by Jane Lambert

Pavement to Release Greatest Hits Album

This year should be deemed the “Year of Pavement.” Every indie kid’s dream is that one day the classic band would reunite and of course, now that it’s happening and they’re going on a worldwide tour, what possibly could get us more into the mood? Matador Records has just the thing to hold us over until then. The label will be releasing Quarantine The Past: The Best Of Pavement on March 9 and will feature 23 songs spanning the band’s 10 year career. The album will be a double LP and CD, and the treble kicker is that Matador is making the fans guess what the tracklisting is, with the exception of the first song, “Gold Soundz.” If you figure out the right songs on the record, you have a chance to win some awesome prizes like a trip to see Pavement play in Central Park, New York City! Check out the concert details below and head to Matador Records to enter!

From Matador

We are holding a Guess The Track Listing Contest. The album contains 23 tracks, all previously released, and the first track is “Gold Soundz” (MP3 of remastered version below). Prizes will be awarded as follows:

FIRST PRIZE for the track listing closest to the actual track listing
SECOND PRIZE for the most imaginative track listing
FOUR RUNNERS-UP in either of the above two categories (4 runner-up prizes total)

First prize will be a pair of tickets, with flights and hotel rooms, to see Pavement at Central Park Summerstage on Tuesday, September 21, 2009. Plus a complete set of Pavement Matador 12″ vinyl.

Second prize will be having your track listing pressed up in a special limited-edition vinyl double LP for Record Store Day (April 17). You will receive 5 copies of your best of selection. Plus a complete set of Pavement Matador 12″ vinyl.

Runner-up prizes will be complete sets of Pavement Matador 12″ vinyl.

…A few more clues: 3 pre-Matador tracks are included, plus one song that originally came out on a compilation. Every Matador album is represented, plus Watery, Domestic.

Deadline for entries is 2 weeks from today: TUESDAY, JANUARY 19.

Entry is open to anyone worldwide, with the exception of those listed under the contest rules and restrictions.

01.05.10

by Jane Lambert

Vampire Weekend Return with “Contra”

I’m not going to lie. I never ever thought they’d be able to do it. It seemed nearly impossible. It would be too hard. Oh what am I mumbling about you ask? Vampire Weekend. That’s right, the band is back to prove me wrong that they’d never truly survive the dreaded ’sophomore’ slump. It’s nearly as if Ezra Koenig and the boys tried to prove me wrong on purpose. I’ve been defeated.

Vampire Weekend is set to release their second record, Contra (XL), next week, January 12, and has everyone at the edge of their seats. Starting off is the first single “Horchata” that could have easily been on their debut record, as it picks off where the last ended off. Though at the second track “White Sky,” we really start to see some progression in the band’s sound. Koenig’s voice is easily infectious in this song, and the harmonies and ending are nothing less than dreamy….I’m already hooked. “Holiday,” sounds exactly like it should; a beach song filled with melodies that make you want to get up and dance around the room. I may or may not be doing that right now. The band has mentioned that they took influences from ska bands such as Operation Ivy, and it really shows.

Autotune takes over in a new direction for the band on the shortest song on the album, “California English.” It takes a few listens to get used to this one, but in time, it starts to grow on you and the band is really determined to defend this one. “It doesn’t sound like T-Pain. There’s plenty of music from around the world using Autotune besides American Pop,” states Koenig. “Taxi Cab” and “Run,” show the more mature side of Vampire Weekend and it suits them. What we’re seeing here is a band trying to grow up, and they’re doing it well. Not only music wise, but also in lyrics such as in “Taxi Cab” which carry the words ”In the shadow of your first attack, I was questioning and looking back; You said baby we don’t speak of that; like a real aristocrat.” A true step from their prior work. “Run,” which brings out the musical maturity of the band is filled with unforgettable drums that rhythm keeper Christopher Tomson is quite proud of. “On this song, I experimented with certain rhythms that I avoided on the first record. I like how this song alternates between heavy, Rock-like choruses and reggaeton verses,” he says. I’m with him on this.

The next song brings us to “Cousins,” which was recordeded in Mexico City and has to be one of the most fun songs written in the past five years. The next track “Giving Up the Gun,” follows right in it’s footsteps making it a non stop indie dance party right in your own bedroom. “Diplomat’s Son,” continues the event with an explosion of reggae beats that seemingly fit the album like a glove. Closing out the experience is “I Think UR a Contra,” which is the most mellow song the band has ever recorded and it uses acoustic guitars and string sections. It’s a beautiful ending to this extremely surprising album. Vampire Weekend is going to be one of the most used names this year, so sit back and get comfortable with Contra. It’s going to be a long ride.

Vampire Weekend is also letting you stream the whole album on their Myspace starting yesterday afternoon. Give it a listen!

01.05.10

by jill ettinger

Bill Laswell’s Back to Mess With You, Releases “Praxis” in January 2011

If there are two things music should probably always be, it’s eclectic and experimental, or more commonly known as: Bill Laswell. The legendary producer and musician has been responsible for more magic than you likely know, unless you are lucky enough to be in the know in which case you can skip past this next sentence. Tabla Beat Science, Gigi, Sting, Herbie Hancock, John Zorn, Jah Wobble, Bootsy Collins, Sly & Robbie, Ginger Baker, Bob Marley and freaking Miles Davis have all worked with Laswell or been lucky enough to have him do dirty, sexy, H O T things to their songs even the most adventurous couples never attempt in the bedroom.

Laswell, alongside fellow weirdos Buckethead and Brains equals Praxis, the hard rock mania a la Zappa gone wild style. Their new album, Profanation: Preparation for a Coming Darkness features a who’s who in freakland including Wu Tang’s Killah Priest, System of A Down’s Serj Tankian, master of madness front man of Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk and Peeping Tom, Mike Patton, and the Duracell battery of punk rock himself: Iggy Pop.

Due for release stateside on January 25th 2011, consider Profanation: Preparation for a Coming Darkness the apocalyptic sign we’ve all been fearing, but strangely enough, it’s actually going to be a really delicious and amusing Armageddon.