04/18/2008
News and Notes: Joy Division Zune, Silver Jews, Joan of Arc, Colin Meloy
///While it doesn't seem like Microsoft's Zune
is a big hit with the kids, maybe with this new promotion it will
be a hit with the older kids - old enough to have gotten into Joy Division. In conjunction with Grant Lee's upcoming Joy Division documentary, the Zune can be purchased with the artwork of the Unknown Pleasures LP. So sad, so digital. [Thanks, Pfork]
///Silver Jews will be releasing a new album, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea, on June 17th, via Drag City. If you live in Europe you can catch the band on tour, but the real news - for those without the money for a plane ticket - is the cover art (look to your right). [Thanks, Pfork]
///Chicago's Joan of Arc have announced May 20th as the date for the release of their latest effort, Boo! Human. The band will be playing 2 dates in Chicago, and band leader Tim Kinsella is playing one solo show on April 20th. After that they will be touring around the country. [Thanks, Punknews]
///Colin Meloy, of The Decemberists, has some live songs available for your listening pleasure on NPR.
04/17/2008
News and Notes: More Record Store Day Fun, Neil Hamburger Listening Party, Jane's Addiction Reunites (again)
///We told you Monday about the Zaireeka! listening party at Permanent Records in honor of Record Store Day on Saturday, and now comes word that Rogue Wave will be joining in the celebration at Reckless on Milwaukee and playing a live acoustic set at 5pm.
///Speaking of records, the one and only Neil Hamburger (aka "America's Funnyman") has a new country record out on Drag City that comes out next Tuesday and there will be a listening party for it this Sunday at the Rainbo at 7pm. Check out his hot new video for the track "Jug Town" here.
///Jane's Addiction is reuniting once again (albeit briefly) next week in Los Angeles for the first ever NME Awards USA. The big news this time around is that original bassist Eric Avery recently agreed to rejoin the band for this one night, making it the first time the original Jane's line-up will have played together since 1991.
04/16/2008
04/15/2008
Caribou @ Empty Bottle 4/11/08
The story of Caribou has become legendary. Canadian Dan Snaith formed Manitoba in 2001 and released two albums under that moniker. But when punk rockster/wrestler Dick Manitoba sued Snaith for illegally using his name, Snaith settled on Caribou. 2005's Milk of Human Kindness was Snaith's first record under the new name. Last year's sunny pop/psyche-electronic record Andorra garnered spots on several top ten lists and solidified Snaith as superstar, especially since he played all the instruments himself. For the tour, he's enlisted a 4-piece band consisting of two drummers. Even though the Bottle's stage is small, it's the perfect venue to absorb the band's beautiful noise.
Download: Caribou - "Hello Hammerheads"
News and Notes: Austin City Limits, Wolf Parade, Thax Douglas
///Austin City Limits have announced the line-up for their annual fall festival. You can look forward to M. Ward, Spiritualized, David Byrne, Hot Chip, and many many more. Tickets are available. [Thanks, Consequence of Sound]
///The first single off of the Wolf Parade we talked about yesterday is called "Call it a Ritual." Spacelab has an mp3 for your enjoyment. An official album title has not been announced.
///Chicago poet Thax Douglas has announced, via a MySpace bulletin, that he is working on a new book and is also looking forward to a vinyl release as well. The vinyl will consist of the poet reading poems in a laid back style while a person plays a Hammond Organ. The book comes as a follow-up to his book of poetry Tragic Faggot Syndrome published in 2000.
04/14/2008
News and Notes: Wolf Parade, Record Store Day, Smoking Popes, Wire, Amy Winehouse, Kaki King
///Wolf Parade have completed recording their next album in the church-to-studio conversion owned by The Arcade Fire. The album is rumored to be an experimental affair, consisting of the best parts of the live jams linked together - far from the sound on their debut. [Thanks, Aversion]
///This Saturday, April 19th, is Record Store Day, so make sure to visit your local record store and buy all those records you've been meaning to buy. The Ukrainian Village's Permanent Records is holding some live in store performances, a Zaireeka listening party, free stuff with every (and any) purchase, and Record Store Day exclusive releases.
///Chicago's The Smoking Popes will be releasing their follow-up to 1997's Destination Failure on June 7th. It's called Stay Down and will be celebrated with a release party at The Metro. New songs are available on their MySpace. [Thanks, Consequence of Sound]
///The legends, Wire, are ready to release their 11th album, titled Object 47. It is the 47th item in the Wire catalog of releases. Release dates and other information are pending. [Thanks, Pfork]
///Amy Winehouse has reportedly canceled her latest recording session. That means you'll have to wait till 2009 until you can get your hands on more Winehouse. [Thanks, NME]
///Kaki King was kind enough to let NPR record a live performance in Harrisburg, PA while out on her current tour.
Blitzen Trapper @ Schubas 4/6/08
The first time I listened to Blitzen Trapper's 2007 release, Wild Mountain Nation, I confess to thinking it was a bit of a disjointed mess. But, after seeing the band live several months ago, the album became a magnificently disjointed mess.
Download: Blitzen Trapper - "Wild Mountain Nation"
04/11/2008
04/10/2008
The Everybodyfields @ Schubas 4/4/08
The Everybodyfields pen delicate dreamy country songs that are most at home when wallowing a bit in melancholy and despair.
Download: The Everybodyfields - "Aeroplane"
News and Notes: The Smiths, Prince, The Mars Volta
///The Smiths' album The Queen is Dead has received its share of praise (and critiques) over the years. Now, on June 10th, Sexy Intellectual, with the help of Music Video Distributors, will be releasing more praise titled The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead: A Classic Album Under Review. The documentary will review the making of the record and the legacy its left behind. Now everyone fire up that last.fm and kick up the album's ratings. [Thanks, Pfork]
///Coachella is coming up quick for those who are heading to the desert festival, but now you can rest assured that the tickets were worth the price. Prince is officially headlining the festival's second night! Sure it's not Radiohead or Wilco, but Prince has played the Super Bowl! [Thanks, Aversion]
///The Mars Volta recently released a new album titled The Bedlam in Goliath, but (maybe) more importantly they will be stopping by Chicago on their huge multi-continental tour with a stop at the Aragon Ballroom on April 20th. Show starts at 7pm and tickets are $32.50 plus fees. [Thanks, PunkNews]
04/09/2008
News and Notes: King Khan, Islands, Riot Fest, CHIRP
///King Khan and the Shrines have signed with Vice Records. The 12 piece will be releasing The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines via their new label on June 17th. The disc is a best-of of sorts and includes songs throughout King Khan's history. [Thanks, PunkNews]
///Islands have announced their new album Arm's Way, which will be released via Anti- on May 20th. If you'd rather (or also) see them live they will be heading by the Logan Square Auditorium on June 2nd. By the way, that is the real cover art. [Thanks, Pfork]
///The Chicago based Riot Fest have announced their dates (no lineups) for 2008's go around. Mark your calendar's for October 10th, 11th, and 12th. A venue has not been announced, but in past years the event as been at the Congress Theater with an old band reunion as the headliner.
///This weekend is the CHIRP Record Fair (formerly WLUW). Admission is $7 or $5 with a flier. Not only do you get the chance to buy records, but various artists will be performing and spinning tunes all day both days. If you would like pre-admission it will set you back $25, but you'll get the jump on the rest of us fools. The event takes place at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse (1419 W. Blackhawk) in Nobel Square.
04/08/2008
News and Notes: A Skin, A Night, Alkaline Trio, Bob Dylan, Scout Niblett
///A Skin, A Night is a new movie by director Vincent Moon about The National. The film was recorded during the recording of the band's latest album (The Boxer) and is about the modern experience of making music. The film comes packaged with The Virginia EP and will be made available via Beggars Banquet. Watch the trailer. [Thanks, BrooklynVegan]
///Ex-Chicagoans Alkaline Trio are keeping it real with a new album named Agony and Irony. It will be released July 1st on Warner Brothers. [Thanks, Aversion]
///Bob Dylan has won an honorary Pulitzer Prize. Usually when going to music in some form the prize goes to a classical composition of some sort. Dylan's "win" may be a sign that rock 'n' roll has broken through the glass ceiling of the Pulitzer Prize. [Consequence of Sound]
///Scout Niblett is heading out on tour with a stop at Chicago's Subterranean on April 21st. Currently The Pawners Society is opening. [Thanks, Pfork]
04/07/2008
Kaki King @ Empty Bottle (4/1/08)
I've been listening to Kaki King for upwards of four years now. The first track I ever heard being "Carmine St", (which was regrettably lost in the great iPod crash of....three weeks ago) it was one of the most beautiful and simultaneously transcendent songs I had ever heard.
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