Music news

By Aerin Raymond

Posted on Thursday, February 24th, 2005, 12:00 am

Noel Gallagher has confirmed that the new Oasis album is finally, definitely, finished.

Talking to NME.com, the guitarist revealed how he was relieved now that the long-delayed record is finally ready.

Describing the past year as “difficult,” Gallagher said, “Not difficult in that everyone’s been feeling down about things, just frustrating that we thought we got to the finishing line, but when it came to it, it just wasn’t worthy of putting out.”

He added, “The longer that we took to do the album, the better it had to be because of the time from the last one. When it was two years, we asked was it good enough after two years of f*cking about and now we have to ask if it’s good enough after three years.”

The follow-up to 2002’s “Heathen Chemistry” has been beset with problems. Early sessions with Death In Vegas as producers were scrapped, and then the album was thought to be ready for release last summer, until that too was scrapped after the band’s much-criticized Glastonbury performance.

“It’s done now. We master it tomorrow and it’s out on May 26,” confirmed Gallagher, suggesting that a possible title for the record could be “The Ear Has No Memory.”

Blink-182 are to go on an “indefinite hiatus.”

Although the new-school punk mega stars have stopped short of declaring a split, a statement on their official website Wednesday says that for Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus are taking time out to dedicate to their families.

It reads, “For over a decade, Blink 182 has toured, recorded and done non-stop promotion all while trying to balance relationships with family and friends.”

“To that end, the band has decided to go on an indefinite hiatus to spend some time enjoying the fruits of their labors with their loved ones. While there is no set plan for the band to begin working together again, no one knows what tomorrow may bring.”

Blink 182 have released six albums since 1994, and enjoyed hits like “All The Small Things,” “What’s My Age Again” and “The Rock Show.” Their last album, 2003’s “Blink-182″ displayed a more mature direction and featured a guest appearance from The Cure’s Robert Smith.

The White Stripes are set to start recording their new album this week. The duo are planning to head back into the studio to record the follow-up to 2003’s “Elephant” in Detroit.

It is expected that the band will follow the same process as “Elephant” – featuring the singles “Seven Nation Army” and “The Hardest Button To Button” – which was recorded in ten days.

White has also just completed work on a collaborative LP with pal Brendan Benson.

Talking about his intensive work schedule, White said, “I’ve done it [this way] for a long time, in my attic and out of my house, making 45s for bands. When bands would come to town, they’d stay at my house and we’d cut an album. [We'd do the same thing with] local Detroit bands.”

He told MTV News, “I’ve been doing it for as long as I’ve been writing, and for as long as I’ve had bands, I’ve been recording. I never knew too much about the technical side, I just wanted to get things on tape that were soulful. And that’s the same thing with [Loretta Lynn's "Van Lear Rose"]. It was on 8-track, and we did it in12 days.”

Lynn is also hoping to work with The White Stripes’ main man again, saying, “We haven’t talked too much lately. He’s been working, and I have too. We will try to do some songs together pretty soon. I would like to get with him and write some stuff for my new album.”

Carl Barat is embarking on a solo career and has signed a deal.

Rumors have been rife that the remaining half of The Libertines’ songwriting team would soon to strike out alone.

Now, it has emerged that Barat has signed a solo contract with Vertigo, the imprint of Mercury Records that brought Razorlight and The Rapture to prominence.

Vertigo MD Greg Castell said: “Carl is one of the greatest talents in modern music. His contribution to Libertines was fundamental to the band’s success and we’re delighted to have the opportunity of working closely with him.”

Barat will be under the A&R eye of sometime The Libertines manager Alan McGee, the founder of Creation Records. An album is expected by the end of the year.

Barat has also teasingly confirmed that his new band will contain members of The Libertines.