Gorillaz is back! Gorillaz is back!

"Plastic Beach," the new album from Gorillaz, will be released by Virgin on 9 March, 2010.

The album is preceded by first single Stylo (featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack) which will receive its radio broadcast premiere tonight and will be available for download January 26.

When reached with news of the leak that pushed up the premiere of the "Stylo" single, Gorillaz bass god Murdoc Niccals ranted via Twitter http://twitter.com/MurdocGorillaz: "A leak! A leak! Plastic Beach has sprung a leak! One of those Russian pirates has put a bullet hole in my island! My single's leaked! STYLO!"

Five years on from the release of Demon Days, Murdoc and co. return with Plastic Beach. The band have taken up residence, recording on a secret floating island deep in the South Pacific, a Plastic Beach HQ, made up of the detritus, debris and washed up remnants of humanity. This Plastic Beach is the furthest point from any landmass on Earth; the most deserted spot on the planet.

The world's biggest animated band, Gorillaz formed in 1998, and have since sold 12 million copies over two albums Gorillaz (2000) and Demon Days (2005). They have hit number 1 in more than a dozen countries and picked up awards including Grammys, Novellos, VMAs and EMAs.

The Gorillaz' return will be marked by a headline appearance at this year's Coachella festival. The Sunday April 18 performance will be the first Gorillaz live spectacle on U.S. soil since the awe-inspiring Demon Days Live run in April 2006 at New York's Apollo Theater.

Plastic Beach is produced by Gorillaz.

The full tracklisting is as follows:
1. Orchestral Intro (featuring Sinfonia ViVA)
2. Welcome To The World Of The Plastic Beach (feat. Snoop Dogg & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
3. White Flag (feat. Kano, Bashy & The National Orchestra For Arabic Music)
4. Rhinestone Eyes
5. Stylo (feat. Bobby Womack & Mos Def)
6. Superfast Jellyfish (feat. Gruff Rhys & De La Soul)
7. Empire Ants (feat. Little Dragon)
8. Glitter Freeze (feat. Mark E Smith)
9. Some Kind Of Nature (feat. Lou Reed)
10. On Melancholy Hill
11. Broken
12. Sweepstakes (feat. Mos Def & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
13. Plastic Beach (feat. Mick Jones & Paul Simonon)
14. To Binge (feat. Little Dragon)
15. Cloud Of Unknowing (feat. Bobby Womack and Sinfonia ViVA)
16. Pirate Jet

~Information courtesy Nasty Little Man

Do good, earn 'Songs for Haiti'

Today, Paste launched "Songs for Haiti" (http://songsforhaiti.org).

Like so many others, Paste has been moved by the tragedy facing the survivors of the Haitian earthquake.Wondering how we could help, we remembered the website we built last year for the Save Paste Campaign. Thanks to your generosity, and that of over 150 artists who donated songs, we raised more than $250,000 to help our magazine survive its darkest hour.

But what we faced was nothing compared to what hundreds of thousands of people are experiencing right now in Haiti. The need is staggering, and help will be needed for months and years to come. To help raise money and keep awareness high, Paste and diverse artists—Ludacris, Of Montreal, Andrew Bird, Hanson, Umphrey's McGee, Switchfoot, Bruce Cockburn, Xiu Xiu, and over 200 others—are offering free MP3s (many previously unavailable) to everyone who donates to help Haiti.

You can donate through Paste or to a charity of your choice (just tell us), and you will have access to our Download Vault and 250 songs (and counting). We don’t think people should donate to the relief efforts in Haiti just to get a reward. But this gives Paste and artists a way to help, using the thing we’re most passionate about—music.

If you've already donated elsewhere, we hope you'll tell us and take advantage of the free songs. We want to make a strong statement of concern and show the generosity of our readers and the music community in general. We also hope you'll continue giving as you are able.

You can donate (or tell us about donations you made elsewhere) at: SongsForHaiti.org. You'll also find resources (banner ads, Twitter & Facebook icons, etc.) to help spread the word.

100% of money contributed through “Songs for Haiti” will be spread among three charities active in Haiti: Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, and Wyclef Jean’sYele Haiti Earthquake Fund. (Note that donations submitted directly to “Songs for Haiti” are not tax deductible, since Paste is not a charitable organization.)

For more details, including the full list of artists participating, see: SongsForHaiti.org

~Information courtesy Paste

HOT TIP: Pain's album 'Goggins' now a free download

That's right; move yourself to http://www.thepainpage.com/cds.html for a free MP3 download of Pain's OOP 1994 album "Goggins." In other news, the now-defunct ska-punk band, best known for the track "Adam's Apple" (at least in my world), celebrated its 15th anniversary by releasing an exhaustive, limited-edition DVD compendium, "In a Band." For fans of Fenix*TX, the Anniversary and Siren Six.

Rhymesayers, Freeway and Jake One one-up George W.

I don't care much for Freeway's rhymes, but this is pretty cool:

In anticipation of the February 16, 2010 release of FREEWAY & JAKE ONE "The Stimulus Package", Rhymesayers' flagship store, Fifth Element is following suit in Freeway's efforts to stimulate the Hip-Hop industry. Everyone who pre-orders "The Stimulus Package" at www.fifthelementonline.com will receive a stimulus check courtesy of the Fifth Element. Each will ship to recipients separate from the album and bonus mixtapes. The Fifth Element stimulus checks will be good for 15% off any purchase at Fifth Element. Upping the value, Freeway and Jake One will personally sign each check which will be individually printed with the name of the recipient directly on the 'pay to the order of' line. Checks will be mailed separate from the album and bonus mixtapes. Envelopes will be adorned with limited edition Freeway & Jake One Stimulus Package postage stamps.

-> Read my review of Jake One's "White Van Music" here. <-

All who pre-order will automatically be entered to win $100.00. This is a straight cash prize, a crisp Benjamin gifted as part of Freeway's Stimulus Package. Fifth Element would like to increase the chances of those who pre-order by drawing not one, but five winners! Giving away a total of $500.00 in the Hip-Hop Recovery and Reinvestment Act initiative. Winners may use prize money as they wish, towards Fifth Element, Rhymesayers, or to support Hip-Hop in any way they see fit. The theme of this release is to appreciate and pay it forward. Freeway and Fifth Element would like to thank their fans and customers for their continued support, and what better way than giving away cold hard cash.

Fifth Element has decided to do their part in The Stimulus Package by adding two more bonus items for those who pre-order. In addition to receiving the Freeway & Jake One "The Stimulus Package", personalized FE stimulus check, and entry into a cash prize drawing, each pre-order will get Freeway's most recent mixtapes (while supplies last). The first, The Beat Made Me Do It [Freeway over Jake One beats]. The second, Freelapse [Freeway over Eminem beats]. Freeway, Jake One, album featured artists: Birdman, Raekwon, Beanie Sigel, Young Chris, Bun B, Latoiya Williams, Mr. Porter, Omilio Sparks and mixtapes with production from Jake One and Eminem. Freeway has brought a posse along for the ride. This Fifth Element pre-order package is a don't miss opportunity. Visit www.fifthelementonline.com to pre-order Freeway & Jake One "The Stimulus Package".

~Information courtesy RSE

She & Him reveal 'Volume Two' details

She & Him will release their sophomore album, Volume Two, on March 23rd. Written by Zooey Deschanel (She) and produced by M. Ward (Him), Volume Two is the follow up to the duo's critically acclaimed debut, Volume One. The album includes eleven original tracks and two covers: "Ridin' in My Car" by NRBQ and Skeeter Davis' "Gonna Get Along Without You Now."

Described by Zooey as a "feel-good album," Volume Two is bolstered by rich harmonies, sweet-as-sugar melodies, and Brill Building choruses. From sweeping opener "Thieves" and first single "In the Sun" (featuring guest vocals by Tilly and the Wall), to the tempo and mood shifts of "Home" and the vocals-only, hymn-like closer "If You Can't Sleep," Volume Two shimmers from start to finish.

Visit the newly redesigned She & Him website for updates as the release date approaches.

Volume Two track listing:
1. Thieves
2. In the Sun
3. Don't Look Back
4. Ridin' in My Car (NRBQ cover)
5. Lingering Still
6. Me and You
7. Gonna Get Along Without You Now (Skeeter Davis cover)
8. Home
9. I'm Gonna Make It Better
10. Sing
11. Over It Over Again
12. Brand New Shoes
13. If You Can't Sleep

~Information courtesy Merge Records

Black Lips, Box Elders coming to Minnesota April 3!

BLACK LIPS ANNOUNCE MORE TOUR DATES THIS SPRING WEST COAST DATES TO START JANUARY 20th IN COSTA MESA, FULL TOUR CONTINUES IN MARCH No strangers to the road, Atlanta's road ragers Black Lips today announce plans for more touring in 2010. In addition to their previously announced five date West Coast run this month the band will be setting out on a four week tour of the Eastern half of North America with Omaha's show stopping Box Elders beginning March 17th in Charlotte, NC. Read my review of "Good Bad Not Evil." More than just rockers of course, the Black Lips are known for occasional unruly behavior on the road. This was clearly the impetus for the band being featured on Alabama Public Television's celebrated live music program "We Have Signal" on January 7th, as well as joining up with Current TV's "Tour Stop" for more hijinks in Southern California. Tour Dates: (March & April dates w/ Box Elders) 1/20/10 The Detroit Bar Costa Mesa, CA 1/21/10 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA 1/22/10 The Glass House Pomona, CA 1/23/10 El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, CA 1/24/10 The Casbah San Diego, CA 3/17/10 Neighborhood Theatre Charlotte, NC 3/18/10 Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC 3/19/10 Black Cat Washington, DC 3/20/10 Johnny Brenda's Philadelphia, PA 3/21/10 Maxwell's Hoboken, NJ 3/23/10 Brooklyn Bowl Brooklyn, NY 3/24/10 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY 3/25/10 The Middle East Downstairs Cambridge, MA 3/26/10 Le Studio Juste Pour Rire Montreal, QC 3/27/10 The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, ON 3/28/10 The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, ON 3/30/10 Magic Stick Detroit, MI 3/31/10 Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH 4/01/10 Logan Square Auditorium Chicago, IL 4/02/10 The High Noon Saloon Madison, WI 4/03/10 Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN 4/05/10 Slowdown, Jr. Omaha, NE 4/06/10 Mojo's Columbia, MO 4/07/10 The Firebird St. Louis, MO 4/08/10 Headliner's Music Hall Louisville, KY 4/09/10 Hi-Tone Café Memphis, TN 4/10/10 40 Watt Club Athens, GA For more info: http://www.vicerecords.com http://www.black-lips.com http://www.myspace.com/theblacklips ~Information courtesy Biz 3

Spoon returns with new album, two-night stand at First Avenue

On the eve of the January 19 release of its eagerly anticipated Transference, Spoon has announced the itinerary of its 2010 North American tour. The dates kick off with a March 17 headlining appearance at Stubb's in Austin as part of the annual South by Southwest conference, and include the band's first ever headline engagement at New York's Radio City Music Hall.

Transference, the seventh Spoon album and the first produced by the band itself, already has the media salivating in advance notices from THE NEW YORKER to MAXIM and all points in between. The record's release is preceded by first single "Written In Reverse," released earlier this month both digitally and to independent retail as a vinyl 7" featuring non-album B-side "Mean Red Spider." The album, which also includes Spoon neo-classics "Who Makes Your Money," "Is Love Forever?" and "The Mystery Zone," began streaming in its entirety today as an NPR First Listen athttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122279793

Spoon will commemorate Transference's release with a January 19 appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

For a full itinerary, see below and check back at Spoontheband.com for updates.

SPOON North America 2010

17-Mar Stubbs Austin, TX
18-Mar Republic New Orleans, LA
19-Mar Workplay Soundstage Birmingham, AL
20-Mar Tabernacle Atlanta, GA
22-Mar 9:30 Club Washington, DC
23-Mar 9:30 Club Washington, DC
24-Mar The National Richmond, VA
26-Mar Radio City Music Hall New York, NY
27-Mar House of Blues Boston, MA, USA
29-Mar Sound Academy Toronto, ON
30-Mar Royal Oak Music TheatreRoyal Oak, MI
1-Apr Aragon Ballroom Chicago, IL
2-Apr First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
3-Apr First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
5-Apr Ogden Theatre Denver, CO
6-Apr Ogden Theatre Denver, CO
7-Apr In the Venue Salt Lake City, UT
9-Apr Moore Theatre Seattle, WA
10-Apr Moore Theatre Seattle, WA
11-Apr Orpheum Theatre Vancouver, BC
13-Apr Fox Theater Oakland, CA

*Deerhunter direct support on all dates.
*New Orleans - Royal Oak w/ The Strange Boys
*Chicago - Oakland w/ Micachu & the Shapes

~Information courtesy Nasty Little Man