I Am the World Trade Center Change Name
Fear confused terrorists may target their CDs in future attacks

Kindercore electro-poppers I Am the World Trade Center undoubtedly saw a spike in visitors to their website last Tuesday, as a search for "World Trade Center" at Google.com directed web surfers to their official homepage. However, the band is being sensitive to the issues at hand, revealing in a statement on their website last week that they will change their bandname in light of recent events. Said Dan Gellar, one half of the duo:

"I Am the World Trade Center was named after a symbol of New York, the city where we got our start. The Twin Towers represented many things to us, their giant presence on the skyline reminded us every day of what an amazing and overwhelming place we were living in. Also, the two towers, equal and independent yet still one entity are a metaphor for the relationship Amy [Dykes] and I have developed both professionally and personally.

"With this said, for the time being I Am the World Trade Center will be shortening our name to "I Am the..." out of respect to those who have lost so much in this tragedy. The name and symbol will still live with us and in the future we hope that once again we can use our entire name which we are so proud of."

The band has also said that they will donate a portion of the proceeds from their current album, Out of the Loop, to the United Way of New York's September 11th fund.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/i/i-am-the-world-trade-center/out-of-the-loop.shtml
Kindercore Records: http://www.kindercore.com

More Details on Forthcoming Clinic LP
They're really quite fetching beneath the masks

"It's always gonna have a sort of twist to it," frontman Ade Blackburn said of the band's music. "[The new album] will have the main sort of elements that were on the Internal Wrangler album. On Internal Wrangler, I think it was kind of shorter fragments of ideas, and the newer songs are sort of fuller and more spacious, allowing more rooted ideas to develop." Internal Wrangler originally saw release last year on the then-UK-only independent, Domino Records.

Though not yet titled, the new record will definitely feature four songs Clinic debuted in August of 2000 on the BBC's John Peel Show, namely: "The Bridge," "Jouster," "The Nuns," and "Daishiki." Blackburn said that the album should be released early next year. Presently, they're planning on rescheduling some tour dates in New York and New Jersey that were canceled due to last week's World Trade Center tragedy, after which they'll join Radiohead on tour for some dates in Japan. When asked whether they would play at this year's CMJ Festival, which was pushed back until mid-October, Blackburn said that it was not definite, but that there is a good chance.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/c/clinic/internal-wrangler.shtml
Clinic [Unofficial]: http://surf.to/clinic
Domino: http://www.dominorecordco.com

The Coup to Change Cover to Non-WTC Disaster
Oops!

The Coup, the lauded rap duo recording for Dan "The Automator" Nakamura's hip-hop imprint, 75Ark, made a statement last week announcing that they would change the cover image of their forthcoming LP, Party Music, to something that doesn't involve New York's Twin Towers exploding. The anti-capitalist group's intent with the album cover was reportedly to give the message that music could destroy the capitalist state.

According to ITN, a British news organization, Coup founder Boots Riley had requested that the band be allowed to keep the artwork despite the terrorist attacks, but 75Ark would not allow it, calling the cover wholly inappropriate. Well, yeah.

The artwork was created in July, with the album slated for a November 6th release. It is not presently known whether this will cause any delays. The label was reported ready to print the covers last week, but were able to pull them just in time. "75Ark recognizes the importance of artistic freedom," said the label on their official website. "However, recent extraordinary events demand that we create new artwork for the album. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone whom this tragedy has touched."

75Ark: http://www.75ark.com/

Varnaline Tours In Support of New LP
Maybe they're born with it!

Anders Parker, frontman for the New York-based folkadelic band Varnaline, is currently touring in support of the band's fourth full-length release, Songs In a Northern Key. The album was released on Steve Earle's E-Squared label, and features production work by Earle himself, as well as progressive country star and Fleetwood Mac producer Ray Kennedy.

Backed by a hodge-podge of musicians, including Mascott's Kendal Meade who lends vocals to several tracks, the album is an Anders Parker spotlight, so to speak. Having played most of the instruments himself, not to mention the majority of the songwriting credits, Parker combines lush guitar strings with fuzzed-out keyboards. In essence, he gets it right this time.

Anders Parker is currently in the midst of a solo U.S. tour alongside California Überguy Richard Buckner. You can catch these two gunslingers at the following locations:

09-19 Baton Rouge, LA - Chelsea's Cafe
09-20 Oxford, MS - Proud Larry's
09-21 St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
09-22 Kansas City, MO - Davey's Uptown
09-24 Nashville, TN - The End
09-26 Athens, GA - Tasty World
09-27 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
09-28 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
09-29 Ashville, NC - The Grey Eagle
10-01 Arlington, VA - Iota Club
10-04 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
10-05 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
10-06 Providence, RI - As220
10-07 Northampton, MA - Bay State Hotel
10-09 Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
10-10 Grand Rapids, MI - Intersection
10-11 Berwyn, IL - Fitzgeralds
10-12 Madison, WI - Cafe Montmartre
10-13 St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
10-20 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/v/varnaline/sweet-life.shtml
Varnaline: http://www.varnaline.com

Superchunk Announce Tour to Support New LP
Our favorite is the guy on the right

10-26 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
10-27 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
10-29 Nashville, TN - TBA
10-31 New Orleans, LA - Shim-Sham Club
11-01 Houston, TX - Engine Room
11-02 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
11-03 Fort Worth, TX - Ridglea Theater
11-06 Los Angeles, CA - Knitting Factory
11-07 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
11-08 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
11-10 Portland, OR - B Complex
11-11 Seattle, WA - Showbox
11-16 Chicago, IL - Metro
11-17 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
11-18 Toronto, ON - Opera House
11-20 Montreal, QC - Cabaret
11-21 Cambridge, MA - Somerville Theater
11-23 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
11-24 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
11-25 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
11-26 Washington, DC - Black Cat

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/s/superchunk/come-pick-me-up.shtml
Superchunk: http://www.superchunk.com

Former Velocity Girl Singer Goes Solo
Simpatico! was the Believo! of the 90s

Former Velocity Girl vocalist Sarah Shannon is in the midst of preparing her first-ever solo album. Blake Wescott, who mixed Pedro the Lion's Winners Never Quit album will be manning the boards for her debut. Shannon's also planning to tour behind the as-yet-untitled release in the early months of 2002, possibly starting in February.

It's been over five years since Velocity Girl disbanded. The band started out on the Washington D.C. scene in the early 90s and released a number of albums, including Copacetic and Simpatico!, the latter yielding the college rock staple "Sorry Again." Their final release came with 1996's Gilded Stars and Zealous Hearts, whose timing was perfect to receive one of the first-ever Pitchfork reviews, in which listeners were advised to "pick up the old and dig into the new stuff later, alligator," as we "[didn't] want you kids gettin' no salty opinions." Trust us, it's not worth reading.

Velocity Girl are often remembered for sounding bright and happy in a time when grungy guitars and heroin were like, it, man! The members went onto a number of different projects, including the Heartworms, the Nord Express, and the Saturday People.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/v/velocity-girl/gilded-stars.shtml

Underdog to Front Pop Group on Air Label
Ring-concealed energy pill also enhances dancing powers

Source Records is planning a fall release for the self-titled debut album by Playgroup, the pop band fronted by Trevor Jackson (aka the Underdog), and featuring vocalist Luca Santucci and some guy named Rob. Philip Ascoli, the head of Source Records, and the man who "discovered" Air, is putting together an exciting new roster on Source, along with Simian and Turin Brakes. The first single from the Playgroup album, entitled "Make It Happen," is reported to be "an exciting display of 80's disco-pop-funk with amazing production." Ascoli has been quoted as saying, "It's the kind of album that changes the rules of club culture." But not the dress code.

Jackson, well known for his "mad" remixes of the Gravediggaz, Sabres of Paradise, and Massive Attack, is also label head of Output Records, the label that claims responsibility for the debut albums by Kieran Hebden's Fridge and Four Tet albums. (We were under the impression that Fridge was on Hebden's own Text label, and that Four Tet was signed to Domino, but what the fuck do we know?)

Source Records: http://source.astralwerks.com

Silver Scooter Guy Produces Fivehead EP
Description of band's sound possibly stolen off box of Kibbles n' Bits

The Austin-based band Fivehead recently released Big Mistake Factory, a new EP featuring six original songs that have been described as "thick and meaty with a delicious blend of guitar hooks, warm lyrics, and driving rhythms." Produced by Silver Scooter founder Scott Garred, the sound is similar to their previous full-length album, It's Not All Good and It's Not Alright. In case you missed their showcase at SXSW, the four guys in Fivehead are planning to tour the eastern U.S. beginning in late September and running into October. And now, we'd like to tell you where they'll be playing. 'Cause we're just that way.

09-20 Houston, TX - Rudyards
09-21 New Orleans, LA - Mermaid Lounge
09-22 Tallahassee, FL - Club Down Under
09-23 Montevallo, AL - Barnstormer's Pizza
09-24 Athens, GA - Engine Room
09-25 Nashville, TN - Springwater
09-26 Philadelphia, PA - Pontiac Grill
09-27 Boston, MA - TT the Bear's
09-28 New York, NY - Parkside Lounge
09-29 Washington, DC - Galaxy
09-30 Raleigh, NC - Kings
10-01 Columbus, OH - Little Brothers
10-02 Indianapolis, IN - Melody Inn
10-03 Davenport, IA - TBA
10-04 Chicago, IL - Hideout
10-05 Wichita, KS - Kirby's Beer Store
10-06 Oklahoma City, OK - Blue Note

Fivehead: http://www.fivehead.com

Stephen Malkmus Tours, Solves Jick Mystery
And they would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for that meddling Steve

In case you're still wondering what the hell a jick is, Malkmus' website has the answer. And since we've been there, we can conveniently relay this information to you. So we will. Apparently, a "jick" another word for the Jack of Hearts in a Sicilian card game. Further reading adds that a jick can reference a valuable card in the old game Pitch (similar to Spades) where the Jack and Jick-Jack are worth one point each. And you thought it was something crass and tasteless. Jaded you!

10-19 Los Angeles, CA - All Tomorrow's Parties
10-20 Sacramento, CA - Colonial Theatre
10-21 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
10-23 Salt Lake City, UT - Liquid Joe's
10-25 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
10-26 Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck
10-27 Omaha, NE - Sokol Hall
10-29 Columbia, MO - Blue Note
10-30 St. Louis, MO - Mississippi Nights
10-31 Champaign, IL - High Dive
11-02 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
11-03 Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
11-04 Louisville, KY - Headliners
11-06 Nashville, TN - 328 Performance Hall
11-07 Athens, GA - 40 Watt
11-09 Columbia, SC - Uncle Doctors
11-10 Charleston, SC - Music Farm
11-11 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
11-13 Charlottesville, VA - Starr Hill Music Hall
11-14 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
11-15 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
11-16 New York, NY - The Roxy
11-17 Boston, MA - Avalon Ballroom
11-19 Montreal, QC - Club Soda
11-20 Toronto, ON - The Guverment

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/m/malkmus_stephen/stephen-malkmus.shtml
Stephen Malkmus: http://www.stephenmalkmus.com
Matador: http://www.matadorrecords.com

Live Review: The Dismemberment Plan & Juno
But you were going to see them anyway

By the end of the second set, legs aching, the big question of the evening was established: could Seattle guitar juggernauts Juno blow the good Dismemberment Plan boys off the stage, deep in the cryptlike recesses of the Baltimore club scene? Without pausing to build suspense, the answer: it's not a football game-- both bands were great.

But the intensity of the show was such that there might well have been a competition in the offing. There, on September 8th at "intimate" Baltimore venue Fletcher's, in the famous Fell's Point belching district, the Dismemberment Plan and Juno, with support from the local band Slow Jets, played joyous, electrifying sets to the delight of a delirious young crowd of meticulously unkempt scamps.

Juno, fronted by seething singer/guitarist Arlie Carstens, turned their amps to twelve and began an all-too brief assault on the audience, aggressive, yet also friendly in the manner of a snarling, frothing Newfoundland that bowls you over and licks your face. Guest bassist Jason Lajeunesse made the most of his final show with the band, rediscovering the ages-old rock concert tradition of taking a quick leap onto to the floor monitor and pitching off. As the aural carpet-bombing intensified, guitarist Jason Guyer joined Lajeunesse in his step aerobics. Guitarist Gabe Carter finessed each note as if it were his last while smoke spewed from Carstens' ears, and drummer Greg Fergusen pounded away jubilantly. The intensity of the set might have been quantifiable if one had kept track of the number of times a player's instrument clocked another player's forehead. It happened.

Highlights included the entire set, intensely and-- dare I say-- emotively played. Juno favors long-winded, oblique song titles, so I had to consult my two-disc Juno discography for the setlist. Opening with an instrumental version of (ahem) "The Great Salt Lake/Into the Lavender Crevices of Evening the Otters have Been Pushed"-- and including cuts such as "A Thousand Motors Pressed Upon the Heart," "Covered with Hair," and "You Are the Beautiful Conductor of this Orchestra"-- the set blistered like napalmed Jiffy Pop.

The band closed with a simmering reproduction of "The French Letter" from their latest offering, A Future Lived in Past Tense. Unfortunately, deferring to the Plan, no encore was in the offing.

After midnight, the technically savvy Dismemberment Plan took the stage. Offering a contrast to Juno's wall-of-sound whitewash, the virtuosic bass of Eric Axelson and the keyboards and guitars of Travis Morrison and Jason Cadell were distinct and isolable on most songs. Joe Easley's drumming amazed, though he was unfortunately behind Morrison, so I couldn't baselessly assess his technique. Morrison, for his part, like Juno's Arlie Carstens, possesses a tremendous stage presence-- emoting, shaking, screaming, and singing in an almost Pentecostal display. Both bands needed Gatorade.

During an ebullient set played to a fatigued yet ecstatic crowd, the Dismemberment Plan showcased songs from their forthcoming album, Change, which is due in stores on October 22nd. The guys have taken a compelling turn with their new songs, shedding much of their prog-punk Talking Heads guise for a more downbeat and reflective refinement of the heralded music of Emergency & I.

To be sure, the new songs sounded excellent live, but it was the classic tracks that really got the place jumping. The band ran through "Memory Machine," "Gyroscope," "The City," "You Are Invited," and "What Do You Want Me to Say" with flawless execution and the intense, passionate energy that's made their live show renowned as one of the greatest experiences modern indie rock has to offer. They also threw in some older material for good measure-- a blistering extended version of "OK, Joke's Over" from their 1995 debut, "!", and "Do the Standing Still" and "Ice of Boston" from their 1997 sophomore release, The Dismemberment Plan is Terrified. Smashing.

As was the entire show. Smashing. An unlikely pairing of labelmates, who joined forces earlier this year on a split EP, it was a bill I'd love to see again. Worth the money, worth the effort. Both bands at their prime. A joy to witness.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/d/dismemberment-plan/juno.shtml
DeSoto: http://www.desotorecords.com

Weezer Tribute CD Out This Fall
Green Album material clearly unworthy of salutation

When word first got out last year that Dead Droid Records was planning the release of a Weezer tribute compilation, people were confused. After all, it's not often that tribute is paid to a band still very much in its prime. But given the string of occurrences in the last few months, including the mental hospital and the unfortunate release of The Green Album, the tribute seems rather appropriate. Titled Rock Music, the compilation is scheduled for release sometime this fall. Rumor has it that the vinyl version will have a few surprise tracks. For now, the tracklist looks a little something like this:

01 Mycomplex: Tired of Sex
02 Ataris: Butterfly
03 Affinity: My Name is Jonas
04 Glasseater: Holiday
05 Piebald: No One Else
06 Grade: Surf Wax America
07 Midtown: Susanne
08 Stereo: El Scorcho
09 Further Seems Forever: Say It Ain't So
10 Chris Higdon (of Elliott): The World Has Turned and Left Me Here
11 Dashboard Confessional: Jamie
12 The Impossibles: The Good Life
13 Mock Orange: Only in Dreams

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/w/weezer/weezer-green.shtml
Dead Droid Records: http://www.deaddroidrecords.com/

Engine Down's European Vacation
Bassist's tedious refrain of "I miss Jack" to grate on band's nerves throughout trip

Virginia's Engine Down will retreat to the European continent for a slew of tour dates this September and October. Apparently, they're tired of the rigid constructs of the terms "emo," "hardcore," and "post-rock" that we silly Americans love to throw about. In the meantime, the boys have kept busy by writing a bunch of songs for their forthcoming Lovitt Records release, which is slated to be recorded next month. Engine Down, which consists of former members of Sleepytime Trio, the Weak Link Breaks, and Bughummer, have released two LPs to date, including their most recent release, To Bury Within the Sound.

09-12 Hamburg, Germany - Hafenklang
09-13 Rotterdam, The Netherlands - Waterdown
09-14 Mol, Belgium - Peir Oan
09-15 Margate, UK - Lido
09-16 Nottingham, UK - Old Angel
09-17 Peterborough, UK - Old Locomotive
09-18 Leeds, UK - Basement
09-19 London-Kentish Town, UK - The Verge
09-20 Rennes, France - La Baleine Bleue
09-21 Bordeaux, France - Le Zoobizarre
09-22 Alicante, Spain - Stereo
09-23 Valencia, Spain - So What
09-24 Barcelona, Spain - Rock & Trini
09-25 St. Feliu, Spain - Club de Tennis St. Feliu
09-26 Tolouse, France - TBA
09-27 Yverdon, Switzerland - L'Amalgame
09-28 Imperia, Italy - Babilonia
09-29 La Spezia, Italy - Skaletta Club
09-30 TBA (Italy)
10-01 Zagreb, Croatia - KSET
10-02 Budapest, Hungary - TBA
10-03 Linz, Austria - Kapu
10-04 Prague, Czech Republic - 007 Club
10-05 Rosswein, Germany - Juze
10-06 Magdeburg, Germany - Hot
10-07 Monheim, Germany - Sojus
10-08 Fulda, Germany - Kulturzentrum Kreuz
10-09 Freiburg, Germany - KST
10-10 Munchen, Germany - Kafe Kult
10-11 Halle, Germany - Reilstrasse 78
10-12 Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
10-13 Munster, Germany - Barracke
10-14 Koln, Germany - Underground
10-15 Saarbrucken, Germany - Hellmut

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/e/engine-down/to-bury-within-the-sound.shtml
Engine Down: http://www.enginedown.com
Lovitt Records: http://www.lovitt.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.)