Music News

Blur to Reunite for Summer Gig

According to British music rag NME, the original members of Blur - Alex James, Graham Coxon, Dave Rowntree and Damon Albarn will reunite to play a summer gig in Hyde Park on July 3, 2009. The band made no mention of recording a new album and instead focused on the upcoming gigs.

Woo Hoo!...sorry had to do it.

Pearl Jam to Release Anniversary Editions of Debut Album

As Pearl Jam approaches it's 20 year anniversary, the group is preparing to release deluxe reissue editions of their debut album Ten.

The band's website: pearljam.com is currently offering a presale for club members. Among the goodies in the various versions of the reissue include:

- Remaster of original Ten album + remix by producer Brendan O'Brien

- DVD of previously unreleased 1992 Pearl Jam MTV Unplugged performance with 5.1 surround sound audio remix

- LP of the band's 1992 "Drop in the Park" concert

- Replica of Pearl Jam three-song demo cassette with Eddie Vedder's original vocal dubs

- Recreation of Eddie Vedder composition notebook

- Never before seen memorabilia Bonus tracks and more.

Ten Reissue Press Release:

All four editions will be available for purchase on March 24, 2009. The reissue of Ten serves as the launch of a planned two-year catalogue re-release campaign leading up to the band's 20th anniversary in 2011.

Each Ten package will include two versions of the album: the remastered version of the original album PLUS an accompanying remixed version done by the band's long-time producer, Brendan O'Brien (Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Audioslave).

"The band loved the original mix of Ten, but were also interested in what it would sound like if I were to deconstruct and remix it," says producer Brendan O'Brien. "The original Ten sound is what millions of people bought, dug and loved, so I was initially hesitant to mess around with that. After years of persistent nudging from the band, I was able to wrap my head around the idea of offering it as a companion piece to the original - giving a fresh take on it, a more direct sound."

TEN Cover RE-DESIGN

Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament, who served as the art director for the original Ten packaging, reprised his role for the reissues collaborating with designer, Andy Fischer, of Cameron Crowe's Vinyl Films (Into the Wild soundtrack LP, Vanilla Sky soundtrack LP, Harold and Maude anniversary edition soundtrack LP).

"The goal was to assemble the ultimate fan-piece," explains Fischer. "Something Pearl Jam lovers could pore over as they experience an indelible record all over again, in an entirely new way."
"The original concept was about really being together as a group and entering into the world of music as a true band...a sort of all-for-one deal," says Jeff Ament. "There were some elements of the original Ten artwork that didn't turn out the way we had hoped, due to time constraints. With this reissue, we've been able to take our time and invest resources into making the design the way we had originally intended."

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Announce Tour

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit announce their first tour in support of their new self-titled album (Release date: February 17, 2009 on Lightning Rod Records). Presented by Paste Magazine, the tour will begin in Birmingham, AL on February 12 and continue through the band's mid-March SXSW showcase in Austin, TX. Benji Hughes, Deer Tick, and Sons of Roswell will support select dates.

You can pre-order tix until Dec 19th here.

Tour Dates:
Feb 12 - Birmingham, AL Workplay
Feb 14 - Florence, AL Shoals Theater
Feb 17 - Athens, GA Georgia Theater
Feb 18 - Atlanta, GA The Earl
Feb 20 - Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theater
Feb 22 - Harrisonburg, VA The Pub
Feb 24 - Boston, MA - TT the Bears
Feb 26 - New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Feb 27 - Philadelphia, PA World Cafe' Live
Feb 28 - Pittsburgh, PA Club Cafe
Mar 1 - Washington DC 9:30 Club
Mar -2 - Cleveland, OH Beachl and Ballroom
Mar 4 - Toronto, ONT Horseshow Tavern
Mar 5 - Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place
Mar 6 - Columbus, OH The Rumba Cafe'
Mar 7 - Cincinnati, OH Southgate House
Mar 8 - Asheville, NC Orange Peel
Mar 13 - Louisville, KY Headliner's
Mar 14 - Nashville, TN The Mercy Lounge
Mar 18 - 22 Austin, TX, SWSW