Jason Bateman to Star in New Mike Judge Comedy

Mon Apr 28, 3:57 PM GMT

Variety reports that Beavis and Butthead creator Mike Judge will direct his upcoming project—the big-screen comedy Extract starring Jason Bateman (Juno).

Judge wrote the script, which according to Variety, “explores what it's like to be the boss when everything seems to be shifting around you.”
… More…

Guillermo del Toro to Direct The Hobbit

Fri Apr 25, 9:10 PM GMT

Variety reports that after months of speculation, executive producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh have officially announced that Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth) will direct The Hobbit and The Hobbit 2, the prequels to The Lord Of the Rings trilogy based on J.R.R Tolkien’s novel, The Hobbit.
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Linn Majik at an Affordable Cost

Fri Apr 25, 8:46 PM GMT

In a company press release, Scottish hi-fi company, Linn announces the introduction of the Majik LP12, a more affordable version of the company’s iconic Sonek LP12.
… More…

Tom Hanks to Star in Da Vinci Code Prequel

Fri Apr 25, 8:13 PM GMT

According to Variety, Tom Hanks will once again portray religious art scholar Robert Langdon in Angels & Demons, the prequel to Dan Brown’s vastly popular novel, The Da Vinci Code.

In this film, Langdon becomes entangled with the Catholic Church and a powerful underground organization known as the Illuminati.
… More…

My Bloody Valentine Plays U.S. Festival

Fri Apr 25, 3:24 PM GMT

According to the festival Web site (http://www.atpfestival.com/events/atp-ny/), reunited shoegazers My Bloody Valentine is curating and headlining an All Tomorrow’s Parties (ATP) festival in Monticello, NY.
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The Capitol Hill Block Party Lineup

Fri Apr 25, 3:22 PM GMT

Seattle’s alternative arts and culture newspaper (and Web site) www.thestranger.com announces the lineup for Seattle’s Capitol Hill Block Party festival, which takes place July 25 and 26 at the South Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Fifty bands will play over four stages including:

Vampire Weekend
Les Savy Fav
Jay Reatard
The Hold Steady
Girl Talk
Kimya Dawson
The Dodos
Darker My Love
Chromeo
Akimbo
U.S.E.
… More…

Rock the Bells Hip-Hop Tour

Wed Apr 23, 3:22 PM GMT

Billboard.com has announced that A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def, De La Soul, Rakim, and The Pharcyde are scheduled to perform at multi-city hip-hop festival, Rock the Bells.
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Tom Petty Reunites Old Band

Tue Apr 22, 9:57 PM GMT

The New York Times reports that legendary rocker Tom Petty has reunited his old band Mudcrutch after a 30-odd year hiatus.
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High-Def Releases for the Week of April 22

Tue Apr 22, 7:06 PM GMT

The Orphanage [Blu-ray]
National Geographic: Six Degrees Could Change the World (Amazon.com Exclusive) [Blu-ray]
One Missed Call [Blu-ray]
Sublime (Unrated) [Blu-ray]
Grieg - Piano Concerto / Symphonic Dances / In Autumn - Acoustic Reality Experience [Blu-ray]
Sublime [HD DVD]     
… More…

Ridley Scott to Direct The Kind One

Thu Apr 17, 6:54 PM GMT

Variety reports that Ridley Scott will direct the upcoming Warner Bros. release, The Kind One, starring Casey Affleck.

The film, based on a novel by Tom Epperson who will also write the screenplay, is set in 1930s Los Angeles. The film’s protagonist is an amnesiac who begins working for the titular character, the mobster known as the Kind One, when he falls in love with the thug’s girlfriend.

As of yet there is no official word regarding a release date.
… More…

X-Files Sequel to Open July 25

Thu Apr 17, 6:50 PM GMT

Variety reports that Twentieth Century Fox’s anticipated X-Files: I Want to Believe will be released July 25.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson return as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully for the sequel to the 1998 film based on the cult television program. Chris Carter, the X-Files creator, is directing from a script he co-wrote with Frank Spotnitz.
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Retribution Gospel Choir Joins Wilco on Tour

Thu Apr 17, 3:21 PM GMT

Pitchforkmedia.com announces that Retribution Gospel Choir will join Wilco on a number of upcoming dates from April 30–May 17.
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Gere Up for Two New Films

Wed Apr 16, 6:41 PM GMT

Variety reports that Richard Gere has signed on for two new films: Amelia and Brooklyn’s Finest.

In Avalon Pictures’ Amelia, Gere will star opposite Hillary Swank in a chronicle about the tumultuous relationship between Amelia Earhart and her husband, the publisher George Putnam. The film will be directed by Mira Nair (Vanity Fair, New York, I Love You) from a screenplay by Ron Bass (Entrapment).
… More…

Austin City Limits Festival Lineup

Tue Apr 15, 8:14 PM GMT

The festival’s Web site has announced the Lineup for the 2008 Austin City Limits festival, Sept. 26–28 in Austin’s Zilker Park.  The Foo Fighters and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are headlining this year’s festival, which features some 130 scheduled performers. Check below for an abbreviated list or go to www.aclfestival.com.

Beck
John Fogarty
David Byrne
The Raconteurs
The Mars Volta
Gnarls Barkley
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
Erykah Badu
N.E.R.D
Iron & Wine
Neko Case… More…

Motley Crue Releases First “Video Game Single”

Tue Apr 15, 7:14 PM GMT

Reuters reports that Motley Crue will release Saints of Los Angeles, the first single from their upcoming album, through the popular video game Rock Band, making them the first band to release a new single via a video game.
… More…

High-Def Releases for the Week of April 15

Tue Apr 15, 7:06 PM GMT

Juno [Blu-ray]     
AVP - Alien vs. Predator / Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem (Unrated Two-Pack) [Blu-ray]
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem [Blu-ray]
Predator [Blu-ray]     
Mariah Carey: The Adventures of Mimi [Blu-ray]
A Passage to India [Blu-ray]… More…

CE Hall of Fame Inductees

Tue Apr 15, 4:46 PM GMT

Cepro.com reports that the Consumer Electronics Association has announced 12 new inductees to the Consumer Electronics Hall of fame.
… More…

Country Music Television Awards

Tue Apr 15, 3:45 PM GMT

The Associated Press reports that Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler found favor in the eyes of the nation’s voters as both garnered multiple awards at the seventh annual Country Music Television awards, a program that allows fans vote to for their favorite co… More…

Cheskys Launch HDtracks.com

Mon Apr 14, 8:04 PM GMT

According to a press release, audio pioneers and producers David and Norman Chesky have founded www.hdtracks.com, a new digital music store that offers true high fidelity DRM-free downloads complete with cover art and liner notes.

The site offers AIFF, FLAC, and 320kbps MP3 downloads and will soon make available DVD-Audio quality 96/24 FLAC files. Additionally, the site features useful editorial content such as reviews and artist biographies.
… More…

Klipsch Reference Series Now Available Online

Mon Apr 14, 8:03 PM GMT

Leading global loudspeaker manufacturer Klipsch, one of the country’s oldest loudspeaker companies, recently announced that it has authorized six retailers to sell its Reference Series speakers online for the first time since the line was introduced in 1999. Until this point, the premium home audio line was sold only through specialty A/V brick and mortar stores.
… More…

Juan Luis Guerra Wins Three Latin Billboard Awards

Fri Apr 11, 8:16 PM GMT

According to a report by the Associated Press, Dominican artist Juan Luis Guerra has found success at yet another award show, this time at the Latin Billboard awards where he took three honors.
… More…

Natalie Portman Gets Lead in Wuthering Heights

Fri Apr 11, 7:00 PM GMT

Variety reports that Natalie Portman will star in a new version of Emily Bronte’s classic novel Wuthering Heights.

Olivia Hetreed, who penned the script for Girl with a Pearl Earring, adapted the novel for the screen.

U.K. Production company Ecosse Films, whose projects include Becoming Jane and the upcoming screen adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s 1945 novel Brideshead Revisited will be backing the film.
… More…

Adrien Brody to Star in Giallo

Fri Apr 11, 6:57 PM GMT

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Adrien Brody will be starring with Elsa Pataky and Emmanuelle Seigner in Giallo, a thriller directed by Italian horror-specialist Dario Argento.

The film revolves around an American flight attendant who aids an Italian investigator in the search for her sister who was abducted by a serial killer known as Yellow. Giallo is Italian for yellow.

Brody will also be executive producer for the film, which begins shooting May 12 in Torino, Italy.
… More…

Colin Farrell Joins Cast of Triage

Thu Apr 10, 8:04 PM GMT

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Colin Farrell will be starring in the upcoming film, Triage.

Also starring Paz Vega (Spanglish) and Christopher Lee, the film follows the mysterious disappearance of a photojournalist following a dangerous assignment.

Danis Tanovic, who wrote and directed No Man’s Land, which won an Oscar for best foreign language film in 2001, is directing. Alan Maloney of Parallel Films and Cedomir Kolar and Marc Baschet of ASAP Films are producing.    
… More…

New York, I Love You Gets Cast

Thu Apr 10, 8:02 PM GMT

Variety reports that New York, I Love You, an ode to said city following in the format of Paris, je t’aime has assembled an eclectic cast of actors and directors.
… More…

Bob Dylan Garners Pulitzer Citation

Wed Apr 9, 9:05 PM GMT

According to the Associated Press news agency, Bob Dylan has received a Pulitzer “special citation” for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power."
… More…

Speaker Maker BG Rebrands Itself As BG Radia

Wed Apr 9, 9:02 PM GMT

Planar Ribbon speaker manufacturer BG has officially renamed itself BG Radia.

After being variously known as Bohlender-Graebener, BG, and Radia, the company is officially incorporating the name of its Radia premium speaker line into its name for simplicity’s sake. The move is meant to settle on one brand name and to strengthen company identity around the brand going forward.
… More…

Mambo Great Israel “Cachao” Lopez Dies

Wed Apr 9, 3:16 PM GMT

Reuters reports that bassist, band leader, and mambo pioneer Israel “Cachao” Lopez passed away after complications from kidney failure. He was 89.
… More…

High-Def Releases for the Week of April 9

Tue Apr 8, 8:55 PM GMT

I Am Legend [HD DVD]     
Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story [Blu-ray]     
The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep [Blu-ray]     
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen [Blu-ray]
The 6th Day [Blu-ray]     
Space Ace [Blu-ray]     
Sharkwater [Blu-ray]     
… More…

Sly and the Family Stone Brief Tour

Tue Apr 8, 4:32 PM GMT

Pitchfork Media reports that funk-soul legends Sly and the Family Stone are reuniting for a brief four-show tour.

Given Stone’s reputation as a recluse, the tour, albeit brief, will no doubt be a coveted experience for those who attend any of the following dates.

04/25/08 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues … More…

Super Analogue Discs Discontinued

Tue Apr 8, 4:29 PM GMT

Ciscomusic.com announces that King Record’s Super Analogue Disc, “the original heavy vinyl reissue series,” has been discontinued and all remaining London/Decca SAD inventory has been sold to elusivedisc.com.
… More…

Stone Temple Pilots Reunite

Tue Apr 8, 4:23 PM GMT

The Associated Press reports that after an eight-year hiatus from the touring scene, Stone Temple Pilots will reunite for a North American tour.
… More…

Lollapalooza Lineup Announced

Mon Apr 7, 8:23 PM GMT

The lineup for Chicago’s Lollapalooza Festival, which takes place Aug. 1–3 in Grant Park, has been announced on the festival’s Web site. Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, and Nine Inch Nails will be headlining. Go to www.lollapalooza.com to see the full lineup or glance below for an abbreviated list.

Kanye West
The Raconteurs
Wilco
Gnarls Barkley
Bloc Party
The Black Keys
Broken Social Scene
Cat Power
Lupe Fiasco
The National
Okkervil River
Flogging Molly… More…

Feist Wins Five Canadian Music Awards

Mon Apr 7, 5:00 PM GMT

According to Reuters, Feist has won five Juno awards, the Canadian equivalent to the Grammys.
… More…

Charlton Heston Dies at 84

Mon Apr 7, 4:53 PM GMT

The New York Times reports that legendary film star, Charlton Heston, died Saturday, April 5th, at the age of 84. He had been battling Alzheimer’s disease since 2002.
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1970s Krautrock Great Klaus Dinger Dies at 61

Fri Apr 4, 7:26 PM GMT

According to The New York Times, Klaus Dinger, the drummer for the influential German band Neu! died of heart failure on March 20. He was 61.

Dinger formed Neu! with Michael Rother in 1971 succeeding a stint together in another Krautrock staple, Kraftwerk. After parting ways following the third Neu! album, Dinger formed the bands La Dusseldorf and La Neu?.

Renowned producer, Brian Eno says that “there were three great beats in the ’70s: Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat, James Brown’s funk and Klaus Dinger’s Neu! beat.”
… More…

MySpace Starts Official Music Site

Thu Apr 3, 9:18 PM GMT

The New York Times reports that social networking site MySpace has signed with three of the four major music labels to start an ad-supported music and download site.

Warner Bros., Sony BMG, and Universal will own minority stakes in the venture and in turn make their entire catalogs available. Users can stream music for free, share customizable playlists, or purchase DRM-free MP3 downloads. A subscription-based component that would allow for unlimited downloading is in discussion.
… More…

Jay-Z Signs 10-Year Live Nation Contract

Thu Apr 3, 3:20 PM GMT

The New York Times reports that rap mogul Jay-Z has signed an all-encompassing, 10-year contract with concert promoters, Live Nation, joining artists such as Madonna and U2 in what is becoming a burgeoning model for the ailing music industry.
… More…

Co-Stars Join Matt Damon for The Informant

Wed Apr 2, 9:40 PM GMT

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Matt Damon will be joined by a host of comedic and mostly-television actors in Steven Soderbergh’s  “darkly comic thriller” The Informant for Warner Independent Pictures, Participant Media, and Groundswell Production.
… More…

Mariah and Madonna Top Elvis on Charts

Wed Apr 2, 7:28 PM GMT

According to billboard.com, Mariah Carey and Madonna have both topped Elvis Presley on the Billboard music charts record book.

Mariah Carey moves past Elvis to second place (behind The Beatles) with her 18th No. 1 single, Touch My Body, off her album E=MC2, which has yet to even reach retail shelves. Madonna surpasses Elvis in the top 10 category with 4 Minutes, her 37th song to achieve such success.
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Universal Puts Armstrong on the Big Screen

Wed Apr 2, 3:25 PM GMT

According to entertainment magazine, Variety, Universal has acquired rights to NASA historian James R. Hansen’s biography, First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong.

Nicole Perlman will be writing the screenplay, having just finished the script for Challenger about the 1986 Space Shuttle tragedy. Temple Hill Entertainment partners Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen will produce.
… More…

Mirren and Plummer to Star in Tolstoy Biopic

Wed Apr 2, 3:23 PM GMT

Variety reports that Christopher Plummer will portray Leo Tolstoy and Helen Mirren will portray his wife, Sofia, in the upcoming Warner Bros. picture, The Last Station, exploring the tumultuous final year of the famous Russian author’s life.
… More…

Jennifer Aniston Starts Production Company

Tue Apr 1, 9:40 PM GMT

Variety reports that Jennifer Aniston and Kristin Hahn have started a new production company called Echo Films and have already acquired the rights to films in which Aniston will most likely star.

Echo has procured the rights to Jane Fallon’s British Bestseller Getting Rid of Matthew as well as the forthcoming Laura Dave novel, The Divorce Party. They have also acquired various other scripts.
… More…

High-Def Releases for the Week of April 2

Tue Apr 1, 8:51 PM GMT

Unbreakable [Blu-ray]     
Alvin and the Chipmunks [Blu-ray]
Hidalgo [Blu-ray]     
Coyote Ugly [Blu-ray]     
Artie Lange's Beer League [Blu-ray]
Futuresex / Loveshow - Live from Madison Square Garden (Justin Timberlake) [Blu-ray]… More…

Shekhar Kapur to Direct Larklight

Tue Apr 1, 8:27 PM GMT

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shekhar Kapur, who last directed Elizabeth: The Golden Age, has signed on to direct Larklight, based on the novel by Philip Reeve, for Di Novi Pictures and Warner Bros.
… More…