Beck Poised at Turning Point

Modern Guilt is a far cry from the artist's early days

(NEWSER) - Beck’s new 34-minute-long record is a “simmering cauldron of postmillennial tension,” writes Leah Greenblatt in Entertainment Weekly, its paranoid lyrics “way past Bummerville” and nearing “Apocalypse Heights.” But producer Danger Mouse still manages to find “thoughtfulness and texture…if not exactly levity” that temper Modern Guilt's drama. J. Freedom du Lac concurs in the Post, concluding that Beck's "funny bone remains broken.” More»

Band continues to self-release; download available Saturday

(NEWSER) - Radiohead is rolling out new album The King of Limbs this Saturday in digital format, the Telegraph reports, and it's once again forgoing a trifling thing like a record label. (The band notably self-released 2007's In Rainbows.) Fans eager to hear the album ASAP will have to take advantage of the $10 digital download, but will also be able to order CD and 10" vinyl editions on release day. More»

Group has three in the works after Bono's surgery

(NEWSER) - Instead of shutting him down, Bono’s recent emergency surgery has prompted a creative burst: U2 is planning three new albums, including one produced by pop guru Danger Mouse, reports Australia's the Age . “We have about 12 songs with him," the singer says. "At the moment that looks like the album we will put out next because it's just happening so easily.” More»

(NEWSER) - Three bands just weren’t enough for Jack White, who’s started a music store/recording studio/record label in his adopted hometown of Nashville. Third Man Records is “where everything starts to make sense,” the White Stripes frontman tells the Wall Street Journal. “Where modern meets old and tangible meets invisible.” White says the label could have 100 releases within 2 years. More»

(NEWSER) - Record labels and the online radio industry have reached a deal on royalties that insiders think will allow the medium to survive, the New York Times reports. Larger sites like Pandora will pay the labels 25% of revenue or up to 14 cents for every song they stream—whichever is higher—and small sites will pay 12% to 14% of revenue. Prior to the deal, rates were set to hit 19 cents per song, and many so-called webcasters said they couldn't survive. More»