Timbre Tantrum

If you couldn’t skip work, or school, or you didn’t live near one of the 63 worldwide newsstands to snag your copy of “The Universal Sigh” yesterday or today, have no fear!

Below, you can view the entire newspaper page by page, or download the PDF version, HERE.

While all newsstand locations were not as lucky as Rough Trade Records in London, who got Thom Yorke and Stanley Donwood as their personal paper peddlers (see above photo), all distribution sites were equipped with digital cameras, to capture fans reading and receiving their copies.

You can view The Universal Sigh fan photos by location, or upload your own photos at The Universal Sigh Official Website.

Radiohead’s The King of Limbs, is available TODAY on CD and vinyl from XL Recordings / TBD Records / Hostess Entertainment Unlimited.

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That voice.  It knocks the wind out of you upon first listen, leaving your mouth agape, gasping for air.  For her sophomore release, 21, Adele Atkins powerhouse vocals take the driver’s seat, resigning super producers Paul Epworth (Florence + the Machine, Kate Nash), Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks), Ryan Tedder (Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson), Dan Wilson (Dixie Chicks), and Fraser T. Smith (Cee Lo Green, Taio Cruz) to build music around her rafter-rattling pipes.  And that they do, letting Adele’s voice vacillate between styles in blues, country, and soul-tinged tracks.

For an album that could have easily spiraled into a genre-hopping grab bag, Adele infuses her vocal performances in 21 with impassioned intensity, grit, and raw vulnerability.  The album’s opening track and debut single, “Rolling in the Deep,” assembles hand claps, gospel-style backing vocals, and a whumping kick drum to build a legitimate soul barn burner.  Similarly, “Rumor Has It,” utilizes the same raw materials with a tough-as-nails bite from Adele.  Other standout tracks include the syncopated subtleties of “He Won’t Go,” the exuberant horns of “I’ll Be Waiting,” and “One and Only,” a Motown-style track which deftly showcases Adele’s unvarnished guttural wail.

While there is a lot here to praise, 21 falls short is in its heavy reliance on down-tempo power ballads to exhibit Adele’s powerful pipes.  Yes, the girl can sing, but let her have a little fun in the process.  For “Don’t You Remember,” a winsome country twang can’t save the song’s overwrought and melodramatic leanings.  The album could also be well-served by a shuffle in the track listing.  After barreling through the record’s first two high-energy tracks, the album slams on the brakes, not fully recovering its pace until track eight.  One thing is clear, with 21, Adele rightfully pulls away from the pack of Brit-soul exports who rose to stardom when the Winehouse bubble burst.

Timbre Tantrum’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Adele’s sophomore album, 21, is available now from XL Recordings / Columbia Records.

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Radiohead surprised fans the world over by pushing the digital release of their eighth studio album, The King of Limbs, forward by one day.  The eight-track LP, was originally slated for release tomorrow, Saturday, February 19^th.  No official reason was given for the early drop (though, we are sure it had something to do with leakage), so just raise your glass and pour one splash on the ground for your homies, Radiohead, for settin’ the weekend off right.

Those who pre-ordered The King of Limbs, can access their download by referring to the order tracking link on their original confirmation email.  Those who did not pre-order The King of Limbs can purchase the record for immediate download, HERE.

Check out The King of Limbs track listing below.  Plus, the King of Limbs himself, Thom Yorke, stars in Radiohead’s “Lotus Flower” video, directed by Garth Jennings.  Thom leaves it all on the floor in a fervent inhibition-less expressive movement session.  Loves it!!

The King of Limbs Track Listing:

01 Bloom
02 Morning Mr Magpie
03 Little by Little
04 Feral
05 Lotus Flower
06 Codex
07 Give Up the Ghost
08 Separator

Radiohead’s eighth studio album, The King of Limbs will release on CD and 12” vinyl formats on March 29^th from TBD Records in North America, and on March 28^th from XL Recordings in the UK, and from Hostess Entertainment in Asia.

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After months of vague progress reports and closed-door murmurs, Radiohead have finally announced the release of their eighth studio album, The King of Limbs, available digitally, THIS SATURDAY (February 19^th)!!

Yes, Radiohead fans, you read that right.  With over three years since the release of In Rainbows, Radiohead sent hearts a-flutter this Valentine’s Day with a simple sentiment posted on their Official Dead Air Space Website: “Thank you for waiting.”

The surprise digital release of The Kings of Limbs follows in the footsteps of 2007’s In Rainbows, but diverges from In Rainbows’ infamous industry-changing “pay what you want” format.  Instead, The King of Limbs physical and digital releases have set price tags that range from $9 to $14 for a digital copy, and $48 to $56 for a super deluxe collectible “Newspaper Album” version, which includes vinyl, CD, and digital versions of the record, plus extensive album artwork.  Full details of individual album package contents are listed below.

The King of Limbs was produced, as always, by Nigel Godrich, Radiohead’s long-time collaborator and unofficial sixth member, and at present, no track information is available.

Head over to The King of Limbs Official Website, now, to pre-order the album.  All album pre-order packages include a digital download that will be available this Saturday, February 19^th.

Newspaper Album Package:
Radiohead’s new record, The King Of Limbs, is presented here as the world’s first* Newspaper Album, comprising:

• Two clear 10″ vinyl records in a purpose-built record sleeve.
• A compact disc.
• Many large sheets of artwork, 625 tiny pieces of artwork and a full-colour piece of oxo-degradeable plastic to hold it all together.
• The Newspaper Album comes with a digital download that is compatible with all good digital media players.
• The Newspaper Album will be shipped on Monday 9th May 2011 you can, however, enjoy the download on Saturday 19th February 2011.
• Shipping is included in the prices shown.
• One lucky owner of the digital version of The King Of Limbs, purchased from this website, will receive a signed 2 track 12″ vinyl.
• *perhaps

Digital Only Package:
Radiohead’s new record, The King Of Limbs, is presented here with a choice of two digital formats:

• MP3 version is a 320K constant bit rate file.
• WAV version is a full CD quality uncompressed digital audio file.
• One lucky owner of the digital version of The King Of Limbs, purchased from this website, will receive a signed 2 track 12″ vinyl.

The King of Limbs can be pre-ordered now and downloaded on Saturday 19th February 2011.

Radiohead’s eighth studio album, The King of Limbs will release on CD and 12” vinyl formats on March 29^th from TBD Records in North America, and on March 28^th from XL Recordings in the UK, and from Hostess Entertainment in Asia.

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British soul songbird, Adele, set a 40-day, 22-date North American tour in support of her forthcoming sophomore LP, “21.”  The tour kicks off in Washington, DC on May 12^th, and runs through June 20^th in Nashville, TN.

Tickets for the tour dates go on sale to the public this Friday, February 11^th, but pre-sale tickets for fans go on sale Wednesday, February 9^th at 12 PM EST / 9 AM PST exclusively from Adele’s Official Website.

Also, beginning today, Adele’s “21” is streaming in full at NPR Music.  Be sure to get your first listen before the album hits stores!

Adele North American Tour Dates

5/12 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
5/13- Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
5/15- Boston, MA – House of Blues
5/16- Montreal, QC – Olympia Theater
5/18- Toronto, ON – Kool Haus
5/19- New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
5/23- Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
5/24- Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater
5/26- Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
5/28- Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
5/29- Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
5/31- Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
5/31- Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
6/1- Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market
6/3- Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
6/4- San Francisco, CA – The Warfield Theatre
6/8- San Diego, CA – Humphreys by the Bay
6/9- Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
6/12- Austin, TX – Stubbs Waller Creek
6/15- Dallas, TX – House of Blues
6/17- Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
6/18- Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
6/20- Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

Adele’s sophomore album, 21, releases January 24^th (UK) and February 22^nd (US/CAN) from XL Recordings / Columbia Records.

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