A new Mouse onboard

Aug. 16, 2006

Modest Mouse have a new band member, and, remarkably, that member is none other than influential Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.  Marr, who was previously involved in the recording of Modest Mouse’s next album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, has now confirmed that he’ll also be touring with the band, effectively making him a Modest Mouse.  MM’s singer Isaac Brock reports that although Marr was “cautious” at first regarding working with the band, they all became closer during their studio time together, and Marr agreed to hit the road as well.  We Were Dead... hits stores this fall, complete, of course, with Marr’s contributions...
 
Also set for release this fall is the solo debut disc from Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., who put together a 10-track set on which he does most of the singing and is backed by bassist Josh Lattanzi and drummer Matt Romano.  Also appearing on the disc are all-star contributions from the likes of fellow Stroke Julian Casablancas, the band’s manager Ryan Gentles, Sean Lennon, the Mooney Suzuki’s, Sammy James Jr., Ben Kweller, and Fountains of Wayne’s Jody Porter.  So far, the disc, dubbed Yours To Keep, will have to be snagged via import as it has no U.S. release date yet, but it will hit the UK on October 9th and can be ordered online shortly thereafter... 
 
Jet are working on their next (and second) album, which will be produced again by Dave Sardy, the same producer who took the reins on Jet’s debut disc, Get Born.  With the first single, “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” following Jet’s same formula of classic guitar-fueled Aussie rock n’ roll, the band’s latest tune will be heard on the radio beginning this week, and the full-length album, titled Shine On, will be in stores on October 3rd.  Jet will also be arriving in the U.S. on September 18th for a couple of weeks of U.S. dates, and will return again in late November for a full North American tour...
 
Even though it’s still summer, hockey fans are likely already thinking about the upcoming hockey season; and videogame-slash-hockey fans are likely looking forward to 2K Sports next release, the NHL 2K7 videogame.  Well, now music fans can look forward to the game, as well, given the soundtrack; twelve bands from the Sub Pop label are throwing pucks... er, songs... out for the tracklisting.  Among those playing... um, participating... are Hot Hot Heat, The Postal Service, Grinder, Mudhoney, Dozer, and Sleater-Kinney;  NHL 2K7 will be released in September on XBox 360, XBox, and PS2, with a PS3 version expected late this year...
 
MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:  This week, be among the first to see the brand new video for the brand new single, “Original Fire,” from the Chris Cornell-fronted supergroup rock band Audioslave - it’s available now at http://music.yahoo.com/premieres.
 
MINI BUZZ:
 
Speaking of the aforementioned Sub Pop Records, the label has announced that they’ve decided to go 100% green, and will be paying the difference themselves between the cost of renewable energy and that of fossil-fuel generated energy; Sub Pop’s mission is to help shift the overall energy mix towards more renewable resources...
Chris Isaak will be spending a good part of the remainder of this year criss-crossing the globe in promotion of his new compilation disc, The Best of Chris Isaak, and also intends to get back into the recording studio to record some new songs when his promo jaunt is complete...
Rapper/actor Mos Def returns to the music side of things next month with his new studio album, Tru3 Magic, which will be in stores on September 19th complete with production from Pharrel Williams and Rich Harrison...
And in October, the latest disc from Portastic will be released; look for Be Still Please, which was recorded in Durham, North Carolina, on October 10th...
Bloc Party have announced the tracks up for possible inclusion on their as-yet-untitled second album; among the tunes set to make the cut are “It Started in an Afternoon,” “Waiting for the 7:18,” and “Uniform”...
Morrissey is set to release “In the Future” as the third single from his eighth and most recent solo album, Ringleader of the Tormentors...
 
And not in the future but now are this week’s new releases... ON CD:  Five For Fighting’s Two Lights... G. Love’s Lemonade... Charlie Sexton and Shannon McNally’s Southside Sessions... Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics... The Panic Channel’s (One)...and Benjamin Orr’s The Lace... ON DVD:  Matchbox Twenty: VH1 Storytellers...  Phish’s Live in Brooklyn... Billy Idol: VH1 Storytellers... and Mountain’s Live in Texas 2005... and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.
 
Questions, comments, rants, raves, suggestions on this column or your fave musician?  Send ‘em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com!