Yes, these are the same Presidents of the United States of America that brought you those zany sing-a-long tunes like Lump and Peaches. A few weeks ago, while perusing the items on order at our beloved library, I saw there was a new album by the Presidents entitled These are the Good Times People. I secretly loved this band back when they hit the scene in the 90’s, so I was curious and placed the CD on order.

The album is nothing new in terms of the music, but the songs are enjoyable, and after a few repeated listens, you can’t get the damn things out of your head. Whether it be a tune about seeing ghosts everywhere or finding a mangled butterfly at a truckstop, you’ll find yourself singing along to Chris Ballew’s crazy lyrics.

Here’s the video for their new song Mixed Up SOB.

This is awesome, watch it.

Have a hard time keeping track of your favorite blogs or websites?  Like the one’s that don’t update everyday….like mine.  You can use RSS to keep track of them.  It basically gives you a notice when a site has updated.  I personally use Mail on a Mac.  But you can use Firefox, or lots of other standalone apps.  Personally I like having it built into an app I already have running.  It ives most of the story and if you want to read more jut click on it and it takes you directly to the page.

The Raconteurs will be releasing their next album to everyone at the same time, tomorrow, march 25. Snubbing the press and everyone else who thinks they should have music before the general public. Good for them, they waiting till the last minute to set a release date (3/17) and chose to let the public, pres and everyone else to get the music equally. They also want the album to be sold and listened to in it’s entirety. Here’s the release with more details, can’t wait to see them at Bonnaroo this year with the new material.

“Album” meaning: full length vinyl, CD and digital formats; and “everywhere” meaning: local mom and pop Indie retailers, corporate superstores, supermarkets, iTunes, Amazon, the band’s own website and any other location that could get the record up and going this quickly (some places couldn’t move this fast, so they will join in as soon as they can).

It contains 14 new recordings and is being released globally on Third Man Records in conjunction with our marketing/distribution partners, XL Recordings and Warner Brothers Records.

The album was mastered and completed in the first week of March. It was then taken immediately to a vinyl pressing plant. Then to a CD pressing plant. Then preparations to sell it digitally began. March 25th became the soonest date to have it available in EVERY FORMAT AT ONCE. The band have done no interviews or advertisements for this record before this announcement.

The purpose: to get the album to the fans as soon as possible and as we promised. We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the EXACT SAME TIME so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding it’s availability, reception or perception.

With this release, The Raconteurs are forgoing the usual months of lead time for press and radio set up, as well as forgoing the all important “first week sales”. We wanted to explore the idea of releasing an album everywhere at once and THEN marketing and promoting it thereafter. The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by it’s first weeks sales, pre-release promotion, or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it.

Another purpose was to also allow people to have their own choice as to exactly which format they would like to hear the album in IMMEDIATELY, rather than having to wait for their favorite format to become available. The band are also not releasing any version of this record that contains bonus tracks. Musically this album will be the same as the band created it no matter what format it is purchased in (The sound quality of each format however, is a different story. The Raconteurs recommend hearing it on vinyl, but the choice is of course up to the listener).

The band also prefer that fans buy the album as a whole instead of breaking up the tracks, but until iTunes and other digital services allows bands to release their albums with the option of NOT breaking it up, it will be sold in that fashion on those particular sites. On the band’s website however, the album will be sold in its entirety as an mp3 at 320kb bit rate. Also in Japan, fans will be able to download the record via their mobile phones, as that is how a majority of recorded music is consumed there.

The reason we are announcing this release one week ahead of time is because of retail pre-ordering and stocking, information about this album’s imminent release was bound to come to light and could be confusing to fans. Also in the event that the record leaks, we didn’t want this method of release to be seen as a REACTION to such a leak. It’s not. The actual worst thing about a leak is the usual poor sound quality, akin to watching a movie on a wristwatch instead of in a theater. Which for the album’s creators is a bit of a letdown, but again, it is completely up to the listener.

There will be a video up on the internet for the first single, “Salute Your Solution”, on the 25th as well, provided it gets edited in time. We just filmed it the other day!

We hope not to confuse anyone with too many options, or deny them the formats that they like best. The Raconteurs feel very strongly that music has worth and should be treated as such. Thank you to all those who respect music in this fashion, and thank you to our label partners for working with us to get this album to fans in as many formats as possible all at once.

Thank you, and we hope that you enjoy “Consolers Of The Lonely”.

Sincerely, The Raconteurs

I’ve been visiting in New Mexico since this past Tuesday.  Yesterday  Moe and I went to visit the Bisti badlands in the northwest part of the state.  It’s hard to explain other then it feels like another planet.  Almost like the first Star Wars.  Here’s a photo, I’ll have more later as I edit through them.

Ok, I normally just delete spam I get.  For some reason I read this one, no idea why.  But there was no links, nothing attached, so why the fuck would you send a message like this?  It doesn’t sell anything and it sure as hell doesn’t make any sense.  Anyone else get anything out of this cluster fuck of words?  Some people should never had been born.

A spanish translation of it by father francisco play on the
grass sometime, and we’ll pick flowers told him i had never
seen it in the bible, and sometimes, you know, i did feel
that she had some at this moment there was a tremendous
crash. The than 13,000 prisoners. There was a song, as we
out, for instance, somewhere about eight to eightthirty?
the blood of the jew. Insurrection with one accord he served
coffee to them there and then withdrew, what if they were
wolves instead of lambs? They’d of all the other things
you think of doing! There mrs. Dacres, looking, as usual,
marvelously unreal, your hired girl bea carrying on with
the grocery men and give a party, she said. I’d no idea
you was founded the story of the foundation and rise.

Sweet video for a great band. It’s directed and created by The Saline Project, who I’m pretty sure hails from London and does some incredible motion graphics work. A few more videos on their site you can enjoy. Anyway…..the mouse…..

Gretchen is almost done with grad school (in May). But she already got a job at Kent St. So we’ll be on our way back to Ohio sometime before Aug. Look out out for Professor Rinnert! She actually got offers from them and Belmont in Nashville, which we actually wanted to go to, but the program is much better at Kent St and the offer was better. She deserves it though, she’s been working way too hard like 80-90 hours a week, had her oral review today (She passed!). Anyway, have to go finish the bathroom floor so we can sell this house. If you know anyone that needs a photographer after this fall, let me know. I plan on working Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh and Toledo.

View Larger Map

Looks like we’ve made Google Map’s Streetview. Pretty cool, you can see our Mini and the Jeep in the driveway. Can’t believe they did the Triangle before other regions. How do you get the job to drive the car around taking photos of all the streets in the US anyway? Sounds fun.

Remember this album. I’m not sure anyone could forget it. Possibly one of the best albums of all time and just an iconic cover. A photo has surfaced of Spencer Elden, the baby in the cover, he’s now a senior in high school, can you believe that? Anyway, photographer Jason Lazarus shot the modern photo and it’s really interesting how time keeps moving if we want it or not. Apparently Curt Cobain told his label Geffen the only way he would accept a change to the cover was to put a sticker over the penis that said “If you’re offended by this, you must be a closet pedophile.”

Check out the new photo and full story here.