The Pitchfork News/reviews thread

Warp Records, the English electronic music/experimental rock powerhouse, turns 20 this year, and the label is marking the occasion in some big ways. Before the year is out, Warp will release both a retrospective box set and an interactive greatest-hits album, and they'll throw parties on three different continents.

For most of its history, Warp was known mainly as an IDM label, the place where Aphex Twin and Autechre and Plaid and LFO and Boards of Canada all cranked out their alternately jittery and placid beat symphonies. In recent years, the label has branched out into more instrument-based fare like Grizzly Bear and !!!. According to a Warp rep, one of the releases the label plans for its 20th anniversary is "a deluxe box set featuring previously unreleased archive material from some of the label's best-known artists." I'm really hoping the box runs chronologically, so we'll get, like, three discs of jackhammer drum-machines phasing between speaker channels before, I don't know, Maxïmo Park shows up out of nowhere.

The label also plans to release a compilation album, with ten tracks chosen by fan voting (the rest will be picked by Warp founder co-founder Steve Beckett). At this website, you can vote for which songs will make the cut. As I'm writing this, the Boards of Canada track "Happy Cycling" tops the list. There's also a Vincent Gallo track in the top ten, something I have to imagine won't stand for too long. (I'm thisclose to launching a voting campaign for Aphex's "Avril 14th".) If you like, you can leave "personal messages and memories" about the songs you're picking, and they might make it into the album's packaging. ("Dude, I got so stoned jamming on 'Bucephalus Bouncing Ball', you don't even know.") Warp plans to release the album this fall.

The label is also planning big events in five cities around the world. Thus far, they've only announced details for one of them. In Paris, on May 8-9, a gang of Warp acts will perform at the Cite de la Musique. Thus far, the lineup looks like a monster: Aphex Twin & Hecker, !!!, Pivot, Andrew Weatherall, and DJ Mujava, with more acts to be announced. There will also be a homecoming party in Sheffield, England in August. And the label also plans "music, film, and art installation events" in New York (July), London (September), and Tokyo (November).


SWEET!

that sounds amazing

i'd rather read something that thinks exactly like i do

Robert Smith's blog?

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Originally Posted by bmack86

Robert Smith's blog?

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haha.

So the drummer from the Black Keys is playing bass in a different band called Drummer?

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Originally Posted by stinkbutt

So the drummer from the Black Keys is playing bass in a different band called drummer?

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What????

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-- Now that Black Keys singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach (beard) has his own solo album, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney (glasses) is working on his own side project, according to Entertainment Weekly. It's a new band called Drummer featuring (um) drummers from Ohio bands. Ironically, Carney plays bass in Drummer. They have a couple gigs lined up for May.

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I applaud the creation of this thread.

I also like the YYYs review as it echoes my own thoughts. I may have given it a 7.85, but that's just me.

Santigold to Tour America With Full Band!

That definitely makes the upcoming SF date more enticing.

I approve of this thread as well. If anything... it should be spicy.

I just one minute ago read the YYY's great review and I'm very happy. That's basically the first good review they've given to an LP by that band.

I think that Serge Gainsbourg album most definitely deserves a 10.0 rating. It's a fantastic record. I can't believe it's never been issued in the US before.

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Santigold Works With Beasties, Byrne

When Santigold isn't rehearsing for her upcoming full band tour of North America, she's laying down vocals on upcoming albums by the Beastie Boys and David Bryne, according to Billboard.com. This officially makes her the hottest instant-relevance catalyst for older NYC heavies circa 2009. (Billboard.com also reports that she's been working with Pharrell on new music.)

In other news, David Byrne is apparently recording a new album. Happy Friday.

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FUCK YES!

fuck pitchfork. RHCP

Interesting.

According to an Associated Press report, Google has teamed up with all four remaining major labels and a few indies to offer a huge amount of music for free download in China: "The advertising-supported service will offer 1.1 million tracks, including the full catalogues of Chinese and Western music for Warner Music Group Corp., EMI Group Ltd., Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music and 14 independent labels, the companies said. It will be limited to use by computers whose Internet protocol, or IP, addresses show they are in mainland China."

For Google and the record labels involved, this represents a massive effort to curb rampant music piracy within the country. According to the Chinese government, the country has 300 million internet users, the AP reports, and these companies want these people to start buying music. So, naturally, they're offering all of their stuff for free.

Google will sell advertising on its download site, Top100.cn, and split revenues with the labels. The AP also reports that the site will adhere to Chinese censorship standards.

So...anyone know how to fake a Chinese IP address?

How dare Pitchfork give a good album like Hush the same score as a bad one one like the new PB&J?

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Originally Posted by Boourns

How dare Pitchfork give a good album like Hush the same score as a bad one one like the new PB&J?

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bullshit peter bjorn and john should have gotten a much better review.

Pitchfork belongs to satin

u know whats bullshit!? a bull taking a shit! fucking bullshit

Yay for new Joanna Newsom! Bryan where are you? I hope she puts out a new album this year.

Bryan, where would Ys sit in your best of the 00s?

There's no way Joanna doesn't put out her new album this year, I'm guessing late summer... but hopefully earlier!

I can't wait to hear these new songs though, I'm wondering if there's some sort of bootleg out there.

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Originally Posted by luckyface

Who the fuck cares if something gets labeled "Best New Music"?

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http://brandonoliver.files.wordpress...-adams-n02.jpg

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Originally Posted by wmgaretjax

Yay for new Joanna Newsom! Bryan where are you? I hope she puts out a new album this year.

Bryan, where would Ys sit in your best of the 00s?

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I would have gone to that had I known what it was.

Gone to what? What are you people referencing? The first mention of Joanna Newsom in this thread is "Yay for Joanna Newsom!"

Joanna Newsom played Big Sur the other day under the alias "The Beatles's"

and i bet it was AMAZING

And the weird thing is it was at the Fernwood Resort which is the little place I'm camping at when I go see the Animals in May.

yeah fuck you

Does anyone know whether or not that Danger Mouse and Sparlehorse thing is an April fools joke? Sounds pretty sweet.

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Originally Posted by wmgaretjax

Yay for new Joanna Newsom! Bryan where are you? I hope she puts out a new album this year.

Bryan, where would Ys sit in your best of the 00s?

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I was so angry when I found out that I could have technically made this show. Yeah...

Ys is in my top 10 for the decade. Without a doubt. I'm going to have to sit with Veckatimest for a while longer, and I have to parse out how I think those two sit in relation to Kid A, but it's at least top 3 at this point. Every time I listen to it, I don't think about anything else.