October 2nd, 2009

Often when an album crosses my hand, it’s usually a case of one listen and sense is made of it all. ‘The Sky (Or The Underground)’ by Bostonians Mean Creek wasn’t that easy. An amalgamation of genres spanning from New Wave to 60s Americana to Stoner Rock all in the space of 10 tracks.

So what are Mean Creek all about? Spending some time really listening to this wonderful sophomore album I now finally get it.

“Love in technicolour, sprayed out on walls” ? I think Serge has been on the funny fags, but he must be getting hold of the good stuff because these are some of the best lyrics he’s ever written, and the song itself? well, Underdog is arguably their strongest single to date, gloriously boasting the kind of attitude and swagger not heard since Club Foot.

Although U2 is still in the middle of their gigantic 360 Tour that won’t end until the middle of 2010, they are already planning their next album, Songs of Ascent, according to the Edge. The guitarist added: “It’ll come sooner rather than later” as he recently spoke to Rolling Stone.

He continued , “There’s a bunch of amazing pieces that we didn’t finish from the work we did in Fez , and there’s the songs we started with Rick Rubin, some of which are amazing songs that I’d love to get back to at some point.

“The one thing is we’d love to follow this album up sooner rather than later,” Edge added. “I don’t think we’ll have over three years or whatever it was between the last two records.”

Scottish Pop Rock Lord Rod Stewart has made a selection of previously unreleased and exclusive tracks available for preview this weekend.

Although never intended to be shared with the world, the directness and immediacy of the music on THE ROD STEWART SESSIONS 1971-1998 documents an exceptional artist at work over a long period of time, says Zax, the set’s coproducer. “Admirers of particular eras of Rod’s career may be surprised to discover, upon listening to this box, that there is far less difference between the Rod of 1971 and the Rod of 1998-and all the years between them – than they had previously believed.”

The Australian independent labels association AIR responded in anger yesterday as US media giants Myspace launched their Music services prior to having finalised a license with Australia’s leading independent labels and artists.

The AIR claim that “Myspace’s disregard for the value of independent music has been exposed…..” as several of Australia’s best known artists such as Nick Cave, The Temper and Sia are currently not featured on Myspace Music.

When Myspace Music launched in the US last year a vast majority of the world’s indie labels, represented by Merlin, were not on board and signed up.