Legendary super producer Nile Rodgers reported today via Twitter and Facebook that the last of a series of The CHIC Organization’s “Lost Tapes” were uncovered today, prompting his open speculation about a potential box set. For disco fans/aficionados, this is welcome news. No further information is available at the moment, but I’ll let you know more as soon as I find out.

For more details, follow Nile on Twitter or on Facebook.

Along comes a video for yet another totally ill track off Skewby‘s epic “Proving You Wrong Since 1988″ mixtape which, if you don’t have already, you can get by clicking here and downloading it, aiight?

Skewby – “Talk 2 em’”

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 —

(Tour dates/links thanks to The Music Slut)

February 4 (Thu)
WASHINGTON, DC
Lisner Auditorium @ George Washington University

February 6 (Sat)
MONTREAL, QC
Corona Theatre

February 8 (Mon)
TORONTO, ON
Queen Elizabeth Theatre

February 10 (Wed) & February 11 (Thu)
BOSTON, MA
Wilbur Theatre

February 13 (Sat)
BROOKLYN, NY
Howard Gilman Opera House @ BAM

February 21 (Sun) & February 22 (Mon)
PORTLAND, OR
The Aladdin Theater

February 23 (Tue) & February 24 (Wed)
SEATTLE, WA
Town Hall Seattle

February 27 (Sat)
OAKLAND, CA
The Fox Theater

March 1 (Mon)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Herbst Theatre

March 2 (Tue)
LOS ANGELES, CA
Wilshire Ebell Theatre

March 4 (Thu)
MILWAUKEE, WI
Pabst Theatre

March 5 (Fri)
BLOOMINGTON, IN
Buskirk Chumley Theater

March 6 (Sat)
ST. LOUIS, MO
The Pageant

March 7 (Sun)
CHICAGO, IL
Harris Theater @ Millenium Park

March 10 (Wed) & March 11 (Thu)
NEW YORK, NY
Town Hall

Click here for further information on tickets & pricing.

Magnetic Fields – Asleep and Dreaming

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.

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

I suddenly felt small.

So deadlines for the “best of 2007″ rolled around, and I was in a tailspin, dogged by the massive amount of music I had encountered. I kept reflecting on these words of Billy Corgan that I’d read years ago. Billy had once quipped to, I think, Rolling Stone, that, “Not every year can be a great, or even good, year in music.” This thought just stirred in my head and fed into some neurosis. The thought actually fucked with me; maybe 2007 wasn’t that great? Or was it? So I slacked until it was way too late to really do it with any fervor.

Newsflash: Shit aint happening like that this year. I’m past all that, and this year’s going to be different.

I don’t know if my opinion is necessarily better or worse than anyone else’s when it comes to music. I’m a long-time deep music fan who combs the trenches for something new and different, someone who’s been doing that for years. I have an opinion about music which is informed by all that, but I don’t pretend to know what is or isn’t “good” or “the best”. If you love hip-hop, you’re going to think a different album is the #1 album of the year than I am (even though I love hip-hop). If you love indie rock, same thing.

If I sat down and tried to pinpoint the one unifying factor in the music that I listen to and enjoy, it would have to be “music with a soul”. It doesn’t have to preach an ideology or start a movement, it doesn’t have to be anthemic or angelic. It simply has to get me to stop what I’m doing and go, “What in the hell is this?” When I become awestruck, the music will stay with me.

This list represents the songs released in 2008 (to the best of my knowledge) which caught me in my tracks, got me to stand up and take notice, gave me a reason to write and feel good at the end of the day that I was telling everyone a new secret or spreading the good news. I hope you’ll enjoy these as much as I have enjoyed hearing them.

1 – Voxpop – “The Boomerang Generation” (unsigned)

When this London four-piece popped this song into my inbox, I had no idea what I was getting. They sent a sweet and humble letter along with it asking me to please share with my readers. The song is dynamic in a string of ways: it’s a pop song, it’s a protest song, and it’s filled with the kind of energy I love to hear. Far and away, this is my favorite song of 2008. Let’s hope that 2009 will bring us a Voxpop album to hear & enjoy.

2 – Lil’ Wayne (produced by Bangladesh) – “A Milli”

The song is inescapable. You couldn’t get away from it most of this entire year & it took some folks a minute to get with the program. But love or hate Lil’ Wayne, this song was a cornerstone of 2008 stereos, parties, clubs, remixes, and just about everything else. Respect.

3 – MGMT – “Time to Pretend”

I am extremely proud of MGMT and happy for them — what started as an experiment in their dorm room at Wesleyan has blossomed into an anthemic world-wide phenomenon. This song was on the tips of every tongue that knew its words and could relate. This song is great because, plainly, it paints a portrait of a certain truth (to which you’re either hip or you’re not). The song’s intent, along the group themselves, seem to lack the pretension that the press wants to heap on them. I, for one, can’t wait to hear what their work with The Chemical Brothers is going to sound like.

4 – Santogold – “L.E.S. Artistes”

Santi White is an operator of the highest order: she’s the real deal, wearing every helmet she comes across with dignity and sheer style. Performer, songwriter, executive — she can do it all and do it all well. In the song “L.E.S. Artistes”, Santogold has both capitalized on and captured a portrait of a time in music and arts that has seemed fairly desperate. If ever an anthemic line was needed by those on their way to whatever success, “I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up” should be the mantra to which they adhere.

5 – Estelle (feat. kanYe West) – “American Boy”

It took me a long time to get into this record, but once it stuck with me I was sold. The maturity of Estelle’s progress as a performer and singer is impressive, her vocal prowess unmistakable. The marriage of her style with kanYe’s flows make the song as world-class as it purports to be.

6 – Lord T & Eloise (feat. 8 Ball) – “Back From the Business Trip”

If you’re from down in my neck of the woods, you know that Lord T & Eloise were everywhere this year, selling out (and overselling) venues everywhere. Word of mouth has been kind to them with good reason. Not just because I told you so (and I did tell you so), but because they gave 300% to every packed out venue they set foot in and ripped every microphone they touched. “The Industry” still haven’t figured out how to classify LT&E, but they need to stop thinking about it and just blast their jams. Aristocrunk is on the move.

7 – Aimee Mann – “Looking for Nothing”

As Aimee Mann carries on her journey as a songwriter and performer, she continues to craft elegant pop song structures around stories that evoke the wistfulness of a by-gone era with distinction. Fully modern in their presentation and execution, her 2008 release was a peerless collection of satisfying, soul-wrenching odes, perfecting a sound she has long been masterful in shaping and humbled by creating. “Looking for Nothing” represents her finest material, and one of the most perfectly-penned songs of the year.

8 – Meg Hutchinson – “Home”

From time to time, it seems to me that the least liked (or known) songs are often the most loved. Folk singer-songwriter Meg Hutchinson has, perhaps, suffered from a curse of virtual anonymity this year, but by no fault of her music. Some songs cannot be reviewed effectively; they can only take on meaning to the listener through time and circumstance. It is my great hope that others will come to find the deep-ceded affection that I have found for this song, an ode to appreciation for the things we all take for granted far too often.

9 – Erykah Badu – “Honey”

Erykah Badu….man man man. A soul diva and performer of the highest order, she just continues to release albums (and songs) that turn my knobs, nahh mean? Seems like on every record she releases, it’s the “bonus track” that really contains an actual bonus to it. New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) will likely be in my year’s best, and this song represents to the fullest what Ms. Badu is laying down.

10 – Portishead – “We Carry On”

I didn’t know what I was going to do when I heard a new Portishead album was on the way. With so much time gone between records, I couldn’t have imagined them being in bed with their old sound. I remember my shock as darker and moodier sounds came from my stereo; it was everything that I could have hoped for. This song was my #1 favorite from Third, an album I continue to love and be fascinated by.

The Rest Of The Best (Click Individual Songs in the Playlist to Play, or play for continuous stream in order)

11 Bon Iver – Skinny Love
12 TV on the Radio – Halfway Home
13 Raphael Saadiq – Love That Girl
14 Blitzen Trapper – Sleepytime In The Western World
15 Grace Jones – Williams Blood
16 Teenagers – Starlett Johannson
17 Al Green – You’ve Got The Love I Need (feat. Anthony Hamilton)
18 Adele – Chasing Pavements
19 Q-Tip – Manwomanboogie (feat. Amanda Diva)
20 Oasis – The Turning
21 Treasure Fingers – Cross The Dancefloor
22 Kutiman – Music Is Ruling My World
23 Smoking Popes – If You Don’t Care
24 Chad VanGaalen – Bare Feet on Wet Griptape
25 Benji Hughes – So Well
26 Friendly Fires – Paris
27 Brazilian Girls – Good Time
28 John Elliott – The Ballad of Wallace Green and his Dog
29 Bob Dylan – Dreamin’ of You
30 Department of Eagles – No One Does It Like You
31 Ssion – Street Jizz
32 The Roots – 75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)
33 Charles Hamilton – Brooklyn Girls
34 Sigur Ros – Gobbledygook
35 Jamie Lidell – Another Day
36 Gossip – Listen Up (Punks Jump Up Remix)
37 Of Montreal – Gallery Piece
38 Fujiya & Miyagi – Knickerbocker
39 Anthem In – Down
40 Blood Red Shoes – You Bring Me Down
41 Graham Weber – Italian Lullaby
42 Oh Snap!! – Bill Cosby Sweater (Hostage Remix)
43 Beck – Chemtrails
44 Thunderheist – Jerk It
45 T.I. – Swagga Like Us (feat. kanYe West, Jay-Z & Lil’ Wayne)
46 Coldplay – Death and all His Friends
47 Ivan Colon – Gabriel
48 Cut Copy – Far Away
49 Monsters are Waiting – Don’t Lie
50 Beach House – Gila

If we can agree that the legacy built by Stax Records christened Memphis “Soulsville U.S.A.”, how fitting that in 2008 a new generation is breathing life into (and giving birth to) a new legacy in soul music, re-christening our fair city as Neosoulville. There are so many names that are a part of this important movement in music, and none are more dynamic or gifted than Tonya Dyson. A performer who exudes passion with every note, Tonya has shared the stage with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, Eric Roberson, Calvin Richardson, Algebra Blessett, Kindred, and Jaguar Wright. In other words, people, Tonya don’t play.

This coming Tuesday night, December 9th, be sure and tune in to VH1′s Soul Cities when host Nelson George goes deep, showcasing the best of Memphis’s culture, food and music, in particular the deeply soulful strains of Tonya Dyson herself.

VH1′s Soul Cities will premiere on VH1 Soul Tuesday, December 9 at 9PM ET/PT. “Find My Way” will be available 12/16/08 from iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and other music retailers. Check back for complete details on how to purchase.

One of my favorite albums of the last several years has been Charlotte Gainsbourg’s phenomenal collaboration with the French duo Air, 2006′s 5:55. News has come out that she will now collaborate with Beck on her new album, and recording has already begun. No release date has been set as yet. Now that the excitment has been issued, we wait patiently.

Beck, the funky Scientologist, has revealed he will be collaborating with Charlotte Gainsbourg on her upcoming album. In a recent interview, Beck said he has been in and out of the studio with the French songstress, adding that he was in fact supposed to be on her 2006 album, 5:55 but failed to make it happen.

Beck Working On New Album By Charlotte Gainsbourg.

As demoed at the TECHcocktail event in Chicago last week, the concept is simple and ingenious: listen to free music from unsigned bands, and “sign” your favorites to your own virtual record label. When your signed artists become hits on the site, you score points.

Simple…ingenious…and very addictive.

I like the concept, but it’s really nothing that new in the universe. I remember when Garageband.Com tried something similar (though not the same) many years ago. I’m sure there are other websites who have used comparable methods by which to break new music, but if this catches on it could become a movement all its own.

What are your thoughts? I guess if you’re in the throes of your own “funemployment cycle”, you’ll have plenty of time to get involved with this new concept. I’ll give it a whirl and let you know more after testing it out.

(TheNextBigSound — HT:Mashable)

For more on my experiment with The Next Big Sound, read on after the jump.

Well, it took me a while, but I found some really good stuff on here. http://loudersoft.thenextbigsound.com. Especially like blahblahblah. Very original.

However, here are my criticisms of the site design:

a) You can’t fast forward through tracks. This is a critical design flaw that needs to be addressed in order to save me from sitting through an entirely crappy song to find ten good seconds.

b) There’s no feature by which to report people. Crap like this: http://warrenc.thenextbigsound.com/ can be posted with no way to report the offense (in case its been taken down, the “artist” uploaded an empty track entitled “Obama Is the Anti Christ (WarrenC meets VJ NicoHitler StudioMix)” — nice). So, it’s a pranksters playground as it sits.

c) There’s no way to mark acts I’ve already heard as “heard” so I have to listen to eighteen tracks by the same shitty band even though I’ve already decided I do not like them.

Fix this stuff, and you’re on to something guys. Don’t fix these things, and watch it tank.