Andrew Broder of Fog releases free solo album for download

Download: Andrew Broder - "What's Up Freaks?" (Live on Radio K)
Download: Andrew Broder - "I Must Fix All The Problems"

If the problem that Andrew Broder of Fog that needs to be fixed is getting free music to his fans, then I gotta say, he's on that motherfucker like white on rice. As you know doubt know, Broder released a new ambient solo album titled "I Must Fix All The Problems," wherein he free verses for 15 minutes about his plan to fix the global economic crisis. Nah, I'm just kidding. It is, however, two separate pieces titled "I Must Fix" and "All The Problems," and Broder himself described the songs as being for "two pieces for improvised guitar, turntables and 4-track." Broder also said that this will be the first in a series of free solo releases. Check it out at the top of the post.

Fog MySpace Page

Fog Reviewed on Pitchfork

A little harsh for the hometown favorites, but still cool. Read the piece here.

(Ian Anderson)

Well, Who Tells You To Work? The Devil!

Download: Fog - "We Will Have Vanished"
Download: Fog - "Your Beef Is Mine"

Fog
Ditherer (Lex Records, 2007)
Grade: B+

Well, who tells you to work?
The Devil
Who tells you when you get a day off?
The Devil
And who gives you your pay?
The damn Devil
And who takes it away?
The Devil

Even if Fog's first record as a full-fledged trio, Ditherer, didn't contain that gem of a NSFW lyric (delivered with a awesome Dylan-esque sneer, to boot), there would be still be plenty here to recommend. Ditherer is more or less divided by halves, with the first half of the record containing densely melodic and carefully layered guitar-driven uptempo songs, whereas the second is more introspective and piano-based. Because of the way the album is sequenced, Ditherer stumbles a bit, losing crucial momentum. However, as an introduction for their new direction Fog have created for themselves more than enough solid ground on which to stand.

Right off the band, Fog let you know that they are branching out and trying new sounds, with "We Will Have Vanished" introducing whirring wah-wah guitar, thundering percussion and rich harmonies into Fog's sonic palette. A lot of the enjoyment in listening to Ditherer comes from hearing how expansive Fog can make their sound. Based on the next few tracks, which are driven by rhythmically tight stop-starts redolent of Fugazi, it would be clear that Fog's sound can be expanded by a great degree.

While Fog make strong strides in that arena, their songcraft itself could use a little more variety. For all of the progress made toward sonic innovation, the songs themselves tend to be more traditionally structured, save for a few examples like the 10-minute epic "On The Gallows". This approach isn't really a problem until the songs after "You Did What You Thought". The more contemplative material isn't quite dead-on-arrival, but it doesn't inspire quite in the same way as the earlier songs do.

That said, Ditherer makes a highly convincing case that Fog, as a trio, have a bright future ahead of them, so long as continue to keep the mood loose and the tempo up.

MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Live Review: Fog, Northfield, MN (The Cave)

Download: Fog - "We Will Have Vanished"
Download: Fog - "You Did What You Thought"

Guess what I'm not going to do in this review? Make weather puns.

OK, just one: Friday night in Northfield sure was foggy. I caught the Minneapolis homeboys at Carleton College on Friday, and they pretty much destroyed. The show started almost two hours late because of God knows what kind of fuckery at the venue. Not only that, but the show had a poor turn out due to the fact that both the colleges in town are on break.

But Fog just got up there and rocked it anyway. I saw the guys out in their cars before the show, and they didn't seem too happy about the delay. And I respect the hell out of the fact that they didn't get up and half-ass it and run off, they actually put up a really good show.

Until last year, Fog was just front man Andrew Broder and some turntables, electronics and guest stars. This year's release of Ditherer marked the debut of a new, full-band Fog.

And the new Fog is awesome. If you haven't heard Ditherer, you should pick up a copy. It's one of my favorite releases of this year. I went into the show not knowing how the group would balance their current sound with Broder's past efforts. I think they did it beautifully. Sticking mostly to material off Ditherer, the show was more-or-less straight up rock. Fog varied between having the epic feel of Low and a more classic rock stamp, but there are always hints of a more electronic past hiding in the flourishes and details.

And the guys were hilarious. I go back and forth between loving the intimacy of the really tiny (read: 20 some people) shows and hating them for their tendency to turn into make-out sessions and ridiculously showboaty dance-offs. But Friday had a great crowd, and the group interacted with the audience like they were just chilling in someone's basement rather than playing a delayed show with a poor turnout.

Tour dates are below, and I highly recommend hitting a show near you.

10.17 Cat’s Cradle, Carborro, North Carolina
10.18 Black Cat, Washington, DC
10.19 First Unitarian, Philadelphia
10.20 Gramercy Theatre, New York City
10.21 Polish Club, Poughkeepsie, New York
10.22 Trinity on Main, New Britain
10.23 Middle East, Cambridge, Massachusetts
10.26 Showplace Theatre, Buffalo, New York
10.27 Empty Bottle, Chicago
10.28 Picador, Iowa City
10.29 Pops, Sauget, Illinois
10.30 Bottleneck, Lawrence, Kansas
11.2 Dusty Bookshelf, Manhattan, Kansas
11.3 Rubber Gloves, Denton, Texas
11.4 Proletariat, Houston
11.6 Mohawk, Austin
11.8 Modified Arts, Phoenix
11.9 Spaceland, Los Angeles
11.10 Steynberg Gallery, San Luis Obispo
11.11 Cafe Du Nord, San Francisco
11.13 Holocene, Portland
11.14 Crocodile Café, Seattle
11.15 Neurolux, Boise
11.16 Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City
11.17 Trilogy Winebar, Boulder
12.7 Turf Club, St. Paul

MySpace Page

(April Wright)

Live Shows Tonight: To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie and Fog

Download: To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie - "Lovers and Liars"
Download: To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie - "The Man With The Shovel..."

To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie have a record release show (for The Patron, out on Tuesday) tonight at the Hexagon. Show is 21+. More details at More Cowbell.

MySpace Page

Fog

Download: Fog - "We Will Have Vanished"
Download: Fog - "You Did What You Thought"

Fog play the Cave in Northfield, MN tonight. The FREE all-ages show starts at 8 p.m.

Directions to the Cave via I-35:

Directions from I-35 via Highway 19 to Northfield and Carleton Campus

* Take I-35W to Highway 19 East (Exit 69, Northfield exit).
* Drive east on Highway 19 for 7 miles to Northfield.
* At the first stop light (where Highway 19 meets Highway 3), turn left and drive north for 3 blocks to 2nd Street.
* Turn right and drive east on 2nd Street, continuing up the hill.
* Turn left at College Street, which takes you directly into the campus

Click here for a map.

MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Fog - Saturday Night At The Triple Rock

Download: Fog - "What's Up Freaks"
Download: Fog - "I Have Been Wronged"
Download: Fog - "Your Beef Is Mine (Dntel Remix)"

Experimental Minneapolis rock act Fog is playing Saturday Night at the Triple Rock. The show starts at 9:00 p.m. and is 21+. Buy tickets here. They're touring behind their most recent album, Ditherer, which was released in August.

Also, Fog was recently featured in in the AV Club. Check out that interview with the band by clicking the link.

MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)