Video: Gnarls Barkley: "Smiley Faces"

We knew Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse have been getting around, but it comes as some surprise to see them in cahoots with Duke Ellington, David Bowie, and Lou Reed. According to the video for Gnarls Barkley's new single "Smiley Faces", they've also palled around with the Clash, the Rolling Stones (at Altamont!), and Smokey Robinson.

Sure, footage like this can be doctored, but are you going to contradict Dennis Hopper? Didn't think so.

Stream: Gnarls Barkley: Various Tracks

Sunset Rubdown Add Shows

Spencer Krug is one stand-up guy. He felt so bad for everybody who can't make it to our Pitchfork Music Festival Pre-Party (at Chicago's Metro on July 28) that he decided to take the Sunset Rubdown portion of the event cross-country.

After finishing off a couple of Canadian dates and slaying at our party later this month, Sunset Rubdown will break for a bit (probably to work on side projects, amirite?) before launching a U.S. trek that will take them through September and October. [MORE...]

MP3: Sunset Rubdown: Stadiums and Shrines II

Temporary Residence Celebrates 10 Years

Temporary Residence Limited, or TRL for the post-rock set, has stuck around long enough to celebrate its first double-digit anniversary with a Labor Day weekend extravaganza at New York's Bowery Ballroom.

The "Big Baby Birthday Bash!", taking place September 1-3, will feature 10 bands from the current TRL roster, including the only currently scheduled U.S. performances from Caroline, Mono and Tarentel, as well as Fridge's first show since 2002.

While most of the TRL roster isn't in touring/promotion mode, Fridge and Envy have both been notably active lately. Fridge, the trio that includes Kieran Hebden and Adem, will release its long-awaited new album in January 2007, while Japanese post-hardcore vets Envy will be making their second trip ever across the States in support of their next album, Insomniac Doze, out September 12.

The full Big Baby Birthday Bash lineup:

MP3: Explosions in the Sky: Memorial (Edit)

Ellen Allien Teams With Audion

Just a Man/Woman sounds like it could be the title of some terrible slow jam compilation, but in fact it's the name of a new split 12-inch featuring Audion (aka Detroit techno darling Matthew Dear) and Ellen Allien (owner of Berlin's BPitch Control label and darling DJ in her own right). To be released by Spectral Sound on July 25, the gender-bending single begins with the Audion track "Just a Man" (from 2006's Fabric 27 mix) followed by Dear's reworking of Allien's "Just a Woman", then predictably continues with Allien's own mix of "Just a Man", concluding with her original version of "Just a Woman."

The good ol' fashioned battle-o'-the-sexes project arose from the artists' 2005 North American tour, during which time they developed (the official press release tells us) a certain dynamic. Perhaps they dynamically fought over turntables and the necessity of putting down the toilet seat. [MORE...]

Band of Horses Announce Fall Tour
Band of Bees Now Know When, Where to Strike

This news story will not contain the following: references to Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell's beard, references to Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell's tatoos, references to Built to Spill, references to the Shins, references to Iron & Wine, the words "gallop," "cantor," "hoof," or "tourses", excitement about the Pitchfork Music Festival.

This news story will contain the following: a list of Band of Horses tour dates. [MORE...]

MP3: Band of Horses: The Funeral

The Pipettes Schedule More Shows

Your favorite Pipette might change daily, but fortunately, you don't need to make a definitive choice. There's plenty of the Pipettes to go around.

Now that their debut album, We Are the Pipettes, is out this week on Memphis Industries, our favorite revivalist girl group has added a bunch of dates to their summer and fall touring schedule. Unfortunately for those of us here at Pitchfork World Headquarters, the Pipettes have yet to schedule an appearance in America. But we're holding out hope. Just like we're holding out hope for the brown-haired one to kiss us. No, the one with glasses. No...crap. [MORE...]

Video: The Pipettes: Pull Shapes

Beastie Boys Concert Film Due on DVD

After making the rounds at such lofty festivals as Sundance and SXSW, the Beastie Boys' venture into concert filming will soon drop down to your level, where you can watch it on your couch. Billed as an "authorized bootleg," Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! will be legitimately released (complete with Star Wars-style packaging) to DVD retailers everywhere on July 25, courtesy of THINKFilm.

In case you haven't been following the Beasties' every move lately, the Awesome footage was culled from 50 fan-held cameras scattered among the audience at the Boys' October 9, 2004 show at Madison Square Garden. MCA's anachronistic director persona Nathanial Hornblower then took a year to edit (and thereby bestow authorization on) all the footage from the cameras, making it worthy for film festivals, DVD players, and local cinema screenings. [MORE...]

Video: Beastie Boys: Awesome: I Fuckin' Shot That Trailer

The Curtains (Ex-Deerhoof) Debut on Asthmatic Kitty

Chris Cohen may have said goodbye to Deerhoof, but he's been chugging away at his full-time project turned side-project turned full-time project, the Curtains. Their new record, Calamity, is due October 24 on Asthmatic Kitty.

The album was produced and almost entirely performed by Cohen. He was joined by a few guests in the studio, including guitarist/vocalist Nedelle Torrisi (now a full-on member of the Curtains), keyboardist Annie Lewandowski, Yasi Perera, and trombonist/Illinoismaker John Ringhofer (aka Asthmatic Kitty labelmate Half-Handed Cloud).

An exclusive download of Calamity's title track is available by clicking below. [MORE...]

MP3: The Curtains: Calamity

Video: The Knife: "We Share Our Mothers' Health"

The Knife have moved on to scissors, needles, and an array of additional surgical tools. The brother/sister duo's new video for Silent Shout single "We Share Our Mothers' Health" is a breeding ground for sharp objects, and if it weren't for the film's awesome presentation, we might be a little creeped out.

The "We Share Our Mothers' Health" single will be available on Brille Records on July 24, backed by remixes by Trentemøller and Radioslave. It will be out on September 5 on Mute in North America on CD and 12".

In celebration of this event, the Knife have released an online video game that mirrors their music video. It's addictive, fun, dangerous, and, most importantly, rewarding for those who achieve high scores. Ten winners will receive a Nakamura-signed print, so play your little hearts out. [MORE...]

Video: The Knife: We Share Our Mothers' Health

Belle & Sebastian-Curated Kids' Comp Details Revealed

A recent addition to the Q & A section of the Belle & Sebastian website reads:

"Q. I have a one and a half year old son, Captain, who just absolutely LOVES your music. Did you ever think about kids when you were writing some of your songs?...

A. Not really, I must confess. I'm glad it appeals to the young though. We're still babies ourselves, so it comes naturally.

Stuart"

Well, Stuart might not have kiddies on the brain, but his bandmate Mick Cooke does. As we reported back in May, the Belle and Sebastian member curated a benefit compilation for the non-profit organization Save the Children, gathering together such modern rock superstars as the Flaming Lips, Franz Ferdinand, Four Tet, Snow Patrol, the Divine Comedy, and Jonathan Richman doing children's songs.

The comp is called The Colours Are Brighter, it's out October 16 on Rough Trade, and it contains the following tracks, according to NME.com:

01 Four Tet (featuring Princess Watermelon) - "Go Go Ninja Dinosaur"
02 Rasputina - "A Skeleton Bang"
03 Franz Ferdinand - "Jackie Jackson"
04 Snow Patrol - "I Am an Astronaut"
05 The Divine Comedy - "Three Cheers for Pooh, Cottleston Pie, Piglet Ho"
06 The Kooks - "The King & I"
07 Half Man Half Biscuit - "David Wainwright's Feet"
08 The Barcelona Pavilion - "Tidy Up Tidy Up"
09 Jonathan Richman - "Out Dog Is Getting Older Now"
10 Ivor Cutler Trio - "Mud"
11 The Flaming Lips - "The Big Ol' Bug Is the New Baby Now"
12 Belle & Sebastian - "The Monkeys Are Breaking out of the Zoo"
13 Kathryn Williams - "Night Baking" [MORE...]

Video: Belle and Sebastian: White Collar Boy

Born Ruffians Sign to Warp, XL

The three dirty-minded boys that make up Toronto's Born Ruffians had better be tuff, because they just signed to not one but two hot labels: XL Recordings in the UK and Warp in the U.S. They have thus instantly become the mortal enemies of baby bands everywhere.

XL will release the Ruffians' first official 7", Piecing It Together, on August 14. An exclusive download of the A-side title track is available by clicking below.

Born Ruffians are slated to release a North American EP on Warp on October 17 (and Europe around the same time), the name of which has not yet been revealed. First off, however, they'll play a U.S. date with Brand New this month and charge across the UK for nearly two weeks in August. [MORE...]

MP3: Born Ruffians: Piecing It Together

Infinite Mixtape #25: Annuals: "Brother"

We first heard this track on the band's MySpace last week and scrambled to make it one of the first entries in the Infinite Mixtape series, but the label was waiting on the mastered version. Well, today we've finally got it, and you lucky bastards are the first to hear it. Get familiar now-- we could be writing about these dudes all year long.

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#0025 > Annuals: Brother
[from Be He Me; Ace Fu]
Info: [Annuals] | [Myspace] | [Ace Fu]

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// Previously on The Infinite Mixtape:
#0024: My Robot Friend: "One More Try (Vocals by Antony)"
#0023: Susanna & The Magical Orchestra: "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
#0022: Girl Talk: "Smash Your Head"
#0001 - #0021: 21 of 2006's Best Tracks

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.)