Gil Scott-Heron is one of the most influential and important singer/songwriters to have come out of America in the second half of the last century. Much can be said about why this Gil's lyrics are so original and powerful but ,it is important not to overlook his utterly singular voice which is so distinctive and rough and tender. It is a voice of experience.A new record from Gil Scott-Heron, forty years after his first solo album, is a cause for major celebration and something that the world needs now more than ever.

Was reading a Brit website as to bands to watch for 2010, and this band was mentioned. Actually liked this single.

I like it too. There's definitely a Housemartins influence there. Thanks for the info.

Earlier this week, Wilco announced a monster international tour that'll keep them good and busy up through May. But even with all those travel plans ahead of him, frontman Jeff Tweedy has another big project in the works. Billboard reports (via TwentyFourBit) that Tweedy is currently working on an album with Chicago soul/gospel deity Mavis Staples.

According to Billboard, Tweedy and Staples are working together at Wilco's Chicago studio, the Wilco Loft. And they've recruited a couple of other high-wattage singers to join the sessions: Nora O'Connor and Kelly Hogan, who have worked with Neko Case. The album should come out on Anti- this year.

this just shot up the list:

I've always loved his take on spirituality, and it would be great to hear his take put along side with her take. Could be amazing.

I'm really hoping The Long Winters crank out something new this year.

Joe Pug :: Messenger

On Isbell's Lightning Rod Records. 2/16

A new Besnard Lakes album on Feb 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome.

new slobberbone? OHG?

Me and JAGGEG were in agreement last night that The Helio Sequence seems loooooooooong overdue for a new album.

The Cure’s ‘Disintegration’ gets 3CD deluxe reissue in 2010, plus ‘In Orange’ on DVD

The Cure will reissue its 1989 masterwork Disintegration in an expanded and remastered 3CD edition next spring, Robert Smith announced today, the first salvo in what appears to be a flood of new archival releases from the legendary band — including the first-ever DVD release of 1987’s long-out-of-print “In Orange” concert film.
Squelching concerns — noted on this site, and others — that the Cure’s reissue program was in trouble, Smith announced on the band’s Web site that the new edition of Disintegration will be released in a triple-disc expanded edition, as well as single-CD and double-vinyl formats, “worldwide in spring 2010 on Universal and Rhino.” UPDATE 12/22/09: Release date delayed until March 16.

Like the previous Cure reissues, the album will feature a second disc with Smith’s home and studio demos for the album; the Disintegration rarities disc features 20 songs recorded in 1988 and 1989, including album cuts and b-sides, plus previously unreleased tracks “Noheart,” “Esten” and “Delirious Night” (Smith’s post lists his solo cover of Wendy Waldman’s “Pirate Ships” — originally recorded for Elektra Records’ Rubáiyát compilation— as previously unreleased, but he did offer it up as a download on the band’s Web site a few years ago). (See full tracklist below.)

The third disc, labled Entreat Plus, features an expanded, 12-track edition of that 1990 live album, fleshed out to include live versions of each song off Disintegration, assembled in order, from a concert at London’s Wembley Arena in 1989.

Smith explains that the single CD and double vinyl only will feature the remastered 12-track album (it’s worth noting that Disintegration originally was released on vinyl as a single record without so-called “bonus tracks” “Last Dance” and “Homesick”). The Cure frontman also writes that “it is likely a remastered version of the original eight-track Entreat live album will be made available online.”

But most tantalizing to fans is Smith’s sign-off: “There will be a lot more remastered Cure stuff in 2010… including Mixed Up 2…” (apparently a sequel to the 1990 remix album) as well as “The Cure @ The BBC box set… ‘In Orange’ and (1993 concert film) ‘Show’

Tracklist: The Cure, Disintegartion: Deluxe Edition

Disc 1: Disintegration

1. “Plainsong”
2. “Pictures Of You”
3. “Closedown”
4. “Lovesong”
5. “Last Dance”
6. “Lullaby”
7. “Fascination Street”
8. “Prayers For Rain”
9. “The Same Deep Water As You”
10. “Disintegration”
11. “Homesick”
12. “Untitled”

Disc 2: Rarities (1988-1989)

1. “Prayers For Rain” rs Home Demo (instrumental) 04/88
2. “Pictures Of You” rs Home Demo (instrumental) 04/88
3. “Fascination Street” rs Home Demo (instrumental) 04/88
4. “Homesick” band Rehearsal (instrumental) 06/88
5. “Fear Of Ghosts” band Rehearsal (instrumental) 06/88
6. “Noheart” band Rehearsal (instrumental) 06/88*
7. “Esten” band Demo (instrumental) 09/88*
8. “Closedown” band Demo (instrumental) 09/88
9. “Lovesong” band Demo (instrumental) 09/88
10. “2late (alt Version)” band Demo (instrumental) 09/88
11. “The Same Deep Water As You” band Demo (instrumental) 09/88
12. “Disintegration” band Demo (instrumental) 09/88
13. “Untitled (alt Version)” studio Rough (instrumental) 11/88
14. “Babble (alt Version)” studio Rough (instrumental) 11/88
15. “Plainsong” studio Rough (guide Vocal) 11/88
16. “Last Dance” studio Rough (guide Vocal) 11/88
17. “Lullaby” studio Rough (guide Vocal) 11/88
18. “Out Of Mind” studio Rough (guide Vocal) 11/88
19. “Delirious Night” rough Mix (vocal) 12/88*
20. “Pirate Ships” (rs Solo) Rough Mix (vocal) 12/89*

All previously unreleased versions
(*Previously unreleased song)

Disc 3: Entreat Plus

1. “Plainsong”*
2. “Pictures Of You”
3. “Closedown”
4. “Lovesong”*
5. “Last Dance”
6. “Lullaby”*
7. “Fascination Street”
8. “Prayers For Rain”
9. “The Same Deep Water As You”*
10. “Disintegration”
11. “Homesick”
12. “Untitled”

Recorded live at Wembley Arena 1989; remixed by Rs 2009
(*Previously unreleased performance)

Swedish folk singer Kristian Matsson, who calls himself the Tallest Man on Earth, released his spare, eerie, home-recorded debut album Shallow Grave in 2008, and it ended up making our year-end list. Now, he has signed with Midwestern indie Dead Oceans.

On April 13, Dead Oceans will release The Wild Hunt, the sophomore Tallest Man album. Below, you can download and stream first single "King of Spain", and check out the Wild Hunt tracklist. This February and March, Matsson will tour Europe, and American dates will follow.

It's official. Josh's eagerly awaited new album, So Runs the World Away, will be released in Ireland on April 23rd, and on May 4th in the USA and rest of the world.

But you can hear - and have - a piece of it now, as Josh is offering up one of the tracks, "Change of Time," as a free mp3 download. Visit http://www.joshritter.com/sorunstheworldaway.

A note from Josh...

"So Runs the World Away" took me over a year to make. I'm proud of the fact that I've never recorded a song for a record that I didn't believe in absolutely and that didn't feel, in its writing, recording, and performance, like a moment of real inspiration. I love the songs on this record so much, and my thanks go to my incredible and talented band, my family, and my family of listeners wherever they may be in this fast-spinning world.

All my very best, and see you soon!
Josh

New addition - hopefully something from TSAR. The original lineup ( responsible for one of my Top 10 Albums Of All Time ) reunited last month.

whoa.

Good whoa, of bad whoa?

If good - http://www.tsarmy.com ( & sign up at the forum ) .