Franz Fredinand Going Soft On New Album

Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, Franz bassist Bob Hardy said: "The essential difference is that there are a lot more synthesizers on the record than guitars." - more on this story

Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson Calls On Friends For His Solo Album

PR reports: Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree)'s new album 'Insurgentes' (K-Scope/ Feb. 24) may be the first under his own name, but he recruited some intriguing talents to make it a reality. The eclectic roster of guests reflects the adventurous approach to the disc and diversity of locations in which Wilson recorded it, including Israel, Mexico City, the United States, Japan, Scandanavia, and the UK.

Standout guests on the album include: *Michio Vagi, a brilliant Japanese musician, layers the magisterial sounds of her 17-string bass koto onto the album's title track. *British guitarist Sand Snowman, known for his pagan, ancient-folk sound, contributes a ticklish guitar counterpoint to the stark "Abandoner" and a wistful recorder part to "Veneno Para Las Hadas." * Irish singer Clodagh Simonds of Fovea Hex traces a descant above the swaying melody and industrial noise assault of "Significant Other." *Theo Travis, "one of the most active jazz artists and composers in the U.K.," (AllMusic) plays wah-wah flutes and clarinet on several tracks. *Dirk Serris (also known as Vidna Obmana), a renowned Belgian composer of deep ambient music, lends two guitar-drone soundscapes to 'Insurgentes.' *Finally, Tony Levin (King Crimson/ bass), Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree/ drums) and Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater/ piano) perform on several tracks throughout the album.

Says Wilson, "I wanted to get out of my own little studio shell and reach out to musicians I'd always wanted to work with. This is a truly international product, but everything gets filtered through my own sensibility." - more on this story

Pete Francis Dispatches New Tour Plans

PR reports: Singer/songwriter Pete Francis (Dispatch) is kicking off 2009 with a full slate of late winter and early spring dates throughout the Northeast and Midwest. Blending an energetic and uplifting live experience with sincere and heartfelt songwriting, Francis has showcased his signature style in sold out auditoriums and intimate clubs across the country.

For this tour, Francis has joined forces with up-and-coming New England based roots rock outfit Barefoot Truth. With both artists jamming collectively as one band on Pete Francis, Dispatch, and Barefoot Truth material, the shows will offer surprising twists and unique takes on each artist's compositions.

The tour will begin with a show on February 19th at The Station in Portland, ME, followed by a run winding through all parts of the northeast with stops in MA, VT, NH, NY, NJ, PA, MD and VA. The tour will conclude in April with two Illinois shows, including a stop at the famous Beat Kitchen in Chicago. - more on this story

AntiFolk Original Paleface Returns

PR reports: More than a decade since his last major label release and collapse from alcohol abuse, Paleface, a founding member of NYC's Anti-folk movement, is back with The Show Is On The Road (Ramseur Records). [note: it's a good idea to list the release date in the actual press release… just saying. For the curious that date is April 28th]

The album is an intimate, 11-song diary that transcends genres with its ingenuous lyrics and deceptively unassuming style - just Paleface on acoustic guitar and harmonica and his girlfriend Monica "Mo" Samalot on drums and backing vocals, along with the occasional piano overdub. Paleface is the sort of artist who brings you into his world. His voice is sweetly ravaged and effortlessly expressive, as intimate as a friend whispering in your ear. The album is a farewell love letter to his longtime home, New York City, and an embrace of his new life in the South.

It's also a celebration of finding yourself on the road, as on the title track's sing-along chorus, "let's pack it up and go, this is the life we know," with its easy rolling tempo, upbeat optimism and musical hall piano overdub, and the wistful ode to his former home, "New York, New York." Performing live and touring has inspired Paleface to become "more and more obsessed" with songwriting. "I have this desire to write one of those songs like 'Hallelujah' or 'Wild is the Wind' or 'This Land is Your Land' - a song that transcends an artist or the image of the person singing the song." - more on this story

Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp All Stars To Perform At Meaningless Gala

PR reports: Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp, the phenomenon that's been pairing music fans with rock stars since 1997, takes the show on the road with a performance this Sunday at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. [Is there anyone without an awards show????]

A group of Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp All Stars - comprised of Teddy Andreadis (Guns N' Roses, Alice Cooper), Micky Dolenz (The Monkees), Elliot Easton (The Cars), Mark Hudson (Grammy-winning producer/songwriter for Aerosmith, Ringo Starr, Ozzy Osbourne), Simon Kirke (Bad Company) and Kip Winger (Winger) - will get the Gala rocking as 1,500 celebrated actors and industry leaders from film and television party at the Los Angeles' Shrine Exposition Center following the awards show.

The Screen Actors Guild Post-Awards Gala will immediately follow the 15th Annual SAG Awards ceremony, which will be simulcast live nationally on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and 6 p.m. MT from the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. - more on this story

Great Northern Go Soph On 4/28

PR reports: Great Northern (Solon Bixler, Rachel Stolte) released their atmospheric and melodic debut album, 'Trading Twilight For Daylight' in 2007. With its catchy hooks, lush keys and breathy vocals, it was received warmly and created a solid buzz - the band's music was also featured in commercials and played on an A-list of radio stations, including KDLD, KCRW, KNRK, WEQK, WWCD, KEXP and Indie 103, plus FM giant KROQ and a host of others. They were also featured in 'Best Of 2007' lists from Filter, Under The Radar, KCRW and Live 105.

Their new album, 'Remind Me Where the Light Is', is the work of a more seasoned group, one that has been on the road for months (touring with the likes of Silversun Pickups, Cold War Kids, Ladytron, Spoon and Fiery Furnaces) missed home, seen the world, and returned, not entirely prepared to sit still and write. It became very clear to them that they were going to do things a little differently this time.

On 'Remind Me Where The Light Is', Solon Bixler and Rachel Stolte are not afraid to delve into darkness. "We took a lot more risks by entering uncomfortable territory that wasn't touched on the last record," Bixler says. "We dug deeper into the unpleasant, which helped us to find the beauty." Wishing to expand their sound, Bixler and Stolte began working with producer Michael Patterson (Beck, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Beck, Puff Daddy, She Wants Revenge, amongst others) and Nic Jodoin. The results being upbeat, guitar-driven songs, yet with the familiar layered vocals and sweeping, panoramic sound. - more on this story

Internet Car Radio Coming

PR reports: miRoamer, a global innovator in the Internet radio industry, recently announced a partnership with Blaupunkt, one of the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers and specialists in car multimedia. The partnership introduced the world's first Internet car radio, giving drivers access the world's largest and most diverse selection of Internet radio content through their car stereo.

Today, users want to jump in their car and go – no pulling out third-party devices or plugging in cords to access their music and information. The world's first Internet car radio by Blaupunkt will enable drivers to tune into miRoamer's tens of thousands of radio stations from around the world.

Now, with the simple push of a button, users can access AM/FM stations or Internet radio's thousands of music, entertainment, news and talk stations from around the world, all from the same car stereo - No word on where the Internet access is supposed to come from. But this does sound interesting.

Blue King Brown American Tour

PR reports: Australia's Blue King Brown Announces Spring Tour in America. Having shared the global stage with the likes of Santana, Damien 'Jr gong' Marley, Julian Marley, The John Butler Trio and Michael Franti & Spearhead to name a few, The 8 piece powerhouse band that is Blue King Brown bring their cross generational grooves and socially conscious sound.

The infectious energy and passion from lead singer, guitarist and percussionist Natalie Pa'apa'a is a driving musical Force. BKB continue to deliver a power packed live show featuring their home-grown, universally spoken language, delivered as hard hitting Urban roots music.

With recent recording trips to Kingston Jamaica and New York now under their belt, once again pushing genre boundaries, their latest releases are a testament to the rise of one of Australia's greatest acts. - Dates and whatnot

Ferocity and Femininity

PR reports: Femme Metal Records are proud to announce the distribution of the charity compilation CD "Ferocity and Femininity" that was officially released last year by Anthem Records NL.

The compilation CD, that features 15 of the finest female fronted metal/rock bands from around the globe will be distributed by Code 7 via Plastic Head March 2nd 2009.

All proceeds from the release will go to Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK. - more on this story

. John Frusciante - The Empyrean

John Frusciante is an actualized albeit strange musician. When left to his own devices and independent of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frusciante soars into a world full of gods and demons, ethereal beings, and whimsical fancy. (3.5 stars) - Read the full John Frusciante - The Empyrean review

. Bruce Springsteen Month: Devils and Dust

Finding perfect middle ground between the personal intimacy of Nebraska and the distant third person narrative of The Ghost of Tom Joad, Devils and Dust strikes it rich in a field that should have been barren. (3.5 stars) - Read the full Bruce Springsteen Month: Devils and Dust review

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