Album News: Dr Dre - Detox

Yes, it's here. Or well, expected. Hip-hop legend Dr. Dre returns with his long-awaited third album, Detox, and could be released late this year. While it's no Chinese Democracy, it's definitely been a while coming.

Nas, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne are expected to make guest appearances, but no word of an Eminem or Snoop guest spot yet. Give it time though. Every hip-hop album needs some Doggfather.

Dr. Dre" told USA Today: I'm just now — over the last couple of months — starting to feel that it's going to be right and it's something I can be proud of, and everybody is going to love it. In a perfect world, I'm shooting for a November or December release."

Here's hoping we hear it before the end of the year. Kanye who?

Live: Holy Fuck at The Academy

As pointed out by Lauren on Entertainment.ie, Canadian experimental rock band Holy Fuck return to Ireland after their Oxegen debut, to play the Academy on October 20th. What the Holy Fuck is an experimental rock band anyway? Were Genesis experimental, was Pete Burns? Well maybe not Pete's music, but definitely his persona. What a freak. But we love him.

Check out Pete at his best here: (Oh, and tickets for Holy Fuck are on sale now priced €17.50)

Download: Lykke Li - 'Im Good I'm Gone' remixes

After her great Irish debut at The Sugar Club with El Perro Del Mar, Swedish indie-pop sensation Lykke Li is set to release her third single (and second from the brilliant Youth Novels), which will be 'Breaking it Up'. The song will be released on August 18th, and is the follow-up to the excellent 'I'm Good I'm Gone'.

And to give you a taste of Lykke Li, here are two remixes of that previous single, by both Black Kids and Metronomy:
'I'm Good I'm Gone' Metronomy Remix
'I'm Good I'm Gone' Black Kids Remix

Stream: The Hold Steady - Live at The Current Studio

As you've probably figured out by now, I cannot get enough of the Hold Steady. Hold Steady albums, Hold Steady lyrics, Hold Steady t-shirts, Hold Steady live, and if I could, I'd have a Hold Steady dressing gown. "Charlemagne's got something in his Hold Steady bathrobe"!

You can listen to them performing on Minnesota Public Radio here:
Songs played were:
'Constructive Summer'
'Sequestered In Memphis'
'Lord, I'm Discouraged'
'Cheyenne Sunrise'

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/07/22/the_hold_steady/

Album News: Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong cancelled

In what is probably the most unexpected album news segment of the year, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong have announced that they are scrapping the release of their debut album.

Music Magazine NME reports that the album "did not represent them as a band now", and as a result they were scrapping it, and instead will record a new record, due for release in 2009.

Now, there is one of two reasons behind this. Either the band/label didn't like the negative feedback it was getting from those journalists who had heard it; or else the fact that it has been sent to some people, will probably leak, and as a result will become one of those "lost classics". I'd pitch with the first, but the second will probably play into the equation too.

Free Fiona Apple!

Stream: Peter Gabriel - 'Down to the Ground'

Two things I love: Pixar and Peter Gabriel.

Yes, I'm a huge Genesis fan. I even like Phil Collins Genesis. Heck, like Patrick Bateman himself I like Phil solo. Bateman, Batman, Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight, this Friday, watch it. It could possibly be the best film you'll ever see. Well, it's getting 9.5 on iMDB so far. Better than the Godfather! That'll probably go down, but it's funny to see.

I expect that film to be great. But having seen Wall-E last night, it'll take a lot of beating. Wall-E is the best film I have seen this year. Maybe best in years. It makes In Bruges look like an episode of Fair City. But I'm not here to talk movies or TV. I just recommend you stay around for the first part of the credits, where they go through the history of painting, with a new Peter Gabriel song to accompany it. This isn't the ending, so don't worry, you won't spoil it on yourself!

Live: Coldplay to play The O2 (Point Depot)

Everybody's favourite marching band uniform wearers (i.e. anyone who's not My Chemical Romance) are the first act to be officially announced for the O2. Yeah it's just called The O2, not The O2 Depot. Sounds weird. Well every time I mention it, I'll still say Point.

Anyhow, they're due to play on the 21st of December, and tickets go on sale this Friday, priced €54.80.

News from Rick O'Shea, great blog. Go and read it. Well after reading mine of course!
http://rickoshea.wordpress.com/2008/07/22/coldplay-play-the-02/