The Smashing Pumpkins To Release Monuments To An Elegy Via Pledge Music

Monuments to an Elegy, the long awaited new album from The Smashing Pumpkins, will be released on December 9th on Martha's Music/BMG  and fans can pre-order exclusive album bundles on PledgeMusic.

Monuments to an Elegy is "an album within an album," part of their ongoing work-in-progress Teargarden By Kaleidyscope (with next year's Day For Night as the project's last work).  The Smashing Pumpkins have teamed up with PledgeMusic to offer fans a special pre-order for the album which comes along with a download of the album. The direct-to-fan platform will allow fans to engage with new content up until the release of the album.

Along with digital and physical copies of the album, fans can receive limited-edition exclusive lithographs and T-shirts upon pledging support. Pledge now at http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/smashingpumpkins 

Benji Rogers, President and Founder of PledgeMusic commented: "We are so pleased that the iconic and amazing Smashing Pumpkins have come to PledgeMusic for a special pre-order for an album that fans have been clamoring to hear and now can be a part of." 

PledgeMusic is the world's leading online, direct-to-fan music community, offering artists a unique way to engage their fans in the music making experience while interacting with PledgeMusic's global community of music fans. 

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Planning Summer Vacation Edition

I was finally able to convince the girls that we should take a lake vacation this year. It was a little easier than I thought it would be, perhaps that’s because last year we did a stay-cation, so this year we are all welcoming any sort of vacation.

We are still picking out the place, but I know that we will be staying in a cabin on (or very near) a lake. There will be rafting, canoeing, horseback riding, star gazing, and hiking involved. For those that are unaware, your cousin Ryo is a huge fan of nature, the outdoors, and especially rafting. This summer vacation has me very excited. I’m also anxious to have the time off from work, spend time with my family, and relax with no worries. That’s what vacation is all about, a time to recharge, refresh, reinvigorate, and renew the soul!

And while I was pouring over websites with lake cabins figuring out which offered the best amenities, here’s what rocked this week:

Rolling Stone’s Summer Concert Preview
Proving once again that the magazine is afraid of The Guru, Rolling Stone has posted their summer concert preview. I believe I did this a while ago, but I can understand Rolling Stone Magazine following in my footsteps. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? OK, their preview is a little more detailed than mine and they have a ton more pictures, but they’re still followers, right? Right?

Another Song From The Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan has released the latest free single, Astral Planes, from his ever evolving free online album Teargarden By Kaleidyscope. That makes a total of four tracks that you can grab for free. In other Pumpkin news, a new bassist was announced and a mini tour of the US will kick-off in July.

Replacing U2 with…The Gorillaz?
I know it was last minute notice due to Bono’s unexpected injuries, but The Gorillaz? Really? You can’t even begin to compare the legendary U2 with a fictional band like The Gorillaz. If I had tickets for Glastonbury, I’d probably want a refund right now. This is downright ridiculous and organizer Michael Eavis should be ashamed of himself!

Taking Pot Shots At Ticketmaster
I’ll admit, this is too easy, but still massively funny. Kudos to whoever created this picture. I may use it as my new banner on The Rock and Roll Guru.

For more musical tidbits, nonsense, concert announcements, and rock n roll greatness you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Spring Training Edition

Those two magical words. Two of my favorite words ever spoken. Spring Training. I can hear the crack of the bat, I can smell the grass on the field, I can see the flash of leather, and I know that warm weather and baseball are just mere weeks away.

Those of you that have been read my blog for any amount of time knows that after music, baseball is my biggest passion. I love the game, the strategy, the thrill of the late innings – baseball is an excellent game. With Spring Training having begun, that can only mean that spring is right around the corner. I can’t wait to be spending summer nights listening to the ball games on the radio. And I listen to as many as I can, whether it is the Milwaukee Brewers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, or the Kansas City Royals. I live for this game. Baseball is back and I couldn’t be happier.

And while I was mapping out which games I was going to try and see live this summer, here’s what rocked this week:

REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar Co-Headline Tour
Two of the greatest pop acts of the 80s are teaming up for a co-headlining tour. REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar. This looks like it will be a very fun concert. If the price is right, cousin Ryo is going to have to check it out.

Eric Avery Leaves Jane’s Addiction (Again)
In the “not surprised in the least” department, bassist Eric Avery is leaving Jane's Addiction. He states incompatibility as his main reason for leaving the band again. He was never fully vested in the reunion to begin with, and Jane’s will continue writing and recording without him. It’s sad to see him go, but it’s good to know that Jane’s Addiction will labor on.

Third Song Available From The Smashing Pumpkins
The Pumpkins have made A Stitch In Time available on their website. While not as good as Widow Wake My Mind, this is still a decent song. That makes a total of 3 tracks from their latest album. Free music rocks!

Iron Maiden’s Big Announcement
New album. Extended tour of North America. Summer 2010. Cousin Ryo is so there!

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Championship Football Edition

This Sunday is championship Sunday in Ryo-land. The AFC Championship game puts the New York Jets against the Indianapolis Colts, while the NFC has the New Orleans Saints going up against the Minnesota Vikings. I always love championship Sunday. I’ve always felt that it’s the day for the true football fan. You get two great games, none of the hype of the Super Bowl, and it’s just pure fun.

As I do every year, I’ll be watching the games where I watch all my football, a nearby local watering hole that is my football home. We all look forward to the games, and this time of year when all of the teams that we regularly root for are out of the playoffs, it’s just about seeing good football, much like when we watch the college bowl games.

And after these games, there’s one more to go and then a week later, pitchers and catchers will be reporting for baseball spring training. Oh, those are magical words! I hope everyone enjoys their football or their whatever they do this Sunday. Have a great weekend everyone!

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Here’s what rocked this week:

Coachella 2010
The Coachella lineup has been unveiled. The dates are set for April 16th – 18th to kick off the festival season. This looks like a great lineup once again. Faith No More, MGMT, Les Claypool, and The Dillinger Escape Plan jump out at me right away. If only California were a little closer to my New Jersey home. Well, one year I’ll make the trip out there for Coachella.

Free Music From The Smashing Pumpkins
As discussed a couple of months ago, the Smashing Pumpkins are offering free music as the tracks are finalized for their new album Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. This is a very cool offer, shades of Trent Reznor giving away an album last year. It helps bring more recognition to the Smashing Pumpkins, but it also helps Billy Corgan and the band share their music. The first two songs are available at their website now. Widow Wake My Mind is absolutely incredible.

Ozzy Book Signing
To help support the US release of his new autobiography, I Am Ozzy, Ozzy Osbourne will be doing a week’s worth of book signings in the states. Click the link for dates/times. I’m going to have to pick this book up and post a review. Reading the Ozzy snippets in The Dirt really make me wonder what this guy was like in the early days. I have a feeling this book will tell all.

Bruce Kulick Trailer for BK3
And finally there’s this little gem, a trailer helping to promote Bruce Kulick’s new album which is coming out on February 2nd. This is going to be one great album and I can’t wait to hear the whole thing. Once I do, you know there will be a review posted.