Modern Rock: They Might Be Giants might release new album

Oct. 25, 2009

Modern Rock
Kristi Kates 10/26/09
They Might Be Giants Might Release New Album

They Might Be Giants, who released their science-focused album this past summer, are also reportedly working on a full-length “regular” rock album, which they’re hoping to release in spring 2010. The band, who are working with producer Pat Gillett on the new set, started recording in March, and say that they’re also experimenting with some new instruments, including an electric drum kit that their drummer Marty has been utilizing to give some of the songs a more quirky electronic sound. In other TMBG news, they’ve got a quartet of giant-sized live shows booked this November, including stops in Philly (11/21) and Washington DC (11/28)...
Built to Spill recently wrapped mixing on their seventh album, which they’ve titled There Is No Enemy, and are now set to release the album this fall. The album arrives three years after the band’s last effort, and the band says that this one was recorded in more of a “live band” format, with songs ranging around five to eight minutes and having more of an analog feel, alongside some songs that were also influenced by soul music. But never fear, fans; it’s still mostly the Built to Spill classic guitar-rock sound, according to the band - and the set is due out this month on Warner Brothers Records...
The legendary Leonard Cohen is set to return to the U.S. this fall for a theater/arena tour that kicked off this week and will wrap in mid-November. Cohen played his first show in America in fifteen years at the beginning of this year at the Beacon Theater in New York, and subsequently toured the U.S. through early June. Cohen is touring in support of Live in London, his first new album in five years; the album was put together from Cohen’s July 2008 performance at London’s O2 Arena. Cohen’s tour dates will include stops in Columbus OH (10/27), Chicago (10/29), Nashville (11/5), Kansas City MO (11/9), and at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas (11/12)...
And if you love live shows - whether they’re by Leonard or anyone else - surf over to www.livenation.com and snag one of their brand-new Club Passports. Live Nation’s Club Passport is an effort to draw more foot traffic to smaller (but still cool) club shows and to enable fans to discover new artists. It’s a one-time (bargain!) purchase of $49.99, and that purchase will get you into any non-sold out shows at a wide range of clubs from L.A. to Chicago to New York through the end of 2009. After purchasing a Club Passport, members will be able to log onto the Live Nation site and reserve a ticket, bringing their passport number and ID to the club itself for admission; a new list of participating clubs and shows will be posted online every Monday...

MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:
Looking for somewhere to go on vacation this winter? Well, if you like jam-bands, and you like warmer weather, Jam Cruise 2010 is probably the place for you. This cruise ship will depart from Florida on January 3 and will run through January 8, with a stopoff in Jamaica - and will feature live performances from Sound Tribe Sector 9, Galactic, Railroad Earth, Lotus, Dark Star Orchestra, Robert Randolph, and more; it’s almost like Rothbury, but, well, floating. Get more info and tix at www.jamcruise.com...

MINI BUZZ:
Tokyo Police Club took a break in Toronto for a while, and are now back in NYC resuming work on more songs for their upcoming sophomore album...
Experimental lo-fi band Tune-Yards just released their first EP on 4AD Records as a limited edition, screen printed disc; a full album release is on the way later this year...
76 years young, Yoko Ono has just released her new album, Between My Head and the Sky, which she recorded with her new Plastic Ono Band...
Not that Noel Gallagher is going to be just sitting around doing nothing now that he’s not part of Oasis any more - he’s definitely going to be in high demand given his talent, has plenty of projects of his own, and may in fact have been already tapped by Kasabian to join them on their upcoming tour - but Razorlight recently said that they’d like Gallagher to produce their next album, too...
Yo La Tengo have added a plethora of European and Scandinavian dates to their tour schedule, including stops in London (11/8), Amsterdam (11/12), Stockholm, Sweden (11/17), Hamburg, Germany (11/19), and Vienna (11/26)...
BSub Pop Records is reportedly pondering converting their entire catalog - including early Nirvana and The Shins - to tracks that would be usuable with the Rock Band videogame and available for purchase in the new Rock Band Network store...
And you can pick your own tracks to listen to via this week’s new releases... ON CD: Mission of Burma’s The Sound, The Speed, The Light... Castanets’ Texas Rose, The Thaw, and The Beasts... The Black Heart Procession’s Six... and Baaba Maal’s Television... ON DVD: Wynton Marsalis and Willie Nelson’s A Tribute to Ray Charles ... and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.
Questions, comments, rants, raves, suggestions on this column or your favorite musicians? Send ‘em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com