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Emily Haines Chats Solo EP, New Metric Tunes
"Cherry popsicles melting, that's the inside of my brain."

Photo by Candace Meyer

From living it out to CSS at Coachella-- with Paris Hilton and Peaches-- to cutting the ribbon on a brand new studio in Toronto, Emily Haines has had one hell of a hot spring already. And it's only going to get hotter. Already on the Haines agenda for 2007: a solo EP of Knives Don't Have Your Back leftovers (check out the stream of "Rowboat" below), a book of Haines' dad's poetry, a release of Metric's "lost" debut album (another stream lies ahead), and a brand new Metric disc, which Emily is writing/pre-recording right now.

In an attempt to wrap our brains around all this Haines hysteria, Pitchfork phoned the lady for a brief chat recently. Among the usual album/tour matters, we also learned why Haines wants to try looking on the bright side, how she keeps it real with Portuguese gangsters in Toronto, and just what's inside that brain of hers.

First up, the new Metric album. The band is presently tooling with about 14 preliminary recordings right now, half laid to tape at Bear Creek Studios in Seattle, and half at the newly inaugurated Giant Studios in Toronto, co-owned by Metric's Jimmy Shaw and ex-Death From Above 1979 kit-crusher Sebastian Grainger.

"It's a total dream come true," Emily gushed about Giant, "because Jimmy's been collecting vintage gear forever. We had the place in Williamsburg that was our first kind of studio, and then we did the same in London, but now it's just really cool to finally have it be a world class studio."

Location is everything: "My apartment is half a block away, and I get there by going through a hole in the fence, through an alley with the Portuguese gangsters-- like, I actually have bumped into people going through the hole at four o'clock in the morning."

Luckily, these gangsters don't mess with Haines. "There's some mutual respect happening," she joked. "I wear a baseball cap, you know. I respect." [MORE...]
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Exclusive: Aesop Rock Reveals New Album Details

Following his entry in the Nike+ Original Run series and the positive reception of his boss' new album, Aesop Rock is poised to sail the good ship Def Jux to even better times in 2007 with the release of his fourth solo album, None Shall Pass.

As previously reported, the album features contributions from the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle, El-P, Cage, Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz, and Breeze Brewin. Most of None's production came from frequent Aesop collaborator Blockhead, but there are also beats from El-P, Rob Sonic, and Aesop himself.

Definitive Jux will release None Shall Pass on August 28. Aesop Rock's only scheduled tour dates at the moment are at the previously reported Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle, which will take place July 27 and 28, and at Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee on June 14-17. [MORE...]
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Mystery Jets Tour, Work With Erol Alkan

Roll up for the Mystery Jets! The British father-and-son outfit (and recent Dim Mak signees) issue their album Zootime in the colonies today, May 8.

The family Harrison will have no shortage of quality intergenerational bonding on a U.S. tour they'll embark on in late May and June, before heading back to their Eel Pie Island, England home to ponder just how they got to live in a place with such a fantastic name.

In the meantime, the Mystery Jets have been recording with hot shit producer Erol Alkan, and, apparently, playing ping pong.

Click on the links below to hear "Crosswords", an Alkan-produced cut from Zootime, as well as a remix of the single "Diamonds in the Dark" by L.A. Riots. [MORE...]

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Smashing Pumpkins Robbed, Thieves Jailed
Photos involving Billy Corgan, Paris Hilton, a topless woman, and the Grim Reaper leaked

July 7, the release date for the new Smashing Pumpkins album Zeitgeist, is only two months away. However, after waiting seven years since the last Smashing Pumpkins release, some zealous fans just couldn't wait sixty-something more days, and took matters into their own hands.

Last week, the band's Chicago rehearsal studio was robbed; the thieves are now in jail.

The band's management released the following statement:

"Management for the Smashing Pumpkins confirms that the band's rehearsal studio in Chicago was burglarized last week.

"The two people who are now in jail illegally gained access to the band's private space and stole various items belonging to them over the course of several hours while the band had left for the evening.

"The band's management says the group feels their rights have been violated by this crime and will always pursue their rights and the law to protect their property and the safety of themselves, their families and their fans."

So, what did the burglars steal? Money? Guitars? The album's master tapes? Nope. It appears-- though it is not officially confirmed-- that the fans stole photographs somehow associated with Zeitgeist, possibly album art or video stills. The photos were then leaked to the Pumpkins fan site Netphoria. The images include:

-- Paris Hilton posing in front of a backdrop of a bomb exploding
-- The Grim Reaper standing at a podium emblazoned with the Seal of the President of the United States, in front of a black and white Smashing Pumpkins flag
-- A person in a business suit wearing a devil mask and being crucified
-- Five blonde children saluting
-- Close-up of Billy Corgan in a hoodie
-- Billy Corgan in a hoodie, standing next to a woman with no shirt on

The Smashing Pumpkins' management's statement on the photographs was simply, "the photos are stolen goods and anyone who posts them will have to take them down."

Netphoria took down the photos and posted a statement, saying, "What this person did amounts to theft and band takes this very seriously as does Netphoria. I know everyone here is hungry for more information on the new album but this is not the way to go about it. Nobody here should condone or be supportive of the actions this individual took...The band requested the stolen pictures be removed and I believe they are well within their right to do so..."

Thanks to reader Byron Barnes for alerting us to the situation and for directing us to Netphoria.

The Smashing Pumpkins' summer tour of mostly gargantuan festivals begins May 22 in Paris. [MORE...]

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Lindstrom, Serena-Maneesh, 120 Days Get Sunkissed

A Norwegian DJ night eight years running, a Smalltown Supersound-issued compilation CD and, when spelled incorrectly, a delicious orange-hued beverage; one can squeeze quite a bit of creative juice from the Sunkissed name.

While Sunkissed goes strong throughout Oslo, Sunkissed-- a collection of sixteen tracks from Norway's finest blarers and bleepers (including Lindstrøm, Serena-Maneesh, and 120 Days), many remixed by fellow members of their prodigious populace-- is out today. The deliciousness of Sunkist the soda? Forever incontestable. [MORE...]
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Lekman, Clientele Help Make Ladybug Transistor's Day

Following the untimely death of Ladybug Transistor drummer San Fadyl, the band are moving forward by touring and releasing their newest album, Can't Wait Another Day.

Can't Wait features contributions from members of Architecture in Helsinki, the Clientele, and the Aislers Set, as well as from Jens Lekman, Kevin Barker (Currituck Co., Vetiver), Heather McIntosh (Circulatory System, the Instruments), Roy Nathanson (Lounge Lizards, Jazz Passengers), and others.

Contrary to our previous report, Merge will release the record on June 5, not June 7.

The Ladybug Transistor have plans to tour throughout the year, and their previously reported May dates continue tonight (May 8) in Washington, DC with the Clientele. They also have dates with the Rosebuds and the Papercuts. [MORE...]
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Sightings Hit the Road
A more talented scribe might dub these Sightings sightings

If there's not a run on earplugs at stops on trance-inducing Brooklyn noisemakers Sightings' current tour, an entrepreneurial opportunity is being missed.

The loud louts, still fresh off their time with chatterbox Andrew W.K. in the recording booth for their as-yet-untitled upcoming album, will take to the streets for a month of dates sure to necessitate a few of those little yellow eardrum-protectors. Attendees, you've been fairly warned; bring your own, or be forced to pay a 1000% markup on the things at the door.

Most appropriately, they're playing Denton, Texas' House of Tinnitus. [MORE...]
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Photos: The Polyphonic Spree [Nashville; 05/07/07]

Photos by Steve Cross

The Polyphonic Spree donned their new black fatigues last night and marched right through the doors of Nashville's City Hall (the venue, not the government seat), launching the first leg of shows in support of their forthcoming album The Fragile Army, due out on June 19 on new label TVT.

As previously reported, the Polyphonic Spree are trying out a new look for the new record, but old habits die hard. After closing the set, the 23-strong choral symphonic unit unzipped their uniforms to reveal their old bright teal robes, and took to the stage for a four-song encore.

The sunshine soldiers will continue on with a handful of dates along the East Coast, before retreating back to Dallas for a CD release party at the Granada Theatre on June 23. More photos and tour dates after the jump.






[MORE...]

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Patrick Wolf Adds More U.S. Tour Dates

Whether or not Patrick Wolf is actually stepping down from the live thing in November remains to be seen, but dude's sure packing 'em in before then. The prestidigitatorial Position-assumer has added a few West Coast dates to his previously announced trek, which includes quite a number of Euro-festivals and a few yet with Amy Winehouse.

Wolf will also perform Wednesday night on the "Conan O'Brien" television program, alongside the hilarious magic of Criss Angel and the not-so-hilarious baldness of Bobby's World creator Howie Mandel. Come to think of it, Bobby's World + Criss Angel = Patrick Wolf. [MORE...]

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Fiery Furnaces Announce Summer Tour Dates
Consider "Fiery Fun-races" partnership with NASCAR

It's been a spell since we've heard much from the family Friedberger, but the jagged-edged popmakers in the Fiery Furnaces haven't forgotten about us.

Not only does their website offer a few typically cryptic notes on the progress of their forthcoming fifth record, but they'll sip their last bedsit-brewed bitter tea before setting off on a just-announced string of dates in June. On June 26, they'll hit the previously reported Capital Idea! Fest in Ottawa. [MORE...]

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Belong Cover 60s Psych on LP, Tour With Album Leaf

New Orleans duo Belong will add vocals to their shoegazey instrumental attack on an upcoming vinyl and digital LP on Secretly Canadian spin-off St. Ives.

The untitled, five-track LP-- which Belong's Turk Dietrich initially discussed with Pitchfork last fall-- consists of reinterpretations of late 60s psych songs. However, aside from a few song titles ("Girl From New York", "Beeside", and "Fancy"), it is currently without a tracklist. The LP is also without a specific release date, but it's due out at some point this summer.

Belong are also beginning to work on the follow-up to their debut, 2006's October Language, and they hope to release it in January or February. They are currently unveiling some new material on a U.S. tour with the Album Leaf. Young Galaxy will join both bands for the latter half of the tour, which continues tonight (May 8), currently Young Galaxy-less in Orlando. [MORE...]
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Boredoms Put Out Call for 77 Drummers

Psych-loving, post-millennial krautrock drummers: this is your chance. Legendary Japanese collective Boredoms, led by the enigmatic Eye, have put out a call for drummers to fill out their oft-postponed "77 Drum" performance installation.

As previously reported, the piece calls for 77 drummers to join the band for a performance in Brooklyn on July 7. But now, that performance has a location: the lawn of the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park section of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The free show is in celebration of the band's 20th anniversary and will take place at 5 p.m. (doors open at 3 p.m.).

Boredoms need volunteer drummers to fill out the ensemble, and a handful of those 77 will serve as drum leaders from whom the rest will take their cues. Though we don't expect this thing to be particularly organized, it's hard to imagine it not being at least 74 or 75 different kinds of cool.

Interested drummers should contact Hisham Bharoocha (currently of Soft Circle and formerly of Lightning Bolt and Black Dice) at [e-mail address retracted at Bharoocha's request] for more information. Former Minuteman/current Stooge Mike Watt and Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley are helping to spread the word about the performance, so there should be all sorts of cool people involved.

Thanks to reader Jesse Kraushaar for the tip. The rest of the band's previously reported tour dates are listed below. [MORE...]
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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.)

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File-icon Wed: 05-09-07: 01:45 PM CDT
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Emily Haines Chats Solo EP, New Metric Tunes

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