Beck’s off to a good start on the aforementioned record club plan. He definitely gives “Sunday Morning” his stamp, as it recalls the aching fragility and vulnerability of Sea Change. It’s tough to compare it to the original, however, as just about anybody would fall short, but it’s a damn fine effort. Beck.com is already showing signs of transformation to the record club functionality.

After a pretty flawless performance on SNL a few weeks ago, it seemed unlikely the chat show sound gods would allow Phoenix to pull off another great performance, but they proved last night on Letterman that their luck has not run out. “1901” is an insanely infectious single, and, hell, the whole record is ace. One of the best of the year so far.

Word hit the street yesterday via Nasty Little Man regarding Beck’s forthcoming website overhaul. Normally, when an artist redesigns his website, it’s not exactly newsworthy, but with Beck’s redesign comes a twist on the old record club boondoggle. Prince has tried several times to market his music via pricey subscription tiers but has always come running back to more conventional outlets. With Beck’s record club idea, the subscription service is not only interesting but unique. Beck will collaborate with a few musician peers of varying degrees of fame, depending on which circles you operate in, by recording an entire album in one day. No rehearsals. No prior arrangements. Just an off the cuff attempt to re-record classic albums to see what happens. Then Beck.com will release one track per week, allowing members to follow the process as it unfolds. The few names that have been bandied about as potential collaborators include Devendra Banhart, Jamie Lidell, Nigel Godrich and MGMT. The first album everyone could agree on is The Velvet Underground & Nico. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to sign up.

The New Yorker’s Sasha Frere-Jones on 30 Years of Sonic Youth. The band’s 16th and best album in years and years, The Eternal, is out now on Matador. Seems that 2009 might be Sonic Youth’s year. Haven’t seen this much buzz about them since I was in high school. Fender has even commissioned two signature guitars from guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Renaldo. [via The Awl]

From the blog by the bassist of the mighty Jesus Lizard comes news that Touch and Go will reissue the band’s inimitable first four albums as well as the Pure EP on September 22, 2009. B-sides and bonus tracks will be included on each release, which have all been remastered and “sound noticeably better than the original releases.” It’s a staggering collection of some of the best records to come out of the ’90s. If you missed The Jesus Lizard the first time around, I cant stress enough how badly you need to owns these albums. And the only thing that can top listening to these records is seeing the band live. Not for the faint of heart, to be sure. This is ugly, angry music on every level, but it’s also cathartic, widly unhinged, yet flawlessly executed. Though he may not possess a “singing voice”, David Yow is one of the best frontmen in rock. An utterly fearless, uncompromising, and scary performer. Evidence below:

Tracklist and album covers after the jump.

[Read more →]

Sad news. Indie legend Chris Knox has suffered a stroke. He is recovering in a hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. If you don’t know who he is, read up here, but, suffice it to say, he’s a bad ass songwriter and performer.

I wasn’t too broken up about New Order’s acrimonious demise in 2007, since the last few records weren’t exactly up to par, but the split seems to be permanent this time. In fact, Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris have started a new band with touring New Order guitarist Phil Cunningham (who replaced Morris’ wife Gillian Gilbert). The group is called Bad Lieutenant and features none other than Blur’s Alex James on bass. Trading Peter Hook’s ego for that of Alex James’ is a risky albeit interesting move. It’s a definite style transition, as James and Hook have significantly different approaches to the instrument. Regardless, Bad Lieutenant already has an album in the can set for release this coming October. Sumner recently told the BBC that he’s very proud of the record, adding, “it’s pretty guitary too because we’ve got three guitarists in the band.” Sumner performed an acoustic version of the track “Sink or Swim” off the the forthcoming record for Sky Arts back in March. The song sounds similar to another of Sumner’s bands with ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Electronic. [via word of mouth from About Today]