THIRD MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND REMIX ALBUM, FREE MP3

March 31st, 2009 , by

We have been releasing a series of remixes of from A Thousand Shark’s Teeth and have hit the third of four. This one, by Roberto C. Lange, is perhaps the most divergent and individualized so far – and that’s good thing. Lange’s take on this album is sublime and intriguing, almost as if you’re looking at Shark’s Teeth in your periphereal vision. David Stith (aka DM Stith) continues to provide the album’s stunning artwork. You can pick it up on iTunes for $4.95, and read more about it, here.

Enjoy this free MP3, the first track, from the album:
"Manzanas" (Download)

LAST MINUTE ALERT! CRYPTACIZE IN NYC AND BOSTON!

March 31st, 2009 , by

Photo by Denny Renshaw
Do you see that guitar in the photo above? That is is Chris Cohen playing – nay, rocking his guitar. This is just a photograph, but you can see it live tonight along with Nedelle and the entire Cryptacize troupe on April 1st (no joke!), in Cambridge at TT Bear’s Place with Bobb Trimble (tickets here for $10), and Thursday April 2nd at the Music Hall of Wiliamsburg with Vivian’s Girls (tickets here for $15). Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti is at both shows, so why wouldn’t you go?

Check out all of Cryptacize’s dates, including those for an upcoming European tour, here.

FOUR NEW HERMAS VIDEOS

March 28th, 2009 , by

We’re honored to be releasing Espoir in a few weeks, the debut album from Hermas Zoupola . You can wait, or you can start watching and listening now. Hermas has recorded four videos: in one he walks down his street in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; another is in his back yard; for the third he recorded inside his home; and the fourth takes place in his studio. Together, the four videos provide a nice cross-section of the two-disc album, and the place where Hermas wrote the album. Click more to see the other three videos, or here to go to our Vimeo account.

More videos are on their way. So is Espoir, which will arrive May 19th.

SIX SPECIAL CITIES CAN SEE CRYPTACIZE

March 24th, 2009 , by

Ok, read over this list of cities carefully: Salt Lake, Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, Pontiac, Buffalo. Read them again. Do you live in or within non-carbon-emitting-distance of any of those cities? Well, this just happens to your lucky week pal.

Between now and the 30th, Cryptacize is stopping by one of those cities. Their new album Mythomania becomes a reality in April, but we’ll bet our company farm they’ll be playing songs from it. That means you can tell your friends you heard them first. They’re touring with Ariel Pink’s HAUNTED GRAFFITI, which gives you another reason to go to the show. Extensive details here.

Not near or in one of those cities? Is ok. Read their blog for Cryptacize antics and hijinks to hold you over until the album appears.

Cryptacize, "Tail and Mane" (Download)

STITH: ON AIR, UNCENSORED (THOUGH NOT AT THE SAME TIME)

March 23rd, 2009 , by

Maybe you caught DM Stith at SXSW this weekend, maybe you didn’t. Either way, you’ll probably really enjoy these two cyber-slices of Stith that have magically appeared online over the weekend. Sunday, Stith appeared on the America’s most famous public radio station, WYNC, and recorded a fabulous session in their studio for Spinning on Air . The sound and production are of course gorgeous. WYNC has posted the entire session, interview, photos, and all, for streaming and download here.
If you’re looking for a rawer version of Stith, one that freely comments on Jesus, graphic design, Obama, and Guitar Hero, you can see over a dozen short videos of “uncensored” Stith videos on Uncensored Interview here. Or, if the written word is your preferred form of media consumption, check out Entertainment Weekly’s SXSW decompression interview with Stith here.
Stith’s debut album, Heavy Ghost, is still streaming at Muxtape but only for a little while longer. Hear it here. You can also pick up the CD ($10+S&H) or Double LP ($15+S&H) here.

ADAM GNADE RELEASES EP IN CASSETTE FORM

March 21st, 2009 , by

You’re probably read Adam’s postings on our Sidebar. And you may have taken our advice and read his recent book, Hymn California. What you may not know is that, in addition to being a great writer and food-lover, Adam has just recorded an excellent EP entitled Island’s Islands. The release, available on cassette only, is limited to just 100 copies, and each version is individually recorded by Adam. Each one features different songs and ordering. In that sense, each one is a limited edition. Hear a sample song below.

You can order the cassette here, or by sending $10 via PayPal to adamgnade at hotmail dot com.

Adam Gnade, "Lanterns Rakes and Shovels"

SXSW REFERENCE POST

March 18th, 2009 , by

Ok, so you’re there and wondering what to do. Here’s a quick and easy recap of where AK is for the next few days: Wednesday 8pm: Cool for Cats showcase, AK artists are Grampall Jookabox, Fol Chen, Rafter, DM Stith (details here); Thursday 1pm-8pm is the Singing Serpent Showcase Party, AK artists are Rafter, Fol Chen, and Grampall Jookabox (details here). Then Friday is the Junkyard Piznik, 12:30pm – 6pm, AK artists including Jookabox and DM Stith (details here.

Times to catch AK artists (details here):
Wednesday
Fol Chen – 3:50pm@Red 7.
Fol Chen, Rafter, DM Stith, and Grampall Jookabox – 10pm@Beauty Bar.

Thursday
Rafter (DJ) – 1pm@Flamingo Catina.
DM Stith – 2pm@End of an Ear Records.
Rafter, Fol Chen, and Grampall Jookabox – 3pm@Iron Gate Lounge.

Friday
Rafter – 2:30pm@Ms. Beas.
Grampall Jookabox – 3pm@Okay Mountain.
Fol Chen – 3pm@Baby Acupulcos.
DM Stith – 4:40pm@Okay Mountain
Grampall Jookabox – 11:30pm@The Art Project

FRIEND OF A FRIEND NEEDS HELP

March 17th, 2009 , by

A few weeks ago, San Francisco Bay Area resident Hollis Hawthorne went to India and was in a terrible and nearly fatal motorcycle accident. While in a coma, Hollis’ friends raised enough money to bring her home. Stanford Hospital are donating advanced medical care, but the bills from India and the cost of bringing her home are still mounting. Hollis does not have medical insurance. Though we do not know Hollis personally, our artists and ourselves are certainly within a couple degrees of knowing her. We’d ask that you consider helping her and her family in even a small way, if you can.

To read a summary article from Pal Alto Daily News, click here . To check up-to-date news or contribute to the fund or find other ways to help, click here.

SXSW BYOP (BRING YOUR OWN PICNIC)

March 15th, 2009 , by

In addition to our "Cool for Cats" showcase at SXSW this Wednesday (juicy details and Rafter-made mixtape here ), we’re also throwing a day party from noon to 6pm on Friday with the help of Force Field PR and Okay Mountain. And, if you’re so inclined, bring your own picnic!

Here’s who’s showing up: Shiny Around the Edges, Benjy Ferree, Tune-Yards, Jookabox, Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele, DM Stith, Bosque Brown. What a lineup! You can test the waters by launching an AKradio playlist with choice songs from the above by clicking here (click here to download a zip of all seven songs). Click more to see times and a really cute, hairy-legged promo poster.
More:
12:30 – 1pm Shiny Around the Edges
1:20 – 1:50 Benjy Ferree
2:10 – 2:40 Tune-Yards
3:00 – 3:30 Jookabox
3:50 – 4:20 Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele
4:40 – 5:10 DM Stith
5:30 – 6:00 Bosque Brown

WTDTW FOR MARCH 13-15

March 13th, 2009 , by

Here’s What To Do This Weekend (via our Twitter account)…[Fri]: Rafter in Visalia at Cellar Door, Shapes and Sizes in Portland, ME at Space, Grampall Jookabox in Athens at Rye Bar. [Sat]: Rafter in LA at Regent Theater, Shapes and Sizes in Kittery at Buoy Gallery, Grampall Jookabox in Valdosta at Vito’s Pizzeria. [Sun]: Rafter in Tucson at Plush, Grampall Jookabox in Panama City at Gallery Above.

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