Neon Neon (Gruff Rhys + Boom Bip) Debut LP Revealed
Duo plans shows, heads to SXSW, seeks twins and older folks for video

News of the Gruff Rhys/Boom Bip full-length Neon Neon collaboration first surfaced way back in October 2006 (at which time they were calling themselves Dolorean), and said full-length was supposed to arrive early last year. But even the best laid plans of Super Furry Animals and Lex men often go awry, and thus we have Stainless Style, that Neon Neon debut, finally set for a March 18 release on Lex.

Stainless Style tells the tale of tragic figure John DeLorean, creator of the iconic automobile, with music appropriate to the car's heyday. Those famous winged doors allow plenty of room to pack in the guests, and Style features contributions from Spank Rock, Yo Majesty, Sean Tillmann (Har Mar Superstar, Sean Na Na), Fatlip, several of the Magic Numbers, and Welsh singer Cate Le Bon. But you knew most of that already.

Perhaps you've also already heard two of the album's 12 cuts: "Trick for Treat" and "Raquel" were previously served up on limited edition Lex 12"s.

But you probably haven't seen Neon Neon live yet, which may well change in a matter of weeks. The duo has some shows in the works, including a trip to SXSW.

What's more, they're seeking extras for a Neon Neon video shoot helmed by Klaus Thymann. "I Lust U" will get the video treatment this coming weekend, and if you're 1.) in the Los Angeles area, and 2.) either a.) between the ages of 40 and 70, and/or b.) a twin, you might just get casted. Interested parties should email "Kristen" at mente[at]happycharliefilms.com and include (or link to) a photo of themselves. Casting will take place February 2 in Eagle Rock, California.

In the midst of all this, Rhys is partaking of that Super Furry Animals tour. Hey Venus!, god-awful cover and all, finally hit North American shops last week via Rough Trade.

Finally, Candylion tamer Rhys has contributed to the ambitious Zombieoper project from Brazilian artists Diego Medina and Desirée Marantes. An honest-to-goodness double-disc rock opera record about zombies, Zombieoper can be downloaded in full-- for free-- right here. It doesn't take BRAINS!!! to know that free is a pretty sweet deal. [MORE...]

Elf Power Head In a Cave for New Album

Like the tiny creatures from which they take their name, Elf Power are often overlooked when it comes time to take stock of the Elephant 6 collective. Neutral Milk Hotel, Of Montreal, and Olivia Tremor Control tend to dominate that Athens, Georgia-focused spotlight, and yet, Elf Power continue to record and release albums at a very consistent rate.

In a Cave, Elf Power's ninth album, is the latest entry in the indie/psych band's oeuvre. It comes out March 25 on Rykodisc, and while there is no talk of a tour yet, Elf Power are usually pretty consistent in that area too.

Also, that previously mentioned Vic Chesnutt album on which Elf Power played backing band is scheduled for release in the fall.

Check out the In a Cave cover. It's pretty sweet:

[MORE...]

Futureheads Start Their Own Label for New Album

Label drama: it's a piece of crap. 'Tis a truth the Futureheads know a bit too well. So for their third album, This Is Not the World, the band have forged their own path and created their own label, Nul Records.

This Is Not the World is due in the UK in late May (date still TBC), with individual deals with indie labels in the rest of the world to be hammered out later.

The album's first single, "The Beginning of the Twist", is due on CD, vinyl, and download on March 10. There's also a UK tour, currently in process and recently expanded.

And in a nifty bit of synergy betwixt the previous two sentences, the band will offer a version of "The Beginning of the Twist" recorded at each and every one of the dates on their current UK tour along with the download version of the "Beginning" single. Skip to the end of this particular story by clicking right here. [MORE...]

Earth, Sir Richard Bishop Link Up for European Tour
Some dates with KTL

Who's that surly gentleman with the curly hair strumming the ol' acoustic before my metal show? And what's with the drone metal act going on after all those fucked up folk songs? Why, it's the unlikely-- though awesome-- pairing of former Sun City Girls guy Sir Richard Bishop and Seattle-based Earth, who'll take on Europe from all sides this winter on a month-long joint tour.

Further complicating the mix is the occasional three-way with KTL, the prolific collaboration between Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley and Mego label head Peter Rehberg. Perhaps they'll all settle on a note at the beginning and just go with it?

Bishop got his recorded ya-yas out in 2007 with the two albums he dropped last year, while Earth's The Bee Made Honey in the Lion's Skull is due from Southern Lord February 26. [MORE...]

Saul Williams Plots "Tar Spangled Banner" Tour
You mean if we alter the names of things, it changes their symbolic meaning?

If you thought Saul Williams' last move was edgy and unorthodox, you may wanna brace yourself for what's next. Williams will follow the release of The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! with-- get this-- a North American tour! Guess you can't shake up the whole system with just one album. Maybe a box set?

And actually, these dates on the so-called "Tar Spangled Banner" tour ought to be pretty out there. Williams is calling on his theatrical training (and, of course, the concepts that drive NiggyTardust!) to present a total audiovisual assault; that is, when he's not doing the odd spoken word performance along the way. Williams hits Babson Park, Massachusetts tomorrow night, swings through SXSW in March, and wraps up with a couple fests-- including the Explosions in the Sky-curated All Tomorrow's Parties event in May. [MORE...]

RJD2 Announces Spring U.S. Tour

RJD2 doesn't exactly seem enthused about the prospect of heading out on a tour, but, as a musician, he recognizes he's duty-bound.

In a recent post to his MySpace blog, RJ announced his spring tour by saying that he'll be "peeling myself away from 'The Wire', 'Lost' and 'Prison Break' to go out with the band." Hey, it's awful cold out there these days, and the idea of vacating the couch to put the water on for mac'n'cheese-- let alone traverse the country-- is a fairly daunting one. Especially when there's the little matter of a prison break to attend to.

But as temps grow more temperate, RJD2 and the band will bring the heat to clubs across the nation. First up is a one-off at Sayreville, New Jersey's Starland Ballroom on March 1, with the proper tour kicking off April 1. Man, just think what these guys could do with a DVD player in the van! [MORE...]

David Yow Recovering, Appearing in Film
Qui guitarist Matt Cronk also hospitalized

David Yow-- of Scratch Acid, Jesus Lizard, and, most recently, Qui fame-- will trade the gurney for the silver screen at Los Angeles' New Beverly Cinema tonight (January 31).

It's the premiere of Al's Beef, a short-form Western by Dennis Hauck that features Yow himself in his first real acting role (excepting, of course, all those years of Tony-worthy stage theatricality).

Al's Beef tells the tale of a woman seeking revenge, and Yow plays a corrupt preacher. Sounds like an ace fit for the guy. The film stars Jordan Ladd, whose previous screen credits include Inland Empire, Grindhouse, and Hostel Part II, and Dean Stockwell, who you've probably seen on TV a time or two. Jorgan Geiger of Minus Story did the score.

Yow, as previously reported, was hospitalized earlier this week in Pittsburgh after one of his lungs collapsed. He was released Tuesday night, but Qui's live dates in February and March remain cancelled.

As if one trip to the hospital weren't enough for the guys, Qui guitarist/vocalist Matt Cronk also went to the emergency room this week. According to a MySpace bulletin, Cronk suffered three strokes and is afflicted with an "inflamed, infected, and strained heart." Yikes!

"Both [Yow and Cronk] are doing better with hopeful futures, but are not out of the woods yet," reads the bulletin, penned by Qui's third member and drummer Paul Christiansen (who we hope is taking his vitamins).

Christiansen plans to host Monday night karaoke at Los Angeles' Cha Cha Lounge to raise money toward hospital bills.

UPDATE: Check out these photos of Yow in Al's Beef:

Jim O'Rourke Reissues, New Album Due on Drag City

Jim O'Rourke-- producer, one half of Loose Fur, former Sonic Youth member, and experimental musician in his own right-- will enter the reissue game on May 20 with the help of Drag City. That's when the Chicago label will reissue O'Rourke's Tamper (1991) and Osorezan (2006).

Both reissues will feature the original albums sans the distraction of bonus tracks. Take that, Elvis Costello!

Following the release of those reissues, Drag City imprint Streamline will continue the unearthing with the release of Long Nights, "a double-disc release of pure drone that dates way, way back but is only now seeing the light of day," according to Drag City.

Finally, there's the matter of O'Rourke's new album. Details are scant for now, but he's planning to have it finished early this year.

UPDATE: We've got the tracklists for the old stuff now: [MORE...]

Peter Moren's The Last Tycoon Tracklist Revealed

Yesterday, when we spilled the beans on Peter Bjorn and John crooner Peter Morén's forthcoming solo debut, The Last Tycoon, we were unaware that we'd left out a "Missing Link". And a "Reel Too Real", an "Old Love", and even "Le Petit Coeur". In other words, the tracklist to the album, which is due April 8 on Quarterstick.

So now here it is, available after the jump. The four titles we've been kicking around for a few months were legit, though "I Don't Gaze at the Sky for Long" has lost its personal touch.

UPDATE: The label gave us the wrong info. The song is still called "I Don't Gaze at the Sky for Long".

In other news from Peter Morén, er, what we said before. [MORE...]

Eels Announce World Tour

Fresh off the dual release of their hits and rarities collections (Meet the Eels and Useless Trinkets, respectively), Mark Oliver Everett and his Eels will hit the road this winter and spring. Their tour begins on Valentine's Day in their home state of California before heading to Europe for a good five weeks. Then they'll return to North America before things wind back down in mid-April.

In other Eels news, Everett's UK-bestselling memoir, Things the Grandchildren Should Know, will be published in the U.S. this fall. [MORE...]

Thurston Moore Releases iTunes Live EP

Photo by Jason Bergman

Thurston Moore isn't just an author and a scorer of porn flicks (NSFW), he's also a solo artist! Who'da thunk, right? Okay fine, between last year's Trees Outside the Academy and its accompanying tour, the Sonic Youth frontman has stayed pretty active in the solo game.

Time to add another solo goody to Thurston's resume: the Live From SoHo EP, an iTunes exlusive that hit the digital retailer yesterday. It captures Thurston accompanied by SY drummer Steve Shelley, Chris Brokaw, Samara Lubelski, and Matt Heyner performing at the Apple Store in New York City's SoHo neighborhood last October. The set list consists of nine tunes from both Trees and Psychic Hearts, Thurston's previous solo album.

As previously reported, Thurston and the rest of Sonic Youth will head Down Under in February for a series of shows before he and the New Wave Bandits play an NYC date with Roky Erickson on March 1. [MORE...]

Xiu Xiu Fun: Video Zine, Song Project, Haiku Offerings
Inhibition none/ Nightmares disguised as records/ Xiu Xiu I love you

Good old Xiu Xiu, never for want of ways to draw us into their twisted art rock world. There was the Polaroid thing, of course, and the subsequent books, and the sound sculpture, just to name a few. Now we have the recently launched official website for sixth album Women as Lovers, which arrived this week via Kill Rock Stars.

Just what wonders await those who click the link up there? For starters, how about your very own personal haiku penned by the one and only Jamie Stewart? Stewart will serve up 17 meticulously arranged syllables to the first 234 people who submit a photo of themselves rocking a copy of Women as Lovers. Details here.

If you'd rather give than receive, how about lending your voice to a new Xiu Xiu instrumental and sharing the results with the world? The band is asking fans to sing over a track called, for now, "Untitled: Will You Please Sing on This". Intone, coo, shriek, shout, or mumble over the dancey number, give it a new name, and upload it. A couple fan offerings are already available for your ears here.

And if both giving and receiving are a bit too active for your tastes, why not sit back and get acquainted with "I Do What I Want When I Want", the new Xiu Xiu video magazine (not to be confused with the Women as Lovers track)? A giggly and quite possibly high Greg Saunier of Deerhoof inaugurates the series with a brainy discussion of "Star Trek", William Shatner, television theory, and Tourette syndrome.

Finally, it would be a sad year indeed if there weren't a Xiu Xiu tour going down. No need to worry about 2008 though, which officially becomes a happy year on March 7. [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.)