Friday, December 14th, 2001

Matt Wavrin reports:
Just to remind you how long it was since Last Splash was released, 1993 was a year when good rock music was still being played on the radio. Without any further nostalgia, the Breeders have finally revealed that their eons-overdue third LP will be released in February 2002. The album is one out of 10,000 other records that octopus engineer Steve Albini recorded within this past year at Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago. The Breeders' new line-up consists of Kim Deal on guitar/vocals, Kelley Deal on guitar/backup vocals, Richard Presley on guitar, Mondo Lopez on bass, and Jose Medeles on drums.

The Breeders played some secret shows (along with the occasional "not-secret show") around the U.S. this past summer and fall, and will complete an extensive tour of the U.S. early next year. They'll also appear at the UK version of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival at the Camber Sands Holiday Centre in April. Dates:

01-28 Albuquerque, NM - Launch Pad
01-30 Austin, TX - Emo's
01-31 Dallas, TX - Tree's
02-01 Houston, TX - Engine Room
02-02 New Orleans, LA - Shim Sham Club
02-04 Atlanta, GA - Echo Lounge
02-06 Chapel Hill, NC - Cat's Cradle
02-07 Baltimore, MD - Otto Bar
02-08 Philadelphia, PA - North Star
02-09 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
02-11 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
02-12 Boston, MA - Middle East
02-14 Columbus, OH - Little Brothers
02-15 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
02-16 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
02-18 Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub
02-19 Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub
02-20 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar
02-22 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
02-23 Ft. Collins, CO - Starlight
02-27 San Diego, CA - Casbah
02-28 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues

.: The Breeders: http://www.noaloha.com
.: 4AD: http://www.4AD.com

Matt Wavrin reports:
Kranky, the Chicago label that Godspeed You Black Emperor! and Low call home, is apparently looking to distance itself from its association with the drone. Having recently released the thermodynamically charged debut by minimalist electronic artiste Loscil, the imprint has just announced the signing of Cex associate Keith Fullerton Whitman, aka Hrvatski. Whitman presently runs the unbelievably named electronic label Reckankreuzungsklankewerkezeuge with his brother Brian Blitter, but will be releasing records through Kranky under his birthname.

Whitman is usually associated with remixes, networking, compilation appearances, and writings, and thus far has one previous full-length as Hrvatski. The Apartment B label reissued his EP 21:30 for Acoustic Guitar this past spring, which filtered the sounds of guitar and translated them digitally through a processor to sound like anything but guitar. Whitman intends to break other sonic and subsonic boundaries during his tenure at Kranky. Doesn't everyone?

.: Kranky: http://www.kranky.net

Rob Thomson reports:
The Olympia-based Kill Rock Stars label has announced that they're hard at work assembling a double-disc compilation for release in the new year. The as-yet-untitled megamix is said to contain new and unreleased material from between 40 and 50 bands, though it will not be limited to artists who currently find their home with the attitudinal punk label. Only ten or so KRS-emblazoned acts-- including C Average and Mecca Normal-- will make the final cut, as the Rock Star Killaz are scouting for material from several non-label and unsigned bands to round out the set.

The label is giving themselves plenty of time to get their shit in order, with a projected release date of May 7th, though the tracklist will reportedly be finalized by the end of this month. Thus far, confirmed bands include: C Average, Delta Dart, the Dishes, Fifth Column, Gene Defcon, Jeff Hanson, Love Life, Mecca Normal, the Mona Reels, Quasi, the Rock *A* Teens, Tender Trap, and Two Ton Boa.

.: Kill Rock Stars: http://www.killrockstars.com

George Pletz reports:
Midwest transplants Pat Noecker, former bassist of Opium Taylor, and Ron Albertson, the former drummer of Mercy Rule, are the rhythmic core of NYC's the Liars, who recently released their debut full-length on Gern Blandsten Records. With a title like They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top, you'd think we were talking about yet another widescreen post-rock musical unit. But you'd be wrong. Super Wrong.

You see, the Liars are punk, but, like, post of that. In a way. They also have funky slapbass action and enough stops and starts to confuse the fuck out of grandma. At the front and center of the Liars, you have a six-foot-tall Australian transplant known as Angus. He allegedly hitched from California with future Liars guitarist Aaron Hemphill, who did time in such obscure punk groups as Viral Index and Phil's Throne. Angus also claims that his singing style was inspired by crashing at Nick Cave's place on Notting Hill. We don't even know where to start with that one.

The band's press release also claims that the Liars sound like "PIL making love to the Birthday Party." If the thought of Jah Wobble and Nick Cave in a fervent liplock excites you, check out one of The Liars' upcoming shows:

12-15 New Haven, CT - The Tune Inn
12-16 New London, CT - El n' Gee
12-17 East Hampton, MA - The Flywheel
12-18 Rochester, NY - Analog Shock
12-19 Pittsburgh, PA - The Roboto Project
12-20 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
12-21 Brooklyn, NY - Bedlam

And while we're giving up the goods, have at this word-engorged tracklist:

01 Grown men don't fall into the river just like that
02 Mr. your on fire Mr.
03 Loose nuts on the Veladrome
04 The garden was crowded and outside
05 Tumbling walls buried me in the debris with ESG
06 Nothing is ever lost or can be lost my science friend
07 We live NE of Compton
08 Why midnight walked but didn't ring her bell
09 This dust that makes mud

.: Gern Blandsten Records: http://www.gernblandsten.com