As you might have noticed in recent months, self-titled struck a loose partnership with MTV2’s Subterranean show earlier this year, one where the folks over there shared their favorite clips with us while we schooled them on some of our favorite acts. Tonight at 1 a.m. EST, our managing editor, Arye Dworken, takes things to another level as Subterranean’s Matt & Kim-interviewing host.

We hear the program’s looking to finally fill its vacant talking-head position, so if you like what you see—despite Arye’s young Woody Allen demeanor—be sure to shoot us some feedback and we’ll pass it on to the proper authorities.

Mazel tov, Arye!

CMJ does not care for The CMJ Virgin. Apparently.

And now, The CMJ Virgin presents a brief history of success and failure: Arriving at Bowery Ballroom for a showcase of bands no one cares about, our Virgin is informed that no more CMJ badges are allowed inside (fail). Hitting Mercury Lounge to catch another band no one cares about, the Virgin discovers it will be an hour before any more badges are allowed in the venue (fail). Strolling past a Stones Throw showcase, V-Money sours at the 200-plus line outside (fail). Discouraged, he hails a cab with self-titled Editor-in-Chief Andrew Parks and heads back to the CMJ Artists Lounge (where he caught shows the day prior). No line. Small crowd. (Success!) Sets by Women and Takka Takka there are worth the trip. The Women guys look bored (or maybe just tired), and Takka Takka transforms songs from Migration into dynamic, earnest and emotive catharsis. Out the door and off to Santos for Free Blood. No line. Small crowd. Best set yet of CMJ (success). 

To summarize: The CMJ Virgin is confused. What’s the point of buying a CMJ batch if it doesn’t give you access to all the shows? Why are showcases that are populated with awful bands full while sets by good bands are sparsely attended? Does the CMJ Virgin just have really bad taste? Does the rest of the CMJ-going public know something our precious Virgin does not? How angry would he be had he actually paid for his badge? And most importantly, what do you think of Andrew’s new glasses?

Read The CMJ Virgin’s notes from the evening and see a few photos he snapped after the jump.

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Balancing a beer on your head (disguised as a can of Red Bull) is a skill and a fine art. 

If The CMJ Virgin were ever to get married, win the lottery or die, skuzz-bucket rockers Cheeseburger would play his party. No doubt. So it made perfect sense that on Day 1 of CMJ, our brave Virgin hit up the Red Bull CMJ Artists Lounge to catch sets by Wild Light, Cheeseburger and Vivian Girls. No line outside. Small crowd inside. White Light, the only band no one knew from last year’s epic Arcade Fire/LCD Soundsystem bill at Randall’s Island, chugged through sound problems but showed a lot of exuberant tenacity, even if the songs weren’t quite there yet. Cheeseburger got naughty and showed a bit (read: a lot) of ass crack. And Vivian Girls peeled through its blisteringly cuts before a tiny crowd. Isn’t there significant buzz surrounding this group—with a terrific re-issued debut to back up the hype? Weird that barely anyone showed. In summation: The CMJ Virgin’s mood is positive. He’s tired (definitely). Pretty fucking exhausted (actually). But he’s ready for more nights of music. Four more nights of music to be exact. 

Read The CMJ Virgin’s notes from the evening and see a few photos he snapped after the jump. Read more

By Aaron Richter

As we all know by now, new releases hit record-store shelves and digital-download services each Tuesday. That’s why self-titled presents the following every week: a new release you’d be stupid not to own (Buy It), one worth checking out if you’re the curious type (Burn It) and something you might have heard about but probably should avoid (Skip It). Simple, ain’t it? Read more

This is what a CMJ virgin looks like. He wears thick glasses. And has a recently grown beard–it’s slightly trimmed but mostly unkempt because he wants it to get quite bushy. (And yes, that is a bulldog puppy calendar over his shoulder. It’s adorable as hell. So shut the fuck up.)

It’s true: He has never before attended CMJ, despite the fact that he’s lived in New York City for several years now. He is somewhat excited but somewhat hesitant as well. Mostly, though, he just wants to see some bands he loves, discover some bands he’s never heard of and get this damn thing rolling. So please, dear reader, follow the CMJ virgin’s exploits throughout the week. Say hi if you see him out. He will be taking notes to share with you. After all, he loves you. And don’t you forget it.

self-titled is pleased to announce details of our second digital issue and a special release show/unofficial CMJ showcase featuring Jay Reatard, Amazing Baby, Crystal Antlers and Women. The latter will descend upon 250 lucky Brooklynites in the following fashion …

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Brian Eno in the early ’70s, before the male pattern baldness set in

[Photo by Neil Preston]

• Brian Eno has co-created a new iPhone app that’s “part instrument, part composition and part artwork.”
• Daniel Rossen has responded to a NY Times feature that suggests there’s tension between him and Grizzly Bear bandmate Ed Droste over Rossen’s Department of Eagles project.
• Speaking of the Times, one of their writers recently visited Wayne Coyne’s Oklahoma home.
• Panda Bear has remixed the Notwist.
• Squarepusher has announced a late fall tour that doesn’t include any U.S. dates.
• Amazon and iTunes have paired up with YouTube.
• Read more
  

[Photos by Andrew Parks]

Franz Ferdinand finally unveiled specific details about their third full-length at a not-so-secret Brooklyn show last night, from its title (Tonight) to six new songs that hinted at how different the LP may be.

“The last record was fast, furious, frantic, 150 beats per minute—it was like a teenager having sex,” frontman Alex Kapranos recently said in a BBC News interview. “This one’s a bit more assured and a bit friendlier for the dancefloor. It’s about 104/105 bpm.”

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When Nathan Nedorostek left us for ’someone else’ earlier this year, we had no idea he meant a photo-heavy book on the history of hardcore music. Due out at the end of the month via MTV Press, Radio Silence makes us wish it was 1997 again—the year of Snapcase’s Progression Through Unlearning (sorry, but self-titled’s roots extend to Buffalo, the land of the Goo Goo Dolls, Ani DiFranco and not much else) and that time a militant, buffoonish Earth Crisis fan clocked us in the face for wearing a leather jacket.

You had to be there. And if you weren’t, the following Radio Silence release parties are a good place to start (click the flyers to RSVP). We’ll also be running B-roll photos from the book in the third issue of self-titled …

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Now back to our regularly scheduled news/feature updates …

• John Lyndon has taken a break from criticizing Bloc Party to hawk British butter.
• Cat Power has completed a 10-inch double pack of covers.
• A bunch of relatively small, NYC-centric producers have remixed Moby’s Last Night LP for a remix record.
• Flea has pulled a Tommy Lee and gone back to school.
• Tim Hecker and Aidan Baker’s (Nadja) collaborative album is almost here.
• London’s British Museum just unveiled a 50-karat, multi-million-dollar gold statue of Kate Moss.
• The Killers are back. They still haven’t declared their second disc an “honest mistake,” though.
• Alexander Robotnick is playing a few rare U.S. dates this month.
• Read more