The Kooks Head to the U.S. on Tour
It was those same Kooks from that one stupid photo shoot
"Fresh out of the studio" with producer Tony Hoffer-- who helped them concoct the follow-up to last year's Inside In/Inside Out, due in spring 2008 from Astralwerks-- the band has a single gig before heading to the States: a November 24 session in London to support the Mencap charity. [MORE...]
Mountain Goats, Magnetic Fields, Cursive Do Noise Pop
Like those bratty girls with the rich daddies on the MTV, Noise Pop is getting what it wants for its 16th birthday. Lucky for us, the annual San Francisco festival possesses far better taste in tunes than most of those young ladies, and for its 16th edition-- popping off February 26-March 2 at a bevy of Bay Area venues-- organizers have already lined up a winner.The Mountain Goats, the Magnetic Fields, Cursive, and the relatively new Gutter Twins (aka Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan) will be joined by several dozen unnamed others over the festival's nearly week-long run, along with music-themed films, art, panels, vendors, and the like. You'll know more when we do.
Un-T.V. Eye: November 19-25, 2007
Writers: still striking. Network television: still full of reruns. Also, apparently some kind of big U.S. holiday is happening this week. Conclusion: turn off the TV and spend some quality time with friends and family, people.Monday, November 19:
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Hot Hot Heat (rerun)
NBC: The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Glen Hansard (of the Frames) and Marketa Irglova (rerun)
Wednesday, November 21:
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Peter Bjorn and John (rerun)
Thursday, November 22:
NBC: The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Nelly Furtado (rerun)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Rogue Wave (rerun)
Fuel TV: The Daily Habit: Architecture in Helsinki
Friday, November 23:
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Ice-T (rerun)
Fuel TV: The Daily Habit: She Wants Revenge
Saturday, November 24:
FOX: Fearless Music TV: Datarock
PBS: Austin City Limits: Van Morrison (rerun)
Bjork Adds More 2008 Dates, Plots New Single
Does another video with Michel Gondry
January 1, while the rest of us are still sleeping off the last Shirley Temples we downed in 2007, Björk will be busy filling out her new "Cuddly Kittens" planner with schemes for '08.
First up: a brand new single for Volta's terrifically incendiary "Declare Independence", which hits overseas stores New Year's Day via One Little Indian (details forthcoming). A Michel Gondry-directed clip for the track should be emerging sometime soon, though clicking here and shaking your head back and forth ought to do for the time being.
Also in the works from Björk: a whole bunch of new dates in the UK and Japan (plus one in South Korea) throughout the late winter and early spring to follow her previously announced time in Australia. And after that? Only the kittens know for sure. [MORE...]
"I would like to announce that the show we are playing at Primavera in Barcelona [December 8]...will be our last for quite some time," wrote Cox. "It will also be the last time we are ever playing the Cryptograms set we have been playing for the last two years. After that the band are going on hiatus. We all need some time to organize our lives.
"Thanks to everyone who has helped us out. This has been a crazy year that I will always remember."
Cox goes on to promise that the Deerhunter blog will continue to be updated from time to time, but with the focus shifted to band members' extracurricular endeavors. Speaking of which, Cox will no doubt use this time off to drum up support for his forthcoming debut under the Atlas Sound moniker, due February 19 from Kranky.
Thankfully, however, this is all looking more like a Patrick Wolf hiatus than a Sleater-Kinney hiatus. "Quite some time" can't be too terribly long, as Deerhunter are scheduled to play ATP vs. Pitchfork in May 2008. Enjoy your vacations, guys. [MORE...]
Kanye, Rapture, Pharoahe Monch Play Good Vibrations
With Kid Sister and A-Trak, Cypress Hill, Thievery Corporation, Lyrics Born, K-Os
Joining Big K for all them good vibes are the Rapture, Pharoahe Monch, A-Trak and Kid Sister, Cypress Hill, Thievery Corporation, K-Os, Sinden, that Calvin Harris clod, Pigeon John, Radioclit, and oh so many others.
At the moment, Kanye's the only one not signed up for all four gigs, as he's opted to duck out of the Brisbane date in favor of some Grammy thing or something. Good Vibrations hits Melbourne February 9, with Brisbane to follow the next day. It's to Sydney with this lot February 16, and Perth closes things out the 17th. Each stop on the tour will be hosted by Lyrics Born.
Bodies of Water Sign to Secretly Canadian
Band's debut reissued soon, new LP also on the way
Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink the world over in the next couple months, as the debut LP from Los Angeles' Jesus Christ Superstars Bodies of Water is re-released on their new label, Secretly Canadian.
The excellent Ears, previously only available online or at Bodies of Water gigs via the band's Thousand Tongues imprint, will hit shelves for the very first time Stateside December 4, with a worldwide release set for January 22. What's more, the band is apparently already eyeing a follow-up, to be released in the spring. I guess they forgot to sleep, I guess, I guess.
Sian Alice Group Prep Debut LP for Social Registry
The word "epic" is thrown around quite a bit when speaking of London's Sian Alice Group, and with good reason. The band, which uses Arthur Russell, Detroit techno, and, yes, a little shoegaze as jump-offs, knows how to fill the space between those disparate elements.Sian Alice Group's debut LP, 59.59, should stretch those epic tendencies to newly ginormous proportions; heck, it will, seeing as John Coxon of Spiritualized and Spring Heel Jack appears (along with Gang Gang Dance's Brian DeGraw) on the disc's closer. The Jesus and Mary Chain's Douglas Hart also partakes. The album, recorded at the band's central London studio, is due February 19 from the Social Registry.
And if you recall seeing Social Registry and Sian Alice Group together in a story before, that's probably because you read this one, which makes mention of SAG's participation in the SR 7" series. Sian Alice Group's "Nightsong" 7" is out now. [MORE...]
Obscure French Synth-Wave Collected on Comp
The folks at Everloving Records are hoping B.I.P.P.P.: French Synth-Wave 1979-1985 does just a little bit better in the marketplace than the original singles it's comprised of.Originally curated by Parisian label Born Bad, the disc is culled entirely from lo-fi 7" singles from a quarter century ago. These things barely even qualify as obscure; to give you some idea, comp artist Ruth's album famously (well, as famously as an underperformer of this magnitude can be) only sold 50 copies.
Which means, despite their age, these tracks are a goldmine in need of a pick axe. In fact, Ed Banger label head Busy P recently mined Comix's "Touche Pas Mon Sexe" for the recent electro house stomper "Rainbow Man". If anybody knows French dance music, it's probably that dude. The disc drops February 12. [MORE...]
Photos: Spiritualized [New York, NY; 11/16/07]
Photos by William Kirk
The elusive J. Spaceman touched down at New York City's famed Apollo Theater this past weekend to treat eager Earthlings to some typically transcendent Spiritualized fare. To help escort us into his world, the being known down here as Jason Pierce enlisted strings, keys, and choir to join in performing stripped down, acoustic versions of many of his finest tunes.
The "Acoustic Mainlines" tour hits Boston tonight and rolls into London next month. Meanwhile, all signs point toward a new Spiritualized record in 2008.
[MORE...]
Of Montreal Do New Ad, Barnes Talks Selling Out
"To me, the TV is the world's asshole boss and if anyone can earn some extra bucks from it and they're not Bill O'Reilly, it's a good thing."
As you know, indie rockers and corporate America can make for awfully strange bedfellows. Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes seems to be more accustomed to snuggling up with commercial interests than most, what with his now-infamous Outback Steakhouse ad and at least one other foray into the world of selling stuff.
And he's done it again, with a T-Mobile advert that debuted during last night's American Music Awards. The ad features two lines of Barnes dialogue, the band all gussied up, and just a bit of "Gronlandic Edit"; it will be airing regularly throughout the next several months (Art Brut have apparently filmed a similar spot). Check out the clip over at Idolator.
Stereogum caught wind of Kevin's plans to peddle phones on the telly and asked Kevin just what the deal was. He responded with a rather lengthy thinkpiece entitled "Selling Out Isn't Possible", printed in full on stereogum.com.
The gist of Barnes' statement is simple: he may be providing these companies his goods and services in exchange for money, but in so doing, he's not actually compromising his art. That in mind, he can't really be characterized as a sellout. This isn't entirely true-- Outback Steakhouse did compromise the lyrics of your song to better move bloomin' onions or whatever-- but it's close: though the popularity of Of Montreal has ballooned of late, it's mostly due to their latest, weirdest record and most elaborate, well-conceived stage show to date.
Apropos of the article's title, Barnes then rails against the very notion of selling out itself. "The pseudo-nihilistic punk rockers of the 70's created an impossible code which no one can actually live by," he writes, adding, "it's such garbage. The idea that anyone who attempts to do anything commercial is a sellout is completely out of touch with reality."
Barnes mentions that those crying sellout are generally gainfully employed and, therefore, oughta think about zippin' that lip. And he closes with this: "Next time you see a commercial with one of your favorite band's songs in it, just tell yourself, 'Cool, a band I really like made some money and now I can probably look forward to a few more records from them.' It's as simple as that. We all have to do certain things, from time to time, that we might not be completely psyched about, in order to pay the bills. To me, the TV is the world's asshole boss and if anyone can earn some extra bucks from it and they're not Bill O'Reilly, it's a good thing." Also worth mentioning: better to have Of Montreal records on the telly than, uh, Hinder.
The full text of Barnes' statement is available here. The PLUG Award nominated Of Montreal have a couple of U.S. dates left before they head to Europe to close out 2007. Oh, and while we're all on the same page, check out Pitchfork's interview with Mr. Barnes right here. [MORE...]
Photos: Black Kids [Athens, GA; 11/16/07]
Photos by Mike White"It's great to be back in Athens," exclaimed Black Kids' frontman Reggie Youngblood at the Flicker Theatre and Bar this Friday, "the scene of the crime." Youngblood was of course referring to the young band's performance at this year's Athens Popfest, which drew them lots of buzz from websites such as this one.
Well, now the DIY rockers are touring this year's Best New Music'd EP, The Wizard of Ahhhs, through their native Florida before heading off to the UK. More photos and tour dates below.
[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.)
Fri: 12-21-07: 07:00 AM CST
The Pitchfork Guide to New Year's Eve
Tue: 12-18-07: 04:30 PM CST
Indie Bands Sue Camel, Rolling Stone Over Ad
Tue: 12-18-07: 07:00 AM CST
Photos: Wu-Tang Clan [Chicago, IL; 12/15/07]
Mon: 12-17-07: 09:00 AM CST
Photos: Thrill Jockey 15th Anniversary [Chicago, IL; 12/14-12/15/07]
Fri: 12-14-07: 05:45 PM CST
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
Browse
- 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
- Albert Hammond Jr. Talks New LP, Songcraft, Strokes
- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Add Winter Dates
- Too $hort(!) Contributes to In Rainbows Remix Record
- Robyn, I'm From Barcelona, Shining Play EuroSonic
- Karlheinz Stockhausen R.I.P.
- Kanye, Wilco, Flaming Lips Items in Darfur Auction
- Dead Meadow Herald New LP With Show, Pre-Release
- Waits, Weller, B-more Club on "The Wire" Soundtracks
- The Mountain Goats Reveal 2008 Dates
- Photos: Dewey Cox and the Hard Walkers [Chicago, IL; 12/06/07]
- Sufjan to Play Tibet House Benefit
- Bjork "Declares" New Single Details
- Underworld Reschedule Tour
- Murdoch, Albarn, Harvey Write Charity Postcards
- Dan Deacon to Greyhound Buses: Fuck You!
- HEALTH Sketch Out 2008 Dates
- Malkmus/Jicks Reveal Emotional Trash Tracklist
- Camel, Rolling Stone Under Fire for Indie Rock Ad
- DeVotchKa Sign to Anti-, Ready New Album
- Wilco Announce Spring U.S. Tour
- Mike Patton Lends Voice to Creatures in I Am Legend
- Nick Cave Announces Single, Soundtrack Releases
- Photos: David Shrigley's Worried Noodles in Concert [New York, NY; 12/05/07]
- Bauhaus Mark Final Breakup With Final Album
- Destroyer, Amy Millan, Tokyo Police Club on CBC Comp
- Photos: Yo La Tengo Hanukkah Show [Hoboken, NJ; 12/04/07]
- Atlas Sound Announces North American Tour
- Hot Chip Reveal Intimate U.S. Shows
- Nas, Rihanna, Method Man Rarities on Def Jam Comp
- Jason Isbell (ex-Drive-By Truckers) Does Big Tour
- Photos: Kevin Drew with Metric's Jimmy Shaw and Chikita Violenta [Mexico City, Mexico; 12/03/07]
- Antony Announces New Album Title, Bjork Video
- Silver Jews Reveal Lookout Tracklist, 2008 Live Plans
- Earth Return With New Album, Live Dates
- M.A.N.D.Y. Craft Fabric 38 With Boratto, Booka Shade
- Photos: Deerhoof with Ken Kagami [Miami, FL; 12/04/07]
- Radiohead Freeloading to End December 10
- Art Brut Line Up 2008 Dates
- Nick Lowe Reissues, Expands Jesus of Cool
- The Futureheads Reunite With the Road
- The Moldy Peaches Reunite for Juno Premiere
- The Breeders Return With Mountain Battles
- Destroyer Brings Trouble in Dreams on New Album
- Blue Note Collects Classic Hip-Hop Sample Material
- Mike Ladd Sends Nostalgialator Stateside via Def Jux
- R.I.P. UGK's Pimp C
- Hersh, Donelly on All-Female Neil Young Tribute CD
- New Autechre Album Due in March
- Merge Bundles Big Dipper Albums Into Remastered Set
- Morrissey Brings the Pain to NME Via Blog
- Jeff Tweedy, Cool Kids Rock for Obama
- Regina Spektor Further Postpones Shows
- Radiohead Further Flesh Out European Tour Itinerary
- Aesop Rock Plots 2008 European Tour
- Yo La Tengo Freewheel Into 2008 on Tour
- Photos: The Clean / Times New Viking [New York, NY; 12/01/07]
- Super Furry Animals Tour, Do Gigs With Fiery Furnaces
- Witch, RTX, Turbonegro Kickstart Volcom Singles Club
- Daniel Lanois Unveils Sixth Solo Album, Film
- Rare Book Room Comp (Ft. Avey Tare, Deerhunter, Silver Jews) Release Details Announced
- Un-T.V. Eye: December 3-9, 2007
- Devin the Dude + France + Architecture in Helsinki = !?
- Joanna Newsom Lines Up More Orchestral Dates
- T.I., Lil Wayne, Chamillionaire on Crunk Hits Vol 4
- Maximo Park Celebrate Hometown With Beer, Bus Tour
- Constantines Issue Limited Edition 7"
- Radiohead Firm Up Tour a Wee Bit
- Born Ruffians to Issue Colorful Debut LP in Spring
- Califone, Sparhawk, Kozelek Help Do Presidential Songs
- Pumpkins, JAMC, QOTSA, Air, CSS Rock Aussie V Fest
- Lupe Fiasco Talks The Cool, Cheeseburgers, Retirement
- Mahjongg to Finally Issue New Record on K
- Blood on the Wall Ready Third Album
- Sufjan's Literary Event Back On for December 17
- Klaxons Go Crazy for France on Latest Single
- Foals Sign to Sub Pop in U.S.
- The Mars Volta Reveal Dates, Puzzling Download
- The Mary Onettes Issue Debut in the States
- The Teenagers Lust for Scarlett Johansson on Single
- Jackson Reissues Thriller With Kanye, will.i.am, Akon
- Band of Horses Sandwich Tour With More Dates
- New Portishead Album Due in April
- Radiohead's "Jigsaw" Single Details Fall Into Place
- Dean & Britta, Keren Ann Link Up for Spring Tour
- Stars Extend Tour Even More
- Shia LaBeouf Working on Cage Biopic
- Child Ballads (ex-Jonathan Fire*Eater) Send EP to U.S.
- Morrissey to Sue NME Over Immigration Remarks
- Boris Smile for New Album
- U.S. Gets Hey Willpower [ft. Imperial Teen, Tussle] LP
- St. Vincent Extends Tour
- Merge Auctions Arcade Fire, Spoon Posters for Charity
- Weird Weeds, Future Rapper Play Chris Schlarb Events
- Black Lips, Deerhunter, Mastodon to Appear in ATL Doc
- MMJ Sell Live "Oregon Trail" Picture Disc for Charity
- Growing Sign to the Social Registry for 7", Mini-Album
- Beyonce's Sister Solange Samples Boards of Canada
- Radiohead Announce More Tour Dates, Sorta
- Vetiver Plan Remix 12", Covers Album, New LP
- Belle & Sebastian Fete Glasgow in Calendar
- Pinback Play a Bevy of Radio Station Christmas Shows
- Be Your Own Pet Get Awkward on New LP
- The Locust's Van Robbed
- Forrest, Lucky Dragons Do Deathbomb Arc Tape Club
- Hot Chip, Optimo, Studio, Maps Remix Love Is All
- Tonight's Sufjan Stevens Literary Event Postponed
- Driver Who Killed Silkworm Drummer Sentenced
- Gutter Twins Announce Release Date, Shows
- Photos: Electrelane [Glasgow, Scotland; 11/27/07]
- Editors, Hot Hot Heat Link Up for Winter Tour
- Morrissey Signs to Polydor/Decca in UK
- Photos: Los Campesinos! / The Most Serene Republic [Los Angeles, CA; 11/27/07]
- Sufjan, Bjork, Arcade Fire in Rock for Kids Auction
- Evangelicals' New Album Descends on Dead Oceans
- The Big Sleep Record Forever, Tour With Thermals
- Black Lips Announce Huge 2008 Tour
- Jens Lekman, A Place to Bury Strangers Join P4K ATP
- New My Bloody Valentine Album: Not Digital-Only
- Fogarino/Franklin's Setting Suns EP Finally Emerges
- Crystal Castles Reveal Debut LP Details
- The Rumble Strips Postpone U.S. Dates
- Interpol Live, Remix EPs Available Right Now
- Radiohead Announce First 2008 Dates
- Kanye West Makes Nice With Evel Knievel
- Bright Eyes' Oberst Forms Band With M. Ward?
- Ryan Adams and the Cardinals Line Up West Coast Tour
- Lavender Diamond Join Traveling John Waters Xmas
- Arcade Fire Add More 2008 Dates
- Coil Issue Naples as Vinyl Box Set With Bonus LP
- Weezer LP6 Site Declared Hoax, Alone Pushed Back
- Simian Mobile Disco Hustle Into 2008 With More Shows
- R.E.M.'s Mills Plays New Orleans Charity Event in D.C.
- Herbert Seeks Phoned-In Vocals for New Big Band LP
- Un-T.V. Eye: November 26-December 3, 2007
- Richard Hawley Steps Out on Stage and Screen
- The Clean Plan Some Shows
- James Murphy, Nelly Furtado on Fucked Up Holiday 7"
- Wu-Tang Clan Reveal 8 Diagrams Tracklist, Add Dates
- Morrissey Plans 2008 Gigs
- Photos: Dinosaur Jr. [Boston, MA; 11/24/07]
- My Bloody Valentine Plan Digital Self-Release for LP
- DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist Join for "Hard Sell" Tour
- Ellen Page Talks Juno Soundtrack, Kimya Dawson
- New Pornographers Host XM Show, Issue iTunes Single
- Prefuse 73, Books, Petra Haden Rework Cornelius on EP
- Baroness Roll Over East Coast on Tour
- Horse Feathers Sign to Kill Rock Stars
- Lookout, the Next Silver Jews LP Has a Title
- DMC, De La Soul, Raekwon Play Jam Master Jay Benefit
- Circulatory System, Daedelus, Liz Janes Play Athens Fest
- Bruce Springsteen and Band Add Even More 2008 Dates
- Justice, Peaches, 2 Live Crew, A-Trak Do NYE in L.A.