My Bloody Valentine Confirms New Album

Pre-digital phenomenon: My Bloody Valentine.

Listeners who’ve been forlornly staring at their shoes since My Bloody Valentine became inactive in 1995 can finally avert their catatonic eyes to happy news. Those titans of the shoegazing movement are set to release a new album soon, according to a recent interview, and it sounds like a tour could also be in the works.

My Bloody Valentine guitarist and founding member, Kevin Shields, confirmed the group’s reunion and discussed the forthcoming album on SoftFocus, a program on the Spike Jonze-infused online network, vbs.tv. He said the album, their third LP, would continue from the point where the Irish rockers paused, right around the time in history when President Bill Clinton “did not have sexual relations with that woman, Monica Lewinsky.”

Given the promise of a continuation in sound, a sonic review may be needed. Listen here to the track, “I Only Said,” to appreciate the signature distorted vocals, warped guitar and all-around gorgeous noise that led critics to proclaim My Bloody Valentine’s second album from 1991, Loveless, as potentially the greatest rock masterpiece of the 90s.

Despite the virulent rumors, no details have been confirmed yet regarding a potential tour from My Bloody Valentine. One popular theory holds that they will appear at Coachella, which will be held from April 25 to 27, then hit the road, rails and runways for performances around the world. The steaming hot festival in the desert has been the location lately for some high-profile comebacks, including those of the Pixies, New Order, Daft Punk and the Jesus and Mary Chain.

Keep an ear to the sand.

Geek Talk Video Blog, Episode 3: Severe Jet Lag Edition

-- Brian Juergens from AfterElton.com

The Geek Talk boys, Marc and Lee, are back and geekier than ever. Actually, they're just a little jet-lagged from their trip to Scandinavia, but the untrained eye can easily mistake punch-drunk for an extra side of geek. Regardless, the fellas chat about video games (including Rock Band, which excites me in ways I never thought possible) and Joss Whedon and speak of their vacation-related DVR backlog in hushed tones of sheer terror. Next week should be fun!

Actually, this week is fun, and you can check it out after the jump...

TV Alert: Nip/Tuck Tours "Lesbania"

-- scribegrrrl from AfterEllen.com

So, are you watching  Nip/Tuck? I am, but often through my fingers — and not because of the plastic surgery scenes. I want to see Portia de Rossi and Joely Richardson as often as possible (who wouldn't?), but every time they show up, I wince and fear mishandling of the story line.

[Warning: Mild spoilers]

Last week, I really liked Julia's heart-to-heart with Sean. She seemed like a woman who's not really embracing or rejecting anything just yet. And she was kind to her ex-husband, which is always a breath of fresh air on a show that has come to rely on exposure (of every sort) and betrayal for drama. It wasn't always like that — the first couple of seasons of Nip/Tuck were richer and more complex, still soapy but not always taking the easy way out.

And the easy way out is what worries me. Right after Julia's forthrightness warmed the cockles of my heart, Sean and Christian played cock of the walk, tossing around epithets and bravado until I felt sick. So I don't know whether to be optimistic about the Julia/Olivia relationship — well, I know I shouldn't have high hopes for a happy ending, but will we even get to enjoy a few short weeks of romance and hotness? I'm a fool to believe, and Liz (Roma Maffia) would be the first to tell me so.

Video Lunch: Sara Bareilles - "Love Song"

Pianist Sara Bareilles says she doesn’t mind current comparisons to Norah Jones and Fiona Apple (what newbie wouldn’t?), but she has her own talent and her own gigs going for her already. Her debut album with Epic Records, Little Voices (which she says “chronicles” her “basket-case-ness”), came out in July of this year, and she’s already opened for Mika, Maroon 5 and Aqualung. She also headlined a tour with Jon McLaughlin.

And it's not like Epic put this whole record together for her: Six of the tracks on Little Voices are re-recorded from songs on Sara's independent demo, Careful Confessions.

Sara grew up in Eureka, California and moved to L.A. to attend UCLA, where she studied communications and began to write and perform locally. But she’s a little new to be feeling like a performing puppet, as her music video suggests, don’t ya think? Maybe these are all former lovers forcing her to perform. Hmmm...that would be interesting...

Bravo's Green Week: Todd Oldham Makes Snowflakes, Amy Sedaris Throws Nothing Away

-- Lyle Masaki from AfterElton.com

For NBC's "Green is Universal" week, Bravo's Andy Cohen had a video chat with designer Todd Oldham and Amy Sedaris about being green friendly. The mix of Sedaris and Oldham turns out to be pretty cute, blending silliness with some serious eco-talk.

Sedaris, BTW, came to the chat wearing a cute green skirt she got while filming a music video with a monkey for Dolly Parton. That's right, there's a Dolly Parton video coming up that has both Amy Sedaris and a monkey. 

Both Sedaris and Oldham make finding ways to turn waste products into a craft. Oldham turns an old plastic bag into a snowflake and a bathroom tissue roll  into a toy for her pet rabbits. (Unsurprisingly, Sedaris also reveals a love of making the Land-O-Lakes butter mascot flash her top.) Sedaris seems to be able to find a new use for everything.

On a more serious note, the trio compare a lot of little ways they try to reduce the strain they put on the environment. Oldham requests a pitcher of water instead of bottled water. Top Design's Goil also calls via phone in to bring up the impact of buying locally (and then he and Todd discuss renewable building materials). 

It's all cuter and a little more fun than I would have expected when I checked it out. You can see it for yourself at Bravo's web site or watch each clip individually after the break:

Lesbian Weeds Watching: Episode 3.12

-- Sarah Warn from AfterEllen.com

In the latest episode of Lesbian Weeds Watching, Emma and Jen talk about the Tegan and Sara concert, about the difference between Zooey Deschanel and Denise, and of course, about Weeds! (What WOULD happen if Nancy became pregnant!??)

Jen and Emma also want you to know that the prop they're using is notebook paper, and the season finale is next Monday. Enjoy!

Watch New Video from Kanye West: "Good Morning!"

Yeah...sorry for the no embed and the low quality; these videos seem to be in bootleg form, but knowing it was out, I had to take a look! (Watch the video here.) Also sorry - I just read Kanye West's mother, Donda West, died of complications during surgery this weekend.

But for Kanye's newest video, he's still all about the animation: His previous video, "Good Life," featured stylings from Justice (making one damn cool video - definitely check it if you haven't yet), and his latest project, "Good Morning," brings back the cartoon style of the Graduation album cover.

Japanese artist Takashi Murakami is behind that lil' bear...Interesting that Kanye sees himself in this cartoon bear - who faces nothing but trouble in his futuristic city trying to make it to his own graduation ceremony. The video, I believe, premiered at a museum in Tokyo.