Armageddon Set Double Disc Release

These discs were previously only available in Japan and have now been made into a specially priced 2CD package that gathers a total of 26 tracks, including the full original albums, as well as bonus material (demos and cover songs) totaling a playing time of 100+ minutes of music. This is an absolute must-have addition to any high-quality metal collection.

Amott further comments: "I consider these albums to be snapshots of my playing style and interests at that time. They were done in the spirit of metal. I hope you enjoy listening!" - more on this story

Gorevette Lustfully Yours

Some things are just meant to be. When the legendary Nikki Corvette arrived with equally revered rock critic Robert Matheu at a Gore Gore Girls show in Los Angeles, he instinctively knew that she and bandleader Amy Gore would be natural compatriots. Both women have toured the world, rejecting trends and gimmickry to play the authentic, powerful rock n' roll they've made their religion.

They became friends that night, not industry associates but real pals. When Corvette relocated to her native Detroit for family reasons, she and Gore began to spend time together, spending hours talking about music while hanging out by the record player. With members of each woman's bands in different cities, they originally conceived the idea of doing a punk cover band, playing their favorite songs from bands like the Buzzcocks and the Damned. That soon changed when Nikki brought her tune "Lustfully Yours" to the table. Amy Gore, a formidable guitarist and writer, began writing songs specifically for Nikki that carry on the 'Shangri-Las meets Ramones' v sound she is famous for while incorporating lyrics rejecting the artificiality of current feminine ideals ("Fake It") and making stand for the hedonistic fun of dancing, cars and staying up all night. "Rock n' roll, above all else, should be fun," said Gore.

The new tracks are compiled for The Lustfully Yours EP on Strange Girl Recordings, available Tuesday, January 26th on itunes USA and Internationally, Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic, IMVU, LimeWire Store, Amazon MP3 & Amazon on Demand. - more on this story

Essra Mohawk's Bizarre, Reprise And Asylum Albums Reissued

Sandy Hurvitz's transformation into Essra Mohawk happened as a result of undeniable singing and songwriting talent plus a series of happy accidents. The young Philadelphian issued a Liberty single (at age 16) that was deemed a "Newcomer Pick" in Cashbox; she then contributed songs to artists as disparate as the Shangri-Las and Vanilla Fudge. But her career really accelerated in 1967 when she met Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in NYC. When Mother Don Preston was under the weather, Zappa asked to hear her play the piano and sing. He invited her to join the band on the spot. Next thing she knew, she was a de facto member of the Mothers, reluctantly accepting the endearing nickname "Uncle Meat." Her solo career was about to unfold.

Her three solo recordings from 1969 (Sandy's Album Is Here at Last!), 1970 (Primordial Lovers) and 1974 (Essra Mohawk) will be reissued on CD by Collectors' Choice Music on February 23, 2010. The reissues are digitally remastered and contain bonus tracks. Richie Unterberger wrote the liner notes with extensive interview material from Mohawk.

At just 17, Mohawk turned down an offer from a well-known Brill Building publishing house. A few years later she made her debut album, Sandy's Album Is Here at Last!, on Zappa's Bizarre/Verve Records label. Zappa started out as her producer, but then surrendered the chair to Mother of Invention Ian Underwood. Mohawk deemed Underwood an "anti-producer, anti-arranger," leaving the tracks unfinished. "It's like it wasn't my album," she says. "It was really raw." Nonetheless her talent and unique voice emerged from the production murk. The song titles alone auger a trippy ride: "Archgodliness of Purpleful Magic," "Tree of Trees" and "I Know the Sun." The Collectors' Choice reissue contains the bonus track "Life Is Scarlet," never before available on CD (except on a Japanese limited edition reissue, no longer available). - more on this story

Alec Ounsworth Announces First Headlining Tour

Anti-Records is proud to announce Alec Ounsworth's first headlining tour ever. The dates will be in support of his critically acclaimed new albums: Mo Beauty and Flashy Python's Skin and Bones.

The tour begins with five shows opening for Cold War Kids and then Ounsworth and his band will do 18 headlining dates across the country.

Ounsworth's band is Matt Sutton, Peter Modavis, Brian Ashby and Jonas Oesterle. They will be playing songs from Mo Beauty, Skin and Bones as well as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's catalog. Mo Beauty was recorded deep in the heart of musical New Orleans with an ensemble of local heavyweights including George Porter Jr. of the Meters and drummer Stanton Moore of Galactic, and was guided by veteran producer Steve Berlin (Los Lobos, Replacements). The album is a stunning union of powerful rhythms and imaginative arrangements in the service of evocative literary songwriting. - more on this story

Altar Of Plagues Now On Candlelight

Candlelight Records is proud to announce the signing of experimental Black metal band Altar Of Plagues. Irish act Altar of Plagues was formed in 2006. Terms that are most frequently used to describe their sound include black metal, ambient and progressive or post metal, though it seems no one description can sum up the acts massive sound. The act themselves consider black metal to be the genre to which they are most attached, but on the contrary they have also been quoted to take influence from acts as diverse as Emperor, Bjork, and Arvo Pärt

The bands untraditional aesthetic and approach to their music has led to Altar of Plagues appealing to a wide variety of listeners and this may be seen by the diverse range of acts Altar of Plagues have toured with, including Isis and Mayhem, as well as having appeared at festivals that focus on 'extreme' metal and festivals that encourage experimentation and diversity.

Following the release of only one demo and an EP, Altar of Plagues signed to Canadian label, Profound Lore Records. In 2009 the act released "White Tomb", an album that was described by a number of critics as one of 2009's best and most exciting releases (and was featured in Decibel Magazines Best of 2009 list). Last year saw the band tour extensively throughout Europe, and now 2010 is proving to be an even more promising year for the act, with a forthcoming E.P release on Roadburn Records as well as receiving an invitation to perform at the renowned Roadburn Festival, more extensive touring and just recently, signing to the revered Candlelight Records. - more on this story

Fans To Pick Bon Jovi Grammy Song

For the first time ever, current Grammy Award nominee Bon Jovi will perform on The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, broadcasting live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, Jan. 31 (8:00-11:30 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

As part of the band's performance, fans will have an opportunity to decide which hit Bon Jovi song the band will perform by casting their vote on www.CBS.com.

Beginning today, viewers can log on to www.cbs.com/grammys and vote in two phases for one out of six of their favorite hit Bon Jovi songs: 1. "Always" 2. "Bed Of Roses" 3. "Have A Nice Day" 4. "It's My Life"
5. "Livin' On A Prayer" 6. "Wanted Dead Or Alive" - more on this story

Hockey World Tour Continues

Hockey pick up in 2010 right where they left off in 09', touring the globe in support of their debut album Mind Chaos.

After a string of west coast dates, the foursome will play shows in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain and the UK before returning home to headline a club tour starting March 11th in Minneapolis, MN at 7th Street Entry (full schedule below).

The band's new single "Song Away" impacts Alternative radio on February 9th. The video for "Song Away" was named one of the best videos of 2009 by iTunes as part of iTunes Rewind 2009. Hockey's breakout first single "Too Fake" reached #25 at alternative radio and still being spun at many stations around the country. - more on this story

Shout Out Louds North American Tour

Merge Records is excited to announce that Sweden's Shout Out Louds will be embarking on a North American tour during the month of May.

With the band's new album, Work, being released on February 23, the tour begins on May 2 at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC, and will culminate with a performance at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles, CA, on May 21.

Before this tour begins, the band will play their first show in America to support Work on March 1 at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg. The show is already sold out. - more on this story

. Dear Andy Kaufman I Hate Your Guts

The late comedian Andy Kaufman was one of those talents that people either loved or hated. For those who werent around back then the introduction by Kaufmans lady friend Lynne Margulies does a good job of explaining how the whole thing came about. - Read the full Dear Andy Kaufman I Hate Your Guts review

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