Search Results for: dream state

Much has already been written about the Shins’ new album, Wincing the Night Away (which comes out Tuesday), including the fact that the majority of the songs were inspired by singer/songwriter James Mercer’s bouts of “crippling insomnia.” Whether or not that’s entirely true is debatable , but what’s more interesting is the fact that, for the first time in almost 15 years of playing together, the Shins have become a band about which much is written. And more pertinently, very little of it is about their career-making shout-out in Zach Braff’s 2004 flick, “Garden State,” or one of their songs… Read more »

Sometimes, being a fish out of water offers a more comprehensive view of the outside world. For the past two years, the Used’s frontman, Bert McCracken, has been living in Los Angeles, and while he hasn’t exactly been enamored with the city of artifice and entertainment, he has found the environment creatively inspiring. “I’ve had a good look at how people think in comparison to almost the whole rest of the world and it’s so ridiculous, it’s given me tons of song ideas,” the Utah native said. “I don’t even feel like a fish out of water here, I feel… Read more »

Following are previews of albums due out within the next few months from debut acts or under-the-radar artists due for a breakthrough. PAOLO NUTINI Scottish singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini, who turns 20 January 9, was one of the most noteworthy breakout artists of 2006 for Atlantic Records in the United Kingdom. After an appearance at South by Southwest in Austin last March, his debut single, “Last Request,” reached No. 5 in July on the British charts and also became a substantial airplay hit. His debut album, “These Streets,” subsequently opened at No. 3 with out-of-the-box sales of 35,000, according to his… Read more »

Ruben Garay, the webmaster of World of Britney (worldofbritney.com) and arguably her biggest devotee, has announced plans to shut down the six-year-old site in the wake of the “Toxic” singer’s recent run of questionable behavior. “As Britney keeps losing her identity and credibility within fans and industry people, so is [World of Britney],” Garay writes. “I believe Britney is unfortunately done (for me at least). No matter what anyone thinks or how they may disagree, it’s very hard to maintain the respect needed to keep things going.” The Web shrine, which bears the motto “Dream, Create, Deliver, Inspire” and has… Read more »

Virgin Records has announced the signing of acclaimed punk-pop outfit the Starting Line via a worldwide deal. The Philadelphia-based quartet will record and release their much-anticipated follow-up to 2005’s smash Drive-Thru/Geffen release, “BASED ON A TRUE STORY” later this year. “I cannot express how excited we all are about this,” says TSL guitarist Matt Watts. “Everyone at Virgin that we’ve met with are fans of the band and we’re looking forward to this relationship and making the best TSL record possible. To have a new life with Virgin adds a fresh level of enthusiasm to our band and to our… Read more »

Burbank, CA – Multi-platinum, Grammy® Award-winning rock group Green Day will embark on a two-month North American tour, kicking off in Chicago on August 10th. The band, with Jimmy Eat World in the support slot, will be playing arenas and stadiums across the continent. Tickets for most of the shows will go on sale May 14th with the exception of Washington, DC, and Minneapolis, MN, which will go on sale May 13th, and Boston, MA, which will go on sale 5/21. East Rutherford, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago are already on sale. Following the footsteps of previous singles “American… Read more »

Temecula, California, emo quintet Finch have been plenty busy since exchanging fisticuffs with bro-rockers Disturbed at last summer’s Rolling Rock Town Fair. The group has finished a new album, Say Hello to Sunshine, and is scheduled to kick off a tour this week. Guitarist Alex Linares said Say Hello to Sunshine – Finch’s first full-length for Geffen and the successor to their 2002 debut, What It Is to Burn – will signal a change in direction for the band. Those expecting What It Is to Burn, Vol. 2 might be in for a bit of a shock on the June… Read more »

The Vans Warped Tour has officially announced the lineup and itinerary for the 11th annual edition of the punk/skating tour. As previously reported by MTV News, the bill for the oldest touring festival in the U.S. will be topped by the Offspring and My Chemical Romance, along with the Transplants, MxPx, All-American Rejects, Dropkick Murphys, Thrice, Atreyu and Senses Fail. The 48-date tour, which kicks off on June 17 at the Germain Amphitheatre in Columbus, Ohio, will snake its way across the country through mid-August, wrapping up on August 14 at the Englishtown Raceway in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Discount… Read more »

Partial list of winners at Sunday’s 47th Annual Grammy Awards: Engineered Album, Classical – “Higdon – City Scape Concerto for Orchestra,” Jack Renner, engineer – Robert Spano. Producer of the Year, Classical – David Frost. Classical Album – “Adams – On the Transmigration of Souls,” Lorin Maazel, conductor John Adams and Lawrence Rock, producers. Orchestral Performance – “Adams – On the Transmigration of Souls,” Lorin Maazel, conductor John Adams and Lawrence Rock, producers. Opera Recording – “Mozart – Le Nozze di Figaro,” Rene Jacobs, conductor Patrizia Ciofi, Veronique Gens, Simon Keenlyside, Angelika Kirchschlager and Lorenzo Regazzo Martin Sauer, producer –… Read more »

“You wouldn’t believe how many idiots think I live in an igloo.” Stephen Kozmeniuk, founder and lead singer of Boy, is talking about the misperceptions he’s had to deal with regarding his hometown. Whitehorse, Yukon, may not be the music capital of the world, but Kozmeniuk is quick to assure outsiders that it’s just your average Canadian burg – Wal-Mart and all. “It’s all the stuff around it that makes it beautiful,” he adds. Few musicians are better qualified to assess the characteristics of the average Canadian town than Kozmeniuk. Not only does he hail from one of the country’s… Read more »