After the somewhat recent departure of Caralee McElroy, they’ve enlisted the full-time help of previously part-time collaborator Angela Seo on piano, synth, and programming. Production was co-headed by Stewart and Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier, who plays on most of the album as well. On “This To Shall Pass Away (for Freddy)”, a possible ode to the late Queen front man, the group will joined by the Immaculata Catholic School Orchestra. Word is that this new release will be heavy on the goth pop side of things (comin’ for you, Cold Cave), with four songs composed heavily on a Nintendo DS. But however they reincarnate themselves, you can be sure to expect the usual ingredients of superb art-damaged pop, scattershot rhythms, atonal explosions, and embarrassing details. Xiu to the muthafuckin Xiu, 2k10.

Dear God, I Hate Myself will be available February 23rd on Kill Rock Stars.

Track list:
1. Gray Death
2. Chocolate Makes You Happy
3. Apple for a Brain
4. House Sparrow
5. Hyunhye’s Theme
6. Dear God, I Hate Myself
7. Secret Motel
8. Falkland Rd.
9. The Fabrizio Palumbo Retaliation
10. Cumberland Gap
11. This Too Shall Pass Away (for Freddy)
12. Impossible Feeling

MP3:::
Xiu Xiu – I am Hated for Loving (Moz cover)

In what seems to be a suite of albums that namedrop the jams that Anton Newcombe loves (with the first being 2007’s My Bloody Underground), the Brian Jonestown Massacre is set to drop Who Killed Sgt. Pepper on New Year’s Day. And since Newcome is. always. on. fucking. MySpace. showing. us. the. dinner. he’s. cooking. and. other. random. and. often. stupid. shit., the tracklisting was made available for a brief time before it was retracted. Probably after a phone call from the manager. Be it as it may.

1. Tempo 116.7 (Reaching For Dangerous Levels Of Sobriety)
2. The Heavy Knife
3. Lets Go Fucking Mental (Melodica Mix)
4. White Music
5. This Is The First Of Your Last Warnings (Icelandic Version)
6. This Is The One Thing We Did Not Want To Have Happen
7. The One
8. Someplace Else Unknown
9. Detka! Detka! Detka!
10. Super Fucked
11. Our Time
12. Feel It (Of Course We Fucking Do)
13. Felt Tipped-Pen Pictures Of UFOs

Before the full length drops though, the BJM will release a new teaser EP that comes out next week called One EP. You can czech it courtesy of Cargo Records. Looking forward to hearing that, for sure. However, I currently have no predictions on whether Who Killed Sgt. Pepper will rule or not. This is the best of the streaming tracks I’ve listened to thus far, and I like it quite a bit. But some of the other tracks I’ve heard sound abysmal, and some were pretty decent. I dunno, what do you think? I’m certainly hoping for the best myself. I’m on your team, Anton.

POSSIBLY RELEVANT :::
The Brian Jonestown Massacre vs. The Decibel Tolls

Good. It’s been a minute. I was just remarking in a recent post on Joensuu 1685 that I haven’t heard a goddamn peep from ya’llz since that sick eponymous disc dropped on me circa ‘05 and turned my cerebral cortex to Jell-O. Tiny Mix Tapes is reporting that Scandinavian decibel shredders Serena Maneesh have signed to 4AD for a million bucks and will release a new jam hive in March 2010. Good to see you returning to your roots, 4AD! With The Big Pink and St. Vincent, I was beginning to wonder if you guys lost your edge or if there was just some amazing peyote being passed around that made everyone stupid high. Regardless, Maneesh rules. I hope they call their next album All The Big Pink’s Base Are Belong to Serena Maneesh.

MP3 :::
Serena Maneesh – Un Deux

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is known for two things: 1) being called “hippies” by Brian Jonestown’s Joel Gion in Dig, and 2) very strong live shows. So considering the latter, it’s fitting the group is set to drop a 2 DVD and CD live package, poignantly titled Live. The package spans a number of European shows on their Baby 81 tour. The jam hive hits shelves next Tuesday, November 10th. Wanna win a copy? Cool… well I have two to give away.

Just shoot an email over to kb@thedecibeltolls.com and tell me what you’d like to see more of on the blog. We’ve had a lot of discussions on how to better serve you, the smarmy blog reader. This way, we get something, and you get something awesome. Contest closes on Friday at 5 p.m.

You can peep the track listing and pre-order info here. Good luck.

MP3 :::
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Spread Your Love [Live]

Is it safe to say that Woodsist may have the greatest batting average of any record label this year? Looking to put one more trophy in the cabinet, they plan to release the debut full-length from Real Estate next month. The garden state group uses phased surf guitar working in cahoots with autumnal acoustic overtones to produce something along the lines of a slacker Yo La Tengo. A dejected tropical palette forged by guitarist Matt Mondanile of Ducktails (although this is closer sounding to his recent work with Parasails), and vocalist/guitarist Martin Courtney, whose singing evokes a folkier Doug Martsch. This new self-titled album is largely a collection of rerecorded tracks from previous EP’s and 7″s . The changes are mostly on the mixing/mastering end, and while it’s usually a polarizing venture to polish up a band’s style, the smoother production more than suits Real Estate’s gossamer melodies. You can find all the dates for their current fall tour here.

The self-titled debut will be out on Woodsist November 17th.

For Fans of:  Yo La Tengo, Ducktails/Parasails, Best Coast

MP3 :::
Real Estate – Fake Blues
Real Estate – Snow Days

Fuck! I just reported today how The For Carnation is playing their first show in, what, seven years or so at the Speed Museum’s Art After Dark event, then I realized that’s also the same night that Siltbreeze patriots Blues Control and locals Sapat bust brains across town. OMG MULTITASKING LOL.

Ya know, it is possible that The For Carnation will play a lot earlier than the general 10 p.m. start times at Lisa’s, so you may be able to do both. But then again, perhaps you might want to show up to the Blues Control/Sapat gig early, considering that Lisa’s is small, Sapat draws a fairly large crowd locally, and Blues Control spent a chunk of this year supporting Animal Collective on tour and probably picked up lots of fresh fans along the way. Good gravy, ya’ll, don’t know what to tell you. I’mma try to do both.

I submit for your consideration some previous write-ups I’ve done on both bands:

Blues Control (from the Puff EP write-up) – “Always on Time” is straight from space.  It’s the sound emitting from the SETI experiments.  Large, cavernous waves of radiation and solar wind flush around a simple, rarely changing Neu-esque piano melody with the reverb turned up all the way and dripping in condensation for 12 big minutes. The harmonica on “Behind the Skies” is the only indication that Blues Control is going to attempt to live up to its name, a mid-tempo, fuzzed-out burner reminiscent of Lightning Bolt on purple drank (perhaps there’s a connection between Ride the Skies and Behind the Skies?).  R-O-C-K in the U-S-A.

Sapat (from the Jana Hunter/Crazy Dreams Band preview) – Sapat is a local collective that features between eight and one million people (depending on the type of show), all of whom have a like-minded approach to fringe music. Sapat is a pulsating orb of eclecticism and mysticism – never cateogorizable, but always freaky, funky, and brain splattering. Sapat’s expansive beauty and unwavering experimentation is what makes Louisville amazing. They are truly a breath of fresh air. Remember that part in Amistad when they’re in the court room and the bro is all ike “give us… free!”? Sapat gives you free with every show.

Blues Control and Sapat
Friday, October 23
Lisa’ Oak Street Lounge
1004 E. Oak St., Louisville (map that shizz)
9 p.m.-ish
21+

Blues Control Unleash the Dragon World Tour 2K9*
*= not actually the name of the tour, though that might’ve been the name of an Aerosmith tour

10.12.09 – Princeton, NJ – WPRB – in-studio 3pm EST
10.16.09 – Philadelphia, PA – Pilam
10.18.09 – New Haven, CT – Bar
10.19.09 – Ithaca, NY – The Shop
10.20.09 – Scranton, PA – The Bog
10.21.09 – Pittsburgh, PA – Garfield Artworks $
10.22.09 – Cincinnati, OH – Art Damage Lodge $
10.23.09 – Louisville, KY – Lisa’s Oak Street Lounge %
10.24.09 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle – early show @
10.25.09 – Madison, WI – Good Style Shop
10.26.09 – St Paul, MN – Turf Club
10.27.09 – Kansas, City MO – Record Bar
10.29.09 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court – early show
10.29.09 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge – late show
10.30.09 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
10.31.09 – Olympia, WA – The Northern – Halloween &!
11.01.09 – Seattle, WA – Funhouse &
11.02.09 – Vancouver, BC – Little Mountain Studios
11.03.09 – Portland, OR – Someday Lounge
11.05.09 – San Francisco, CA – Hemlock Tavern =
11.06.09 – Oakland, CA – Continental Club +
11.07.09 – Sacramento, CA – Luigi’s Slice <
11.08.09 – Santa Cruz, CA – CREPE PLACE >
11.09.09 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Crossroads
11.10.09 – Irvine, CA – UC Irvine ^
11.11.09 – Los Angeles, CA – Synchrocity ^
11.12.09 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
11.13.09 – Phoenix, AZ – Trunk Space
11.16.09 – Denton, TX – J&J’s Pizza
11.17.09 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk
11.18.09 – Houston, TX – Mango’s
11.19.09 – New Orleans, LA – Allways Lounge
11.21.09 – Nashville, TN – Dino’s
11.22.09 – Asheville, NC – Harvest Records
11.23.09 – Chapel Hill, NC – Nightlight

$ Puffy Areolas
# Kurt Vile
! Tyvek
% Sapat
@ Ga’an
Chinese Stars
& Little Claw
+ Sic Alps
= Hank IV
^ Pocahaunted
< The Duchess and the Duke
> Lucky Dragons

MP3 :::
Blues Control – Behind the Skies
Sapat – Dark Silver

Dickie Peterson, co-founder of pioneering San Francisco based heavy-as-fuck psych stoner metal juggernaut Blue Cheer passed away this morning in Germany. He was 61. Fuck Columbus Day, I’m bumping their 1968 LP Outsideinside all day in commemeration of Peterson and Blue Cheer (who I saw two years ago at The Dame in Lexington and felt the pain in my ears for weeks afterwards).

MP3 :::
Blue Cheer – Sun Cycle

I’m not sure if the Slint/Tortoise/Shipping News supergroup The For Carnation ever officially broke up. Hence, we can’t call their return a “reunion” necessarily. So we’ll referred to this event as their triumphant return. While we haven’t heard new material since 2000’s eponymous record (not counting the 2007 Touch and Go reissue of Promised Works) and there are no rumors that they may be recording again soon, it does seem The For Carnation has been officially reignited when they agreed to make their first public appearance in years at All Tomorrows Parties’ Ten Years of ATP festival this December in the UK. That is, until last week… when it was quietly, almost nonchalantly announced that The For Carnation will be playing Art After Dark at the University of Louisville’s Speed Art Museum on October 23. Like out of nowhere. I just silently mouthed “holy shit” reading that.

The skinny:

Art After Dark: Remix (the first of three museum-wide events held throughout the year, each with a different theme) will tie together a lineup of music, visual spectacle, creating art, and fun. Remix will feature the premiere of a multimedia art collaboration between classically trained American cellist Ben Sollee (an NPR Top 10 Unknown Artist of the Year) and multimedia Louisville artist, Valerie Sullivan Fuchs. Also featured will be the uniquely dynamic, minimalist-informed, yet R&B inspired music of “The For Carnation,” a post rock band from Louisville formed by Brian McMahan (formerly of the legendary band “Slint”), as well as theatrical interpretations of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies created by the wacky minds of LePetomane Theatre Ensemble, and fire dancing performances from The Phoenix Collective on the museum’s front lawn. Visitors will also want to keep an eye out for break dancers, a critic at large, “un-tours” of the collection and films from Louisville Film Society.

The For Carnation is R&B inspired? Eh, I buy that. They’re dynamic dudes. I’m totally there, brah.

The For Carnation @ Art After Dark
Friday, October 23 @ 7 p.m.
The Speed Art Museum
2035 S. 2nd St., Louisville (map that shizz)
All Ages

MP3 :::
The For Carnation – Tales

Rachel Grimes, formerly of folklore-evoking Louisville chamber post rock collective Rachel’s (whose founder Jason Noble is the reason for the Shellac-headlining benefit show announced this week), celebrates the release of her new album Book of Leaves tomorrow night (Thursday) at the 21C. The show will be the first in 21C’s Hear + Now multimedia A/V series. Seeing as it’s been a while since Rachel or Rachel’s have surfaced, and this new record is her first solo outing, you shouldn’t in good conscience miss this show.

Backseat Sandbar writes: “The show will also feature works by Daniel Gilliam, Lou Moseson and Sara Maclean.  The Series will feature newly composed works by regional creators and performed by regional creators for all of us to experience.  I’ve even heard that there will be a baby grand piano placed in the center of the room with seating in a theatre in the round style.  21c always pulls out all the stops and this series looks to be very exciting.”

Book of Leaves mixes modern composition with field recordings, and remains one of the more intriguing releases that has graced these ears. The album is available on vinyl and digital release via hometown heroes Karate Body. Grip it here.

Rachel Grimes Record Release
Thursday, October 8
21C Museum
700 W. Main St., Louisville (map that shizz)
7 p.m doors
All ages

MP3 :::
Rachel Grimes – Every Morning

Jason Noble of Shipping News, Rodan, Rachel’s, and other Louisville royalty was recently diagnosed with cancer. Word is that he’s doing okay, but the medical bills are piling up. When Steve Albini got word of this, he put down the cards, left the poker table, and got Shellac together to do a one-off at Louisville’s very intimate 930 Listening Room. Proceeds will benefit Jason and his family during this difficult time, and all the good vibes will probably benefit them as well. This show will be insane! Steve Albini’s flat top in real life will also be insane!

Thanks to Buzzgrinder and Backseat Sandbar for the heads-up!

Shellac w/ Support TBA
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The 930 Listening Room (map that shizz)
7:30 p.m. doors
8 p.m. show
$17 advance
$20 at the door
Tickets on sale Friday, October 9 at 10 a.m. at ear X-tacy and the930.org

MP3 :::
Shellac – The Admiral