Search Results for: blur

In Jimmy Eat World’s video for “Sweetness,” the band remains essentially stationary as the world around it changes at a blurring pace. It’s an example of art imitating life, as the band’s self-titled latest album has brought about a change never before experienced in the Mesa, Arizona, quartet’s eight years together: mainstream success. “It’s loosely based on a general journey of what a band goes through as they start and as they progress,” drummer Zach Lind said of the clip. “There’s not really a story line to it. It’s more of a very cool, unique-looking video that will hopefully look… Read more »

No disses, no DJs and no drama – just rock. The Los Angeles band Puddle of Mudd, whose current single “Blurry” is a #1 modern rock hit, tore through an hour-long headlining set of blue-collar rock Thursday night at a sold-out Electric Factory. Puddle of Mudd – Wes Scantlin (vocals and guitar), Paul Phillips (guitar), Doug Ardito (bass) and Greg Upchurchperformed on a stage devoid of props or ornate backdrop. Frontman Scantlin wore everyguy clothes: jeans, T-shirt, windbreaker jacket and a reverse baseball cap. But what the band lacked in show-business dazzle they made up for in verve and intensity.… Read more »

Fresh from his Grammy win for Best Short Form Music Video, Fatboy Slim – a.k.a. Norman Cook – is touring the U.S. looking for samples, prepping for the follow-up to 2000’s Halfway Between the Gutters and the Stars. “I just generally needed the turnover of new source material to work with, and L.A.’s a good place to do it,” Cook says. “I’m just looking for weird noises and little loops. I tend to go on the haircuts on the [album] sleeve. It’s got to be 1970 to 1976. Pre-1970s production wasn’t really too hot, and post-’76 everyone went disco. So… Read more »

Now that their month-long U.S. tour is but a recent memory, animated supergroup Gorillaz are fading into the funny pages for a while, but the individual members will remain active. Vocalist Damon Albarn is releasing an album of West African music and focusing his attention on his longtime outfit Blur, producer Dan the Automator is working on a solo disc as well as producing records by Zack de la Rocha and Peeping Tom, and the remaining Gorillaz will be busying themselves with various other projects. But that doesn’t mean Gorillaz will remain locked up for an extended period of time.… Read more »

Numerous critics and closed-minded fans have been less than kind about cartoon supergroup Gorillaz’s decision to play live shows hidden behind large projector screens displaying comic images of the characters. But the minor agony of journalistic slings and arrows is nothing compared to headaches the band experienced right before the tour launched in Toronto on February 23. “We lost our original bass player on the first day through something slightly dubious that happened 15 years ago,” said vocalist Damon Albarn, who also fronts the band Blur. “Basically, he’s in prison now. But fortunately, at the 11th hour we found a… Read more »

“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Michael Stipe asked the crowd soon after R.E.M. took the stage Thursday night at the venerable venue. “Practice,” the crowd blurted in unison. “Well, we didn’t,” Stipe responded. “So if you hear a bum note or something that doesn’t sound right, I urge you to sing louder in your head.” The tour-shy Athens rockers and granola-pop folkie Jewel were among those on hand for an evening of spirited entertainment at “You Gotta Have Friends: Partners in the Fight Against AIDS,” a benefit for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis. ( from the event.) Judging… Read more »

Cartoon hip-hop/popsters Gorillaz are going on tour, confirming nine North American stops, beginning February 23rd in Toronto, in support of their platinum self-titled debut. Which begs the obvious question, how? “It will definitely involve big movie screens and lights,” says the band’s producer Dan “The Automator” Nakamura. “The musicians will be behind the screens and backlit onto them. Two-dimensional figures have problems when projected because they get distorted – so it’s a matter of making it look good.” Gorillaz – which also features the artwork of Tank Girl creator Jamie Hewlett and the vocals of Blur’s Damon Albern, Cibo Matto’s… Read more »

The members of No Doubt are pleased to announce that fans will have one less week to wait for the arrival of the band’s new Interscope Records album, ROCK STEADY. The collection, which was recorded throughout 2001 with a variety of producers at a number of international locations, is now scheduled to arrive in record stores on December 11, 2001, seven days earlier than first planned. The release date has been pushed up in response to the overwhelming response that’s greeted No Doubt’s new single and video, “Hey Baby,” including an impressive 130 first-week adds on Top-40 stations. The pride… Read more »

The Cranberries make their return to the stage for concerts at radio station Christmas shows in December. The Irish super group were due to visit the continent in October and December in support of their new album, “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee,” but postponed their October schedule due to the uncertainties in the world as a result of the American tragedies. “I was really concerned for my two little children at a very difficult time following the uncertainties arising out of the conflict in Afghanistan. Our guitarist (Noel Hogan) is going through challenging times in his family, and the… Read more »

There is something almost infuriating about the cynicism displayed by the makers of “The Wash,” a mild and lazy comedy designed for quick play-off in urban markets. Pic, which opened Nov. 14 without press previews, is a sloppy and shoddy piece of work, filled with just about every cliche and caricature common to low-budget, low-brow comedies with predominantly African-American casts. Producers obviously felt they didn’t need to provide anything more substantial or original to wring cash from target audience. But spotty box office may prove them wrong. Rapper-actors Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg don’t exactly stretch themselves in lead roles… Read more »