Strange Times Indeed

The Black Keys who recently released their new album Attack & Release have also quietly put out a 7" single for the song "Strange Times." The single includes a b-side that is not on the album entitled "Something on Your Mind." That song is credited to Dino Valenti, a one-time member of Quicksilver Messenger Service and was previously recorded by Karen Dalton.

Update: There is also a bonus track available through iTunes called 'Mr. Dibbs "Fight for Air" Mash-Up.'

New Costello release will include CD version

A lot of press in the last month touted that the new Elvis Costello & the Impostors record Momofuku would only be released on vinyl, with a free digital download and that there would be no CD release. It was seeming that you'd either buy the vinyl (with the free MP3 downloads) or get it directly from an online download store. The album was released on April 22nd. But, now apparently a CD version will be released by Lost Highway on May 6th. What a perfect way to drum up press. Announce that you're going to be bold and skip a CD release, and then release it on CD anyway. Tracks for the new record include;

1. No Hiding Place
   
2. American Gangster Time
   
3. Turpentine
   
4. Harry Worth
   
5. Drum and Bone
   
6. Flutter and Wow
   
7. Stella Hurt
   
8. Mr. Feathers
   
9. My Three Sons
   
10. Song With Rose
    
11. Pardon Me Madam, My Name Is Eve
    
12. Go Away
    

Color Me Impressed?

This week (April 22nd to be precise) sees the reissue of the Replacements first three Twin/Tone albums (and one EP). Although these very albums were remastered and reissued back in 2002, this round of reissues is being done by Rhino records and will contain several outtakes, alternate versions and demos which will be of great interest to fans of the Mats. These reissues have been in the works for a few years now, so I'm glad to see them finally arrive. I thought I read at one time that Westerberg did not want to reissue the records with any additional material, but either I was mistaken or time has changed his opinion.

Reissues for the band's Sire albums are scheduled for this coming October.

Here is a list of the bonus tracks for the reissues (previously unissued tracks marked with *):

"Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash":

"Raised in the City," live, 1980 - demo*

"Shutup," live, 1980 - demo*

"Don't Turn Me Down," live, 1980 - demo*

"Shape Up," live, 1980 - demo*

"You Ain't Gotta Dance," studio demo*

"Get on the Stick," studio demo*

"Oh Baby," studio demo*

"Like You," outtake*

"Get Lost," outtake*

"A Toe Needs a Shoe," outtake*

"Customer," alternate take*

"Basement Jam," rehearsal*

"If Only You Were Lonely"


"Stink":

"Staples in Her Stomach," outtake*

"Hey, Good Lookin'," outtake*

"(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock," outtake*

"You're Getting Married," solo home demo*


"Hootenanny":

"Lookin' for Ya"

"Junior's Got a Gun," outtake - rough mix*

"Ain't No Crime," outtake*

"Johnny Fast," outtake - rough mix*

"Treatment Bound," alternate version*

"Lovelines," alternate vocal*

"Bad Worker," solo home demo*


"Let It Be":

"20th Century Boy"

"Perfectly Lethal," outtake*

"Temptation Eyes," outtake*

"Answering Machine," solo home demo*

"Heartbeat -- It's a Lovebeat," outtake - rough mix*

"Sixteen Blue," outtake - alternate vocal*

Burnin' it for You

Marty Willson-Piper, guitarist of The Church will be releasing his first new solo album of new material in five years later this month. The album is titled Nightjar. Along with the new album, Marty is releasing a limited edition EP called Pegasus which will consist of three MP3s. The first two will be songs from the album; No One There, and Lullaby for the Lonely. The third song will not be available elsewhere and is entitled "Dressed Up as You." The EP will be a total homemade job in that Marty himself will be burning and numbering the discs. The cover art will be a print of one of his drawings that he will glue to a paper CD sleeve and the discs will all be hand written. The first 50 will be signed and given away for free to those who pre-ordered the full length CD. Ordering information at the Church's official website.

Mekons Side Project #5002

Another Mekons side project sees Jon Langford collaborating with artist Christine Tarkowski. Okay, so this one came out last year, but I didn't hear about it until recently and just ordered it. It is a 7" single entilted Thirsty Woman If You Drink This Water You'll Never Be Thirsty Again. The single is just a part of larger project Tarkowski was working on called Whale Oil, Slave Ships and Burning Martyrs. That exhibition showed last fall at the Priska C. Juschka Fine Art gallery in New York. The title of the exhibit is also one of the song titles on the single. The other is "Fuel & Faith." More info can be found at Bloodshot Records website.