Raveonettes Team With Moe Tucker, Martin Rev

Denmark's power pop duo The Raveonettes stunned some and bored others last year with their major label debut, Chain Gang of Love, which was recorded all in one key and flowing with fuzzy, 50s rock nostalgia. That release, in turn, followed their 2002 debut, the Whip it On EP, which was also recorded all in one key and flowing with, yes, fuzzy, 50s rock nostalgia. Now that the group is putting wraps on a follow-up, well, it's time for some changes.

A currently untitled sophomore LP will arrive early next year via Columbia Records and is reported to be "virtually fuzz-free, with stunning results," says Rolling Stone. But don't go jumping off the innovation bridge just yet. Apparently, the sonic change happened more or less by accident. Vocalist/guitarist Sune Rose Wagner said the band's distortion pedals were in the wrong country as they recorded in New York's Allaire Studios. Instead, Wagner opted for "an old Gibson Falcon with a great reverb sound."

Fundamental shifts in sonic approach aside, the new album will reportedly contain several impressive guest spots. Maureen "Moe" Tucker of The Velvet Underground makes an appearance on drums, as well as former Suicide member Martin Rev on keyboards. Even Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes adds background "woah-oh-oh"'s to a track titled "Ode to L.A."

In other Raveonettes news, the band's 2003 single "The Christmas Song" made it onto a slew of Holiday compilations, including the benefit album Maybe This Christmas Tree (along with Death Cab for Cutie and the Polyphonic Spree), and soundtracks for both Christmas with the Kranks and The O.C.'s Chrismukkah album... and we're not looking to disappoint our loyal readers here, but we're a little bored with making jokes about The O.C.. Plus we bet that Christmas with the Kranks is easily as stupid.

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