Blog.WBRU

Hey there.  First thing, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Now onto the juicy stuff.  I’ve painstakingly compiled a list of bands who have announced upcoming albums due in the next 365 days, and I picked the ten with the most hype and that I’m most pumped for.  A few are long overdue, and some others are, well, riding the coattails of 2008 success.

10. Weezer Odds and Ends - Summer
I don’t really know how this one made the list, except that it might make up for the all-around mediocrity of their ‘08 release.  Odds and Ends is a collection of songs that didn’t quite make it onto other albums, so it’ll reach back to their early (and more successful) days of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Read the rest » »

The top story today is, of course, the nominees for the Grammys, which were announced last night. Coldplay’s up against M.I.A. for record of the year, and Coldplay is also nominated for pretty much everything else. Album of the year, Song of the Year—“Viva La Vida”—Best Rock Song, and, most surprisingly, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Apparently Chris Martin knows somebody who knows somebody. Full listing of who’s actually nominated after the jump. -EJ

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Announcing the next installment of WBRU’s monthly playlist - because turkey and mashed potatoes go best with a side of brand-new alt rock.

Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire

• After over the month at the top of our playlist, apparently Caleb Followill’s sex is still on fire. No word yet on whether or not he’s getting that checked out.

Coldplay - Lost!

• One of the best tracks from Coldplay’s latest LP that is finally getting some attention. The awesome percussion throughout should be enough to help you find your way back to this song no matter what else you’re listening to. Read the rest » »

After a week of numerous new releases, and before Christmas shopping (OK maybe not yet, but still), here is WBRU’s playlist of the month, full of all our favorite songs, for your own enjoyment!

Kings of Leon- Sex on Fire

• Although the lyrics are slightly repetitive, this is some great passionate alt-rock. If the guitars don’t get you jumping, then Caleb Followill’s voice will entrance you.

The Offspring- You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid

• What a comeback! After “Hammerhead”, the band hit the airwaves hard once again with their unchanging, inimitable, unforgiving style.

Weezer- Troublemaker

• Lead singer Rivers Cuomo said this song was heavily influenced by Eminem, but rock fan out there, do not fret : “Troublemaker” is so powerful you will want to make some of your own.

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Earlier this week, Weezer released their sixth album, The Red Album. This is their third “color” album – the title is not officially “The Red Album,” but the cover is red – and they have thus completed the spectrum of light our eyes perceive (isn’t that cool?). The album resembles the format of the previous two, with only ten songs and a simple album cover depicting the band in front of a flat color background.

But who cares about all of that; the music is what’s important.The Red Album is fluid alt-rock album with a surprising variety of musical styles mixed in. It opens with “Toublemaker,” a classic Weezer style song with a driving beat and a fun sound. Next up is a personal favorite of mine, “The Greatest Man that Ever Lived,” a pseudo-pretentious ballad with clever lyrics that leads you in several directions. The song takes you from the artificial live-sounding piano intro, leading straight into sirens sure to cause several diehard fans to crash their cars, into chants, falsettos and monologues. Read the rest » »

Weezer’s success for the single “Pork And Beans” is paying off for fans, as their label is pushing the release date of the self-titled “Red” album UP to June 3rd. However, the move is not effecting the deluxe edition of the disc which will remain available only digitally to start off with, before being released at a later date at retail.

Weezer now has a video for “Pork And Beans.” The video is expected to surface in the near future so look for that. -Nicky G with assistance from Metro

Curtis interviews Brian Bell of Weezer