Scott McDonald

According to a recent press release, shoegaze-king Kevin Shields and punk icon Patti Smith will release their collaborative effort The Coral Sea. The performance is a double-disc set compiling their June 22, 2005 and September 12, 2006 shows at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall. The Coral Sea was based on the 1996 book of the same name and also honors artist, and friend of Smith, Robert Mapplethorpe.

Shields and Smith will release The Coral Sea on July 11 through PASK, a new imprint run by the pair. The performance was described in the press release:

"Intense, layered electronics surged to a discordant climax as Patti Smith read her poem, the words sailing over the noise like an ocean liner, with the black-and-white video showing the ocean, the liner and the grey twilight of grief." Powerful imagery.

Kevin Shields also has a little band called My Bloody Valentine; they're kind of a big deal when it comes to blowing people's minds. Read more about the quartet playing All Tomorrow's Parties, New York this fall.
 

MBV:

6.20: London, UK - The Roundhouse
6.21: London, UK - The Roundhouse
6.22: London, UK - The Roundhouse
6.23: London, UK - The Roundhouse
6.24: London, UK - The Roundhouse
6.28: Manchester, UK - Apollo
6.29: Manchester, UK - Apollo
7.2: Glasgow, UK - Barrowland
7.3: Glasgow, UK - Barrowland
7.5: Roskilde, DK - Roskilde Festival
7.9: Paris, FR - Zenith
7.18: Benicassim, ES - Festival Internacional de Benicassim
7.19: Madrid, ES – Saturday Night Fiber
7.25: Niigata, JP – Fuji Rock Festival
8.8: Oslo, NO - Oya Festival
9.5: Isle of Wight, UK – Bestival
9.19: Monticello, NY – Kutshers Country Club (ATP festival)

Jim Putnam (ex-Medicine, Maids of Gravity) and his Radar Bros. twist Superchunk's classic, "Slack Motherf---er," into straightforward pop — similar to The Apples in Stereo. "Slack" sounds a little tongue-in-cheek at times, thanks to Putnam's subdued delivery, but the song's attention to detail makes it more enjoyable.

Download: "Slack Motherf---er"


The group's latest release, Auditorium, is a hazy dose of sunshine-pop. The band will embark on a West Coast tour next month in support of that release — including a live performance at Nic Harcourt's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" program on KCRW.

5.8: Santa Monica, California @ KCRW
5.13: Merced, CA @ The Partisan    
5.14: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill    
5.15: Seattle, WA @ Satellite Lounge    
5.17: Portland, OR @ Someday Lounge    
5.18: Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern    
5.20: Sacramento, CA @ Blue Lamp
5.21: San Diego, CA @ Casbah    
5.22: Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory

Last night, Radiohead continued its public support of going "green" by pre-recording this seamless, jazzy version of "House of Cards" at home in England for Late Night. Thom Yorke had a few words to say about carbon emissions before the performance and, "that twat who walked away from the Kyoto agreement, now what was his name again?" Hmm ... I wonder who he's referring to?

In an article from Billboard, the indie vets will perform with Merge label mates the Arcade Fire next week in Superchunk's home state of North Carolina. The gigs will take place on May 1 at the Greensboro Coliseum parking lot and May 2 at the Carrboro Town Commons.

"I don't think I've ever been particularly excited about a presidential candidate," singer-guitarist Mac McCaughan told Billboard.com. "While I've always voted for Democrats, none of them have ever seemed too different from any other politician."
If you haven't registered to vote you can do so at the events. Tickets go on sale tomorrow through the Merge Records Web site.

The first single from My Morning Jacket's forthcoming album, Evil Urges, is finally here. It doesn't matter if you're a morning person, or prefer sensitive sweaters instead of jackets — "Evil Urges" shows the band incorporating glam-rock on the vocals, and picking up where 2005's Z left off.


Download: "Evil Urges"


Don't forget, My Morning Jacket will be performing at Coachella this Sunday — you can view the day-to-day set times over at their official Web site.


Check out Sunday's performers at the Buzznet Coachella gallery.

Spiritualized has finally returned with a sample from its forthcoming full-length, Songs in A&E. While the album won't be available until June 3, you can stream the brand new single — "Soul on Fire" — over at the band's MySpace page. The song's a bit of a sleeper, but once you hear that slight guitar rumble just before the chorus you know Jason Pierce is back in his element.

Have we mentioned that Spiritualized will be performing at Coachella this weekend? Pierce and his Acoustic Mainlines are snuggled between Swervedriver and Sia this Sunday.

Stream: "Soul on Fire"


(Check out the Spiritualized photo gallery.)

(Check out the Coachella page, then go and upload your own Coachella 2008 content this weekend!)__-=end-bn-cut=-__

This fall, All Tomorrow's Parties will throw the most epic party since ... forever. The festival brings out none other than My Bloody Valentine, who has since reunited for a set of other ATP gigs in the U.K. after sixteen years of inactivity.

MBV will co-curate the event with ATP organizers and have already released an initial lineup of amazing talent that includes Shellac, Polvo and Low — it gets even better. Thurston Moore, Built to Spill, Tortoise and Meat Puppets are also on board to play their genre-defining albums. The full lineup will boast thirty bands in total.

ATP New York takes place from September 19-21 at Kutshers Country Club in Monticello, New York — the venue is limited to 3,000 people. Tickets will go on sale this Friday on the ATP Web site, you can also purchase on-site hotel accommodations for the festival. Guess where I'll be that weekend?


ATP New York:

My Bloody Valentine
Built to Spill performing Perfect From Now On
Meat Puppets performing Meat Puppets II
Thurston Moore performing Psychic Hearts
Tortoise performing Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Shellac
Mogwai
Polvo
F--- Buttons
Autolux
The Drones
Low
Wooden Shjips
Edan with Dagha
Thee Silver Mount Zion Orchestra


"Only Shallow," taken from their 1991 masterpiece, Loveless:__-=end-bn-cut=-__

Artist: The Black Angels
Song: "Doves"
Sounds like: Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Velvet Underground

Artist: Islands
Song: "Creeper"
Sounds like: Grandaddy, The Unicorns

Artist: No Age
Song: "Eraser"
Sounds like: Built to Spill, Neutral Milk Hotel

Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement took flight with their HBO comedy series last year (I, for one, got hooked). Since the series reportedly won't be returning until January 2009, the duo will return to the road with spring tour dates in support of their forthcoming album, Flight of the Conchords — coming Tuesday on Sub Pop.

As previously reported, Flight of the Conchords are participating in Sub Pop's 20th anniversary event in Seattle. They'll also make an appearance atthe city's Sasquatch! fest next month.

Want to hear a song from the new Flight of the Conchords album? Download "Ladies of the World," and try to contain yourself.

It's business time:

4.26: Los Angeles, CA @ Amoeba Records
5.5: Philadelphia, PA @ Tower Theatre
5.6: New York, NY @ Town Hall
5.7: New York, NY @ Town Hall
5.9: Washington, DC @ Lisner Auditorium
5.10: Ann Arbor, MI @ Michigan Theatre
5.11: Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theatre
5.13: Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
5.14: Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
5.15: Denver, CO - Ellie Caulkins Opera House
5.26: George, WA - The Gorge (Sasquatch! festival)
5.27: San Francisco, CA - Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium
5.30: Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre
6.1: Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre

It's always tough trying to catch all the bands at a music festival without missing your favorites, and coordinating the experience with your friends. So, to make life easier, the folks over at Coachella have created the Coachooser (Coachella + Chooser). It lets you designate which bands you are planning to see on each day, and avoid the ones you don't.

Now that you've got your very own custom schedule, don't forget to join your friends when headliners Jack Johnson, Prince and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters grace the main stage. Let's not forget about some of the other prime-time acts: Portishead, The Verve, Love and Rockets, Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin, Death Cab for Cutie, M.I.A., the Raconteurs and Enter Shikari.

Want to reduce your carbon footprint? Then check this out: You can win V.I.P. tickets FOR LIFE to Coachella, and much more, by carpooling with four or more friends to the festival.

Next, take advantage of the contests Coachella has running on its Web site: There's the Jack Johnson giveaway, where fans can win a pair of three-day passes to the event — and even get to stand on the main stage with Johnson during his set on Friday! Or, if you'd prefer to sample every musician at the festival, enter the CD contest. The winner will get a CD from almost every artist at this year's festival.

You'd better hurry though – the deadline to enter both contests is Sunday.

We hope to see everyone there. The Buzznet crew will be doing interviews with top artists and armed head-to-toe with cameras for photo coverage, so be sure to keep checking back for regular updates.

(Check out our cornucopia of Coachella coverage right here, but don't forget to upload your own content to the Coachella group page.)


Take a look at the Coachella 2008 performers below:



(Coachella 2008 gallery: Friday)



(Coachella 2008 gallery: Saturday)



(Coachella 2008 gallery: Sunday)

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According to U.K. blog Drowned in Sound, David Byrne and Brian Eno have been collaborating on new music that may see the light of day next year. Byrne reportedly spilled the beans at an event in New York: "I'm finishing up a record with Brian Eno, a musician that I worked with 30 years ago," The pair's last effort was 1981's critically adored, My Life in the Bushes with Ghosts.

The news doesn't stop there. According to Eno's booking agency, via the Daily Swarm, the pair are "soliciting offers from a number of different promoters around the United States for Byrne/Eno live shows, promising the set list will consist of at least 40 percent Eno-era, Talking Heads material." Whoa.

David Byrne is typically known for his work as frontman for the Talking Heads, whom Eno produced on three albums. Eno has made a few decent records in his time: He played in Roxy Music, along with Daniel Lanois, has produced U2's The Unforgettable Fire and Achtung Baby, and created some of the most influential albums in Here Come the Warm Jets and the ambient On Land series. Needless to say, this duo are legends in their own right.__-=end-bn-cut=-__

Artist: Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
Song: "Me + Yr Daughter"
Sounds like: Le Tigre, Man Man

M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" is one of the most intriguing and catchy singles from her critically acclaimed 2007 album, Kala — and she just recently alerted Buzznet to her new live video of that track.

(Watch "Paper Planes"!!!)

The video captures the exuberant hip-hop princess throwing down a fierce performance in Philadelphia, along with her crew and rising star Santogold in tow.

The video starts with massive crowd cheers and the sound of cash registers "cashing in." Santogold and M.I.A. can be seen floating around the stage with their hands in the air, mimicking paper planes onstage. The camera continues to follow M.I.A. closely once she jumps on the mic, pumping up the Philly crowd.

You can cash in your M.I.A. chips over at the Coachella 2008 page – she plays the festival on Saturday – and read about her recent NME Award nomination for Best International Solo Artist.

Artist: Jamie Lidell
Song: "Little Bit of Feel Good"
Sounds like: Jamiroquai, Stevie Wonder

Gnarls Barkley's new album, The Odd Couple, was released digitally three weeks early back on March 18, but the rush to unleash the follow-up to 2006's St. Elsewhere apparently had some adverse effects on the music.

According to a recent press release, the Front-to-Back-Back-to-Front edition of The Odd Couple plays exactly how it reads — in reverse. With all the hoopla surrounding its release, the album went through a drastic transformation and now plays backwards.

Want to hear it for yourself? Front-to-Back-Back-to-Front is being offered as a free download for fans on Gnarls Barkley's Web site. Or just grab it right here!

For over 38 minutes, you can experience the warped vocals of Cee-Lo and the slippery melodies of Danger Mouse as The Odd Couple becomes Elpuocddoeht. After a few plays, I think I like some of the tracks better.

In other Gnarls Barkley news, the duo are scheduled to play KCRW's World festival at the Hollywood Bowl on July 27 along with Deerfhoof and Youssou N'Dour, and are confirmed for Austin City Limits.

In support of his recently released Greatest Hits album, Morrissey will play two consecutive nights on the "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson." The ex-Smiths icon is scheduled to play two selections from that release: the forthcoming single "All You Need Is Me," and classic banger "Irish Blood, English Heart."

The performances will take place at the end of the month on CBS — April 28 and 29 at 12:30 a.m. Morrissey fans should already know that his Moz-ness doesn't make regular TV appearances, so set your Tivo/DVR!

When Morrissey isn't busy suing for defamation in an English court, the enigmatic frontman has been biding his time by promoting his Greatest Hits collection, which features titles from his impressive 20-year solo career. The disc was recorded with You Are the Quarry producer Jerry Finn.

According to Morrissey's MySpace, he only has one gig scheduled for this year: a headlining performance at London's O2 Wireless Festival on July 4. But The Daily Swarm reports that Moz has been drawing fire for another possible gig in Israel.
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Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery will reconvene with his former bandmates when they give their one-off reunion performance at the NME Awards on Tuesday in Los Angeles, it was announced Tuesday.

As previously reported, the legendary alternative-rock band will receive the Godlike Genius Award at the event and play three songs during the ceremony. This will be the first time since 1991 that Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Avery have played together on the same stage.

Avery had some thoughts on the reunion, which he shared in a press release:

"I've chosen to reject the prospects of reuniting in the past for personal and philosophical reasons," said the Jane's bassist, who recently released his first solo album, Help Wanted. "I have always considered reunions to be a way to make a quick buck, and it sells short my own experience of it the first time around."

Avery is also an avid blogger. Read more about his thoughts on reuniting with Jane's and his new album at EricAvery.blogspot.com.


(Check out Leah Cevoli's story on Jane's Addiction.)
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Denver's Mile High Music Festival has stretched out its roster to include a smattering of additional artists. They'll join previously announced headliners Dave Matthews Band and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Read more ...