New Trail of Dead Album Due in October

Bravely hopping back up on the horse that they fell so, so hard from with 2005's Worlds Apart, Texas crazies ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead have revealed that on October 3, they will release a new, currently untitled record via Interscope.

According to Billboard.com, the album, recorded at Trail of Dead's Mob House studio in Austin, features a variety of guest vocalists, including the Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer and members of fellow Lone Star State band Brothers & Sisters.

Last week, frontman Conrad Keely revealed two song titles on his MySpace page: "Naked Sun" (written ten years ago) and "Sunken Dreams". He wrote that the effort's artwork will "tackle on Biblical theme (Salome), a mythological theme (Oedipus), a theme of American 1950s dysfunction, death, urban isolation, and one theme taken from a science fiction novel." So to clear that up, we've got Salome accidentally sleeping with her depressed, suburban mother...in space. Love it.

Billboard.com had the opportunity to speak to Keely about the record (he revealed that an additional track, "Wasted State of Mind", made the cut). He tried to approach the disc with an "I don't give a fuck outlook," but, he said, "it's impossible for me not to care, and when work got underway with this album I became just as emotionally involved as before, and it was another miserable ordeal. But at least I don't work at a coffee shop."

Trail of Dead will hit the road with the Blood Brothers this fall. "These days it seems we end up playing older songs more than new songs, but that might change," Keely told Billboard. "It's going to be particularly hard playing some of these new songs without the help of the backup singers we used in the recording. I wouldn't mind taking a break from touring all together, and possibly starting a family, somewhere far away like Australia or Venus."

Stream: ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead: Relative Ways

White Whale Tour in Support of Merge Debut
"Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" is such a great song

It's time to walk the trail of history. On July 25, Lawrence, Kansas quintet White Whale will release their Merge Records debut, WWI. The band, comprised of ex-Get Up Kids bassist Rob Pope, three members of Thee Higher Burning Fire, and ex-Butterglory man Matt Suggs, have set out to battle the Decemberists on the high seas for the title of Most Nautically Obsessed Indie Rock Band. (The winner will go on to fight Mastodon in the next round.) [MORE...]

Video: Gnarls Barkley: "Smiley Faces"

We knew Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse have been getting around, but it comes as some surprise to see them in cahoots with Duke Ellington, David Bowie, and Lou Reed. According to the video for Gnarls Barkley's new single "Smiley Faces", they've also palled around with the Clash, the Rolling Stones (at Altamont!), and Smokey Robinson.

Sure, footage like this can be doctored, but are you going to contradict Dennis Hopper? Didn't think so.

Stream: Gnarls Barkley: Various Tracks

Sunset Rubdown Add Shows

Spencer Krug is one stand-up guy. He felt so bad for everybody who can't make it to our Pitchfork Music Festival Pre-Party (at Chicago's Metro on July 28) that he decided to take the Sunset Rubdown portion of the event cross-country.

After finishing off a couple of Canadian dates and slaying at our party later this month, Sunset Rubdown will break for a bit (probably to work on side projects, amirite?) before launching a U.S. trek that will take them through September and October. [MORE...]

MP3: Sunset Rubdown: Stadiums and Shrines II

Temporary Residence Celebrates 10 Years

Temporary Residence Limited, or TRL for the post-rock set, has stuck around long enough to celebrate its first double-digit anniversary with a Labor Day weekend extravaganza at New York's Bowery Ballroom.

The "Big Baby Birthday Bash!", taking place September 1-3, will feature 10 bands from the current TRL roster, including the only currently scheduled U.S. performances from Caroline, Mono and Tarentel, as well as Fridge's first show since 2002.

While most of the TRL roster isn't in touring/promotion mode, Fridge and Envy have both been notably active lately. Fridge, the trio that includes Kieran Hebden and Adem, will release its long-awaited new album in January 2007, while Japanese post-hardcore vets Envy will be making their second trip ever across the States in support of their next album, Insomniac Doze, out September 12.

The full Big Baby Birthday Bash lineup:

MP3: Explosions in the Sky: Memorial (Edit)

Ellen Allien Teams With Audion

Just a Man/Woman sounds like it could be the title of some terrible slow jam compilation, but in fact it's the name of a new split 12-inch featuring Audion (aka Detroit techno darling Matthew Dear) and Ellen Allien (owner of Berlin's BPitch Control label and darling DJ in her own right). To be released by Spectral Sound on July 25, the gender-bending single begins with the Audion track "Just a Man" (from 2006's Fabric 27 mix) followed by Dear's reworking of Allien's "Just a Woman", then predictably continues with Allien's own mix of "Just a Man", concluding with her original version of "Just a Woman."

The good ol' fashioned battle-o'-the-sexes project arose from the artists' 2005 North American tour, during which time they developed (the official press release tells us) a certain dynamic. Perhaps they dynamically fought over turntables and the necessity of putting down the toilet seat. [MORE...]

Band of Horses Announce Fall Tour
Band of Bees Now Know When, Where to Strike

This news story will not contain the following: references to Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell's beard, references to Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell's tatoos, references to Built to Spill, references to the Shins, references to Iron & Wine, the words "gallop," "cantor," "hoof," or "tourses", excitement about the Pitchfork Music Festival.

This news story will contain the following: a list of Band of Horses tour dates. [MORE...]

MP3: Band of Horses: The Funeral

The Pipettes Schedule More Shows

Your favorite Pipette might change daily, but fortunately, you don't need to make a definitive choice. There's plenty of the Pipettes to go around.

Now that their debut album, We Are the Pipettes, is out this week on Memphis Industries, our favorite revivalist girl group has added a bunch of dates to their summer and fall touring schedule. Unfortunately for those of us here at Pitchfork World Headquarters, the Pipettes have yet to schedule an appearance in America. But we're holding out hope. Just like we're holding out hope for the brown-haired one to kiss us. No, the one with glasses. No...crap. [MORE...]

Video: The Pipettes: Pull Shapes

Beastie Boys Concert Film Due on DVD

After making the rounds at such lofty festivals as Sundance and SXSW, the Beastie Boys' venture into concert filming will soon drop down to your level, where you can watch it on your couch. Billed as an "authorized bootleg," Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! will be legitimately released (complete with Star Wars-style packaging) to DVD retailers everywhere on July 25, courtesy of THINKFilm.

In case you haven't been following the Beasties' every move lately, the Awesome footage was culled from 50 fan-held cameras scattered among the audience at the Boys' October 9, 2004 show at Madison Square Garden. MCA's anachronistic director persona Nathanial Hornblower then took a year to edit (and thereby bestow authorization on) all the footage from the cameras, making it worthy for film festivals, DVD players, and local cinema screenings. [MORE...]

Video: Beastie Boys: Awesome: I Fuckin' Shot That Trailer

The Curtains (Ex-Deerhoof) Debut on Asthmatic Kitty

Chris Cohen may have said goodbye to Deerhoof, but he's been chugging away at his full-time project turned side-project turned full-time project, the Curtains. Their new record, Calamity, is due October 24 on Asthmatic Kitty.

The album was produced and almost entirely performed by Cohen. He was joined by a few guests in the studio, including guitarist/vocalist Nedelle Torrisi (now a full-on member of the Curtains), keyboardist Annie Lewandowski, Yasi Perera, and trombonist/Illinoismaker John Ringhofer (aka Asthmatic Kitty labelmate Half-Handed Cloud).

An exclusive download of Calamity's title track is available by clicking below. [MORE...]

MP3: The Curtains: Calamity

Video: The Knife: "We Share Our Mothers' Health"

The Knife have moved on to scissors, needles, and an array of additional surgical tools. The brother/sister duo's new video for Silent Shout single "We Share Our Mothers' Health" is a breeding ground for sharp objects, and if it weren't for the film's awesome presentation, we might be a little creeped out.

The "We Share Our Mothers' Health" single will be available on Brille Records on July 24, backed by remixes by Trentemøller and Radioslave. It will be out on September 5 on Mute in North America on CD and 12".

In celebration of this event, the Knife have released an online video game that mirrors their music video. It's addictive, fun, dangerous, and, most importantly, rewarding for those who achieve high scores. Ten winners will receive a Nakamura-signed print, so play your little hearts out. [MORE...]

Video: The Knife: We Share Our Mothers' Health

Belle & Sebastian-Curated Kids' Comp Details Revealed

A recent addition to the Q & A section of the Belle & Sebastian website reads:

"Q. I have a one and a half year old son, Captain, who just absolutely LOVES your music. Did you ever think about kids when you were writing some of your songs?...

A. Not really, I must confess. I'm glad it appeals to the young though. We're still babies ourselves, so it comes naturally.

Stuart"

Well, Stuart might not have kiddies on the brain, but his bandmate Mick Cooke does. As we reported back in May, the Belle and Sebastian member curated a benefit compilation for the non-profit organization Save the Children, gathering together such modern rock superstars as the Flaming Lips, Franz Ferdinand, Four Tet, Snow Patrol, the Divine Comedy, and Jonathan Richman doing children's songs.

The comp is called The Colours Are Brighter, it's out October 16 on Rough Trade, and it contains the following tracks, according to NME.com:

01 Four Tet (featuring Princess Watermelon) - "Go Go Ninja Dinosaur"
02 Rasputina - "A Skeleton Bang"
03 Franz Ferdinand - "Jackie Jackson"
04 Snow Patrol - "I Am an Astronaut"
05 The Divine Comedy - "Three Cheers for Pooh, Cottleston Pie, Piglet Ho"
06 The Kooks - "The King & I"
07 Half Man Half Biscuit - "David Wainwright's Feet"
08 The Barcelona Pavilion - "Tidy Up Tidy Up"
09 Jonathan Richman - "Out Dog Is Getting Older Now"
10 Ivor Cutler Trio - "Mud"
11 The Flaming Lips - "The Big Ol' Bug Is the New Baby Now"
12 Belle & Sebastian - "The Monkeys Are Breaking out of the Zoo"
13 Kathryn Williams - "Night Baking" [MORE...]

Video: Belle and Sebastian: White Collar Boy

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