Tracklist
1. Little Favours
2. If Only
3. White Bird
4. Funnyman
5. Hold On
6. Hopeless
7. I Don’t Want You Now
8. Saving My Face
9. Beauty Of Uncertainty
10. Someday Soon
11. Paper Aeroplane

Review
Since I review so little female artists, I thought some positive discrimination wouldn’t hurt … so I present to you Drastic Fantastic, the newest album of KT Tunstall. She had a major hit with ‘A black horse and the cherry tree’ (and also ‘Suddenly I see’) and great commercial success with her first album. But does her second album ‘Drastic Fantastic’ meet the high expectations set after her first success? The first thing you notice about her new album, is the fact that it’s more conventional pop-rock and less drastic (!) and stingy than her previous album. A lot of songs are a bit too commercial and radio-friendly in my opinion, but sometimes you also get lovely folk-ish songs (like White Bird). These introspective folky songs are also the best songs on this album, although they don’t keep lingering in your head, as any really good song should do. Nice mainstream pop-rock with a bite & enjoyable floating acoustic ballads: that’s what you can expect of this album and nothing more. Have fun with the album!

My favorite song: 3. White Bird, 10. Someday Soon

Similar Artists: Dido, Alanis Morisette, Sarah McLachlan

Popularity: 35% [?]

• Found some nice B-sides of The Editors on a nice blog, Ear Bleeding Country, I often visit.
• Live performance (tol be downloaded) of The National to be found on Deaf Indie Elephants!
• Some new Doves songs: check them out at tha Bomb Shelter!!
• And also some songs of Athlete: Remixes and covers to be found @ Zeon’s Music Blog!

Popularity: 22% [?]

Ben Lee - Love me like the world is ending (live)

Beirut (ft. Edward Droste) - Cliquot (live)

The National - Apartment Story (Live on Craig Ferguson)

Popularity: 22% [?]

Tracklist
1. Cristobal
2. So Long Old Bean
3. Samba Vexillographica
4. Seahorse
5. Bad Girl
6. Seaside
7. Shabop Shalom
8. Tonada Yanomaminista
9. Rosa
10. Saved
11. Lover
12. Carmencita
13. Other Woman
14. Freely
15. I Remember
16. My Dearest Friend

Review
‘Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon’ is the fourth solo album of ‘Freak Folk’ Devendra Banhart. And it gets as freaky as possible: lyrics in various languages, several kinds of different instruments, psychedelic melodies, … . You hear a lot of influences, for instance of Latin music and of 60’s music. Although he integrates a lot of different ‘gimmicks’, his songs do sound quite calm and mellow. A lot of emotion goes underneath a big load of weirdness, but in the end, all these things don’t cover up for the easily forgettable melodies. Seahorse is the best song on this album in my opinion. Have fun with the album!

My favorite song: 4. Seahorse, 9. Rosa

Similar Artists: Joanna Newsom, Jack Rose, Currituck Co.

Popularity: 24% [?]

• Ryan Adams is prepping a 7-track EP, that should be in the shelves around end October. Read more about it in Paste Magazine!
• Poets of the Fall have begun recording a new album after some intense touring. The new album is set to hit the shelves some time next year.
• Ben Gibbard is ‘living the life in the same sorta way that Kerouac lived’ to get inspiration for his the new Death Cab for Cutie album. Read more on RS.
• Radiohead has made the soundtrack for ‘Magnolia’ director Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film ‘There will be blood’. ‘There Will Be Blood’ is set to be released in US on December 26.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Tracklist
1. Last Chance
2. Ghost
3. Something In My Eye
4. Stalker
5. Other Side
6. Dark On Fire
7. Real Life
8. For The Fire
9. Timewaster
10. Bye Pod
11. Here Comes The Moon
12. New Star

Review
Turin Brakes’ duo Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian has never been able to fully convince me: on each album, they have some brilliant songs, but also a lot of mediocre ones. The same goes for their latest album, Dark on Fire: I like the title song (Dark on Fire), Bye Pod and some other songs, but the remaining songs on this album are a bit disappointing. The overall album quality has risen though: it has a more relaxed feeling and the sound has evolved to a much fuller, a more vivid sound. Turin Brakes still misses something special in my opinion, but for now they excel in mediocre contemporary folk! Have fun with the album!

My favorite song: 6. Dark On Fire, 10. Bye Pod

Similar Artists: Doves, Elbow, Snow Patrol

Popularity: 9% [?]

Next new news-section: All the latest tour news and (extra) dates of all your beloved mellow artists!

• The National (source Pitchfork):
  

  08-17 New York, NY - South Street Seaport *
  09-04 Philadelphia, PA - Theater of Living Arts %$
  09-05 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club %$
  09-06 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club %$
  09-07 Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle %$
  09-08 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse %$
  09-10 Orlando, FL - The Club @ Firestone %$
  09-11 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder %$
  09-12 Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree %$
  09-14 Dallas, TX - Grenada Theater @
  09-15 Austin, TX - Emo’s ^
  09-16 Austin, TX - Zilker Park (Austin City Limits Festival)
  09-18 Denver, CO - Ogden Theater @
  09-19 Omaha, NE - Slowdown @ @
  09-20 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line @
  09-21 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater @
  09-22 Chicago, IL - The Vic @
  09-23 Cincinnati, OH - Madison Theater @
  09-27 San Diego, CA - Casbah @
  09-28 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern @
  09-29 San Francisco, CA - Ballroom @
  10-01 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom @
  10-02 Seattle, WA - Showbox @
  10-03 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom @
  10-06 Boston, MA - Roxy
  10-07 Montreal, Quebec - Le National
  10-08 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Hall
  10-11 New York, NY - Terminal 5 @
  10-30 Dublin, Ire - Ambassador Theatre @
  10-31 Belfast, Northern Ire - Spring + Airbrake @
  11-01 Dublin, Ire - Olympia Theatre @
  11-02 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC @
  11-03 Sheffield, England - Leadmill @
  11-04 Manchester, England - Academy 2 @
  11-06 Birmingham, England - Irish Centre @
  11-07 London, England - Shepherds Bush Empire @
  11-09 Bristol, England - Anson Rooms @
  11-10 Portsmouth, England - Pyramids @
  11-12 Brussels, Belgium - AB !
  11-13 Reims, France - La Cartonnerie !
  11-14 Paris, France - Elysée Montmartre !
  11-15 Rennes, France - Ubu Club !
  11-16 Toulouse, France - La Nef !
  11-17 Barcelona, Spain - Apolo !
  11-19 Clermont-Ferrand, France - The Cooperative De Mai !
  11-20 Lausanne, Switzerland - Le Romandie !
  11-21 Milan, Italy - Transilvania !
  11-22 Zurich, Switzerland - Abart !
  11-23 Zagreb, Croatia - KSET !
  11-24 Vienna, Austria - Szene Wien !
  11-26 Stuttgart, Germany - Schocken 12 !
  11-27 Cologne, Germany - Prime Club !
  11-28 Amsterdam, Holland - Melkweg !
  11-30 Copenhagen, Denmark - Lille Vega !
  12-01 Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser !
  12-02 Oslo, Norway - John Dee !
  12-03 Malmo, Sweden - KB !
  12-05 Hamburg, Germany - Knust !
  12-06 Berlin, Germany - Postbahnhof !

  * with Takka Takka, the Forms
  % with the Rosebuds
  $ with Doveman
  @ with St. Vincent
  ^ with Blonde Redhead
  ! with Hayden

• Beirut (source Pitchfork):
  

  09-20 Brooklyn, NY - Masonic Temple
  09-23 Princeton, NJ - Terrace Club #
  09-24 New York, NY - Society for Ethical Culture (Wordless Music Series) #
  09-26 New York, NY - Delacorte Theater !
  09-30 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa #
  10-02 Toronto, Ontario - Danforth Music Hall #
  10-04 Chicago, IL - Portage Theater #
  10-08 San Francisco, CA - Herbst Theater #
  10-09 San Francisco, CA - Herbst Theater #
  10-10 Los Angeles, CA - Avalon #
  11-06 Manchester, England - Club Academy
  11-07 Glasgow, Scotland - The Arches
  11-08 Leeds, England - Irish Centre
  11-09 Cardiff, Wales - The Point (Swn Festival)
  11-10 London, England - The Roundhouse
  11-12 Paris, France - Olympia (Inrocks Festival)
  11-13 Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie (Inrocks Festiival)
  11-14 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
  11-15 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
  11-16 Lille, France - Grand Mix
  11-18 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
  11-19 Hamburg, Germany - Fabrik
  11-20 Cologne, Germany - Kulturkirche
  11-21 Munich, Germany - Elserhalle
  11-22 Schorndorf, Germany - Manufaktur
  11-24 Lyon, France - Ninkashi
  11-25 Zurich, Switzerland - Mascotte

  # with Colleen
  ! with Balkan Beat Box

• The Clientele (source Pitchfork):
  

  09-06 New York, NY - Roseland *
  09-07 Boston, MA - Avalon Ballroom *
  09-08 Montreal, Quebec - Osheaga Festival
  09-09 Toronto, Ontario - V Festival
  09-11 Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle *
  09-12 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse *
  09-14 Austin, TX - Emo’s $
  09-16 Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theatre *
  09-17 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern *@
  09-18 San Francisco, CA - The Warfield *@
  09-19 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom *@
  09-20 Seattle, WA - Showbox *@
  09-21 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *@
  09-24 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *@
  09-25 Chicago, IL - Riviera *@
  10-04 Bristol, England - Thekla #
  10-05 Oxford, England - Zodiac #
  10-06 Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms #
  10-07 Leeds, England - Faversham #
  10-10 London, England - Cargo #
  10-17 London, England - Koko #
  10-18 Manchester, England - Academy 3 #
  10-19 Newcastle, England - Academy #
  10-20 Glasgow, Scotland - King Tut’s #
  10-21 Birmingham, England - Glee Club #
  11-11 London, England - Union Chapel !

  * with Peter Bjorn and John
  $ with Oakley Hall
  @ with Marissa Nadler
  # with Broken Family Band
  ! with Kurt Wagner

• Feist (source Pitchfork):
  

  09-14 Grantham, PA - Messiah College *
  09-15 Ann Arbor, MI - Borders Book and Music
  09-15 Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theatre *
  09-20 Baden Baden, Germany - New Pop Festival #
  09-21 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg #
  09-23 Nottingham, England - Social #
  09-24 London, England - Shepherds Bush Empire #
  09-25 Dublin, Ire - Tripod #
  09-26 Glasgow, Scotland - Oran Mor #
  09-28 Bristol, England - Trinity Arts Centre #
  09-30 Berlin, Germany - Admiralspalast #
  10-01 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega #
  10-02 Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus #
  10-04 Hamburg, Germany - CCH Saal 2 #
  10-05 Cologne, Germany - E-Werk #
  10-06 Munich, Germany - Georg-Elser Halle #
  10-08 Paris, France - La Cigale
  10-10 Paris, France - La Cigale
  10-11 Countance, France - Cultural Centre
  10-12 Yzeure, France - Cultural Centre
  10-13 Bordeaux, France - Salle de Vigean
  10-15 Nancy, France - Jazz Pulsation Festival
  10-16 Geneva, Switzerland - Grand Casino
  10-17 Mulhouse, France - Cultural Centre
  10-19 Brussels, Belgium - Cirque Royale
  11-06 Portland, OR - Schnitzer Auditorium
  11-07 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
  11-09 San Francisco, CA - Nob Hill Masonic Center
  11-12 Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre
  11-14 Denver, CO - The Ogden
  11-17 Chicago, IL - The Riviera
  11-18 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center
  12-03 Hamilton, Ontario - Hamilton Place
  12-04 Kitchener, Ontario - Centre in the Square
  12-05 London, Ontario - Centennial Hall
  12-18 Toronto, Ontario - Sony Centre for the Performing Arts

  * with Rogue Wave
  # with Bob Wiseman

• The Fray (source Official The Fray Website):
  

  With Special Guest TBA

  10.23.07
  Castlebar Royal Theatre
  Castlebar, Ire
  Tickets: On Sale Now!

  10.24.07
  Dublin National Stadium
  Dublin, Ire
  SOLD OUT!!

  10.26.07
  Glasgow Academy
  Glasgow, UK
  SOLD OUT!!

  10.27.07
  Leeds University
  Leeds, UK
  SOLD OUT!!

  10.28.07
  Newcastle Academy
  Newcastle, UK
  SOLD OUT!!

  10.30.07
  Birmingham Carling Academy
  Birmingham, UK
  SOLD OUT!!

  10.31.07
  Rock City
  Nottingham, UK
  SOLD OUT!!

  11.1.07
  Manchester Apollo
  Manchester, UK
  SOLD OUT!!

  11.2.07
  Bristol Academy
  Bristol, UK
  SOLD OUT!!

  11.4.07
  Portsmouth Guildhall
  Portsmouth, UK
  SOLD OUT!!

  11.5.07
  Hammersmith Apollo
  London, UK
  SOLD OUT!!

  11.6.07
  Hammersmith Apollo
  London, UK
  Tickets: On Sale Now!

  11.8.07
  Heinekin Music Hall
  Amsterdam, Holland
  Tickets: On Sale Now!

  With Special Guest With Special Guest Newton Faulkner

  11.09.07
  Elysee Montmartre
  Paris, France
  Tickets: www.fnac.com and www.ticketnet.fr and www.digitick.com

  11.10.07
  Rohstofflager
  Zurich, Switzerland
  Tickets: www.ticketcorner.ch

  11.12.07
  Alcatraz
  Milan, Italy
  www.ticketone.it

  11.13.07
  Heineken
  Madrid, Spain
  Tickets: www.ticktackticket.com

• Rufus Wainwright (source NME):
  

  Gateshead Sage (October 13)
  Glasgow Clyde Auditorium (14, 15)
  Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (17)
  Manchester Apollo (18)
  Sheffield City Hall (19)
  Cambridge Corn Exchange (21)
  Cardiff Millennium Centre (22)
  Warrington Parr Hall (23)
  Birmingham Symphony Hall (25, 26)
  Harrogate International Centre (27)
  London Hammersmith Apollo (30, 31)
  Ipswich Regents Theatre (November 1)

Popularity: 7% [?]

• Last details of the upcoming album of Jimmy Eat World! ‘Chase The Lights’ will be available in stores from 16 October and it’ll be packed with these songs:
  
  Big Casino
  Let It Happen
  Like She’ll Always Be
  Carry You
  Electable (Give It Up)
  Gotta Be Somebody’s Blues
  Feeling Lucky
  Here It Goes
  Chase This Light
  Firefight
  Dizzy

  On Billboard they say:

  “The record is quite eclectic,” Vig told Billboard.com. “There are three or four songs that sound like classic Jimmy Eat World, with angular, razor-sharp guitars. There are a couple that are a lot more dreamy, and some that are very groove-acious. Anybody who is fan will like this record.”

  And this is the (quite ugly :x) cover (linked from Stereogum):
  

  They are also re-recording ‘Your House’ (originally on Bleed American), and it will probably be released as a B-side.

• The Killers are going to release a new album (which will contain some remixes of older albums) this year and also a B-side album.
• Listen to the Camp America Remix of Athlete’s single ‘Hurricane’:
  
  
• Matt Hales of Aqualung is blogging: follow him here!
• Forthcoming ‘The Shade of Poison Trees’ of Dashboard Confessional will be back like in the early days: acoustic! You can listen to some new stuff of it on their Myspace (I think, I’m not gonna check it, since I’m at work now…)
• U2’s new album has been written and will be released in 2008. There ought to be some footage of them rehearsing the new songs, but I don’t know where … google it yourself!
• The Shins - Little Boxes (Theme to Weeds, a tv show):
  
  
  
  There is also a version of The Decemberists that is said to be quite good … google it!
• Amandine also started working on a new album. No extra information available …

Popularity: 19% [?]