Talking Heads luminary David Byrne recently spoke with Radiohead‘s Thom Yorke for Wired. The two discuss the value of music and in particular Radiohead’s much talked about online distribution of In Rainbows. From Wired’s introduction:

…the truth is that Radiohead didn’t intend In Rainbows to start a revolution. The experiment simply proves there is plenty of room for innovation in the music business — this is just one of many new paths. Wired asked David Byrne — a legendary innovator himself and the man who wrote the Talking Heads song “Radio Head” from which the group takes its name — to talk with Yorke about the In Rainbows distribution strategy and what others can learn from the experience.

You can view the entire article, along with accompanying recordings of their conversation, here.
Source Continue reading David Byrne and Thom Yorke in conversation at Wired →

After nearly nine years of being a band, three full lengths and hundreds of tour dates, Seventh Star has decided to call it quits:

We feel it’s our time to move on. The main reason is different levels of dedication within the members. We are no longer all on the same page with how much of our lives are to be spent on the band. Some are personal reasons, others not. We feel we would rather go out on top than to fizzle out…

The band’s final performance will be in March at Facedown Fest 2008.
Source Continue reading Seventh Star (1999-2007) →

Nuclear Blast has signed grindcore act Success Will Write Apocalypse Across The Sky. The band formed in 2006, founded by guitarists Aaron Haines and Ian Sturgill of the late Bodies in the Gears of the Apparatus. Rounding out the line-up is John Collett Jr. of Dehumanized on Vocals, Mike Petrak on drums (previously of Leprosy), and Jesse Jolly (ex-Diabolic, Crimson Massacre) on bass. Their debut E.P. “Subhuman Empire” was released 07/04/07 via Debello Recordings

(Though it looks like they missed the list for 2007, something tells us they’ll be in contention for 2008. )

You can check out some music on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading Nuclear Blast signs Success Will Write Apocalypse Across The Sky →

Newtown, Australia’s Grand Fatal are streaming their new track “Dots & Dashes” online at MySpace. The band recorded recently with long term collaborator JonBoyRock (Hard Ons, Regular John, Hy-Test, Further, Nunchukka Superfly). They’re following up their acclaimed full length Allies.

Flightplan Records will be putting out the new Memorial record soon. The 9 song LP The Creative Process/Berlin is set to be released in late winter. You can check out some of the band’s music via MySpace.

Arizona rock act Raining & Ok has music streaming online via MySpace. Earlier this month the band gave a “pay what you want” download system a shot and offered up their debut full length The Devil on Your Shoulder for a limited time.
Source Continue reading Grand Fatal, Memorial, Raining & OK →

As the year end approaches, I figured we could take a look back and see what the most popular stories were of 2007 in terms of raw page views. Of course, the biggest stories involved arrests, deaths and plagiarism but there were some other interesting tales that dominated your interest in 2007.

One guess as to which one was number 1. The picture to the left is a subtle, subtle hint.
Source Continue reading The most popular stories of 2007 →

Defunct Go-Kart act Plan A Project will reunite in January for a show in Brooklyn, NY. The band will play a show on January 25th at the Death By Audio venue. The Orphans, which features Erik Petersen of Mischief Brew, are also reuniting for the show. The New Dress will support.

Danny from Plan A Project now plays as part of Ratchets.
Source Continue reading Plan A Project and the Orphans reunion show →

With the year about to wrap up, the critics are posting a myriad of “best of” lists. Since many of you submit the lists to us, we decided to assemble a convenient list of some of the more popular lists and you can check them all out in one place.

Take a deep breath and begin clicking: Stereogum, Pitchfork, All Music, NME,The A.V. Club, Rolling Stone, TIME, MTV, the Guardian, eMusic, Spin Magazine, Blender and Q

Our own lists will be coming very shortly, so keep an eye out for those.
Source Continue reading The list of lists for 2007 →

Canadian hardcore quartet Cursed have posted another new song from their upcoming third album. The record, Cursed III: Architects of Troubled Sleep is the follow up to 2005’s acclaimed full length, Two.

You can check out the song on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading Cursed: “III” →

After some “unpleasantness” in the departure of their former vocalist, Dance Gavin Dance have unveiled their replacement, Kurt Travis, formerly of Five Minute Ride. The latter band released Bathroom Walls… Lipstick Secrets in 2004.

The band added:

Kurt is a very talented vocalist with a lot of versatility, experience, and range. We know he is going to fit very well with us musically as well as personality wise.

Source Continue reading Dance Gavin Dance announce new vocalist →

Morrissey has announced the track listing and first single from his upcoming hits compilation. The record is titled Greatest Hits and is due out February 04, 2008. Morrissey has previously released compilations featuring favorites including 2001’s The Best of Morrissey, 1997’s Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey, 1995’s World of Morrissey and Bona Drag in 1990.

The first single from the compilation will be “That’s How People Grow Up.” It features fellow artist Kristeen Young, who supported him throughout a large part of his 2006/2007 tours, on vocals. The song was first broadcast on the David Letterman Show. The video of the performance is itself available through YouTube here.

Source Continue reading Morrissey details upcoming “Hits” compilation, first single →

Foo Fighters have added Serj Tankian, frontman of System Of A Down to their tour with Against Me! scheduled for early 2008.

Serj will join the bill for shows from February 18th through March 5th, with Against Me! expected to perform on all dates from January 16th through March 30th. The tour itself will be kicked off with support from Jimmy Eat World.
Source Continue reading Tours: Foo Fighters / Serj Tankian / Against Me! →