The Red Radio

Doll & The Kicks put their spin on The Police

Doll & The Kicks performed a pretty wicked version of The Police classic Roxanne at a show earlier this year at the Fiddler's Elbow.  We love Doll's vocals here.  Something about the tone reminds us of early Gwen Stefani - the pre-Tragic Kingdom Gwen Stefani.  Doll & The Kicks single Roll Up The Red Carpet is due 1/26.  Watch the video for the track in our post here.

Doll & The Kicks, Roxanne live -

Video: We Are Scientists "Lethal Enforcer" live and acoustic

The Scientists themselves - Chris and Keith - stopped by NME for a little acoustic take on Lethal Enforcer.  Such a great track and it takes on an interesting new life when it is done acoustically. 

Morrissey, the year in review

2009 may be shaping up to be the "year of Moz", but 2008 saw its fair share of Morrissey action.

As many of you who read this site know,  we have a slight Morrissey obsession going on.  With the onslaught of activity this year, we thought it would be interesting to re-cap our Morrissey/Smiths stories from the past twelve months. 

The singles, the Greatest Hits comp, the reissues, Jools Holland, The Sound Of The Smiths, the baby, all of the news on Years Of Refusal and the upcoming 2009 tour -

Morrissey, Blur, Depeche Mode, Trashcan Sinatras and The Specials top our "most anticipated" of '09 list

Morrissey "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" cover art?

Morrissey signs to Lost Highway in the U.S.

Gigwise takes a listen to Morrissey's "Years Of Refusal"

Full Morrissey UK tour announced

Morrissey "Years Of Refusal" track list

Morrissey announces UK tour dates

Morrissey "Years Of Refusal" cover

"The Sound Of The Smiths" out now

"The Sound Of The Smiths" U.S. release date, extra tracks added to the iTunes versions

Morrissey to tour U.S., "Maladjusted" reissue, "Years Of Refusal" release date and more!

Morrissey visits the Janice Long Show on BBC, poses with baby for new album cover?

The Smiths 7” box set details, Morrissey chooses cover

Morrissey hooks up with new management, Southpaw Grammar reissue date set

Morrissey and Marr lend a hand to the upcoming Smiths collection "The Sound Of The Smiths"

Morrissey "Southpaw Grammar" reissue cover art, release date (sort of)

Morrissey displeased with the upcoming "Live At The Hollywood Bowl" DVD

Listen to Morrissey live at the 02 Wireless Festival in London, July 4th

Morrissey surprises fans with "What She Said"

Morrissey names new album, re-releases "Southpaw Grammar"

Morrissey walks (again) in new video for "All You Need Is Me"

Morrissey's "All You Need Is Me" release pushed back

Morrissey releases new 7" album art

Tune in - Morrissey on The Late Late Show, TWICE!

Morrissey "All You Need Is Me" cover art

Random video of the week #5: Morrissey "My Love Life"

Morrissey announces new single- "All You Need Is Me"

Morrissey "Greatest Hits" released on U.S. shores tomorrow

Tune in - The Smiths/Morrissey marathon on Los Angeles radio

Mystery Morrissey release in the works?

Morrissey rocks Jools Holland

Morrissey's latest delivers a random sampling

The Smiths "Peel Sessions"

Morrissey releases "That's How People Grow Up"

Morrissey launches official site 

"Moz Angeles" unite

Holiday download from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have a little holiday gift for us all.  The guys are giving away a free track over on their official site. The holiday download is the fourth in what has become a yearly tradition from the band. 

The gift is a a little tune called A Fine Way To Lose (Drunken Demo), and their site notes -

"If you've seen the band over the course of the past year, whether it be on stage, outside by the tour bus, bus or in a subway tunnel, you've probably heard A Fine Way To Lose."

You need to be a site member to download the track.  Click here to sign up for membership.

Happy Holidays....

Morrissey, Blur, Depeche Mode, Trashcan Sinatras and The Specials top our "most anticipated" of '09 list

2008 is just coming to a close and already there is a ton to look forward to in the new year. 

Below is our list of our most anticipated musical happenings in '09:

Morrissey, Years Of Refusal (February 17th)

We all know half the record already, but the half we don't know has a pretty insane buzz going on right now. Alain Whyte returned to write five of the new tracks with Moz - very promising.  He also helped sculpt the two upcoming b-sides to first single I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris.  Chrissie Hynde returns to guest some vocals on the b-side titled Shame Is The Name.  Fans may remember that Hynde provided some backing vocals on Morrissey's 1991 single My Love Life.  Fingers crossed for this one.

Trashcan Sinatras, In The Music (April 2009)

The new album contains ten tracks including the recently released digital single Oranges And Apples.  Carly Simon worked with the guys and provided them with some backing vocals.  The Japanese release will contain a bonus track.  We wonder if the rumored Trashcan Sintaras reissues of Cake, Weightlifting and A Happy Pocket may finally see the light of day with the new album in the wings?

Depeche Mode, 12th studio album - currently untitled (Spring 2009)

The guys recorded their new album in New York and Santa Barbara. Dave Gahan wrote a portion of the tracks as he did on the band's previous album Playing The Angel.  Long time collaborator Anton Corbjin is working on the art and photography for the package and a video for the first single has already been shot in NYC. 

Blur, the return (live shows, new music?)

Our single best piece of musical news this year?  The coming together of Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree to reform Blur in its original inception.  Not much is on their plate - yet, but we expect a lot more from these guys in the coming months.  Planned for '09 - 2 headlining gigs at Hypde Park in London on July 2nd and 3rd.  

The Specials, 30th Anniversary (tour)

Another pretty stellar reunion in the form of the most important ska band ever.  Sadly, founding member Jerry Dammers has bowed out, but the rest of the original line-up is intact. We are looking forward to seeing Terry Hall back on stage doing the classics.  Can you believe it's been 30 years since the release of Gangsters? 

Morrissey "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" cover art?

Ah, what would a week be without a little Morrissey news to report? 

It looks like the cover for Mozzer's upcoming single I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris has finally hit the net. 

According to Morrissey Solo, the above image is thought to be the official cover. We don't have 100% confirmation on that yet, but it sure looks real to us. 

Interesting... it seems he is going for a bit of a new look here? 

Not sure if this will serve as the CD-single cover or the 7" cover, or both?  Fans may remember the multiple covers for various formats on singles All You Need Is Me and That's How People Grow Up earlier this year. 

The single is due February 9th, details below -

CD version -

I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Because Of My Poor Education

7" version -

I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
Shame Is The Name (guest vocals from Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders)

Odd choice for a kick off single, but we are really looking forward to the b-sides and the album tracks we have not heard. 

Years Of Refusal is due 2/17 here in the states. 

Random video of the week #33 - Laura Veirs "Galaxies"

Galaxies is such a beautiful little song.

The accompanying video is pretty striking as well.  The intricate tiny falling teardrop, the dance sequence with the scuba guy amidst a room full of jars and the forest in the opening really set the mood for another world. 

Come to think of it, Laura Veirs is the perfect addition to a rainy day playlist.  Perfect for this cold and wet day we are having in Los Angeles.

Of Montreal play Letterman

Kevin Barnes managed to keep his cloths on for last night's Of Montreal's performance on The Late Show with David Letterman. 

The band performed An Eluardian Instance with a toned down flavor of their usual stage theatrics and shenanigans.  Lots of bizarre things going on but much more family friendly then usual for the crew, and no horse on stage, imagine that?

Depeche Mode film new video, hint at warm-up shows in Santa Barbara and New York

Depeche Mode hinted at possible warm-up shows for their upcoming 2009 world tour in Santa Barbara and New York today on their official site.  It seems they will be working up some production rehearsals in both cites come early '09.  If they play a Southern California show we are going to freak.  How great would be it to see a nice little Depeche Mode gig in Santa Barbara? 

It seems the guys also just shot the video for the first single from the upcoming album in NYC.  The clip will premiere in the New Year. 

Speaking of NYC, click here to check out a couple new photos of the band recording at the Chung King Studios in New York. 

Video: N.E.R.D. "Sooner Or Later"

Pharrell cleans up in the new video for Sooner Or Later from the Seeing Sounds album -