Mastodon Bring Video Game to Blood Mountain

Mastodon are masters of self-promotion, posing with Borat backstage during their appearance on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien", documenting an attack by a gorilla-suited Tool while opening for the band on tour, and releasing multiple installments in their video tour diary on their YouTube. So what next?

How about a video game?

That's right, the band announced their most recent effort to promote the excellent Blood Mountain-- Mastodon: Quest for Blood Mountain-- via their MySpace: "You can collect diamonds to get pieces of a key to gain entrance to Blood Mountain... Keep an eye out for the special cheat codes that you can enter in the game. They're available on Mastodon flyers that are being handed out across the country."

I've played the game-- it seems the only controls are the keyboard arrows and space bar-- and I have a bone to pick: the thing is hard! I didn't get five game inches until I was eaten by dogs or I fell down some hole or, even worse, the game got all glitchy on me. There's potential there, but Mastodon need to get their tech department on the case ASAP.

Mastodon will begin their previously reported United States/United Kingdom/United Arab Emirates tour January 26 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. [MORE...]

Les Savy Fav, Tokyo PC Lend Jams to College Hoops

Remember that NBA 2K7 video game, with that Dan the Automator-produced soundtrack boasting a bunch of marquee names, like Ghostface, E-40, and Slim Thug? Well make way for its brainy little cousin, 2K Sports' College Hoops 2K7. In the true spirit of college, this one sets the court hustle against music from a bunch of obscure no-names. You know, weird shit that skinny kid in your advanced calc class listens to, like Les Savy Fav and Tokyo Police Club.

Those two P4k faves rock College Hoops 2K7 alongside folks like Good Riddance, Jupiter Hills (huh?), Cities in Dust (good tune), and P.O.D. (brick!)...and a bunch of underground hip hop I won't even pretend to know a thing about: 3rd Degree, Deux Process, Ellay Khule, Exile, GERM and Mighty Joe, Knonsense, MHE, Redline 99, the Sole Vibe, and SYKO. Plus the Procussions, who had a single-of-the-week on iTunes, I think. And Traxamillion! People like that guy.

College Hoops 2K7 is out now for XBox and XBox 360, and will hit both Playstation 2 and 3 in the near future.

Ghostface Cooks Up More Fish
Def Jam taps T.I., the Game, Ludacris, Big Boi for video game soundtrack

Ghostface Killah is already releasing a follow-up of sorts to this year's Best New Music'd Fishscale. It's called More Fish, and it comes out December 19 on Def Jam, featuring the single "Good". According to Ghost's website, Theodore Unit-- his post-Wu posse that includes his teenage son Sun God-- are "heavily featured" on the record, which makes it seem like a 718 or Put It on the Line sort of thing. And that's fine by me.

Def Jam is also planning the release of Def Jam Icon-- the company's third video game in association with Electronic Arts-- and its accompanying soundtrack. According to Billboard.com, Big Boi, T.I., Ludacris, Paul Wall, and the Game are among the project's confirmed participants. Apparently, Icon, a fighting game, will also incorporate music into "the various interactive environments" in the creation of such necessities as "a car wash that keeps to the beat of the song." Riiiight. Def Jam Interactive and EA will release the game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in March.

Belong's Turk Dietrich Talks PS3 Video Game Score

When the Playstation 3 hits the streets on November 17 (start lining up now, kids), its earliest adopters will be happy to learn that among the device's high-tech, new-fangled features, the PS3 comes equipped with a means of purchasing and downloading video games. Among these arcade-style games slated for launch with the console: Blast Factor, a three-dimensional shooter that just happens to feature a bangin' soundtrack by Drop D, the electronic duo comprised of Belong's Turk Dietrich and Telefon Tel Aviv's Josh Eustis.

Pitchfork recently chatted with Dietrich about scoring Blast Factor, what's next for Belong, and of course, general gaming nerdery. [MORE...]

Video: Phil Collins in Grand Theft Auto: Vice Stories
Oh lord. Oh lord.

Here's something I will never understand: the supposed coolness of Phil Collins. Rappers love him. Ben Gibbard loves him. Godheadsilo loves him. Yet he remains a bald British dude who sings and plays drums at the same time. (Yes, I know he was on that Eno album. No, that doesn't absolve him.)

Nonetheless, this trailer for the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories video game, coming to PSPs on October 31, is pretty fun. It features a creepy digital version of uncle Phil performing "In the Air Tonight" at some place called "Hyman Memorial Stadium", which is either a dirty joke or a touching tribute to Phyllis Hyman.

Ghostface, Lupe, Rhymefest Ball for NBA 2K7

Okay, this is officially a trend. In April, Matador contributed music to 2K Sports' Major League Baseball 2K6. Then Sub Pop went ahead and lent tunes to 2K Sports' NHL 2K7 earlier this month. And now we have NBA 2K7, released just yesterday (September 26), also a 2K Sports product. This time, however, it's not indie rock that will soundtrack your hoop dreams. It's Ghostface, Lupe Fiasco, E-40, A Tribe Called Quest, Rhymefest, Mos Def, and more.

Dan the Automator produced the soundtrack to 2K7, which hit stores September 19 and features a whole roster of fly MCs performing totally new ball-themed songs from the game and an Automator remix of Tribe's "Lyrics to Go".

The press release for the soundtrack features the usual back-patting on both sides, including praises for Dan the Automator's "solid gaming skills," but that stuff is nothing compared to the revelation that "select featured artists appear in the game as playable characters, including Phife from A Tribe Called Quest, Dan the Automator, and Slim Thug, among others." So wait, I can play as or against Phife Dawg? Awesome, because I don't know the last time I played a funky diabetic.

Since we're on a roll here, I'd like to suggest a few more future musical pairings for some of 2K Sports' other games: an all Scott Walker soundtrack to the Amped series of snowboarding games, Saddle Creek Records and Top Spin (tennis), and an Absolutely Kosher backed World Poker Tour. Wouldn't you love to hear the Wrens sing "This Is Not What You Had Planned" just as someone's full house trumps your flush? [MORE...]

Stream: David Banner: "Saints Row"

Of all the video game exclusives we've heard, this David Banner song must be the best. It has all of the blatant game content you'd expect from a track named after the game it's featured in: looting, shooting and a Katrina-inspired rant against George Bush. Actually, that last one might not be a part of the game, but it's a nice gesture and actually kind of sweet.

The rest of "Saints Row" is pretty hilarious. It sounds like Outkast on meth, riding a distorted guitar riff (complete with Van Halen-style solo) and a stuttering bass drum that sounds suspiciously like the beginning of the White Stripes' "Blue Orchid". But the best part? The arbitrary invitation to, "Go on, get yo' cousin/ Bring yo' ass to Saints Row." Why thank you, Mr. Banner. I think I will.

Stream: Ghostface feat. Trife Da God: "Man Up"

Ghostface adds another video game soundtrack to his resume with this track for GTA knockoff Saints Row out August 29 for XBOX 360. It's a remix of a track off of last year's largely overlooked Put It on the Line, a Theodore Unit posse mixtape of sorts with its largest contributions coming from Ghost and apprentice Trife Da God. The twist with this version is that the track has new lyrics tailored to the game. Fortunately for Ghost, the focus of the game is gang activity, so he doesn't exactly have to leave the illegal territory of so many of his Fishscale rhymes. Fortunately for you, there is a stream of "Man Up" available below.

Sub Pop Soundtracks Hockey Video Game
Ben Gibbard, Carrie Brownstein, Mark Arm, Ben Bridwell Form Killer Flying V

While it might seem strange for 12 of the bands on Sub Pop's roster to be contributing to 2K Sports' NHL 2K7 video game, I think I can explain the phenomenon in six words: Hot Hot Heat and the Constantines. Those crazy Canucks and their hockey!

But let's back up a second. Here's the deal: In addition to the more northerly Sub Pop artists, Band of Horses, Mudhoney, Sleater-Kinney and the Postal Service are all contributing previously released tracks to the NHL 2K7 soundtrack. In the case of the Thermals' "I Hold the Sound", which is on their forthcoming The Blood, The Body, The Machine LP, the track will end up being released before the video game hits stores in September.

A Sub Pop representative explained the label's involvement in the project as follows: "2K Sports...approached us earlier this year about wanting to use some of the artists we work with in the soundtrack for their game...They had some specific criteria and we tried to direct them to music that seemed to fit their needs, but ultimately they selected the tracks they wanted and then we asked the bands if they were into participating."

Guess the Thermals like video games more than they like Hummers.

So while it may seem weird to be listening to "Brand New Colony" while playing someone in "rivalry mode," just remember that those aren't freckles in your opponent's eyes. They're flecks of blood.

Remember, this isn't the first time a powerhouse indie label has hooked up with 2K Sports: earlier this year, Matador licensed several tracks to the company's Major League Baseball 2K6 game.

The NHL 2K7 soundtrack has 18 songs, with six of them being provided by non-Sub Pop artists. There is no word of a separate release for the soundtrack, but the list of songs contributed by Sub Pop is after the jump, in alphabetical order by band name.

The non-Sub Pop bands featured on the soundtrack are Recliner, Dozer, Green Carnation, Grinder, Jupiter Hills, and Throttlerod.

Tracks:

Arlo - "Runaround"
Band of Horses - "Wicked Gil"
The Constantines - "Working Full-Time"
Hot Hot Heat - "Talk to me, Dance With Me"
Kinski - "Hot Stenographer"
Love as Laughter - "Temptation Island"
Mudhoney - "Empty Shells"
Nebula - "Giant"
The Postal Service - "Brand New Colony"
Seaweed - "Losing Skin"
Sleater-Kinney - "Rollercoaster"
The Thermals - "I Hold the Sound"

Bonus feature! Quotes from the NHL 2K7 press release!

"'Sub Pop is the leader in bringing the underground sound to the mainstream without compromising their integrity,'" said Tim Rosa, director of brand and lifestyle marketing for 2K Sports. "'Because we share this mindset when developing our games, NHL 2K7 is the perfect vehicle for Sub Pop to stay true to its vision.'"

"'While Sub Pop and hockey are rarely mentioned in the same breath, the vibe of our music really suits the action of NHL 2K7,'" said Steve Manning, Publicity/Marketing Director, Sub Pop Records. "'Because 2K Sports values authenticity in its games with the same passion we treasure authenticity in our artists, we knew this partnership would resonate with fans of both the sport and our music.'"

 

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