Slowly but surely, the machinery of Magnetic Fields is cranking back up. With their new album Realism set for release, they’ve decided to embark on a wee bairn of a tour. Check out these tour dates — MORE »

Although we currently know next-to-nothing about what this album will sound like, we’re definitely excited to hear that a new Magnetic Fields album will be released on Nonesuch Records this coming January. Stephin Merritt fans may rejoice quietly as they look at the album cover (above) and the tracklisting (below) which was revealed to us this morning.

1. You Must Be Out of Your Mind
2. Interlude
3. We Are Having a Hootenanny
4. I Don’t Know What to Say
5. The Dolls’ Tea Party
6. Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree
7. Walk a Lonely Road
8. Always Already Gone
9. Seduced and Abandoned
10. Better Things
11. Painted Flower
12. The Dada Polka
13. From a Sinking Boat

An observation: I think if Erlend Oye were a type of fabric, he’d be a smooth vinyl suede.

After all, the Norwegian crooner has made his career out of experimenting with various combinations of the synthetic and the smooth. The latest of these efforts is Rules, the second release from The Whitest Boy Alive, due out on Bubbles in March. The Berlin-based group’s 2007 debut, Dreams, was about as close as dance-rock can come to producing a concept album; the stripped-down guitar/bass/drums/vocals galvanized by spare, funky rhythmic consistency made for an album as danceable as it is listenable.

This sophomore release resists the temptation to rehash the formula and instead elaborates on that signature sound by way of more ambitious compositions and an expanded sound palette. Rules sacrifices some of what made Dreams such a standout, mostly in terms of restraint. Oye’s smooth but angular guitar phrasing is still insistently there, as are his haunting, ever-so-slightly-flat vocals, but they are augmented by a smattering of vintage synthesizers, fuzzy basslines, and lots of adrenaline-inducing dynamic shifts in the drumming. The songs are still irresistibly catchy and the lyrics wry as always, but nevertheless Rules comes off as less of a carefully-edited statement and more of an enthusiastic exploration of the possibilities of rebuilding on a solid minimal framework.

The Whitest Boy Alive – Island

_{You can purchase The Whitest Boy Alive – Rules by clicking here.}

She’s the star of the new web-based series from MTV and director Craig Brewer entitled Five Dollar Cover. She can “triple-slap the upright bass like Willie Dixon on Steroids” (according to Jim Dickinson). She can sing like a siren. She’s been on tour the world around, playing packed-out shows at places like the Royal Albert Hall. And tonight, Memphis-based upright bass player, vocalist and film engeneue Amy LaVere, will be the musical guest on Late Night with Conan O’Brien tonight, Monday night (Feb. 2).

According to the Archer Records website, this will mark Amy’s late night debut here in the US, having just played in the UK on Later…with Jools Holland a few months ago. Be sure to tune in tonight. If you live in Memphis, join me and the nice folks from Archer Records at the Hi-Tone Cafe on Poplar for a viewing party.

To tide you over, enjoy this video of Amy performing her song “Killing Him” from the lastest Sun Studio Sessions. It’s recommended that you watch it in HQ (you can choose HQ from the player and you’ll be glad you did).

Apologies to my regular readers that this video contains an ad. As someone with no hair, I am personally offended that it’s an ad for Pantene; however the video, taken from Saadiq’s masterful 2008 album The Way I See It, is worth sitting thru the ad.

The video transports you back to the 50’s when tailored looks, impecable style and choreographed dances defined your Saturday night. Disc Jockey’s ruled the airwaves and Mempis, TN was finally given it’s star power on the map. Imagine you are the audience and Raphael Saadiq is your entertainment for the night. I instruct you to advise on the above before you press play, evoke the mood and the mood is Soul.

That’s from the press release. So Nikki, if you’re reading this, you might should proof that press release — our city’s name spelled Memphis, not “Mempis”.

Don’t worry: in a couple of months you’ll be able to spell it in your sleep. Now dig some Raphael Saadiq.

Memphis, get ready to stand up. $5 Cover, the highly-anticipated new web series from director Craig Brewer has already made its introductory splash to audiences at the Sundance Film Festival this past weekend.

In the weeks and months to come, the rest of the world will have an opportunity to find out what those of us in Memphis have long known and understood: the richness and depth of our tightly-knit music scene and those involved. For now, take a minute to check out the trailer, and keep your eyes peeled to http://fivedollarcover.com for new information as it becomes available.

photo credit: ups2006

We got a nice note from Sune Rose Wagner of The Raveonettes today about what’s going on with them for 2009. If you were wondering, here’s a quick update from Sune on their limited tour dates and their upcoming return to studio to record their new album.

Had a great creative talk with Sharin today and we’re so ready to make the best album to date! It’ll be released in September and we wanna do a proper studio album with a genius producer. There’s only so much you can do in your living room and let’s face it, whenever you pull out one of your favorite albums, it’ll stand the test of time because of a timeless sound, excellent production and songwriting. Now’s the right time for us to step it up…

Before we go into songwriting mode, we’ll hit the road on the 15th of January for an intense tour. We’re bringing a 4 piece band on the road so it should sound massive! There’re still a few tix left so get them now!

This will be the last we’ll tour for a while because we wanna spend all our time on the next album. We’re excited about the future.

Rave On

X Sune

1.15.09 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
1.16.09 New York, NY Webster Hall
1.17.09 Washington, DC Black Cat
1.23.09 San Francisco, CA Bimbo’s 365 Club
1.24.09 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theater

We’re all super excited around here for SXSW 2009. Five blissfully insane days in Austin, TX have the ’softies all ready to pack our Aero Beds and laptops and head south. New bands are being added to the lineup on a regular basis, though rumors always fly about last-minute additions to the schedule. One thing is certain: there will be a strong Memphis contingent at the festival this year.

Want to see the latest list? Keep tabs over here at Do512 of both confirmed AND rumored acts appearing at SXSW. And if you’re on Twitter, you can always follow SXSW for their latest updates.

Happy New Year to everyone & what better way to start the new year than with a free publishing workshop? The Memphis Music Foundation is sponsoring “Publishing + The PRO’s 101″ on January 10, 2009 at the Musicians Resource Center, 431 S. Main #201 in Memphis.

The seating for this event is *strictly limited* so please RSVP if you would like to attend: info@memphismeansmusic.com