We Are The Works In Progress

"We Are The Works In Progress" is a compilation benefit album curated by Blonde Redhead's Kazu Makino, and raises moolah for the Japan Society and Architecture For Humanity in the continued rebuilding efforts after March's earthquake and tsunami. A bevy of awesome artists have contributed. Check the track list:

01 Four Tet: "Moma" *
02 Karin Andersson: "No Face" *
03 Terry Riley: "G Song" %
04 Nosaj Thing: "Nightcrawler" *
05 John Roberts: "Berceuse" *
06 Blonde Redhead: "Penny Sparkle [Drew Brown remix]" *
07 Pantha du Prince: "Bird on a Wire" *
08 Broadcast: "In Here the World Begins" ^
09 Liars: "Drip [Blonde Redhead remix]" *
10 Deerhunter: "Curve" *
11 Stalactite: "Stalagmite" *
12 John Maus: "Castles in the Grave" *
13 David Sylvian/Ryuichi Sakamoto: "Bamboo House"
14 Interpol: "Song Seven" $

* exclusive
% new version
^ re-release from vinyl-only tour release
$ previously released B-side

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Look for it in January.

This is the end...

Make damn sure you go to at least one of Emo's final shows in December before it's lost to us and the world. Whether i was making my wife freeze in 20 degree weather during The Warlocks and Interpol, elbowing a kid in the back of the head during a Propoghandi mosh pit, having my eardrums blasted out by Fantomas or The Melvins, or heckling The Brian Jonestown Massacre until the audience was at a frenzy and someone pulled the plug before a bottle got thrown, i always had the time of my life. Goodnight sweet princes.

The Black Keys

The Black Keys are set to release their newest opus "El Camino" on an ever-unsuspecting world on December 6th from Nonesuch. Continuing the blues stomp/garage rock/T Rex-tinged mood of "Brothers," this should be on everyone's Christmas list. Head over here to sneak a few of the new tracks for the price of an email address, and jam to "Lonely Boy" below.

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy by MMMusic

Kate Bush

Just to be honest, i'm not really that big of a Kate Bush fan. I don't dislike her or her music or anything, i'm just no that familiar with it. I do know that without her, the Tori Amoses and Joanna Newsoms of the world would not be near as prevalent, or command the fanaticism that their fans usually exhibit. At any rate, the new record "50 Words For Snow" is pretty good, and you should definitely check out the video for a segment of the song "Misty," if not for the song, then at least for a snowman making sweet, sweet love...

Azealia Banks

Crass, dirty electro-rap comin' at you straight outta Harlem, courtesy of the lovely Azealia Banks. Here's a sample lyric: "I guess that cunt gettin' eaten." That should be all you need to know. No word yet on a proper record release, but check the awesome video for the club-ready "212" below.

Ford & Lopatin & Shannon Funchess & Tamaryn

Mexican Summer is set to churn out its 100th release, a 12" split collaborative record featuring Ford & Lopatin teaming with Shannon Funchess on one side and Tamaryn on the other. "Snakes" feels like an ominous dance floor stomper, while "Flying Dream" flows on the spacey atmospherics and haunting echoed vocals. Listen to both below and buy the record here. Here's to 100 more releases. Hooray!

MEX100 - Ford & Lopatin + Shannon Funchess + Tamaryn by Mexican Summer

Co La

Finally starting to cool down around these parts. Looks like are week and a half of winter are well on the way. But if the 50 degree nights are a little too cool for you, take a listen to the bombastic island yacht party jams from Co La's new album "Daydream Repeater" from NNA Tapes. The warm worldly drums and dance floor disco-dub tunes will take you right back to last week when it was in the 80's. Just look at that cleavage.

Co La: Daydream Repeater by alteredzones

Not Not Fun

You like weird, experimental drone, folk, psych, and dub jams don't you? Of course you do. What are you stupid? At any rate, LA's awesome record label Not Not Fun is having a sale (but 3, get 1 free), so now's the time to grab the bitchin' records you might have missed earlier like Rangers, or Peaking Lights, or Maria Minerva. So hit it up. It lasts for the rest of the year. Word.

Gobble gobble...

Happy Thanksgiving everybody. Arrive hungry...leave stuffed...

Darkside

Nicolas Jaar's latest foray into melody comes in the form of Darkside, a collaborative project with Dave Harrington. The EP melts and swoons with down tempo beats, an evil 70's disco groove, and haunting ethereal vocal snippets. Slow burning space acid trips for your consumption. Out now on Clown & Sunset, but listen to all three songs below.

It's a John Zorn Christmas

Yeah, yeah, yeah...it's not even Thanksgiving yet, and i'm talking Christmas. I am a consumer after all. At any rate, when said Christmas-related item is an album from experimental, all-around-awesome jazz composer John Zorn, there's a reason to get excited. The maestro compiles seven classic Christmas songs and two originals and features the usual ragtag group of trouble makers, including Trevor Dunn and Mike Patton. Get it from Tzadik Records and listen to a sample of "The Christmas Song" below, featuring Patton on vocals.

John Zorn - Christmas Song (Ft. Mike Patton) [Preview] by theholyfilament

Madlib and Freddie Gibbs

Hip Hop producer extraordinaire Madlib (oh he of Madvillainy and Medicine Shows) is teaming with rapper Freddie Gibbs on an upcoming EP from Stones Throw. Listen to "Thuggin" below.

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Thuggin' by Rappcats

Boy Friend

Christa Palazzolo and Sarah Brown's (formerly of Sleep ∞ Over) are set to release their debut full-length LP from their current project Boy Friend in February on the Berlin label Hell Yes Records. The dreamy, Cocteau Twins inspired jams are perfect for cold, grey, sleepy days. Listen to title track "Egyptian Wrinkle" below.

Egyptian Wrinkle by Boy Friend

Peaking Lights remixes abound

Peaking Lights (the duo responsible for one of the best, most original albums of the year "936" get the remix treatment from a bevy of different artists, from Dam Funk to Main Attrakionz to Maria Minerva. Check out Ms. Minerva's mix of "Birds of Paradise" below and then go to 936.fm to hear the others. Hooray!

Peaking Lights - Birds Of Paradise (Maria Minerva's Ooh Aah Eh Edit) by Weird World Record Co

New Keep Shelly In Athens

Here's a new jam from Keep Shelly In Athens, the title track from the upcoming "Campus Martius" EP from Planet Mu. Enjoy the pleasantness...

Keep Shelly In Athens - 'Campus Martius' by BOILER ROOM

Melancholia

If Lars Von Trier's latest film is as interesting and visually arresting as the trailer, then i am totally in for it this evening.

Hubble's Hubble

Here's a trippy video of Hubble telescope footage of the M81 galaxy with musical accompaniment from experimental artist of the same name, Hubble.

Also check out the jam "Nude Ghost" below. And get the record "Hubble Drums" from Northern Spy Records. If there's better music to take drugs and watch some cosmic opera to, i don't know what it is.

"Nude Ghost" by Hubble from the album Hubble Drums by Northern Spy Records

The Solitude of Prime Numbers

Mike Patton has always been one of our favorite musician/artists. For the last couple of decades, we've jammed everything from Faith No More to Mr Bungle to Fantomas to his work with John Zorn to his umpteenth collaboration or solo effort. And we love it. Download the opening track, "Twin Primes," from Patton's latest work from the score to Italian film "The Solitude of Prime Numbers." Kinda creepy. Kinda epic. Makes me want to see the damn movie. Get the soundtrack from Ipecac.

Leopard of Honour

Manchester's Leopard of Honour mix and swirl a lush combo of balearic synth-pop, shoegaze fuzz, 1980's other worldliness, island jammy-jams, and Mad-chester beats...and they do it all for your aural pleasure. And that's pretty sweet. Visit their Bandcamp page, procure yourself a copy of their "Palais Royal-Blue" 7" from Transparent, and listen to the B-side, "Good Wives," below.

Leopard of Honour - Good Wives by Midnite_Vulture

Suuns - Red Song

Here's the lo-fi video for Suuns' new tune "Red Song," the B-side from the 12" single "Bambi" available now from Secretly Canadian. The band's Ben Shemie explains the video making process:

"The video was shot on an old VHS recorder that we picked up on tour somewhere in the southern United States for 4 bucks, which gives it that old video look. We also grabbed a handful of old home videos and some other tapes; some self-help stuff, exercise tapes, some religious videos, and a Dragonball-Z animation. Just randomly threw the tapes in and started recording clips. Mostly it came out fuzzy or obscured. We didn't really try and select cool parts, just whatever turned up on the screen. The Dragonball-Z parts just seemed to fit well: pretty intense action scenes that are bleached out from sitting on a shelf for however many years. There appears to be a kind of resurrection scene in those clips that compliments the relatively static nature of the video."

Neato. Here's the video.

Suuns "Red Song" from Topher Manilla on Vimeo.

Pink Skull

You want funk? You want synth jams? You want killer sax solos? Of course you do. You want Pink Skull. Check out "Mu" below and grab new LP "Psychic Welfare" from RVNG Intl. You know you want to.

04 Mu by efrand

Sandwitches - In The Garden

Check out the groovy video for San Francisco's Sandwitches' jam "In The Garden," taken from this year's excellent album, "Mrs. Jones' Cookies."

The Sandwitches "In The Garden" from Ryan Browne on Vimeo.

Salem - Better Off Alone

"Witch House" mainstays Salem have a new EP, "I'm Still In The Night" due on November 22nd from IAMSOUND. Watch the video for their cover of Alice Deejay's "Better Off Alone" below.

EMA and Male Bonding cover Nirvana

EMA and Male Bonding will be releasing a split 7" in January from Rough Trade and Sub Pop featuring covers of Nirvana songs. EMA tackles the "Nevermind" bonus track "Endless, Nameless" (previously issued on the Spin "Newermind" Nirvana tribute released earlier this year), while Male Bonding take on "Aneurysm" (arguably one of the best songs Cobain ever penned). Listen to both tracks below and pre-order the record here.

EMA - Endless Nameless by holyemre

Male Bonding - Aneurysm by Brattwell Recordings

Hooray!

Holy Ghost! covers Ministry

Holy Ghost! teams with The Juan Maclean and LCD Soundsystem's Nancy Whang to deliver a very DFA take on Ministry's old synth-pop jam "I Wanted To Tell Her," courtesy of Green Label Sound. Listen below.

Holy Ghost!: I Wanted To Tell Her (Ministry Cover) by hardcandymusic

Thee Oh Sees - Carrion Crawler / The Dream

The latest release from San Francisco's Thee Oh Sees, the double EP "Carrion Crawler / The Dream" is a face-melting garage-psyche-rock groove that leaves you demanding more...More...MORE! If you've not seen these guys live yet, you are denying yourself a heaping helping of awesome. Listen to "The Dream" below and then order the record from In The Red and turn that shit up!

Thee Oh Sees - "The Dream" by rockedition

Blackout Beach

Blackout Beach is the latest project from indie-folk stalwart Carey Mercer of the band Frog Eyes. Mercer calls the new record, "a focus in abandonment - a deserter's album." Sounds bleak and awesome. "Fuck Death" is due from Dead Oceans next week. Listen to "Be Forewarned, The Night Has Come" below.

Be Forewarned, The Night has Come by Blackout Beach by DOJAGSC

Preteen Zenith

Preteen Zenith (Tim Delaughter's latest project) just announced the release of their debut 7" "Breathe" today from Good Records Recordings. Go grab it now. They are very limited. And be sure to check out the releases for Polyphonic Spree and Tripping Daisy while you're there.

In the meantime, watch the 16mm video fro "Breathe" below.

Preteen Zenith - "Breathe" from Good Records Recordings on Vimeo.

Or just listen to the jam sans visuals.

Preteen Zenith - Breathe by Good Records Recordings

Quilt

Boston's Quilt weave beautiful, folky psych jams with an almost mantra-like feel. Think if The Velvet Underground recorded an album with The Mamas And The Papas and maybe let Joe Byrd produce the whole thing, and you're approaching the right ballpark. Get the self-titled LP from Mexican Summer and sample "Penobska Oakwalk" while you're there.

New Grouper

Grouper (AKA Liz Harris) has teamed with Ilyas Ahmed for a new collaborative EP as part of Social Music's record and tape club subscription series. Going under the moniker of Visitor, the two present droney, haunting jams like we've come to expect. Listen to the unnamed opening track below and sign up for the subscription series here (it's an awesome deal that also includes releases from Ty Segall and Sir Richard Bishop; you'd be stupid not to sign up).

007 VISITOR First Song Side One by SocialMusicRecords

Video

Featuring members of The Wax Museums, Bad Sports, Wiccans, and Silver Shampoo, Denton's punk "super" group Video cram punk, garage rock, hardcore, psych-rock, and new-wave into their debut LP, "Leather Leather." A really fun ride on a record that feels classic and brand new at the same time. Get it from Play Pinball! Records. Listen to the title track below.

Leather Leather by VIDEO

Le Pecheur

London-based French psych-weirdos Le Pecheur channel the Pagan vibes into their debut LP, "Medieval Dreams," to perfection like they were a bunch of Druids in waiting. The record is due in December from Azbin Records. Watch the awesome video for "Holy Mountain" below. Rituals abound. And sample the whole album at their Bandcamp page.

Le pécheur - Holy mountain from Les images agricoles on Vimeo.

Codeine gets the reissue treatment

Reunited perennial 90's mopers Codeine are getting the catalog reissue treatment from the soul aficionados at Numero Group of all places. Look for double LP editions with tons of extras of the "Frigid Stars" and "The White Birch" LP's and the "Barely Real" EP in May. Hazaa!

Washed Out & Clams Casino

Here's another jam from Washed Out's "Amor Fati" 12". Producer extraordinaire Clams Casino handles the remixing of the title track this time out. Seriously, this guy is everywhere.

Washed Out - Call It Off by Weird World Record Co

Tennis - Origins & Deep in The Woods

Forest Family Records just keeps knocking it out of the park with each subsequent release, the latest from Denver's Tennis (who gave us last year's "Marathon" which was easily one of the best jams of 2010). The duo keeps the infectious 60's jangly throwback pop alive with the new double A-side 7". Check out "Origins" below and pre-order the record here.

Origins by tennisinc

Ga'an

Ga'an make heady prog rock just tailor made for horror film scores. This is the best description i could find:

"A steel Hydra coiling and snapping from the undifferentiated sludge of contemporary music, an enigmatic troubadour staying for a night at the inn of this reality, regaling us with uncanny ballads about the chaos without so that we can writhe in gorgeous nightmares when we go to bed. They take off like Magma, into the heart of darkness like Goblin."

Pretty fucking awesome huh? Anyway, listen to all the tunes from their first album below, then head over to 20JFG to listen to and download the new jam, "Arms Can Speak."

From Captcha Records.

Ga'an - Ga'an by Records On Ribs

Heavy D RIP

Just lost another one of the good guys. We "got nuttin' but love" for ya Heavy.

Doldrums

Check out the wacky, melancholy world-psych-pop-rock from Doldrums' "Empire Sound" EP. Fun stuff. Get it from No Pain In Pop.

Doldrums: Empire Sounds by alteredzones

TV Casualty

While we're all pooping on Danzig because of the Fun Fun Fun Fest temper tantrum, rush over to Matador to grab a copy of the TV Casualty charity 7". The Ted Leo fronted Misfits tribute band brought it out for a bitchin' 10 minutes on Sunday and just lit up the park. Grab the 7" fast. There were only 200 pressed and it's for a good charity.

Joe Frazier RIP

Goodnight champ.

Twin Sister & Balam Acab

Check out this lovely remix of Twin Sister's Kimmi In A Rice Field" from Balam Acab. You can also download it below. That guy is fucking magic.

Twin Sister - Kimmi in a Rice Field (Balam Acab Remix) by DominoRecordCo

Fun Fun Fun Fest 6 Day 3 no pics

Since captain dumbass (read me) forgot to put a charged battery in his camera this morning, there are no pics, so you'll just have to use your imagination.

Awesome: More free beer, No Bunny, the eternal 1970's soundtrack that is The Budos Band, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists performing for 10 minutes as The Misfits (read why here) and gaining a new fan (namely, this guy), a Brian Posehn sighting, Henry Rollins officiating a wedding, Hum performing "Stars," and motherfucking Slayer!

Since there are no pics, just imagine the banging, twirling heads of hair at Cannibal Corpse, picture the snot-nosed trouble makers of Odd Future, and here's a picture of Danzig buying catfood and kitty litter.

Until next year FFF Fest. Let's try to limit our "humorless midget divas" next year.

Fun Fun Fun Fest 6 Day 2 pics

And the dust said, "fuck you right back." Wind and dirt...black glass boogers plaguing with some respiratory illness looming on the horizon. A small price to pay for music and beer.

Awesome: a ton of great bands and performances, a complete animatronic backing band for Captured By Robots, and Paige did some straight pimpin' with Smart Car to score some free P.I.P. upgrades (which means the beer was free...Free...FREE!).

Here's some pics:

Keep Shelly In Athens

Keep Shelly In Athens

Active Child

Purity Ring

Captured By Robots

World Inferno Friendship Society (or, Devotchka...but with balls)

Wugazi

Dan Deacon (he's in there somewhere)

M83

Girls

Childish Gambino (AKA Donald Glover)

Lykke Li

Lykke Li

The Damned

And more tomorrow...