Neko Case Big Ups Poetry in Poetry Magazine
"My Flaming Hamster Wheel of Panic About Publicly Discussing Poetry in This Respected Forum"

Williams, Eliot, Pound, Frost... Case? That's right, scarlet-haired singer Neko Case has joined the esteemed ranks of those published in Poetry magazine (three guesses as to what it covers).

In Poetry's November issue, which features art by David Byrne on its cover, Neko Case explains her history with poetry in an essay titled "My Flaming Hamster Wheel of Panic About Publicly Discussing Poetry in This Respected Forum". The essay is just one in a series called "The View From Here", where folks reflect on their personal experiences with the form.

The full text of Case's "Hamster Wheel" is available online here, but here are some choice bits:

"I am an awkward, heavy-handed mule of a high school dropout. I guess I just need permission to be in the same room with poetry...

"Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus haunts me. Aaron's death speech is veiled, venomous gospel music...

"W.H. Auden scares me under the couch (even when he's being funny)...

"Dorothy Parker makes me manic! I can't even make it through the first three lines of 'The Godmother' without bursting into tears...

"Lynda Barry and Sherman Alexie save my life constantly..."

Thanks to reader David Congdon for the tip!

Case will pick back up with the New Pornographers for a European tour on November 17, but she has solo dates in Tucson and L.A. on November 15 and 16, respectively. UPDATE: NEKO WILL NOT BE ACCOMPANYING THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS IN EUROPE If for any reason you need to prep for those solo shows, her entire back catalog was recently reissued. [MORE...]

Manu Chao Preps Digital Releases, Reissues

You'd think a year filled with big festival appearances, a sold-out tour, and an internationally successful new album would be enough for Manu Chao. [Cue Belushi] But noooooooo! He's got to go plan reissues and digital releases of a bunch of his old records too. Dude is insatiable.

The first of these "new" Manu Chao releases appears on November 20, when a good portion of his back catalog makes the jump to (legal) digital format.

Then, in late January, physical reissues of three Manu Chao releases will hit stores. Proxima Estación: Esperanza, Manu Chao's 2001 album, comes expanded with four videos, for "Me Gustas Tu", "Merry Blues", "La Chinita", and "Mr. Bobby". The 2002 live album Radio Bemba Sound System is the other CD getting reissued, and it comes with three clips from a 2007 Manu Chao concert in Paris as bonuses. The third reissue? Why, it's live DVD Babylonia en Guagua. That reissue comes with bonus documentaries Babylon's Fever and Todos a Genova, plus two other bonus films: Proxima Estacion...Esperanza and Infinita Tristeza.

All of these things come courtesy of Nacional/Because.

R.E.M., Beasties, Roots Play Langerado 2008
Also: National, Of Montreal, !!!, Dan Deacon, Walkmen, Blitzen Trapper, Shout Out Louds

Leave it to the organizers of South Florida's Langerado Music Festival to announce their fest's lineup before we even have time to get used to cold weather and limited daylight. We don't really want to start thinking about summer just yet, which is okay because Langerado takes place in early March. Still technically winter!

Langerado 2008, the sixth annual version of the event, takes place March 6-9 at a new location: the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in the South Florida Everglades ("mile marker 49 on Alligator Alley," according to a press release.)

But wait a second-- didn't we say something about a lineup? Why yes, we did. The first round of confirmed artists includes R.E.M., Built to Spill, Of Montreal, the Beastie Boys, the Roots, the National, !!!, Dan Deacon, the Walkmen, Blitzen Trapper, Dr. Dog, Minus the Bear, Shout Out Louds, Pelican, Matt Pond PA, Busdriver, the Postmarks, and Vampire Weekend. Also: 311, which, despite recent claims to the contrary, is still eh'thang.

Opeth Unleash a Live Album, Play a Cruise Ship

Emerging from the peak of proggy Swedish death metalsmiths Opeth's epic tour in support of 2005's awesome Ghost Reveries LP, The Roundhouse Tapes is a live record captured at a gig at London's Camden Roundhouse. The set features the group at the height of its powers, rolling through nine tunes over two discs. Tapes, available now in Europe and due November 20 in the U.S. on Peaceville Records, even boasts an "exclusive box set" package for its first edition.

Though there's not a goddamned thing mellow about them, Opeth will play the Melloboat-- a daylong cruise between Stockholm and Helsinki that'll also feature Katatonia, Leafhound, a reunited Comus, and others-- March 8 of next year. They say don't rock the boat, but, uh, yeah.

Opeth will also play Bloodstock 2008 at Derby, England's Catton Hall next August 17. [MORE...]

Former Dismemberment Planners Prep Statehood LP

Photo by David Holloway

Almost a year ago, Pitchfork reported the formation of Statehood, a new band featuring former Dismemberment Plan/ex-Maritime bassist Eric Axelson and former Dismemberment Plan drummer/actual rocket scientist Joe Easley. For their background, you can read that story. But now, the band has finally finished its debut album, and the talk from here on out is Futuretown, USA.

Led by songwriter Clark Sabine and rounded out by guitarist Leigh Thompson, Statehood will release Lies and Rhetoric, the aforementioned debut record, on November 19. That's a Monday (the industry norm is Tuesday), but since they're self-releasing, they can roll like that.

Also taking place in times yet to come: Statehood's tiny East Coast tour, which starts November 16 in Philly. And since we're talking about the D-Plan, don't forget Travis Morrison is also touring out East this month. [MORE...]

Photos: Jay-Z [Baltimore, MD; 11/09/07]

Photos by Kyle Gustafson

American gangster Jay-Z debuted his newest masterpiece on a small club tour last week, a brief hit-and-run trek that took him from Los Angeles to Philly in six days. We caught up with Mr. Carter at Baltimore's Ram's Head on Friday, right in the middle of the outing.

No word yet on any plans to tour the album further, but at least we can watch that "Storytellers" episode over and over again.

More photos below.










[MORE...]

Ya Ho Wa 13 Play First Shows in 30 Years, Reissue LP

We're hard-pressed for words to describe 1970s group Ya Ho Wa 13 beyond their traditionally vague "psychedelic" tag, so here's some math:

the Polyphonic Spree's numbers, cultishness, penchant for robes
X
the Hare Krishnas' meditative spirituality, penchant for robes
÷
general hippiedom
+
more robes
≈
Ya Ho Wa 13 and the Source Family cult/commune around it

Theirs is a confusing history, to say the least, and one that's better documented by others who are more knowledgeable.

But here's what we can tell you: Cold Sweat Records will reissue the band's Penetration: An Aquarian Symphony on February 5.

Better yet, surviving members of the band-- whose leader, Father Yod, died in a hang-gliding accident in 1975-- will play their first public shows in 30 years this month in conjunction with the publishing of Process Media's The Source: The Untold Story of Father Yod, Ya Ho Wa 13, and the Source Family by Isis Aquarian. The performances and accompanying slide shows, home movies, book signings, and more only take place in California, but really, what did you expect from these guys? [MORE...]

EMI Deceiving Radiohead Fans?

Say, have you heard that awesome new album Rainbow by the acclaimed rock band Radiohead? No? Here, just click on this link here and-- hey, wait a minute...this looks an awful lot like that catalog box set and creepy bear USB drive thingy. Neither of which, come to think of it, include the new Radiohead album. And isn't the new album actually called In Rainbows? WTF?

Here, let's attempt to set things straight. According to a Guardian Unlimited report today, folks who Googled the word "Radiohead" last week were presented with a highlighted, paid-for link that read as follows:

Radiohead - New Album
www.radioheadstore.com New Album "Rainbow" now available as Boxset inc. CD, USB, Digital

The above link, however, leads not to the In Rainbows deluxe discbox so often mentioned in these pages, nor to anything involving In Rainbows at all. Instead, it takes curious clickers to a page where they may purchase the previously reported Radiohead catalog set in physical, digital, and USB formats from EMI/Parlophone. Which, as you may recall, was not Radiohead's idea.

EMI/Parlophone, of course, is Radiohead's former label, and the fact that they're dropping a box set around the same time Radiohead delivers their discbox has already aroused suspicions. Now comes this Google ad-- rather plainly misleading, wouldn't you say?-- and the plot thickens.

Guardian Unlimited asked EMI whether they had indeed placed the ad, and received the following in response: "Parlophone were aware of the data source glitch and removed the link immediately." Data source glitch, right, gotcha.

The link has indeed been removed, and NME.com quotes a Radiohead spokesperson as saying, "We accept that it was a genuine error and that it has been rectified." Regardless of what exactly is going on here, I think it's safe to say Radiohead and EMI will not be on each other's Christmas card lists this year.

In Rainbows CD and vinyl, meanwhile, arrives in North America January 1 via TBD/ATO, in the UK December 31 via XL Recordings, and in Japan December 26 from Hostess Entertainment.

On a lighter note, Scott Plagenhoef's Radiohead webcast play-by-play should bring a smile to even the grinchiest of faces.

Metric Release Live DVD, iTunes EP
But will they ever release the stranglehold their songs have on my heart?

Finally, a Metric DVD I don't have to watch with my Kaplan math tutor. Canadian synth-rock superstars Metric will issue the live DVD Live at Metropolis February 12 on Last Gang Records. It captures the band in action at a Fall 2006 Montreal stop on their Live It Out tour, and also includes the videos for Live It Out's three singles.

To sweeten an already sugary deal, iTunes will offer a Live at Metropolis EP come mid-December. It will feature "Patriarch on a Vespa", "The Police and The Private", and "Too Little Too Late" from the Metropolis set, as well as the DVD trailer, for less than a buck.

If all this live stuff has got you salivating for a Metric show, well, you're gonna make a puddle before that happens. Metric's recent tour with Crystal Castles has wrapped, with no future dates scheduled for now. Makes you wish there was some kind of concert film or something to tide you over in the interim, don't it? Hey... [MORE...]

Ladytron Sign to Nettwerk, Prep Fourth LP
Slag off old label, Rykodisc

Dig it: Ladytron have a new album, the follow-up to 2005's exquisite Witching Hour, due in May 2008. Well, almost: they're actually in Paris right now recording it with co-producer and Ed Banger dude Vicarious Bliss. And that's not all. Ladytron have inked with a new label, Nettwerk, to help bring that as-yet-untitled fourth album home to roost.

What, you don't know Ladytron? "Ladytron is one of the coolest, most vital and cutting edge bands around right now," according to Nettwerk co-founder Mark Jowett's press release quote. How about that?

Speaking to Billboard.com yesterday, Ladytron's Daniel Hunt was geeked about the signing as well: "We wanted to work with people who really understood where we were. The best thing about the Nettwerk deal is that the band and the management will have the ability to be really hands-on with the marketing and planning. This time around, nothing will be left to chance."

Hunt was notably less geeked about Ladytron's former label, Rykodisc, which gobbled up their former former label, Emperor Norton. "We were not on Rykodisc by choice," he told Billboard.com. "They wanted to keep us and we said no. The only reason our last record did so well was because we worked really hard and toured on it for two years. The label really did nothing." Rykodisc could not be reached for comment.

The most recent round of Ladytron touring, meanwhile, recently wrapped up, but the band does have a pair of DJ dates in the weeks to come. [MORE...]

Arctic Monkeys Choose "Teddy Picker" for Next Single
B-side features guest vocals from Richard Hawley

Arctic Monkeys' "Teddy Picker" already has the distinction of being the best (only?) extended metaphor about a crane game ever set to music, but soon, it can claim another honor: its very own single. Domino Records will issue "Teddy" in the UK December 3 on 7", 10", CD, and download, with a digital-only release to hit North America the following day.

All but the 7"-- due to size, of course-- will feature not only "Teddy Picker" and a cover of Pat Farrell and the Believers' 1969 classic "Bad Woman" featuring Mr. Richard Hawley on vocals, but new Monkeys tracks "The Death Ramps" and "Nettles" as well. Maybe when you're older, 7".

All this, of course, comes as the band is on a rare break in their mighty world tour (which picks up again November 27 in France). No last-minute addendums have been made to that itinerary at the moment: perhaps this single is, in fact, the last screech we'll hear from the Monkeys in 2007? I dare not comment; we've spoken too soon on the matter before. [MORE...]

Alan Sparhawk's Black-Eyed Snakes Go Skiing on DVD
Black Mountain pissed they didn't think of idea first

Usually when a band releases a DVD, it's of some live show, or it's a documentary chronicling the history of the band, or maybe it's some kooky music-related movie with interviews and music videos as extras. Not so for Low guitarist/vocalist Alan Sparhawk's Black-Eyed Snakes side project.

The Snakes have released a short film called Cross Country With the Snakes on DVD, featuring the cross-country skiing talents of the band and, in particular, those of drummer and one-time Olympic hopeful Brad Nelson. And sure, the DVD-- shot by skiing fanatic Hansi Johnson-- also has some live footage from the shows the band played on its Colorado/Utah road trip, but the real prize is getting to see the Snakes' impression of Low's "Belarus" video.

As part of the Banff Mountain Film Festival tour, Cross Country With the Snakes will screen at Minneapolis' Midwest Mountaineering on November 16 and 17 and at the Duluth Cross Country Ski Club on November 18 and 19. The DVD is available from Low's chairkickers.com now.

For their part, Low still have those Down Under dates scheduled in January, starting January 9 in Auckland, New Zealand. [MORE...]

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.)