Beautiful French actress/musician Charlotte Gainsbourg is probably most familiar to American audiences by way of Michel Gondry’s film “The Science of Sleep,” in which she played the female lead. Muisc nerds, film buffs, and all of France, however, knows her as the daughter of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. So far, she’s only released two albums in her entire career and they’ve each contained the pop goodness that her father always brought to the table. Having previously worked with Jarvis Cocker and Nigel Godrich, Gainsbourg isn’t done collaborating with qualified musicians as it’s been confirmed that Beck wrote all of the new record’s music, some of the lyrics, and produced and mixed the tracks. Hm, Charlotte’s voice and Beck’s musicianship together? Sign me up.
Daughter of legendary French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, Charlotte Gainsbourg worked with Air, Jarvis Cocker and The Divine Comedy in the making of her debut album 5:55, and she hasn’t scaled down the contributor notoriety for her forthcoming follow-up LP. On KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, Beck revealed that he’s currently working on Gainsbourg’s second album in Los Angeles and Paris.
“I was supposed to work on her last album, but I couldn’t get over there,” Beck said. “Now I’m working on her follow-up record.”
The album, entitled IRM (French for MRI), is set for a January release.
Beloved singer, songwriter, and producer Ellie Greenwich has died at the age of 68. With her husband and musical partner Jeff Barry, Greenwich composed hits for the Ronettes, the Shangri-Las, Tommy James & the Shondells, and Manfred Mann.
In 1962, she was discovered by songwriter-producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in the historic Brill Building when they heard her playing piano in a waiting room. Greenwich began writing hits with others and was often used as a session singer. Later on, when she met Barry, her career took off as the team composed such classics as the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and Manfred Mann’s “Doo Wah Diddy Diddy.” Unfortunately, their marriage ended, but they continued to work together through 1966 after they discovered Neil Diamond and helped launch his career.
In 1986, the popular Broadway show Leader of the Pack , which focused on her life and music, opened at Bottom Line. Greenwich even appeared as herself in Act Two. The musical continues to experience revivals.
She seemed like a great woman. I’m familiar with so many of her songs yet never knew she wrote them. Samples of her work are available below for your listening pleasure.
It’s been a while since we’ve heard any significant news about legendary rock band the Who. In 2006, the group released Endless Wire, their first studio album in 23 years, to generally mediocre reviews. Since then, Townshend and Daltrey received Kennedy Center Honors at the 31st annual awards ceremony in December of last year. As Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan continue to release albums as they get on in years, Pete Townshend has decided to throw his hat in yet again.
“I am writing a new musical,” Townshend blogged. “Floss is an ambitious new project for me, in the style of Tommy and Quadrophenia. In this case the songs are interspersed with surround-sound ‘soundscapes’ featuring complex sound effects and musical montages.”
Townshend said the album is designed as an outdoor “son et lumière piece”, to be debuted in 2011. He is in talks with producers in New York but hopes to release some of the musical’s more “conventional” songs on a new Who album next year.
I’ve seen the Who twice in my lifetime. Both concerts took place at the Hollywood Bowl and were around 2003 and 2007 — I can’t remember exactly. Regardless, they were solid both times and really seemed to be enjoying themselves. The first time I saw them, John Entwhistle was still alive and was still a master bassist. The second time, Entwhistle had just died, but the band decided to continue the tour in his honor. Nevertheless, Townshend and Daltrey were energetic and engaging in each performance. While I forgot about Endless Wire after a few listens, the Who remains one of the few bands from the 60s I wouldn’t mind putting out a new album. I’ll give whatever music Townshend records a chance.
By now, everyone has heard of Spke Jonez’s upcoming film, Where the Wild Things Are. The movie, which comes out October 18th, was adapted from Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book. Anyway, Karen O (of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s fame) has assembled a group of musicians, dubbed “The Kids” to help her compose the soundtrack. Taken from the soundtrack’s Myspace,
these include Tristan Bechet (Services), Tom Biller (co-producer with Karen O and member of Afternoons), Bradford Cox (Deerhunter), Brian Chase (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs), Aaron Hemphill (Liars), Greg Kurstin (The Bird and the Bee), Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes), Oscar Michel (Gris Gris), Imaad Wasif (New Folk Implosion, Alaska), Nick Zinner, (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and an untrained children’s choir.
I’m most interested in that children’s choir. I think it will add the perfect touch to the innocence and wonder showcased in the book. Be sure to check out that Myspace to hear the first single, “All Is Love.” The album will officially hit stores on September 29th.
Click below to see footage from some Karen O performances.
Kiss is bringing their “Alive 35” world tour to the United States to wrap up the lengthy expedition. The tour began in March of last year, spanning Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South America, and parts of Canada. Now, Kiss will be returning to home, kicking off the American leg at the Cobo Arena, where they recorded their successful Alive! album some 35 years ago.
This incredible show will feature a new stage set, pyro effects that only the “hottest band in the world” could deliver, and all-new costumes. Fans will be treated to a two-and-a-half-hour set of some of rock’s greatest hits, including “Rock and Roll All Nite”, “I Was Made for Lovin’ You”, “Detroit Rock City”, “God Gave Rock & Roll to You” and “Shout It Out Loud”, as well as songs from the band’s new album “Sonic Boom”. BUCKCHERRY will be main support on all of the KISS Alive 35 North American dates.
Said Gene Simmons, “For 35 years, KISS raised the bar for what a rock concert should really be. This year is no different — all new, all killer… all KISS! The master’s class in rock is in session! KISS rules. Oh yeah!”
“Bigger IS better!” said Paul Stanley. “‘Sonic Boom’ is our future and KISS ‘Alive!’ is our proud past. On this tour you get KISS ‘Alive!’ plus a slew of other classics and soon to be classics. New stage, new battle gear and a pyro arsenal that will again show everyone that there is only one KISS!”
So far, the tour has played to over 2 million fans, making it the largest attended Kiss tour since the Reunion tour in 1996.
Check out the tour dates and some concert footage after the jump.
Sep. 25 – Detroit, MI – Cobo Arena
Sep. 26 – Detroit, MI – Cobo Arena
Sep. 28 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena
Sep. 29 – London, ONT – John Labatt Centre
Oct. 01 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Oct. 02 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre
Oct. 03 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
Oct. 05 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Oct. 09 – Uniondale, NY – Nassau Coliseum
Oct. 10 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Oct. 12 – Philadelphia, PA – Wachovia Center
Oct. 13 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center
Oct. 16 – Hampton, VA – Hampton Coliseum
Oct. 17 – Greenville, SC – Bi-Lo Center
Oct. 19 – Pensacola, FL – Civic Center
Oct. 21 – Tampa, FL – St Pete Times Forum
Oct. 22 – Sunrise, FL – Bankatlantic Center
Oct. 24 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC
Oct. 26 – Atlanta, GA – Phillips Arena
Oct. 28 – Nashville, TN – Sommet Center
Oct. 29 – Little Rock, AR – Verizon Arena
Nov. 06 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Nov. 07 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
Nov. 09 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre
Nov. 10 – Saskatoon, SK – Credit Union Centre
Nov. 12 – Calgary, AB – Pengrowth Saddledome
Nov. 14 – Vancouver, BC – GM Place
Nov. 15 – Seattle, WA – Keyarena
Nov. 17 – Portland, OR – Rose Garden
Nov. 20 – Sacramento, CA – Arco Arena
Nov. 21 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Nov. 24 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
Nov. 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
Nov. 27 – San Diego, CA – Sports Arena
Nov. 28 – Las Vegas, NV – [To Be Determined]
Dec. 01 – Glendale, AZ – Jobing.Com Arena
Dec. 02 – El Paso, TX – Utep
Dec. 04 – Austin, TX – Frank Erwin Center
Dec. 05 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Dec. 06 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
