MP3: Asobi Seksu: "Strings (Glass Factory Remix)"
New American tour dates added

Glass Factory give "Strings" dancing legs on this pleasant enough Asobi Seksu remix, though things do get a little uncomfortable when they let Yuki's vocal lines play uninterrupted over a repetitive synth line that is clearly out of tune with her. It's a failed "Everything in Its Right Place" there for a minute, but the beat takes over again and steers the track back into the dark dance territory where it started.

If you're thinking you might want to actually dance to the sweet and tangy sounds of AS' debut Citrus live, you can see the band on their upcoming North American tour, to which they have recently added seven dates. [MORE...]

MP3: Asobi Seksu: Strings (Glass Factory remix)

Hold Steady Tour Even More

The Hold Steady talk the talk (very, very well, in fact), but can they walk the walk? Oh you bet your mama's life they can. Craig Finn and crew have just announced that they will soon take Boys and Girls in America (due October 3 via Vagrant) to even more boys and girls in America than originally anticipated.

The band has filled out its upcoming North American excursion, and honestly, we couldn't be more pleased. The Hold Steady will make the entire trek alongside Sean Na Na because really, is there anything more appropriate than boys and girls paired with that infamous "na na na na na na" playground chant? [MORE...]

MP3: The Hold Steady: Chips Ahoy!

Numero Group Parties With God
Compilation released on CD and deluxe pearly gatefold double vinyl

Church music can be a terrific bore, but when artists inject a little bit of secular spirit into religious forms, things start to get interesting. The god-fearing people of the Numero Group, the label responsible for the crate-digging that produced the Eccentric Soul series, know this and have thus assembled a compilation inspired by the Funky Boss himself.

Good God! A Gospel Funk Hymnal will be released August 29. The album's compilers have spent the last year looking through the repertoires of the few hundred gospel groups who had a funky number or two, and the end result is 18 tracks full of what a press release calls "primitive choirs, spacious breaks, congas, elderly rappers impersonating the devil, cast recordings, thumping bass, and JB impressionists, all with a heavy slathering of gospel gravy."

Modern bands could learn a lesson in band naming from some of the positively righteous ones on this tracklist. Yes, the Mighty Walker Brothers' "God Been Good to Me" and LaVice & Company's "Thoughs Were the Days" have been properly listed. [MORE...]

Stream: Beck: "Nausea", "Strange Apparition"
Album art contest announced

Beck is the new Sufjan, at least in terms of Pitchfork news stories about the progress of his new album. We've told you the title and release date of the album and hipped you to all kinds of YouTube goodies and audio ephemera; now the man is streaming two new tracks from The Information (out October 3 on Interscope) on his website.

"Nausea", with its shuffling drums and funky bass line, is something of a standard Beck song, a perfect soundtrack to cruising L.A. at sunset. "Strange Apparition", on the other hand, sounds like Sea Change as played by Elton John. It's an upbeat, gospel-inflected tune that gives way to measured acoustic downstrokes by its end. Two pleasant little songs that are definitely worth your time, and apparently all of ours, considering how often we write about the guy.

The other big news in Beckland comes from Billboard.com, who report that the sticker sheets we told you would comprise the artwork for The Information are now part of a contest. Details are fuzzy, but the gist is that Beck will determine the winner based on the quality of his/her customized album cover.

What does that person win? What are Beck's plans for that special cover? We don't know, but we can tell you there are plans to display the sticker designs at a few art galleries. Stay tuned, because even if he doesn't clear the contest issue up, Beck is sure to take out the garbage or "make a toilet" sometime soon. And you can be sure that we'll report it.

Video: Beck: Motorcade

Stream: Jarvis Cocker's First Podcast

Stream: Jarvis Cocker: Jarvcast 001

Depeche Mode to Release Best Of

Since we live in a world in which Paula Cole, Marc Cohn, and Lisa Loeb all have put out greatest hits albums, it's refreshing to report about one that actually deserves to exist. On November 13, Mute UK will release Depeche Mode's The Best Of, Volume 1, a career-spanning single-disc collection of the pioneering electro-pop band's hits. (Not to be confused with DM's 1998 two-disc singles collection.)

The compilation of tunes from 1981 through last year's Playing the Angel will also include a brand new track, "Martyr", which will be released as a single earlier in November.

As previously reported, September 25 will bring the release of the Touring the Angel: Live in Milan DVD.

[MORE...]

Stream: Depeche Mode: Best Of clips

Animal Collective Plan Live Box, EP, Tour

It must be mating season, because Animal Collective have a number of musical babies on the way. Dave Portner (aka Avey Tare) let fans at the Collected Animals forums in on a special band update yesterday, and we have since received confirmation that "wheeter" is in fact the real Portner, so on with the news.

First up is an Australian tour EP, which will feature "People", "Tikwid", "My Favorite Colors", and "People" (live) and will be available during the band's Down Under trek in November. It's possible that the project might see worldwide release, but plans are still up in the air.

The group is shooting to have its long-awaited live box set fully sequenced and mastered by the end of the month. It will be released via Catsup Plate Records, and will likely include three LPs of material packed to the brim with Sung Tongs songs and other pre-Feels material. Not only that, but Animal Collective is "starting to film for a very special release next year," according to their manager.

While we're on the topic of the live recordings, we'd like to remind you that Animal Collective will drop a reissue of the very rare Hollinndagain LP this Halloween via the band's own label, Paw Tracks.

Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) just finished recording a nine-song record, set for release in the winter 2007. There might be a tour around that time, too. The tunes will be divided up into three EPs. A 12", Bros should be out by the end of this year, with a Paw Tracks EP following shortly after. Panda Bear will also be featured on a split with Excepter, due this January on...you guessed it, Paw Tracks.

Portner also recently recorded a track for a forthcoming compilation of bands that have recorded at Brooklyn's Rare Book Room studio.

Finally, Animal Collective have a few dates ahead of them, including performances at this weekend's Leeds and Reading festivals. After that, it's on to Australia and New Zealand. [MORE...]

Video: Animal Collective: Who Could Win a Rabbit

MP3: Fort Minor vs. Bloc Party

You know Linkin Park? You know their rapper, Mike Shinoda, who also fronts Fort Minor? Well, apparently he's a Bloc Party fan.

This Fort Minor: We Major (rimshot!) mixtape track has been around since before the release of Fort Minor's debut, The Rising Tied, in November of last year, but that doesn't make the "Banquet" sample any less of a novelty. The rhyming is competent at best and so is the beat, which is something of a compliment considering how awful most things of this nature turn out. If you've ever wanted a Bloc Party track that could actually rock a block party (caveat: these dudes would probably be in attendance), it's worth a listen.

MP3: Fort Minor ft. Apathy and Tak of S.O.B.: Bloc Party

Mogwai, Portishead Members Collaborate

Geoff Barrow might've hit a block during the recording process for Portishead's upcoming (not sure exactly when) album, but he's got no reservations about Crippled Black Phoenix, a new project from Electric Wizard's Justin Greaves, Mogwai's Dominic Aitchison, Pantheist's Andy Semmens and Kostas Panagiotou, Gonga's Joe Volk, and 3D House of Beef's Nial McGaughey.

Yes, those are all real bands. Or so we think.

The "supergroup" has just recorded its debut album, A Love of Shared Disasters, at State of Art Studios in Bristol. Barrow, who is a part owner of the studio, produced the disc and will release it on his own Invada Records. In a press release, he said of the project, "I've been waiting for someone to make a record like this for a long time."

The release will hit stores sometime this year, and several tracks are already available for streaming on the band's MySpace page. A Crippled Black Phoenix tour is also in the works for 2k6. [MORE...]

Stream: Crippled Black Phoenix: Various Tracks

Stream: Basement Jaxx: Crazy Itch Radio

Death Cab's Chris Walla Goes Solo
Utilizes famed "Walla Sound" production on new disc

Walla's yet to decide on a moniker, but after flinging with the idea of billing himself "The Convincer", he's now close to settling on his given name. Smart move, Chris. It also seems this won't be a Martin Youth Auxiliary thang, the solo tag under which Walla released a self-titled cassette way back in 1999.

Walla, who's presently putting together a brand new studio called the Alberta Court, has already written the songs that will appear on It's Unsustainable, which he says bear a "pretty dark political stripe." Neocons, watch your backs!! He's also posted a Clinic cover on his website (download below), revealed plans to tour, and beseeched his fans to help him make some damn decisions already.

Still your kid sister's new favorite band, Death Cab for Cutie have just wrapped up an extensive tour. They're presently seeking out a place where body meets bed, although Ben Gibbard will forgo a night's napping to perform solo-acoustic-stylee at Chicago's Revenge of the Book Eaters event (August 24 at Park West) which also features your kid sister's new favorite author, Dave Eggers.

MP3: Chris Walla: Distortions

Weezer Deny Breakup Rumors
Eat delicious cheese platter

Sigh. It's been confirmed-- we the media people just don't get Rivers Cuomo. "Really, for the moment, we are done," he told MTV.com of Weezer in an interview last month (previously reported here). "And I'm not certain we'll ever make a record again, unless it becomes really obvious to me that we need to do one."

Translation? Apparently, all is well in Weez World.

Over the weekend, the band posted the following statement online:

"...A Public Service Announcement from the weez: We right here!

(except for Pat who's on a family vacation right now)

this PSA has been brought to you by the fine guacamole dip at Scott Shriner's house, co-sponsored by a ring of fine cheese, and a dish of fresh figs from the back yard. Now please, take those 'weezer split?' headlines and place them firmly into the 'Don't believe the hype' bin. And have yourself a fine afternoon now."

This is like watching a fish flop around out of water. After getting shot and undergoing several weeks of starvation. Somebody, anybody, please put it out of its misery already.

Video: Weezer: Perfect Situation

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.)