Damon Gough is ready to autobiographical.  Better known as Badly Drawn Boy, Gough is putting the final touches on his fifth and highly anticipated album Born in the UK due for release on October 17th care of Astralwerks. The album is reportedly a timeline of his youth in Northern England during the 70's and height of political and social change.

The first video is the title track 'Born In The UK'.  Think montage of civil unrest and youth for this documentary style video.

Gough will also do a short October tour across the US but has plans for a large '07 tour:

09-08 Rescue Rooms - Nottingham, England
09-09 King Tut's Wah Wah Hut - Glasgow, England
09-11 The Village - Dublin, England
09-13 Zodiac - Oxford, England
09-23 Cohesion Live Festival - Fallowfield, Manchester
10-10 Paradise - Boston, MA
10-11 Miro Ballroom - New York, NY
10-12 Miro Ballroom - New York, NY
10-14 Mod Club - Toronto, CAN
10-16 Great American - San Francisco, CA
10-18 Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA
10-19 Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA

Not many have the gauls to cover Sonic Youth.  No one should ever attempt to do so acoustic.  But then again, they aren't Karen O.  The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are releasing a digital EP on iTunes which will include an acoustic cover of Sonic Youth's Diamond Sea. The band was probably inspired by their recent concert stint together in New York.

The 4 track cut will also include acoustic versions Cheated Hearts, Gold Lion, and Turn Into.  The songs were recorded during a concert in San Francisco.

Speaking of tour - the band continues to forge ahead across the country proving their stronghold on the indie scene:

08-24 Monsters of Spex Festival - Cologne, Germany
08-25 Reading Festival - Reading, England
08-26 Leeds Festival - Leeds, England
08-29 TBA - Vienna, Austria
08-30 Fabryka Trzciny - Warsaw, Poland
09-02 Victoria Park - Glasgow, Scotland
09-03 Electric Picnic - Stradbally, Ireland
09-28 RIMAC Arena at UCSD - La Jolla, CA
09-30 Download Festival - Mountain View, CA
10-01 Palladium - Los Angeles, CA
10-02 Palladium - Los Angeles, CA
10-04 Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ
10-06 Gypsy Ballroom - Dallas, TX
10-07 Stubb's BBQ - Austin, TX
10-08 Warehouse Live - Houston, TX
10-09 Caine's Ballroom - Tulsa, OK
10-12 Cinema - Pompano, FL
10-13 Hard Rock Live - Orlando, FL
10-14 Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
10-16 War Memorial - Nashville, TN  

Timing is everything, folks.  No one knows that better today than The Shins frontman James Mercer.  In a New York show last night at the McCarren Pool, the singer forgot the words for 'New Slang' uttering "That's what happens when you do something five million times."

But the true news of the evening was when the band previewed new tracks off their upcoming release Wincing the Night Away.  Although it is still in the mixing phase back in the studio and isn't suppose to see the light of day until early next year, the band tested out 'Australia' and 'Phantom' for their eager fans.

Jack doesn't seem to be too quick to get back to his old days under the White Stripes name.  His once side-project The Raconteurs is quickly becoming a full time deal. The guys will start around-the-world in 60 days tour that will see them finishing up with the likes of Bob Dylan.

Mumbles Tour:

09-14 Verizon Wireless Theater - Houston, TX
09-15 Nokia Live - Grand Prairie, TX
09-16 Austin City Limits Music Festival - Austin, TX
09-19 Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
09-20 Hard Rock Live - Orlando, FL
09-22 NorVA - Norfolk, VA
09-23 Pimlico Race Course (Virgin Festival) - Baltimore, MD
09-24 House of Blues - Atlantic City, NJ
09-25 Roseland Ballroom - New York, NY
09-26 Roseland Ballroom - New York, NY
09-28 Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel - Providence, RI
09-29 Orpheum Theatre - Boston, MA
09-30 Metropolis - Montreal, Quebec
10-14 Academy - Glasgow, Scotland
10-15 Apollo - Manchester, England
10-18 Academy - Newcastle, England
10-19 Brixton Academy - London, England
10-22 Colston Hall - Bristol, England
10-23 Rock City - Nottingham, England
10-24 Civic Hall - Wolverhampton, England
10-25 University - Liverpool, England
10-28 Vegoose Festival - Las Vegas, NV
11-09 Cumberland County Civic Center - Portland, ME *
11-11 Agganis Arena - Boston, MA *
11-12 Agganis Arena - Boston, MA *
11-13 Nassau Coliseum - Uniondale, NY *
11-15 Mullins Center - Amherst, MA *
11-16 Continental Airlines - East Rutherford, NJ *
11-17 Patriot Center - Fairfax, VA *
11-18 Wachovia Spectrum - Philadelphia, PA

* w/ Bob Dylan

›› Video: Raconteurs 'Hands'

News this odd hasn't come since Bush was re-elected. In equally dumfounding news, Bloc Party will be touring with Panic! at the Disco as the opening act.  Yes - opening act.  And with Panic! at the Disco? Between this and the news that their followup will be a 'darker' turn has us running into walls and doe eyed.

I guess this means I can go home early.

I Left Before 10:00 Tour:

11-07 Bank Atlantic Center - Sunrise, FL
11-08 UCF Arena - Orlando, FL
11-09 HiFi Buys Amphitheatre - Atlanta, GA
11-10 Cricket Arena - Charlotte, NC
11-11 Patriot Center - Fairfax, VA
11-13 Theater at Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
11-14 Theater at Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
11-16 Ricoh Coliseum - Toronto, Ontario
11-17 Gordon Field House - Rochester, NY
11-18 Tsongas Arena - Lowell, MA
11-19 Wachovia Center - Philadelphia, PA
11-21 The Palace of Auburn Hills - Auburn Hills, MI
11-22 UIC Pavilion - Chicago, IL
11-24 US Bank Theater - Minneapolis, MN
11-25 Family Arena - St. Charles, MO
11-26 Mid-America Center - Council Bluffs, IA
11-28 Magness Arena - Denver, CO
11-29 The E Center - Salt Lake City, UT
12-01 Memorial Coliseum - Portland, OR
12-02 Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, British Columbia
12-03 Everett Events Center - Seattle, WA
12-05 HP Pavilion - San Jose, CA
12-06 Long Beach Arena - Long Beach, CA
12-07 Glendale Arena - Glendale, AZ
12-08 Orleans Theatre - Las Vegas, NV
12-09 ipayOne Center - San Diego, CA

›› Pensatos News: Bloc Party's 'Darker' Turn
›› Pensatos News: Bloc Party Reveal New Album

The new queen of trash talk to all that is indie has released a second version of 'LDN' which is thankfully much better than the original but made with obvious budget love.

No one else can pull off the sneakers skirt look... no one.

›› Pensatos News: Smiths Guitarist with Modest Mouse

We knew it was only a matter of time until Canada attacked, but we didn't expect it to be boys; Junior Boys that is! The duo are readying their second release So This Is Goodbye for the masses on September 12th.

Track List:

01 Double Shadow
02 The Equalizer
03 First Time
04 Count Souvenirs
05 In The Morning
06 So This Is Goodbye
07 Like A Child
08 Caught In A Wave
09 When No One Cares
10 FM

As previously reported, the band will be on tour with Ensemble to help promote the release.

Second Time's a Charm Tour:

09-05 Middle East - Boston, MA
09-06 Cafe Nine - New Haven, CT
09-07 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
09-08 North Star Bar - Philadelphia, PA
09-09 Iota - Arlington, VA
09-10 Starr Hill Music Hall - Charlottesville, VA
09-12 Earl - Atlanta, GA
09-13 One Eyed Jack's - New Orleans, LA
09-14 Walter's - Houston, TX
09-15 Emo's - Austin, TX
09-16 Blue Dome - Tulsa, OK
09-17 Mojo's - Columbia, MO
09-20 High Dive - Denver, CO
09-22 Plush - Tucson, AZ
09-23 Casbah - San Diego, CA
09-25 Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA
09-26 Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA
09-28 Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
09-29 Neumo's - Seattle, WA
09-30 Plaza Club - Vancouver, British Columbia
10-02 Broken City - Calgary, Alberta
10-03 Sidetrack Cafe - Edmonton, Alberta
10-04 Amigo's - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
10-06 Pyradmid - Winnipeg, Manitoba
10-07 400 Bar - Minneapolis, MN
10-08 Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL

›› Pensatos News: Junior Boys and Ensemble Tour

Before you fly off the handle, Snoop is about as indipendent as indie can be in both mind and production, so show me some love and listen up! Snoop Dogg will release The Blue Carpet Treatment on November 20th. His eighth album will feature the likes of Stevie Wonder, Ice Cube, R Kelly, Cypress Hill's B Real, and MC Eight.  You think someone like Snoop can have just one producer?  Fo no shizel.  Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Rick Rock and The Neptunes will be working collectively to mold the sounds of the album.

In an interview with Billboard, the artist explained he wrote the songs to bring unity among the different racial groups in California:

"It's about time we start to fight for each other rather than fighting against each other. I have homies from all cultural backgrounds and love all of my brothers, black and brown.

"There is nothing that can stop us from creating a better future for ourselves, for our families and generations to come if we all came together."

Dirty On Purpose is ready to make your sides split via self embarrassment. For your viewing love, the troupe now has 'No Radio' ready to destroy you with horns and eighties irony.  The single, part of their debut Hallelujah Sirens, features insane acrobatics and iconoclastic bling like sweatbands. 

Recommended with doobage:

Basement Jaxx are readying their sound blasting for your neglected ears by letting you listen to their upcoming album Crazy Itch Radio via stream at their website. We're so sure you're gonna love it that we even posted the album info to burn an image in your skull until it hits stores on September 12th.

Track List:

01 Intro
02 Hush Boy
03 Zoomalude
04 Take Me Back to Your House
05 Hey You [feat. Robyn]
06 On the Train
07 Run 4 Cover [feat. Lady Marga]
08 Skillalude
09 Smoke Bubbles
10 Lights Go Down [feat. Linda Lewis]
11 Intro Reprise
12 Everybody
13 Keep Keep On
14 U R on My Mind

Library Tapes are working around the clock these days.  Just one year after their debut, the band is putting the finishing touches on their follow up Feelings For Something Lost.  The album, slated for an October 16th release, will be distributed through the Resonant label.

Not only masters of the experimental renaissance, but these Swedes seem to also love the longest song titles ever...

Track List:

01 But Now Things Were Different, With Birds Unable To Speak
02 Feelings For Something Lost In Two Parts (Pt.1)
03 Leaves Abstract In A Village Plunged Into Mourning (Feat. Colleen)
04 Abandoned Houses Hiding In Flickering Shadows
05 Lines Running Low Through 7th (...The Shame Of It All...)
06 It was A Cold Day In February And We Walked Across The Lake
07 Departures (Burning Saints For Your Own Sins)
08 Shut Your Eyes And You'll Find The Trees Turning Into Flames
09 When We No Longer Are Around To Write Our Love On Each Other's Eyelids
10 Fading Lights And Distant Memories
11 Feelings For Something Lost (Pt.2)
12 It Ends With A Version Of Keeping, Reminding About What Once Were...

You don't know techno until you dream in sci-fi Technicolor and named King Britt. The maestro of funky house techno is readying his new album Praise for Nova Dream Sequence on September 19th care of Compost Records.

Britt is also currently on tour and hit his stride to coincide the release of his new album; putting on three hour sets with the aid of Tim Motzer on guitar and Daniel Potthast as the VJ. Check him out in your local land.

King of Dreams Tour:

08-25 Spiegeltent - New York, NY
08-26 World Cafe Acute - Philladelphia, PA
09-02 Nocturnal Wonderland - Los Angeles, CA
09-14 Django - Atlanta, GA
09-15 Smart Bar - Chicago, IL
09-16 LiveArts Festival - Philly, PA
09-17 Block Party - Philadelphia, PA
09-21 Las Vegas Music Conference - Las Vegas, NV
09-28 TBC Venue - Cleveland, OH
09-29 Vinyl - Cincinatti, OH
09-30 TBC Venue - Denver, CO
10-01 TBC Venue - Ann Arbor, MI
10-02 World Cafe Acute - Philly, PA
10-03 Cielo - New York, NY
10-07 Akbank Jazz Festival - Istanbul, Turkey
11-02 Bia Bar - Dublin, Ireland
11-03 Southport Weekender - Southport, England
11-04 TBC - Europe
11-05 The Lodge/Faith - London, England
11-09 IBO - Dubai, UAE
11-10 Red Cat - Mainz, Germany
11-11 Sub Club - Glasgow, Scotland

Damn you, Beck! Every day you have something new for us but not the actual album. As penance, Beck is offering a sticker contest! As previously reported, LP album cover of 'The Information' will have a black cover including stickers to design your own. You then get the opportunity to submit your work of art for potential display at an art gallery.

Get ready to trade the sticker-books, kidos.

›› Pensatos Video: Beck's 'Motorcade'
›› Pensatos News: Beck 'Information'al Track Listing
›› Pensatos News: Beck's New Video 'We Dance Alone'
›› Pensatos News: Beck Album 'Information'

Sure Modest Mouse taking their sweet time with their new album.  But when you have guitar great Johnny Marr on board, you can turn a glass eye to the preverbal hour glass of production, right? As previously reported, The Smiths guitarist is working with the band on their upcoming release We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank but we never got confirmation that the album would be in our hands by years end. Until now.

The band announced that they will have the album ready for release on December 19th - just in time to be your numbero uno stocking stuffer.

›› Pensatos News: Smiths Guitarist with Modest Mouse

It's the Superfriends of tours! Not only do you get two of the best up-and-coming acts together on the road with The Long Winters and What Made Milwaukee Famous, but you are also getting the freshly singed Menomena for select venues (see link below for related story).

Check out our review of WMMF's debut along with our archive of The Long Winters' recent release Putting the Days To Bed via the links below.  We also have a choice mp3 in our audio section of WMMF's 'idecide'.

Best. Unheard. Tour. Ever.:

09-03 Heliogabal - Barcelona, Spain #
09-08 Fillmore - San Francisco, CA %
09-09 Avalon - Hollywood, CA *
09-11 Casbah - San Diego, CA
09-12 Rhythm Room - Phoenix, AZ
09-15 Rubber Gloves - Denton, TX
09-16 Austin City Limits Fesival - Austin, TX
09-19 Walter's On Washington - Houston, TX +
09-20 One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, LA +
09-21 Bottle Tree - Birmingham, AL +
09-22 Smith's Old Bar - Birmingham, AL @
09-23 Local 506 - Carrboro, NC @
09-24 Grey Eagle Tavern and Music Hall - Asheville, NC +
09-26 Satellite Ballroom - Charlottesville, VA @
09-27 Sonar - Baltimore, MD @
09-28 World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA @
09-29 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY @
09-30 Harper's Ferry - Boston, MA @
10-03 La Sala Rossa - Montreal, CAN @
10-04 Lee's Palace - Toronto, CAN @
10-05 Magic Stick - Detroit, MI @
10-06 Subterranean - Chicago, IL @
10-07 Triple Rock - Minneapolis, MN @
10-09 Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO +
 

# John solo performance
% with Feist
* with Feist, The Rubies
+ with What Made Milwaukee Famous
@ with What Made Milwaukee Famous and Menomena

›› Reviews: What Made Milwaukee Famous - Trying To...
›› .mp3: What Made Milwaukee Famous - 'idecide'
›› Reviews: The Long Winters - Putting The Days To Bed
›› News: Barsuk Signs Menomena

There is a new definition for 'hype' and it might coincide with 'work horse'.  Beck has been busy this month releasing two videos for his upcoming album Information. It follows suit with the previous as far as oddity goes.

›› Pensatos News: Beck 'Information'al Track Listing
›› Pensatos News: Beck's New Video 'We Dance Alone'
›› Pensatos News: Beck Album 'Information'

Time to put your rep on the line.  Lily Allen, who recently dissed the indie music scene and their influences by calling them all "the same" will have a chance to prove she's different on the road.  Allen is hitting select cities on a short jog across the states during the month of October.

Represent Tour:

10-08 Mod Clun Theatre - Toronto, CAN
10-10 Hiro Ballroom - New York, NY
10-12 Popscene - San Francisco, CA
10-14 Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA
10-16 Double Door - Chicago, IL

Allen's recent album Alright Still was picked up stateside by Capitol Records and should hit shelves in early 2007.

›› Pensatos News: Lily Allen vs. Indie Music

The Northwest is starting to reinvent pop rock once again. This time, Barsuk is continuing to stay ahead by signing Portland's phenomenal secret Menomena.

Danny Seim [drums, voc], Justin Harris[bass, sax, guitar, voc] and Brent Knopf [keys, guitar, voc] make up the soul of the band and from what we've heard, are a vastly talented trio.

The experimental troupe are set to have their first album from the label Friend and Foe released in early 2007.  The label describes their work as "...Northwest Indie songcraft through a Chicago post-rock lens." We'll keep you posted.

New York's posh music scene is about to lose one of it's greatest venues.  CBGB, who's walls saw the likes of the Ramones and Patti Smith will be closing it's doors forever on September 30th due to complications on their current lease.

Who's the final show? Fishbone. But before you start running into a wall screaming "Swim!" there is an all day event planned there after on the 30th that will include over a dozen acts for the final hours. Check out the schedule below and see a piece of history fade away:

02:30 - Shadow Machine
03:00 - The Last Word
04:00 - The Getaway Drive
05:00 - None the Wiser
06:00 - Plan of Attack
07:00 - Amie Amis
08:00 - Eternal
09:00 - Gozadera
10:00 - Cold Hands Collective
11:00 - The Surefire Way
12:00 - The Party Death
12:30 - The New Lows
01:00 - Runny
01:30 - Perfect Syn
02:00 - Hugh Mann & The Beings/Gilgongo
02:30 - Angry Dragon

While we patiently await the release of TV on the Radio's Return to Cookie Mountain in the states [September 12th] we have learned that it may have been worth the two month delay from the UK.

According to the label, the album will include three bonus tracks for our patience.

Track List:

01 I Was a Lover
02 Hours
03 Province
04 Playhouses
05 Wolf Like Me
06 A Method
07 Let the Devil In
08 Dirty Whirl
09 Blues From Down Here
10 Tonight
11 Wash the Day Away

Bonus Tracks:

Snakes and Martyrs
Hours (El-P Remix)
Things You Can Do

As previously reported, the band is also hitting the road next month to give the states a taste of brilliance:

09-14 Republic - New Orleans, LA
09-15 Gypsy Tea Room & Ballroom - Dallas, TX
09-16 Zilker Park - Austin, TX
09-17 Emo's - Austin, TX
09-19 Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO
09-24 Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA
09-25 Soma - San Diego, CA
09-26 Glass House - Pomona, CA
09-27 Soho Restaurant & Music Club - Santa Barbara, CA
09-29 The Library - Sacramento, CA
09-30 Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA
10-02 Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR
10-03 Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, WA
10-04 Showbox Showroom & Lounge - Seattle, WA
10-07 Playmakers - Fargo, ND
10-08 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
10-09 Metro - Chicago, IL
10-10 St Andrews Hall - Detroit, MI
10-12 Opera House Concert Venue - Toronto, Canada
10-13 Le National Montreal - Montreal, Canada
10-14 Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
10-17 Irving Plaza - New York, NY
10-18 Irving Plaza - New York, NY
10-20 Sonar Lounge - Baltimore, MD
10-21 Starlight Lounge - Philadelphia, PA

›› Pensatos News: TV on the Tour

The Grates are ready to win over the hearts of true music lovers in the states by docking in select cities on their UK and Ausie tour. Much like their albums, the concerts will be short but sweet.  And I'm not even alluding to their rather impotent tour of the US as the travel around the globe.  Find 'em if you can:

08-23 Barfly - Liverpool, England
08-24 Whelan's - Dublin, Ireland
08-25 Barfly - Glasgow, Scotland
08-26 Faversham - Leeds, England
08-27 Academy - Birmingham, England
09-05 Cinespace - Los Angeles, CA
09-06 Spaceland - Los Angeles, CA +
09-07 Logan Square Auditorium - Chicago, IL ^
09-08 Kraftbrau - Kalamazoo, MI ^
09-09 Lee's Palace - Toronto, Ontario ^
09-10 La Sala Rossa - Montreal, Quebec ^
09-12 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY @
09-13 TBA - New York, NY
09-29 New York, NY - Fremantle =
09-30 Players Bar - Mandurah, Australia
10-02 HQ - Adelaide, Australia =
10-04 Sands Tavern - Sunshine Coast, Australia =
10-06 Tivoli Theatre - Brisbane, Australia =
10-07 Coolangatta Hotel - Gold Coast, Australia =
10-11 ANU Bar - Canberra, Australia =
10-12 Bar on the Hill - Newcastle, Australia =
10-13 Forum - Melbourne, Australia =
10-14 Enmore Theatre - Sydney, Australia =

+ with The Like
^ with Rogue Wave
@ with The Dears
= with Faker

The band is also readying their US release of the well received Gravity Won't Get You High on August 29th. Album info below.  Look for our review next week.

Track List:

01 I Won't Survive
02 Lies
03 19 20 20
04 Rock Boys
05 Howl
06 Trampoline
07 Science Is Golden
08 Feels Like Pain
09 Nothing Sir
10 Inside Outside
11 Sukkafish
12 Seek Me
13 Little People
14 I Am Siam

Tapes N' Tapes are busy these days.  Not only are they releasing singles off The Loon in the US to match its recent release, but they are currently on a European stint that will see them hit the UK, France, Germany, and more.  Fortunately, they will be back in the US in October and will be joined with the up and coming Cold War Kids for the first few shows but finish off with the aid of Annuals. After which, they will back in the UK.

Durty South Tour:

10-19 Mojo's - Columbia, MO $
10-21 Phoenix Hill Tavern - Louisville, KY $
10-22 BottleTree - Birmingham, AL %
10-24 Common Grounds - Gainesville, FL %
10-25 Common Grounds - Gainesville, FL %
10-26 The Social - Orlando, FL %
10-27 Cafe 11 - St. Augustine, FL %
10-28 Tasty World - Athens, GA %
10-29 The Loft - Atlanta, GA %
10-30 Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC %
10-31 Black Cat - Washington, DC %

$ w/ Cold War Kids
% w/ Annuals

›› Pensatos News: Tapes 'N Tapes 'N Single
›› Pensatos Review: Tapes 'N Tapes - The Loon

The Mountain Goats headed by John Darnielle are ready to tackle the indie scene once again. With the impressive new Mountain Goats album Get Lonely hitting retail this week, the band has released the new single 'Woke Up New' for all to marvel at.  The video was directed by office fav Rian Johnson.  Johnson was responsible for the fabulously noir crime drama Brick released earlier this year in theaters.

Darnielle will also be appearing on several radio and in store performances this week to discuss the new album but the even better news is that he will be hitting the road in September for the fall tour!

08-21 Easy Street - Seattle, WA @ 11:00 p.m. (in store)
08-21 KEXP Radio - Seattle, WA @ 1:00 p.m.
08-22 Amoeba - San Francisco, CA @ 6:00 p.m. (in store)
08-23 Amoeba - Los Angeles, CA @ 6:00 p.m. (in store)
08-26 Royce Hall [826LA Benefit Show] - Los Angeles, CA
08-27 Indie 103.1 - Los Angeles, CA
09-14 Tripple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
09-15 Maintenance Shop - Ames, IA
09-16 The Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
09-18 Kraftbrau - Kalamazoo, MI
09-20 Andy Warhol Museum - Pittsburgh, PA
09-21 The Union - Athens, OH
09-23 Cornell University - Ithaca, NY
09-24 Pearl Street - Northampton, MA
09-26 Middle Ease Underground - Cambridge, MA
09-28 The Black Cat - Washington, DC
09-30 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
10-01 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
 

Jose Gonzalez has been busy lately.  Not only did he lend an influential hand to Zero 7 on their latest album by joining in on four tracks, but now he's helping them on the road as well. He'll be pulling double duty; opening for Zero 7 and also joining them on stage for much of the set. To further support the band, Gonzalez will perform with Zero 7 on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday August 28th. The band will reportedly play 'Futures' off of their new album The Garden.

The romance will not last forever, however, as Gonzalez will part ways in the fall/autumn for his own solo tour. For those of you who would like a sneak peak, you can catch his NPR 'All Songs Considered' performance by clicking here. We'll let you know dates when they are released.

Joseph K had a band?  How did he find time while on trial? Unfortunately, the victim of totalitarian rule from Kafka's The Trial does not have a band (although it would be interesting). This Josef K (note the spelling) was a post-punk quartet out of Scotland during the early 80's and influenced the likes of indie gone big today like The Futureheads and Maximo Park. 

Unfortunately for them, they were ahead of their time.  But Domino Recordings in the US will be releasing an anthology entitled Entomology as part of the ongoing The Sound of Young Scotland series.  This will also be the first official Josef K release in the states. Entomology will hit shelves on November 7th.

Track List:

01 Radio Drill Time (Postcard)
02 It's Kinda Funny (Postcard)
03 Final Request (B-side of 'It's Kinda Funny')
04 Heads Watch (Sorry For Laughing)
05 Drone (Sorry For Laughing)
06 Sense Of Guilt (Sorry For Laughing)
07 Citizens (Sorry For Laughing)
08 Variation Of Scene (Sorry For Laughing)
09 Endless Soul (Sorry For Laughing)
10 Sorry For Laughing (Postcard)
11 Revelation (B-side to 'Sorry for Laughing' 7")
12 Chance Meeting (Postcard)
13 Pictures (OF CINDY) (B-side to 'Chance Meeting' 7")
14 Fun 'N Frenzy (The Only Fun in Town)
15 Crazy to Exist (The Only Fun in Town)
16 Forever Drone (The Only Fun in Town)
17 Heart of Song (The Only Fun in Town)
18 16 Years (The Only Fun in Town)
19 The Angel (The Only Fun in Town)
20 Heaven Sent (Peel Session, June 22nd, 1981)
21 The Missionary (Peel Session, June 22nd, 1981)
22 Applebush (Peel Session, June 22nd, 1981)

No it's not Project Runway but you are either in or your out.  Hennessy is hosting a private show with guest performances by Kanye West, The Strokes, Carl Cox, and Goldfrapp on October 17th in New York's Bowery. 

The rub: it's a private party with only a handful of tickets made available to the public.  You can go to hennesseyartisty.com to apply for the guest list but don't hold your breath.

You are now all officially seen as competition.

It's been some time coming but The Figurines are finally hitting the North American circuit. The band is still in Europe right now tackling the likes of Germany like it's nobody's business.  But soon they will return to the great plains of America and our neighbor north on a small jog from coast to coast.  Catch them on the East Coast with You Am I for added bonus pleasures.

Skinny Bones Tour:

10-18 Khyber - Philadelphia, PA
10-19 Mercury Lounge - New York, NY *
10-20 Middle East - Cambridge, MA *
10-21 Main Hall - Montreal, Quebec
10-22 Horseshoe - Toronto, Ontario
10-23 Schubas - Chicago, IL
10-24 400 Bar - Minneapolis, MN
10-27 Spaceland - Los Angeles, CA
10-28 Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA
10-30 Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
10-31 Crocodile Cafe - Seattle, WA

* w/ You Am I

Meanwhile, to find out all the hype, check out our review of The Figurines' Skeleton in our review section or clicking below.

›› Pensatos Review: Figurines - Skeleton

Even though they are shedding their mascara days, The Killers can't seem to lose their obsession with the 80's.  Thankfully, Sam's Town will be a big step away from both but if their new single 'When You Were Young' is any source of such, we're in for more of the same contrary to reports.

Doesn't this video feel like the band with the same first and last name? Discuss!