Cut Copy blend up new Zonoscope

Jan. 23, 2011

Cut Copy Blend Up New “Zonoscope”
Cut Copy have put their musical style into something of a blender for their next album - infusing their usual fiesta of electronic equipment, synths, and computers with more organic/acoustic sounds and drumbeats - and they’re now looking at a date later this year for the new set’s release. Dubbed Zonoscope,the first indications of a new direction start with the photo-montage surrealistic album cover, the under-the-radar preview single (“Where I’m Going”) that the band released way back in July of last year, and their new video, “Skies of the Ape.” Pick up Zonoscope on February 8 on Modular Recordings...
A Beatles-themed museum just opened in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the distinction of being the only Beatles exhibition belonging to a private collector. Rodolfo Vazquez, the helmsman of this new venture, actually qualified to join the Guinness Book of World Records in 2001 for his 8,500-item collection of Beatles memorabilia, including clothing, photos, paperwork, and more. The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool, England is likely to stand as one of the few Beatles collections bigger than Vazquez’ own...
The Decemberists’ latest album, The King is Dead, is in-stores this week, with a surprising project perhaps to follow. The Decemberists’ singer Colin Meloy recently told Billboard magazine that he’s been chatting with theater director Michael Mayer (Green Day’s American Idiot Broadway musical) about a potential Decemberists-penned musical, and that’s it’s a definite possibility. Meanwhile, fans can enjoy The King..., which is already garnering critical and popular acclaim...
And for those of you who want to “rock” on your own - and own a Verizon smartphone - you may be able to do just that when the Rock Band game arrives on select 4G smartphones from Verizon later this year. The mobile version of the popular game will include guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, just like the original, with a “Quick Play” mode for phone-friendly casual jam sessions and a “Tour Mode” for longer gaming, plus songs by the likes of the Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, Blondie, Smashing Pumpkins, and AFI. Exclusive Verizon Rock Band “Buddy Lists” will allow players to join on-the-go games and wirelessly search for rockin’ pals...

MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:
Did you get so busy over the holidays that you forgot to check out Gorillaz’ new iPad-recorded album, The Fall? Well, you can still head over to the band’s website at http://thefall.gorillaz.com/ to listen to the stream for free...

MINI MODERN BUZZ:
Icelandic singer Bjork has gathered over 20,000 signatures for a petition set to revoke Canadian Magma Energy’s acquisition agreement of Icelandic energy company HS Orka, and she’s holding events to encourage another 15,000 people to sign in order to “keep Icelandic natural resources owned and governed by the public”...
Cee Lo Green recently spent time with actress/singer Gwyneth Paltrow working in an NYC studio, recording a new version of his hit single, the redubbed “Forget You”...
Kings of Leon recently beat England’s Prince Harry at a game of ping-pong backstage at an O2 Arena concert; KOL’s continuing tour dates will take them to Australia in March...
The Best Art Vinyl Awards has been handed to Klaxons for the artwork on their Surfing the Void album, which features a quirky cat in an astronaut suit...
The Black Angels’ song “Entrance Song” has been snagged for use in a William Rast clothing line, a venture of Justin Timberlake...
And Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij has contributed the musical score for the new Sundance-bound film Sound of My Voice...
Hoping you’ll choose to listen to the sounds of their voices (and instruments, too, of course) are this week’s new CD releases... Amos Lee’s Mission Bell... Gang of Four’s Content... The Ex’s Catch My Shoe... Monotonix’ Not Yet... and Cold War Kids’ Mine is Yours... and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.

Questions, comments, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ‘em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com