Metallica Face Criticism Over Sound Quality of “Death Magnetic”

An odd complaint has cropped up around the release of Metallica’s much-anticipated chart-topping album Death Magnetic: fans think it’s too loud. A number of online message boards have been bombarded by fans who think the group kept sound levels so high that the quality was compromised. Though the band and management stand by Death Magnetic, that hasn’t stopped fans from signing petitions and sharing the less-loud mixes made available for Guitar Hero. Click below for more on the latest battle in the “loudness wars,” including the criticisms levied by the mastering engineer on Death Magnetic. • Fans Complain Metallica Disc Is Too Loud Related Stories: • Louder, Faster, Stronger: How Metallica Made Their Heaviest Album Yet • Fans Complain That Death Magnetic Sounds Better on Guitar Hero Than on CD • The Death of High Fidelity: Falling Sound Quality in the MP3 Age

Published: 2008-10-01 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Metallica

Trey Anastasio Premieres “Time Turns Elastic” in Nashville

Photo: Getty Phish fans and the symphony lot together in the Great Church of Country Music. What sounds like the perfect plot for an SNL short actually happened Saturday night at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville when Trey Anastasio headlined Orchestra Nashville’s season-opening show. Anastasio took the same 60-piece orchestra on a field trip to Bonnaroo in 2004, performing in front of a crowd of 80,000. It only seemed fair that Trey’s noodle-dancing pilgrims be invited into sacred confines more familiar to the golf-clapping elite. The result was a crowd gawker’s dream — dreadlocks and muumuus to the left, tailored suits and Coach bags to the right. The first half belonged mostly to the orchestra, though Trey opened the show up front before moving to the back and then offstage completely. The second half featured the world premiere of Trey’s ethereal opus “Time Turns Elastic,” which he wrote with his new favorite collaborator, composer Don Hart. The piece had all the elements familiar to jam-band junkies: Anastasio’s wandering, whining guitar runs and spacey, nonsensical lyrics. When paired with the crisply performed orchestration, it came off sounding more like the theme song to a Disney film on ’shrooms. It was ambitious, strange and wholly entertaining. The normally famously restless Phish fans were polite and appreciative, giving the orchestra a raucous standing ovation and breaking out into a spontaneous “Happy Birthday to You” for Trey, who turns 43 tomorrow. Trey looking vaguely uncomfortable in a suit and tie, but there was no doubt that he had won over both his hardcore fan base and the Bach aficionados who were new to the party. Related Stories: • Phish Reunite For the First Time in Four Years For Wedding • Trey Anastasio Jams With Jack Johnson For All Points West Finale • Trey Anastasio Debuts New Songs in Brooklyn

Published: 2008-09-29 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Live Shows, More News

The Killers - Sawdust

Artist: The Killers Review: This b-sides-and-rarities comp is split between glammy synth-pop like "Sweet Talk" and straighter, heavier rock like "Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf." The cover of Joy Division's "Shadowplay" should have stayed in the vaults, but it's hard to deny Brandon Flowers' melodic gifts, which fuel catchy uptempos like "Under the Gun" and "Where the White Boys Dance," an eerie thing that sounds like it could have come from some great lost post-punk band. Rating: 3 Stars

Published: 2007-11-20 Provider: Rolling Stone

Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends

Artist: Les Savy Fav Review: Let's stay friends is the first album of new songs in six years from indie-rock madcaps Les Savy Fav, yet it sounds like a band that's just hitting a peak. These Brooklyn-via-Providence, Rhode Island, dudes veer between art-punk guitar and disco drums, managing to fuse Fugazi circa In on the Kill Taker with Chic circa Risque. They built their legend as a furious live band, thanks largely to Tim Harrington's human-tornado energy; with his grizzly beard and Falstaffian bulk, he can dance all over... Rating: 4 Stars

Published: 2007-10-17 Provider: Rolling Stone

Dropkick Murphys - The Meanest Of Times

Artist: Dropkick Murphys Review: These seven Massachusetts guys know how to make even dire moments sound like a hot party. On their sixth album, fiddle, mandolin and other Gaelic accouterments adorn rave-ups like ?The State of Massachusetts,? reminding you they're a punk band with a Celtic twist. They're also songwriters -- and good ones, too, preserving their party-boy reputation while turning out giant, soulful choruses on songs both manicured and memorable: Dig tunefully sotted jams like ?Tomorrow's Industry,? which sounds ... Rating: 3.5 Stars

Published: 2007-09-13 Provider: Rolling Stone

Junior Senior - Hey Hey My My Yo Yo

Artist: Junior Senior Review: Where can we buy the happy pills Junior Senior are taking? Hey Hey is the Danish duo's second straight album full of megabright electro disco, something on the order of KC and the Sunshine band partying with Abba, only with better keyboards and a knowing wink. The album's enthusiasm sounds almost cartoonish at times, and its title tells you all you need to know about their lyrical approach. But Junior Senior's track-building smarts and way with a hook add up to non-annoying bliss on a handful of... Rating: 3 Stars

Published: 2007-08-14 Provider: Rolling Stone

Comment of the Week: Metallica Channel An Unlikely Association

Any time Metallica gets mentioned on Rock Daily, it’s always a catalyst for commenters, and this week’s premiere of new single “The Day That Never Comes” was no exception. Opinions varied, from people who believe it’s a phenomenal return to form to those who think the band should hang it up. Commenter Olgasm even compared Metallica to a band that no other reader brought up. “This is about 3 minutes too long and sounds like a medley of riffs from their mid-career. They’ve gone all “Collective Soul” and sprinkled good riffs among a field of cow pies.” Perhaps there’s a future in James Hetfield and Co. covering “Shine” at their upcoming shows in Europe.

Published: 2008-08-22 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Zach de la Rocha’s One Day As A Lion Unveil First Song

The first song from One Day As A Lion, the side project of Rage Against the Machine’s Zach de le Rocha, has been posted on the band’s MySpace page. As “Wild International” proves, the years of recording dormancy hasn’t slowed de la Rocha’s flow, as the rapper comes roaring out of the gate and never loses speed. The song sounds like it could’ve been on RATM’s Evil Empire if not for de la Rocha’s keyboards replacing Tom Morello’s guitar wizardry. One Day As A Lion, who get their name from the quote “It’s better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb,” will release their self-titled debut EP on July 22nd. [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-07-16 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Devo Sue McDonald’s Over Happy Meal Toy

Devo are suing McDonald’s after the hamburger giant used the band’s likeness in a Happy Meal toy without permission. Last April, McDonald’s released a bunch of American Idol-themed toys that had little plastic figures dressed up to represent different musical genres. There was Disco Dave, Rockin’ Riley and, the basis of Devo’s lawsuit, New Wave Nigel. Anyone who’s seen Devo’s “Whip It” video will automatically recognize those odd red caps, dubbed “energy domes” by the band, as the same hat that adorns New Wave Nigel’s head. Little did McDonald’s know, however, that the “energy dome” is “copyrighted and trademarked,” according to Devo bassist and creator of the “energy dome” Gerald Casale. According to Casale, “We’re in the midst of suing them… they didn’t ask us anything. Plus, we don’t like McDonald’s, and we don’t like American Idol, so we’re doubly offended.” Making matter worse, New Wave Nigel also dons an orange jumpsuit and sunglasses strikingly similar to the band’s wardrobe at the time, and the plastic figure even has a song that the band claims sounds Devo-esque. [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-06-26 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Arctic Monkeys Side Project The Last Shadow Puppets Arrive in NYC

Though no one could quite remember the name of the band, a few dozen New Yorkers showed up at Brooklyn’s Sound Fix Lounge last night for a “surprise” acoustic gig by the Last Shadow Puppets: a collaboration between Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner and his mate Miles Kane from U.K. group the Rascals. The pair worked through unplugged renditions of eight songs from their forthcoming album to a crowd that included Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig and Rostam Batmanglij. (VW fans will be pleased to know that drummer Chris Thompson is doing just fine after being hit by a taxi in London last week. “He didn’t even need stitches,” Batmanglij says.) The Puppets’ set was decidedly low-key, coming on more like noir-ish Sixties soundtrack music than the loose-limbed Brit-punk of the Arctic Monkeys. Or, as one astute fan noted: “If the Arctic Monkeys are Blur, this is the Good, The Bad and The Queen.” The duo’s debut album, The Age Of Understatement, is due out April 21st, if that sounds like your cup of tea. For our part, we were impressed. [Photo: Bao Nguyen]

Published: 2008-03-05 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Live Shows

Single Minded: Shelby Lynne, Joe Jackson, Mars Volta, Vampire Weekend and Protest the Hero

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. Vampire Weekend, “Oxford Comma,” “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” [Official Site] Vampire Weekend’s songs are bright and bouyant, so it’s a shame that by the time you finish reading this everyone you know will already hate them. Joe Jackson, “King Pleasure Time” [MySpace] After five years, Joe Jackson returns with a whole new batch of songs for the Raconteurs to crib from. Shelby Lynne, “Willie and Laura Mae Jones” [Official Site] Lynne gives a once-over to the Dusty Springfield catalog but, to the incredible relief of anyone who attended college in the Nineties, spares us the song they used in Pulp Fiction. The Mars Volta, “Untitled Exclusive Track” [Official Site] Successfully solve this puzzle, and get rewarded with an exclusive Mars Volta track. We’d tell you what it sounds like, but at a certain point the reward was no longer worth the effort. That “certain point” was after, like, nine or ten seconds. Protest the Hero, “Bloodmeat” [MySpace] And speaking of prog! Canadian band imagines a side project between Rush and Skid Row. Make of that what you will. [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-01-29 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Single Minded, Rock Daily

Sex Pistols Re-Record “Anarchy in the U.K.” for “Guitar Hero”

First the Sex Pistols announced a series of reunion shows timed to the thirtieth anniversary of Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols, now they’re re-entering the studio … to re-record “Anarchy in the U.K.” for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, which Rock Daily has previously noted will also feature Tom Morello and Slash as characters and tracks from the Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns N’ Roses and more. In a statement to the press, frontman John Lydon said, “Re-recording [the songs] — what a stress you put on us but we rose to the occasion I think … admirably! A bit of anarchy in a video game is all right by me.” Guitarist Steve Jones added, “I like [Guitar Hero] because my friends’ kids like it. And I like what kids like.” Sounds like a band reuniting for all the right reasons.

Published: 2007-09-26 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Duran Duran Get Caught in Justin Timberlake’s Unstoppable Plot To Bring Sexy Back

First 50 Cent partnered with Justin Timberlake on a track about porn (“Ayo Technology”), now Duran Duran have fallen victim to JT’s SexyBack wiles. The band just shot an X-rated video featuring topless models for “Falling Down,” the first single off their November 13th album Red Carpet Massacre, the NME reports. The track, which was co-written and produced by collaboration machine Timberlake, was initially inspired by frontman Simon Le Bon’s experience recovering from a motorcycle accident in 1992. In the clip, however, the song’s dark themes are represented by a collection of beautiful naked women in rehab (the bandmembers portray doctors) and Le Bon swears this all makes sense somehow. “The concept of models in rehab has so much to do with what the song’s about,” he claims. “It’s very sad but there’s a kind of beauty in it as well. The song is about arrogance and pride, as well as personal breakdowns and the hope for redemption and the resilience of the human spirit.” Sounds … deep. We’ll have to see how it stacks up to this year’s other porn-tastic video, Rilo Kiley’s “Moneymaker.”

Published: 2007-09-21 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Single Minded: New Tracks From ‘High School Musical 2,’ Junior Senior, Eisley, Davey Havok’s Blaqk Audio and Lori McKenna

Cast of High School Musical 2, “What Time Is It?” [MySpaceTV] In spite of hard-learned lessons throughout the late Nineties, the answer to this question is apparently not “4:30.” Just give in and play this already. You know you’re wondering what it sounds like. Junior Senior, “Can I Get Get” [Junior Senior MySpace] Remember “Rapture”? Junior Senior are really, really hoping the answer to that question is “No.” Eisley, “Come Clean” [Eisley MySpace] Texas band turns the “Dust in the Wind” chord progression into a lithe and lovely late-summer ballad. C, G and A Minor send a letter of heartfelt thanks. Blaqk Audio, “Semiotic Love” [Blaqk Audio MySpace] Davey Havok from AFI fuses Hi-NRG and Darkwave, which should thrill the oft-neglected gym rat/ponyboy demographic. Lori McKenna, “Witness to Your Life” [Rhapsody] McKenna’s got a tough voice and a bottomless supply of big, winning hooks. Also, she said if High School Musical 2 sells more records than she does this week, she’s going to retire. Then she threw a TV.

Published: 2007-08-15 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

The Fifteen Greatest Box Sets

This weekend, Rock Daily celebrated the box set — that glossy ultimate mixtape that brightens up any coffee table but can lighten your wallet by the ton. We pooled your nominations with ours and came up with a list of the fifteen best worth your buck: 1. Star Time, James Brown 2. Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection, Ray Charles 3. Anthology of American Folk Music, Various Artists 4. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968, Various Artists 5. Tougher Than Tough: The Story Of Jamaican Music, Various Artists 6. The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3 : Rare And Unreleased, 1961-1991, Bob Dylan 7. One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found, Various Artists 8. The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983, Johnny Cash 9. Arkology, Lee “Scratch” Perry 10. No Thanks! The ’70s Punk Rebellion, Various Artists 11. Crossroads, Eric Clapton 12. Back to Mono, Phil Spector 13. Peel Slowly and See, Velvet Underground 14. Live/1975-85, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band 15. The Funk Box, Various Artists Photo: Furlong/Getty

Published: 2007-08-14 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock Lists

Akon Wants to Partner With Fall Out Boy, NOW! Comp Rules the Charts, John Mayer Models

Akon, having already covered Fall Out Boy’s “The Take Over, The Break’s Over,” says he would now like to collaborate with Pete Wentz’s band. Given both artists’ fondness for royal rumbling with audience members, it sounds like a match made in WWE heaven. Super-comp NOW! 25 grabbed the top spot on the Billboard Charts with 223,000 copies sold, marking the 12th time a NOW! disc has taken number one. Miley Cyrus, T.I., the Hairspray soundtrack and Colbie Caillat rounded out the top five. The Smashing Pumpkins and Interpol both dropped out of the top ten after one week. Burger King, obviously threatened by McDonald’s foray into the music business, will offer DRM-free tracks of Robbie Williams, Corinne Bailey Rae and Whopper-loving Iron Maiden. Annie Leibovitz will snap portraits of John Mayer wearing a $39.50 sweater vest for an upcoming Gap ad. The Who’s Roger Daltrey likens royalties to a pension plan as he protests the U.K.’s current copyright laws.

Published: 2007-07-26 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Chart Roundup, Afternoon News Roundup