The Roots Reveal New Album Details

Front page photo by Natalie Kardos

The upcoming presidential election has everyone feeling political, and the Roots are no different. In a press release, group backbone/mouthpiece ?uestlove calls Rising Down, the Roots' forthcoming 10th (!) album, "probably our most political album to date, dealing with addiction, nihilism, hypocritical double standards in the prison system, and overall life in Philadelphia." But don't worry, rap fans, ?uest also says the record is "not a 'downer,' as most people expect us to do."

Nonetheless, the Game Theory follow-up's title comes from a William T. Vollmann treatise on violence, and its release date-- April 29 (via Def Jam)-- is also the 16th anniversary of the riots that consumed Los Angeles after the police officers accused of beating Rodney King were acquitted. That is to say, "downer" or not, Rising Down offers plenty of chances to get worked up.

As for the music, Rising Down features guest appearances from Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Peedi Crakk, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Saigon, Styles P, Wale, and someone unfortunately named P.O.R.N. Perhaps most notable though is Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump's appearance on first single "Birthday Girl".

The Roots have North American tour dates to keep them busy until the album comes out. [MORE...]

Members of Tunng + Memory Band = The Accidental
Hot Chip's Goddard remixes band on forthcoming single

Extend a warm welcome to a newly christened group of out-there musicians, the Accidental. Comprised of members of Tunng, the Memory Band, and the Bicycle Thieves, along with solo songwriter Liam Bailey, the British collective will share its debut full-length offering, There Were Wolves, this spring. North Americans can look for it June 3 on Thrill Jockey, while folks across the Atlantic get the record on April 14 via Full Time Hobby.

Full Time Hobby will first release a UK single for album cut "Wolves" on March 31. The 7" comes backed with a remix of There Were Wolves opener "Knock Knock" by Hot Chip's Joe Goddard.

Before Wolves arrives anywhere, the Accidental have a handful of UK shows to occupy them, including a London gig tonight (March 18). Tunng have some touring plans too. [MORE...]

Feist, Constantines Do "Islands in the Stream"
Makin' songs with each other, uh-huh

You knew Feist and Constantines were, like, serious musical forces to be reckoned with, sure. But did you know that when their forces combine, they transform from fine, dedicated Canadian music-makers into the biggest cheeseballs on the planet?

It's true! Really! And here's your proof: On a new limited-edition 7", the somewhat steely Constantines and the lighthearted but not exactly musically goofy Leslie Feist will perform a collaborative cover of the Bee Gees' "Islands in the Stream", as made famous in duet form by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.

Though we are having a really hard time picturing Constantines lead singer Bryan Webb hamming it up Kenny style, Leslie Feist actually seems like a perfect Dolly (she loves the glitzy outfits, after all). However they pulled it off, we simply cannot wait until Arts & Crafts throws this thing out there on April 1.

The single will be backed by "Trans Canada", a tune from the Cons' Kensington Heights LP, which Arts & Crafts will issue April 15 in Canada and April 29 in the States. (You know, if you guys had really gone for it, you could've covered Gene Pitney's "Trans Canada Highway" while you were at it.)

Both Feist and the Cons have a few tour dates starting next month, though as of right now, the likelihood of an onstage take on "Islands" from these two is but a nice faraway dream. [MORE...]

Imaad Wasif Issues Strange Hexes With Two Part Beast

Imaad Wasif is one of these dudes who's just about as well known for the company he keeps as the records he makes on his own. A onetime member of both alaska! and Lou Barlow's (New) Folk Implosion, Wassif also lent his raggedy axework to Yeah Yeah Yeahs as their touring guitarist on the Show Your Bones jaunt.

But forget all them other folks for a minute and let Imaad-- and his new band, Two Part Beast-- beguile you with Strange Hexes, which Wasif self-released today. Get yourself a copy via Imaad's website or your usual sources, or on his upcoming West Coast tour, which kicks off later this month. More U.S. dates can be expected in the summer. The moral here is clear: Imaad Wasif, down to jam. [MORE...]

Friends Host Benefit for Injured Producer Scotty Hard

Photo by M.E. Smith

As early 1990s hip-hop goes, you name it, and Scotty Hard probably had a hand in it. Wu-Tang Clan, De La Soul, Black Sheep, Ultramagnetic MCs, P.M. Dawn, Jungle Brothers, Gravediggaz, and even Chris Rock have all received Hard's mixing/engineering touch, and the studio whiz also produced jazz records by the likes of Medeski Martin & Wood, Sex Mob, and others.

The knob-smith, born Scott Harding, has fallen on difficult times after a February 15 car accident left him in serious condition with multiple injuries, including a crushed spinal cord. Harding underwent surgery earlier this month and is in good spirits, but he is partially paralyzed and the road to recovery will be a long and uncertain one. And as Harding has no health insurance, the road to financial recovery may be even longer.

To help Harding's cause, a number of music-making friends have come together for a benefit concert tomorrow night, March 19, at the Highline Ballroom in New York City. The bill for "The Scotty Hard Concert" includes jazz guitar legend John Scofield, Antibalas, Bill Laswell, MMW's John Medeski and Billy Martin, Marco Benevento and Joe Russo of Benevento/Russo Duo, Eric Krasno, Neal Evans, Sex Mob, DJ Logic, John Ellis, Michael Black, Vijay Iyer, Tommy Hamilton, and Kevin Kendrick.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Scotty Hard Trust, established to help Harding through his ordeal. For information on how you can contribute directly, please consult the Trust's website.

Tokyo Police Club Cancel Shows, Add UK Dates

A death in the family has forced cherub-faced Canucks Tokyo Police Club to cancel a pair of dates this week, with their Indianapolis gig tomorrow night (March 19) and Lawrence, Kansas the next night (March 20) now off the docket. Tonight's performance in London, Ontario is still on, as are all the rest of the dates. In a MySpace blog post, the band promised to "work on making the shows up as soon as we can." Hope all is well, guys.

The bad news out of the way, let me remind ya'll once again of the good news: Elephant Shell, TPC's forthcoming debut LP, sees release in North America from Saddle Creek April 22 and Memphis Industries in Europe May 5. According to their website, they'll release a remix EP right along with the record.

A May-June UK tour has also been tacked on to the band's itinerary. [MORE...]

Gnarls Barkley Push up LP Release Date to...Right Now

So often these days, record release dates get pushed back and pushed back, whether it's to create more buzz, more marketing opportunities, or more chances for them to suck less. But Downtown/Atlantic artists Gnarls Barkley-- totally non-sucky, and buckers of trends both musical and, now, logistical-- are throwing caution to the wind and sticking their sophomore set, The Odd Couple, in digital (and some physical) stores today, March 18, and all brick-and-mortar ones next Tuesday, March 25. The album's original release date was April 8.

So why the, uh, opposite of holdup? "They felt the timing was right to just go for it," a press release claims. "With the shifting seasons, furtive romantic entanglements and fierce college basketball rivalries, the latter half of March can be confusing. People need to be soothed and inspired now."

Right, right, brackets. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that The Odd Couple has been flitting about the internet for the last couple weeks for the low low price of zero, would it? Eh, whatever: at least these labels are making some kinda effort. Buy music! It's worth it!

Gnarls' move follows similarly old-model-busting actions of late by Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails and the Raconteurs among others, and we're curious to see which ones end up looking the best with a little hindsight.

In other Gnarls news, their video for "Run" is a powerful weapon against the denizens of the United Kingdom, and Danger Mouse will work with yet another funky dude-- one Beck Hansen-- on the midnite vulture's next LP. Oh, and Gnarls proper will hit the stage at the Hollywood Bowl July 27 to show off their "Mork and Mindy" costumes and probably play some music.

Portishead Reveal Third Single, Box Set Details

They seem like such non-violent types, but Portishead will bring out the heavy artillery with the release of the first single from their much-anticipated new album, Third. "Machine Gun" is the tune the trio chose for the single, and it makes its radio and download debut today, March 18.

In a matter of minutes, at 7:30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time, Zane Lowe will premiere "Machine Gun" on his BBC Radio 1 show, and it will simultaneously become available for download through the band's official website. The single will also be released in the UK on etched, one-sided 12" vinyl, April 14 via Island.

Third will be released on April 28 in the UK (via Island) and April 29 in the U.S. (via Mercury). A limited edition box set version of the album will also be available on April 28, to the first 10,000 people who order it from the Portishead website.

Here are the box set's contents:

- double vinyl copy of Third
- etched "Machine Gun" 12"
- limited edition art print by Nick Uff
- "P"-shaped USB stick featuring Third and four films (Ade's House, Machine Gun; The Rip Live @ Mr. Wolfe's; We Carry On; and The Truly Spectacular Universal Conference Film) and offering exclusive access to other extras to be unveiled throughout the year. [MORE...]

DeVotchKa Gear Up for A Mad & Faithful World Tour
Basia Bulat supports in North America

With DeVotchKa's new album A Mad & Faithful Telling out everywhere this week thanks to Anti-, it's time for the cosmopolitan folk group to start their touring engines once again. Following a one-off in-store today (March 18) in Denver, the foursome will kick things off in April with dates in the UK and mainland Europe.

Then, after DeVotchKa's appearance at Coachella, the band will tackle North America with Canada's Basia Bulat in the support slot. A string quartet will join DeVotchKa onstage for those dates, while certain shows will even feature aerial acrobats the Slavic Sisters. Could we get some cotton candy with that? [MORE...]

Kevin Ayers' Star-Studded Unfairground Hits the States
Far too many guest stars for one subhead to contain

As summer turned to fall last year, Kevin Ayers-- founding member of the pioneering experimental rock troupe the Soft Machine-- issued The Unfairground, his first album in a stupendously long time, in the UK, Europe, and Japan.

The disc is positively brimming over with guests, including, as I typed (and typed, and typed) way back when: Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera, members of Architecture in Helsinki, Neutral Milk Hotel/Music Tapes dude Julian Koster, former Gorky's Zygotic Mynci frontman Euros Childs, Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake and Francis MacDonald, Elephant 6-affiliated cellist Heather McIntosh, Daisy Martey of the Noonday Underground, Psychedelic Furs keyboardist Joe McGinty, singer Candie Payne, folkie legend Bridget St. John, Ayers' Soft Machine cohorts Hugh Hopper and Robert "The Wyattron" Wyatt, and members of the Ladybug Transistor, including the late San Fadyl. Phew!

Anyhow, somebody over there at Gigantic Music must've thought, "Man, that gigantic list of guest stars would befit our label quite nicely," as they issued The Unfairground in the U.S. today. Fair enough! [MORE...]

Rilo Kiley Announce North American Tour

Photos by Amy Phillips, taken at Rilo Kiley's show at the Riviera in Chicago on September 15, 2007. Yeah, we know they're a little old, but you can never have too many cute pictures of Jenny Lewis, right?

Out from Under the Blacklight and into the spotlight come Los Angeles stars Rilo Kiley, who will hit the road throughout North America in April, May, and June. The trek will make stops at Coachella and Bonnaroo along the way.

In other Rilo Kiley news, there's apparently a Jenny Lewis solo LP in the works, though the impressive list of rumored guest stars may turn out to be too good to be true. Also, the band recently contributed a T-shirt design to the Yellow Bird Project, which will benefit the Elliott Smith Memorial Fund.

And while I'm standing atop this particular soapbox: If "Salute Your Shorts"-- the 90s TV show in which a young Blake Sennett portrayed wisecracking "new guy" camper Ronnie Pinsky-- doesn't hit DVD soon, I'm gonna start doling out the awful waffles.

More photos and tour dates below.

[MORE...]

Supergrass Serve Up New Album

Supergrass will once again remind us that they exist and not just on the Clueless soundtrack with the release of their sixth studio album, Diamond Hoo Ha.

Parlophone will release the full-length offering in the UK on March 24, though single "Bad Blood"-- which features a cover of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" as one of its CD B-sides-- is available right now across the pond. Check out the video for "Bad Blood", featured in Forkcast, at the link below.

As for U.S. citizens, Astralwerks (a new home for the 'grass) will deliver Diamond Hoo Ha on tax day, April 15. UPDATE: U.S. release date TBA.

Supergrass have a run of live dates in the UK scheduled for April as well. [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.)