Author: Crossfire

Jay Z is making a new record based on an upcoming film.

The concept album was inspired by the forthcoming flick featuring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe film American Gangster that depicts the life of Frank Lucas, a real life drug kingpin in the 1970s. Jay said:

“It was like I was watching the film, and putting it on pause, and giving a back story to the story…Watching that film, it brought back all these memories … It took me back to those emotions.”

You can check out the first single from it, Blue Magic, which is produced by Pharrell by clicking here.

www.jay-z.com

Mogwai are to auction off drummer Martin Bulloch’s pacemaker.

The drummer has had a new pacemaker fitted and whilst he is recovering, Stuart Braithwaite from the band posted a MySpace bulletin saying they want to sell the old one for charity. The proceeds will go to the British Heart Foundation and more details are promised soon.

www.mogwai.co.uk

Thursday have revealed the tracklisting for their upcoming rarities compilation.

Kill The House Lights – Live And Unreleased is due out on October 30th and will feature live tracks, b-sides from Full Collapse and War All The Time and a few new songs. A DVD will also come with the record featuring a 90 minute film and full concert. The tracks on the record are:

1. Ladies and Gentlemen: My Brother, the Failure.
2. Dead Songs
3. Voices on a String
4. Signals Over the Air (Live at Starland Ballroom)
5. The Roar of Far Off Black Jets (Full Collapse b-Side)
6. How Long Is the Night (Original Intro)
7. A Sketch for Time’s Arrow
8. Panic On the Streets of Health Care City (War All the Time B-side)
9. Paris in Flames (Demo)
10. Steps Ascending (Live from the Grove)
11. Wind-Up (Demo)
12. Music from ‘Kill the House Lights’

www.thursday.net

The Beastie Boys reportedly have new plans for their album The Mix Up.

The trio will be adding vocals to the instrumental album but not their own, with reports saying they are looking to bring in M.I.A, Jarvis Cocker and Lily Allen amongst others. Who knows, maybe a group as awesome and talented as the Beasties might rub off on Lily and stop her being shit.

The band also plan to provide a visual version of the album by cutting together performances and other details to make a feature of the record. And then, as if they weren’t busy enough, the band plan to hit the studio to work on their next album.

www.beastieboys.com

Isis have announced they will be celebrating their 10th anniversary with a release.

The band will be putting singles Holy Tears and Not In Rivers, But In Drops which were both taken from the In The Absence Of Truth album and these will include both live versions and remixes by the Melvins and Lustmord. The band are also going on a tour of the US with Big Business, Oxbow and These Arms Are Snakes.

www.isistheband.com

Jello Biafra will be touring the UK soon.

The tour will promote the triple CD release In The Grip Of Official Treason which is out on Alternative Tentacles, where he is “sticking it to the Bush regime and calling it like he sees it.”. If you want to get out to see him, head to one of these dates:

November:

6th – Pacific Road Arts Centre Birkenhead
7th – The Boardwalk Sheffield
8th – City Varieties Music Hall Leeds
9th – The Arches Glasgow
11th – Rock City Nottingham
12th – The Comedy Store Manchester
13th – The Glee Club @ The Arcadian Birmingham
14th – Old Fire Station Bournemouth
15th – Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre Exeter
16th – Princess Pavilion Falmouth
17th – Anson Rooms Bristol
18th – Union Chapel Project London

www.alternativetentacles.com

The Decemberists are coming to these shores for a tour in October.

Check it:

2nd – London, Royal Festival Hall
3rd – Cambridge, Junction
5th – Wolverhampton, Wulfren Hall
6th – Bristol, Anson Rooms
7th – Oxford, Academy
9th – Dublin, Vicar Street
10th – Liverpool, Academy
11th – Newcastle, Academy
12th – Glasgow, Academy
13th – Leeds, Metropolitan Uni.

www.decemberists.com