Erykah Badu shows her rich mix of influences in one-off London gig

It’s not easy to get to grips with Erykah Badu. Her voice is at times so dramatic and at others comes out like a whisper. Her figure is colorful and inviting but at the same time she seems out of reach. The artwork of her albums mix futuristic references with what could easily be in a new age book cover. Some songs tend to hip hop, some to jazz, and others to 70s R&B, weaving disparate influences together to create a patchwork of sounds. The lyrics have highly personal and political content, and at times both inhabited the same song. And it’s precisely amid this chaos and oddity that resides the wonder of Erykah Badu’s music and her individuality.

Her fifth studio album, the sophisticated New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) is a follow up to New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) and, as such, didn’t bring much surprises or disappointments to those following her career. Possibly in an attempt to stir things up a bit, Erykah Badu shoot a controversial guerilla-style music video for the song Window Seat. In it, she takes her clothes off while walking at the site in Dallas where President Kennedy was assassinated. Badu said the video was a protest against “group think”. She was charged with disorderly conduct and punished by a fine. The promo video circulated everywhere and yes, got people talking and things were a bit more exciting after its release last March. Just like in Old America.

Erykah Badu will play a one-off London gig on July 24.

Two Door Cinema Club: tour dates and a bit of fortune telling

At the end of last year, Two Door Cinema Club was picked by 165 tastemakers in a pool conducted by BBC to find the Sound of 2010. Like in a self-fulfilling prophecy, whereas a prediction is believed to cause itself to become true, the trio from Northern Ireland have indeed turned into one of the sounds of 2010. The electro-pop trio played in a number of major festivals and are still to appear in others, their catchy songs can be heard every other hour on the radio and their ongoing tour includes dates in Japan, Australia, US and Canada along with many gigs in UK and Europe.

The prophecy worked for many acts before – 50 Cent, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, La Roux and Little Boots, to name a few, were also mentioned in previous surveys. On the other hand, a few bands tipped to be the Sound of a certain year didn’t pass the test of time and were forgotten. So which team is Two Door Cinema Club going to join when the hype is gone? Quite possibly, they are here to stay. Firstly, they are signed to Kitsuné Music, a celebrated vanguard French label notorious for taking good care of its signed musicians. Secondly, their music might not be original in the sense that it’s new, but Two Door Cinema Club makes such a clever use of musical references that it sounds refreshing. And last but not least, their performances are light and lively and it seems an easy task for Alex Trimble, Kevin Baird and Sam Halliday to get the crowd moving. Wait and see how it goes. Care for a little dance while we are here?

Two Door Cinema Club UK tour dates: Birmingham on September 15, Northumbria on September 16, Glasgow on September 17, Manchester on September 18, Sheffield on September 20, Leeds on September 21, London Shepherds Bush Empire on September 22 and 23, Oxford on September 24, Brighton on September 25, Stoke on September 27, Cambridge on September 28 and Liverpool on September 29.

The Killers frontman first album, Royksopp release Senior, Bjork and Dirty Projectors together to help the marine conservation

Brandon Flowers, the Killers singer has announced the release of his debut solo album called ‘Flamingo’.
Recorded at The Killers’ studio in Las Vegas, “Flamingo£”, a 10-track album will be released  on September 6 in the UK.
Royksopp’s new album is out on September 13, called “Senior”, the instrumental LP is the counterpart to their 2009 vocal album “Junior”.
Bjork and Dirty Projectors join effort for a forthcoming EP “Mount Wittenberg Orca”, all profits from the release will go to help marine conservation.

Paul Heaton's new album

Paul Heaton, ex Housemartins and Beautiful South will release his third solo album, ‘Acid Country on September 13.

OMD, Arcade Fire, the Faces, U2, Keith Richards

Orchestral Manoeuvre in the Dark, heroes from the 80′s new wave will release a new album the 4th of October. They are on tour this Summer.
Arcade Fire long waiting new album ” The suburbs” is planned for the 2nd of August.
The Faces reshaped for tour will replace frontman and superstar Rod Stewart by Mick “Simply Red” Hucknall.
After cancelling Glastonbury this year, U2 could be back next year to head the festival.
Keith Richards is writing his autobiography with the support of different journalists such as Nick Kent to refresh his memories. It is out in October 2010 and is called “Life”.

Radiohead, Stereophonics, Baby Shambles

Phil Selway, Radiohead drummer has announced the release of his debut solo album “familial” for August 30th including Lisa Germano and Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche.

Stuart Cable, former Stereophonics drummer found dead at his home in South Wales early this morning.

Adam Ficek, the Baby Shambles drummer just announced he left the band to work only on his own project Roses Kings Castles

Drake, Snow Patrol, We are Scientist, Wu-Tang Clan

Drake has just announced that he will record an album with Lil Wayne once he is released from jail, serving a one-year sentence on weapons charges.

Snow Patrol have revealed they will start recording a new album in October and expect the LP to be released by july 2011.

We are Scientist support the England football team for the world cup with “Goal! England” their own World Cup anthem available on free download on www.goalengland.co.uk

The Wu Tang Clan have announced two UK shows at Manchester Academy on August 4th and London O2 Academy Brixton on August 5th. view tickets

Ozzy Osbourne the survivor,Slash attacked on stage, The Vaselines first album after 20 years, The Avalanches second album on its way

Ozzy Osbourne is volunteer to have a genetic test and let Doctors determine how he has been able to survive all his excesses.

While performing “sweet Child O’Mine” on stage in Milan, Slash was attacked by a fan. Despite being knocked down, he got back up immediately and continued his guitar solo.

The Vaselines return with first album in 20 years.

Long-awaited second album from the Avalanches will be ‘finished’ as soon as guest vocals are recorded.

U2 lost money, Beck to play with Tortoise and Thurston Moore, McCartney plays tribute to Jimmy Hendrix, NYPD cancels Drake free gig.

Due to Bono’s back injury, U2 had to cancel their tour and might lose £ 100 million.

For his next record club, Beck has recruited Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and Tortoise. The project is to rework an entire album in a day.
The results will be posted on www.beck.com/RecordClub

This work will be the third part of the project, following the rework of Inxs’s album “kick” with Liars, St Vincent and los Mutantes earlier this year and ‘Songs Of Leonard Cohen’ with MGMT, Wolfmother and Devendra Banhart in 2009.

Sir Paul McCartney closed the Isle Of Wight festival last Sunday with classic tracks from the Beatles but also a tribute to Jimi Hendrix by playing ‘Purple Haze’40 years after Jimmy brilliant performed at the IOW festival, a few weeks before his death.

Last Tuesday, Drake was planned to play a free gig to promote his highly anticipated debut album Thank Me Later but the gig was shut down by the New York police after crowds became too much for authorities to handle.

Radiohead's new album, Depeche Mode musical, Beatles lyric sheet, Beach boys to be reunited next year, Rammstein win appeal.

Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien has revealed that Radiohead’s new album will be released this year and its their best so far.

 
Beatles A day in the Life lyric sheet sells for $ 1.2 m.
A musical featuring Depeche Mode back catalogue is set to open early next year in Malta. Called Playing the Angel it will feature a controversial storyline.
 
Brian Wilson will join surviving bandmates for group’s 50th anniversary,
With the Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary next year. However this news needs to be confirmed by Brian Wilson himself as it came from Mike Love, the Beach Boys’ best salesman, who is playing hundreds of gigs under the Beach Boys name.

Rammstein win appeal to display their latest LP in the german stores,
A Cologne court ruled in favour of the group, reversing a law that effectively banned Liebe ist für alle da from public display, being harmful to young people.