New Pornographers Attempt to Ford Okkervil River, Supplies Get Wet, Dan Bejar Drowns

by C. Schell on 02-07-2008

2007 was a pretty good year for Pittsburgh, PA's Black Moth Super Rainbow. They released the excellent, Plug Awards-nominated (Avant Album of The Year) Dandelion Gum (TMT Review) and received belated praise for their ‘06 collaboration with The Octopus Project, House Of Apples & Eyeballs (Graveface Records). They also toured a lot, including opening slots for The Flaming Lips.

While 2008 may have gotten off to a slow start (hey, it's only February), things are about to heat up soon (not weather-wise, especially if you live in Midwest USA, where it may happen in mid-April, at best). The first project comes from BMSR member Ken Fec, whose solo album, Kongmanivong (Graveface), comes out February 23 under the name Power Pill First. Meanwhile, the winners of the Plug (which, by its name, sounds like a bad thing) will be announced March 6, with the double vinyl version (+bonus track) of Dandelion Gum available around then, probably in time for the band's two-and-a-half week trek through the middle and western parts of the United States. If you are on the fence about going, keep in mind that the band has stated on their website that this will be the only tour BMSR does this year, because they "gotta work on a new record." An informed reader is a better scheduler.

Tourdates:

by Joe B. on 02-06-2008

Hello,

In cse you hven’t noticed, I hven’t been too ctive on TMT recently. Few weeks go I spilled bunch of wter on my keybord nd disbled few of the keys, not the lest of which re, uh, the letters t the beginning nd end of the lphbet. I keep sying I’m going to replce it, but I m both ly nd broke. I feel bd for not writing, though, so I will ttempt to write this Jeffrey Lewis story without using the letters I’m missing:

Jeffrey Lewis is going on tour. He is witty in lots of his songs. His lyrics often seem funny or cute on first listen, but I think there is true soul there, once you listen more deeply. If I were you, I would go see him perform. By doing so with the likes of Times New Viking, he is sure to grow in profile. Next time he comes to your town, you might not get to see him like this.

I thought this would be less difficult. Going for it showed me my own terrible limits in bright, unforgiving light. You’re welcome, Mr. Lewis:

* Times New Viking & Super Furry Animals

& The Mountain Goats

by AJ Pacitti on 02-06-2008

Earlier this week, our favorite li’l progressive culture nugget Kanye West (along with Prodege LLC) launched SearchWithKanyeWest.com, Mr. West’s brand-certified search engine powered by Google and Ask.

Users can expect to earn “Swag Bucks,” which bring them ever-closer to sweeter Kanye merch.

Pshh. And people say the dude's decadent.

Something you may or may not know, Little Hip One: THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

As in: check the site below to lend your worthy support to Alice in Chains, Randy Moss, Barry Manilow.

Never Joking,

Pookie Bear

by Joseph Coscarelli on 02-06-2008

Let's get this straight. Since June 4, 2007, when Maths + English was released in the United Kingdom, those on the other side of the pond have been unable to get their grubby hands on an actual copy of the album without paying import prices. Granted, you could purchase the album digitally, but something tells me that the cross section between Dizzee Rascal fan and the endangered species that is the record-buying public puts some stock into a physical manifestation of their $14.99. And they wonder why we pirate music.

So, while "Pussyole (Old Skool)" still makes me feel unsettled, I'm proud to announce that almost one year later, on April, 29, 2008, Maths + English will wash ashore at a United States record store near you. Featuring the album's UK-repping guest spots from Alex Turner of The Arctic Monkeys and Lily Allen, as well as Texas' finest UGK (R.I.P. Pimp C), the album will also feature new tracks "G.H.E.T.T.O.," "Driving," and a "Where's Da G's" remix by Def Jux head-honcho El-P, whose label is responsible for bringing Americans this long-delayed LP.

The Mercury Prize Nominated tracklist (+3):

by Mango Starr on 02-05-2008

Wikipedia: Destroyer (pronounced "destroy her") is a hatred or strong prejudice against women. Those holding Destroyeristic beliefs can be of either sex. Although Destroyer is sometimes confused with misanthropy, the terms are not interchangeable, for the latter refers more generally to the hatred of humanity. A concept related to Destroyer is gynophobia, the fear of women, but not necessarily hatred of them. The obsolete Latin language term horror feminae (literally "fear of women) may be used as a synonym both for Destroyer and gynophobia.

Destroyer is considered by most feminist theories as an implicit motivation of political ideologies that justify and maintain the subordination of women to men. Such ideologies are typically called sexism, by analogy with racism and antisemitism. Destroyer is, therefore, often associated with anti-woman sexism, as misandry is associated with anti-man sexism.

Destroyer's anti-feminist concept album, Trouble In Dreams (working title was Women Suck), comes out March on Merge. Yep, March on Merge.

Sarah McLachlan:

* Colossal Yes

^ Andre Ethier

$ Devon Williams