Postal Service Threatens Steve Albini Christmas Charity Drive (The U.S. Postal Service, That Is... If It Was Ben Gibbard, Albini Would Just Whoop His Doughy Ass)

By Nobodaddy on

Okay everybody. I guess the terrorists have finally won, because the U.S. Postal Service is currently making it extremely difficult for music recordist/instrumentalist/band leader/temperamental curmudgeon Steve Albini and his considerably less descriptor-laden wife, Heather Whinna, to carry out their annual holiday Christmas gift drive, through which the two have doled out over $100,000 worth of presents each year to poor Chicagoland families over the past decade (presumably those present aren’t just Shellac and Big Black records, either).

Here’s how it usually goes down. Funds are raised each year through the Second City Theater's annual benefit (which has featured past performances from the likes of Jeff Tweedy, The Breeders, and Shellac). Albini and Whinna then spend time painstakingly perusing the mountain-loads of heartbreakingly adorable and piteous “letters-to-santa” that are sent to the post office each year asking for a (cue the tearjerker, here:) “Christmas Miracle” to help them through difficult times! Aaaaaaargh! The couple then surprises the neediest of those families by showing up on their doorstep on December 25, bearing gifts like a couple of converted Ebenezer Scrooges! Isn’t that just amazing? Take a few notes, Ty Pennington.

But now, as the Chicago Tribune recently reported, thanks to a policy change by the U.S. Postal Service, Albini and Whinna are running into some trouble with their schooling all of us in Altruism Class. See, the Postal Service is no longer allowing access to the names and contact info of people who send Letters to Santa, citing increasing security and privacy issues. This, of course, makes it much more difficult for potential donors like the Albini-Whinna clan to reach families in need. Sending gifts to needy families is still allowed, but they must be sent the mail, rather than delivered in person. But, as Whinna told the Tribune, "The idea of mailing a gift [...] almost makes me think the postmaster general has never been to a housing complex. If there's no human contact, it will kill the program."

Come on now, USPS. There’s got to be some way to work this out? Don’t get all Jacob Marley on us, here. The last thing you want after an entire career hitting the streets and delivering mail is to have to trudge around for all eternity in those dowdy uniforms.

Sunny Day Real Estate Escape the Winter by Touring Australia in February

By Annapocalypse on Dec 9 2009

Not having hair on your head when the temperature drops to the negatives in the winter sucks. I wouldn’t know, since I’m a girl, but I’m sure Jeremy Enigk of the newly-reformed Sunny Day Real Estate has invested in his fair share of beanies over the years. This year, Enigk and his bandmates decided to be smart and ditch the chilly February temperatures in the U.S. for the summer season in Australia. Good move, Enigk. You know that you can lose up to 75% of your body heat through your head alone.

Sunny Day(s) Down Under:
02.20.10 - Brisbane, Australia - Soundwave Festival
02.21.10 - Sydney, Australia - Soundwave Festival
02.23.10 - Sydney, Australia - UNSW Roundhouse
02.25.10 - Melbourne, Australia - Palace Theatre
02.26.10 - Melbourne, Australia - Soundwave Festival
02.27.10 - Adelaide, Australia - Soundwave Festival
03.01.10 - Perth, Australia - Soundwave Festival

By Rachel B on Dec 9 2009

Just before the official news leaked, Sigur Rós sent their followers a mysteriously vague email. The subject line read "Jónsi" and the text bore a large "JÓNSI" in bold print. No other information beyond that was evident. And of course no one knew yet what "JÓNSI" was supposed to mean, except that in the purposefully vague land of Sigur Rós, it would eventually mean something, much like the slow build-up and celebratory release in one of their songs. They just thought they'd play with you first.

Not long after this occurred, Sigur Rós eventually provided the much-needed context surrounding "JÓNSI," and wouldn't you know it, Jónsi happens to be one of Sigur Ros' members, and he's debuting his new solo album, entitled Go. And can I just say how adorable it is that Sigur Rós is marketing one of their members' side projects instead of turning away and pretending it's barely happening? It's the sweetest! Peace, love, rainbows, and Iceland! Forget their crapping economy. This band will never suffer creative disputes and crumble away into the annals of post-rock history.

But more to the point, Go is set to be released on March 23 (U.S.), produced by Jónsi, Alex Somers, and Peter Katis (The National, Interpol) and featuring instrumental arrangements by indie composer Nico Muhly. Beautiful. Check out the tracklist below, and head to the official website for a free track.

1. Go Do
2. Animal Arithmetic
3. Tornado
4. Boy Lilikoi
5. Sinking Friendships
6. Kolnidur
7. Grow Till Tall
8. Around Us
9. Hengilas

Bryan Ferry’s Handsomeness Pulls Jonny Greenwood and Flea into Its Orbit and Compels Them to Appear on Its Upcoming Record

By Mike McHugh on Dec 8 2009

You can’t sleep. The day has been long and your body is tired, but rest will not relieve you anytime soon. Beautiful, terrible visions have seized your mind. The images are familiar; you’ve seen them before dozens, perhaps hundreds of times. Those bedroom eyes . That cresting coif of chestnut perfection. This song . But why must they torment you now? What is to blame for this glorious torture? And then it strikes you: the last time you were so gripped with insomnia was in June 2007, when this ridiculous record came out. The cosmos speaks to you: “Bryan Ferry’s handsomeness is releasing a new record .”

The visions continue. A man appears faintly on the horizon, but even at such a distance you notice his face is unusually angular. At first glance you’re sure it's The Giant from Twin Peaks, but once the air clears of mist you note that it is in fact Jonny Greenwood , guitarist for the alternative rock group Radiohead. Before you can even muster an “In Rainbows sucked!” at him, a second man comes forward. Wiry and bald, the man is not difficult to place. You know him well from his unforgettable role in 1994’s The Chase, starring Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson. He is Flea, better known to some as the bassist for that stupid funk-punk-hooray-California band. How these two men came into league with Bryan Ferry’s handsomeness, you do not know. But even as they stand before you, motionless and silent, you know that His Handsomeness has willed that they appear in some capacity on his new record. No more than that is revealed. Consciousness fades as you are shepherded into the standard nocturnal brouhaha that you pathetically call dreams.

You wake in the morning and find a single red rose and a signed copy of Avalon waiting on the nightstand. “So it is true,” you think. “Jonny Greenwood, Flea, and Bryan Ferry’s handsome, handsome ass... just what the fuck is this going to be like?”

What’s Your Sign, Baby? Sub Pop Picks Up Dum Dum Girls, Releases Info about New Album

By Liz Louche on Dec 8 2009

LA-based Dum Dum Girls have been picked up by the venerable Sub Pop label. (No, not that kind of picked up, hayyyyyo!!!) The brainchild of a lady known only as Dee Dee, Dum Dum Girls make dark, hazy, lo-fi garage. So far Dum Dum Girls have releases through Captured Tracks, Hozac, and Zoo Music. Dee Dee has also collaborated with some Blank Dogs peeps via their project The Mayfair Set. Dum Dum Girls’ Sub Pop debut is called I Will Be, and features production from Dee Dee and Richard Gottehrer, who wrote “My Boyfriend’s Back” and “I Want Candy,” as well as producing the debut albums for Blondie and the Go-Gos and oh yes, co-founded Sire Records. The label press release declares I Will Be a tribute to love and fun. Wow! I love love and fun.

Tracklisting:

1. It Only Takes One Night
2. Bhang Bhang, I’m a Burnout
3. Oh Mein M
4. Jail La La
5. Rest of Our Lives
6. Yours Alone
7. Blank Girl
8. I Will Be
9. Lines Her Eyes
10. Everybody’s Out
11. Baby Don’t Go

Cat Power’s Chan Marshall Gets Sad Again; Is It Wrong for Me to Be Happy About This? Maybe Australia Will Cheer Her Up!

By Jon Lorenz on Dec 8 2009

Many singer-songwriters go through different stages throughout their careers due to mood changes or focus shifts: Daniel Johnston stopped writing songs about Laura; Bill Callahan changed his voice, changed his name, and changed his name again; and Cat Power (as well as the previous mentioned artists) got slicker recordings, slicker backup musicians, and started heading away from her sad and lonely songs. As a fan of the earlier, lonelier, lo-fi recordings from all three of these artists, I am a wee bit happy to announce that Chan Marshall is sad again.

Chan Marshall recently told the Courier-Mail that she has been working on a new record and said, "It's just me this time... I don't know if I should push all these [new] songs away and actually try to write and record it with the band. I don't know what to do. But I'm at a point where my heart tells me, ‘Chan, you haven't played piano or guitar for four or five years,’ and I do have guilt about that. People ask me, ‘When are you going to play by yourself?’ I have problems with strange yearnings and guilt." Elsewhere, she said, "I'm also frightened because some of them are sad again and I feel really nervous about that."

I say bring on the sadness!! Let it all out, Chan!!

At the end of the year, Cat Power will be heading over to Australia to do a short tour. Maybe she'll try and do the solo thing again and see how that goes. Here ya go, Australian fans:
12.30.09 - Phillip Island, Australia - Pyramid Rock Festival
12.31.09 - Brisbane, Australia - Powerhouse
01.02.10 - Gold Coast, Australia - Coolangatta Hotel
01.05.10 - Adelaide, Australia - Governor Hindmarsh Hotel
01.06.10 - Perth, Australia - The Astor Theatre
01.08.10 - Wollongong, Australia - Waves
01.09.10 - Newcastle, Australia - Panthers
01.10.10 - Sydney, Australia - Days Like This Festival

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