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Wednesday, June 10

Phil Spector's Mug Shot: AAAAHHHHH!

Phil Spector's Mug Shot: AAAAHHHHH!

The Smoking Gun has posted Phil Spector's mug shot, and apparently, when he takes off the wigs, Phil Spector looks like Gollum.

Spector was found guilty of second degree murder earlier this year, and he is going to be in prison for a long, long time. I do not envy his cellmate.

Posted by Tom Breihan on June 10, 2009 at 4:35 p.m.

Tags: Legal, Phil Spector

 

New Release: The Fiery Furnaces: "The End Is Near" Single

New Release: The Fiery Furnaces: "The End Is Near" Single

Artist: The Fiery Furnaces
Single: "The End Is Near" single
Release Date: June 23
Label: Thrill Jockey

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Black Lips' Jared Swilley Attacks Wavves

"He needs to go back to school or move back in with his parents." Black Lips' Jared Swilley Attacks Wavves

The fallout from Nathan Williams' onstage meltdown during Wavves' set at Barcelona's Primavera Sound Festival continues. First, he apologized on his blog, then deleted his apology, and finally, cancelled his European tour. And now, mustachioed Black Lips singer/bassist Jared Swilley, a man responsible for more than his share of onstage chaos and wreckage, has publicly blasted Williams, saying that he should quit music. If there's one thing the Black Lips can't stand, it's unprofessionalism.

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The Raveonettes Use Twitter as Focus Group on Work in Progress

The Raveonettes Use Twitter as Focus Group on Work in Progress

The "Real World"-ization of music continues with hazy Danish duo the Raveonettes, who plan to give away their forthcoming album-- due this Fall on Vice-- while they record it. Well, studio demos, that is, which they are posting to their Twitter.

In a MySpace message, the band wrote: "Don't be shy to leave comments for the tunes, we most definitely appreciate your opinion! We wanna make the best Raveonettes album to date!" The first demo, tentatively titled "Last Dance", is currently downloadable via the Raveonettes' Twitter.

While the band-by-committee concept is attractive in theory-- totally open communication between fan and artist, finally!-- it also demolishes some of the inherent mystery associated with the act of making music. Not to get all Jack White with it, but this "Big Brother"-type stuff bums me out a little.

Interested parties can sign up for more in-progress Raveonettes updates and MP3s here.

Posted by Ryan Dombal on June 10, 2009 at 2:50 p.m.

Tags: Audio, The Raveonettes

 

Premiere: Anti-Pop Consortium: "Capricorn One" [MP3/Stream]

Premiere: Anti-Pop Consortium: "Capricorn One" [MP3/Stream]

The New York skronk-rap crew Anti-Pop Consortium reunited a couple of years ago, and they're getting set to drop Fluorescent Black, their long-awaited comeback album and first full-length since 2002's Arrhythmia. Big Dada will release the album on October 13 (not the September 9 release date we originally reported). The trippy sci-fi album cover is above; check below for the tracklist.

Here's a brand new Fluorescent Black track. It's called "Capricorn One", and it may very well melt your brain.



MP3:> Anti-Pop Consortium: "Capricorn One"

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Kanye West to Tour With Lady Gaga

The shoe budget is going to be bonkers. Kanye West to Tour With Lady Gaga

Leave it to Kanye to get Lady Gaga on the front page of Pitchfork. The rapper made the most of his appearance on "The View" today, announcing a co-headlining tour with the "Poker Face" pop freak, according to MTV News.

Whose set will be more insane? Who will wear the most mirrored clothing? And, most important: will either artist be able to actually see anything out of their colossal sunglasses?

Those aren't the only questions up in the air considering West apparently didn't give away when or where any of the shows are going down. Could this mean he's getting ready to promote a brand new LP? Then again, he never officially toured behind last year's 808s and Heartbreak, despite numerous promotional appearances. So many questions.

Check out the MTV story for more.

Posted by Ryan Dombal on June 10, 2009 at 2:05 p.m.

Tags: Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Tour

 

New Release: Flying Lotus: L.A. EP 3 X 3

New Release: Flying Lotus: <i>L.A. EP 3 X 3</i>

Artist: Flying Lotus
EP: L.A. EP 3 X 3
Release Date: July 20
Label: Warp

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Blitzen Trapper Ready EP, Tour

Blitzen Trapper Ready EP, Tour

Since early 2008, Portland twangers Blitzen Trapper have been selling a CD-R with six unreleased tracks at their live show. On August 24, Sub Pop will release the Black River Killer EP, which will include all six of those songs, plus the title track, which previously appeared on last year's Furr.

Of course, if Blitzen Trapper were only still selling the EP at shows and nowhere else, you'd still have plenty of opportunities to buy it. The band recently announced another set of tour dates, and these guys are going to be on the road well into autumn. One of those dates, of course, will be at our very own Pitchfork Music Festival. Those dates are below, along with the Black River Killer tracklist.

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Air Soundtrack Short Film

Air Soundtrack Short Film

"Hear, Earth, Heart" is a meditative short film from ridiculously talented Chinese visual artist Yi Zhou that features an exclusive piece by Air called "The Dream of Yi". You can watch and listen to most of it at Zhou's site. The film premiered in Paris last year, and now it's showing as part of Art Basel, the modern art extravaganza running in Basel, Switzerland from June 10-14. According to Air's MySpace, the Basel showing features "Hear, Earth, Heart" projected onto a marble plate!

Another Zhou piece, "My Heart Laid Bare"-- starring a severely heartbroken Charlotte Gainsbourg and featuring music by Chester French-- will also play (on a plate) at Basel. You can watch that one at the artist's site as well. RIYL Björk music videos circa Homogenic.

Posted by Ryan Dombal on June 10, 2009 at 12:20 p.m.

Tags: Air, Film

 

News in Brief: Bat for Lashes, Thrill Jockey, Spinnerette, Hove Festival

News in Brief: Bat for Lashes, Thrill Jockey, Spinnerette, Hove Festival

-- Two titans of decayed indie rock elegance will intersect when TV on the Radio production mastermind Dave Sitek, under the pseudonym 909, remixes Bat for Lashes' slow-burn synth jam "Sleep Alone". Sitek's remix will appear as a B-side for Bat for Lashes' "Pearl's Dream" 7", which Parlophone will release in the UK on June 22. There's a snippet of the remix up on Bat For Lashes' MySpace page, and it sounds appropriately witchy. The digital version of the "Pearl's Dream" single, meanwhile, will include live versions of "Good Love" and "Siren Song".

-- The Chicago indie Thrill Jockey occasionally puts out limited editions of music more experimental and avant-garde than the stuff on their regular roster. And given that their regular roster includes the likes of the Boredoms and Tortoise, that should give you some idea what you're getting into here. On August 18, Thrill Jockey will release two such albums: Lokai's Transition and Sycamore, a collaboration between David Daniell (San Agustin) and Douglas McCombs (Tortoise, Eleventh Dream Day). And yesterday, June 9, Thrill Jockey reissued Heads on Fire, the 2007 album from NYC space-rockers White Hills; it's on vinyl for the first time.

-- On June 23, Anthem/RED will release the self-titled debut album from Spinnerette, former Distillers frontwoman Brody Dalle's new scuzz-rock project. Spinnerette will tour this summer.

-- The Hove Festival goes down June 22-25 in Arendal, Norway. This year's bill includes the Killers, Faith No More, Franz Ferdinand, Fleet Foxes, M83, Q-Tip, M. Ward, Lykke Li, Ratatat, and the Gaslight Anthem.

Posted by Tom Breihan on June 10, 2009 at 12:05 p.m.

Tags: Album, Bat For Lashes, Dave Sitek, Festival, Hove, Remix, Single, Spinnerettes, Thrill Jockey, TV on the Radio, White Hills

 

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