MUSIC NEWS: Kanye West VH1 Storytellers Album

Kanye West is set to release his VH1 Storytellers performance on CD format.

The live perfomance recorded last year includes such hits as 'Touch The Sky' and 'Love Lockdown'.

I have heard this CD and it is a must have for any Kanye fan. Not only do the live perfomances sound amazing, but Kanye gives a brief insight into each song and sheds light on the past two years of his life, addressing his break up with Alexis Phifer and the death of his mother, Donda West.

Highlights have to be 'Amazing', 'Flashing Lights' and 'Heartless' which are completely transformed with the accompaniment of a live band.

The album, which comes with a bonus DVD of the televised performance, is due for release February 1.

Catch the tracklisting and live performances of 'Heartless' and 'Flashing Lights' below:

Tracklisting:
CD:
1. See You In My Nightmares
2. RoboCop
3. Flashing Lights
4. Amazing
5. Touch The Sky
6. Say You Will
7. Good Life
8. Heartless/Pinocchio Story
9.Stronger

DVD:
See You In My Nightmares
RoboCop
Flashing Lights
Amazing
Touch The Sky
Say You Will
Good Life
Heartless/Pinocchio Story
Stronger
Bonus Features:
Homecoming
Street Lights
Paranoid
Q&A with Kanye

Festival Rumours 2010

With the festival season only a number of months away, there have been a flux of rumours about which bands will be making appearances.

HaveAGoHero brings you the latest artist news and the bands most likley to be performing at this years festval circuit.

Enjoy!

Kasabian
Besides headlining this year’s T In The Park, Tom Meighan and co are strongly rumoured to be headlining V Festival in August, showcasing their latest album ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’. They are also tipped to headline Oxegen in July.

Eminem

Mr. Mathers remains the likely candidate to headline London’s Wireless festival in July, marking his first British stage appearance in over five years. A festival insider claims, “This is a huge signing for Wireless and it will be the hottest ticket this summer.”

Kings Of Leon
According to festival sources, Kings Of Leon are set to headline V Festival in August, after a year of touring with ‘Only By The Night’. The band has a remix album in the pipeline featuring tracks by Linkin Park, Mark Ronson and Lykke Li.

Muse
The Devon trio are believed to be the unnamed act headlining Glastonbury this year alongside U2. It is rumoured that they are also in discussions to headline T In The Park in July. Renowned for their live gigs, fans can expect to hear tracks from their latest album ‘Resistance’ as well as their extensive earlier material.

Green Day
Already touring in the UK this summer, rumours are rife surrounding the trio’s appearance at this year’s festivals. The band are rumoured to be headlining the Reading and Leeds Festivals and have also been approached by organisers to headline T In The Park alongside Kasabian.

Blink 182
The punk pop trio are touring in Germany in August and are strongly rumoured to be playing the Reading & Leeds Festivals a week later. Blink reformed in 2009 after a four year hiatus.

Radiohead
With no summer tour commitments, Thom Yorke and Co. could well be making festival appearances this summer. The band are strongly rumored to be playing Glastonbury this year.

Coldplay
The uniformed-clad rock band are strongly rumored to be playing the Pyramid Stage at this year’s Glastonbury. Festival-goers can expect to hear new material from the band, who are currently recording their fifth album.

Lady Gaga
The queen of the slightly odd is rumored to be playing Glastonbury in the summer. Gaga fans can look forward to the unusual dancing and array of costumes which accompany her live performances.


Dizzee Rascal
Never one to shy away from festival appearances (or get in a ruck with unruly fans) Dizzee is strongly tipped to be making an appearance at Glastonbury in June. Organiser Emily Eavis recently claimed, “We've gotta have Dizzee, I think that’s a given.”

MGMT
The Brooklyn duo are rumored to be performing at Glastonbury this summer. With cult hits including ‘Time To Pretend’ and ‘Kids’, they should receive a more than welcoming reception at the Somerset event.

The Cribs
The Jarman brothers are tipped to be appearing at Glastonbury this year, where they will be looking to play material from their latest album, ‘Ignore the Ignorant’. Fans can also expect to hear the likes of ‘Men’s Needs’ and ‘Mirror Kissers’.

Florence & The Machine
Following the success of their debut album, ‘Lungs’, there are strong rumours that Florence & The Machine will return to Glastonbury this year to grace crowds with their soil-inspired indie rock.

The Courteeners
There are rumours that the Manchester band may be making appearances at this year’s festivals. With the forth-coming release of new album, ‘Falcon’ and a tour in March, the festivals would serve as the perfect platform for them to showcase their new material.

Hot Chip
The London dance act look set to return to Glastonbury this year after dropping hints on BBC Newsbeat. Fans can expect to hear tracks from their new album, ‘One Life Stand’, released February 1.

The Maccabees
There are strong rumours that the Brighton band are set to play the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August. Fans can expect to hear material from their second album, ‘Wall Of Arms’ as well as earlier tracks including ‘X-Ray’ and ‘First Love’.

Rage Against The Machine
Not only do fans have ‘that gig’ to look forward to, but a festival appearance may also be on the cards. The Christmas No.1 winners are on the hotlist for many festival organisers this year, who are trying to convince them to extend their stay.

MUSIC NEWS: The Ting Tings Unveil Controversial Album Title

The Ting Tings will call their second album `Kunst` which we are told is the German word for 'Art'.

While the title might create a bit of angst at English speaking radio, the band is sticking with the name.

They say it was the name of a massage parlor next to their management office.

Songs from the upcoming album include 'Help’ and 'Hands’, also appropriate titles for the massage parlour theme.

The album is due Spring 2010.

Source: Music-News.com

Coming soon in 2010...

Klaxons
Never ones afraid of pushing boundaries, the Klaxons called in producer Ross Robinson for their second album, whose past clients include Limp Bizkit and Slipknot. Their label Polydor even sent them back into the studio after they deemed some parts of the record ‘too experimental’. The band cite dubstep, dance and folk music as influences of their long anticipated follow-up which they aim to release by June. Jamie Reynolds tells NME “I think it’s gonna blow people’s minds”.

Album due: TBC

Pendulum
The Australians have been working on and off for two years on their follow-up to ‘In Silico’. Having taken their new material on tour, they are judging fan reactions before entering final studio sessions. Their third album (working title: ‘Immersion’) sees a return to their electronic roots and reportedly features a number of collaborations.
The group aims for a May release but producer/vocalist Rob Swire admits, “There’s still a lot of work to do”.

Album due: MayWe Are Scientists
The writing and recording of the indie rockers’ fourth album, ‘Barbra,’ has taken them all over the globe. Keith Murray tells NME, “We could have actually recorded the album in a week, but instead it was stretched over three months”. Former Razorlight drummer, Andy Burrows, lies behind the reason for such a long wait. Keith and Chris were both eager to include Burrows in the new record after he agreed to fill in on the drums.

Album due: TBC

Liam Gallagher
Following the departure of his brother, Liam Gallagher is set to release an album alongside his old Oasis bandmates. Liam claims the album is already half way there and will be out by the summer. “We’re going to get in there, do it quick with no stewing on it… I’m feeling confident about the songs.” The singer/fashion designer reassures us that we can expect the same iconic sound. “It ain’t a new direction. We’re not making reggae music or rap music”.

Album due : Summer 2010

The Courteeners
With ‘Falcon’ due for release on February 23, The Courteeners are putting the finishing touches to their second album. The Manchester quartet revealed some of their of their new material during last summer’s festivals and released the first single from the album, ‘Cross My Heart and Hope To Fly’, as a free download available on their website. “The first album did everything that it needed to do, but it was very much a ‘get in there and get it done’ explains Liam Fray in this week’s NME. “The stage is set for us with this album to really impress and surprise people. I’m just desperate for people to hear it now”.

Album due: 23 February 2010

Lil Wayne
The first Weezy album of 2010, ‘Rebirth’, will feature collaborations with Fall Out Boy, Lenny Kravitz and Eminem among others. He will also reportedly be paying homage to the Beastie Boys. The album, which will be his staggering seventh studio album, is set for release on February 2. On his rock crossover, the New Orleans rappers said, “I wanted to grow as an artist and I wanted to show my growth as well. I wanted people to see my growing pains”. The New Orleans rapper begins a prison sentence on February 9 for gun charges.

Album due: 2 February 2010

Hot Chip
The Putney electro group are due to release their fourth album on February 1. “One Life Stand” sees the band moving out of their bedrooms and into the studio for the first time. “Some demos were recorded at home but we brought everything to the studio”, explains Alexis Taylor. “The record has a bigger sound as a result.”

Album due: 1 February 2010

Amy Winehouse
The Grammy Award winning songstress is set to release her third album after a three year break. Amy performed with The Specials at V Festival last summer, but her record label Island has confirmed that fans can expect a new album this year. Producer Salaam Remi, who also worked on ‘Back To Black’, says the 26-year-old’s new material is sounding “sensational”.

Album due: TBC

Radiohead
Things are looking good in the Radiohead camp. Having started work on their new album last summer, the band has returned to the studio this month. With their eighth release, fans can expect a different record from 2007’s ‘In Rainbows’. "We’ve got to take it to another level”, explains guitarist Ed O’Brien in this week’s NME. “We’ve got the potential to make a really different record which is always what we’re trying to do, and that’s the thing that excites us.”

Album due: TBC

Paul Weller
The Modfather returns with a new solo album due for release in April. Recorded in Weller’s Black Barn studio, ‘Wake Up The Nation’ sees Weller teaming up with My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields. “It didn’t matter at all that our styles are completely different,” explains Weller. “We both bring different things to the party”. Old Jam bassist Bruce Foxton also makes an appearance on the record. Weller concludes, “I want to work with loads more people… the sky’s the limit.”

Album due: April 2010

Mark Ronson
2010 will also see a third solo album from music maestro Mark Ronson. The 34-year-old has been busy recording in New York with the aim to get the record out by Spring. There are reports that unlike his debut, ‘Version’, the new album will contain no covers but fans can expect the usual parade of collaborations.

Album due: Spring 2010

KiD CuDi – Pursuit Of Happiness

After smash hit, ‘Day N Night’ and the GaGa-sampling ‘Make Her Say’, Kid Cudi returns with a more mellow follow-up.

This sincere journey of self-discovery sees the Cleveland rapper reflect on his own happiness, adopting a stoner-like flow while Brooklyn duo MGMT provide backing vocals on an almost chilling chorus.

Revelling in a new-found optimism, he claims “If I fall, if I die, know I lived it to the fullest” over an electric Ratatat beat, complete with spiralling synths and thumping bass.

Having already collaborated with such heavy-hitters as Jay-Z & mentor Kanye West, Kid Cudi is slowly establishing himself as a leader of the new school, providing an alternative in which human experience and emotions take a lead role.

Catch an awesome live performance of the single below:

Time for Plan B

Plan B (aka Ben Drew) is back. Get excited.

His 2006 debut 'Who Needs Actions When You've Got Words' is one of my favourite albums of all time. I love Drew's lyrical storytelling and the hardship and emotion he expresses in his gritty portrayal of urban life.

'The Defamation Of Strickland Banks', due for release 22 March, presents a much more soulful side of Plan B, and somewhat more mature material than lyrics including "I'll stab you in the eye yo, with a f**king biro".

'Stay Too Long' is the first single off TDOSB and is available from 11 January. The track has already received much appraisal and was recently A-listed by BBC Radio 1.

The Pendulum lads have also provided a rather nice remix alongside the single's release.

Catch the remix and the video below:

Plan B - Stay Too Long (Pendulum remix)

Welcome back Omarion...

Is it just me or does Omarion keep releasing songs only to fall further back from a somewhat deserved serious recognition as a major contemporary RnB artist?

Admittedly, I am not the biggest O fan, but 'Ice Box' was one of my favourite songs of 2007.

Since then I've heard the occasional Omarion song (including his collaboration album with Bow Wow), but nothing has really caught my ear.

Until...

'Speedin' is taken from O's third album 'Ollusion' due for release January 12th. Now I'm not saying its anywhere near 'Ice Box', but if the album is anything like this, then I will definitely be buying it.

'Speedin' shows off Omarion's great vocals and - car sound effects aside - I really like the beat, which has a real military feel.

Catch the link below:

Omarion - Speedin.mp3