Robyn Hitchcock announces new LP, shares first single (and disses Trump)
Robyn Hitchcock will release his first-ever self-titled album on April 21 via YepRoc. Robyn made the LP, his 21st, in Nashville with co-producer Brendan Benson (The Raconteurs), and features appearances by Gillian Welch, partner Emma Swift, Pat Sansone (Wilco, The Autumn Defense) and Grant-Lee Phillips. The first single is “I Want To Tell You About What I Want” which he tells NPR is “an ecstatic work of negativity” going on to explain:
The original title of the song was ‘My Vision Of World Empathy.’ Either we will eventually become extinct and be replaced by cats with articulated thumbs who have evolved the way apes slowly evolved into us, or we will become empathic and mildly telepathic — people like Donald Trump won’t happen because biologically no human will be born with that lack of empathy. We will become a species that isn’t capable of bullying because we can feel what we’re doing to other people.
You can listen to that, and check out the LP’s artwork and tracklist below.
Before the new record comes out, he’ll trip back to his 1980 solo debut, Black Snake Diamond Role, playing it live in full with Yo La Tengo as his backing band. The two NYC shows are sold out.
Speaking of Robyn and Donald Trump, Robyn attended the Women’s March in Tennessee in January — see the picture above — and wrote a moving piece on our new president and the protests saying, “you can’t marginalize the melting ice-caps, Donald, and you can’t nullify people’s feelings when they get sick and starve. You can’t steal a woman’s body from her, or steamroller someone’s sexuality. No matter how hard you legislate.” Read the whole thing below.
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Robyn Hitchcock – S/T tracklist
01. I Want To Tell You About What I Want
02. Virginia Woolf
03. I Pray When I’m Drunk
04. Mad Shelley’s Letterbox
05. Sayonara Judge
06. Detective Mindhorn
07. 1970 In Aspic
08. Raymond And The Wires
09. Autumn Sunglasses
10. Time Coast
Yesterday the whole thinking, feeling world gave the thumbs down to Donald Trump and everything he stands for.
What does he stand for – or stand against, more importantly?
He’s against every single gain we’ve made as a species in the last 60 years: in racial equality, in gender parity, in sexual tolerance, in environmental awareness, and in welfare, just to start the list. Less than a day into his presidency, he has begun to nullify and marginalize all that so many have fought for in these areas since the Civil Rights movement.
But you can’t marginalize the melting ice-caps, Donald, and you can’t nullify people’s feelings when they get sick and starve. You can’t steal a woman’s body from her, or steamroller someone’s sexuality. No matter how hard you legislate.
Your supporters are mostly either so wealthy that they feel immune to life & death, or so misinformed that they think losing their health care will somehow help them. Or they just can’t face a female president, for reasons of their own. We don’t understand them, and they don’t understand us, frankly. You’re presiding over the United States now – a nation with a greater divide than the Rockies ever were.
You’re not alone – your greedy, vainglorious, vindictive nature finds its echo in Britain, Russia and other lands. But you will never find the admiration you lack, or the respect you crave, by alienating every empathic soul on earth. And right now you’re doing just that; you may relish it, but it’s not making you happy, is it?
Yesterday my old friends marched in London, my partner marched in Washington DC, and my Nashville friends and I marched here in Tennessee. I’m proud of them all, and proud to be among them. There was no violence; just a bunch of us across the social dial celebrating what we believe in, and celebrating each other.
You must believe in something – other than the luster of your own gold and hurting those who disagree with you – or am I missing the point?
Donald?
Robyn Hitchcock – 2017 Tour Dates
Feb 28 Rough Trade NYC Brooklyn, NY*
Mar 01 The Bowery Ballroom New York, NY*
Mar 02 Sellersville Theater 1894 Sellersville, PA
Mar 03 Once Ballroom Somerville, MA
Mar 13 – 19 SXSW Austin, TX
* = Black Snake Diamond Role in full with Yo La Tengo
