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GUEST EDITOR

Wooden Wand’s James Jackson Toth Must Also Love: Bourbon

Even James Jackson Toth’s most rabid fans probably can’t keep track of the prolific singer/songwriter’s output. The Lexington, Ky.-based Toth has issued numerous solo and group efforts (including cassettes, CD-Rs, limited-edition vinyl, etc.) under his own name as well as such monikers as WAND, Wooden Wand And The Vanishing Voice, H.P. Witchcraft, the Jescos and the Blood Group. His latest release is Wooden Wand‘s Death Seat (Young God), an impressive 12-track album produced by YG label head and Swans frontman Michael Gira and featuring musical contributions from members of bands such as Lambchop, Silver Jews, Mercury Rev, Glossary and Fire On Fire. Toth is heading out on European and North American tours in the new year, but in the meantime, he will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.

Toth: This one is probably obvious, but let me explain. I’ve enjoyed bourbon for over half of my life, but only since moving to Kentucky have I become something of a snob about it. The proximity to all sorts of delicious local single-barrel whiskeys practically demands snobbery. Lord knows I’ve practically kept Jim Beam and Evan Williams in business for years, but now I’ve been irreversibly spoiled and I can’t seem to drink any bourbon whiskey that isn’t top shelf. I’m prepared to take out a second mortgage if necessary, but a bottle of Old Pogue, Rowan’s Creek, Pappy Van Winkle (the 23 year is expensive but tastes like a fuckin’ whiskey Werther’s), Four Roses, Blanton’s, Baker’s or Eagle Rare is never too far out of reach.

Video after the jump.

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FREE MP3s

MP3 At 3PM: PS I Love You

Ontario natives Paul Saulnier and Benjamin Nelson began their career as PS I Love You by appearing on a split seven-inch with Diamond Rings. Now the duo has issued full-length debut Meet Me At The Muster Station (Paper Bag) that features a revamped version of its contribution to the split with Diamond Rings. “Facelove” is a beautifully crafted indie-pop song with swelling guitars that complement Saulnier’s Wolf Parade-esque vocals. Download the track below, and for an added bonus, check out an acoustic performance here. Plus, be sure catch PS I Love You when they go on tour in December.

“Facelove” (download):

Categories
NEWS

In The News: Matthew Friedberger, David Lowery, The Handsome Family, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, East River Pipe And Free MP3s

In 2011, Matthew Friedberger (a.k.a. one half of the Fiery Furnaces) plans to release an eight-LP solo series, with a new album out every two months. (The sixth album comes with two bonus records.) Each will feature Friedberger on a single instrument. The piano album, Napoleonette, is being released by Thrill Jockey on January 25. Download “Shirley” … Another musician taking some solo time is David Lowery of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. He’ll be releasing his first solo album, The Palace Guards, on February 1 via 429 Records … Taking place now through December 14 is the Andy Kotowicz Family Foundation Auction, in which you can bid for rare and collectible items from Band Of Horses, Bon Iver, Foo Fighters, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Muse, Pearl Jam, the Rolling Stones, the White Stripes and many more. The auction is to raise money for the family of Kotowicz, Sub Pop’s VP of sales/director of marketing, who sadly died from a car accident in October … The Handsome Family has announced a tour of the West Coast in early 2011, which will be in support of the self-released Scattered: A Further Collection Of Lost Demos, Orphaned Songs And Odd CoversTao Of The Dead is the seventh full-length from longtime MAGNET fave …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, and it’s out February 8 via Richter Scale/Superball. The first single from the album, “Summer Of All Dead Souls,” will be released Tuesday … 200 Years—Ben Chasny (Six Organs Of Admittance) and Elisa Ambrogio (Magik Markers)—is currently in the studio recording material written in a tool shed in Seattle over the past year. The duo’s first LP will be released on Drag City sometime next year … Scotland’s King Creosote has quietly released a whopping 40 albums over the past decade, and on February 8, Domino is issuing Thrawn, a collection of re-recordings of some of his best material … On February 15, East River Pipe’s seventh album, We Live In Rented Rooms, will be released by Merge. Download “Cold Ground”Monotix is releasing its sophomore album, Not Yet (Drag City), on January 25. Download “Give Me More”

—Emily Costantino

Categories
GUEST EDITOR

Wooden Wand’s James Jackson Toth Must Also Love: Estwing Hammers

Even James Jackson Toth’s most rabid fans probably can’t keep track of the prolific singer/songwriter’s output. The Lexington, Ky.-based Toth has issued numerous solo and group efforts (including cassettes, CD-Rs, limited-edition vinyl, etc.) under his own name as well as such monikers as WAND, Wooden Wand And The Vanishing Voice, H.P. Witchcraft, the Jescos and the Blood Group. His latest release is Wooden Wand‘s Death Seat (Young God), an impressive 12-track album produced by YG label head and Swans frontman Michael Gira and featuring musical contributions from members of bands such as Lambchop, Silver Jews, Mercury Rev, Glossary and Fire On Fire. Toth is heading out on European and North American tours in the new year, but in the meantime, he will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.

Toth: All hammers are not created equal. I know that sounds like some bogus ad campaign, but it happens to be true. After having one too many hammers break, I finally bought a 16-ounce Estwing all-purpose hammer and will never need another. It drives nails into concrete with one tap. While we’re on the subject of tools, remember folks: Buy quality, buy once.

Video after the jump.

Categories
VIDEOS

Film At 11: Callers

“How You Hold Your Arms” is the new video from Callers. The song is from the Brooklyn-via-New Orleans trio’s sophomore album, Life Of Love (Western Vinyl), and the clip was directed by Mike Anderson. Callers is currently on tour in Spain, but you can watch the video below and download the band’s cover of Wire’s “Heartbeat,” also from Life Of Love.