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May 31, 2005
Broken A/C Is No Good
Noteworthy, before I get started on my usual thing:
1. Finally saw the DVD of The Murder City Devils' final show. Aside from the insanity during "Idle Hands"—involving one hot Dann Gallucci making out with a guy at random, plus lots of stage diving—the overall experience was a letdown. Stick with RIP if you've a mind to live through the final night with MCD, and if you don't have any experience with them, you should check out Rock & Roll Won't Wait to get the full dose of rock hedonism.
2. I have faced facts and realize that my scant updates to hyperkinetic.org are a sign of changing times. I no longer have the time and inclination to hunt up the news on a daily basis, so I've returned to reading books rather than the web, and I have developed a new incarnation for my online infatuation. When you get a moment, check out SLOSHED!, the place I can be found more often than not. I'm not blacking out this site all together, however, so you'll have to check me out at both places.
Old habits die hard, after all.
And now, on to the cool stuff:
The Flaming Lips are going on vacation. With you.
Yes, the amazing Wayne Coyne and Co will be headlining on a cruise ship with Medeski, Martin and Wood this fall, so you can enjoy some "Fight Test" with your Mai Tai in the aft lounge.
The delectable Neko Case is going on tour and completely avoiding California. Great.
Darkness bass player Frankie Poullain is no longer in the band. Frankly, he always kind of creeped me out—but it does leave one of my most-awaited albums of the year in jeopardy of being pushed back again.
Robert Smith has gone Mussolini again, firing two long-time members of the ever-revolving Cure lineup and effectively reducing the band to a power trio.
Lungfish are releasing a new album. I don't know what else to say about that.
My boys in Minus the Bear are coming back this summer with a new album, Menos el Oso, their first self-produced effort. It hits the shelves August 23. Listen to a song (or three) here.
Cursive, one of the two bands that made Omaha cool, will be releasing some odds and unreleased ends this year on The Difference Between Houses and Homes, also on August 23.
Speaking of the label that made Omaha, Saddle Creek has inked a deal to build a venue/bar/pizza shop/theater in the city's up-for-urban-renewal downtown. The venue will be titled Slowdown (after Slowdown Viriginia, an early Tim Kasher band on Saddle Creek) and will be an attempt at DIY living and cultural revitalization. It is expected to open in June of next year.
Secretly Canadian has announced that its DVD division, Blank Stare, is becoming a full-service imprint. The label's first release will be the documentary Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music? about the Christian rock underbelly of the stank pit the rest of us know as rock 'n' roll.
Posted in A/V Dorkout | 31 May 2005 at 07:23 PM | Comments (0) | | Link
May 11, 2005
Universal Remonster
Longwave have recruited a new bassist and drummer to record a new album, There's a Fire, which will be released on June 28.
Double news on the Flaming Lips today: the kings of pop will be covering Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" on an upcoming comp, and (sadly), At War with the Mystics has been pushed back, so it won't see the light of day until 2006.
If you've spent the last 25 years mourning the death of Ian Curtis, you can join legions of other fans can remember him together on May 18th.
Rule! Perennial favorite Battles are back on tour.
If you're fortunate enough to live in the UK, catch Sons and Daughters during one of their in-stores promoting their new single, Dance Me In.
Additional perennial favorite Stephin Merritt will be releasing Two Chinese Operas this summer.
The Stereophonics will be releasing a cover of Iggy & the Stooges classic "I Wanna Be Your Dog" as a B-side to Superman this summer.
More news on the new album from The Darkness: the pool of 39 songs has been whittled down to fifteen, and producer Mutt Lange has been scrapped for Roy Thomas Baker.
The upcoming Dredg album, Catch Without Arms, will be released on June 21st.
Dangermouse and MF Doom have a new collaboration, named Dangerdoom, centered on two masked cartoon mice who live in the same neighborhood as an assortment of "Adult Swim" characters. Meatwad, anyone?
Posted in A/V Dorkout | 11 May 2005 at 08:10 PM | Comments (0) | | Link
May 04, 2005
Good Hair Day
Why do all the songs on "American Idol" sound like really insipid cruise-ship-lounge arrangements? Ugh.
The courts have sided with reason, and ruled that universities do not have to assist the RIAA in the pursuit of names for lawsuits. Speaking of which, here's a little op-ed piece on the RIAA.
Modern tape-trading is under assault yet again.
Apple is developing a new version of iTunes that will include more functionality for all us geeks.
Traditional radio will begin airing DIY podcasts (submitted by users at large) this month.
Rock 'n' roll royalty Cream will soon be onstage together for the first time in 37 years.
More news on the new Robbie Fulks album, Georgia Hard.
Tommy Ramone has gone country.
Well, sex in spandex, Batman! Justin Hawkins is working on a solo album.
David Pajo—indie rock guitar player extraordinaire—will also be releasing a solo album.
Super pop stars The New Pornographers are working on a new album, Twin Cinema. You can hear the title song here.
Posted in A/V Dorkout | 4 May 2005 at 08:40 PM | Comments (0) | | Link
