Shop Till You Rock

It's highly uncommon for The Music Slut to suggest hitting up in-stores, but today, should you find some time to run out of the office, we suggest popping over to one of the following events:

-James Morrison @ Borders (100 Broadway). James is scheduled to be performing and signing copies of his debut LP, Undiscovered, around 1pm. If you can manage to ignore the swarms of pubescent girls, you're golden.

-Klaxons DJing @ Diesel in Union Square at 3pm. The guys perform later this evening at Studio B. Expect to hear: Happy Mondays, Stone Roses & James.

-While not exactly an in-store we strongly urge you to check out David Arquette DJing @ Rififi tonight (for the weekly Trash party). Random. Random. Random. Incidentally, let us know how it is! My big concern: is he more of a Joy Division or New Order kinda guy?

Lily Wants To See Paolo Nutini/James Morrison Dogfight

Via Lily Allen's MySpace blog:

"Every interview I do at the moment I'm getting asked how I feel about Amy Winehouse. It's starting to really piss me off. I really like Amy and am totally supportive of her. Why do people always try and play women off against each other the whole time?

Yes, Amy and I are both English and yes, we're both in our early twenties. Why don't they [the media] try and create a feud between me and James Morrison or Amy and Paulo Nutini? Or why not create a rivalry between the boys. I think there is something seriously wrong with this part of our culture."

Honey, I wouldn't mind seeing that quarrel either!

MP3s: Paolo Nutini - Rewind + Lily Allen - LDN (Pojmasta mix)

Britpop Allstars To Recreate 'Sgt. Pepper'

Via NME: Oasis, The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs are to cover songs from The Beatles' 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' to mark the 40th anniversary of the classic album's release. The original album was released on June 1, 1967 and to mark the event the big names will all be covering tracks from the record for a BBC2 special to be aired on June 2.

Razorlight, James Morrison, The Fratellis and Travis are among the other acts taking part. The BBC reports that Geoff Emerick, the engineer in charge of the original sessions will use the same equipment to record the new versions. Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas said: "This will be not only a unique radio event, but a very special musical moment. The range and quality of artists involved ensure that this will be a fitting tribute to one of the great albums of all time."

MP3: The Beatles - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (via Press The Button)

James Morrison Travels Across The Atlantic

Just a few short weeks ago, I was discussing the sudden fame of British singer-songwriter, James Morrison.

It seems as if many Americans and Canadians are interested in hearing more from the songbird, like myself. Well, lucky you (and me), he has just announced a string of headlining dates in the States and Canada. Don't own his album yet? It will get its official North American release on March 13th.

James on American success: “So much of my favourite music comes from the U.S. I can’t wait to take my own songs there and perform in these intimate rooms.”

Dates:
Fri 16 March: Austin, La Zona Rosa (SXSW)
Weds 21 March: Los Angeles, The Roxy
Fri 23 March: San Francisco, Swedish American Hall
Mon 26 March: Seattle, Chop Suey
Sat 31 March: Chicago, Martyrs
Tues 3 April: St Louis, Duck Room
Thurs 5 April: Toronto, Mod Club
Tues 10 April: Cambridge, T.T.Bear’s
Weds 11 April: New York, Knitting Factory
Sun 15 April: Nashville, 3rd & Lindsley
Mon 16 April: Atlanta, Vinyl
Weds 18 April: Denver, Larimer Lounge

James will also be performing on the Today show on Friday 16th March and on the Jay Leno show on Weds 21st March. Let's just hope he doesn't become the next James Blunt. The next Van Morrison would be a much higher accolade at this point in his short career.

MP3: James Morrison - Wonderful World (via Shock Radio UK)

Post #1500: Who The Hell Is James Morrison?

Well, all I knew of him, up until last week, was that he was that guy who beat out Thom Yorke for Best Male artist at The Brits. I gather I should have heard of him earlier considering he was the top selling UK artist of '06 and has a string of sold-out shows, across the Atlantic, through June!

His debut LP, Undiscovered, gets an official US release on March 13th. After sampling some tunes off his via MySpace page, for those unfamilar with him, like myself, think Jeff Buckley/David Gray/Teitur/Damien Rice with a little bit of soul... he couldn't be more textbook singer-songwriter, but it's not half bad.

Turns out James will be back on the road, once his official tour is complete, to participate in The Forestry Commissions summer tour. What is that, you ask? Well, it will be 5-date run at various outdoor venues, with a goal to spread word about being socially & environmentally friendly. We, of course, appreciate that here at The Music Slut.

Those dates are:
High Lodge, Thetford Forest, Santon Downham, Suffolk (June 7)
Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest, Nr Goudhurst, Kent (9)
Dalby Forest, Nr Thornton Le Dale, North York Moors (22)
Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Edwinstowe, Nr Mansfield, Notts (29)
National Arboretum, Westonbirt, Nr Tetbury, Glos (July 1)

We just might fall for James Morrison, after all.

MP3: James Morrison - The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore