The Gaslight Anthem are back in the studio. Work has begun on their forth album, and according to reports the new material is “aggressive”.
According to frontman Brian Fallon, the band have set a goal to record 25 demos.
At present, no other details are known.
Gaslight’s last album – ‘American Slang, released in 2010 – was particularly successful in Germany, where it peaked at #8.
Earlier in 2011, Fallon released a debut album with his side project The Horrible Crowes.
Florence + The Machine have announced the name of their forthcoming second album.
‘Ceremonials’ will be released in the UK on October 31st.
According to iTunes, the final tracklisting is as follows:
‘Only If For The Night’
‘Shake It Out’
‘What The Water Gave Me’
‘Never Let Me Go’
‘Breaking Down’
‘Lover To Lover’
‘Seven Devils’
‘Heartlines’
‘Leave My Body’
‘Spectrum’
‘All This And Heaven Too’
‘What The Water Gave Me’
In the spring of 2012, Versailles Records will be releasing an all-star tribute album featuring the works of Ozzy Osbourne.
It is said the album will feature covers of tracks from all eras of Osbourne’s career and include contributions from Steve Vai, Alice Cooper. David Lee Roth and Carlos Santana, as well as current/former members of Whitesnake, Slaughter, Night Ranger and Black Sabbath.
As yet, no final tracklisting has been revealed.
A previous tribute to Ozzy, ‘Bat Head Soup’, was somewhat of a mixed bag, but worth checking out for Lisa Loeb & Dweezil Zappa’s rendition of ‘Goodbye To Romance’.
Jeff Beck to receive the ‘Living Legend’ award at this years ‘Classic Rock Roll of Honour’.
The 67 year old musician – well known for his distinctive guitar style – is said to feel “honoured” with regards to receiving such an award.
He says: “The Classic Rock Roll Of Honour has always been about great music that inspires and excites others. To be named as a ‘Living Legend’ amongst so many fantastic musicians is an honor. Rock music continues to evolve and it’s great how established acts inspire the upcoming bands and vice versa, producing more and more great music. I am proud to be a small part of this.”
Previous recipients of the ‘Living Legend’ award are Lemmy, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Jimmy Page and Iggy Pop.
The ceremony will be hosted by Kiss man Gene Simmons and take place at The Roundhouse in London on November 9th.
Kurt Shanks is a singer-songwriter from Auckland, New Zealand. He was previously the bassist with the band Stellar*. His debut solo EP ‘Seven Flights Up’ isn’t a release that’s easy to pigeonhole since its five numbers cross different musical boundaries, but the core of his sound is most often rooted in alternative rock. If you’ve been looking for someone with a bit of edge, look no further, since Kurt’s debut EP has moments of sheer brilliance.
The EP’s title cut isn’t far short of being absolutely immense. The drum sound is big, which alone grabs the attention. The drums collide with muted guitar strings played in a seventies cop show style and then – BANG! – the bass kicks in…and its rolling nature has the potential to crush everything in its path. Occasionally the guitars break into shimmering chords and a little organ fills out the sound, but most of the presence comes from the dominant rhythm section. Shanks’s vocal is a little breathy, but somehow he maintains a presence within the barrage of sounds. These elements would have made a great arrangement alone, but Shanks tops everything off with a semi-aggressive guitar solo full of wah-wah and blues rock tendencies. In just under four minutes, ‘Seven Flights Up’ rewrites the book on how to make an impression.
Unsurprisingly, a couple of the following numbers veer rather more towards the ordinary, but are still good in their own way. ‘We Shall Have Another Day’ is musically much safer, but on the plus side, comes with a bigger hook. It’s a decent piece of jangly pop/rock, where Shanks blends tuneful electric guitar work with mandolin, with the end result sounding very radio friendly. ‘Where Would You Go’ has a more 80s feel with its use of synths and muted chords, while Shanks’s softer vocal has a hint of Karl Wallinger and World Party. While a world away from the opening track of this EP, it’s still very strong. These two numbers are the ones which showcase “Kurt Shanks the songwriter” as opposed to “Kurt Shanks the musician and arranger”, and since they demonstrate a different side of his talent, they still have a very welcome place here.
‘Shoot To Kill’ is a little unexpected, casting Shanks in the role of a trashy rocker. Here, he spouts anti-religious lyrics against a rousing arrangement which pulls together the best elements of The Replacements, Coyote Shivers and a pinch of glam (in a Beat Angels/Ryan Roxie style). His band is tight, with a heavy focus on the guitars, pulling together a hefty twang and crashy chords. Disposable it may be, but it’s hugely enjoyable, especially with Lani Purkis’s shouty backing vocal. For trashy rock, this scores very highly indeed. The EP finishes of with a short acoustic tune which mixes acoustic guitars and mandolin, over which Shanks’s voice is deep and soft. It’s a number which sells itself a little short, since it ends just as you think it’s going for a chorus or climax of some sort. It’s the EP’s filler, but it winds things up nicely.
In approximately fifteen minutes, Shanks demonstrates a variety of styles, and while it’s his more aggressive tones which prove to be the most thrilling, he pulls off each style with relative ease. While a bit of a mixed bag stylistically, everything on this EP is well played and really well produced, making ‘Seven Flights Up’ a fantastic release overall.
August 2011