By Andrew Frisicano

We reported last week that Ryland Bouchard (formerly The Robot Ate Me) will be releasing a "Seeds" box set on October 15 on his own Swim Slowly label. The box will contain Ryland's first new material since TRAM's 2006 release, Good World, and will include, among other things, a DVD that, curiously, his website notes will contain "EXPLICIT CONTENT". His MySpace further points out that "videos from the SEEDS DVD will be posted soon." The tracks from the project that are now streaming online at Ryland's site seem to follow a vein more personal than some of his more politically charged work. Orders for the set, with all its various accoutrements, can be made through Swim Slowly.

While the supporting tour is still being filled out, Ryland has announced a Brooklyn date for Sunday, November 23, at Surreal Estate, a "new community space," at 15 Thames St, Brooklyn, NY in E. Williamsburg/Bushwick.

I've seen Ryland twice, once at CMJ in 2005 in the basement of the Knitting Factory and once in spring 2007 in Ithaca, NY, and both shows were completely different (acoustic+poppy to electronic+noise-based). Both leaned heavily on (non-cheesy) crowd participation.

See (NSFW?) stills from the Seeds video shoots below for scintillating clues to what will be on the DVD, as well as all tour dates and a video from CMJ 2005 featuring unreleased track "Human Head Soccer"...

Continue reading "Ryland Bouchard - streaming Seeds, racy videos, tour dates"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Of Montreal - Nonpareil of Favor (new MP3) (via)
DOWNLOAD: Mount Eerie w/ Julie Doiron & Fred Squire - Flaming Home (MP3)

Mount Eerie

Mount Eerie (songwriter/producer/Microphone Phil Elverum) is set to release the new LP Lost Wisdom, October 7 on his P.W. Elverum & Sun label. The album is a collaboration with vocalist Julie Doiron (of '90s band Eric's Trip) and guitarist Fred Squire, which leans heavily on folk sounds, taking a break from the "punkest incarnation of Mount Eerie" featured on 2008 10" Black Wooden Ceiling Opening. Like most of Phil's stuff, it bears distinctive marks of his Anacortes, WA studio.

Mount Eerie is now on tour with Why?. Their final date together is at Bowery Ballroom in NYC on Sept 18th. Tickets are still on sale. One day later Mount Eeerie kicks off a tour with Julie Doiron and Calm Down, It's Monday at Lutheran Church of the Messiah in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Woods is also listed on the Brooklyn snow. All dates and more details below...

Last year, Elverum released Mt Eerie pts. 6 & 7, a 10" picture disc + hardcover photo book box set (For $64 here). Obviously a $64 record is directed towards serious fans (those curious can catch a preview here ), but maxed out box sets seem to be becoming the new thing (maybe as a reaction to download only albums).

Phil's also releasing a similar project, Dawn, November 1 on both music-only LP and CD+144page booklet formats. His site describes the accompanying materials as "a book of very intense journal writing from time spent in a cabin in northern Norway...Some drawings. 8 double sided photo cards."

The Robot Ate Me's Ryland Bouchard is another musician opting for the box set route, putting out Seed, a limited edition, four 7" box set (with a ton of extras) due October 1. Songs are up on his Myspace, and Ryland is currently taking preorders for the $110 set ($135 regularly). His solo works seems to take a more intimate, less noisy approach than his TRAM records. Though there's no dates, Ryland's Myspace hints at a late fall U.S. tour. Full box set details below.

Then there's Of Montreal, whose new Skeletal Lamping album will come in traditional CD/LP form and packaged as a digital download paired with a variety of unique merch. Get your music with a set of buttons, a paper lamp, and two styles of t-shirt, tote bag or wall decoration, plus a $90/$100 CD/2xLP set including much of the preceding. See the full set of options here. Preorders ship Sept 29, and the album is in stores October 7th.

Of Montreal's new 7" (the first single from the record), Id Engager, out Tuesday, Sept 9, also comes with a code for its digital equivalent.

Of Montreal's album-supporting tour will be sporting new member, Sinkane drummer and bandleader, Ahmed Gallab. Love is All, who also have a new record coming soon, open on a bunch of the dates.

All tour dates and box set tracklists below...

Continue reading "Mount Eerie tour dates, box sets, Ryland Bouchard, Of Montreal, Julie Doiron"