Sure, it may have been perceived to be a shady move on the part of Capitol to release this compilation not even a year after Radiohead jumped ship to revolutionize the way artists put out their new material to fans, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t good. In fact, its an absolute perfect collection of the band’s finest moments on wax strung together to create the ultimate Radiohead double-album where “My Iron Lung” and “There There” segue together as if they were on the same track listing all along. Even the otherwise dreadful “Anyone Can Play Guitar” from their 1993 debut toss-off Pablo Honey is tolerable when sandwiched between “You” and “How To Disappear Completely”. And the DVD containing all of the videos Radiohead had filmed during their time on Capitol is a must-own and a most warranted expansion of 1998’s 7 Television Commercials DVD to include all of the videos from their 1992-2003 EMI-based arc. But as the arguments over the necessity of this best-of continue to be waged on blogs the world over, because Radiohead albums should be listened to as whole entities, thus not warranting any kind of anthologizing that would split up the precious children, those fans who do not treat their music like some kind of weird religion will find this set to be a satisfying mixtape with better packaging. –Ed.

Disc 1
1. Just
2. Paranoid Android
3. Karma Police
4. Creep
5. No Surprises
6. High and Dry
7. My Iron Lung
8. There There
9. Lucky
10. Optimistic
11. Fake Plastic Trees
12. Idioteque
13. 2+2 = 5
14. The Bends
15. Pyramid Song
16. Street Spirit (Fade Out)
17. Everything In Its Right Place

Disc 2
1. Airbag
2. I Might Be Wrong
3. Go To Sleep
4. Let Down
5. Planet Telex
6. Exit Music (For A Film)
7. The National Anthem
8. Knives Out
9. Talk Show Host
10. You
11. Anyone Can Play Guitar
12. How To Disappear Completely
13. True Love Waits [recorded live in Oslo, 2001; previously released on I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings]

From Drag City’s Press Desk:

On May 20^th, Drag City will release two Jim O’Rourke related projects: Tamper, a reissued release of an instrumental, “experimental” CD from 1991 and Mimidokodesuka, a reissue of a Japanese-released CD by the trio Osorezan comprised of Jim O’Rourke, Darin Gray and Chris Corsano.

Osorezan – Mimidokodesuka – DC362.1

Osorezan came about when Jim was given the opportunity to bring some players to Japan to basically do whatever he wanted, but after considering his options, what he chose to do was a “deep roots” project, a return to the kind of music he played before anything else. The very nature of “free jazz/improvisation” means that you are always joining up with other people – and over the years, Jim had participated in plenty of sessions such as these, but had never initiated one of his own.

And so Osorezan was formed! Jim on electric guitar, Darin on contrabass bonded with Chris Corsano who’s blown the free world with his unbridled power, intensely collaborative nature and smooth stickwork behind the kit (he’s also acted as Bjork’s drummer!).

Mimidokodesuka was recorded live at the Pit Inn in Tokyo during a 2005 residency that included sets with alto sax legend Akira Sakata (recordings of which have been released separately and elsewhere). The music appears here pretty much as played, all from the first set. The agreement between players is kinetic and immediate, with everybody playing alternately for each other and to the skies. There’s lots of color and dynamic tension and lots of good awesomeness too!

Tracklisting:

1. Form of the Collapse if A Collapse Should Occur
2. All We Know So Far
3. In Addition

Jim O’Rourke – Tamper – DC362.2

Part two of the multi-part Jim O’Rourke “Old Timing” reissue series is Tamper, from 1991. Tamper is a set of three acoustic instrumental compositions recorded on analogue tape during the final days of the first digital wave (we’re at the end of at least the third wave nowadays), when everyone but a certain young schoolboy in short pants were looking towards CDs and DATs as the things of the future. As both those purely transitory formats fade into obsolescence, Tamper’s analog sound rises again — and even though it comes to you on the frighteningly emaciated CD format, it’s still a reminder of the reward that pure sound before all definition has to offer us.

The spaced-out minimalism of Tamper is as forward-looking today as it was seventeen years ago — and as such; it’s a seminal work in Jim O’Rourke’s catalog. That’s what this reissue series is all about, bringing it all back home to some of the young master’s less-known work. And with Tamper, the goal is to get back to listening to the sound rather than what we expect of it — the literal sound of a piano as opposed to us hearing our expectations regarding the playing of a piano.

As sweet and virginal as all this sounds, we the listener find ourselves straining to hear unvarnished acoustical sound throughout the album — there’s some of that here, but there’s definitely some pixie dust in Jim’s methods. Tamper’s three pieces move quite fluidly along — so much so that you might never consider that they’re actually mapped out in a constant series of crossfades. No particular sound lasts more than 10 or 20 seconds, a process which interprets things in its own mind- (and ear-) bending manner — and gives Tamper a blazed trail all of its own!

Tracklisting:

1. Spirits Never Forgive
2. He Felt the Patient Memory of a Reluctant Sea
3. Ascend though Unspoken Shadow

SUPERGRASS TO RELEASE SIXTH STUDIO ALBUM

ON ASTRALWERKS APRIL 15, 2008

SUPERGRASS is back. A fantastic new album entitled Diamond Hoo Ha, a brand new home on Astralwerks, and a sixth studio album showcasing the youthful energy and witty musical stylings of these Britpop pioneers.

After a dozen years, Supergrass (Gaz Coombes–Vocals & Guitar, Mick Quinn–Bass & Vocals, Danny Goffey-Drums & Vocals, Rob Coombes-Keyboard) have rolled back home, and rolled back the years, while marching firmly into the future. “We wanted a record where you got all of Supergrass,” says frontman Gaz of this decisive return to form, “The joy, the intensity, the darkness, the melodies. All of those have always been important to us and still are.” Hence Diamond Hoo Ha (release date: April 15^th, 2008) an energetic album bristling with hooks to hang your coat off and melodies to lose your shoes to.

Recorded at Hansa Studios in Berlin and produced by Nick Launay (PiL, Gang Of Four), Diamond Hoo Ha is the band at their exuberant best. What other British band is still able, with seemingly effortless ease to conjure up songs and videos that crackle with breezy enthusiasm, humor and inventiveness?

During the summer of 2007, with the album completed, Supergrass supported U.K. stadium tours for Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay. Two very different invitations, both indicative of the regard in which Supergrass are held by the (slightly) younger generation. Of all the British rock bands who burst through in the mid-Nineties they’re the only ones still alive, still forging ahead, still – musically speaking – Having It.

SUPERGRASS DIAMOND HOO HA TRACK LIST
1. Diamond Hoo Ha Man
2. Bad Blood
3. Rebel In You
4. When I Needed You
5. 345
6. The Return Of Inspiration
7. Rough Knuckles
8. Ghost Of A Friend
9. Whiskey & Green Tea
10. Outside
11. Butterfly