Welcome to Audiostraddle’s weekly music fix! Will it actually be published weekly? I’m not great with deadlines, so only time will tell. But I’ll be interested in hearing what you think of this new seg and if you’d like to see it again in the future. Like next week, for example.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND SOUNDTRACK ANNOUNCED
I’ve been waiting with bated breath for the release of Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland, but in the meantime the setlist of the film’s first soundtrack has been announced (there will be three!). Titled Almost Alice, the compilation features custom tracks from Robert Smith (The Cure), Pete Wentz and Mark Hoppus, Owl City, Tokio Hotel, Franz Ferdinand and more. Curiously, the coveted opening track has been handed to Avril Lavigne.
KELLY ROWLAND: AUSTRALIA’S NEXT GAY IDOL
Former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rolland has been announced as the surprise performer at the 2010 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which is the biggest gay pride event in the world. While I was secretly hoping it would be Kylie, I’ve seen Kelly do her thing on the dance floor and feel like she’s won’t leave anyone disappointed.
SIMON COWELL QUITS IDOL, GETS BETTER GIG
Does America really have enough enthusiasm for two big talent shows? Strangely concerned about over-exposure, Simon Cowell has announced that he’s jumping his the Idol ship to focus on the launch of the newer and shinier talent show, “The X Factor”. Cowell will finish this out this current season of Idol alongside Ellen, Kara and Randy, after which I suspect the Idol franchise will get canned. It’s also been announced that the Idol series has been “rested” in Australia.
TOP TEN VINYL
Music By Day has compiled a list of the top 10 selling vinyl albums of 2009. It’s worth a look, but may not make you blink.
LA ROUX GOES “LESS MAINSTREAM”. MAYBE.
Speaking to BBC 6 Music, Elly Jackson from La Roux has warned that the next release may be less mainstream compared to last June’s self-titled debut. “We’re going to make the record that me and Ben want to make, but I have a feeling its going to be less mainstream.”
OWEN PALLETT ON HEARTLAND, MARIAH
Interview Magazine speaks with Owen Pallett, Canadian music genius and artist of the moment about his highly anticipated new record Heartland – out now – and his deep love for Mariah Carey. “I think she’s actually one of the most significant musicians of the last ten years… She started the decade as the biggest selling artist of all time, but one who was a complete pariah who everyone hated, and she had gone completely crazy, and by the end of this decade she’s made, I think, probably the most successful comeback in music history.”
Has anyone listened to Heartland yet? Give us your review, I hear it’s phenomenal.
THE PLASTIC ONO BAND RETURNS
Love her or hate her, but Yoko Ono knows how to orchestrate the ultimate comeback. In what will be their first gig in a whopping 40 years, the Plastic Ono Band will be playing at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on February 16. The show will include original members Eric Clapton and Klaus Voorman, as well as some amazing guest appearances by Bette Midler, Paul Simon, Thurston Moore Kim Gordon, Sean Lennon and Yuka Honda. True Story: Riese and I saw Sean Lennon and Yuka Honda play the Mercury Lounge once and it blew my mind, their contributions alone should make this night nothing short of amazing.
TEGAN & SARA HIT CANADA, LOOK COLD
Everyone’s favourite Canadians have kicked off their 2010 Canadian tour, playing Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton with An Horse in tow. Check out the new blogs and photos from the tour, highlights include something called snow-shoeing and a visit with the national women’s hockey team.
TILA AND GUY RICHIE
GET INTO THE BIZ
This week both Guy Richie and Tila Tequila decided to start up their own record labels. Tila has put a call out for new artists and producers to sign, promising to release your record and not take a dime. According to Undercover music, Guy Richie already has his first signing lined up – an Irish folk outfit called The Punchbowl Band that play at his local pub. If he does music like he does film, the first signing will be a hit and then everything that follows will pay homage to it.
K.D. LANG RELEASES 4-DISC COLLECTION
k.d. has never released a Greatest Hits collection before and so now she’s making up for lost time with a double-disc release titled Recollection which drops Feb 9 and features all the hits as well as a new interpretation of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” which I’m really excited about. The double disc release will be followed by an epic deluxe edition that includes an album of unreleased recordings and dvd of music videos.
MELISSA AUF DER MAUR GOES ALL OUT
Five years in the making, Hole’s lovely ex-bassist Melissa Auf der Maur has finally released the title track and its accompanying video clip from her upcoming release, Out Of Our Minds. According to Spinner, OOOM is an expansive multimedia project that includes the album, live performance, a comic book and a 28-minute film starring and conceived by Auf der Maur and directed by Tony Stone. What do you think?
NEW VIDEO FROM M.I.A
Pitchfork believes that this could be a preview of the new video from M.I.A’s upcoming album.
PASSION PIT TO TOUR THE USA
After taking names with Manners in 2009, Passion Pit are powering on in the new year. Once they’re done with Australia, Japan and Europe, they’ll be heading back foe a spring US tour. Here are the dates, go get ’em.
NEW VIDEO FROM GABRIELLA CILMI
Check out Aussie pop star Gabrielle Climi‘s new video clip for “On A Mission”. She’s explored her “inner disco diva” with this space age music video that channels a little Kylie and a little Blondie. If you’re a little surprised by the not-as-hooky new sound, take a moment to remember just how grating “Sweet About Me” became after the 10 millionth spin on the radio. Just sayin’, be careful what you wish for.
