OLAF BRUENING TO BE FIRST FEATURED ARTIST VIRTUAL ART GALLERY JOINS RECORD CLUB, IRRELEVANT TOPICS, PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE AND OTHER EXCLUSIVE BECK.COM CONTENT http://www.beck.com/colorspace

Beck.com has unveiled the virtual art gallery Colorspace (http://www.beck.com/colorspace) as the newest of the site’s expanding array of exclusive features. Colorspace will serve as an online showcase for new visual talent, featuring new artists every month, and also making available limited edition T-shirts, prints, posters and more.

The first artist to be featured at Colorspace will be Olaf Bruening. Breuning’s artistic sensibility was developed, steeped in and informed by the music of Talking Heads, Eurythmics and Grace Jones, the photography of Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Jeff Wall and Cindy Sherman, and the sculpture of Jeff Koons. He cites as influences everything from sci-fi to horror via Vikings and haunted houses. His photographs, installations, and films feature a recurring vocabulary; face-painting, eyeballs attached to inanimate objects, long cheap wigs, naked breasts or direct movie allusions.

Bruening’s most recent showcase took place this March at the Whitney Biennale in New York. Taking inspiration from one of the exhibition buildings, the 18th century Upper East Side Armory, he created an installation called The Army, consisting of 30 miniature metal soldiers with identical spherical bodies and different heads resembling sci-fi robots marching as if to war.

Beck.com’s current featured content includes Record Club’s third installation (Beck, Wilco, Feist and friends’ recording of Skip Spence’s Oar), Irrelevant Topics (unsupervised co-interviews between Beck and Will Ferrell, Tom Waits, and others), and the regularly updated Planned Obsolescence, Videotheque, and more.

For further information, check back at http://www.beck.com/colorspace hourly.BECK.COM PRESENTS OPENING OF COLORSPACE

First Single “The High Road” To Premier December 21 at Brokenbells.com

James Mercer and Brian Burton a/k/a Danger Mouse have completed work on the first album by their new and ongoing band Broken Bells. The album, also titled Broken Bells, will be released by Columbia Records March 9, 2010.

The album features 10 melodically seductive and psychologically provocative songs co-written and performed by Mercer and Burton. Titles include “The High Road,” “Vaporize,” “Your Head Is On Fire,” “The Ghost Inside,” “Sailing to Nowhere,” “Trap Doors,” “Citizen,” “The Mall and Misery” and more.

Broken Bells features Mercer on vocals, guitars and bass while Burton plays organ, drums, piano, synths and bass. The pair play all the instruments on the album with the exception of a full string section arranged by Daniele Luppi. Broken Bells was recorded by Todd Monfalcone and Kennie Takahashi at Mondo Studio in Los Angeles and produced by Burton.

Each a long-time fan of the other’s work, Burton and Mercer first met face-to-face backstage at the 2004 Roskilde Festival in Copenhagen. The pair immediately hit it off and kept in touch over the prevailing half decade and in May 2008 seized the opportunity to finally collaborate on original music together. Once in the studio, the musical floodgates opened, an intuitive ease and seemingly ego-less telepathy producing an astonishing flow of new material over the course of a year. From more than 20 pieces of new music written and recorded, Broken Bells was assembled from 10 songs that coalesced together the most seamlessly.

* * * * *

Brian Burton a/k/a Danger Mouse has been nominated for 11 Grammy Awards, as both an artist and a producer, winning two in 2006 — Best Alternative Music Album (St. Elsewhere) and Best Urban/Alternative Performance (”Crazy”) — for his work with Cee-Lo as Gnarls Barkley. Picked by Esquire magazine as one of the “75 most influential people of the 21st century,” Burton has previously collaborated with a range of artists including Beck, Gorillaz, the Black Keys and others.

James Mercer is best known as the founder, principle songwriter and frontman of the Shins. The Portland OR-based group’s massively successful third album, Wincing the Night Away, debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart in January 2007, becoming the highest charting album to have ever been released solely on the iconic SubPop label before its nomination for the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.

Mercer and Burton previously worked together on the track, “Insane Lullaby,” a song appearing on the Dark Night of the Soul multi-artist collaboration with David Lynch.

Mercer and Burton will continue to work as a band in the future.

For more information, please contact Laura Eldeiry at nasty little man e: laura@nastylittleman.com

For online inquiries, please contact Arbell Camron at Sony Music
e: arbell.camron@sonymusic.com

Eagerly Awaited Prequel To “The Amory Wars” Tetralogy Slated For Release in April 2010 on Columbia Records

Deluxe Edition To Include 300+ page “Year of the Black Rainbow” Novel, Penned by Claudio Sanchez and New York Times Bestselling Author Peter David

Columbia Records is proud to announce the upcoming release of Year of the Black Rainbow, the heavily anticipated fifth studio album from Coheed and Cambria, the 21st century’s premier progressive rock band. Year of the Black Rainbow is slated for release in April 2010.

Year of the Black Rainbow will be made available in a deluxe package including a 300+ page prose novel of the same name, co-written by Claudio Sanchez and New York Times bestselling author Peter David, which promises to “tell the origins of Coheed and Cambria, and much more.” Presale information on the deluxe edition of Year of the Black Rainbow will be announced toward the end of December.

Year of the Black Rainbow provides the eagerly awaited prequel to the band’s four previous inter-related concept albums — The Second Stage Turbine Blade (2002); In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (2003); Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005) and Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow (2007) – which comprise “The Amory Wars,” the conceptual narrative driving the band’s lyrics, penned by Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez.

Through the group’s career, Coheed and Cambria have created consistently complex and challenging musical soundscapes to frame the psychological and narrative arcs of the band’s futurist mythic visions.

Year of the Black Rainbow is produced by Atticus Ross (Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction) and Joe Baressi (Queens of the Stone Age, Tool). According to the Coheed and Cambria, “They have helped us evolve our sound to be more powerful and dynamic than ever and we think it’s definitely our best work to date.”

Songs on Year of the Black Rainbow include “Here We Are Juggernaut,” “The Broken,” “Pearl of the Stars” and “Guns of Summer.”

In a post this week on the band’s website (www.coheedandcambria.com), Coheed and Cambria confirmed that “….the new album will be the ‘Origin Story’ or ‘The Prequel,’ and likely the final story of the ongoing concept story of ‘The Amory Wars.’”

*****

For more information on Coheed and Cambria, please contact:

Steve Martin or Amy Grote, email amy@nastylittleman.com

Benny Tarantini, Columbia Records, Media, New York, 212-833-5858
benny.tarantini@sonymusic.com

www.coheedandcambria.com

www.columbiarecords.com

TRANSFERENCE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER AT spoontheband.com, IN STORES JANUARY 19

“Written In Reverse,” the first single from Spoon’s eagerly anticipated new album Transference, is now available for purchase via iTunes. The song is also streaming free courtesy of NPR’s All Songs Considered (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120830261 ), who it inspired to predict that Transference “may be Spoon’s best record yet.”

“Written In Reverse” will be released January 5 to independent retail in a 7″ vinyl format featuring the non-album B-side “Mean Red Spider.”

Featuring a just-unveiled cover photo by William Eggleston (http://stereogum.com/archives/spoon_transference_cover_unveiled_102931.html ), Transference will be in stores January 19. The album is now available for pre-order with an exclusive Transference t-shirt at spoontheband.com. Pre-orders placed by December 15 will receive the unavailable-elsewhere T-shirt in time for the holidays.

Spoon will wrap up 2009 with a series of appearances at radio shows followed by a one-off headlining New Years Eve extravaganza with support from Jay Reatard at Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater. For further information on upcoming Spoon shows, see below and continue to check back at spoontheband.com.

SPOON DEC. 2009-FEB. 2010 CONFIRMED DATES:
12/03/09 – Kansas City, MO – Midland Theatre
12/04/09 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
12/11/09 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
12/12/09 – La Jolla, CA – RIMAC Arena
12/31/09 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater

02/14/10 – Glasgow, UK – King Tuts
02/15/10 – Manchester, UK – Academy 3
02/16/10 – London, UK – Electric Ballroom
02/18/10 – Amsterdam, Holland – Paradiso
02/19/10 – Cologne, Germany – Luxor
02/20/10 – Berlin, Germany – Frannz Club

The Time is Here, Enter THE CIRCLE and Stand Tall.

New York, NY (November 30, 2009) – It is with pride and honor that we (those who forged the circle) have devised a way that you (the Chosen One) can enter the sacred realm and fulfill your true destiny. Until now, Mars was in the house of Neptune’s second moon, and as such, you were prevented from journeying into this sacred cipher. Now, as worlds align, the chalice is within your grasp. Heed the omen, reach for the grail, let no man put asunder what has been ordained as yours. We await inside to break bread with you.

The meager sum of 150 bones will get you the next 10 DVD’s we release (about 1 a month, give or take…)

Why go out and risk catching swine flu? Your Christmas shopping is already done. Even Oprah recommends buying our DVDs as a holiday gift. Check this out: http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/food/partyplanning/pkgholiday/200912-omag-gift-dvds

DVD’s will arrive about a week before the street date. (Your friends will envy and covet your collection.)

If you are interested in our back catalog, you can buy previously released DVD’s at half price while you have the subscription. (Say what?!!??)

We know you’ll be satisfied with the result it will have on your constituency, and if not, at least you’ll have something to talk about at parties. You can slag us off and call us liars… that’s always fun.

This gift idea might not be right for the little ones, but we don’t ever release films that suck, at least none that we know of.

Adam Yauch, the Minister Of Information at Oscilloscope Laboratories commented” There’s a real void in the marketplace since Columbia Record club is no longer active, so we’re hoping to hire a staff of tens of thousands to call our valuable membership over and over again and harass them until they cry.”

The realm of trust seeks you, mount your steed and come hither!

About Oscilloscope Laboratories: Oscilloscope Laboratories is a film production and theatrical distribution entity launched in 2008 by Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys. Yauch modeled the company after the indie record labels he grew up around, choosing films and then marketing them with the same artistic integrity with which they were made. The company, which is an extension of Yauch’s recording studio of the same name, has an in-house DVD distribution and production arm, and the paper packaging is reminiscent of the heyday of LP record jackets. All of the company’s DVD packaging is (free of any plastic) printed on FSC Certified 80% post-consumer waste paper and produced in a carbon neutral, hydroelectric, ISO-9001 and ISO-14001 certified plant. Other Oscilloscope theatrical releases include Yauch’s GUNNIN’ FOR THAT #1 SPOT, Irena Salina’s FLOW, Caroline Suh’s FRONTRUNNERS, Kurt Kuenne’s DEAR ZACHARY, Kelly Reichardt’s WENDY AND LUCY starring Michelle Williams, So Yong Kim’s TREELESS MOUNTAIN, the Academy-Award nominated THE GARDEN from Scott Hamilton Kennedy, Anders Ostergaard’s multi award-winning BURMA VJ, Nati Baratz’s UNMISTAKEN CHILD, and Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein’s NO IMPACT MAN. Upcoming releases include Lance Daly’s award-winning Irish film KISSES, the re-release of Jules Dassin’s classic THE LAW, Gabriel Medina’s offbeat comedy THE PARANOIDS, and Michel Gondry’s personal family documentary THE THORN IN THE HEART. Recent releases include Oren Moverman’s award-winning drama THE MESSENGER, starring Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster and Samantha Morton.

Contact for the Circle:
Lauren Schwartz, Oscilloscope Pictures:212.219.4029 x22, lauren@oscilloscope.net

TRANSFERENCE RELEASE DATE MOVED UP TO JANUARY 19
“Written In Reverse” Digital Single Out Dec. 1

Spoon has announced the first six dates of an extensive world tour in support of the band’s seventh album, Transference, now due out in the U.S. on Merge on January 19, 2010 and a day earlier in Europe on Anti-. See below for the full listing of dates.

U.S. tour dates will be announced as they are confirmed. At present, Spoon’s sole confirmed Stateside headline appearance is a one-off New Years Eve extravaganza at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee with Jay Reatard supporting.

Produced by the band, Transference will be preceded by first single “Written In Reverse,” which will be released digitally December 1. A seven-inch vinyl release will follow January 5 featuring the exclusive B-side “Mean Red Spider,” which will not be available digitally.

Transference is the first full length offering of new Spoon material since 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Spoon’s first Top 10 album with U.S. sales having since exceeded 300,000. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga was hailed upon its release with the band’s biggest ever coverage in the likes of TIME and THE NEW YORKER, and wound up 2007 with year-end best of accolades from NPR, GQ, NEW YORK, ROLLING STONE, PITCHFORK, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, SPIN, THE ONION, PASTE and the WASHINGTON POST, while Oct. 6, 2007 marked the band’s debut appearance on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

For further in formation, contact Steve Martin or Laura Eldeiry at nasty little man t 212 343 0740 e laura@nastylittleman.com or check back at spoontheband.com

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SPOON February 2010:
14 Glasgow @ King Tut’s
15 Manchester @ Academy 3
16 London @ Electric Ballroom
18 Amsterdam @ Paradiso
19 Cologne @ Luxor
20 Berlin @ Frannz Club

Alkaline Trio has announced the birth of Heart & Skull, the band’s own label formed in partnership with Epitaph Records. The band will release its seventh album through Epitaph/Heart & Skull in early 2010.

Commenting on the formation of the new imprint, named for the band’s longstanding logo, Alkaline Trio singer/guitarist Matt Skiba commented, “We made the decision to form Heart & Skull to put out our own records after having been through every kind of label deal in the industry, big indies, small indies, majors. We knew it was time to adapt to the shifting tides of the music industry and we could not be more thrilled about doing that in conjunction with the team at Epitaph. Taking control of our own label situation was something we always wanted to do but never thought was possible, but now thanks to Brett Gurewitz and the fine folks at Epitaph, it is. All three of us in Alkaline Trio have always had the utmost respect for the music and the work ethic of the Epitaph, Anti- and Hellcat family and now we’re honored to be working together under one big happy roof. Heart & Skull/Epitaph is truly a dream come true for us.”

Alkaline Trio bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano added, “For our band at this time it really makes sense to release our own records, but we wanted to make sure we could partner up with good people who we would want to share in something very special to us. When Brett called and said he wanted to be involved, that was it. Epitaph is a label I’ve admired and supported for more than half of my life! I couldn’t be more excited for how this is turning out!”

Alkaline Trio first emerged from Chicago in 1996 and has since released the full length studio albums Goddamnit, Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, From Here To Infirmary, Good Mourning, Crimson and last year’s Agony & Irony, which was the highest charting record of the band’s career to date. The band is comprised of Skiba, Andriano and drummer Derek Grant, all of whom are partners in Heart & Skull.

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For More Information:
www.alkalinetrio.com
www.myspace.com/alkalinetrio
www.epitaph.com

Beck, Wilco, Feist and Jamie Lidell Perform Skip Spence’s Oar In Its Entirety

RECORD CLUB, the informal and irregular gathering of various musicians to record an album in one day’s time, has begun posting tracks from its third endeavor. The current album is SKIP SPENCE’s classic OAR and as reinterpreted by Beck, Wilco, Feist and Jamie Lidell. First track “Little Hands” is up now at Beck.com and new tracks will be posted every Thursday in the same order as the original album sequence.
RECORD CLUB’s version of OAR came together in June of this year when Wilco joined Beck and Lidell managing to record all 12 tracks in a night. Leslie Feist happened to be in town editing her documentary and joined in, as did drum legend James Gadson, known for his timeless work with Bill Withers. The session took place at Sunset Sound Studios in the same room where the Rolling Stones recorded much of Exile On Main Street.
Record Club is an informal meeting of various musicians to record an album in one day. The album chosen to be reinterpreted is used as a framework. Nothing is rehearsed or arranged ahead of time. A track is put up at BECK.COM once a week. As you will hear, some of the songs are rough renditions, often first takes that document what happened over the course of a day as opposed to a polished rendering. There is no intention to ‘add to’ the original work or attempt to recreate the power of the original recording. Only to play music and document what happens. And those who aren’t familiar with the albums in question will hopefully look for the songs in their definitive versions.
The two previous RECORD CLUB subjects have been THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO and SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN.
For further information, go to http://www.beck.com/record_club

In response to the leak of Them Crooked Vultures’ album, the band has made the unprecedented decision to stream the record in its entirety beginning with first track “No One Loves Me & Neither Do I” http://bit.ly/stream_tcv

Them Crooked Vultures’ self-titled debut album is due out November 17 in the United States and Canada on DGC/Interscope Records. Its release has been preceded by first single “New Fang” currently streaming at http://www.myspace.com/crookedvultures and “Mind Eraser, No Chaser” now available as a free iTunes download.

Them Crooked Vultures recently announced its first ever shows in California and the Pacific Northwest: November 17 at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, November 19 at the Fox Theater in Oakland, November 21 at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, and November 22 at the Roseland Theater in Portland.The dates expand an itinerary that already includes a December tour of the UK and Europe and January dates in Australia and New Zealand.

For further information, updates, dates, etc., check back at www.themcrookedvultures.com

FREE DOWNLOAD OF NEW TRACK “UP ALL NIGHT” AVAILABLE AT http://takebacktheradworld.com/
NOV.-DEC. DATES CONFIRMED
NEW ALBUM OUT 2010 ON FAT POSSUM

Jaguar Love–a/k/a former Blood Brothers Johnny Whitney and Cody Votolato–has offered up a free download of the new track “Up All Night” at the band’s website http://takebacktheradworld.com/. The track is a first peek at Jaguar Love’s first album under its new joint agreement with Fat Possum, produced by John Goodmanson and due out in early 2010.

“Up All Night” can be downloaded for review, posting, etc. at: https://rcpt.yousendit.com/769679304/00b9c42a69458df05c551d8312971357 and is also streaming at http://www.myspace.com/jaguarloveband.

Additionally, Jaguar Love has announced a series of west coast and east coast dates to close out 2009. The dates are as follows:

Nov 13 – Portland, OR – Brantz
Nov 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Smell
Nov 25 – Seattle , WA – Sole Repair Shop
Dec 1 – Boston, MA – Middle East
Dec 2 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
Dec 3 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie

The title and release date of the new Jaguar Love record will be announced once they are confirmed.