Bloc Party Release Date
Originally released in October 2008, Bloc Party’s highly successful third album, Intimacy, is being released as a remix album on 11th May. Contributers include Armand Van Helden, Mogwai, Filthy Dukes, Phones RIP and Phase One.
Armand Van Helden’s remix of ‘Signs’ was released this week as the first single off the album.
Bloc Party have achieve major chart success and critical acclaim with their alternative rock/dance sound. Both music and broadsheet press have given them rave reviews and this new remix album is hotly anticipated to follow the same success of the remix of their last album, A Weekend in the City.
Intimacy Remixed will be released in the UK on CD and LP through Polydor on 11th May.
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New York Dolls Release Date
Produced by Todd Rundgren, Coz I Sez So is the influential glam rock band, New York Dolls 4th studio album released on Atco Records. It’s also the second album since the band reformed in 2004. Their reunion plans were sadly put on hold when bassist, Arthur Kane died of leukaemia in July 2004. The two surviving members, Sylvain Sylvain and David Johansen would a year later announce a new album and tour and the band fully reformed with new members Steve Conte, Sami Yaffa, Brian Delaney and Brian Koonin.
The album features 11 new songs and a new version of “Trash”, which was on the band’s 1973 eponymous debut album. Lead singer, David Johansen said:
“It was amazing working with Todd again, and I think we were able to evoke the special sound of our first album and drag it by the hair into the present.”
Coz I Sez So is released on Etco Records on 4th May.
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Eurovision Release Date
A fully packed double disc of all the chosen contenders for this years Eurovision Song Contest, including the UK’s Jade Ewen with It’s My Time, is released this month. This will be the 54th Eurovision and will take place in Moscow at the Indoor Olympic Arena. 42 contestants are set to take part and there will be two semi finals on the 12th and 14th of May followed by the grand final on the 16th May.
Voting procedures will change this year back to the national jury running alongside the usual tele-voting. Slovakia has announced it will return to the contest while San Marino has pulled out due to economic difficulties.
Graham Norton has succeeded Terry Wogan as the UK commentator for the event since Terry stepped down last year after 35 years in the role.
The Eurovision compilation is released through EMI on 11th May.
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British Sea Power
Brighton-based indie band, British Sea Power, release their 4th studio album on Rough Trade Records next month. The album is in fact a new soundtrack for the 1934 film Man Of Aran which is being re-released on DVD along with the British Sea Power soundtrack.
The release was preceded by the band performing the soundtrack at the BFI Southbank on 23rd April.
“It’s a wonderful film,” says guitarist Noble. “It’s a great look, like a 1930s Irish version of Jack White or Kraftwerk. It’s a film that’s also relevant to the current era – a time when the idea of living a simpler life is in the air. The film shows something I’d like to think I could do, but know I never will.”
The Man of Aran soundtrack will be available on CD and LP on 18th May.
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Spinal Tap Release Date
Spoof rock band, Spinal Tap have announced their One Night Only World Tour, this coming June at Wembley arena, supported by spoof folk band, A Mighty Wind. The “tour” coincides with the 25th anniversary of their “mockumentary” movie, “This is Spinal Tap”
Spinal Tap’s lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel commented: “If we’re going to do a World tour on only one night, at least it’s this world.”
Bassist Derek Smalls added: “One night is not enough, and it’s way too much”.
To accompany the tour, the band are releasing the luxury digi-pack, Back From The Dead, a new album made up of reworkings of classic Spinal Tap tunes and new songs along with a DVD of song-by-song analysis and comments from band members Tufnel, St Hubbins and Smalls (Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean.)
Back from the Dead is released on 8th June on Essential Records.
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Go:Audio Release Date
Formerly known as The Vacancy, Go:Audio are a British 4-piece pop rock band based in London. Their music is described as “anthemic pop-punk” but with an electronic edge. Influences from the Killers and Fallout Boy can be felt in their music.
In March last year, they released their debut EP, Woodchuck and on the back of the success of this and their second single, Made Up Stories, they release their first album Made Up Stories in May 2009, a few months later than the scheduled January ‘09 release date.
Their latest single, “Drive to the City” was released on CD and digital download on 20th April. Made Up Stories is released through Rubix records on 11th May.
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The Gallows Release Date
Herts hardcore band, The Gallows, release their 2nd studio album, Grey Britain in May 2009 as a follow up to their critically acclaimed debut album, Orchestra of Wolves in 2006, which hit the number one spot in the UK rock chart.
The Gallows were originally signed to Epitaph records in the US but now have signed to major label Warners for a reported £1 million.
The album will be released in two formats, standard CD and limited edition CD with bonus DVD, featuring 6 videos fitting together to form a short film which documents the bands views on life in Britain today as they see it (it’s no picnic, hence the certificate 18 rating).
Lead singer, Frank Carter, told NME recently: ”Grey Britain is all about what’s going on socially, politically and economically in the UK and how it affects us.”
Grey Britain is released on 4th May through Warners.
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The Horrors Release Date
British indie/garage band, The Horrors release their follow up to the 2007 debut album, Strange House, on 4th May. Primary Colours includes the single “Sea Within a Sea” and the music has progressed into a more fully rounded sound from the last album and won the critics over with it’s lusty, brooding and heartfelt songs.
The band have also cut their teeth on an extensive number of tours and live appearances and have also had exposure on TV in BBC comedy “The Mighty Boosh”, appearing as fictional band, “The Black Tubes”.
The Horrors tour throughout the UK in May and June including Glasgow, Brighton, Leeds and London. Primary Colours is released on XL Recordings on 4th May.
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Isis Release Date
Wavering Radiant is Isis’ fifth studio album following on from their 2006 release, The Absence of Truth. Described as avant-garde, post or progressive metal, Isis are one of the most revered and influential heavy metal bands today with their innovative and pioneering experimentation into heavy rock music, they in turn have been influenced by artists such as The Swans, Neurosis, The Melvins and Godflesh.
This album has been critically acclaimed as their most accessible yet, with more form and structure than in previous releases. The band also invited Adam Jones of Tool to guest guitar on two of the tracks. Wavering Radiant has already been released on limited edition vinyl and will be available on CD on 4th May.
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Jade In The Beginning Release Date
5/5/09 sees the release date for ‘Jade In The Beginning’ in paperback. This book as it says in the title is a look back at Jade Goody’s life. We first met Jade in the 2002 Big Brother house where she famously came across as a likeable if somewhat intellectually challenged character.
Jade revisits her early years of growing up in Bermondsey where she looked after her mother (who has a disability) from very early in her life. Her father wasn’t around to help the young Jade as he was enjoying life at Her Majesties pleasure.
She went on to do various other television programs as well as establishing her own beauty salon. Never far away from news headlines, anticipate an amusing read that is full of surprising revelations. This is a book that offers an absorbing insight into Jade Goody’s amazingly complex life. Jade sadly passed away in early 2009 so ‘Jade In The Beginning’ is a posthumous paperback book release which will be available on 5/5/09.
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