- Spencer Krug can’t keep still. The Wolf Parade, Swan Lake, and Sunset Rubdown member is going solo under the guise Moonface. All those bands and not one official website? I suppose he has an excuse.
- In the face of all these reunions -- permanent or temporary as they may be -- it only seems right that Andy Warhol’s finest discovery, Velvet Underground, are in the throes of a temporary reunion... well, Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker, and Doug Yule anyway. The trio will be appearing at the New York Public Library on December 8th as part of the Live from NYPL series.
- In addition to their excellent “Take-Away Shows,” La Blogotheque posts longer performances in their “Soirées de poche.” Most recently, they’ve offered a half-hour performance by Kings Of Convenience, which you can watch here:
- While MP3 device manufacturers would like to ignore it, vinyl is continuing to grow its music market share, and now with word that Tom Waits‘ Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards is hitting vinyl on December 8th, the iPod and Zune can cry a little more on the inside. Waits was meant for vinyl and this limited-edition 7LP collection will keep fans buried in Waits for quite a while.
- It’s funny to look back at this year and see how popular lo-fi guru Matt Mondanile has become, whether it be through his solo venture Ducktails or now webzine darlings Real Estate. Now comes word that Real Estate member Alex Bleeker will be releasing his solo debut, Alex Bleeker and the Freaks which features Mondanile, fellow Real Estate member Martin Courtney IV, and Julian Lynch.
- One of the most inspired new project is Blakroc, a collaboration between The Black Keys and a variety of rap artists, all under the guiding hand of hip hop mogul and Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon Dash. On the new album, Hoochie Coo, RZA, Pharoahe Monch, Ludacris, Q-Tip, Raekwon, and many others guest on the gritty, beat-driven tracks. Here’s the first single, “Ain’t Nothing Like You,” featuring Mos Def and Jim Jones:
- Interpol are reportedly readying the release of the follow-up to 2007′s Our Love to Admire, which should be available sometime in 2010. The band is promising a return to the roots of their debut album, Turn on the Bright Lights.
- You’d think the talkshow circuit would be quiet on Thanksgiving week, but it’s really quite the opposite. Weezer makes the rounds, supporting their latest, while Pixies and Wolfmother blast out Conan and Kimmel, respectively, on Tuesday. Here are the highlights:
Monday, November 23 Jimmy Kimmel: Weezer
Colbert Report: Elvis Costello (R)Tuesday, November 24
Conan O’Brien: Weezer
Jimmy Kimmel: Wolfmother
Jimmy Fallon: Pixies
Colbert Report: Norah Jones (R)Wednesday, November 25
Jimmy Fallon: Mos Def & Talib Kweli
Thursday, November 26
go eat turkey
Friday, November 27
go shopping (for records)
