105 Recent ItemsUnderworld Breaking Soundtrack on the Way
Now that "new rave" is all the rage in the UK press, there's never been a better time to embrace an old rave touchstone: London electronic duo Underworld, who've been making you gyrate for nearly 20 years now. You'll probably want to keep your hips in check, however, while viewing the Underworld co-scored drama Breaking and Entering in movie theaters this winter. As previously noted, Underworld's Karl Hyde and Rick Smith teamed up with film composer Gabriel Yared to compose the score to the film, the latest from director Anthony Minghella (Cold Mountain, The English Patient).
The Underworld/Yared soundtrack hits shops December 5 via V2, while the corresponding film-- which stars Jude Law, Juliette Binoche, and some other pretty people enduring conflict, rising action, and resolution in London-- lands in New York and L.A. cineplexes on December 9. The rest of us uncultured Americans will have to wait until January 19 to throw popcorn at it.
Given the setting, Law's presence, the poster portraits, the trailer's allusions to infidelity, and the press release's claim the film "explores the darker side of relationships and human emotion", this thing looks an awful lot like Closer lite. Check out the trailer and stream two soundtrack selections by tapping the links below.
"We've been jamming here in Abbey Road [studios] for a while now and having a really good time, producing some very different music," Hyde told Pitchfork late last year regarding Underworld's collaboration with Yared.
Minghella can dig it: "Witnessing Gabriel, Karl and Rick in a room together was a revelation," said the director in the aforementioned press release. Aw, group hug! [MORE...]
Mike Ladd Prepares Performances, Fifth LP
Though MC, producer, poet, and Paris resident Mike Ladd is working on his currently untitled fifth solo album, the third in his Big Dada Infesticons/Majesticons trilogy (this one will go under the name "The Domesticons"), his first priority at the moment is his art. Performance art, that is.Ladd will perform as part of Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival at the BAM Harvey Theater from December 6-10. The piece he will perform is the previously reported "Still Life With Commentator: An Oratorio", a collaboration with composer and pianist Vijay Iyer (who, in the past, has worked with dead prez, DJ Spooky, and Amiri Baraka) and theater director Ibrahim Quraishi.
These performances will be the New York debut of "Still Life With Commentator", which is "an evening of propulsive music, spoken texts, digital interactivity, and movement performed by an eight-member ensemble of musicians and actors [and] a darkly lyrical and sometimes comic portrayal of our media-filtered encounters with war and atrocity, with songs such as 'Jon Stewart on Crossfire' and 'Blog Mom's Anthem'," according to a press release. [MORE...]
John Darnielle, El-P Guest on Aesop Rock LP
Also, mystery project sort of maybe kinda announced
When we saw chief Mountain Goat John Darnielle rapping along to Aesop Rock's lyrics at the Def Jux MC's Pitchfork Music Festival set, we were rather pleased. However, we were still a little surprised to find out that Darnielle will appear on Aesop's new album, which the rapper described as having "a more diverse sound throughout the record than anything I've done" and lyrically is "all stories in one way or another," in a recent update on his MySpace blog. He has titled the album None Shall Pass and says it is scheduled for a release on Def Jux "sometime in the first half of 07."
None Shall Pass will feature production from Blockhead (seven tracks), Aesop himself (five tracks), El-P, and Rob Sonic (one track apiece). DJ Big Wiz adds "scratches and turntable trickery" to every song "(some a lot some a little, but every one)," and "other voices you will hear on the record in one form or another and some more than once (be it in verse, talking, singing, yodeling, ad-libbing, chorus-ing, etc.) include: El-P, Cage, Camutao, Breeze Brewin, Rob Sonic, John Darnielle."
One of these things is not like the other / One of these things just doesn't belong...
Aesop added, "Most of [the album] is recorded, though a few [tracks] are still a bit in 'demo' form and need some fine tuning and re-kicking. All of this is with the exception of this me-and-El joint, which I'm currently writing. I had to wait 'til he was done with his [album]. I ghost wrote all his shit for it. No I'm kidding. I didn't do that. Combine all that with whatever last minute song(s) I write that I deem a necessity for the record (which usually somehow happens starting the day after you should have stopped working)... Mixing in Jan. or Feb. probably." [MORE...]
Robert Pollard Plans Seven Albums, New Label
Also, he's calling off touring for a while
When Robert Pollard tore his calf muscle earlier this month, he was forced to cancel three East Coast dates. Bummer, right? But holy overcompensation, now the Guided by Voices ex has announced, in an interview with Billboard.com, that he has not one, not two, not three, four, five, or six, but seven new albums on his plate.
Sheesh! Not that this guy has ever tended towards restraint, but this seems a bit excessive even for him.
He'll have a lot of time on his hands, as he's saying goodbye to the touring life, at least for now, Billboard reports. "It's too hard to psychologically re-energize yourself each night," he told the website, partially attributing the decision to a lack of audience turnout. "With Guided by Voices, it didn't matter what day it was. What I'm doing now, in my opinion, is not only the same thing, I think it's a step up, even. But you get tired of beating your head against the wall."
So instead of playing not-exactly-packed clubs, Pollard is devoting himself to the preparation of new material. He has wrapped up work on his latest Merge album, Silverfish Trivia, Billboard reports, and plans to release it in the fall of 2007. Tracks include the "string instrumentals" "Come Outside" and "Speak in Many Colors", as well as the "prog-like" "Circle Saw Boys Club" and the wtf?-inducing "Coast to Coast Carpet of Love".
Merge has not confirmed this release yet, however.
Billboard says that Pollard has also teamed with Todd Tobias again under the Circus Devils moniker for a double-disc record titled Sgt. Disco, which is currently label-less. Another record from the Takeovers (Pollard with former GBV bassist Chris Slusarenko), called Bad Football, is due in the spring.
And speaking of spring, come March, Pollard's Fading Captain Series will have officially faded, as Billboard reports that he plans to shutter the label. He'll say goodbye with a 50(!)-track best-of collection titled Crickets, which will feature several previously unreleased numbers. Fading Captain will be replaced by a new label named-- I kid you not-- Record Company Records. [MORE...]
Panda Bear Talks Animal Collective, Solo Work
2007: When Animals Attack!
Like the endangered species from which he gets his name, Noah "Panda Bear" Lennox, does not hibernate. He's too busy chewing the bamboo shoots of musical creativity. (Terrible analogy. Just terrible. I'm sorry. I'll stop now.)
Although he and his band Animal Collective have laid relatively low in 2006, touring a bit and releasing just a smattering of tracks and a reissue, 2007 looks to be a blockbuster year for Lennox. In a recent interview, he updated Pitchfork on the status of Animal Collective's next album, the Animal Collective live box set, his own solo album, and many, many other projects.
Animal Collective's year will start off with the January 23 FatCat worldwide release of the People EP, previously available only on the band's just-wrapped Australian tour. As previously reported, it features the tracks "People", "Tikwid", "My Favorite Colors", and "People (live)".
Also in January, the band will begin recording the follow-up to 2005's Feels, at a studio in Tucson, Arizona. Lennox said that they hope to release the album in the fall, "but I couldn't say for sure." Although reluctant to reveal any potential song or album titles ("I have a feeling the other AC boys would be mad if I told you, just because we like to have the thing be new and fresh for everyone if we can"), he did say that "there will be some songs on the album that we've never played live. We wrote them and prepped them but consciously avoided playing them live so that they would be totally new for everyone on the album." Brief tours of America and Europe are in the works for the spring of 2007.
And speaking of Animal Collective in concert, Lennox offered an update about the AC live box set: "I'm really psyched about it and I guess I can speak for all of us in that respect," he said. "I don't know exactly when it will be released, as we're all being kind of relaxed about that part of it. I guess we feel like the Hollinndagain reissue just came out so it's no rush for us to get out another live recording type thing. But I imagine it will be done and out in the spring of next year, like May or something.
"It's going to be three LPs worth of jams: one side of our first New York shows and stuff from around the Danse Manatee time, one side of acoustic jams (including some recordings from home-- most of us used to live together and we would play quite a bit just around the house after work and on the weekends), one side from around the Here Comes the Indian time, one side of solo jams (I think this is mostly from shows that just Davey [Portner, aka Avey Tare] or I did), one side of what we called "The Pumpkin Trilogy" which is a three-part jam from around the time between Danse Manatee and Here Comes the Indian (same time as the Hollinndagain tour), and one side of live Sung Tongs." Whew!
Animal Collective are also working on a film project with director Danny Perez, the friend behind their "Who Could Win a Rabbit" video. Will it be Animal Collective's Purple Rain? Or their Glitter? We'll find out soon...
"We worked together for a while coming up with the scenes and parts and that sort of thing," Lennox said. "Then this past September we started filming it. Sometime in the next four months or so, after Danny's done editing all the footage, the AC will make the music for it." [MORE...]
Rapture, Bloc Party on Black Strobe Remix Comp
Stream: Black Strobe: "Shining Bright Star (Phones industrial version radio edit)"
Parisian dark dance duo Black Strobe will preface the spring release of their debut full-length with the UK release of a selection of their remixes on the aptly titled 10-track A Remix Selection, out December 4 on Playlouderecordings.The label released A Remix Selection's first track-- "Shining Bright Star (Phones industrial version)"-- today as a 12" single, and it is also available online at the site of the duo's series of podcasts, www.remixblackstrobe.com. The other two current podcast installments are mixes created by both members of Black Strobe, beatmaker Ivan Smagghe and vocalist Arnaud Rebotini.
"Shining Bright Star" is a preview of the upcoming full-length, which is being recorded with Rapture/Bloc Party/Futureheads producer Paul Epworth (aka Phones -- hence the remix name) and My Bloody Valentine/Smashing Pumpkins/Nine Inch Nails engineer/producer Alan Moulder. Seemingly out of character, a press release claims that Black Strobe plan on covering a Muddy Waters song on the currently untitled album.
Black Strobe also have a series of live dates scheduled, most of which are DJ sets of some sort. The shows in Stuttgart, Germany and Rome, however, will feature a live trio, which consists of Rebotini, Benjamin Beaulieu, and a guy named Siskid. Smagghe chooses not to perform at these shows because "being on stage brings general unease... There is a 'show' element that I love in others but cannot imagine for myself." Siskid and Beaulieu are both involved in the recording of the full-length as well. [MORE...]
Futureheads, El Perro, Field Music Rock Xmas Comp
Futureheads + Field Music + Golden Virgins + Kathryn Williams = The Joseph and Mary Chain
It wouldn't be the ho-ho-holidays without some frosty, red-nosed, little seasonal releases, and here's one that should get your Yule log sizzling. On December 11, East Sussex vinyl imprint Izumi Records will toss It's Not Like Christmas down chimneys far and wide, featuring classic covers and wassailing originals by a bunch of UK up'n'comers, a few assorted Swedes, and one bona fide Xmas supergroup. If you haven't a chimney, score it now through iTunes.The Joseph and Mary Chain, no joke, is the name the Futureheads, Field Music, and the Golden Virgins-- all from Sunderland-- and Newcastle singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams have adopted to serve up a rousing collaborative rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas". The festive tune appears alongside jingles from El Perro Del Mar, Envelopes, NME favs Duels, emo-gazers Amusement Parks on Fire (featuring Duke Spirit frontlady Leila Moss), the Electric Soft Parade, Izumi's own Swimming, Duke Special, the Late Greats, and several more.
In the spirit of the season, all album sale profits go directly to Shelter, a UK organization whose mission is to "help people find and keep a home" and to "campaign for decent housing for all."
Stream four jams from It's Not Like Christmas' very own MySpace page, and preorder the album now by clicking here. [MORE...]
Cat Power Assembles New Band, Plays ATP
Dirty Three's ATP lineup expanded
As previously reported, Cat Power has a show tonight in Seattle and one in Vancouver tomorrow, and it seems they will be her last gigs with the Memphis Rhythm Band with whom she has been touring this year.Chan Marshall has recruited Dirty Three's Jim White, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's Judah Bauer, the Delta 72's Gregg Foreman, and Lizard Music's Erik Paparozzi to accompany her on the rest of her tour dates this year, under the appropriate band name of "Dirty Delta Blues". Four of those dates feature White and Bauer as the opening act and two will be in California for New Year's celebrations with Gnarls Barkley and the Flaming Lips.
Speaking of White and Dirty Three, Cat Power has just been added to lineup for the All Tomorrow's Parties festival curated by the Australian group. Spiritualized, Bill Callahan, A Silver Mt. Zion, Mick Harvey, Conway Savage, Shannon Wright, Devastations, Felix Lajko, and Josh Pearson have also been added since our last story. The festival will take place April 27-29 in Somerset, England. [MORE...]
M83, Xiu Xiu, Amy Millan, Beach House on Montag LP
Montag wants YOU to help record his album
French-Canadian electronic artist Montag gave his last album the ambiguous title Alone, Not Alone, but we reckon he's very much the latter these days, having enlisted a small festival's worth of A-list indie acts to guest on the forthcoming follow-up, Going Places.Montag hasn't quite finished the disc yet, but hopes to release it in June of next year via Carpark Records, who also delivered Alone. Among the contributors set to go Places: Stars' Amy Millan (who appeared on Alone as well), M83, Ghislain Poirier, Victoria Legrand of Carpark labelmates Beach House, New York synth-pop trio Au Revoir Simone, Vancouver-based folk singer Leah Abramson, and Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart-- with whom Montag (real name Antoine Bédard) duets.
"It only gets weird," wrote Bédard in an e-mail to Pitchfork, "when I sing a duet with Jamie...just because men on men duets make people feel awkward, I think. I love them. We need more men on men duets. I'm really happy with that song."
Bédard goes on to describe the overall sound of Going Places as "happy and fun", despite including "a few songs directly inspired by dead people I met in my dreams." [MORE...]
Flipper Tour With Krist Novoselic
Free Willy, Dave Grohl get jealous, form their own damn band
San Francisco old school punks Flipper will embark on their first tour in ten years with former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic in tow, according to various sources and confirmed by the band. Novoselic has joined the band after retiring from music in 2003 to get involved in Washington (state) politics and write a book called Of Grunge & Government: Let's Fix this Broken Democracy! Appropriately enough, the tour begins in Seattle on December 1. [MORE...]
Four Tet Talks Remixes, Collaborations, New Music
Kieran Hebden remixing Thom Yorke, Arab Strap, Explosions in the Sky, Aluminium, working with Fridge, Steve Reid, Sunburned Hand of the Man
Kieran Hebden gets around. The man also known as Four Tet had quite a year in 2006, releasing the CD/DVD package Everything Ecstatic 2 (a companion to 2005's Everything Ecstatic), a remix compilation, a volume in the DJ-Kicks series, two discs of collaboration with jazz drummer Steve Reid, and a song for children, as well as touring with and without Reid and remixing the likes of Jamie Lidell, ex-Cure keyboardist Roger O'Donnell, and His Name Is Alive.
As the year comes to a close, Hebden hasn't slowed down one bit. Pitchfork caught up with the workaholic recently, and he filled us in on what he's been up to, when he's not slacking off and doing something counter-productive like eating or sleeping.
Not surprisingly, Hebden has been steadily adding to his remix discography. He recently got his hands on the Aluminium version of the White Stripes' "Forever for Her Is Over for Me", available as an exclusive download from Rough Trade's brand new MP3 store, Rough Trade Digital. As previously reported, Aluminium is "avant garde orchestral" versions of White Stripes songs, as envisioned by XL Recordings founder Richard Russell and composer/arranger Joby Talbot.
"I'm a huge fan of the White Stripes," Hebden said. "Particularly the last album I really, really liked. It was a nice thing to remix because the instrumentation was so diverse on it."
Hebden just finished his take on Thom Yorke's "Atoms for Peace", though he has "no idea what the release plan for that one is." His version of Arab Strap's first single, "The First Big Weekend", is the B-side to the retiring Scottish band's final release, a 7" also featuring "There Is No Ending". It's out now on Chemikal Underground.
Finally, as previously reported, the Four Tet remix of Explosions in the Sky's "Catastrophe and the Cure", from their forthcoming album All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, will be included on the bonus disc that comes with the limited edition deluxe version of that album. It's due out February 20 on Temporary Residence.
"They are really good friends of mine," Hebden said of EITS. "It's one of those things that we always talked about but never got around to. It finally happened." [MORE...]
Dismemberment Plan Members Form New Band
Travis Morrison recording
If any band's drummer could be a rocket scientist, it's the (now-extinct) Dismemberment Plan's Joe Easley. So we were thrilled and only a little surprised to find out that Easley is in his final year of study in the University of Maryland's Aerospace Engineering program. We were even more thrilled to find this out from the MySpace blog of Easley's new band with D-Plan bassist Eric Axelson (who now teaches 11th grade English) and D.C. songwriter/guitarist Clark Sabine: Statehood.
The band used to be called Disconnect and was just the vehicle for Sabine's songs until Easley and Axelson hopped aboard and they became Statehood. Now, they have four demos available for download from their MySpace page (and one more at their website, from when the project was just Sabine solo).
They began recording with Dismemberment Plan guitarist Jason Caddell recently, though things are slow-going considering the band members' other commitments. "Hopefully around the holidays we'll find more time. Not sure where this recording is going yet, but we'll put some tracks up when they're done," they write.
Statehood have, however, found time in their schedules to play a show at Washington, D.C.'s Black Cat with the Hold Steady this Saturday, November 25.
Caddell has been busy recording his old bandmates, as he recently produced some tracks at Steve Albini's Electrical Audio studio in Chicago for Travis Morrison's upcoming album. Morrison writes on his website, "We aren't done, but we're really far along and we should have everything ready for a spring release."
Morrison is also getting into the holiday spirit. He writes, "I want to organize something that sends people out on Saturday morning to sing to bedridden old folks. Spirituals and all. It kills them that they can't go to church. It's a long-term project, but for starters, I just want to get a bunch of DC rock and rollers to form a carol group for this winter. That'll get the ball rolling socially and all. I need an unfuckwitable inner core of good singers and sight readers: then an outer bunch of people who either have great ears or can read fluently; then the outer ring can accommodate any old freak who likes 'O Tannenbaum'. Dudes with very low or very high voices get extra points but there's room for anyone. If you're interested, drop me a line."
Mike Watt Guests on Kelly Clarkson Record
"Political Song for Kelly Clarkson to Sing"
Former Minuteman, current Stooge, and all-around inspiring guy Mike Watt's most recent recording gig made us smile so much that we just had to share it. (And so did that picture!)
Watt tells us that over the past two weeks, he spent a couple of days in the studio laying down bass tracks for Kelly Clarkson's new album. (That would be the follow-up to 2004's Breakaway--the one with "Since U Been Gone" on it.) He did such a good job of explaining it himself in the emails he sent to Pitchfork that we'll just let him do what he does best and spiel:
"The producer/engineer David Kahne is an old friend, and that's why I was asked aboard, though the guitarist and co-songwriter, Jimmy Messer, knew all about my history and was very enthusiastic; he's a great cat. Actually, it was pretty interesting. I didn't [know] what to expect, but [Kahne] had me trying all kinds of tripping stuff. Altogether, I played on six [songs]. They were already recorded, and I was replacing and adding in bass.
"Everyone there gave me much respect even with me being nervous, big time at first. I knew nothing of Kelly Clarkson before this but can tell you, in my opinion, that she can sing her ass off. Man, she's got pipes and goes for it. She also didn't have any airs or a big posse of sycophants and was just plain up-front people, which to me is very happening 'cause I ain't so used to all the fronting that can go [on] in some scenes.
"It was a challenge too 'cause it was much different than where I've been with music, but different is good, especially when what the people involved wanted was to hear someone working a bass like they meant it, and that's where I've always tried to come from.
"When [Clarkson] had to bail, she said to [Kahne], 'I think the old punk guy idea's a good one,' and we all laughed. It's just studio stuff, and I haven't been asked to be in any band for a gig or tour.
"I got lots going with the Stooges. Iggy called me just a little bit ago and said the album sounds great. Wow, I can't wait to hear it." Neither can we. [MORE...]
Air are set to release the follow-up to 2004's Talkie Walkie on March 6 on Astralwerks. The record is titled Pocket Symphony, features artwork by contemporary artist Xavier Veilhan, and was recorded with Nigel Godrich over the last year and a half. Both Air members, Nicolas Godin and JB Dunckel (aka Darkel), sing on the album, and Jarvis Cocker and the Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon contribute vocals as well.
Pocket Symphony also incorporates some of the Japanese instruments Godin recently learned to play from an Okinawa master musician: the koto (also referred to as a Japanese floor harp) and the three-string, banjo-like shamisen. However, a press release claims that "conventional instruments continue to play a great role" in the duo's music.
Air plan to spend much of 2007 on tour. They'll hit Europe in the spring and America in May, with festival appearances scheduled for the summer, and more shows throughout the fall and winter. [MORE...]
The Pastels Ready New Album, Score Play
Indie pop kids everywhere overcome with fits of giddiness
If your anorak feels extra snuggly and your chai tastes especially sweet today, that's probably because the Pastels are on the prowl once again. The seminal Glasgow shambling indie pop trio has returned in earnest, with a new album, a collaboration, and a live score for a theatre production all in the works for you, their polite and devoted fanbase.First up, the Pastels have contributed original music to Do I Mean Anything To You Or Am I Just Passing By?, a new, somewhat experimental play written and directed by Gerard McInulty-- aka Caeser, formerly of Factory/Sarah Records act the Wake (which also at one point included a young Bobby Gillespie) and presently of the Occasional Keepers. The work previews November 17 and 18 and runs from the 21-25 at Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre, with Pastels Stephen McRobbie and Katrina Mitchell in attendance to contribute live music to each performance.
According to their MySpace and current label home, Domino Records, the band have also been diligently working on a brand new full length-- technically the follow-up to 1997's Illumination, and their first collection of new material since the 2002 film soundtrack The Last Great Wilderness. Chalk up the long wait to the fact that the Pastels have been busy concentrating on their Domino-affiliated imprint Geographic Music, and also busy being honest and adorable.
Also on the way: a collaboration with Tokyo twee duo Tenniscoats. No word yet on titles or release dates for either record, but after a nearly ten year Pastels hiatus, I suppose we can stand to wait just a wee bit longer. [MORE...]
Costello, Tweedy, Oldham Guest on Charlie Louvin LP
Also: Mac McCaughan, Eef Barzelay, George Jones, Bobby Bare Sr.
Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Louvin , formerly of the legendary Louvin Brothers, will release his first studio album in over 10 years on February 20 via Tompkins Square, and the record has more guests than a big name rap album.
Louvin and Lambchop's Mark Nevers produced the self-titled LP, which features contributions from Elvis Costello, Jeff Tweedy, Will Oldham, Mac McCaughan (of Superchunk and Portastatic), Clem Snide's Eef Barzelay, classic country singers George Jones and Bobby Bare (the elder), and members of Bright Eyes (no, not Conor) and the Silver Jews (no, not David).
The album's songs include "Ira", a tribute to Louvin's brother of the same name (and the other member of the Louvin Brothers), who died in a car accident in 1965. He also recorded new versions of the Louvin Brothers songs "Must You Throw Dirt in My Face" (available for download now from digital music retailers), "Great Atomic Power", "The Christian Life", and "When I Stop Dreaming", the Carter Family's "Worried Man Blues" and "Grave on the Green Hillside", and traditionals "Kneeling Drunkard's Plea" and "Knoxville Girl".
In support of the album and to celebrate his 80th birthday next July, Louvin will tour the U.S. extensively next year. [MORE...]
Ghostface, MF Doom, Spank Rock on Plastic Little LP
MP3: Plastic Little: "Crambodia" [ft. Ghostface Killah, Spank Rock, and Amanda Blank]
Hide your kids, your parents, and your priests, because Philly-based party-rap crew Plastic Little have arrived to tell it like it is-- i.e., very explicitly. For their debut, She's Mature, the verbal rabble-rousers hooked up with some choice emcees and producers, including like-minded posse Spank Rock, Sweatheart's Amanda Blank, MF Doom and his producer/pal King Honey, Diplo, and none other than Ghostface Killah. Hear Ghost show up all contenders on She's Mature cut "Crambodia", linked below for your mp3-downloading pleasure.The disc hits shops November 21 via ToneArm Recordings/Free News Projects, however the super-excited may pre-order now at Plastic Little's album website-- and score some glittery stickers in the process. Part of this gallery rap micro-phenomenon (read up here), Plastic Little have gained a reputation for coke'n'sex-addled lyrical raunchiness, bangin' live shows, and general hilarity, which means those stickers might just be worth something some day. At least a kilo or two.
The immature he's of P-Little celebrate the release of She's Mature with an album release party at New York City's 205 Bar, also featuring Sweatheart, Muppet-rappers Kid America Club, DJ Armani XXXchange, and some very special secret guests. They also plan to hold a "Crambodia" remix contest in the near future. [MORE...]
Exclusive: Cat Power, Lips, Antony Retool Yoko Ono
So do Spiritualized, Polyphonic Spree, Peaches, Le Tigre
Taking aim at stereotypes while simultaneously playing straight to them, Yoko Ono has titled her forthcoming album Yes, I'm a Witch. (It's also the name of one of her songs.) And the legendary artist/musician has conjured quite a list of guests to appear on the record. In fact, the record consists of almost nothing but guests. The idea behind Witch goes like this: Ono chose the artists with whom she wanted to work, gave them access to her back catalog, asked them to chose a song to rework, and then "provided [them] with the vocals and whatever other instrumental elements attracted them from that cut. Almost all the artists chose just the vocals," according to a press release. The result: a remixes/duets/covers record consisting of "entirely new musical tracks."
The Flaming Lips, Cat Power, Antony, Le Tigre, Spiritualized's Jason Pierce, Peaches, and the Polyphonic Spree are among those who contributed to Yes, I'm a Witch, which Astralwerks will release in February. The label will follow it in March with a compilation of dance remixes of Ono songs. [MORE...]
Jay-Z Announces Tracklist, One Day Tour
Sued over Black Album samples
It's old news to those of you who were waiting slavishly by your computers this weekend, checking torrent and p2p sites every half hour for one of the big name fourth-quarter rap albums to leak (and pretty much all of them did), but Jay-Z's Kingdom Come (out November 21 on Def Jam) now has a tracklist.Just Blaze, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, the Neptunes, and Swizz Beatz all produced tracks on the album, and featured guests include Beyonce, Usher, Pharrell, Ne-Yo, John Legend, and Coldplay's Chris Martin, who produced the track on which he is featured, album closer "Beach Chair".
According to various reports, Jay will literally phone it in on November 18 as he teams with Cingular Music for "The Jay-Z Hangar Tour", a 17-hour jaunt via G5 jet to the airports of Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas (where the tour will end). He will perform for radio contest winners in these cities, and Cingular customers with video capability will be able to watch the performances on their phones. [MORE...]
Gretta Cohn, Ex-Cursive, Talks Cat Power, Solo Work
Since leaving Saddle Creek manic emo-ters Cursive-- for whom she shredded cello for four years, lending an electrifying edge to band's live show, LP The Ugly Organ, and EPs Burst and Bloom and 8 Teeth to Eat You-- Gretta Cohn's days have only gotten busier. Presently she's collaborating all willy-nilly, chipping away at a solo/not-solo record, and appearing with Cat Power and Charles Barkley on national late-night television.Cohn joined Chan Marshall's Memphis Rhythm Band for several shows on the chanteuse's recent tour. As the ace cellist and sometime Pitchfork contributor-- now living once again in her native New York-- wrote in a recent e-mail to Pitchfork, playing with Chan Marshall and Co. has been an absolute blast.
"They were so welcoming, and we just sat around for hours in between shows, talking about music...I've never played a show where everyone smiled at each other during the set," she enthused.
Cohn also performed with Cat Power on this year's Halloween episode of "Late Night With Conan O'Brien". Also a guest that night: none other than Charles Barkley, famous for having his name pun'd by Gnarls Barkley. Apparently he played basketball too, or something.
"Late night is so funny," wrote Gretta. "Hours of waiting, two minutes of playing, and some serious makeup on the face." [MORE...]
Jens Lekman Recording With El Perro Del Mar
Also giving away his trusty ukulele to one lucky, adventurous fan
Less than a year ago, Jens Lekman was talking about taking up a day job and ditching the whole music thing for good. Now he's back to being Captain Prolific. As the charming Jens revealed in a recent e-mail to Pitchfork, he has already recorded a heap of new songs for his next record, technically the follow-up to his Secretly Canadian-stamped U.S. debut, When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog. And speaking of dogs, he's also begun working with another Swedish Pitchfork favorite: El Perro Del Mar. In the man's own words:"I have recorded about 30-40 new songs here in Kortedala [an area in Gothenburg], where all my previous songs were recorded. But I feel that I can't work here anymore. It has turned into such a depressive and violent place. People go to bed at nine and after that everything is dark and silent. I used to like that cause it meant I could go for endless walks without meeting a single person, but after having been mugged and beaten several times I'm too scared to go out.
"So to get away from that and to finish the record I've headed over to my friend Sarah Assbring / El Perro Del Mar. She's helping me with details such as vocal arrangments and sorting out the rotten apples. Her studio is right by the ocean.
"I can't say much more than that, I hate reading about artists in the studio and I don't wanna be one of them myself. I like to pretend that my songs record themselves during the night and when I wake up I will find it sitting on my bed with a cup of tea saying: 'Good morning, I am your new song.'" [MORE...]
Original Bad Brains Ready New Album
With Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch donning the producer cap
After recently releasing a live DVD and playing three sold-out shows together to commemorate the closing of CBGB, D.C. hardcore legends Bad Brains seem to be back in commission. According to Billboard.com, the original quartet-- which consists of vocalist H.R., guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer, and drummer Earl Hudson-- are planning the spring release of a currently untitled album, produced by Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, aka MCA."The lawyers are finishing up the last little tidbits of it," Dr. Know told Billboard.com. "There's a lot of dubs, and there's some old school-meets-new school Brains. Not moderate tempo, but fast tempo. Yauch said, 'Man, I want y'all to do some old school-type shit,' so we did it like that. I want to start working on the next one, because we did that one two years ago already." He also mentioned four song titles, two of which are dubs ("Article" and "Kingdom Come") and two of which are rock songs ("It's All Rock 'n' Roll" and "Let There Be Light").
Dr. Know is also eager to begin work on his first solo album. "I want to sit down this winter and start hashing her out. I've got a few little riffs working, but I want to sit down and perfect them, put some people together, and record them up. There's going to be total crazy special guests-- whoever I can get. A lot of people said they would participate: Flea, Mos [Def], the Living Colour guys, Darryl, Earl, and H.R."
Bad Brains are considering the release of additional archival video footage as well. One such show, shot by a friend of the band, features them playing with the Circle Jerks, Living Colour, and Leeway.
Jay-Z continues his run of either completely selfish or completely misguided decisions as president of Def Jam with the December 19 release of Nas' debut for the label, Hip-Hop Is Dead. So now both Ghostface and Nas get to experience the joy of having their albums buried at a time when shopping for the biggest holiday of the year is winding down.Questionable business plan on the part of his label head aside, Nas' album looks promising. It's tracklist-less at the moment, but-- as you should know (if you don't, listen below)-- first leak "Where Y'all At" was a good sign of the MC being in top form on the LP.
He's certainly not lacking star power on the "featuring" side of the equation. Kanye produced and provided the hook for "Still Dreamin'"; Snoop Dogg appears on "Play on Player"; the Game guests on "Q.B. True G", which Dr. Dre produced; Damian Marley appears on "White Man's Paper (War)", which samples Marley's father; Scott Storch produced "Carry on Tradition"; surprise Midas will.i.am produced both the title track and the Sam Cooke-sampling "Unforgettable"; and Nas himself flipped a James Brown sample in producing "Where Are They Now".
Considering Def Jam's recent approach to promoting their non-Jay artists, this might be the last time you hear about Hip-Hop Is Dead, so mark your calendars. One month is probably enough time for you to forget all about the disappointment that Kingdom Come is sure to be.
Frida Hyvonen Tours U.S., Scores Dancing Poodles
They may take our lives, but they'll never take... our Frida!
You never got Frida Hyvönen right, but she's not mad about it. Indeed, she's out to give you another chance, playing her lively piano-pop tunes to you-- hot off the just-U.S.-released Until Death Comes (Secretly Canadian)-- on a series of dates in the States. The festivities commence tonight in Brooklyn as part of that CMJ shebang you've probably been hearing about. Sweden-bred Hyvönen then jets off to Europe in December for a few more gigs.While you're hanging at the merch booth after the show, why not ask Frida what it was like to write and record a musical score for a bunch of poodles to dance to? She's just wrapped up Püdel (translation: poodle), meant to accompany a piece by choreographer Dorte Olesen that will play throughout Sweden in January and February of next year-- and featuring, yes, about 20 dancing poodles. A recording of Frida's score should see release early next year, so start teaching your pampered canine pal some ace moves now. [MORE...]
Snow Patrol Release Avalanche of Material
Between releasing their fourth full-length, Eyes Open, and having to cancel tour dates twice this year due to injuries and ailments, Snow Patrol have had an up-and-down year. Gary Lightbody and Co. are making up for it by foisting plenty of new material on us: an EP, a charity record, a single, a bunch of UK tour dates, and even a little bit of non-fiction writing.The EP is the band's own AOL Sessions, a digital release featuring live versions of four Snow Patrol songs and a cover of one Bright Eyes song ("You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will.") that you may purchase from iTunes right now.
For the charity record, Lightbody teamed up with Lisa Hannigan-- a vocalist in Damien Rice's band-- to sing a song written by Bell X1's Paul Noonan called "Some Surprise". The track will appear on The Cake Sale, a nine-song album by a collective of musicians of the same name. Other contributors to the record include Rice, the Cardigans' Nina Persson, the Thrills, Josh Ritter, the Divine Comedy, and Gemma Hayes. Oxfam Records will release The Cake Sale in Ireland on November 3, and proceeds will go toward Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign and overseas program work. [MORE...]
David Pajo Talks Possible Slint Reunion, Dead Child EP
Plus bonus Dead Child MP3
Fresh off the release of his second solo album as Pajo, 1968, the always-busy David Pajo is gearing up for the release of an EP by his newest project, the previously reported metal band Dead Child. He's also starting to think about the feasibility of a Slint reunion.
"I've been kind of talking to the Slint guys again, and we've been trying to figure out what we should do with ourselves," Pajo said in a recent interview with Pitchfork. "We're sort of attempting to exist as a band again, but we don't want to-- whatever is precious about Slint, we don't want to step on that. We want to play together again, but we've been trying to figure out what our next step should be if we do anything at all."
So what would be the determining factors in deciding just what that next step is? "It's mostly just what everybody wants to do with themselves. There was a huge gap between the 2005 reunion and the last time we played together [before that]. We've spent all this time developing our own lives, and it's kind of hard to put everything that you've been working on for the past 14 years on pause so that you can do Slint again. Brian [McMahan] wants to go back to school, and people have different things that they want to do with themselves, so we're trying to find out if there's even a window where we could all work together in the same capacity again. Me and Britt [Walford] and Brian have this camaraderie [where] there's so much that we don't have to explain to each other, that we just understand when it comes to putting songs together, and it seems like kind of a shame to not do that, even if it's not under the name Slint. I feel like we should continue to play together." [MORE...]
Jenny Lewis Guests on VietNam’s Debut
Band releases digital EP, tours with the Lemonheads
Recent Kemado signees VietNam are preparing for the
January 23 release of their debut full-length with a three-song digital EP, three CMJ
shows, and a tour with the Lemonheads.
The Brooklyn quartet's self-titled LP was recorded in Los Angeles and, as such, some relatively famous names contributed to its creation. Jenny Lewis, Paz Lenchantin (Zwan, A Perfect Circle), and the Future Pigeon horn section are all featured on the album; Jason Lader and Beachwood Sparks' "Farmer Dave" Scher helped produce it. VietNam also features contributions from not one but two members of that indie-est of bands, Maroon 5: a guest spot from keyboardist Jesse Carmichael and production from bassist Mickey Madden. The entire album can be streamed here.
The band will whet the appetites of hungry fans with the digital release of the "Welcome to My Room" EP on November 3. The EP's title track and "Hotel Riverview" are both also featured on the full-length, but the third song is the non-LP track "Goodbye", which was recorded live at Trinity St. Paul United Church in Toronto.
To top it all off, VietNam will kick off a North American tour with the Lemonheads after playing three dates at CMJ in New York this week, the first of which is with fellow up-and-comers Bound Stems, Professor Murder, and Annuals. [MORE...]
Exclusive Stream: The Good The Bad and the Queen: "History Song"
What do you get when you put Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Paul Simonon (The Clash), Simon Tong (The Verve), and Tony Allen (Fela Kuti) together in a room, and then throw producer Danger Mouse in for good measure?
Well, judging from "History Song", it kinda sounds like Gorillaz minus the hip-hop influence. On the lead-off track from supergroup The Good, the Bad and the Queen's forthcoming self-titled album (due out early January), lo-fi acoustic guitar bumps up against eerie piano and scratchy sound effects, creating a mysterious mood perfect for soundtracking scenes of cartoon intrigue.
Tonight in London, the Good The Bad and the Queen will perform (or perhaps are performing as we speak!) their debut album in its entirety as part of the Electric Proms festival. You can stream the concert here.
Sonic Youth Prep Rarities Comp, Zillion Other Things
Or "A Not-So-Brief Recent History of Sonic Youth"
Well, well, well. Looks like Sonic Youth are up to their old tricks again: releasing bong-loads of recordings, luring the kids out to live shows, and collaborating, side-projecting, and multimedia-mongering all willy-nilly-- last I heard, Thurston Moore was starting an improv noise ensemble with your mom. Anyhow, this latest dispatch on Youth-ful happenings may include any or all of the following: (1) info on a new B-sides/rarities comp; (2) SY's thoughts on label limbo; (3) info on the U.S. premiere of Kim Gordon and associates' Perfect Partner; (4) side project mania; and (5) tour hysteria.First up, the rarities comp. Titled The Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities, according to Billboard.com, the disc arrives December 12 via Geffen. Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo culled the collection's selections from the back sides of singles, various compilations, and bonus cuts from international editions of SY releases. While the final tracklist has yet to be determined, The Destroyed Room will also a few tunes that even you-- yes you, with the washing machine tattooed on you chest-- have never heard before. Er, maybe.
Following the release of the comp, Sonic Youth become the musical equivalent of a free agent, having fulfilled their contractual obligations with Geffen. Asked by Billboard.com if the band would stay with their longtime label, bassist Kim Gordon expressed uncertainty. "I don't really think they want us to stay. They fired a few key people working on [Rather Ripped] a week before it came out...So, I don't know."
There's also talk of an expanded reissue of Daydream Nation-- recently added to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress-- which a label split might jeopardize. [MORE...]
Nick Zinner Produces the Horrors
Those lucky Horrors. First, director Chris Cunningham chose the British punk band as the vehicle through which to make his long-awaited comeback. Now, Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has shared his production talents with the group (and probably some hair and makeup tips, too.)
Zinner recently stopped by London's KONK studio to twiddle the knobs on two tracks, "Sister Leonella" and "She's the New Thing", for the Horrors' forthcoming debut LP. In an interview that ran October 18 on the band's MySpace page, Nick Zinner said that the Horrors "were very well behaved" in the studio and were "reward[ed] ...upon completion of their final takes with a pint of virgin blood." He also mentioned that he'd like to work with the boys again if his "schedule allowed it." [MORE...]
Rhymefest Talks UK Visit, New Album, Tour
"I think they know Rhymefest might just hit one out of the park."
In true Blue Collar fashion, Rhymefest likes to take his own, hands-on approach to career-building, whether that means meeting with a member of British Parliament to discuss the state of hip hop, scheduling a tour where he will stay at fans' houses and document it for a potential TV show, or recording the theme song for "Crank Yankers". The Chicago MC discussed all of these things in a recent conversation with Pitchfork. He also talked to us about turning 30, his new album, and what it is that Chicago brings to hip hop in 2006 that no one has seen before.
Pitchfork: You just got back from a meeting with David Cameron, the Leader of the Conservative Party in the UK, who invited you to tea after reading a letter you wrote him addressing some comments he made about hip hop back in June. What was that like?
Rhymefest: It was crazy. I mean, he's up to be the next Prime Minister. And I'm the first rapper to ever go to the House of Commons and perform for them, and there were MI5 and MI6 everywhere. They had me in the papers like I was some big gangsta rapper. You had members of the opposite party rallying against me. You heard black people in black neighborhoods looking at me like I was Tupac-- and they didn't even know who I was-- saying, "Yo, he's speaking for us. He's speaking for hip hop!" All from a letter I wrote.
Pitchfork: Did you really perform for the whole House of Commons?
Rhymefest: No, it wasn't a performance. I went to the House of Commons to meet with him, and [I brought] Ged Doherty-- the CEO of BMG UK-- with me because it had to be a meeting of the heads. I'm an artist; I don't have control over who puts records out or who puts money behind them or who does promotion. Hell, I ain't worth platinum. My shit was a brick. As good as Blue Collar was, it didn't sell a hundred thousand records. So I had to take him because he's the one that can affect a change. And when I rapped for [Cameron], it wasn't a performance. It was more of a, "Look, rap music isn't all 50 Cent. It isn't all gangster. It isn't all misleading to the youth. Some of it goes a little something like this..." And I rapped for him.
He said, "All I'm saying is this: I never said, 'Ban hip hop.' Because I understand that everyone needs to be heard and I understand expression." And then he said the word that I have been talking about for the longest [time], and it really lit me up. He said, "[We need] balance." And I said to him, "I agree with what you're saying. But on the other hand, if your policies promote poverty, the problem is that the people don't believe you. If your policies don't coincide with your concern about our music and our expression, then the people are not going to respond to you. Rap music comes from disenfranchisement; it comes from urban rebellion. So until we can calm that down, then you're going to hear a lot of things you don't like. And you can't tell the people, 'Don't cry.' You have to ask them why they're crying, just like we're doing now." [MORE...]
Jens Lekman, AIH on Ladybug Transistor Covers EP
Those indie pop kids, they love to share, and today we find them sharing songs, sharing personnel, and poised to share a brand new EP, that perfect-sized morsel of indie pop goodness. More specifically, Brooklyn-based Merge popsters the Ladybug Transistor will hit us with-- no, make that politely pass us-- a four-song covers disc next week, featuring some very special guests.Here Comes the Rain rings your doorbell on October 31 in all your favorite digital formats. Buy it direct from Merge or any of those other guys on that date, or, if you're lucky/cool enough to live in Europe, scoop it up in tangible CD format on November 1 via Seville, Spain's Green UFOs imprint.
All covers, the four Rain tunes include takes on John Cale ("Empty Bottles"), Trader Horne (title track), Grin ("Everybody's Missing the Sun"), and Kevin Ayers ("Girl on a Swing").
The Gary Olsen-fronted Ladybug Transitor get by with a little help from their friends on this EP, including the Aislers Set's Alicia Vanden Heuvel (who lends vocals to the Trader Horne track), Currituck Co.'s Kevin Barker (guitar), Architecture in Helsinkians Kellie Sutherland, Gus Franklin, and Isobel Knowles (vocals/horns), Lambchop/Calexico gent Paul Niehaus (pedal steel), and Swede pop posterboy Jens Lekman ("additional singing" on title track).
Yeah, we done got you all excited about some "additional singing", but it's Jens, so deal with it.
The Ladybug Transistor are putting together their latest LP, to see release in early 2007 via Merge. Catch them live as they rock an afternoon CMJ show, or as they infest Europe next month with their tasty pop confections. [MORE...]
David Pajo Tours With Metal Band, Releases Split Single
Former Slint/Zwan/Tortoise/For Carnation guitarist and current solo artist David Pajo is heading out on tour with Dead Child, his metal band consisting of fellow Louisville, KY post-rockers Michael McMahan (For Carnation, Slint's 2005 touring band), Todd Cook (For Carnation, Slint's 2005 touring band, Papa M, Crain), Tony Bailey (Papa M, Crain) and "Dahm" (the vocalist, of course). Dead Child formed after last year's Slint reunion tour and takes as its influences "early Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest." \m/
In addition to the tour, Dead Child are planning the release of their debut EP on Cold Sweat Records. Details are vague since the only real evidence of the EP's existence is on the band's website and MySpace page, but if you can't stand the wait until whenever that comes out, their entire first show is available for download here.
Pajo will also release a split single under his surname with the Swedish band Audrey, featuring two tracks from Pajo and two tracks from Audrey's debut, Visible Forms. Stereo Test Kit Records released the single in the UK today, October 23. [MORE...]
Zach Hill and Nels Cline are Damsel
So two avant-noisemakers get pissed after watching the 2004 presidential election and decide that the next day will be the day they record their long-planned improvised collaboration together. No big deal. These types turn their axes to grind into axe-grinding all the time, right?
Well, yes, but this session is special because it's between Wilco's Nels Cline and Hella's Zach Hill, with help from Matt Zivich (Wilco's live sound engineer) and Jonathan Hischke (Hella's touring bassist).
Going by the name Damsel, Cline and Hill have called their first jam session Distressed (rimshot!). Aside from the post-production editing of Cline's Geraldine Fibbers and Scarnella bandmate Carla Bozulich, Distressed's four long tracks were entirely improvised and mixed in a single day at Chicago's Semaphore Studios, and a press release describes the music as "somewhere between the most abstract freak-outs of Wilco's more recent material and the looser, more minimalist moments of Hella... running the gamut from serene electro-acoustic ambience to unhinged, cathartic squall."
All the damsels and dudes can get Distressed on October 24, when the record comes out on Temporary Residence. [MORE...]
MP3: Pink Nasty and Will Oldham: "Don't Ever Change"
While she's no Freak Nasty, Austin-based folk-rocker Pink Nasty (given name: Sara Beck) might get a few hips dippin' with her second record, the self-released Mold the Gold. The 13-track set follows up Mule School and features production by Steve Squire and Paul Oldham, brother to a certain Bonnie "Prince" Billy.Those family ties paid off, as Bonnie Will Oldham himself guests on the new album, playing some guitar, lending some vocals here and there, and joining Pink on the final track for what a press release describes as a "power duet."
Click the link below to download "Don't Ever Change", which sees Pink and Will cooing sweet nothings at each other, such as "Please baby, won't you shut the fuck up?" Ah love, ain't it grand? Hardly strangers, Pink has, in fact, toured with Bonnie "Prince" Billy in the past.
While you're at it, also scope P-Nasty's wacky video for Mold's "Away Message", and catch her live as she rocks Austin's Emo's tonight.
Max Richter Taps Robert Wyatt for New Disc
Max
Richter's modern classical compositions make him perfect for FatCat's 130701 imprint. The new-ish
label will release Songs From Before-- Max's follow-up to 2004's acclaimed The
Blue Notebooks-- in North America on November 28 and everywhere else on October 23. The 12-track album features regular Richter contributors Louisa Fuller, Natalia Bonner, Rick Costa, John Metcalfe, Chris Worsey, and Ian Burdge, as well as Soft Machine gent Robert Wyatt, who reads from Haruki Murakami texts.
As previously reported, Richter contributed to fellow FatCat Vashti Bunyan's sophomore album, Lookaftering, as a producer/co-arranger. He also mixed and co-produced the self-titled, forthcoming EP by labelmates and Glaswegian upstarts the Twilight Sad, due November 14 on FatCat.
As if that weren't enough, Richter's still doing the film thing, scoring a series of never-before-seen Super 8 Derek Jarman shorts
and a new film by Stanislaw Mucha and Kieslowski-collaborator Krzysztof Piesciewicz titled Hope. Finally, Max is also collaborating on music/video project Siberia
with British artist Darren Almond, and a music installation/gallery work with New
York-based artist Monica Bravo. Dude gets around.
Somehow, Max plans to find the time to tour the U.S. and the UK in the near future. [MORE...]
Perry Farrell Talks Satellite Party
Also talks about actually partying on an actual satellite
We've all been there: lying in bed late at night, mind restless, pondering the mysteries of life, when the thought seizes us-- "How awesome would it be to party on a satellite that's orbiting the Earth?" Ex-Jane's Addiction/Porno for Pyros chief Perry Farrell has been there too, but instead of just writing about it in his Live Journal, Perry did something about it. He formed a band.That band, the Satellite Party, debuted in nascent form last year, playing a gig in L.A. and a set at Lollapalooza 2005 in Chicago. They've since signed to Columbia Records, and have a full-length, self-titled debut slated for release in March of next year. Pitchfork recently spoke to Farrell, who was more than happy to chat about the new project's sound and concept, rock vs. hip hop, parties in space, party people, party drugs, Lollapalooza, and partying. [MORE...]
MP3: Lady Sovereign ft. Missy Elliott: "Love Me or Hate Me (Remix)"
Miss E meets the S-O-V
My two favorite female rappers in the world right now on the same track! Thanks to the folks at Def Jam, we're proud to bring you the remix of Lady Sovereign's hit (yes, hit) single "Love Me or Hate Me", featuring none other than the supreme Missy Elliott.
Missy touts the magnitude of her cars and jewelry ("wear more ice than the bears in the polar"), while Sov's new verse touts her, um, lack thereof. "Dirty morning breath" and burping are also involved.
Shit, I think this is even better than the Missy track with M.I.A.
New Spoon Song on Stranger Than Fiction Soundtrack
Britt Daniel co-scored the film
The soundtrack to Stranger Than Fiction, the new Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson movie, now has a release date and a tracklist. As previously reported, the score was composed in part by Spoon's Britt Daniel, who collaborated with Marie Antoinette/Lost in Translation/Thumbsucker music supervisor Brian Reitzell. The biggest news for Spoon fans, though, is that the band contributed "The Book I Write", a completely new song written for the movie. Other artists on the soundtrack include Califone, M83, Maximo Park, the Jam, and omnipresent soundtrack man Vangelis.
Stranger Than Fiction opens in theaters on November 10, and the soundtrack comes out on Columbia Records/Sony Music Soundtrax on November 7. [MORE...]
Luscious Jackson Reunite for the Kids
Luscious Jill Cunniff to release solo debut
It was children that claimed the life of promising NYC act Luscious Jackson back in 2000, and it's children that have temporarily resurrected the trio of Jill Cunniff, Gabby Glaser, and Kate Schellenbach-- with original Jacksonite Vivian Trimble along for the ride.LJ disbanded to pursue a career in baby-making, and now they're making something for the babies. In a recent interview with MTV.com, Cunniff revealed that Luscious Jackson have emerged from retirement for the moment and have already completed an album of songs especially for children. They've yet to decide upon a title, and are still shopping around for a label.
"It's fun because adults will be able to enjoy this too," Cunniff told MTV.com. "It's like Luscious Jackson with a kids' angle. It's not goofy kids' music-- it's dance-y and has Luscious Jackson beats, but the [lyrical] content is pretty silly."
She went on to say she wouldn't rule out the possibility of future Luscious collaborations, however those will probably have to wait a bit, as Jill Cunniff releases her solo debut, City Beach, early next year.
The disc, due February 6 via the Militia Group, features 12 tracks, including one with a guest spot from Emmylou Harris. The curious may stream the first three songs on the record-- "Lazy Girls", "Happy Warriors", and "NYC Boy"-- on Jill's MySpace as we speak...err, type...err, as you read? Whatevs. [MORE...]
Ghostface, Kweli, Dilla, Common on New DJ Hi-Tek Disc
Reppin' for the 513, Cincinnati DJ and part-time MC Hi-Tek has worked with Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and even 50 Cent in the past, but his second solo album is all him. Well, him and a couple dozen of his high-profile MC friends. Featuring contributions from the aforementioned Kweli, as well as Ghostface Killah, Common, Nas, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, The Game, Jadakiss, Bun B, Devin the Dude, Kurupt, Papoose, the late J Dilla, and many others, Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip is Hi-Tek's first album since the original Hi-Teknology dropped in 2001.
Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip hits the streets October 17 via Babygrande Records. As previously reported, Hi-Tek guests on the new Talib Kweli record, and joins Kweli, OK Go, and Bootsy Collins for the grand re-opening of Cincinnati's Fountain Square tomorrow, October 14. [MORE...]
Mike Watt Talks (and Talks) Stooges Recording
Hot gossip: Steve Albini plays online poker and disses Jack White
Iggy Pop and the reunited Stooges (with former Minutemen bassist Mike Watt replacing the late David Alexander) began recording their previously reported first studio album in 33 years last week at Steve Albini's Electrical Audio studios, and, true to his description as "a sort of internet Pepys or Boswell, except without the gout and the syphilis" from the Stooges' rider dug up by the Smoking Gun last week, Watt had quite a bit to say about it.
Amidst detailed accounts of meals ("I'll go down all the breakfast meats, one at a time, each morning!"), an illness, digestive/excretive issues, worrying about playing his bass with a pick and "keeping my body flagpole-straight" while doing it, and lots of gear talk, Watt also wrote about the band's new songs in a series of diary entries on his website under the heading "'Secret Plan': Iggy Pop + The Stooges record an album". We assume "Secret Plan" is just the title he's given his diaries and not the name of the album. But who knows? [MORE...]
Christopher Willits Readies Surf Boundaries
Collaborates with Zach Hill, Kid606, Matmos on next Flossin disc
Ah, the autumn. A season of vibrant colors, fresh breezes, resurgent emotions, and, if you're in Chicago right now, raging snow. WTFs aside, fall also serves as an ideal backdrop to San Francisco-based guitarist and Ryuichi Sakamoto/Zach Hill collaborator Christopher Willits' new disc Surf Boundaries, due October 17 via the good apparitions at Ghostly International.Surf Boundaries features 12 placid cuts-- many of them hue-oriented-- and includes Willits' "Colors Shifting", which recently joined the esteemed ranks of Pitchfork's Infinite Mixtape. If "lovely," "serene," and "dreamy" are among your favorite AMG adjectives, this disc is totally for you, my friend.
Willits aficionados are also encouraged to check out The Right Kind of Nothing by North Valley Subconscious Orchestra, C-dub's collaboration with man-about-town Brad Laner (Savage Republic, Medicine, Lusk). It's out now in digital format from Ghostly.
A restless soul, Willits also joins forces on occasion with Hella's Zach Hill and Miguel Depedro (aka Kid606) to form the improv entity known as Flossin. That trio is presently working on the follow-up to 2004's Lead Singer with the gentlemen from Matmos and a posse of indie remixers.
Wily Willits takes Surf Boundaries on the road this autumn, treating audiences in San Francisco, Providence, and Baltimore to a dose of serenity, and hitting up NYC for CMJ, FYI. LOL. TTYL. [MORE...]
Super Furry Animals' Rhys Teams With Boom Bip
Super Furry Anticon
Cincinnati turntable experimentalist Boom Bip and Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys are following the release of 2005 single "Do's & Don'ts" with a full-length.Going under the name Delorean (Al James, call your lawyer!), they are preparing the record for release on Lex Records in the first half of 2007. According to a representative of the label, there are "lots of big guests" on the record (including the Magic Numbers "doing backing oohs and ahhs"), and "it doesn't sound like any Gruff/SFA/Boom Bip stuff."
The two discuss the project in greater detail in an interview for the most recent issue of DVD magazine Specialten. Said interview provided the image above.
Gorillaz Release Flood of Demon Days Multimedia
Animated multi-platinum act Gorillaz are following the success of last year's Demon Days with a DVD (their second), four iTunes-only EPs, new toy figurines, and an autobiography. Not too shabby for a bunch of cartoon characters.
The DVD, Phase Two: Slowboat to Hades, is the follow-up to the Phase One: Celebrity Takedown DVD that followed the release of their self-titled debut, and it is scheduled for an October 31 release.
According to a press release, Phase Two "rounds up the Demon Days era's award-winning videos, hi-tech performances, inventive animated shorts, acceptance speeches, and more," including "a brand-new 3D DVD reconstruction of Gorillaz' online hangout, Kong Studios. Viewers can wander through this decaying palace of sin and watch the breathtaking live performances in the cinema, visit the band's bedrooms, tour the corridors and find games, original animatics [?!], cameos from some of the Demon Days guests, and off-color jokes galore." It also comes with a CD-ROM full of 16 games, 45 desktop wallpapers, eight screensavers, and "hidden, achievement-based extras."
The four EPs that come with "previously unreleased videos and a digital booklet with images and access to bonus content like wallpaper, buddy icons, and more" are as follows: the Dare EP, due out October 24, the Dirty Harry EP, due out November 7, the El Mañana EP, due out December 5, and the Feel Good Inc. EP, due out December 26. They will be available exclusively via iTunes. [MORE...]
Twilight Singers and Lanegan Release EP
Twilight Sad cry
The "cover" (if you can call those things that show up in iTunes "covers") of the brand new Twilight Singers EP, A Stitch in Time (available today only on iTunes) is an image of a really grimy sink. Listening to the five-track collection feels just as dirty.
Pairing main man Greg Dulli with recently-added full-on band member Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stone Age/Isobel Campbell), it's a typically creepy affair, with everything sounding like it was recorded in a smoky bar with a dead body in the bathroom. Except for the song "Sublime", co-written by Dulli and Joseph Arthur, and featuring Arthur on vocals. That dude couldn't sound mysterious if he was dressed in a fedora and trenchcoat.
The EP leads off with a deliciously depraved cover of Massive Attack's "Live With Me", and also includes a cover of Fat Freddy's Drop's "Flashback". Dulli's Afghan Whigs bandmate Rick McCollum co-wrote the song "They Ride". And "Sublime" totally jacks "Sexual Healing". In a good way.
The Twilight Singers, with Lanegan in tow, launch a U.S. tour in two weeks. They head to Europe in November and December. [MORE...]
Twilight Singers and Lanegan Release EP
Twilight Sad cry
The "cover" (if you can call those things that show up in iTunes "covers") of the brand new Twilight Singers EP, A Stitch in Time (available today only on iTunes) is an image of a really grimy sink. Listening to the five-track collection feels just as dirty.
Pairing main man Greg Dulli with recently-added full-on band member Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stone Age/Isobel Campbell), it's a typically creepy affair, with everything sounding like it was recorded in a smoky bar with a dead body in the bathroom. Except for the song "Sublime", co-written by Dulli and Joseph Arthur, and featuring Arthur on vocals. That dude couldn't sound mysterious if he was dressed in a fedora and trenchcoat.
The EP leads off with a deliciously depraved cover of Massive Attack's "Live With Me", and also includes a cover of Fat Freddy's Drop's "Flashback". Dulli's Afghan Whigs bandmate Rick McCollum co-wrote the song "They Ride". And "Sublime" totally jacks "Sexual Healing". In a good way.
The Twilight Singers, with Lanegan in tow, launch a U.S. tour in two weeks. They head to Europe in November and December. [MORE...]
Mars Volta Team With Can's Damo Suzuki
Start picking tomatoes and making sauce, because it's time to get noodly. Can yelper Damo Suzuki and Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez have teamed up to release a collaborative vinyl-only 12" EP via GSL.
Please Heat This Eventually features contributions from the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet: Omar, Mars Volta bassist Juan Alderete de la Pena, MV percussionist (and Omar's brother) Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, Beastie Boys collaborator Money Mark Nishita, and MV flutist/saxophonist/percussionist Adrian Terrazas Gonzales. It will be available via GSL's mailorder on December 1 and in stores in January.
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez also has collaborations with Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante up on iTunes right now; they are part of GSL's Special 12 Single Series compilation, which collects tracks previously released by the label only on 12". Their two tracks are titled "0" and "0=2". The comp also includes a song by Xiu Xiu ("Red Croissant") and two by Alavaz Relxib Cirdec (spell it backwards): "Live Private Booths (Long Version)" and "Sapta Loka".
The Mars Volta hit the road with the Red Hot Chili Peppers next week, then head to Mexico, Japan, and Down Under in November and December. [MORE...]
Dan Bejar, Sydney Vermont Talk Hello, Blue Roses
MP3: Hello, Blue Roses: "Hello Blue Roses"
Gee, ain't love grand? Were it not for love, the world would be a grayer, grimmer place, a place devoid of Mates of State, Sonny & Cher, and t.A.t.U. Thank love as well for bringing to life Hello, Blue Roses-- the new project from Destroyer/New Pornographer/Swan Laker Dan Bejar and girlfriend/visual artist/Bonaparte bandleader (more on that later) Sydney Vermont/Hermant. Thank love and, well, boredom."It's stress free and fun," said Vermont of the Hello, Blue Roses collaboration in a recent e-mail interview with Pitchfork. "The glory of a two person band: 'I'm bored, want to record an HBR song? OK!'"
Vermont and Bejar have become bored enough to write and/or record about seven or eight songs thus far, including a couple covers and "our anthem song," says Vermont, called "Hello Blue Roses" (sans comma). The Vermont-sung tune sounds kind of like a medieval minstrel song, except for the handclaps and Bejar's background mumbles. It appeared on a recent compilation of Vancouver artists and you can hear it right now on HBR's MySpace or download it below.
The pair, which took its name from a line in Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, has been seriously collaborating "for about a year now," says Vermont. She writes the lyrics and melodies, sings, and plays flute, while beau Dan "arrangers, adds instrumentation, and sings back-up," according to Vermont. Or, as Bejar put it: "I am a budding engineering star."
Hello, Blue Roses jet off to Spain soon to spend six months with Bejar's family. There they hope to continue writing and recording, and "maybe [play] a small show," with the goal of "having a finished record by the time we return [to Vancouver] in April." [MORE...]
Adem, Hot Chip, Simian on Memory Band U.S. Debut
Evoking the traditional folk collective vibes of the Fairport Convention, England's the Memory Band will soon release their U.S. debut Apron Strings, featuring contributions from space-folkie Adem, Hot Chip's Al Doyle, and former-Simian Simon Lord. The pastoral affair arrives October 10 via Vetiver/Vashti Bunyan label Dicristina Stair Builders.Folktronica dude Stephen Cracknell (who, as Gorodisch, released Thurn & Taxis on the Leaf Label in 2001), assembled the Memory Band circa 2001 with the intention of creating a "folk supergroup," in his own words. The MB collected a pair of previous EPs into a well-received self-titled UK debut album in 2004. Certainly worth a listen, particularly if you find most contemporary folk too freak-ish.
Apron Strings also features vocals from folk singer Nancy Wallace and fiddle-playing from Elysian Quartet member Jennymay Logan. Cracknell and Co. tackle a number of traditional folk tunes, as well as covers, including Ronnie Lane's "The Poacher" and Carly Simon's "Why". [MORE...]
Isis and Aereogramme Go In the Fishtank
Isis' new LP, In the Absence of Truth, won't be released by Ipecac until October 31, but the band have plenty to tide hungry fans over until then, with the previously reported Clearing the Eye DVD coming out on September 26, an ongoing tour with Tool, and now, a collaborative EP with Aereogramme, to be released October 10 via Konkurrent.
In the Fishtank 14 is the latest EP in a series for the Dutch label in which like-minded artists are "given two days studio time [together] and freedom to do whatever they like musically," according to the label's website. Past collaborators have included the Black Heart Procession and Solbakken, Sonic Youth, ICP and the Ex, Low and Dirty Three, and Tortoise and the Ex.
The Isis/Aerogramme EP was recorded in July of last year, and, according to a press release, the resulting three songs are not what you might expect from such a collaboration: "When Konkurrent invited Isis and Aereogramme to do a Fishtank session, we expected a loud and heavy session not yet heard in the series. Expectations can be misleading. Was it the extremely hot weather? The overwhelming 70s atmosphere in the studio? The shitty hotel the night before? We may never know those answers, but we know this: it's the analog warmth that makes the song tender, organic, and fragile." [MORE...]
Janet Weiss Talks Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
It looks like Janet Weiss' previously reported gig with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks is definitely a permanent thing. She is now an official member of the band, who will tour the West Coast in January, though specific dates have yet to be announced. In an interview with the Portland Mercury's blog, Weiss said she is excited about "the fall/winter seasons [which] will most likely be dedicated to working on new material, and gearing up to record an album."Weiss further explained the circumstances of her arrival in the band by saying, "I've been intrigued with the possibility of playing with the Jicks ever since John Moen left to be a Decemberist full-time. My schedule hadn't really allowed it though, until recently, when I became much more available. [Jicks bassist] Joanna Bolme joined Quasi on our last round of tours, so I knew for a fact that our rhythm section could stir up some magic. And what self-respecting musician wouldn't jump at the chance to play with one of the staggering guitarists of our generation?! I'm excited to be in a situation where folks like to improvise, to push the envelope."
She also hinted at the sound of some of Malkmus' new material. "Steve's got a bunch of ballsy new songs. I'm enjoying getting inside a new and very different brain, trying to find the drum parts that suit his creativity. I appreciate how far out and wild he gets with his playing, and look forward to forging into some new territory."
Exclusive: El-P Talks New LP, Featuring Cat Power
Reznor, Mars Volta, TVOTR, Aesop Rock, James McNew, Cage, Mr. Lif also guest
Four years after the release of his first solo record, Fantastic Damage, Def Jux label head El-P is finally finishing its follow-up, the previously reported I'll Sleep When You're Dead. The always busy producer-rapper said, "It just feels good to be on the mic again," when he spoke to Pitchfork Monday about the album, which he hopes to release March 6 on Def Jux.
His collaborators on I'll Sleep When You're Dead include Trent Reznor, the Mars Volta, Aesop Rock, Cage, Mr. Lif (whose track "might end up becoming a bonus cut" due to scheduling), Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio), Matt Sweeney (Chavez/Bonnie "Prince" Billy/Zwan), James McNew (Yo La Tengo), Rob Sonic, Mr. Dibbs, and Cat Power (more on that later).
El-P qualified their involvement by saying, "I don't really like records that are all about hardcore collaboration. It's really just about friends, and when I'm making shit people drop by, you know? So they'll pop up on little things, background vocals, but most of these people won't be listed, except in the credits."
El-P met Trent Reznor and the Mars Volta in separate instances of mutual fandom, which led to him remixing their songs. He called his remix of the Mars Volta's "The Widow" "probably the best remix I've ever done." When it came to the collaboration on the new record, he said, "I had them come in at the end of a song and kind of built something up around Cedric [Bixler-Zavala] singing and Omar [Rodriguez-Lopez] playing guitar."
As for Reznor, who contributes to a song called "Flyentology", "he basically does the choruses and breakdowns, and he also plays guitar and bass in a section of it. I've had the comment thrown at me for years: 'You're the Trent Reznor of hip hop!' I like his shit, so I was perfectly happy to take that, and it started to make sense to me: 'Hey, that would be a pretty crazy collaboration.'"
An even crazier collaboration is the one with Chan Marshall, who El-P said he knows from "bumping into each other here and there." Working with Marshall on "Poisonville Kids No Wins", the last song on the album, "made a lot of sense," because El-P originally wrote the song while "looping up 'Love & Communication' [from Cat Power's The Greatest]. I kind of forgot that I had done that, and then I went in and I sampled some heartbreaking James Brown shit that I threw in at the end. But I was like, "Well a) I can't pay for this ever, and something's wrong here. Then I bumped into Chan and asked her to do it, and it wasn't until after she said yes that I realized that I had actually written the song to her music. I didn't want to weird her out, but I told her afterwards."
El-P plans to remix "Love & Communication", as "kind of our trade, you know?" [MORE...]
Antony "Turning" Europe, Celebrating Leonard Cohen
Lou Reed, Jarvis Cocker, Nick Cave, Beth Orton also in Cohen tribute
Antony is nothing if not a man of the world (okay, maybe a terrific vocalist, a friend of Lou Reed's, and a fixture on the New York performance art scene, but he was also born in Britain, so you get the point), and he will prove as much this fall when he plays everywhere from Dublin and London to Rome and Braga.
The first two dates in Dublin are part of a Leonard Cohen tribute organized by Hal Willner, the producer behind Cohen biopic I'm Your Man. There will also be performances from Lou Reed, Jarvis Cocker, Nick Cave, and Beth Orton.
The rest of the dates will revive "Turning", a collaboration with director and video artist Charles Atlas that was first performed in 2004 as part of the Whitney Museum's biennial celebration. The original press release for the event describes the performance as a "journey through an exotic terrain of innocence, metamorphosis and androgyny by way of an elegantly stylized blend of music, projected imagery, and live performance." [MORE...]
Stephin Merritt Shares Gothic Archies Tracklist, Streams
It's a match made in-- well, hell, as either of these sarcastic mopes would likely put it. But in this case that's a very good thing! As previously reported, one Stephin Merritt (of Magnetic Fields, 6ths, and Future Bible Heroes fame-- and here in Gothic Archies mode) has been recording songs for one Lemony Snicket's (Daniel Handler to kith and kin) A Series of Unfortunate Events book series.Book the Thirteenth: The End-- the latest and final volume in the gloom-besotted series-- arrives, most appropriately, on Friday, October 13. The corresponding CD on Nonesuch, the Gothic Archies' The Tragic Treasury: Songs From a Series of Unfortunate Events, would probably arrive then too, were it not bound by the strange laws which dictate that all U.S. music releases must come out on Tuesdays. Thus, it hits stores October 10.
Were I Snicket, I'd be beseeching you to under no circumstances check out the tracklist and the two streams from the album linked below. That is, unless you like utter damnation, odes to A Series' vile villain Count Olaf, and taking your gothic ornamentation for a stroll. And if those two links aren't cooperating with your machine, and you really can't take a hint, hear the new tunes here. I mean, if you absolutely must.
Merritt hits the road next month, performing as part of the Snicket book tour, with the author himself on percussion. Dates here. [MORE...]
Chris Clark Drops First Name, Third Album
Chris Clark is ready to emerge from the shadows of more senior members of the Warp Records roster like Aphex Twin and Squarepusher with his third LP, Body Riddle, due out October 2 (UK) and October 3 (North America) via Warp. Dude's signaled his ascension by shortening his nom de musique to simply Clark and crafting a slick new album.Body Riddle keeps 11 tracks to about 40 minutes, and, as a press release colorfully puts it, Clark "hijacks the conventional live instrumentation of rock, draping it in the cloak of electronic composition and running it through the kaleidoscopic filters of krautrock, sunburnt psychedelia, and musique concrete." Whether or not that means anything to you, early reports from the Pitchfork camp show smiles.
To count down the weeks leading up to the album's release, Clark has been making exclusive, non-album tracks available for free download-- including a collaborative number with fellow Warpees Broadcast. There are three tunes in all, available now at www.throttleclark.com.
Or catch Clark as he tours the European circuit this fall. [MORE...]
Erase Errata's Jenny Hoyston Teams With Whitmore
But don't worry, she's not ditching the band
Erase Errata's Jenny Hoyston (aka Paradise Island) and her former tourmate/roommate William Elliott Whitmore are about to take a walk down the Hallways of Always. The two have joined forces to release a duets album that goes by the title above. It comes out on November 7, courtesy of Southern Records.
Recorded in Whitmore's cousin Luke Tweedy's living room (aka Flat Black Studios) over the course of a week, the project features six tracks, including one Hoyston solo number, "We Miss You", about the death of her father.
There has been no talk of the pair joining forces on the road anytime soon, but Whitman and Erase Errata both have extensive fall tours lined up. In addition, Paradise Island will play two gigs as part of Chicago's Estrojam festival on September 28 and 30. The first is an afterparty DJ set at the Abbey Pub with Donna Dresch (Team Dresch), and the second is a live stint at the Metro with Nina Hagen, Chi*Town Sirens, Carnie Gal Extraordinaire, and Alexandra of Oracle Aerial Dance Troupe.
Hoyston released a limited-edition solo CD on the Southern imprint Latitudes recently, and is working on a Paradise Island full-length for Southern, due early next year. [MORE...]
The Fall, Raincoats, Faust Pay Tribute to the Monks
Also: Jason Forrest, the Gossip, Jon Spencer, Mouse on Mars
Fresh off of the August 19 world premiere of the Monks: The Transatlantic Feedback documentary at this year's Chicago Underground Film Festival and an appearance in Pitchfork's 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s feature, the Monks are back with a tribute album and even a few live performances.
The tribute album is called Silver Monk Time: A Tribute to the Monks, and play loud! will release it on October 23. The compilation features 29 tracks on two discs by artists ranging from the Fall and the Raincoats to the Gossip and Jason Forrest. The Monks themselves even appear in collaboration with Charles Wilp. There are plenty of such collaborations, the others between Jon Spencer and Solex, Silver Apples and Alan Vega, Die Goldenen Zitronen and Chicks on Speed, and Gary Burger with both Alec Empire and Faust on two separate tracks. A seven-inch single with the contributions from Alec Empire ft. Gary Burger and the Fall is also scheduled for an October 23 release on play loud!
The Monks will appear live in London, Zurich, and Berlin in October, with the latter show serving as the record release party for Silver Monk Time. Screenings of the documentary will follow the shows in Zurich and Berlin. For more information on specific events in those cities and any that are added in the future, visit http://www.playloud.org/themonks.html.
[MORE...]
Dosh Taps Andrew Bird, T'nT for The Lost Take
Tapping TNT generally not conducive to one's well-being
Anticon composer Martin Dosh will release his fourth solo disc as Dosh, The Lost Take, on October 17. It's a bit reductive to call this a solo release, though, as Dosh recruited some of his chief musical pals to record for the album, turning the Dosh experience into something of a Twin Cities Lovefest.A horde of Minnesota cats-- from Tapes 'n Tapes guitarist Erik "I Am Not Horatio" Applewick to Dosh's sometime bandmates in Fog, including multi-instrumentalist Michael Lewis (also of Happy Apple) and guitarist/producer Jeremy Ylvisaker-- all contribute to the record.
One non-Minneapolis marquee musician, Andrew Bird, appears on several of the record's tracks, his violin chopped and screwed by Dosh and producer Ben Durrant. Premiere ornithologists (bird scientists, get it?) already know that Dosh splits drumming duties with Bowl of Fire's Kevin O'Donnell on tour and on Bird's forthcoming follow-up to The Mysterious Production of Eggs, now being finished in Durrant's Minneapolis studio. Bird and Dosh began collaborating after someone convinced Dosh to give Bird's manager a copy of 2004's Pure Trash.
"I guess Andrew liked it," Dosh told Pitchfork, "and he asked me to open for him in Minneapolis in February of last year. And then he saw my set and said, 'What are you doing later in the summer? Wanna get together and play?'"
It appears Dosh checked the "yes" box with one of those crayons big enough for your little nephew. "So, we got together, and it worked out pretty cool." [MORE...]
London Sinfonietta Tackles Aphex Twin, Squarepusher
Ah, the canon of modern classical heavyweights: György Ligeti, John Cage, Steve Reich, Richard D. James, Edgard Var-- wait a minute...Richard D. James!? Isn't that guy, like, Aphex Twin? Yes, yes indeed he is. And Tom Jenkinson is Squarepusher. And both of these IDM icons get the symphonic treatment alongside Ligeti, Cage, Reich, and more on the London Sinfonietta's new double disc Warp Works & Twentieth Century Masters.Warp Records will release the two CD set-- which sees the celebrated London Sinfonietta reinterpret the music of Warp's finest alongside that of some of the last century's finest-- on September 19. Works & Masters features music recorded during two collaborations between Warp, the London Sinfonietta, and the South Bank Centre (the first as part of the Centre's 2003 Ether Festival at London's Royal Festival Hall, the second from two dates on a Contemporary Music Network tour from 2004). Seems the so-called canon just got a whole lot glitchier.
Squarepusher will release his latest full-length, Hello Everything, via Warp on October 17 (North America) and October 16 (UK). [MORE...]
Zach Hill and Rob Crow's Holy Smokes Prep Second LP
Holy smokes! An exclusive MP3!
The children of today are the future tomorrow (and the next day and the next), which is why all you moms and pops should Talk to Your Kids About Gangs. If you take your orders from the indie-noise supergroup Holy Smokes, that is. Need we mention that their first record was called Masculine Drugs? And it came with a book? That's what we thought.
The group, spearheaded by drummer extraordinaire Zach Hill (Hella/The Ladies/Team Sleep/Nervous Cop/Zach Hill and Mick Barr) and co-conspirator Dan Elkan, and featuring Rob Crow of Pinback/Three Mile Pilot, Carson McWhirter of the Advantage, Jonathan Hischke of the Flying Luttenbachers, as well as Ian Hernandez and J.R. Thompson, will release Talk to Your Kids, their Skin Graft Records debut on November 7.
Check out a sneak peak of the album with this exclusive download of the titanic noise-metal track "Quantum Leaper of Los Angeles County". You'll realize immediately why they signed to Skin Graft.
Smog Collaborates With Joanna Newsom, Tours
We're not sure if Bill Callahan (aka Smog) and Joanna Newsom are still dating, but the pair sure have been hanging out a lot recently. First of all, Newsom took that photo of Callahan you see above. Callahan returned the favor by contributing backing vocals to "Only Skin", track four on Newsom's forthcoming epic album Ys. (Or maybe he was returning the favor for her piano work on "Rock Bottom Riser".)
And on Tuesday, Newsom joined Callahan on stage at the Cactus Café in Austin, Texas. Wearing her trademark Renaissance Faire sleeves and a gigantic belt, Newsom accompanied Smog on keyboards for the entire set. Chalk it up to the Negro Modelos and whiskey, or to pure chemistry or whatever; the pair turned out a spectacular set.
Callahan's spare guitar picking was fleshed-out by Newsom's warm keys, at turns percussive and melodic and even verging on prog at times. The drama infused into the Smog material eventually galled Callahan into his beloved four-step jigs, despite the intimacy of the club's small capacity. Mutual buddy Jim O'Rourke would've been proud.
The set consisted mostly of songs from last year's A River Ain't Too Much to Love, but the night's highlights hung on two Knock Knock favorites ("Teenage Spaceship" and encore "River Guard") and the Drag City Supersession cut "Nothing Rises to Meet Me". The two pulled every re-invention off so effortlessly, and so refreshingly, that Drag City should seriously consider underwriting a Smog Family Plays (Smog)'s Greatest Hits.
UPDATE: Reader Erik Bogle confirmed that Newsom also backed Callahan the following night in Denton, Texas.
Drag City couldn't confirm whether or not Newsom will join Callahan on the rest of the Smog tour, which continues throughout the coming month. [MORE...]
More Arthur Russell Recordings on the Way
Audika Records is at it again. The label famed for its comprehensive collection of rare Arthur Russell recordings is all lined up to release yet another batch of material from the legendary cellist/composer/singer/disco man.
The newest addition to Audika's Russell catalogue, Springfield, is ready to go and slated for release this coming Tuesday, September 12 (CD with bonus track) and September 26 (double vinyl).
"Springfield" (the song) is one of the last compositions ever created by Russell. He recorded over four hours of tracking with the goal of getting together with a producer for the piece's completion. His efforts will now be rewarded, as the DFA recently edited and completed Russell's original recording. With the exception of minimal keyboards, no overdubs were used for the final product, and three versions are included on the disc, with separate vocal takes. The remaining four tracks on Springfield (three on the vinyl edition) are culled from the 1985 unreleased work, Corn.
The LP is meant to be a companion album to 2004's Calling Out of Context. [MORE...]
Futureheads Unveil U.S. Tour, Celebrity Playlist
Ross Millard contributes to Yourcodenameis:milo record
Worry about it later and get
pumped in the present, because the Futureheads just unveiled a slew of U.S.
tour dates. The Sunderland quartet will follow up two September Japanese gigs
with a full-blown trek through the States next month.
But that's not all you'll hear from the 'heads in '06. Or vox/guitar man Ross Millard, anyway, as he recently recorded a track with fellow UK-mates Yourcodenameis:milo. The song, "I Remember the Summer Isles", is one of 11 star-studded numbers on YCNI:M's upcoming release, Print Is Dead Vol. 1, due via V2 on November 6 overseas. Other contributors include Bloc Party's Gordon Moakes, the Automatic, Tom Vek, Field Music, Maximo Park's Lukas Wooller, and more. YCNI:M will stream one song per week on their MySpace leading up to Print Is Dead's release. A tracklisting can be found after the jump.
So now you're familiar with Yourcodenameis:milo's taste in music, but what about the Futureheads' MP3 collection? According to the band's recently revealed iTunes celebrity playlist, At the Drive-In, Vashti Bunyan, Fleetwood Mac, Prince, Tom Waits, and more are all on it. [MORE...]
Boris Launch U.S. Tour Tonight
Shill for cigarette company
The countdown to Armageddon is on, doombabies. Boris will wrangle in the moonlight this evening when they launch their two-legged, September/October journey through the States tonight in Birmingham, Alabama. Philly's Pearls & Brass will lend support for the first leg.
Several dates on the tour are sponsored by the Zig-Zag cigarette company as part of their "Zig-Zag Live" tour. What is up with all these lame tobacco tours recently? Phoenix/French Kicks, the Roots, now this. Sorry, folks, but it doesn't matter how much money you throw at cool bands, we're still going to think that smoking sucks.
Following up the tour comes the previously reported Boris/Sunn 0))) collaboration Altar, due via Southern Lord on-- surprise, surprise-- Halloween.
Boris aren't stopping there: Important Records will issue the exquisitely-packaged, two-years-in-the-making, vinyl-only Boris release Vein later this month. [MORE...]
Exclusive: Hem Ride Funnel Cloud Across U.S.
Sadly, not playing any shows with Twista
Furthering their countrypolitan sound and following the February release of rarities collection No Word From Tom, Hem will release Funnel Cloud, their third proper full-length, September 5 on Waveland Records. Members Dan Messe and Gary Maurer produced the album, which includes contributions from the 21-piece Gowanus Radio Orchestra, Ollabelle vocalist Amy Helm, and ex-Smashing Pumpkins guitarist and man-about-town James Iha, who sings on "Not California" and "The Pills Stopped Working".Hem will tour in support of Funnel Cloud, and for a taste of what that will be like, you can download the exclusive MP3 the band have shared with Pitchfork, a live version of new tune "Reservoir". [MORE...]
Sigur Ros to Perform Split Sides Soundtrack
As you very well already
know, Sigur Rós released their Sæglópur EP/DVD in North America earlier
this month via Worker's Institute. Disc one, aka the audio portion of the
package, features a track from Takk and music expanding on the material
found on the band's Untitled and Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do EPs.
But Sigur Rós aren't quite done with Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do-- originally composed and recorded for a project from acclaimed choreographer Merce Cunningham in 2003. The Icelandic quartet will make its way to Miami on February 25 of next year to once again provide the score for Cunningham's dance company's performance of Split Sides, this time as a part of the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts' citywide festival, Merce in Miami. The fest is scheduled to run through February and March 2007. Sigur Rós will play at the city's Ziff Ballet Opera House. [MORE...]
Lou Reed, Antony to Perform Berlin Live
Lou Reed's career is full of challenging material (ahem, Metal Machine Music), and right up there is his third solo record, 1973's Berlin. An ambitious concept album about a drug-addicted couple named Jim and Caroline, Berlin was never performed live-- until now. Thirty-three years later, Art at St. Ann's, the Sydney Festival, and UCLA Live will sponsor Reed's first live performances of the album at New York's St. Ann's Warehouse, from December 14-17.According to the St. Ann's website, each show will be a "theatrically realized" version of the album. We're not quite sure what that means, but we do know that our favorite friend of Lou's will be part of the performance. No, not David Bowie, though that would be cool. It's Antony, so get your tickets now and have your family's super depressing holiday theater outing covered.
Reed has a handful of tour dates in the meantime, beginning in September in Kingston, New York and ending in November with a bunch of shows at California colleges.
[MORE...]
Ben Gibbard Covers "World's Worst Song" at Benefit
The traveling Revenge of the Book Eaters benefit came to Chicago's Park West venue yesterday evening, bringing Ben Gibbard, John Roderick of the Long Winters, and author Dave Eggers in tow.
The night's all-acoustic sets got off to an awkward start with the third-rate Belle and Sebastian stylings of locals the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, whose near-complete lack of energy made the arrival of short story writer ZZ Packer more than welcome.
Following Packer was John Roderick. One of the most engaging performers of the night, Roderick's four-song set proved too short. The man kept his banter between songs sharp and endearing, which was even more impressive considering that he had just arrived at the venue moments before he appeared on stage.
After a short intermission came the real highlights of the night. Host Ira Glass delivered a piece fit for his "This American Life" radio show about a former truck driver who learned to read at the age of 45. Then came Eggers, who read excerpts from his forthcoming fictionalized autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese "lost boy" who sat next to Eggers and answered sporadic questions from him as part of a live reading/interview format the pair had never attempted before. Glass later praised their natural, genuinely funny, and even heartwarming interplay, though he also admitted some of his rapture may have been alcohol-induced.
Ben Gibbard closed out the night, but not before comedian/musician Fred Armisen made a surprise appearance as the Death Cab for Cutie frontman himself. Armisen's intentional false starts included lines like, "This song is about how much I hate the Death Cab fans. They're so overweight and...shitty," and, "Chicago's a really great town for pussy for me." Gibbard then appeared to applause and quickly sucked out the feeling with a mix of Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie songs. While on piano, he accurately remarked that with his long hair and sideburns he was starting to resemble Stephen Stills, before playing covers of Teenage Fanclub's "Slow Fade" (a "newer song" by "my favorite band ever") and the Band's "It Makes No Difference", which his thin, breathy tenor made particularly painful.
At the end of the evening, Glass announced that the money the audience had donated during the show had just surpassed the $5,000 goal. The audience's reward? Gibbard and Roderick returned to the stage with Scotland Yard's Elia Einhorn to play "the worst song in the world and a Neil Diamond song" (à la the David Byrne/Sufjan collaboration in New York the night before). Gibbard informed us that both titles belonged to the same song, and then the trio launched into a cover of Neil Diamond's "Porcupine Pie". It was a fittingly absurd end to a benefit for a children's creative writing center.
Xiu Xiu Talk Myriad Projects, Share Exclusive Video
Run marathon, write novel, cure cancer, start investment firm...
So last week we scooped you on the latest news from camp Xiu, including new albums, new videos, new tour dates, and about 62 side projects and collaborations. For a fun and enumerated list, consult said scoop here.
All caught up? Good, 'cause your Xiu-lovin' pals at Pitchfork have just talked to Jamie Stewart, who was kind enough to share a little more information about the forthcoming Xiu Xiu remixes/covers disc, new band member Ches Smith, the lasting effects of horror movies, and more.
But first! Check out the video for "Bishop, CA", one of four vids from Xiu Xiu's forthcoming The Air Force (due September 12 via 5RC). Directed by XX tour manager David Horvitz, the clip features, according to Jamie, "Super 8 [film footage] that [Horvitz] shot when he was in Israel recently, and Super 8 footage of his family that he found in a box in the closet." The results are appropriately eerie; view it by clicking on our exclusive download here. [MORE...]
Thurston Moore Helps Resurrect Peter Walker
Jack Rose, Greg Davis, more show support
Renowned guitarist Peter Walker (note: not this Peter Walker) will, on November 7, release his first new recordings in 37 years. Yeah, take that, Mission of Burma.
This man recorded for Vanguard Records in the Sixties. He studied with Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, worked with jazz flutist Jeremy Steig and guitarist Bruce Langhorne, and excels at both Indian instrumentation and flamenco guitar. Heck, he had what qualifies as the coolest job to ever exist (other than the salaried masterminds behind the iTunes visualization feature), creating music specifically for Dr. Timothy Leary's LSD experiments.
Now, Walker has recorded four new tracks, set for release on A Raga for Peter Walker, a semi-tribute album due via Tompkins Square on November 7.
In addition to Walker's contributions, the disc features previously unreleased compositions by Thurston Moore, Steffen Basho-Junghans, James Blackshaw, Greg Davis, Shawn David McMillen, and Jack Rose-- all artists who were influenced by Walker and wanted to show their appreciation. [MORE...]
Kevin Shields Teams With Patti Smith
Super auteur Kevin Shields will appear live with Patti Smith during two shows at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall on September 11 and 12. The performances are billed as "The Coral Sea Sessions" because they take their inspiration from The Coral Sea, Smith's 1996 book tribute to artist Robert Mapplethorpe.
This isn't the first time the pair have teamed up. At last year's Smith-curated Meltdown Festival, Smith and Shields, along with Cat Power, performed as the Coral Sea, also at Queen Elizabeth Hall.
According to NME.com, the shows "will be divided up into two parts. The first half will be a combination of new songs, spoken word pieces and overdubs from Smith plus other musicians. She will preview songs from her forthcoming album of covers, plus a new political piece dedicated to the children of Lebanon. Shields will act as musical director in the second half."
Ooh, spoken word! Maybe that's the direction for the follow-up to Loveless.
The mention of a "political piece" seems to be a reference to "Qana", the song Patti Smith has posted to her website (along with lyrics) for download, which, of course, we have been kind enough to link to below.
Smith will also appear on September 8 at the Tate Modern Gallery in London in "a unique evening of poetry and song" also dedicated to Mapplethorpe.
As previously reported, new music from Shields will appear on the soundtrack to Sofia Coppola's forthcoming film Marie Antoinette.
Sufjan Stevens, David Byrne Duet at NYC Benefit
So often when you give money to a good cause, you're told you'll be
paid in karma, good will, or the favor of the Lord. But karma's a myth,
good will doesn't come with a receipt, and it's grace-- not deed-- that
will get you into heaven. However, at last night's Revenge of the Book Eaters benefit for 826 NYC, charity gave back in record time, as Sufjan
Stevens and David Byrne played just one song together as the evening's finale.
Between short performances by Stevens and Byrne, host John Hodgman (an editor for the New York Times Magazine, and, more famously, the PC guy from the Apple Commercials) promised the Beacon Theatre audience of 3,500 that the two would close out the show with a duet if an additional $5,000 dollars in donations could be raised during the event. People dug deep, and after Byrne finished his set, it was announced that they had actually raised just under $15,000.
Byrne performed country versions of his own solo and Talking Heads songs, then invited Sufjan back to the stage, introducing the following song as being "about Michigan, but not written by Sufjan Stevens." Stevens shyly returned with a lyrics sheet and banjo, and together the duo sang a cover of Lefty Frizzell's "Saginaw, Michigan", Stevens fumbling a couple words of the verse while he and Byrne shared the chorus (and a couple hundred people took out the cameras they had snuck in). Instant karma! Except, now that I think about it, for $15k, Byrne and Stevens really owed us three songs. I'm waiting!
Sufjan Stevens & David Byrne: "Saginaw, Michigan"
[Lefty Frizzell cover; live at Beacon Theatre, NYC] | [Video via Stereogum]
Mogwai, Portishead Members Collaborate
Geoff Barrow might've hit a block during the recording process for Portishead's upcoming (not sure exactly when) album, but he's got no reservations about Crippled Black Phoenix, a new project from Electric Wizard's Justin Greaves, Mogwai's Dominic Aitchison, Pantheist's Andy Semmens and Kostas Panagiotou, Gonga's Joe Volk, and 3D House of Beef's Nial McGaughey.
Yes, those are all real bands. Or so we think.
The "supergroup" has just recorded its debut album, A Love of Shared Disasters, at State of Art Studios in Bristol. Barrow, who is a part owner of the studio, produced the disc and will release it on his own Invada Records. In a press release, he said of the project, "I've been waiting for someone to make a record like this for a long time."
The release will hit stores sometime this year, and several tracks are already available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. A Crippled Black Phoenix tour is also in the works for 2k6. [MORE...]
Damon Albarn's New Band Gets Name, First Gig
Remember when we told you that Damon Albarn was starting a band with former Clash bassist Paul Simonon, former Verve guitarist Simon Tong and the late Fela Kuti's drummer Tony Allen? Remember when we told you their debut was going to be called The Good the Bad and the Queen? Well, we were wrong, but only about that last part. The Good, the Bad and the Queen is actually the name of the band. Charming, innit?A peek at GBQ's website reveals a "trailer" for the upcoming album, which Billboard.com reports will be released next year on Parlophone in the UK and produced by none other than Danger Mouse. Right, because that guy's not busy enough. Albarn described the album to BBC Radio 1 as "a very English record" and "the first time I've really written about home since Parklife."
GBQ will make their live debut at London's Roundhouse on October 26 as part of the BBC's Electric Proms festival, where they will play their album from start to finish. And if previous reports are any indication, the band's debut single is still due out in October as well.
Xiu Xiu Adopt New Member, Prep Sixth LP
Get all prolific up in this biatch
Got any big plans for the fall? Going to finally hop on that treadmill? Alphabetize that record collection? Take that art class? Ask that girl out? Well guess what, buddy: you're a total slacker. Bona fide, top notch. At least compared to your art-damaged, hyper-prolific pals in Xiu Xiu. We hacked into Jamie Stewart's pink polka dot Blackberry (jk) so you could cop a glance at their fall to-do list and weep:1. Add new member: Ches Smith, aka tourmate Congs for Brums, aka drummer/percussionist extraordinaire and Tom Waits/Mr. Bungle collaborator; refer to Xiu Xiu henceforth as trio, consisting of Smith, Jamie Stewart, and Caralee McElroy.
2. Tour like wildfire with Smith in tow (both solo and with Xiu Xiu); recap dates below, and what the hey, add a few new ones.
3. Continue work on sixth studio album, already halfway complete. Use non-programmed percussion (first time!). Sing Freddie Mercury part in cover of Queen's "Under Pressure"; phone Michael Gira (Angels of Light/ex-Swans) about singing Bowie part.
4. Release fifth studio album, The Air Force, on September 12. Thank 5RC for their help. Reminisce way back to 2002 when first album was released; opine wistfully, "Those were the days..."
5. Remind the good folk out there of latest EP, collaboration with Grouper, arriving November 7 via Slender Means Society.
6. Tell those good folk of The Air Force's four music videos: "Hello From Eau Claire" v. 1.0 and 2.0 (dir. Corey Smith of "Pox" video fame), "Bishop, CA" (dir. David Horvitz), and "Boy Soprano" (dir. Jose Perez).
7. E-mail Larsen and get crackin' on the next XXL album; record in Italy in December.
8. Text John Dieterich (Deerhoof) about recording minimalist record this winter.
9. IM Freddy Ruppert (This Song Is a Mess but So Am I) about new synth pop/darkwave collaboration.
10. Prep remix album (5RC) and video collection for 2007.
11. Visit a bunch of cities (see itinerary after the jump)
12. Chortle at the underachievers. [MORE...]
Andrew WK, Thurston Moore on To Live and Shave LP
Exclusive mp3 megamix!
Avant-noize collective To Live and Shave in LA is eager to give fans a hint of their new album, Noon and Eternity (due out on October 31 on Menlo Park Recordings), but have been delayed in their attempts by a force apparently as strict as the Dept. of Homeland Security: MySpace.
Said collective founder Tom Smith (after attempting to post another track on MySpace "for [fans'] already blown drums 'n' lobes"):
"We're tired of not being able to leak more of the forthcoming studio opus, but as Noon and Eternity is comprised primarily of medicated lip balm and vanilla chai tea, we couldn't get a full take past MS's security checkpoints."
But never fear: the band has granted Pitchfork full access to an exclusive Noon teaser mp3, featuring the entire album smooshed into one four-minute stretch! Plus all the tea and lip balm we wanted.
Noon and Eternity, the follow-up to 2001's The Wigmaker, is the product of core TLASILA members Smith, Rat Bastard (bass), and Ben Wolcott (oscillator), along with a veritable army of guitarists-- Thurston Moore, Don Fleming, Chris Grier, and Mark Morgan, rounded out by one Andrew WK on drums. The album, dubbed a "futuristic vision of psych" in a press release (whereas Wigmaker was supposedly "a futuristic approach to punk"), was recorded over a year ago at Sonic Youth's Echo Canyon studios, then mixed and mastered last year.
Before the arrival of Noon and Eternity, the collective will release a chronological TLASILA remix album, called Horoscopo: Sanatorio de Molière, on August 25 on Blossoming Noise. Created over the course of four years and containing eight tracks culled from TLASILA's entire career (1991-present), the album is, y'know, the usual remix fare-- "designed to evoke the typically warped narratives of the Spanish-Italian giallo/spy film co-productions of the mid-1960s." [MORE...]
Jon Spencer Teams With North Mississippi Allstars
In 2001, Jon Spencer shacked up in storied Memphis session man/producer Jim Dickinson's Zebra Ranch Studios with Dickinson's sons, Luther and Cody (leaders of the North Mississippi All-Stars). The results were issued as the curious Spencer Dickinson on an obscure Japanese label.
This Tuesday, August 22, Yep Roc Records will re-release
the album as The Man Who Lives for Love, re-mastered with re-tooled cover art and seven
more tracks from the same recording session to make the new name legit. Yep Roc
will also reissue the original Japanese version (tracks 1-12) simultaneously on
vinyl. If you pre-order the disc from the Yep Roc website, you'll get two more
exclusive mp3 bonus tracks as well.
As might be expected, the instruments on the record range from the usual guitar/bass/drums to organ (Jon), mandolin (Luther), stylophone (Jon), and washboard (Cody). According to Jim, Cody and Luther are darker and weirder when Spencer's around: "Jon really brings it out of them," he said in a press release. "They are more spontaneous with Jon than they are by themselves. Cody, in particular, really likes to calculate. Jon is more in the moment, the way he works."
Surprisingly, there's not much straight-up blues on the disc. How disappointing. Also disappointing: according to Yep Roc, Spencer Dickinson has no plans to tour to celebrate the record's release. But the idea of a tour is not as incomprehensible as, say, a Pussy Galore "song." [MORE...]
Ex-Test Icicle Frontman Forms New Bands
Jeez, that Test Icicles split must've been more dramatic than we thought! The 180-degree turn frontman Devonte Hynes has taken with his new band, Lightspeed Heat, is so severe it makes even the straight line look bad.
Okay, okay-- we're mostly just into the differences between band names. There has to be some deep psychological meaning behind that, amirite?
Hynes has joined up with members of the Jack White-produced Whirlwind Heat to form the band, and they claim to be from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Anywho, Lightspeed Heat has a MySpace, and while they have not yet uploaded any tracks, one song, "How Do You Do", is floating around the blogosphere.
As previously reported, Hynes has another post-Icicles group, Naked Babes, with members of Semifinalists and Tom Vek.
Hynes has also been doing a little solo work under the moniker Lightspeed Champion, and is scheduled for a handful of gigs in London, including one alongside an Arctic Monkeys Tribute Band (!).
Ryan Adams Produces New Willie Nelson Album
While he might loathe balladeer Bryan Adams, one-B-shy rocker Ryan Adams loves him some Willie Nelson, at least enough to handle production duties on the man's forthcoming album, Songbird. According to Billboard.com, Adams and Nelson have transcended the generational divide to collaborate on the disc, sure to scare up some respectable sales when Lost Highway releases it on Halloween (that's October 31 to the grownups out there).
In this candybag: eleven sugar-coated tracks, with Adams' Cardinals band backing, including a number of choice and not-so-choice covers: Gram Parsons' "$1000 Wedding", the Grateful Dead's "Stella Blue", Christine McVie's "Songbird", and, oh boy, Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"--this despite Pitchfork's recent strict moratorium on "Hallelujah" covers. They'll rot yr teeth, man. [MORE...]
Stones Throw Celebrates 10 Years With Comp, Tour
New Madvillain album in the works
Turning 10 is a big deal, and for its first year in double digits, Stones Throw Records is having children. Life comes at you fast, I guess. The newborn, Chrome Children, is the full-length collaboration between the Adult Swim network and the entire Stones Throw roster, as previously reported.
The compilation will be released October 3 and comes packaged with a
full-length DVD of the MF Doom and Madlib headlining gig at this year's
SXSW.
Unlike Danger Doom's The Mouse and the Mask, Chrome Children
does not feature actual samples of Adult Swim shows (thank god), but the network
will be airing advertisements and creating animated videos for some of
the songs. All tracks are new and exclusive to Chrome Children,
except for J Dilla's "Nothing Like This" and Gary Wilson's "Dream(s)".
Stones Throw is also offering Peanut Butter Wolf's "Chrome Mix"-- a
20-minute mix that takes half of its tracks from Chrome Children-- as an MP3 download from its website (see link below).
Shortly following the release of Chrome Children, there
will be a Stones Throw 10th anniversary tour featuring Madlib (his
first nationwide tour!), label founder Peanut Butter Wolf, and J. Rocc.
Other Stones Throw artists such as MED, Percee P, Egon and
currently-unannounced guests will also join the tour on select dates.
Madlib is still hard at work with MF Doom on the upcoming Madvillain
album, but he has so many projects in the works before that gets
released that you'd be forgiven for forgetting it existed at all. They
have done a little recent recording, however. Namely, their take on
"The Star-Spangled Banner" (!) and their Chrome Children appearance, "Monkey Suite".
The Beat Konducta has been behind the boards quite a bit recently. He
produced Talib Kweli and Norah Jones on the former's forthcoming album,
Ear Drum, which is tentatively scheduled for a fall release. His instrumental backings for the Dudley Perkins album Expressions,
hit iTunes recently. And Yesterdays New Quintet have just completed
"Summer Suite", a 40-minute long track that Stones Throw hopes to
release this summer. Time's a-ticking, guys, but considering the
abundance of material already being released, I guess I understand. [MORE...]
Glenn Kotche, Nels Cline Talk Tour, Wilco
By now, one expects seasoned musicians like Nels Cline and Glenn Kotche to have it all mapped out. The dudes are winners, right? After all, Cline's discography stretches back to 1979 and drops some pretty heavy names along the decades, from Willie Nelson and Rickie Lee Jones to Thurston Moore and Mike Watt. Kotche has played with Maureen Tucker, Jim O'Rourke, Fred Lonberg-Holm and Bobby Conn, and his latest album, Mobile, released this year on Nonesuch, is a fascinating exploration of his rhythmic questions. Plus, both Cline and Kotche insist that they're in some band called Wilco.
But a little more than a month before their first solo/duo tour, sweetly dubbed Alone/Together, the guitarist and drummer aren't quite sure how they will be handling the six East Coast and Midwest dates. Cline will play a solo set, followed by Kotche. They will then pair as an improvisational duo. But it's so improvisational they're not sure what they'll be playing. [MORE...]
Boris / Sunn 0))) Collaboration Unleashed
Boris add more U.S. dates
On October 31, All Hallow's Eve, the beast shall awaken and all hell shall be loosed unto the Earth. For on that day, Altar, the Boris / Sunn 0))) collaborative album, is going to be released on Southern Lord. How perfectly EVIL is that?
Altar was written, recorded, and produced by all of the members of both bands, with quite a few special guests: Jesse Sykes (of indie-folk outfit Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hearafter), Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Joe Preston (Thrones/Earth/Melvins/High on Fire), Bill Herzog and Phil Wandescher (Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter), Rex Ritter (Jessamine, Fontanelle), and Tos Niewenhuizen (Beaver, GOD). Dylan Carlson of Earth plays on the vinyl-only bonus track "Her Lips Were Wet With Venom".
KICK ASS!!! [MORE...]
Exclusive: Yeah Yeah Yeahs Announce Fall U.S. Tour
Plus another Peaches collabo
So starring in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Cheated Hearts" video isn't good enough for your ego, eh, fans? You absolutely have to show off your Karen O impersonation in the presence of the band, and, hey, a live audience wouldn't hurt either?
Well then, that cheated heart of yours can start bum-bumpin' fast with anticipation as we reveal the newly announced Yeah Yeah Yeahs fall tour. After wrapping up their current U.S. trek and a European jaunt next month, Karen's Krew will head out on the road to California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, and more.
As previously reported, Karen O and Peaches joined forces to record "Backass" with Johnny Knoxville, a track for the upcoming film, Jackass 2. The two must've gotten along pretty well, as NME.com recently reported that Peaches has helped out with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs latest single, yes, "Cheated Hearts". The number will land in the UK on September 4 as both a download bundle (with new song "Thank You Were Wrong") and a heart-shaped 7" with a tattoo transfer insert, backed by a Peaches remix.
Bobby Bare Jr. Pals With Trail of Dead, MMJ, Walkmen
Suddenly sees spike in popularity with Super Troopers fans
What do Frank Black, Andrew Bird, and Shel Silverstein have in common? Well, they're all dudes, for one, but more specifically, they have all collaborated with Bobby Bare Jr. And he just keeps the collaborations coming on The Longest Meow, due September 26 on Bloodshot Records.
Recorded with an 11-member band (if you count producer Brad Jones) in 11 hours on March 26, the 11 tracks on The Longest Meow cover territory from "pulsing T. Rex glam boogie" to "down and dirty southern ROCK," according to a press release. Bobby the Younger even "goes all coffeehouse on a Pixies cover." The latter sounds like dangerous territory, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Bare and the band of indie all-stars he's assembled.
To be specific, the Nashville sessions revolved around Bare, bassist Mike Grimes and My Morning Jacket members Carl Broemel and Patrick Hallahan on guitar and drums, respectively, but there were also contributions from Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Doni Schroader (Trail of Dead), Deanna Varagona (Lambchop) and Ben Martin (Clem Snide), among others.
Bare Jr. is on tour with the Walkmen and Drive-By Truckers this summer and fall. At the shows you can pick up the tour-only Nick Nacks and Paddy Whacks, an album of live performances and videos that Bare self-released early this year. [MORE...]
Jason Forrest Forms the Jason Forrest Band
Oh boy. We thought having one Jason Forrest in the world was enough. Now, however, the name associated with laptops/drunken breaking of things/cock rock disco will encompass three people, as our favorite mash-up terrorist has started a band.
The Jason Forrest Band (a tentative title) will make its live debut with a September 17 stop at Berlin's Ballhaus Naunynstraße with guest singer Gustav. From there, it's a fall U.S. tour centered around the CMJ Music Marathon.
The band, a "power rock trio" featuring Forrest on laptop and vocals (!), also includes guitarist Ethan Schaffner and keyboardist Elisabeth King. Forrest is currently writing for the group.
In the meantime, Forrest has a few performances scheduled in Japan and Europe. [MORE...]
Johnny Marr Officially a Member of Modest Mouse
What began as merely a flirtation has now blossomed into a full-blown romance, as Modest Mouse and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr have gone public with their intention to stay together forever and ever (or at least until the end of the next Modest Mouse tour).
As previously reported, Marr and Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock had been working on songs together for the next Modest Mouse album. The partnership wasn't supposed to extend beyond that, but, as Brock revealed to RollingStone.com yesterday, the guys ended up liking each other so much, they didn't want the fun to end just yet. Brock said, "He made a cautious commitment to write and record with us, and then the tighter we got, he was like, ‘okay, let's tour too.' Then he was pretty much a member of the band-- not pretty much. He's a full blown member of the band. It's really fuckin' nice."
Rolling Stone also reports that the new album was recorded at Sweet Tea studios in Mississippi, just like the last Modest Mouse LP, 2004's Good News for People Who Love Bad News. The forthcoming disc is "a nautical balalaika carnival romp" according to Brock, and its tentative title is We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. Liars are totally pissed they didn't think of that first.
Modest Marr currently have only two gigs scheduled, and they're both festival appearances. First there's the Bang Music Festival on November 11 at Miami's Bicentennial Park. Gnarls Barkley, Los Amigos Invisibles, Kinky, Yerba Buena, Tiësto, and a bunch of other raver people are also set to play. Then there's Australia's Falls Festival, taking place December 30 to January 1 in Victoria and Tasmania. This will be Modest Mouse's first trip to Australia. Jamie Lidell, Wolfmother, the Bees, Michael Franti and Spearhead, and many more will also appear.
Boris to Tour U.S., Collaborate With Sunn 0)))
Someone still loves you, Boris. In fact, a whole lotta people (us included) continue to spin the Japanese trio's 8.7-scoring Pink on a regular basis. Or when we're in the market for a serious brain-melting, anyway.
We'll soon be able to melt our brains in public, in the company of other people, as Boris have announced a fall American tour.
Dates out West and Northwest are in the works, but for now:
09-05 Birmingham,
AL -
Bottletree *
09-06 Athens,
GA -
Calendonia Lounge *
09-07 Atlanta,
GA -
Earl *
09-08 Asheville,
NC -
Orange Peel *
09-09 Chapel
Hill, NC -
Local 506 *
09-10 Baltimore,
MD -
TBA *
09-11 Brooklyn,
NY -
North Six *
09-12 New
York, NY -
Knitting Factory *
09-13 Boston,
MA -
TBA *
10-20 Los
Angeles, CA -
EchoPlex (ArthurNIGHTS Festival)
* with Pearls and Brass
Even better, Southern Lord plans to release a collaborative Boris/Sunn 0))) album in late September/early October. It's going to be titled Altar, and our stereos probably won't be the same after playing it.
Sparklehorse: New Song, Tour
Enter the Danger Horse!
Mark Linkous comes trotting back into camp with Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain, out September 26 on Astralwerks. Christian Fennesz, Tom Waits, Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips and producer Dave Fridmann all contributed to the album, the first track of which is currently streaming at the official Sparklehorse MySpace page.
As you could guess from the title, "Don't Take My Sunshine Away" cribs lyrics from "You Are My Sunshine" for its chorus, which mixes with breathy harmonies to create a little slice of pop that wouldn't sound out of place on Abbey Road.
In an interview with Billboard.com, Linkous described working with Danger Mouse, who shares production credits on four of Dreamt's tracks, thusly: "I never really understood what it is he did, but working with him was great. He'd grab some guitar parts from a certain song, filter it, put it in some different timing, and put it into another song. We're definitely going to do a proper collaboration at some point, like the Danger Doom record, but maybe something like Danger Horse. We're not sure what we're going to call it."
Linkous continued to describe Dreamt as "poppier" but also "more haphazard" than previous albums. Possibly revealing his motivation for using some of the "You Are My Sunshine" lyrics, he also said, "I guess lyrically, I would have liked it to be more ambitious, and a little deeper."
Sparklehorse's MySpace page also lists a chunk of live dates, including an extensive tour of the UK. [MORE...]
Tussle Work With Liquid Liquid, Hot Chip, Optimo
It's 90 degrees outside, we're stressing out about the festival, everybody's computers seem to be breaking down at the same time, and the new Basement Jaxx isn't as good as we'd hoped it would be.
In other words, Pitchfork's in the mood for a Tussle.
Tussle the band are ready to satisfying the cravings of fighters everywhere with their second record, Telescope Mind, due October 16 on Smalltown Supersound.
The San Francisco four-piece have pulled together 12 new tracks for the follow-up to 2004's Kling Klang, all of which were recorded last year with Quinn Luke. The closer, "Pow!" features Liquid Liquid's Sal Principato and Dennis Young, and the disc's artwork was created by Kim Hiorthoy.
Tussle plan to release a limited edition 12" single titled "Warning" also on Smalltown Supersound on September 25. In addition, it features a 10 minute Hot Chip remix containing several TM numbers and an Optimo remix. Fans can preview a clip on Tussle's MySpace. [MORE...]
Wilco's Kotche and Cline, Alone, Together
Hey, check it out-- two Pitchfork Music Festival artists performing together alone for the first time!
Glenn Kotche and Nels Cline are scheduled to make their debut performance as a duo (so no Wilco) this Saturday at Milwaukee's Pabst Theater.
The appearance, titled "Alone & Together", will premiere at 8:00pm, with Kotche and Cline each playing a solo set and later joining forces to bring the noise as a pair.
Those unable to make it to the gig can see the guys separately at our fest's Biz 3 stage on Sunday. [MORE...]
It's time to officially add a second supergroup to Dan Bejar's resume because the debut album from Swan Lake-- the collaboration between Bejar, Wolf Parade/Sunset Rubdown's Spencer Krug and Frog Eyes' Carey Mercer that has only been hinted at until now-- finally has a release date.
The album is called Beast Moans and will be released November 21 on Jagjaguwar. Though the tracklist is below, the specific songwriting credits remain mysterious.
Beast Moans:
01
Widow's Walk
02
Nubile Days
03
City Calls
04
A Venue Called Rubella
05
All Fires
06
The Partisan But He's Got to Know
07
The Freedom
08
Petersburg, Liberty Theater, 1914
09
The Pollenated Girls
10
Bluebird
11
Pleasure Vessels
12
Are You Swimming in Her Pools?
13
Shooting Rockets
Don't forget, Bejar will perform as Destroyer this weekend at the Pitchfork Music Festival, and Sunset Rubdown will play our Friday night pre-party at Metro.
Karen O + Peaches + Johnny Knoxville = "Backass"
Standing blindfolded inside bullpens, back-flipping into lakes, and stapling your butt cheeks together just isn't the same without an original soundtrack. Enter Karen O and Peaches. For the upcoming movie Jackass 2, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman and the queen of electro-sleaze teamed up with Johnny Knoxville to record a song entitled "Backass".
Karen O told Billboard.com last week that the collaboration transpired "because [Peaches] was in L.A. at the time, and we just whipped out a little tune that makes you want to smash heads." Although Johnny's vocals might not be heard in the movie, Karen O assures that "he's quite a crooner."
Jackass 2 hits U.S. theaters Sept. 22. Wolfmother also contribute a song to the soundtrack ("The Joker and the Thief") and are currently shooting a video with Knoxville and other cast members in Australia.
Björk is such a tease. A few weeks ago, we told you she was "hanging out" and writing with Antony, though there was no guarantee that any fruits of the collaboration would appear on her next album. Now we also have word that Björk has recorded with Konono N°1, but none of those sessions are guaranteed to see release either.
Hopefully, both pairings, in addition to plenty of others, will be featured on the record, and all will again be right with the world. But for now, we're just a little anxious about the whole thing.
Nevertheless, a representative of Crammed Discs (the Congotronics label) confirmed that Konono spent "three days in Brussels last month... overdubbing their electrified thumb-pianos on several new Björk songs." Like we said, there are no guarantees that any of us will ever hear the results of the sessions. However, the group is currently in the middle of a massive world tour, so it couldn't hurt to go to a show and ask nicely. [MORE...]
Ellen Allien Teams With Audion
Just a Man/Woman sounds like it could be the title of some terrible slow jam compilation, but in fact it's the name of a new split 12-inch featuring Audion (aka Detroit techno darling Matthew Dear) and Ellen Allien (owner of Berlin's BPitch Control label and darling DJ in her own right). To be released by Spectral Sound on July 25, the gender-bending single begins with the Audion track "Just a Man" (from 2006's Fabric 27 mix) followed by Dear's reworking of Allien's "Just a Woman", then predictably continues with Allien's own mix of "Just a Man", concluding with her original version of "Just a Woman."
The good ol' fashioned battle-o'-the-sexes project arose from the artists' 2005 North American tour, during which time they developed (the official press release tells us) a certain dynamic. Perhaps they dynamically fought over turntables and the necessity of putting down the toilet seat. [MORE...]
Raincoats, Notwist, Electrelane Members are TURTLEs
Many artists take on many projects at once (A kazoo band! With body paint hugs! And dinosaur street art!) but few follow everything through. Michael H. Shamberg is one of the few, and he's damn good at it.
There's his work with a couple little bands called Joy Divison and New Order and his collaborations with conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner. If these examples don't jazz you, try this next one: now, Shamberg is turning into a turtle.
TURTLE is the name of his newest project, an "anarchic salon" inspired by such nonconformist deities as Juan Munoz and Abbie Hoffman. Since June 27 and through August 5, over 150 artists will present "readings, rantings, artworks, texts, performances, and screenings" at several venues (a.k.a. "turtles") throughout London. Musical participants include Gavin Bryars (John Cage, Tom Waits), Markus Acher (Lali Puna, the Notwist), and Pitchfork staffer Mia Lily Clarke (Electrelane).
Tonight, Ana de Silva, a founding member of seminal British postpunk band the Raincoats, is performing at 43 South Molton Street (7pm). (Fellow former Raincoat Gina Birch is also participating in TURTLE.) Remember the liner notes to Insecteside, when Kurdt rambled passionately about this goddess he met on a London streetcorner? Yeah. That was de Silva. [MORE...]
Gang of Four + Menomena = Faux-Hoax
Gang of Four bassist Dave Allen has teamed up with guitarist John Askew (Tracker/FILMguerrero label owner) and drummer Danny Seim (Menomena) to form a new group called Faux-Hoax (pronounced "Folks"). The Portland-based trio's first song is a talky experimental piece with a heavy bass groove-- about friends dating and dying and doing drugs and finding God.
Titled "Your Friends Will Carry You Home", the track features words and vocals by journalist/musician and fellow Portlander Adam Gnade. Click below for an exclusive mp3 of the song, which, according to the band, is still a work in progress. [MORE...]
Antony, Björk Collaboration up in the Air
Pitchfork just received the following message from Antony, regarding the rumor of his involvement with Björk's forthcoming album:
"I am not 'working with Björk on her new record'. However we have written some things together in the course of hanging out; the destination of this collaboration is not known at this time. A subtle distinction I know, but an important one."
Oh well. Hopefully something cool comes of this.
Oh No Teams With Galt MacDermot
I'm still not sure who John Galt is, but I do know that Stones Throw producer and MC Oh No's new album is based on samples of the music of Galt MacDermot, the man behind the musical Hair. I also know that Oh No and Stones Throw are teaming up with eMusic to release a song from the album as the website's first "digital-only 12-inch single."
"Gets Mine"-- from the upcoming Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms LP-- features Buckshot and is currently available for free (even for non-subscribers!) from eMusic.
While the "12-inch" part of the "digital-only 12-inch single" label is a little misleading, Stones Throw and eMusic consider the single, like past Stones Throw 12-inches on vinyl, to be of particular use to DJs. In a press release, Stones Throw founder Peanut Butter Wolf is quoted as saying, "I'm glad we're now able to release stuff digitally as soon as it's recorded. As a DJ myself, it gives me the opportunity to put together sets on a whim."
Postal Service Begin Work on New Album
LP to Arrive Weeks Late, Covered in Stamps, At Someone Else's Address
Back in 2003, when music was still in its infancy, Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello came together as the Postal Service to release a little record called Give Up, making it okay for indie kids to get down. And the world was never the same.
In years to come, Give Up will serve as an education in the entirety of music's history all by itself. That is, unless its follow-up improves upon it, in which case we can include it in the curriculum as well.
Gibbard has spoken of that ever-elusive follow-up in a recent interview on MTV.com, in which he said, "We're slowly starting. We're crawling right now, and whether that crawl turns into a walk remains to be seen. But we'll know more towards the end of the year. I've just been touring so much and trying to find time to make it happen and make our schedules line up."
Jimmy Tamborello echoed Gibbard's statement in a recent Pitchfork interview, saying, "We're talking about wanting to finish an album by sometime next year, because we have to work with Death Cab's schedule and stuff. I definitely want to do another one."
Tamborello also said he hopes Jenny Lewis will be more involved in the process this time around. The Rilo Kiley frontwoman and solo artist was a vocalist on Give Up, and, depending on her schedule, she might contribute as a songwriter on the upcoming record. [MORE...]
Aesop Rock Writes "Children's" Book
Plot features asshole who learns to sweet-talk princess
All those tongue twisters weren't for nothing. Aesop Rock has just been warming up for his magnum opus: a "children's" book. The Def Jux MC has collaborated with visual artist Jeremy Fish on The Next Best Thing, "a short story about the creative process," according to a press release. This "children's book that's not for kids" is 24 pages long and comes with a 7" picture disc that features a song with lyrics corresponding to the book's images.
According to an email from Aesop Rock, "The song is a rap song that incorporates a 'chimes' sound into the beat. At the top of the song, the reader is asked to turn the pages with each chime. The song is a full rap song in which I describe the steps, in chronological order, to this writer's block cure."
Ensemble Recruits Cat Power, Lou Barlow
While the rest of us seem content to crush on Chan Marshall from a distance, French musician Olivier Alary, aka Ensemble, actually got a song out of her. (He's also worked with Bjork.) The song, "Disown, Delete", will be released August 8 as the first single from Ensemble's self-titled second album and debut for FatCat Records.
"Disown, Delete" CD EP:
01
Disown, Delete (feat. Chan Marshall)
02
Carmine
03
Their Lines
04
Disown, Delete (Tim Hecker remix)
7":
01
Disown, Delete (feat. Chan Marshall)
02
Disown, Delete (Tim Hecker remix) [MORE...]
Broken Social Scene Get With Mascis, Ravers
Ooz ooz ooz I THINK ooz ooz ooz IT'S ALMOST ooz ooz ooz CRIIIIMES!
What's that sound? It's Broken Social Scene playing at a rave, duh! Which is exactly what the good citizens of Tweed, Ontario will be hearing on July 22, as the band is scheduled to headline the World Electronic Music Festival in Trudeau Park. Spread across three days and six stages boasting names like "Hardsound Stage", "World of DnB Stage" and "Four Four Stage", the WEMF offers 250+ international performers, including Goldie (remember when he was going out with Björk?), Grooverider, Knifehandchop, a shitload of DJs we've never heard of, and, um, Broken Social Scene. We hope they like phat pants and pacifiers!The WEMF is just one of a bazillion festivals BSS are playing this summer; in fact, they love festivals so much, they're curating their own, taking place June 24 on Toronto's Olympic Island, featuring Bloc Party, Feist, Raising the Fawn, and Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis. With everybody in town, BSS and Mascis decided to team up for a benefit show at Toronto's Mod Club on June 23. "Broken Mascis Scene" will perform Dinosaur Jr. songs at this one-off event, with proceeds going to the AMMA Foundation of Canada, an organization devoted to helping the poor. Here's what Broken Social Scene's busy schedule looks like: [MORE...]
Strokes, Vedder Cover Gaye
Seriously, what's going on?
Now this sounds like a recipe for disaster. According to Billboard.com, the Strokes have enlisted Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme for an all-star cover of Marvin Gaye's 1971 song "Mercy Mercy Me" from his What's Going On album. Homme shares drum duty with the Strokes' Fabrizio Moretti on the track, while Vedder and lead Stroke Julian Casablancas take equal blame for desiccating the memory of Gaye's vocal performance. Mercy, indeed. "Mercy Mercy Me" will appear as the B-side to the Strokes' forthcoming single, "You Only Live Once", which is due out in the UK on July 10.
Meanwhile, the Strokes will bring their message of environmentalism to various European festivals throughout the rest of the summer:
06-16 Hultsfred, Sweden - Hultsfred Festival
06-18 Manchester, England - Lancashire County Cricket Club *
06-21 London, England - Hyde Park (Wireless Festival)
06-23 Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany - Southside Festival
06-24 Scheessel, Germany - Hurricane Festival
06-26 Cologne, Germany - Palladium
06-27 Berlin, Germany - Berlin Arena
06-29 Paris, France - Le Zenith
06-30 Belfort, France - Les Eurockeennes Festival
07-02 Roskilde, Denmark - Roskilde Festival
07-04 Moscow, Russia - DK Gorbunova
07-08 Naas, Ireland - Punchestown Racecourse (Oxegen Festival)
07-09 Balado, Scotland - T in the Park
07-11 Amsterdam, Holland - Heineken Music Hall
07-13 St. Polten, Austria - Vaz
07-14 Montreux, Switzerland - Miles Davis Hall (Montreux Jazz Festival)
07-15 Turin, Italy - Traffic Festival
07-17 Lyon, France - Antique Theatre
07-18 Nice, France - Theatre de Verdure
07-21 Benicassim, Spain - Benicassim Festiva
07-22 Lisbon, Portugal - Lisboa Soundz Festival
07-28 Incheon, South Korea - Penta Port Rock Festival
07-30 Mt. Fuji, Japan - Fuji Rock Festival
* with Foo Fighters
Exclusive: Mercer, Bejar, Krug Join Forces as Swan Lake
Mercer, Bejar, and Krug. Slimy investment firm? Used car sales-team? Or-- god help us-- nu-jazz combo?? Nope. We're talking Carey "Frog Eyes" Mercer, Dan "Destroyer" Bejar, and Spencer "Wolf Sunset Parade Rubdown" Krug, Canadian indie luminaries, and now, supergroup partners.The three originally hoped to call their collaborative band "Thunder Cloud", but since that machismo moniker was already taken, the boys have instead donned metaphorical leotards and christened themselves Swan Lake. Oh lord, not another animal band name!
Pitchfork caught up with Carey Mercer to get the full scoop on how this unlikely confluence came about. The nutshell version: "I proposed that we each bring in four songs and put them together to make a record. It worked!"
There's a bit more to it than that, however. Mercer and Bejar previously hooked up for Destroyer's Notorious Lightning and Other Works EP, and all three toured together behind the record in Europe. One thing led to another and, mused Mercer, "we wanted to formally have a chance to contribute/collaborate on each other's songs; I have never actually sung with Spencer, and Dan and Krug have never recorded together. These songs were all written with the other two members specifically in mind."
"It blows my mind with friendly joy that this can actually happen. It should be stated here that we are friends outside of music as well as inside." Aw shucks everybody, group hug!
What can fans of three of Canada's leading indie stars expect from Swan Lake, apart from pirouettes? Mercer shed some light: "hard [to say], because each band is both Protean in its slipperiness but at the same time always, always, always sounding exactly the same. If not surprised, then [fans will] hopefully [be] impressed. It is kind of trippy."
Song titles include "Shooting Rockets" ("a fucking wicked" Dan Bejar-penned track "that reminds me of "Your Blues"), "Nubile Days" (a Krug ditty that reminds Mercer of Dr. Dre's 2001), and "The Partisan"--not a Leonard Cohen cover--"which might be the best song I have ever written," Mercer enthused.
Although the group lost the name Thunder Cloud, Mercer hopes to keep his cumulonimbus aspirations aloft with the album title. "Sometimes I want to call it Thunder Cloud Reverberates Off Port so that our t-shirt makes sense," remarked Carey. "I had this idea that we could make T. Cloud t-shirts with our faces in the cloud, like in the Lion King or something else that I am confusing for the Lion King."
The tentatively-titled Thunder Cloud was recorded at Dante DeCaro's (Wolf Parade, ex-Hot Hot Heat) studio in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia. Mercer playfully credits the production to "my will, Spencer's grace, Dan's poetry." If all goes according to plan, the disc will dive-bomb record racks courtesy of Jagjaguwar toward the end of 2006.
Frog Eyes has also begun recording its next LP, titled Tears of the Valedictorian and set to dock early next year. "[I'm] trying to take my time so it sounds good," said Mercer.
Mercer's Frog Eyes and Krug's Sunset Rubdown kick off a tour this May, sure to be laden with jittery guitars and vocal hysterics. Spazz responsibly:
05-06 Victoria, British Columbia - Logan's
05-07 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
05-09 Calgary, Alberta - Broken City
05-10 Edmonton, Alberta - Starlight Room
05-12 Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Collective Cabaret
05-13 Fargo, ND - VFW
05-14 Mount Vernon, IA - Orange Carpet (OC) at Cornell College
05-17 Northfield, MN - The Cave at Carleton College
05-18 Chicago, IL - Schubas
05-19 Toronto, Ontario - The Opera House *
05-20 Montreal, Quebec - El Salon
05-23 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
05-24 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
05-25 Cambridge, MA - T.T. the Bear's Place
05-26 Hanover, NH - Fuel Rocket Club
* with Islands, Busdriver, Cadence Weapon
Meanwhile, Destroyer (or Big D, as we affectionately call him) is wrapping up his spring jaunt with Magnolia Electric Co. He's just tacked on a few solo dates stretching into May, and will of course totally destroy at the Pitchfork Music Festival this summer. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Yes! Shameless plug! Yes!:
03-28 New York, NY - Avalon *^
03-29 Washington, DC - Black Cat *
03-30 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle *
03-31 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse *
04-01 Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasant's *
04-02 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar %
04-12 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
05-05 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe &
05-06 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
05-08 San Francisco, CA - Café du Nord
05-09 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
05-21 East Sussex, England - Camber Sands Holiday Centre (All Tomorrow's Parties) #
07-29 Chicago, IL - Union Park (Pitchfork Music Festival) $
* with Magnolia Electric Co
^ with Nedelle
% with White Whale
& with White Rose Movement, Hudson Bell
# with the Shins, the New Pornographers, the Decemberists, Clinic, Big Business, Triangle
$ with Silver Jews, Ted Leo/Pharmacists, Mountain Goats, Band of Horses, Man Man, Hot Machines, et al
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.)
Fri: 12-01-06: 04:28 PM CST
New Deerhoof Album to Feature 12 Covers
Fri: 12-01-06: 01:45 PM CST
Insanely Rare Velvet Underground LP on eBay for $19K
Today's Other Headlines
- MP3: Mojave 3 on AOL's Interface
- Joanna Newsom, Smog, Bro. Ali Play Madison Pop Fest
- Ryan Adams Delivers More Internet Inanity
- Video: Prince: "Song of the Heart"
- Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin Tour, Share Video
Browse
Thu: 11-30-06
- Exclusive: Decemberists Counterchallenge Colbert!!
- Hella Travel to Outer Space on New LP
- Silkworm to Release Final Recordings
- Video: Stephen Colbert Vs. The Decemberists
- Calexico, Notwist Collaborate for Hausmusik Comp
- Future of the Left Release First Single
- The Evens Keep It Real on the Road
- Bis Reunite for Anniversary Gigs
- MP3: Peter Bjorn and John: "Let's Call It Off (Girl Talk Remix)"
- Calexico Tour to Promote Border Issue Awareness
- Menomena Head West for Handful of Dates
- Def Jux Offers Deal, Mr. Lif Collab Through mtvU
- Panda Bear Talks Animal Collective, Solo Work
Wed: 11-29-06
- Arcade Fire Lend Song to (Red) Charity Ad
- Radiohead Sponsor Video Contest; Jonny Wins Award
- Video: Bill Holt/Dreamies: "Anarchy"
- Rapture, Bloc Party on Black Strobe Remix Comp
- Futureheads, El Perro, Field Music Rock Xmas Comp
- Stream: Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
- New Pornos, Cat Power, Hold Steady to Play Langerado
- Simply Saucer Reunite for December Show
- DeVotchKa Launch Tour With My Brightest Diamond
- Andrew Bird Schedules Scattered Shows
- MP3: Field Music: "Give It Lose It Take It"/"Sit Tight"
- Babyshambles to Release Capitol Debut EP
- New Order Tease About Breakup, Diss Curtis Biopic
- Merge Auctions Autographed CDs for Charity
- Mission of Burma Announce January Dates
Tue: 11-28-06
- Video: Susanna and the Magical Orchestra: "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
- Exclusive: Lifetime Reveal New Album Tracklisting
- Cat Power Assembles New Band, Plays ATP
- I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness Reissue Debut EP
- MP3: Mark Kozelek: "Salvador Sanchez"
- Video: Man Man: "Banana Ghost"
- M83, Xiu Xiu, Amy Millan, Beach House on Montag LP
- Spoon, Peaches, Prefuse 73 Play FunFunFun Fest
- Report: Stephin Merritt with Rick Moody [New York, NY; 11/27/06]
- Black Keys Schedule More Dates, Share Video
- Exclusive MP3: Editors: "All Sparks (Phones Remix)"
- Bound Stems and Rahim Launch Tour
- Bonnie "Prince" Billy Adds 2007 Dates
- MP3: Loney, Dear: "The City, the Airport (CSS Remix)"
- TV Personalities Cover Killers, Remixed by Black Dice
- Trail of Dead Dudes Brawl Onstage, Guitarist Collapses
- MP3: Pull Tiger Tail: "Loki (Demo Version)"
- Antony Goes Shakespearean, Orchestral
Mon: 11-27-06
- Six Parts Seven Unveil Album, Share Exclusive MP3
- Factory Records Book Heads Stateside
- Lady Sov Talks Breakdown, Missy, TRL, Gonzo Date
- Peanut Butter Wolf Talks Stones Throw Anniversary
- Video: Lou Reed Scores, Narrates Martial Arts DVD
- Video: Cat Power Covers Cat Stevens, Hawks Bling
- Shins Announce December Dates
- T.V. Eye: November 27-December 4, 2006
- Flipper Tour With Krist Novoselic
- MP3: The Boggs: "Arm in Arm (Hot Chip Remix)"
- Four Tet Talks Remixes, Collaborations, New Music
- Mark Kozelek Readies Live LP, Sun Kil Moon Reissue
Wed: 11-22-06
- Exclusive Video: Les Savy Fav Interviews Les Savy Fav
- Futurehead Barry Hyde Talks Label Limbo, Next Record
- Indian Jewelry and Psychic Ills Tour Together
- The Thermals Head to Europe
- Dipset A&R; DukeDaGod: Powerballin'
- MP3: Mary Timony Band: "Hapi Holidaze"
- Photos: Beach House [Austin, TX; 11/19/06]
- Mountain Goats Plan West Coast Tour
- ¡Forward, Russia! Tour, Share Remix MP3
- Dismemberment Plan Members Form New Band
- Photos: More Scandalous Xiu Xiu Tour Polaroids
- Klaxons, Simian Mobile Disco on New Kitsune Comp
- Report: Morrissey [Chicago, IL; 11/21/06]
- Silver Jews Cancel Year-End Shows
- The Ex Announce Tour
- Damon Albarn's Resume Is Better Than Yours
- MP3: El-P: "Smithereens (Stop Cryin)"
- Joanna Newsom to Tour UK With Orchestra
- Photos/Videos: Frida Hyvonen [Chicago, IL; 11/19/06]
Tue: 11-21-06
- Mates of State Launch Tour With Asobi Seksu
- MP3: The Shins: "Phantom Limb"
- Premiere: Video: The Blow: "Parentheses"
- Stream: Bloc Party: "The Prayer"
- Constantines Launch North American Tour
- Chavez Cancel Shows Due to "Roughhousing Mishap"
- Aereogramme Prep New LP; Share Exclusive MP3
- Coachella Sets 2007 Dates, Announces Country Festival
- Mr. Lif Kicks off Tour With the Coup
- Photos: Shellac [Minneapolis, MN; 11/18/06]
- Ghostface Joins Rock the Bells Tour
- Photos: Sufjan Stevens [Reykjavik, Iceland; 11/17/06]
- Graham Coxon Talks Love, Blur, Milky
Mon: 11-20-06
- Mike Watt Guests on Kelly Clarkson Record
- Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks Announce 2007 Dates
- Dreamies Return; Download Exclusive MP3
- Jeff Tweedy, Shellac Play Second City Benefit
- Sonic Youth Multimedia Extravaganza
- Cat Power Rocks NPR
- Dean Wareham Talks Dean & Britta Album, Galaxie 500
- Explosions in the Sky Miss Everyone, Share Stream
- R&B; Legend Ruth Brown Dead at 78
- T.V. Eye: November 20-27, 2006
- Trans Am Schedule Sex Change
- Of Montreal Announce Tour, Singles
- Rufus Wainwright Talks Christmas Show, New Album
Sat: 11-18-06
Fri: 11-17-06
- Beth Ditto, Mary Timony, Excepter on KRS Holiday CD
- Stream: Lady Sovereign: "Pretty Vacant"
- Temporary Residence Gets Thankful Again
- Video: 120 Days: "C-Musik"
- Casiotone for the Painfully Alone's Cat Returns!
- Pop-Punkers/Kids Sing Ramones for Brats on the Beat
- MP3: TV on the Radio on AOL's Interface
- Photos: Charalambides [Austin, TX, 11/15/06]
- Summer Hymns Don Backward Masks
- LCD Soundsystem Gives New LP Title, Release Date
- Built to Spill, Notwist, Sparklehorse Play Fan ATP
- Lansing-Dreiden Revisit Dividing Island with Dazzle D
- DFA Signs Prinzhorn Dance School
- Photos: "Daily Show" Anniversary [New York, NY; 11/16/06]
- Deerhoof's John Dieterich Talks Ballet, New Album
- Velocity Girl Sarah Shannon Sings City Morning Song
Thu: 11-16-06
- Lady Sovereign Breaks Down; L.A. Show Rescheduled
- Video: Sufjan and Calexico on "Austin City Limits"
- Dust-to-Digital Plans Holiday Releases
- Air Conduct Pocket Symphony
- Bert Jansch, Charalambides Head Three Million Tongues
- The Pastels Ready New Album, Score Play
- Stream: The Decemberists: "Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)"
- Mastodon Announce 2007 American Tour
- Costello, Tweedy, Oldham Guest on Charlie Louvin LP
- Grandaddy's Jason Lytle Covers Beatles With Kids
- Malkmus, Girl Talk, Band of Horses Play Langerado
- I'm From Barcelona Sign to Mute, Introduce LP to U.S.
Wed: 11-15-06
- Photos: Tanned Tin [Castellon, Spain; 11/09-11/11/06]
- Gnarls Barkley Announce Winter Tour Dates
- Dead Meadow, Wolfmother, Silversun Pickups Tour
- Robert Pollard Cancels Shows Due to Leg Injury
- Ghostface, MF Doom, Spank Rock on Plastic Little LP
- MP3: Amadou & Mariam ft. Kano: "Coulibaly (Mikey J remix)"
- Exclusive: Cat Power, Lips, Antony Retool Yoko Ono
- Sufjan to Rock Kennedy Center Anniversary Event
- Little Ones Prep for Big Tour With Small Sins
- Franz Contribute to Soundtrack, Doodle for Charity
Tue: 11-14-06
- Exclusive: Beirut's Condon Hospitalized, Cancels Tour
- Mastodon Meet Borat
- Stream: Eight New Goddamn Ryan Adams Albums
- Strokes' Hammond, Jr. to Open for Incubus
- MP3: Jens Lekman Talks Badminton, Snow, Dreams
- Hood's Bracken Signs to Anticon, Plans Single, LP
- Stream: Ghostface Killah: "Good"
- Photos: NovemberFest [Columbia, SC; 11/06-11/12/06]
- Mazarin Say Goodbye
- Exclusive: !!! Reveal New Album
- Photos: Modest Mouse [New York, NY; 11/13/06]
- Video: U of Arizona Marching Band Covers Radiohead
- Report: Be the Riottt! Festival [San Francisco, CA; 11/11/06]
- Exclusive: PLUG Awards Nominees Revealed
Mon: 11-13-06
- Jay-Z Announces Tracklist, One Day Tour
- Pioneering Critic Ellen Willis Dead at 64
- The Fall Ready Reformation, Contribute Song to Car Ad
- Bloc Party Cancels North American Tour
- Gretta Cohn, Ex-Cursive, Talks Cat Power, Solo Work
- Shapes and Sizes Tour, Begin Asthmatic Kitty 7" Series
- Danielson Famile Movie Set for U.S. Theaters
- T.V. Eye: November 13-20, 2006
- Grizzly Bear Cancel Tour After Robbery
Fri: 11-10-06
- Decemberists Ask Fans to Finish "O Valencia!" Video
- Ennio Morricone’s Birthday Bonanza Begins
- Yorke, YYYs, Cat Power, Rapture on Benefit Comp
- Exclusive Video: The Divine Comedy's Muse Revealed
- Photos: Islands [Portland, OR; 11/07/06]
- My Morning Jacket Announce More Shows
- Panda Bear Releases Split With Excepter, Preps Solo LP
- Bloc Party Drummer Suffers Collapsed Lung
- Rafter Makes Music for Total Chickens
- Johnny Cash Legend Lives on With Vol. II
Thu: 11-09-06
- Video Premiere: Tom Waits: "Lie to Me"
- Jens Lekman Recording With El Perro Del Mar
- Banhart/Newsom Producer Georgeson Releases Debut
- Young Jeezy Follows Motivation With Inspiration
- Decemberists Deliver Sony Connect Exclusive EP
- Video: Modest Mouse and Johnny Marr: New Song
- Favourite Sons Drop Off Drones/Devastations Tour
- Jennifer O'Connor Does Dylan
- My Brightest Diamond Releases iTunes EP, Adds Dates
- LCD Soundsystem Announces New Album, Tour
Wed: 11-08-06
- Trail of Dead, PGMG, Blood Brothers Play Anti*Pop
- White Magic Conjure Up Debut LP
- Video: Sufjan Stevens: "Put the Lights on the Tree"
- Nick Cave, Bad Seeds Members Are Grinderman
- Laughing Hyenas' Larissa Strickland Passes Away
- Photos: The Rapture / Hot Chip / Lo-Fi-Fnk [Philadelphia, PA; 11/03/06]
- Tom Waits to Appear on "Letterman", "Daily Show"
- Lightning Bolt's Chippendale Preps Art Book
- Photos: Les Savy Fav [New York, NY; 11/07/06]
- Infinite Mixtape #53: Indian Jewelry: "Lesser Snake"
- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Plan Winter Tour
- Video: Subtle: "The Mercury Craze"
- Video: The Rapture: "Whoo! Alright - Yeah...Uh Huh."
Tue: 11-07-06
- Conrad Keely Talks Trail of Dead Past, Present, Future
- Exclusive: Merge Signs Oakley Hall
- Bloc Party Launch Tour, Announce UK Dates
- Mountain Goats, Slits Play Novemberfest
- Grizzly Bear Acoustic Bonanza
- Black Mt.'s McBean Talks Album, Spin-offs, Coldplay
- Brian Wilson Becomes Action Figure
- Infinite Mixtape #52: Rock Plaza Central: "My Children, Be Joyful"
- T.V. Eye: November 7-13, 2006
- Video: Deerhoof Milk Man School Ballet
- Flaming Lips Honored With Alley in Oklahoma City?
Mon: 11-06-06
- New York Dolls Kick Off Tour
- Video: Cursive, Jimmy Eat World Dudes in Political Ad
- Exclusive: Rainer Maria Break Up
- Video: Clipse: "Wamp Wamp" / "Grindin'" (CMJ)
- Low Tread The Violet Path, Tour
- Photos: Lady Sovereign [Chicago, IL; 11/04/06]
- Juan Maclean, Cut Copy, Digitalism Remix Presets
- CMJ Report: Wrap-Up
Sun: 11-05-06
- CMJ Report: Saturday [Brandon Stosuy]
- CMJ Report: Saturday [Amy Phillips]
- CMJ Report: Saturday [Marc Hogan]
Sat: 11-04-06
- CMJ Report: Friday [Brandon Stosuy]
- CMJ Report: Friday [Amy Phillips]
- CMJ Report: Friday [Marc Hogan]
- CMJ Report: Friday [Ryan Schreiber]
Fri: 11-03-06
- Casiotone Escapes Fire, Preps Flock of Singles
- Telescopes Launch First-Ever U.S. Tour
- Charalambides Commence Tour
- Grime MC Crazy Titch Gets 30 Years for Murder
- The Knife Announce DVD
- Stream: Mission of Burma: “Academy Fight Song (Piano Cocktail Version)”
- CMJ Report: Thursday [Brandon Stosuy]
- CMJ Report: Thursday [Amy Phillips]
- CMJ Report: Thursday [Marc Hogan]
- CMJ Report: Thursday [Nitsuh Abebe]
- Original Bad Brains Ready New Album
Thu: 11-02-06
- Yo La Tengo, Animal Collective on Shortbus Soundtrack
- M. Ward, Six Organs, Okkervil Head Tanned Tin Fest
- Karen Dalton's In My Own Time Reissued
- Video: Tokyo Police Club: "Nature of the Experiment"
- Nas Says Hip-Hop Is Dead
- CMJ Report: Wednesday [Brandon Stosuy]
- Dinosaur Jr. Tour Around Xmas ATP
- CMJ Report: Wednesday [Amy Phillips]
- Photos: Lee "Scratch" Perry's Shoes! + Tour
- CMJ Report: Wednesday [Nitsuh Abebe]
- CMJ Report: Wednesday [Ryan Schreiber]
- Ghostface Cooks Up More Fish
- Sufjan, Calexico Hit "Austin City Limits" This Weekend
Wed: 11-01-06
- Dirty Three: Showdown in Shanghai!
- Photos: Secret Machines [Atlanta, GA; 10/31/06]
- Sunn 0))), Fehlmann, Jelinek on Buddha Machine Comp
- CMJ Report: Tuesday [Marc Hogan]
- Frida Hyvonen Tours U.S., Scores Dancing Poodles
- The Cure Ready Live DVD Shot by Fans
- The Azusa Plane's Jason DiEmilio Passes Away
- Snow Patrol Release Avalanche of Material
- Josephine Foster Sings Across America
- Sufjan Stevens Launches Euro Invasion
- Stream: The Shins: “Phantom Limb”
- Zak Sally Talks Tool, La Mano, Low
Squares, Inc.