sonic slang

New Tunes, 06.02: Rancid & The Sounds

If "Boom Boom Pow" or "Poker Face" really ain't your bag (and let's be honest, they shouldn't be), you'll want to pay attention next Tuesday as not one but two bands with feet planted firmly in the sounds of Billboard's past drop new albums:

Rancid - Let the Dominoes Fall: The first new LP in six years from the semi-legendary Cali punkers who, though never chart-toppers like some of their early-90's contemporaries, encapsulate the spirit of true punk like Green Day never could.  Plus ...And Out Came the Wolves is still a classic.  Judging by the cover art, these guys are still rocking the wallet chains with pride.  Love it.  Check out their webisodes for a sneak peek. 

The Sounds - Crossing the Rubicon: New Wavey Swedes The Sounds have yet to abandon their two primary assets - synth-drenched riffs, and lead singer Maja Ivarsson's legs.  Case in point, the video for lead single "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake."

Other new releases include the latest from Elvis Costello, Dave Matthews Band, 311 and Iggy Pop.  More on them later on...

Maxwell Reveals BLACKsummer's Night Cover Art

Maxwell's MTV Unplugged was always one of my favorite in the series, and essentially served as my entry point for appreciating R&B (as much as a kid who grew up on Van Halen and REM really could).  After a eight-year wait, he's finally back with BLACKsummer's Night (the first disc in a planned trilogy).  Lead single "Pretty Wings" is a bit slow-jammy for my tastes (give it a listen here), but I'm psyched none-the-less.  Check the just-released album art below:

BLACKsummer's Night is due on 7.07 via Columbia

Jay-Z close to new deal: The arrangement will bring the artist's future recording to Epic Records via his own Rock Nation imprint [via Billboard]

"Anti-Auto-Tune" Blueprint 3: Producer Kanye promises the Jay-Z LP will not ape his recent 808s and Heartbreak [via MTV]

Relapse tops Billboard: Eminem comeback LP moves 600K in first week [via Billboard]

Beastie Boys/Roots - "So What'cha Want"

Other than a bizarrely awesome name, we still know very little about the upcoming Beastie Boys LP.  But I must admit that the band's appearance on Jimmy Fallon, complete with a Roots-backed performance of "So What'cha Want," has me pretty pumped to hear some new beats.  Hopefully Bonnaroo will give a sneak peek...

Phish - "Time Turns Elastic"

We're just days away from the Phish 2009 summer reunion tour, but some fans are probably sparking up the bong a bit early with the release of a new single, "Time Turns Elastic" this week.

The 13-minute (!) track will be featured on the band's upcoming, as yet untitled LP - Phish's first since 2004's Undermind.  You can check out a clip of the band performing "Time Turns Elastic" at the official site, and download the full version at iTunes.

VIDEO: Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"

As if I wasn't already transfixed by the post-chamber pop opus that is the new Grizzly Bear album, the video for "Two Weeks" is quite a trip as well.  I'm not sure I totally get it (they're robots, right?), but I dare you to look away.

Beastie Boys Ready Hot Sauce Committe

The Beastie Boys have wrapped production on their next LP, apparently dubbed Hot Sauce Committee.  I have no idea what that means, but I like it.  A Monday email to fans also promised an appearance on Jimmy Fallon tonight to "offer insights into how it was crafted."

The disc will be the band's first since 2007's instrumental LP, The Mix-Up.

RIP Jay Bennett

The ex-Wilco mate was 46.

Jack Johnson Preps Live Set

Jack Johnson, poster boy for the flip flop set (and my patron saint), is releasing his first official live album this August.  Would have made a nice edition to this year's Memorial Day Weekend playlist, but I guess it'll have to be On and On on repeat.  Again.  No worries though - there's always Labor Day.  By then at least we'll all have worked up a nice tan.

Off to the beach! See ya'll Tuesday...

Mike Patton to Collaborate with Watchmen Creator

There are very few things I would allow as acceptable reasons to disrupt the long-overdue Faith No More reunion tour - a collaboration with Watchmen's Alan Moore is one of them.  Bring on the naked blue demi-gods and exploding fish.