Pit5 Music News Cache

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Devendra, CYHSY, Stars Design Shirts for Charity
So do Wolfmother, My Brightest Diamond, and more

Who's that in my closet? Is it R. Kelly? Nope-- it's Devendra Banhart, Stars, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, My Brightest Diamond, Wolfmother, Hayden, King Creosote, and Joseph Arthur! They're in there waiting to help you get dressed, all in the name of charity.

Charities, that is. The Yellow Bird Project, a Montreal-based non-profit organization, has recruited a handful of indie rock stars to design shirts for girls and boys everywhere. They cost $25 apiece (pretty good, as they're American Apparel), with all money going to the charity of the designer's choice.

For instance, Wolfmother have drawn up a "Free the Gnomes!" print and selected the Teenage Cancer Trust as their charity. Clap Your Hands are directing all funds received in exchange for their crying-man-on-a-plane design to Art for Change. Devendra, the first artist to contribute a shirt, will raise money to benefit the Ocean of Love (whose name sounds like a potential Devendra Banhart song title, come to think of it).

Posted by Kati Llewellyn in benefit, fashion on Wed: 09-13-06: 10:46 AM CDT | Permalink

Girl Talk Remixes Beck, Grizzly Bear

Good googly moogly! Girl Talk is on fire. As we continue to recover from his crazy-awesome show here in Chicago last weekend, Gregg Gillis has revealed that he's been in the studio (read: bedroom) recently, working on remixes for Beck, Grizzly Bear, Teddybears, and Peter Bjorn and John.

Beck likes Girl Talk so much he not only tapped Gillis as an opening act for a London show a couple weeks ago, but also commissioned not one but two remixes of his new song "Cell Phone's Dead" from the un-DJ. One remix features live instrumentation and the other samples. We can't wait to hear the results.

Girl Talk is on the road right now, with shows scheduled all the way through December. [MORE...]

MP3: Girl Talk: Smash Your Head [Infinite Mixtape #22]

Posted by Amy Phillips in remix, tour, remix, tour on Wed: 09-13-06: 09:00 AM CDT | Permalink

Mission of Burma Documentary Coming to DVD

Legendary Boston post-punks and Pitchfork Music Festival alums Mission of Burma have already proven their resurrected greatness, and now they will share the intimate details of their Lazarus story with the world. On November 21, MVD Visual will release Not a Photograph, a 70-minute documentary DVD about the band's 2002 reunion and the obstacles they had to overcome to make it the success it was and still is. Not a Photograph was directed by David Kleiler, Jr. and Jeff Iwanicki, and, in addition to the recent performances, it includes archival footage from the band's original incarnation, including a performance by the Moving Parts, bassist Clint Conley's and guitarist Roger Miller's first band together.

And don't forget-- as previously reported, Miller will share his next Mission of Burma tour diary exclusively with Pitchfork. The tour begins this Friday, September 15, at Seattle's Crocodile Cafe.
[MORE...]

MP3: Mission of Burma: 2wice

Posted by Dave Maher in dvd on Wed: 09-13-06: 07:00 AM CDT | Permalink

The Pogues Get Expanded Reissue Treatment

When the Pogues finished playing, you howled out for more. And, saints be praised, Rhino Records answered.

Now grab a pint or two and get ready to curl up all over again with the Celtic folk-punk band's first five albums, like you've never quite heard them before. Red Roses for Me (1984), Rum Sodomy & the Lash (1985), If I Should Fall From Grace With God (1988), Peace & Love (1989), and Hell's Ditch (1990) will each see an expanded and remastered reissue on September 19, courtesy of Rhino.

In total, the releases will feature 31 bonus tracks, including a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" and four songs from the band's 1986 EP, Poguetry in Motion. Classic.

The Pogues themselves, meanwhile, take their patented drunken antics on the road this fall. [MORE...]

Video: The Pogues: Fairytale of New York

Posted by Kati Llewellyn in reissue, tour on Tue: 09-12-06: 04:45 PM CDT | Permalink

Menomena Unveil Tracklist, Exclusive MP3
Below: Danny Seim promises to be more aware of venue ceiling fire sprinkler run-ins this time

Menomena are barely a month into their big Barsuk signing and they've already worked out a tracklist and release date for their upcoming record, Friend and Foe. The 12-song workout will storm the nation on January 23 of next year. The album's first single, "Wet and Rusting", is available as an exclusive download by clicking on the link below.

Menomena's upcoming tour with labelmates the Long Winters and What Made Milwaukee Famous launches next Monday. It will be followed by a December West Coast stint with fellow Portlanders 31Knots. [MORE...]

MP3: Menomena: Wet and Rusting

Posted by Kati Llewellyn in album, tour, single, audio, exclusive on Tue: 09-12-06: 04:16 PM CDT | Permalink

Video: Darkel: "At the End of the Sky"

Air-stronaut JB Dunckel's previously reported solo debut, Darkel, comes out September 19 on Astralwerks, and this is the video for its first single, "At the End of the Sky". Apparently, the end of the sky has skyscrapers, spiders, and gumballs all thrown into a video game version of space. The music is the kind of fuzzy and lush harmony-heavy pop you might expect after Talkie Walkie, but I'm still not sure if the androgynous main character in this cartoon is supposed to be Dunckel or a 21st Century Little Red Riding Hood.

Stream: Darkel: Various Tracks

Posted by Dave Maher in video on Tue: 09-12-06: 03:22 PM CDT | Permalink

Fennesz, Cornelius, Devine Remix Ryuichi Sakamoto

OK kids, time to expand the vocabulary. Today we've got a noun, bricolage, meaning 1) (according to Dictionary.com) "something made or put together using whatever materials happen to be available," 2) an Orange Juice-chugging guitar band from the UK, and 3) (pl.) the title of master composer/musician Ryuichi Sakamoto's upcoming remix project.

Stock boys everywhere will pack record store shelves with Bricolages on September 19, courtesy of KAB America. Artists including Cornelius, Craig Armstrong, Richard Devine, Fennesz, Alva Noto, and others formed this 13-track release by remixing material that happened to be on Sakamoto's 2005 solo release, Chasm.

Sakamoto took home an Oscar, a Grammy, a Golden Globe, and a whole slew of other awards for his score to Bernardo Bertolucci's 1987 best picture The Last Emperor. So he's a pretty big deal. In fact, he's taking an executive producer credit (in association with Norika Sora, Evan Balmer, Justin Kleinfeld, and Eric Giambertone) for Bricolages. Nothing like seeing your name in the liner notes, right? [MORE...]

Video: Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto: Trioon I

Posted by Kati Llewellyn in remix, album, compilation on Tue: 09-12-06: 03:15 PM CDT | Permalink

Black Key Carney's Label Releases Two More LPs
Black Keys carny's label releases two more blues-flavored lines of cotton candy

Patrick Carney is a busy, busy man. His band the Black Keys put out a new album today, and they're in the middle of a lengthy world tour (see dates below). He also records bands in his basement and then puts out their albums on his record label.

Audio Eagle, which Carney runs with Jamie Stillman (ex-Party of Helicopters), and which is distributed by the Black Keys' former home, Fat Possum Records, has two new albums in the pipeline-- both from Ohio bands, both due out September 19. The first, Houseguest's High Strangeness, is the debut LP from the quintet recently praised by McSweeney's magazine (and we thought they only liked Death Cab and Sunn0)))) and described by Carney as "like the Feelies on speed... or the Feelies on Adderall and speed."

The second, Beaten Awake's Let's Get Simplified, is the result of the pairing of four dudes (formerly of such bands as Party of Helicopters, Six Parts Seven, the Man I Fell in Love With, and Harriet the Spy) and "a chaos pad," according to their MySpace page. Right now, Beaten Awake are on tour with the Black Keys, with plans for a full-scale fall/winter tour in the works. Let's Get Simplified's press release promises lyrics about "the Cleveland Browns, kittens, and voyeur masturbation." Baseball, cuteness, and sex-- looks like Beaten Awake covers all the bases.

Houseguest and Beaten Awake will play a co-record-release show at Akron's Lime Spider on September 29.

Meanwhile, the Black Keys will tour the U.S. and Europe on through 2007. [MORE...]

MP3: Houseguest: King of Crystal Skies

MP3: Beaten Awake: A&E

Posted by Mairead Case and Amy Phillips in signing, album, tour on Tue: 09-12-06: 03:09 PM CDT | Permalink

Video: Xiu Xiu: "Hello From Eau Claire"
Also: poster extravaganza!

True to overachieving form, Xiu Xiu have released not one but two videos for "Hello From Eau Claire", a track from their new album The Air Force (which comes out today on 5RC).

The first, directed by Corey Smith, who also directed the video for "Pox" from La Foret, features a chubby girl dancing in a leotard in what looks like a junior high school talent show. It's straight out of Little Miss Sunshine, except without the girl's family cheering and joining her onstage. Depressing, I know.

The second video is certainly less depressing, but it doesn't make much more sense. The home video-quality footage was shot by the band members themselves with a disposable movie camera. Pretty boring stuff, actually, but it is perfect material for the Xiu Xiu stalkers among you. We know you're out there!

In related news, Xiu Xiu have a bunch of new Air Force-promoting posters available on their website. The "About The Air Force" series consists of 24 posters split into three parts: those about the album, those inspired by the songs, and those about Xiu Xiu themselves. 19 of the posters, created by Joe Stewart (brother of Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart), are on display now. The remaining six will be revealed throughout the week.

Video: Xiu Xiu: Hello From Eau Claire (Director: Corey Smith)

Video: Xiu Xiu: Hello From Eau Claire (Director: Xiu Xiu)

Posted by Dave Maher in video, misc on Tue: 09-12-06: 02:40 PM CDT | Permalink

Mark Kozelek Signs Corrina Repp to Caldo Verde
Only did it to boost his own Repputation

So much for the "Caldo Verde is only set up for this specific release. Mark Kozelek is not signing bands" statement on the Caldo Verde website. To be fair, Kozelek did set up the label to release Tiny Cities, the Sun Kil Moon tribute to Modest Mouse, but lookee here: he recently signed melancholic Portland-based singer-songwriter Corrina Repp for the label's second release.

The Sound the Hare Heard contributor and Hush Records alumna will release The Absent and the Distant September 19 on Caldo Verde. In a press release, Kozelek explained his repping Repp by saying, "Signing an artist is something that hasn't interested me in the past, but I immediately jumped at this opportunity. She may be the only artist I'll ever sign." So that "not signing bands" statement is true after all, in a way. Don't call Mark; he'll call you.

To cement their label love, Kozelek and Repp will be touring together for a little bit in October. 31 Knots frontman Joe Haege will join Repp on drums and keyboards at all shows. [MORE...]

MP3: Corrina Repp: I'll Walk You Out

Posted by Dave Maher in album, tour, signing on Tue: 09-12-06: 01:10 PM CDT | Permalink

Sufjan, Band of Horses, Wrens Play Paste Fest
So do Magnolia Electric Co., Beirut, José González, and more

Paste Magazine does more than tell your mom what music to listen to and provide freelance paychecks for several Pitchfork staffers. It also puts on quality rock music festivals featuring bands we aren't afraid to endorse.

The second annual Rock n Reel Festival takes place September 15-24 at clubs across Atlanta, Georgia, including the Earl, Variety Playhouse, Fox Theatre, and East Atlanta Strut.

The festival's full artist lineup features 50+ bands/musicians. Highlights include Sufjan Stevens, Band of Horses, Beirut, Magnolia Electric Co., the Wrens, José González, Death Vessel, My Brightest Diamond, Now It's Overhead, Richard Buckner, Eric Bachmann, Chad VanGaalen, French Kicks, Supersystem, the Little Ones, and more.

As its name suggests, Rock n Reel also screens movies. The festival is currently holding an online short film competition, which can be accessed here.

Posted by Kati Llewellyn in festival on Tue: 09-12-06: 12:58 PM CDT | Permalink

Exclusive: MP3: Teddybears ft. Annie: "Yours to Keep (remix)"

"Yours to Keep", by the Swedish electronic trio Teddybears, has lived three lives. The original version, featuring vocals by Teddybear Klas Åhlund's wife Paola, appeared on the group's 2001 album Rock 'n' Roll Highschool. A re-recorded take, with vocals by Neneh Cherry and Annie, will be on Teddybears' American debut, Soft Machine, set for digital release next Tuesday, September 19, and in independent stores on September 26. (The song is also currently the iTunes store's free single of the week.)

And now, Pitchfork has an exclusive download of a brand new remix of the track, tweaked by Teddybears themselves, and featuring only Annie on vocals. It turns the breezy, summery tune into a dirty dance-punk banger with hard guitars and a pounding four-on-the-floor beat.

MP3: Teddybears ft. Annie: Yours to Keep (remix)

Posted by Amy Phillips in audio, exclusive on Tue: 09-12-06: 12:51 PM CDT | Permalink

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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.)

Wed: 09-13-06: 02:16 PM CDT
Exclusive: Output Recordings Calls It Quits