Girl Talk, Ted Leo, Enon, Blitzen Win Taco Bell Contest
Just pretend that's a taco, okay?
Girl Talk's Gregg Gillis: Playgirl model extraordinaire, the talk of Congress, the scourge of jam bands, and now, Taco Bell "Feed the Beat" contest champion of the world!!
Along with 49 other musical acts, Gillis walked away with a victory in the recent contest, which invited touring musicians to describe why they quiero Taco Bell foodstuffs. His prize? $500 worth of said foodstuffs. If you find a little salsa in Gillis' beard next time he stage dives on top of you, well, now you know why.
Other victors in the Fourthmeal mecca's competition include Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Enon, Blitzen Trapper, White Rabbits, Panthers, Meg & Dia, and Manchester Orchestra. Bon appétit, guys.
Oh, and speaking of Girl Talk: our boy Gregg has contributed a rare track to a special four-song sampler the folks at his label, Illegal Art, have kindly made available for download (snatch it here). The apostrophe-free jam, "Lets Run This", originally appeared on a now out-of-print Australian compilation titled Ministry of Shit. If the words "free Girl Talk mp3" aren't enough to get your mouse finger click-happy, do yourself a favor and ruminate on this here tracklist. [MORE...]
Patrick Wolf to Play "Finale" Show in London
Photo by Kathryn YuSo it's a Patrick Wolf finale, then, but (thankfully) not the one we'd dreaded. The magic dandy has added a special year-capping show at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire December 20 to his tour itinerary that will be his last until the writing, recording, and release of his forthcoming follow-up to this spring's stellar Magic Position. The show will be a two-part affair: the first finding Patrick by his lonesome, and then, following a brief intermission, a Christmas party-slash-full band set. Dude could rock those elf ears like none other, don't you think?
There are plenty of opportunities to catch Patrick before then, too, as his North American tour winds to a close next week and he hits Australia, Japan, and the UK in November. [MORE...]
Beirut's Flying Club Blogotheque Vids Headed for DVD
The internet is pretty neat, what with the whole "world wide" aspect of it and this streaming video thing that's all the rage these days. But sometimes a few too many abrupt buffering breaks can make one long for the good old days of the DVD.
Beirut, no strangers to longing for the good old days, know this well. So, together with La Blogothèque, they're planning to compile all those lovely Flying Club Cup live videos that have been blowing up cyberspace (and your friendly Forkcast) onto one nice little DVD.
What videos, you say? Please report directly to the Pitchfork search box, change the drop menu item to "Forkcast", type in "Beirut", and hit "Go". (Or check them out here.) Those videos, my friend, the final two of which just went up this morning. You ought have a look! There's one for each track on The Flying Club Cup, and they're all rather lovely.
The DVD-- titled Cheap Magic Inside-- will in fact span an hour and contain additional footage never before seen on the interwebs! Blog and band plan to sell this self-released article on Beirut's upcoming European tour, which kicks off November 6 in Manchester, England. Plans for some sort of U.S. release are also in the works. Alas, no word yet on the cinematograph edition. [MORE...]
NIN Remix LP Tracklist, Release Date Revealed
New Order's Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert, Switch, Paul Epworth all confirmed
Looks like Trent Reznor hasn't quite rid himself of Interscope just yet. The once-mysterious Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D album will be released on the label in a number of formats November 20.
In a post to Nine Inch Nails' website yesterday, Trent laid out all the details for the remix album. In addition to previously confirmed remixers the Faint, Sam Fogarino of Interpol, Fennesz, the Knife's Olaf Dreijer, Ladytron, Saul Williams, and Bill Laswell, Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D also contains previously rumored, now confirmed remixes from New Order's Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert, Switch, Paul Epworth, and a ragtag crew of others, including a fan.
Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D will be available as a digital download, a CD/DVD-ROM combo, and a triple-disc LP. The digital download and CD/DVD-ROM share the same tracklist, but the latter "also contains a DVD-ROM (not a movie) that contains every track from Year Zero in multitrack format for you to do with what you please." He adds, graciously, "Mac or PC."
Both the vinyl and the CD come packed in a six-panel jacket designed to match Year Zero, though a number of tracks are exclusive to each. But frankly, Trent doesn't really care which version you buy, or if you buy it at all.
Having trouble sorting through your options? Let Uncle Trent explain:
"I can make this easy for you: if you just want to hear the tracks as cheaply as possible, get it digitally. The highest fidelity will likely be [the] Amazon [digital music store] (through legal means). If you want something that's aesthetically cool and will enhance any collection, get the vinyl. Trust me, it looks great. The extra tracks are fairly minor embellishments to the whole (and surely someone will upload them instantly). If you want higher quality tracks legally, a nice package AND a complete multitrack of the whole record, get the physical CD / DVD ROM." You're the boss!
Trent's straight talk express kept on rollin':
"**insert comment from NINSUX: 'I thought he said all the multitracks
were going to be posted online, now he wants us to PAY for them??'
Relax,
friend. One second after this package goes to the manufacturing plant
someone will kindly upload those missing multitracks and everything
will be OK. If they don't soon enough for your liking, just yell loudly
out the window and I'll do it myself."
Awesome! We love it when artists leak their own albums!
He continues: "As for the record itself, I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. Remix records can be disposable garbage (of which I myself have been guilty of to some extent) but this collection feels good to me. I reached out to heroes, friends, and strangers. I encouraged those I approached to do anything and insert themselves as much as possible into the track. Some of the stuff that was done earlier led me to choosing other people to balance things out. The Pirate Robot Midget mix is a fan's work-- I thought it was great, it filled a need and I asked permission to use it here.
"It's always interesting for me to hear my work reinterpreted-- I hope it is for you as well."
Upon the release of Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D, Trent and co. will launch remix.nin.com, designed as a hub for submission and discussion of fan remixes.
[MORE...]
Liars Craft "House Clouds" Single, Extend Tour
Following up the face-melter "Plaster Casts of Everything", the first single from Liars' recent self-titled LP, couldn't be an easy task. But "House Clouds", the almost Beck-like tune that follows "Plaster Casts" on the LP, seems like a natural choice for the next gem to be culled from the magnificent muck of Liars. So it shall be October 29, when Mute issues that song as a single on CD, 7", and digital download "House Clouds".
The "House Clouds" CD and download feature new cut "Red Dirt" and the Tiny Masters of Today remix of "Clear Island" (the latter a favor repaid for Liars remixing a TMT song). The disc also contains the uncensored version of that bugged-out "Plaster Casts" video. The "House Clouds" 7" sports a new tune called "Dear God".
That tour with Interpol seems to be going rather well, if the pictures we've seen are any indication. Tonight both bands hit our homebase of Chicago. After the Interpol tour, Liars tour Europe in November and December, with a stop off at the ATP Halloween gala. [MORE...]
Indie Rock Hits the Funny Pages
When historians look back on our current decade, the date of October 10, 2007 will live in infamy. And not just because it was In Rainbows day. But because it was the day that ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead got a shout-out in Sally Forth. (See above.)
Big, big thanks to reader Nicholas Scheurich for catching that!
The story line continues today:
Too bad "the Killers" and "Awesome Color" are already taken.
Also, is it just us, or is Sally Forth really depressing these days?
Speaking of Trail of Dead, the dates for their Adult Swim tour have been announced. Look in the front row for the girl with the hipster haircut and brown jacket with food all over it.
Photos: PJ Harvey [New York, NY; 10/10/07]
Photos by Kathryn YuLike the slightly more prolific Robert Pollard, PJ Harvey has decided to grace U.S. audiences with but two live appearances this year, the first of which went down last night at New York City's Beacon Theatre. Adorned in a vintage white dress with writing scrawled on the arms-- not unlike the one she sports on the cover of the just-released White Chalk-- a solo Harvey treated the gathered to selections spanning her diverse catalog, including the raw "Man-Size", alt-rock radio hit "Down by the Water", and plenty of the new Chalk material.
Ghostly Harvey haunts Los Angeles' Orpheum on October 15.
[MORE...]
John Pugh Leaves !!!, Fires Up Free Blood
Debut Free Blood EP features Hot Chip remix
Turns out Free Blood came at a cost, however, as Pugh has, according to his publicist, officially quit !!! to concentrate on his new digs full time.
Free Blood's first release is the "Quick & Painful" / "Never Hear Surf Music" EP, which comes out in the UK on October 15 via Adventures Close to Home. It's the first of three EPs Free Blood will release on the label, and it features a Hot Chip remix of the first track and an iTunes-only remix of the second track by the label's crew. All three EPs will have 12" vinyl as well as digital releases.
Meanwhile, the now Pugh-less !!! are still going strong on their tour with the Field. Their next show is tonight, October 11, in NYC. [MORE...]
Jonny Greenwood Talks In Rainbows
"It's just interesting to make people pause for even a few seconds and think about what music is worth now."
Gothamist: What's motivating the band to distribute the album this way?
Jonny Greenwood: Just getting it out quickly. It was kind of an experiment as well; we were just doing it for ourselves and that was all. People are making a big thing about it being against the industry or trying to change things for people but it's really not what motivated us to do it. It's more about feeling like it was right for us and feeling bored of what we were doing before.
Gothamist: Why give people the option to pay whatever they want?
Greenwood: It's just interesting to make people pause for even a few seconds and think about what music is worth now. I thought it was an interesting thing to ask people to do and compare it to whatever else in their lives they value or don't value.
Gothamist: Have you gotten any figures of how much people are choosing to pay?
Greenwood: No we get the numbers tomorrow supposedly. Yeah, I don't know. The more exciting thing for me is just hearing it on the radio today and knowing it's landed on everybody's desk at the same time. That's what's exciting. But yeah, I'm sure our manager will have some idea soon.
Gothamist: How did the process of making In Rainbows differ from Hail to the Thief?
Greenwood: It was more like earlier Kid A stuff, more based in studio experiments and trying out ideas and spending quite a long time. That's what we did with Kid A and Amnesiac.
Gothamist: What song on the album proved most difficult to finish?
Greenwood: Even ones that we finished quickly we spent a long time deciding if they were good enough. None of them were easy, actually. "Reckoner" kind of came together quickly.
Beyond that, Greenwood also revealed that he's yet to start work on the commissioned piece that comes as part of his BBC British Composer Awards victory ("Thanks for reminding me, I must start something soon on that.") and that he likely won't be attending the U.S. premiere of Popcorn Superhet Receiver this coming January in New York City.
Oh, also: Radiohead hope to tour in 2008!!!
Greenwood also spoke with RollingStone.com's Rock&Roll Daily blog today and said more or less exactly the same things, sometimes word-for-word. One new topic he did touch upon, however, is the touchy subject of the 160 kbps In Rainbows mp3s. Justified Jonny: "We talked about it and we just wanted to make it a bit better than iTunes, which it is, so that's kind of good enough, really. It's never going to be CD quality, because that's what CD does."
In related news, since the In Rainbows download didn't come with album art, folks have started making their own. Here's our favorite so far:
Boards of Canada, Islands, Xiu Xiu Join Why? on Single
So do Dump (James McNew of Yo La Tengo), Dntel, Half-Handed Cloud
Avant-rap folkie Why? (aka Yoni Wolf) and crew (pictured leftward) are set to release a pair of 12"s for new single "The Hollows" in the U.S. and the Europe on Anticon and Tomlab, respectively. The Anticon-issued "Hollows" single is due November 19, and in addition to the title track, it sports a remix by Dntel, and covers of older Why? tracks by Xiu Xiu and Half-Handed Cloud.
The Euro Tomlab single-- out November 18 but subject to change-- gets a Boards of Canada remix and covers by both Dump (James McNew of Yo La Tengo's other thing) and Islands. Hey, Boards of Canada! Glad to hear you guys are still around.
"The Hollows" features the three main
Why? dudes (Yoni Wolf, Josiah Wolf, Doug McDiarmid) along with guest
stars Doseone (Subtle), Nedelle (the Curtains/Cryptacize), and Andrew
Broder and Mark Erickson of Fog.
But wait, a single generally accompanies an album, right? Correct. Alopecia,
the forthcoming Why? LP, will drop March 11 from Anticon in the States.
Again, Tomlab will handle things in Europe, though the release date for
that has not been nailed down. "By Torpedo or Crohn's", the track that
Dntel remixes on "The Hollows" U.S. single, and "Good Friday", the song
Boards of Canada tackle on the Euro version, will also be included on Alopecia. Yup, they're releasing remixes before the originals.
Why? currently have exactly one tour date scheduled, and it's a special one. They'll play New York's Knitting Factory this Sunday, October 14, and the cost of admission is exactly $1.00. Being cheap, the thing's gonna sell out fast, so be a smarty and shoot an e-mail to whyrsvp@gmail.com to guarantee entry. [MORE...]
CSS, Peaches, Ladytron Remix Bonde do Role on EP
Exhaustion, where is thy sting?
Apparently, Bonde Do Role didn't get their own memo. You guys are supposed to be tired, finally ready to rest (or at least recharge) after relentlessly supporting With Lasers, remember? Not putting out another record!
Nevertheless, the Brazilian trio will indeed release the Marina Gasolina single/EP via Domino on December 4 in the U.S. (November 26 in the UK). The U.S. EP is a CD release with 10 tracks, including remixes by CSS, Peaches, Architecture in Helsinki, and Ladytron. The UK single comes in 7" and 12" formats, and the latter adds a couple other names to aforementioned list of remixers. Digital versions of all tracks will be available in both the U.S. and the UK.
Bonde still have plenty of tour dates. They've even added a couple! Oh Bonde, when will you learn? [MORE...]
Page France Frontman Becomes Cotton Jones
Maryland man Michael Nau has a curious knack for assuming musical monikers that transcend mere non-sequiturs. First, there was Page France, a name as deeply confusing as it is seemingly simple. Now that PF is de facto defuncto for the foreseeable future because of the band members' busy lives, Nau's gone all Wooden Wand on us with his new name: the Cotton Jones Basket Ride. Whatever gets him writing, we guess.By the looks of things, Nau's done quite a bit of writing recently, as he has plans to release a Cotton Jones EP, seven-inch, and full-length soon. The EP comes in a handmade booklet, and five of the six tracks are demo versions of songs that will appear on the forthcoming album, Paranoid Cocoon. The EP is only available at Cotton Jones shows and his label Quite Scientific's website, where it ships on November 5.
Specific information regarding Paranoid Cocoon and the seven-inch-- Lovely Day, I Guess-- is still forthcoming, though Quite Scientific plans to release the album early next year.
The Cotton Jones Basket Ride will make its full-band debut on October 19 as part of the Quite Scientific CMJ showcase. The band has two other shows scheduled for November. [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.)
Mon: 01-07-08: 10:00 AM CST
Daft Punk, Hot Chip, Pipettes, T.I. Design Playboy Shirts
Mon: 01-07-08: 09:00 AM CST
Dizzee Rascal Expands Winter Tour
Sun: 01-06-08: 07:00 AM CST
Shins' Crandall, Girlfriend Arrested for Domestic Assault
Fri: 01-04-08: 04:50 PM CST
Silver Jews' David Berman Talks Lookout, Outlook
Fri: 01-04-08: 04:00 PM CST
Radiohead Manager Explains Amplive Remix Snafu
- Facing Lockup, Rapper Prodigy Turns Video Blogger
- Belle & Sebastian's Jackson, Oakley Hall Do Guitar Fest
- Flipper Recording New Album With Krist Novoselic
- Califone, Fugazi Members Soundtrack Brent Green Films
- MMJ, Wrens, Mekons Folks Aid New Orleans Musicians
Browse
- Silver Jews' David Berman Talks Lookout, Outlook
- Facing Lockup, Rapper Prodigy Turns Video Blogger
- Belle & Sebastian's Jackson, Oakley Hall Do Guitar Fest
- Flipper Recording New Album With Krist Novoselic
- Radiohead Manager Explains Amplive Remix Snafu
- Califone, Fugazi Members Soundtrack Brent Green Films
- MMJ, Wrens, Mekons Folks Aid New Orleans Musicians
- The Go! Team Tour Away Winter Languor
- Walkmen, White Williams, Bon Iver Play Chicago Fest
- The Streets' Skinner Retires the Beats Label
- Raveonettes Plot Tours of North America, Italy
- Robyn Announces U.S. Tour Dates!
- Jose Gonzalez Goes Green for North American Tour
- Under Byen Enlist Symphonic Help on New EP
- Black Mountain Add Dates With Bon Iver
- Nick Cave's Lazarus Gets Tracklist, U.S. Release Date
- The Long Blondes Set Up Couples, UK Tour
- Antony Designs Dress for Charity
- Amplive Nixes Radiohead Remixes at Warner's Demand
- The Fiery Furnaces Add Dates, Surprise Surprise
- Casiotone Drops a Few Singles, Plays a Few Gigs
- Fennesz Releases Two New Singles
- No Age, Mae Shi, Cline Play Smell Anniversary Shows
- Man Man Adopt Rabbit Habits, Tour U.S.
- Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan DJs on WFMU
- Beyonce PWNS Kanye in Connect Four
- Hot Chip Reveal Made Tracklist, Single, New Dates
- M83 Reveals Full Album Details
- Grand Archives Reveal Sub Pop Debut Details, Dates
- Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Tour for Trash
- Boredoms to Invade America This Spring
- Xiu Xiu Bolster Lovers With DVD, iTunes Exclusives
- Beck's Odelay Given Deluxe Reissue Treatment
- Smashing Pumpkins Issue New EP Today
- Cat Power Plots Jukebox Tour
- R.E.M. Gear Up to Accelerate on New LP
- Oberst Woos Iowans for Obama
- Evan Farrell (Magnolia Electric Co./Rogue Wave) R.I.P.
- Panda Bear Designs Sweatshirts
- Neko Case Schedules Winter Shows
- Bjork Discusses "Independence", Videos, Grammys
- While We Were Out
- Radiohead Celebrate New Year With Webcast
- Jay-Z Leaves Def Jam Presidency
- R.I.P. Oscar Peterson, 1925-2007
- Kim Deal Talks New Breeders Album, Pixies, German
- Country Singer J.D. "Cast" King R.I.P.
- Minor Threat Turns Condiment, But Ian Doesn't Mind
- Pollard Records 7" With Decemberists, Quasi Members
- Los Campesinos! Reveal Album Tracklist, Release Date
- Swell Return With New Album, Rarities Collection
- Mission of Burma Have a Burmese Mission
- Oldham, Faun Fables Release Letting Go Demos
- Photos: GZA Performs Liquid Swords [New York, NY; 12/13/07]
- Thrill Jockey B-Day Bash: Become Yr Fave Album Cover!
- The Decemberists to Return to the Road in January
- Rocket From the Crypt Resurrected on Live CD/DVD
- Lupe Fiasco Plots Sizable U.S. Tour, Cool Happenings
- Radiohead Reveal Cool In Rainbows CD Packaging
- Kindercore Serves Up Xmas Charity Comp/Comic Book
- Black Lips Release Very Limited Edition Single
- Portastatic, Annuals, Rosebuds Rock Trekky Recs Xmas
- Beach House Team With Papercuts for 2008 Tour
- Labels Seek Apology From Rolling Stone for Camel Ad
- Electrelane Organize Anti-Trafficking Benefit
- Donations Sought for Ailing Country Singer Cast King
- Madonna, Leonard Cohen Inducted Into Rock Hall
- Harry Potter Bands Rock Against Media Consolidation
- My Bloody Valentine Headline Benicassim Festival
- Sambassadeur Let Migration Free in the States
- Kevin Barnes, Jeff Mangum in Wacky Elephant 6 Movie
- Liars, No Age Announce Joint Tour
- Justice Release "Phantom" Single
- Stephen Malkmus Talks Trash
- Ike Turner R.I.P.
- Calexico Tour-Only Jams Now Digital Via Touch & Go
- Bradford Cox Publicly Apologizes to Samara Lubelski
- Yorke Preps 12"s With Field, Four Tet, Burial Remixes
- Diplo Remixes Spoon's "Don't You Evah" for Charity
- Robyn Invites Us to "Be Mine" on Latest Single, Dates
- Morrissey Reveals New Single Details
- Liars, No Age Members Team for Sissy Spacek Show
- Black Lips Add Tour Dates (Yep) Again
- Explosions to "Drop off the Face of the Earth" After Tour
- Yeasayer Announce Big 2008 Tour
- Final Fantasy Song Jacked for Ad Leads to
AngerLawsuitTotally Sweet Music Festival - Okkervil River Drop Free Covers Mixtape, Add Gigs
- The Mars Volta Whip Up More Dates
- Radiohead Pad Out Tour With New Dates
- Jens Lekman Plots 2008 Dates
- Photos: ATP's Nightmare Before Christmas [Minehead, England; 12/07-12/09/07]
- Marina Leaves Bonde do Role
- Ghostface, Raekwon, Kweli Guest on New Hi-Tek Disc
- Built to Spill Keep on Trucking Into 2008
- The Cure Lend Guitar to West Memphis Three Auction
- RZA Sets out on Solo Tour, Wu-Tang Clan Add Dates
- Un-T.V. Eye: December 10-16, 2007
- Various Production Leave XL, Plan Releases
- Clark Sneaks Out New EP, Preps Album, Tours
- Wilco to Play "The Complete Wilco" in Chicago
- Silver Mt. Zion Overcome Triskaidekaphobia on 13 Blues
- David Pajo's Dead Child Plan Attack on Quarterstick
- Cat Power Plans Charity Mission Abroad
- Bonde do Role Cancel Remaining Tour Dates
- Photos: Primavera Club Festival [Barcelona, Spain; 12/03-12/08/07]
- Mirah, the Blow Team Up for West Coast Tour
- Black Mountain Announce West Coast Dates