Matador Records | News February 2000

There's nothing we love more than sharing news with you, our closest friends. We do enjoy taking your money, but not nearly as much as sharing news. With you. Our close friends.

First of all, we have some bad news from Matador Filmworks, producers of "How Can I Be Down With A Multimillionaire?" It seems that our controversial shows have been slammed by journalists and disparaged by one network executive as "ratings crack" (presumably he'd rather deal in "ratings heroin," which is why we are hard at work on "Alien Vasectomy"). Anyway, we need to come clean. The program's star, Ralph (pronounced "Ray") Szarzo (pronounced "Ray"), is not really a multimillionaire. And none of the contest winners are really "down" with him. Maybe we'll stay out of TV land for a while.

But not just yet. Coming up on March 5, everyone's favorite premium cable TV show, "The Sopranos" will feature the BLUES EXPLOSION's "Lapdance" collaboration with Andre Williams playing in the background or foreground of some undoubtedly brutal (or funny) scene. "The Sopranos" is wonderful entertainment, but what's with all the bad language?

Can anyone answer the musical question "why don't you go play hide-and-go-fuck-yourself?" Probably not, as this is really a rhetorical question. But the upcoming MR. LEN 12", "What The Fuck," featuring the MC skills of Mr. Live, will provide answers for questions we haven't even thought of yet. The flipside, "Straight Up," features Q-Unique of the ARSONISTS.

Perhaps by hiding this in the middle of a news update, we'll find out who is really paying attention. BELLE & SEBASTIAN are almost finished with work on their new studio recording. We're very hopeful this album will be done in time for an early summer release. In the meantime, we have boxes upon boxes filled with the Lazy Line Painter Jane EP triple-pack (i.e. boxes) that we're dying to hand over to you, our closest friends.

Earlier this year, I composed a YO LA TENGO biography that referred to the trio as "the most critically acclaimed group of all-time." Said biography was rejected by my colleagues on the grounds that this shameful hyperbole would never be accepted by the hardened journalists who cover today's pop scene. Instead, we pronounced Yo La Tengo's new album, 'And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out,' "the most wintry and relationship-riffic album of all-time." Sure enough, the word "wintry" has appeared in almost every review of this great album, despite the recording sessions taking place during 100 degree heat. The words "marriage" or "relationship-riffic" have appeared in EVERY review of the album, despite the 3 members of Yo La Tengo residing in 3 different time zones. And "relationship-riffic" isn't even a real word. Anyway, I'm big enough to admit that I was dead wrong, but now that Yo La Tengo really are the most critically acclaimed band of all-time (look it up), there's no point in being shy about it. Newsweek, Time, US News & World Report, Pulse, NME, and countless others are unanimous in their opinion 'And Then Nothing turned Itself Inside-Out' redefines wintry relations. Taking a break from their impending U.S. tour of seated venues (once you've been to a seated venue, you'll never wanna go seatless again) Yo La Tengo will be playing live on WFMU on Saturday March 18 from 5-7pm (EST) as part of the WFMU fund drive. As many of you know, this is an annual event where the band plays requests that are phoned in by listeners, but not without those listeners paying through the nose for the privilege. Matador doesn't get any of the money, which doesn't seem fair to me, but if you'd like to participate, WFMU can be heard at 91.1 on the FM dial in the tri-state area, or at www.wfmu.org in Real Audio.

If for some insane reason you're still on the fence about the new Yo La Tengo album... maybe you should sit on a chair instead, much more comfortable. Once seated in the chair, if you are sitting near a computer, you can check out the Yo La Tengo listening party at Broadcast.com. I don't understand how this is supposed to be a party, but if Broadcast.com can supply some food, liquor and people who talk too loud and blow smoke in your face, it might be HALF as much fun as last Monday night's extravaganza at Other Music. Ira, Georgia and James spun records and "interacted" with those records, while the assembled throng interacted with tasty beverages and wondered where the bathroom was. At the stroke of midnight, 'And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out' was officially on sale, and I haven't seen so much frenzied commercial activity since the Matador Filmworks IPO. Speaking of which, our shareholders really ought to calm down; "Alien Vasectomy" is sure to be a hit, we just have to work out Eric Roberts' contractual details. He's the narrator, not the Alien.

Breathless anticipation for the new QUICKSPACE CD/LP couldn't be any more oxygen deprived... or could it? Even if you hold your breath, you can still get air through your eyes and ears. At least that's what Michael Hutchence said. Anyway, an MP3 of "They Shoot Horse Don't They" from The Death of Quickspace is now available.

For those of you who live in or about San Francisco, FUCK will be playing a not so secret show opening up for $2 guitar at the Hotel Utah Saturday, Feb 26. Fuck's newest release, a split single with Oakland's Mumble & Peg, is available from clamazon.com.

If you can get past the fact that there really is no such type of music as "noisepop," you might be interested to know that the Banks Tarver directed GUIDED BY VOICES docu-drama "Watch Me Jumpstart" will be screened at this year's Noisepop Festival in San Francisco, Friday, March 3 at 7:30. This opus will be preceded by the Emily Hubley short, "The Pigeon Within," featuring music by Yo La Tengo, and the entire event will be happening at Artist Television Access, 992 Valencia Street in San Francisco. Decorum dictates that we inform you that Scott Kannberg's record label, Amazing Grease, will have a showcase during this fest, featuring the talents of Oranger, Carlos and others.

Just back from showing the Gavin Convention how it's done, NON PHIXION are playing at the Wetlands on 3/1 for a Stop Police Brutality event with Reflection Eternal and others. Non Phixion's performance will be brief, so don't say we didn't warn you. Which reminds me, how do you stop police brutality? Beat yourself up! Wait a second, that's the one where you're supposed to help the police out. But it would probably serve the same function if you really thought about it -- pretty hard for the police to brutalize you if you've already done the job on your own. On the other hand, this might be too much to think about. Maybe you should just shell out the cash to see Non Phixion.

Hey, if we can plug 2 or 3 other ex-Matador bands in one column, we'd be less than helpful if we didn't mention that THE FROGS have a newish CD, Bananimals on the Four Alarm label. The material in question sounds kinda old, more gems from the Made Up Songs archives. Consider this a worthy companion to My Daughter The Broad or It's Only Right And Natural. And companionship is what it's all about.