Here is to another great year filled with good music.
Which shouldn't be a problem with the new Robyn Hitchcock and the venus 3 record that comes out early in the year. And most likely followed shortly by another Minus 5 record. And John Wesley Harding's album he recorded with the minus 5 will see an official release date in March.
Plenty to look forward too, and much more to come hopefully.

Peace

Tune in tomorrow around 4 o'clock local time to hear scott and peter on KEXP radio in Seattle.
You can listen online at KEXP.org

While the album will only be available in stores March '09. You can already order your copy now at johnwesleyharding.com. You will not only get it much faster then anyone else, they promise they will ship it out before the end of the year. They will also send you a link to download the album right now. Comes with lyric booklet, and will be the only place where the lyrics are printed(they won't be in the CD booklet). Early purchase also ensures you get the bonus CD, an otherwise unavailable live album called "Don't Look Back Now - John Wesley Harding live at Union Hall, Park Slope 10.27.08".
There are various offers available to you. including one with a T-shirt, live DVD and limited editon screenprint of the album cover.


"Who was Changed and Who was Dead" was recorded in Portland, OR and New York City, with The Minus Five, not to mention many of JWH's oldest and best musical friends and allies: Scott McOi, Peter Buck, Steve Berlin (producer of Why We Fight), Kurt Bloch (producer of Trad Arr Jones), Mike Viola, Robert Lloyd (who needs no introduction), Kelly Hogan, and many more. The album has thirteen songs, all JWH originals (including three co-written with Mike Viola).


1. My Favourite Angel
2. Love or Nothing
3. Oh! Pandora
4. A Very Sorry Saint
5. Sleepy People
6. Top of the Bottom
7. Daylight Ghosts
8. The End
9. Sick Organism
10. Congratulations (on your Hallucinations)
11. Someday Son
12. Your Mind's Playing Tricks On You
13. Wild Boy

By Josh Jackson - Paste Magazine.
photo by Nathan Gallagher

Robyn Hitchcock recently revealed to Paste that his new album, Goodnight Oslo, will be released by Yep Roc on Feb. 17. It was recorded with The Venus 3: Peter Buck and Bill Reiflin of R.E.M. and Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows—all members of the most recent of line-up of the Minus Five.

“The V3 and I have been playing together for years,” Hitchcock says. “Peter and I since 1985, Scott and I since 1994, and the four of us officially since 2005. R.E.M., The Young Fresh Fellows and Ministry all represent great things about American music. As rock is an Anglo-American creature in origin, it makes sense for them to have an Englishman in there sometimes.”

*First off, the online sale of the new EP seems to have been pushed back by YepRoc, and will be anounced shortly through their mailinglist, so head over there to sign up so you make sure you don't miss out on the limited release of only 1000 copies of "Sad Hasselhof". It should be out in selected indie record stores already.



*Some people have posted some clips on Youtube of the Seattle show on the 18th

-Twilight Distillery / Aw Shit, Man
-With A Gun
-I'm Not Bitter
-Timebomb Highschool
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*The new "Tuatara" album with legendary Sufi poet Coleman Barks which was recorded in December of last year, will see the daylight on November 18th, titled "The Hear And The Gone". On the album Barrett Martin, Coleman Barks, Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey will be joined by Rahim Alhaj and Kai Riedl.


*And John Wesley Harding's new album which he recorded with the Minus 5 last year will be out in March 2009. But keep an eye out on his site in the begining of November as he will have news of exclusive offers including: digital downloads of the entire record, artwork, t-shirts, dvds and other unique items.