Quasi to Tour North America
Guest swordist, God, sure to be the highlight

The tour is Quasi's first extended U.S. outing since 1999. As an added bonus, most of the dates include Black Heart Procession/764-HERO side project Magic Magicians as the opening act. Dates:

09-20 Vancouver, BC - Richard's on Richards
09-21 Seattle, WA - Showbox
09-24 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar
09-25 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar
09-26 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
09-27 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
09-28 Newport, KY - Southgate House
09-29 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
09-30 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
10-02 Cambridge, MA - Middle East
10-03 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber
10-04 New York, NY - Knitting Factory
10-05 New York, NY - Knitting Factory
10-06 Washington, DC - Black Cat
10-07 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
10-09 Atlanta, GA - Echo Lounge
10-13 Austin, TX - Emo's
10-16 West Hollywood, CA - Troubador
10-17 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
10-18 Chico, CA - Brick Works
10-20 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/q/quasi/sword-of-god.shtml
Touch and Go: http://www.southern.com/southern/label/TCH/

Jackie-O Motherfucker Ready to Put Out
Despite our hopes, album's 8th track not an MC Hammer cover

Feeling that late summer/early fall craving for a band that has folky, psychedelic improvisation and a moderately filthy name? Then you, friend, owe it to yourself and your nation to check out the newest release from Pitchfork darlings Jackie-O Motherfucker. Last year's Fig. 5 was popular enough with the staff to edge onto our Top 20 Records of 2000 list. Their highly anticipated new full-length, Liberation, is due out on October 2nd.

According to the Road Cone Records website, the new album "takes you on a journey from ecstatic disorientation to spiritual liberation." With an added emphasis on orchestra instruments and the vibraphone, JOMF also hopes to "add a new dimension of fragile beauty" to their work. And that's exactly what one would expect from these fine young gentlemen with a naughty word in their name.

On top of this, the guys also recently released their double-LP, The Magick Fire Music, on Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace! label. Jackie-O Motherfucker are currently booking a European tour in October. U.S. dates are sure to follow.

Liberation tracklist:

01 Peace on Earth (10:04)
02 Ray-O-Graph (13:57)
03 Northern Line (3:41)
04 In Between (19:01)
05 Something on Your Mind (3:39)
06 Tea Party (2:34)
07 The Pigeon (10:34)
08 Pray (9:30)

The Magick-Fire Music tracklist:

Side A
01 Extension
02 Bone Saw
Side B
01 The Cage
02 Zandave Zam [For David Wojnariwicz]
Side C
01 Jug Band 2000
02 Quaker
Side D
01 Lost Stone
02 Black Squirrels

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/j/jackie-o-motherfucker/fig-5.shtml
Road Cone Records: http://www.roadcone.com

Martsch Produces Pajama Party in a Haunted Hive
Kinda like that movie The Swarm

Coming in Second Records has announced that the new album by Pajama Party in a Haunted Hive, Building a Building, is all set for release. While no official date has been slated as of yet, good news is on the horizon. Recorded mainly at the Manhouse by Built to Spill's Doug Martsch, the record is said to represent a "big step forward for Pajama Party, both musically and sonically." Which is awfully surprising considering Dougie's manning the boards. An MP3 from the new album, entitled "The Day She Died," is available at the Coming in Second Records website.

In other Coming in Second news, the label has signed the Portland outfit the Badger King. The band, which features members of Dear Nora and Wolf Colonel, have reportedly written a rock opera that combines "beautiful pop music with a post-apocalyptic tale of love, insanity, and octopi." Wasn't that how the critics described Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? A release date has not yet been determined.

Coming in Second Records: http://www.cominginsecond.com

Smashing Pumpkins Cash In on Greatest Hits Craze
They had great ones?

Once upon a time, a greatest hits album meant something. Not coincidentally, it was also the time that major labels were committed to artistry. So, for example, the Beatles had a greatest hits album. The Stones rightfully had a couple, as did Hendrix. Slowly, however, record labels turned straight corporate; a few years passed and the format began its gradual demise. Herman's Hermits released a greatest hits album. Then, Hall and Oates and Night Ranger. Before you knew it, Geffen, attempting to milk the last penny out of "Dance Hall Days," releases Everybody Wang Chung Tonight: Wang Chung's Greatest Hits.

While Billy Corgan's days of wanging chung with the Smashing Pumpkins have come to an end, his days of making money and feeding his ego off them are not. So it goes that the Smashing Pumpkins are prepped to release their first greatest hits collection this fall on Virgin, composed entirely of tracks from 1993's Siamese Dream. Okay, so the second part isn't entirely true; the band (read "Billy") has yet to figure out which tracks will go in the hits package. But it is this unbiased journalist's opinion that he would do well to avoid anything Corgan recorded with a bald head or while wearing a black smock. Whether the collection will be received as "Beatlesesque" or "Wang Chungy" is something only time will tell.

One thing certain to fall short of tolerable is the bonus CD set for limited release with the "hits." Artfully titled Judas O'Reylly, the bonus disc includes more than just pretentious spelling-- it features a wealth of Billy-sides drawn from the Melon Collie, Adore, and MACHINA sessions. And if that doesn't stiffen your nipples, it also includes "never before seen photos of the band," a move that seemingly would controvert the whole "corporate profit" theory.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/s/smashing-pumpkins/machina.shtml
Smashing Pumpkins: http://www.smashingpumpkins.com

Basement Jaxx Gear Up for American Tour
Sorry, the ape already upstaged any comment we could possibly make

As for the tour, it will feature "drums... dancers... electronic gadgetry... exciting visuals." We can't wait to witness the ellipses. Dates:

09-29 Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
10-01 San Diego, CA - 4th & B
10-02 Los Angeles, CA - Mayan
10-03 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
10-05 Seattle, WA - Showbox
10-06 Vancouver, BC - Commodore
10-08 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
10-09 Chicago, IL - Metro
10-10 Detroit, MI - St. Andrews
10-12 Atlanta, GA - Earthlink Live
10-13 Orlando, FL - House of Blues
10-15 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10-17 Toronto, ONT - Koolhouse
10-18 Montreal, QBC - Spectrum
10-19 Boston, MA - Avalon
10-20 New York, NY - Roseland

JAXX!: http://www.basementjaxx.co.uk
Astralwerks: http://www.astralwerks.com

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci to Release New Album
Welsh CDC prepares for warm fuzzies pandemic

In the wake of the Super Furry Animals' acclaimed release Rings Around the World (nominated for Britain's famed Mercury Music Award), the pastoral nation of Wales prepares to present an offering from yet another prodigious band of native sons-- this time, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci (pronounced "Mun-key," translation, well... "monkey"). The Gorkys will proudly blow on a conch and unfurl How I Long to Feel That Summer in My Heart on September 24th through Mantra/Beggars Banquet. The album is the first to feature new drummer Pete Richardson, and follows the folk-heavy acoustic EP The Blue Trees, released in the States this past February.

To prime die-hards for the long-player, a single, "Stood on Gold," will be released September 3rd. The track will be the first in the Gorky's canon to feature lead vocals by original member and bassist Richard James, who will also play the role of frontman for two of the album's other songs, "Easy Love" and "These Winds Are in My Heart." All three of these songs are James originals. The rest of the album was written by Euros Childs' and features his glorious croon, with the exception of "Cân Megan," written and sung by Euros' sibling Megan. Tracklist:

01 Where Does Yer Go Now?
02 Honeymoon with You
03 Stood on Gold
04 Dead-Aid
05 Cân Megan
06 Christina
07 Easy Love
08 Let Those Blue Skies
09 These Winds Are in My Heart
10 How I Long
11 Her Hair Hangs Long
12 Hodgeston's Hallelujah

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/g/gorkys-zygotic-mynci/blue-trees.shtml
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci: http://www.gorkys.com
Mantra Recordings: http://www.mantrarecordings.com

Centro-Matic Tour in Support of New Album
Band reportedly shrunk and injected into veins of Flaming Lips and Grandaddy. Dennis Quaid waves hello from a nearby artery.

People tend to give up on a city when its two best known music acts are VH1 band-on-the-run Flickerstick and Drowning "let tha bodies hit tha floor" Pool. But people in Dallas are smarter than they let on, as J.R. and Eleanor Southworth Ewing can attest. Their philosophy is simple: let the crap go national and keep the good stuff to themselves. And they've done just that with the area's best-kept secret: Centro-Matic. In the vein of the Flaming Lips and Grandaddy, Centro-Matic deliver catchy, fuzzed-out pop songs with endearingly lazy vocals. And at the end of this month, they'll be headlining a US tour in support of their sixth full-length, Distance and Clime. Having released five of those albums, plus a handful of seven-inches, in just two years, singer/songwriter Will Johnson is certainly not at a loss for words. See for yourself:

08-31 Denton, TX - Dan's Bar
09-05 Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck
09-06 Kansas City, MO - Hurricane
09-07 St Louis, MO - St. Louis University
09-07 St Louis, MO - Hi-Pointe
09-08 Chicago, IL - Hideout
09-09 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
09-10 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
09-12 Boston, MA - TT the Bear's
09-15 New York, NY- Knitting Factory
09-16 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber
09-17 Washington, DC - Metro Cafe
09-19 Athens, GA - Tasty World
09-20 Atlanta, GA - Echo Lounge
09-21 Birmingham, AL - Nick
09-28 Houston, TX - Rudyard's
09-29 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room
10-05 Austin, TX - Stubb's (inside)
10-06 San Antonio, TX - TBA

Centro-Matic: http://www.centro-matic.com

Explosions in the Sky Debut to Be Released
Owls become unfortunate victims of aerial detonations

With vocal supporters like American Analog Set and a show at the end of August at Emo's in Austin with the much ballyhooed Owls, Explosions in the Sky will release their debut disc through Temporary Residence on August 28th. Titled Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, the record features six songs and runs about 50 minutes long. To make things exciting, you can try to find the sample that could get the band sued by 20th Century Fox.

But what does the album sound like? Will adding it to your already extensive post-rock collection make you hip? Who can we compare it to? The instrumentation is your typical rock band thing-- twin guitars, drums, bass. Toss in some delay and distortion. Layers of chiming guitars that go all metallic and menacing. Drums that go from peacetime to martial law on a dime. Steep it all in sentimental melodies and soft-focus dreamscapes. No, it's not Queensryche, jackass! I guess you'll just have to repeat this class in post-rock seminary school. Your punishment will be writing "Godspeed You Black Emperor!" on the blackboard fifty times. No cursive!

Explosions in the Sky: http://www.explosionsinthesky.com
Temporary Residence: http://www.temporaryresidence.com

New Sparklehorse Record Due Out Next Week
Careful now, Mark. Valium is a gateway drug

Also on the agenda is a collection of short films, one for each Life track, which will air together as a special on the Sundance Channel this fall. Contributors to the project include Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev, Sparklehorse drummer Scott Minor, Grandaddy's Jason Lytle, and Grant Gee, the director, cinematographer and sound engineer of Radiohead's documentary, Meeting People is Easy. Online previews will be made available prior to the televised event. The band's recent performance for "Sessions at West 54th" may also be seen this fall on PBS.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/s/sparklehorse/good-morning-spider.shtml
Sparklehorse: http://www.sparklehorse.com
Capitol: http://www.hollywoodandvine.com/sparklehorse

Fucking Champs Tour with Trans Am
Is there any vehicle more metal than a Trans Am?

San Francisco indie-metal trio the Fucking Champs are set to unleash themselves upon US and UK audiences throughout Indian Summer. The threesome will be touring in support of IV, their latest collection of abrasive odes released to acclaim last year on Drag City. This will be followed by a UK tour alongside electrockers Trans Am, for which both bands will be supporting their forthcoming collaboration as Trans Champs, Double Exposure, which is due out on Thrill Jockey on October 23rd. Trans Am will also be along for the lightning ride for three of the U.S. dates.

The Fucking Champs are led by ex-Nation of Ulysses guitarist Tim Green, who moved to San Francisco in 1995 and found drummer Tim Soete and guitarist Josh Smith soon thereafter. Their efforts culminated in a series of homemade tapes and seven-inches under various incarnations, most notably C4AM95. If you liked IV, we highly recommend a listen to their double album, III. Just don't play it backwards.

09-13 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
09-20 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
09-21 Los Angeles, CA - The Smell
09-22 Santa Ana, CA - Koo's
09-23 San Diego, CA - Casbah
09-27 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber
09-29 Cambridge, MA - Garment District
09-30 Providence, RI - AS220
10-06 New York, NY - Brownies
10-07 New York, NY - Brownies
10-14 Brighton, England - Volks Club
10-17 Birmingham, England - Flapper & Firkin
10-19 Dublin, Ireland - Whelans
10-20 Cork, Ireland - The Lobby
10-23 Glasgow, Scotland -13th Note Club
10-24 Dundee, Scotland - On Air East
10-26 Leeds, England - Brudenel Social Club
10-27 Nottingham, England - The Boat Club
10-29 London, England - 93 Feet East
11-17 Pordenone, Italy - Velvet Club

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/f/fucking-champs/iv.shtml
Drag City: http://www.dragcity.com

The Goblins Make New LP Upon Discovery of The Coffin
Was Criswell in it?

According to My Pal God Records, Missing Fits, the third album by "masked rockers" the Goblins, is the product of an unusual discovery. Allegedly in late 1999, the band was hanging out with Corey Rusk, the man behind Chicago's Touch & Go Records, when he let them look at The Coffin, a prized prop of hardcore horror punks the Misfits. When left alone with The Coffin, the Goblins discovered "a secret compartment full of papers, props, artwork, record sleeve designs and sheet music." The Goblins spent the next thirteen months in the studio recording these previously unreleased Misfits songs. To sweeten the deal, the Goblins will include three Quicktime clips of Goblins archival video footage and a video game demo.

If the above story doesn't stretch the band's credibility enough for you, perhaps the exhaustive liner notes written by noted scholar Dr. Yuri Strier, Chairman of the University of Chicago's Musics and Cultures Department, will push you over the edge. They claim that "this collection should appeal to the rawest teenage Misfits fan, the most sophisticated punk and hardcore connoisseurs to the most clinical ethnomusicologists." No, really, they actually said that! Missing Fits is slated for an October 1st release.

If you want it now, goddamnit, the Goblins website has a limited edition version of the album including bonus tracks, lyrics, a poster, a badge, a comic book, and ashes of a former drummer called The Missing Fits Urn Set. We wonder if the ashes all come from the same former drummer.

The Goblins: http://www.roctober.com/goblins
My Pal God Records: http://www.mypalgodrecords.com

Weezer Announce Tour, Bassist Checks into Hospital
That N'Sync video made it look so glamorous

"We unfortunately still don't know what's wrong with [Mikey], and continue to find it very difficult to find out any more from those who might know. We wish him the very best and we hope he comes back soon."

But the show will go on-- Weezer have hired Scott Shriner to act as a stand-in for Welsh on their upcoming dates, for which they will share the bill with Cold. (Cold?! Cold.) Come October, the guys will dispose of Cold, and continue touring with dignity, just to see if they can still do it. The band has reportedly rehearsed 23 unreleased songs, many of which they'll be playing at these gigs. To see if they're playing a hockey arena named after a major corporation near you, here are the dates:

08-25 San Bernardino, CA - GlenHelen Blockbuster Pavilion
09-11 San Jose, CA - San Jose State Events
09-12 Oakland, CA - Henry J. Kaiser Arena
09-14 San Diego, CA - Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl
09-15 Las Vegas, NV - Cox Pavilion
09-17 Salt Lake City, UT - E Center
09-18 Denver, CO - Coliseum
09-20 St. Paul, MN - Roy Wilkins Auditorium
09-21 Chicago, IL - United Center
09-22 Detroit, MI - Cobo Arena
09-24 Mississauga, ON - Arrow Hall at the International Centre
09-25 Worcester, MA - Worcester Centrum
09-26 Philadelphia, PA - First Union Spectrum
09-28 Fairfax, VA - Patriot Center
09-29 Uniondale, NY - Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/w/weezer/weezer-green.shtml
Weezer: http://www.weezer.com

Do you have a news tip for us? Anything crazy happen at a show you attended recently? Do you have inside info on the bands we cover? Is one of your favorite artists (that's not somebody you know personally) releasing a new record you'd like to see covered? You will remain completely anonymous, unless we are given your express permission to reveal your identity. (Please note that publicists, managers, booking agents, and other artist representatives are generally exempt from this rule, but will also be granted anonymity if requested.)