Melt-Banana Kick Off Big Fall Tour
Banana split

Stream: Melt-Banana: Various Tracks

Lips Expand Zaireeka for 10th Anniversary Parties
Also: Flaming Lips Alley in Oklahoma City is finally here!

Ah, Zaireeka. For the uninitiated, back in 1997, the Flaming Lips decided to combine the words "Zaire" and "Eureka" into one ridiculous album title. Oh, and they also decided to record and release the resulting album in a fairly ridiculous manner: spread across four discs, each containing different music and meant to be played simultaneously (or, for a real trip, in various combinations).

Say what you will about the practicality and listener friendliness of such an endeavor. What's perhaps most ridiculous is that Zaireeka was originally released in 1997, and thus turns ten years old this year (crazy, ain't it?).

The Lips, never ones to shy from celebration, have decided to commemorate the anniversary with a series of special in-store parties, during which the album will be played as it's intended (since, as some have pointed out, most of us don't have four CD players lying around).

And that's not all: they've also done gone and bolstered the original Zaireeka with a fifth disc-- a DVD with 5.1 Surround Sound-- which they're calling the 10th disc because of the anniversary and because they're clowny like that.

Thus the Zaireeka Sound Experiment goes down at Seattle's Crocodile Cafe (in conjunction with Sonic Boom Records) October 22 and Dallas' Good Records on October 30, with more in-stores expected to be announced soon ("Ask your local independent record store if they are having a party," suggests the Lips' MySpace). Being Halloween-time, there will of course be a costume contest (reckon "Flaming Skeleton" might be a popular choice). What's more, a "Virtual Wayne" (Coyne) will be making an appearance via that DVD, shedding some light on each Zaireeka track.

No word yet whether the fifth disc will see official release, nor whether an anniversary edition of Zaireeka is in the pipeline. But whether four CDs or five, the Lips still have nothing on this nut.

Also, just a friendly reminder that Pitchfork's own Managing Editor Mark Richardson is working on a book about Zaireeka for the 33 1/3 series. Yay Mark!

And remember the Flaming Lips alley in Oklahoma City? Well, it's finally being dedicated October 25 at 11:30 a.m. Head on down to AT&T Bricktown Ballpark (the Plaza at Mickey Mantle entrance) to join in the festivities along with Wayne Coyne and OKC mayor Mick Cornett.

Video: Virtual Wayne: Talks Us Through Zaireeka

Cat Power's Jukebox Tracklist, Cover Art Revealed

After over a year of anticipation, the full details of Cat Power's second covers collection, Jukebox, have been announced. As previously reported, the set is due out January 22 on Matador. And in addition to what we already knew-- that it would contain a new version of Cat Power's own "Metal Heart" and a new song called "Song for Bobby" for, yes, Bob Dylan-- we've now got the whole tracklist. "New York, New York"! "Fortunate Son"! "Dark End of the Street"! Billie Holiday and James Brown and Hank Williams! This is going to rule.

According to a post on Matador's blog, "Much like real life, everything's subject to change." We hope not a whole lot here does. [MORE...]

Stream: Cat Power: It's Alright to Fail [from the Hottest State OST]

Death Cab's Chris Walla: Threat to Homeland Security?
"I Will Follow You Into the Dark" clearly about suicide bombing

Death Cab for Cutie seem like such nice boys. Calm, collected, clean cut (usually). Certainly not the sorts you'd peg as dabblers in international intrigue and matters of homeland security. Yet, as Cab guitarist/producer for hire/budding solo star Chris Walla told MTV.com, that's exactly what happened to a hard drive, a courier, and a politically-charged solo project gone AWOL.

According to MTV, Walla's label Barsuk recently hired a courier to bring a hard drive containing rough drafts of Wall's oft-delayed solo LP from Canada (where Walla was working on it) to the States. "He got to the border and he had all his paperwork and it was all cool," Walla said, "only they turned him away, and they confiscated the drive and gave it to the computer-forensics division of our Homeland Security-type people." Now, Walla says, he "couldn't even venture a guess as to where it is, or what it's doing there. I mean, I can't just call their customer-service center and ask about my drive. There's nothing I can do. I don't know if we can hire an attorney... is there a black-hole attorney? You can't take a black hole to court."

Well, "Night Court", maybe...

On his blog, Walla offers the bright side: "It's not a Kafka novel, and I'm not a prisoner at Guantanamo. My life isn't so bad. But still, this situation is a concrete and real reminder of what fuels the world we live in: It's fear and mistrust and suspicion. And oil."

He adds: "You know what would would be great? If all the items seized in border searches were divvied up among the Senators to investigate. In my wildest dreams, my drive ends up on Arlen Specter's desk in Washington, and he studies the files with surgical precision. And maybe my little songs tip him forever away from the fence, in either direction.

He's a fencesitter, Mr Specter: They're the most dangerous, you know."

Fortunately, Walla still has backup tapes containing all of the songs intended for the record, MTV reports. He's working on the mixing and mastering at the moment, and hopes to have it out in January. And the record has a new title, Field Manual (it was called It's Unsustainable in our last report).

UPDATE: Field Manual now has a release date: January 29. But if you want a new Walla track sooner than that, check out Hard to Find a Friend's Peace on Earth benefit compilation.

And how's this for a weird spin on an already strange story? Field Manual, it seems, is "very political", with tunes about the war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and contraception. One wonders just how a border guard might've gleaned all that from a sidelong glance at the hard drive from under the courier's arm. Scary...

Unphased, Walla's immediate plans include work on the next Death Cab LP. On his blog, Walla writes, "The DCfC record is in full swing; we're six songs in. Thus far it's pretty weird, and pretty spectacular; lots of blood. It's creepy and heavy...We've got a ten minute long Can jam, and had you suggested that possibility to me in 1998, I'd have eaten your puppy's brain with a spoon."

Maybe these Death Cab fellas get a little grislier than we thought!

MP3: Chris Walla: Dave Narcizo

Cass McCombs Plans Tours With Gonzalez, Ariel Pink

MP3: Cass McCombs: That's That [from the Dropping the Writ LP]

Jesus and Mary Chain Cancel Vegas Date

Video: The Jesus and Mary Chain: All Things Must Pass [live on the Late Show with David Letterman]

Cat Power, YLT, MMJ, Roots Fete Dylan in Concert
Along with Calexico, J Mascis, Lee Ranaldo, Mark Lanegan

People sure do love Bob Dylan. They also love Todd Haynes. As a bit of a live-action companion piece to Haynes' Dylan meta-biopic I'm Not There and its accompanying star-studded soundtrack, New York's Beacon Theatre will host "I'm Not There: In Concert" on November 7.

The list of performers-- much like that of the soundtrack, or those in the film-- is staggering: Cat Power, Calexico, My Morning Jacket, the Roots, J Mascis, Lee Ranaldo & the Million Dollar Bashers, Mark Lanegan, Yo La Tengo with Buckwheat Zydeco (!), Al Kooper (who notably played organ on Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone"), John Doe, and Gomez's Ian Ball and Olly Peacock are among those set to perform. Attendees are urged to expect "guests and more" at the event, so now's as good a time as any to start speculatin' as to who that might be. Sufjan? Karen O?

The I'm Not There soundtrack drops on Columbia October 30, and the film hits U.S. theaters November 21. Dylan is on tour with fellow legend Elvis Costello right now, as you know.

Thanks to reader Donovan Roediger for the tip. [MORE...]

Video: Bob Dylan: Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) [Mark Ronson remix]

His Name Is Alive Cut Marion Brown Tribute Disc

Video: His Name Is Alive: Come to Me [from the Xmmer LP]

Simian Mobile Disco Issue New "Hustler" Single, Tour

Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell

Though the song's been kicking around for over a year now-- we posted the video way back in September of 2006-- Simian Mobile Disco's fantastic, five-finger-discount promoting single "Hustler" will be released as a single again on November 26, when a CD and two remix-laden 12"s hit stores thanks to Wichita UK. (It's also available on the Attack Decay Sustain Release LP.)

While the band mines their past for tunes, they're currently shooting off into the future on a globe-spanning tour that finds them linking up with the like-minded types in Underworld, Klaxons, and the Chemical Brothers. Are their beats big enough to hang? Yeah, methinks they are. [MORE...]

Stream: Simian Mobile Disco: I Believe [Trey Told 'Em remix]

Ghostface Upset About Wu-Tang Release Date
"It's a battle right now."

Looks like it's not all blunts and da mysteries of chessboxing in the world of Wu. There's been a little bit of infighting going down in the Clan following Ghostface's recent announcement of a new solo disc, set to drop the very same day as 8 Diagrams, the Wu's long-delayed return to wax.

According to MTV.com, Ghost is upset that the Wu pushed back 8 Diagrams' release to December 4, the same date as his just-announced Big Dough Rehab LP. "I had December 4 for the longest," Ghost says, "but the Wu album, brothers were kinda late on doing whatever they were doing and pushed it back..." (Hasn't he seen Rock the Bells? Late's about the best one can hope for from the Wu.)

"...I'm not [mad at] all the members. It's not based on the members, but the hierarchy at Wu-Tang Clan is on some bullsh--. They trying to f--- around and make me push my album back and doing all this. But n---as ain't f---ing around or give us money when we did them Wu-Tang tours. The first one, they paid us after a while, but this last one, n---as is holding onto a lot of money. And [they're] upset based on that. It's a battle right now."

Well, speaking as a dude who'll buy the hell out of both those albums no matter which day they come out, all the Wu is doing is saving me a trip. Can't the rising tide lift all boats?

Nonetheless, it gets deeper than that for Ghost, as he explained to MTV: "The Big Dough Rehab is my album. 8 Diagrams is their album. But it ain't got nothing to do with the regular members. 'Cause I love Raekwon, Masta Killa, U-God, Genius, all them. But it's on right now." Ghost went on to mention that Big Dough would already have dropped had he not joined the Wu on this summer's Rock the Bells tour, and that Loud Records' Steve Rifkind made an effort to stop Big Dough Rehab from hitting stores. (Rifkind did not respond to MTV's questions.)

As for 8 Diagrams, Ghost continues to emphasize his minimal participation in the disc. "I got on some of them [tracks]," he said. "A few of them.... n---as better pay my f----ing money. Matter of fact, they can keep the money-- just get me out of their life right now. They can keep that money, it's all good now. I don't even wanna talk about it no more." Shit!

Ghost's love for the way of the Wu may be waning, but he does throw his W up on Big Dough, which sports guest sports from (at least) Raekwon and Method Man. MTV reports that Ghost is looking to leak the Sean C.-produced, Kid Capri-featuring first single "Celebrate" soon.

December 4 will also see yet another Ghostface product hit shelves as well: The World According to Pretty Toney, a book based on those MTV2 hilarious/helpful nuggets of wisdom from the Ironman himself.

The Wu's recently announced, fast approaching tour (with its long string of dates and cities sans venues) was apparently wishful thinking, as it's not happening. Ghost-- looking, comparatively, like a real mover and shaker these days-- has a few more dates on the Adult Swim trek before heading out with fellow microphone fiends Rakim and Brother Ali. [MORE...]

MP3: Ghostface Killah: Chunky [from the J-Love Street Savior Pt. 5 mixtape]
MP3: Wu-Tang Clan ft Dhani Harrison, Erkyah Badu and John Frusciante: The Heart Gently Weeps [from the 8 Diagrams LP]

Castanets Rock Asthmatic Kitty Gallery Opening

Photos: Final Fantasy [Minneapolis, MN; 10/13/07]

Photos by Stacy Schwartz

Final Fantasy, aka Arcade Fire/Beirut/Fucked Up/everybodyandtheirmom collaborator Owen Pallett, has been on tour for about a month already, and we caught up with the talented violinist and producer this weekend at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis.

Pallett tried out some tunes from his upcoming album Heartland, a song cycle that takes place in a fantasy land called Spectrum. Accompanying him were a series of overhead projections, inlcuding one marquee bearing the all-too-meta "8 Schools of Magic," a reference to the game from which Pallett derives his stage name.

Opening the show was Canadian folkster Basia Bulat, who continues on the road with Pallet through the end of the week. Next week, Final Fantasy launches a co-headlining trek with Cadence Weapon (aka former Pitchfork writer Rollie Pemberton). And he's got a new single, featuring Beirut's Zach Condon, out on Tomlab on November 20.

More photos and tour dates below.




[MORE...]

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