Okay so SPOON wasn’t the only band nominated for this year’s Short-List Music Prize but they had the best album title that could be used for making a snazzy headline like I did.

Nominess come from a large pool of usually independent (spirited if not labeled) artists called, you guessed it, the Long-List. After that, a panel narrows down the list down to determine one winner for the year. This year’s panelists were Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), Ronnie Vannucci (The Killers), Rev. Moose (CMJ), Chris Douridas (KCRW) and the hosts of Hunnypot Internet Radio.

This year, 7 of the 10 finalists are from outside of the United States, making it one of the most diverse showing of a list in a while. Past winners have included Sigur-Ros, N*E*R*D, TV On The Radio, Wilco, M.I.A., and Sufjan Stevens.

The 2007 Nominees for The Short-List

Arcade Fire
Burial
Feist
Justice
LCD Soundsystem
M.I.A.
Spoon
Stars
Wilco
Working For A Nuclear Free City

Yesterday, Pat and I attended a listening party for ATMOSPHERE’s new album, When Life Give You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, due to be released April 22nd. For those who don’t know, Atmosphere is a hip hop group from Minneapolis consisting of Slug (lyricst) and Ant (beats) on Rhymesayers (Brother Ali, MF DOOM, Eyedea & Abilities, Soul Position).

If you’ve been a fan of Atmosphere since their debut almost 9 years ago, it’s because Slug is a raw poet with Ant’s solid beats and production to back it up. You’ve also been a fan because Slug allows his fans into his world/his thoughts and that emotional vulnerability is what draws and attracts you to his lyrics. There is something to be said when you can relate to a type of music because its boundaries are limitless - there are no doors telling you “Not Welcome”, but rather an open room encouraging you to speak your mind, question what’s going on around you, and have confidence it what you believe. (more…)

The Amsterdam trio of VOICST just released the a new album, A Tale Of Two Devils. The band, who’s name translated means “manic energy” are a blend of edgy rock with bubby pop that makes a killer combo of an energetic live show with hooky songs. Check out their new video for the song “Everyday I Work On The Road” now.

So, after much demand, we’ve decided that a Syndicate mailing list is necessary. So guess what? You can subscribe to it and get yourself all the updates going on in the world of The Syndicate that you can muster.

So if you are interested, sign up here. Anyone is free to join, so tell your friends. Send them to any of our three Syndicate sites, www.thesyn.com, www.thesyn.com/blog, or www.synnernation.com and get them in the know.

Spiffy!

THE SYNDICATE helped kick off their tenth year with the addition of MARCUS HENDERSON as the company’s latest management client. Henderson is best known as the lead guitarist for Activision’s smash hit video game franchise Guitar Hero, which recently set an industry record by crossing the $1 billion dollar mark in retail sales in only 26 months.

Henderson has a busy year ahead of him: The instrumentalist will be playing on Bootsy Collins’ forthcoming CD, as well as recording with onetime Guns N’ Roses guitarist, Buckethead. He has a signature Epiphone guitar, “The Apparition,” coming out later this year, and is also endorsing a range of products for other companies including Digitech, Dean Markley, EMG and Krank. In addition, Henderson is a featured instructor on website www.guitarinstructor.com.

“The Syndicate not only care about and understand my career path, but they customize opportunities and events based on my personality and personal goals,” Henderson says. “I’m proud as hell to say I’m a Synner who has saints working with me!”

“Marcus’ passion for music is matched only by his desire to help people love and create music,” Syndicate partner Rev. David Ciancio says.” “We’re ecstatic to have him join Thursday, The End, Shadows Fall and Protest the Hero as a part of the Syndicate’s management roster. His work in the Guitar Hero series has helped to shape a revolution in video gaming and we hope to help him do the same with the rest of his works.”

For publicity and marketing opportunities, contact Rev. David Ciancio.

You can lay your eyes on Marcus’ signature Epiphone guitar, “The Apparition” after the jump. (more…)

TOKYO POLICE CLUB have finally announced their plans for their first LP, and debut release on Saddle Creek Records here in the states and Memphis Industries in the UK. The album will be titled Elephant Shell and will see a street date at late April.

To this date the band has only put out a 16 minute EP, Lessons In Crime and a rip-roaring single, “Your English Is Good” and another EP of B-Sides late last year. The 4-piece has toured nonstop since their first release garnering critical, fan, and even hipster praises. The good news is the “Your English Is Good” single will show up on the new LP so in case you missed it, it’s comiung back around again.

Elephant Shell tracklisting:

1. Centennial
2. In A Cave
3. Graves
4. Juno
5. Tessellate
6. Sixties Remake
7. The Harrowing Adventures Of…
8. Nursery Academy
9. Your English Is Good
10. Listen To The Math
11. The Baskervilles

The band is also launching a pretty massive tour of the US and Canada in support of the album. The dates begin this week and run until through the month of the album’s release. Tourdates can be seen after the jump. (more…)

AP is reporting that actor Heath Ledger has been found dead by his housekeeper around 3:30 this afternoon in his Manhattan apartment. He was then pronounced dead about 20 minutes later from cardiac arrest. Right now authorities are saying drugs were a factor in the 28 year old actor’s death but aren’t sure if it was an overdose or suicide. Pills were found in and around the bed he was discovered in.

The only thing we can wonder is will this effect the new Batman movie since there are scenes that still need to be finished? Does this mean they have to finish it like The Crow where Brendan Lee’s head was put on a stunt double’s body using CGI?

Many of us movie buffs here in the office have been asking this question. Only time will tell. But since the movie is listed in post-production according to imdb there might be minimal overdubbs that need to happen.

Since our favorite fast food heroes, Aqua Teen Hunger Force reside in New Jersey, we should not be surprised their neighbor Carl is a NY Giants fan. So the other day, when the football team clinched the championship putting them in the Super Bowl. Our favorite 2D Jersey-ite had some colorful things to say about the team’s competition the New England Patriots. He also had some colorful things to say about his own team. Carl, it’s rants like this that make us love you.

WE ARE SCIENTISTS have been gearing of for their new album which is said to be delivered upon us John Q Public this March.

Since no one can wait until then, we have been pelted with the new video from the upcoming album. The video is for the song “After Hours” and shows the band (sans drummer) in their usual funny hijinks. So if you like blonde women, jokes, dogs, and We Are Scientists songs, this pretty much could be the best video you’ve ever seen.

VIDEO: We Are Scientists :: “After Hours”

JAGUAR LOVE has just inked a deal with Matador Records. The band features members of two recently defunct post-punk favorites, THE BLOOD BROTHERS and PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES. According to a myspace bulletin the band is almost finished recording their debut, which looks like it will see a June release. You can head over to their myspace page to hear a couple demos now.