Beastie Boys’ Eighth Studio Album, Hot Sauce, Drops Sept. 15 [Billboard]
Bjork Streams Album of Alternate Live Takes on NPR, Screens Film at SVA Tonight [Tripwire]
Opening Cinematic from “The Beatles: Rock Band” Game Revealed [Rolling Stone]
Black Lips and King Khan & BBQ Show Team Up as Almighty Defenders; Album Out In September [Prefix]
Old Folks Trash Wilco and Praise Yo La Tengo’s “Humpin’ Music” [Pitchfork]
Honey Hush! (And Check Out the Lineup for the Coney Island Rockabilly Festival) [Brooklyn Vegan]
Hey You Record Collectors, Pavement Vinyl Reissue Out Today [Tiny Mix Tapes]
Hey You Digital Collectors, Factory Records Digital Box Set Released on iTunes [Pitchfork]
Who’s The Boss? Ticketmaster or Bruce Springsteen? [Prefix]
Former Wilco Member Jay Bennett Died of Overdose [Rolling Stone]
compiled by Erin Sheehy
Weekly Review
Last week was a moody one for the music world: ex-Wilco member Jay Bennett passed away at the age of 45; eleven attendees of a concert in the capital of Morocco were killed by a fallen fence, bringing the week-long Mawazine music festival to sad close; and though he is expected to be fully recovered in time to start performing again on June 8, Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan underwent a relatively serious surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his bladder. There were some less solemn news stories to be had – Eminem hit the top of the charts, Kanye West authored a book, Lady Gaga graced the cover of Rolling Stone – but nobody seemed to be in a particularly chipper mood. Some major artists staged a rally against the British National Party, Lady Sovereign stormed off the stage in San Fran, and Wavves pretty near did the same in Barcelona.
So, here you go, a little pick-me-up after a less than stellar week.
by Elana Jacobs
Auerbach Stars in “Heartbroken, In Disrepair” [Stereogum]
Beyonce Selling Tickets on the Cheap for Upcoming Tour [NME]
Bennett Family’s Letter to Fans [Spinner]
Courtney Love Being Sued for Spending Like a Rock Star – And Not Paying For It [Prefix]
Depeche Mode Frontman Recovering from Cancer Surgery [SPIN]
Michael Jackson Geography [Prefix]
Previously on Lost to Record Soundtrack for Lost Online [The Tripwire]
Hardcore Canadian Rocker to Become Regular on Fox [Pitchfork]
compiled by Elana Jacobs
May 25, 2009
R.I.P. Jay Bennett
IN THE TUBE
Troubled times for Wilco fans. Their new effort, Wilco (The Album), arrives June 30th on Nonesuch, so that’s exciting. Especially because, after some listening, I really grew to love Sky Blue Sky in all it’s Volkswagon-commercial, adult contemporary glory, and I’m anxious to see what kind of angular redirection Tweedy and Co. attempt next. Sadly though – and very sadly – Jay Bennet, a critical member and creative force of Wilco until his departure after Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, died early Sunday morning. So this we’ll keep brief: in memory of Mr. Bennett and his incredible, if turbulent, tenure with Wilco, here’s a performance of “California Stars” from Austin City Limits in 1999. It’s beautiful and hopeful in it’s way, in Wilco’s way. Rest in peace; the rest is silence, etc. Thank you for the music. It meant, means, a lot.
by Chris Kiehne
