Here we go once again… the season of “Best Of” lists! Here at SoundMojo I’ll throw my Top 20 Albums of 2008 into the never-ending pile of opinionated lists that inevitably feature a variation of the same 50 bands or so… Without further ado, here are the 20 albums that I enjoyed the most this year:
20. Metallica - Death Magnetic
It’s nowhere close to Metallica’s best album, but its Metallica back doing what they do best with long intro’s, long guitar solo’s and songs that are actually interesting! Finally.
19. Santogold -Santogold
Nothing this year sounded as varied as this album. Santogold had a bit of everything on this album and somehow it all sounds fantastic. An indie/new wave/rock/electro hybrid that does not disappoint. Check out LES Artistes.
18. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
Anthemic Scottish indie rock. Sad songs that make you want to raise your fists in the air. “The Modern Leper” is one of the best songs of the year.
17. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
I’ve had my complaints about Coldplay in the past… I was a fan of the first 2 albums, but things then took a turn for the worse… Chris Martin was in the spotlight as much as Bono and their music took a nose dive. Enter producer Brian Eno and whammy! the band has its creativity and inspiration back. Viva La Vida expanded their sound and still left it accessible to the masses… a great album from start to finish.
16. Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
Alright I’ll say it. Jack White is my hero. Consolers of the Lonely is a solid album of rock, hard rock, folk rock and garage rock. The band is somewhat of a side project from the White Stripes, but based on this album the Raconteurs are a force to be reckoned with and Jack could probably front another two bands.
15. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
While not as immediately grabbing as their 2005 debut, Wold Parade have crafted another classic album in At Mount Zoomer. The album does seem more mature, but everything you loved about Apologies to the Queen Mary is still there, its just a little harder to dig into. Once you do dig in, everything makes sense.
14. Constantines - Kensington Heights
This album seems to explode with the opening song of “Hard Feelings” and then steadily slow down with each progressing tune, but rest assured this is some of the steadiest songwriting the band has recorded. This band deserves to be much bigger than they are. “Trans Canada” is one of my favorite songs of the year.
13. Shearwater - Rook
Shearwater is made up of parts of Okervil River and Kingfisher, but based on this debut album the bands vision is unified and the creativity and potential seems huge. Dramatic and theatric vocals stand out, but the layered sound is equally as impressive.
12. The Verve - Forth
Another comeback album, this one was probably my most anticipated, and while not as spectacular is their older albums, Forth is pretty damn enjoyable. There was the obligatory single, “Love is Noise” which tried to recapture the mainstream glory of “Bittersweet Symphony”, and while the song was actually pretty good, it seemed a bit out of place on the album. More interesting were the psychadelic, spacey, guitar epics.
11. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
Americana music with great story telling. This album sounds like it was recorded in the mid 70’s and tracks like “Furr” and “God and Suicide” are some of my favorite songs of the year. Sometimes it doesn’t get much better than acoustic guitars and tall tales.
10. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
This was one of those albums that was buzzed about so much that I thought for sure I would hate it. Afro-pop infused indie rock from preppy college kids? Ya right… It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable albums of the year and probably one of the most unique debut albums in a while. Quirky songs and memorable vocals mixed with strong melodies, I guess the hype has to be right sometimes?
9. The War on Drugs - Wagonwheel Blues
For me this band came out of nowhere to be one of my most consistent listens all year long. With vocals that are a dead ringer for Dylan circa 1965 and melodies that will embed themselves in your head for days, I found this band incredibly interesting. With equal parts folk rock shuffle and shoegaze shimmer, I can’t wait to hear what these guys do next. Check out the song “Taking the Farm“.
8. Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
Comeback album #4 on this list… Ok, Oasis never really went away, but it seems that every album since “(Whats the Story) Morning Glory” has been a comeback album, and Dig Out Your Soul finally delivers. Gone are the acoustic guitars and blatant rips of classic tunes, but back is the intesity and confidence of a band that knows how to deliver rock and roll. Oasis won’t convert any new fans with this album, but they’ve realised that and its now one of their greatest strengths. Its also nice to hear Noel writing consistently and also have the rest of the band contribute quality tunes.
7. The Stills - Oceans Will Rise
The Stills have been up and down over the last few years. Their debut was acclaimed, the follow up was different and thus confused fans, so they had decisions to make for album 3. They either regress back to their initial post-punk sound, continue in the rootsy sound of their second album, or combine everything and hope for the best. I’ve enjoyed everything the band has released and thankfully they chose option 3. With Oceans Will Rise they’ve crafted an expansive album of sounds and styles that flows together very nicely. Check out “Hands on Fire” and “Everything I Build” for an idea of the bands current sound.
6. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
There is an interesting back story to this album that includes a secluded cabin in the woods, but I’ll let you look that up yourself. Whats important is that this is one of the prettiest albums of the year with falsetto vocals that should knock you flat. This is beautiful, melodic, acoustic-based music that you won’t soon forget. Listen to “Skinny Love” for an idea.
5. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Another album that rode the hype wave for a while before I finally listened to it. Another pleasant surprise. This one was hipster art students creating psychedelic electro indie-pop. Ya right again… wrong, awesome. The songs on this album are like an explosion of colour in your brain. Endlessly catchy, but at the same time interesting and layered this band is definitely on to something. “Time to Pretend” might be the song of the year.
4. Cut/Copy - In Ghost Colours
In Ghost Colours is an album that I slowly came to love over the year. One by one I would hear different songs on the album until I finally realized that all of them were fantastic. This is the best combination of Indie rock and Electro-dance music I’ve ever heard and fans of either genre would have no trouble getting into the album. Its like the band takes all the good parts of both genres and builds an exciting, creative and multi-dimensional style of their own. Check out “Feel the Love” or “So Haunted”.
3. The Black Keys - Attack and Release
God I love the Black Keys. Dirty, minimalist blues-rock from 2 dudes from Akron, Ohio that will make you wish you played guitar. Attack and Release sees the band fleshing out their sound with more texture and space as opposed to the blast of distortion that dominated their early music. Adding Gnarls Barkley mastermind Danger Mouse as the producer was a genius move and his hazy production elevates the Black Keys into new territory. A band that seemed so restricted by its 2 instrument delivery now seems like it has unlimited potential. Check out the song “I Got Mine“.
2. Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue
Is it possible for Montreal to continue producing such great bands at such a consistent rate? I was skeptical at first, but after one listen I was sold. Parc Avenue is a shambolic indie masterpiece of an album that takes cues from classic rock and progressive rock, folk and roots. Where this band goes next? I have no idea… but I’m looking forward to it. Check out songs like “Faerie Dance” and”Feedback in the Field” for an idea of the range on this album.
1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
What is there to say about this band. If you haven’t listened to them then you have no idea what your in for. The song “White Winter Hymnal” stopped me in my tracks. Upon hearing it I had to immediately had to stop everything and find out more about this band. With nothing but an earlier ‘08 EP, the band is brand new. The music sounds like its from another era and the vocal harmonies are so rich and beautiful it will blow your mind. The band is drawing from a multitude of Folk and Rock influences, but its takes a fresh and direct vocal approach that fills the album with such grandeur that its hard to believe this is a debut album. Like I said, what is there really to say… listen to “White Winter Hymnal” and you should get it.
Thats it! On to 2009. Some notable bands releasing albums next year include:
- Midlake
- Arctic Monkeys
- Superdrag
- Phoenix
- Muse
- Grizzly Bear
- Beirut
- The Strokes
Maybes: Arcade Fire, Wilco, Daft Punk???
I liked “The Day That Never Comes” on my first listen, but this song sounds even more awesome live. Hetfield and Hammet doubling guitar lines in an extended soloing intelude is sure to make any fan wet themselves in excitement:
Here is the first look at new Metallica music. The album, Death Magnetic, is apparently through the mixing stage and the band “could not contain themselves any longer”. On first impression it sounds a lot more like old Metallica than we’ve seen in recent years, which is very promising. Can’t wait to hear the entire album, check out “Cyanide”:
This is great! From UltimateGuitar.com:
Pearl Jam has commenced recording of its ninth studio album with producer Brendan O’Brien, guitarist Mike McCready told Seattle radio station KISW last Thursday (May 1). Though only “four or five” songs are complete so far, McCready said the band is hoping to release the record in 2008.
The new effort, a follow-up to its self-titled 2006 album, finds Pearl Jam reteaming with longtime producer Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against the Machine) for the first time since 1998’s “Yield.” O’Brien has produced Pearl Jam’s “Vs.” (1993), “Vitalogy” (1994) and “No Code.”
“Brendan works really fast,” bassist Jeff Ament has told Billboard.com. “He’s a super pro. I’ve always felt, working with him, that he understood me as a bass player and that’s not always easy. A lot of producers are there to please the singer. But I’ve always had a great rapport with him. I can tell him I want something to sound like the O’Jays or Led Zeppelin or PJ Harvey and he gets it.”
“We’ve always been friends,” said O’Brien. “They were great to me when we were making records together [before], and we still remained very good friends…. I still think they’re a great band. Eddie [Vedder] has one of the best, if not the best, voices out there. When he sings, people believe them.”
Pearl Jam is also about to embark on a 13-date East Coast tour that runs from June 11-30.
In an effort to support Portland, Ore., U.S. Senate candidate Steve Novick, the band has set aside special tickets to its sold-out shows in New York, Camden, N.J., and Washington, D.C., that include donations to Novick’s campaign. Novick donation tickets to the Washington, D.C., show include access to a meet-and-greet with guitarist Stone Gossard.
Last month, Gossard was among a group of musicians that also included R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, the Decemberists’ Colin Meloy, Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker and Spoon’s Britt Daniel who released a letter of support for the candidate.
Pearl Jam’s eponymous 2006 album peaked at No 2 on the Billboard 200 and lead single “World Wide Suicide” reached No. 1 on the Modern Rock chart.
Here are the Major category winners from last nights Grammy Awards (winners in Bold):
Record Of The Year
(Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s), if other than the artist.)Irreplaceable
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles, S. Smith & Stargate, producers; Jim Caruana, Jason Goldstein & Geoff Rice, engineers/mixers
Track from: B’Day
[Sony Urban Music/Columbia/Music World Productions]
The Pretender
Foo Fighters
Gil Norton, producer; Adrian Bushby & Rich Costey, engineers/mixers
[Roswell/RCA Records]
Umbrella
Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z
Kuk Harrell, Terius “The Dream” Nash & C. “Tricky” Stewart, producers; Kuk Harrell & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers
Track from: Good Girl Gone Bad
[Def Jam]
What Goes Around…Comes Around
Justin Timberlake
Nate (Danja) Hills, Timbaland & Justin Timberlake, producers; Jimmy Douglass & Timbaland, engineers/mixers
[Jive/Zomba]
Rehab
Amy Winehouse
Mark Ronson, producer; Tom Elmhirst, Vaughan Merrick, Dom Morley, Mark Ronson & Gabriel Roth, engineers/mixers
Track from: Back To Black
[Universal Republic Records]Category 2
Album Of The Year
(Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.)Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Foo Fighters
Gil Norton, producer; Adrian Bushby & Rich Costey, engineers/mixers; Brian Gardner, mastering engineer
[Roswell/RCA Records]
These Days
Vince Gill
John Anderson, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Diana Krall & The Del McCoury Band, featured artists; Vince Gill, John Hobbs & Justin Niebank, producers; Neal Cappellino & Justin Niebank, engineers/mixers; Adam Ayan, mastering engineer
[MCA Nashville]
River: The Joni Letters
Herbie Hancock
Leonard Cohen, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza & Tina Turner, featured artists; Herbie Hancock & Larry Klein, producers; Helik Hadar, engineer/mixer; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer
[Verve]
Graduation
Kanye West
Dwele, Lil Wayne, Mos Def & T-Pain, featured artists; Warryn “Baby Dubb” Campbell, Mike Dean, Eric Hudson, Brian “Allday” Miller, Nottz, Patrick “Plain Pat” Reynolds, Gee Roberson, Toomp & Kanye West, producers; Craig Bauer, Bruce Buechner, Andrew Dawson, Mike Dean, Anthony Kilhoffer, Greg Koller, Manny Marroquin, Nottz Raw, Tony Rey, Seiji Sekine, Paul Sheehy & D. Sloan, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
[Roc-A-Fella Records]
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
Mark Ronson & Salaam Remi, producers; Tom Elmhirst, Vaughan Merrick, Dom Morley, Gary Noble, Derek Pacuk, Matt Paul, Mark Ronson, Gabriel Roth & Franklin Socorro, engineers/mixers; Stuart Hawkes, mastering engineer
[Universal Republic Records]Category 3
Song Of The Year
(A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)Before He Cheats
Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
Track from: Some Hearts
[19 Recordings/Arista Nashville; Publishers: Big Loud Shirt Industries, Mighty Underdog Music/Sony/ATV Cross Keys]
Hey There Delilah
Tom Higgenson, songwriter (Plain White T’s)
Track from: Every Second Counts
[Hollywood Records/Fearless Records; Publisher: So Happy Publishing]
Like A Star
Corinne Bailey Rae, songwriter (Corinne Bailey Rae)
Track from: Corinne Bailey Rae
[Capitol Records; Publisher: Global Talent Publishing]
Rehab
Amy Winehouse, songwriter (Amy Winehouse)
Track from: Back To Black
[Universal Republic Records; Publisher: EMI Music Publishing]
Umbrella
Shawn Carter, Kuk Harrell, Terius “Dream” Nash & Christopher Stewart,
songwriters (Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z)
Track from: Good Girl Gone Bad
[Def Jam; Publisher: Peer Music]Category 4
Best New Artist
(For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.)Feist
Ledisi
Paramore
Taylor Swift
Amy Winehouse
Return to top of pageField 1 — Pop
Category 5
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)Candyman
Christina Aguilera
[RCA Records]
1234
Feist
Track from: The Reminder
[Cherry Tree / Interscope Records]
Big Girls Don’t Cry
Fergie
Track from: The Dutchess
[A&M Records]
Say It Right
Nelly Furtado
Track from: Loose
[Geffen]
Rehab
Amy Winehouse
Track from: Back To Black
[Universal Republic Records]Category 6
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)Everything
Michael Bublé
Track from: Call Me Irresponsible
[143 Records/Reprise]
Belief
John Mayer
Track from: The Village Sessions
[Columbia/Aware]
Dance Tonight
Paul McCartney
Track from: Memory Almost Full
[MPL/Hear Music]
Amazing
Seal
[Warner Bros.]
What Goes Around…Comes Around
Justin Timberlake
[Jive]Category 7
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
(For established duos or groups, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)(You Want To) Make A Memory
Bon Jovi
Track from: Lost Highway
[Island/Mercury]
Home
Daughtry
[RCA Records/19 Recordings]
Makes Me Wonder
Maroon 5
Track from: It Won’t Be Soon Before Long
[Octone/A&M Records]
Hey There Delilah
Plain White T’s
Track from: Every Second Counts
[Hollywood Records]
Window In The Skies
U2
Track from: U218 - Singles
[Interscope Records]Category 8
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)Steppin’ Out
Tony Bennett & Christina Aguilera
Track from: Duets: An American Classic
[Columbia]
Beautiful Liar
Beyoncé & Shakira
Track from: B’Day (Deluxe Edition)
[Columbia/Sony Urban]
Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
[Rounder Records]
The Sweet Escape
Gwen Stefani & Akon
Track from: The Sweet Escape
[Interscope Records]
Give It To Me
Timbaland Featuring Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake
Track from: Timbaland Presents: Shock Value
[Mosley/Blackground/Interscope Records]Category 9
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)Off The Grid
Beastie Boys
Track from: The Mix-Up
[Capitol Records]
Paris Sunrise #7
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Track from: Lifeline
[Virgin Records]
Over The Rainbow
Dave Koz
Track from: At The Movies
[Capitol Records]
One Week Last Summer
Joni Mitchell
Track from: Shine
[Hear Music]
Simple Pleasures
Spyro Gyra
Track from: Good To Go-Go
[Heads Up International]Category 10
Best Pop Instrumental Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)The Mix-Up
Beastie Boys
[Capitol Records]
Italia
Chris Botti
[Columbia]
At The Movies
Dave Koz
[Capitol/EMI]
Good To Go-Go
Spyro Gyra
[Heads Up International]
Roundtrip
Kirk Whalum
[Rendezvous Entertainment]Category 11
Best Pop Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)Lost Highway
Bon Jovi
[Island/Mercury]
The Reminder
Feist
[Cherry Tree/Interscope Records]
It Won’t Be Soon Before Long
Maroon 5
[Octone/A&M Records]
Memory Almost Full
Paul McCartney
[MPL/Hear Music]
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
[Universal Republic Records]
Damn I wish I was going to this concert… Let us all pray that Led Zep decides to do some sort of a tour in 2008. Here’s a quick primer for the reunion show in London tonight from Canoe.ca by way of Sun Media:
So, what can we expect from the band that redefined hard rock in the ’70s? Here are answers to the 10 burning questions surrounding the reunion:
1. When did they decide to play this concert?
On June 10, according to Rolling Stone. That was the day the three surviving Zep members and Jason Bonham gathered with instruments in a rehearsal space for the first time in 19 years.
“We had a very, very secret tryout in June — just to see if a) it was possible, and b) if anybody wanted to do it, to see if the will was there,” Jones told Sun Media. “And it was pretty exciting, I have to tell you. We made all the musical cues, and we were pretty hot. From that, we’re just taking it to a gig.
“We didn’t want to announce anything until we were sure … Also we knew that everyone would start speculating wildly about whatever may or may not happen.”
Bottom line: “We didn’t have to shake hands and say, well, at least we sort of know that it might not be a good idea,” Page told Sun Media. “It was quite the opposite. It was really exhilarating; it was really thrilling to be playing together again.”
2. Can Jason Bonham adequately fill in for Bonzo?
First off, John (Bonzo) Bonham is irreplaceable. Few now dispute he was rock’s greatest drummer. His drumming was so integral to the Zeppelin sound that the others instinctively knew the band could not continue without him.
His son, Jason, will fill in, just as he did at Zeppelin’s one-off reunion in 1988 for the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary bash, and again at Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1995.
“(Our) music is in Jason’s veins. There’s no one else you’d really want to be on stage if Jason is around to do it,” Page said. “He has been playing Led Zeppelin songs in a live situation since he was very young.”
Says Jones, “It has been fantastic playing with Jason, the few times that we’ve done it so far. He’s just absolutely amazing. He’s a really fine musician with a lot of similarities with his dad. But he’s his own man, and he hits hard — and really knows his stuff.”
Bottom line: As Jones said, “He grew up with Zeppelin music in more ways than one, and he was taught drums by his dad. What could be better?”
3. Has Jimmy Page recovered from his broken finger?
Presumably. Still, there are concerns.
Anyone who has tried to play guitar coming off a broken finger can tell you how difficult and painful it can be to play. That must especially be so if you’re attempting Jimmy Page’s Led Zeppelin solos.
What’s more, the Riff King is 63 and hasn’t played an important live gig in eight years (when he toured with the Black Crowes); he played poorly at the previously Zep reunion gigs; and the U.K. Sun two weeks ago reported that he “is a bit rusty.”
Yet it’s hard to imagine Page would risk undermining his or Zeppelin’s legacy with an embarrassing performance. The whole point of this show, according to Plant, is to make up for the substandard reunion one-off performances of the past. And, grey hair and all, Page looks healthier now with a Les Paul slung over his shoulder than he has since 1975.
Bottom line: Expect Page to be on his game.
4. Can Robert Plant still hit the high notes?
Not all of them. Enough of them? We’ll see. This is as crucial to the Zeppelin sound as anything.
Any devout Zep fan who has heard bootleg recordings of Zep concerts through the ’70s can tell you that it was after the 1972 tour that Plant stopped singing most high-range songs from the first few albums. Plant once said he had throat surgery in 1973. Seems his vocal ceiling was forever lowered.
For what it’s worth, two weeks ago the U.K. Sun reported that “Robert has been struggling with the high notes. To avoid any embarrassing vocal wobbles with the world watching, they decided it would be best to transpose the songs in a lower key,” the report said.
Bottom line: They won’t be playing Communication Breakdown.
5. What songs will they play?
They’re not saying. Well, not really.
“We’re trying to make it a surprise,” Jones said. “We don’t want to give it all away. We played kind of the normal songs at the rehearsal, but we don’t want to say too much about that.”
Will there be some acoustic, or atypical songs attempted from the back corners of the Zeppelin catalogue?
“More than likely,” Page told Sun Media in October. “We’ve got a blueprint (of a setlist). Now it’s time to start constructing.”
Bottom line: Fans will instantly recognize most, if not all, of the songs Zep plays.
6. Will there be backing musicians?
“No, you’ve got to be joking,” Jones said. “We’ve never needed to do that.”
Ah, but Plant felt he needed to do that for his musical reunion with Page in the 1990s. Apparently, the only way he could stomach singing Zep songs again with Page for their Unledded and Walking into Clarksdale tours in the ’90s was if they dragged those songs to the precipice of unrecognizability, with the aid of literally dozens of eclectic musicians — one of whose names could not be John Paul Jones. Thus, no one could accuse Plant of reforming Led Zeppelin, or reliving the past, or rehashing old musical ground.
“The whole process of that Unledded thing was just, you know, involving other sorts of (musical) colours, if you like,” Page told Sun Media. “The hurdy gurdy player … the Egyptian musicians. (It) was a kaleidoscope. But this is getting right down to the nitty gritty. I never felt comfortable with people filling in.”
Oh, and whatever songs they do play, don’t expect any half-hour-long improv “stretch-outs” because, as Jones said, “we want to get in as many songs as we can.”
Bottom line: There will be three members of Led Zeppelin along with the fourth member’s son playing Zeppelin songs that “are going to be extremely recognizable,” Jones said.
7. Have they mended their fences?
Page, Plant and Jones have had their run-ins and tiffs over the years.
Time, though, is the great leveller.
“Everything’s cleared up, and we’re just concentrating on the music now,” Jones said in October. “There are lots of personalities in this band. We’ve been together for an awfully long time. Everything’s settled.”
Bottom line: It’s about time.
8. Will the concert be shown live on TV of the Internet?
No. And there are no plans in the works even to make a DVD of the event, Jones told Sun Media.
Speculation is, if the band has an off night, they won’t want the world to ever see it.
But, like life at Jurassic Park, Zep fans find a way. Any number of tech-savvy fans in the crowd likely will be holding up cell phones and streaming their video live to the web.
Bottom line: Best of luck trolling the Net tomorrow at about 4 p.m. EST, 3 p.m. CST or 2 p.m. MST.
9. Is this show a prelude to a new album, or a 2008 tour?
Who knows. There’s plenty of smoke on that front but no fire yet.
Regarding new material, Page told Sun Media he’d be surprised if they don’t come up “with all manner of things” at rehearsals. “I mean, that’s what it’s all about. But as far as it going any further, I don’t know.”
Regarding a tour, it was at a club show in Cincinnati last month that the frontman for The Cult, Ian Astbury, told fans his band would be back next year, opening for Zep.
And just this week, an Internet report claimed Zep will play its first U.S. show since 1977 at the eclectic Bonnaroo summer festival in Manchester, Tenn.
Officially, the band’s management says “no decision has been made” on a 2008 tour.
Bottom line: “Basically, we are concentrating on this show,” Jones told Sun Media. “That’s where all the energy is going. I mean, who knows, but one step at a time.”
10. Are they as arrogant as ever?
You betcha. Supreme confidence is what drove that band, as much as anything.
It was in 1975 that Plant famously crowed: “It’s not just that we think we are the best group in the world. We think we are so much better than whoever is number two.”
Fast-forward to last month, and Plant’s opinion hasn’t changed a drop. “We weren’t in competition with anybody,” he told Uncut. “We were Led Zeppelin. We were, at that time, the biggest band in the world. There wasn’t anyone else. There was no one near us. We were out there on our own.”
Bottom line: He’s right.
Ever heard of Santogold or Brett Dennen? Well you might soon… get a head start and check out Rolling Stones choices for “bands to watch” in 2008. I don’t always agree with RS, but you can always find 1 or 2 new bands in these things that suite your tastes… Check it out HERE
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