U2 is releasing vinyl remasters some of their greatest albums, including Boy, October, War, The Joshua Tree and Under a Blood Red Sky. Most recently a vinyl remaster of The Unforgettable Fire was released, and Machine Gun Funk is giving away a copy to one lucky winner!

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Memphis-based rock band Skillet has a brand new album Awake (iTunes), and we have a copy of the CD as well as a signed poster to give away!
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LED ZEPPELIN, iTUNES TEAM UP FOR SPECIAL PREORDER OFFER, CONTEST

Last week, Apple announced that a special digital boxed set containing Led Zeppelin’s entire discography, The Complete Led Zeppelin, is now available for pre-order exclusively on the iTunes Store. The Complete Led Zeppelin is a 165-track collection of all 13 of the legendary group’s albums, including the new career-spanning Mothership retrospective, for only $99.

Led Zeppelin’s Mothership, a 24-track collection of the group’s best-known songs, hand-picked by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, is also available for pre-order. Touching on every studio album, the collection contains defining songs including “Whole Lotta Love”, “Rock and Roll” and “Kashmir”. In addition to The Complete Led Zeppelin and Mothership, the band’s entire catalog of songs and albums will also be available for individual purchase and download beginning Nov. 13.

Fans who pre-order The Complete Led Zeppelin or Mothership will be automatically entered to win a chance to see the band’s reunion performance at London’s O2 Arena on Nov. 26 as part of the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute. The winners will receive two tickets to the show, round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations.

Led Zeppelin Official Website and MySpace page

Led Zeppelin on iTunes
The Complete Led Zeppelin Box
Mothership
Concert sweepstakes

Led Zeppelin YouTube Contest
Enter here
Rules
Led Zeppelin YouTube group (where users’ sweepstakes entries will appear)

WIN AN EXCLUSIVE COPY OF JAMES BLUNT’S NEW ALBUM, ALL THE LOST SOULS

MachineGunFunk.com and Atlantic Records have teamed up to mark the release of James Blunt’s new album, All the Lost Souls, with an EXCLUSIVE contest! For a chance to win a copy, e-mail JF@machinegunfunk.com and put “James Blunt” in the subject line. A winner will be selected next Friday, Nov. 9.¹

The way James Blunt sees it, we may get older, but nothing changes much from elementary school. “We seem to be in exactly the same state as when I was 8 years old. In the school playground, children gossiped about who kissed who, who said what about who, who wasn’t cool because they weren’t wearing the right clothes. Now, on a global scale, people write about who kissed who, who said what, and who’s wearing what clothes.”

In the nearly three years since Blunt released his debut album, Back to Bedlam, it has sold 11 million worldwide, going No. 1 in 18 countries and top 10 in 35. A short list of his accomplishments includes being nominated for five Grammys, landing the first No. 1 single in the U.S. by a British act—since Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997″—with “You’re Beautiful [Editor's Note: The editor thinks that this song was immensely overrated and rather sucked, but I digress...] and winning two MTV Awards and two Brit Awards.

That seemingly sudden rush to global superstardom and the attendant experiences make up much of the lyrical content of his second Custard/Atlantic album, All the Lost Souls. The 10-song cycle about life—and death—shows tremendous growth from Back to Bedlam, which Blunt calls “a very honest, slightly naïve collection of thoughts, emotions, and experiences. I wrote them without any knowledge that anyone would hear them.”

This time around, he knows there’s an audience eager to hear his songs about the ups and downs of his journey. Blunt bristles at the notion that his now-lofty perch distances him from his listeners. “Just because I’ve been given the fickle title of celebrity, it doesn’t mean I’m any less human. I go through the same things, only my mother hears about them first now,” he says, laughingly referencing his frequent appearances in the tabloids.

Indeed, one listen to All the Lost Souls and it is clear Blunt is talking about what unites us, not what divides us. We all crave love, comfort, and security, especially in those times when they seem the hardest to find. Those intersections are the ones that interest Blunt the most, and on the new album he brings a focus, clarity and, at times, urgency to our travels.

“We go through this really amazing experience called life, and we’re trying to understand it and understand why the hell we’re here,” he says. “I really love life. I really enjoy it, but it does trouble me. And as it goes and it ticks by—it’s not very long—you kind of wonder what you’re going to get out of it, where to look for greater depth and meaning, and why we do the things we do to fill it. I think we all experience that.”

All the Lost Souls was found as James toured the world in support of Back to Bedlam. He wrote five songs while on the road, testing them before a very willing audience. When it came time to write the remaining songs, Blunt needed to get off the merry-go-round of the last few years and be still. In the summer of 2006, he retreated to Ibiza, off the coast of Spain. After the constant cacophony, the silence took some getting used to. “It was the first minute I had to stop and look around at what had really happened over the past three years and have a think about it,” he says.

James returned again to Ibiza last winter and received songwriting assistance from a most unlikely source: “Someone had stolen my boiler, so there was no heating,” he explains. “I was in the house wearing an overcoat, a hat, and fingerless gloves playing on the piano. The builder said I lived like a monk. When you’re cold, no one’s around, and you don’t speak the language, then you can write the songs: ‘This is a miserable experience.’ The songs I’d written in the summer, having just stepped out of a club, were much happier.”

Seeking some different flavors for the album, Blunt asked his publisher to pair him with “people who weren’t necessarily the obvious writers… to just free myself.” While James wrote the bulk of the album himself, his request led to collaborations with Mark Batson (Dr. Dre, Dave Matthews Band), Jimmy Hogarth (with whom he also wrote for Bedlam), Steve McEwan, Eg (cq) White and Max Martin.

Musically, the album draws much of its inspiration from great artists of the ’70s: “Fleetwood Mac, Don McLean, Elton John, maybe a touch of Steely Dan in there, and if I’m lucky, a bit of [David] Bowie,” he says, before cheekily adding, “and if I’m lying I might as well add Zeppelin as well.”

¹ Void where prohibited, which is nowhere, because all readers (regardless of country of residence) are eligible. The only exceptions are InsidePulse writers and their kin.

DAVE GAHAN CONTEST EXTENDED THROUGH NOVEMBER!

“I feel this record has been an amazing opportunity to push the artist in me,” says Dave Gahan of his second solo album, Hourglass. The record follows the Depeche Mode frontman’s acclaimed 2003 solo album, Paper Monsters, that marked his debut as a full-fledged songwriter.

MachineGunFunk.com and Mute Records have teamed up to mark the release of Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan’s new solo album, Hourglass, with an EXCLUSIVE contest! Win a Dave Gahan gift package—including a 12-inch double vinyl of Hourglass, a special CD/DVD pack of the album and a CD-single with EXCLUSIVE remixes! For a chance to win, e-mail JF@machinegunfunk.com and put “Dave Gahan” in the subject line. Three winners will be selected at random on Nov. 28.

www.davegahan.com
Dave Gahan @ MySpace
Music video for “Kingdom”

Entries will be accepted until Nov. 27, 2007, at 6PM EST. Void where prohibited, which is nowhere, because all readers (regardless of country of residence) are eligible. The only exceptions are InsidePulse writers and their kin.

WIN AN EXCLUSIVE DAVE GAHAN GIFT PACKAGE FROM MUTE RECORDS AND MACHINE GUN FUNK!

Win a Dave Gahan gift package—including a 12-inch vinyl, a special CD/DVD pack of the new album, Hourglass, and a CD-single with EXCLUSIVE remixes—here on MachineGunFunk.com, in an EXCLUSIVE giveaway! For a chance to win, e-mail JF@machinegunfunk.com and put “Dave Gahan” in the subject line.

“I feel this record has been an amazing opportunity to push the artist in me,” says Dave Gahan of his second solo album, Hourglass. The record follows the Depeche Mode frontman’s acclaimed 2003 solo album, Paper Monsters, that marked his debut as a full-fledged songwriter.

The album’s first single—the soaring and pulsating “Kingdom” gets remixed by Digitalism.

NEW SAUL WILLIAMS ALBUM PRODUCED BY TRENT REZNOR AVAILABLE AS FREE DOWNLOAD
Pre-Registration open now at SaulWilliams.com; DRM-free download available Nov. 1 for free or $5 artist contribution

The Fader Label, the recording branch of The Fader, today announced the release of the new recording by esteemed poet, artist and musician Saul Williams, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!. Produced by Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), the download will be available for free or for a $5 contribution to support the artist. There will be no additional options given for purchase of the album.

Musicane, a tool that enables artists to sell their music, will handle fulfillment, processing, bandwidth and customer service. Those who pay will have the opportunity to choose between three download formats: 192kbit/s MP3, 320kbit/s MP3 and Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC), a format that doesn’t remove any information from the audio stream—full CD quality. A full description of each file format with pros and cons will be available on the site. Those that don’t contribute will automatically get the192kbit/s MP3. All versions are 100% DRM-free and will include a PDF with artwork and lyrics. Williams’ fans will also be able to embed Musicane’s viral player on their own blogs or profiles, which will broadcast live-updated video messages from NiggyTardust and also contain the option to download or buy the album.

“The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! is the lovechild of Trent and me,” says Williams. “The Niggytardust concept sets me free to do more on stage with costume, etc. than one might expect from a regular Saul Williams show. It allows me to put my theatre training to use. I’ve also thought long and hard about all the discussion surrounding racial epithets, etc., and chose this title as a means of furthering the dialogue while also showing how creativity will outlive and outshine hatred of any kind.”

“Working on this project was a real pleasure,” says Reznor. “Saul was interested in breaking boundaries, crossing genres and defying expectations and we learned a great deal from one another in the process. After my own recent dealings with record labels we decided to release it directly to the fans. There are obvious similarities in how Radiohead just released their new record and the way we’ve chosen to. After thinking about this way too much, I feel we’ve improved upon their idea in a few profound ways that benefit the consumer.”

PAUL OAKENFOLD TO RELEASE GREATEST HITS & REMIXES
Available Oct. 23 via Perfecto/Ultra Records

The name Paul Oakenfold is synonymous with forward-thinking, cutting-edge electronic music. Few artists in any genre will ever have the degree of influence, power and creative flexibility that his undeniable force has had within the electronic realm. Ultra Records is proud to collaborate with this pioneer and his Perfecto label for the Oct. 23 release of Greatest Hits & Remixes, a 20-selection strong collection of his seminal dance recordings and remixes.

Paul Oakenfold’s Greatest Hits & Remixes celebrates the career of an artist whose combined releases have totaled almost two million in sales in the U.S. alone. Its track listing ranges from original productions such as his massive singles “Starry Eyed Surprise” as featured in a Diet Coke ad and “Ready Steady Go” from his debut artist album Bunkka to “Faster Kill Pussycat” featuring Brittany Murphy from its follow up A Lively Mind. In addition, there are remixes galore of artists like Justin Timberlake, Madonna, The Smashing Pumpkins and Underworld, and soundtrack pieces such as David Arnold’s “James Bond Theme” from the motion picture Die Another Day and Oakenfold’s “Dread Rock” from The Matrix Reloaded. Greatest Hits & Remixes also includes four brand-new exclusive remakes of Radiohead’s “Everything in Its Right Place”, Oakenfold’s “Southern Sun”, Everything But the Girl’s “Missing” and Mark Ronson’s “Stop Me”.

A deluxe edition of Greatest Hits & Remixes will be made available on the same day and will include a bonus documentary DVD about the life and times of the world’s defining DJ/Producer. Filmed in Ibiza, London and Los Angeles, the film gives fans a peek at the Grammy-nominated artists’ world including a private tour of the Chelsea soccer stadium in the U.K., his villa in exotic Ibiza and life at home in Los Angeles. Friends, business associates and family are also interviewed in the piece, providing a close look at what makes Paul Oakenfold tick.

In support of his Greatest Hits, Oakenfold will embark on a DJ tour across America throughout November. Beginning Nov. 6 in Scottsdale, Ariz., he’ll set out on a 13-city run of appearances making stops in cities such as New York City, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta and more. At each date, fans will get to experience the music featured on the album expertly mixed with Oakenfold’s current favorite tracks.

Click here for an EXCLUSIVE full-album sampler!

From scoring the movie Swordfish, to working with the Boston Pops Orchestra, to holding the claim in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s most popular DJ, Paul has never slowed, never wavered and continues to break new ground and be at the forefront of not only electronica but the music industry itself. Prior to becoming a world famous DJ and producer, Oakenfold served as an A&R consultant for Profile Records and Def Jam, where he signed artists including Salt N’ Pepa, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith.

The complete track listing for Paul Oakenfold’s Greatest Hits & Remixes is:

Oakenfold – “Starry Eyed Surprise”
Happy Mondays – “Step On” [Paul Oakenfold Rmx]
Massive Attack – “Unfinished Sympathy” [Perfecto Mx]
Radiohead – “Everything in Its Right Place” [Exclusive New Oakenfold 2008 Rmx]
Mark Ronson f/Daniel Merriweather – “Stop Me” [Exclusive New Oakenfold 2008 Rmx]
Justin Timberlake f/T.I. – “My Love” [Paul Oakenfold Rmx]
The Smashing Pumpkins – “Perfect” [Perfecto Mx]
Dirty Vegas – “Days Go By” [Paul Oakenfold Rmx Vocal]
Oakenfold – “Ready Steady Go”
David Arnold – “James Bond Theme” [Oakenfold Mx]
Oakenfold – “Dread Rock”
Paul Oakenfold presents Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force – “Planet Rock”
Olive – “You’re Not Alone” [Oakenfold & Osborne Rmx]
Oakenfold f/Brittany Murphy – “Faster Kill Pussycat 8 [Rmx]
Madonna – “Sorry” [Paul Oakenfold Rmx]
U2 – “Beautiful Day” [The Perfecto Mx]
Oakenfold – “Southern Sun” [Exclusive New Oakenfold 2008 Rmx]
Everything But the Girl – “Missing” [Exclusive New Oakenfold 2008 Rmx]
Hans Zimmer – “Jack Theme Suite” [Paul Oakenfold Mx]
Underworld – “Born Slippy NUXX” [Paul Oakenfold Mx]

Catch PAUL OAKENFOLD on his album support tour:

11/06 – Scottsdale, Ariz. @ Myst
11/08 – San Antonio, Texas @ Planeta Bar Rio
11/09 – Houston @ Planeta Bar Rio
11/10 – Dallas @ Lizard Lounge
11/13 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Play
11/15 – Orlando, Fla. @ Destiny
11/16 – St. Petersburg, Fla. @ State Theatre
11/17 – Miami @ Mansion
11/19 – Atlanta @ Opera
11/21 – Washington, D.C. @ Ibiza
11/22 – New York @ Pacha – NYC
11/23 – Pontiac, Mich. @ Clutch Cargo’s
11/24 – Chicago @ Vision

MARK FARINA RELEASES LIVE IN TOKYO
One legend, one night—live and unedited

Featuring 18 new and exclusive tracks from DJ Sneak, Greenskeepers and more!

“Mark Farina stands as one of the most innovative selectors of the past two decades.”
—Rolling Stone

Listen/Purchase from Om and enter to win a limited edition autographed bottle of Mark Farina Sake.

Download the free fan pack including the Mark Farina original track “Borders” and Om wallpaper.

RHINO CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF WILD STYLE
Re-release of groundbreaking film about the origins of hip-hop culture featuring old-school icons, available Oct. 23 from Rhino Entertainment

Filming on location in the South Bronx in 1982, director Charlie Ahearn captured a rare look at the true origins of hip-hop culture with his groundbreaking film Wild Style. Featuring appearances by such legendary and influential old-school giants as GRANDMASTER FLASH, FAB 5 FREDDY, COLD CRUSH BROTHERS, ROCK STEADY CREW and CHIEF ROCKER BUSY BEE, this groundbreaking film is recognized worldwide as the premier hip-hop film and was inducted by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 10 best rock ‘n’ roll movies of all time. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of this captivating time capsule, Rhino will release a special edition of the DVD expanded with new extras including a mini documentary, footage of a 20th anniversary concert, interviews and unreleased photos. Wild Style will be available Oct. 23 at all retail outlets and www.rhino.com for a suggested retail price of $14.95.

The DVD contains a digital transfer from the original 16mm film with commentary by director Ahearn and Fab 5 Freddy. Several extras debut on the special anniversary edition of Wild Style including a mini documentary featuring interviews with Fab 5 Freddy, Lee Quinones, Busy Bee, Lady Pink and Ahearn plus footage from the 20th anniversary concert held at the original amphitheater, a “Bongo Barbershop” DJ battle in the Bronx featuring Grand Master Caz, a new musical short with Busy Bee titled “Busy on the Beach”, scenes from the 25th Anniversary Wild Style Reunion Show and an expanded gallery with unreleased photos.

The film follows the exploits of maverick tagger Zoro (real life graffiti artist Lee Quinones), whose work attracts the attention of an East Village art fancier (Patti Astor) and is commissioned to paint the stage for a giant Rapper’s Convention. An authentic documentation of the early days of hip-hop in the boroughs of New York, everything in Wild Style is real—the story, style, characters and most of the actors, are drawn from the community.

The film shows many early hip-hop personalities in action before they went on to acquire national acclaim. Chief among these is Fab 5 Freddy, who hosted Yo! MTV Raps from its inception and plays the brash rap promoter Phade in the movie. Producer/director/writer Ahearn credits Freddy for the film’s vision of hip-hop as a unified culture. Wild Style may not have been the first movie featuring rappers, but was the first to link graffiti, break dancing, DJing and document the birth of hip-hop nation.

WILD STYLE: THE 25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
DVD Price: $14.95 U.S.
Street Date: 10/23/07
Total Running Time: +/- 142 Minutes
Distributor: WEA/Rhino
Rating: R

DVD EXTRAS:
A documentary short featuring footage from the 20th Anniversary concert and new interviews with: Fab 5 Freddy, Busy Bee, Lady Pink, Charlie Ahearn
Bongo Barbershop featuring Grandmaster Caz
Busy Bee interview
Expanded gallery with unreleased photos

Rolling Stone has Wild Style as the #7 music video of all time on their website.

Official site :: MySpace

IN CELEBRATION OF THE NEW DAVE GAHAN ALBUM RELEASE, FANS WILL BE TREATED TO A CD SIGNING AND LIVE PERFORMANCE IN NYC.
Depeche Mode singer returns Oct. 23 with Hourglass, via Mute/Virgin Records

“I feel this record has been an amazing opportunity to push the artist in me,” says DAVE GAHAN of his second solo album, Hourglass. The record follows the Depeche Mode frontman’s acclaimed 2003 solo album, Paper Monsters, that marked his debut as a full-fledged songwriter.

To celebrate this anticipated release, Dave Gahan will be performing LIVE at the Apple Store in Soho on Oct. 23, and will be on-hand at Best Buy on Oct. 24 to sign copies of the album.

The album’s first single—the soaring and pulsating “Kingdom” gets remixed by DIGITALISM.

Dave Gahan Hourglass CD signing at Best Buy in New York (at 529 5th Ave) on Oct. 24!
Come meet Dave at Best Buy (529 5th Ave) as he will be signing copies of his new CD Hourglass, starting at 6pm. Purchase Hourglass at this Best Buy location and receive a wristband (while supplies last) that will ensure your chance to meet Dave.

Dave Gahan – Live from Soho (New York City)! Apple Store Performance Tuesday, Oct. 23!
Dave will be performing songs from his new album Hourglass at the Apple Store in Soho, located at 103 Prince Street in New York, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 8pm. Fans will be admitted on a first-come-first-serve basis, so get there early to guarantee your admission. This show will be recorded and sold exclusively on iTunes at a later date!

“Kingdom” video
“Kingdom” maxi-single now on iTunes
Official site :: MySpace

UNKLE MAKES DEBUT AS LIVE BAND WITH FALL NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
Tour in support of third album, War Stories, released in July

Following a successful summer run of high-profile shows overseas including headlining the mainstage at Benacissim in Spain after Muse and the Glade Festival in Redding, U.K., UNKLE has announced it will come to North America this October for a short run of tour dates. Spearheaded by frontman JAMES LAVELLE, UNKLE for the first time ever will make its appearance as a live band. Utilizing guitars, bass, drums and synths set against a backdrop of intricate lights and LED screens for a one-of-a-kind audiovisual experience, UNKLE will perform material from their new album War Stories, as well as selections from the two previous UNKLE releases Never, Never, Land and Psyence Fiction.

The UNKLE tour on this continent will encapsulate six special engagements kicking off Oct. 18 at the legendary Webster Hall in New York City coinciding with the CMJ Music Marathon conference. Stops at Lees Palace in Toronto, Metro in Chicago, Echoplex in Los Angeles and Mezzanine in San Francisco follow. The trek will round out on October 28 in Las Vegas with UNKLE’s only U.S. festival show this year at the Vegoose Festival.

Released July 24 via James Lavelle’s newly formed Surrender All label, War Stories was co-produced by UNKLE and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE producer Chris Goss and marries UNKLE’s trademark sound with traditional rock influences to stunning effect. Special guest vocalists and players include Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), THE DUKE SPIRIT, 3D, AUTOLUX, Gavin Clark of new U.K. group CLAYHILL, PSYCHONAUTS‘ Pablo Clements, NADA SURF’s Matthew Caws and EAGLES OF DEATH METAL’s David Catching. Ian Astbury of THE CULT lends his voice to the album’s current single “Burn My Shadow”. The video for the song—starring actor Goran Visjnic—has been added to MTV and FUSE.

Tour dates:
10/18 – New York @ Webster Hall
10/19 – Toronto @ Lees Palace
10/20 – Chicago @ Metro
10/26 – Los Angeles @ Echoplex
10/27 – San Francisco @ Mezzanine
10/28 – Las Vegas @ Vegoose Festival

BLUE NOTE RECORDS, ACIDPLANET HOLDS FLORATONE REMIX CONTEST
Grand prize includes copy of Acid Pro, PSP, loop collections, Blue Note merch, more

In honor of Blue Note’s self-titled FLORATONE release, ACIDplanet has put together an amazing remix contest for pros and bedroom producers alike, boasting an impressive list of prizes to entice any music-maker.

ACIDplanet is honored to welcome Blue Note Records to the ACIDplanet community. Since 1939, Blue Note has been America’s leading jazz label, promoting bop and other progressive sounds by artists such as THELONIOUS MONK, SONNY ROLLINS, ART BLAKELY, JOHN COLTRANE and many other legendary musicians.

In keeping with their forward-thinking philosophy, Blue Note presents Floratone (Matt Chamberlain, Bill Frisell, Tucker Martine, Lee Townsend), and has provided the tracks from Floratone for remixing.

How to Enter:
Floratone Acid Planet Remix Contest Link

First, create your remix of Floratone. If you don’t already have ACID® software, download the free ACID XPRESSâ„¢ software. Next, download some of the loops. Using the ACID music creation software, paint the loops into your remix. When you’re finished, return to this page and click the “Upload My Entry” button. Upload your track, and you’ve entered the contest.

Grand Prize Includes:
1 Playstation Portable
ACID Pro
Sound Forge
Vegas Pro
Five (5) Premium Loop libraries
Five (5) Standard Loop libraries
$100 in Merchandise from Blue Note

Floratone Media Player:
http://www.bluenote.com/floratone
http://www.bluenote.com/floratone/index2.html

About the Release:
Floratone is a brilliant, groove-heavy album by a four-member collective of the same name that features the instrumental teamwork of drummer Matt Chamberlain and guitarist Bill Frisell with producers Tucker Martine and Lee Townsend serving as equally significant imaginative forces. An 11-song collection of original soundscapes, Floratone also features a superb support team of bassist Viktor Krauss, cornetist Ron Miles and violin/viola player Eyvind Kang.

The Floratone sound is, in the words of Townsend, “futuristic roots music,” at turns jazz-vibed, swamp-funky, intensely rocking, ambiently grooved. The music drips with grit, lopes with a sweet lyricism, bursts with surprising turns, sinks in with FX’d beauty. There’s an aesthetic of euphoric journey as well as a nasty get-down-and-move sensibility. While steeped in the past, Floratone is cutting-edge, teeming with rhythmically charged music for the now. The album also spotlights Frisell’s multifarious guitar voice that ranges from straight jazz in the vein of Wes Montgomery (on “Swamped”) to spiky metallic rock (on the grinding number “The Future”) to sound-washed atmospherics (on “The Wanderer”).

WIN A COPY OF U2′S POPMART LIVE IN MEXICO CITY DVD FROM MACHINE GUN FUNK AND UME!

Win a copy of the new U2 PopMart Live in Mexico City DVD, here on MachineGunFunk.com in an EXCLUSIVE giveaway! For a chance to win, e-mail JF@machinegunfunk.com and put “U2 DVD” in the subject line.

U2’s PopMart Live from Mexico City will be released on DVD on Sept. 18. Filmed at the Foro Sol Autodromo in Mexico City on Dec. 3, 1997, PopMart Live from Mexico City was directed by David Mallet and first released on video the following year; this is the first time it has been released on DVD.

Described as a sci-fi disco supermarket, the PopMart Tour opened in its “spiritual home”, Las Vegas on April 25, 1997. All trash and kitsch, PopMart introduced a giant mirrorball lemon, a 100-ft. cocktail stick—complete with olive—and the works of Lichtenstein, Warhol and Haring, to a live rock audience: a production experience never quite seen before.

Originally filmed on analog video, the film has been transferred to a digital format with re-graded and cleaned pictures. Great care has been taken to maintain the original look by simply enhancing it, with an added degree of sharpness and contrast unavailable when originally filmed. The audio has also been re-mastered and mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound.

PopMart Live from Mexico City will be available in two formats: a Standard 1-disc format containing the concert, and a special limited-edition 2-disc format, the second being a bonus disc containing previously unreleased live audio and video material, including documentaries, a PopMart tour visuals montage and DVD-ROM extras.

Popmart Live from Mexico City Approved Trailer:
http://ume.edgeboss.net/qtime/ume/u2/u2_livefrommexicocity-90-tvad-300k.mov

U2 Official Site:
http://www.u2.com

THURSDAY ANNOUNCES TOUR AND MORE IN SUPPORT OF KILL THE HOUSE LIGHTS DVD/CD
Headlining in intimate club setting

THURSDAY is getting back to basics for the Oct. 30 launch of their forthcoming CD/DVD, Kill the House Lights: Live and Unreleased, a celebration of their history as a band. Compiled from hours of footage showing a young and hungry New Jersey band, fans will be inundated between the various live footage, unreleased gems, interviews, videos, 3 brand new songs, B-sides, photo galleries and more in a documentary format sure to take you back in time.

What better way to celebrate this release than with an intimate club tour to coincide? A surprise mystery guest will accompany Thursday as main support, as will progressive punk band Circle Takes the Square. Pre-sale for shows begins today at 3 pm local time. Pre-sale tickets can be purchase at https://tixx1.artistarena.com/thursday/. Pre-sales for L.A., Chicago , Philly and Pomona are sold out!!

And as a gesture of good faith to their loyal fans, log onto www.absolutepunk.net and www.thursday.net right now for even more Thursday announcements.

All shows go on sale to the public on Sept. 14—check your local listings for more information.

Kill the House Lights Tour

Nov. 1 – Worcester, Mass. @ Palladium Upstairs
Nov. 2 – Baltimore @ Ottobar
Nov. 3 – Albany, N.Y. @ Revolution Hall
Nov. 4 – Philadelphia @ The Fillmore at the TLA
Nov. 6 – Detroit @ Magic Stick
Nov. 7 – Chicago @ Metro
Nov. 9 – Lawrence, Kan. @ Bottleneck
Nov. 10 – Denver @ Bluebird Theatre
Nov. 12 – San Francisco @ Slim’s
Nov. 13 – Pomona, Calif. @ Glasshouse
Nov. 14 – TBA

2K GAMES ANNOUNCES THE BIOSHOCK EP FEATURING PERIOD SONGS REMIXED BY MOBY AND OSCAR THE PUNK
Classic songs from the ‘40s and ‘50s get a futuristic makeover evoking the art deco-meets-sci-fi styling of BioShock’s underwater world

Win a BioShock XBox faceplace here on MachineGunFunk.com in an EXCLUSIVE giveaway! For a chance to win, e-mail JF@machinegunfunk.com and put “XBox” in the subject line.

2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today the upcoming release of an exclusive EP remixed by Moby and Oscar the Punk for its highly anticipated BioShock video game. The CD will be bundled with the GameStop and EB Canada exclusive limited-edition version of BioShock when the title launches on Aug. 21 for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows. The CD is also available as a pre-sale gift-with-purchase from video game retailer, Game Crazy.

The three remixed tracks on the CD include “Beyond the Sea”, “God Bless the Child” and “Wild Little Sisters”, variations of which appear in their original format in the game. Music luminaries Moby and Oscar the Punk have joined forces to remix them with the game’s atmosphere in mind.

“While these classic songs from the 40’s and 50’s evoke a happier time, they take on an eerie aesthetic in BioShock’s decaying art deco-designed underwater city of Rapture,” said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K Games. “Moby and Oscar the Punk have captured that disparity with these remixes and added a new spin to these indelible classics.”

Fans of the game and the music will be able to obtain the CD as part of the limited-edition version of BioShock, which also contains a figurine of one of the game’s hulking “Big Daddy” creatures, exclusive packaging and a behind-the-scenes DVD.

Developed by 2K Boston and 2K Australia, BioShock is a “genetically-enhanced” first-person shooter set in Rapture, an underwater art deco-inspired utopia torn apart by civil war. Caught between powerful forces and hunted down by genetically modified “splicers” and deadly security systems, players have to come to grips with a deadly, mysterious world filled with powerful technology and fascinating characters. To survive, players can turn everything they encounter into a weapon, biologically modify their body with plasmids, hack devices and security systems, upgrade weapons, craft new ammo variants and experiment with different battle techniques. No encounter ever plays out the same and no two gamers will play BioShock the same way.

BioShock is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB, and will be available on Aug. 21 in North America and Aug. 24 in Europe. For more information, visit the BioShock Web site at: www.BioShockGame.com, and the BioShock community site at www.TheCultofRapture.com.

EXCLUSIVE NICOLE SCHERZINGER ALBUM PREVIEW

Check out this sneak peek preview of the first single “Baby Love” (f/WILL.I.AM) from NICOLE SCHERZINGER’s upcoming CD Her Name Is Nicole. The album will be out everywhere on Nov. 6.

“Baby Love” (f/will.i.am) streaming audio

Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer from the multi-platinum selling pop group The Pussycat Dolls, recorded this irresistible pop ballad with the help of will.i.am, showcasing an impressive vocal performance that makes “Baby Love” an instant pop classic!

With the buzz building on her new album, Nicole Scherzinger is ready to show the world who the real Nicole is. So stay tuned because Her Name Is Nicole and she will soon make you her “Baby Love” before you know it!

For all things Nicole make sure to check out her official web site: www.HerNameIsNicole.com

SCION RELEASES VOLUME 18 OF MIX SERIES, FEATURING DARKO OF SPANK ROCK, NINJA TUNE RECORDS

Win it here on MachineGunFunk.com in an EXCLUSIVE giveaway! For a chance to win a copy of the latest Scion CD sampler, e-mail JF@machinegunfunk.com and put “Scion CD” in the subject line.

Scion’s commitment to artistic expression provides a platform for passionate musicians to focus on developing their art and exploring their endless possibilities. The promotional Sampler CD series on Scion’s Audio/Visual label highlights the best in cutting edge DJ talent and shines light on under-represented artists.

DJ Darko of Spank Rock, AKA Ronnie Darko, Darkness or Lord Darko presides over volume 18 in conjunction with innovative labels Ninja Tune, Big Dada and Counter Records. Previous mixes in the series have been curated by the likes of Cosmo Baker & DJ Ayers, DJ Cutler and Flosstradamus.

Darko is one half of the two-part DJ backbone that keeps Baltimore party hounds Spank Rock upright. The “hip-hop” collective, built around Devlin & Darko, CoolDisco MC Spankrock and producer XXXchange continues to set stages and body parts alight with its wildfire debut YoYoYoYoYoYo on Big Dada Recordings. Darkness is half-Scorpio, half-Libra and all-time snacker. He hates good people and loves good times.

Ninja Tune, Big Dada and Counter Records form a family of like-minded labels operated in London and Montréal since 1990. Renowned for challenging listeners on and off the dancefloor, Ninja Tune has set landmarks with artists such as Amon Tobin, Kid Koala and Coldcut; and Roots Manuva, Spank Rock, and Diplo on the Big Dada roster. The latest foray is into astral mathematics with Pop Levi’s debut on the new Counter imprint, marking the electronic and hip-hop labels’ resounding arrival in the rock canon.

To learn more about Scion Audio/Visual (SA/V), please visit www.scion.com/sav, where you can listen to exclusive promotional records.

To listen to this mix, previous mixes or check on future mixes in the Sampler series please visit:
www.Scion.com/culture/av/mix_cds

For more on DJ Darko:
Spankrock.net // ronniedarko.com // lorddarko.com

Mix CD Tracklisting:
01. Kid Koala – “Stoppin Traffic” / Kid Koala – “Party at Eric’s!” / The Herbaliser – “Geddim!!”
02. Coldcut – “Boogieman” / Ty – “This Here Music” / Hint – “You Little Trooper”
03. Spank Rock – “Backyard Betty”
04. Blockhead – “The Art of Walking” / Hexstatic – “Chase Me”
05. Coldcut feat. Roots Manuva – “Tru Skool”
06. Mr. Scruff – “Get A Move On” / Spank Rock – “What It Look Like”
07. DJ Food – “Dark Lady”
08. Amon Tobin – “Four Ton Mantis” / XXXchange – “Lady Huh”
09. TTC – “(Pas La Peine D’Appeler Je Ne Respons Pas Au) Telephone” / XXXchange – “Clint Instrumental”
10. Pop Levi – “Sugar Assault Me Now (Part 2)” / Spank Rock – “Competition”
11. Bonobo – “Nightlife (ZeroDB Reconstruction)” / Spank Rock – “Far Left (Mochipet Rmx)”
12. TTC – “Une Bande De Mecs Sympas”
13. The Herbaliser – “8 Men Strong (Intro)” / Sharkey feat. Zooks – “Darkness”
14. One Self – “Cupid Smiling That Smile”
15. Bonobo – “Days to Come”

GRAMMY WINNER DAN WILSON TO RELEASE SOLO DEBUT IN OCTOBER

Win it here on MachineGunFunk.com in an EXCLUSIVE giveaway! For a chance to win a copy of Free Life, e-mail JF@machinegunfunk.com and put “Dan Wilson CD” in the subject line.

Dan Wilson is poised for the release of his solo debut Free Life. Produced by Wilson, a Grammy-winning songwriter and former member of cult band Trip Shakespeare and the critically acclaimed group Semisonic, the album will be available Oct. 16 on American Recordings. Executive produced by label head Rick Rubin, Free Life features contributions from Sheryl Crow, Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) and Eric Fawcett (N.E.R.D.), among others.

Now working as a solo artist and collaborating with a collective of notable musicians from his home city of Minneapolis, Wilson earned a Song of the Year Grammy in February for his co-writing work on the Dixie Chick’s “Not Ready To Make Nice” from the album Taking the Long Way. He also contributed writing to six songs on the album, which won the Dixie Chicks a total of five Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and Country Album of the Year. Wilson has also collaborated with such acclaimed artists as Mike Doughty, Rachael Yamagata, Jewel, Jason Mraz and others.

Wilson’s first solo effort, Free Life, began as a self-produced project in the Twin Cities and was finished in Los Angeles by Wilson and Rubin, who enthusiastically agreed to help complete the record, saying of Wilson, “Dan’s music touches my soul. He is/has the perfect combination of inspiration and songcraft. He is a timeless artist whose music will feel as good in 50 years as it does today.”

The album features contributions by renowned artists from the worlds of pop, rock, country and bluegrass. Sheryl Crow provides harmony vocals on “Sugar”, Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) plays the finger-picked acoustic guitar on “Free Life” and Gary Louris (The Jayhawks) contributes a guitar solo on “Cry”. Furthermore, Eric Fawcett (N.E.R.D.) plays drums on a number of tracks and Benmont Tench (The Heartbreakers) provides piano on “Against History” and several others.

Wilson wrote the songs that would become Free Life while living in a house built in 1903, infusing the tracks with the spirit of their surroundings. Inspired by sheet music Wilson purchased at antique stores and a Neil Young biography emphasizing his insistence on live recording, the more open and unpredictable Free Life expands upon the more structured arrangements of Wilson’s previous work.

Following his tenure with Trip Shakespeare, Wilson rose to prominence as a founding member of the Minneapolis-based trio Semisonic. The band released its full-length debut Great Divide in 1996 and was launched to stardom with its second album, 1998’s Feeling Strangely Fine. The record produced the hit single “Closing Time”, which reached number one on Modern Rock charts and number nine on the Billboard Top 40 charts.

Official Site:
www.danwilsonmusic.com

MySpace Page:
www.myspace.com/danwilsonmusic

OMILLIO SPARKS ANNOUNCES THE “DJ TURN IT UP” REMIX/MASH-UP CONTEST

In anticipation of the new Omillio Sparks’ album, The Payback, which will be released on Aug. 28, 2007, via his own label, Colossal Entertainment (Koch), we are offering a contest to remix the new club-ready party anthem single “DJ Turn It Up”.

Here is your chance to remix the song and have it spun by some of the top DJs in the country. Included is the acapella of the song. Submit a remix or mash up the song and one winner will receive the following:

- Remix blast on the 1200Squad.com
- Remix featured on a future Cornerstone Mixtape
- Remix featured on Omillio Sparks MySpace page
- Gemini PS-626 mixer
- Yak Pak DJ Bag (fit for vinyl and Serato)
- V.I.P. pass to any upcoming Remix Hotel
- 10 runners up will win a free subscription to Remix magazine

Photos of the prize items located here: http://www.cornerstonepromotion.com/digitalcontest/omillio/index.html

All MP3s must be submitted to: omilliosparksremix@gmail.com.

All MP3 submissions can be only 192 kbps MP3 (no other file sizes will be accepted).
All entries due by Sept. 3, 2007.

Omillio Sparks MySpace: www.myspace.com/sparksmusic1

Omillio Sparks official site:
www.omilliosparks.com

Listen:
Omillio Sparks – “DJ Turn It Up” (audio):
http://h.zeitbyte.com/o1/cornerstone/omillio_sparks/dj_turn_up_128.asx

Download the acapella:
www.zshare.net/audio/30602085064f3e/

Sponsored by:
1200Squad.com
Remixmag.com
Geminidj.com
YakPak.com