I Am the World Trade Center on Run from Bin Laden Threats
Really, it's just some guy with his laptop

Lo-fi-by-way-of-laptop duo I Am the World Trade Center have just left New York soil in support of their freshly released Kindercore LP, Out of the Loop. After hitting the lesser-known hamlets of Brooklyn and Pittsburgh, the anti-stars move westward toward such American metropolises as Murfeesborough, San Luis Obispo and, we pray, to a city near you.

For the uninitiated, or those alarmed at stylistic typecasting, Out of the Loop, which tackles "the excitement and difficulties of living in the big city," completely dispels Kindercore's repute for saccharine pop albums, instead opting for a teen-diva-meets-unaccomplished-4-track-tweaker vibe. In shorter, grammatically correct terminology: like MTV, but cooler! Got it?

07-13 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar
07-14 Moorehead, MN - Ralph's Bar
07-16 Seattle, WA - Sit & Spin
07-17 Vancouver BC - Purple Onion
07-18 Portland, OR - The Red & Black
07-21 San Luis Obispo, CA
07-23 San Francisco, CA - Hoot
07-24 Santa Barbara, CA - TBA
07-25 Los Angeles, CA - Fais-Do-Do
07-26 San Francisco, CA - Popscene
07-27 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
07-28 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
08-01 St. Louis, MO - TBA
08-02 Bloomington, IN - TBA
08-03 Louisville, KY - TBA
08-04 Murfeesborough, TN - The Red Rose

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/i/i-am-the-world-trade-center/out-of-the-loop.shtml
Kindercore Records: http://www.kindercore.com
I Am the World Trade Center: http://www.iamluxe.com/worldtrade

Philly's AM/FM to Release New Album
Is that like AC/DC?

On the heels of their well-received 2000 release Mutilate Us, Philadelphia's AM/FM plans to release their follow-up, Getting into Sinking, on Polyvinyl Records on October 16th. The new album will include a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hey, That's Now Way to Say Goodbye." To support the album, AM/FM are planning a fall tour along side slow-core post-rockers American Analog Set.

Always the first on board, England's Cooking Vinyl label plans to re-release Mutilate Us overseas on August 6th. A three-song EP has recently been released to support the English release of the album. Unconfirmed rumors state that the first 50 consumers will receive a two-pound satchel of fish and chips and a pint of bitter, despite the band's insistence on cheese steaks.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/a/am-fm/mutilate-us.shtml
Polyvinyl Records: http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/

Juno Prepares to Rock the Nation in August
Two guitars just aren't enough for them

Juno will be touring in support of A Future Lived in Past Tense, released earlier this year. The band combines a virtuosic rhythm section-- featuring guest performances by bassists Nick Harmer of Death Cab for Cutie and Nate Mendel of the Foo Fighters and Sunny Day Real Estate on their most recent effort-- along with a dense triple-axe wall of sound and emotive, Bob Mould-esque vocals. RIYL the trickle of raindrops off of the petals of a chrysanthemum, the soft moans of an Abyssinian harlot, or Jawbox. Show dates are as follows, most with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists:

08-15 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
08-16 Chico, CA - Blue Room
08-17 Portland, Oregon - Meow Meow
08-18 Seattle, WA - Graceland
08-19 Missoula, MT - Jay's Upstairs
08-21 Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
08-22 Minneapolis, MN - First Ave & 7th St.
08-23 Champaign, IL - Courtyard Cafe
08-24 St. Louis, MO - Rocket Bar
08-26 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
08-27 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop
08-28 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place
08-30 Cambridge, MA - The Middle East
08-31 New Haven, CT - Rudy's
09-01 New York, NY - Brownies
09-02 Philadelphia, PA - Rotunda
09-06 Washington, D.C. - TBA
09-08 Baltimore, MD - Fletcher's w/the Dismemberment Plan

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/j/juno/a-future-lived-in-past-tense.shtml
DeSoto Records: http://www.desotorecords.com/

Boy Sets Fire to Tour, Reissue After the Eulogy
Getting greased up for the cover of Spin

According to the band's official website, Boy Sets Fire plan to re-issue their 2000 release, After the Eulogy, on Wind-Up Records, which appropriately makes them labelmates with Creed. The album, the band's most diverse to date, was originally released on Victory Records and will feature an extra track, "Timothy," from the ATE recording sessions. The album is slated for an August 7th release.

The band has also set out on a short July tour so they can tell the world how they feel about... uh... all those things they talk about on stage. And they play music, too. Dates are right here:

07-13 Baltimore, MD - Fletchers
07-14 New York City, NY - Wetlands
07-15 South Amboy, NJ - Club Krome
07-16 Providence - The Met Cafe
07-17 Worcester, MA - Upstairs @ Palladium
07-18 Montreal, QC - Rainbow
07-19 Ottowa, ON - Babylon
07-20 Toronto, ON - The Kathedral
07-21 London, ON - Call the Office
07-22 Detroit, MI - The Shelter
07-23 Chicago, IL - Fireside Bowl
07-24 Milwaukee, WI - The Globe East
07-25 St. Louis, MO - Creepy Crawl
07-26 Indianapolis, IN - Emerson Theatre
07-28 Louisville, KY- Krazyfest @ The Water Tower
07-29 Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre

Boy Sets Fire: http://www.boysetsfire.com

Beat Happening Box Set Gets Release Date
Seven CDs capture one-note vocal range of Calvin Johnson

In other K Records re-release news, pop group Heavenly's long-out-of-print first album, Heavenly vs. Satan, will be re-released on August 28th. Both items will be available for pre-order on the K Records site soon.

K Records: http://www.kpunk.com

Eric's Trip Plan Reunion Tour, Live Album
Let's hope it goes better than that Filthy Lucre thing

Oh, Canada. Trans-national railroads, blended whiskies, warm chesterfields, ass-kicking rock and roll. Inhabitants of the giant maple leaf to our immediate north will be pleased to hear that legendary (is it okay to call them that?) New Brunswick natives Eric's Trip are planning to reconvene for a cross-Canada tour during the months of August and September. In the five years since their last performance, the members of Eric's Trip have been busy playing in Elevator, Moonsocket, and Julie Doiron. According to the band's official website, the group is just looking for "a fun chance to show off the advancement of their musical prowess over the last five years." Undoubtedly, they were also looking for an opportunity to promote their forthcoming "best-of" live record, The Eric's Trip Show, which was compiled by singer/guitarist Rick White.

The lost last Eric's Trip tour dates:
08-12 Sudbury, ON - Townehouse
08-13 Thunder Bay, ON - The Apollo
08-14 Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Center
08-15 Regina, SK - The State
08-16 Calgary, AB - The Night Gallery
08-18 Victoria, BC - Icehouse
08-19 Vancouver, BC - Starfish
08-20 Edmonton, AB - New City Suburbs
08-21 Saskatoon, SK - Amigo's
08-24 Toronto, ON - Opera House
08-25 London, ON - Call the Office
08-26 Montreal, QC - Cafe Campus
09-07 St. John, NB - TBA
09-08 Halifax, NS - Marquee
09-09 Moncton, NB - Festival Hall

Tracklist for The Eric's Trip Show:
01 Stove
02 Beach
03 My Bed is Red
04 Universal Dawn
05 You're Always Right
06 Anytime You Want
07 Girlfriend
08 Feeling Around
09 Smoke
10 Sun Coming Up
11 Sunlight
12 Listen
13 Happens All the Time
14 Frame
15 Smother
16 Near Here
17 My Room
18 Sloan Song
19 Blinded
20 Burn
21 Belong
22 The Beauty Was All Froze

Eric's Trip: http://www.ericstrip.com

HiM Demonstrates Portability of Jazz-Rock Fusion
Post-rock is still cool, isn't it? Isn't it?

Jazz-rock-fusion collective HiM are ready to hit the road for some jazz-rock touring. Doug Scharin, famous for his drum work with June of 44, Out in Worship and Codeine, is the mastermind behind HiM. Along with bassist/trumpeter Fred Erskine (June of 44), reedist Carlos Cennamo (The Sorts), and a host of others, HiM keeps an esoteric groove-pulse breathing, honoring the memory of Miles Davis in his most drug-addicted years. Word is the new album, New Features, moves even further from HiM's chilled-out dub minimalist past, towards a thicker, more frenetic groove. It's fusion nostalgia, but in a really healthy, funky way. If it were 1975, HiM would be playing Fillmore West, enjoying the critical attention of Down Beat. As is, HiM plays the Spanish Social Center in Montreal and enjoys the critical attention of a college kid writing for Pitchfork. Oh, how times have changed. Godspeed, Doug, godspeed.

07-26 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
07-27 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
07-28 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
07-29 Toronto, ON - Rivoli
07-30 Toronto, ON - Senator
08-01 Montreal, QE - Spanish Social Center
08-02 Boston, MA - Middle East
08-03 Port Chester, NY - Bubble Core Office Party
08-04 New York, NY - Knitting Factory
08-05 Brooklyn, NY - North Six
08-07 Philadelphia, PA - Rotunda
08-09 Raleigh, NC - King's Lounge
08-10 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
08-11 Orlando, FL - Sapphire Supper Club
08-13 Houston, TX - Rudyards
08-14 Austin, TX - Mercury at Jazz
08-15 Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves
08-17 Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture Gallery
08-18 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
08-19 San Diego, CA - Casbah
08-21 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
08-24 Portland, OR - Blackbird
08-25 Seattle, WA - Graceland
08-28 Calgary, AB - Warehouse Night Club

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/h/him/new-features.shtml
HiM: http://www.southern.com/southern/band/HIM00/

Melochrome Prepares to Release New Album
Chicago fans breaking the Double Doors down

Chicago dream-pop band Melochrome is set to release their second album on September 18th through Loose Thread Recordings. Entitled Stay a Little Longer, the album is the follow-up to Melochrome's 1999 release, The Music We Make. Justin Mayer (The Lesser Birds of Paradise, Farm Crew) assumed production duties on the new release, taking over for Keith Cleversley (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Spiritualized). Conveniently enough, Mayer also plays keyboards for the band.

Stay a Little Longer also features guest appearances by Chicago-based musicians Dax Max Crawford (trumpets), Julie Pomerleau (violin, viola), and Lambchop's Deanna Varagona (baritone sax, cello). The new album follows a 7" single, "Let's Work It Out," which was released on June 19th. Chicago's Mayor Daley has already adopted the single as the city's new theme song, or at least offered it to act as a treaty between Sox and Cubs fans.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/m/melochrome/music-we-make.shtml
Loose Thread Recordings: http://www.loosethread.com

Oregon Radio Station Fined for Playing DJ Vadim
"Your revolution will not happen in this azz" would have been perfectly acceptable

Ninja Tune is encouraging fans and listeners to contact FCC Chairman Michael Powell at mpowell@fcc.gov or 1-888-225-5322 "to voice your concern and support independent music and free speech." KBOO-FM stands by their decision to play the track, and has 30 days to respond to the formal complaint. Those who are interested in reading the full report (including the lyrics in question) can do so at the FCC's official site.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/d/dj-vadim/ussr-life-from-the-other-side.shtml
Ninja Tune: http://www.ninjatune.net
KBOO-FM: http://www.airbubble.com
FCC: http://www.fcc.gov

Idlewild Guitarist in Hospital, US Tour Postponed
We can't very well joke about that, now, can we?

Looking to capitalize on the raves (Pitchfork, at least) and sales (my brother, at least) of the recent American release of 100 Broken Windows, Idlewild had planned an extensive US tour. Unfortunately, the first three weeks of the tour have been cancelled, due to the hospitalization of guitarist Rod Jones. Presently, no information regarding his illness has been released, though the band is quick to point out that the condition "is not thought to be serious." No rescheduling of dates has been announced.

Despite this setback, the eager, excitable band are already hard at work on the follow-up to 100 Broken Windows. They've completed the recording of nine new tracks-- two produced by oldster Lenny Kaye, and the other seven produced by Stephen Street, who's known for his work with Blur and the Smiths. Following a healthy recovery and further touring, the band aims to finish up the album for a March 2002 release.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/i/idlewild/100-broken-windows.shtml
Idlewild: http://www.idlewild.co.uk

Julie Doiron Turns French on New LP
Aimes-tu être battus avec un marteau?

According to Chartattack, ex-Eric Trip member/now-sensitive solo artist Julie Doiron has announced that she will release an entire album of songs sung in French sometime in October. The record was initially planned as a one-off EP, but became a full-length when, possessed by ancient demons, Doiron simply could not stop recording. At least, that's how we like to imagine it. The album was recorded with the immortal Dave Draves at Little Bullhorn studios in Ottawa, and will be released through the Winnipeg-based indie Endearing Records sometime in October.

Apparently, Doiron is eager to get back to speaking English, like a normal person, as she's gearing up for another album to be released a mere four months after this whole French thing hits the streets. In fact, she's already booked time at a Toronto gas station (or is that Toronto's the Gas Station?) with producer Dale Morningstar. Is that not the most beautiful name ever?

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/d/doiron_julie/will-you-still-love-me.shtml
Endearing: http://www.endearing.com

SS Bountyhunter on the Trail of a New Release
Carbondale has a scene?

Carbondale, Illinois' SS Bountyhunter have released Serpents for Eggs, their first album for the Velvet Blue Music label. Bountyhunter crew members John Deas, Josh Plemon, Becky Plemon, Adam Fletcher, Gary Trimble, Andrea Deas, and Mike Coles are veterans of the Carbondale music scene, with roots in area punk bands. Their previous release, a self-titled LP, blended surf rock, electronic, and industrial elements with a bit of the good old ultra-violence. When you live in the middle of nowhere, it just makes you that much more crazy.

It's still a mystery what the members of SS Bountyhunter do when not performing on-stage. We would certainly like to believe that the insane barrage of guns, wailing guitars, fake (?) blood, flashing swords, and whirling nunchaku ends when the curtain falls, but there's no way to be sure. Plans are for the Good Ship Bountyhunter to play the festival circuit this summer and also do a few shows in the Midwest, unless things get out of hand and they have to lay low for a while.

Velvet Blue: http://www.velvetbluemusic.com

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