10
Jan
2006
· Things are getting - and staying - busy for the Flaming Lips. With a new album, At War with the Mystics, set for release April 4, and the digital release of one song from the album, "W.A.N.D," earlier this week, vinyl luxury, DVD expansions, and South Florida dreams are on the psychedelic, pulsating eyeball-orb horizon.
Plain Recordings, the same little vinyl-lovin' label that keeps albums by My Bloody Valentine, Twilight Singers, and Nicolai Dunger alive and in-print on audiophile LP, has just issued beautiful new editions of the first four Flaming Lips albums, each on different colors of vinyl. Sporting a clever new cover design across all four jackets, Here It Is from 1986 is reborn on clear vinyl while Oh My Gawd!!! from 1987 comes calling on yellow vinyl in a gatefold sleeve. Things really get interesting with Telepathic Surgery from 1989, now expanded to two blue vinyl LPs and featuring a 23-minute bonus jam on side three and an artistic vinyl etching on side four, and with 1991's In a Priest-Driven Ambulance, now on red vinyl with a bonus 12-inch EP. More layers of the onion are revealed at the end of this month, as the Soft Bulletin CD is reissued in the DVD format, featuring lots of previously unreleased audio material and videos for "Waiting for Superman" and "The Last Prize." And start packing the love bus: The first single from the new album, "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song," will be officially released March 7, perfectly timed to play on the drive to Sunrise, Florida, for the weekend of March 11, when the Lips will headline the fourth-annual Langerado Music Festival alongside Ben Harper, the Black Crowes, Wilco, G. Love, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and the Drive-By Truckers.
· Thirteen is the lucky number for Austin radio station KGSR-FM. Few copies are left of the 30,000 pressed of KGSR Broadcasts Volume 13, the station's latest charity collection of exclusive in-studio sessions. Boasting Tori Amos, Ian Hunter, Jane Siberry, Joseph Arthur, Jack Johnson, and Kathleen Edwards among the 37 on-air tracks over two CDs, all proceeds benefit SIMS (Services Invested in Musician's Support), a local mental-health agency that helps musicians in the area. Highlights include Squeeze co-founder Glenn Tilbrook's acoustic run through "Black Coffee in Bed," John Cale's "Paris 1919" with guest Alejandro Escovedo, and Arlo Guthrie covering Jimmie Rodgers' "Waiting on a Train." Jack Johnson shows up on another new benefit CD, with the Foundation/Rounder Records release later this month of Rock for Relief. Raising funds for the Mercy Corps in its effort to aid victims of 2004's tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and other natural disasters, the disc features contributions from O.A.R., Howie Day, Xavier Rudd, Citizen Cope, Ari Hest, and more.
· You might have seen her as Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash bio-pic Walk the Line, but Amy Lavere really shows off her chops this Tuesday with her debut release, This World Is Not My Home. Whispery cool and lonesome, this seductive vocalist and upright bass player collected a "down home" comfortable stable of Memphis' best to back her up - featuring Jimbo Mathus, formerly of KnockDown South, on guitar, Jim Dickinson on piano, and Forrest Parker on pedal steel. Look for this terrific 10-track collection of bluesy originals on the Archer Records label.
· Punk Planet magazine has ventured into the book business, debuting the Punk Planet Books imprint with 100 Posters 134 Squirrels, a collection of underground poster art by Chicago printmaker Jay Ryan. Whimsically breathing a refreshing innocence against the "grab you by the eyeballs and squeeze" icon exploitation of Coop, Frank Kozik, and The Pizz, Ryan's quiet sketch style and his hand-pulled Easter-egg blues and canary yellows make for a softer, more subconscious concert-poster experience. If Heavy Metal magazine combined with Highlights for Children, his images of lumpy cats, fuzzy bears in togas, boy-hero spacemen, burning houses, and skateboarding armadillos might make him the perfect cover artist. Creating posters for his own band, Dianogah, and local and international show posters for Bob Mould, Shellac, TV on the Radio, Neko Case, the Decemberists, Built to Spill, and many more, Ryan's growing catalog of collectible prints certainly has fellow Chicago native Andrew Bird under his spell. After supplying the artwork for last year's Mysterious Production of Eggs CD, Bird has just reissued his own live Fingerlings#1 from 2001 with new artwork by Ryan. If you catch the bug and have the cash to splurge, a $600 transaction to his Web site will secure you one of every limited-edition print run he produces this year.
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman bows to Queen Latifah tonight and Alicia Keys on Thursday; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Sugarland on Thursday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien gets smooth with LL Cool J this evening overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live welcomes Dwight Yoakum on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson counts out The 88 on Monday overnight; Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Death Cab for Cutie; and look for The Strokes to perform and answer questions on FUSE-TV's Seventh Avenue Drop concert series this Monday evening.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, January 17:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Aqualung- Strange & Beautiful (Columbia) reissue of last year's hit in the DualDisc format, featuring live footage, a 25-minute film, and a fun piano lesson from Matt Hales himself
Belle and Sebastian- "Funny Little Frog" (Rough Trade) new single in advance of next month's new album, The Life Pursuit
Meredith Bragg & The Terminals- The Departures (Kora) 5-song CD EP
Coldcut- "Man in a Garage" (Ninja Tune) new single featuring remixes by Lemon Jelly's Nick Franglen, Snap Ant, and Daedelus
Terence Trent D'Arby- Do You Love Me Like You Say: The Very Best of (Columbia Legacy) 17-track collection of hits, 12-inch mixes, and live recordings
The Great American Trailer Park- original musical cast recording (Sh-K-Boom Records) with music and lyrics by David Nehls, telling the story of Pippi, a stripper on the run in Florida's exclusive Armadillo Acres trailer park
Rjd2- "Fire" (Project Blowed) new single; on tour next month with MC Aceyalone
Nina Simone- Young, Gifted, & Black: Songs of
Freedom & Spirit (RCA Legacy) expanded reissue
Spank Rock- "Backyard Betty" (Big Dada) new 12-inch single
Streetlight Manifesto- Keasbey Nights (Victory)
Test Icicles- "What's Your Damage?" (Domino) import-only new seven-inch and CD single; recently touring with Death from Above 1979
Johnny "Guitar" Watson- & The Family Clone(Shout Factory) CD reissue from 1981, featuring a bonus cover of Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone to Love"
Wolfgang Press- The Burden of Mules (4AD) first time on CD for this special reissue from 1983 in a limited edition of 1,000 copies
various artists - Rawkus Records: Best of Decade One 1995-2005 (Rawkus) featuring Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, and Company Flow
various artists - Sly & the Family Stone: Different Strokes by Different Folks (Epic Legacy) tribute project featuring cover contributions by D'Angelo, Big Boi, Chuck D, Maroon 5, Moby, John Legend, Steven Tyler, Buddy Guy, Janet Jackson, and many more
· Thirteen is the lucky number for Austin radio station KGSR-FM. Few copies are left of the 30,000 pressed of KGSR Broadcasts Volume 13, the station's latest charity collection of exclusive in-studio sessions. Boasting Tori Amos, Ian Hunter, Jane Siberry, Joseph Arthur, Jack Johnson, and Kathleen Edwards among the 37 on-air tracks over two CDs, all proceeds benefit SIMS (Services Invested in Musician's Support), a local mental-health agency that helps musicians in the area. Highlights include Squeeze co-founder Glenn Tilbrook's acoustic run through "Black Coffee in Bed," John Cale's "Paris 1919" with guest Alejandro Escovedo, and Arlo Guthrie covering Jimmie Rodgers' "Waiting on a Train." Jack Johnson shows up on another new benefit CD, with the Foundation/Rounder Records release later this month of Rock for Relief. Raising funds for the Mercy Corps in its effort to aid victims of 2004's tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and other natural disasters, the disc features contributions from O.A.R., Howie Day, Xavier Rudd, Citizen Cope, Ari Hest, and more.
· You might have seen her as Wanda Jackson in the Johnny Cash bio-pic Walk the Line, but Amy Lavere really shows off her chops this Tuesday with her debut release, This World Is Not My Home. Whispery cool and lonesome, this seductive vocalist and upright bass player collected a "down home" comfortable stable of Memphis' best to back her up - featuring Jimbo Mathus, formerly of KnockDown South, on guitar, Jim Dickinson on piano, and Forrest Parker on pedal steel. Look for this terrific 10-track collection of bluesy originals on the Archer Records label.
· Punk Planet magazine has ventured into the book business, debuting the Punk Planet Books imprint with 100 Posters 134 Squirrels, a collection of underground poster art by Chicago printmaker Jay Ryan. Whimsically breathing a refreshing innocence against the "grab you by the eyeballs and squeeze" icon exploitation of Coop, Frank Kozik, and The Pizz, Ryan's quiet sketch style and his hand-pulled Easter-egg blues and canary yellows make for a softer, more subconscious concert-poster experience. If Heavy Metal magazine combined with Highlights for Children, his images of lumpy cats, fuzzy bears in togas, boy-hero spacemen, burning houses, and skateboarding armadillos might make him the perfect cover artist. Creating posters for his own band, Dianogah, and local and international show posters for Bob Mould, Shellac, TV on the Radio, Neko Case, the Decemberists, Built to Spill, and many more, Ryan's growing catalog of collectible prints certainly has fellow Chicago native Andrew Bird under his spell. After supplying the artwork for last year's Mysterious Production of Eggs CD, Bird has just reissued his own live Fingerlings#1 from 2001 with new artwork by Ryan. If you catch the bug and have the cash to splurge, a $600 transaction to his Web site will secure you one of every limited-edition print run he produces this year.
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman bows to Queen Latifah tonight and Alicia Keys on Thursday; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Sugarland on Thursday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien gets smooth with LL Cool J this evening overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live welcomes Dwight Yoakum on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson counts out The 88 on Monday overnight; Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Death Cab for Cutie; and look for The Strokes to perform and answer questions on FUSE-TV's Seventh Avenue Drop concert series this Monday evening.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, January 17:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Aqualung- Strange & Beautiful (Columbia) reissue of last year's hit in the DualDisc format, featuring live footage, a 25-minute film, and a fun piano lesson from Matt Hales himself
Belle and Sebastian- "Funny Little Frog" (Rough Trade) new single in advance of next month's new album, The Life Pursuit
Meredith Bragg & The Terminals- The Departures (Kora) 5-song CD EP
Coldcut- "Man in a Garage" (Ninja Tune) new single featuring remixes by Lemon Jelly's Nick Franglen, Snap Ant, and Daedelus
Terence Trent D'Arby- Do You Love Me Like You Say: The Very Best of (Columbia Legacy) 17-track collection of hits, 12-inch mixes, and live recordings
The Great American Trailer Park- original musical cast recording (Sh-K-Boom Records) with music and lyrics by David Nehls, telling the story of Pippi, a stripper on the run in Florida's exclusive Armadillo Acres trailer park
Rjd2- "Fire" (Project Blowed) new single; on tour next month with MC Aceyalone
Nina Simone- Young, Gifted, & Black: Songs of
Freedom & Spirit (RCA Legacy) expanded reissue
Spank Rock- "Backyard Betty" (Big Dada) new 12-inch single
Streetlight Manifesto- Keasbey Nights (Victory)
Test Icicles- "What's Your Damage?" (Domino) import-only new seven-inch and CD single; recently touring with Death from Above 1979
Johnny "Guitar" Watson- & The Family Clone(Shout Factory) CD reissue from 1981, featuring a bonus cover of Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone to Love"
Wolfgang Press- The Burden of Mules (4AD) first time on CD for this special reissue from 1983 in a limited edition of 1,000 copies
various artists - Rawkus Records: Best of Decade One 1995-2005 (Rawkus) featuring Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, and Company Flow
various artists - Sly & the Family Stone: Different Strokes by Different Folks (Epic Legacy) tribute project featuring cover contributions by D'Angelo, Big Boi, Chuck D, Maroon 5, Moby, John Legend, Steven Tyler, Buddy Guy, Janet Jackson, and many more
