Stars Are Free To Do What They Want, Any Old Time – In This Case, to Tour and Release EP
By David Nadelle on 09-10-2008
Contrary to popular belief, Tiny Mix Tapes is not the inclusive American men’s club that people think. Not only does it employ women to write and edit its spectacularly professional writing editor's note: my emphasis], but it also employs people from some great foreign countries. And Canadians. TMT's history of smuggling otherwise dorky goofuses into the realm of cooldom is not unlike Canada itself freeing slaves north of the 49th parallel by means of the underground railroad in the early-to-mid 1800s (yeah... it's exactly like that!). Our staff writers, whether of the [hoser persuasion or not, do feel a certain sense of empathy toward our northern friends, and, in turn, we tend to give their chilly hearts some love by reporting news of their forthcoming albums and tours.
Not that some of them particularly need the attention. Stars, for example, (caution: old-style, politically incorrect, Canadian grandfather quip approaching...) could sell ice cubes to the Eskimos -- such is their persuasive popularity, not only in their home and native land, but Stateside as well. The Quebecois quintet -- who may or may not have been named after this -- have announced both dates for their next North American tour and details of their latest release. Sad Robots EP is available to download now exclusively here with actual limited CDEPs available for purchase at the shows listed below. A live version of “Going, Going, Gone,” originally from their debut album Nightsongs, is available as a free download from this same site.
Sad Robots:
1. Maintenance Hall, 4am
2. A Thread Cut with a Carving Knife
3. Undertow
4. Going, Going, Gone (live version)
5. 14 Forever
6. Sad Robot
Sad Robots go on tour (in 3-D!):
09.17.08 - Northampton, MA - Pearl Street #
09.18.08 - Providence, RI - Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel#
09.19.08 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero Theatre#
09.20.08 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 #
09.23.08 - Newport, Kentucky - Southgate House #
09.24.08 - Chicago, IL - The Vic Theatre #
09.25.08 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant #
09.26.08 - Lawrence, KS - The Granada #
09.28.08 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Music Festival
10.01.08 - Los Angeles, CA - Avalon $
10.02.08 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues $
10.03.08 - Santa Barbara, CA - UC of Santa Barbara $
10.04.08 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Rio Theatre $
10.06.08 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore $
10.07.08 - Eugene, OR - WOW Hall $
10.08.08 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom $
10.09.08 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox $
10.10.08 - Bellingham, WA - Viking Union/Western WA University $
10.29.08 - Fredericton, New Brunswick - SUB Ballroom/University of N.B. %
10.30.08 - Moncton, New Brunswick - The Manhattan Club %
10.31.08 - Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island - The Wave/University of P.E.I. %
11.01.08 - Halifax, Nova Scotia - The Marquee Club %
11.03.08 - St. John’s, Newfoundland - Club One %
# Bell X1
$ Think About Life
% Hey! Rosetta
DOOM to Release Long-Awaited Follow-Up, Born Into This, October 21 on Lex Records
By Mr P on 09-09-2008
According to a one-sheet from Fontana distribution, DOOM (no longer MF Doom) is set to release a new album, Born Into This, October 21 on Lex Records. The album will be DOOM's "first full-length solo project in four years and is filled with superstar guests including production from J Dilla, Dangermouse and guests MC's Ghostface and Raekwon." In true PR fashion, the writer of this particular one-sheet goes on to say that "this is DOOM's definitive album, encapsulating but surpassing all of his previous work and influences under various monikers."
However, the one-sheet's validity has been put into question the past several days, because (1) there is no information on DOOM or Lex's websites about the release, (2) DOOM has been accused of having stand-in MCs perform for him at live gigs the past year or so, and (3) no press release has been issued yet. In fact, the information stems from a little post last Saturday on Sypder's Random Things -- a blog about vinyl and DJing -- that included an upcoming release schedule with the following entry:
Doom - Born Into This [LP] (Lex Records - LEX069LP0 / 878390001286) $17.98
In response to debates over its legtimacy, Spyder posted a follow-up the next day, in which he explains that he's the "General Manager of a music one-stop (distributor)" URP Music Distributors] and has "access to official release information directly from the label and/or their exclusive distributors." He also posted the actual [one-sheet issued to vendors.
Vendors do occasionally get word from distributors about releases before the press, and hip-hop record store Fifth Element (founded by Rhymesayers) has confirmed the album's existence.
Meanwhile, Operation: Doomsday is being reissued for the millionth time October 7.
Domino Secedes from iTunes, Opens Own Digital Download Store
By Kenny Bloggins on 09-09-2008
Sure, iTunes is revolutionary, gives everyone totally crucial Bono adverts, and is generally nice to have around. But when you want to score some choice tracks from, say, Pram's Dark Island, it just doesn't cut the mustard.
Thankfully, Domino, one of the more consistent labels in the indie world, has their entire catalog now digitized for your consumption at Domino Digital. With unruly, CD-quality 320 Kpbs downloads, multiple formats, and every single Domino release at your disposal, you may not have to visit a record store for awhile (but please, support local business anyway). The site itself is well-crafted, allowing you to search music in a way that music dorks tend to think, offering search categories such as "Classics, "Reissues," etc., as well as the ability to toggle between a list and tile view. You can even preview before you buy. Technology is keen.
Most full albums are only $7-9 (about the same as iTunes), but high-quality access to tons of Movietone and Ulrich Schnauss is priceless (sorry to steal your thunder, Mastercard's PR Firm). Don't spend all your allowance in one place.
Sonic Youth Sign to Matador for Their 16th Studio Album!
By Mango Starr on 09-09-2008
Wow, wow, wow! After a tip from Mr. Thurston himself late August (TMT News), it looks like Sonic Youth have officially signed with Matador Records. According to a post on the label's Matablog:
After rampant speculation, Matador Records can confirm the label will be releasing a new studio album from Sonic Youth sometime in 2009. Having fulfilled their contractual obligations to the Universal Music Group, Sonic Youth recently reached an agreement with Matador to release the band’s 16th album of new material in all worldwide territories, save for Japan.
The band will head to the studio this fall to record the album, the follow-up to 2006's Rather Ripped. Read the rest of the post here, our recent story about the label change here, and how and why major labels and independent labels work together here.
Reunited And It Feels So Good: Teenage Jesus and The Jerks Added to Winter ATP Roster
By Liz Louche on 09-09-2008
Yes! Another reason to regret not being rich, apart from my usual desire to look as eerily ageless and perfectly WASP-y as Cindy McCain. The Melvins/Mike Patton-curated Nightmare Before Christmas ATP event (a.k.a. another festival with an awesome roster that I cannot afford to attend) is adding Mastodon, The Damned, Boss Hog, Rahzel, Double Negative, Tweak Bird, and -- wait for it... wait for it -- the legendary, recently reunited no-wave group Teenage Jesus and The Jerks.
Led by Lydia Lunch, Teenage Jesus never released a full studio album and were known for their aggressive, abrasive live shows. They played their first show in years as part of the book release festivities associated with Thurston Moore and Byron Coley's book No Wave: Post-Punk. Underground. New York. 1976-1980 this past June (which also partly inspired James Chance's recent show in New York). And now you have the chance to see them December 5-7, at the oh-so-cold, oh-so-English Butlins Holiday Camp in Minehead. More acts are set to be announced, but for now, let me entice you with the so-far complete listing:
Melvins / Isis / Mastodon / Butthole Surfers / The Damned / Fantômas perform The Director's Cut / Squarepusher / Soulsavers feat. Mark Lanegan / Teenage Jesus And The Jerks / Boss Hog / Neil Hamburger / Dälek / Big Business / Black Heart Procession / Rahzel / Torche / Kill Me Tomorrow / J.G. Thirlwell's Manorexia / The Dirtbombs / The Locust / Zu / Bohren And Der Club of Gore / Farmers Market / White Noise / Stockhausen's KONTAKTE with Steinberg & Winant / MadLove / Tweak Bird / Double Negative
