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Thursday, June 25

R.I.P. Seeds Frontman Sky Saxon

R.I.P. Seeds Frontman Sky Saxon

Austin360.com reports that Sky Saxon, frontman for the L.A. garage-rock legends the Seeds, died this morning in an Austin, Texas hospital.

After falling ill from an undiagnosed condition last week, the man born Richard Marsh performed a set at the Austin club Antone's on Saturday night but then was rushed to St. David's Hospital early Monday morning, according to a press release. Doctors believe an infection of the internal organs may be to blame. It is unclear what Saxon's age was.

Saxon's wife Sabrina posted the news of the death on Facebook, according to Austin360: "Sky has passed over and YaHoWha is waiting for him at the gate. He will soon be home with his Father. I'm so sorry I couldn't keep him here with us. More later. I'm sorry."

In the mid-60s, the Seeds were responsible for scrappy, gnarled proto-punk anthems like "Pushin' Too Hard" and "Can't Seem to Make You Mine". The former song appeared on the legendary original 1972 Nuggets compilation.

Posted by Tom Breihan on June 25, 2009 at 11:50 a.m.

Tags: Sky Saxon, The Seeds

 

News in Brief: Musicfest NW, Jaguar Love, Lord Cut-Glass, Chad VanGaalen

News in Brief: Musicfest NW, Jaguar Love, Lord Cut-Glass, Chad VanGaalen

-- Musicfest NW welcomes bands including the reformed Sunny Day Real Estate, Explosions in the Sky, Beach House, Girl Talk, Bad Brains, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Frightened Rabbit, the Twilight Sad, and others to venues around Portland when it touches down September 16-19.

-- After releasing their last album on Matador, jittery rockers Jaguar Love are now recording their sophomore LP for Fat Possum. They're also on tour with Patrick Wolf right about now. Jaguar Love is also now a two-piece consisting of ex-Blood Brothers Cody Votolato and Johnny Whitney.

-- Former Delgados singer-guitarist Alun Woodward is now going by the name of Lord Cut-Glass. The Lord's self-titled debut album-- featuring drumming from fellow ex-Delgado Paul Savage and a slew of Glasgow classical musicians-- is out now via Chemikal Underground.

-- Black Mold-- singer-songwriter Chad VanGaalen's electro-freak moniker-- is readying its debut LP, Snow Blindness Is Crystal Antz, for an August 11 release via Flemish Eye. Here's hoping it's an album-length tribute to the movie Antz.

Posted by Ryan Dombal on June 25, 2009 at 11:20 a.m.

Tags: Album, Black Mold, Chad VanGaalen, Festival, Jaguar Love, lord cut-glass, Musicfest NW, Signing, The Delgados

 

R.I.P. Rock Scribe Steven Wells

R.I.P. Rock Scribe Steven Wells

Photo via Philadelphia Weekly

Steven Wells-- the famously vitriolic NME scribe who brashly pissed off bands and incited fans for decades-- died of lymphatic cancer yesterday, June 24, according to the Philadelphia Weekly.

Known for his outrageous style and anti-blowhard stance, the writer commonly referred to as Swells was the guy you didn't necessarily agree with but respected nonetheless. A loving Guardian tribute says Wells "was obsessed with class war, masturbation, dogs, cancer, Jello Biafra and the multiple use of the exclamation mark."

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Buy Elliott Smith's Car

Smith's 1999 Passat, yours for $4000 Buy Elliott Smith's Car

If you're in the Austin, Texas area and in need of a used car, you can find a pretty good deal right here: a slightly dinged-up 1999 Volkswagen Passat that needs a few repairs but still runs well, going for the exceedingly fair price of $4,000.

The car's owner promises to donate the entire $4,000 to the SIMS Foundation, an Austin nonprofit that provides local musicians with mental health and addiction recovery services.

And you'll be able to tell everyone that you own Elliott Smith's car.

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Battles' John Stanier Talks New Album

"It's going to be way more radio-friendly." [Laughs] Battles' John Stanier Talks New Album

It's been more than two years since Battles dropped Mirrored, one of the most satisfyingly inscrutable and flat-out ballsy records in recent memory. Since then, the band has toured all over the world-- China, New York, Australia-- putting the "rock" in post-rock and spreading little-green-men-esque vocals to the masses. And now they're starting work on the follow-up.

Last week, we spoke with drummer John Stanier, whose sky-high crash cymbal theatrics and snare-thrashing intensity often make him the star of Battles' live assault. On the phone from his home in Cologne, Germany, he talked about what we can expect from the new Battles LP and why he sweats so damn much onstage.

Side note: Battles singer/guitarist/keyboardist Tyondai Braxton will release a solo album, Central Market, September 15 (September 14 in the UK) on Warp.

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Beck Covers Sonic Youth's EVOL on Cassette for Sonic Youth Box Set

Also, collaborative album with Charlotte Gainsbourg on the way Beck Covers Sonic Youth's <i>EVOL</i> on Cassette for Sonic Youth Box Set

Earlier this year, Beck and Sonic Youth released a split 7" for Record Store Day. SY covered Beck's "Beercan" "Pay No Mind" and Beck had his way with Sonic Youth's "Green Light". It turns out this isn't going to be the last Sonic Youth cover we'll hear from Beck.

In a recent Pitchfork interview, Beck revealed that the "Green Light" cover will appear on a forthcoming and mysterious Sonic Youth box set, which will include Beck covering SY's entire classic 1986 album EVOL. On cassette. Yes, cassette.

Beck's been making a habit of covering entire albums lately. As part of his Record Club project, he's currently in the process of releasing his version of The Velvet Underground and Nico on his website, one song at a time. He wouldn't let slip any of the other albums he'd covered, but he did say that he and MGMT came pretty close to doing Ace of Base's Happy Nation, which would've been incredible.

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Wednesday, June 24

Unreleased Jeff Buckley Song on Tearjerker Movie Soundtrack

Unreleased Jeff Buckley Song on Tearjerker Movie Soundtrack

In what has become a sad ritual, yet another Jeff Buckley song has found its way onto the soundtrack of a film designed to make you cry tears of pure shame.

The song is a cover of Elton John's "We All Fall in Love Sometimes". It seems to be a remastered version of Buckley's much bootlegged, but never officially released, live take recorded on WFMU's "The Music Faucet" program in 1992 (via Wikipedia).

The movie is My Sister's Keeper, the new genetically-engineered-kid-has-to-give-her-cancer-addled-sister-a-kidney (according to the trailer) flick from Cameron Diaz and the guy who brought you The Notebook. Grossness.

Listen to the updated Buckley version of "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" here and the original WFMU version here.

Posted by Ryan Dombal on June 24, 2009 at 5:20 p.m.

Tags: Film, Jeff Buckley, Soundtrack

 

Pitchfork on ABC: Kasabian's West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Pitchfork on ABC: Kasabian's <i>West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum</i>

Pitchfork writers regularly appear on ABC's World News Webcast to chat about notable albums they've recently reviewed. Previously, we saw Douglas Wolk on Superchunk's Leaves in the Gutter, Ian Cohen on Asher Roth's Asleep in the Bread Aisle, Eminem's Relapse, and Passion Pit's Manners, and Paul Thompson on Grizzly Bear's Veckatamist and Dirty Projectors' Bitte Orca, and Marc Hogan on Stuart Murdoch's God Help the Girl project. Cohen is back in action now talking about Kasabian's West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

Video:> Pitchfork on ABC: Kasabian's West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Posted by Ryan Dombal on June 24, 2009 at 4:50 p.m.

Tags: ABC News, Kasabian, New Music Monday, Pitchfork

 

Devendra Finishes New LP, Leaves Label

The as-yet-untitled record is due this fall. Devendra Finishes New LP, Leaves Label

Photo by Lauren Dukoff

Whimsical free spirit Devendra Banhart is getting ready to roll out another batch of songs that will likely be equal parts folky, funky, silly, sincere, and somehow unique. Banhart's sixth solo LP is all finished, and it's due this fall on a label to be named later. According to his publicist, he has parted ways with XL, which released his last two sprawling full-lengths.

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Buy Billy Corgan Lunch!

Charitybuzz auctioning a meal with the Great Pumpkin Buy Billy Corgan Lunch!

You could buy Billy Corgan lunch! The nonprofit auction site Charitybuzz is offering a lunch with the Smashing Pumpkins leader to the highest bidder, and the Smashing Pumpkins website confirms that it's a real thing.

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