Franz Nicolay: Episode 1

Franz Nicolay Today, we’ve got a brand new set of tour diaries coming from Franz Nicolay, multi-instrumentalist and member of The Hold Steady and World/Inferno Friendship Society. The shows are in support of his newly released debut. The record is titled Major General and his band features Brian Viglione (Dresden Dolls), Yula Be’eri (ex-World/Inferno), & Jared Scott (Demander). Other guests include Peter Hess (Balkan Beat Box) and lyrics on two songs by Jack Terricloth (World/Inferno).

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Bomb The Music Industry! announce rarities album

New York’s Bomb the Music Industry! has announced that they are releasing an album of previous vinyl-only material. Others! Others! Volume 1 was announced by singer/guitarist/songwriter/head honcho Jeff Rosenstock on their myspace page and will be released for free/download on Quote Unquote Records on May 7, 2009.

Bomb The Music Industry released Scrambles this past February.
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The Casting Out apologizes for reuniting Creed

The Casting Out have issued a statement apologizing for reunited much derided “modern rock” act Creed. The band includes Nathan Grey of Boy Sets Fire who were labelmates with Creed on WindUp Records at one point:

Initially, The Casting Out tried to ignore the facts, but it has become apparent that they are indeed responsible for re-uniting Creed, and they offer their sincere apology to everyone who will be hurt by this action. Referring to Easter as “Zombie Jesus Day” started off innocent enough; a simple joke amongst friends that was thought to be harmless banter. However, it didn’t take long for creed to re-unite and embark on their new crusade.

Nathan Gray, lead singer, said, “Apparently we have learned nothing since the time of Moses.” Jack Fusco, lead guitar, went on to say, “I don’t want to go higher, I don’t want to go anywhere.” I think he speaks for us all.

The band has also issued video apologies from Nathan and Jack.

The group released Go Crazy! Throw Fireworks! this year.
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Atreyu enters the studio

Orange County’s Atreyu have entered Henson Studios in Los Angeles with producer Bob Marlette to begin work on their follow up to 2007’s Lead Sails Paper Anchor. Vocalist Alex Varkatzas had this to say:

We started as a heavy hardcore band and I think we’ve gotten away from that in recent years. The last record, for example, showcased us as a rock band with heavy parts. With this record, we want to return to our roots while also continuing to move forward. It’s about finding the right balance between the two.

The songs definitely have a dark, heavier feel and I think the current climate has a lot to do with that. Personally, I just feel…angry and it’s coming out in the music. Failed bailouts, unemployment on the rise, troops still in Iraq – I watch all this stuff on the news and it carries over to the sessions. It gets me fired up.

The album will be their second for Hollywood Records.
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Matador (un)loses vinyl masters in pressing plant bankruptcy

The Guardian is reporting that Matador Records has lost many of their vinyl masters due to the bankruptcy of 33 1/3 – a vinyl pressing company – in 2006.

Among them were albums by Mogwai, Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, Pavement, The New Pornographers and others. Matador’s director of production, Jesper Eklow, told Comcast News:

We lost everything. The doors were locked due to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy. [The label lost] pretty much everything up to May 2006. Some titles prove difficult to reissue unless we go back and basically remaster the albums from scratch. It’s a slow, expensive and quite an annoying process.

There shouldn’t really be any titles that we couldn’t ever bring back but the question of course would be if it’s worth spending a lot of money on remastering and reprinting components we already should have on hand on certain titles. The money lost on the 33 1/3 adventure is quite substantial.

Update: Though the Guardian story was published just this week, Matador has sent out an update indicating that things are just fine now. The label has made new masters since then and are re-pressing records now.
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Matador loses vinyl masters in pressing plant bankruptcy

The Guardian is reporting that Matador Records has lost many of their vinyl masters due to the bankruptcy of 33 1/3 – a vinyl pressing company – in 2006.

Among them were albums by Mogwai, Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, Pavement, The New Pornographers and others. Matador’s director of production, Jesper Eklow, told Comcast News:

We lost everything. The doors were locked due to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy. [The label lost] pretty much everything up to May 2006. Some titles prove difficult to reissue unless we go back and basically remaster the albums from scratch. It’s a slow, expensive and quite an annoying process.

There shouldn’t really be any titles that we couldn’t ever bring back but the question of course would be if it’s worth spending a lot of money on remastering and reprinting components we already should have on hand on certain titles. The money lost on the 33 1/3 adventure is quite substantial.

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The Lemonheads

The Lemonheads have announced a tour this June in support of their forthcoming debut for The End Records. The first release with the label will be the long-delayed covers album first promised in 2006. As originally announced, will feature covers of Wire, Leonard Cohen, Christina Aguilera, Fuckemos and more. Guest performances include vocals from actress Liv Tyler on Leonard Cohen’s “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye,” and model Kate Moss guests on Arling & Cameron’s “Dirty Robot.”

The record, titled Varshons, is due out June 23, 2009.
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