Sonic Youth:contenterror#1987 Master-Dik EP; SYR 7 PerformthisfunctiononApril22

By Hanky Panky on

I'll spare you the details of my hellacious week, but suffice to say, I'm in a bad mood and pretty tired, so I'm not going to use any exclamation points in this news article. Don't take it as a lack of enthusiasm for Sonic Youth -- I'm a big fan. Yay, Sonic Youth.

So, it's March, spring cleaning time, which is exactly what Sonic Youth was doing when they discovered the master tapes to the 1987 Master-Dik EP they never got around to releasing on CD.

Thurston Moore: Shit... you wanna run out and put this on a CD?

Some other member of Sonic Youth: Yeah, boss.

And there you have it. Eight tracks, including a cover of The Ramones' "Beat on The Brat" and a probably-hard-to-endure sound collage of "psycho-distorto-soundscapes recorded by the band while on tour and at Wharton's Palace of Confusion," available now at the Sonic Youth gift shop.

Master-Dik EP tracklist:

1. Master-Dik
2. Beat on the Brat
3. Under the Influence of The Jesus and Mary Chain/Ticket To Ride/Master-Dik(version)/Introducing the Stars
4. Ringo/He's On Fire/Florida Oil Drums/Westminster Chimes
5. Chinese Jam
6. Vibrato/Guitar Lick/Funky Fresh
7. Our Backyard
8. Traffik

But wait, there's more -- like the seventh installment of Sonic Youth's experimental goulash, which touts itself as a self-released, vinyl-only edition, among several other abstruse adjectives and compound modifiers. SYR 7 consists of two pieces, Side A's "J'accuse Ted Hughes" and Side B's "Agnes B Musique," merging as a total of 40 minutes of experimentation that I honestly don't have the patience for when I'm moody and tired. Available April 22; get ‘em while they're hot.

SYR 7 tracklist:

1. J'accuse Ted Hughes
2. Agnes B Musique

Stephen Malkmus And His Jicks Show Up Younger Bands By Adding Tourdates

By Annapocalypse on 03-06-2008

It’s a tough world out there for those elder statesmen of indie rock. You’re trying to put out new albums and stay relevant -- Real Emotional Trash (TMT Review) in Stephen Malkmus’ case -- and meanwhile, you have an entire new generation of bands yipping at your tired heels. Bands that are young enough to be your kids!

Well, Malkmus is not about to let Vampire Los Weekend Campesinos get him down. Oh no, he’s going to show those kids that he and his merry band of Jicks are worth their salt by adding a few European dates to his already lengthy Spring tour.

Take that, youngsters:

# John Vanderslice

^ The Joggers

This Friday, Sigur Rós Will Temporarily Become Cyber Terrorists and Release Heima On YouTube

By Scout Leader Kyle on 03-06-2008

Hide your ones and zeroes, folks, ‘cause the the criminal organization of musicians known as Sigur Rós will be releasing their potentially deadly Heima virus on YouTube tomorrow (Friday). Word has it that Sigur Rós will take over all 12 video slots on YouTube's front page, plastering them with ten videos from the "Minn Heima" YouTube/Sigur Rós competition, a "special message" from the band (possibly of the terrorist variety), and Heima in full, their viral documentary most likely about amateur pornography and Icelandic carpentry.

You can read the terrorist propaganda on their site here.

Half Japanese Make Rare Live Appearances at SXSW!

By Mr P on 03-06-2008

Half Japanese are playing five shows at SXSW this year, with one of its early lineups of Jad Fair, David Fair, Mark Jickling, Rick Dreyfuss, John Dreyfuss, and John Moremen. A couple of the shows will exhibit art by both Jad and David (worth checking out because Jad's art is AWESOME, and I'm sure David's is too), while the WFMU Showcase will feature Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan on saxophone.

Meanwhile, you can checkout free Jad Fair albums at his MySpace, and you might as well start changing your SXSW plans to fit in all five Half Japanese shows. I'll be sure to tell you to do other things in future TMT news stories.

We Are Those Who Ache With Amorous Love, as long as you have a badge:

* Jad Fair art exhibition

# Jad Fair and David Fair art exhibition

Pitchfork.tv; Chicago Sun-Times’ Jim DeRogatis Interviews Bryan Shreiper

By Mango Starr on 03-06-2008

So, I came into the TMT offices today, and guess what? Same old shit. Mr P's in his office with a couple TMT fans, Gumshoe is yelling at a newbie for incorrectly using a semicolon, and NicoleMC99 is complaining to Squeo about the ass-chafing, eco-friendly toilet paper. Nobodaddy called in sick, and P Funk hasn't even showed up for the past two days! Don't get me wrong; I love TMT. But I'm getting so sick of it here.

Which is why I'm thinking of applying to Pitchfork. In addition to its foray into branding (TMT News), Pitchfork actually has its shit together. I'm sure you've heard of Pitchfork.tv by now, Pitchfork's "online music video channel" that debuts April 7. It'll feature full-length concerts, feature films, and more! I mean, why can't TMT do anything interesting? Seriously. Mr P's all "I don't want to post MP3s and videos because it's too promotional, blah blah blah." What a d-bag. I hear where he's coming from, but what about trying to expose new acts to readers? Is it really so bad to promote bands you believe in? Criticism is dead, Mr P! The lines have blurred a long time ago!

It really comes down to this: Jim DeRogatis (critic for Chicago Sun-Times and co-host of Sound Opinions) interviewed Pitchfork editor-in-chief Ryan Shreiber for his blog -- when asked if he knew who Mr P was, he responded: "Mr P? Isn't that a pizza shop on 46th?" Anyway, it's worth checking out the interview. He asks Shreibtown some tough questions:

- Now, what band is going to deny you the right to videotape them and show that content for free on Pitchfork.tv if it’s worried about not getting a good review on the Web site? What band is going to say no to playing the festival, even if it has a better offer somewhere else, and what band is going to reject letting you include them on a videogame soundtrack?

- I don’t know if I believe in the notion of selling out, but I do believe in the notion of credibility, and you guys have been very credible critics up to now. But when you get into the business of lining up bands for the soundtrack of a baseball video game, I’m going to start to wonder if I can trust that 9.4 rating anymore.

- What about the video game soundtrack? Doesn’t that kind of tarnish what you say Pitchfork is doing?

(Read the full interview here)

Meanwhile, check out Pitchfork.tv in April, and, really, stop reading "pizza shop" Tiny Mix Tapes. I've had one foot out the door for quite some time now. Oh shit, Mr P's coming. Gotta publish this quick!

Goodbye Winter, Hello Bonde do Role Tour!

By Liz Louche on 03-06-2008

Spring time: a time for gently falling rains, blossoming flowers, and the hatching of tiny, fuzzy chickens still too cute to be eaten. As the evil, cold, greying snow melts from the ground, new life bursts forth into the balmy, sweet air. It's a time for rebirth, for new hopes, for celebrations. But whatever, who really cares about all that when you know that it is also time for a Bonde do Role tour?!?!?!

After the departure of singer Marina Vello late last year, the future of the Brazilian baile funk dance powerhouse Bonde do Role was a big question mark. But they're back, and possibly better than ever! (Judge for yourself -- I haven't seen the new lineup yet.) They're performing at Coachella and across North America, and they've added not one but two new vocalists! These upstanding young women, Ana Bernardino and Laura Taylor, joined the band after what must surely have been a grueling audition process staged in conjunction with MTV Brasil.

Take off that parka, and get ready to get down, because Bonde do Role is coming to a town near you!

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