Frank Black produces new Pete Yorn record, blows the mind of your circa-2001 self.
By E. Nagurney on Jun 16 2010
Pretend it is, say, 2001 or 2002, and you’re watching MTV2 (remember MTV2? Totally aughts!). Some young buck singer/songwriter named Pete Yorn comes on with a video from his 2001 debut Musicforthemorningafter. The guy’s not bad, but, man, you’re a real indie rocker and no band will ever be better than The Pixies. Yeah, this Yorn dude’s okay, but he can never (never!) step to Frank Black’s weirdo juggernaut.
Now, snap back to the present, when your mind will be blown (or you’ll be mildly surprised) that Frank Black is producing Pete Yorn’s new self-titled record, coming out via Vagrant Records on September 28. Other things that might have been mildly surprising back in 2001/2002: Vagrant puts out Pete Yorn’s records now and not just those of The Get Up Kids and Dashboard Confessional; Yorn’s last record was a collaboration with the blond girl from Ghost World; and Frank Black thinks that Yorn “just wanted to rock out” on his new record.
What shouldn’t be surprising is that, while Yorn got the flu during the recording, Black didn’t really care about getting sick. Well, duh, Frank Black made a deal with the devil at the age of four, preventing him from ever getting sick. Everybody knows that.
Pete Yorn tracklist:
01. Precious Stone
02. Rock Crowd
03. Velcro Shoes
04. Paradise Cove I
05. Badman
06. The Chase
07. Sans Fear
08. Always
09. Stronger than
10. Future Life
11. Wheels
• Pete Yorn: http://www.peteyorn.com
Yeasayer say “yea” to touring and bad puns
By Annapocalypse on Jun 16 2010
Yeasayer have never been a band to back down from a challenge. Whether it’s learning how to perfect the skill of balancing, incorporating 80s synths into their new album on Secretly Canadian, Odd Blood (TMT Review), or heading back on the road for yet another tour around the US.
09.28.10 - Millvale, PA - Mr Smalls Theatre
09.29.10 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
09.30.10 - Bloomington, IN - Bluebird Nightclub
10.01.10 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
10.02.10 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
10.04.10 - St Petersburg, FL - State Theatre
10.05.10 - Miami, FL - Fillmore
10.07.10 - Orlando, FL - Club Firestone
10.08.10 - Tallahasssee, FL - Union Green
10.09.10 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues New Orleans
10.10.10 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits
• Yeasayer: http://www.yeasayer.net
• Secretly Canadian: http://www.secretlycanadian.com
The Thermals let you read their journals as they expose their Personal Life on September 7 through Kill Rock Stars
By Kid Midnight on Jun 16 2010
The Thermals have been busy lately, what with releasing their fourth album, 2009’s Now We Can See (TMT Review), and spanning the globe with five US tours, three jaunts across the European continent, and a kung-fu, commie-smashing adventure through the People’s Republic (of China).
However, The Therms seem to be “in the groove,” as they say, and are already announcing a release date for their fifth album, Personal Life. It looks like, with all this work, songwriters Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster have given up on a “personal life” (that’s two!). The album is scheduled for release on September 7 through Kill Rock Stars.
The Thermals are once again working with Chris Walla (of Death Cab fame) who mixed their first album and produced their second. If you’re curious about the musical contents and stylings contained in the album, you could go to their website, or just read this affectionate section of the press release: “Personal Life continues the Thermals tradition of high-energy punk/power/pop while also exploring darker, more introspective territory. Lyrically, Personal Life obsesses over love and lies with the same passion The Thermals have reserved for politics and death in the past.”
Sounds like the same stuff that got me to buy the first four albums! I don’t mean that as an insult. I love The Thermals! I fucking love The Thermals! Let me into your “personal life!” (that’s three!)
For all you nerds out there, I feel it necessary to mention (being an audiophile) that the album was mastered from tape and tape only. No computers here, ya Bill Gates wannabes!
Personal Life tracklist:
01. I’m Gonna Change Your Life
02. I Don’t Believe You
03. Never Listen To Me
04. Not Like Any Other Feeling
05. Power Lies
06. Only For You
07. Alone, A Fool
08. Your Love Is So Strong
09. A Reflection
10. You Changed My Life
AND! Tourdates!
07.01.10 - Calgary, AB - Distillery - Sled Island Festival
07.02.10 - Calgary, AB - Olympic Plaza - Sled Island Festival
07.03.10 - Calgary, AB - Republik - Sled Island Festival
07.05.10 - Chicago, IL - Jay Pritzker Pavillion
09.06.10 - Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
09.09.10 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom - Musicfest NW
• The Thermals: http://www.thethermals.com
• Kill Rock Stars: http://www.killrockstars.com
[Photo: Alicia Rose]
Islands announce summer tour; Nick Thorburn can’t promise he won’t change his name again
By Annapocalypse on Jun 15 2010
Nick Diamonds, Nicholas Thorburn, and according to Wikipedia, “Nick T.” Whatever it is that this guy who sings for Islands is asking you to call him these days, he’s well on his way to changing his name as many times as P. Diddy. Expect maybe two or three potential name changes when Islands hit the road on their US tour this summer, in support of 2009’s Vapours on ANTI-.
Presenting Nicki Thorbaj & The Islands:
06.27.10 - Brooklyn, NY - Northside Music Festival
06.28.10 - Allston, MA - Harper’s Ferry *
06.29.10 - Providence, RI - Jerky’s Live Music Hall *
06.30.10 - Philadelphia, PA - The Barbary *
07.01.10 - Washington, DC - The Black Cat *
07.02.10 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle *
07.03.10 - Atlanta, GA - Eyedrum *
07.04.10 - Mobile, AL - Alabama Music Box *
07.05.10 - Houston, TX - Mangos *
07.06.10 - Austin, TX - The Parish *
07.07.10 - Dallas, TX - The Loft *
07.08.10 - Norman, OK - Opolis Productions *
07.09.10 - St. Louis, MO - Firebird *
07.10.10 - Madison, WI - The Terrace (University of Wisconsin) *
07.12.10 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall *
07.13.10 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
* Active Child, Steel Phantoms
• Islands: http://www.islandsareforever.com
• ANTI-: http://www.anti.com
Lauryn Hill and A Tribe Called Quest added to already dazzling Rock the Bells lineup
By Liz Louche on Jun 15 2010
Summer festival season is upon us. But if your tastes run wholeheartedly away from any sort of event where you’re likely to see entire families in matching outfits slobbering corn dog grease all over their sunburnt frames and instead lean more more toward a festival where a cross section of people might boogie down to some classic Lauryn Hill jams, this year’s Rock the Bells lineup should be slapping you in the face and yelling “Go to me!!! Go to me!!!!”
The roster for this thing is the definition of killer: apart from Ms. Hill, A Tribe Called Quest is slated to perform Midnight Marauders, Snoop Dogg (!!!!!!) will be going at it Doggystyle, and the entire Wu-Tang Clan is powering through Enter the 36 Chambers with the late ODB’s first-born son standing in for his verses! DJ Premier also has a special Gang Starr-related tribute in the works. The full lineup includes Murs & 9th Wonder, Immortal Technique, DJ Muggs & Ill Bill, and Jedi Mind Tricks, plus young up-and-comers Yelawolf, Wiz Khalifa, and Big Sean, The Street Sweeper Social Club featuring Boots Riley of the Coup and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Clipse, Brother Ali, Supernatural, DJ Rocky Rock, Rakim, KRS-One, and Slick Rick.
08.21.10 - San Bernadino, CA - Nos Events Center
08.22.10 - San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheater
08.28.10 - New York, NY - Governor’s Island
08.29.10 - Washington, DC - Merriweather Post Pavillion
• Rock The Bells: http://rockthebells.net
[Photo: DaigoOliva]
