Gift of Gab to Release His Second Outer-Space-Expedition-Themed Rap Album

By Nat Towsen on

Gift of Gab, best known as the MC in the duo Blackalicious, is set to release his first solo album in five years, which is rather infrequent for someone who calls himself Gift of Gab... I'm just saying. Escape 2 Mars, the follow-up to 2004's 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up, is mostly produced by DNAEBEATS, with a few songs by Hednodic of The Mighty Underdogs, plus guest spots from Del The Funky Homosapien and Brother Ali.

The space-travel theme is apparently a device in delivering Mr. Gab's message about saving our own planet, warning that we might someday have to leave it behind for Mars. The environmental-protection/harbinger-of-space-colonization message is strong to both activists and players of Starcraft alike. Luckily, these two demographics make up 83% of Gab's fanbase, and record sales are expected to be illustrious.

Escape 2 Mars comes out on CD, vinyl, and digital download October 27, which is my birthday. I assume it is meant to be a gift for me, and I appreciate the sentiment. I guess it is pretty cool, but if they really knew me they'd know what I really want for my birthday is a new Joanna Newsom album.

Escape 2 Mars tracklisting:

1. E2MTRO
2. El Gifto Magnifico
3. Lightyears
4. Dreamin' (feat. Del The Funky Homosapien & Brother Ali)
5. In Las Vegas
6. Escape 2 Mars
7. Electric Waterfalls
8. Richman, Poorman
9. Someofthepeople
10. Spotlight
11. Rhyme Travel
12. Dreamin' (Aqua Sawtooth Remix) *

* Bonus for vinyl version only

Oh, also, he's going to go on tour in the fall and the winter and the spring. Just a few dates so far:
09.03.09 - Austin, TX - Aces Lounge
09.04.09 - Mobile, AL - Alabama Music Box
09.05.09 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theater
09.11.09 - Horseshoe, NC - Deerfields Music Park (Trinumeral Festival)

Your Weekly Grant Hart (Hüsker Dü) Update Harticle: Grant Hart to Release New Album

By Kid Midnight on 09-04-2009

When I worked at the self-proclaimed “Last Authentic Music Store” in Minneapolis, Grant Hart, former drummer and co-songwriter of Hüsker Dü, would always come in and dig around in the old VHS cassettes until he found some awesome Boris Karloff or other classic horror movie. We would then talk at the counter for a while about surf guitar and other such awesome stuff.

A common subject was Bob Mould, who was releasing a new album about every six months back then, and Grant would always say, “So, Bob put out another record,” and then ask if it was good. They were good, so I replied in the affirmative. However, I was always building up the courage to ask, “Hey Grant, when are you going to put out a new album? Because I love Intolerance, and I totally thought that Nova Mob was dope, and I would love to hear more stuff by you.” But I never asked; I never wanted to pry.

Apparently Grant was listening in on my thoughts, because he's going to be putting out a new album! Said new album, Hot Wax, is set to be released by Con D’or/MVD Audio October 6 and will be available on both CD and vinyl. It will also be Grant’s sixth solo release, though his first since 1999’s Good News for Modern Man.

Besides Hart’s multiple musical talents -- and stunning hair -- the album will feature appearances by musicians from Godspeed You! Black Emperor, A Silver Mt. Zion, and Rank Strangers, and was recorded in both Minneapolis and Montreal. When queried about the album, Grant replied with a descriptive response: “The song 'Narcissus, Narcissus' is my first attempt at combining ancient Greek mythology and American rock-a-billy. By merging those influences with an ice cream truck atmosphere I think I have found a style that defines this period of my career.” I have no idea what that song sounds like, but now I don’t think I've ever been more interested in hearing it.

Hart continues: “‘You're the Reflection of the Moon on the Water' is one of the most organic rock-and-roll songs that I have ever written. Its style owes a lot to my devotion for Patti Smith. It was inspired by a comment made by a monk during the selection process to find the next Panchen Lhama, who said of one candidate, ‘He is the reflection of the moon on the water but he is not the moon.’"

Awesome.

“Ground-Breaking Indie Rock Quartet” Pixies to Bring Doolittle Tour to Australia, Effectively Making Mo’ Money, Creating Mo’ Problems?

By Nobodaddy on 09-04-2009

What the HELL, Stephen Malkmus? Have you been READING this shit, Spiral Stairs?? What are you DOING shilling for the Gordon-Moores, Mark Ibold??? Knock off all of these cutesy side-projects, and lets get the Reunion Train a-movin,’ huh?

Just, look, hear me out for a second. Look at what Frank and Kim and those guys in The Pixies are doing! Do they get along? No. But they’re out there anyway, maxing out the 20th Anniversary shlock-hype of 1989’s “acclaimed,” “venerated,” “groundbreaking,” “blah-blah-blah” Doolittle for all us half-assed Fight Club fans day-in and day-out. Heck, currently they are even expanding that tour (the whole shoddy gist of which is little more than them blowing through the complete tracklist to Doolittle and playing the accompanying B-sides from that era) to include five stops in Australia next spring. Those tickets go on sale on September 18, with an undoubtedly mad pre-sale bonanza commencing on September 16! Good times, familiar tunage, aging hipsters with babies at home... sounds awesome, right?

And meanwhile, while The Pixies continue to trompe le monde with bags-o-cash under their arms, what is Pavement doing?? Not a damn thing, as far as I can see! I mean, really, what... the... hell? You’ve got a stellar sophomore album of your own worth cashing in on -- er, “commemorating.” The fans? Oh, we don’t even care why you do it, man. We just wanna hear “Cut Your Hair” with the all-original lineup and think about cruising around in our big brother’s Oldsmobile again. Is that too much to ask? Don’t let The Pixies hog all of the alterna-boom reunion glory. You’re better than that. You’re not really gonna make us wait until 2014, are you, Stephen?

Pixies Doolittle Tour:
03.14.10 – Sydney, AU - Hordern Pavilion
03.18.10 – Brisbane, AU - Brisbane Convention Centre
03.20.10 – Melbourne, AU - Festival Hall
03.24.10 – Adelaide, AU - Thebarton Theatre
03.27.10 – Perth, AU - Belvoir Amphitheatre

Previously reported Doolittle dates:
09.30.09 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
10.01.09 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
10.02.09 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
10.04.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - SECC
10.06.09 - London, England - Brixton Academy
10.07.09 - London, England - Brixton Academy
10.08.09 - London, England - Brixton Academy
10.09.09 - London, England - Brixton Academy
10.11.09 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderhalle
10.13.09 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Heineken Music Hall
10.14.09 - Brussels, Belgium - Forest National
10.15.09 - Paris, France - Zenith
10.16.09 - Paris, France - Zenith
11.04.09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Palladium
11.08.09 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
11.09.09 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
11.12.09 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
11.13.09 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
11.14.09 - Eugene, OR - Hult Center
11.16.09 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore
11.20.09 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
11.21.09 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
11.23.09 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
11.24.09 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
11.25.09 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
11.27.09 - Boston, MA - Wang Center
11.30.09 - Washington, D.C. - Constitution Hall

The Antlers Stock Up on Flannels and Wool Socks for Upcoming Fall Tour

By Annapocalypse on 09-03-2009

The Antlers are experts at preparing for the fall season (they do hail from Brooklyn, after all). This year, they’re not only coming to a local venue near you in support of Hospice (TMT Review), but they’re also blogging about some of their favorite autumn things. Check out this list from lead singer Peter Silberman:
5 Must-Have Fall Items for Touring:

- Wool Socks
- Flannels
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- The ability to grow facial hair
- These bad boys pulled straight off of a deer, to attach to our bass drum.

Antler Hunting:
09.12.09 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater (Monolith Festival)
09.16.09 - Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Saloon
09.17.09 - St Louis, MO - Cicero's (Play:STL Fest)
09.18.09 - Champaign-Urbana, IL - Canopy Club (Pygmalion Festival)
09.19.09 - Madison, WI - The Frequency
09.21.09 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean &
09.22.09 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Cafe &
09.24.09 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern &
09.25.09 - Buffalo, NY - Asbury Hall &
09.26.09 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall &
09.28.09 - Providence, RI - Jerky's Live Music Hall &
09.30.09 - Washington, DC - DC9 &
10.02.09 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's &

& Holly Miranda

Massive Attack and TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe Record Dream Collaboration I Never Knew I Had Till Today, Tour Incessantly

By Liz Louche on 09-03-2009

Three years after their last recording, the aptly named collection Collected, Massive Attack have announced the release of a star-studded new EP due October 6 from Virgin Records. Although unnamed as yet, the EP will feature the lead song “Splitting the Atom” with Massive Attack regulars Robert Del Naja (3D), Horace Andy, and Grant Marshall (Daddy G). TV On The Radio frontman Tunde Adebimpe lends vocals to “Pray for Rain,” and Martina Topley-Bird features on new track “Psyche,” given the remix treatment here by Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid (who have recently worked with Bat for Lashes and The Big Pink). Elbow’s Guy Garvey performs on “Bulletproof Love,” another new track present on this EP in remix format. This one gets the reworks by Christoff Berg, who produced the Fever Ray album, along with the aforementioned Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid. All this leads up to Massive Attack’s long-awaited fifth studio album, which will drop in February 2010, and will feature contributions from Hope Sandoval, Damon Albarn, and yes, Tunde Adebimpe, Martina Topley-Bird, and Guy Garvey.

In other Massive Attack-related news, the band was honored with the Outstanding Contribution to British Music Award at the Ivor Novello Awards, and Robert Del Naja received the David Di Donatello Award for Best Song for his work on the film Gamorra. Del Naja has also written and produced soundtrack contributions for several documentaries and films, including Trouble in the Water, 44 Inch Chest, and In Prison My Whole Life. Your next chance to see the group will be September 11 at the Bestival festival in England, or at their upcoming European tour, which starts just under a week later.

EP Tracklisting:

1. Splitting The Atom
2. Pray For Rain
3. Bulletproof Love (Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid Remix)
4. Psyche (Flash Treatment)

Whole Lotta Touring:
09.11.09 – Isle of Wight, England - Bestival
09.17.09 - London, England - O2 Academy Brixton
09.18.09 - London, England - O2 Academy Brixton
09.19.09 - London, England - O2 Academy Brixton
09.21.09 - Sheffield, England - O2 Academy Sheffield
09.22.09 - Birmingham, England - O2 Academy Birmingham
09.23.09 - Reading, England - Rivermead Centre
09.24.09 - Leeds, England - O2 Academy Leeds
09.26.09 - Manchester, England - Apollo Manchester
09.27.09 - Manchester, England - Apollo Manchester
09.28.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - O2 Academy Glasgow
09.29.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - O2 Academy Glasgow
09.30.09 - Newcastle, England - O2 Academy Newcastle
10.02.09 - Leicester, England - De Montfort Hall
10.03.09 - Swindon, England - Oasis Leisure Centre
10.06.09 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre
10.07.09 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia Theatre
10.14.09 - Moscow, Russia - Luzhniki Palace of Sports
10.16.09 - Helsinki, Finland - Helsinki Ice Arena
10.18.09 - Stockholm, Sweden - Annexet
10.19.09 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Falkoner Theatre
10.20.09 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene
10.22.09 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt
10.23.09 - Cologne, Germany - Palladium
10.24.09 - Merksem, Belgium - Lotto Arena
10.25.09 - Brussels, Belgium - Forest National
10.27.09 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Heineken Music Hall
10.30.09 - Berlin, Germany - Tempodrom GmbH
11.01.09 - Graz, Austria - Helmut List Halle
11.02.09 - Vienna, Austria - Gasometer
11.03.09 - Prague, Czech Republic - Lucerna Music Bar
11.04.09 - Bratislava, Slovakia - PKO Hall
11.06.09 - Zagreb, Croatia - Dom Sportova Zagreb
11.07.09 - Milan, Italy - Palasharp
11.08.09 - Conegliano, Italy - Zoppas Arena
11.10.09 - Paris, France - Zenith Paris
11.11.09 - Paris, France - Zenith Paris
11.13.09 - Nantes, France - Zenith
11.14.09 - Lille, France - Zenith Arena
11.15.09 - Metz, France - Les Arenes
11.16.09 - Lyon, France - Halle Tony Garnier
11.18.09 - Marseille, France - Le Dome
11.19.09 - Toulouse, France - Le Pahre
11.21.09 - Lisbon, Portugal - Campo Pequeno
11.22.09 - Lisbon, Portugal - Campo Pequeno
11.24.09 - Winterthur, Switzerland - Eishalle Deutweg

Thom Yorke (of Travis, Muse, Coldplay, and Radiohead cover band The Karma Police) Confirms 12-Inch Due This Month

By Mr P on 09-03-2009

In a post on Radiohead's Dead Air Space, Thom Yorke confirmed the release of the rumored two-track 12-inch due September 21, which he claims is "loosely under the Thom Yorke name" (should he go with Thomosexual?) The 12-inch features Yorke and Jonny playing an old Radiohead tune "Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses," as well as Yorke solo track "The Hollow Earth." If you read Ed's Kid A/Amnesiac diary back in the day, you may recall the former tune; "The Hollow Earth," meanwhile, is a track from The Eraser period.

The limited 12-inch is available for pre-odrer at W.A.S.T.E., which includes a gratis download that will also be made available September 21. A "normal download thing" will be released around October 6.

And that's how you write a news story without any personality.

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