When they said that Jim O’Rourke‘s new album The Visitor was more “song-oriented” than his last album (2001′s I’m Happy…), they weren’t kidding. The new album is, in fact, one 38-minute instrumental called (you guessed it) “The Visitor.” Uncut has an advance review of the disc and judging by that cover art, it looks like Justin Timberlake got ahold of Jim’s mirrorball.
The Visitor is out 9/8 on Drag City.
Lake - “Madagascar” “Madagascar” is adapted from a song called “Batsi Boka” by Ny Antsali, but I have never heard it, nor can I find it online. Nevertheless, it sounds very familiar, and I fall into this groove so easily it seems as though I’ve known it for most of my life. I suppose that either way, that feeling is the point — you float and drift along with it. You let it in, it eases you up. You pay too close attention, though, and you notice the melancholy in the lyrics, and the relaxed vibe starts to feel more like resignation, or worse, a very pleasant sort of oblivion.
Visit the official Lake website.
Rhett Miller of the Old 97s talks to the Louisville Courier-Journal about his new self-titled solo album.
“It's a good time to be a thirtysomething songwriter with a dozen albums under his belt because I just now feel like I'm coming into my own, really. The most recent Old 97's record, to my mind, is as good as anything we've ever done, and this most recent solo record is the most completely successful, as far as it being what I wanted it to be.”
The Lynchburg News Advance profiles Modest Mouse's Tom Peloso.
Peloso is currently a full-time member of Modest Mouse but has been working on a solo musical project under his own name. An amalgamation of previous band experiences, his soon-to-be-released first record, “The Last Saturday of the Year,” is equal parts folk, singer-songwriter-pop and experimental guitar rock. Peloso recorded 11 tracks with friends from a variety of backgrounds and bands (the Fugs, Elliot Smith, Hickey and the Stratler Brothers).
Drowned in Sound interviews St. Vincent's Annie Clark.
The new issue of MOJO come with a 13-track CD of African music.
Jennifer Tzar As reported earlier this week, the supergroup Monsters Of Folk will release their self-titled debut album on September 22, but it was announced yesterday that they would also be undertaking an extensive tour first across North America and then Europe, with $1 from each North American date ticket sale going to a worthy charity local to that city via philanthropic organization Air Traffic Control. The Toronto date falls on November 2 at Massey Hall and the charity selected to receive the proceeds is Foodshare Toronto.Check out monstersoffolk.com for more information.
(And congrats to Lousiville, Kentucky for drawing the Halloween date – I expect everyone who attends that show to dress up as their favourite folk monster. Werewolf Woody Guthries, Zombie Pete Seegers. You know.)
MP3: Monsters Of Folk – “Say Please”
MySpace: Monsters Of Folk
Woodpigeon have bid farewell to Michael Jackson by way of a cover. I hadn’t intended to post any MJ covers and yet here’s two, two days in a row. Hrm.
MP3: Woodpigeon – “Say Say Say”
The Singing Lamb has an interview with The Most Serene Republic about their new album …And The Ever Expanding Universe.
MP3: The Most Serene Repbulic – “Heavens To Purgatory”
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age talk to Friendly Fires, who have released a video for their new single, which will be appended to the deluxe reissue of their self-titled debut, coming September 9.
Video: Friendly Fires – “Kiss Of Life”
BBC talks to Little Boots about her new video for “Remedy”, which they are also premiering.
Video: Little Boots – “Remedy”
MPR has a session with Sonic Youth. There’s also an interview at The Georgia Straight and The Stranger nominates some of the best tracks from their career.
Drowned In Sound spends some time with St Vincent.
Daytrotter and Noisevox have audio and video sessions with The Thermals, respectively.
Yours Truly has Loney Dear in for a video session.
