The B- 52's- Funplex

'Funplex' is the forthcoming eighth studio album recorded by The B-52's during 2006 and 2007. The album will be released on March 25, 2008.It is the first album of new material that the group has released since Good Stuff in 1992, although the band did record two new songs for their 1998 compilation album Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation.

The first single from the album was released digitally on 29 January 2008, and is the title track, "Funplex". The single was featured on this blog earlier this year.

Gang Of Four

Gang of Four are an English post-punk group from Leeds. Formed in 1977 by Leeds University students Jon King (vocals), Andy Gill (guitar), Dave Allen (bass), and Hugo Burnham (drums). Along with the Fall, Mekons, and Liliput they produced some of the most exhilarating and lasting music of the early English post-punk era of 1978-1983. They re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill. In 2004, the original line-up reunited.

In fact the term "Gang of Four" refers to the "big four" Structuralist theorists: Claude Lévi-Strauss, Michel Foucault, Roland Barthes, and Jacques Lacan, not to be confused with the Maoist Gang of Four in China. They play a stripped-down mix of punk rock, with strong elements of funk music, minimalism and dub reggae and an emphasis on the social and political ills in society. Song titles sounded like the titles of radical political essays: "At Home He's a Tourist", "Damaged Goods", "It's Her Factory", "Love Like Anthrax," "To Hell With Poverty," all of it openly challenging the audience's preconceived notions about rock music, performance, the cult of celebrity, and the nature of politics.

Their musical work was heavily influenced by a university-funded trip to New York, where they saw Television and the Ramones at CBGB. The Gang's debut single, "Damaged Goods" b/w "Love Like Anthrax" and "Armalite Rifle", was recorded in June 1978 and released on 10 December 1978, on Edinburgh's Fast Product label. It was produced by the Gang and Fast Product honcho Bob Last. It was a #1 indie chart hit and John Peel radio show favourite. Later, they were then signed by EMI records. The group's debut single with this label, "At Home He's a Tourist", charted in the British Top 40 in 1979.After three consecutive sensational albums, as well as a handful of EPs and singles including "I Love a Man in Uniform" and "Call Me Up" , Allen left in 1982 to form the more danceable and less overtly political Shriekback, while Gill, King, and Burnham recorded the misguided "radical soul/R&B" record Hard with veteran American producers Ron and Howard Albert.

Gang of Four experienced a mini-renaissance in the early '90s with the release of two excellent collections (A Brief History of the Twentieth Century and The Peel Sessions Album). King and Gill put together a new Gang of Four and released the tepid but not disgraceful Mall in 1991. The original lineup reconvened in 2004 to tour extensively and release 2005's Return the Gift, featuring re-recordings of their early material. They have always remained, to the ears of those opened wide by punk rock, an extremely important band.
Great news is that the guys are working on a new album which is scheduled to be released in June this year. They will also be playing few gigs in Europe. Belgrade and Zagreb are already confirmed for the 9.-10. of May 2008.

B-Movie's April Gig

Great news for all B-Movie fans as the band will play live gig on April 12th at the Metro 19-23 Oxford Street in London. Videos from their last gig, held in 2007 were already posted here earlier.

More info:

http://www.blowupmetro.com

Instant Hit: Afraid Of Mice- Intercontinental

The Liverpool based group Afraid of Mice released a number of singles in 1981 and 1982 before disbanding. "Intercontinental" was their second single issued on Charisma and also featured on their only self titled album released in the same year.

WAW: R.E.M.-Supernatural Superserious

The Kills- Midnight Boom

Midnight Boom is the third album from The Kills which is slated for release on March 10, 2008 through Domino Records (March17, 2008 in the United States)."Midnight Boom" refers to the moment the moon comes up and everyone else goes to bed.The album was preceded with a site, also titled Midnight Boom, dedicated to the videos and remix tracks for 'U.R.A. Fever' and 'Cheap And Cheerful'.