Blondie ?Panics? On Brand New Album

June 19, 2011

Newly revived new wavers Blondie will be releasing their latest album, dubbed Panic of Girls, this upcoming fall, complete with two cover tracks and surrealistic cover art (by Dutch artist Chris Berens.) The set was recorded in New York’s Woodstock region, and includes a number of experimental elements, from vocals in Spanish and French to those aforementioned cover tunes - Beirut’s “A Sunday Smile” (from their Flying Club Cup album) and an old ‘80s reggae track. The new set will hit stores in September…
‘90s alt-rockers Cracker will be making an unexpected appearance in Northern Michigan at Legs Inn in Cross Village on June 24, performing a special unplugged set that’s sure to highlight several of Cracker’s fan favorite songs, which fans likely hope will include the catchy “Eurotrash Girl” and what was perhaps Cracker’s biggest radio hit, “Low.” While the band has continued to tour and release albums since their heyday in the ‘90s, they’ve spent little time on the charts - but their recent acoustic shows may just spur a new well-deserved interest in the band’s interesting blend of folk, punk, Americana, and psych-pop music…
Gaslight Anthem singer Brian Fallon is working on a debut album from his side project band, The Horrible Crowes, and hopes to release the set, titled Elsie, in the fall. Fallon is currently working on the disc in a recording studio in New Jersey with collaboration from GA’s roadie-slash-fellow-musician Ian Perkins; the pals are fusing a wide range of rock sounds together for the disc, from layered harmonies to keys, electronica beats to traditional-sounding organs…
The Futureheads’ drummer Dave Hyde is working on his own side project too - his band, titled Hyde and Beast, includes, of course, Hyde, along with drummer pal Neil Bassett - both of them are primarily using their voices as the instruments. The pair of beatmakers, who claim The Velvet Underground and ‘60s sounds among their musical influences, have named their debut set Slow Down, and it’s already set to hit stores on August 15, to be preceded by the single “Pictures in the Sky” which will be made available as a free download…
 
MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:
Fancy a jaunt over to Canada? Well, August might be a great time, if you’re a music fan - Calgary’s X-Fest has announced their alterna-rock lineup, which is set to include Weezer, Jane’s Addiction, Social Distortion, rappers House of Pain, and Canadian “locals” The Rural Alberta Advantage, among others; tix are around $80 for the full day’s worth of rockin’ live sets. Get all the info at www.xfestcalgary.com…
 
MINI MODERN BUZZ:
The Killers’ drummer Ronnie Vannucci has completed work on his solo album, Big Talk, and it’s now set to hit stores on July 12…
The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am is working on a solo album of his own, which he’s already titled Black Einstein…
The Kooks third studio set, Junk of the Heart, is in production, too - it’ll serve as the follow-up to their hit 2008 set, Konk, is being produced by Beck collaborator Tony Hoffer, and will hit stores on September 12…
Talking Heads sibling band Tom Tom Club will be celebrating their 30th anniversary as a band by trekking through a quintet of live shows in the UK starting July 14…
Brit singer-songwriting Frank Turner, currently promoting his newbie album England Keep My Bones, will be hitting the U.S. this fall for a series of live shows, including stops in NYC (9/21), Phoenix AZ (10/10), Seattle (10/16), Chicago (10/26), Detroit (10/27 at The Magic Stick), and Toronto (10/28)…
Fleetwood Mac guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Buckingham’s sixth solo set, Seeds We Sow, will hit stores on September 6, and was written, performed, produced and mixed by the musician himself…
 
And hitting stores this week are these new musical releases… Black Veil Brides’ Set the World on Fire… Junior Boys’ It’s All True… Ziggy Marley’s Wild and Free… and The Wonder Years’ Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing… 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