Because if you didn't read it here, you'd read it somewhere else, Portland's own Thermals have dished on themselves and the details surrounding their upcoming full-length, Now We Can See. The occasion, apparently, was the removal from their MySpace page of demo versions of songs planned for the album in an effort to avoid "demo-itis" (see the "dished" link for more). The band lists fifteen tracks in all as being in the can, the whole of them recorded outside of the glittering hub-bub of the RoseCity in the calm, quiet environs of Oregon City (presumably next to an old building and/or one or two rivers). The release is tentatively scheduled for the spring of '09 on a to-be-determined label, with some to-be-determined show dates happening somewhere in between.
•Elsewhere, in case you missed it since they did little to no pre-promotion, British band Bloc Party (self-described as an "autonomous unit of un-extraordinary kids reared on pop culture between the years of 1976 and the present day, nailing down what so many of us were trying to place about ourselves in the process) digitally released their third album recently, entitled Mercury. Those of you ordering will get the virtual version directly from the band now, and the physical copy 'round about October 28th. No MP3s yet, but they did recently preview a few songs for the BBC's 6Music.
•The now hairier Death Cab for Cutie have a new video for Narrow Stairs' standout track, "Cath." If you watch and think you've seen this territory covered before by the likes of A Different World, among others-- WAIT FOR IT!-- suprise ending! Or is it?
Via AOL's Spinner...
•Finally, apropos of nothing aside from the fact that Johnny Marr's now in another band, and the fact that his first band is the best band ever, how about a walk down Smiths memory lane with Morrissey and Marr on children's TV. "Why do you hold flowers when you sing?," asks a young chap. Why, indeed...
I know, you want more...
•OK, one more thing-- watch for our in-studio session with the Portland band Tea For Julie later this week here on the website. It seemed like a good omen when frontman Michael Deresh was off-handedly playing the Stone Roses' "I Wanna Be Adored," during his warm-up and the band didn't disappoint, turning in a tight set of songs from the long-awaited second release, The Sense in Tying Knots. Safe to say, Tea For Julie shouldn't be an "unsigned" band for long.
As you were, the week is young yet.
August 27, 2008 at 4:07pm by gunky
2 points going back to last weekends "The Week Ahead" Blog, both essentially responding to IMOJP
First, I'm all over that Issa Bagayogo-- already been out looking for it, since I first heard it on opbmusic about a week ago. So I'm voting for more. Unpopular? I sure hope not. I gave it 5 stars in my ratings, and heck, doesn't my taste apply to everyone? Among other things, it's nice to get a bit more ethnic change of pace in your otherwise great show. It's actually one of the things I still miss from "eclecticity" (I know, get over it).
Second, .... um... what's this about a mid-week show? Apologies, I checked out for a couple weeks, this being summer and the weather being fabuloso and all. Not sure what you have in mind but it sounds good to me. Something thematic, perhaps?
August 29, 2008 at 4:00am by Jeremy Petersen
You'd have to ask InMemoryofJohnPeel about the mid-week show, that's his idea. What I do know is that the opbmusic "army," as it were, is pretty busy with what we're currently doing-- not to say that there aren't some exciting changes coming up. Besides, you know, you can listen here mid-week, and early- week and late-week....
Noted on the Issa Bagayogo-- as I said, I really like his vintage sound. From the looks of the user ratings you're not alone in digging him.
August 30, 2008 at 2:49pm by bendlistener
Thanks for the old Smiths videos, brings back pleasant memories. I went to a few shows back in the day in NYC and Morrissey and Marr never danced together; as that song wound down the band would leave the stage one by one until only the drummer was left and then the crowd would fill in the stage around him, still playing as the house lights came on. Very dramatic but the dancing is more fun.
August 30, 2008 at 5:06pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
I was at the Smith's star showing, open-air, City of London blocks. The then govt. of UK was against the Greater London Council free concert. Mysteriously, despite many thousands of police, a gap opened up at the north entry and 100s of chain-wielding skinheads ran amok through the crowd of all ages, knocking people to the ground and ending the event. I had an elevated view from 50 ft up, these things went unreported in the USA according to my then contacts here.
There is always a personal, social or political subtext to music.
August 30, 2008 at 6:51pm by Jeremy Petersen
Well I'm envious of you both-- I've seen Morrissey do "Shoplifters of the World" and Marr with The The, but would give up large sums of money or semi-vital organs to see The Smiths live in their hey-day. Great first person accounts from both of you.
Very true about those subtexts, which is, I guess, why music is such a subjective thing from one person to another. Were these skinheads doing this because it was The Smiths and their fans, or just because? I'm oversimplifying a bit, but it strikes me as the exact opposite of hearing Billy Bragg's account of seeing The Clash at Rock Against Racism in east London in 1978.
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