We leaned some time back that Train plan to release their next record, California 37, on April 17th. The title of the album finds inspiration in a portion of the California State Highway system that runs from the upper end of the San Francisco metro area, across the top of the bay, into the wine country of Sonoma and Napa counties.


Jason Mraz will put out his new thing on that day - Love Is A Four Letter Word. Ahead of that date, though, Mraz will put out a live EP that was recorded last year in his hometown of San Diego. On Feb. 28th, the digital EP Live Is A Four Letter Word will be available.

Eric Hutchinson's newest album, the follow up to his debut from several years ago called Sounds Like This, will be out on April 17th. Eric will play The Fine Line Music Cafe just a few days after the album, Moving Up Living Down makes its way to stores and online sights. Hutch will hit that venue's stage on April 21st.

The band Neon Trees will put out their second album, called Picture Show.

Also, veteran bassist Marvin Etzioni, who made his first big mark with the band Lone Justice back in the mid-80's, will put out a star filled record on April 17th. On board to help with Marvin Country, you'll hear contributions from Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Richard Thompson, Buddy Miller, John Doe - and Marvin's former Lone Justice bandmate, Maria McKee.

Duplicating their success at the Grammys, Adele and Foo Fighters added to their trophy cases at the Brit Awards yesterday in London. Adele won British Female Solo Artist and British Album of the Year, and Foo Fighters picked up Best International Group. Coldplay won British Group, and Lana Del Ray took home International Breakthrough Act.

Adele had a moment, though - she flipped the bird on stage as one of her acceptance speeches was cut short. Who can blame her? She was just at the podium singing the praises of the UK at the bloody BRIT AWARDS themselves, and they did that? Nonsense. Let the lady have her day, especially when she's heaping praise on British music and British musicians. Penny wise, pound foolish as the saying goes. Good for her. It was a genuine moment - not like M.I.A.'s "manufactured obscenity" at The Super Bowl halftime show. See for yourself...

Thorn's been talking about this guy ever since seeing him at a new music showcase in L.A. at the legendary Hotel Cafe. Ed Sheeran will be here in late April, opening for the Snow Patrol show at the historic State Theater in Minneapolis. Take a peek at the video for his new song...



Ed takes a story with painful undertones and really paints a stunning aural picture. We're looking to get him here in Studio C when he's in town for that concert opener for Snow Patrol - we'll keep you posted on that.

Music -



The Chieftains' Voice of Ages features such guest stars as The Decemberists, The Civil Wars, Bon Iver and Paolo Nutini. The veteran Irish band is celebrating its 50th Anniversary year, and will play the Twin Cities on March 4th at Orchestra Hall.


How About I Be Me (And You Be You) is Sinead O'Connor's ninth studio album. Word has it that she actually wanted to title it: How About I Be Me (And You F*** Off). I kid you not.

Movies -


Tower Heist is new to DVD and Blu-ray today. Hotel workers plot revenge on a crooked billionaire in the comedy with Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Alan Alda, Tea Leoni, Casey Affleck and Matthew Broderick. It comes with commentary, alternate endings, deleted scenes, a gag reel, interactive storyboards and music featurettes.


In the based-in-fact sports drama The Mighty Macs, an all-girls college basketball team makes it to their first national championship. It stars Carla Gugino, David Boreanaz, Marley Shelton, Ellen Burstyn and James Rebhorn. Extras include deleted scenes and a behind-the-scenes featurette.

In Retreat, three inhabitants of a remote Scottish island are cut off from civilization after a deadly virus hits Europe. It stars Cillian Murphy, Thandie Newton and Jamie Bell, and comes with a behind-the-scenes featurette and a photo gallery.

The most talked about movie out today on DVD and Blu-ray stars Elizabeth Olsen (younger sister of Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen) as a young woman who joins a cult in the drama Martha Marcy May Marlene, co-starring John Hawkes (from HBO's Deadwood). It comes with the featurettes "Spotlight on Elizabeth Olsen," "The Story," "The Making of Martha Marcy May Marlene," "A Conversation With the Filmmakers," "The Psyche of a Cult" and the "Marcy's Song" music video by John Hawkes.

TV that's available includes the third season of Nurse Jackie; and for your Grams and Gramps: the seventh season of Matlock; and for your stoner uncle: the seventh season of Weeds.

My daughter gets us all wrapped into some video narratives around the home zone, and her latest is this guy playing a character named "Kyle." I assorted videos he goes off on any number of different topics, always kind of morphing his character a bit along the way. In the video below, he's a major sports whiner supporting his "team." We're never able to quite get to what the team is, but he does remind me of a fairly good percentage of sports rubes out there - the ones who pretend to know a lot, but really don't, y'know?



Of course, he's spawned some catch-phrases around the house - notable among them, "...I'm such a big supporter..!" and "...and I collect all of it...all of it..!" I know, we're dorks. We can't help it.

But we're not as dorky as Kyle.

Coldplay, Adele and Foo Fighters are among the big nominees at tonight's Brit Awards, the U.K. version of the Grammys. Coldplay are up for British Group and British Album, and Adele is nominated for British Album, British Single and British Female Solo Artist. Foo Fighters have a nod for International Group, along with Maroon 5. Florence and the Machine are somehow up for Best Female Solo Artist as well as British Album. And Foster the People are nominated for International Breakthrough Act.

   

The Brit Awards take place tonight in London. Performers include Adele, Coldplay, Florence and the Machine, Noel Gallagher and one more special guest, whom you'll see more about in the post below...

Blur will return to the stage for the first time in three years tonight at the Brit Awards in London - and they might have something new to perform. Singer Damon Albarn and guitarist Graham Coxon played an acoustic set at a War Child benefit concert Sunday night and debuted a new song called "Under the Westway." Albarn introduced it by saying, "We wrote [it] just up the road a couple of weeks ago."



Blur will perform a five-song set on the Brit Awards after they receive the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. They've also signed on to play at a concert in London's Hyde Park celebrating the Summer Olympics closing ceremonies, according to the industry publication Billboard magazine.