Frog Eyes, Bejar's Hello Blue Roses Split a Single
Frog Eyes play Israel, Hello Blue Roses Sign to Locust
In the latest missive fired from the "Canadian songwriters with funny voices" camp, Carey Mercer's Frog Eyes and Dan Bejar's Hello Blue Roses have recorded a split single, out December 4 (or, if you will, just "in time for the holidays") on Absolutely Kosher on both 7" vinyl and digitally.
Frog Eyes gets the A-side, so we'll start with them. The single sports rerecorded versions of "Policy Merchant" and "Stockades" from this year's Pitchfork-recommended Tears of the Valedictorian. The new recordings feature a new member of the Frog Eyes flock: Chet/Himalayan Bear frontman Ryan Beattie on guitar and backup vocals.
Then there's Hello Blue Roses, yet another side project from Destroyer's Dan Bejar. The newish act, comprised of Bejar and singer Sydney Vermont, has a full-length in the works for an early '08 release on Locust, but for now, their two songs on the 7" will have to do. "Foam Hands" is a Hello Blue Roses "cover" of a tune from Destroyer's forthcoming full length, with Vermont handling the vocals rather than Bejar. To end the set, there's a cover of "Wall of Death" from onetime lovebirds Richard and Linda Thompson's Shoot Out the Lights.
The disc will come stuffed in a full-color jacket and will only be available to the first 500 people who pony up the dough. Fret not: The digital EP of the tracks is unlimited.
Though you may just catch Dan Bejar making an appearance on the current New Pornographers tour, you'd be playing some cagey pool to bank on it. A surer bet: Frog Eyes' European tour currently in progress, with a couple new dates in Israel added. [MORE...]
Secretly Canadian Signs Seattle's Throw Me the Statue
Photo by Jacob KrupnickTossing around chunks of marble and steel sounds to me like a darn good way to lose some teeth, but the friendly, cornfed types at Secretly Canadian have been strapping on the padded gear and practicing their ducking just the same in preparation for the arrival of their latest signee.
Seattle-based Throw Me the Statue, helmed by one Scott Reitherman, have become the latest members of the Secretly Canadian fold. SC will issue a slightly amended version of the group's debut full-length, Moonbeams, on February 19 (the disc, in its original form, has been out for a few months now on Baskerville Hill).
Moonbeams' fluttering, harmony-drenched lo-fi-- crafted primarily by Reitherman and multi-instrumentalist Casey Foubert (Pedro the Lion, Crystal Skulls, Seldom)-- calls to mind a particularly sunny day with the old K Records roster. Here, just check out first single "About to Walk" for yourself in the download section below. Or, if you must, hold tight until December 4 when "About to Walk" gets backed with "The Old Believer", pressed into a 7", and released as a single by Secretly Canadian.
But you can't wait that long, can you? Duly noted. Adventurous sorts can peep Reitherman's game as he opens four shows on new labelmate Jens Lekman's tour, then plays one hometown gig in December. Just, you know, watch your head. [MORE...]
Photos: Vegoose Festival [Las Vegas, NV; 10/27/07-10/28/07]
Photos by Sung Kim
The third annual Vegoose festival took place this weekend at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium, and it was the last place in the U.S. to behold Daft Punk's magical pyramid of lights this year. Joining the French robot duo were Iggy Pop and the Stooges (performing their classic album Fun House in its entirety), Rage Against the Machine, M.I.A., Lupe Fiasco, Ghostface Killah performing with the live band Rhythm Roots Allstars, both the Shins and Mastodon decked out in Halloween costumes, Queens of the Stone Age, Battles, Blonde Redhead, Public Enemy, Muse, Gogol Bordello, and Cypress Hill.
Tons more photos below the jump.
DAFT PUNK
IGGY AND THE STOOGES
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
THE SHINS
M.I.A.
GHOSTFACE KILLAH
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
LUPE FIASCO
BATTLES
Black Keys, Six Parts Seven, GBV Members on All-Ohio Comp
As a Cincinnati Reds fan who was rooting for the Cleveland Indians in the MLB postseason, I'm afflicted with Ohio fever. As a record label based in Akron, Audio Eagle-- run by Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney-- has the disease as well.But the label has fashioned a remedy for those of us who suffer from this affliction: a compilation of 21 tracks, all by Ohio bands. With Midwestern straightforwardness, AE has called the comp Audio Eagle Records Presents: A Compilation of Bands From Ohio. It includes songs from the Black Keys, Six Parts Seven, former Guided by Voices members Doug Gillard and Todd and Tim Tobias (as Clouds Forming Crowns), Heartless Bastards, Southeast Engine, and more.
The comp hits select Ohio record stores November 1, and a national release through Nail Distribution will follow on January 22. [MORE...]
Love of Diagrams Embark on Fall Tour With Enon
Perhaps borne of their actual affinity for graphs and blueprints, Love of Diagrams have mapped a slick, circuitous route for their U.S. tour. After starting up tonight (October 30) in Seattle, the Aussie trio will move roughly counterclockwise through the States, with a slight jolt from Louisiana to Florida, presumably to abate wind resistance.Love of Diagrams will be joined by pals Enon (and, perhaps, a big bag of free chalupas) for most dates; they'll plot their final point in Chicago November 23.
Meticulous planning: it's the only way to rock. [MORE...]
Gold Standard Laboratories Closing Its Doors
California noise-punk label Gold Standard Laboratories announced yesterday, October 29, via a statement on its website that it is calling it quits this month, citing "the onset of factors that have seriously limited our ability to maintain what we feel is the essence of the label." (See below for the full text of the statement.) Most of the label's 14-year back catalog will remain in print both digitally and physically, with mail order available via Redeye Distribution/11spot.com.
Gold Standard Laboratories, or GSL for short, was founded in 1993 in Colorado by Sonny Kay of the punk band Angel Hair (and later of the VSS and Year Future). In 1996, Kay and the label moved to California. Between 1996 and 2001, GSL released early records from future stars like the Locust, the Rapture, !!!, Out Hud, and the Faint.
In 2001, Kay partnered with Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, then of At the Drive-In. GSL would go on to release many Rodriguez-Lopez projects, including records by the Mars Volta, De Facto, and various solo and collaborative groups. [MORE...]
Roisin Murphy Injures Eye Socket at Moscow Gig
Poor Róisín Murphy! Seems the UK dance-pop chanteuse was Overpowered by a derelict stage prop during a performance in Russia this past weekend. While treating fans at Moscow's Ikra Club to Overpowered jam "Primitive" on Saturday, October 27, Murphy hit her head on a chair and had to be rushed to a hospital.As the statement from Murphy's camp puts it, she "severely damaged her eye socket." Thankfully, she's now back in the UK and recovering, and "despite [a] serious concussion and losing a lot of blood, her vision is unimpaired."
Murphy has had to cancel at least a week's worth of gigs, including upcoming performances in Warsaw, Berlin, and Prague. Other European dates-- beginning November 3 in Munich and wrapping up November 24 in Hamburg-- are on for the moment, but may be nixed depending on Murphy's condition. UK and Ireland dates thereafter, however, "should be unaffected."
Murphy hopes to reschedule the cancelled dates before the end of the year. [MORE...]
Iron & Wine Announces 2008 Dates
Once a band starts incorporating "world" influences, the slippery slide toward the jam circuit, wonky new age solo projects, and votive candles at the merch table often begins. Fortunately for us, Iron & Wine's Sam Beam braved such territory with subtlety and an ear for solid tunes, so we got The Shepherd's Dog instead of a sequel to "Brand New Day".And so, to go along with the announcement of Beam and co.'s European 2008 trek that will follow their currently scheduled UK and U.S. dates, we say, "Go forth, Iron & Wine! See the world! Incorporate its influences! Extract from it new songs that you can use to soundtrack your eventual Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech."
Until then, Iron & Wine will keep touring. They next play London tomorrow, October 31. [MORE...]
Six Organs Craft Exclusive CD for Co-Written Book
For exactly 50 of you, here's some very good news: walk into Los Angeles' Book Soup bookstore around 7 p.m. this Halloween and you'll be presented with a Six Organs of Admittance Empty the Sun soundtrack CD free of charge. The disc won't be available anywhere else, and there's only a few of 'em out there: more than 50, though, as the purchase of any Hotel St. George Press book on that evening will get you one, too. Still, that's a generous offer... a little too generous if you ask me. Must be a catch, right?Eh, not unless you're allergic to the written word. The night is a celebration of Akashic Books' new experimental imprint Hotel St. George Press, and a number of HSG authors-- including co-founders Alex Rose and Aaron Petrovich, the latter reading in a straitjacket-- will be on hand to read from their work. So, too, will Joseph Mattson, whose Empty the Sun is a collaborative novel with Six Organs of Admittance. Man, Ben Chasny, when do you sleep?
Not anytime soon: Chasny and his Organs have a string of West Coast dates and a single British gig next month. What's more, their latest LP, Shelter From the Ash-- pressed in a quantity exceeding 50, we're sure-- drops November 20 on Drag City. [MORE...]
Goldfrapp Reveal New LP Details
Don't we have enough confusing sevens to deal with as music fanatics? Well, here's one more to add to the pile. In February 2008, Goldfrapp will treat U.S. and UK denizens to Seventh Tree, the duo's fourth long-player.According to a post on the band's website/MySpace, Seventh Tree came to life in the Somerset studio of Goldfrapp's own Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, who both also wrote and produced the new record. Longtime home Mute will have the privilege of releasing it, which they will do on February 25 in the UK and the day after in the U.S.
As reported just last week, Seventh Tree may, in the band's words, "come as a bit of a shock" to some fans. The most recent MySpace post elaborates: "A sensual counterpoint to the glitterball glamour of [previous LP] Supernature, Seventh Tree is gilded in the butterfly colours of an English surrealism shared from Lear to Lennon. It shimmers and shines with the warmth of a hazy summer, an electric whirlpool over which Alison's glistening voice soars." Ooh, I like butterflies!
Tracklist details, like many butterflies, remain elusive for the moment.
Will Gregory, however, does not; as previously reported, he will premiere his new score to 1924 film He Who Gets Slapped, with help from Portishead's Adrian Utley and others, this December. [MORE...]
Best of Common's Early Years Collected on Hits Comp
Jennifer Lopez wants her album title back
thisisme then: the best of common should come emblazoned with a warning a little bigger than its lowercase "then." The 15-track collection from the Chicago MC is culled almost entirely from Common's first three albums, all released in the 90s on the Relativity label: 1992's Can I Borrow a Dollar?, 1994's Resurrection, and 1997's One Day It'll All Make Sense.
There's a single exception-- "High Expectations" from the soundtrack to Soul in the Hole, a 1997 documentary on Brooklyn streetballers-- but it's not exactly a career highlights package without "The Light", is it?
Eh, we're just griping. thisismethen does a fine job of hitting the highlights from his Common Sense period and (slightly) beyond, and it's fleshed out with guest appearances from Lauryn Hill, Cee-Lo, Erykah Badu and Q-Tip. Pop the disc in your computer device and you'll be greeted with the videos for "Take It EZ", "I Used to Love H.E.R.", "Retrospect for Life", and (non-thisismethen cut) "Invocation". The disc drops November 27 on Relativity/Legacy.
As for Common, he'll be on the big screen soon in the second-most highly anticipated thing called American Gangster you're likely to take in this fall. And he recently launched the Common Ground Foundation, "an effort dedicated to the empowerment and development of urban youth through education," according to a press release. [MORE...]
Modeselektor, Poirier, Yellowman, TTC on Scion 12"s
Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh exhibits art at Scion Space
The Project consists of five digital singles, each highlighting a signature track from the following labels: Greensleeves, Vice, Ninja Tune/Big Dada, Light in the Attic, and Strictly Rhythm. In addition to the tracks themselves-- from artists such as Betty Davis, Yellowman, Panthers, TTC, and Ghislain Poirier-- the singles also feature remixes of each track. The list of remix contributors also includes Poirier as well as Federation Sound, Modeselektor, BSOD, and DFA's Holy Ghost!.
Scion A/V will unleash the Remix Project to online retailers on October 30.
So that's the audio, but how about the visual? Turns out Scion also runs a gallery space in Los Angeles, and that space will soon host an exhibition of works by Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh. "Rugs During Wartime and Peacetime" opens November 17 at the L.A. Installation Gallery, aka Scion Space. According to the press release, the exhibit explores "the imagery we choose to bring into our homes and how we interact with it for the purposes of comfort and peace-of-mind rather than an esoteric sense of art for art's sake." Groovy. [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