Detriot garage rockers The Von Bondies are set to release their new album Love, Hate and Then There's You on February 3rd.
In further KMFDM news, the industrial icons have now posted previews of two tracks, "Antigeist" and "A Common Enemy", from the forthcoming Skold Vs. KMFDM album. You can hear them here.
Cure for the Common Crush is the cleverly titled debut album from Vancouver progressive rocker Id Guinness. The album has received heaps for praise from the online rock community including a Top 25 of 2008 spot from Indie-Music.com.
You must remember Collective Soul. They were responsible for some of the most M.O.R. hits of the "alternative" '90s. "December", "Gel", "Shine", they were to blame for each of those.
Swedish power pop quartet Sahara Hotnights are set to release their fifth album. The track "In Private" is streaming now on the group's Myspace page.
Singer/songwriter Emm Gryner is one of the most under appreciated talents on the Canadian music scene. For years she's been making album after album of beautifully crafted songs.
Welsh indie rockers Super Furry Animals have announced details of their new album. The record will be released digitally on March 16th through the band's website, and in a physical format on April 21st.
One of this blog's best new acts of 2008, Computer Vs. Banjo (album review), have just put the finishing touches on some remix work.
The Mountain (out Feb. 3rd) is the third album from Dayton, OH's Heartless Bastards. The new album was produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Trail Of Dead).
Former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell is set to release his second solo album, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit on February 17th.
I have never been a fanatical Bruce Springsteen fan. However, he is one of those artists (like Bob Dylan) where it's easy to understand why he inspires such devotion. I guess that's my way of saying while I don't own all his records, I do have a tremendous level of respect for him and more importantly his music.
British indie soundscapers Doves have announced the details of their long awaited new studio album. Kingdom Of Rust will be released in the UK on March 30th (I assume this means the North American date is March 31st).
Black Keys singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach has his first solo record, Keep It Hid, coming out on February 10th.
Pennsylvania-based experimental rock trio Akron/Family (even the name is experimental!) have announced the details of their new studio album. Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free will hit stores on May 5th.
In an interview with Pitchfork it was revealed that Pixies frontman and indie icon Frank Black has teamed up with his wife Violet Clark to release an album under the name Grand Duchy.
As two of the founding members of the trailblazing alternative country group The Jayhawks, Mark Olson and Gary Louris made some of the most memorable twang in indie rock. Ready For the Flood is the first collaboration between the two former bandmates since 1995.
You have your new album, Rebirth Of Venus comes out on February 10th. What can your fans expect from the new record?
Ben Lee: ITS PRETTY ECLECTIC AND COLLAGE STYLE POP. BIG CHORUSES AND LOTS OF HOPE MIXED WITH SOME CHAOS AND CORDUROY.
T.O. Snob: You’ve been at this music game for what must seem a lifetime now. Is the Rebirth Of Venus a rebirth of sorts for Ben Lee as well?
BL: EACH ALBUM FEELS LIKE SOMEWHAT OF A REBIRTH. I FALL PREY TO THE WHOLE "THIS IS THE BEST ALBUM I'VE EVER MADE!" SYNDROME THAT ALL MUSICIANS DO. THIS TIME IT FEELS LIKE I'M ONE STEP CLOSER TO AN AUTHENTICITY THAT I'VE ALWAYS SOUGHT IN MY MUSIC.
T.O. Snob: As someone who has been in the industry from a young teenager onwards, do you feel you missed out on any experiences that you may have had if you had more conventional teenage years?
BL: YEAH I PROBABLY MISSED OUT ON HAVING SOME MORE TIME OUT OF PUBLIC EARSHOT TO DEVELOP MY MUSIC. IT WAS ALOT OF PRESSURE TO BE OUT IN FRONT OF CRITICS AND CROWDS AT AN AGE WHERE I WAS NATURALLY SELF-CONSCIOUS AND INSECURE. THAT BEING SAID, I WAS QUITE MISERABLE LEADING A 'REGULAR LIFE' SO I WOULDN'T CHANGE THE WAY IT WENT DOWN. MUSIC PROVIDED A REAL OUTLET FOR ME.
T.O. Snob: Have your influences changed from when you began?
BL: I STILL LOVE JONATHAN RICHMAN SO NOT THAT MUCH HAS CHANGED! I GUESS THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT I STILL APPRECIATE LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS BUT NOWADAYS I DON'T FEEL THAT I NEED TO ABSORB EVERYTHING INTO MY MUSIC STYLISTICALLY. I'M QUITE HAPPY LISTENING TO SOME HEAVY DUDE ROCK WITHOUT FEELING THE NEED TO MAKE IT.
T.O. Snob: “Catch My Disease” was a breakthrough song for you, has that success changed you or your approach to songwriting?
BL: IT VALIDATED MY PROCESS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. YOU GET THOSE MOMENTS THAT MAKE YOU THINK "MAYBE I'M NOT CRAZY". BUT ULTIMATELY MY APPROACH HASN'T CHANGED THAT DRASTICALLY. I STILL LIKE BIG POP SONGS THAT ARE CATCHY BUT HAVE SOME INTELLIGENCE AND SOUL TO THEM.
T.O. Snob: In the past you’ve worked with Liz Phair, and the likes of Ben Folds and Ben Kweller as The Bens, if you could work with anyone in the future who would that be?
BL: I'D LOVE TO MAKE A KIDS RECORD WITH PATIENCE FROM THE GRATES.
T.O. Snob: Last year you released a song-for-song cover of Against Me!’s New Wave album. What made you pick that album and have you thought of doing others in the future?
BL: IT WAS VERY ORGANIC. I JUST LIKED THE ALBUM ALOT AND WAS EXCITED ABOUT INVESTIGATING IT FROM THE INSIDE. I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER DOING IT AGAIN BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A NATURAL FAN-BASED EXPERIENCE AGAIN, JUST LOVING AN ALBUM ENOUGH TO INSPIRE ME.
T.O. Snob: The cover album was released as a free download, how has technology affected or changed your approach to releasing music?
BL: INDIE-ROCK ALWAYS HAD LOTS OF UNCONVENTIONAL OUTLETS FOR RELEASING MUSIC WHETHER IT WAS TAPE-TRADING, SPLIT 7' SINGLES, SIDE PROJECTS ETC. TECHNOLOGY HAS JUST OPENED THE DOOR EVEN WIDER INTO CREATING MORE AVENUES TO KEEP YOUR CREATIVITY FLOWING.
T.O. Snob: You also penned the soundtrack for the movie The Square, but all the songs were sung by Jessica Chapnik. Do you find that you write differently knowing that someone else will be singing your songs?
BL: SOMETIMES. THERE AREN'T REALLY MANY RULES THAT I CAN DECODE ABOUT SONGWRITING. I TRY TO WRITE FROM A SENSE OF PURE INSPIRATION AND EXCITEMENT, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE PROJECT IS ABOUT.
T.O. Snob: What is your guiltiest musical pleasure?
BL: NO GUILT, ALL PLEASURE.
T.O. Snob: Have you ever heard a song and said “damn I wish I wrote that one”?
BL: LITHIUM BY NIRVANA.
T.O. Snob: You don’t hear yourself on the radio, is that really the way you like it?
BL: AT THIS POINT, I COULD GO EITHER WAY. I DON'T FEEL AS DESPERATELY IN NEED OF THE VALIDATION OF MASSIVE SUCCESS AS I ONCE DID. I HOPE PEOPLE THAT LIKE WHAT I DO GET INSPIRED.
T.O. Snob: Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to your fans in Toronto?
BL: LOVE TO T-DOT. SEE YOU SOON!
T.O. Snob: Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me. I wish you nothing but success in 2009.
BL: THANK YOU. SAME TO YOU.
As previously mentioned Marissa Nadler is releasing her new album Little Hells on March 3rd.
