XL Recordings

People of France: Bonjour! That's French, right? Also, did you guys know that Pitchfork made a book? We did! We totally did. The book is in English, though. Sorry about that. We hope it's not too much of a problem. Anyway, now that we've already thrown book-release parties in New York and Chicago, it's your turn.

This Friday, January 9, Le Motel in Paris is throwing a party for The Pitchfork 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present. Le Motel is located at 8, passage Josset, 75011 Paris. If you're taking the Metro, it's Ledru-Rollin. And from 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., the DJs Bonne Ambiance and Maxence P will be playing selections from the book. I swear I'm not making those names up, either.

And if you haven't heard anything about the book yet, here's the deal: This handy paperback chronologically explores Pitchfork's 500 favorite songs from 1977-2006, constructing an alternate history of the past three decades of popular music-- one that extends beyond the typical Baby Boomer-approved canon of the Clash, Prince, Public Enemy, Nirvana, Radiohead, and Outkast.

From art-rock and proto-punk godfathers such as Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie to today's leading lights such as the Arcade Fire, the White Stripes, and Kanye West; from superstars to cult heroes; and from punk, indie, and pop to hip-hop, electronic music, and metal, we've created the ultimate playlist. Interspersed throughout are sidebars...

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Jack White has interviewed Australian actress Cate Blanchett for a article in Interview magazine.

Hey everybody, just a reminder that you've only got until 9 p.m. EST tonight, December 15, to enter The Pitchfork 500 iPod Giveaway Sweepstakes. As you know, the grand prize winner receives an iPod Classic as well as a $100 iTunes gift card, and 10 first prize winners will win a copy of the book. So click away! And good luck!

What book, you say? Ah yes, that would be The Pitchfork 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs From Punk to the Present, published by Simon & Schuster's Fireside imprint in November.

This handy paperback chronologically explores Pitchfork's 500 favorite songs from 1977-2006, constructing an alternate history of the past three decades of popular music-- one that extends beyond the typical Baby Boomer-approved canon of the Clash, Prince, Public Enemy, Nirvana, Radiohead, and Outkast.

From art-rock and proto-punk godfathers such as Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie to today's leading lights such as the Arcade Fire, the White Stripes, and Kanye West; from superstars to cult heroes; and from punk, indie, and pop to hip-hop, electronic music, and metal, we've created the ultimate playlist. Interspersed throughout are sidebars on the most vital subgenres from electro to grime to riot grrrl, along with pieces like "Career Killers: The Songs That Ended It All" and "Runaway Trainwrecks: The Post-Grunge Nadir."

Edited by Pitchfork founder/president Ryan Schreiber and editor-in-chief Scott...

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Image via Format Mag

Ah, the magic of LEGO. Once merely a children's toy, the little Danish bricks have gone on to inspire all manner of wonder and wackiness, from theme parks to that landmark White Stripes video to a sprawling recreation of the Holy Bible in lurid detail (no, seriously). Musically inclined types of the "You" epoch have done their part as well, creating video clips and-- like that one Japanese guy does with his food-- album covers.

The album covers thing has really taken off: it even has its own Flickr group, and a rundown of blah-to-hysterical offerings surfaced on the web earlier this year. What prompted us to address this phenomenon today, however, is Format Mag's recent list of "20 Classic Hip Hop Album Covers Recreated in LEGO" [via Prefix].

LEGO has made strides in adding personality to their iconic minifigs in recent years, something Format capitalizes on in their hilarious attempts to match "tough guy" plastic characters with the real life tough guys and characters who grace a lot of these covers. The results range from the silly...



...to the goofy...



...to the adorable:



Props to the Format folks for taking a purist approach to their pastiche: as far as...

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At a MusicTank conference on Tuesday night, I had a chat with Simon Wheeler, Director of Digital at Beggars Group, about what it's like running an independent label in these changing times for the music industry. He said: "When it comes to negotiating deals with new digital ventures like Nokia Comes With Music and MySpace Music, we can't compete with the majors when it comes to money and might. But we can compete when it comes to talent and signing great artists. And that is our main focus."

Independents have always championed some of the most interesting acts, acts that have even defined genres. Maybe it's because indies don't have to report to stockholders. Maybe it's because starting a label is so time consuming and expensive that you would only do it if you absolutely love music and the artists you sign. This is why indies tend to stick with their artists should a record fail to hit the charts.

At last month's Musexpo, two of the most successful UK indie-label owners explained what drives them, and how they operate. Daniel Miller, president of Mute, put out his own electronic record, Warm Leatherette, during the punk era in 1978. "People think you're a label when you put out a record. I didn't think I was." But as he started receiving more and more demos, the label developed organically. By the beginning of the 80s, Mute was home to bands that...

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Now that all that hard work is over with, it's time to party! As you know, this week, Simon & Schuster imprint Fireside Books published The Pitchfork 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present. To celebrate the book, we're throwing a release party, and we'd love it if you would join us.

On Tuesday, November 18, we'll be getting down here in Chicago at Sonotheque, located at 1444 W. Chicago Ave. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Pitchfork publisher/chief operating officer Chris Kaskie, editor-in-chief Scott Plagenhoef, and managing editor Mark Richardson (aka CMS Soundsystem) will spin selections from The Pitchfork 500 and we will have copies of the book for sale. There's no cover, so come on out!

Oh and in case you aren't familiar with the book yet, here's the rundown: This handy paperback chronologically explores Pitchfork's 500 favorite songs from 1977-2006, constructing an alternate history of the past three decades of popular music-- one that extends beyond the typical Baby Boomer-approved canon of the Clash, Prince, Public Enemy, Nirvana, Radiohead, and Outkast.

From art-rock and proto-punk godfathers such as Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie to today's leading lights such as the Arcade Fire, the White Stripes, and Kanye West; from superstars to cult heroes; and from punk, indie, and pop to hip-hop, electronic music, and metal, we've created the ultimate playlist. Interspersed throughout are sidebars on the most vital subgenres from electro to grime to riot...

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From the mind of rock photographer Autumn De Wilde comes the latest video from the Raconteurs' Consolers of the Lonely. "Old Enough" finds Jack White and co. bringing the tune to life, recasting the Appalachian string arrangements in a fittingly woodsy environment. But wait, is that a forest or a hall of mirrors? And who is that chick in the wedding dress and mask? "The only way you'll ever know a thing is to admit that you know absolutely nothing," White croons, so I'll defer to him and De Wilde on this one.



[from Consolers of the Lonely; out now on Warner Bros.]

Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, today, November 11, Simon & Schuster imprint Fireside Books publishes The Pitchfork 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present. This handy paperback chronologically explores Pitchfork's 500 favorite songs from 1977-2006, constructing an alternate history of the past three decades of popular music-- one that extends beyond the typical Baby Boomer-approved canon of the Clash, Prince, Public Enemy, Nirvana, Radiohead, and Outkast.

From art-rock and proto-punk godfathers such as Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie to today's leading lights such as the Arcade Fire, the White Stripes, and Kanye West; from superstars to cult heroes; and from punk, indie, and pop to hip-hop, electronic music, and metal, we've created the ultimate playlist. Interspersed throughout are sidebars on the most vital subgenres from electro to grime to riot grrrl, along with pieces like "Career Killers: The Songs That Ended It All" and "Runaway Trainwrecks: The Post-Grunge Nadir."

Edited by Pitchfork founder/president Ryan Schreiber and editor-in-chief Scott Plagenhoef, and written by an all-star team of contributors, The Pitchfork 500 is the perfect book for the train ride to work, a cozy winter's night by the fireside, or extended stays on the toilet. And it sure would make for a nice holiday gift, hint hint.

The book is available in your friendly neighborhood bookstore right now. Or you can order it via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders,

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With that whole election business out of the way, it's time to get back to concentrating on the things that really matter. Things like the best songs of the past 30 years! That's right, Pitchfork's first music guide is coming out in only four days.

As you know, on November 11, Simon & Schuster imprint Fireside Books will publish The Pitchfork 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present. This handy paperback chronologically explores Pitchfork's 500 favorite songs from 1977-2006, constructing an alternate history of the past three decades of popular music-- one that extends beyond the typical Baby Boomer-approved canon of the Clash, Prince, Public Enemy, Nirvana, Radiohead, and Outkast.

From art-rock and proto-punk godfathers such as Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie to today's leading lights such as the Arcade Fire, the White Stripes, and Kanye West; from superstars to cult heroes; and from punk, indie, and pop to hip-hop, electronic music, and metal, we've created the ultimate playlist. Interspersed throughout are sidebars on the most vital subgenres from electro to grime to riot grrrl, along with pieces like "Career Killers: The Songs That Ended It All" and "Runaway Trainwrecks: The Post-Grunge Nadir."

Edited by Pitchfork founder/president Ryan Schreiber and editor-in-chief Scott Plagenhoef, and written by an all-star team of contributors, The Pitchfork 500 is the perfect book for the train ride to work, a cozy winter's night by the fireside, or extended...

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The annual NME Cool List is published today and a singer called Alice Glass finds herself at the top, prompting most of us to ask: "Who?" For those who weren't born in the 1990s, Glass is the singer with Canadian electro duo Crystal Castles and was last seen (in NME) licking blood off her bandmate's chest and describing a former life of drugs, violence and living in squats. Live shows are notoriously frenzied, with the plug being pulled on their Glastonbury set this summer after Glass scaled the nearest speaker and hurled herself into the crowd. So far, so cool.

By topping this year's list of coolest musicians, Glass joins the ranks of Jack White, Alex Turner and, improbably, Justin Timberlake. She also becomes the second woman ever to reach the top, although the list has only been going since 2002. The Gossip's Beth Ditto was the first, in 2006, a feat the magazine celebrated by putting all-male rockers Muse on the cover.

While most "best of" lists are subject to the whimsical nature of fashion, every time the NME's Top 50 is announced, critics and blogs alike rant about its vacuity. The Cool List doesn't respect the canon and it doesn't dream of taking its finalists seriously. Here's editor Conor McNicholas on the women who made the top 10 in 2006: "They've brought new energy to a scene dominated by men. They're also living proof that you can still rock a crowd when you're wearing...

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