Muse talk about 5th album

Fighting for the status of ‘Biggest Band in the World’, Muse have been touring tirelessly since the release of 'Black Holes and Revelations', but they revealed to NME this week that a follow-up is in the works. “We’ve just started writing songs for the new album, whatever it’s going to be, you know?” stick-man Dominic Howard reported. “It’s going great, we just started. We’re right at the tip at the moment and I think the point is that we’ve been on the road for so long…It’s really about getting back together and getting the ball rolling again and seeing whether it’ll roll.”

In an earlier discussion with NME, singer Matt Bellamy remained elusive about what direction this outing would take. “What will come out of that is impossible to say. It may just be albums, but it may be a stream of singles, or it may just be one 50-minute symphony, do you know what I mean? Who knows?”

Oh god. Can they become even more epic than they already are??
http://www.muse.mu/

Razorlight new album out by end of 2008

Razorlight’s as-yet-untitled third album should be out by the end of 2008, according to the bands drummer Andy Burrows.

Speaking to BBC 6Music, Burrows said that the band were “very busy” recording to album. “It’s really exciting and we’re all incredibly excited,” Burrows added.

Burrows will played a solo show in London last night at Islington’s Union Chapel in London. Members of Razorlight attended the show, as well as feature guest appearances from Tom Smith of Editors and Fyfe Dangerfield from Guillemots.

http://www.razorlight.co.uk/

Sex Pistols announce world tour

The Sex Pistols, director pal Julien Temple, and the folks at Fremantle Entertainment will join forces to bring a little anarchy to your DVD player. June 30th is the date 'There'll Always Be an England', a concert film lifted from several performances the perpetually reunited band put on last November at London's Brixton Academy, makes its way to digital video disc.

In addition to 16 tracks culled from the gigs, 'Always' will include nearly 100 minutes of extra junk, including the Pistols' guide to London, archival footage, interviews, and the like.

Not content with the play-at-home version? Check out the Pistols, alive and in the flesh, as they embark on a fest-heavy tour of Europe and Japan this summer. They also have a lone U.S. date next month. Let's cross our fingers that they hit Australia sometime soon.

http://www.sex-pistols.net/

The Living End set to release 'White Noise'

The Living End are set to release their fifth studio album 'White Noise' on July 5th across Australia.

According to frontman Chris Cheney, "A lot of the songs have a depth and weight to them that people havent neccesarily heard from us before. The songs sound really huge. I wouldn't say heavy metal as such, although there are definatly a bunch of metal licks and influences in there. There's more of a hard rock element, but I think you really need to hear it to understand it properly."

It will be their first album for their new record label Dew Process. The album is being mixed by music industry veteran Brendan O'Brien (AC/DC).

There's a free download of the song 'How Do We Know', which is not the single from the album, but it definitely states the direction of the album.

http://www.thelivingend.com/
http://www.savefile.com/files/1579087

Sigur Ros set to release 'With A Buzz'

Sigur Ros are giving away the track 'Gobbledigook' at their official website.

The song is the first offering from the forthcoming album 'Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust' (English translation: 'With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly'). The album will be released worldwide on June 23rd, or can be purchased on pre-order from June 2nd.

The album, that will become known as "With A Buzz', was produced by Flood and recorded at Sear Sound in New York, Assault, Battery studios and Abbey Road in London and the band's own studio, Alafoss in Reykjavik. Parts were also put down in Havana, Cuba.

It is their first album ever to be recorded outside of Iceland. Composing of one track is in english, one with no lyrics and the rest in icelandic, 'Með suð' contains some of the most joyous music the band has ever recorded.

The tracklisting for Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly) is…

1. Gobbledigook

2. Inní mér syngur vitleysingur

3. Góðan daginn

4. Við spilum endalaust

5. Festival

6. Með suð í eyrum

7. Ára bátur

8. Illgresi

9. Fljótavík

10. Straumnes

11. All alright

http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/

¡Forward, Russia! release sophmore 'Life Processes'

On their sophomore set, 'Life Processes', England-based dancey rockers ¡Forward, Russia! have attempted something they've never done before on a full-length album: they're actually given their songs proper names.

But that's not the only conceptual shift from their debut, 'Give Me a Wall'. In fact, 'Life Processes' is one of those "concept album" deals, with "each song describing a particular facet of life" and moving along according to some kind of linear logic. Produced by Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Isis, Blood Brothers), 'Life Processes' is out now in the UK.

'Life Processes':

01 Welcome to the Moment (The Rest of Your Life)

02 We Are Grey Matter

03 A Prospector Can Dream

04 Spring Is a Condition

05 Don't Reinvent What You Don't Understand

06 Some Buildings

07 Breaking Standing

08 Gravity & Heat

09 Fosbury in Discontent

10 A Shadow Is a Shadow Is a Shadow

11 Spanish Triangles

http://www.forwardrussia.com/

The Faint to tour Australia

The Faint are coming to Australia and the staff at Music Universe are licking their lips.

Having recently split from their longtime label Saddle Creek, the band are set to release their fifth studio album 'Fasciination' on their own imprint called blank.wav.

Critical acclaim for their releases and live shows to date have been overwhelming, with respected music mag Mojo describing the band as; “A riotous mix of nuclear-age paranoia, dubious angst and party flamboyance,” and Rolling Stone stating; “Nothing about The Faint makes any sense and that just makes them better”.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about, be sure to check them out.

Thu 25 Sep – Sydney, The Metro
Fri 26 Sep – Melbourne, Prince of Wales

http://www.thefaint.com/

Death Cab For Cutie tour Australia

Death Cab For Cutie will return to Australia this August in support of their latest album, 'Narrow Stairs'.

Death Cab For Cutie is poised to become one of 2008’s biggest success stories. Unexpectedly, Death Cab's 4th full length album, 'Narrow Stairs', has debuted at #1 on the US Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. For an indie-rock outfit from Seattle, this is no small achievement. Their past albums have generated themselves a cult-indie following and it looks like that could grow exponentially.

Death Cab For Cutie is rolling into your town this August. Tickets go on sale Friday 30 May.

SUNDAY 17 AUGUST – THE PALACE, MELBOURNE
MONDAY 18 AUGUST – ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY
WEDNESDAY 20 AUGUST – METROPOLIS, FREMANTLE
FRIDAY 22 AUGUST – THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE

http://www.deathcabforcutie.com/

The Vines set to release 'Melodia' in July

The Vines will release their 4th album, ''Melodia'', on July 12.

''Melodia'' is the first album for The Vines to be released on their new label Ivy League Records.

The album includes fourteen new songs, including new single, ''He’s A Rocker''.

The Vines will be performing tracks off their new album at Splendour In The Grass.

Below is the full tracklistings for their new album.

1.Get Out
2.Manger
3.A.S III
4.He’s A Rocker
5.Orange Amber
6.Jamola
7.True As The Night
8.Braindead
9.Kara Jayne
10.MerryGoRound
11.Hey
12.A Girl I Knew
13.Scream
14.She Is Gone

www.thevines.com

The Wombats tour Australia

The Wombats make their second trip to Australia this August, playing Splendour In The Grass and their own special headline shows. Supporting their fantastic debut album, ''The Wombats Proudly Present a Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation', The Wombats will play hits like 'Kill The Director', 'Moving to New York' and 'Let's Dance to Joy Division'.

Catch them at a sideshow come August time. Bring a towel, you'll get very sweaty.

SATURDAY 2nd AUGUST - CAPITOL, PERTH

TUESDAY 5th AUGUST - ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY

WEDNESDAY 6th AUGUST - THE HI FI, MELBOURNE

THURSDAY 7th AUGUST - THE GOV, ADELAIDE

TICKETS ON SALE 4th JUNE

www.thewombats.co.uk

The Fratellis tour Australia

The ye old boys from ye Scottish land are about to hit our Australian shores. Yes, The Fratellis are touring around the country come August time.

This is their first trip down under and they will be sure to tear the crowds up with tracks from both their catchy debut album, 'Costello Music' and their new sophomore album, 'Here We Stand'.

THURSDAY JULY 31 – CAPITOL, PERTH

TUESDAY AUGUST 5 – HI FI BAR, MELBOURNE

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6 – METRO THEATRE, SYDNEY

New album Here We Stand out June 7th thru Universal Music Australia

www.thefratellis.com

Lightspeed Champion Australian tour

With Splendour sold out, the sideshows are being announced. Lightspeed Champion fans, he's coming.

Dev Hynes, original frontman of Test Icicles, took the single life in 2007, and became the Lightspeed Champion. His debut album 'Falling Off The Lavender Bridge' is considered a delicate, wide-eyed collection of lo-fi folk. Put simply, 'Falling Off The Lavender Bridge' is just lovely.

Lightspeed Champion will no doubt be a revelation at Splendour, but he’s also the kind of guy intimate sideshows are made for. You’d be foolish to miss that chance.

Tickets go on sale Thursday 5 June.

Wednesday 30 July – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Thursday 31 July – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney

http://www.lightspeedchampion.com/

Cold War Kids tour Australia again

One of Splendour’s hottest acts, California’s Cold War Kids has listened to the fans and announced sideshows.

One of the finest blues-indie-rock bands to come out of recent times, Cold War Kids are back in Australia. They’ve been in hiding recording a second LP, which should take them to an even higher level after their unbelievable debut album, 'Robbers & Cowards'.

Frontman Nathan Willett has a truly unique soul voice, and it’s backed up by some crazy crazy sounds coming from the rest of the band. This will be special live show. Jase Knows Music checked them out last time they were and still can't get them out of his head.

Get swept up by the Cold War Kids at the following dates. Tickets go on sale Wednesday 4 June.

Sunday 3rd August
The Tivoli, Brisbane

Monday 4th August
Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Wednesday 6th August
The Palace, Melbourne

http://www.coldwarkids.com/

Death Cab For Cutie's "Narrow Stairs" goes #1 on Billboard

Death Cab For Cutie have scored their first Number One album on the Billboard chart with the release of ‘Narrow Stairs’.

The record which sold 144,000 copies in its first week of release, is the follow-up to 2005’s ‘Plans’ which reached Number Four and spent 50 weeks on the chart.

'Narrow Stairs' is Death Cab's 7th release and has been considered by Rolling Stone as "a dark, strangely compelling record that trades the group's bright melancholy for something nearer to despair."

First single from the album is 'I Will Possess Your Heart'.

'Narrow Stairs' was released from Atlantic Records on May 12th.

http://www.deathcabforcutie.com/

Coldplay make political 'Violet Hill' video

I know that Music Universe make quite a few mentions of Coldplay, but in what surely has to be one of the funniest clips of the year, Coldplay have unveiled a politically motivated video for their new single ‘Violet Hill’.

The video, which is the second they have released for the song, shows edited clips major political figures, including George Bush and Tony Blair.

In the video, footage of President Bush shows him conducting a military orchestra and dancing with his wife, Laura.

Other politicians in the video include Boris Yeltsin and Saddam Hussein.

The name of demoratic candidate Barack Obama is also shown on a woman’s underwear.

'Violet Hill' is currently at number eight in the UK charts and attracted two million downloads when it was released last month as a free download on the bands website.

Take a look and have a laugh. Oh yeah, hope you enjoy the song too.

Kiedis quits Red Hot Chili Peppers

Well, some RHCP fans may have seen it coming, whilst others thought it would never happen, but nevertheless, Anthony Kiedis has told Rolling Stone magazine that he has quit the band or taken an 'extended break' for at least the next 12 months.

Speaking with Rolling Stone, Kiedis framed the year-long hiatus as a chance to “just live and breathe and eat and learn new things.” He told the magazine that pressure built up following the last Chili Peppers album and world tour.

“We’re disbanded for the moment. We actually took a very long time to make the Stadium Arcadium record, because we wrote a lot of songs and then got way too married to them and decided we need it to be a double album. Which was a great experience, but it took forever. It was really a gruelling, long haul and it followed two other very long hauls, Californication and By The Way.”

Kiedis remarked that he’s caring for his young son and learning surfing, while the other band members dabble in various musical projects.

To be honest with you, Jase Knows Music feels quite comfortable with this story and has no feelings of sadness or happiness. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were an unreal band and they always will be - past, present or future.

http://www.redhotchilipeppers.com/

Vampire Weekend announce Australian tour

Vampire Weekend will take in some Aussie scenary on their Splendour In The Grass appearance with shows in Melbourne and Sydney.

Vampire Weekend's debut album was released earlier this year through Remote Control. Catchy tunes like 'Oxford Comma' and 'A-Punk' will surely go down a treat when played live on stage.

Tickets go on sale June 2 or pre-sale tickets can be purchased from frontiertouring.com from midday May 29.

The 2008 buzz-band will play:

August 4 - Metro, Sydney

August 6 - Prince Of Wales, Melbourne

Support is Little Red.

http://www.vampireweekend.com/

Pete Doherty plays The Libertines in Manchester

Pete Doherty made a triumphant return to the live stage last night.

Jailbird Pete returned to some of his finest songs with the Libertines during a solo show in Manchester.

Doherty’s show at the Academy 1 in Manchester was his first solo date since his release from prison two weeks ago. The somehow, lucky boy got a 'get out of jail early' card given to him and was released from prison a lot sooner than if his name was Joe Blow.

Dressed in his trademark suit and trilby, Doherty wowed crowds with ‘What A Waster’ and ‘Up The Bracket’, as well as a selection of Babyshambles b-sides.

‘Time For Heroes’ and ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ were also aired later on in the performance.

We've said it before, and we'll say it again, welcome back Pete!

www.babyshambles.net

Band of Horses announce Australian tour

One of the sure-to-be-highlights of Splendour In The Grass ’08, South Carolina’s Band Of Horses has announced a mini-Australian tour for Melbourne and Sydney.

Band Of Horses has been compared to the likes of My Morning Jacket, The Flaming Lips and even a very young Neil Young! They are a relatively young band with a bright future. First album 'Everything All The Time' was released in 2006 to very positive reviews. 'Cease to Begin', the band's second album, came out in 2007 and put them on the 'indie bands of the moment' map.

Don’t miss your chance to see Band Of Horses in relatively intimate mode…you may not get another. Tickets to the sideshows go on sale Friday 30 May.

Sunday 3 August – Billboard, Melbourne
Tuesday 5 August – Metro Theatre, Sydney

www.bandofhorses.com

Lars Ulrich says Metallica new album is "nutty-ass"

Metallica drummer, Lars Ulrich, has claimed that the new Metallica album will contain "nutty-ass" material with "more dynamic within the songs".

Speaking at a news conference for the Bonnaroo Festival, Lars Ulrich said that the new album - the somewhat belated follow-up to 2003's 'St Anger' - is a "couple of nips and tucks" away from completion and is on target for its current September release. He said: "We sort of promised ourselves that unlike all the records we made in the '90s, [which] were just completely stressed-out and just nutty, that we were gonna try and have a little more sane environment -- and we've actually, surprising mostly to ourselves, been able to keep to that."

Ulrich also revealed that the band entered the studio with 26 songs which were then cut down to 14 once work had started with producer Rick Rubin. As work progressed, the band further eliminated three songs to a final track listing of eleven tracks though "length issues" may result in yet another cull. Explained Ulrich: "These are long songs ... we're talking seven-minute, eight-minute, nine-minute nutty-ass songs. "We don't make them long or short on purpose; you just kind of do what feels natural. We're not really gonna edit them, (so) we're gonna lose another one at some point in the next month or so and probably end up with ten."

Furthermore, Ulrich told fans to expect an album that's "definitely pretty all over the place. There's a lot of variation, a lot of fast, slow, melodic ... kind of hardcore, nutty super-fast speed stuff. It's a little more like how some of the earlier records were a little more dynamic within the songs."

British fans may even get a taste of the as-yet-untitled album when Metallica headline the Reading and Leeds Festivals over the August Bank Holiday Weekend.

Some of the 'harder, nuttier' kids at Music Universe are sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation.

Arcade Fire working on 'The Box' soundtrack

Richard Kelly, writer/director of the cult movie 'Donnie Darko', is not making the sequel. Instead, he is currently editing his new movie 'The Box' a thriller starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden.

Kelly recently stated in an interview that he and the crew are "starting to work with a very famous band who is honoring us with being the first filmmakers they've ever scored a film with."

Well, despite Kelly not wishing to discuss the name of the band, Music Universe has found out who that band is. Thanks to the website of producer/engineer Markus Dravs, who has worked with Brian Eno, Coldplay, Björk, Depeche Mode, under the heading "currently working on," it says, ".... having finished Coldplay's forthcoming album Viva La Vida - now off to Canada to work with Arcade Fire on a soundtrack for the forth coming Richard Kelly film....."

There you have it folks.

Gee we're good at what we do.

By the way, we're already waiting in the queue to purchase tickets for the movie.

www.arcadefire.com

Dirty Pretty Things set to release 'Romance At Short Notice'

Ex-LIbertine, Carl Barat's new band, Dirty Pretty Things, will release there long awaited new sophmore album, 'Romance At Short Notice', through Vertigo Records on Monday 30th June. The album is the follow-up to the bands Gold selling debut 'Waterloo To Anywhere'. A single, 'Tired Of England' - produced and recorded by Nik Leman, will be released one week earlier on June 23rd.

The full track listing for 'Romance At Short Notice':

Buzzards And Crows
Hippy Son
Plastic Hearts
Tired Of England
Come Closer
Fault Lines
Kicks Or Consumption
Best Face
Truth Begins
Chinese Dogs
The North
Blood On My Shoes

Dirty Pretty Things have so far scored a Top 5 single with 'Bang Bang You’re Dead', a Top 20 single, 'Deadwood', and saw their debut album 'Waterloo To Anywhere' enter the UK charts at Number 3.

Dirty Pretty Things are: Carl Barât – vocals/guitar, Didz Hammond – bass guitar, Anthony Rossomando - guitar and Gary Powell– drums

www.dirtyprettythingsband.com

Gang of Four become gang of two

The original and best-loved line-up of famed post-punk icons Gang of Four reunited in 2005 to great acclaim and success - unfortunately all good things must come to an end. Bassist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham are moving on, although singer Jon King and guitar-player Andy Gill will continue, focusing on writing and recording new music as Gang of Four.

Allen says, "At the beginning of April, I decided that I could no longer continue to be a member of Gang of Four. My ability to give 100% to the band is limited and I feel that if I can't do so, then I shouldn't continue. As I expand my research and thinking about contemporary music distribution on Pampelmoose.com, and as I focus on online technology and social networking at Nemo Design here in Portland, I find myself conflicted about how the band's new music should be released. To retain any credibility for Pampelmoose.com about what the future of music distribution will look like, I have to move on and not hold back Jon and Andy's music plans".

Gang of Four's 'Entertainment!' album from 1979 is undoubtedly one of Bloc Party's most listened too albums.

Get your hands on it, throw it on the stereo and never ever press stop!

www.gangoffour.us

Dave Grohl writes to Metallica

Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl has posted an open letter urging Metallica to make a "kick-ass" album.

Metallica are in the process of finishing off their new collection, the somewhat belated follow-up to 2003's 'St Anger'.

In the letter Grohl, a longtime fan of the trash metal pioneers, declares his love of the band and even admits his fondness of the disappointing 'St Anger' album.

He writes: "Hey, it's Dave! Remember me? Yeah, I'm the guy that's been listening to your band faithfully since 1983. I bought your first album 'Kill 'Em All' from a mail order catalogue called Under The Rainbow, I think. Actually I can't remember. It was 1983 for Christsakes! But that album changed my life and I've been listening to your albums ever since (even 'St Anger'!).

"I can't wait to hear the new shit, and no matter what you guys do I'll always be first one at the shop waiting to hear it. I'm sure you'll come out and blow everybody's fuckin' minds, because you're fuckin' METALLICA!

"Good luck. And don't release it until it's kick-ass.

"Yours, Dave Grohl.

"P.S. Are you finished recording the drums yet?"

Metallica's new and untitled album set for release later in the year.

www.metallica.com

The Last Shadow Puppets to perform at Reading/Leeds festival

Following their recent No1 chart debut with 'The Age Of The Understatement', The Last Shadow Puppets will make their full live debut at the world famous Reading/Leeds Festival in August.

After earlier denying ever playing live as The Last Shadow Puppets, the project of Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner and The Rascals' Miles Kane have yet to confirm any further live shows so these performances will be the first chance for fans to hear the band perform live.

The band will take to the NME / Radio One Stage on Friday 22nd August at Leeds Festival and Sunday 24th August at Reading Festival as co-headliners prior to the previously announced headline set from The Cribs.

Should be sweet!

http://www.ageoftheunderstatement.com/

Email Music Universe!

Oasis new tracks leaked!!

Three songs have leaked onto the interweb in the last 48 hours that, with the distinct nasal stylings of Liam Gallagher’s vocals dripping over them, are thought to be tracks from the new Oasis album.

The three tracks that have popped up on blogs and fan sites all over the UK are titled, 'I Wanna Live A Dream (In My Record Machine)’, 'Nothin’ On Me’ and ‘Stop the Clocks'.

We found a Youtube claiming to be the track 'Nothing On Me', have a listen before it disappears.

Email Music Universe

Martha Wainwright to tour Australia in November

I'll never forget being at Roskilde Festival, Denmark in 2006 and hearing a young scandinavian viking in the crowd yell out "I love you Martha". He spoke on behalf of all of us.........we do love you Martha!

Miss Martha Wainwright has a new album out this week, 'I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too', and she’s set to tour it in Australia in November.

While exact dates have not yet been revealed, the singer-songwriter has left an indelible impression on past visits. Keep in touch with Music Universe for updates on dates of Ms Wainwright's tour.

The album includes two intriguing two covers as well – of Pink Floyd’s 'See Emily Play' and The Eurythmics’s 'Love Is A Stranger'.

You can get your hands on it this Saturday 10 May, through Shock.

http://www.marthawainwright.com/

Sigur Rós announce Australian tour

Set to cause goosebumps at Splendour In The Grass, Sigur Rós has just added headline performances in Melbourne and Sydney.

There are few bands that hail from Iceland and it's hard not to be inspired by this group and at times feel like you've been transported to a nirvana-like state of mind. Last year, the band released 'Heima', a DVD and companion album documenting its free tour of Iceland. It’s quintessentially Sigur Rós.

Better still is the news that a new Sigur Rós album is due in June. Recording at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, the quartet is said to have called on a boy’s choir and a 67-piece orchestra for one track. This has all the ingredients for the most stunning Sigur Rós album and tour yet.

Tickets go on sale Friday 23 May.

Friday 1 August – Festival Hall, Melbourne
Saturday 2 August – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/

Reading/Leeds festival 2008 just got bigger

It's getting a little ridiculous now. This year’s Reading/Leeds festival bill is the best ever with a host of new names to announce and extra special performances.

This year’s Dance stage sees the resurgence of the genre reflected in the bill with a line-up that shows that electronic music and dance in its widest sense - CSS, Digitalism, Simian Mobile Disco, Chromeo, Crystal Castles, Lethal Bizzle, Holy Fuck, The Whip, Robots In Disguise, The Death Set, The Shoes.

The Lock Up Stage returns to the twin sites for another two days of the best punk, hardcore and ska. Always a massively popular stage from the start of the day to the last note, this year sees two very special headliners backed up by a host of great names - Less Than Jake, Pennywise, Goldfinger, The Unseen, H2O, Frank Turner, The Loved Ones, HexesGallows, Alkaline Trio, Thrice, Flogging Molly, MXPX, Cancer Bats, Set Your Goals, The King Blues, Fucked Up, The Gaslight Anthem, Random Hand.

With the Radioe 1 / NME stage already boasting a very special headline from the Manic Street Preachers, a debut headline for The Cribs and The Wombats and a return for Babyshambles, the latest additions point to possible headliners in future years - Jack Penate, One Night Only, The Duke Spirit, Be Your Own Pet, Blood Red Shoes, Make Model, Seasick Steve, The Ting Tings, The Mystery Jets, Santogold, Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong, Kids In Glass Houses, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Music, hadouken!, Lightspeed Champion, Cajun Dance Party, Adam Green, Yeasayer, The Metros.

Yet, still there’s more.

With the Main stage already boasting the massively anticipated return of Rage Against The Machine to their UK spiritual home, Metallica playing their only UK festival dates and The Killers playing their only UK date this year, there are more additions to the biggest and best festival stage in the country - British Sea Power, The Automatic, Alexisonfire.

I'm sure we mentioned earlier that Bloc Party, Tenacious D, Queens of the Stone Age, Editors, The Raconteurs, Serj Tankian, Dizzee Rascal, We Are Scientists, Dirty Pretty Things, Slipknot, Vampire Weekend, MGMT, , Pendulum and The Fratellis were playing too.

http://www.readingfestival.com/

Albert Hammond Jr to release album dos!!

Following his 2007 solo debut 'Yours To Keep', Albert Hammond, Jr. and his merry men return with a new album '¿Cómo Te Llama?' (or "What's Your Name?" in Spanish).

The album is set for an early July release.

The record took 5 weeks to record at Electric Lady Studios and was produced by Albert along with engineer Gus Oberg and drummer Romano.

Also, according to Albert's close colleagues, the shadows of The Kinks, The Clash and Crazy Horse-era Neil Young were cast over Albert's songwriting on the record; "Not so much that the album sounds like any of those bands, its just they gave me a new way to express my songwriting."

With a tour penciled for summer, the band are in exuberant spirits, as Albert reveals; "Our goal is to tour this album every where we can, get into those cracks and fill them up with music!"

www.myspace.com/alberthammondjr

Below is the single '101' from Albert's debut album - 'Yours To Keep'