Trail of Dead Start Recording New Album, Plan Exhaustive November Tour of Texas
"Honey, can Oliver Stone direct our wedding video?"

[Posted Monday, November 10th, 2003 03:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Ever the rambunctious youths and perfect-10 catcher's mitts, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead will shortly be embarking on a trans-county tour through the wide state of Texas. Though the spoonful of shows will span but three sequential nights of bombastic revelry, all ye enjoyers of things that sound good may rest assured that the band isn't playing the anti-Interpol because it's the hottest fall fashion.

According to rep Christian Bernhardt, Trail Of Dead are hard at work on a follow-up to 2002's Source Tags & Codes, which landed at #3 on our best-of-2002 list, and got one heck of a favorable review to boot. Though much of the record is shrouded in mystery, Bernhardt expects it to be released by early 2004. It will be the band's second album for major label Interscope, and their fourth full-length overall. In the meantime, you can tide yourself over by catching the Trail at one of the following Texan dates:

11-13 Austin, TX - Smirnoff Party
11-14 San Marcos, TX - Lucy's on the Square
11-15 Dallas, TX - Trees

On a more surprising note, Bernhardt also revealed to us that singer/guitarist Conrad Keely has become engaged to Oscar-winning actress Juliette Lewis (who split from her husband of four years, professional skater Steve Berra, back in April of this year). Trail of Dead, Natural Born Killer, makes sense to us. Though Lewis has starred in movies such as Cape Fear, The Basketball Diaries, What's Eating Gilbert Grape and The Other Sister, she is often best remembered for her role alongside Boy Meets World's Ben Savage in the early '90s sitcom "A Family for Joe." Don't tell me you don't remember the 1990 NBC sitcom in which four loveable scamps take in a homeless (and slumming, obviously) Robert Mitchum and try to pass him off as their grandfather to avoid the foster care system?

In addition to tapping that indie rock booty, Ms. Lewis has also had a little musical experience of her own. You might remember the actress covering some angry PJ Harvey rants in the post-apocalyptic thriller Strange Days. Well, now in the post-apocalyptic strange days of the present, Lewis is fronting an aggro band of her own, Juliette Lewis and the Licks (both things we enjoy!). The group is reported to have a very dirty '80s rock sound, citing Joan Jett, Van Halen, and Pat Benatar as key influences. The fact that Lewis has taken to performing in a yellow spandex jumpsuit cannot be understated. Should you reside in the West Hollywood area, you can catch Lewis and her band, oh, I don't know... HERE:

11-12 West Hollywood, CA - Viper Room

.: Juliette Lewis and the Licks: here

Trail of Dead: http://www.trailofdead.com
Interscope: http://www.interscope.com

Liars Add More Fall Dates
Al Franken shoulda written a book about these crazy mofos

[Posted Monday, November 10th, 2003 03:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

As reported in October by your favorite fork, Liars set off to shake their post-dance-funk-punk-art-sass asses all over Australia and Europe during the last half o' October and the beginning of November. But New York's answer to/cheap knockoff of Gang of Four that isn't in Spin and Rolling Stone (that much) felt that they needed to do a bit more shaking. And shake they will, all over the rest of Europe and a bit of the U.S. in the latter half of November. The American dates will feature avant-country trio The Young People, and Tunnel of Love, whose latest album is awesomely titled Rock 'n' Roll 'n' Bitches. Liars' sophomore release, They Were Wrong So We Were Drowned, which hits record store shelves on February 28th, will provide the soundtrack for the trek. So puff out that 'fro, put on some dancin' shoes, and shake that ass if you can make it to one of these dates:

11-19 Paris, France - Boule Noire
11-20 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
11-21 Koln, Germany - Gebaude 9
11-22 Munich, Germany - Atomic Cafe
11-23 Berlin, Germany - Knack 600
11-25 Lisbon, Portugal - TBA
11-28 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
11-29 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
11-30 Boston, MA - TT the Bears
12-01 Providence, RI - Ultra

Liars: http://www.liarsliarsliars.com
Mute: http://www.mute.com

New Tortoise Album In April; Band Contributes Music To Moog Documentary
I'm in the Moog for love

[Posted Monday, November 10th, 2003 03:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

The progenitors of that ever-elusive and increasingly indecipherable animal post-rock are finally wading back into the fray with their first collection of new material since 2001's Standards. That's right-- Tortoise have been busy in the studio, and are readying a new, as-yet untitled album for release in April 2004.

"About [one-third of] the material was developed from improvisations in the studio, which is something they haven't really done much of before," Thrill Jockey's Sam Hunt told Pitchfork via e-mail. "The rest was basically written in the usual collective manner, but primarily in the studio. The palette of sounds has widened a little bit, perhaps reaching toward a more orchestral feeling at points-- without necessarily utilizing those instruments." Also expanding the Tortoise palette is alt-country journeyman, or in this case woman, Kelly Hogan, who contributes her considerable vocal chords to the album.

It seems like All Tomorrow's Parties never freaking ends, and Tortoise are doing their part to keep it going, as they are curators for one night of the UK-edition festival in March 2004. Some of the other curators, just to rub it in that most of you Yankees probably aren't going-- Sonic Youth, Stephen Malkmus, Shellac (yes, that one), and Mogwai.

Finally, Tortoise are contributing a song to the soundtrack for an upcoming documentary on the creator of the instrument without which the members of Stereolab would all be working selling tickets at indie movie houses or distributing lattes to the proletariat of Europe. That's right, kids, I'm talkin' about the Moog. Bob Moog and his eponymous synthesizer are the subject of Moog, a documentary featuring original compositions using the instrument by bands inlcuding Devo, Meat Beat Manifesto, Orbital, DJ Spooky, The Album Leaf, Money Mark, and... of course, Stereolab.

Tortoise: http://www.brainwashed.com/tortoise
Thrill Jockey: http://www.thrilljockey.com
Moog: http://www.zu33.com/moog

Numbers To Drop New Record In January, Get Remixed By Kid606
Kid666 and Kid911 voted off show by America on live broadcast

[Posted Monday, November 10th, 2003 03:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Although their site is new and their biography is under construction, San Francisco's Numbers have posted this "temporary bio" for you to consider: "Numbers are rich college kids who think they're really cool and play whatever the latest trend is." Well, the sarcasm of this line was not lost on us, as it reflects the assumption put forth by former Pitchfork scribe Chris Ott in his disdainful Pitchfork review of 2002's Numbers Life. Regardless of their economic position, college enrollment status, or susceptibility to musical trends, the Numbers beat goes on confidently, as evidenced by a recent and successful remix album (Numbers Death), a year of touring, and-- coo!-- a new one on the way.

The trio, comprised of vocalist/drummer Indra Dunis, Moog-man Eric Landmark, and guitarist Dave Broekema, have finished recording and mixing their next record, In My Mind All the Time, expected in late January 2004 on the Tigerbeat6 label. As Ms. Dunis tells Pitchfork, listeners can expect to hear "more short hyper dancey jams, similar to our first album, but I think the songs are better and it's recorded better." She goes on to tell us about the recording process: "It was probably the most fun I've ever had recording because we gave ourselves time to experiment. We spent a lot of time trying out different weird mics to get the sounds we wanted. So I think it's got a wider range of tones than Numbers Life."

As with their debut, In My Mind... was recorded in their own studio on reel-to-reel equipment. However, this one was mixed by Alex Newport, a veteran producer who counts Polysics, At The Drive-In, and The Locust among his many production credits. Tracklist:

01 Go To Show
02 Disease
03 Drunk With Pain
04 Hot Fire
05 Dance Attack
06 Waiting
07 Anything
08 We're Numbers
09 I Will Smile More
10 Product Lust
11 Obsessed
12 Feelings

Late last week, Numbers hit the road for a November-long tour of the Southwest and California. Joining Numbers for most dates is Olympia, Washington's no wave trio Die Monitr Batss. Furthermore, Numbers plan to tour the new record early next year, kicking the festivities off January 31st with a record release party in San Francisco. Here are the remaining fall dates:

11-10 Santa Fe, NM - TBA *
11-11 Oklahoma City, OK - The Conservatory *
11-12 Norman, OK - Opolis *
11-13 Austin, TX - Emo's *
11-14 Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves *
11-15 Houston, TX - Mary Jane's Fat Cat *
11-16 El Paso, TX - Regal Begel *
11-17 Phoenix, AZ - Modified *
11-18 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
11-19 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
11-20 Tijuana, MX - Tilly's *
11-21 Long Beach, CA - Koo's *
11-22 Santa Cruz, CA - UCSC *
11-24 San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill (w/ Flying Luttenbachers)

# with Die Monitr Batss

In addition to the forthcoming record, fans can expect a Tigerbeat6-issued split seven-inch which includes a Kid606 remix of an as-yet-undetermined Numbers jam. In addition, Troubleman-- the label that brought you Numbers' 2002 EP Ee-Uh!-- is reissuing the Erase Errata/Numbers split seven-inch with new artwork created by Dominique from Montreal's Les George Leningrad.

Numbers: http://www.numbersmusic.com
Tigerbeat6: http://www.tigerbeat6.com

Ben Davis to Release New Guest-Star Laden Album on Lovitt Records
Bats enjoy the gripping mise-en-scene and visuals; Mice find the third act hard to follow

[Posted Monday, November 10th, 2003 03:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Lovitt Records, the Virginia-based label that I affectionately think of as Dischord's cool little brother (see also their upcoming DVD, Lovitt Transmissions: Volume One), has announced that they'll be unveiling a new Ben Davis LP this week. Davis currently fronts the Lovitt band Bats and Mice, but many of you may be familiar with him as a founding member of Sleepytime Trio and Milemarker, or as the guy who singed your eyebrows while swilling grain alcohol and breathing fire on stage.

Davis' new album, Aided & Abetted, is his first new solo record since 2001's The Hushed Patterns of Relief. Bear in mind that when I use the word "solo," I use it in the loosest and most misleading sense imaginable, because on this indie rock clusterbomb, Davis is aided and abetted by nearly every musician from within a day's drive from Chapel Hill. Des Ark's Aimee Argot places her sultry, cigarette-smoke-billowing-in-a-beer-glass vocals in a contrapuntal position to Davis' breathy singing; Fin Fang Foom's Eddie Sanchez weighs in with some icy piano figures; the Comas' Andy Herod duets with Davis on "Crawler"; Milemarker's Dave Laney showw up with his electric guitar. Members of Engine Down, Denali, Rah Bras, Jett Rink, My Dear Ella, and others also dropped in on this indie-rock extravaganzarama, resulting in an album of sweeping, darkly atmospheric elegies adorned in all the finest trappings. The tracklist:

01 Departure Warning
02 Time a Bind
03 Old and Played
04 Blue-Hearted Sleeve
05 Underdawg
06 Crawler
07 In Either Words
08 Green Forestry Ranger
09 Farfisa Visa
10 Just Relax, Won't You?
11 A Forced Escape Canoe
12 Double Daring

Aided and Abetted also contains a multimedia section that documents the making of the album and features bio information on each of the conspirators. There's supposed to be a hidden Easter egg on there where you can see Dawson getting buggered in the poop chute, but I've yet to find it... oh, wait, I was thinking of the Storytelling DVD.

Lovitt: http://www.lovitt.com

Ween To Film Chicago Shows For Upcoming Live DVD, Tour Europe
Cubs fan given three-day free pass so long as he puts hands on all balls in play

[Posted Friday, November 7th, 2003 06:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Ween are set to tape and record their first official live DVD during three Chicago shows over this weekend, according to a post on the band's official website. The minions of Boognish are currently wrapping up a North American fall tour in support of their delightfully brown and Zoloft-fueled new album, Quebec. The Deaner (nee Mickey Melchiondo) tipped that unprecedented ticket sales for the two previously announced Chicago dates inspired the addition of a third show and set the tone for the DVD project: "There is a very good chance that all three nights in Chicago will be professionally filmed and recorded for a DVD to be released on Sanctuary. The Chicago shows are selling unlike any other concerts we've ever done, so please follow the crowd and be a part of the first ever official live Ween concert movie."

After their three-night residency at Chicago's Vic Theatre, Bucks County, PA's finest will take a couple weeks off before setting their silly sails for Sweden, Switzerland, and the rest of Europe at the end of the month. Although they haven't announced any additional U.S. dates yet, Deaner's online diary from Ween's September/October tour of the South, Midwest, and West Coast promises more North American shows at the beginning of the New Year, possibly with former Butthole Surfers frontman Gibby Haynes opening. Until then, busy yourself with a chorizo and the remaining Ween American and European dates:

11-07 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
11-08 Chicago, IL - Tower Records (in-store)
11-08 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
11-09 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
11-10 Detroit, MI - State Theater
11-27 Stockholm, Sweden - Kagelbanan
11-28 Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
11-30 Hamburg, Germany - Grosse Freiheit 36
12-01 Berlin, Germany - The Maria
12-02 Prague, Czech Republic - Palace Akropolis
12-04 Vienna, Ausria - WUK
12-05 Munich, Germany - Elserhalle
12-06 Zurich, Switzerland - Volkhaus
12-07 Darmstatd, Germany - Centralisation
12-09 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
12-10 Ghent, Belgium - Handelsbeurs
12-11 Koln, Germany - Live Music Hall
12-13 Paris, France - Maroquineries
12-15 London, England - Forum
12-16 Dublin, Ireland - Ambassador

Ween has also finally broken into the TV commercial biz, lending their song "Ocean Man" to a Honda Civic ad campaign. Unlike the Pizza Hut jingle debacle on which Pitchfork reported earlier this year, Dean and Gene had no role in the commercial's creative process, learning of their involvement with the Japanese car company only after the advertisements were completed and scheduled to air during Monday Night Football. Luckily, the boys got paid, and nothing like "Where The Motherfuckin' Keys At?" ever emerged.

Ween: http://www.ween.com
Sanctuary: http://www.sanctuaryrecords.com

Lou Barlow To Perform Elliott Smith Tribute at ATP Pacific 2003

[Posted Friday, November 7th, 2003 06:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

The Los Angeles-area edition of this year's All Tomorrow's Parties festival (dubbed ATP Pacific 2003 by its organizers), which takes place this coming weekend aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA, has announced that a tribute to Elliott Smith will fill the spot left vacant by the late artist. The tribute, which will be led by Folk Implosion /Sebadoh /all-around-indie-rock-drifter Lou Barlow, takes the stage on Sunday between sets from Mission of Burma and The Mars Volta. In addition to Barlow, the tribute band will consist of musicians who had played with Smith in the three years since Figure 8 including Goldenboy's Shon Sullivan on guitar, 764-HERO's Robin Peringer on bass, Sense Field's Scott McPherson on drums, and Earlimart's Ariana Murray on keyboards. They plan to cover six Smith tracks and a Minders song. For the latter, Minders frontman Martyn Leaper will join in (the Minders were one of Smith's favorite bands).

Lou Barlow was also among a handful of musicians who paid tribute to Smith Monday night at a memorial benefit at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles. Barlow performed an acoustic version of "Division Day" at the show; Beck performed "Ballad of Big Nothing," "Clementine", and "Alameda"; Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis sang an acapella version of "I Didn't Understand" from XO and was joined by the rest of her band for a rendition of "The Biggest Lie" from his self-titled record. Also appearing were Beth Orton, John Doe of X, Papa M, Radar Brothers, and Alaska!. The concert was recorded for a possible tribute album.

Proceeds from Monday's tribute were donated to the Elliott Smith Foundation For Abused Children. If you couldn't count yourself among the lucky few who witnessed the event and therefore contributed, you can donate via check or PayPal. The address has changed since our last story: 4470 Sunset Blvd. #305, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Online donations can also be made via PayPal using the e-mail address linked below.

.: Elliott Smith:http://www.sweetadeline.net
.: All Tomorrow's Parties:http://www.atpfestival.com
.: Elliott Smith Foundation:esmfund@yahoo.com

Arab Strap: If It's Not Scottish, It's Crap!
Crappo the Clown enjoying best of both worlds

[Posted Friday, November 7th, 2003 06:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Out of all the mothers I have known (well, most anyway), they never fail to love one or both of these types of music: Hawaiian and/or Celtic/Scottish. The mother of an ex-girlfriend of mine once asked me: "Well Micah, do you like Scottish music?" And I said: "Oh yes. I love this band called Arab Strap." She said: "Oh how nice. I'll have to try them sometime." Needless to say, she thought they were hideous and informed me that this wasn't real Scottish music (like her "check-out-line" synthesized bagpipe party CDs). "They're just so... depressing!"

It's true. Scottish post-folk duo Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton have created some of the saddest music of all time (well, maybe not of all time, but Monday at the Hug & Pint shouldn't be sold to self-obsessed Prozac junkies or Sylvia Plath impersonates, by any means). The haunting blend of cello and drum machine could potentially push any borderline personality over the edge. And with recent touring in Europe and a slew of new releases (previous story linked below) the kids in the good old U.S. of A. feel left behind and are dying for an outlet to purge them of their anguish. Now, finally, their prayers are answered. Arab Strap's official website has finally announced the dates for their much anticipated North American tour. The dates:

11-15 Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub
11-16 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar
11-18 Denver, CO - Climax Lounge
11-21 Portland, OR - Dante's
11-22 Seattle, WA - Graceland
11-23 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richards On Richards
11-25 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
11-26 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
11-29 Austin, TX - Emo's
12-02 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder
12-03 Atlanta, GA - Echo Lounge
12-04 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
12-06 Boston, MA - Middle East
12-07 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
12-09 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace

For the majority of these dates, Middleton is scheduled to open. His debut solo album, 5:14 Fluoxytine Seagull Alcohol John Nicotine, was just recently released in the U.S. This version includes four bonus tracks: "Speed on the M9 (acoustic)," "Crappo the Clown (acoustic)," "Rotten Heart (acoustic)," and "Party Eyes"; plus, the "Crappo the Clown" video can be viewed on the computer via the enhanced CD.

Arab Strap: http://www.arabstrap.co.uk
Matador: http://www.matadorrecords.com

Bonnie "Prince" Billy Wants You To Book Spring 2004 Tour
If you don't mind, can he pay the commission in supermarket coupons and blueberry muffins?

[Posted Friday, November 7th, 2003 06:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

As television's all-important November sweeps descends upon us, many people have voiced concern about ABC's decision to drop Who Wants To Be A Booking Agent? from its Monday night line-up after only two episodes. Luckily, Will Oldham's alter ego Bonnie "Prince" Billy is swooping in to pick up the slack. The Bonnie Prince will be touring all over this great land of ours, bringing along northern California trio Brightblack (formerly known as Rainywood). The only problem? They don't have any venues booked! Um, Mr. Palace can't get a tour booked by an agency? Well, I guess this proves that my cousin's Collective Soul cover band has absolutely no chance.

A brief message on Drag City's website is asking for help in booking the tour, and they are specifically hoping to hear from folks down in the great southern states from "Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and maybe the Carolinas" (there's more than one Carolina? Who knew?). If you think you might be of assistance, check out Drag City's site for contact information. And while you're there, check out their internship opportunities. It's time you got off the couch and did something with your life, you freeloader.

Drag City: http://www.dragcity.com
Palace: http://www.palacerecords.com

Landing Tour East Coast In November
Ancient curse forces band's tray tables to perpetually remain in up position

[Posted Friday, November 7th, 2003 06:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

After recovering from their explosive adventures in outer space, the expansive and hypnotic Connecticut band Landing-- who released their third full-length, Passages Through, on K Records earlier this year-- are gearing up for an autumn tour. But according to the band's website, drummer Daron Gardner will not be participating in the upcoming tour due to presumably diabolical personal reasons-- though he will remain in the band for local shows and recording sessions. Given that Gardner's mysterious motives have not yet been revealed to the listening populace, logic dictates that he probably, nay, definitely has become ensnared by any number of the following commitments:

- Backup drummer for A Perfect Circle
- Secret life as Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez
- Leading role as Colonel Mustard in Clue! The Musical
- A perplexingly secretive but really really awesome full-time job as an ice cream taster. Hey, somebody has to keep that stuff delicious.

Finally, according once more to the Landing website, a split seven-inch with fellow space-rockers Fuxa should be coming out on Mind Expansion Records in fairly short order. Tour dates:

11-13 Hamden, CT - The Space (w/ Eschellon, Ladyfriend)
11-15 Providence, RI - AS220 (w/ Cathari)
11-22 Washington, D.C. - House Show
11-23 Winston-Salem, NC - PS211
11-24 Atlanta, GA - Eyedrum
11-25 Greensboro, NC - Gate City Noise
11-26 Chapel Hill, NC - The Skylight (w/ Tape Is Now the Music)
11-29 Brooklyn, NY - Free 103 Loft (w/ Aarktica, 1 Mile North, Bright)
11-30 New York, NY - Knitting Factory (w/ Aarktica, 1 Mile North, Bright)

Landing: http://www.landingsite.net
K: http://www.krecs.com

Boards of Canada Announce New Album, Remix cLOUDDEAD
Goateed hipsters across the land execute simultaneous chai spit-takes on coffeeshop backgammon boards

[Posted Thursday, November 6th, 2003 02:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

In the course of human history, events sometimes transpire that are so momentous, so all-encompassing in scope and ponderous in implication that we are compelled to report them immediately and render them up into the reservoir of hipster consciousness that sustains us all-- even when there is precious little information to convey. This, comrades, is one of those moments.

According to Boards of Canada's Music70.com website-- not their official website, which, in lieu of information, features a weird union between the point-and-click excitement of Myst and the charmingly low-key execution of a Newgrounds.com game (without all the hyper-offensive suicide bombing /school shooting /donkey punch Britney Spears stuff)-- these most felicitous blenders of post-rock drama and IDM glitchery will release their first new studio album since Geogaddi in 2004.

That's pretty much the long and short of it, folks. There is no extant title or tracklist, and no indication of whether the album will be released by Warp (who make no mention of the album on their official site), no intriguing innuendo regarding bold new stylistic directions. For all we know, the Boards might be recording a two-step garage record this time around, with a limited-edition first pressing packaged in the hand-stitched, die-cut skin of white neo-liberals.

This "story," if a one-sentence announcement followed by a cryptic remark about leap years (we'll get to that presently) can be rightly construed as such, was quickly picked up by electronic music resource We Are the Music Makers. WATMM claims that a UK source has informed them that several press releases have pegged the album for a February debut. This supposition is strengthened by the observation on Music70 site that states, sans context, that 2004 is a leap year. Further wild conjecture has led to WATMM's consensus opinion that Boards of Canada are planning to release the album on February 29th, the leap day. Of course, this is impure speculation; Boards of Canada might just as well be reminding us that we have an extra day to pay the rent in February. I'll suggest a working title: Red Herring. Keep checking back as we sort through these and other varicolored fish, in our quest for more concrete information.

In more tenable news (also courtesy of Music70.com), the Boards have collaborated with Mush Records /Big Dada /Anticon associates cLOUDDEAD on an "ultra-psychedelic" alternate version of cLOUDDEAD's upcoming single "Dead Dogs Two." The original version of the single will be on cLOUDDEAD's next album, Ten, which will be released in January of the looming leap year. The Boards of Canada remix will appear on the "Dead Dogs Two" twelve-inch, out January 27th on Mush in the U.S., a day earlier on Big Dada in the UK.

Boards of Canada: http://www.boardsofcanada.com
We Are the Music Makers: http://www.watmm.com
Music70: http://www.music70.com

Elvis Costello Releasing Three-Volume, 35xCD Singles Collection
"My god, it's full of b-sides" --Arthur C. Clarke

[Posted Thursday, November 6th, 2003 02:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Josh Bauchner and Will Bryant report:
Yeah, you read that right: this week Demon Records released a three-volume, 35 CD, 97-track retrospective of Elvis Costello's UK singles drawing from the wealth of seven- and twelve-inchers produced in his first ten years of commercial activity, 1977-1987. Each singles box will contain twelve CD's (actually, the third box has just eleven), each with facsimile packaging (cardsleeves with the original artwork) as that of the original single, with the tracks originally included on the seven-inch and/or twelve-inch. Singles Costello released under various noms des plume including The Imposter, The Coward Brothers, The Costello Show, and The MacManus Gang are included in the second and third boxes.

The first box contains all of Costello's early singles from My Aim Is True on through Get Happy!!, including three 1977 live tracks that backed "Watching The Detectives" and a live version of the Damned's "Neat Neat Neat." The box also includes a live "Miracle Man" that originally appeared on the synth-heavy U.S. single version of "Alison," though the offending mix itself is excluded. Most of Costello's early b-sides were album tracks and/or later disseminated on your pick of singles compilations, including 1980's U.S.-oriented collection Taking Liberties and its UK counterpart, Ten Bloody Marys and Ten How's Your Fathers. Both compilations have gone out of print; most (but not all) of the b-sides are included on Rhino's exhaustive series of double-disc Costello reissues.

The second box is somewhat more substantial, with the most attractive lures being the full set of b-sides from 1982's "I'm Your Toy (Hot Burrito #1)" single. In addition to the live-with-orchestra version of the Gram Parsons/Flying Burrito Brothers classic, the single on the box restores Almost Blue outtakes that have never appeared on CD, including versions of The Browns' "Wondering," Janis Martin's "Blues Keep Calling," and Loretta Lynn's "Honky Tonk Girl." The next-to-last disc in the set is also notable, as it contains "Party Party," a lightweight 1982 single written in support of a forgettable '80s British ripoff of Animal House. Costello has all but disavowed the song, which subsequently has received much more attention from bootleggers and diehard fans than it rightfully deserves.

The third box is notable mainly for its wealth of no-doubt-hilarious '80s dance mixes from Costello's most artistically challenged period, between Punch The Clock and Blood and Chocolate. Some of the juicier extracts include a live radio broadcast of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" from 1986, the Coward Brothers' cover of Leon Payne's "They'll Never Take Her Love From Me" (the brothers in question actually consisting of Costello and T-Bone Burnett), and an acoustic version of "I Hope You're Happy Now" passed over twice by reissues of Blood and Chocolate (Costello must really have it in for that one). Here's the complete tracklists (don't forget to breathe):

Singles, Vol. 1:
Disc one: "Less Than Zero" [single mix] /"Radio Sweetheart" [single mix]
Disc two: "Alison" /"Welcome To The Working Week"
Disc three: "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" /"Mystery Dance"
Disc four: "Watching The Detectives" /"Blame It On Cain" [live] /"Mystery Dance" [live] /"Miracle Man" [live]
Disc five: "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea" /"You Belong To Me"
Disc six: "Stranger In The House" /"Neat Neat Neat" [live]
Disc seven: "Pump It Up" /"Big Tears"
Disc eight: "Radio Radio" /"Tiny Steps"
Disc nine: "Talking In The Dark" /"Wednesday Week"
Disc ten: "Oliver's Army" /"My Funny Valentine"
Disc eleven: "Accidents Will Happen" /"Talking In The Dark" /"Wednesday Week"
Disc twelve: "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" /"Girls Talk"

Singles, Vol. 2:
Disc one: "High Fidelity"/ "Getting Mighty Crowded"/ "Clowntime Is Over No.2"
Disc two: "New Amsterdam"/ "Dr Luther's Assistant"/ "Ghost Train"/ "Just A Memory"
Disc three: "Clubland"/ "Clean Money"/ "Hoover Factory"
Disc four: "From A Whisper To A Scream"/ "Luxembourg"
Disc five: "Good Year For The Roses"/ "Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven"
Disc six: "Sweet Dreams"/ "Psycho" [live]
Disc seven: "I'm Your Toy (Hot Burrito #1)" [live]/ "Cry Cry Cry"/ "Wondering"/ "My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You"/ "Blues Keep Calling"/ "Honky Tonk Girl"
Disc eight: "You Little Fool"/ "Big Sister"/ "The Stamping Ground"
Disc nine: "Man Out Of Time"/ "Town Cryer" [alternate version]/ "Imperial Bedroom"
Disc ten: "From Head To Toe"/ "The World Of Broken Hearts"
Disc eleven: "Party Party"/ "Imperial Bedroom"
Disc twelve: "Pills And Soap"/ "Pills And Soap" [extended version]

Singles, Vol. 3:
Disc one: "Everyday I Write The Book" /"Heathen Town" /"Night Time" /"Everyday I Write The Book" [extended mix]/ "Everyday I Write The Book" [special version]/ "Everyday I Write The Book" [instrumental]
Disc two: "Let Them All Talk" /"The Flirting Kind" /"Let Them All Talk" [extended remix]
Disc three: "Peace In Our Time" /"Withered And Died"
Disc four: "I Wanna Be Loved" /"Turning The Town Red" /"I Wanna Be Loved" [extended Smoochy 'N'Runny version] /"I Wanna Be Loved" [version discotheque]
Disc five: "The Only Flame In Town" /"The Comedians" /"Baby It's You" [with Nick Lowe]" /"The Only Flame In Town [version discotheque]" /"Pump It Up" [1984 dance mix]
Disc six: "The People's Limousine" /"They'll Never Take Her Love From Me"
Disc seven: "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" /"Baby's Got A Brand New Hairdo" /"Get Yourself Another Fool" /"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" [live]
Disc eight: "Tokyo Storm Warning (Part 1)" /"Tokyo Storm Warning (Part 2)" /"Black Sails In The Sunset"
Disc nine: "I Want You" /"I Hope You're Happy Now" [acoustic version]
Disc ten: "Blue Chair" [single version] /"American Without Tears No.2" [Twilight version] /"Shoes Without Heels"
Disc eleven: "A Town Called Big Nothing (Really Big Nothing)" /"Return To Big Nothing" /"A Town Called Big Nothing (The Long March)"

Surely Costello is the hardest working man in rock and sappy jazz ballads, as evidenced by his almost never-ending tour of the U.S., Japan, and Europe. He is currently supporting his newest work, North, of course, the jazzy and orchestral buzzkill of a record that currently resides at the number one position on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums Chart, as touted by Costello's official website-- tip-top job, mate, congrats from all of us Pitchforkers!

According to John Everingham, the all-knowing webmaster of www.elviscostello.info, a larger tour is being planned for 2004 in support of North, and Costello will be hitting up one of the few continents he missed last time around: the land that time forgot, also known as Australia. Also planned for 2004 is an orchestral release, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Stealing from the Bard now are ya, Elvis? Dirty bastard (old).

Elvis Costello Info: http://www.elviscostello.info
Elvis Costello: http://www.elviscostello.com

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