Jawbox to Reissue For Your Own Special Sweetheart; Album Title Still Misleading
Listening to Jawbox’s “FF=66” -- with its spastic guitar and J. Robbins’ shouted lyrics -- you have a hard time imagining that they ever recorded for a major label. But in the early-to-mid 90s, when label heads were sniffing for any Nirvana-like potential, the outliers of years past got fat advances and a little airplay on MTV (when such a thing existed). Of course, the whole experiment of Jawbox recording for Atlantic Records didn’t work out as planned for the label. (Somewhere, a former A&R guy is crushed about signing a band with rampant male pattern baldness and thinking you could market that successfully.)
But Jawbox did release For Your Own Special Sweetheart on Atlantic, probably their most critically acclaimed and revered album. And like all great albums of yesteryear, the album will be getting the reissue treatment from Dischord/DeSoto Records and is slated to come out November 23, 2009. You can purchase it on CD or vinyl, plus the reissue includes three tracks from the Savory + 3 EP.
DeSoto writes that the reissue “is a pretty meaty version of the record, with Zach's drums and Kim's bass getting a thorough re-write, while the guitars enjoy a sprinkling of what ended up being somewhat shallow mid-range in the original.”
RIP: Mercedes Sosa, Argentine folk singer
From The New York Times:
Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa, the ''voice of Latin America'' whose music inspired opponents of South America's brutal military regimes and led to her forced exile in Europe, died Sunday, her family said. She was 74.Her remains lay in state at the National Congress, where thousands of people -- many with flowers or Argentine flags -- lined up to pay respects to one of the region's most iconic voices.
''She was the best ambassador the country ever had,'' said Clara Suarez, 63, holding a bouquet of white flowers outside the Congress.
Sosa was best known for signature tunes such as ''Gracias a la Vida'' (''Thanks to Life'') and ''Si se Calla el Cantor'' (''If the Singer is Silenced''). She had been in the hospital for more than two weeks with liver problems and had since been suffering from progressive kidney failure and cardiac arrest.
Her latest album, ''Cantora 1,'' is nominated for three prizes in next month's Latin Grammy awards in Las Vegas, including album of the year and best folkloric album.
- Mercedes Sosa official website
- Mercedes Sosa Wikipedia entry
Do I Need to Make A Joke About Pot? Snoop Dogg to Tour With Method Man, Redman, Devin the Dude
What’s a guy like Snoop Doggy Dogg to do after being named the new Creative Chairman of EMI Music’s Priority Records? Yeah, I know -- the obvious answers are to smoke a fat blunt or maybe record a new single with cohort/best buddy Dr. Dre, but in a move that will change the industry as we know it, Snoop has decided to simply travel the country and remind you why he’s a righteous dude.
The West Coast legend, global superstar, and scavenger smoker has announced that he will once again be heading out on tour, this time with supporting acts Method Man (oops!), Redman, and Devin the Dude, under the “Wonderland High School Tour” banner. Exactly what they mean by “Wonderland High School” is beyond my understanding, but who gives a shit? It’s Snoop Dogg!
Snoopy will also be using the tour as a way of promoting his upcoming album, Malice N Wonderland, which is slated to be released December 8. Snoop will also be using the tour as a way of smoking a bunch of pot. Yeah, it’s an obvious joke, but hey, I can’t write about Snoop Dogg and not mention pot at least three times.
Hey! Here are the dates:
10.27.09 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
10.28.09 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
10.29.09 - New York, NY - Nokia Theatre Times Square
10.30.09 - Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
10.31.09 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
11.01.09 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
11.03.09 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue Theatre
11.04.09 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theatre
11.05.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Epic
11.06.09 - Kansas City, MO - Harrah's Voodoo Lounge
11.07.09 - Robinson, MS - Events Center @ Harrah's Casino
11.08.09 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
White Rabbits Kick Off Fall Tour in Support of Their Second Full-length
After touring throughout the South this summer with indie rock buddies The Walkmen and The Fiery Furnaces, Brooklyn's White Rabbits kick off their fall tour in support of their smashing second full-length album It's Frightening (TMT Review). After starting off in our nation’s capital October 17 at the Rock N Roll Hotel, they’ll continue to hop northward through Philly, Western Mass, and all the way up to chilly Canada before heading to the Midwest. Glass Ghost, Local Natives, and fellow Brooklynites The Suckers will be along for the ride on various dates
10.17.09 - Washington DC - Rock N Roll Hotel
10.18.09 - Philadephia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
10.20.09 - Northampton, MA - Pearl St. Cafe
10.21.09 - Providence, RI - Club Hell
10.22.09 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
10.23.09 - Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rosa
10.24.09 - Toronto, Ontario - Drake Hotel
10.25.09 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
10.27.09 - Louis, MO - Firebird St
10.29.09 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
10.30.09 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
11.01.09 - Phoenix, AZ - The Clubhouse
11.02.09 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
11.04.09 - San Francisco, CA - Slims
11.05.09 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
11.06.09 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Media Club
11.09.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
11.10.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
Sing It from the Treetops! Half-handed Cloud to Release Rarities Collection
I don't need to tell you that consideration is a thing of the past. If someone isn't driving like a displaced Berserk gang member from Mad Max to get ahead of you at a stoplight then they are cutting their own mother's throats to ensure acquisition of the last bag of Sun Chips at the local 7-11. You don't even have to leave the house to see people's unwillingness to going that extra inch. You are no doubt familiar with the newsletters and press releases that bands and record labels e-mail out and have secretly wished, "Gee whiz, it would be super swell if these good company people did something a little more spiffy to get my attention for their retail product! Hopskipideedoo!" Well, not content to whisk off an e-release to our already over-crowded inboxes with the speed and brevity of a teenager's morning wood discharge into a bedside sweatsock, the Michigan-born, everywhere-based label Asthmatic Kitty did something unique for one of their latest records -- it sent an ancient seer to select online publications to spread the word.
Top analysts Tiger Beat refused to let the prophet in (no gel, no cheekbones, no service) so he shuffled to our door in order to fill his quota. After an awkward introduction, we were face-blasted with a shitstorm of prophetic ranting from the old sage. Then, just as quickly as he had began, he ended his diatribe, tented his fingers, squinted his eyes, and proclaimed, "Half-handed Cloud will release a rarities compilation called Cut Me Down & Count My Rings on November 3 on Asthmatic Kitty. For some reason, he then produced eight "silver gewgaws" (Hershey's Kisses rewrapped in cigarette foil) and stormed off in a fury of tongue-spoken rage. We weren't entirely convinced of this character's character and suspicion was rightfully aroused when he was spotted goose-stepping into an '82 Chevy Caprice with Foghat cranked to a Pitchfork-approved 7.8 on the Pioneer deck. Thankfully, authenticity was re-established when he stopped, reached his bony hand out the window, and stated again, "November 3!"
Cut Me Down & Count My Rings is a 46-song collection by John Ringhofer's Half-handed Cloud and it contains unreleased and previously released songs originally found on harder-to-find vinyl, cassettes, limited CDEPs and CDRs, with zines or on compilations, Christmas-themed releases, a cassingle, and wax cylinders issued during the decade hilariously known as "the noughties." With 46 songs on one disc, Ringhofer takes a minimal approach, with no extended lead-ins, noisy tangents, or solos. For all of this, J Mascis HATES him. Guests include former Wookieback bandmate Brandon Buckner, Cryptacize's Nedelle and Chris Cohen, WHY?'s Yoni Wolf, and an unknown, up-and-coming indiefolk musician named Sufjan Stevens. Ringhofer knows it's good to give a leg up to amateurs. He also knows that extensive song details and immaculate design are destined to make this a magical, mysterious package.
When overwhelmed with dread, drink up these spirituals:
1. You Call Yourself Our Shepherd
2. It’s Better to Follow the Shepherd
3. The Shepherd’s Reach
4. Always Running Away
5. All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
6. Good-Good Path
7. What Great Things…!
8. Leaving the Ninety-Nine
9. Clothe Yourself Within Us
10. You Call Yourself Our Shepherd (Reprise)
11. Cot-Roof
12. He’s Not the Swindler We Are
13. Dear John (original version)
14. Was He Really Doubting?
15. Couple Kings Close the Road on a Giant (parts 2-4)
16. Once, Twice, Seven Times a Werewolf
17. Bees Are Trying to Build Their Nest in You
18. Bees Baked a Loaf for Me (or Flour from Flowers?)
19. Who Brought These Up?
20. Isaiah 49
21. Never in Labor!
22. We're Not Getting Well
23. Took Your Tablets
24. I Got a Letter
25. Ten Commandment Tombstone
26. Here's a List
27. Sewing Wind to Fabric
28. Chins
29. Finding
30. Oily
31. Ploughmen
32. Buffet
33. Pause
34. When Overwhelmed with Dread
35. Missing
36. Winding
37. Cut-down
38. Got-it
39. To Fill
40. Loathed
41. Couple Kings Close the Road on a Giant (part 1)
42. Pre-teen Apocalyptic Film Acting (WHY? Medley)
43. Ode to Team Pinecone
44. The * That Moved-Around the Night
45. Plant a Little Fir Tree
46. Home for Christmas
Apple and Eminem’s Publisher Settle Their Legal Dispute
Last week, we reported that the court case between Apple Inc. and Eight Mile, Eminem’s publisher, had begun. The dispute centered around Eight Mile’s claim that Aftermath Records, who controlled the recordings of the little-known white-boy rapper’s music, did not have the authority to strike a deal with Apple to upload his music onto iTunes.
However, on October 2 Eight Mile’s attorney, Richard Busch, revealed the two parties had settled but did not disclose any details.
Anyone know who this Eminem guy is (no-one at TMT has a clue!)?
RIP: DJ Mr. Magic, hip-hop pioneer
From AllHipHop:
Legendary DJ Mr. Magic has died from a heart attack, AllHipHop.com has confirmed with various sources.Mr. Magic was a legendary DJ who debuted in 1979 on a pay-to-play broadcast on WHBI 105.9's "The Mr. Magic Disco Showcase."
In 1983, he launched "Mr. Magic's Rap Attack," in New York City which featured a young DJ Marley Marl in addition to future Co-Chillin Record label owner Tyrone “Fly Ty” Williams.
Google Removes Pirate Bay from Search Results
Google appears to be suffering from a great deal of "don't kill the messenger" syndrome these days. As much as they'd probably like to sneer at their accusers and say "we're just doing our job," they have little choice but to comply to certain demands, such as weeding out search results the Chinese government deems unsuitable and more recently, taking down Pirate Bay's front page.
Of course, this isn't the first time Google has been asked to take down torrent sites, what with the current war on file sharing and all. Google takes down its content primarily because copyright holders get wind of their material being downloaded for free -- and it would be a lot easier for them if the world's most popular search engine got behind them in stemming the flow of free stuff. The copyright owner (a porn company, in this particular case) then files a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) complaint, and bam, problem solved... somewhat. The leaked material is still on Pirate Bay, but at least the front page has been removed from Google's search results.
Google's only comments regarding the request go something like this: “In response to a complaint we received under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we have removed X result(s) from this page. If you wish, you may read the DMCA complaint that caused the removal(s) at ChillingEffects.org.”
What is also notable however, is that the entire Pirate Bay domain hasn't been removed -- just the front page. Oh, loopholes.
Warner Music Group Continues Layoffs, Still Cannot Figure Out Where It Went Wrong
Warner Music Group is still searching for answers. It's losing money and not sure why! Soon, however, there may not be any major labels at all, if they keep laying off their employees. This week, WMG announced more layoffs at Warner Bros. Records, with reports of 10-13 employees being placed on the chopping block, among them Senior Vice President of Sales Dave Stein. Additionally, WMG is also cutting employees from distribution group WEA and indie distribution division, Alternative Distribution Alliance, who are responsible for stocking independent music retailers all across the U.S. with all the hip new indie stuff.
Recently, Rhino reduced its staff and Sony is expected to do the same. Sigh.
Lightning Bolt Add Japanese Tourdates and ONE U.S. date, Presumably Just to Make My Last Story Obsolete, Waste My Jokes, Rub America’s Nose in It
Hey, remember like a couple weeks ago? A lot was different back then, huh? It was still summer, the world was still reeling with the possibilities of the Pavement reunion... and, of course, we here at TMT dropped the sensational, Pulitzer-worthy news bomb that Rhode Island noise-rock duo Lightning Bolt would be pummeling Australia and New Zealand (still as-yet virgins to their visceral live show assault) with a round of shows in support of their forthcoming Earthly Delights record on Load.
It was a standstill moment, to be sure. Millions were affected by this deftly crafted story and unprecedentedly informative news item. Destinies were altered. Lives previously considered by their errant leaders to be “worthless” suddenly seemed fulfilled and driven. Families torn asunder were reunited by the joyous news and the mellifluously qualitative manner in which the delicate piece’s author described its finer points to them, juicy tidbit by juicy tidbit, like a buttery sirloin steak... made of velvet... draped in U.S. Grade A “Dark Amber” maple syrup... being cooked via the convection of passing sound waves from Claude Debussy’s Greatest Orchestral Hits all being played simultaneously from a number of sleek Bose Wave® combination alarm clock /radio/iPod dock/CD changers in Platinum White arranged in an ideal Platonic circle around God’s immaculate parlor room in his (2nd, larger, and even more private than the first) secluded, Frank Lloyd Wright-designed summer home in Martha’s Vineyard.
And then?
...uh, we um, kinda sorta found out about the Japanese dates that they’re also doing on the tour and one U.S. date, so we had to hurry up and post a new one chop-chop.
(cough)
...and, you know, here it is. Thanks, everybody. Thanks for reading. Thank you.
New and Improved Lightning Bolt Tourdates:
10.29.09 - Providence, RI - Firehouse 13 #
11.05.09 - Tokyo Shibyua, Japan - O-Nest
11.06.09 – Nagoya, Japan - Club Rock’n’Roll
11.07.09 – Kyoto, Japan - Urbanguild
11.08.09 - Yamaguchi Houfu, Japan - Indo-Yo
11.09.09 – Fukuoka, Japan - The Voodoolounge
11.10.09 – Ooita, Japan - Athall
11.11.09 – Okayama, Japan - Pepper Land
11.12.09 – Osaka, Japan - Shangrila
11.13.09 - Tokyo Shibuya, Japan - O-Nest
11.14.09 – Enoshima, Japan - Oppa-La
11.15.09 - Tokyo Shindaita, Japan - Fever
11.16.09 - Tokyo Kouenji, Japan - UFO Club
11.20.09 - Melbourne, Victoria - Thornbury Theatre
11.21.09 - Sydney, New South Wales - Manning Bar
11.22.09 - Brisbane, Queensland - Hi Fi
11.24.09 - Auckland, New Zealand - Transmission Room
11.25.09 - Wellington, New Zealand - San Francisco Bath House
11.26.09 - Hobart, Tasmania - Mona
11.27.09 - Adelaide, South Australia - Fowlers Live
11.28.09 - Melbourne, Victoria - Trades Hall (Static Age Festival)
# benefit show for Dan Tanner with Tinsel Teeth and Beat Mountain
Daniel Johnston Gets His Own iPhone App; Meanwhile, Jandek Gets His Own Signature Backgammon Set
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These days, anyone can have their own iPhone App, including the most unlikely of candidates. Case in point: Daniel Johnston. “Hi, How Are You” is the first ever toon-shaded 3D puzzle platform for both the iPhone and the iPod Touch, and it’s available in the Apple App store right now for $0.99. According to the press release:
The game features dynamic, physics-driven gameplay and is set in a psychedelic universe filled with the art, music, and iconic themes of renowned Johnston. The game begins with Satan turning the innocent Jeremiah into a frog and stealing the object of his affection. To win back his true love’s freedom, Jeremiah must progress through 25+ devilish levels to reverse the curse that Satan has bestowed upon him.
The game can be played by using tilt controls or a virtual on-screen joystick. Over 20 achievements can be unlocked as the game progresses, revealing original artwork from Johnston. “Hi, How Are You” was developed by Dr. Fun Fun and Smashing Studios. Screenshots, a.k.a. the next best thing, can be found here.
