"Reality Check" by The Teenagers

The Teenagers have been an internet phenomenon for a while now, but after listening to their first proper release, Reality Check, it's hard to buy into the hype that has them painted as geniuses. Their formula has them taking the fifteen-year-old bedroom poetry aesthetic of emo, then removing any melody, metaphor, and almost anything else that would actually constitute a song. Somehow, though, the skeletal ideas left in their wake are actually sort of endearing (and catchy)—kind of like the way a toddler's finger paintings are cute, even if they aren't necessarily good. Dorian Dumont and Michael Szpiner, both of whom have an extensive background in France's music scene, helm the band's lo-fi, indie-dance rock. Vocals, however, are handled by Quentin Delafon, and it's no surprise that he's the only band member without a musical background, with his spoken word-sung delivery. The band already has a mega-hit with album opener "Homecoming," a re-written Grease,/i> send-up (updated with

Published: 2008-03-26 Provider: Artist Direct

Rock Reality Show Recap: Rocket and the Muggs Get Pink Slips on Billy Joel Week of “The Next Great American Band”

The producers of American Idol think they can find The Next Great American Band on TV (and no, they’re not talking about the next great Grand Funk Railroad). We think we can find some pleasure in this pursuit with our Rock Reality Show Recaps. Here’s our fourth report: Two Great American Reality Hours in Three Sentences: Occasionally tuneless Detroit garage-rockers the Muggs and always-tuneless gal-punx Rocket, two bands Dicko claimed were a victim of “death by lead singer,” were sent home. After last week’s catty diatribe by the Hatch (”I’d like to say that America has spoken … I think about 300 people in Nebraska have spoken”) neither band were allowed to say goodbye beyond a silent blown kiss and an uncomfortable fidget. The remaining eight bands (including all the country groups — shocking news about a show where Americans choose the results) covered Billy Joel. The complete lack of rap groups on the series makes our yearning for the inevitable hip-hop “We Didn’t Start the Fire” cover even more tangible. Best Great American Band: While RS fave Franklin Bridge did a hard-rockin’ “Big Shot” that mirrored their winning twenty-ingredients-in-one-pot style (”Kickstart My Heart” whammy bar noise, slow soul, a little funk-metal, a reggae lilt, some dramatic “spirit finger” hand motions), they sadly took the judges’ advice from last week and dialed back their pyrotechnic drumming. The best band was actually the Clark Brothers, whose gorgeous, minimal and subdued version of “She’s Got a Way” was the only emotionally gripping cover of anything performed on the show to date. Dicko praised them for their conviction, the audience waved their arms like idiots. Worst Great American Band: Bluegrass BBQ-ers Cliff Wagner And The Old #7 complained that Billy Joel isn’t really suited to their style of music, and did a twangy cover of “Yo

Published: 2007-11-13 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock Reality Show Recaps

Coldplay - Hot Chip Smaller Bands Cannot Afford To Give Away Music For Free

Electro band HOT CHIP have stated that big bands giving away their music on the internet for free is hurting smaller bands.Speaking to the BBC's Newsbeat, singer ...

Published: 2008-05-09 Provider: Contact Music

New Order Split Confirmed

New Order bassist Peter Hook has spoken of wishing to move on after confirming the band's split.In an interview with Clint Boon on the radio

Published: 2007-05-11 Provider: Contact Music

Jack White Stripes Are Here To Stay

WHITE STRIPES singer JACK WHITE has dismissed rumours that the band will split after their next album.Speaking to the NME, Jack explained th

Published: 2007-05-10 Provider: Contact Music

Billy Corgan Speaks Out About Virgin Lawsuit

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has accused bosses at their label Virgin Records of allowing firms to use the band's name and music for promotional purposes, despite knowing they had no right to do so. [...] Read more!

Published: 2008-03-26 Provider: StarPulse

Meet the Guys Who Make “The Hills” Rock

Wondering who decided Frente’s cover of “Bizarre Love Triangle” should accompany the moment on The Hills when Audrina finally broke up with Justin Bobby? Or who decreed that Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” become the can-do anthem of teen girls everywhere? Rolling Stone spoke with Joe Cuello and Jon Ernst, the music genuises who painstakingly combine footage of Lauren, Heidi and Co. with tracks from Carolina Liar, Ashlee Simpson and a thousand other bands you’ve probably never even heard of yet, and make The Hills one of the best canvasses for new music on MTV today. Read the interview here. [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-05-02 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Korn Bring Cornfield, Free Show to Dedicated New York Fans

Yesterday, Korn turned New York’s Times Square into a cornfield (ha ha) for a press conference tied to the release of their twelfth album, then played a free show at South Street Seaport. At the Q&A, frontman Jonathan Davis spoke about his concerns over global warming (”I’m worried about my kids’ kids having a place to live”), the band’s new, untitled album (”It’s very musical. Very out of spirit”) and the group’s early days (”I miss it so much – we’d finish playing then go hang out with the fans. We used to go to houses, have BBQs, parties and stuff”). As for their latest work, “Writing with a keyboard player I think was the biggest difference because it added a lot of depth to songs that we hadn’t really had much experience experimenting with in the past,” guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer told Rock Daily. A few hours later downtown, fans got a taste of the band’s new songs and a handful of classics at a raucous show. Every few minutes, kids emerged from the mosh pit with gashes on their necks or chests. We spoke to five megafans before they could get squashed about their love of Korn, the group’s upcoming covers album and reality show for the Web (which is being filmed during the Family Values Tour). Name: George Wiley III, friends call me Saddle Age: 23 Where from: Brooklyn, New York Why is Korn still relevant? I was born in ’83 and when I first heard their songs I heard they were speaking out for everyone else. You feel that aura that he gives and you know I’m not the only one. What song should Korn cover next? “Happy” by Mudvayne because of the voice. What do you want to see on the band’s new reality show? Everybody, we all miss Head. I’d like to know more about what happened with him, we still love him. Name: Emily Kemlich and Chad Squillate Age: 21, 20 Where from: Georgia and Pennsylvania Why is Korn still relevant? Kemlich: Korn saved my life, it’s the be

Published: 2007-08-02 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Fricke’s Picks: Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin

There were moments — long, magnetic spells, actually — during a recent set by Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin at Joe’s Pub in New York when the Swiss instrumental quintet seemed more like a double trio: two percussionists; a bassist and one band member exhaling low, sustained drones on bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet; and Bärtsch on both acoustic and electric piano, one hand on each, playing hypnotic overlapping riffs that were more pulse than melody. The music was a subtle, accelerating excitement, a trance-fusion melting of the ‘71 Pink Floyd, the ‘68 Grateful Dead and the rhythm armies in Miles Davis‘ electric bands — minus guitars and trumpet. There are no song titles on Ronin’s latest album, Holon (ECM), or 2006’s Stoa (ECM) — the tracks are numbered — because the colors, lift and flow in this fusion speak for themselves.

Published: 2008-03-27 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Fricke's Picks, Rock Daily

Filter Frontman Promises Band's Comeback LP Will Sound Like A 'Heavy U2 Record'

Filter frontman Richard Patrick speaks for the first time since announcing the band's comeback, revealing what's in store on its next LP.

Published: 2007-11-30 Provider: VH1 Keywords: Amalgamut, Artist, Filter, Album, VH1, Ringtones, Comeback, Frontman, Promises, Clapton, Videos!, Crunch, Grunge, Movies, Record, Videos, Bands, Heavy, Kings, Music, Radio, Sound, Where, Wrong, Eric, Fest, From, Here, Like, Love, More, News, Only, Rock, Will, 90s, A-Z, The, Way, Do, Go, Is, LP, on, TV, U2, We,

Single Minded: Mariah Carey, Thrice, M83 and More

Every Tuesday Single Minded highlights new tracks hitting stores (or the Web) this week. On Fridays, come back for rarities, remixes, mash-ups and more. Mariah Carey, “Bye Bye” [Official] Carey says E=MC² is a sequel to 2005’s Emancipation of Mimi. We can’t get the acronym to work out, either, but it’s no matter: This E is almost as charming as the last one. Exhibit A: this bright gospel number in which Mimi bids a heartfelt farewell to friends who have left this world and have gone somewhere better. Frightened Rabbit, “The Modern Leper” [MySpace] This Scottish quartet describes the delicate art of getting dumped and, in the process, creates one of the year’s best rock records. By the time the whole band comes charging in on the chorus, your whole body will be made of gooseflesh. Thrice, “Broken Lungs” [MySpace] This is the final installment in Thrice’s series of concept albums about the four elements. But wait! Come back! The first part might have been a dud, but “Broken Lungs” proves the California group is finding their way back: Coils of guitar expand and contract slowly as Dustin Kensrue’s weatherbeaten tenor voices the great existential questions — where did we come from, where are we going and what possessed us to write concept albums about earth, wind, fire and water? M83, “Graveyard Girl” [Pitchfork.tv] An early frontrunner for single of the year, this new wave chestnut by French one-man band M83 is three minutes of raw teenage pain in search of a John Hughes movie. By the time we get to the spoken word passage, where the girl of the title announces, “I’m fifteen years old, and I feel it’s already too late to live,” we’re in the car and halfway to Duckie’s house, tears streaming down our face. Children of Bodom, “Hellhounds on My Trail” [MySpace] So, a few quick things you should know about Children of

Published: 2008-04-15 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Single Minded

"Scream" by Tokio Hotel

Tokio Hotel have all the trappings and ingredients that make up a successful band. The quartet, imported from Germany, toss off ebullient pop-rock chops. The singer and the guitarist are identical, teenaged twin brothers, and the duo performs as though nothing else matters, and these factors have contributed to the band’s massive European success, where they play major festivals and have a legion of dedicated fans. Will that devotion and rabid fandom translate on US shores? That remains to be seen and certainly isn't a given in this volatile climate of fickle music fans. However, Tokio Hotel isn't as rebellious as they seem, despite song titles like "Love Is Dead" and "On The Edge," and the band doesn't do quite enough on Scream to separate or distinguish themselves from the horde of domestic pop-rock bands that write digestible songs. Single "Ready, Set, Go!" is a safe, lite rock song, while "Monsoon" is a bland ballad that doesn't necessarily speak to your soul with its

Published: 2008-04-02 Provider: Artist Direct