News Roundup: 3/25/2011

Producer Trevor Horn, who helped Yes score a massive hit with 1983’s “Owner Of A Lonely Heart,” has been asked to produce the forthcoming Fly From Here, Yes’ first collection of original songs in 10 years. The album will also mark the official debut of Benoit David, who replaced original frontman Jon Anderson several years ago. [RollingStone.com]

With the death toll in Japan continuing to climb, a compilation featuring contributions from 38 recording artists has been released to iTunes. Proceeds from the album, which is currently selling for $9.99, will go toward the Japanese Red Cross Society. Lady Gaga, Eminem, Beyonce, Madonna, the Kings of Leon, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, U2, and Keith Urban are among those featured. [MonstersAndCritics.com]

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A.V. Roundup: The Strokes, John Legend, Wavves and more …

The StrokesUsually, the A.V. Roundup tags along in the shadow of the News Roundup, wrapping up those posts with a neat little bow of sound and vision. But not today! We came across so many audiovisual goodies that they demanded a post of their own. We’re bursting at the seams with videos, mp3s and mixes featuring the Strokes, Wavves, John Legend, Friendly Fires and many more artists. Come inside, won’t you, and sample our wares of things hear and watch?

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News Roundup: 3/23/2011

Corn Pickin' and Slick Slidin' album coverInfluential pedal-steel guitarist Ralph Mooney died on Sunday of complications from cancer at his home in Kennedale, Texas. He was 82. A country music innovator who, along with Speedy West, Buddy Emmons and others, helped create the “Bakersfield sound,” Mooney got his start playing on records by such artists as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. [L.A.Times.com]

The soundtrack to the Royal Wedding between Prince William and his fiancée, Kate Middleton, is set to be released on iTunes on April 29th, just hours after the ceremony takes place. This is the first time that a royal wedding soundtrack will be released immediately online. Decca, who released other Royal soundtracks including the funeral of Princess Diana, will also release a CD version to stores a few days after the ceremony. Thus far, the only musicians booked the play the Westminster Abbey ceremony are the Abbey’s choir, the Chapel Royal Choir, the London Chamber Orchestra, and the Fanfare Team from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. Still, rumors of a performance by a major star like Elton John or Paul McCartney persist, despite denials from St. James’ Palace. [Telegraph.co.uk]

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The Poplist – Acid House Kings

For this edition of the Poplist we decided to find out the dirty little secrets in the record collection of Acid House Kings member Johan Angergård. The band’s new album (Music Sounds Better With You) comes out today and it’s another wonderfully sweet and light indie pop confection, filled with incredibly hooky pop songs perfect for humming to yourself on a spring afternoon. In fact pretty much everything he’s been involved with (Club 8, The Legends, his label Labrador) fits that bill, so you might assume that Angergård exists on a steady diet of the Association, Motown, the Field Mice and St. Etienne. We wondered if there were any bands or artists he loved that might come as a bit of a surprise to fans of Acid House Kings. This is what he came up with….

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News Roundup: 3/22/2011

Pinetop Perkins, a blues pianist who won a Grammy last month for his Joined at the Hip album, has died at his home in Austin, Texas. He was 97. Perkins’ career included collaborations with Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, and BB King, the latter of whom called him “one of the last great Mississippi bluesmen” in a statement. [NME.com]

R.I.P. also to British bassist Jet Harris, who performed with the Shadows during the first half-decade of the band’s career. Harris’ playing can be heard on the Shadows’ 1961 debut, which became the first instrumental LP to top the U.K. charts, as well as the band’s international smash “Apache.” After leaving the group in the early ’60s, he charted several more European hits as the duet partner of drummer Tony Meehan. [Pitchfork.com]

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News Roundup: 3/21/2011

WyclefWyclef Jean was shot in Haiti on Saturday night, sustaining an injury from a bullet that grazed his hand. In an interview with NME, Jean said, “I got out of the car and heard gunfire … The next day I noticed there was blood on my shirt and speakers. I have no idea who fired the rounds or whether they were shooting at me.” Jean was in the city of Delma for Haiti’s general election. The former Fugees member attempted to run in the election for the country’s president, but ended his campaign in September because he had not lived in Haiti during the run up to the election. [Billboard.com]

South by Southwest is done for another year, but 2011’s festivities didn’t go off without a hitch. Death From Above 1979’s surprise show on Saturday night was halted by police when fans tore down a small fence behind the venue in which the duo was playing. On Friday, Screeching Weasel’s Ben Weasel attacked two women at the band’s show; according to the L.A. Times, he was upset over ice being thrown onstage (he later apologized for the outburst). OMD’s performance at Stubbs on Friday was marred when an unauthorized camera boom fell, resulting in audience injuries that sent four crowd members to the hospital. Due to incidents like these, the festival’s organizers will collaborate with the City of Austin to limit free events at SXSW 2012. [NME.com, MXDWN.com, TheDailySwarm.com]

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News Roundup: 3/18/2011

Gettin’ down on Friday! Rebecca Black’s now-infamous “Friday” continues to enjoy success on the internet and the charts, having racked up more than 16 million Youtube views in the past two weeks. Since its release on iTunes earlier this week, the official single has climbed to number 31 on the digital retailer’s charts. And that’s not counting the sales it’s been getting today — Friday — which will likely bump it into the chart’s upper reaches. [www.Apple.com]

Damon Albarn’s second musical theater production, “Doctor Dee,” will debut this summer at the Manchester International Festival. Based upon the life of 16th-century alchemist John Dee, the show will star the Blur frontman himself. [RollingStone.com]

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