Promise Ring Records New LP for Anti
Nation wistfully reflects on life before Davey von Bohlen

The Promise Ring spent this past summer recording, with help from such luminaries as Beastie Boys producer Mario Caldato Jr. and Air/Moog Cookbook keyboardist Roger Joseph Manning Jr. The band is currently in England recording ten tracks with former Smiths/Morrissey producer Stephen Street. The boys has reportedly demoed forty potential tracks for their next already, so maybe they'll get it right this time. What? It could happen. Maybe.

According to an official Anti Records press release, the Promise Ring are "deftly messing with their traditional mix of two guitars, bass and drums" on the new tracks. No, it's not going to be a foray into speed metal, but "drum machines, keyboards, the occasional junky synth and lots of other left turns trafficked by Caldato and Street" will feature prominently.

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/p/promise-ring/electric-pink.shtml
The Promise Ring: http://www.tpr-online.com

Albini Curates 2002 All Tomorrow's Parties UK
Right, give it to the asshole

While Los Angeles prepares to host the first US version of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival next month, preparations for the 2002 UK version have already begun. It will be held, again, at Camber Sands, with the illustrious Steve Albini curating.

A number of bands have already signed on for the event, and unsurprisingly, Steve's band, Shellac, will likely be headlining. Other notables confirmed thus far include the Fall, Will Oldham, Low, Rachel's, Silkworm, the Shipping News, and Plush. On the success of previous years, the ATP committee has scheduled the festival to happen twice-- April 19th-21st, and April 26th-28th-- with the same lineup for both weekends. One wonders what the sundry bands will do on their five-day break in between the two weekend blowouts.

All Tomorrow's Parties: http://www.tickets-online.co.uk/atp/

Man or Astro-man? Tour North America
You'd think they'd have fixed that fucking star cruiser by now

Fresh off a recent European tour, sci-fi/surf-rockers Man or Astro-man? are barreling through the U.S. until November in support of last year's excellent Albini-produced Spectrum of Infinite Scale-- their first good album in, like, five years. (We thought we'd never see it.) And yeah, this is the real thing, not one of those pansy Project Alpha clones. The band's live shows are notoriously fun, as the band likes to dress up in space clothes and go berserk onstage. Once they played with TVs on their heads and threw Little Debbie snackcakes into the audience. You don't want to miss out on free coconut rounds.

10-23 Champaign, IL - Highdive
10-24 Chicago, IL - Fireside Bowl
10-25 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
10-26 Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre Center (Magic Stick)
10-27 Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
10-29 Hanover, NH - Dartmouth College (Panarchy Frat House)
10-30 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Club (Upstairs)
10-31 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Club (Upstairs)
11-01 Storrs, CT - University of Connecticut (African American Cultural Center)
11-02 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
11-03 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
11-04 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber Pass Pub
11-06 Columbus, OH - Little Brother's
11-07 Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall
11-09 Asheville, NC - Stella Blue
11-10 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/m/man-or-astroman/spectrum-of-infinite-scale.shtml
Man or Astro-man?: http://www.astroman.com

Spinanes' Rebecca Gates to Open for Stereolab
Many ba's shall be inflicted

Before the blips, before the bleeps, before the whirs, Stereolab fans eager to hear the band tap into to their processed muse will receive a special treat. Rebecca Gates, formerly of the Spinanes (and formerly the Spinanes, period, following the departure of current Built to Spill drummer Scott Plouf) will open for the America's best-loved kraut-pop Groop during their current US tour.

The Spinanes, as a duo, burst onto the scene back in 1993 with the Sub Pop release, Manos, which peaked at #1 on the college charts. Two more albums followed-- Strand and Arches and Aisles, the latter recorded after Plouf's departure-- along with a singles collection, The Imp Years, released by Merge in 2000. Gates will likely play older Spinanes tracks, and material from her new Ruby Series EP on Badman Records.

11-14 Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
11-15 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
11-16 New Orleans, LA - Howlin' Wolf
11-17 Houston, TX - Numbers Night Club
11-20 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/g/gates_rebecca/ruby-series.shtml
Rebecca Gates: http://www.parcematone.com/

Fugazi Release Tracklist for New Album, EP
But fail to release us from binds of government, capitalism

The Argument comes in very circa-1995 packaging with fold-out artwork and a separate booklet containing lyrics in distressed type, and pictures of airplanes, buildings, cars, and space-age appliances. A three-track EP is also scheduled for release on the same date, and includes the tracks, "Furniture," "Hello Morning," and instrumental titled "Number 5." The tracklist for The Argument is as follows:

01
02 Cashout
03 Full Disclosure
04 Epic Problem
05 Life and Limb
06 The Kill
07 Strangelight
08 Oh
09 Ex-Spectator
10 Nightshop
11 Argument

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/f/fugazi/instrument-soundtrack.shtml
Fugazi: http://www.southern.com/southern/band/FUGAZ/
Dischord Records: http://www.dischord.com

Daft Punk to Release Album of Live Wankery
Guys, it can't be called "live" if it's pre-programmed

Victoria's Secret recording artists Daft Punk are set to release a live album entitled Alive 1997 on October 2nd. As the story goes, the French duo stumbled across a recording of a show they did in November 1997 on their Daftendirektour, and realized just how goddamned amazing they are in concert. As a courtesy to the music industry-- or maybe just to make a little extra scratch for the upcoming holidays-- Daft Punk decided to release Alive 1997, which features Homework-era faves "Da Funk" and "Rollin' & Scratchin'," along with, we're guessing, a bunch of other stuff. I mean, who would put out a live album with only two songs on it?

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/d/daft-punk/discovery.shtml
Daft Punk: http://www.daftpunk.com

Kristin Hersh Tours, Releases Live CDs
GNP drops sharply as bottom falls out on Kristin Hersh bootleg market

Kristin Hersh, leader of the seminal Throwing Muses, is setting out on a solo tour through the US. Still adjusting to This New World as we all are, Kristin has decided to donate $100 of the proceeds from each show to the American Red Cross. As an added bonus, these shows will debut the availability of two "official bootleg" CDs. One documents the unique experience of a Kristin Hersh solo performance (stories and songs) over a generous 90 minutes; the other features a blistering 1992 performance by the Throwing Muses, including the unreleased track, "Catch a Falling Star." If Hersh isn't coming to your neck of the woods, don't despair, because 1) it's not worth despairing over, trust us, and 2) 4AD has agreed to make available a limited number of each CD. Pay her bills and buy one of these things, already. The woman's got kids to feed.

10-04 Davis, CA - Palms Playhouse
10-06 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe's (2 shows)
10-07 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
10-13 Seattle, WA - Shoreline Community College
10-17 Austin, TX - Cactus Cafe
10-19 New Orleans, LA - The Mermaid Lounge
10-21 Atlanta, GA - The Echo Lounge
10-26 New York, NY - The Knitting Factory
10-27 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
10-13 London, England - Barbican Center ("mini set" as part of larger festival)

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/h/hersh_kristin/sunny-border-blue.shtml
Throwing Muses: http://www.throwingmusic.com

Slumber Party Coming to Your Town
Angry dad stands menacingly at top of stairs with insane glint in sleepless eyes

Touring on the strength of their freshly released Kill Rock Stars LP, Psychedelicate, the four women of Slumber Party are making a break for it. They begin a national tour in October with the ever-present Guided by Voices in New Jersey and Boston, then speed off like Thelma and Louise (if there were, like, two more of them or something) on a non-stop thrill ride across the country.

Alicia Berg, Gretchen Gonzales (Universal Indians), Marcie Bolen (Von Bondies), and Leigh Sabo started the band in Detroit. Sources say their music sounds like Their Satanic Majesties Request-era Stones with guitars haunting like sitars, and sirens and voices ringing harmoniously through hollow boxes. But man, somehow it isn't the same without the holographic cover.

10-19 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's (w/Guided by Voices)
10-20 Cambridge, MA - Middle East (w/Guided by Voices)
10-21 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
10-22 Chicago, IL - Fireside Bowl (w/Small Brown Bike, Trocar)
10-23 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry
10-24 Fargo, ND - Moose Lodge
10-26 Missoula, MT - Jays Upstairs
10-27 Seattle, WA - Local 46 (w/Gossip)
10-28 Olympia, WA - Arrowspace
10-29 San Francisco, CA - TBA
10-31 Los Angeles, CA - TBA
11-01 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
11-02 Santa Ana, CA - Koos Cafe
11-03 Phoenix, AZ - Modified
11-04 Albuquerque, NM - Golden West
11-06 Tulsa, OK - Curly's
11-07 Columbia, MO - The Ranch
11-08 Louisville, KY - Barretones (w/Half Seas Over)
11-09 Columbus, OH - TBA

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/s/slumber-party/slumber-party.shtml
Kill Rock Stars: http://www.killrockstars.com

Les Savy Fav Unveil Tracklist, Tour Dates
Tim Harrington to harass thousands with unruly neckbeard

01 Trajic Monsters
02 Reprobates Resume
03 Crawling Can Be Beautiful
04 Disco Drive
05 The Slip
06 Daily Dares
07 Melancholy
08 Pills
09 Adoption
10 No Sleeves
11 Bloom on Demand
12 Scratch-Bonus

Tour dates:
11-01 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
11-02 Boston, MA - The Middle East
11-03 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber Pass
11-04 Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Roboto Project
11-06 Detroit, MI - The Magic Stick
11-08 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
11-09 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry
11-29 Austin, TX - Emo's
11-30 Denton, TX - Rubber Glove
12-01 Fayetteville, AR - Clunk Music Hall
12-02 Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck
12-03 St. Louis, MO - Rocket Bar
12-04 Nashville, TN - The End
12-05 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
12-06 Chapel Hill, NC - TBA
12-07 Washington, DC - Black Cat
12-08 Baltimore, MD - TBA

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/l/les-savy-fav/rome.shtml
Les Savy Fav: http://www.selfstarterfoundation.com

Tara Jane O'Neil Tours the World
She's huge in Slovenia

According to Quarterstick Records, former Rodan bassist Tara Jane O'Neil will be touring the U.S. and Europe in support of her second solo full-length, In the Sun Lines, which was released on September 10th. O'Neil plays a good number of the instruments on the album, with help from notables such as Rachel Grimes (Rachel's) as well as some lesser-known friends. Trying her best to be unclassifiable, the new album is a mixture of delicate, floating melodies and an ever-present pop sensibility. "Sure," the label claims, "it takes time to sink in, but so does sunscreen." At least sunscreen prevents melanoma.

O'Neil will be joined by ex-Come frontwoman Thalia Zedek on the first leg of the trip and selected European dates, and by Pernice Brothers, Stereo Total, Momus, and K on various dates toward the end of the U.S. tour. Dates:

09-28 Indianapolis, IN - Radio Radio
09-29 Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck
10-01 Phoenix, AZ - Modified
10-02 San Diego, CA - Casbah
10-03 Los Angeles, CA - Silver Lake Lounge
10-04 San Francisco, CA - The Cellar @ Johnny Foley's
10-05 Portland, OR - Blackbird
10-06 Seattle, WA - Breakroom
10-10 Rapid City, SD - The Journey
10-11 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
10-12 Sioux City, IA - The Hall
10-13 Columbia, MO - Shattered
10-14 Champaign, IL - High Dive
10-15 Louisville, KY - Artswatch
10-17 Newport, KY - Southgate
10-19 Baltimore, MD - Art Gallery
10-20 Brooklyn, NY - Northsix
10-24 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber
10-25 Cambridge, MA - TT The Bear's
10-26 New York, NY - Knitting Factory
10-27 New York, NY - Knitting Factory
10-28 Northampton, MA - The Flywheel
10-29 Providence, RI - Hive Archive
10-31 Pittsburgh, PA - MIT
11-02 Detroit, MI - Detroit Contemporary
11-03 Chicago, IL - Schuba's
11-16 Netherlands - TBA
11-17 Bielefeld, Germany - AJZ
11-18 Czech Republic - TBA
11-19 Vienna, Austria - Chelsea
11-20 Zagreb, Croatia - TBA
11-21 Illirska Bistrica, Slovenia - MKNZ
11-22 Italy - TBA
11-23 Italy - TBA
11-24 Italy - TBA
11-25 Italy - TBA 11-27 Geneva, Switzerland - L'Usine
11-28 Reims, France - TBA
11-29 Lyons, France - TBA
11-30 London, England - TBA
12-01 Newport, Wales - TJ's
12-02 Dublin, Ireland - Whelan's
12-04 Glasgow, Scotland - 13th Note
12-05 Leeds, England - TBA
12-06 Netherlands - TBA
12-07 Diksmuide, Belgium - 4AD
12-08 Kontich, Belgium - Lintfabriek

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/o/oneil_tarajane/peregrine.shtml
Tara Jane O'Neil: http://www.southern.com/southern/band/TARAJ/
Quarterstick Records: http://www.southern.com/southern/label/QUA/

The Anniversary Releases Sophomore LP, Tours
Glasses-wearing guy on band's website invents retard chic

According to the Vagrant website, electro-rockers the Anniversary are finally prepared to release their second full-length. Your Majesty, the follow-up to their 2000 debut, Designing a Nervous Breakdown, will hit shelves on October 30th. The band, which formed in 1996 when the members were still in high school, has also released split seven-inches with the likes of the Get Up Kids and Hot Rod Circuit. In support of the new record, the five-piece band plans to tour with bands like Superdrag, Mars Volta, Lawrence Arms, Selby Tigers, Mates of State, and Seafood.

10-09 Ames, IA - Maintenance Shop
10-10 Chicago, IL - Metro
10-11 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
10-13 Detroit, MI - The Shelter @ St. Andrews Hall
10-14 Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts
10-15 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
10-16 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Laga
10-17 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
10-18 Worcester, MA - WPI College
10-20 Rockville Center, NY - Plush
10-22 Philadelphia, PA - TLA
10-23 Carrboro, NC - Cats Cradle
10-25 Atlanta, GA - Sapphire Supper Club
10-26 Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Freeze
10-27 St. Petersburg, FL - State Theater
10-28 Tallahassee, FL - The Cow Haus
10-30 Houston, TX - Mary Janes
10-31 Dallas, TX - The Door
11-01 Austin, TX - Emo's
11-02 Fayetteville, AR - Clunk Music Hall
11-03 St. Louis, MO - Galaxy
11-04 Kansas City, MO - The El Torreon
11-06 Boulder, CO - Tulagi's
11-09 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
11-10 San Diego, CA - Epicenter
11-11 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour
11-12 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
11-13 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
11-14 Portland, OR - Meow Meow
11-16 Seattle, WA - Graceland

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/a/anniversary/designing-a-nervous-breakdown.shtml
The Anniversary: http://www.anniversaryrock.com/
Vagrant: http://www.vagrant.com

Atombombpocketknife to Release New LP
Ace news team apparently unaware that it was reviewed yesterday

In a throwback to mid-80s Cold War tension, Southern Records artists Atombombpocketknife are releasing their second full-length album, God Save the ABPK, on October 1st. Despite the title, the new disc isn't a rant against the stagnant British Royal Family, nor is it the narrative of band members Allison Hollihan, Justin Sinkovitch, Che Arthur, and Matt Espy's coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Rather, according to the official Southern website, ABPK "emits an immediately detectable dark and disturbing mood" on this album, which is certainly better than emitting a noxious skunk-like odor. Like their debut, Alpha Sounds, God Save the ABPK was recorded by Greg Norman (Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire, 90 Day Men, Tren Brothers). Mixing duties were performed by Mike Lust (ex-Lustre King).

Pitchfork Review: http:///record-reviews/a/atombombpocketknife/god-save-the-abpk.shtml
Southern Records: http://www.southern.com

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