Extremely simple to make and explosively delicious. This is a Su-Mei Yu recipe. The ingredients can vary. I used one cucumber, some mint leaves, a minced birdseye chile, and a minced scallion. The dressing is made of fish sauce cooked down with sea salt, white sugar and palm sugar, then mixed with lime juice. Dried shrimp are put on top, and the whole thing sits for 10 minutes before eating.

(A.C. Newman pic from Move Mountain’s Flickr page)

The final disc of the New Pornographers Buy Early Get Now promotion, the Challengers ‘Executive Edition’ box set, is now ready for download and burning.

You will get both videos (“Challengers” and “Myriad Harbour”) along with tons and tons of photos: air-guitar-ing candids, set-lists, cover art mockups, and a massive collection of live photos.

For those of you who didn’t get into this the first time, a limited number of Challengers box sets are still available:

Buy from the Matador Store

or from your favorite local retailer.

If you already have the regular edition of Challengers on CD or LP, you can upgrade to the box set – see the option in the Store above (or at your local retailer).

Preorder the Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks album ‘Real Emotional Trash’ (out March 4) now, and a get an instant stream along with two exclusive B-sides, an entire live show and a poster.

Visit the buyearlygetnow.com website to register. You start by preordering the album from a participating retailer – click the location on the map closest to you, or just order from the Matador Store – and you will get a username and password. Go back to buyearlygetnow.com to log in, download the stream, and get your extras on the site over the next few weeks.

On March 4 you pick up the album and poster from your local retailer or receive it in the mail. Simple and straightforward.

(pic courtesy KEXP)

Fri 01/25/08 Portland OR Doug Fir Lounge
Sat 01/26/08 Seattle WA Neumos
Wed 01/30/08 Bellingham WA Western Washing University – Underground Coffeehouse
Thu 01/31/08 Vancouver BC Media Club

When considering the city of Baltimore, we often think of Edgar Allen Poe, Ray Lewis, Bayliss & Pembleton, Boog Powell, Art Donovan, John Waters, “The Wire” or perhaps the fantastic Randy Newman song, “Baltimore”.

With full respect to all of the above, going forward, we might think of the fantastic new song by Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, also entitled, “Baltimore” (mp3, taken from the forthcoming CD/LP ‘Real Emotional Trash’)

No square inch of scenery left to chew, no square inch of Shatner’s ass to kiss, and no clips of the interview on YouTube yet, but one can enjoy Mike Patton exploring everything that happened in music between The Infectious Grooves and Linkin Park!

With ample respect for the terrific sets performed by Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues (very smooth Jagger-at-Altamont impersonation by Greg), Don Cabellero, Poison Idea, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Angry Samoans and the Cave Singers, my fondest memory of last weekend’s Fun Fun Fun Festival in Austin concerns the oh-so-fickle audience. 
While Neko Case and Carl Newman (above, blocked by Dan Bejar in white) politely begged, nay, PLEADED in vain for a Rice Krispie treat from the Spider House cafe foodstand (the latter offering $20 for said delicacy), Don Cab’s venerable Damon Che’ — he of the other worldly Speaking Canaries — asked his adoring acolytes for some Tums. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone get a pack of Tums that fast without driving their truck into a Rexall. 

Though I've seen terrific sets thus far by MIA, LCD Soundsystem, Queens of The Stoneage and (most especially) our own Yo La Tengo, I'm happy to reveal a scoop so intense, not even the combined forces of Austinist, the Austin Chronicle or Statesman were on top of it.

When Saturday's headlining White Stripes cancelled on short notice, the promoters insisted there'd be no big name replacement flying in. 

With another 5 hours to go, I'm happy to report they were just trying to throw you off the scent of greatness :

this no-longer secret "secret" show might be right up your alley. 

The critic-turned-rocker-thing is well documented (Gay Dad, Chrissie Hynde, Metal Mike Saunders, Lester Bangs, Ira Kaplan, Neil Tennant) but rocker-turned-critic-reviewing-their-own-album for Pitchfork? That's a much, much smaller pantheon.

OK, I know it isn't really the same Eric Harvey. But give me some credit for actually remembering Gay Dad in 2007. 

We couldn't be happier to announce — despite having already been scooped by Pitchfork — that we've signed the Seattle trio The Cave Singers to a longer-than-long, worldwide pact. Composed of vocalist Pete Quirk, percussionist Marty Lund and guitarist Derek Fudesco, the band's first full length, 'Invitation Songs', recorded with Colin Stewart (Black Mountain, Pretty Girls Make Graves) is due out this Autumn.

photo: Jonny Leather's Flickr page

The Seattle Weekly's Brian Barr describes the trio's approach as akin to "an updated version of the Anthology of American Folk Music. Not the graduate-student, learned interpretations of folk music circa 1962, but folk music approached by way of punk rock. It's sparse, melodic, and simultaneously creepy and alluring, like the widow mourning graveside in Johnny Cash's 'Long Black Veil.'"

"Seeds Of Night" (MP3)

forthcoming Cave Singers dates:
06-20 Seattle, WA – Neumos
06-21 Bellingham, WA – Chiribin's
06-24 Eugene, OR – Sam Bond's Garage
06-26 Santa Cruz, CA – The Attic
06-27 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
06-28 Fresno, CA – Tokyo Gardens
06-29 Los Angeles, CA – EL Cid
06-30 Los Angeles, CA – 6th St. Warehouse
07-01 San Diego, CA – The Casbah
07-28 Seattle, WA – Capitol Hill Block Party

So……We've been working hard on all the extra tracks for the BEGN/Executive Edition of Challengers, the new album by my band The New Pornographers. Let me tell you about them. They are sounding really good I think. I'm kind of bummed that they didn't make the album but they will be available to all the people who splurge on the Exec. Edition. They are:

Silent Systems: This one was troubling me as a demo but then we decided that we should give it a Fleetwood Mac "Second Hand News" feel, and it fell together nicely.

The Speed Of Luxury: Scott Walker sang about luxuriating like planets in one verse from "The Girls From The Streets" and this entire song is about luxuriating like a planet. That is its literal meaning, it doesn't go any deeper really. This song is for the people who think that there aren't enough "rock" songs on Challengers. When we were working on it, Blaine suggested that it be the first song on the album, but it sadly ended up getting cut. It DOES pain me that we had to leave these songs off the record. I really like all of them. It's just not right, though, to put out a 65 minute long record. That is the kind of excess that is killing our society. Killing music. And yet, 4 CD Executive Editions are totally right-on. Because that is a choice.

Fortune: It was a shocker when this one ended up getting cut, like when Melinda Doolittle got voted off AI. This song is about my old neighborhood, Carroll Gardens, and the girl that I fell in love with there, much like the songs Challengers, Unguided and Go Places. Actually the song starts off in Greenwood Cemetery and then ends up in Carroll Gardens. Same difference.

Fugue State: As we mixed this, Josh said that it reminded him of Love. Nice of him to say, since they are my favorite band ever, but I don't believe it. I'm not sure how to describe Fugue State which is probably a good thing. Probably, I said.

Go Places (alternate mix): Usually I think alternate mixes are bullshit but I really like this one. It strips the song down to just the pretty instruments, no drums, bass or electric guitar, to a very nice effect I think. It's a little more reverbed out. If someone told me that they liked this version better, I would say "You have a valid opinion there."

I really want to add a few more extra songs for the Exec. Edition, but I can't talk out loud about them right now. I have to convince the band to learn and record them first. Yes, it's weird that the album is already available as a stream, and that I am still thinking about what songs to put on the Exec. Ed., but those are the times that we live in. Just know that we're trying to make your Challengers experience as pleasant as possible, and that this album, like your heart, is an open book.

Now I have to practice with the New Ps, then we fly to London for three club shows and Glastonbury, and we're also going to play a couple of songs at David Cross, Todd Barry and Eugene Mirman's comedy night at the 100 Club. Basically the London version of Tinkle. Tinkle, the comedy show. Both the Sex Pistols AND The Stingrays played the 100 Club. The Stingrays ruled. You should all go buy whatever Stingrays records that you can find. There is a CD retrospective called "From The Kitchen Sink" that is quite awesome. Do not be fooled by the other shitty bands that have called themselves The Stingrays. Only one of them ruled. Should be a fun little UK vacation.

You know who else was awesome? Opal. And Francoise Hardy.

That is all.

(Melissa and Jered, Doornroosje, May 25, photos taken from dennisthemper's flickr page)

June

20 – Metro, Chicago, IL (with Superchunk, Mountain Goats, Eff Cancer Benefit)

July

06-Winnipeg, Manitoba – Winnipeg Folk Festival
15-Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Festival
17-Detroit, MI – Magic Stick *
18-Toronto, ON – Lee's Palace *
19-Montreal, QC- Club Lambi *
20-Cambridge, MA – Middle East (upstairs) **
21-New York, MY – Bowery Ballroom **
22-Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes**
23-Washington DC – Black Cat **
24-Columbus, OH – Skully's **
25-Newport, KY – The Southgate House**

*with Deerhunter/Jay Reatard
**Jay Reatard

(Becky Stark, live at San Diego's M-Theory Records, pic taken from Javan's Flickr collection, used sans permission)

Hello world of all you gentle people!

As i write to you I am in the fair city of Seattle!  Home of all the best new revolutions and i'd like to report that there's another good one coming.  Although, I have to say, it's kind of mean to say that some revolutions are better than others- in fact- it might be downright false so I'll just say- here's to all the revolutions-  each and every one of them- except i guess that some revolutions are sort of terrible- well – maybe we can have a discussion about the nature of revolutions and which ones are the "best"!  i mean, when i say "best" what i really mean is that those are the ones that make me excited!  and also – i will say briefly- although seriously we could talk forever about this-  that the revolutions i like best are the ones that create  new feelings and experiences of equality-  freedom- celebration–  inifinite possibilites-  respect for all people–  respect for the earth–  open communication—   and kindness!  ok-  i'm rambling a little bit!   this is supposed to be an official report !
but so-

actually-  speaking of revolution i have two good ideas for new revolutions-
ok – call me corny(  you won't be the first) but i think it would be great to have a friendship revolution.  ok i will briefly describe the friendship revolution:

it's simple-  the friendship revolution is a new way of being where everyone is friendly to each other.  it's simple but just think of it!  it's makes me excited!  say for instance, that you heard ( not necessarily from me) that there was a revolution of friendliness afoot!  that people all over the world were indiscriminately expressing love and friendliness to each other! wouldn't you be psyched and want to join in on the fun?  wouldn't you want to feel the weight lifted off your heart as you were given free license to love?  well-  here at lavender diamond we'd like to announce that anyone who wants one will be issued an official license to express love and appreciation.   we'll send it to you in the mail, or the email- or you can download it from our website. (um.. i'll have to work on that)  that way- anytime you are feeling sad or disconnected, you can remember that you are part of the revolution and you have license to be friendly, express love, see the beauty in the world, etc., etc.,  ok so  pretend you didn't hear it from me but  it's true that kindness and gentleness are spreading like wildfire!  can't be contained!  the population's gone wild!  friendliness for no reason!  people loving each other!  inexplicable! uncontrollable!  the winds of change blowing the raging blaze of kindness!
ok- that is the first revolution-

and the second one-

well- maybe i'll leave the second one for next time that's probably enough for now-
but oh!  hey! our record came out!   hooray!  one million thanks to matador and also to rough trade records,  our other home!  we are really proud of this record-  i think it sounds just like us! we put all our love into it-   we hope you enjoy listening to it and it makes you feel good and gives you strength!

last week we went on a little tour of the west coast and played in record stores!  it was really fun!  blake from matador came with us.  no one told us that he is a mystical spiritual healer!   in a nutshell – blake healed is all!   we had a blast!  two especially funny things happened:

1) ron fell off the stage at sonic boom  records in seattle!  it would have been tragic if he had hurt himself but he landed on someone's desk on their files and his feet only were left on the stage.  it was hilarious!  the stage is very small, by the way- and steve warned him- but ron is a very passionate drummer! this maybe wasn't as bad as when i slipped on a drum stick and fell down onstage in berlin- ok fell down is not the right description-  i flew into the air  after flailing my arms around trying to catch my balance and then my legs went up vertical to ground and i landed flat on my back like a cartoon prat fall- oh my  god- !  good thing we are all safe.  

2) when we played at music millenium in portland i was a few minutes late and the rest of the best was already there and as i walked in they were playing the record and i got confused and i thought they had started without me-  except that my voice was playing over the stereo.  i guess this is testament to the fact that a) the record sounds just like us! and b) i am  a tiny bit crazy.

oh god, there is so much more to report!  i really have to start writing in more often!  our dear beloved guitarist jeff rosenberg had to leave our band.  we are so sad.  but we've found someone to play with us and his name is devon williams.  we call him devon williams the great.  i'll have to tell the full story later about how we found him but i'll tell you now that it was  mysterious!  in any event, devon was with us last week for the instore tour and we made a little video in the van.  it's ridiculous.  if anyone wants to see it-  um ..  let me know.  it's a psychedelic experimental comedy.  we are going to make lots of comedy videos on our tour!
oh! and we had a great time at both amoeba records stores in sf and la.  there's nothing like amoeba records!   i guess we'll have to make more records so that we can play more in-stores! or – um- play at other record stores.  oh! and also we had a wonderful time at m-theory records in san diego!  san diego is like a little paradise.  the people were listening so close!  we ate at  a place called jimmy carter's restaurant – with no apparent relationship to jimmy carter at all except for the name.   it was weird!  then we saw the silver daggers play at a punk house downtown.  oh my god!  the silver daggers are incredible!  everyone should listen to their new record!  in general my report about the instore tour is that the world is a beautiful place!  seriously, every place we went  it was exquisite.  and i'm not exaggerating!  ok it is spring and i was told that we were experiencing particularly beautiful days, but still my report, based on our recent experience, is that the world is a beautiful place.

ok- oh! and i'm doing some solo shows with my friend miranda july!  in seattle, portland and nyc.  the one in new york is with miranda and david byrne!  i'm so excited. the theme of the night is belonging and i'm going to see if everyone will sing a song together -  the audience and everyone!  singing together with a lot of people feels amazing!  it's true!
ok- well- now i'm off to see the wizard- just kidding – off to to a concert tonight with miranda!  she's going to read from her new book which is beautiful!  everyone should read it.  it's called "no one belongs here more than you."  i love her so much ! and i love you, too- whoever you are-

peace all you wild people!

love, becky

10th may: Adelaide, Jive, w/ Panel of Judges and Hit the Jackpot
11th may: Brisbane, The Troubadour, w/ Panel of Judges and Look!Pond
18th may: Melbourne, Northcote Social Club, w/ Crayon Fields and Spider Vomit
19th may: Sydney, Spectrum, w/ Crayon Fields and Pikelet
1st june: Bunbury, WA, Prince of Wales, w/ tbc
2nd june: Perth, The Bakery, w/ Pikelet
3rd june: Fremantle, Mojos, w/ Pikelet

It's like someone had a hidden camera in our offices.  Kitties Aren't People!!!

We're just 8 days away from the retail event of the spring…my mom's birthday! (hey mom!).  Coincidently, March 20 also marks the release of the 3rd album from THE PONYS, 'Turn The Lights Out'.   And with the band playing far too many SXSW shows this week, what better song from the album to preview than "Poser Psychotic"? (mp3)

Pay up!

Friday's release of "Wild Hogs" was undoubtedly the comedy event of the year, and Utter Wonder didn't even need to see the film to know the picture's all-star quartet would prove irresistable.

I'll be really interested to see how Martin Lawrence does in the movie. He's black. He's also hilarious. I bet he'll be getting them in trouble because they'll be driving around places where there aren't a lot of black people and the racist locals will try to give them a hard time but good old Martin Lawrence won't be having any of that thank you very much and in the end we'll all learn a little something about ourselves and how black people are full of inner strength!

As for Travolta and Allen, well, what more is there to say? You just know they are gonna bring it! Those guys are pros! I don't mean they're prostitutes–I mean they're professionals. But if either of them played a prostitute in a movie they'd totally nail it. That's how good they are! And if either have took a prostitute in real life, I bet they'd treat her or him right and leave them a good tip. That's what kind of high-quality gentleman they are.

In what proved to be one of our worst kept secrets in recent memory, Matador is pleased to confirm that we've reached agreement on a longterm-ish pact with one of the nation's most wildly original bands, Shearwater of Austin, TX.

(foreground, l-r, Kim Burke, Jonathan Meiburg, Howard Draper. 2nd row, Thor Harris, Will Sheff)

On April 10, we'll be releasing a new, double-disc (CD and LP) verison of Shearwater's 4th album, 'Palo Santo'. One of 2006's most critically acclaimed long-players is not merely being reissued, but is in fact, reimagined, with 5 re-recorded versions done in December 2006, along with all new art and remastering of the original tracks.   This expanded edition comes with an extra disc containing 8 tracks, some are demos of Palo Santo songs, some are previously unknown compositions, all adding up to a stunning companion piece to the album.

Disc one includes newly recorded versions of "La Dame et la Licorne", "Red Sea, Black Sea", "Seventy-Four, Seventy-Five", "Johnny Viola", and "Hail, Mary".

The album art has been given the deluxe treatment as well, and perhaps we'll even have a jpg to share later today. Impatient types can check out the new version of "Red Sea, Black Sea" (mp3) today.

upcoming live activity :

03-15 Austin, TX – Central Presbyterian Church, 7:30pm (SXSW)
03-16 Austin, TX – Mohawk, 5pm
03-29 Austin, TX – Emo's *
03-30 Baton Rouge, LA – Red Star Bar *
03-31 Birmingham, AL – BottleTree Cafe *
04-01 Murfreesboro, TN – Casa Burrito *
04-02 Durham, NC – Duke Coffee House *
04-03 Wilmington, NC – Bella Festa *
04-04 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel *
04-05 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar *
04-06 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church *
04-07 Cambridge, MA – T.T. the Bear's Place *
04-08 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom *
(* with Xiu Xiu) 

The following message was posted on Pretty Girls Makes Graves' site earlier today.

We are sorry to announce that our upcoming tour in May will be our last. Nick quit the band and the rest of us feel like it wouldn’t be right to continue on without him. The 5 of us feel very lucky to have met and worked with some truly amazing people over the years. Thank you all so much….

Needless to say, though all of us at brutally exploitive label central are very disappointed by this news….we've known about it for ages! Who says Matador can't keep a secret?

In all seriousness, while one of our fave bands on Earth pulling the plug is a sad occasion, it is also a reminder there's something to be said for going out at the top of your game.  And we're also very confident that our friendship with Andrea, Derek, Jay, Nick and Leona is far from finished, and we eagerly whatever else they've got up their sleeves musically or otherwise.  To say we're fortunate to have been associated with such awesome people would be the understatement of this Monday morning. 

James Brown, 1933-2006 

"Christmas In Heaven" (mp3, link taken from Loudersoft)

Since Nils was kind enough to post to the Matablog the last time Elton John went ka-boom in public, I figured we're obliged to keep up with the great man's public utterings on a semi-regular basis.  There's a chart battle of sorts taking place in the UK at the moment with titles from Oasis, U2 and Westlife, amongst others, all vying for the top spot. Elton's already picked his fave, 

"I am so glad Westlife are ahead of Oasis."

After what fucking Noel Gallagher  (above) said about me [not buying his own milk] I couldn't give a shit about Oasis. I go into fucking shops all the time myself.

"He's an absolute tosser and looks like Parker from Thunderbirds."

When and if Elton has anything else interesting to say, we'll do our best to pass it along. Thank you. 

Y'know, Paste might be a bunch of Wes Anderson-loving, Yep Rock-smooching bunch of Christ Humpers, but when they're right, they're right. 

(from clakao's flickr page)

From the customer is always wrong dept : what better way to punctuate a fantastic marathon performance by Ira, Georgia and James than to have some drunken oaf hollering "c'mon, play the old shit" repeatedly in your correspondent's ear?

Never mind that Yo La Tengo, were in fact, playing LOTS of "the old shit" (including an encore of "Autumn Sweater" the third and final time my neighbor decided to vent), but what's with these delusional types who think a band can hear them from 300 feet away?

I do hope the subsequent cover "Rocks Off" sufficiently filled the old shit quota, but if not, rest assured, ATP's Don't Look Back : 'Ride The Tiger' should be coming to a a sit-down venue in the greater London area, sometime between now and 2010.  

I link to Maria T's blog because it's all love. (well, there's also some incriminating evidence of how I spent an afternoon at SXSW in '05 that doesn't involve a Minor Threat t-shirt and a head shop). She does it again…another All Chavez Friday at Her Jazz.

Related: Maria, see ya next weekend…I'll bring the Sparks.

November 21, Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
November 22, Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY
November 24, Majestic Theatre, Detroit, MI
November 25, Rivera Theater, Chicago, IL
November 26, Mississippi Nights, St. Louis, MO
November 28, Meridian, Houston, TX
November 29, Gypsy Ballroom, Dallas, TX

(Silversun Pickups play 1st on all dates, Dead Meadow 2nd)

Surely you don’t need an excuse to read Blabbermouth.net several times a day?

Producer Bob Rock recently told Reuters that he feels “20 years younger” after his split with METALLICA, whose albums he had produced since 1991.

The Canadian producer parted company with the metal titan earlier this year and is now devoting his energies to other artists and a return to his own recording career.

According to the 52-year-old Rock, “My life is now about my wife and kids, and recording other bands.”

Rock first teamed with METALLICA for its self-titled 1991 album (aka “The Black Album”). The Elektra set debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for 281 weeks. Rock helmed METALLICA’s subsequent albums, through 2003′s “St. Anger”.

A behind-the-scenes look at that tumultuous project was featured in the following year’s unflinching documentary “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster”. A petition that some 1,500 fans signed subsequently was posted online calling for METALLICA to dump Rock, claiming he had too much influence on the band’s sound.

“The criticism was hurtful for my kids, who read it and don’t understand the circumstances,” Rock says. “Sometimes, even with a great coach, a team keeps losing. You have to get new blood in there.”

Say what you want about Kiss’ Paul Stanley, but he can never be accused of not knowing where his contributions measure against rock’s other legends. From Billboard’s Gary Graff :

Stanley confirms that one of the ideas being discussed is a traveling version of the orchestral shows Kiss played in 2003 in Australia, which resulted in the “Kiss Symphony” CD and DVD releases.

New Kiss music is another matter, however. Stanley says as far as he’s concerned, trying to make a new album in the shadow of Kiss’ classic repertoire is, at the very least, a challenge. “The fact is, [fans] may tolerate the new songs, but it’s the old ones you want to hear,” he notes. “I think Jimmy Page and Robert Plant found that out. The [Rolling] Stones certainly know it. The Who certainly know it. So unless you’re willing to go into the studio accepting that how your album will be received will never match your expectations, I’m not sure it’s worth the effort.”