Inspired by a story in the L.A. Weekly, detailing Maureen Yancey’s (a.k.a Ma Dukes) dedication to her ailing son, producer and hip hop luminary J Dilla who passed away from a rare blood disease in 2006, Orlando’s Solillaquists of Sound have announced the release of “Death of The Muse.” The track, which features J Live, Chali 2na and Ma Dukes, will be available to fans through online merchant Insound for a minimum donation of $2.
Year: 2008
Patrick Bower: Beach Closed
Mention Patrick Bower and chances are few will know the name. After all, his recent self-released album Beach Closed is his first solo outing. His story, though, begins ten years ago while still living in Bloomington, IN and later, Indianapolis, fronting the shamefully overlooked Even Homer Nods (later shortened to The Nods). After a botched East Coast tour due to the tour van nearly exploding, he relocated to Brooklyn and shortly thereafter began his current project, The World Without Magic.
Paint it Black, Big Drill Car Confirmed for Riot Fest 2008
Chicago’s Riot Fest has just gotten even more riotous! The annual punk festival has recently added Philadelphia hardcore quartet Paint it Black and a rare appearance from influential pop-punk group Big Drill Car to the 2008 edition of their annual festival taking place October 10-12.
The Album Leaf’s Drew Andrews to Release Solo Album
On November 4, Drew Andrews, best known as guitarist/keyboardist with San Diego ambient post-rock crew, The Album Leaf, will release an his debut solo album, Only Mirrors on Minty Fresh. In preparation for the record’s release , Andrews will play a string of West Coast dates with Magnetic Morning (formerly The Setting Suns) featuring Swervedriver’s Adam Franklin and Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino.
Weekly Burlesque: Miss Coney Island 2008
It’s Gal Friday!
The Miss Coney Island Pageant of the Millenium is a burlesque of a beauty pageant with sideshow performers and burlesque dancers. The first one was created by Bambi the Mermaid, co-producer of the Burlesque at the Beach series, and of course she won, and received her crown while all the rest of us had a catfight on the stage behind her.
Sonic Youth Signs to Matador Records
Sonic Youth have turned heads once again when they announced they will release a new album, their 16th full-length, on mega-indie Matador Records in 2009. The record, which they will begin recording this fall, will mark their first album the four-piece has put out on an independent label since signing with Geffen Records in 1990.
Our New Favorite TV Rap Critic: MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann
An Albatross Unleashes Tune Off New Album
Wilkes-Barre, PA’s An Albatross has leaked their latest single “Floodgates Released,” off of their upcoming second album, An Albatross Family Album, out October 21 Via Eyeball Records. The five-piece has developed a steadily growing following due to their incendiary live shows and for their penchant for twisting noise-rock, punk, and jazz into a glittery, psychedelic circus. Check out the link below, or hear it in the always fabulous ALARM Magazine Playlist.
Merge Records set to release 20th anniversary box set
To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Merge Records, which has brought us the likes of Arcade Fire and Spoon, is releasing a box set throughout 2009. The limited quantity, which includes special artwork and packaging, is only available to those who subscribe to it first on the label’s website.
Raveonettes Release New EP, 3 More By Year’s End
In an effort to unveil new sonic directions, Danish noir-pop duo The Raveonettes will be releasing 4 EPs by the end of 2008. The first one, out now, is free! and the only way to hear it is to download it from Vice Music.
Tenth Annual Voodoo Experience Kicks Off In October
Now that trepidations of Hurricane Gustav have pretty much fizzled away and New Orleans is safe and sound, the 10th annual Voodoo Experience music festival will be kicking off in full swing. With over 130 acts gracing the its 6 stages, the festival will be taking place October 24-26 in the Big Easy’s historic City Park. Acts include Nine Inch Nails, The Mars Volta, Lil Wayne, TV On The Radio, N*E*R*D, The Butthole Surfers, Stone Temple Pilots, R.E.M., Cold War Kids, and Tokyo Police Club, among others.
The Sea And Cake Launch Tour
Indie-softcore outfit The Sea And Cake have announced the dates to their upcoming fall tour. Capitalizing off the success of last year’s Everybody, the tour will be in support of the band’s new album, Car Alarm, which is their eighth studio full-length. The album finds The Sea And Cake doing what they do best – crafting soft singalongs over languid guitars riffs, pulsing bass lines, and hypnotic drumbeats.