Optical Atlas

The Onion AV Club has assembled a list of “31 lost projects we’re hoping to see in the wake of [Guns N Roses'] Chinese Democracy.”  #25 on the list is “Neutral Milk Hotel, official demos collection.”  Referenced is the out-of-date proclamation on neutralmilkhotel.net that a “two-volume set” of demos, cassettes, and live performances was forthcoming.  (Is hope so dim for a new Neutral Milk Hotel album that we can now only pine for an official release of demos?  Cheer up, people.  It will all happen eventually.)  The second coming of Christ only comes in at #31.

Hysterical.

Most unexpectedly, there’s a review of the recent Robbert Bobbert & the Bubble Machine NYC concert at the Parenting.com blog.  (Thanks to quixoticgoat for the link.)  Robert Schneider extends his fanbase to the audiophiles of the toddler set with the Robbert Bobbert album, due out January 20th on Little Monster Records.

Sorry about the lack of updates yesterday, I was a bit overwhelmed.  But while I was out, Pitchfork has revealed the track listing for the upcoming of Montreal EP of remixes by the multitalented Jon Brion.  The Jon Brion Remix EP will feature 5 tracks, and drops January 27th on CD and LP, although you’ll be able to download it on January 6th.

Jon Brion Remix EP
01 First Time High (Reconstructionist Remix of “An Eluardian Instance”)
02 First Time High (Of Chicago Acoustic Version)
03 Gallery Piece (JB Remix)
04 Gallery Piece (Long Version)
05 Gallery Piece (Instrumental)

Meanwhile, of Montreal will be heading out in early 2009 for an international tour, hitting Europe and Australia. Here are their 2009 international dates (so far):

01-20 Berlin, Germany – Kesselhaus
01-21 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
01-22 Brussels, Belgium – Rotunde
01-23 Utrecht, Netherlands – Tivoli
01-24 Brighton, England – Digital
01-26 Glasgow, Scotland – Òran Mór
01-27 Belfast, Northern Ireland – Kitten Tree
01-28 Dublin, Ireland – Button Factory
01-29 Manchester, England – Club Academy
01-30 Lille, France – Aeronef
01-31 Paris, France – Bataclan
02-01 Strasbourg, France – La Laiterie
02-28 Perth, Australia – Perth International Arts Festival
03-07 Golden Plains, Australia – Golden Plains Festival

And if you haven’t heard it yet, check out this great live session for KUT in Austin, Texas, where the band plays “Triphallus, to Punctuate!” and covers “Instant Karma!” (perhaps because it also has an exclamation mark) and “Nowhere Man.”

You Ain’t No Picasso has pointed out that the new Apples in Stereo video, “(Baby It’s) So Cold,” is now available for streaming at the REI Go Playlist website.  (Click on “Explore the Bands,” select The Apples in Stereo, and then ”Watch the Video.”)  Since it’s an outdoor gear/clothing outfitter, the video primarily features lots of footage of snowboarding.  Ben Crum told me once that one of Great Lakes‘ songs (”Posters for the Theatre,” I think) was used in a BMX video, of all things, so this falls into that same kind of curio category.  It’s a great song, though.   YANP is also reporting that the band is in the early stages of assembling a greatest hits album, to be packaged with a DVD of rare footage.  Now that’s considerably more exciting.

In addition to yesterday’s news that they’ll be playing on David Letterman December 18th, more of Montreal items are flowing in quickly:

The first of the anticipated Jon Brion remixes has appeared at Stereogum, a remix of “Gallery Piece.”  The album Jon Brion Remixes will also feature additional of Montreal mixes; it’s coming out digitally January 6th, and on CD and vinyl January 27th, from Polyvinyl.

The latest episode of “Music with Jay Trachtenberg” features a live performance from of Montreal, including covers of “Nowhere Man” and “Instant Karma!”  You can stream it here.

I just posted over at the of Montreal website that the band will be appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, December 18th.  They’ll be performing “An Eluardian Instance.”  Expect an elaborate production to outdo their infamous Conan O’Brien appearance.

Speaking of of Montreal, an epic-length interview with Kevin Barnes has been posted over at Paste Magazine’s site.  Dottie Alexander is interviewed by radio show Underground Wires in one of their recent episodes.  And Music is My Girlfriend has posted an interview with B.P. Helium.

Brian Wilson has been on tour promoting his acclaimed new album That Lucky Old Sun, and Robert Schneider had the chance to hang out with him when the show recently stopped by Nashville.  It’s no secret that Wilson has had the greatest influence on The Apples in Stereo, if not the Elephant 6 collective as a whole, which is why I had to post this photo, commemorating the moment. (Thanks to Robert for passing it along.)