New R. Kelly Album Due in May
T.I. guests on new single "I'm a Flirt (Remix)"

The crown prince of Cloud Cuckoo Land, r&b god R. Kelly-- whose fall from grace landed him in some zany lyrical nether-realm that culminated with 2005's "Trapped in the Closet" saga-- has a new LP on the way. As reported on Billboard.com, Kelly will issue the as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2005's TP.3 Reloaded on May 29.

The new album will include latest single "I'm a Flirt (Remix)", featuring guest verses from T.I. and T-Pain. It's a remix because the piano romp originally appeared under the same title on Bow Wow's 2006 LP The Price of Fame. On Kelly's version (stream below!), we learn to keep our women far away from the self-proclaimed "king of r&b" because he's "a dog on the prowl when I'm walking through the mall." Furthermore, "The moral of the story is cuff your bitch/ 'cause hey/ I'm black, handsome, I sing, plus I'm rich." You've been warned.

Kelly recently missed a court appearance for his child porn trial because his appendix burst. Apparently, he was trapped in the hospital.

Feist Announces Canadian Tour

Leslie Feist will rep her home country, Canada, and new album, The Reminder, on tour this May and June. The solo artist/Broken Social Scene contributor has promised summer festival appearances and East Coast U.S. dates, so stay tuned for that info, non-Canadians. She'll also play Bonnaroo on June 16.

As previously reported, The Reminder is due April 23 in Europe (marking the end of a very short UK/Euro trek) and May 1 in the rest of the world. [MORE...]

Noise Pop 2007 Kicks Off in San Francisco

With all indie compasses fixed firmly on Austin right now, it's easy to forget there's a pretty damned excellent festival kicking off tonight in the (sorta) West by North West: San Francisco's Noise Pop.

Celebrating its fifteenth anniversary, this year's Noise Pop goes down at 15 different San Fran venues over six days, February 27-March 4. The Mezzanine plays host to a FREEDM Night kickoff bonanza this evening, featuring Tapes 'n Tapes, Har Mar Superstar, and Extra Action Marching Band-- with David Cross acting as master of ceremonies.

As previously reported, the indie hordes will march though San Francisco over the course of the week, led by Sebadoh, Ted Leo, Clinic, Roky Erickson, Hella, Cake, the Ponys, Annuals, Brightblack Morning Light, Damien Jurado, Love of Diagrams, Earlimart, Malajube, John Vanderslice, Jolie Holland, Midlake, Snowden, Dead Meadow, the Dandy Warhols, the Coup, the French Kicks, Georgie James, and Autolux, among others.

For the complete schedule and details, check out the fest's state-of-the-art website.

Malkmus, Hold Steady, Jim James, Calexico Do Dylan
Plus: Willie Nelson, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds

Sorry, Adam Duritz. You don't get to be Bob Dylan. But guess what? In Velvet Goldmine/Far From Heaven director Todd Haynes' forthcoming feature I'm Not There, six other people do-- including Richard Gere, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and even Cate Blanchett. Each plays a Dylan of a different period in the experimental flick, presently in post-production and tentatively slated for release later this year.

A lot of fine folks who aren't playing Dylan get to do the next best thing-- cover the man's timeless songs for the film's soundtrack. While details have not yet been completely confirmed, we do know Stephen Malkmus, the Hold Steady, and Calexico-- with Jim James, Willie Nelson, and the Byrds' Roger McGuinn-- are among the acts giving it the old Dylan try.

According to Rollingstone.com, Stephen Malkmus takes on Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" and "Ballad of a Thin Man"-- with Dylan bandmember Tony Garnier in his band and Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo in the producer's chair. Judging from a post on the Malkmus website, it seems the indie icon's cover will appear in the film itself with an actor mouthing the words: "Maybe we arent supposed to talk about this too much. but one of our favorite movie stars inhabits senor jick's voice to perfection," claims the Malkmus site.

The Hold Steady, meanwhile, take on B-side "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?", according to a post on sound engineer John Agnello's website (intense high five to reader Kaley Evans for the tip!). Mustachioed Hold Steady keyboardist Franz Nicolay confirmed the band's participation in I'm Not There on his own website.

Calexico contribute a rendition of Street Legal's "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)", joined by folk legend Willie Nelson and flamenco guitarist Salvador Duran. The band performed and briefly discussed their cover on Minnesota Public Radio last September. Check out the video here.

Finally, in an August 2006 interview with The Daily Californian, Joey Burns of Calexico mentioned My Morning Jacket's Jim James had lent vocals to another Calexico-backed I'm Not Here Dylan cover (apparently set to appear in a Richard Gere scene), and that Calexico had recorded tracks for Roger McGuinn for a third soundtrack contribution.

Contrary to early reports, Jack White will not be participating, according to his publicist. Other rumored participants include PJ Harvey, Aimee Mann, and Michael Stipe.

CSS Schedule North American Dates

CSS have extended their already-extended UK/Euro trek to include North America. They will visit the continent for five shows in early June. There's a nice window of space surrounding the dates on their schedule, so we hope they add quite a few more.

The sextet will play a one-off gig in Puebla, Mexico in March as part of the MX Beat festival, and make its way through Europe and the UK for most of April. It will round out the month with a stop at Coachella.

CSS also have a few European and UK gigs on the agenda for May. In addition, they're scheduled to play Scotland's T in the Park, Ireland's Oxegen Festival, and Spain's Benicàssim this summer. [MORE...]

Arctic Monkeys Team With Dizzee for Single
North American tour in the works

Monkeys and Rascals in cahoots? Sounds like your parent or guardian's worst nightmare, which makes it your-- terrible segue alert-- Favourite Worst Nightmare!

To prepare audiences for their little slice of good news for people who like bad dreams (due out April 23/24, as previously reported), Arctic Monkeys will hit us with the single for the album's lead-off track, "Brianstorm".

Even more exciting than a mildly clever transposition of letters: as previously mentioned, deep-rolling grime emcee Dizzee Rascal will guest on one of the single's three exclusive B-sides, "Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend". And boy-- terrible segue alert-- do you have a dizzee-ing array of purchase options! Domino will release the "Brianstorm" single on 7", 10", and CD on April 17, with digital downloads gratifying us more immediately on April 2.

The lads of the moment play scattered dates throughout the coming months. They'll hit Coachella at the end of April, and it looks like a North American tour will follow. Thanks to reader Cliff Rickard, we learned that they'll play Montreal on May 12. And a May 20 at Hard Rock Live in Orlando surfaced briefly, but quickly disappeared. Mysterious! Oh and look: A show in Atlanta on May 19 just appeared on Ticketmaster. UPDATE: WASHINGTON, D.C. AND MICHIGAN TOO! [MORE...]

KEXP to Host PB&J, Fujiya, Mew, Beirut at SXSW
Okkervil River, the Ponys, the Apples in Stereo, and more also hit radio and Internet

KEXP does SXSW at ACL. What that mess of letters means is that the Seattle radio station KEXP is sending DJs John Richards, Cheryl Waters, and Kevin Cole to take up residency at Austin, Texas' KLRU-TV studio (home of the "Austin City Limits" TV show) during SXSW.

From Wednesday, March 14 through Friday, March 16, KEXP will host a series of live sets from from a slew of SXSW acts, including Peter Bjorn & John, Okkervil River, Mew, Fujiya & Miyagi, Beirut, the Ponys, the Apples in Stereo, Earl Greyhound, Ghostland Observatory, Under Byen, the Early Years, and more to be announced. The sets will be broadcast online at KEXP.org and on the radio in Seattle on 90.3 FM.

For details on how to be a part of the studio's 300-capacity audience (for free!!), head to KEXP's website . [MORE...]

Mark E. Smith/Mouse on Mars Von Sudenfed LP Details
Not to be confused with Von Sudafed, the mysterious cold-fighting superhero

Von Südenfed is the name assumed by the Fall's Mark E. Smith in collaboration with Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner, aka Mouse on Mars. The trio formed after collaborating on the 2005 Mouse on Mars 12" "Wipe That Sound", unused material from which appears on their forthcoming debut full-length as "That Sound Wiped".

That full-length, titled Tromatic Reflexxions, finds the Mouses (Mice?) exploring hard electro beats with Smith lacing his casually clever lyrics over top. Domino will release it in the UK on May 21 and June 5 in the U.S.

Von Südenfed are already preparing to record a second album together, but before that happens, they will tour together this summer. Don't bring any bananas to the show.

As previously reported, the new Fall album, Reformation Post T.L.C., is due out on Narnack on March 27. [MORE...]

The Horrors Build Strange House, Tour

Following hot on the heels of the "Gloves" single, released this week, goth-punks the Horrors will release their full-length debut, Strange House on March 5. The record is currently a UK-only release on Loog Records.

As previously reported, Strange House features production from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner, and the band coaxed director Chris Cunningham out of hibernation to direct the video for lead single "Sheena Is a Parasite".

The Horrors will kick off a UK tour on March 5 with three Virgin in-stores in England and Scotland. [MORE...]

Menomena Expand Tour
Back catalog now available through Barsuk distribution

Menomena have expanded their previously reported tour in support of their latest album, Friend and Foe.

The North American run kicks off in early March, and will wind across the continent for just under a month. Menomena will visit SXSW along the way, stopping at a variety of parties and showcases, including our very own Pitchfork Music Festival/Windish Agency day party at Emo's and Emo's Jr. on March 16.

In other news, most of the band's FILMguerrero back catalog is now available through Barsuk's distribution. Under and Hour, I Am the Fun Blame Monster!, and the Wet and Rusting EP can be purchased through the label, and an I Am the Fun Blame Monster! vinyl repress and Friend or Foe vinyl LP will be available in March and "soon," respectively. [MORE...]

Photos: The Shins / Viva Voce [Portland, OR; 02/21/07]

Photos by Nilina Mason-Campbell

Guided to the stage by flashlight and chants from a sold-out hometown crowd, the Shins kicked off an almost two-hour set at the Crystal Ballroom last Wednesday night with tracks from their latest, Wincing the Night Away-- on a stage decorated with Christmas lights, much like in the "Kissing the Lipless" video.

Indeed, "Kissing" wound up an obvious crowd favorite, as did Chutes Too Narrow's "So Says I" and Oh, Inverted World's "Caring Is Creepy". Our fair Shins were in the mood for covers as well-- from a spontaneous Pink Floyd rendition mid-set that didn't appear on their pre-written set-list to a Modern Lovers tune included as a part of the encore.

Anita Robinson of openers Viva Voce also graced the stage three times during their set to contribute vocals, as she did during the band's recent "SNL" appearance.

The Shins apparently rented out and rehearsed at the venue a month prior to the show in an attempt to master a new live sound for their songs. The practice paid off, combining with the band's energy and the solid acoustics to create a well-rounded, generally pleasing live experience.

The Shins' ever-expanding world tour continues through April.

VIVA VOCE


THE SHINS

[MORE...]

Pipettes Sign to Interscope/Cherrytree in U.S.
Debut headed Stateside this summer

They're the Pipettes, and we hope they have no regrets, because the winsome, cheery 60s-pop-revival trio (and their mysterious backing band, the Cassettes) have signed a U.S. record deal with Interscope subsidiary Cherrytree, according to Billboard.com.

Becki, Gwenno, and Rosay crash an F's-only party at Cherrytree-- also home to Feist, the Feeling, the Fratellis, and Flipsyde. Their much-adored debut, We Are the Pipettes-- originally released in the UK via Memphis Industries last year-- should hit U.S. shelves at last this summer. UPDATE: ACCORDING TO THE LABEL, A JUNE RELEASE DATE IS TARGETED, AND THEY HOPE TO INCLUDE EXTRA TRACKS ON THE U.S. VERSION OF THE ALBUM.

As previously reported, the Pipettes are primed to pry their way into our hearts next month, playing to a select few North American cities-- including the Pitchfork/Windish Agency day party at SXSW, where they'll work their magic alongside Peter Bjorn and John, Girl Talk, Deerhunter, Crystal Castles, Rjd2, Menomena, the Ponys, Do Make Say Think, Simian Mobile Disco, Fujiya + Miyagi, Beach House, and Marnie Stern.

UPDATE: A LOS ANGELES SHOW IS IN THE WORKS FOR AFTER SXSW. [MORE...]

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