Recent News
February 22, 2010
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Genuine Negro Jig - Going For Adds Today & Tomorrow
We hope you have had chance to check out the Carolina Chocolate Drops' debut on Nonesuch. We'd love it if you could make it a Top 5 Add for your station this week.
All tracks are FCC Clean.
If you missed their live performance and interview on NPR's All Things Considered, you can go here for the archive.
Top Priority: The Magnetic Fields
Airplay on Realism continues to increase, but we're still looking for more. Anything you can do to keep pushing this at your station would be greatly appreciated.
Did you know that there is a documentary on Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields coming out soon? It's called Strange Powers. There will be a sneak peak of the movie at Noise Pop this week and it's premiering next month at SXSW. A trailer and more info can be found at www.strangepowersfilm.com
The White Stripes "Under Great White Northern Lights"
We have another exciting opportunity to set up a "sneak peak" movie screening. This time it's for The White Stripes "Under Great White Northern Lights." The film documents the band's journey through Canada to celebrate the release of "Icky Thump" and the 10 year anniversary of the first White Stripes show. This is a great chance to put on a fun event that will draw attention to your station on campus or in your community. Screenings would need to be free events and would ideally take place between March 1st and March 22nd. We will be able to provide a DVD for screening, posters to promote the event, and giveaways. Let me know if you are interested.
You should also have a three-song sampler from the forthcoming live album of the same name. Hope you've had the chance to put that out for play.
Tiny Television Plays Noise Pop And LA This Week
Tiny Television will be playing this week's Noise Pop Festival in their hometown of San Francisco. They are playing Thursday night at The Rickshaw Stop with Zee Avi, The Hot Toddies, and Leslie & the Badgers. On Saturday night, Tiny Television will be opening for Evan Dando at Hotel Cafe. We'd love to see their new album Mission Statement picking up at your station.
Catching Up With Graham
Last week we got my stand-up Ms. Pac-Man machine up and running. I had a party on Saturday night to celebrate. Here I am setting the high score of this night at 152,950. That's nothing compared to the personal all-time best score of 263,040 that I got the night after we fixed it.
I finished my first book of the year over the weekend: Bill Drummond's 45. I loved every page of this memoir from the KLF / K Foundation member. I had no idea that he managed Echo & The Bunnymen too. Also highly recommended is his book The Manual (How to Have a Number One the Easy Way), co-written with his partner-in-crime Jimmy Cauty
February 15, 2010
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Genuine Negro Jig
Nonesuch Records is set to release the label debut of North Carolina-based string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops on February 16. Produced by critically acclaimed recording artist and songwriter Joe Henry (Allen Toussaint, Elvis Costello, Solomon Burke), Genuine Negro Jig features string band interpretations of Blu Cantrell’s beat-box driven R&B single “Hit ‘Em Up Style” and Tom Waits’ “Trampled Rose,” as well as a pair of original compositions, alongside traditional tracks such as “Cornbread and Butterbeans” and “Trouble in Your Mind.” It is the band’s second record; their 2007 release, Dona Got a Ramblin’ Mind, was praised by Paste for “bravely and expertly reclaiming the string band tradition for modern African-American culture,” while NPR’s Weekend Edition calls the band “the hottest thing to hit the old-time music community in decades.” The band is touring in support of the album’s release.
NPR’s All Things Considered is airing a 12 and 1/2 minute long Carolina Chocolate Drops piece today, Monday, February 15th. Tune in to listen. Go to www.npr.org for more info.
All tracks are FCC Clean.
We are going for adds next week (FEB 22 & 23)
White Stripes Adding This Week
We're thrilled to be sending you this three song sampling from Under Great White Northern Lights, The White Stripes forthcoming 16 track live album that is being released in conjunction with the film of the same name. The songs are all taken from their 2007 Canadian Tour, recorded at various venues across the Great White North. This is the first ever live album from the band.
We are going for adds on the sampler this week (FEB 15 & 16).
Go here to watch the video premier for "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (Live)."
Top Priority: The Magnetic Fields
Realism continues to climb the radio charts, breaking into the Top 10 on the CMJ Top 200, Radio Select Albums, Radio Select Tracks, and AAA charts. We could use some extra love this week as we're shooting for a new peak position.
NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered aired a piece on The Magnetic Fields this past Saturday. If you missed it, you should go here to check it out.
In theme with the Valentine holiday, Stephin Merritt sat down with The Onion recently to discuss the perverse art of love songs.
Tiny Television Looks For Debuts
Thanks again to those of you that added Mission Statement, the debut album from San Francisco's Tiny Television. We'd love to see it start picking up over there at your station.
RIYL: Uncle Tupelo, Ryan Adams
All tracks FCC Clean
Recommended Tracks: 2, 3, 6, 7
Other Current Priorities
BlakRoc - BlakRoc (BlakRoc)
The Flaming Lips - Embryonic (Warner Bros)
Built to Spill - There Is No Enemy (Warner Bros)
Catching Up With Graham
I hope you enjoyed / are enjoying the Valentines vs. Presidents weekend. I went to the Commerce Casino to play Texas Hold 'Em for the first time in ages. I lost a bit, but had a great time. I also went over and sold a bunch of bad CDs at Amoeba and came home with good ones: Dam-Funk, 5 Years of Hyperdub, Four Tet, Sunn O))), David Sylvian, and Pan Sonic vs. Keiji Haino. Quality listening lies ahead.
February 13, 2010
New Music From The White Stripes
We're thrilled to be delivering you a three song sampling from Under Great White Northern Lights, The White Stripes forthcoming 16 track live album that is being released in conjunction with the film of the same name. The songs are all taken from their 2007 Canadian Tour, recorded at various venues across the Great White North. This is the first ever live album from the band.
We are going for adds on the sampler this coming week (FEB 15 & 16).
Carolina Chocolate Drops Dropping Monday
Nonesuch Records is set to release the label debut of North Carolina-based string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops on February 16. Produced by critically acclaimed recording artist and songwriter Joe Henry (Allen Toussaint, Elvis Costello, Solomon Burke), Genuine Negro Jig features string band interpretations of Blu Cantrell’s beat-box driven R&B single “Hit ‘Em Up Style” and Tom Waits’ “Trampled Rose,” as well as a pair of original compositions, alongside traditional tracks such as “Cornbread and Butterbeans” and “Trouble in Your Mind.” It is the band’s second record; their 2007 release, Dona Got a Ramblin’ Mind, was praised by Paste for “bravely and expertly reclaiming the string band tradition for modern African-American culture,” while NPR’s Weekend Edition calls the band “the hottest thing to hit the old-time music community in decades.” The band is touring in support of the album’s release.
NPR’s All Things Considered is airing a 12 and 1/2 minute long Carolina Chocolate Drops piece this Monday, February 15.
www.carolinachocolatedrops.com
BlakRoc Rocks #1 Hip Hop
Thanks to all of you that have been supporting BlakRoc. After breaking into the Top 5 on the CMJ Top 200, it has now been sitting at #1 on the CMJ Hip Hop charts for two weeks in a row. Make sure all of the different types of shows that you think could be interested in BlakRoc are aware of the record.
Tiny Television - Mission Statement - At Radio Now
A special thank you goes out to these fine stations that added Tiny Television's debut record this week:
CFRE (Mississauga, ONT) KAFM (Grand Junction, CO) KANM (College Station, TX) KPFA (Berkeley, CA) KPUR (Forest Grove, OR) KRSC (Claremore, OK) KSSU (Sacramento, CA) KTCV (Kennowick, WA) KUGS (Bellingham, WA) KURE (Ames, IA) WAWL (Chattanooga, TN) WCSB (Cleveland, OH) WCVF (Fredonia, NY) WDUB (Granville, OH) WHCL (Clinton, NY) WJCU (U. Heights, OH) WOUB (Athens, OH) WXJM (Harrisonburg, VA)
Catching Up With Graham
This past Superbowl Sunday I attended Guac Bowl X. Once again the competition was fierce with dozens of eclectic guacamole entries. My friend Tim won two trophies for his entry of “The Guacapellas”.
While I have never entered the competition myself, I have been going since the beginning. I even tallied up the votes for the first one. The only Guac Bowl that I missed was when I was following Jeff Tweedy up and down the West Coast in 2006. That just happened to be the year the Seattle Seahawks, the team I grew up watching, made it to the Super Bowl. Fortunately I was able to watch the game with some great friends and fellow Seahawk fans up in Portland, OR. Unfortunately they lost to the Steelers. It's so strange that Los Angeles still does not have an NFL team. For the most part it seems that people here follow either the Raiders or the Chargers as their local team.
Visit www.guacbowl.com for more info on the greatest and most celebrated guacamole competition/SuperBowl party in the world.
February 9, 2010
Tiny Television - Mission Statement - Going For Adds This Week
Hopefully you've had the chance to check out Mission Statement, the debut release from San Francisco's Tiny Television. The record is going for adds this week.
All tracks FCC Clean
Recommended Tracks: 2, 3, 6, 7
This Week's Priorities
Magnetic Fields - Realism (Nonesuch)
BlakRoc - BlakRoc (BlakRoc)
The Flaming Lips - Embryonic (Warner Bros.)
Built to Spill - There Is No Enemy (Warner Bros.)
Adds this week (2/9):
Tiny Television - Mission Statement (Magnolia Records)
Catching Up with Graham
I had a great party at my place on Friday night for some close guy friends that are going to be fathers soon. Here I am typing this update. Hope you all had a good Super Bowl weekend.
February 2, 2010
Realism Top 5 Most Added
Thanks to all of you that added The Magnetic Fields' new album this past week. We're looking for chart numbers now. Hope to see Realism picking up at your station soon.
Check out this blog that is illustrating The Magnetic Fields' classic 69 Love Songs.
Tiny Television Coming This Week
Mission Statement, the debut release from San Francisco's Tiny Television will be arriving this week. Those of you on the physical mailing list should be seeing CDs soon. The digital servicing will be coming a bit later this week. The full length is going for adds next week: February 8th & 9th.
The White Stripes "Under Great White Northern Lights"
We have another exciting opportunity to set up a "sneak peak" movie screening. This time it's for The White Stripes "Under Great White Northern Lights." The film documents the band's journey through Canada to celebrate the release of Icky Thump and the 10 year anniversary of the first White Stripes show. This is a great chance to put on a fun event that will draw attention to your station on campus or in your community. Screenings would need to be free events and would ideally take place between March 1st and March 22nd. We will be able to provide a DVD for screening, posters to promote the event, and giveaways. Let me know if you are interested.
More info about the release can be found at www.whitestripes.com
Current Priorities
Magnetic Fields - Realism (Nonesuch)
BlakRoc - BlakRoc (BlakRoc)
The Flaming Lips - Embryonic (Warner Bros.)
Built to Spill - There Is No Enemy (Warner Bros.)
Adds next week (2/9):
Tiny Television - Mission Statement (Magnolia Records)
Catching Up with Graham
Babies were the theme of the weekend. On Saturday there was a birthday party for twin girls turning three. In attendance were at least two other sets of twins. The theme was Fairies and Pirates, and the cuteness factor was a little overwhelming. Here are two of the guests dressed as Robin Hood. Four of my good friends from college are expecting babies and on Sunday there was a wonderful shower to celebrate. Bekah and I finished wrecking havoc in Los Angeles and she's back up in Seattle starting her new job at Sub Pop.