I Can Kinda See It Now: Fuck Buttons Set to Release Tarot Sport in October For Divinatory Purposes
I had never even seen a shooting star before. 25 years of rotations, passes through comets' paths, and travel, and to my memory I had never witnessed burning debris scratch across the night sky.
Anyway, Fuck Buttons have confirmed October 20 as the release date for their newest album, Tarot Sport (ATP Recordings). The duo of Andrew Hung and Benjamin John Power (both great names, to be sure) have "[continued] to refine, craft, explore and develop the experimental aesthetic of last year's critically acclaimed debut album, Street Horrrsing," says the press release. And, according to Power, "I think it sounds a lot thicker than our previous work -- our brains kind of went into meltdown."
But what about me? What are my thoughts on the album? How do I feel? What might I have to say about the album? Stare into this blank space for awhile (roughly one minute), and you'll find out:
----
----
----
----
----
----
----
----
----
----
The single "Surf Solar" will be released September 14, with U.S. dates soon to be announced.
1. Surf Solar
2. Rough Steez
3. The Lisbon Maru
4. Olympians
5. Phantom Limb
6. Space Mountain
7. Flight Of The Feathered Serpent
El Perro Del Mar Proves Pop Is Not Love on New LP, Thus Pop Will Not Tear Us Apart, Only Pop Cannot Break Your Heart, and The Hounds of Pop Are Not Calling
Since going "from the valley to the stars" (TMT Review) on her second LP, El Perro Del Mar (a.k.a. Swedish songwriter Sarah Assbring) has made an incredible discovery: pop, as it turns out, is not love. Assbring discovered this fact while writing songs for her third album, all of which happened to deal with the concept of doomed love. So, all these new songs were love songs, but they were also pop songs. Which might suggest that pop is actually love, albeit the doomed kind? But no! As it turns out, Assbring discovered that love is deeper than a pop song, leaving her with the conclusion (and title of her new record) that Love Is Not Pop.
If love really is not pop, then, man, that brings forward a lot of new facts about pop. Did you know that pop is not all you need? Or that pop triangles are really quite ordinary? Pop, surprisingly, is considerably less simple than love, not to mention that there’s an awful lot wrong with pop. Have you ever fallen in pop with someone you should have fallen in love with?
Regardless of whether pop and love are really one and the same, apparently the old El Perro Del Mar is not the new El Perro Del Mar. Ms. Assbring is making an effort to break from her previous style, as the new record possesses a darker outlook and a sound she describes as “mysteriously groovy.” Such a “mysteriously groovy” sound is the product of her collaboration with producer Rasmus Hägg, half of Balaeric pop duo Studio. Studio’s work is pretty “mysteriously groovy” itself, so the description of Love Is Not Pop, due October 20 via The Control Group, is likely accurate.
Tracklist:
1. Gotta Get Smart
2. Change of Heart
3. L Is for Love
4. Let Me In
5. Heavenly Arms
6. It Is Something (To Have Wept)
7. A Better Love
8. L Is for Love (Low Motion Disco's additional love remix) [bonus track]
9. Change of Heart (J Rintamäki remix) [bonus track]
10. Let Me In (Nhessingtons remix) [bonus track]
Ooooo... OOIOO Drops New Album on Thrill Jockey in Late October!
At what point exactly does the indie world’s mewling cabal of critics and blogadeers start to judge an established musician’s “side project” outside the context of the artist’s primary undertaking? After they release two albums? Maybe three? Does a person have to go all Gorillaz and cram his or her new band with so many guest collaborators and multimedia distractions that it becomes more of an overblown PowerPoint presentation than a band? Does a side project need to come equipped with a single equal to or better than “Genius of Love” if it has any hope of getting recognized on its own merits? Is such a feat even possible (Making a song better than “Genius of Love,” mind you, not the other thing...)?
Take OOIOO , for instance. For a side project to receive extensive critical consideration that hasn’t been distilled in the juices of that artist’s flagship act is difficult enough, but if your new band happens to be an offshoot of the inimitable Boredoms, you’re basically boned from the get-go. The full discography of Boredoms side projects goes on and on for days, leaving little hope that they’ll all receive the critical consideration they deserve. However, OOIOO stands among the chosen few (along with Hanatarash and Z-Rock Hawaii) as a Boredoms side project that has successfully flown from the nest and developed a dedicated following, one that doesn’t consider the group to be just another Boredoms sideshow act.
How did Yoshimi and company manage to pull it off, you ask? Fuck if I know, it’s probably because they’re just a really good band or something. I think I’ve done enough hackneyed over-analysis for one news article, so let’s quit fucking around and get down to business. OOIOO, comprised of Yoshimi P-we of Boredoms fame and three other extremely capable ladies, have slated their much-anticipated follow-up to 2006’s Taiga (TMT's 19th favorite album of '06!) for a late October release on Thrill Jockey . Titled Arminico Hewa (defined by the band as “air in a harmonious state”) the album finds our heroes OOIOO up to their same old psychedelic but surprisingly well-grounded tricks. Or not. I haven’t listened to the record yet. And neither have you. But now you know it’s coming out, so there. We’re equals now.
Tracklisting:
1. SOL
2. Uda Hah
3. Irorun
4. Konjo
5. Ulda
6. Polacca
7. Kipepeo
8. O O I A H
9. Nin Na Yama
10. Hewa Hewa
11. Agacim
12. Orokai
13. Honki Ponki
So Sayeth The Doom-Sayers: sunn 0))) Expand Tour, Terrify Southern States
Listen closely, children: the end is upon us and the black lords ride ever closer -- well, if you live on the East Coast, that is, and consider sunn 0))) black lords. More to the point, and what I really mean to say, is that sunn 0))) have announced the third wave of their “Live Aktions on American Soil” tour in support of their newest album, Monoliths & Dimensions (TMT Review).
The band will move across the Eastern seaboard and then plunder its way through the Southern states, pulverizing all ears that stand in its way. The metal maestros will be backed by label mates Eagle Twin, who are positively psyched to let you know that they will be touring in support of their newly released album The Unkindness of Crows.
sunn 0))) will also be playing a very special show in Brooklyn, at a massive Masonic Temple, where the spirit of Cthulu will be summoned. The Dark Lord will then spread his anger and fire across our landscape, burning everyone in his sight and promising death to all humans, besides for Southern Lord label mates Earth and Pelican, who are reportedly both excited to witness any and all burnings
08.05.09 - Seattle, WA - Neumo’s *
08.06.09 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's $
08.08.09 - San Francisco, CA - Independent
08.09.09 - Brookdale, CA - Historic Brookdale Lodge
08.11.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Center for the Arts
08.13.09 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
08.14.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Avalon Theatre
09.17.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr Small's
09.19.09 - Providence, RI - AS220 Broad Street Studio
09.20.09 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
09.22.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Masonic Temple*
09.23.09 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar
09.24.09 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre
09.25.09 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel^
09.26.09 - Atlanta, GA - Legends Banquet & Special Event Center
09.27.09 - Athens, GA - Seney-Stovall Chapel
09.28.09 - Athens, GA - Seney-Stovall Chapel
09.30.09 - Nashvillle, TN - Mercy Lounge
Very Very Super Group to Release Very Very Super Album; Shonen Knife Ready Super Group
What's not to love about little Japanese girls singing not-so-good English lyrics over über-traditional rock 'n' roll punk jams, right? Well, in case you forgot about them, here's an update: nowadays Shonen Knife are quite a bit older and can probably speak English a little better, but their wits remain sharp as ever, having just tinkered their band into a full-time three-piece lineup. In 2006, the original bassist of Shonen Knife, Atsuko, left the band and moved to LA, so Shonen Knife have been keeping things active with fill-in bass players since then. On their upcoming record, though, the girls have officially invited Ritsuko to become a permanent member, returning the lineup to a trio of power.
Shonen Knife seems to be treating 2009 as if they were a fresh, new band, signing to Good Charamel Records and readying their newest LP Super Group for an August 15 release. The girls have even decided to "musically" start things over, attempting to "go back to the starting point of ROCK." Super Group is all English lyrics this time around and stomps around genres, from the Buzzcocks-influenced title track to the heavy metal of "Pyramid Power" and "Muddy Bubbles Hell," to the almost Jonathan Richman-esque "BBQ Party," and even a Wings cover for good measure. The North American version of Super Group will come with a special bonus track, "Evil Ways," and exclusive cover artwork, and the band plans to do an extensive tour of Europe, Australia, and North America after the album's released.
Super Group tracklisting:
1. Super Group
2. Slug
3. Muddy Bubbles Hell
4. Deer Biscuits
5. BBQ Party
6. Pyramid Power
7. Time Warp
8. Na Na Na
9. Your Guitar
10. Jet
11. Evil Birds (bonus track)
The Decemberists Announce Fall Tour; Yes, They’re Still Playing That Pretentious, Wank-Off Opera Thing Instead of The Songs That You Love
Man, don’t you kind of wonder if the other Decemberists mighta forgotten about that whole "touring" thing when they agreed to help Colin Meloy create the sprawling and scattered, Tristan-meets-Twilight Saga, prog-folk LP The Hazards of Love (TMT Review) this past spring? Well, if so, then... oops. Cuz they’re still out there playing it. Over and over and over again. (John Moen must be texting frown-y faces to Robert Pollard constantly.)
Yes, that’s right all you Beroul, Wagner, and Magic: The Gathering fans, The Decemberists have just announced a pretty mammoth and mythical slab of tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone fall dates for their “A Short Fazed Hovel” 2009 tour. And yes, this is the tour that features full performances of The Hazards of Love, with Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark and My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden in tow once again for the, um, festivities. And no, you probably won’t get to hear that good old “Mariner’s Revenge Song” there (boo!).
This fall phase of the Faze launches September 20 in Burlington, Vermont, a mere month or so after they wrap up this current, summertime phase of the Faze, which includes an NPR live webcasting and broadcasting of their performance at this year’s Newport Folk Festival on August 1 (which apparently will actually not be The Hazards of Love, but instead a special set for the festival! Hey, play the damn “Mariner’s Revenge Song”!)
Now, please, give me a sec to post all these tourdates... before they announce some more!
The Decemberists’ “A [No Longer Too] Short Fazed Hovel” 2009 tourdates:
08.01.09 - Newport, RI - Newport Folk Festival
08.02.09 - Montreal, Quebec - Osheaga Music & Arts Festival
08.03.09 - Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus
08.05.09 - Madison, WI - Orpheum Theater
08.06.09 - Chicago, IL - Metro
08.07.09 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
08.08.09 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Egyptian Room
08.10.09 - Louisville, KY - W.L. Lyons Brown Theater
08.11.09 - Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Theater
08.13.09 - Buffalo, NY - UB Center for the Arts
08.14.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Byham Theater
08.15.09 - Schwenksville, PA - Philadelphia Folk Festival
08.16.09 - Holyoke, MA - Mountain Park
09.20.09 - Burlington, VT - Flynn Theater
09.21.09 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater
09.23.09 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
09.24.09 - Charlottesville, VA - Charlottesville Pavilion
09.25.09 - Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
09.27.09 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
09.29.09 - St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheater
09.30.09 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
10.02.09 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
10.03.09 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Music Festival
10.04.09 - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
10.06.09 - Lexington, KY - University of Kentucky, Lexington
10.07.09 - Columbia, MO - Ninth St. Fall Fest
10.18.09 - San Francisco, CA - Treasure Island Music Festival
11.18.09 - London, UK - Forum
11.19.09 - London, UK - Coronet
Wavves Go On Fall Tour, Meltdown, Extra Consonants, Lo-fi, Blah Blah Blah
Let’s get it all out of the way right now, why don’t we?
- Meltdown!
- That extra V!
- Lo-fi!
- Weed!
- Haircut!
- Hype!
I think that covers all of them. Oh wait wait wait, forgot one!
- Goths!
There, I think that’s it. Now we can get on to business: Wavves are going on tour this fall. Most dates are with Woodsist Beach Boys enthusiasts Ganglians.
Wavves dates:
08.28.09 - San Diego, CA - Street Scene
09.05.09 - Los Angeles, CA - LA Historic State Park - Save Our State Parks
09.06.09 - San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop *
09.13.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge *
09.14.09 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge *
09.15.09 - Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Musical Hall *
09.16.09 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry *
09.17.09 - Grinnell, IA - Gardner Lounge, Grinnell College *
09.18.09 - Champaign, IL - Pygmalion Music Festival *
09.19.09 - Madison, WI - Forward Music Festival *
09.20.09 - Chicago, IL - Chopin Theater (Early All Ages) *
09.20.09 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle (Late 21+) *
09.21.09 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Cafe *
09.22.09 - Toronto, ON - El Mocambo *
09.23.09 - Montreal, QC - Friendship Cove *
09.24.09 - New York, NY - Santos Party House *
09.25.09 - New York, NY - Venue TBA (Todd P Show) *
09.27.09 - Boston, MA - Great Scott *
09.29.09 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church *
09.30.09 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar *
10.01.09 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel *
10.02.09 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 *
10.03.09 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club *
10.04.09 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
10.06.09 - Oxford, MS - Proud Larry’s *
10.09.09 - Dallas, TX - Pastime Lounge *
10.10.09 - Austin, TX - Emo’s *#
10.15.09 - Phoenix, AX - Rhythm Room *
10.16.09 - San Diego, CA - Casbah *
10.17.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex *
* Ganglians
# The Soft Pack
Pixies Confirm Doolittle Dates, Chicago Girl Shits Pants
After announcing a European tour, wherein the majority of the setlist would consist of songs from Doolittle and its respective B-sides played in their entirety (TMT News), The Pixies left the New World waiting with baited breath. One local fan (me) was left wondering: “What about my neck of the woods??”
Then the second announcement came along. However, all we got was: “Hey Pixies fans! We’re gonna play in the U.S., at some point, at some places, but we can’t tell you anything more.” When I heard this, I squealed and clapped with delight. Then I told my girlfriend, who is easily the biggest Pixies fan that I make out with, and she preceded to squeal and beg me to buy tickets. The only problem was that I didn’t know where to buy tickets from.
Well, all of that has now changed because of this AMAZING third announcement. The Pixies have proclaimed to the world the locations AND dates for their U.S. Doolittle tour. I immediately texted my girlfriend, as mentioned above (I love you honey!), and she sent back the following message: “What?!? We HAVE to get tickets!!!!!!!!!!!! holy shit I’m about to shit my pants!!!!!!!!! Omg omg omg omg omg omghdsaqyudxjx0jk.”
My sentiments exactly.
Pixies Doolittle tour:
08.29.09 - Burl's Creek Park, Ontario - V Festival
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
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Who Gives a Shit About That Lil' Whiner... Sax Ruins Release Album Today on Ipecac!
Ah yes, the riddle that confounded the intelligentsia and dunce circles alike for centuries: "What do you get when you match Ruins with a Sax?"
- Examinations of hieroglyphic cartouches were non committal ("What does the "flamingo" sign mean again?" cried generations of sand sweepers).
- Encryption coders worked diligently for years, and in 1971 a decommissioned WWII enigma rotor machine found in a landfill in Idaho inexplicably spat out what was thought to have been the solution (it ended up just being a lost cassette recording hybrid of donkeys screwing and Donkey Kong noises; "Donkey Dong" is now the number one download in 47 countries).
- An obsessed Howard Hughes, high school puzzling teams, the mythical, made-up Seven Summit Dwelling Society (SSDS) of Kilimanjaro, and even I have struggled with trying to figure out the quandary -- but to no avail (most of the TMT co-workers I asked to help quickly suffered from a strange case of being "fuckin' bored with this shit").
The true answer, unveiled officially today, is "Sax Ruins!" Simplicity at its best!
Musically, Sax Ruins is a bit more complicated, but in the best, basest, noisesome way. Ruins' Tatsuya Yoshida (drums) and Nagoya-based Ono Ryoko on alto sax unleash their debut album today on Ipecac Recordings. Although originally formed a couple of years ago to perform Ruins compositions, Yawiquo is the duo's debut and contains 17 songs, some of which are, in fact, interpretive renditions of Ruins' past ruins. It's not so hard to understand, is it?
Yoshida needs little introduction in the freeprogjazzpunk world, having been playing and playing with a vast number of luminaries over a long and distinguished career. Ryoko, on the other hand, has been making waves in improvisational circles due to her adventurous embracing of styles and collaborators (most notably Acid Mothers Temple), her Ryorchestra project, her adoption of techniques like circular breathing (just like Kenny G!), and the creation of her own "Language R" compositional notation. Initial bewilderment aside, the only mystery now is why you are still reading this story instead of hearing the album. Go forth, young sound solvers!
Sax Ruins...nothing! Yawiquo trax:
1. Korromda Peimm
2. Zurna Taksim
3. Hyderomastgroningem
4. Czerudmuntzail
5. Snare
6. Pallaschtom
7. Zworrisdeh
8. Komnigriss
9. Nivaftoppftz
10. Gravestone
11. Znohjmo
12. Jallamjikko
13. Bupphairodazz
14. Epigonen
15. Pig Brag Crack
16. Djubatczegromm
17. Yawiquo
Pissed Jeans Announce August Tour in Support of Forthcoming LP King of Jeans
Allentown, PA's Pissed Jeans are set to both release another record and go on tour this August. The album, King of Jeans, will be their second with the Grungeon Masters themselves, Sub Pop, following 2007's Hope for Men (TMT Review).
Check them out like a teenage slacker/stalker via vocalist Matt Korvette's blog.
Tourdates:
08.15.09 - Hollywood CA - Troubadour
08.18.09 - San Francisco CA - Bottom of the Hill
08.20.09 - Portland OR - Satyricon
08.21.09 - Seattle WA - Chop Suey
08.22.09 - Vancouver BC - Media Club
08.29.09 - Philadelphia PA - Pi Lam (Record Release Party!)
King of Jeans tracklisting:
1. False Jesii Part 2
2. Half Idiot
3. Dream Smotherer
4. Pleasure Race
5. She Is Science Fiction
6. Request for Masseuse
7. Human Upskirt
8. Lip Ring
9. Spent
10. R-Rated Movie
11. Dominate Yourself
12. Goodbye (Hair)
Saddle Creek Latest Geographic Takeover: Lawrence, Kansas’ Old Canes (project of Appleseed Cast's Chris Crisci)
Remember back before 2001 when Saddle Creek was all “Yo, is your band not from the epicenter of awesomeness, a.k.a. Omaha?! Well, don’t bother sending in a demo, because we don’t sign outsiders, man!” Apparently once the label woke up and realized great bands do indeed exist outside the confines of the Cornhusker State, it has been branching out quite a bit, even signing several bands from Canada. Here is their progress thus far:
- Georgia: Now It’s Overhead
- North Carolina: Sorry About Dresden, Eric Bachmann
- Kansas: Old Canes
- California: Rilo Kiley, Two Gallants
- Washington, D.C.: Georgie James
- Montreal: Land of Talk
- Toronto: Tokyo Police Club, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Sebastien Grainger
Meanwhile, Old Canes, Saddle Creek’s newest geographic acquisition, will release their sophomore album Feral Harmonic October 20. Old Canes may sound familiar to Appleseed Cast fans out there, as AC singer/guitarist Chris Crisci is the primary force behind the band. Their first album Early Morning Hymns was released on Second Nature Recordings in 2004 and is available for purchase in the Saddle Creek webstore right now.
Feral Harmonic tracklisting:
1. Intro
2. Little Bird Courage
3. The Last Collapse
4. Trust
5. Next Flood
6. Sweet
7. Under
8. I Will Be The Sun
9. Stuck
10. Flower Faces
11. Black Hill Chapel
12. Southern Radio
