Niki N. Phaser

                  Smashing Pumpkins have premiered a new single, Widow Wake My Mind, through MySpace. The song is the second installment in Billy Corgan & co.’s 44 tracks project, entitled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. It’s quite a different kind of tune than first single, A Song For a Son, which was made available as a free download last month. Maybe it’s just the infectious hopeful sound of this new track, but this diversity promises an interesting project. It is not set yet, but if this will be a one-by-month kind of venture, Smashing Pumpkins might become a favorited show, though waiting 30 days for a new episode is a bit frustrating. Anyway, it’s nice to always have a little pleasure to look forward to. Like the rest of the tracks which Teargarden by Kaleidyscope is comprised of, Widow Wake My Mind is a free download.

LISTEN TO THE WIDOW

              Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald has given us a first taste of her future album, still untitled, coming out on the 8th of March. First single, Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over, will be released on 1st March, but it has already made its presence known on Europe’s radios, to a very positive reaction. Though a bit more bigger-sounding (as in energetic) than her debut material, the new single retains the emotional verve that made her one of the most successful debutants of recent music history. Fans will not be disappointed by the new offering, only more eager to hear the new album.

              There is more good news for those who really can’t handle the waiting. Macdonald will performe some showcase gigs, revealing the new material in the best way she knows: live. The first will be in Glasgow on January 28th (Barrowland Ballroom), after which she is heading to the UK for a similar show in London. If in doubt, though actually having the chance to attend one of these events, listen to the new single:

Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over

          Muse selected their third single from The Resistance — it’s the title track. Resistance will be released in the UK on Monday February 22, with more info on the formats to come soon. After Undisclosed Desires, which was a bit of dividing point for Muse fans because of its mainstream sound, Resistance will patch things up, as it is an instant Muse-like classic, with catchy piano tunes, irregular structure, romantically anthemic choruses and plenty of tomwork on Dominic Howard’s part.

            This video will not feature any army of evil teddy bears, but no out-of-place crump dancer either. It’s just a video of the band playing live, but, if you are familiar with a Muse show, you’ll know that’s more spectacular than any CGI legion of toys. The band posted a preview of the video, with the full thing going to premiere in a few days, on 14th January. Till then, you can feast your eyes on a recent performance of Resistance, in all its greatness. Literally.

RESIST HERE