Today saw the tragic loss of pop rock surrealist and Sparklehorse helmer Mark Linkous to suicide. Linkous celebrated Sparklehorse’s first release in 1995 with Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, seeing college radio reverence as well as commercial attention. Taking to the road in a supporting slot for Radiohead shortly thereafter, the man from Virginia waded through the release of three more efforts; 1998’s stellar Good Morning Spider, 2001’s It’s a Wonderful Life and 2006’s Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain. Linkous’ family has released a statement saying, “It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today. We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There’s a heaven and there’s a star for you.” Mark Linkous has shared musical works with the likes of DJ Danger Mouse, The Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann, Tom Waits, PJ Harvey and more. His death today rattles a genre as well as his saddened peers. R.I.P Mark Linkous.
The Archives
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Bits & Pieces
Outcry Over BBC Plans to Cut its 6Music Online Radio Station
03.03.10In this time of corporate belt tightening, even institutions such as the BBC are feeling the pinch. At a press conference given yesterday, BBC Director-General Mark Thompson announced details of a ‘cost-cutting plan’ snappily entitled Putting Quality First, which proposes the closure of its 6Music service and the Asian culture station – the Asian Network, as well as cutting funding for certain of the BBC’s websites. For those not in the know, 6Music, launched in 2002, is the main source of left-field music for the BBC’s listeners not at home in the more mainstream climes of the popular Radio 1. It has garnered quite a loyal following in its eight year existence, and in reaction to the news of its possible demise, some famous names have made their displeasure known. (more…)
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Bits & Pieces
Thom Yorke Announces Dates With Atoms for Peace
02.25.10For those of you who didn’t know: Radiohead’s Thom Yorke has another band. It’s called Atoms for Peace, apparently after US President Eisenhower’s 1950s nuclear energy program of the same name (also the name of a track on Yorke’s solo album, The Eraser). The other members are ‘faces’ from the world of popular musical. They are: Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich; Beck/R.E.M. drummer Joey Waronker; multi-instrumentalist Mauro Refosco, and Flea. Yup, Flea. So there you have it. Just think, Thom crooning over a Flea slap-bass spazzed-out. Maybe it’ll happen this spring, on one of these tour dates. You never know… (more…)
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CD Reviews
Peter Gabriel – Scratch My Back
02.21.10Who says doing covers is cheap? Who says making a whole album of covers is ludicrous? Well, certainly not Peter Gabriel who has embarked on an interesting song-swapping project with twelve other artists and bands with his new album, Scratch My Back. (more…)
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Bits & Pieces
Thom Yorke to Play Benefit Show for British Green Party
02.10.10It’s become a popular trend in recent times for celebrities to use their notoriety in order to publicise some cause or other. A lot of these instances can be pretty irritating, due to all too frequent prerequisite dollop of self-promotion that comes along in the bargain. Thom Yorke, on the other hand, – whose band Radiohead recently played a Los Angeles show in support of the recent Haiti disaster – has long associated himself with the fight against climate change in an earnest and non-flashy way. Yorke, 41, who has appeared on BBC television to speak about the issue, and recently travelled to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference with British Green Party delegate Tony Juniper, is now offering his musical services to the cause. He will play a show at Cambridge, England’s Corn Exchange on February 25th as a benefit for the Green Party, and as a way of showing that, unlike the politicians he refers to as “paying lip service to climate change”, there are a group of people actually working towards making a difference. That, and, as Yorke jokingly added, Juniper “bought me a pint and twisted my arm”. Good on ya Thom.
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CD Reviews
The Hotrats – Turn Ons
01.30.10Turn Ons is the aptly titled debut album of The Hotrats, a passion project by members of Britpop trio Supergrass and famed producer Nigel Godrich. (more…)
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Bits & Pieces
Orignial Damon Albarn Song to be Auctioned Off for Haiti Relief
01.22.10Attention Blur fans, actually – make that Blur fanatics. How much would a song written just for you by Damon Albarn be worth? That is the question being asked Emily Eavis, Glastonbury Festival co-organizer, who has got together a large stash of very cool musical memorabilia to auction off towards Oxfam’s Haiti aid efforts. Amongst the swag due to go under the hammer on internet auction site Ebay – that includes Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys guitar, Chris Martin’s jacket from Coldplay’s Viva La Vida tour, and an original piece of Radiohead artwork – will be a song written by Albarn, which the highest bidder will be able to have for their “exclusive personal use (subject to terms & conditions)”. So, if this sounds like an opportunity too good to miss, free up some funds, and get online now.
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Bits & Pieces
David Bowie Tribute Album in the Works
01.08.10The 80s return as a May release on Manimal Vinyl is slated for a forthcoming David Bowie tribute album. Summer rumors spouted the possibility that Radiohead would be part of the Bowie covers, and although the boys won’t be involved, the roster boasts quite the interesting string of talent. Duran Duran appears to take on Boys Keep Swinging, Carla Bruni tackles Absolute Beginners and Devendra Banhart’s Megapuss explore Sound And Vision in Spanish! The album will drop in the form of a CD, a limited edition double-LP, and a digital download expected to sport bonus tracks. Look for the currently untitled album’s release in May with the project’s proceeds set to be donated to the War Child foundation.
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Bits & Pieces
Gregory Slay of Remy Zero Fame Dies at 40
01.04.10Cystic Fibrosis has claimed the life of former Remy Zero drummer Gregory Slay, who has sadly passed away on New Year’s Day. The 40-year-old beat keeper had suffered from the disease throughout his entire life, while still managing to enjoy achievement with the Birmingham born band that found quick success scoring an opening spot on Radiohead’s The Bends tour. Following the band’s end in 2003, Slay continued to explore personal projects such as Sleepwell, the theme song for Nip/Tuck, which has since been Emmy nominated, and recent exploits with Alabama native Eliot Morris. Gregory Slay will be missed by his mourning peers… R.I.P.
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Bits & Pieces
More On Thom Yorke’s Disdain For The Climate Change Conference
12.18.09As previously reported Thom Yorke snagged a press pass to the United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark… Needless to say the very vocal Radiohead frontman had much to say on the topic. “I felt compelled to come to find some hope from these talks. for our kids and theirs. judge that as you will,” explained Yorke on his band’s blog, Dead Air Space. “The negotiations had an obvious G8 vibe about them. the west dictating terms and bizarrely assuming that the science could be bartered.. !!!” he continued. Yorke even commented on the torch Americans are carrying for President Obama, saying ”i feel very sad for all Americans i know who hold so much hope for this man. our leaders are fully aware they are in disgrace. and fully aware that they cannot draw up an agreement and force it upon us all without us immediately seeing the holes in it”. Don’t hold back Thom… Tell us what you really think.
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Bits & Pieces
Thom Yorke Busts Balls At United Nations Climate Change Conference
12.17.09Seemingly not too impressed with how the United Nations Climate Change Conference was unfolding in Copenhagen, Denmark, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke crashed the conference badged as press, saying “I’m here as a press person. Do you imagine they’d let me in otherwise?” No news on how many feathers were ruffled but Yorke is definitely more in the know, and as children of the 80s have been taught, knowing is half the battle.
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Bits & Pieces
Radiohead’s Marching Band Co-Performers Release Double-CD
12.02.09This year’s GRAMMY Awards featured Radiohead coupled with The University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band for a performance of 15 Steps, which turned out to be the highlight of the night. Now, months later, the Trojans have released a double CD, Trojan Legacy, featuring the track. Well, it’s a taped rehearsal two days before the GRAMMY show, rather than the version we saw on the show. As well as the Radiohead collaboration, Trojan Legacy also includes marching band covers of popular songs. The album is available through the USC bookstore, and the bookstore’s website.
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Bits & Pieces
Music Beats Mines Auction to Include Items Donated By Radiohead & Elbow
11.27.09The Mines Advisory Group, a charity dedicated to providing relief to those affected by landmines, is holding a charity auction to raise money for their Music Beats Mines initiative. Items donated include signed Radiohead artwork, and signed Elbow CDs and vinyl. Bidders will also have the chance to raise their paddles for a chance to spend an hour on the Steinway grand piano over in Manchester at the Bridgewater Hall. To read more about Music Beats Mines and the Mines Advisory Group, click over to their website.
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Bits & Pieces
Ferry Bringing in Flea, Greenwood, on New Solo Project
11.25.09Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music announced that he is working on a new solo album. Emailing his fans, Ferry tipped Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ ubiquitous Flea as guest performers on the record. Ferry and producer Nile Rodgers, of CHIC fame, are aiming to have this thing wrapped up and out on the shelves in the summer of 2010.
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Bits & Pieces
Peter Gabriel Plans New Year Radical Covers Album
11.12.09Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel is going into the studio to record an album of orchestral cover versions of a dozen well known tunes. The likes of Radiohead, Arcade Fire, and The Magnetic Fields are said to be involved with Gabriel in a ‘song swap’. Obviously, the swap part of the equation means that we could soon hear Peter Gabriel songs being covered all over the place. Scratch My Back has a planned release date of January 25th and is said to be an acoustic endeavour, focusing on orchestral instruments. Composer John Metcalf says that “The songs are not simply covers. They are major reinterpretations of some famous stuff. It’s quite radical…”
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Bits & Pieces
Fucked Up Too Helm New Round of Do They Know It’s Christmas?
11.06.091984 marked the roundup of a slew of British pop musicians led by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to lay down the track, Do They Know It’s Christmas?; an all-star Christmas song in regards to the Ethiopian famine. Then 2004 saw a re-recorded version of the song sporting a new all-star cast including Thom Yorke of Radiohead and Dizzee Rascal. And now… To put all conventions to rest the new performance will be headed by Canadian rockers Fucked Up, specifically the band’s captain Damian Abraham, better known as Pink Eyes. In a recent interview Pink Eyes had this to say, “David Cross, members of Vampire Weekend, TV on the Radio, Broken Social Scene, the GZA, Bob Mould, No Age, and Yo La Tengo are all confirmed. I’m still waiting on confirmation from Feist, Jarvis Cocker, and M.I.A. We wanted the biggest people we could get. If we could get a Jonas Brother on this, I would get a Jonas Brother.” The recording is slated to benefit “a few different organizations, like Justice for the Missing, that are affiliated with the 500 missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada. That number is an old official statistic that the government uses, but the number is probably closer to 3,000.” The band has also decided to use their recent Polaris Music Prize winnings to fund the project and although an official release date has yet to be announced keep an ear open for this Fucked Up Christmas ditty!
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Bits & Pieces
Radiohead’s Yorke to Join With Pepper’s Flea in New Band
09.29.09With plans to perform his solo material, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke announced that he has started a new band. The outfit claims the membership of Yorke himself, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Beck/R.E.M. drummer Joey Waronker, percussionist/multi-instrumentalist Mauro Refosco, and bassist Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. No name yet for these guys, but two shows have been booked on October 4 and 5 at The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. “The set will not be very long cuz ..well …we haven’t got that much material yet!”, posted Yorke on the Radiohead blog.
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Bits & Pieces
Lily Allen Withdraws From Arena of Debate Over File Sharing
09.24.09In case you haven’t heard, British pop star Lily Allen has been online lately mounting a little crusade against the Featured Artist Coalition (FAC), an advocacy group involving members of Radiohead and Blur, among others. The two camps butted ideological heads over a proposal by British Secretary Lord Mandelson to temporarily suspend the internet connections of serial piraters. The FAC is reported to have opposed the reputedly last resort effort of the Bristish Secretary. Allen had begun a blog called It’s Not Alright, which presented other artists’ thoughts about file sharing, as well as her own. The blog was deleted after Allen claimed the abuse garnered by her stance against file-sharing became too much. (more…)
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FROM THE CORNER comes...
As Tall As Lions
09.16.09by Canyon
Sometimes it can be hard to find a band whose music is varied enough to suit many tastes, moods and situations. And perhaps not their original intent, As Tall As Lions have achieved exactly that with their third full length release, You Can’t Take It With You. Having morphed into their current line-up in 2004, the year they put out their first record Lafcadio, they haven’t received a whole lot of media attention until this recent release. The record has a little bit of everything for everyone, with light and dreamy vocals that are superimposed on a powerful and strong musical base, adding to the emotional heaviness that is prevalent throughout. Remarkably this work remains extremely cohesive, despite some of the material ranging from accessible all the way to experimental… think Coldplay to Radiohead. To fully appreciate all the subtleties of ATAL’s sound, specifically the instrumental parts; the album should be listened to in its original song sequence (sorry Shuffle addicts).
Genre: Pop/Rock
Latest Album: You Can’t Take It With You
For Fans Of: Patrick Watson, Snow Patrol, Doves
Listen To: As Tall As Lions -
Bits & Pieces
Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien Against UK Gov’s Plan To Cut Net Access
09.10.09In regards to the UK government’s plan to remove internet privileges from repeat illegal file-sharers, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien has voiced strong disapproving opinions. The Featured Artists Coalition and one of its shining members Ed O’Brien have spoken out against the governmental action saying it could turn music fans away from music. “It’s going to start a war which they’ll never win. It won’t work. It’s as simple as that. I was talking to a serial file-sharer the other day who is a friend. He downloads films and he hasn’t paid for music for six years,” said O’Brien of the government’s proposed measure. The FAC (Featured Artists Coalition) has laced the plan with the description of “heavy handed”, with other weighty members such as Blur’s Dave Rowntree stating they “vehemently oppose” the concept. “We don’t want to make enemies of our fans,” said Rowntree. “The sensible thing to do is to try to see how we can monetise all this file-sharing activity, which is evidence of a lot of interest in music.” Billy Bragg, another active FAC member said, “We’re concerned that, in an age where there is much greater competition for attention, these proposals are in danger of driving young people away from the idea of listening to music. As musicians, we’re worried about that.”
