The Verve to Release Forth; Forth To Apparently Include Ten Tracks That Are Not “Bitter Sweet Symphony”

By AJ Pacitti on

(TMT – Manchester) Nineties alt-rock legends The Verve are set to release upcoming album Forth via the band’s own imprint, On Your Own, August 26. Frontman Richard Ashcroft publicly confirmed today that a cover of “Bitter Sweet Symphony” will in no way be included on the album, contrary to the daunting and ridicule-laden expectations of the consumer public and/or former Nineties Kids! that are now slightly overweight disc jockeys at top 40s stations in and around the Midwest.

“‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ was a really sweet jam, but it isn’t on our new album,” said Ashcroft at a press event. “I’m a million different people from one day to the next,” he added, trailing off in a raspy half-mumble.

Ashcroft then launched into an unprompted discussion of the song, named the 382nd best of all time by Rolling Stone.

“You see, what I was trying to get across [in ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’] through the powerful force that is music is that being a slave to money is, like, very bad,” he explained. “It’s sort of a complex grappling with existence that will live on until the end of time as, like, the benevolent pressure of life and love and consumerism. It’s like Damn The Man!, but it’s also like just being a slave to money till you die, you know. That’s what I was getting at lyrically, you know,” he said.

“I can confirm that the tracklisting for Forth in no way includes a reference to ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony,” he said, pausing in thought to contradict himself: “Okay, maybe tangentially.”

Friend and contemporary Noel Gallagher agreed. “Yeah, maybe tangentially, sort of,” he said in a phone interview.

Forth tracklisting:

Cold War Kids Tour, Announce New Album; TMT Sets You Straight on “Kids” Bands

By Annapocalypse on 07-14-2008

Indie rock can often be a confusing style of music. So many musical restrictions, a dress code, and I’ve heard there are secret handshakes too. Gosh! Luckily, TMT is here to help, with our handy guide to all these “___ Kids” bands that have been popping up lately. Read on if you want some insights on this cool new musical trend:

- The Get Up Kids: Indie rock for your little sister.
- The Black Kids: Indie rock for dorm-room dance parties.
- The Cool Kids: Indie rock for hip-hop fans.
- Cold War Kids: Indie rock for everyone.

And speaking of Cold War Kids, they have a new album, Loyalty To Loyalty, coming out September 23 via Downtown Records, and are touring later this summer and fall. They practically invented the secret handshake, so you may want to see them on tour if you need tips on mastering it.

Loyalty To Loyalty tracklist:

Ariel Pink Tours: With or Without Farty Armpit Sounds?

By Emceegreg on 07-14-2008

Since growing a cult following, Ariel Pink has formulated quite the live band, revising the self-recorded sound of Pink's earlier DIY albums. The band consists of keyboardist Kenny Gilmore (Lilys), bassist Tim Koh (White Magic, Lavender Diamond, Miho Hatori/Cibo Matto, All Night Radio, My Barbarian), drummer Jimi Hey (Beachwood Sparks, All Night Radio, Devendra Banhart, Mark Olson/The Jayhawks, Chris Robinson, Indian Jewelry, The Rapture, Strictly Ballroom), and guitarist Cole M. Greif-Neill (Ethnik Klensr, Young & Natural, The Samps).

Sure that all sounds fine and dandy, maybe even a little impressive, but I can't help but feel a void.

That void is the Ethiopian armpit music of Keith Terry. What makes Pink's lo-fi material so mesmerizing is not just his keen awareness of pop sensibilities and structures, but rather his incorporation of armpit sounds replacing bass drums. So, why not hire someone to authentically recreate the sound? What would any tour be without this guy?

If you're not dumb and immature like me, you might want to go to some of the following dates for Pink's amazing live show and a limited-edition, tour-only vinyl (released in partnership with Vinyl International).

"Thanks Mama I'm Dead Tour 2008":

Team Clermont Announces Summer Camp Festival Lineup, Featuring Music, Kickball, Scavenger Hunt, and Four Square!

By Annapocalypse on 07-14-2008

Back in college, I was a DJ and Alternative Music Director for my University’s radio station (like many of you, I’m sure). So reading Team Clermont’s name (a PR firm based in Georgia, for those not in the know) transported me back to a time of dead air, broken CD players, and themed radio shows, and I found myself getting a bit nostalgic for my college radio years. Sad, I know. But, before I put on Loveless and contemplate how long it will take me to get drunk enough to call my college boyfriend, let me tell you about Team Clermont’s Summer Camp Festival.

The annual festival will be held July 31-August 2 around Athens, Georgia, Team Clermont's abode. Featuring such events as arts and crafts, karaoke, kickball, four square, and corn hole, the festival is already way cooler than everything else you have going on this summer. Where else can you get drunk, listen to awesome bands, and play four square?! On its final day, there will be a "Campfire Sing-Along," featuring cover bands dedicated to ESG, Paul MCartney & Wings, Mclusky, and Sonic Youth.

Here’s the schedule of Summer Camp’s list of activities/band lineup:

Day One: “Camp Orientation” (07.31.08 - Caledonia Lounge)

- So Many Dynamos
- Mostly Bears
- Megafaun
- Benji Hughes

Day Two (08.01.08 - Little Kings)

- Music Director Scavenger Hunt (12-2 PM)
- “Talent Night” featuring karaoke, dance party with DJs Cookies & Cream, arts and crafts, four square and corn hole tournaments, and a face-painting station

Day Three (08.02.08 - East Athens Community Park)

- Koalas vs. Walruses Kickball Showdown (10 AM-2 PM)
- Graham MacRae

Day Three Pt. II: “Campfire Sing-Along” (08.02.08 - 40 Watt Club)

- Tiny Sticks (ESG cover band featuring Josh McKay of Macha/Seaworthy, Bryan Poole, Heather Heyn formerly of Dark Meat, Aaron Wegelin formerly of Elf Power)
- Hi Hi Hi (covering Paul McCartney & Wings, featuring Bryan Poole from Of Montreal/Dark Meat/Elf Power/the Late BP Helium and Jason Nesmith of Casper & the Cookies)
- F*ck This Band (Mclusky cover band featuring Jeff Tobias of We Versus The Shark, Dark Meat and Pegasuses-XL; Scott Smith of We Versus The Shark; Andy Pruett of Cinemechanica; and Brion Kennedy)
- Nic Fit (Sonic Youth cover band featuring members of Dead Confederate).

Alright, now time for Loveless.

“The City That Knows How”.. to Steal Your Shit: Maria Taylor’s Van Robbed in San Francisco, People Suck

By Mario Speedwagon on 07-14-2008

On Thursday, July 10, Saddle Creek darling Maria Taylor’s van was broken into while she and her band were in San Francisco. The jerks busted out the back window and stole six guitars (the right-handed ones belong to Maria, the lefties belong to guitarist Taylor Hollingsworth), two suitcases, two pedals and tons of Maria’s new EP, Savanna Drive.

Luckily on Friday, Maria and her band recovered one of the missing bass guitars at a local pawnshop. However, the loser pawnshop owner made them pay $250 to get it back, even though they had their police report. Much of the gear that was stolen has sentimental value and the band is quite upset.

I know how they feel, sort of. Some assholes broke into my house a month ago and stole all the computers in our house, two digital cameras, and my posh terabyte external hard drive. It had the most jams on it.

Anyway, here is the damage.

Stolen Gear:

- Left-handed Red Gretsch Tennessee Rose Guitar
- Left-handed Martin Acoustic Guitar
- Left-handed White American Fender Precision bass -- recovered at a pawnshop
- Right-handed Purple Fender Jazz Bass guitar
- Right-handed 1976 Black Les Paul Deluxe
- Right-handed Alvarez acoustic guitar (hand-painted white with black swirls -- guitar strap is nailed on)
- Boss Tuner Pedal
- Boss Distortion Pedal

If anyone has any information regarding the stolen goods, please email info@saddle-creek.com.

Lykke Li Tacks on North America To Her European Tour

By Nicole C. on 07-11-2008

21-year-old Swedish-lo-fi pop darling Lykke Li is set to embark on a 10-city North American road trip in support of her debut album, Youth Novels (TMT Review), which is scheduled for release August 19 in the U.S. Sadly, Li's short tour romp will not be named "Madonna's Immaculate Collection Rules Tour of ’08," which does very little to honor the time Li spent with the album while living on a mountaintop in Portugal. Anyway, Li will also stop off in a couple Canadian cities, riding through America's hat in between hitting up various other international stopovers for previously scheduled shows and summer festivals.

For a full listing of all worldwide dates, visit her MySpace.

Full North America tour listing:

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