It hasn’t been long since we got a copy of new music by Irish band BELL X1. But ever since the day we put the cd in our players we decided it would be a long time before the record would come out of office rotation.

The funny thing is we’ve heard the band before, but never “heard” the band before. They rose from the ashes of the defunct outfit Juniper (which featured a young Damien Rice) and had their whimsical blend of pop harmonies and quirky gorgeousness catch the ear of the Fox show The O.C. putting their music in the heads of many of us without us even knowing.

Bell X1’s latest album Flock has had tremendous success in Ireland, hitting #1 on their charts. The buzz has been so rewarding they were able to secure a deal with Yep Roc here in the states. The album will hit shelves on February 19th but the buzz has already started with the band playing a few US dates and even making an appearence on Late Night With Conan O’Brien.

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MP3: Bell X1 :: “Rocky Took A Lover”

You can catch the band performing live on XM Satellite Rado’s XMU Channel this Friday (2/1) at 10pm where they will perform songs live in studio. XMU Program Director Billy Zero told us…

This is the best performance we’ve had in the past year. This band is amazing to see live and definately a band to watch out for in 2008. I just feel drawn to their flame, and their flame is burning bright and it’s only getting brighter.

If you don’t have XM yet, you can listen to the band live for free. XMU is currently offering a free online 14-day trial of their channel. You can sign up for that here and get listening to Bell X1. )

You can also watch the band’s recent performance of “Rocky Took A Lover” live on Conan O’Brien after the jump. (more…)

Not sure if you want to see the new Rambo movie yet? We’ll tell you what you need to know. Now this isn’t one of those instances where we’ll watch it so you don’t have to. We’re telling you to watch the trailer a few times, the one with Drowning Pool’s “Bodies” playing in the background. Then once you are all hyped up singing “Let The Bodies Hit The Floo! Let The Bodies Hit The Floo!” like a ferret on Red Bull, you RUN and see this movie! Frankly, it’s the only way you will ever get the most rewarding experience possible.

A group of us saw the movie last night. We thought you’d benefit from our quick reviews in 100 words or less. But, to quote the kids from Reading Rainbow, “You don’t have to take our word for it.” (more…)

EA/Harmonix’s hit video game Rock Band has stayed true to the plan of new music downloads every week. We’ve seen some great download packs every Tuesday, including Coheed And Cambria, The Hives, Rush, etc. The latest announcement for March’s release schedule kicks the download content to a whole new level of awesome. Xbox 360 Fanboy is reporting that not only is there a Nine Inch Nails-themed three-pack, and a new Metal three pack including Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Metallica (which honestly are awesome but we’ve come to expect from Rock Band and Guitar Hero at this point).

The really shocking thing is that there’s going to be a “Thrash Three Pack” including a song from At The Gates! It’s shocking to see the highly influential, yet relatively obscure Swedish death-metal band get this kind of recognition, especially considering they haven’t released new music in over 10 years. Yes, they’re doing some international reunion shows and some rumored US dates, and Slaughter of the Soul was recently reissued. Still - we doubt anyone saw this coming.

Guess we’ll be rocking out some “Blinded by Fear” soon enough, now who can we find to sing like Tomas Lindberg? Check the full March Rock Band release schedule after the jump. (more…)

Sharon and Sune, you treat us so well. Lust Lust Lust you will soon be upon us. Just a few more weeks. In the meantime, see what happens at the 1:03 mark of this video. Apparently someone took the “candy” reference a bit too far.

We’re posting this image mainly because we love KANYE WEST and his love for things geeky from Daft Punk to Star Wars. The poster for his upcoming tour pretty much hit the geek nail on its proverbial nerd head.

Not dates have been announced yet but that shouldn’t keep you from basking in the poster’s awesomeness.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE have announced via their fan newsletter that they decided on a name for their upcoming album. The band dubbed their follow-up to Plans, Narrow Stairs. Though no street date has been announced the album is due out in 2008.

In an effort to prep for the new album, the band will be playing this year’s Coachella festival on the Saturday of the three day festival.

As we’re all waitng eagerly waiting to hear what the new album will sound like, we can hold things over by listening to the newly released album from DCFC guitarist/songwriter Chris Walla on the band’s old record label, Barsuk.

MURDER BY DEATH have more updates on their upcoming 4th studio album, Red Of Tooth And Claw. We already know the new album will be released on March 4th via Vagrant Records. Now we have some more updates.

1 - The album’s art has been released, peep it now. It has dancing wolves on it making it pretty much the awesomest thing we’ve ever seen.

2 - A new track from the album, “Fuego” has been posted on their myspace page. Go listen…now! Shit’s hotter than a tin roof in the Alabama summer.

3 - You can pre-order Red Of Tooth And Claw on blue vinyl now! Somewhere, off in the darkness of some midwestern ghost town, there’s a skeleton wearing a holster full of guns, shedding a tear for justice.

All these updates are amazing! It’s kinda like the band held a meeting and asked each other, “Hey what are things we can to make Matt’s head explode? Okay, lets do all of them just to be sure our bases are covered.”

MP3: Murder By Death :: “Fuego” via myspace
PRE-ORDER: Red Of Tooth And Claw

It was earlier announced that the striking writers and the networks have agreed to sit down and try to negotiate a deal to get writers off the picket line and back onto television sets. Thanks to Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, American Dad), we’re able to get look into how the negotiations are proceeding.

I don’t know about you but the pitch that the AMPTP gives the writers near the end of the clip seems justifiable. Oh and if you’ll notice Josh Radnor (aka Ted Mosbey from the tv show How I Met Your Mother) seems to be growing a beard in solidarity.

Damn, THE WHIGS are almost too great for words. Their latest album Mission Control has been in pretty steady rotation since we got our grubby hands on an advance copy of it. And after catching them live a few weeks ago at The Knitting Factory we were already declaring their song “Right Hand On My Heart” one of the best of 2008. Others are taking notice to, for they recently made an appearance on Late Show With David Letterman and Letterman, showing his appreciation for the band declared “Great band! Hey Paul…power trio!” Which we know is Letterman-speak for liking the band.

SABOT PRODUCTIONS are having a pre-sale. Since the label is releasing the highly anticipated (at least by us) EP by THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM we thought we would take this time to once again profess our love for the Jersey sons.

The EP was recorded during the band’s downtime in Austin, TX while on tour last year. We’re excited about the fact that we’re getting new music from the band since it will be a while until the new LP and we needed a fix. So pick that thing up, it’s money well spent. Also while there, they have dual 7-inches of the new album on pre-sale as well. That should get all those collecters out there in good spirits.

PRE-ORDER: The Gaslight Anthem :: Senor And The Queen

The 8th Annual Heavy Rotation Records CD Release Concert will take place February 6th at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston Massachusetts. Featuring a new line up of up and coming artists including, The Peasantry, Kevin Ross, Annie Lynch And The Beekeepers, With Engines, Rebel And The Truth, Black Tea, Christopher Barnes, Turkuaz, and Honest Thomas.

Heavy Rotation Records is Berklee College of Music’s student run record label that has been overseen by professor Jeffrey Dorenfeld (former manger for rock group Boston) for the last ten years and has brought you acts such as The Click Five, Saint Vincent, Big D And The Kids Table, Apollo Sunshine and countless others. If you are in the Boston area on February 6th the show starts at 7:30 P.M. and is a bargain at only ten bucks!

Seems the blogoshpere has been talking pretty heavily about Santi White aka SANTOGOLD.

The Brooklyn resident and her blend of indie hip-hop, ska, raggae, and dub burst onto the scene since White split from her previous post-punk/riot grrrrl band, Stiffed. She’s never looked back! The last few months she’s nabbed opening spots for the likes of Bjork in addition to getting comparisons to another woman deep in those musical influences, M.I.A..

In fact, there’s so much bru ha-ha about Santogold that it landed her the chance to record a debut album for Downtown Records, a label so diverse it houses acts like Spank Rock, Cold War Kids, Eagles Of Death Metal, and Gnarls Barkley.

Santogold, spell it one word please, there’s a chance you might catch a bitchslap if you don’t.

MP3: Santogold :: “Creator”

Lyrics to “Creator” can be seen after the jump. (more…)