Fathers, lock up your daughters. Jarvis is back, babies, and he has come to rock your socks (and possibly your panties) off. He emerges from Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio Studio, ribald and triumphant to present his second solo-project album, Further Complications on the Rough Trade Records Label. While playing the Pitchfork Festival last year in Chicago, bassist Steve Mackey made the suggestion they work with Albini on this album, as it was incredibly cost effective (about half the price to record stateside), and they were already in Chicago. The result is one loud, sexy, rock-n-roll album. It is a far cry from the richer, more orchestral Richard Hawley-produced Jarvis, but it is a logical and interesting direction for Cocker, one that he should continue to explore.

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Hey Young Rock-n-Rollers,

Do you belive in magic? To hell with David Blaine, there is real magic in the spindly legs of one Mr. Jarvis "I am 6 feet of of filthy personified" Cocker.

His video for "Angela," a single off of his new album Further Complications is now available for your viewing pleasure. This footage is part of the "Jarvis is Making an Exhibition of Himself" week long band practice last week in Paris. This man moves like nothing I have ever seen. Sometimes it looks sexy, sometimes it looks awkward, sometimes it looks painful, but it always looks like Jarvis, which is to say, like an English professor who has dogeared copies of Marquis de Sade, Henry Miller, and DH Lawrence laying about with the dirty parts highlighted.

The dubbing in the first part doesn't quite match up, but eventually it catches itself. The handclapping on the side of the building is charming, n'est ce pas?

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As if anyone needs a reason to be in Paris in the spring time, I have another tall, angular, awe-inspiring one (hint: NOT the Eiffel Tower). Jarvis Cocker, he of Pulp, Relaxed Muscle and solo glory will be rehearsing in an art gallery in Paris May 5-May 10 for several upcoming performances. Fans will be given the unparalleled opportunity to view rehearsals, jam with the band (!!!), do yoga and pilates, and even bring their children to do musically-themed activities with them. I would STEAL a child to do that! Children of France, you have been warned.

Alas, reality, being the ugly beast that it is and my pocketbook being woefully bereft of cash as it is, I am relegated to watching it all here. C'est la vie, non?

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I love me some Jarvis Cocker. The tall cool one can really do no wrong in my eyes. Remember when he covered "Purple Haze" last time he played the Showbox in 2007? It was a bold bet that turned out pretty stunning.

Jarvis Cocker just announced details of the release of "Angela" a track taken from his forthcoming second solo album on Rough Trade, Further Complications and you can hear it right now here or download from his website. The album will be released on May 19, 2009 and US tour dates are being confirmed.

Word is that it will also be available in the UK on a "highly limited-edition" compilation cassette of various artists to coincide with Record Store Day on April 18th and as a limited edition 7” on June 15th featuring the exclusive b-side "I Found Myself Looking For God".

What do you think of the new song? It's still growing on me... it's a bit rougher than tracks on his first album, but I have a hard time questioning the Jarvis.

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Imaginary New Yorkers unite and get thee to the Bowery Ballroom tomorrow, Wednesday April 30th by 3p (actually, if it were me, I'd get there by 1.30p or 2p to get a good seat)!

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Narrowing down my favorites for this year was HARD! I’m sure I’ll find even more 2007 releases I adore in 2008... but here’s what has been in obsessively high rotation this year.

Note: I still battle with how I can rank EPs versus full albums, or collections of previously unreleased material… but using my current logrhythm, here’s what it came out to today...

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NME has posted their "Cool" findings for 2007 on their website and has opened the voting for the Readers' Top 10 on their website.

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Jarvis Cocker has gotten into the Halloween spirit and has posted a series of three podcasts on his MySpace page of him reading an intricate Halloween story.

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All year I've thought John Peel Day was going to be on October 12th (it was last year), but now I see that it was October 13th in 2005, and this year the BBC placed the 'oly day on October 11th.

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As we countdown to John Peel Day (which is this Friday, October 12th), we're glad we have some friends joining in the fun by hosting a night celebrating one of Mr. Peels favorite bands.

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