Grooms Embark On Fall Tour In Celebration Of Positive Tiny Mix Tapes Review

by Mr P on 11-06-2009

If you haven't already noticed, DOOM has made a big-time return this year. He dropped BORN LIKE THIS. (TMT Review) earlier this year and is set to release a compilation LP Unexpected Guests on November 10. Meanwhile, Madvillain (his collabo with Madlib) is scheduled to drop its long-awaited follow-up LP soonish and are even performing at the We The People festival (TMT News).

Now word is out that DOOM has a new EP set for release in December, titled Gazillion Ear (named after a track off BORN LIKE THIS.). Not only that, but the EP, according to a press release, features production by J Dilla, Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio), and Thom Edward Yorke! Read for yourself:

Masked maverick DOOM (previously known as MF Doom) is set to release his new GAZZILLION EAR EP this December. The record includes production by Radiohead frontman and longtime DOOM fan Thom Yorke, the much-missed J Dilla, psychedelic hip-hop artist Jneiro Jarel and TV On The Radio lynchpin Dave Sitek. The EP follows DOOM’s earlier BORN LIKE THIS album opus - one of the hip-hop highlights of 2009.

by Brom on 11-05-2009

Negotiations are currently underway in Seoul, South Korea on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), and apparently the internet chapter of this copyright treaty has leaked. And what do you know: its details are enough to make any freedom-lovin’ American apoplectic with rage. Amongst the proposals are international provisions to ensure that ISPs follow “notice and takedown regimes,” that policies are put in place to “deter unauthorized storage and transmission of allegedly copyright infringing content” (according to EFF), and that ACTA signatories enable legal action to be taken against those who break technological protection measures (such as DRM).

In other words, this is about extending government control over the internet all within a global framework.

ACTA began in October 2007 and aims to introduce international standards to tackle counterfeit goods and pirated copyright protected works. As summarised by Boing Boing, ISPs would “have to proactively police copyright on user-contributed material” and “cut off the internet access of accused copyright infringers or face liability.” What's key here is that internet access could be denied and content blocked simply because an allegation is made. No evidence has to be produced to justify the claims. Is there anything more un-American?

The Obama administration purportedly refused to disclose the text of the treaty “due to ‘national security’ concerns.” HMPH!

by Liz Louche on 11-05-2009

It has been a big year for Sonic Youth. The band’s sixteenth studio album, The Eternal (TMT Review), came out this summer on their new label, Matador. In April, a song on which they collaborated with Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones was used in a new piece by the prestigious Merce Cunningham Dance Company. And — perhaps most importantly — Sonic Youth also appeared on Gossip Girl, the ultra-stylish, ultra-AWESOME CW teen drama about wealthy teens on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Kim Gordon actually officiated at star-crossed mid-90s alterna-rock duo Rufus and Lily’s wedding! WHAT AN HONOR, RIGHT?!?!?

So after all this, what’s a band to do? Why, go on tour, of course! The venerable group will be playing a few shows on the East Coast before rocking ATP’s Nightmare Before Christmas and then returning for a brief venture into the American Southwest.
11.07.09 - Sao Paolo, BR - Planeta Terra Festival ************
11.21.09 - New York, NY - Terminal 5*
11.22.09 - Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre
11.23.09 - Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre
11.24.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg**
11.25.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg***
12.05.09 - Minehead, UK - ATP Nightmare Before Christmas
12.06.09 - Dublin, IE - Vicar St.
01.04.10 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theater****
01.05.10 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theater****
01.07.10 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues****
01.08.10 - Pomona, CA - Fox Theatre****
01.09.10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern****
01.10.10 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore****

*Dinosaur Jr.

**Talk Normal

***Jemina Pearl

****Sic Alps

************ Iggy Pop and The Stooges

by Rachel B on 11-05-2009

Well, it looked like the '90s were back and better than ever (depending on how you feel about the '90s) during Cypress Hill's Smoke Out Festival, where former Sublime bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh played with a new singer, Rome Ramirez, under their former moniker. Although they were "thrilled to reconnect with their fans around the world," the long arm of the law wasn't feeling as mushy.

According to Los Angeles judge Howard Matz, the passing of former Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell means that the Sublime name can't ever be resurrected, no matter how many original band members are still breathing. The Nowell family maintains: "Prior to his untimely passing, both Bud and Eric acknowledged that Brad Nowell was the sole owner of the name Sublime. It was Brad's expressed intention that no one use the name Sublime in any group that did not include him, and Brad even registered the trademark 'Sublime' under his own name." So much for sharing the love.

For now, Sublime's two remaining members fully intend to "take the court's advice and work on a business solution to this issue." Take your time, guys.