The highly anticipated new album from Rodrigo y Gabriela will launch on September 8th. The album, entitled 11:11 is the band’s tribute to 11 musicians who have inspired them throughout their careers. Since the 2006 self-titled debut, fans have eagerly awaited a follow up, and are sure to be satisfied. The sophomore effort features guest appearances by Alex Skolnick of Testament, as well as Strunz & Farah. The album, which follows their critically acclaimed debut that sold over half a million copies worldwide, was recorded in Mexico, and mixed in Wales and London by Colin Richardson, who is known for his work with Slipknot and Trivium.

11:11 Album cover

To listen to some of some of the duo’s music, please click here.

During a break from touring, writing, and recording with the Grammy-winning Raconteurs, Brendan Benson worked hard to create his fourth solo album, entitled My Old, Familiar Friend. The album is a well-crafted, sonically diverse example of Brendan Benson’s creative prowess. The album is slated to release on August 18, 2009. The album features 11 well-crafted, brilliant songs and spans a number of genres. Some tracks force you to celebrate, while others instill reflection in the listener. The true strength of the album is in Benson’s multi-faceted approach to music creation, each track bleeds originality yet on the album they all fit together neatly to create a powerful experience.

To check out the song Whole Lot Better from the new album, click here.

Check out this incredible video of The Carleton Singing Knights as they perform My Morning Jacket’s “Wordless Chorus” (Z) a cappela.

John Lennon once said he didn’t believe that musicians created emotions in their listeners. Rather, he believed that an artist’s role is to bring feelings to the surface that already live deep within us. Thus, while all human beings are connected to one another in some way, there is a special bond we feel with the artists that help us shine a light within our own core.

A few days after George Harrison passed away in 2001, Yim Yames was moved to record this six-song EP of Harrison covers, paying tribute to a man that he never met, but with whom he felt a special connection. The tracks have a serene quality that mourn the loss of a legendary spirit while celebrating his enduring influence.

On the EP, Yames performs beautiful renditions of four cuts from Harrison’s classic album All Things Pass as well as two of the Beatles tunes that he penned. These six tracks have a raw, minimalist feel – featuring little more than Yames’s vocals and acoustic guitar. With all the space, the room in which the tracks were recorded truly serves as another instrument in the mix, creating an ethereal aura for a backdrop.

From his warm, multi-layered vocals on opening track “Long Long Long” to his near-whisper at the end of album closer “All Things Must Pass,” Yames sings in a fittingly intimate manner. In the album’s liner notes, he refers to Harrison as “a prime example of the healing power of music.” These words apply just as much to this EP. As the final chords on Tribute To ring out, one can’t help but feel a deep, satisfying sense of catharsis.

Tribute To Tracklist:

1.) Long Long Long
2.) Behind That Locked Door
3.) Love You To
4.) My Sweet Lord
5.) Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
6.) All Things Must Pass

For those who can’t wait until August to hear Tribute To, you can get a taste by checking out “Behind That Locked Door,” currently available for download on YimYames.com.

Topspin will also give fans the opportunity to download the entire EP via YimYames.com a full month before it hits stores. Beginning on July 7th fans can purchase and download a digital copy of the album immediately, and pre-order the CD and a limited edition vinyl for delivery on the August 4th release date.

A portion of the proceeds from the EP will go to the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, an organization that provides shelter to farm animals that have been rescued from cases of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. For more information, please visit the WFAS website: Woodstockfas.org. Fans who order the limited edition vinyl will also receive a t-shirt and brochure from WFAS so they can learn more about the charity.
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Since performing at Bonnaroo, Coachella & SXSW, Alberta Cross has garnered much attention with their critically acclaimed EP, The Theif and The Heartbreaker. PopMatters, declared, “The seven-song EP is one of the best you’ll be lucky enough to pick up, resembling a full album’s quality but leaving one wanting a lot more.” With more shows on the way, the band is set to release their highly anticipated full-length debut, Broken Side of Time September 22. We wish them the best of luck on their upcoming performances at Glastonbury, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits! Check back here for upcoming tour dates or visit  www.myspace.com/albertacross