Burial to Issue Second LP, Untrue, Next Month

Dubstep: still new, still buzzworthy (whatever that means anymore), still without a face to go with Burial, the genre's would-be de facto poster boy.

Fresh off the release of last year's highly lauded eponymous LP, the ever-secretive Burial is back like he forgot something on Untrue, yet another LP of gurgling, echoey, oft-ominous samples set to stuttering beats.

The disc drops November 6 from the Hyperdub imprint in two formats: a 13 track CD, and, to show appreciation for the DJ set, a nine cut double LP with a different track order-- "from which some of the beatless pieces have been edited," says the press release. That should put a spring in your dubstep! [MORE...]

Oasis Find the "Lord" on New Single, Documentary DVD

It's been a minute since last we heard from those exemplars of reserve Oasis. Of course, isn't that always the case? Every few years, they throw some big hooks and swirling choruses down on wax, collect the requisite "best record since Be Here Now" pullquotes, slag off whoever's big at the moment (I can hear it now: "That Kanye kook's a real wanker, innit?"), tour a bit, punch a dude, and step off for a few more years. Hey, whatever works.

Annnnd Oasis are back! With a new single and a new(ish) DVD that share a title! They're both called Lord Don't Slow Me Down, and we shall discuss the previously Forkcasted single first. You'll be able to have and to hold that sweet "Lord" October 21, though only via digital outlets. So goes the Beatles goes Oasis, I suppose.

Then there's the Universal-issued DVD: it's a tour documentary that screened in select theaters last year, it features a commentary track from Liam, Noel, Andy, and Gem, and for a limited time, it'll come with a bonus disc with 16 tracks culled from a July 2005 show at City of Manchester Stadium. That thing'll drop November 6.

As for those always-tentative future plans? No tour as such, but a full-length is planned for next year. Word on the street is, it's the best one since Don't Believe the Truth.

Hold Steady, Springsteen on Hard Rock Charity Comp
Plus: Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, ANDREW W.-M.F.-K.

Do goodery is all well and, you know, good, but it comes with a price: in this case, probably somewhere in the low double digits. That's about how much it'll cost you to hear SERVE2, a new compilation put together by Hard Rock International that seeks to benefit the self-explanatory Artists Against Hunger and Poverty offshoot of the World Hunger Year project.

Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, the Hold Steady, and Andrew W.K. feature on a collection that also includes Jackson Browne and, uh, well it's all for charity, isn't it?

The tracklist-- including tunes available only on the digital release of SERVE2-- is available for your perusal after the jump. Both the disc (available at Hard Rock Cafe locations, of which, it turns out, there are 123) and the digital download arrive November 6. [MORE...]

Johnny Marr Named University Professor
Morrissey still, like, Dean of Mean

Photo by Shannon McClean

From the Salford Lads Club straight to the hallowed halls of the University of Salford-- so it goes for former Smith and present Modest Mouse guitar maestro Johnny Marr.

According to the U of S website, Marr has been named Visiting Professor at the Greater Manchester Area city's "Uni" (pronounced "YOU-knee"), as our Brit brethren have been known to call them.

Seems he "will be delivering a series of workshops and masterclasses to students on the BA Popular Music and Recording degree at Salford." Seeing as Mr. Marr has already helped a generation find its away around nimble, expressive hooks packed with jangly goodness, this new post should prove no sweat for the guy.

Said the 43-year-old axe-tickler, "Salford University is offering some fantastic opportunities to students in music. It is an honour to be appointed as a professor and I'm excited at the prospect of being able to make a contribution."

Take care not to spread yourself too thin, Professor Marr! You have quite a few contributions to make to Modest Mouse shows this semester as well.

Oh, and thanks to reader Marc Holmes for the tip! [MORE...]

Photos: The Go! Team [Portland, OR; 10/17/07]

Photos by Nilina Mason-Campbell

There's no stopping the Go! Team, whose revved-up relay in demonstration of Proof of Youth rolled through Portland's Doug Fir Lounge last night. What with all those bright colors and winning hooks, Ninja and her crew may not excel at stealth, but they're still killing 'em all the same. The onslaught continues this evening (October 18) in San Francisco.












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Rafter Crafts Sex Death Cassette for Asthmatic Kitty

Commercial jingle artist, musician, Sufjan BFF, and professional weirdo Rafter, like any renaissance-person should, has plenty on his mind. Three of those fixations-- fornication, our earthly demise, and analog recording material-- will get their proper exploration on Rafter's second LP, Sex Death Cassette, dropping January 22 on Asthmatic Kitty.

Over 19 tracks, Rafter delves into candy sprinkles, cuddling raccoons, and an odd thunderclap, all in the strange, sprawling fashion we've come to expect from the sonic diddler. And Rafter's got so much to say, he's putting a new MP3 on the Asthmatic Kitty site every week from now through late next year.

Though neither Rafter nor his band Bunky have any extensive plans to tour at the moment, Rafter's got himself a spot opening for the Fiery Furnaces October 21 at San Diego's Casbah. Rafter also appears on Castanets' new one, In the Vines, due next week from Asthmatic Kitty. [MORE...]

Radiohead, Pumpkins, Mondays on Oakenfold Comp
Plus: Massive Attack, Underworld, Justin Timberlake

World-renowned DJ, remixer, and Crazy Town enthusiast: Paul Oakenfold gets around. And, like a lot of folks who've gotten around some in their day, he's primed to pare down his body of whirling thumps to twenty choice solo cuts, collaborations, and remixes for Greatest Hits & Remixes, out October 23 on Perfecto/Ultra Records.

We bring this up not so much because of the name at the top of the marquee-- as long as Ibiza remains above sea level, Paul Oakenfold doesn't need more press-- but because a few of those getting worked over by the dude may raise an eyebrow or three.

Both Radiohead's "Everything in Its Right Place" and Smashing Pumpkins' "Perfect" get their pulses raised by Oakenfold, with takes on slightly more predictable Happy Mondays, Justin Timberlake, Massive Attack, Madonna, and Underworld cuts besides. The "DOOF DOOF DOOF" quotient of this collection: off the charts! [MORE...]

N.W.A. Compton Reissue, Eazy-E Comp Due
Some drop science, but they're dropping English

Street knowledge: come December 4, get ready to bear witness to its strength all over again, as N.W.A.'s landmark Straight Outta Compton-- in all its grisly glory-- is reissued on CD, vinyl, and digital download formats from Capitol/Priority.

On the new Compton, the second-to-none progenitor of West Coast gangsta rap is amended with five bonus tracks, including covers of choice Compton cuts from Snoop and C-Murder, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Mack 10, and WC, as well as a live rendition of "Compton's N the House" by Dre and MC Ren.

On the same day, Capitol/Priority will issue Featuring... Eazy-E, a collection of rare and notable solo tracks and guest appearances from the late great Eric Wright. Several tracks on Featuring have been out of print for years, making them exclusive to this disc. Parental discretion for both iz, as always, advised. [MORE...]

Lemonheads Tour, Dando Opens for JAMC

Lemonheads: first, a delicious citrusy candy. Then, a scuzzy pre-grunge punk act turned scene casualty. After that, a candy again. But now, the Lemonheads are back... in band form!

Evan Dando and a couple of Descendents who played on last year's self-titled Lemonheads LP will tour around later this fall, following a month's rest and Mr. Dando's short stint opening up for the Jesus and Mary Chain next week. One question remains, though: will they play their "Mrs. Robinson" cover? Remember, kids, if you yell hard enough, anything is possible. [MORE...]

My Morning Jacket, Pajo Cover Misfits on Comp

Even though they both tend to involve candy, it's hard to think of a more different pair of holidays than Halloween and Valentine's Day. And yet, Louisville, KY-centric sorta label Louisville Is for Lovers has created a common thread between them by expanding its catalogue from V-Day comps to include an H-day Misfits cover compilation called Louisville Babylon 2007.

The "2007" in the compilation's name comes from the fact that LIFL has actually done this before, an unlucky 13 years ago to be exact. Louisville Babylon 1994 included Misfits covers by Rodan, Falling Forward, Crain (featuring Matmos half/Pitchfork contributor Drew Daniel on vocals), Hula Hoop (Rachel Grimes' pre-Rachel's band), and Slo-pok (featuring Silver Jew Cassie Marrett on bass).

Louisville Babylon 2007, on the other hand, features contributions from My Morning Jacket, Dave Pajo, Wax Fang, and the Slow Break, among plenty of others. Naturally, it comes in a number edition of 666, and it is available for purchase right here, right now.

LIFL has also reissued the 1994 edition of the comp, which is available either by itself or packaged in a limited edition with 2007. [MORE...]

CMJ: Wednesday [Amy Phillips]

Photos by William Kirk; Above: Kid Sister

You know those sweatshirts you see at truck stops with dreamcatchers and wolves on them? (Like THIS.) Well, that's Yeasayer. They're new age mixed with yacht rock mixed with un-ironic cheese mixed with some intangible quality that somehow makes them cool. And they probably come across best performing at a camp-out under the stars for an audience smoking peace pipes.

Yeasayer [Music Hall of Williamsburg; 9 p.m.]

The Brooklyn band's debut album All Hour Cymbals (out next week on the Baltimore label We*Are*Free) is a bit too hippy-dippy for me on the whole, though "Sunrise" and "2080", the two singles, are killer. But on stage, Yeasayer were less annoying and more likeable-- quite a feat, considering the amount of hair these guys have, and singer/keyboardist Chris Keating looking like "he took too many Brandon Flowers pills today" (as my friend Caryn put it).





Everything sounded brighter and less mushy, and the low end was stronger and grooved a bit harder than on record. But I was most impressed by their vocals. These guys have strong voices, and they seem to have worked hard on their four-part harmonies, which is quite unusual for an indie band. It all came together into something endearing.

In the same way that when you see someone wearing one of those dreamcatcher sweatshirts and you think, "Wow, I could never wear that without looking like a fool," Yeasayer are pulling off something that most bands would never be able to get away with.

The Cool Kids [Hiro Ballroom; 11:30 p.m.]

As much as I admire the big tent approach, there's something satisfying about a unifying aesthetic when it comes to record labels. Think about early Sub Pop's grimy realism or early Factory's minimalism: sonic and visual aspects all wrapped up into one easily identifiable package.

DJ/entrepreneurs A-Trak (aka Kanye's DJ) and Nick Catchdubs, head honchos of upstart label Fool's Gold, understand the value of the total package. The music they release and the artwork they use to promote it is bright, colorful, energetic, fun-loving, and childish (in a good way). And, most importantly, charmingly nerdy.

Take Fool's Gold signees the Cool Kids, the Chicago duo of Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish. They rap about bikes and radios and how much they rock over big, broad beats and slicing guitar riffs. Their track "88" boasts of bringing (19)88 back, and it sure sounded like it did. For another song, they encouraged the packed crowd to take their house keys out of their pockets and jiggle them to form a beat. The result was a kind of twee version of hyphy's chain-rattling sound effect.







While the Cool Kids performed, a screen above the stage showed footage of the Chicago skyline, BMX bikers, and Michael Jordan. The duo's logo was omnipresent as well, in big, puffy yellow letters. And for a few seconds, I swear I caught some Muppet Babies clips up there.

Kid Sister [Hiro Ballroom; 11:30 p.m.]


Kid Sister, another hot Chicago rapper, might be a star in the making, but she, too, isn't afraid of risking looking uncool in the name of having fun. Wearing a constant smile, she delivered her rapid-fire rhymes like the sassiest prom queen ever. She even introduced her set-closing "Pro Nails" (which appeared on Kanye West's Can't Tell Me Nothing mixtape and features Kanye in its forthcoming video) by talking about what it's like to get ready for the prom: visiting David's Bridal, throwing a wrap over your shoulders, and, of course, getting your motherfucking nails did.

She did the wax-on, wax-off dance and skipped around the stage like it was a hopscotch course. And the whole time, the screen displayed her logo: "Kid Sister" in girlie script, as if doodled on a Lisa Frank binder.

Vampire Weekend to Open for the Shins
Make UK live debut

Columbia University grads Vampire Weekend will gives fans the chance to study them abroad this fall when they play their first live shows in the UK. Also featured on three of these dates (and another one in France) are life-changing profs the Shins. Then it's back to the States for these Vampires for a bunch of late November and December shows.

We'll have to wait until January for the full-length VW curriculum, though we already know their class will be in the XL building. For a peek at the syllabus, check out the "Mansard Roof" single, out in the U.S. on October 23 and in the UK via XL/Abeano on November 12. [MORE...]

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.)