LIBERTINES REUNITE FOR ONE-OFF GIG Slow-news day on the blogosphere, but over the weekend it was all about UK garage-rock revivalists the Libertines reuniting with three of the original members (who really cares about John Hassell the bassist anyway?) at the London Rhythm Factory as a tribute gig to Johnny Sedassy, the late, great promoter who helped launched the band’s career back in the day. Babyshambles began the set with Pete Doherty in good spirits, blasting through classics like “Kilimanjaro” and “Albion” to the delight of fans. He was then joined on stage by Carl Barat and Gary Powell who proceeded to rip through a set of Libs essentials. The playlist apparently was:
“What A Waster” “Up The Bracket” “What Katy Did” “Can’t Stand Me Now” “Time For Heroes” “Death On The Stairs”
Carl and Gary then left the stage to allow Pete and the Babyshambles co. finish up with the likes of “Fuck Forever”. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but you can go here to check out some videos from the side of the stage, here for a great show breakdown by Jamie Fullerton, a reporter for NME (who was also a guest of ours at our Cannibal Cheerleader Blood Bath during SXSW), and check out a longer vid below.
NEW PETE DOHERTY ALBUM The new Pete Doherty album (excuse us, Peter Doherty) presents us with yet another different side to this poetic and troubled English troubador and former Libertine. His new album Grace/Wastelands, an admitted ‘odds and sods’ collection of songs the Babyshambles’ frontman has had drifting in his back collection for years, is a cathartic trek down a dark road, with minimal guitar lines (played by the inimitable Graham Coxon) playing over Doherty’s inspired lyrical wordplay to piercing effect that, while not immediately grasping, proves to grab the listener in a silent choke-hold and refuse to let go. With an endearing awkwardness like a drunken mope at the local bar (or a recovering junk addict maybe?), the songs spin in and out of each other, sometimes relying on tinkling piano lines with Doherty scat-singing over the refrains, and other times the singer’s crushing loneliness pierces through to the bone with ‘moment-of-clarity’ suddenness. All-in-all, an excellent addition to the Doherty catalogue, a surprisingly deep and thoughtful selection and a great release. Check it out! Peter Doherty – “Sheepskin Tearaway” Peter Doherty – “Salome” ******************************************************************** NEW ROLO TOMASSI VIDEO We’re still getting prepped for our SXSW 2009 Blood Bath, and if you’re not excited about headliner Rolo Tomassi making their first ever US debut, check out this video and be convinced immediately.
Quick update today, Pete Doherty of Babyshambles and Libertines fame (who apparently now prefers to be called Peter Doherty) is offering up some new tracks from his upcoming solo album Grace/Wastelands. Check them out below, check the link for a Pete Doherty video from NME, and stay tuned for more from this awesome artist!
Our favorite underground rapper, the infamous MF Doom has been silent as of late. No more my friends, as the masked maurader has just released a teaser track from his upcoming LP Born Like This due out this March. The track is called “Ballskin” and it’s a true return to form for the emcee, featuring machine gun lyrical delivery with his much imitated mush-mouthed innotation. The beats are sweet too, only problem is the track is so short (but oh so sweet!). Check it out for yourself below you backpackers.
MF Doom – “Ballskin” ******************************************************************** DETAILS ON DOHERTY SOLO RECORD
Just because he’s drugged out doesn’t mean he’s a deadweight, as the ex-Libertine and current BabyshamblerPete Doherty has just revealed his upcoming tracklist for his solo record. NME has all the details (including some killer videos) so be sure and rush over and check it out. Here’s a vid for one of our favorites, so far called “Salome”. Check out the rest when his album drops March 9th. Tracklist below:
01 Arcadie 02 Last of the English Roses 03 1939 Returning 04 A Little Death Around the Eyes 05 Salome 06 Through the Looking Glass 07 Sweet By and By 08 Palace of Bone 09 Sheepskin Tearaway 10 Broken Love Song 11 New Love Grows on Trees 12 Lady, Don’t Fall Backwards
If you’ve never heard of these Beck-referencing, groove-tastic, spazalicious, leave-it-all-on-the-dancefloor rockers, you owe it to yourself to check out Whirlwind Heat. The first time I saw these guys was summer of 2006 on their tour with another Cannibal Cheerleader favorite Be Your Own Pet. Clearly these two acts had developed a competition to who could pull off the more insanity-induced set, and the winner was definitely the audience that night. The Heat have just released their newest LP, called Self-Titled or Scoop Du Jour on Rhapsody and
Amazon, so go download it immediately. This album exists in the same vein as their previous
LP Types of Wood but the dutiful listener can detect a greater presence of an underlying funkiness on this record. Check out this cover of “Another One Bites the Dust” and you’ll see what I mean.
One has to decide for oneself whether British tabloid mainstay and Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty is inspiring or sad. The ex-Libertine has made as much a name for himself since
his previous band’s collapse by dating supermodels and shooting smack as he has by penning woozy rambunctious rock tracks. I for one still think of the Libertines and hence Pete and co. as the greatest rock and roll story no one ever wrote, and sadly this guy has to live it. What we do get out of it though this time around is Oh What A Lovely Tour, 19 solid live tracks from Babyshambles’ most recent tour, most of which are delivered with the stoic, Cockney drawl that Doherty puts up when he hides his emotions. However, there exists a level of sincerity and vulnerability in all of songs, especially tracks like “The Lost Art Of Murder” and “Albion”, and the audience, singing along with nearly every song, clearly connects with their fallen hero. This record definitely makes the team and no, it’s not a pity pick; this kid fought for it and deserves it.
According to our favorite thrash-metallers Prey for Sleep’s Myspace we’ll be soon hearing new tracks from the group as they travel up to Cincinnati in early August to record tracks for a new EP with high-profile producer Don Debiase. According to lead-singer Hunter Townsend, the band will also soon be featured in a video game, have a new track up on their Myspace (”Sins of Unrest”), and have added a good deal of Texas dates. Lastly, the band’s videos for “Empires of Blood and Lust” and “Reborn” will be premiering on ME-TV within the coming weeks, so look out for those! Here’s the video for “Reborn” on YouTube in case you missed it last time around.
Our favorite chain-smoking Babyshambles frontman is out of “Her Majesty’s pleasure” (the term used by his Myspace). According to this article Doherty served 29 days of a 14-week sentence that was handed down due to drug and driving offenses. Here’s to freedom Pete!
In other news Doherty has posted a new tune entitled “Maybelline” and here’s the YouTube video to prove it. Good to have the band back together.
******************************************************************** CAT POWER TO APPEAR ON NEW BECK ALBUM
According to this Pitchfork article, Cat Power will be on Beck’s newest LP which, like Radiohead, NIN, and the Raconteurs before it, might be showing up on on our doorstep much sooner than we had thought. No further details have been revealed but you can bet we’ll be all over this when the album drops within the next few weeks! ******************************************************************** CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES ALBUM HITS THE STREETS
Charlotte Sometimes‘ new album Waves and the Both of Us hit stores yesterday and, you heard it hear first, it’s rad. While I unabashedly have a weakness for female singers, Charlotte’s voice and arrangements are both fresh, unique, and cutely naive. Having first seen her live at the AP Magazine party at SXSW (scenester heaven!) I can see how she not only appeals to the Bamboozle crowd but stands to transcend into the mainstream. Different from other female songstresses featured on this site (Cat Power anyone?), CS is completely unique and her album stands as a testament to this. Definitely check out album standouts like “Losing Sleep” and “Toy Soldier”. Four out of five bloody pon-poms! Anyone else heard this album yet?
If you were anywhere but at the Emo’s inside stage Tuesday night than you missed an incredible hardcore punk show from UK newcomers Gallows. These Watford rockers have a notorious live show and they even managed to turn a hipster Austin crowd into a circle-pit of carnage. If these photos are blurry you probably understand why.************************************************************************************* Perennial CC favorite Karen O (frontwoman of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) is reported (via Pitchfork) to be writing tunes for the Spike Jonze adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are. Her last “collaboration” with Jonze supposedly ended in a messy breakup, but some messy K.O. tunes might actually be a welcome addition. Check out this solo K.O. clip from the K.O. at Home bootleg to satiate yourself until the film arrives.
Karen O. – “Audiotrack 8″ (from the K.O. at Home bootleg) ************************************************************************************* BabyshamblesfrontmanPete Doherty is planning a solo album, or so reports this NME news story. While some think of the wayward Libertine as being a drugged out has-been, we here at CC like to err on the side of ‘Pete’s a flawed genius’ instead. His previous solo work “For Lovers” went to the top 10 in the UK, so here’s hoping for good things. Check out this sample from The Branding Sessions and see what you think of Doherty’s solo abilities (Pete’s reworking of the classic “Can’t Stand Me Now”)
“Scarlett Johansson will release an album on May 6 called “Anywhere I Lay My Head,” andPOP [sic] has learned.
The actress-turned-singer revealed in 2006 that she would be recording a Tom Waits cover album. Her album’s title, “Anywhere I Lay My Head,” is the title of a Waits track from his classic 1985 album “Rain Dogs.””
So there you have it folks, Scarlett is indeed the woman for you if you love drunken piano ballads (God knows I do!). Here’s a few music related Scarlett clips to tide you over until tomorrow:
Scarlett Johansson performing with the Jesus and Mary Chain at Coachella ‘07
Scarlett Johansson in Bob Dylan’s video for “When the Deal Goes Down”
Slow-news day on the blogosphere, but over the weekend it was all about UK garage-rock revivalists the Libertines reuniting with three of the original members (who really cares about John Hassell the bassist anyway?) at the London Rhythm Factory as a tribute gig to Johnny Sedassy, the late, great promoter who helped launched the band’s career back in the day.
Babyshambles began the set with Pete Doherty in good spirits, blasting through classics like “Kilimanjaro” and “Albion” to the delight of fans. He was then joined on stage by Carl Barat and Gary Powell who proceeded to rip through a set of Libs essentials. The playlist apparently was:
