I must admit I’ve been pretty apathetic towards Regina Spektor’s upcoming new album. Despite being a loyal follower of hers for the past six years or so, her over-produced fourth album Begin To Hope, a lackluster collaboration with Ben Folds, and the fact that her promotional posters were plastered all over record store walls from here to The Bronx, kinda sorta turned me off the once fairly “underground” anti-folk Soviet songstress.

Two new songs have hit the internetz recently and perhaps Regina Spektor agrees with me because Far, her fifth studio album, seems to be a return to what she’s known for; beautifully written piano ballads with a touch of quirk. Rejoice!

Anyone who saw Regina at the Enmore Theatre a couple of years back will remember this ditty as it was one of the songs performed that night that “blue” (lololololol, see what I did there??) the audience away. Needless to say, the studio version is about fifty thousand times better than the early demo version we heard that night. Check it out below along with “Laughing With”, another pianoey tune which you’ll be able to hold in your hot little hands when Far drops on the 23rd June.

So, Weezer played at some T-Mobile “industry” gig at a Paramount backlot or something last night and I think my e-vite went straight to my junk folder because I wasn’t there. Can you believe it? Anyway, they played a six song set comprised of “da hits” and then threw in this cheeky cover of that really big song from last year, “Kids”, made famous by The Management. Riv-Dawg also dropped in some of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” because he could.

Also, it looks like there’s been some line up changes in camp Weezer (at least in the “live” arena) which has devoted fan boys such as myself wondering how Album 7 will sound. Pat has stepped up from the drum kit, Davey Grohly style, taking over guitar duties from Rivers, who is rocking the mic stand like an awkward teenager with mild autism. Which is actually fucking way cooler than it sounds. And the new bro on drums is Josh Freese, who does his thing in that band called A Perfect Circle. But this is just the LIVE SET UP, OK? Rivers had said in an interview that I can’t find at the moment that he was more about the singing than guitar playing these days, which both worries and excites me. It excites me because if he’s letting other dudes step up in the studio, some new ideas that actually sound good and cool could be the end result. It worries me because I spend about 20 minutes a week playing the solo to “Say It Ain’t So” on my air guitar in my bedroom.

Because let’s be honest: the subjects mentioned in the above title are the only reason you and I still keep coming here. And I love it. Let’s do this thing in order of importance.

THE WHITE STRIPES

Aren’t dead! They’re just, taking some time off. Jack recently told MusicRadar in a “tell-all” interview that he and Meg have recorded some songs in his new Third Man home studio, with a new album looking like it will be released in 2k10. Oh, and Meg’s acute anxiety that forced the pair to stop touring Icky Thump? She’s built a bridge and is SO OVER IT. YOU GO GIRL. She’s also marrying Patti Smith’s son. Whut?

THE DEAD WEATHER

Have released the cover to their upcoming debut Horehound (awes title/above) and it’s droppin’ like PhotoBooth bombs on July 14. I wonder how hard it was for Jack to NOT be in the cover?

JACK WHITE & THE DEX ROMWEBER DUO?

Jack White’s life goal of “doing everything” is looking like it’s still on on track, as he just recorded a 7″ in his home studio with the The Dex Romweber Duo, whoever they are. They were probably just walking past and he yelled out the window “YOU GOT TEN MINUTES TO RECORD A 7″ WITH ME, JACK WHITE?” Bottom line: JACK WHITE EATS 7″‘S FOR BREAKFAST.

More than once I’ve thought of completely turning 12MC into an all out gaming blog because basically, I like video games infinity more times than music. The Legend of Zelda > music. The more I think about it, I don’t even think I really like music anymore i.e. - I bought an iPod for the games not the music/mp3s. I think gaming blogs are pretty much the “future” of the internet and blogging scene, thanks to excellent software such Guitar Hero 4: Rock Band.

But rather than change this site’s content all up, willy nilly, I thought I would would tread journalistic/blog water by slowly migrating video game news into posts that appear to be about music. Like this: Chris Colonna, front guy for The Bumblebeez aka Bumblebeez 81 has created a song using his Nintendo DSi.

How was that?

Oh yeah, you can get the song here! It’s called “Misfit”.

One thing I’ve noticed whilst wandering the streets of Newtown recently is that everyone’s favourite Inner West resident, Sarah Blasko, is no where to be seen. I’ve spent many a night waiting on train platforms, standing at pedestrian crossings, and dining in Vietnamese eateries right next to Ms. Blasko, and lately, this is not so.

Stalking Totally crazy coincidences aside, the answer to the mindblowing mystery of Sarah Blasko’s whereabouts has come at last in the form of her brand new single, “All I Want”. It seems that keeping in tradition with the previous two albums, Sarah has yet again chosen to travel abroad to record album número tres, this time with the help of Bjorn Yttling (that’s Bjorn of Peter, Bjorn and John fame, folks) in his hometown of Stockholm, Sweden.

The album, As Day Follows Night will be released on July 10, and if this first single “All I Want” is anything to go by then it will be as delicate, whimsical, absolutely delightful and other pretty girly things as her previous two releases.

On a sidenote, I shudder to think what this promo photo is going to do to scenester fashion in the coming months when female Blasko fans catch a glimpse of that bow tie. Girls everywhere will be burning their Sarah Blasko summer dresses and replacing them with frilly blouses and oversized bow ties… aaany minute now…

Cowabunga. So I was like totally ironing my board shorts and hanging out my newly-DIY-made/dripping tie dye t-shirt when I was alerted to this new Wavves ditty, “Friends Were Gone”. Apparently it’s from a super limited split 7″ with Windsurf, but Fader are just giving away the mp3s for free like it’s NO ONE’S BUSINESS. What’s next, a free Radiohead album? I just sounded so pre-2k7 then. Sorry.

Listen (via The Fader): Wavves - Friends Were Gone.mp3

Sydney crew/tough guys/nice bros Talons are set to release their spastically-anticipated debut album, which is currently called “self-titled”, via indie label Rice Is Nice on May 30.

The good folks from Rice Is Nice have sent the song “Keys and Codes” over as an mp3 file to share with you, our readers. I just put it on my iPod and went for a walk in the park. As the song played, I noticed myself starting to power walk/jog which is my body’s way of telling me that “I really like the song” and/or “it’s cool”.

I was lucky enough to see Talons perform at Spectrum last month and they were really good, however, most of their set is hazy to me as a result of the excellent DJ #grunge crew before they played, Undercutzz. Next big thing, yo.

Jack White’s other other band, The Dead Weather, tore all in attendance at the Bowery Ballroom yesterday “USA time” a metaphorical new one when they performed an exclusive gig showcasing the band’s upcoming LP.

Google weather tells me it was raining yesterday for the gig, which is rather fitting given the band’s gloomy-seasonal moniker. Jack White’s representatives are yet to give me a confirmation on whether or not Jack used voodoo/black magic to make it happen, but my sources indicate that “he did”. Breaking news right there, peeps.

Here’s a video shamelessly embedded from the “relevant” music blog, The Modern Age.

What’s skinny, occasionally stripey and ridiculously French? Only my ABSOLUTE HERO! Michel Gondry just launched a brand spanking new website where music, film and comic book fans can all unite and salivate over the exciting things he has to offer.

Fans of Michel Gondry’s previous Director’s Series DVD which featured two discs of back to back music videos, short films and various other tidbits created by the genius himself, will be pleased to see that the long awaited sequel Michel Gondry 2: More Videos, is available to purchase as a website exclusive. But wait, there’s MORE. Comic books, tshirts, calendars, the extra special French edition of Science of Sleep, and uh, toilet rolls are only just a PayPal transaction away at MichelGondry.com.

Here’s a taste of Michel Gondry 2, featuring 12MC favs The White Stripes and Conan O’Brian behind the scenes of “The Denial Twist” video directed by Gondry back in late 2005.

Admittedly I am the last person to ever be diggin’ on Franz Ferdinand but it seems that Alex Kapranos and I have more than just obsessions with food and Greek surnames in common. Franz Ferdinand hit up the BBC’s Live Lounge recently and performed Britney’s latest comeback classic “Womanizer”, with Alex Kapranos referring to it as the best song out in the last few months.

I couldn’t agree more, Alex! Quite shamefully I have been known to pump Britney’s version throughout 12MCHQ, much to Angus and the rest of the Inner West’s horror. Thanks to Alex Kapranos I no longer have to hide my secret love for this song, and am actually considering celebrating it further by purchasing tickets to Britney’s upcoming Australian tour. Well, okay… we’ll see about that one, let’s not get too crazy.

Check out Alex & co. giving it their best shot below.

I have never felt more a part of the zeitgeist than last night. The Temper Trap, to put it bluntly, are so now. Like Wavves was mid-December last year, No Age circa 2006 and Weezer pre-1994 before them, Sydney’s Temper Trap are so tragically hip and beautiful that with the simple turn of a day-by-day “famous quotes” calendar - they could implode at any moment and be yesterday’s news. But when you’re so “now” and armed with a devil-may-care attitude, you only need one day to bring the ruckus.

Packed into a “Oxford St. night spot” several other “important” media high flyers and myself were treated to an intimate showcase of the band’s upcoming debut album, which their manager (maybe not manager but he was older and wearing smart casual attire) explained would not be released for ten weeks. That’s how now they are. They can launch an album three months before it’s released. Because they are The Temper Trap.

On paper, it’s all there: actual good songwriting, instrument swapping, killer alt vibes, sweeping vocals, cool hats and good catering (mini chicken burgers!!!) - yet I cannot help but wonder what it would be like if The Temper Trap ripped up said metaphorical paper and did away with the rules. I’ll be super interested to listen to the record once it drops, if I can remember them in ten weeks time. Even if I have forgotten them completely, at least on April 1st, 2009, The Temper Trap were the epitome of “now”. Alternatively, in ten weeks time I could be eating all of my words when they are the biggest band on the planet, so let’s see.