Sonic Youth Add Texas Dates to Tour
The Slits to Open Brooklyn Show

Non-fat mocha-peddling noiseniks Sonic Youth will delve deep into the heart of Texas for a trio of just-announced shows in the month of October. The Marfa date on October 6 is free, as part of the Chinati Open House Weekend.

Of course, seeing Sonic Youth July 13 play the heck out of Daydream Nation at the Pitchfork Music Festival (thanks in no small part to the fine folks at ATP's Don't Look Back series) won't cost you anything, either, provided some generous soul bought your ticket for you. We hope they weren't just pulling your leg when they told you they would, too, 'cuz those bad boys are solid gone.

But if you were shut out of our Don't Look Back night, don't despair-- Sonic Youth is playing Daydream Nation all over this nation of ours (as well as many others) throughout the summer. And if you're lucky enough to catch them doing it in Brooklyn on July 28, you'll be treated to an opening act by the legendary, reformed Slits.

In other Sonic Youth news, there's that whole solo album thing Thurston Moore told us all about recently, while inspiring an awful lot of speculation as to what exactly Michelle Williams' favorite Sonic Youth tune is. Judging by the ease with which she inhabited the character of free-spirited Jen Lindley on Dawson's Creek, our money's on something breezy and freeform like A Thousand Leaves' "Wildflower Soul". Not that we have a pool going or anything. [MORE...]

Video: Sonic Youth: Silver Rocket [from the Daydream Nation LP]

Photos: Wilco / Low [New York, NY; 06/25/07]
Low add dates in U.S., Europe

Six Organs, Entrance, Magik Marker Do Arthur Benefit

Editors Revise Calendar With North American Dates

Video: Editors: Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors [from the forthcoming An End Has a Start LP]

Beach House Talk New Material, Origin, Growth
"Music can run away from you. You have to let it go, but if you let it go really far-- if you go with every possibility-- it's like a painting with too many colors. It eventually just turns into mud."

Beach House seemingly swept in from nowhere amid the late summer haze of 2006, their self-titled debut on Carpark (officially released in October) a most welcome sonic paean to all things autumnal.

But as it turns out, the duo behind the woozy magic-- Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally-- had been kicking around in "chaos" for some time before that. We caught up with Legrand and Scally as they prepare to record the follow-up to Beach House for a chat about the new songs, Beach House's foundations, artistic growth, and the ideal number of people to foster fruitful creativity (spoiler alert: it's two).

Fans can expect "a new sound, a new feel" with the second LP, according to Scally. "It's hard to describe exactly, but you'll hear it."

Legrand helped put it in perspective: "'Master of None'. I think that track would give a clue to what to expect of the style or sound right now. Less of the simpler songs, and more of the 'Master of None'-types."

The duo plans to record yet again with Rob Girardi-- who also helmed their debut-- at Girardi's newly inaugurated Lord Baltimore Recording studio. No album title yet, but working song titles include "Wedding Bell" and "A Monster". They're working titles because, as Legrand puts it, "I'm just nervous they are going to change. I'd feel bad if I gave a title that wouldn't appear."

Legrand and Scally attribute the "new sound" in large part to Victoria's evolving voice. As Scally puts it, with the new record, "I don't think anyone will say that Victoria sounds like Nico or Hope Sandoval."

"I think my voice is changing just from having sung these songs so many times," Legrand explained. "You know, even the way they sound on the recording and live now, they're just different. It's [about] growing into my voice-- into whatever it's going to become. But so far with these new songs it's becoming apparent that I feel like I was hiding something. I'm not quite sure what it is, but I'm letting it loose and [letting it] evolve by itself."

After a pause, she summarized: "My lazy voice is gone. I've woken up. I'm no longer asleep. I drank a huge cup of coffee."

Added Scally in jest, "The new album's called Coffee and a Shower." [MORE...]

Video: Beach House: Master of None [from the Beach House LP]

Figurines Put Clothes on a Deer on New LP

Make a little room on your shelf; you don't know it yet, but you're about to pick up some brand-new collectible Figurines. When the Deer Wore Blue, the follow-up to last year's springy but highly slept-on Skeleton from the Danish delights, will be dropping some intercontinental catchiness on you at various points throughout the next couple months depending on your current locale.

Figurines' fellow Danes can get theirs July 23 on Morningside Records, but the record's out September the 11 in North America. Our neighbors to the north can find it via Paper Bag Records, while we Yanks can find it from the Control Group. Anywhere you snag it, When the Deer Wore Blue promises to liven up any room and prove a valuable addition to your growing collection of knick-knacks and foofaraw.

The album will be preceded by the single "Hey Girl", which will be available on iTunes August 7 (or by clicking on the link at the bottom of this story right now!)

Figurines have a few live dates lined up well in the future-- not enough of 'em, but we have a hunch that might change. [MORE...]

Stream: Figurines: Hey Girl [from the forthcoming When the Deer Wore Blue LP]
MP3: Figurines: Hey Girl [from the forthcoming When the Deer Wore Blue LP]

Jenny Lewis, Vetiver Pal Wilson Readies Solo Debut

Stream: Jonathan Wilson: Various Tracks

YACHT, Black Lips Split a 7" You Probably Won't Hear

So Atlanta's Black Lips and Portland's YACHT are putting out a new split 7". Excellent news for fans of grimey rock and bubbly electroid funk, right? In theory, sure! But, thanks (or no thanks) to the folks at Fader, uh, you probably can't hear it. Sorry.

Here, alas, is the rub: The disc is limited to 500 copies, which we're aware is standard practice in this world of indie rock. Quite a number of those will be distributed to "top DJs, artists and influencers," which, hey, is their prerogative, although one wonders how much time said DJs, artists and influencers have to listen to 7" records these days. And the leftover scraps from that castoff will then be given away as contest fodder via Fader's website.

So, unless you're James Murphy's nephew or something, the chances of you hearing this disc are about as good as your English professor sparing the red pen on the word "influencers." Bummer city! Who wouldn't want to hear Black Lips cover the Tamrons' 1967 garage gem "Wild Man," or YACHT do another genial tune detailing some aspect of his life's philosophy?

This is actually the third time Fader has put out a 7" nobody can hear-- the first one was a M. Ward ft. Jim James/Ladyhawk split, and the second one was a Busy Signal/Mavado split. [Both of them are really good! And I know because I own both of them! I am an influencer ... mwahahaha! -- Ed.] [MORE...]

MP3: YACHT: See a Penny (Pick it Up) [from the I Believe in You, Your Magic is Real LP]
Video: Black Lips: Cold Hands [from the Cold Hands UK single]

Thom Yorke, Maximo Park Guest on Modeselektor LP

German electronic duo Modeselektor (known individually by the awesome names of Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary) will release their sophomore album via Bpitch Control on September 11.

The Hello Mom! follow-up is the equally exclamatory Happy Birthday!, and it got its name from the fact that both gentlemen will become fathers soon. And almost as exciting as their future fatherhood is Happy Birthday!'s guest list, which includes Thom Yorke, TTC, Puppetmastaz, Otto von Schirach, Paul St. Hilaire, and Siriusmo. The original CD release of the album will also include a bonus track featuring Maxïmo Park titled "I Can't Sleep (Without Music)".

Modeselektor have a couple handfuls of dates schedule this summer, starting in Lärz, Germany on July 1. [MORE...]

Stream: Modeselektor: Various Tracks

The Rentals Return With EP, Summer Tour

Led by (very) former Weezer bassist Matt Sharp, the Rentals are back in action, and this time they're even ready to release new music. Their first release since 1999's Seven More Minutes will be the Last Little Life EP, out August 14 via Boompa Records, but is available from eMusic starting tomorrow.

The EP features new songs "Last Romantic Day", "Little Bit of You in Everything", and "Life Without a Brain" (all of which were mixed by Joe Chiccarelli, who has worked with the Shins and the White Stripes) as well as a new mix of "Sweetness and Tenderness". You can hear "Last Romantic Day" by clicking on the little imeem box below.

Last Little Life is intended to whet our appetites for the band's yet-to-be-titled (and yet-to-be-recorded) third album, which they expect to release early next year.

Before, during, and after the EP's release, the Rentals have a ton of tour dates with support acts Goldenboy and Copeland. And starting with their first show tomorrow, June 26 in Bakersfield, California, the band will keep a daily video blog of their activities both through cell phone social networking service ShoZu and through their own YouTube channel.

[MORE...]

T.V. Eye: June 25-July 1, 2007

Photos: The Wrens [Chicago, IL; 06/24/07]

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.)