Creep On, Creepin’ On and On…

I was a little slow to jump on the Breaking Bad bandwagon but I was thrilled to hear Timber Timbre’s “Magic Arrow” soundtrack an episode from the third season. It meshed perfectly with the show’s forbidding nature and bible black soul. The band continue to earn new fans with their latest full length Creep On Creepin' On (currently shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize) as the band continue to promote it. Along with releasing an imaginative new music video, the goth-blues-folk outfit have scheduled some new tour dates, (including this city) plus lined up a pair of exciting vinyl reissues.

The group's live schedule now stretches into December with a tour that includes stops in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. They also have a number of European dates. The full tour schedule is listed below. Lastly, fans of Timber Timbre should note they will soon be able to pick up the group's first two independent releases, Cedar Shakes (2005) and Medicinals (2007), on vinyl. These vinyl pressings will be available exclusively at the upcoming tour dates. Both releases dating from when the band was a pseudonym for Taylor Kirk solo. The band have also released a new, appropriately eerie animated video for “Too Old To Die Young” from Creep On Creepin’ On.



Timber Timbre - Too Old To Die Young from Arts & Crafts on Vimeo.

Timber Timbre Tour dates:

8/29 - Frankfurt, Germany - Brotfabrik
9/1 - Brighton, UK - Jam
9/3 - Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival
10/5 - Joliette, QC - Salle Rolland-Brunelle
10/6 - Quebec, QC - Theatre Petit Champlain
10/7 - Terrebonne, QC - Moulin Neuf
10/8 - Sherbrooke, QC - Theatre Granada
10/9 - Victoriaville, QC - Cinéma Laurier
10/10 - Laval, QC - Maison des Arts De Laval
10/21 - Halifax, NS - Halifax Pop Explosion
10/22 - St. John's , NL - Cochrane United Church
11/1 - London , UK - Union Chapel
11/3 - Paris, France - La Cigale
11/4 - Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie
11/5 - Lyon, France - Le Transbordeur
11/6 - Marseille, France - Cabaret Aléatoire
11/9 - Munich, Germany - Feierwerk
11/10 - Cologne, Germany - Gebaeude 9
11/11 - Hamburg, Germany - Uebel and Gefaehrlich
11/12 - Hannover, Germany - Warenannahme
11/23 - London, ON – The Aeolian
11/25 - Guelph, ON - Dublin Street United Church
11/26 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre
11/29 - Buffalo, NY - The Town Ballroom
12/3 - Montreal, QC - St. Jean Baptiste Church

Get out and see this one folks.  The band puts on an unforgettable show.

Tom Waits for Everyone

Those low rumblings you felt earlier may in fact have been internet ruminations the world over that new Tom Waits music would be imminent.  Good news too considering it’s been far too long since we were treated to “new Tom”.

Anti Records and Tom himself confirmed today the October 25th release of  Bad As Me today.  It is Waits’ first studio album of all new music in seven years.  According to the press release:

“Waits, in possibly the finest voice of his career, worked with a veteran team of gifted musicians and longtime co-writer/producer Kathleen Brennan” on this one.  “Like a good boxer, these songs are lean and mean, with strong hooks and tight running times. A pervasive sense of players delighting in each other’s musical company brings a feeling of loose joy even to the album’s saddest songs.”

Bad As Me will be available October 25th.  A deluxe version of the new record will include a 40-page book of lyrics and photos taken by Waits himself, along with three bonus tracks. The album, which features the cover above, will also be available on 180-gram vinyl, which will include the LP and CD, plus a full-size 12-page book.

Bad As Me Tracklisting

01. Chicago
02. Raised Right Men
03. Talking At The Same Time
04. Get Lost
05. Face To The Highway
06. Pay Me
07. Back In The Crowd
08. Bad As Me
09. Kiss Me
10. Satisfied
11. Last Leaf
12. Hell Broke Luce
13. New Year's Eve
14. She Stole the Blush *
15. Tell Me *
16. After You Die *

* Bonus tracks

Check out the Tom Waits Listening Party too.

New Music on the Way From Cass McCombs

Singer-songwriter Cass McCombs is a remarkable artist. Lyrically astute and capable of those heartbreaking melodies that always manage to worm their way into one’s psyche. He released one of my favourite records, Wit's End earlier this year and there is no doubt it will figure prominently in my best of the year wrap-up. If by chance, you haven’t heard this amazing work I urge you to seek it out. Needless to say, I was very pleasantly surprised to hear that he'll be following it up with another new release later this year. On November 8th, Domino will unveil Humor Risk. Definitely more upbeat than the last one, you can hear for yourself by downloading "The Same Thing” by heading to this site and for the expense of an email address.

McCombs recorded the album in different homes and studios around the U.S. McCombs produced it with Ariel Rechtshaid, who also worked on Wit's End and Catacombs. (See the new album's tracklist below.)

Humor Risk:
01 Love Thine Enemy
02 The Living Word
03 The Same Thing
04 To Every Man His Chimera
05 Robin Egg Blue
06 Mystery Mail
07 Meet Me At the Mannequin Gallery
08 Mariah (Sketch)

Cass McComb’s Humor Risk is out November 8th on Domino.

Cass McCombs "Dreams Come True Girl" from Foundation Content on Vimeo.http://www.dominorecordco.us/usa/two-pane/17-08-11/cass-mccombs-humor-risk

I Love My Wilco

It’s been a while since we heard of any new music emerging from Chicago’s finest. News today that the band have announced that the first single from their upcoming album, “I Might” will debut at their own Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, Massachusetts (June 24th - 26th) . Vinyl fetishists should note the single will be available as a limited-edition clear vinyl 7”, and comes with a b-side cover of Nick Lowe’s “I Love My Label”.

“I Might” is the band’s first release on dPM records, the label they launched after leaving Nonesuch Records in 2010. Note that two more versions of the single will be available to the wider public on July 19th; a limited-edition blue vinyl version, which you can pick up at Wilco’s official store and through the -Anti Records store, and a black vinyl version, which you can pick up at traditional retail outlets. The single is available for pre-order today.

Frank Turner Announces England Keep My Bones

Back in 2009, British musician Frank Turner signed a deal with Epitaph Records and finally began to get some international attention for his resolute and everyman tales. (Think, a slightly less wry Billy Bragg and you might get an idea of what his records sound like.) Now, the label is getting set to issue Turner's fourth full-length, England Keep My Bones due on June 6th (UK) / June 7th (rest of world).

The disc was recorded in London's Church Studios with producer Tristan Ivemy, who also helmed the recent Rock and Roll EP. According to Turner’s blog, the new disc's title is taken from a Shakespearean quote. The track listing however remains unconfirmed. Turner’s official press release hints that the record promises to be "noticeably more folky than the proceeding Poetry of the Deed, and even features a traditional English style a cappella." The songs are said to "address themes of mortality, relationships and religion in what proves to be an undeniably brave and beautiful album."

North America will get a preview of Turner's new record when he embarks upon a brief solo tour in late April and early May. Unfortunately at this point, there is only one Canadian date, in Toronto on April 26th. As well, Turner has a number of European and Australian dates. You can see the whole schedule here.

Never fear though, with festival season right around the corner there’s a good chance we’ll be seeing more of this feisty talent.


I Still Believe - Frank Turner from Ben Morse on Vimeo.

Apocalypse Soon

Baritone singer song-writer Bill Callahan has always been a fascinating sort. His records always interesting free form little journeys. Callahan’s disaffected voice telling bittersweet tales of love and horses and everything in between. Good, albeit brief news today that the artist formerly known as (Smog) will release a new album Apocalypse April 19th via Drag City. It's Callahan's first studio full-length since 2009's sublime Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle. (Callahan issued a live record Rough Travel for a Rare Thing in 2010.)

Callahan and Drag City have offered no more information about the album aside from the jpeg which arrived this morning.


No. 6 Bill Callahan - "Vessel in Vain" from Retread Sessions on Vimeo.

J Mascis Unplugs for Several Shades of Why

Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis will unplug the Marshalls this spring for a just-announced twenty two date North American tour in support of his forthcoming, first solo studio album Several Shades of Why. Definitely a departure for fans of that trademark guitar, drums and vocals that have long driven a string of amazing bands including: Deep Wound, Dinosaur Jr., Gobblehoof, Velvet Monkeys, the Fog, Witch, Sweet Apple and numerous session appearances.

The tour opens March 10th in Ithaca, N.Y., and wraps up May 7th in San Diego, with several breaks in between to space out those shows (see full dates below). Mascis will release his new album on March 15th on via Sub Pop; The disc features plenty of guest s including: Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene, Kurt Vile and Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell, among others. You can grab a free MP3 of album track “Not Enough” by clicking the handy linkage below. Full tour dates below that.

J Mascis Solo Tour Dates:

03/10 - Castaways, Ithaca, NY
03/11 -The Great Hall, Toronto, ON
03/22 - Headroom Stages, Brattleboro, VT
03/23 - World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA
03/24 - The Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
03/25 - Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
03/26 - Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA
03/30 - Grog Shop, Cleveland Heights, OH
03/31 - Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, MI
04/01 - Subterranean, Chicago, IL
04/02 - 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN
04/07 - The Earl, Atlanta, GA
04/08 - The Melting Point, Athens, GA
04/09 - The Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC
04/10 - Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
04/29 - Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
04/30 - Dante’s, Portland, OR
05/03 - Crepe Palace, Santa Cruz, CA
05/04 - The Independent, San Francisco, CA
05/05 - Alex’s Bar, Long Beach, CA
05/06 - The Echo, Los Angeles, CA
05/07 - The Casbah, San Diego, CA

A credible, edible* collection of 11 songs

New the Low Anthem Next Month

Looking ahead this year 2011 could shape up to be yet another stellar one for music fans. One release that I am anxiously awaiting is the new one from the Low Anthem. The follow-up to 2009’s spectacular Oh My God, Charlie Darwin the new release is called Smart Flesh and is scheduled for release on February 22nd via Nonesuch.

From the band’s website:

A credible, edible* collection of 11 songs. Softer than your velvet Elvis and fiercer than Lady Hate herself. Chapped, naked love songs, lazier than the drifting sun. Songs of fear, cruelty and redemption. Songs on songs. Essence and nonsense. Frequencies for sympathetic architects. A church - a black hole – silence – exit music for thunder. Oooeeee! Herein: that bulbous, intelligent brain flesh of empty whales. That vacuous and monotonous flesh of the tumor. That taut flesh of the archer and his drawn bow. That trembling gut of the tightrope, that humming steel of airplanes. Woe that endless hunt. Woe ye embalmers of beauty. Woah! That tender and redeemed flesh…

*FOR YOUR EARS ONLY, WITH LOVE

The first 250 pre-orders of the recording from The Low Anthem store include a letterpress printed poster, signed by the band. All pre-orders include an instant download of the album's opening track, "Ghost Woman Blues”. Notable too, the first 5,000 CDs will come in letterpress printed packages with a bonus disc featuring three unreleased tracks from the Smart Flesh sessions. As well, the first 5,000 vinyl copies will also come in exclusive letterpress packages. The CD and vinyl are already available for pre-order through the band’s website, at shows, or through Nonesuch.

Catch the Low Anthem here on tour:

01/13 New York, NY @ American Songbook at Lincoln Center
01/26 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern (w/ Iron & Wine)
02/24 Washington, DC @ Sixth I Historic Synagogue
02/25 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
02/26 Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox
02/27 Charleston, WV @ Mountain Stage
02/28 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
03/2 Toronto, ON @ Great Hall
03/3 Montreal, QC @ Sala Rosa
03/4 Boston, MA @ Old South Church
03/5 North Adams, MA @ Mass MoCA
03/7 Portland, ME @ Space Gallery



The Low Anthem "Two Sisters" [Tom Waits cover] LIVE 6.6.09 from Tim Gurczak on Vimeo.

 

New Okkervil River in February

In 2010, Okkervil River put out a collaboration with Texas psych legend Roky Erickson. Critically regarded as his comeback album True Love Cast Out All Evil, was a bold step for all parties. Okkervil River’s Will Sheff was in fact recently nominated for a Grammy for his liner notes for the aforementioned release.

This year though, the band will be focusing on their own craft once again, as they will release a new single on February 8th via Jagjaguwar.

The single contains two new tracks: "Mermaid" and the b-side "Walked Out on a Line." (According to the fan site Down the Oubliette, "Mermaid" was previously featured in the independent 2008 film, In Search of a Midnight Kiss.)

The single will come out on glorious twelve-inch vinyl. As always, for those without a vinyl carver, it will also be available digitally. The "Mermaid" single precedes Okkervil River's forthcoming follow-up to 2008's brilliant The Stand Ins, which is due sometime later this year.

November News: New Decemberists in January!

It must be November as Decemberists news has arrived today.  Just in time to warm our winter weary hearts, The King Is Dead, the Decemberists' new album, arrives January 18th in North America via Capitol and a day earlier in Europe via Rough Trade.   But this is where it gets even better. The new album will be available in all the usual formats, a special edition as well as a deluxe limited-edition box set, which will feature the album on CD and 180-gram white vinyl, as well as a DVD, a unique Polaroid photo, a hardcover book, and an art print-- all in a linen-wrapped clamshell box with a foil-stamped cover. You might just have the coolest coffee table in town if this piece were to make its home there.

Here's the details.  Only 2,500 of these boxes will be available. For the box, the band teamed up with the Polaroid film manufacturers the Impossible Project and the photographer Autumn de Wilde. De Wilde took photos of the band's recording sessions in rural Oregon and L.A., and each box will come with a unique photo. The DVD contains Pendarvia, a 30-minute documentary about the making of the album by filmmaker Aaron Rose. The 72-page hardcover book features photos from de Wilde and illustrations from Carson Ellis, and the Giclée print is of an Ellis illustration and signed by Ellis herself.

Wire Announce New Album

Legendary U.K. post-punkers Wire has announced it will release its 12th studio album Red Barked Tree on January 11th. Recorded throughout 2010 by Colin Newman, Graham Lewis and Robert Grey; the record will be released on the band’s own Pink Flag label.

While the album comes out in January on CD, the band will issue it early — on December 20th via digital outlets. Fans who purchase it through Wire’s mail order store will also receive a free live EP called Strays.

Wire is previewing the new album by offering up a free MP3 download of “Two Minutes” (via Pitchfork) - a raucous and exciting two minute affair well worth your download bandwidth. You can download the full track here.

Album tracklist below:

Wire - Red Barked Tree

1. “Please Take”

2. “Now Was”

3. “Adapt”
4. “Two Minutes”
5. “Clay”

6. “Bad Worn Thing”

7. “Moreover”

8. “A Flat Tent”

9. “Smash”

10. “Down To This”

11. “Red Barked Trees”

The band is also hinting at an extensive tour with details to be announced soon. Thirty five years in, it’s nice to see the band producing relevant and exciting material.