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- News in Brief: Run-DMC, DMX, Opeth, Enslaved, Crippled Black Phoenix, Tim Exile
- T.V. Eye: February 2-8, 2009
- Van Morrison Sullies Astral Weeks With New LP Cover
- News in Brief: Broken Social Scene, Glasvegas, Harvest of Hope, Anni Rossi
- News in Brief: The Killers, Coldplay, Ladyfinger, Takka Takka, Venice Is Sinking
Best New Music
On The Crying Light, Antony Hegarty remains fascinated with the transitions and overlaps between birth and life, life and death, this world and the next, but he expresses them in more universal, more direct, but no less rapturous terms than he did on his New York-tinted breakthrough I Am a Bird Now.
Anticipated to an almost ridiculous degree, no one looking forward to the latest Animal Collective record-- out tomorrow on vinyl and digitally, and on CD in two weeks-- will be disappointed. Everything that's defined the band to this point has here been refined and amplified into a record that captures the group's quirky and forwardly expressive style.
Reviews
Morrissey and his Tormentors continue their 21st century winning streak with a record that, while offering no new twists or surprises, finds the former Smiths co-leader in strong voice-- both as a singer and songwriter. [Recommended]
[Tom Ewing]This selection of Diplo's remix work-- including refits of tracks by Daft Punk, M.I.A., and Bloc Party-- highlighs a bunch of songs you likely have on MP3 or a mixtape, plus a surprisingly deft selection of instrumental work.
[Jess Harvell]The latest in this Hip-O series finds James Brown in transition and caught in many minds, recording essential sides even when he made off-the-wall choices.
[Douglas Wolk]British producer Henry Smithson, best known for working as Riton, adopts a new moniker and crafts a loving homage to krautrock.
[Brian Howe]Veterans of the tape-trading and micro-label cultures, No Neck Blues Band have been releasing music for more than a decade but this is oddly only their fourth proper studio album-- and it finds the band touching on metal's sonic heft and under-surface collision.
[Andrew Gaerig]Mon: 02-02-09
Fri: 01-30-09
Thu: 01-29-09
Wed: 01-28-09
Forkcast
- New Music: Lil Wayne: Yeahhh [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Ponytail: Live on "A>D>D" Part 1
- Video: Silver Jews: "Introduction / We Are Real" / "Smith and Jones Forever" (Live at Cumberland Caverns; final show)
- Pitchfork.tv: Filastine: "Desordenador" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: My Morning Jacket: "El Caporal" [Stream]
- New Music: Devendra Banhart: "Forget About Him" (Kath Bloom cover) [MP3/Stream]
- New Music: Smashing Pumpkins: "FOL" [MP3]
Features
Interview: Franz Ferdinand
After bringing intelligent, glamorous pop music to the masses, Franz Ferdinand have returned as a commerical force-- debuting songs in video games, collaborating with rap superstars-- but still are looking to expand their sonic palatte on their more exploratory new album, Tonight.
[Stuart Berman]While We Were Out...
Catching up with last week's reviews, including our takes on the new records from Bruce Springsteen and Franz Ferdinand, EP collaborations between Hot Chip and Robert Wyatt and Jon Brion and Of Montreal, and yet another pair of wonderful Optimo-related mixes.
[Pitchfork Staff]Interview: Buzzcocks
As they tour Europe performing their classic albums, the two original members of the influential punk band talk about reissues, riots, and throwing bricks through windows.
[Patrick Sisson]Interview: Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett
We spoke to the duo behind Gorillaz about their new project, Monkey, as well as such controversial subjects as the disintegration of the West, why Africa is the future of the world, cultural tourism, and Vampire Weekend.
[Scott Plagenhoef]Column: Puritan Blister #42
Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak isn't just the album of the winter, it's a major pop achievement. And it's a potential salve for those whose personal experiences this month aren't dominated by hope and change.
[William Bowers]Guest List: Max Tundra
Max Tundra talks to us about overcoming his addiction to a web-based word game, the prank phone call that had BBC censors working overtime, and his preference for Polish audiences. [Interview: Tyler Grisham]
[Ben Jacobs]