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Rockin’ Out in Kuala Lumpur

Author:Alan Cross | Mar 11 2010 12:00AM

There’s a famous story from back in the 70s where Led Zeppelin was refused entry into Singapore because their hair was too long.


Filed Under: Ongoing History of New Music

Born Ruffians: "Sole Brother"

Author:Adam Morrison | Mar 11 2010 12:00AM

Three-piece rock band Born Ruffians moved from Midland, Ontario to Toronto in 2004.


Filed Under: Indie Track

Track-by-Track: Crash Karma Talk Us Through Their New Album – Live from ExploreMusic!

Author:Nathalia Ribeiro | Mar 3 2010 1:30PM
Updated: Mar 10 2010 3:40PM

Coming up your chance to chat live with the guys from Crash Karma as ExploreMusic’s Alan Cross and the band guide us through the new (self-titled) album track-by-track.


Filed Under: Exclusive!

Smashing Pumpkins: "Help Wanted"

Author:Adam Morrison | Mar 10 2010 3:10PM

Ginger Pooley has left the band to raise her new baby with her husband, and Billy Corgan is looking for a new bassist via an open audition process.


Filed Under: News

Phoenix Music Is Now Part of the Curriculum

Author:Alan Cross | Mar 10 2010 3:00PM

Few people expected France’s Phoenix to do so well when they issued their Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix album last summer.


Filed Under: Video

OK Go Leaves EMI

Author:Alan Cross | Mar 10 2010 1:10PM

After all the rumblings, you had a feeling that things weren’t going well between OK Go and their label. At 12:03 this afternoon, this popped into my inbox.


Filed Under: News

Weekly CD Sales Report

Author:Alan Cross | Mar 10 2010 1:00PM

First, the good news: album sales are up 15% over the last week as everyone stopped watching the Olympics and started buying music again.


Filed Under: News

And While We’re On the Subject of Vinyl and Turntables...

Author:Alan Cross | Mar 10 2010 12:00PM

...why not have a look at some of these beauties manufactured by a company in Florida? I’m sure they’re all extremely functional, but they’re more works of art than anything.


Filed Under: Essential Reading

Here’s The Deal: Alkaline Trio, Stone Temple Pilots, MGMT

Author:Alan Cross | Mar 10 2010 11:20AM

Alkaline Trio releases a new album on their own lable, STP makes us feel like it’s 1994, and MGMT has an interesting new single.


Filed Under: ExploreMusic Radio

The Vinyl Renaissance Continues

Author:Alan Cross | Mar 10 2010 11:00AM

Sales of old-fashioned albums rose by more than five per cent last year, figures from the Official UK Charts Company showed.


Filed Under: Essential Reading

7 Song Recommendations for Wed March Tenth

Author:Jeff Woods | Mar 10 2010 10:50AM
Updated: Mar 10 2010 11:00AM


Filed Under: Legends of Classic Rock

Five Songs You Gotta Hear for March 10 2010

Author:Nathalia Ribeiro | Mar 10 2010 10:00AM

With literally hundreds of bands playing Canadian Music Week starting today, we’re trying to offer some highlights to help you put together a customized gig guide.


Filed Under: ExploreMusic Radio

Music Recommendations from Net@Night Appearance

Author:Alan Cross | Mar 10 2010 8:00AM

Last Monday, Amber McArthur and Leo Laporte were kind of enough to invited me on the Net@Night podcast to talk about what we’re doing here at ExploreMusic.


Filed Under: Essential Reading

Banned by SNL

Author:Alan Cross | Mar 10 2010 12:00AM

What do Elvis Costello, Sinead O'Connor and Rage Against the Machine have in common? They've all given the producers of Saturday Night Live fits.


Filed Under: Ongoing History of New Music

5 Songs You Gotta Hear Today
  1. The Dillinger Escape Plan

    Farewell, Mona Lisa

    Warning to guests with heart conditions: the ride begins as soon as you take your seat, and there ARE twists on the track. Preorder Option Paralysis on your way out.

    Sounds like Psyopus, Botch, Converge
  2. Animals as Leaders

    Tempting Time

    Tosin Abasi makes use of all eight strings on his guitar. Experimental, progressive, and some of the best songwriting in the instrumental metal genre.

    Sounds like Chimp Spanner, Cloudkicker, Scale the Summit with some programming
  3. Bastard Child Death Cult

    Radio Silence

    Ripping, rocking, raging, thrashing, 80s-inspired hardcore punk from Toronto. Band features former members of Monster Voodoo Death Cult, Cancer Bats, Damn 13, Soul Storm, and Hell Yeah F*** Yeah.

    Sounds like Black Flag, Cancer Bats, The Bronx
  4. Monogrenade

    Ce Soir

    C'est le band's cool premier video. The music is sung entirely in French.

    Sounds like the soundtrack to a magical Montreal soir.
  5. The Speaking Tongues

    Run to my Door

    Garage rock plus Mississippi boogie made by two guys in Toronto. Their Wild Sound CD is both "newly mastered" and "fully bad ass."

    Sounds like The White Stripes, Black Keys, John Lee Hooker
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Peter Gabriel
Scratch My Back

With eight years having passed since his
last album (Up, 2002), fans might have reasonably expected some new music by now. Instead, Gabriel, always one to confound, has released an album featuring nothing of covers. He’s re-imagined twelve of the songs he admires most from Bowie to Radiohead and the Talking Heads to Arcade Fire, all without the benefit of guitars or drums. Don’t scoff. It works, and very well too.