European Commission Says No to Three Strikes without Judicial Oversight
As previously reported by TMT, the European Union ain't taking no shit from internet-denyin' heads of government. Now they've told Spain's authorities that "measures that allow for the disruption of Internet access without a fair hearing before a judge, are certain to clash with the European Union."
These words were spoken by Vivane Reding, European Commissioner for Information Society and Media, in response to Spain's proposals to block internet access indiscriminately. She also argued that "disconnections may even run counter to the rights and freedoms which have become part of Europe’s values since the French Revolution.'"
Comrade Obama might like to be reminded of another revolution when considering his own ideas to tackle online pirates. America did not fight a bloody war with the British to have its citizens hand over their health care, SUVs, and internet access to the government.
Spencer Krug Goes Solo As Moonface, Announces Debut EP
How many projects is too many projects? If you’re Bob Pollard, trick question: there’s no such thing. If you’re most musicians, one or two should be enough. If you’re Spencer Krug, the answer lies somewhere between the range of “Bob Pollard” and “most musicians.” Indeed, the man splits his time between quite a few endeavors (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Swan Lake, Wolf Eyes?, etc etc.) and he’s about to split in a little bit more, as he launches a solo project by the name of Moonface.
Krug is making his Moonface debut with the awesomely titled Dreamland EP: Marimba and Shit-Drums. Jagjaguwar will release the EP January 26 both digitally and as a one-sided 12-inch vinyl. Sorry, Spencer Krug obsessive with only an old boombox: you must shed bitter, bitter tears. However, you can still enjoy the dream journal that will be packaged with the vinyl! The dream journal will also be included with some of the digital downloads, though it has not been specified what exactly “some” constitutes.
Incidentally, Sunset Rubdown released an EP by the title of Introducing Moonface earlier this year. Whether the new project ties in with this release at all is currently unclear.
Spoon Help a Robot Get Its Groove Back, Head Out on Winter Tour, Release LP A Week Early
Spoon are on the move again, bringing their Can-influenced indie rock to select cities in Europe and the US. They’ll be repping their upcoming release Transference (TMT News), which comes out January 18 on ANTI- for our European friends and January 19 on Merge Records here in the States (note the new release dates).
At this point, details about further dates are scant, so I thought I’d provide you with the following gem of information related to one of the group’s more recent albums, Gimme Fiction. It’s gleaned from America’s favorite news source, Wikipedia:
"Don't You Evah" and "I Turn My Camera On" have become popular on YouTube as dance soundtracks for the Japanese robot Keepon, accumulating over two million hits.
Did you hear that? A ROBOT!!!! A robot who loves dancing to Spoon. If a non-sentient "being" can get down with these rock jams, you know these guys put on a good show.
12.03.09 - Kansas City, MO - Midland Theatre
12.04.09 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre*
12.11.09 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom**
12.12.09 - La Jolla, CA - RIMAC Arena***
12.31.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theatre****
02.14.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - King Tut's
02.15.09 - Manchester, England - Academy 3
02.16.09 - London, England - Electric Ballroom
02.18.09 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
02.19.09 - Cologne, Germany - Luxor
02.20.09 - Berlin, Germany - Frannz Club
*Phoenix, Passion Pit
**Black Joe Lewis
***Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, White Rabbits, Manchester Orchestra
****Jay Reatard
The Muslims — err, The Soft Pack — Announce Debut Album for 2010
Maybe you remember The Soft Pack from when they were called The Muslims. Or maybe you saw them open for The Breeders or play CMJ last year. Either way, the newly named band has announced the release of their debut self-titled album, due out on February 2, 2010 from Kemado Records. You can preorder it now from Insound, or you can just miss out on everything fun.
The Soft Pack tracklisting:
1. C’mon
2. Down on Loving
3. Answer to Yourself
4. Move Along
5. Pull Out
6. More or Less
7. Tides of Time
8. Flammable
9. Mexico
10. Parasites
RJD2 on Tour in Support of The Colossus and Keeping Safe During The Holidays
What better way to ring in the approaching New Year than by popping champagne and totally forgetting to drink any water, getting super-tanked and making out with a stranger at midnight, all before waking up in a stairwell of the downtown bus station? I know what you’re thinking: “um, nothing!!!!” Well, that’s where you’re wrong. There is a more fun, possibly safer option (though potentially with a lot more waiting for the night to roll around, depending on where you live): the upcoming RJD2 tour. As previously reported, the talented hip-hop producer is set to release his latest LP, The Colossus, January 19 on his own RJ’s Electrical Connections label. To tout the album, he’ll be touring with a full band.
In other news, RJ's pretty-awesome internet giveaway fest continues on his website; anyone who enters the online contest leading up to the new album’s release date can win stuff like MP3s, records, and more. In addition, the man’s reissues of albums begins November 13 with 2002’s breakout hit Deadringer (TMT Review) and will continue throughout the month with 2003’s The Horror EP and 2004’s Since We Last Spoke (TMT Review). Also available for purchase is RJD2 2002-2010, a vinyl-only box set released just last month.
Colossal tourdates:
01.09.10 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
01.10.10 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
01.11.10 - Charlotte, NC - Visualite Theater
01.12.10 - Savannah, GA - Live Wire
01.13.10 - Orlando, FL - The Social
01.14.10 - Tampa, FL - Crowbar
01.15.10 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder
01.16.10 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Heaven Room)
01.17.10 - Birmingham, AL - Bottletree
01.18.10 - Chattanooga, TN - Rhythm and Brews
01.19.10 - Knoxville, TN - Valarium
01.20.10 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
01.21.10 - Charlottesville, VA - Jeffers Theatre
01.22.10 - Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant Street
02.05.10 - Columbus, OH - Sully's Music Diner
02.06.10 - Newport, KY - Southgate House
02.07.10 - Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall
02.08.10 - Nashville, TN - Exit In
02.09.10 - Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Café
02.10.10 - Oxford, MS - The Lyric Oxford
02.11.10 - New Orleans, LA - Tipitinas
02.12.10 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Mo
02.13.10 - Austin, TX - Emos
02.14.10 – Denton, TX - Hailey's
02.18.10 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
02.19.10 - Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College (Harris Center)
02.20.10 - Urbana, IL - Canopy Club
Velvet Underground Members Reunite for Appearance at the New York Public Library; Doug Yule Replaces John Cale Due to Excessive Late Fees
True to form, The Velvet Underground decided to get their reunion on way before any other so-called fringe band thought it was hip and cool and profitable. In 1992, the seminal group’s original lineup of Lou “Fussy Fanny” Reed, John “Artsy Fartsy” Cale, Sterling “Chuckle Butt” Morrison, and Maureen “What Up, Guys!” Tucker joined forces once again for a successful European tour, only to disband months later following (what else) creative differences between Reed and Cale. The Velvets reformed one more time in 1996 for their induction into this ugly ass structure, only this time they were sadly down one Sterling Morrison thanks to non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Although both reunions took place at different times for different reasons, one thing remained constant: poor old post-Cale bassist Doug Yule was not invited to join the group.
Yule remains a contentious figure in Velvets lore. Although he’s responsible for some of the band’s sweeter lead vocals and for his substantial contributions to the group’s subversively gentle late period, the man is also to blame for this horrible piece of shit and several other horrible pieces of shit released under the Velvet Underground name long after Reed and the others flew the coop. In a 1972 interview, Reed even went so far to say that he hoped Yule was dead.
But regardless of their past tussles, Yule will join Reed and Tucker (no Cale, unfortunately) on December 8 for an event at the New York Public Library. The former Velvets will talk with Rolling Stone institution David Fricke about the band’s work and legacy and, with Yule in tow, surely plenty of that juicy, juicy New York gossip all you flatlanders so very crave.
The affair is being held in anticipation of the new book The Velvet Underground: New York Art, a collection of never-before-seen photos and artwork of the Velvets from their prime. With any luck, Lou Reed will make Doug Yule cry at least once.
New Elvis Box Set Makes Perfect Holiday Gift, Lovely Set of Coasters
Nothing says “The Holidays” quite like a box set with four discs of “career-spanning” classic rock-and-roll designed to appeal to an entire generation, and -- hopefully -- especially your weird Uncle Frank, whose name you drew in the family gift swap again and who doesn’t really seem to do anything beyond dozing in a corner at Christmas and making uncomfortable jokes that everyone tries to pretend they didn’t hear. But that’s selling the eminently marketable Mr. Elvis Presley -- the subject of said box set -- short. The point is that everybody loves Elvis, including people who are impossible to shop for. Well, that was trying to be the point.
Legacy Recordings is releasing Elvis 75: Good Rockin' Tonight on December 8, in anticipation of Elvis’ 75th birthday in January. The 100 songs included in the box set include one of Presley’s very first recordings, “My Happiness,” which he paid almost $4 to make one year before signing with Sun Records. The collection closes with the 2002 Junkie XL remix of “A Little Less Conversation” that was a #1 track in 20 countries. It’s got ballads! It’s got gospel! It’s got an 80-page booklet with rare photos and an essay by journalist Billy Altman! If you’re looking for something a little more compact, the single-disc version of Elvis 75 hits stores January 3.
Akron/Family to Tour the American South Where They Hope to Avoid Being Constantly Confused with The Avett Brothers
If the members of psych-folk hippie-jammers Akron/Family were ever to, say, accidentally witness some sort of horrible crime against humanity or something, the FBI’s Witness Protection Program could probably do a lot worse than sending those boys on a tour like this one. Trucker facial hair? Check. Flannel? Panchos? Check, check. And I assume at least one of them probably has an ironically confederate belt buckle on hand. If it weren’t for their knack for a little noise here and there, these guys could probably just settle into a decent gig playing Credence Clearwater-themed weddings for a living (and you know that those exist), never to be heard from again.
Heck, even a cursory toggle through this year’s Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free LP (TMT Review) would probably have many a ranch hand (okay, maybe “many an experimental ranch hand”) pledging to eat his ten-gallon hat if the crazy diamonds on that record were shining their crazy light out of that icky old New York City instead of the Black Mountain foothills where Rocky Raccoon was born. Hey, five or six years from now, if you walk into a roadhouse outside of Houston and there’s a house band playing who happens to be covering Animal Collective and CCR in equal measure, you might wanna give Akron/Family’s record label a call.
New dates!
02.17.10 - Greensboro, NC - Artiska Cafe
02.18.10 - Athens, GA - 40 - Watt Club
02.19.10 - Orlando, FL - Back Booth
02.20.10 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder
02.21.10 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
02.23.10 - Houston, TX - Walter’s on Washington
02.24.10 - Austin, TX - The Parish
02.25.10 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
02.26.10 - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
02.27.10 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In
02.28.10 - Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light
03.03.10 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
Interpol Reveals Details of a New Album, Acknowledges What Was Lacking in Our Love to Admire
Could it be? Interpol are back? Apparently so, according to drummer Sam Fogarino. After futzing around with various solo projects (*cough*JulianPlenti*cough*) and short films (bassist Carlos D's thing), the members of Interpol are back with plans for a follow-up record to 2007's Our Love to Admire (TMT Review). Interpol reportedly spent last spring in NYC's Electric Lady Studio, where they put together what Fogarino dubs a return to their earlier release Turn on the Bright Lights and a step away from the their last LP, which you may recall took in its share of mixed reviews.
In an interview with Paste, Fogarino says "The new record falls back towards the first. In trying to move forward, there was an unspoken realization that you can't let go of your sonic-defining tag. There was an effort in Daniel [Kessler]'s guitar tone; he rediscovered it playing in his loft space for a year without anybody. The quality of that tone, played in a big room, is just beautiful. It creates an atmosphere ... That big wash of reverb? It's back."
Well, color me intrigued! The as-yet unnamed album will arrive via Capitol Records early next year.
Yo La Tengo Coming to Mid-America in January
Squeezed between their international tourdates, Yo La Tengo will be stopping in America for [seven
shows->http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/2009/11/16/yo-la-tengo-january-u-s-dates-and-ticket-details/] smack dab in the middle of their international trek, continuing their Popular Songs (TMT Review) tour. Every show listed has tickets priced at $20 or less, the kicker being that none of these tickets will have a surcharge or additional fees tagged on. Suck it, Ticketmaster!
Some real effort went into providing these arrangements. As such, tickets will be available at local record shops and/or directly from the venues; to view an interactive map of all the outlet locations click here
11.23.09 - Berlin, DE - Postbahnhof
11.25.09 - Katowice, PL - Hipnoza Club
11.26.09 - Vienna, AT - Arena
11.27.09 - Fribourg, CH - FRI-SON
11.28.09 - Florence, IT - Auditorium Flog
11.30.09 - Paris, FR - Le Bataclan
12.14.09 - Osaka, JP - Club Quattro
12.15.09 - Nagoya, JP - Club Quattro
12.17.09 - Tokyo, JP - Prince Stellar Ball
01.22.10 - Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom
01.23.10 - Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre
01.24.10 - St Louis, MO - The Pageant
01.26.10 - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theatre
01.28.10 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
01.29.10 - Austin, TX - Antone�s
01.30.10 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre
02.11.10 - Melbourne, AU - Thornbury Theatre
02.12.10 - Melbourne, AU - The Forum
02.13.10 - Hobart, AU - Moorilla
02.16.10 - Brisbane, AU - Hi-Fi
02.17.10 - Sydney, AU - Basement
02.18.10 - Sydney, AU - Metro
02.19.10 - Adelaide, AU - Fowlers Live
02.20.10 - Perth, AU - Beck�s Music Box
Ecstatic Sunshine Ready Yesterday's Work, Push Back Today's Work Until Tomorrow
A lot has changed for Ecstatic Sunshine over these past few years. Most significantly, founding member Dustin Wong (Ponytail) left the band, forcing other founding member Matthew Papich to shift their sound from guitar-duo battle to something more expansive. On the band's last record WAY -- just before Wong left the group -- the duo added third member Kieran Gillen on electronics. And now, on the the brand new Yesterday's Work, Ecstatic Sunshine are evolving yet again, with Papich having recruited Joe "White" Williams on drum machines and synthesizers.
According to a press release, Yesterday's Work's "sonic palette is much broader than previous guitar-centric releases; soft bouncy bass and crisp synthesizers balance and serve as counterpoint to Papich's loop-based guitar work. Think Berlin School and Penguin Cafe Orchestra, or a Harmonia record produced by Coxsone." Matthew Papich speaks about the record's influence:
Outside the record there are many sounds. Some of those sounds were moved, through memory, into the record. We would hear soft bass through the windows of a car, or listen to birds waking up before dawn, and learn to remember those sounds and later draw them out of synthesizers or guitars. In this way we could hear the record before it was made. It is like John Cage's ideas about incidental sound, except instead of composing with those sounds, we composed for them. The record is an homage to the Everyday. It is music that happens, and is heard, and then said.
Yesterday's Work will be released on HOSS, who also issued their "Turned On" 7-inch. It's due December 8 (just got pushed back from its original release date of November 24).
Yesterday's Work tracklisting:
1. Conch
2. Faceplant
3. Dunk
4. Over Easy
5. Sweet Spot
6. Because
7. Space Sick
8. Space Sicker
9. Soft Opening
10. Topless
[Photo: Sally Glass]
