’s been reported that Jack White, the journeyman of rock n’ roll, has recorded a song with mega hip-hop star Jay-Z.
White recently spoke to GQ magazine (via TwentyFourBit) and revealed that he had been in the studio with Hova.
“I just did a record with Jay-Z… We did a song together a few weeks ago. It was incredible. I played him something that I’ve been kicking around for a while and he immediately came out with words for it. It’s unbelievable-sounding.”
So if hip-hop DJ’s are looking for something new to declare as “history in the making” then this would definitely qualify.
Now hopefully, when Jack says “record”, he means a full album and not just one track. The possibility of Jigga rhyming over dirty blues-rock beats by the Third Man king for a full LP would definitely mean good things for everyone’s ears.
I’m in Austin, TX for SXSW and beyond excited! Over the course of the week I’ll be filming everything I see and compile them into daily vlogs for you guys to check out.
If you couldn’t make it to SXSW this year then allow me to be your eyes for the festival.
