Though not a huge enthusiast of the Tom Tom Club , I do get a kick out of Tina Weymouth kicking bass licks in pigtails. The funky bastid child of The Talking Heads ’ Weymouth and Chris Frantz , Tom Tom Club is putting out a double LP, Genius Of Live .  The album will be comprised of live cuts from a post-9/11 performance in 2001 and “Genius Of Love” remixes.  Sounds like fun, nasty fun. Via Sure Shot PR: Tom Tom Club Album Genius of Live - 7th February Tom Tom Club will release Genius Of Live through Because Music on 7th February. The two-disc package will feature select tracks from their Live at The Clubhouse album and new remixes of their timeless single, 'Genius Of Love'. Live at The Clubhouse documented the iconic group performing in front of close friends at their home studio. The band can be heard playing their hit singles 'Genius Of Love' and 'Wordy Rappinghood' as well as signature covers of Al Green 's 'Take Me To The River

You’d think I’d have made some progress over the course of a four-day weekend, but such was not the case. John Vanderslice: “Sea Salt” You have to hit up NPR to check out the new John Vanderslice track, which is being released in January on the album White Wilderness . "Sea Salt" Via Dead Oceans press release: White Wilderness is out January 25 in the US. The Magik*Magik Orchestra have a comprehensive mastery of classic performance and repertoire, but also have a full appreciation of the aesthetics of indie and underground music. (Minna) Choi arranged and conducted White Wilderness with 19 members of the Magik*Magik playing strings and horns, vibraphone, pedal steel and piano, an assortment of reed instruments, and much to JV’s benefit, the voice of Minna Choi singing backup at key moments throughout the album. Recorded in San Francisco, White Wilderness was produced by John Congleton , whose resume includes albums by St Vincent, The Walkmen, Explosions

Locrian The Crystal World Utech Released: 11.27.10 There is something dire about Locrian ’s music, which is more than obvious both in terms of sound. As they’ve put out three albums in less than two years, (members Terence Hannum and André Foisy having brought on third member, Steven Hess ), Locrian is continuously and persistently pushing themselves into sonic and swampy depths that seem both born out of B-movie bloodshed and the imaginings one conjures in a state of sensory depravation, or in their case, overload. Locrian is pure darkess: they hold high both the enveloping and expansive possibilities of “-scape,” which is something of a fixation they reveal through their album titles ( Drenched Lands, Territories ). The Crystal World , though, is their most musical version of this journeyer’s nightmare, a soundtrack that’s both fearfully surrounded by invisible dread, but also animatedly scored with flickering science fiction (“The Crystal World”) and mesmerizingly long

Kicking Against The Pricks is experiencing some technical difficulties, so as I've posted links to the Marnie Stern , I've realized that none of them are working. So, in the interest of getting the review out, I've decided to publish it here and hopefully KATP will be operable soon. Marnie Stern is as uplifting as she is complex, and has had two albums to push her sound and define her musical identity. Remarkably, when most bands are as easy to trace as a set of footprints, Stern resides in her own genre, sharing her wild idiosyncratic finger-smithing and mathematical dialogue with percussive maestro, Zach Hill. His own elaborate skill set tends to Stern’s quirks with kindred understanding and finesse as he’s consistently in tune with whatever she’s doing. Cynics may dub her pretentious, but this music pours out of her so organically it’s too easy to chalk her up as just an ostentatious cult idol - especially with her new album, the highly personal ‘Marnie Stern’.

Issue #4 of Kicking Against The Pricks has posted: Find it here. I only contributed one review for this issue: Marnie Stern s/t Kill Rock Stars Released: 10.5.10 Kicking Against The Pricks review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

As I was a little overwhelmed by sleep deprivation and a slew of emails coming through regarding this band and that band, I sort of fell behind. As is usually the case when I’ve accrued a number of artists to promote, I’m compiling them all into one large entry that, hopefully, won’t be so large that it’ll wind up casually eschewed. I think there’s some good music to check out here, so take a listen/look. This is part 1, by the way, so consider this the Deathly Hallows of blog entries. Thorn1: “Drone” Brian John Mitchell , the head of independent label Silber Records , sent me notice regarding a Russian shoegaze/drone band named, Thorn1 . “Drone,” as it’s so appropriately titled, is isolating and drenched in reverb. It’s also rather lush and nice to listen to. This track is from Thorn1’s latest album, So Far As Fast . Check here for more information. "Drone" ______________________________________________________ Archon: "Helena (The Ruins At Dusk)&q

John Lennon & Yoko Ono Some Time In New York City Apple/EMI/Capitol Originally released: 6.2.72 Reissued: 10.4.10 John Lennon Mind Games Apple/EMI/Capitol Originally released: 11.16.73 Reissued: 10.4.10 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Dead Meat "The King" b/w "Electric Head" & "Rubbersnake" 7" Single FSS Released: 11.30.10 If you head over to Dead Meat 's myspace page, the band dubs their sound "reggae." If you hear their new 7," you'll understand why that's funny. There was an immediate rush of nostalgia that sort of warmed my heart when I opened up Dead Meat's single, "The King," its Raymond Pettibon -inspired ink drawings evoking the excitement of opening up mail order packages from SST Records as an impressionable youth, subject to the visceral and irrevocable alterations those recordings would bring about. Thankfully, the expectations of its package garner results, the single reminiscent of the sort of analog-heavy six-string snarls that I remember hearing years ago: those gritty and broken notes that would act a presage to what would ultimately drive a crowd of bodies to move tantrum-like once the snare beat was enacted.

If you haven’t heard by now, Deerhoof has administered a “ global album leak ” of their upcoming new release, Deerhoof Vs. Evil , which is supposed to come out January 25th, 2011.  Being somewhat inclined to look forward to something as eventful as a new Deerhoof album, I’ve been avoiding the leak.  However, I did check out the album’s first single, “The Happy Barracks,” which might be the best thing I’ve listened to all week. Deerhoof also released a split 7” with Physical Forms (members of Busdriver and The Mae Shi ) called Hoofdriver . Deerhoof, ever the visionaries, are leading a series with Hoofdriver , the concept being a guest singer comes up with their own lyrics and melody to employ atop a new Deerhoof track, thusly crafting something unique AND familiar. Information on the 7” can be found at Polyvinyl Record Co. Tour dates are available via their newsletter: 12/5 Minehead, UK - All Tomorrows Parties curated by Godspeed You! Black Emperor 1/27 Sacramento, CA

Earlier this year before 2010's Record Store Day , Ear X-Tacy owner, John Timmons , held a press conference wherein he explained that his store was in financial trouble, victimized, (like many other independent record stores), by corporate music buyers (Best Buy, Walmart) and file sharing. After asking for support, people gathered via the "Save Ear X-Tacy" Facebook page and evidently spent some loot. Since then, Ear X-Tacy has moved but managed to stay local its home in Louisville, Kentucky, continuing a tradition as a hometown treasure. You can find the press conference and some personal opinions on the matter here . Anyway, as Black Friday draws near, Timmons is asking for continued help and I recommend that you go the Ear X-Tacy website and buy something. Having myself spent a couple dollars at their website, prices are reasonable and merchandise is shipped quickly. The Facebook page has over 32,000 fans, and it would seriously cost each fan maybe $3 for T

You guys don’t scare me with your “dead souls.” I’d like to be the first to give you a resigned teenager’s “whatever.” Actually, the song isn’t bad to bad listen to, but bad in that you have to head over to SPIN.COM to listen to it. “Summer of All Dead Souls” is the least progressive, but no less showy, song I’ve heard Trail of Dead come up with and it’s the first single from their upcoming album, Tao of the Dead , which will be out February 8th, 2011. Yep, we’re already talking about next year. Here is some information regarding Tao of the Dead via Stunt Company PR: …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead are Back with – TAO OF THE DEAD – their Seventh Full-Length Studio Album due out February 8th on Richter Scale Records/Superballmusic in North America First Single “Summer Of All Dead Souls” due out November 29th New York, NY – Revealing secrets of their longevity, the core members of ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Conrad Keely and Jason Reece –

11.14.10: The best comment I read regarding Mini Mansions ' Daytrotter session was this: Hell yeah! That Heart of Glass cover is the T-I-Ts. This assessment is beyond accurate. Their rendition of the Blondie classic was an unpredictable interpretation of the song, feigning seriousness but evading novelty. For that reason alone, you should check out their set. You can find the session here. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Once again, The Eyeball Kid finds the goods on Tom Waits before the rest of us. Here's a video of "Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing" being played on the Preservation Hall 78 player which, for those that don't know, is performed by Waits and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band . Probably doesn't sound too entertaining, but it's cool to hear the track. Plus, there's a curious cat that scrutinizes the player at some point. For more information on the release, check out a previous blurb here , which contains links to a couple more informative resources. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Though I’ve yet to hear Zach Hill ’s latest album, Face Tat , it’s on the wish list and will hopefully be in my possession very soon. In the meantime, Hill makes a psilocybin-enriched return to VHS with “Second Life.” Enjoy. I found this at Prefix . You can find a review of Face Tat over at Exploding In Sound . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I wasn’t too fond of jj ’s very anticipated jj n° 3 , most of which I felt was rushed and devoid of any real hook. It sort of felt like something to appease as opposed to appeal, jumping on the clout of their preceding and much-adored jj n° 2 in order to capitalize on the hype. All that notwithstanding, Stereogum just posted two new jj tracks, one of which samples “Intro” by The xx . The songs are also available over at Sincerely Yours . ”Let Them” & ”I’m The One/Money On My Mind” My review of jj n° 3 can be found at No Ripcord . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

11.12.10: The Black Angels visited Daytrotter and performed four singles from their new album, Phosphene Dream . I’m listening to it as I type this out and it sounds pretty good so far. You can find the session here. A review of Phosphene Dream was featured on No Ripcord . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

The White Stripes have more or less been off the radar since they released 2007’s Icky Thump and since canceling a series of live shows due to Meg White 's anxiety, which may or may not have had something to with the fact that she DIDN’T have sex on video. Jack White , in the meantime, has put out a second Raconteurs album and two Dead Weather albums. Simply stated: Jack put out and Meg didn’t. But, seeing as though they did gather some attention this year with the Under Great White Northern Lights documentary, the renewal of pepperminty attention was cause enough to off load these super expensive “Merchandise Collections,” which are admittedly ambitious and kind of cool. Enabling the spender to play this set, the White Stripes Merchandise Collection comes equipped with a portable record player, which is quite possibly where the bulk of the $499 retail is spent. The entire set is vinyl, which makes sense considering the Stripes’ allegiance to lo-fidelity and vintage

It’s almost mid-November, and upcoming releases have now ventured out into the 2011 collective. In 2010, more than any other year since I’ve been writing Letters From A Tapehead, there seems to be an honest and prodigious influx of music informed by jazz fusion Miles Davis and the worldly futuristic vision of Sun Ra in a musicscape understood to be post-everything. Indie rock, revived No Wave and progressive metal to some extent have seemingly acted as the base for a lot of this music: Mi Ami , Floored By Four , Sax Ruins , Shining , Marnie Stern , Swans , Maus Haus , Aluk Todolo , Zu and Zach Hill to name a few I’m sure, bands and performers unattached to formal rhythms and mostly unbound by orthodox, pop rock assembly. These bands seem more susceptible to improvisation or, at the very least, improvised cycles wherein elements are layered to create sonic madness atop a persistent foundation. Though there has been a wave of wildly percussive arrhythmia for some time, (most

I guess any publicity is good publicity. A few weeks ago while attending Marnie Stern show at the Kung-Fu Necktie in Philadelphia , I was introduced to a band named HULL thanks to memorable sticker promotion. It was either by the act of some complete smartass or some irrefutable marketing guru that I happened to see the sticker, which was bullseye level and stuck above the drain on the only urinal in the men’s bathroom. Consequently, HULL took the brunt of a lot of the evening’s on tap byproduct, not just from me, but from every male that’s attended ANY show at KFN since that sticker found its home. For that, I apologize to HULL. I swear I wasn’t aiming. As consolation, it was only thanks to that act of vandalism that I learned of the band and have since listened to last year’s Sole Lord , which is a very accomplished and well performed piece of progressive metal. Apparently, HULL is working on something new. Via Earsplit PR: HULL: New Song/Video Footage Available Fro

So, my "Best Of" list did not go up last year, though the playlist for my favorite songs of 2009 were compiled. It wasn't for lack of trying necessarily, but 2010 was underway once I'd begun covering some of '09s stragglers, and I sort of wanted to get a move on the new year. That being said, for about a month I've been eager to begin getting my list for 2010 ready, not to mention a new mix for January 2011. Stereokiller has begun taking inventory of the favorites of 2010 and I got inspired to see where I stand so far. This is not definitive list, so I can't yet be held accountable for glaring omissions. But, I would like some participation so if anyone wishes to opine about the best that 2010 had/has to offer, send some comments. Top Twenty-Five for 2010 (So far) : 1). Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky 2). AFCGT – AFCGT (LP) 3). Mi Ami – Steal Your Face 4). Marnie Stern – Marnie Stern 5). Liars – Sisterworld

Most of my vinyl purchases this year have been at Siren Records with a few online exceptions. Still trying to stay true to the indie store. Siren Records , Doylestown, PA: One Last Wish 1986 Dischord Records Originally released: 11.86 Reissued: 12.08 So much poetry on that front cover. One half of One Last Wish ultimately became Fugazi ( Brendan Canty, Guy Picciotto ) who led the independent movement in an all-out battle against commercialism and venues that shunned all-ages shows. One Last Wish lasted six shows before they broke up, leaving behind this very quick to the point and perfect collection of songs that provides a perfect model for post-hardcore. The first few bass notes of "Hide" sort of alight on the guitar noise and rapidity of drum hits and the effect is magnetic. "Break To Broken" is probably the most straight-ahead punk-ish moment on the LP, but the best moments revel in melody with songs like "Friendship Is Far" and &q

Shipping News One Less Heartless To Fear Karate Body/Noise Pollution Released: 11.9.10 Stereokiller review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Via Terrorbird Media: IFC premieres Bird By Snow's mystical Ascension Sessions The wild-crafted, transcendent "Common Wealth" out now on Gnome Life Records Grab hold of your chakras we're heading into the spirit world. On October 16th, Northern California's Bird By Snow hiked three miles up to a secluded wooded grove in Big Sur, taking a few instruments and a toy Japanese camera with them into the fog. They came to a big oak tree and crafted a uniquely percussive sculpture from fallen branches (along with some twine, home-made ceramic chimes and a cymbal), and raised it in the boughs of the oak. This became the rhythmic centerpiece of a transcendent live performance series which we have here for your contemplation. Friend of the band, Noël Vietor , documented this ascension with the toy camera, which adds a kind of mystical charm all it's own. Watch these Druids conjure music where there had been only whispers in the mist. Bird By Snow are Fl

Hydra Head Records will be issuing Heart Ache & Dethroned , a compilation of Jesu EPs. The album will be available November 16th, but you can preorder them through Hydra Head.   Magnet Magazine is streaming the song “Annul” from the Dethroned EP. "Annul" Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

A new Erase Errata 7” single has released from Kill Rock Stars and it’s called “Damaged.” It’s their first released in four years. You can sample the single over at Stereogum before signing over your credit card number to KRS. There’s a Blondie -tined dance-ability to this song, catchy and rhythmically persistent. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I have to hand it to Asthmatic Kitty . As an indie label thankfully tied to a rock darling like Sufjan Stevens , you’d think it would be in AK’s best interest to keep their roster full of similarly toned copycats. And yet, they branch out and proudly provide a home for an artist like Chris Schlarb who decides, “Yes, I need twenty-nine musicians for my next album.” Chris Schlarb's "I Can Live Forever If I Slowly Die" really shouldn't shock me THAT much. Since commissioning sound artists and musicians to explore soundtrack music , Asthmatic Kitty’s backing of a jazz project seems like further confirmation that the label recognizes and respects independent music and not just “indie” music. Schlarb composes light free form backing, “In A Silent Way”-styled trumpeting and choral harmonies. I’ve only heard this excerpted version of the song, but as a teaser, it goes a long way. Below is information on Schlarb’s upcoming album, Psychic Temple . I Can Live For