Sound Check: Moby, Sisqo
February 9, 2001 -- INSTANT REPLAY: Techno whiz Moby is holed up in his Manhattan, N.Y., apartment, teaching himself Pro-Tools and "obsessively writing stuff for the next album." As for its sound, he says on his Web site that he just bought $200 worth of old, romantic soul CDs at his local Tower Records — the same place he discovered the archival gospel recordings that helped shape the sound of Play.
WHAT'S THE STORY: Singer Liam Gallagher says that before Oasis hits the road with the Black Crowes for a U.S. tour, the band will hit the studio to start work on a new album. He also claims to have sorted out the bickering with his brother, Noel.
PUNK ALL-STAR TEAM: Members of the Foo Fighters, NOFX, and Lagwagon team up again for the third album from punk covers band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, titled Blow in the Wind. The album — due March 20 — includes rocked up covers of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," Cat Stevens' "Wild World," Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man," and the Shirelles' "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?"
NOT FLASHDANCE: Singer-songwriter Sam Phillips will release Fan Dance, her first new album in five years, this spring on Nonesuch Records. The LP was produced by her husband, T-Bone Burnett, and includes guest appearances from Gillian Welch, Van Dyke Parks, and Marc Ribot.
STEP TO THE MIKE: Skratch Pickl and sometime Beastie Boy Mixmaster Mike will release his first solo album this June on techno label Moonshine Music. The turntable champ will also score an upcoming documentary, Jails, Hospitals, & Hip-Hop.
NEW THONGS: Sisqo is hard at work on his follow-up to the Grammy-nominated Unleash the Dragon — and he tells Rolling Stone that he hopes to have it out this spring. The "Thong Song" singer says songs called "Infatuated" and "Dance for Me" are likely for the album.
ANOTHER AX MAN: Axl Rose told Latin American journalists last week that Chinese Democracy will be out in June, with a single hitting radio earlier in the spring. In addition to the Guns N' Roses' new live lineup, he said material he recorded with ex-Queen guitarist Brian May and A Perfect Circle drummer Josh Freese will also be on the LP.
MISSY'S BACK: Rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott has completed work on her third album, which is due out May 15 on Elektra Records. In addition to the return of longtime collaborator Timbaland, the album features guest spots from Jay-Z, Method Man, Redman, Ludacris, and Ginuwine.
BEEP CLICK: Experimental electronica artist Autechre has completed work on a nine-song album, titled Confield, and Warped Records says it will release the LP in mid-April.
MORE POWER TO THEM: Hard rock act Powerman 5000 is hard at work in a studio with Deftones producer Terry Date. The album, set to come out on Dreamworks Records, is tentatively set for a June release.
SECOND DOWN: System of a Down will enter the studio Monday with producer Rick Rubin to record a follow-up to its 1998 self-titled debut. The group has written 25 new songs but plans on pairing down the track listing for an album this summer.
INDIE BOX: Stereolab, the Chemical Brothers, Mudhoney, the Lemonheads, and the Buzzcocks are among the 56 bands who will appear on Rough Trade Shops — 25 Years, a four-disc collection honoring a British record store. The compilation, which collects rare and unreleased tracks, is due March 5 on Mute Records.
SLAYER AT WORK: Metal band Slayer has equipped its Vancouver, British Columbia, studio with a Web cam, so fans can watch the band record a new album with Monster Magnet producer Matt Hyde. The album's due this summer from American Recordings.
NEWFOUND FAITH: Hard rock acts are turning out in force to record songs for a tribute to Faith No More. The Deftones have cut a version of "RV," Papa Roach will do "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies," Korn will play "Surprise! You're Dead." Other planned contributors include Disturbed, Taproot, and System of a Down.
WASHING ASHORE: Seven months after its British release, Placebo's Black Market Music will arrive Stateside. The follow-up to 1998's Without You I'm Nothing is due May 8 from Virgin Records.
For a comprehensive list of CDs due in the next few weeks, check Wall of Sound's Release Dates.