Slipknot Bassist Found Dead in Hotel Room

The Internet has blown up over the last hour with news that Slipknot bassist Paul Dedrick Gray has passed away. ​The 38-year-old musician, better known by his nom de rock as “#2” or “The Pig” was reportedly found dead in a Des Moines-area hotel room earlier today. Gray was one…

Album Stream: Ratatat – LP4

God forbid you offer a 40 second preview of a track off an album that has already leaked — do so and you subject yourself to the wrath of some self-righteous British dude named “WEBSHERIFF.”Such is the fate of yours truly and the newest album from Ratatat, LP4, which leaked…

David Bowie Recording His 25th Studio Record… As Announced by AARP?

Perhaps I cast unfair judgement and assume incorrectly about the readers of music blogs. I often assume that they’re smarter than a huge chunk of the average population, and also that they’re under the age of retirement. How swiftly I have been proven wrong…Okay, not necessarily. While the creators of…

Wilco: “Monday”

Song: Wilco, “Monday”Context: Has it really been a year since The Original Jay Bennett died? Hope he’s having a great time hanging out in the great Pieholden Suite in the sky. Wilco – Monday by CK2…

Minus the Bear: NOT Boycotting Arizona! w00t!

SB 1070 hasn’t won Arizona a lot friends in the music business. First you had Canadian indie poppers Stars proclaiming their “boycott” of the state over the controversial new immigration law, then Belinda Carlisle asking Lilith Fair organizers to move the tour’s Arizona date. Zack de la Rocha has condemned…

Woven Bones: In and Out and Back Again

Artist: Woven BonesTitle: In and Out and Back AgainRelease date: May 18Label: Hozac RecordsThis is what the Black Lips hath wrought. The garage rock of much of the past two decades was about teenage kicks. In the parlance of the kids, it was punk ‘n’ roll, straightforward and unhinged blasts…

David Allan Coe Coming to Celebrity Theatre

How’s this for pleasant coincidence: David Allan Coe, arguably country music’s ultimate outlaw is finally coming to Phoenix again. Yup, the same DAC who is Today’s Soundtrack just announced a date at Celebrity Theatre on October 8.You may recall that the 70-year-old’s scheduled show at The Last Exit/Nowhere/Venue of Scottsdale/Last…

Band of Horses: Infinite Arms

Artist: Band of HorsesTitle: Infinite ArmsRelease date: May 18Label: ColumbiaTake a look at the cover art to the right of these words. If you were browsing through the racks at your local record store, this cover is nearly all that you’d need to know about the new of Band of…

Owl City Spoof “Electronic Wuss” Is Painstakingly Accurate

​If Spike Jones would have never brought the element of parody to music, then Dr. Demento would have never had a radio show. If Dr. Demento never had a radio show, then Al Yankovic would have become an insurance salesman with a penchant for hawaiian shirts. However, Dr. Demento introduced…

Who Will Punch Jordin Sparks’ V-Card?

Since releasing her sophomore full-length album, Battlefield, in July 2009, the Valley’s own Jordin Sparks has kept a relatively low profile. Opening for the Jonas Brothers here, a Haiti benefit single there. Nothing that approached the publicity blitz of her American Idol triumph three years ago. Well, the beaming 20-year-old…

Buy A Line in the Sand: A Compilation of SB 1070 Protest Songs

We put out the call and Arizona’s music community responded.Phoenix New Times is very proud to officially introduce A Line in the Sand, a compilation of protest songs from Arizona artists opposed to SB 1070, the crazy new immigration law which will, in effect, mandate racial profiling of Hispanics to…

Sleigh Bells: Treats

Artist: Sleigh BellsTitle: TreatsRelease date: May 11Label: Mom & Pop MusicOnce upon a time, there was this band called Le Tigre. They released three very good records between 1999 and 2004, filled with catchy electro-pop, showy beats conspicuously generated by a drum machine, absurd guitar riffs, and crunchy power chords.Was…

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 5/20 Issue

This week, New Times ran a box in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. How was the world premiere of the Glee live tour in Phoenix? Just how douchey is…