Scarlett Johansson has reportedly toyed with recording a record for awhile now and you may recall hearing this mp3 of her doing Gershwin's "Summertime." Now, NME reports that Scarlett may be doing some singing with Jesus and Mary Chain.

For the kids who may be more familiar with Johansson then the band, Jesus and Mary Chain were a seminal alt rock band from Scotland in the latter half of the 80s and were one of the few that maintained post grunge success. The band broke up in 1999, but announced a reunion tour in January of this year.

The band is set to play Coachella, but NME says they may do a warm up gig in Pomona, California on April 26th. The gig may feature Scarlett on backing vocals. That'd be interesting to hear, and of course, see. If it goes down, maybe she'll join them for Coachella?

Labels: Jesus and Mary Chain, Scotland

Cheap Trick, who were coincidentally one of the first bands I saw in concert, maybe even the first as I can't remember if it was them or Black Sabbath, are set to play "house band" for the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band 40th Year anniversary. The show will take place at the Hollywood Bowl and no doubt feature other guest artists - no word on whether Paul or Ringo will show.

Shit Disco are among the latest Scottish acts to make some noise on this side of the pond. The Glasgow group is doing well on the eMusic charts here in the States with their Kingdom of Fear release for Fierce Panda Records. You can stream the whole record on NME and check out the video for "OK" on YouTube. Also, we've got an mp3 for you as well.

Shit Disco mp3: OK

Dave Stewart is looking to make going green "sexy" - wait didn't Al Gore already do that? The Eurythmics guitarist is teaming up with Greenpeace to launch Greenpeace Records to help raise funds and awareness for environmental causes. Greenpeace's Mark Warford adds, "But it's not just a home for protest songs. It's about people who are committed to social issues but are also being artistic and getting the word out without any restrictions." Word!

BuzzSugar analyzes the hard choice of picking wedding songs. Being bachelors over here at Earvolution, that's not really our thing. But, I do like some of the classic rock choices like Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. Some names even us guys can get into!

Labels: Beatles, Mp3s, Scotland

James Morrison, who could be this year's James Blunt, is driving the ladies wild with his soulful acoustic stylings. Particularly, in Scotland. However, the Scottish lasses may be a bit too aggressive for Morrison.

The singer and recent Brit Award winner is quoted as saying "They are totally lethal. I nearly got raped. It was full on, mental. They have some big women in Scotland, very big women, and when they set their sights on a target they go for it. I was that target."

I wonder if Shirley Manson or KT Tunstall can verify Morrison's take on the Scottish girls?

Labels: James Morrison, Scotland

The Fratellis are going to have to conquer America with their talent cause frontman Jon Fratelli isn't getting off to the best start with his diplomacy skills. Claiming that they are "too lazy" and "not bothered" about finding fame in the States, Fratelli believes The Fratellis would be reduced to "bland stadium rock" in order to tailor the band's sound for America.

"We are not that bothered about being lauded in America. I don't mean it to sound like we don't appreciate Americans liking us, but we're not the Romans out to conquer everywhere," says Fratelli. "We don't have that mentality because if you think like that you start writing songs with that in mind, trying to sound like you want to conquer everywhere and the music becomes bland stadium rock. We are too lazy for that. Maybe we'll conquer everywhere including America by mistake and it will be a complete fluke, just like everything else that has happened to us."

If The Fratellis are looking for a big break, they surely received one in the form of Pete Townshend, who has taken an interest in the Scottish band and sat in with them on "The Seeker" at this year's SXSW festival. If you're looking to conquer America, Townshend may be the proper guide.

Labels: Pete Townshend, Scotland, The Fratellis

Norah Jones has a new record coming out next week. Not Too Late hits stores Tuesday, January 30th. The material is classic Norah Jones and not the punkish pop she'd been experimenting with last year in NYC clubs. Stream: Windows Media / Quicktime / Real

The Jesus and Mary Chain (yes another Scottish band!) are joining the list of reunions and will play at Coachella. You can refresh your recollection of JMC or if you weren't a child of the 80s discover them for the first time over at the Rhino Records site.

The Shins will be on David Letterman tonight. Via MySpace their label is encouraging fans to tape it and post it to the internet. I'm sure that'll make some lawyers happy. And, with all the hype you probably thought their new record, Wincing the Night Away, was already out when in fact it drops today.

Warm in the Wake will put out their new record on January 30th. The Decatur-based southern popsters are taking their melodic brand of indie rock on tour and you can get dates on their MySpace page.
MP3: Tame Thoughts

According to their publicist, The Berg Sans Nipple "present a dazzling amalgam of dreamy electronica, percussion-heavy afro-beats, layers of feedback, pop melodies and dub blankets on Along the Quai." You can judge for yourself with a couple mp3s, I just wanted to see if we'd get some extra google hits from the word "nipple." Maybe we'll have more luck if we write "Jessica Simpson" next to it.
MP3s:: Mystic Song and Along the Quai.

Labels: Mp3s, Norah Jones, Scotland, The Shins

Scottish lass and Grammy nominee KT Tunstall is still receiving accolades for her very well done Eye to the Telescope, but is already working on her next release.

KT says: "I'm very happy with how the album is sounding so far so I've just got to get it finished. I should be in the studio at the moment but instead I'm here in Los Angeles. I should be finished the album by the end of February so we don't have long. There's a bit of pressure but that could be a good thing."

KT is nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Labels: KT Tunstall, Scotland

Bob Dylan has reportedly bought a sweet new pad. The troubadour is reportedly ready to nestle into a Scottish mansion that sits on 25 acres of woodland near the village of Nethy Bridge, Inverness-shire. Sounds like quite the place! Enjoy it Bob, you've earned it.

Reports also have a new Dylan tune called "Huck's Theme," appearing on the soundtrack for the film Lucky You. The movie, which stars Drew Barrymore, is also said to feature a pair of Bruce Springsteen tunes, including old school track "The Fever."

Labels: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Scotland

Seems everyone wants a piece of Justin Timberlake and Timbaland these days. Duran Duran is the latest to court the dynamic duo for a project. Hey, those boys may be old, but they're not dumb!

If you haven't heard them by now, there are some cool collaborations out between of The Buena Vista Social Club & Chris Martin of Coldplay, Dido, Jack Johnson, Franz Ferdinand, Sting, Bono, Maroon 5, The Kaiser Chiefs, The Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the collection called Rythms Del Mundo go to the Music Rising charity. You check out some of the collaborations here: Dancing Shoes (Arctic Monkeys), Fragilidad (Sting), Killing Me Softly (Omara Portuondo).

Ari Hest has a cover out of Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies." Ari's full length The Break In (recorded with Mitchell Froom) is set for a March 2007 release.

Lots of folks are sending us their holiday songs. Here's one from Ken Tizzard.

Our buddy Rinjo Njori has a new blog "Slave to Shuffle" where he's streaming a handful of songs a day with some commentary on each.

The Democrats may not have Ted Nugent, but they've still got a cool house band for their upcoming celebration concert to mark Nancy Pelosi becoming the first woman elected Speaker of the House.

Scotland continues to be a source for new music. If you missed them, Driveblind played on the Craig Ferguson show, check out the YouTube clip here.

Finally, Schultz Says:

London's High Court awarded Procol Harum keyboardist Matthew Fisher 40% of the copyright in the group's enduring classic "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." Since its release, the copyright had been held by Gary Brooker, Procol Harum's lead singer. In claiming entitlement to half the copyright, Fisher pointed to his creation of the song's memorable organ riff; an argument the High Court agreed with, finding the organ solo "a distinctive and significant contribution to the overall composition." As Fisher waited 40 years to assert his rights, the Court awarded him future, not past, royalties.

Brooker and his attorneys see the decision as a time bomb set to detonate and destroy the entire music industry. In a statement through his attorneys, Brooker pleaded that, "the repercussions of this decision are so far-reaching that any musician who has ever played on any recording in the last 40 years may now have a potential claim of joint authorship."

Somewhere in Europe, the heirs of Johann Sebastian Bach must be scratching their heads . . . and contacting their attorney. (Yes, yes, I know -- public domain. Never let a fact ruin a good finishing line).

Labels: Arctic Monkeys, Bono, Chris Martin, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Mp3s, Radiohead, Scotland, U2

The preliminary line-up for the 10,000 Lakes Festival includes Bob Weir & RatDog, Trey Anastasio, Umphrey's McGee, Gov't Mule, Little Feat & The Derek Trucks Band.

Slate will premiere the new Bob Dylan video for "Thunder on the Mountain," from his latest Modern Times tomorrow. The video features archival footage of Dylan performing over the past four decades and Slate will also be hosting a contest where you can try to identify the years various pieces of footage were shot with the winner getting a guitar signed by Dylan.

Mp3s worth checking out -

Kristoffer Ragnstam: "Breakfast By The Mattress"

The Slip: "Even Rats"

Jeremy Enigk: "Been Here Before"

Robbers On High Street: "The Fatalist"

Pablo: "Loser Crew"

Glasgow's The Cinematics - a band I think we'll hear a lot more of in 2007 - will include this cover of Beck's "Sunday Sun" on their debut full length A Strange Education is due out in February and the lads hope to do some extensive US touring in support. That's a show I will surely try to catch. Viva Scotland!

Keller Williams is about to kick off a winter tour and announced his new record will hit stores February 7th - dream will feature appearances from various luminaries including Béla Fleck, Bob Weir, Martin Sexton, Michael Franti, Steve Kimock, The String Cheese Incident and Victor Wooten.

Labels: Bob Dylan, Jeremy Enigk, Michael Franti, Mp3s, Robbers on High Street, Scotland, Spearhead, The Slip, Trey Anastasio