Thermals Prep New Album, Tour

Just like their namesakes, Portland's Thermals keep whomever comes in contact with them twitching, but in a good way, since they also keep us warm...in our souls, that is. Unlike their namesakes, however, the Thermals are made of pure rock.

Even losing original drummer Jordan Hudson late last year couldn't stop them from recording their third album, The Body, The Blood, The Machine, set for an August 22 release on Sub Pop. And it certainly couldn't keep them from kicking out the jams.

Recorded by Brendan Canty (formerly) of Fugazi, The Body finds Kathy Foster working overtime on both bass and drums. According to a press release, "The lyrics envision a United States governed by a fascist Christian state, and focus on the need (and means) to escape. While hardly a concept album, there is definitely a story told in the songs: a story about getting the fuck OUT while you still can."

We've been rocking out to this album for a couple weeks now, and it's just the kind of hooky, basement punk record that demands to be played loud. Though it is unfortunate that they shy away from the "concept album" classification. Embrace your inner prog rockers, Thermals!

If you pre-order The Body from Sub Pop's website, you'll get a copy of the Burn to Shine 3: Portland DVD thrown in for free. It features live performances from the Decemberists, Sleater-Kinney, the Shins, the Gossip, and, of course, the Thermals.

Right now, the Thermals are no longer drummer-less, as they have recently added local Portland drummer Caitlin Love to their full-time lineup. And you know what that means: now they can go on tour. They only have a few dates scheduled so far, but they promise plenty more in the near future, including a stint opening for Cursive. [MORE...]

MP3: The Thermals: A Pillar of Salt

Jon Spencer Teams With North Mississippi Allstars

In 2001, Jon Spencer shacked up in storied Memphis session man/producer Jim Dickinson's Zebra Ranch Studios with Dickinson's sons, Luther and Cody (leaders of the North Mississippi All-Stars). The results were issued as the curious Spencer Dickinson on an obscure Japanese label.

This Tuesday, August 22, Yep Roc Records will re-release the album as The Man Who Lives for Love, re-mastered with re-tooled cover art and seven more tracks from the same recording session to make the new name legit. Yep Roc will also reissue the original Japanese version (tracks 1-12) simultaneously on vinyl. If you pre-order the disc from the Yep Roc website, you'll get two more exclusive mp3 bonus tracks as well.

As might be expected, the instruments on the record range from the usual guitar/bass/drums to organ (Jon), mandolin (Luther), stylophone (Jon), and washboard (Cody). According to Jim, Cody and Luther are darker and weirder when Spencer's around: "Jon really brings it out of them," he said in a press release. "They are more spontaneous with Jon than they are by themselves. Cody, in particular, really likes to calculate. Jon is more in the moment, the way he works."

Surprisingly, there's not much straight-up blues on the disc. How disappointing. Also disappointing: according to Yep Roc, Spencer Dickinson has no plans to tour to celebrate the record's release. But the idea of a tour is not as incomprehensible as, say, a Pussy Galore "song." [MORE...]

Stream: Spencer Dickinson: That's a Drag

Video: Beyonce: "Ring the Alarm"

Holy mother of god, girl is pissed. We're talking Rid of Me levels of rage here. Maybe this is retaliation for being ignored in the "Déjà Vu" video?

Jay-Z should be very, very afraid right now.

Vitalic to Tour North America This Fall

Pascal Arbez (aka Vitalic) is preparing to storm North America once again. He'll take his show to the continent's major cities during the first half of October.

Those looking to brush up on their Vitalic smarts prior to the live experience can check out the OK Cowboy collector's edition package (Different), which is out now in Europe and includes a bonus disc packed with unreleased tracks, rarities, and videos. Different Records has also remastered Vitalic's Poney EP.

[MORE...]

Video: Vitalic: Poney Part 1

The National Announce Tour

Following their Pitchfork Music Festival appearance and a little time spent working on their next record, the National just announced their fall schedule. The Brooklyn-based band will go international for one date-- a September 8 appearance at the Perpignan Festival in Paris-- before returning Stateside for a string of mostly West Coast dates in October. %FULL STORY%

October is National the National Month:

09-08 Perrpignan, France - Perpignan Festival
10-05 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards *+
10-06 Seattle, WA - Neumos *+
10-09 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *+
10-10 San Diego, CA - Casbah *+
10-11 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *+
10-12 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *+
10-13 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall *+
10-14 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan
10-26 Washington, DC - Black Cat

* with Mobius Band
+ with Baby Dayliner

MP3: The National: Live at La Guinguette: Paris, France

Lily Allen Schedules U.S. Shows

The takeover begins! British pop tart Lily Allen has scheduled three U.S. shows in preparation for the American release of her debut album, Alright, Still, on Capitol in 2007. Although only shows in Chicago (yay!), San Francisco, and Los Angeles have been announced so far, stay tuned for the rest of the tour, which will probably hit NYC for CMJ.

American dates:

10-12 San Francisco, CA - Popscene
10-14 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
10-16 Chicago, IL - Double Door [MORE...]

MP3: Lily Allen: Smile (Gutter Mix)

Thermals, Erase Errata, Ponys Play Fuck Yeah Fest
Also Envy, Dead Meadow, Blood Meridian

Before summer winds down, L.A. residents will have the chance to take in three days of independent music in Echo Park. The F Yeah Fest (changed from the Fuck Yeah Fest, which, the website informs, requires a long explanation and "having to apologize to the city for covering half of the east side of Los Angeles with hundreds of posters that say "Fuck" on them) takes place this weekend, on August 18, 19, and 20 and is curated by Keith Morris of Black Flag and the Circle Jerks.

The year's fest includes a diverse line-up of local and national acts: Dead Meadow, the Thermals, Envy, Giant Drag, Gris Gris, Icarus Line, Blood Meridian, Erase Errata, the Ponys, Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, Midnight Movies, Shapes and Sizes, Dios Malos, Chuck Ragan (of Hot Water Music), Subtitle, Partyline (ex-Bratmobile), Tussle, the Willowz, Silversun Pickups, Sex Eyes (ex-Lifter Puller), BARR, Matt and Kim, Bobby Birdman, plus many more. And, of course, the Circle Jerks.

Taking place at three venues-- the Echo, Sea Level Records, and the Jensen Rec. Center, the three-day event includes stand-up comedy, a "What I Love About Summer" art exhibition, and a "Summertime Photo Jam."

In order to preserve local flavor, the fest will also feature oxygen bars, Ryan Seacrest, and little booths where you can get cosmetic surgery. Just effin' with you.

Nouvelle Vague to Tour in Support of U.S. Release

Information was scarce when Nouvelle Vague released their first album back in 2004.

Bewildered by their easy-listening covers of classic punk songs, listeners often found themselves shouting, "Who is this? What the hell is this? Where the #&%! did this come from?"

However, it's now been learned that, short of walking around with croissants stapled to their foreheads, Nouvelle Vague couldn't be more French if they tried. In keeping with their adopted new wave cinema theme, the band--essentially producers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux-- will release their second album, Bande A Part August 22 on Luaka Bop/V2 in North America. (It's been out since June on Peacefrog in Europe.)

Besides the Godard-indebted album title, Collin and Libaux have borrowed another of the master director's signature ploys: casting plenty of gorgeous female sidekicks for the project. Featured on Bande A Part are vocalists Melanie Pain, Marina Celeste, Phoebe Killdeer, and Silja (as well as Gerald Toto, who was not a girl last time we checked, but we're guessing he is lovely nonetheless).

If you think these cultivated takes on old chestnuts would relate to just about anybody, you would be right. Just like Esperanto, Nouvelle Vague has that sweeping appeal that makes any live audience swoon. They'll charm North America on tour in September. [MORE...]

Stream: Nouvelle Vague: Various Tracks

Pitchfork Seeks Business Intern

According to the Chicago Police Department, last month alone several incidents of kidnapping, prostitution, and arson took place within walking distance of Pitchfork World Headquarters.

If you haven't stopped reading by now, you're ballsy, one of the many desired qualities we look for in our internship candidates.

Business intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: Assisting our sales team with client contact and research, working on things that we think are important, helping with accounts receivable and payable, managing promotional materials, executing promotions, and providing overall help to streamline our business operations. All candidates must be excellent at almost everything. We need to make sure you'll be able to handle an office as unbelievably intense as ours.

We prefer candidates who are able to obtain college credit for the internship, but this is not mandatory. If you're interested, please email us a cover letter and résumé. Also include your hours of availability and a potential start date. Deadline is Thursday, August 17 at 5 p.m. CST.

Ex-Test Icicle Frontman Forms New Bands

Jeez, that Test Icicles split must've been more dramatic than we thought! The 180-degree turn frontman Devonte Hynes has taken with his new band, Lightspeed Heat, is so severe it makes even the straight line look bad.

Okay, okay-- we're mostly just into the differences between band names. There has to be some deep psychological meaning behind that, amirite?

Hynes has joined up with members of the Jack White-produced Whirlwind Heat to form the band, and they claim to be from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Anywho, Lightspeed Heat has a MySpace, and while they have not yet uploaded any tracks, one song, "How Do You Do", is floating around the blogosphere.

As previously reported, Hynes has another post-Icicles group, Naked Babes, with members of Semifinalists and Tom Vek.

Hynes has also been doing a little solo work under the moniker Lightspeed Champion, and is scheduled for a handful of gigs in London, including one alongside an Arctic Monkeys Tribute Band (!).

[MORE...]

MP3: Lightspeed Champion: Waiting Game

Video: The Wrens: "She Sends Kisses"

So here we are, nearly three years after The Meadowlands flew into our lives and changed them forevermore, and some dude with some serious claymation skillz has just made a video for the Wrens' "She Sends Kisses".

After receiving the band's blessing, that dude-- Boise, Idaho-based animator Jason Sievers-- toiled nearly a year to come up with the vid below, a thoughtful if a bit ponderous homage to the Meadowlands standout.

Cue the 'Tube:

Mirah Remix Album Due

MP3: Hooliganship: The Light (remix)

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