This Is Book’s Music

For part 2 of the season premiere, American Idol went to Kansas City, Missouri. What happened? Well, I will say there were some good singers, names I don’t remember right now. There were of course the bad ones, and they sucked.

You know what seems fake? When they have a segment dedicated to one particular song and you hear the rejected people sing lines, edited with those who were in the crowd waiting. It just seems random, and kind of Disney-like. Pfftt.

I’m not going to watch anything past the auditions, but I read somewhere that in order to bring in and keep viewers, people will be able to see footage of the primary contestants get “catty” in the house they stay at. In other words, The Real World but 50 times worse, because instead of seeing anyone be themselves, everyone will be “on” and “in the act”, because “every opportunity can become THE opportunity”. Phony bologna, that’s all I have to say.

The Los Angeles Times came out with an article stating ratings for the first part of the season premiere are down by 10 percent.

I know, not exactly a bangin’ review but maybe (keyword: ‘maybe’) next week.

What I hope to see in the future: a show hosted and produced by Kara DioGuardi.

New Frank Zappa fans can come in at any point throughout his career, and depending on who you know, the album that is often mentioned as an “entry point” is his 1970 album, Hot Rats. Call it accessible (in an FZ way), call it funky, call it loose, but call it a fantastic album.

The folks at Classic Records, known for their high quality audiophile pressings, will reissue the album, mastered and cut directly from the original analog master tape by Bernie Grundman under the supervision of Gail Zappa. Unless you have the original vinyl pressing, any digital version of this album is not the way it was meant to be heard.

The new vinyl edition of Hot Rats will be released on January 23rd. You can order your copy now through Acoustic Sounds.

E Reece & Core Elements are coming out with a new album on January 27th via Elevated Mental Recordings called L.I.S.n 2 This: Live In Studio, and this is the first video from it called “How We Do”. You want to know how they do? Look and listen (or L.I.S.n as the case may be).

Fol Chen – No Wedding Cake from Asthmatic Kitty on Vimeo.

There’s a new band called Fol Chen and this is how they describe themselves:

“You know that mysterious black object that the creepy family is staring at on the cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Presence” album? Fol Chen sound like that. But we don’t sound like Led Zeppelin. (We actually do a little.) Instead, we sound like Prince with Amon Duul II and a children’s religious revival, not to mention Hot Chip, Pink Floyd, Gwen Stefani, Pere Ubu, Danielson Famile, Scritti Politti, Boards of Canada, The Blow, and Pulp. (Mostly.) We are using secret powers and the guidance of legendary DJ Donna Donna to combat our nemesis, John Shade. We are cryptic and joyful and we would like you to dance.”

A band from hell or just a party band with a guitar vengeance? Cryptic alterna-hoo haa? What if you heard that they’re naming their debut album Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made, would that grip you? Freaky? You bet.

The above video is for the song “No Wedding Cake” (download track for free right here, or download the remix of it by Matthew David of Dublab), and if the video (directed by Nancy Jean Tucker) seems weird, good. Do you like the music? Good. Confused?

Here is what can be told. The group consists of five individuals, each with individual stories and biographies, and as a unit their biography features many puzzles, tales, twists, and dead ends that somehow lead to the other side. What the other side represents no one knows, but the fun in this is realizing that the group are into making music, having fun, and making people scratch their head in the process. You don’t have to get it to get it, but if you got it, then you got it good. Good? Confused still? Don’t be.

Fol Chen have been signed by the great Asthmatic Kitty label, the same people responsible for I Heart Lung, Chris Schlarb, and Land Of A Thousand Rappers. Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made will be released on February 17th, here is the confirmed track listing:

1.The Believers (free MP3 download)
2.No Wedding Cake
3.You and Your Sister in Jericho
4.The Idiot
5.Red Skies Over Garden City (The Ballad of Donna Donna)
6.Winter, That’s All
7.Cable TV (free MP3 download)
8.Please, John, You’re Killing Me
9.The Longer U Wait (Version)
10.If Tuesday Comes

Less confused? Good. The mystery of Fol Chen may or may not unfold, and that’s the beauty of things.

April 21st is the day you’ll want to mark on your calendars. Almost a week after you’ve paid “the man”, Mr. Lif returns to record stores with a brand new album called I Heard It Today, and this one will be released on Lif’s own label, Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises.

Lif collaborated with a number of quality producers for the new one, including Headnotic of Crown City Rockers, Edan, J-Zone, Batsauce, Willie Evans Jr., and Therapy. Topically speaking, you know how Lif does it, and this album will be no exception as the lyrics are taken from today’s headlines, including a look at the current failure of the American economy and perhaps the failure of the black community.