- Killers frontman Brandon Flowers hates emo and, apparently, shaving. But he’s totally down with this whole internet thing: At 5 p.m. EST today, islandrecords.com will unveil a snippet of the Killers’ “When You Were Young,” the first single from their purportedly Springsteen-influenced album, Sam’s Town, which Flowers says will go down as “one of the best albums of the past twenty years.”
- Paul McCartney’s first guitar is up for auction. Dear Jann: If you’re reading, this would look great in the conference room.
- Sufjan Stevens will bring the Illinoize — and other folk-pop majestry — to a theater near you this fall.
- Elton John hasn’t looked truly fabulous since 1978’s Blue Moves tour (or thereabouts). But that won’t stop him from performing with Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Kanye West, Bon Jovi, Black Eyed Peas, Scissor Sisters and more at the September 7 Fashion Rocks Concert at Radio City Music Hall, with proceeds going to Elton’s AIDS foundation.
- Beloved Toronto collective Broken Social Scene will “take an extended break from the road and the studio” following a November U.S. tour.
- Rock & Roll Daily Exclusive: Remember Radish? Dallas-based teenage grungesters? America’s Silverchair? Maybe not. While their frontman, Ben Kweller, has yet to equal even their brief fame, he’s made one excellent record and one pretty good one. His third is due in September; and it’s great. It’s also self-titled, produced by Gil Norton (Pixies) and “brimming with unforgettable melodies and deft craft,” according to this exclusive press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEATO Records is proud to announce the release of Ben Kweller’s third album on September 19, 2006. The album, simply titled “Ben Kweller,” was produced by Gil Norton (Pixies) and is the follow up to 2004’s highly acclaimed “On My Way” and 2002’s indie-rock classic “Sha Sha.” Like these albums, the new one is brimming with unforgettable melodies and deft craft, while it also expresses a deep, open soulfulness that could only come from one so sensitive as Kweller. Unlike the previous albums, however, every note you’ll here on “Ben Kweller” was played by the man himself.With “Ben Kweller,” the 25-year-old native Texan wants to revive the nearly extinct tradition of the lone male rock singer. Harkening back to the days when Springsteen and Petty and Mellencamp were writing iconic American music, Kweller strives to stand tall among the greats, writing Rock ‘n’ Roll music with infectious melodies over a bed of universal themes that longs to endure.From the album’s beginning, “Run,” filled with snare drum, glockenspiel, electric guitar and piano hammering the same descending melody with jubilant tambourines to its hard rock closer, “This is War,” one gets a sense that Kweller is after something classic. Few of his generation have the deep sense of craft and heritage to pull it off with as much success.Kweller and his band will appear on the main stages of both this year’s Lollapalooza Festival in August in Chicago and Austin City Limits Festival in September in Austin, TX.More nationwide tour dates to be announced soon.
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- Portions of Album Content Provided by All Music Guide © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC.
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