This was recorded last month at the 1st “No Junk!” rummage sale and music concert.

This new-but-not collaboration between Robby Moncrieff and Zach Hill is available from the wonderful Porter Records.

And just because,

Did you know that there are people who stand deathly still during performances of dance-rock bands and video-record the majority of the live set with their iPod Nanos? To what end, I will never know.

Here’s Mahmoud Ahmed:

Sort of amazing that that last one features him playing before Akon at some super bangin club in Atlanta just a few years ago.

Click the dancing baby to download a nice compilation of tracks, one a piece, from Flows 1 through 14.

Here’s a classic that I have been listening to and watching pretty much nonstop for the past week.

From TERROREYES.TV. This track is not on the “May Peace Bewitch You” tape, but it’s Michael in his element to the fullest.

Here’s a teaser of what each of the four panels on the “Sacramento Split” will look like. This is not the ACTUAL cover. This is currently on its way to getting mastered. The songs that will exist in this future wax are shockingly good.

ANTN HRKWK’s “Thoroughbred” LP is sold out in Japan. Maybe you guys should check this slept-on hit-in-waiting? Cut-up fragments of sound assembled with masterful precision in Final Cut Pro into glitchy workouts equally perfect for the treadmill or the club. Here are two MP3s to listen to while you think about the decisions you make in life:

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And here is the video for “Green Bricks” if you haven’t seen it yet:

This will be on the aforementioned double 7″ split

First: “It’s Not Just Kissing” by French Quarter is now out. If you preordered it, it will be out in the mail tomorrow (Friday the 21st). You will get it soon thereafter.

Here is a picture of what it will look like when you hold it up against the backdrop of your living space:

I saw French Quarter play a set of mostly songs from this LP last night and it was really not only the strongest performance I’ve ever seen from Stephen and his boys, but one of my favorite band-watching experiences in recent memory. These songs have such a propulsive, kinetic rhythm that allows them to stay grounded while Stephen sings and plays guitar, both actions full of a rare passion and flair that is truly expressive in a way that kind of puts French Quarter at the top of their, and maybe some of their contemporaries’, games.

If you want to purchase the record, you have until Saturday morning to buy the record at the “nice” preorder price — though, be aware that you will not be receiving a zine at this point as they have all been accounted for. After Saturday morning the record will be for sale post-paid to the US for a fair $12. This includes an insert and a CD of all the album tracks.

Also, go see FRENCH QUARTER on tour with MARRIED IN BERDICHEV:
May 21 – San Luis Obispo, CA – 3069 Broad St.
May 22 – Oakland, CA – Fort Gallery
May 23 – Sacramento, CA – The Hub
May 24 – Arcata, CA – The Green House
May 25 – Portland, OR – The Artistery
May 26 – Portland, OR – Stank House
May 27 – Seattle, WA – 20/20 Cycles
May 28 – Olympia, WA – Thee Gold House
May 29 – Bismarck, ND – HELP BOOK
May 30 – Fargo, ND – HELP BOOK
June 1 – Minneapolis, MN – TBA
June 2 – Iowa City, IA – HELP BOOK
June 3 – Chicago, IL – Ball Hall
June 4 – Grand Rapids, MI – DAAC
June 5 – Ann Arbor, MI
June 6 – Oberlin, OH – TBA
June 7 – Buffalo, NY – HELP BOOK
June 8 – Worcester, MA – Distant Castle
June 9 – Brooklyn, NY – Market Hotel
June 10 – Brooklyn, NY – Bruar Falls
June 11 – Philadelphia, PA – Castle Gay
June 12 – Washington DC – The Smithsonian Institute
June 13 – Baltimore, MD – Jesus Camp
June 14 – Charlottesville, VA – TBA
June 15 – Asheville, NC – HELP BOOK
June 16 – Athens, GA – The Hanger
June 17 – Nashville, TN – HELP BOOK
June 18 – St. Louis, MO – HELP BOOK
June 19 – Lawrence, KS – Drew’s House
June 20 – Denver, CO – Rhinoceropolis
June 21 – Albuquerque, NM – Gold House
June 22 – Flagstaff, AZ – TBA

If you can help them, email Stephen here.

Second: If that’s not enough for you, Dash Jacket’s “Romance” is out tomorrow in beautiful CD digipak. There will be a record release party tomorrow night to commemorate this debut disc, here are the details in picture form:

This show is at UC Irvine, in Irvine, California, USA. “Romance” can be purchased at this show for an excruciatingly cheap $5. Plus, Box Elders from Omaha will shred, Wild Thing from San Francisco will shred, and The Light Rays from our very own Costa Mesa have always shredded. For more information as to exactly where at UC Irvine this show is, you can go to the “Acrobatics Everyday” website.

Dash Jacket have crafted an excellent and strong album: no gimmicks: two people playing two instruments, no pretension, no image. Some of the catchiest, warmest music that you will hear this year.

Likewise, you’ll have till Saturday morning to get this post-paid to the US for $7. After that, it’ll be $8 shipped.

Lastly, I’m working on adding buttons for international orders since that is clearly a problematic area. Bear with me for time being and just shoot me an email if you want to figure out shipping costs to your country — generally it is an extra $8 USD for shipping to Europe. An extra dollar or so should get it to Canada.

OK, phew, that’s all for right now.

Dude

Some updates:

• Dash Jacket’s “Romance” will be released on May 21 at this show at UC Irvine. If you come to this show, you can buy the album for a measly $5. Proprinted digipak CD for $5! After this it will be available for $8ppd on this very site.
• Pregnant’s “Regional Music” and Kites Sail High’s “Alone/Secrets” are going to be mastered imminently and then pressed. The split double 7″ will be heading out soon thereafter. All three should be ready sometime in June! French Quarter LPs will ship in a week!
• A new release to look forward to sometime in 2010: an eclectic compilation of contemporary artists’ takes on the hits of the 1990s. I am pretty thrilled about this.

Best song ever?

and perhaps king of them all:

If I can get two REALLY compelling covers of this song, consider it a 7″.

Zach Hill – Green Bricks. Coming in June on a double 7″ gatefold package with contributions from Mason Lindahl, Ellie Fortune, and Raleigh Moncrief on the other 3 sides. Preorder is up with a lowered price!

I rest my case.

Also, visibly playing guitar in the video (unlike Erik Woodard, who’s not shown) is Michael RJ Saalman, whose new album under his solo “Woman Year” moniker is out today.

Furthermore: I realized I hadn’t “announced” that the Kites Sail High 12″ “Alone” is no longer a 1-sided EP; it’s now a full-length LP packing together 2 different but totally yin-yang EPs into 1 fully-balanced LP. Get pumped! Preorders are live for that too! Going to be available in late May.

And: all preorders for Pregnant’s “Regional Music” get a free copy of his 2009 Life’s Blood cassette MASTERPIECE “Liquidation On Swans.”

Lastly: a huge congratulations to Daniel of Pregnant on the birth of his daughter Juniper!