We get our first taste of the new Black Lips album today with "Starting Over," from their forthcoming LP 200 Million Thousand (complete with trippy cover art, which seems to be a growing trend for '09 releases) which hits stores via VICE on February 24. The track, which you can -- no, absolutely should -- grab for free above, is a delightful nugget of flower power with a guitar line reminscent of The Byrds' "Turn Turn Turn" and a fidelity rivaling Bee Thousand-era Guided By Voices. Of course, lead singer Cole Alexander's punkish snarl remains firmly in tact. Okay, now we're officially excited for this album.
This year saw The Gaslight Anthem break through and capture hearts everywhere, ours included, and we're predicting that 2009 will see Fake Problemsappointed the next great important punk band, accomplishing the same feat. (Coincidentally enough, both happen to lead the rejuvenated SideOneDummyroster.) While Gaslight's The '59 Sound wore its Springsteen influences on its sleeve, the Naples, FL band's upcoming It's Great To Be Alive is looser, angrier and less pristine, akin to pre-MTV Against Me! Check out the first single from the album (due February 17) called "The Dream Team" on the band's Myspace. (And quick, pre-order the 7'' of the single while you're at it, with kick-ass artwork courtesy of Sneak Mtn.) We dig it, and think these guys will be everywhere in six months' time. Plus, does anyone think the song's breakdown wouldn't sound out of place on Bat Out Of Hell?... Just us?
While we're busy counting out the title to TheBlack Lips' new album, 200 Million Thousand, you can start counting down the days until it arrives February 24, 2009 via VICE. We're excited to announce the release date of the album, the follow-up LP to last year's wacky Good Bad Not Evil.
The 14 tracks that make up200 Million Thousandshow true early rock and roll at it’s finest: simple, straightforward songwriting mesh perfectly with the Black Lips distinctive howl to create a time capsule rife with nods to simple pleasures and a world of worry.It’s a modern, mature reflection on life and the world traveled.As has come to be expected, 200 Million Thousandwill be followed by ample opportunity to see Black Lips do what they do best – whip a crowd into a pure ball of drunk, unpredictable energy. Having spent the better part of their formative years touring the world, Black Lips have emerged garage rock veterans.
Bruce Springsteen has got a hell of a year coming up in 2009. Already on cloud nine following the victory of his candidate of choice, President-Elect Barack Obama, and gearing up for a halftime performance on the world's biggest stage in Super Bowl 43, the Boss added another item to his agenda: the release of a brand new album. While already rumored for a few weeks, this morning the folks at Columbia made it official: Working on a Dream has been set for release on Jaunary 27 via the label.
Recorded with Brendan O'Brien and the E-Street band on the heels of last year's superb Magic, the twelve-song set features the rousing title track, a song the band has been playing live for the last month at campaign rallies. Says Springsteen: "All the songs were written quickly, we usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end." Consider us stoked. We've got the full track list and live video of "Working On A Dream" after the jump.
"Working on a Dream"
1. Outlaw Pete 2. My Lucky Day 3. Working on a Dream 4. Queen of the Supermarket 5. What Love Can Do 6. This Life 7. Good Eye 8. Tomorrow Never Knows 9. Life Itself 10. Kingdom of Days 11. Surprise, Surprise 12. The Last Carnival
Bonus tracks: The Wrestler A Night with the Jersey Devil
