Video: Teddybears (ft. Iggy Pop): "Punkrocker" (Cadillac commercial)

In "Punkrocker", Iggy Pop's near-monophonic slur rolls over Teddybears' instrumental better than we first imagined when we heard of the artists' collaboration. Iggy must've known it would work, however, because according to a press release, it was he who sought out the guest-happy Swedes after hearing the initial version of the song through a mutual friend.

But if you're all up-to-date on Teddybears' Soft Machine, which landed in America this September, you're caught up on the song's back story, as well as the fact that it's pretty damn sweet.

What might come as a surprise, however, is the song's placement in a new Cadillac commercial. That is so not punk rock.

I mean, let's be honest-- we'd jump at the chance to own the car, but picturing Iggy and a trio of suited bears hanging their arms out a Caddy window (as awesome as that might sound) does not fit the track's aesthetic.

The commercial itself, which documents the evolution of the Cadillac, is admittedly very good-looking, but it's not the type of clip those who claim to be "bored with being God" would be expected to provide with a soundtrack.

So Iggy and Teddybears are crushing our idea of what punk rock is. Which is totally punk rock. Talk about coming full circle (or at least pulling donuts in a pricy automobile).

Diplo Mastering M.I.A. LP2, Finishing Favela Film
M.I.A. in studio with Timbaland / in Liberia with former child soldiers

It's been a little while since we've heard from the Diplo/M.I.A. camp, but that doesn't mean they haven't been crazy busy. Today comes word via Diplo's website that the ace DJ/party-starter-- along with UK producer/remixer Switch, aka David Taylor-- is right now mastering M.I.A.'s second album, the follow-up to 2005's white-hot Arular.

Details on the new disc remain scant, but we do know that M.I.A. shacked up in the studio at some point with everyone's favorite chaperone to the chorus, Timbaland. While it's unclear in what capacity he contributed, a video showing M.I.A. and Tim apparently selecting tracks for her new LP popped up on YouTube earlier this week-- and vanished before we had a chance to share it with you.

M.I.A. hasn't mentioned her dealings with Tim on her MySpace blog (yet), but she did post on December 3 about jetting "OFFFF TO LIBERIA. TO MEET X CHILD SOILDERS [sic]." She also shouted out Michael Jackson's "Liberian Girl" and posted what appear to be lyrics to a new jam.

Wesley "Diplo" Pentz, meanwhile, also reports he's putting the finishing touches on Favela on Blast, a forthcoming film celebrating Rio de Janeiro's vibrant Funk Carioca culture that Dip executive produced, co-directed, and handled sound for (the flick shares its title with his 2004 baile funk mix). Joining Pentz, Funk Film's Leandro HBL handled direction, cinematography, and production for the doc, which should see release soon. Scope a blazin' trailer below and catch three more clips by clicking here.



Diplo has two newish tracks on his MySpace now, including a remix of M.I.A.'s "XR2"-- apparently from the insanely-anticipated Piracy Funds Terrorism sequel (out in 2010, his MySpace jokes-- at least we hope that's a joke!)-- and a mash-up of Lil Scrappy and Professor Longhair's "Big Chief" (which Lily Allen also used for "Knock 'Em Out") from the new Hollertronix 6 mix.

Finally, Diplo winds out the year with a few gigs, then heads off to Uruguay and preps for Oceania's Big Day Out festival. [MORE...]

The Organ Break Up

Say it ain't so! Canadian jangle'n'mope pop five-piece the Organ-- often noted for their Smithsy guitars and their Pat Benatarrifc vocals-- have called it quits, taking a piece of this humble reporter's fragile heart with them.

"We are sad to announce that we're breaking up. We want to thank our friends, fans, and family for all the support you gave to us. Thank you," read a message posted by the Organ today on their website. A similar missive-- adding that the breakup officially occurred this November-- went up simultaneously on the band's MySpace, prompting a chorus of exasperated NOOOOOOOOOOOs from fans/commenters around the world.

No reason for the split was given, although a CBC Radio 3 report speculates it may have stemmed from something as simple as band members now living in different cities.

Criminally overlooked by pretty much everyone I know, the Organ came together in Vancouver in 2001 and graced us with one album-- 2004's exquisite Grab That Gun-- as well as an EP, and a few singles and 7"s. Grab That Gun bore the stamp of Mint Records-- in conjunction with that guy from Nickelback's 604 imprint-- in North America, and Too Pure in the UK.

Singer Katie Sketch will likely continue her modeling career; she recently appeared in a 12-page gender-bending spread in the UK edition of Vogue. No word yet on future musical projects from the now ex-Organ-isms, but we'll keep you posted if anything's ever, er, organ-ized.

To hear an interview with Organ, er, organist Jenny Smyth, conducted by CBC Radio 3's Grant Lawrence, go here.

Yo La Tengo Forsake Hanukkah
Bonus: Concert photos from Barcelona!

Jews all across indie-land (or at least all across Hoboken, New Jersey) will hang their heads in sorrow next week when Hanukkah rolls around, as Yo La Tengo will not perform their traditional run of star-studded Hanukkah shows at their hometown club, Maxwell's. What a shonda!

Way back in October, the band posted a note on their website, saying, "We have concluded that our touring schedule is such we just wouldn't be able to put together a lineup as Hanukkahriffic as years past." Said Hanukkahrifficness was embodied by such special guests as Lambchop, David Cross, Conor Oberst, Calexico, Calvin Johnson, Jon Spencer, Janeane Garofalo, and Todd Barry.

But don't worry-- they skipped 2003 too, and we all survived OK.

Citizens of Japan, Australia, and Singapore will be able to celebrate the Festival of Lights with the band two (or three) months late, as Yo La Tengo have announced a tour that will take them to those lands in February and March.

And for an early Hanukkah present, Yo La Tengo have made available to Beat Your Ass Season Pass holders (remember that?) an exclusive download of a live version of their latest single "Mr. Tough", recorded in Brussels on their most recent European tour. The rest of us will have to wait until January 9, when the band will release a live iTunes Session EP.

Here at Pitchfork, we're getting into the holiday spirit too, and thanks to reader Xavi Guasch of the Spanish website PopMuzik, we're able to share with you a few photos from Yo La Tengo's November 30 show at Barcelona's Apolo.

If you speak Spanish, you can read Xavi's review of the show here. I think he says that they played "Pass the Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind", "Tom Courtenay", "Mr. Tough", "Watch Out for Me Ronnie", "I Feel Like Going Home", "You Can Have It All", "Sugarcube", "Tears Are in Your Eyes", and covers of the Kinks' "Better Things" and Love's "A House Is Not a Motel".

More photos and tour dates below.

[MORE...]

PGMG Side Project Cave Singers Tour, Stream Tracks

Pretty Girls Make Graves bassist Derek Fudesco and companions Peter Quirk (Hint Hint) and Marty Lund (Cobra High) are moving on up, literally. The basement practices of their trio, the Cave Singers, have led to a series of above-ground shows on the West Coast.

As previously reported, the band recently recorded with Colin Stewart (PGMG, Black Mountain), and plans to go label shopping upon its debut's completion. If the Cave Singers' hunt proves unsuccessful, they will release the work themselves.

The Cave Singers are currently streaming four tracks on their MySpace, assumably culled from the Stewart sessions. Cuts include "Helen", with its spacey effects that keep listeners waiting for a hair band chorus that never comes, the stomping, percussive "Dancing on Our Graves", and "Free the Bee", which taps along like a block of toy troops marching across a dinner table. The definite star of the bunch is "Seeds of Night", a moonlit campfire song (save a 25-second turn for the dark and twisted toward the end).

Pretty Girls Make Graves' Jason Clark is, as you already know, featured (as J. Clark) on the forthcoming Minus the Bear remix disc, Interpretaciones del Oso, which is due February 20 via Suicide Squeeze.

PGMG currently have two shows scheduled: one tonight (December 7) at Western Washington University's Viking Union Room in Bellingham, Washington, and one on December 16 at Seattle's Chop Suey club. [MORE...]

Junior Boys Announce Video Contest

Junior Boys are ending their big year by jumping on the social networking bandwagon. The Canadian duo have joined forces with imeem to sponsor the "So This Is Goodbye" Video Contest.

The contest allows fans to compete for $1000 in cash and prizes by "using live footage and music videos as well as license-free clips to create new music videos for the Junior Boys' new album." Domino Records will provide footage of "full-length songs [and] behind-the-scenes and crowd shots" from the group's set tonight at the Domino Records Holiday Party at Brooklyn's Studio B for contestants to use in their videos.

According to the imeem site, "some of the best work will be shown at Junior Boys live shows," but all videos must be uploaded by the March 1 deadline. In the meantime, there are plenty of videos and mp3s already available on the site, and Domino also has a Junior Boys interview podcast available for download.

Also, if you go to http://www.sothisisgoodbye.com/ and say goodbye to something (and give them your email address), you'll get a free mp3 of the title track from the latest Junior Boys album. [MORE...]

It's Official: Flaming Lips Alley, Oklahoma City

Precisely one month ago today, we reported on a magical little stretch in Oklahoma City's Bricktown, an "alley...littered with open dumpsters, and...poorly lit at night", a quiet little corner of the universe that was one city council vote away from being transformed forevermore by three little words: The Flaming Lips. (Or, okay, two little words, if the city decides to nix the "the".)

That vote went down on Tuesday (December 5), and according to the Associated Press, the good people of OK City's council decided in the Lips' favor. Which means, hallelujah amen, Flaming Lips Alley is for real and you and your buds have a new spring break road trip destination.

"It's not just a typical, 'Give them a street, give them a statue, give them a handshake,'" Lips frontman Wayne Coyne-- who still resides in Oklahoma City-- told the AP. "It's like some little secret special thing."

"So many bands despise their hometowns," he also said. "I guess we're just lucky or it never felt that way to us. Oklahoma City never rejected us." [MORE...]

N.W.A Release Best Of CD/DVD

N.W.A defined gangsta rap with the 1988 release of Straight Outta Compton, and even though it's their only essential album and a veritable greatest hits all by itself, N.W.A have had more than their share of "hits" comps and "legacy" collections compiled from their meager discography. Well, here's another one: The Best of N.W.A: The Strength of Street Knowledge, out December 26 on Capitol/Priority.

What Street Knowledge adds to the noble legacy of lumping a bunch of Straight Outta Compton tracks together with a couple of other singles is a DVD, and it's actually a pretty cool one. Its 11 tracks feature over two hours of music videos and interview footage (mostly previously unreleased) with Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. Street Knowledge will come as a CD and as a CD/DVD package; both will include liner notes by hip-hop writer Soren Baker.

And for those of you who think spending 20 bucks on a compilation of songs you already have just to watch interviews isn't enough, nine N.W.A tracks will make their ringtone debuts on December 12. 35 ringtones have been made from clips of the songs, which include "Express Yourself", "Straight Outta Compton", and "Fuck Tha Police". So the next time you get pulled over for speeding and your cell phone accidentally rings, you'll be guaranteed a ticket. [MORE...]

Exclusive MP3: Optimo: Essential Mix
(It's back! Sorry about that.)

UK-based Optimo are only one of the best DJ duos going right now, and upon hearing this mix a couple weeks ago-- commissioned for the BBC's "Essential Mix" show and aired last month-- we knew we had to do whatever it took to share it with you.

The duo (JD Twitch and JG Wilke)'s Optimo Espacio Sunday night parties in Glasgow, Scotland are almost absurdly acclaimed. This mix demos that night's sound, drawing heavily from New York no wave ("Optimo", after all, is also the name of a classic Liquid Liquid track), disco and funk. It also includes stuff we've been recommending of late, like LCD Soundsystem's 45:33 mix, Ricardo Villalobos, Lindstrøm, and Prince. (Man, have you checked out Prince yet??)

The pair were kind enough to provide Pitchfork with a voiceover- and station-ID-free version of their mix for download today, and with a million office parties/family get togethers/midnight masses on the holiday horizon, we say just dump the whole goddamn thing on your iPod and let these guys relieve you of your DJ duties. It'll make you wish you were at their night Glasgow, not surrounded by loved ones at home.

Tracklist:

Jesse Jackson: "Intro"
The Jellies: "Jive Baby on a Saturday Night" (Marathon)
Prinzhorn Dance School: "You Are the Space Invader" (DFA)
The Bar Kays: "Holy Ghost" (Stax)
The Staple Singers: "Slippery People" (Epic)
Chic: "Good Times" (Atlantic Records)
Troublefunk: "Drop the Bomb" (Sugarhill Records)
Prince: "Sign 'O' the Times" (WEA/Paisley Park)
LCD Soundsytem: "45.33 part 1" (DFA)
Altz: "Max Motion" (Zi-Koo)
UnknownmiX: "The Siren (Lo Soul's Hot Edit)" (Playhouse)
Dondolo: "Dragon (Shit Robot Firebreathing Remix)" (Tiny Sticks Records)
The Gossip: "Standing In The Way of Control (Playgroup Dub)" (Back Yard)
Depeche Mode: "The Sinner in Me (Ricardo Villalobos Conclace Remix)" (Mute)
Ricardo Villalobos: "Fizheuer Zieheuer" (Playhouse)
Hansepferd: "BismarkE" (Nobistor)
Saint Ibot: "White Night" (Tendenzen Freier Entfaltung)
Marc Houle: "Bay of Figs" (M-nus)
Paul Johnson: "Rubber Band" (Dust Traxx)
Sparks: "Beat the Clock" (12 Inch Stars)
Kenlou: "Sensational Beats" (MAW)
Bumblebee Unlimited: "Lady Bug" (Red Greg/Unidisc)
Lindstrom: "The Contemporary Fix" (Feedelity)
Hot Chip: "No Fit State" (DFA/EMI)
The Rapture: "Get Myself Into It" (Vertigo)
X Vectors: "Your Love"
Love Is All: "Busy Doing Nothing (An Optimo (Espacio) Remix)" (Parlophone)
Divine: "Shake It Up" (Break Records)
Bobby O: "She Has a Way (Glimmers Edit)" (O Records)
Yello: "Bostich (Reese Uptempo Mix)" (Mercury)
Mala: "Left Leg Out" (DMZ)
Neu!: "Hallogallo (Mary Hill Rework)" (Brain)
Grauzone: "Eisbar" (Welt-Rekord)
Crass: "Bloody Revolutions" (Crass Records)
The Celestial Choir: "Stand on the Word" (Larry)

Arcade Fire Announce Shows
Sorry kids, they're all in London

At last! Concrete Arcade Fire news! None of these nebulous album updates or apologies for Gap commercials, oh no--real live concert dates. Unfortunately for most of the world, those dates are all in London.

In a month and a half, the powerhouse Canadian collective will head to England for the first time since the fall of 2005. They will play five "very special" shows, according to their management.

More dates will be announced soon, as will details of the band's second album, due out in the spring.

Wake up, people! Arcade Fire are back! [MORE...]

Video: Bloc Party: "The Prayer"

It begins with the band sitting in a club looking bored--nothing particularly interesting. Then something weird and wonderful happens. I don't want to spoil the surprise by revealing exactly what, but let's just say there's definitely something in Kele's drink.

The video for "The Prayer", the first single from Bloc Party's forthcoming second album A Weekend in the City (due February 5 on Wichita in the UK and February 6 on Vice in the U.S.) made its debut on the BBC Radio 1 website last night. It was directed by Walter Stern, the man behind such classic clips as the Prodigy's "Firestarter", the Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony", and Massive Attack's "Teardrop". Props to his special effects team.

MP3: The Ponys: "Double Vision"

While we brace ourselves for the March 20 release of Turn the Lights Out, the third LP from Matador's latest signing, the Ponys (Chicago reprazent!), here's a taste-- wait a minute. An album called Turn the Lights Out on Matador in 2007? Is that supposed to be some kind of joke? I guess they're taking that Capitol thing pretty hard after all (kidding, we love u guys <3).

Anyhow, Lights Out's "Double Vision", presented below in stunning MPEG-1 audio layer 3 format, finds our little Ponys further emerging from the riff-rock riff-raff, treating their guitars with dollops of delay, and delivering a pretty clean, concise case for rocking out in dorm rooms and dive bars alike. The lyrics probably won't make your LiveJournal, and singer/guitarist Jared Gummere does rhyme "place" with, er, "place", but who comes to music like this for poetry?

Do you have a news tip for us? Anything crazy happen at a show you attended recently? Do you have inside info on the bands we cover? Is one of your favorite artists (that's not somebody you know personally) releasing a new record you'd like to see covered? You will remain completely anonymous, unless we are given your express permission to reveal your identity. (Please note that publicists, managers, booking agents, and other artist representatives are generally exempt from this rule, but will also be granted anonymity if requested.)