Optical Atlas

A few years back Fred Schneider of Athens legends The B-52’s launched The Superions with Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall. Following the release of digital singles in 2008 and in 2009, the band will be releasing their first EP on Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records on February 23rd in CD and 12″ formats. The Superions EP will feature the hit dance-inducing tracks “Totally Nude Island,” “Those Sexy Saucer Gals,” and “Who Threw That Ham at Me,” including remixes by Casper & the Cookies, Marshmallow Coast, The Lolligags, and Ursula 1000. Pre-order now at HHBTM’s website and you can elect to get the LP, CD, a keychain, button, autographed sleeve, and answering machine message (for those who still have answering machines), in various combinations – but hurry as the pre-order is only good until Monday at midnight. Here’s the video for “Who Threw That Ham at Me”:

Check out The Superions on MySpace for more videos and streaming music!

Bumblebear Records, the indie label run by Jimmy Hughes of Folklore and Elf Power, has made available for free download a Christmas compilation they put out in 2001 with Planting Seeds Records called Christmas Underground.  The comp features the Wee Turtles, Bugs Eat Books, The Boys Star Library, Ashley Park, Dipstick and Eggnog, Echo Orbiter, Christmas Ape, and many more.  You can grab the MP3s here (as well as a lot of other great free music).

Speaking of Christmas music, Casper & the Cookies have posted their holiday classic “Kiss Me Beneath the Christmas Tree” on their MySpace page once more.

Casper & the Cookies have just debuted the animated music video for “Little King,” from their latest album, Modern Silence. Count the cameos, insiders!

Casper & the Cookies have posted the third installment of their podcast series, and you can download it here.  Jason NeSmith has been dissecting the massive final track from their album Modern Silence, “I Am Gone,” which featured 35 different artists.  In this episode he sifts through the contributions from The Olivia Tremor Control, Bill Doss & Pete Erchick, Pipes You See, Pipes You Don’t, The Late BP Helium, Supercluster, The Lolligags, and more.  All the podcasts are located here.

Casper & the Cookies continue their Modern Silence tour in Madison, Wisconsin, tonight, at the Frequency starting at 10pm.  They’re playing with All Tiny Creatures, Carribean, Everything Now, and Free Moral Agents.  Here are the remaining dates on their tour:

08.13.09 Madison, WI @ The Frequency
08.14.09 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
08.15.09 Fort Wayne, IN @ Bill’s City Grill
08.29.09 Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge
09.10.09 Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge

Casper & the Cookies begin their summer Modern Silence tour next week, including a stop at Daytrotter. Here are the dates:

07.16.09 Columbus, OH @ Circus
07.17.09 Youngstown, OH @ Cedar’s Lounge
07.18.09 Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox
07.19.09 Scranton, PA @ The Bog
07.20.09 Boston, MA @ Middle East
07.21.09 New York, NY @ Cake Shop
07.22.09 Brooklyn, NY @ Bruar Falls
07.23.09 Philadelphia, PA @ Danger Danger Gallery
07.24.09 Washington, DC @ Solly’s
07.25.09 Fredricksburg, VA @ Eyeclops
07.26.09 Baltimore, MD @ Joe Squared
07.27.09 Charlottesville, VA @ Twisted Branch
07.28.09 Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
07.29.09 Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge
07.30.09 Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
07.31.09 Nashville, TN @ The End
08.03.09 St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
08.04.09 Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s
08.05.09 Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot Music Hall
08.06.09 Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
08.07.09 Minneapolis, MN @ Nomad World Pub
08.08.09 Ames, IA @ Progressive
08.10.09 Rock Island, IL – Daytrotter Session
08.11.09 Iowa City, IA @ The Mill
08.12.09 Milwaukee, WI @ Mad Planet
08.13.09 Madison, WI @ The Frequency
08.14.09 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
08.15.09 Fort Wayne, IN @ Bill’s City Grill
08.29.09 Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge
09.10.09 Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge

The second installment in the Jason NeSmith-hosted Casper & the Cookies podcast series is now up at the band’s website.  This episode continues the exploration of Modern Silence’s epic closing track “I Am Gone,” including the individual contributions to the piece by Elekibass, Enemy from Space, Mary O. Harrison, Titans of Filth, The H.E.A.P., Neat Stripe, The Shut-Ups, Fishboy, and Keith John Adams.

People in a Position to Know Records is now making available for pre-order the 2XLP edition of Modern Silence, the latest and awesomest album by Casper & the Cookies.  Limited to 500 copies, order fast to get the premium weight “audiophile red” vinyl (200 copies).  Order faster–that is, be one of the first 50–and you get a bonus 5″ single featuring 2 exclusive songs.  All vinyl orders receive a digital copy of the album featuring the (slightly different) vinyl mix of the songs.  Order it here.