Album News: Fionn Regan - The Shadow of an Empire

The excellent Fionn Regan releases a new album in 2010, The Shadow of an Empire will come out on February 5th on Universal Records. The album is preceded by the splendid single 'Protection Racket'. The album is a bit more rocky in places than his last record, but I'm not going to give any more away!

Tracklist:
1. Protection Racket
2. Catacombs
3. Coat Hook
4. Genocide matinee
5. Violent Demeanor
6. Lines written in winter
7. House Detective
8. Little Nancy
9. Lord Help My Poor Soul
10. The Shadow of an Empire

Thanks to Peter over at 2uibestow for the heads up on this one.

Watch: Ceol Ar An Imeall preview

Uber-blogger UnaRocks or Una Mullally as she's known to her friends launches her brand new TV show on TG4 on Thursday the 14th of January. It's called Ceol Ar An Imeall (that's Music on the Edge ás Gaeilge). It'll be on at a quarter to twelve p.m. (a terrible time, but we'll all stay up to watch it), and is bound to feature some great acts. The first edition has an interview with Speech Debelle as well as live music from Valerie Francis. I wonder will Debelle have a cupla focal for us!

Album News: Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History

Northern Irish band Two Door Cinema Club will release their debut album Tourist History on March 1st. They'll release lead single 'Undercover Martyn' a few weeks ahead of the album, on February 22nd. The day before that, February 21st, sees them play the Academy in Dublin for the NME Shockwaves Tour with the Maccabees, which should be excellent. Read below for a full list of their Irish dates.

Tracklist:
'Cigarettes In The Theatre'
'Come Back Home'
'Do You Want It All?'
'This Is The Life'
'Something Good Can Work'
'I Can Talk'
'Undercover Martyn'
'What You Know'
'Eat That Up, It's Good For You'
'You're Not Stubborn'

Irish Dates:
21 Feb - Academy, Dublin
22 Feb - Mandela Hall, Belfast
2 Mar - Dolan's, Limerick
4 Mar - Roisin Dubh, Galway
5 Mar - Stiff Kitten, Belfast
6 Mar - Button Factory, Dublin
7 Mar - Sandinos, Derry

Watch 'I Can Talk':

Stream: Vampire Weekend - Contra

You can stream the entire new Vampire Weekend album Contra on their MySpace, complete with auto-tune! It comes out on Friday in Ireland, and Monday/Tuesday everywhere else. (Also, that should've been the album cover)

Tracklist
1. Horchata
2. White Sky
3. Holiday
4. California English
5. Taxi Cab
6. Run
7. Cousins
8. Giving Up the Gun
9. Diplomat’s Son
10. I Think Ur A Contra

Stream:
Full album

Swear I'm Not Paul Comic: 001 - Paranormal Activity

A new year, a brand new feature. I hope you all enjoy it! Click to enlarge.

#1 is called 'Paranormal Activity', expect more in the coming weeks and months.

Live: 30 Seconds to Mars at the O2

Jared Leto's foray into the music industry are doing quite well for themselves, they've had top ten chart success, and will play Dublin's O2 in February.

The show will take place on Friday 26th at 8. Tickets cost €39.20 (including booking fee) and are on sale now.

Check out Thirty Seconds to Mars' single 'The Kill' here:

Download: Tallest Man on Earth - A Field of Birds

'A Field of Birds' is the theme tune for the Yellow Bird Project and is written and performed by the excellent Tallest Man on Earth. There are loads of other great acts involved (like the National, Grizzly Bear, Bloc Party), but here's what YBP had to say about this gorgeous tune:
"We wanted Kristian to create something which would embody the Yellow Bird Project, something which is in any way inspired by YBP - whether that be lyrically, melodically, or thematically... So, in true DIY fashion, we contacted him and we asked nicely... And in true DIY fashion he wrote, and recorded a song - just for us. Two demos later, here we are."

Stream:


Download:
http://soundcloud.com/stayloose/tallest-man-on-earth-a-field-of-birds-yellow-bird-project-theme

More info:
http://www.yellowbirdproject.com/