Hey, it’s Jess, and I’m back with this week’s Music Fix. Lots of exciting (and bizarre) music news this week, so let’s get to it!
Jónsi from Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós front man Jón Thor Birgisson (Jónsi) has announced dates for his first tour of North America as a solo artist. If Jónsi’s first single “Boy Lilikoi” (below) is any indication of the full album, fans of Sigur Rós’ 2008 Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust will be pleased. It’s a step toward mainstream pop and features lyrics both in English and Icelandic. Jónsi’s debut solo album Go will be released worldwide the week of April 5th.
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Amanda F*cking Palmer’s New Project
Amanda Palmer is back in the news – this time with a somewhat bizarre project involving conjoined twins. Although Palmer has crafted an elaborate back story for the twins, the conjoined pair is actually Palmer herself along with accordion player Jason Webley. The duo is called Evelyn & Evelyn, and their self-titled album is set for release on March 10. More notably, the album will feature the debut of Frances Bean Cobain, daughter of Kurt Cobain, singing with other guests including Weird Al Yankovic, Tegan and Sara, and My Chemical Romance front man Gerard Way. Listen to songs and find tour dates for Evelyn & Evelyn at their MySpace.
The Strokes Recording Fourth Studio Album
Four years following First Impressions of Earth, garage rockers The Strokes are back in the studio recording their fourth album. Joe Chiccarelli, who has previously worked with The White Stripes, The Shins, and U2, among others, is producing.
The Magnetic Fields Documentary
The trailer for Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields was posted on YouTube earlier this week. The documentary follows Merritt and The Magnetic Fields for four tours and three albums, and features interviews with comedian Sarah Silverman, band member/manager Claudia Gonson, and several authors. It also borrows its title from one of my favorite Magnetic Field’s songs. Strange Powers premieres in Austin, TX at this year’s SXSW film festival. Learn more at http://www.strangepowersfilm.com.
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2010 Pitchfork Festival
Pitchfork announced a partial lineup for their annual Pitchfork Festival held in Chicago’s Union Park July 16-18. Acts include Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem, Raekwon, recently reunited Pavement, and much-buzzed-about Brooklyn electro duo Sleigh Bells.
Ke$ha’s Hollywood Prank
For a brief moment, Hollywood was “Ke$hawood.” Watch Ke$ha and her sidekicks pull off a pretty impressive stunt. Clearly, the guards protecting this American icon don’t think cameras, leopard dresses, and glitter in the middle of the night are grounds for suspicion.
Sade’s New Album
Sade released her sixth studio album Soldier of Love yesterday. This is the first new material Sade has released in over 10 years. Her first single is called “Soldier of Love,” and it’s military-inspired percussion holds true to the album’s title. Listen to it here.
The Apples In Stereo Announce Tour
Indie darlings The Apples in Stereo announced their 2010 tour dates on their MySpace this past week. The band is supporting their upcoming album Travellers in Space and Time. If you haven’t heard of The Apples in Stereo, you might recall their song “Energy” from a 2009 Pepsi advertisement.
