Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Innuendo, Matt Bellamy, muse, Queen, The Darkness, The Resistance, Twitter, United States of Eurasia, Uprising
After treating fans to an in-depth, interactive game through its website over the summer, Muse leaked two songs from its upcoming album, "The Resistance," in July
PREVIEW: Download Muse’s “United States of Eurasia” MP3
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Editor’s Pick 146: Thom Yorke and Bon Iver Soundtrack New Moon
Over the summer, Muse have slowly, but surely, been feeding us information about their upcoming new album, The Resistance, which hits shelves on September 14. It started with a Twitter announcement of the album’s title in May, and tour dates were revealed on the band’s website in early June.
But the peak came in mid-July, when Muse kick-started an international treasure hunt, called the “Ununited States of Eurasia.” Fans in six different cities around the world took part, searching for keys hidden somewhere in the cities that would unlock certain portions of the track on Muse’s official site.
And on July 20, the Ununited became United, and the song “United States of Eurasia” was released to the world.
While the album’s first single, “Uprising,” showcases a grooving, almost dance-influenced direction for Muse, “United States of Eurasia” sounds like a slightly darker version of Queen. Singer Matt Bellamy’s vocal harmonies sound like Freddie Mercury at his most theatric, and you’d think he stole his guitar licks directly from Brian May. In fact, upon first listen, you might think you’re hearing “Innuendo, Pt. 2.” After a calm, piano-driven introduction, Muse serve up an absolutely bombastic verse and chorus that could be the soundtrack for a fireworks show.
In most cases, Queen imitation is dangerous territory for a band (The Darkness, anyone?). But for Muse, it feels completely natural, and they pull it off wonderfully. If you weren’t excited about The Resistance before, this should get you on the bandwagon.
– Dan Kaplan, Front-of-Book Editor
Filed under: Emerging Artists, Features, Interviews, XCLUS!VES | Tags: Alan Palomo, Beatles, Bullion, Chris Marker, Electrosanne, Grizzly Bear, Michael Jackson, MySpace, Neon Indian, Stan Brakhage, Stardust Memories, Twitter, Vega, Wings
Alan Palomo is the mastermind behind Neon Indian and VEGA
READ: 20 Watts Reviews Neon Indian’s “Terminally Chill.”
After some struggle, 20 Watts finally got to talk to Alan Palomo, a fast-rising emerging artist based out of Austin, TX, and the face behind disco house act VEGA, and up and coming electronica band, Neon Indian.
In light of Neon Indian’s upcoming debut LP release in October, Palomo, soon to be 21-years-old, talked a little about how Neon Indian got started and where he gets his inspiration.
20W: Talk a little about where you are from and your history with music.
Palomo: I was born in Mexico and grew up in mostly Texas, and I’ve been exposed to music all my life. I’m nostalgic to the Beatles, Wings and Michael Jackson. My brother had always been more musical than me, and only at the end of high school did I start playing music.
20W: How did you get into electronica and techno?
Palomo: I always had an interest in electronic music. It just happened one day when I found a an old synth machine at a pawn shop. It always stuck out to me.
Filed under: Emerging Artists, Features, Free 4 All | Tags: Bears in America, Emerging Artists, Feist, free music, funk n waffles, Mouth's Cradle, O Morning Records, Sarah Aument, Syracuse, syracuse music, Syracuse University, Twitter
SU sophomore Sarah Aument's debut EP is free on O Morning's Twitter
DOWNLOAD: SARAH AUMENT’S “WAKE UP SINGING” EP
FOLLOW: O, MORNING RECORDS ON TWITTER
Things are looking up for Syracuse University musician and former 20 Watts cover girl Sarah Aument: with the free release of her first EP and an upcoming Northeast tour with two other local bands, Aument has been hard at work making the rest of us look like slackers in comparison.
Aument, who has amassed a small following by playing coffeehouses, house parties, and the always accommodating Funk N’Waffles, is releasing her first album for free via her label O, Morning Records. It’s a local effort all around: Aument enlisted the help of the help of the record label’s founders, SU sophomores Dan Creahan and Sam Mason, recording the album on laptops in dorm rooms and friends’ apartments.
It wasn’t a high-tech or particularly demanding process, but it “turned out really well,” said Creahan, who is in the Bandier program. He decided to rerelease the EP on Twitter to expand Aument’s ever-growing fanbase.
“Right now we’re trying to… network as much as possible with bands and people from the area,” said Creahan. “So when we want to make an announcement we can easily contact as many people as possible, and right now Twitter can offer that ability.”
Their gambit has been paying off. The record label’s Twitter has been picked up and retweeted by people as far as Florida, and buzz around the EP is growing as people are responding with overwhelmingly positive feedback. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s completely free, a labor of love from Aument and O, Morning.
That love is audible in the album itself. Aument writes her songs with an understanding of heartfelt emotions: loss and heartbreak, apathy and consolation all filter though her wavering, Feist-like vocals. With its intimate acoustics and soft, driving rhythms, Wake Up Singing is just as beautiful as it is bittersweet.
“She’s a great songwriter, she’s a great lyricist, and I hope that it’s just the beginning,” said Creahan. “I hope we can leverage this into more success for her because she definitely deserves it.”
This summer she’ll be hitting the road with SU bands Mouth’s Cradle and Bears in America for a weeklong tour across New York, Pennsylvania before heading back to Syracuse. For the Westchester, PA native, it will be the perfect chance to hone her musical talents outside the brightly-colored walls of Funk N’ Waffles.
As of now, no official dates or venues have been announced for the tour. But keep an eye on 20 Watts as we announce further details in the coming weeks.
– Blake Rong
Filed under: Industry News | Tags: Brand New, Brooklyn, emo, Jimmy Eat World, Kerrang!, Long Island, Music Hall of Williamsburg, pop punk, Twitter, Upcoming release
Brand New just released a first glimpse of their new album, and one head can never die, which is set to drop in September.
After teasing their fans via Twitter and performing new songs live for the past year, Long Island emo band Brand New finally condescended to spilling some info on their upcoming album. For fans this is an exciting prospect, but for everyone else it’s just another band that’s become too pretentious for their own good.
In a recent Kerrang! interview, Brand New frontman Jesse Lacey expressed doubts over the band’s future and, calling the upcoming album an “exhausting record,” worried that fans would not be able to appreciate it. and one head can never die (all lower-case, according to the publicist) is set to drop September 22, 2009.
Brand New emerged in the 2000s as one of the more popular, critically-acclaimed bands from the Long Island emo scene. (more…)
Filed under: Editor Picks, Features | Tags: Bat for Lashes, celebrity tweets, celebrity twitter, John Mayer, M.I.A., Matt + Kim, Twitter, Wes Miles
Stay up-to-date on your favorite artists by following them on Twitter
All fans can get closer to their favorite bands just by following their tweets, whether those tweets are about recording sessions, post-concert thoughts or how big their feet are. Musicians in general are a lot of fun to follow, but these are the select few that really stand out.
1) John Mayer, a.k.a. “johncmayer”
Mayer loves to tweet, and he does so by making quirky analyses and comments to other celebrities — including the United States. Spotted July 4th on Mayer’s Twitter: “America, since it’s your birthday, you just lie on the couch. I’ll make you flapjacks. Today is your day. I am so happy to be your girl!” What an enigma.
2) Matt + Kim, a.k.a. “mattandkim”
Matt + Kim’s twitpics, while random, are also adorable. The duo reflects on nachos, Disney World and recycled toilet paper, as well.
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Demi Moore, Lance Armstrong, Lenny Kravitz, Lindsay Lohan, Twitter
Katie Perry poses nude for Twitter! With a half-eaten pizza, of course.
I love Twitter.
It’s a bit old, but there’s a Huffington Post slide show of nude celebrity pictures (not really), which were pulled from their Twitter accounts. There’s also a naked butt shot of Lenny Kravitz, but he likes showing off his butt. It’s not just musicians however; Lindsay Lohan, Demi Moore and Lance Armstrong are also in there.
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Industry News | Tags: Michael Jackson, Syracuse University, Twitter
Michael Jackson may have been one of the most significant and controversial musicians of all time. And although none of us knew him, we all reacted — sometimes violently, sometimes hilariously — to Thursday’s news of his death.
Below, 20 Watts has collected some Twitter reactions from Jackson’s SU fans. Want more? Follow 20_watts on Twitter and tweet us your reactions! We’ll post more as we get permission to use them.
@wangsanatame and my mom are crying over the phone about michael jackson.. its like we both grew up listening to MJ. how can this be? [Andrea Wangsanata, junior public relations/political science major]
@trevor_kiv What other living artists would have this kind of impact on us?!? McCartney? Dylan? Waters? What do u think? [Trevor Kiviat, junior music business major]
@HondoMesalistening to “Michael Jackson – Billie Jean Motown 25th Anniversary – MJNews” ♫ http://blip.fm/~8×8ij [Hondo Mesa Records, Syracuse NY]
@HarryRobertsyou think ppl will be walkin around nyc with one glove on? [Harry Roberts, sophomore music business major]
@starryreaMy kids are gonna listen to Michael Jackson and appreciate him like how I grew up on Earth, Wind & Fire and Marvin Gaye. [Elizabeth Reid, magazine journalism and political science major, class of '09]
@JohnCa55illoNot sure how I feel about Michael Jackson’s death. Quite an unfortunate few days this week for celebrities. [John Cassillo, senior public relations/political science major]
@tuanquocleso again, RIP MICHAEL JACKSON, King of Pop. a true legend. [Tuan Le, television, radio and film major, class of '09]
@TAJrani Watching CNN, still in disbelief. R.I.P. Michael Jackson. [Taj Rani, broadcast journalism, class of '09]
Filed under: Editor Picks, Free 4 All | Tags: Mike Skinner, rap, Streets, Twitter
As Jett previously reported, the latest from hilarious British rapper Mike Skinner (a.k.a. The Streets) comes to us via Twitter! My, this is the Internet age. Skinner is set to release three new songs through his Twitter in the next few days, and the first just dropped this afternoon.
DOWNLOAD: “I Love My Phone” – Streets
As a totally unrelated side note, 20 Watts has a pretty phenomenal/informative Twitter, which you might consider following. This is in no way blatant advertising.
- Caitlin Dewey, front of book editor
Filed under: Editor Picks, Free 4 All | Tags: Kevin Spacey, Kevin Spacey is a Good Actor, The Streets, Twitter
I had to post this, because it blew my mind.
The Streets, a British Rapper also known as Mike Skinner, is recording and releasing three new songs on his Twitter page (as in one song per day) for three days starting today. I like the concept. All artists should give up tyring to sell their songs.
That’s not what I care about though. Skinner said he found the inspiration from watching Kevin Spacey in the “Usual Suspects.”
“‘Kevin Spacey inspiration,’ Skinner wrote of that film’s mysterious criminal protagonist. ‘You won’t hear from me till tomorrow eve and a song I will have,’” sourced by SPIN.
What?!
If you didn’t see my earlier post about playing in garage bands, I said my last band was titled Kevin Spacey is a Good Actor (with Adam Biswanger, Nathan Mattise and Christina Lacy). We too were inspired by Kevin Spacey, except it was from the other Spacey great, “American Beauty.”
It was totally ridiculous that we found inspiration from Kevin Spacey back in freshman year. We didn’t write songs about him–we just based our band name off him. But with Skinner’s same inspiration, I’m starting to think Kevin Spacey is an alien from outer space hell-bent on influencing music around the world. Dear God! Before we know it, Kevin Spacey will manipulate every band out there and force them to write songs about him in worship!
Doesn’t this sound like a South Park episode? Shhhhh.
P.S. Mike Skinner’s Twitter account is called “Skinnermike.”
–Jett Wells, Co-Reviews Editor
