The Flaming Lips revealed at last

March 29, 2006

The Flaming Lips are the subject of a brand new book titled Staring At Sound: The True Story of Oklahoma’s Fabulous Flaming Lips, as authored by Jim DeRogatis.  DeRogatis, a music critic at the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune, as well as the host of Public Radio’s “Sound Opinions,” tracks the band’s 20-year career to date, from their underground start in 1983 all the way to their platinum record, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, and on to the recording of their latest album, which will hit stores this April - while you’re waiting for the album, you can snag the book, which was published by Doubleday and is in stores now...
 
Remember World Party, and their early-’90s hit “Ship of Fools?”  Well, the sophisticated pop band is back, with a new album headed up by the band’s Karl Wallinger, and hosted on his new record label, Seaview Records.  The new disc will be called Dumbing Up, and will serve as the follow-up to their performance at the SXSW shows - Wallinger will also be re-releasing remastered versions of older World Party albums, including Private Revolution and Goodbye Jumbo.  A summer tour is also being planned, so keep an eye out for the revived World Party coming soon to a stage near you...

 
Muse decamped to the south of France in order to work on their fourth album, recording some tracks at Miraval Studios, following that up with a trip to NYC to work with long-time producer Rich Costey, and then mixing in London.  And singer Matt Bellamy says that he was influenced greatly by recent world events this time around, which affected such songs as “A Soldier’s Poem,” while tunes like “Supermassive Black Hole” were inspired by the band’s visits to dance clubs in New York.  The as-yet-untitled disc is due out in July of this year...
 
And on the way in April is the DVD release of the critically-acclaimed film New York Doll, which interviews all the surviving members of the New York Dolls (the band) as well Chrissie Hynde, The Clash’s Mick Jones, Iggy Pop, and many others who were influenced by the legendary NY glam rock band.  Released to theaters in 2005, the film - directed by Greg Whiteley - was a Grand Jury Prize nominee at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, and was widely praised for its dramatic and accurate portrayal of the band, as well as the emotional content of the movie.  In stores on April 4, the disc can be had for under $20, and extras will include a 20 minute interview with Morrissey, a David Johansen music video of Johansen singing a Mormon hymn, and an interview with the director; find out more at www.newyorkdollmovie.com...
 
MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:  Want to check out some new music?  What better place than the SXSW Music Conference?  Couldn’t make it to Texas for the big event?  No problem - just go online to http://2006.sxsw.com/music/showcases and click the text link that says “get going!” - and you’ll be able to take your pick from loads of free downloads from any SXSW showcasing band with a little golden cassette next to their band name...
 
MINI BUZZ:
Singer Damian Kulash of Chicago indie-pop band OK Go was arrested last weekend for the, er, horrible crime of loitering outside the venue his band was playing at in Florida to talk to some fans who’d been waiting to see OK Go after the show...
After 15 years off the road, ‘80s electro-pop icon Thomas Dolby is getting back on the road for an 8-week U.S. tour kicking off on April 12 in Anaheim, California - other stops will include Pittsburgh PA (5/11), Royal Oak, Michigan (5/13), and Chicago (5/15 and 5/16)...
Hoobastank have moved the release date for their new album, Every Man for Himself, from April 18 to May 16...
Sheryl Crow and the Dave Matthews Band will team up for a July 7-8 live show at Boston’s historic Fenway Park...
Scottish indie-rockers Mogwai, whose new album, Mr. Beast, just hit stores earlier this month, have now booked 20 North American live dates beginning on May 2...
And congrats going out this week to Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo, who has become engaged to Kyoko Ito - the duo will reportedly marry in the summer after Cuomo graduates from Harvard University...
 
New ON CD:  Ambulance LTD’s New English EP... The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Show Your Bones... the re-release of Sonic Youth’s original Sonic Youth EP... Grand National’s Kicking the National Habit... The Pretenders’ Pirate Radio 1979-2005 box set... and The Sounds’ Dying to Say This to You...  ON DVD:  ABBA The Movie... The Corrs: Live in Geneva... Yes’ 9012 Live... and Destiny’s Child - Live in Atlanta... and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.
 
Questions, comments, rants, raves, suggestions about this column or your fave musicians?  Send ‘em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com!