30 Seconds To Mars

While it seemed that struggles with their record label would lead to the end of 30 Seconds to Mars, the Los Angeles-based rock band made sure that this wouldn't get them down and marched on to record and release 'This Is War' in 2009. Following 2005's 'A Beautiful Lie,' the new album showed fans just how much the band has grown over the years and that they still had something to say.

"It's an accurate depiction of the interests we have at this time in our life," 30 Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto told Spinner when the band stopped by our NYC studio. "It's really what we wanted to say in musical terms, and that's what's great about making music -- you have an opportunity to redefine, rediscover, to reinvent, and we're really excited about the songs."

Taking two years to record the album, the band didn't only just lock themselves up in the Hollywood hills and write songs, but they also invited fans to sing on the album when the band hosted its "Summit" last year. With more than 701,000 MySpace friends and over 79,000 followers on Twitter, the band is more than thankful for the dedicated fanbase they've had over the years.

"I suppose, when you think about the fans, the audience around the world, it's like this amazing dysfunctional family -- just a sense of gratitude and awe, respect, pride, a lot of great people around the world that we've been able to share this journey with," Leto said. "We're very blessed."

The band is currently on their world tour, 'Into the Wild,' which kicked off in the UK in February. However, there's one city in particular that the Leto is very excited about. "It's the biggest tour we've ever done," he said. "We've sold out Wembley arena, and those milestones are really just a lot of fun. It's surreal that we're playing these legendary places."

With three albums under their belt and sold-out shows all over the world, 30 Seconds to Mars aren't doing too shabby. But there's one still on thing they'd like to do. "I would really like to hear Barack Obama on a 30 Seconds to Mars song," Leto says. "He's got the voice. He's got the timbre."

Preview to Soundwave Festival 2010 – Sydney

Well T-minus 8 days to Soundwave Festival 2010, the premier punk, rock, metal and emo showcase of the best acts from Australia and around the world. We've all seen the timetable and after months of speculation and changes I bring you the bands that I will be attending. Some that I wish I could attend and setlists of them, well at least hopeful setlists!

Soundwave Timetable

Phrazes For The Young - Julian Casablancas

With no new output forthcoming from The Strokes just yet, fans are having to settle for the numerous side projects, the most anticipated of which is surely the debut solo offering from frontman and creative driving force, Julian Casablancas. Opening song, Out Of The Blue, illustrates a dichotomy that occurs throughout, as cynical lyrics disguise what is actually a musically celebratory and largely radio-friendly album. "Somewhere along the way, my hopefulness turned to sadness/ Somewhere along the way, my sadness turned to bitterness," Casablancas grumbles in his deliciously languid slur. But, just when the tone seems to have been set, he leaps into a rousing, joyous chorus. Phrazes For The Young oftens references the '80s. The synth-drenched Left And Right In The Dark even threatens to burst into Ultravox's Dancing With Tears In My Eyes before reining itself in and ending like something from Strokes' debut It This It.

With eight tracks totalling 40 minutes, the album could have done with some fat-trimming and one senses there may ahve been a handful of three-minute pop classics here had Casablancas shown more self-discipline. This is a minor quibble though and there are enough surprising left turns to keep things interesting, like the laid-back soul of 4 Chords Of The Apocalypse and the country influenced Ludlow St. While such deparatures validate Casablancas' side project as worthwhile and necessary, the songs that fall closer to that distinctive Strokes sound are actually the highlights. So, no matter how good Phrazes For The Young might be - and it is good - it ultimately leaves the listener longing for a new Strokes album. Still, as a stopgap, this'll do nicely.

6.5/10

Never Cry Another Tear - Bad Lieutenant

Having offered some pretty unremarkable non-New Order projects in the past, Bernard Summer is abck to have another stab at things within Peter Hook, now that New Order have split for surely the last time.

Aside from the lack of Hooky's bass lines, Never Cry... inevitably sounds a lit like New Order, but offers more straightforward guitar rock and debuts new vocalist Jake Evans, who shares lead duties with The Seahorses. At its best, it's Noel Gallagher on a bad day. Thankfully, Summer's vocal, as always, is great. It's hard to pinpoint what makes it so special. Maybe it's the way he manages to sound effortless, remote and yet slightly strained all at once, while injecting tiny fragments of emotion. Regardless, his iconic voice is one of the few shining lights here. Lyrics are occasionally a problem though. Summer has never been an especially challenging lyricist and while in the past there was a certain charm to the simplicity of his words, here his wordplay comes across as cliched and lazy. This is Home boasts gems like, "Gonna take you higher than a bird can fly/ Girl I'm so in love with you/ Don't even think that it is true."

Some songs here ware better than latter-day New Order, but that's not saying much. Never Cry... is not a terrible record, but it feels like Summer could have churneed this out in his sleep.

The Essence of Punk Rock

In my eyes, Punk is the ANTI-Genre, or ANTI-Trend if u will… It started with the Ramones and Sex Pistols… until then, bands were generally the same when it came to the apparel… These 2 bands broke the trend and dressed up like bad-asses… Punk was born Punk lost it’s direction when people started considering it a Genre that had certain criteria… Punk is not a trend… it’s NOT conforming to a sound… Nirvana was punk because during the reign of the hair-metal bands he decided not to go with the trend… Punk will rise again… Just look at what’s on the radio and MTV now… It’s a bunch of trendy little whiners that focus more on their IMAGE than writing compelling music… even their music writing is becoming too fucking trendy… if i hear one more “three days grace” sounding vocalist i’m going to shoot myself… same goes with the tween bands that wear more make-up than my sister… we’re just repeating the 80’s with all this glam-rock… soon a band will rise and they won’t need the make-up to attract fans… their music will bring people to their feet again and all these shit bands will have nobody to imitate… cuz how do you imitate “good music” with no real talent…

Soundwave 2010 - Sydney

Nuff Said – One of the greatest lineups to come to Oz in my memory.

http://www.soundwavefestival.com/lineup

Popular Music Categorisation

So.You youngens out there who are listening to the new and ‘hip’ music of Today’s modern Western world think you know all about it. You don’t.
I admit. I am of the younger generation. I mean, I just got out of school. But let me tell you, after collecting close to 1000 records and CDs combined I know a fair bit. Of which about 100 or so comes from the last decade i.e. Since 2000.

My disgust is mainly directed at the musical direction and education the youth of today’s society. This has been botted up for a long time but it starts with a close and long-term friend of mine. She’s quite intelligent and knows enough about some of the better musical acts of rock (in particular) which gives her enough respect to loan CDs. However, what happened one day almost deprived her access to my stuff. Almost. While at university, there is this radio/stero thing that plays these same 40ish pop songs of which some I love. The main and possibly only one now that I think of it is, Friday I’m in Love by The Cure.

Back to the story and Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes is being blasted on the not so good speakers. She starts tapping her foot and says, get this, ‘Mm, i love this song. It’s Smoke on the Water right?’
My face drops in extreme disappointment and frustration for a huge mistake. One of the most iconic riffs in rock history has been mistaken for a Jack White piece of pop writing where he wrote ot while mucking around on the E string of his guitar.

More angst awaits with more stories lined up…