Neil Young to Release Electric Car Themed Album in April; Wait, Didn't He Already Do That in 1983?

By Mike McHugh on

Alrighty, lemme try to get this straight. 1983’s Trans was Neil Young’s vocoder heavy, faux-Luddite electro-flop with a cover that implied the future’s cars would be pancake-thin DeLoreans piloted by grid-lined human holograms. Neil’s new record, on the other hand, is a concept album about electric-cars. Oooookay, so while Trans is an electric car album, Fork in the Road is an electric-car album. Ah! Now I get it! Damn, I was kinda hoping that Neil had sank his ass back into his Kraftwerk pants and was gonna bring the synthesizer out of mothballs. Oh well! I hear from Rick Wakeman that synthesizers tend to get all wonky after you leave them covered in mothballs for 26 years anyway.

Neil’s new record goes hand-in-hand with his electric-car creation experiment, LincVolt. In collaboration with so-called “motorhead messiah” Jonathan Goodwin, Neil Young plans to inspire a whole goddamn generation “by creating a clean automobile propulsion technology that serves the needs of the 21st Century and delivers performance that is a reflection of the driver's spirit.” Oh hell yes, people: first he’s gonna inspire your sorry ass with song when Fork in the Road drops April 7, then he’s gonna launch some dynadope technological innovation all up your rump and smack you straight in the cranium with some weapons-grade inspiration. Get ready for change, America!

Oh yeah, and get ready Canada, too, because your favorite son/green-minded gearhead is gonna do a wee bit of touring come April. He’s technically still touring in support of Chrome Dreams II, but apparently he’s been playing the hell out of Fork in the Road stuff live too, so who knows. You may get a mixture of both records or you may just have to watch Neil and this Jon Goodwin character work on a car for two hours. Either way, Neil Young’s gonna be there, and that ain’t never been a bad thing.

Fork in the Road tracklist:

1. When Worlds Collide
2. Fuel Line
3. Just Singing A Song
4. Johnny Magic
5. Cough Up The Bucks
6. Get Behind The Wheel
7. Off The Road
8. Hit The Road
9. Light A Candle
10. Fork In The Road

Tourdates:
04.06.08 - St John’s, NF - Mile One Centre
04.10.08 - Halifax, NS - Metro Centre
04.11.08 - Saint John, NB - Harbour Station
04.13.08 - Kingston, ON - K-Rock Centre
04.15.08 - London, ON - John Labatt Centre
04.17.08 - Sault Ste Marie, ON - Essar Centre
04.20.08 - Saskatoon, SK - Credit Union Centre
04.22.08 - Kelowna, BC - Prospera Place
04.23.08 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
04.25.08 - Lethbridge, AB - Enmax Centre

Prince to Wal-Mart: “Fuck You, I’m a Target Man!”

By Kid Midnight on 03-06-2009

Following in my series of Minnesota-related info-bits (TMT News), I now bring tidings of joy: Prince has signed an exclusive deal with Target, the massive, blood-stained retailer with locations near you, and plans to release a 3CD set for the low, low price of $11.98.

This latest move by The Short One has pleased suburbanite-funksters the world over, reavealing Prince as the newest in the line of big-name, past-their-prime artists signing exclusive deals with outlets like Target, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy. Other “artists” include AC/DC, The Eagles, Guns N’ Roses, and Garth Brooks, who have all sold millions of bad albums through exclusive deals with big-box retailers, making it even easier for fat-assed morons, who can’t find the energy to go to more than one store, to get the music they love.

Of course, Target is quite pleased with the deal ($$$$!), and Mark Schindele, Target’s Senior Vice President of Merchandising, called me up to talk. He had this to say: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share [Prince’s] most recent work with our Target guests." I then asked Mark how he felt about Prince, personally, and he practically chortled as he gave me his response in a sing-song voice, very reminiscent of pre-teen girls talking about those lovely Jonas Brothers: "Prince has long been renowned as one of the world's most original and iconic musical artists [plus, I love those ass-less chaps he wears!]" Okay, he didn’t say anything about the ass-less chaps. But I do love Prince’s most controversial leg-wear.

Interested consumers, confused soccer moms, and Prince fanatics can pick up the 3CD box-set -- which consists of two new albums, LOtUSFLOW3R and MPLSoUND, as well as a third by his new artist, Bria Valente -- on March 29.

TR2N, the Sequel to TRON, Will Be Scored by Fucking Daft Punk

By Mike McHugh on 03-06-2009

Keep your eyes on the left side and your ears on the right side. This is all you need to know.

Oh yeah, TR2N is coming out in 2011.

Obama Nominates Pro-Net Neutrality Dude as FCC Chief, HUZZAH!

By Scott Lauer on 03-06-2009

President Obama has nominated lawyer/techie Julius Genachowski as FCC Chief this past Tuesday, March 3rd. Genachowski was a fellow Harvard Law classmate, and perhaps former beer pong partner, of President Obama and served as Obama’s lead tech advisor during the campaign.

Genachowski's nomination has made supporters of net neutrality quite pleased, and there are high hopes for telecoms to get the smack down laid upon them as to what they can and cannot do. Thus, those big wigs at Comcast (TMT News) may be a little grumpy, as it would seem that the nomination of Genachowski might hinder their dream of a world where peers are throttled to dial-up speeds on their transfers.

Gigi Sohn, president of net neutrality organization Public Knowledge, seems pretty stoked about the nomination. "As the architect of President-elect Obama’s Technology and Innovation Plan, it is clear that he understands the importance of open networks and a regulatory environment that promotes innovation and competition to a robust democracy and a health economy."

Of course, senior ranks in the much more powerful Justice Department are being filled by pro-copyright lawyers, so things are sorta up in the air -- but once the Senate confirms Genachowski, the sun might start to shine at least a little brighter on the internet.

I Need a Fix Cuz I’m Going Down… Oh, The Beatles: Rock Band?? That’ll Do Nicely.

By Nobodaddy on 03-06-2009

Okay nerds, you win: The music of the Beatles will arrive as a painfully nostalgic, interactive video game for the first time on September 9, 2009, when The Beatles: Rock Band hits stores all over North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The game, which will be available for Xbox, PlayStation 3, and Wii, “takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band’s legendary career.” Or, at least, it does according to the hippy-dippy press release distractedly issued by the title’s cash-high creators, Apple Corps, Harmonix, and MTV Games. Somewhat oddly, no playlist has been announced, nor has any word about specific venues and avatars (whatever those are, right?). There will, however be a limited number of instruments issued that are modeled after guitars, basses, and drums used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and... uh, who was that fourth guy? Regular Rock Band peripherals will be compatible, too. Once again, to that I say: whatever those are.

But wait, there’s more! Three separate offerings will be released on the dawn of this new British Invasion: the straight-up software for The Beatles: Rock Band; assuredly cheesed-out standalone guitars; and a limited-edition premium bundle that will presumably include the game and, presumably, some array of instruments and garish memorabilia. Additionally, if you are the kind of lonely, ’60s-culture-adopting, kinda-chubby-because-you-haven’t-quite-blossomed-yet-but-you-will-and-once-you-do-you-won’t-care-about-this-hippie-stuff-anymore-because-you-won’t-need-that-kind-of-instant-cool-crutch type of high school kid who is into pre-ordering now, the game’s makers claim that there’s some mysterious exclusive content reserved for those who reserve the game in advance through major retailers over the next few months. The game’s official Website is active and, unlike the real Beatles organization, promises updates.

And speaking of those darned Beatles, McCartney, Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison are all backing the game, which is being overseen by Love co-producer Giles “Under-achiever and Proud of it” Martin.

Rumors that Beatles music would finally be transformed into its ultimate incarnation of digitized nostalgic-kitsch first fired up in June 2008, after insiders speculated that the appearance of the Fab Four’s music in American Idol, the [worst] film [in recent history besides Lady In the Water] Across the Universe, and the Cirque du Soleil Love production indicated Apple Corps might be willing to loosen their famously tight grip on the band’s catalog. In October 2008, the game’s makers made it official, announcing, “This game will take you on a journey from the Beatles first album Please Please Me until the last album at Abbey Road.” Well, hot damn. The only difference? The Beatles really knew how to play those guitars. But no, it’s cool. This is cool. You’re gonna be famous some day if you buy this thing. Really.

Coming to a Europe Near You: David Bryne Expands Tour

By Burke on 03-05-2009

As previously reported (TMT News), David Bryne is yet again extending his transcontinental reign of electro-gospel all over Europe’s concert halls this spring. He will be playing a variety of material, including songs from his newest album Everything that Happens will Happen Today (TMT Review), the nearly 30-year-old collaboration with Brian Eno on three Talking Heads albums, and My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. Eno won't join Byrne, as he's too busy producing, twittering, and protesting

03.09.09 - Düsseldorf, Germany - Tonhalle
03.10.09 - Antwerp, Belgium - Koningin Elisabethzaal (QEH)
03.12.09 - Hamburg, Germany CCH2 - Congress Centrum
03.14.09 - Frankfurt, Germany Alte Oper
03.16.09 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Falkoner Theatre
03.17.09 - Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus
03.19.09 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene
03.20.09 - Malmo, Sweden - Concert House
03.22.09 - Hannover, Germany - Theater am Aegi
03.23.09 - Berlin, Germany - Tempodrom
03.24.09 - Utrecht, Netherlands - MC Vredenburg
03.25.09 - Paris, France - L'Olympia
03.27.09 - Bristol, England - Colston Hall
03.29.09 - Birmingham, England - Symphony Hall Birmingham
03.30.09 - Manchester, England - Bridgewater Hall
03.31.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - Royal Concert Hall
04.01.09 - Gateshead, England - The Sage
04.03.09 - Liverpool, England - Philharmonic Hall
04.04.09 - Sheffield, England - City Hall
04.06.09 - Dublin, Eire - National Concert Hall
04.07.09 - Belfast, N. Ireland - Belfast Waterfront
04.09.09 - Oxford, England - New Theatre Oxford
04.11.09 - Nottingham, England - Royal Centre
04.12.09 - London, England - Royal Festival Hall
04.13.09 - London, England - Royal Festival Hall
04.14.09 - Brighton, England - Brighton Dome
04.16.09 - Stuttgart, Germany - Hegelsaal
04.17.09 - Zürich, Switzerland - Volkshaus Zürich
04.19.09 - Senigallia, Italy - La Fenice
04.20.09 - Verona, Italy - Teatro Filarmonico
04.21.09 - Milan, Italy - Auditorium Dal Verme
04.22.09 - Modena, Italy - Teatro Comunale
04.24.09 - Barcelona, Spain - Palau de la Müsica Catalana
04.26.09 - Oviedo, Spain - Auditorio Príncipe Felipe
04.27.09 - Madrid, Spain - Teatro Lope de Vega
04.28.09 - Lisbon, Portugal - Coliseo

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