Red Hot Chili Peppers release new 7" single, 7 more to come! Magpie's On Fire, Victorian Machinery

This is the 2nd set of upcoming singles which was scrapped from the I'm With You album released in 2011. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been a very prolific band, making music since 1984. As a nice treat, the band has been releasing a series of 7" singles, each containing two songs from the I'm With You sessions. This is the 2nd one featuring the songs Magpie's On Fire and Victorian Machinery. The previous single included the songs Strange Man and Long Progression. Magpie's On Fire starts off very mellow and picks up with nice harmonies and a slow tempo. It sounds like something off of 1999's Californication. The other song on this release is Victorian Machinery. Victorian Machinery is more of a rocking tune, but with great melodies and a nice rocking chorus. The next set of songs to be released will be Never is A Long Time and Love of Your Life which will come out on October 2. The band is currently working on their follow up to 2011's I'm With You album. Drummer Chad Smith spoke with Billboard and said ""We're just always trying to come up with new stuff; usually the latest and greatest is what we use, but you never know," he said.

Magpie's On Fire:

Lyrics:

Magpies on fire
making love like little
worms out on the porch can
leave the medicine
oh well I’m game,
for anything at all
Scarecrows a liar
spends the year alone
no one checked it out
to see if it was real
sold you the moon
and now it’s time to fall
all in all it’s like the
bird who’s trapped alone inside the cage
love
what more do you want?
how much more can you take?
I love my mistakes
I’ve been here before
all in all it’s just
a call of something wise beyond your room
there’s a changing of a major chord
your minor threat will do, love
my gun misfired
shot myself instead i guess
i always knew id be the one to lose
last scream dont slane
time to make a move
what more do you want?
how much more can you take?
I love my mistakes
I’ve been here before
all in all it’s like the
bird trapped inside the cage
love
A bird bout half your age, girl
a bird who’s never really here to say
what more do you want?
how much more can you take?
I love my mistakes
I’ve been here before
least of all she’s like
a bird who’s now been
freed from someones cage

Victorian Machinery:

lyrics:

Jaded
You’re my victorian machinery
Leave yourself to lie
Later
Your tender shape is pinning like the scenery
Ride you like a bike
You be the sailing baby, I’ll be the rudder
We could make it all in
‘Till it turns into butter
I saw your face
A seminal pleasure, I will love you forever
When I heeded your call in every heavy endeavour
I’ll keep your place
Jaded
Coming down the mouth, you’re like a buffalo
in your eyes
Crazy
But then again, I’ll cook you like your you know
Makes up for her size
You be the sailing baby, I’ll be the rudder
We could make it all in
‘Till it turns into butter
I saw your face
A seminal pleasure, I will feel you forever
When I heeded your call in every heavy endeavour
I’ll keep your place
Be yourself
When I
You be the shark (shack)
and baby I’ll be the desert
There is nothing to like
when (or “and”) there is nothing to measure
it’s all our space
whoooooooooooooooh
You are my victorian machinery
nah nah nah nah nah
Jaded
Make a fist and knock me on the mood again
Leave yourself to lie
Later
Make me feel like I want more than you again
Rock me like the vibe
Crazy
Sing along just like they do in Budapest
on the rise
You be the shark (shack)
and baby I’ll be the desert
There is nothing to like
when there is nothing to measure
it’s all our space

Video of the Pet Shop Boys discussing new album, Elysium

The Pet Shop Boys new album is to be released on September 11 in the US. With the upcoming release of the new album,Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe sat down with Huffington Post to discuss the new album in a 8 minute interview clip. In this clip, they discuss the new album, their songwriting process among other things. I, for one am excited about the new album and it will be part of my weekly reviews when it comes out. Enjoy!

New biography on the Smiths: A Light That Never Goes Out

A new 700 page biography on the Smiths, scheduled to be released next week in the UK and in December in the Us, promises to be the "complete story of the Smiths". Written by Tony Fletcher, who has previously written biographies of famed bands such as REM, Keith Moon of the Who, The Clash and Echo and The Bunnymen, promises to be a followup to Johnny Rogan's Morrissey and Marr:The Severed Alliance, which was written in 1992. 20 years have passed since then. Tony Fletcher says that while Rogan's biography is impressive, it's been a long time since then and “the dust had yet to settle from the Smiths’ breakup to provide any kind of clear picture as to their long-term reputation. Two decades’ passing of time hopefully affords me that perspective.” For this book, Fletcher goes to several sources including, producer Stephen Street, producer John Porter, who produced many of the Smiths early works, second Smiths guitarist Craig Gannon and was also able to interview Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke, but Mike Joyce and Morrissey refused to participate according to the author. Here is the synopsis of the book.

They were, their fans believe, the best band in the world. Critics and sales figures told a similar story: six albums between 1984 and 1988 made number one or number two in the UK charts. Twenty-five years after their break-up, the band remain as adored and discussed as ever. To this day, there is a collective understanding that The Smiths were one of the greatest of all British rock groups.
The Smiths – Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce – were four working-class youths who came together, by fate or chance, in Manchester in the early 1980s. Their sound was both traditional and radically different, a music that spoke to a generation, and defied the dark socio-economic mood of the Thatcher years. By early 1984, barely a year after their first headlining gig, they were the hottest – certainly the hippest – name in modern music. In the years that followed the group produced an extraordinary body of work: seventeen classic singles, four studio albums, and some seventy songs composed by the team of Morrissey and Marr. Yet for all their brilliance and adoration – their famously energetic live shows routinely interrupted by stage invasions – The Smiths were continually plagued by their reticence to play the game, and by the time of 1987’s Strangeways Here We Come, they had split. The Smiths have never played together again – their enormous contribution to pop culture forever condensed into a prolific and prosperous halcyon period, their legacy intact and untarnished.
Thirty years after their formation, twenty-five since they broke up, The Smiths’ firmament remains as bright as ever. It’s time their tale was told. Tony Fletcher’s A Light That Never Goes Out is a meticulous and evocative group biography – part celebration, part paean – moving from Manchester in the nineteenth-century to the present day to tell the complete story of The Smiths. Penned by a contemporary and life-long fan, and the product of extensive research, dozens of interviews, and unprecedented access, it will serve to confirm The Smiths as one of the most important and influential rock groups of all time.

Currently listening to: Week of August 19, 2012

To really hear an artist's work, you must look past the hit singles. The entire album is worth hearing to truly get a glimpse of it all in one body of work. Here are some of the albums I am listening to this week.

Dead Can Dance - Anastasis (2012)

Dead Can Dance finally return with their follow up to 1996's Spiritchaser. With their most recent album, Anastasis, it feels like they never left. Don't call it a comeback, they never truly left us. Fittingly, the word anastasis is Greek for "rebirth". Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard bring new life into today's stagnant music world. This records kicks off with the brilliant Children of The Sun, featuring Brendan's distinctive vocals. Next, we hear Lisa Gerrard on the track Anabasis which features some Arabic strings and Indian percussion. Lisa also shines on Kiko, which features Moroccan vocalists. Brendan's voice sounds amazing on the songs Amnesia and especially Opium, which is a tad new age, but is really mellow and will grab you. My personal favorite is Return of the She King which features both Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry on vocals. I love this album and it is one of this year's best. I do wish it was more than 8 tracks though. A must have for any fan of Dead Can Dance, any of the original 4AD bands such as This Mortal Coil or Cocteau Twins, Lisa Gerrard's soundtrack stuff, fans of Projekt, Brendan Perry's solo work or folk. There is no other band like this. Here are some must hear tracks:
Amnesia:

Return of the She King:

Opium:

Marilyn Manson - Portrait of An American Family (1994)

This is where it all began. Marilyn Manson's major label debut album (they had already cultivated a strong fanbase in South Florida where they had released a ton of selfreleased casette tapes), this album introduced the band to the world. It made an impact but they would not become a household name until 1996 with the release of Sweet Dreams. This album was produced by the head of their label Nothing, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Marilyn Manson were the first band signed to Trent's label. This album is a mixture of industrial rock and some metal. This album portrayed the world they were living in at the time. Dirty, mischievous, and shades of grey. My personal favorites are Lunchbox, which is about fighting back bullies with a lunchbox, Get Your Gunn, which was about the murder of Dr. David Gunn, who was killed by abortion activists and is really about the hypocrisy of those claiming to have the moral high ground , and Misery Machine, which is a take off Scooby Doo and the mystery machine, and it mentions the Abbey of Thelema, made famous by Aleister Crowley. There are many references to things like Willy Wonka, Twin Peaks, John Waters movies, Scooby Doo, etc.. This was basically where the band was at the time, they were really into the whole duality thing, especially with the name of the band being a mixture of serial killer/starlet and male/female. They displayed a mixture of childlike humor, and adult depravity. A very ambitious debut album and and a taste of things to come. Here are some of my favorite songs.
Lunchbox:

Get Your Gunn:

 Wrapped in Plastic:

Ramones - Rocket to Russia (1977)

The Ramones third studio album, this one really improves on the production side, which Leave Home left lacking. There are some really fun, upbeat songs like Cretin Hop, Rockaway Beach, and one of my favorites Teenage Lobotomy. Another highlight is their covers Surfin Bird and Do You Wanna Dance. Beach Boys type harmonies flow throughout this album, and it finds The Ramones at their most humorous, even in tragedy, such as the song We're a Happy Family, which makes light of family drama. All in all, if you must own a Ramones album,aside from compilations, this is one i would recommend, along with their first album and End of the Century.

We're a Happy Family:

Rockaway Beach:

Do You Wanna Dance:

Janes Addiction - Nothing's Shocking (1988)

Janes Addiction actual debut album (they had a previous live record) this record cemented the band's reputation as one of Los Angeles' main bands to watch in the late 80s. Lead singer Perry Farrell has one of the most distinctive voices ever and it really shows on songs like Jane Says and one of my favorites, Had A Dad. This album also introduces guitarist Dave Navarro (who would later join the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their ill-fated One Hot Minute album in 1995), bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins (who would later work with Peter Murphy). The band is sort of like a mixture of Led Zeppelin and punk, with a hint of psychedelic. I personally prefer Perry Farell's other band, Porno For Pyros but this is a must have album if there ever was any. Here are my favorite songs.

Had A Dad:

Ocean Size:

Jane Says:

. 

Original and cover: In Power We Trust The Love Advocated

A beautiful song originally from Dead Can Dance, whom I have been writing about a lot lately, especially after having seen them live. This song originally appeared on their album, Wake which was a compilation of Dead Can Dance songs, it also appeared on one of their early releases The Garden of Arcane Delights. The song is sung by Brendan Perry and the lyrics are very mystical, emotional, spiritual even. Many people think it has to do with an old love coming back and all these feelings returning, fear returning. Others think it has to do with faith and questioning it, or growing up in a world full of artificiality. I personally think it's about love or a lost love, especially when he mentions the keys to my heart you will never find. A beautiful song. Here is the original version.

There have been a few covers of this song. I am always weary of a band covering Dead Can Dance, honestly,most of them fail because Dead Can Dance is truly a unique band and it's hard for many to capture it's sound or to do any of their songs justice. There was a tribute album that came out a few years ago called The Lotus Eaters. It has mostly ethereal bands and a few metal bands covering Dead Can Dance. One of the highlights on this compilation is this song covered by The Gathering. It brings a whole new element to the song. I do especially like it's use of electric guitars and female vocals. It makes it a whole new song. I was already familiar with The Gathering before I heard their cover of this song, and I was quite impressed with it. Not many bands can cover a song such as this. Listen to it and judge for yourself. It's one of my favorite covers ever!.

All in all a very good cover and one that must be heard. Here are the lyrics to this song.

lyrics:
Sail on silver wings, through this storm
What fortune love may bring,
Back to my arms again the love of a former golden age.
I am disabled by fears concerning which course to take,

For now that wheels are turning I find my faith deserting me.
This night is filled with the cries of dispossessed children in search of paradise.
A sign of unresolved ambition drives the pin wheel on and on.
I am disabled by fears concerning which course to take,

When memory bears witness to the innocents consumed in dying rage.
The way lies through our love.
There can be no other means to the end,
Or the keys to my heart you will never find.

Dead Can Dance live at the Gibson Amphitheater Los Angeles, August 14, 2012

Dead Can Dance is one of my favorite bands of all time. It is really hard to describe their sound because it's so different depending on which album you are talking about. They range from gothic, ethereal, artrock, Gregorian chants, Arabic melodies, Gaelic folk, etc.. It's not exactly pop music and it's not unusual for them to cover a song from the 1500s or so. The band consists of Lisa Gerrard, who mostly sings in her own made up language, glossolalia, and Brendan Perry, who has more of a folk style, and sings mostly in English though he does sing in different languages also. The band existed from 1981 until 1998, reunited in 2005, then again this year and recorded a new album entitled Anastasis.

The band is currently on tour and I had the oppurtunity to see them at the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal Citywalk. I first walked in and the first thing I noticed was that they were not checking for cameras. This was great! I could take all the pictures and videos I want! I was a little apprehensive about taking a camera in because when I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers a few days ago, they were searching peoples bags. I sat down and was happy that the seats I got were not too far from the stage. The size of the place was great because you have an amazing view no matter where you are. At around 8:15 the opening act arrived. His name is David Kuckhermann, who played an instrument called a PanArt Hang, which looks like a tiny wok, and plays different sounds. He played this for a bit, which you can see in these videos.

After this, he switched to this other instrument, which looked like a tiny tambourine. He played this for one song, which you can see here.

,
To close his set he performed a song with a woman called Miranda Rodeau, and they both played these drums. Really cool song called Dragonfly which you can see in the following video.

 I was very impressed by the opening act, it created a nice ambiance in the amphitheater and you can tell him and Miranda were both influenced by Dead Can Dance. A very impressive opening act. No onwards to the main act...

They started out the set with the new song Children of the Sun, which had Brendan Perry on main vocals. There were no fancy lighting or theatrics. It was a very simple show, a very intimate feel.

I love Brendan's vocals and Lisa's instrumentation on this song. Throughout the concert I couldn't believe I was actually seeing this live! I have been a fan for many years and they did not disappoint. They mostly played songs from the new album, but they did play some older tracks like the classic Rakim, which features both Lisa and Branden on vocals.

They played songs from the new album such as Opium, Amnesia, Return of the She King and Anabasis, but you cannot deny the beauty of older gems they played such as The Host of Seraphim (made famous from the movies Baraka and The Mist), Sanvean, and the Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove. The band were in tight shape, never missing a queue. The big surprise of the night was that the band not only did Dreams Made Flesh, which was a song from the This Mortal Coil album, It'll End In Tears, but they covered one of my all time favorite songs, SONG TO THE SIREN!!! Brendan Perry did a touching rendition of this classic Tim Buckley song, also made famous by Liz Fraser and Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins, also on the same album from This Mortal Coil. I loved it so much! The only complaint I would have with the show was the big yellow light that shone right in my eyes during a few songs that Lisa sang and the obnoxious song requests from a select few people in the crowd. Nevertheless, it was an amazing show. A show I will never forget and which I will always remember as a magical, beautiful moment. Words cannot truly express the love I have for this group. They soothe me, they bring me a sense of calmness in a crazy world. Here are some pics I took of the show. I hope you enjoy.

 Here are some highlights of the night:

Dreams Made Flesh:

Host of Seraphim:

Song To The Siren:

Stream new Kate Bush remix for Running Up That Hill 2012 from the closing ceremony of the Olympics

Kate Bush is a very reclusive singer, despite being extremely prolific and working with greats such as Peter Gabriel. She never tours and hardly does any interviews or personal appearances. She has been making music since the late 70s and last year released two great albums, The Director's Cut and 50 Words for Snow. She has inspired such greats such as Tori Amos and Florence Welch. This year's Olympics in London, England has been a celebration of athletes and of course, music. There were tributes to great British musicians such as David Bowie, The Who. The Beatles, The Jam, Pink Floyd, Queen, Duran Duran, New Order, George Michael, Annie Lennox, Pet Shop Boys and many more. One of the closing ceremonies included this classic Kate Bush song (her best known song in the US) Running Up That Hill. It's unfortunate that it was not shown for the US broadcast but if you want to listen to it, here it is. It is less of a remix than a different vocal take. Running Up That Hill is always a favorite of mine. Take a listen. You can purchase it on iTunes UK but no sign of a US release.

Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (2012)

If you want to watch the Olympics performance, check out this link.

Red Hot Chili Peppers release new 7" single, 8 more to come!

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are in the midst of their newest tour in support of their 2011 album, I'm With You. During the recording of that album, the band recorded a ton of songs that didn't make the album. I had the oppurtunity to catch them yesterday at the Staples Center. What an amazing show! They played familiar hits, Otherside, Snow, Under The Bridge, Rain Dance Maggie and many more. Such energy! I can't wait until I see them again.

The first in the series of vinyl 7" was released this past week with the songs, Strange Man and Long Progression to be followed with the songs Magpies and Victorian Machinery to be released on September 11. Strange Man starts off as a nice mellow tune but picks up with distorted guitars and a catchy chorus. Long Progession is a more rocking tune, it's more like what you would expect from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and it's a bit similar to 2006's C'mon Girl. I'm eagerly awaiting the next series of singles in September. If you want to hear the songs here are the links:

Stramge Man:

lyrics:
All of my love and
Most of my fears
Been coming on strong
For most of my years
Add up and end up in a song

Cellophane tweeds and revenue streams
Are blocking my shots and killin' my dreams
That showed me how to be the cause

Ooh ahh, yella, ooh ahh, hey ah what now?

It's a lifetime of a strange man, that's right
It's a long time, for me, I see
She wants to belong and, I want to be free
Ex-communicated 'cause there ain't no guarantee

Ooh ahh, yella, ooh ahh, yeah

All of my friends and enemies
They were part of this dance
That put me right here we go
So glad I got this chance

Better known plans
And lesser known schemes
Were all about love and less about me
I'd have to say she wore the pants

That's oh!

It's the lifetime of a strange man, that's right
It's a long time for me, Uh-hu
She wants to belong and, I want to be free
Ex-communicated 'cause there ain't no guarantee

Woo! Yeah
Ahh
Go
Oh
I've been left
(Can't figure out what he says next)
(And then a bunch of scat)

It's a lifetime of a strange man, that's right
It's a long time, for me, lets see
She wants to belong and, I want to be free
Ex-communicated 'cause there ain't no guarantee

It's a lifetime of a strange man, that's me
It's a long time, for me, uh-uh
She wants to be rich and, I want to be free
Keep your plans elastic 'cause there ain't no, guarantee

Long Progession:

lyrics:
All of my love and most of my fears,
been coming on strong for most of my years;
add up but didn't end up in a song.
Cellophane tweeds and revenue streams,
A block in my shops and killing my dreams
that showed me how to be the cause.

Oooo, Ahhh
Yeah, Laa
Oooo well
Hey! Aw! What! Now!

It's a lifetime of a strange man, that's right.
It's a long time for me, I see.
She wants to be longing, I want to be free.
Ex-communicate it, 'cause there 'aint no guarantee.

Oooo, Ahhh
Yeah, Lo
Oooo, Ahhh
Yeah

All of my friends and enemies,
they were part of this dance that put me right here;
We go so glad I got this chance.
Better known plans than lesser known schemes,
We're all lit by love but less about me; I'd have to say she wore the
pants.

That's oh!

It's the lifetime of a strange man, that's right.
It's a long time for me, uh huh.
She wants to be longing, I want to be free.
Ex-communicate it, 'cause there 'aint no guarantee.

Woo! Yeah! Ahh! Ohh! Uhh!

I've been left myself, that's gone she keeps it live. I guess suicide?
Yeah! Get it on a say, but not a good day. All the flashbangs, mamas and
chess.

"Improvisation"

It's a lifetime of a strange man, that's right.
It's a long time for me, let's see.
She wants to be longing, I want to be free.
Ex-communicate it, 'cause there 'aint no guarantee.

It's a lifetime of a strange man, that's me.
It's a long time for me, uh huh.
She wants to be rich and I want to be free.
Keep your plans elastic 'cause there ain't no guarantee

Video of the day: New Order live in Berlin

New Order is a synthpop group formed in 1981 from the ashes of Joy Division after lead singer Ian Curtis hung himself. The band determined to carry on. They have since sold millions of albums worldwide, had top selling singles (Blue Monday being the top sellling 12" of all time) and won multiple awards. Recently, longtime bassist Peter Hook left the group to pursue his own tour playing Joy Division hits. New Order is currently touring, playing multiple dates across the US, including shows in Oakland, Los Angeles and 2 dates in New York. Here is footage of the 2nd half of their Berlin show, where they play a few Joy Division songs toward the end. Enjoy!

Setlist:
True Faith
586
The Perfect Kiss
Blue Monday
Temptation
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover)
Transmission (Joy Division cover)

Currently listening to: Week of August 5, 2012

I'm doing this entry a bit early because I didn't do one last week. It's been a pretty good month so far. On Saturday I saw the Bangles live at Pershing Square. I'll upload those videos as time allows. Onward to this week's albums!

To really hear an artist's work, you must look past the hit singles. The entire album is worth hearing to truly get a glimpse of it all in one body of work. Here are some of the albums I am listening to this week.

Matt Skiba and the Sekrets - Babylon (2012)

On my last entry, I talked about Alkaline Trio's album Crimson. Now we will discuss the latest from Alkaline Trio member Matt Skiba and his band The Sekrets. Babylon was released around May of this year and it is fast becoming another favorite of mine. This band includes AFI's Hunter Burgan on bass and My Chemical Romance's Jarrod Anderson on drums. A great mixture of songs, some of which reminds me of Heavens, and others have more of the Alkaline Trio sound. I see it as a mixture of both bands. Hunter does bring a darker flavor into this album as well. If you liked Heavens and more melodic stuff from Alkaline Trio, this album is a safe bet. Here are some of my favorites:
You:

Voices:

Olivia:

Red Hot Chili Peppers - One Hot Minute (1995)

An underrated album from these Los Angeles misfits. This album was released after the band broke through the mainstream with 1991's multiplatinum Blood Sugar Sex Magic album. Guitarist John Frusciante had major problems so they kicked him out of the band and was replaced by....Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction!? A curious choice, but it led to this album, which sounds very different from any other Red Hot Chili Peppers album to date. The addition of Navarro brought a darker edge to the group, but their fanbase was torn. Sales were down from their previous album and Navarro left the group after Frusciante got clean. I like this album because it shows a more diverse sound and it shows the band was willing to experiment. Here are some good ones.
Warped:

Coffee Shop:

Shallow By Thy Name:

Heavens - Patent Pending (2006)

Sideproject of Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio. Unlike the punk sound of Alkaline Trio, Heavens is way more mellow and gives off a postpunk, Joy Division like feel. There are no fastpaced numbers on this one. I like this because my background is in the postpunk scene (Joy Division, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy). This should please fans of all these groups. Here are some of the best songs on here.
Patent Pending:

Dead End Girl:

Annabelle:

Brendan Perry - Ark (2010)

The second solo album from Brendan Perry, the male half of Dead Can Dance, which was officially released in 2010. This work is more similar to his work with Dead Can Dance than the folkiness of his first solo album, The Eye of the Hunter. Here is what Brendan has to say about this album:
Ark comprises eight original compositions in total that explore the recurring themes of identity, alienation, war, political corruption and the threat that we as a species now pose to our environment.
Despite the dystopian themes that pervade these eight compositions, there are also expressions of great hope and optimism for a better world to be found within the subtext of the songs.
For an Ark as well as being a refuge from the world's harsher realities is also a vehicle for regeneration and renewal. It is an amazing work of art and very expressive in it's themes. It gives me hope to listen to it and one of 2010's best albums. Here are some of my favorite songs:
Utopia:

The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea:

 Wintersun:

Pet Shop Boys reveal album title, tracklist, Elysium due out in September 11 in US

The Pet Shop Boys have revealed the album artwork for their new album, Elysium. It's a simple cover which reminds me of some ambient collections I have. I look forward to hearing it in its entirety. I have enjoyed the two songs leaked from the album already, Invisible and Winner. On the single for winner, the band has also covered the Bee Gee's I Started a Joke. It looks to be a great summer for music. The Pet Shop Boys have consistently released wonderful music and this album seems no different. Always inspiring, and always fun. This album will be released in single CD form, double CD, double vinyl, and a "Mastered for iTunes" version with commentary by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant. I have no idea what "Mastered for iTunes" means but it's pretty neat that they will include commentary for every track. The album is out on September 11 in the US on Astralwerks, and September 10 in the UK on Parlophone. Here is the tracklist:
 
Tracklist: Pet Shop Boys, Elysium
1. “Leaving”
2. “Invisible”
3. “Winner”
4. “Your Early Stuff”
5. “A Face Like That”
6. “Breathing Space”
7. “Ego Music”
8. “Hold On”
9. “Give It a Go”
10. “Memory of the Future”
11. “Everything Means Something”
12. “Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin”
Here are the songs already released.

Invisible:

Winner:

I Started A Joke (preview):

Men Without Hats announce East Coast US fall tourdates, plus announce new single This War

Canadian new wave act Men Without Hats announce East Coast US tourdates, including dates in Miami and New York. The band is touring in support of their newest album, Love In The Time of War. I really wish they would do a Los Angeles tourdate but I'm keeping my eyes open. Also, check out the new single, This War, from the album produced by former Skinny Puppy producer, Dave "Rave" Ogilvie.



Men Without Hats tour dates:
Sept. 5: 4th & B, San Diego, CA
Sept. 6: Henderson Pavilion, Henderson, NV
Sept. 8: Awesome ’80s Fest, Saprissa Stadium, San Jose, Costa Rica
Nov. 20: The Social, Orlando, FL
Nov. 21: Orpheum, Tampa, FL
Nov. 23: Grand Central, Miami, FL
Nov. 24: Jack Rabbit’s, Jacksonville, FL
Nov. 25: Motorco, Durham, NC
Nov. 27: Open Arts Stage, Bordentown, NJ
Nov. 28: Sellersville Theater, Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 29: State Theater, Washington, D.C.
Nov. 30: Brooklyn Bowl, New York, NY
Dec. 1: Showcase Live, Boston, MA

Listen to new single, This War:

and a live version: