Los Angeles Times interviews Ryan Adams and Drowned In Sound has a live review from his show at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Trampled By Turtles have a free mp3 download of their take on the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind.”

NPR has an interesting audio interview with Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons: Def Jam’s First 25 Years.

Pitchfork gives Phantogram’s new song, “Don’t Move” the “Best New Track” honors.

Listen to Jack White cover U2′s “Love Is Blindness” at Consequence of Sound.

The Quietus has “20 Years On: A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory Revisited”

Listen to the Spotify playlist of NME‘s “150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years”

Aquarium Drunkard has an MP3 of AA Bondy covering Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire.”

A Place To Bury Strangers have signed to Dead Oceans.

The Black Keys will release El Camino on December 6th. Wanna buy a van? Contact Pat or Dan at (330) 510-1206.

Chromeswaves reviews Feist in concert.

The Los Angeles Times profiles Annie Clark of St. Vincent.

Visit Amazon for 100 Albums for $5

ZZ Top follow MoB favorites The Avett Brothers and Crosby, Stills & Nash as the next in line to team up with legendary producer/knob tweaker Rick Rubin. What makes this story interesting is Rubin’s floating of the idea for ZZ Top to team up with the The Black Keys, who can now add Billy F. Gibbons to their increasing fan base.

Billboard.com has the skinny:

Though it’s on the road until early November, ZZ Top is gearing up for its next album — its first with producer Rick Rubin under a new deal with Rubin’s Columbia-distributed American Recordings imprint.

“All I can say at this point this a new venture between the two of us,” guitarist Billy F. Gibbons tells Billboard.com. “I’ve known Rick for 20 years and we’ve waited for this opportunity for a double decade. I’ve not sat down with him pointedly to get down to business just yet, but I feel very comfortable working within the framework that he envisions. He’s got a good feel on the pulse, and I’m very interested in what he might have in mind.”

Gibbons says that Rubin has forwarded one idea — hooking ZZ Top up with the Black Keys for some writing and possibly recording. “I’m such a big fan of those guys … it makes total sense,” says Gibbons, who first checked out the band during a fall 2005 show at New York’s Irving Plaza. “And that’s pretty down and dirty, which is good for ZZ Top.”

There is some new material around already, from a 15-day studio session Gibbons did in May with a couple of engineers, during which he says he “managed to squeeze out 15 tunes.

“It was just me kickin’ back and having a good time,” Gibbons recalls. “We did everything from a black church gospel ballad to updated versions of ‘Rollin’ and Tumblin’,’ did some Jimmy Reed take-off things, just keeping that bluesy thread throughout. I think that as long as we maintain that blues tradition, the material takes on an identity that’s easily digestible, at least in terms of what our fans have asked for.”

Gibbons says he hopes ZZ Top hits the studio shortly after its tour cycle, which includes its current run of dates with Brooks & Dunn and then an In Your Face Tour headlining run that starts Sept. 26 in Wichita, Kan. “There’s just a lot of enthusiasm between us now,” Gibbons notes, “and I think that it’s setting us up to go directly into the studio and keep that momentum that seems to be hitting.”

Meanwhile, ZZ Top will release an expanded 25th anniversary “Eliminator (Collector’s Edition) on Aug. 26, and Gibbons has recorded a version of Chuck Berry’s “Run, Rudolph, Run” with Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister for the “Metal Christmas” compilation, due this fall.

Thanks to my friends at Via Chicago for the tip!

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Milwaukee fans can catch ZZ Top on Friday, August 29th at the upcoming Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary. Who’s seen them before? I own nor have I explored any of their records. Should I? If so, which ones can you recommend?

Crosby, Stills & Nash follow The Avett Brothers as the most recent group to enlist legendary producer Rick Rubin’s touch. Today, Billboard.com reports that Crosby, Stills & Nash will record an entire album of only cover songs with “recording to start in early 2009 for a release later in the year.” More info here.

Reminder: David Crosby and Graham Nash perform a very intimate/special show at Milwaukee’s Riverside Theatre on Monday, November 3rd.

Discuss: What are some of your favorite CSNY releases? How about favorites from less membered incarnations? Favorite solo releases from Crosby, Stills, Nash? What records (by any artist) has Rubin made great, which ones has he ruined?

Find MP3′s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic

Thanks to Spin for the skinny on news of the Avett Brothers recording with legendary producer Rick Rubin.

From their website:

Since we first performed as The Avett Brothers, we have been fortunate enough to find and build a genuine and mutual respect with those who care to listen. It is this kind exchange that champions our music, and allows us the forum to continue on our path, with this work, this art. We believe this to be an appropriate time for a brief update, as we would like for you all to know of the most noteworthy of present developments.

We have recently begun working on a new full length album with Rick Rubin. The recording process has been, and will no doubt continue to be, an experience defined by heightened levels of commitment and conviction. It is our distinct pleasure and honor to be in such fine company as we build and bring this most current chapter of songs to fruition.

With this union has come another, as we have just completed and signed an agreement with American/Columbia Records, the label with whom we will proudly release our next record. It is our sincere hope, in regard to this news, that our ongoing relationship with Ramseur Records is understood. There have not been, and will be no hard feelings or abandon-based resentment from either party involved. The Avett and Ramseur camps remain strongly and truthfully connected, both personally and professionally. There has been no change in these matters through this momentous transition.

For all of you who have gone to such great lengths to show your appreciation, we continue in our most sincere efforts to return the sentiment. The music would go nowhere without you. Our hearts and our minds are on the recording of this next album, and we look forward with great anticipation to sharing it with you all. Until then, thank you as always, and we will see you somewhere on that open road…

Sincerely,
The Avett Brothers
July, 2008

Myspace: The Avett Brothers