World's Fair

Click the E-Card for a special holiday tune c/o Eric Pulido of Midlake…

Thanks to all of you for making this year, once again, the biggest one World’s Fair has ever had. 2007 saw huge innovations, changes and challenges in the music business and I’m very proud to say it also brought some of our greatest releases and a whole string of “biggest evers” for Worlds Fair labels and artists. In the context of an over all depressed and difficult industry we feel more then fortunate to be surrounded by such incredible success and talent. Our supremely gifted Artists, Clients, Managers, Partners, Affiliates and of course our incredibly dedicated and talented staff gives us a great deal to be thankful for as we enter a much needed break and gear up for what looks to be a blockbuster 2008.

Speaking of 2008…. Look out for new British Sea Power, Del The Funky Homosapien, Pela, Apollo Sunshine, the introduction of The Autumns and Colourmusic… some truly huge announcements to come from Definitive Jux, Daptone Records and Bella Union and some exciting and game-changing new Label signings that we know you will be thrilled to hear.

Thank you all again, enjoy your much deserved rest, tip a glass this holiday in your own honor- we’ll be thinking of you all.

Warmly,
Kevin Wortis, President and Co-Founder
World’s Fair

CONNECT: World’s Fair

Sharon w/ Denzel Washington and the cast of The Great Debaters @ the NYC premiere!

c/o Concrete Loop!

& ’tis the season to be jolly indeed… especially when Sharon’s tellin’ ya!

CONNECT: Website | World’s Fair | Myspace | iMeem | YouTube

“Yehezkely, a girl with a guy’s name, has a voice to match her beauty. She’s also 25. She’s a chemistry student, but her passion is music. “In college, I was trying to figure out what I loved doing and I didn?t know, so I was just trying everything,” she said. “I found out that I really loved writing songs.” Yehezkely sings for a local band called the Postmarks. She said she admits that all the attention at a recent photo shoot was a bit overwhelming….” – MSNBC [READ MORE]

“We like it when girl singers just stare at the camera from under their eyelashes without singing. Really, it’s quite beguiling.” – mtv2 Subterranean [WATCH]

CONNECT: World’s Fair | Myspace | Website | E-card

Aes picks out his Top 10 albums of 2007 including the Wu’s new joint up against Ghostface’s new joint up against label boss El-P’s stellar comeback earlier this year… [READ MORE]

Aes makes the AllMusic Best Hip Hop Albums of the year! [READ MORE]

Meanwhile, the video for “None Shall Pass” gets voted up on MTV2 Subterranean’s Best Music Videos of 2007! [WATCH]

CONNECT: Definitive Jux | Website | iRock | Aesop Rock Wins

Pela announce new headline tour! with Liam Finn opening on all dates plus Apollo Sunshine added in NYC!

2/27: Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn w/ Apollo Sunshine
2/29: Schubas, Chicago
3/01: 400 Bar, Minneapolis
3/04: Hi Dive, Seattle
3/05: Doug Fir, Portland
3/07: Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco
3/08: Spaceland, Los Angeles
3/10: Hi Dive, Denver

“Holy hell they were brilliant…” – Information Leaf Blower
Photo by Kyle Gustafson

Artist: Pela
Album: Anytown Graffiti [STREAM WHOLE ALBUM]
Label: Great Society / World’s Fair
Street Date: April 24th, 2007
Format: CD, digital
Shop: Insound | Amazon | iTunes | eMusic

Pela – “Lost to the Lonesome” [DOWNLOAD]

CONNECT: Website | Studio Blog | Studio VLog | World’s Fair | Myspace

#36 = 1990s – “Situation”
“These debauched Scots worship everything sleazy and glorious about 1970s New York punk. Their finest moment proves they can play as fast as they can drink.” – Rolling Stone

… and “Cookies” ranked #23 on Rolling Stone’s Best Albums list. Not published yet on their website but hey monkey read monkey type!

Meanwhile, over at MTV’s Subterranean – all you 1990s fans congratulate yourselves as “See You At The Lights” wins the #6 spot on their Best of 2007 countdown!

Meanwhile, some band called ?No Age? is all hyping 1990s @ Pitchfork – thanks dudes!

Yahoo has the Critical Eye on 1990s! [WATCH]

Still ain’t got yr “Cookies”? Where you been hiding? [LISTEN]

You may have missed the recent tour, but iMeem’s still got the wicked, dirty truth on 1990s with their tour diary! [LEARN]

Artist: 1990s
Album: Cookies [E-CARD]
Label: Rough Trade / World’s Fair
Street Date: July 31st, 2007
Formats: CD, mp3

1990s – “You’re Supposed To By My Friend” [DOWNLOAD]

CONNECT: 1990s @ iMeem | 1990s @ World’s Fair | 1990s.tv | 1990space

BSP reveal much in a recent interview with Neu Magazine…

NEU: What kind of record did you intend to make?

BSP: Originally it was going to be a kind of heavy metal/krautrock experiment, all recorded live in my brother’s [Hamilton, Guitar and Vocals] basement. Obviously it didn’t end up like that. It developed as we went along. Once we had enough proper songs, we did record them live, but then added up a load of home-recorded, experimental sounds. – Neu Magazine [READ MORE]

Plus, apparently there’s a incisive part 2 to that Hecklerspray Q&A!

British Sea Power: “If You’re A Good Drunk That’s The Only Criteria!”… So says British Sea Power’s frontman Yan, responding to our question on what makes a good band…. To be fair, it’s only expected from a band who’ve defied the normal way of doing this since they appeared with 2003’s Decline of British Sea Power, from playing with the frankly bizarre Cooper Family, a 200-year-old group of folk singers, to getting into fights with German karate experts and having a giant bear prance around on stage with them. Not exactly Coldplay, is it? – Hecklerspray [READ MORE]

The reviews are rolling in…

“This is a complete return to form, reminding me what astonishing potential British Sea Power displayed in their powerful debut…” – Obscure Sound [READ MORE]

“The album reaches epic Arcade Fire-like heights, and is even better than the EP would have you believe…”
- Yahoo Music Playlist

Artist: British Sea Power
Album: Do You Like Rock Music?
Label: Rough Trade / World’s Fair
Street Date: Feb. 12th, 2008
Formats: CD, mp3

British Sea Power – “Atom” edit [DOWNLOAD]

British Sea Power – “Down On The Ground” [STREAM]

CONNECT: Website | World’s Fair | Myspace

“100 Days, 100 Nights” lands the #12 slot in eMusic’s Best Of 2007 Round Up… “For years, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings have been experts at recreating the sound and feel of vintage soul and funk. On 100 Days, 100 Nights, Jones sings as a voice of experience: the relationships are written as lived-in even as they’re ending, as on “Something’s Changed.” Songs like “Be Easy” and “When the Other Foot Drops, Uncle” offer advice — don’t push too hard, shape up or else wind up alone — among their snazzy horn charts. But this is a groove band first, and it’s when the band revs up and Jones rides the rhythm that they move from acceptable substitute to “where’s the dance floor?” Then there’s “Answer Me,” which features the Jones’ most committed performance. It’s a straight-up gospel song, and it hints that Jones and the Dap-Kings have more depth than a casual listener might expect: that they can capture Sunday morning as well as they do Saturday night.” – eMusic Best of 2007 [READ MORE]

More kudos @ Pitchfork… “Georgia-born soul singer Sharon Jones has the kind of voice that’s so boundless, so easy and ecstatic, it makes singing sound like the most fun thing anyone could ever think of doing. Curiously omitted from 2007’s 100 Days, 100 Nights and released instead as a 7″ single, “I’m Not Gonna Cry” features the expert skronk of Daptone Records’ beloved house band, the Dap-Kings (who plenty will recognize from Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, where they provided similar support), but it’s Jones’ vocals that shine brightest. When she declares that she’s done– “Ooh, I’m not gonna cry/ Tears not gonna fall from my eyes,” she bays, unflinching and proud– there’s no uncertainty in her tone, making “I’m Not Gonna Cry” the year’s most graceful exit.” – Pitchfork [READ MORE]

Yep, everybody’s feelin’ the love for Daptone right about now… Say it loud & proud in LA…

And finally for now… great reviews are also pouring in for Sharon’s contributions to The Great Debaters O.S.T. – the movie premieres in theatres next week! The Boston Globe says, “The real treat here, though, is hearing Sharon Jones move beyond the funk for which she’s best known to display her chops on material that’s joyously sacred (”We Shall Not Be Moved”) and salaciously profane (”It’s Tight Like That”)…” – Boston Globe [READ MORE]

Artist: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Album: 100 Days, 100 Nights
Label: Daptone Records
Street Date: October 2nd, 2007
Formats: CD, vinyl, mp3

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – “100 Days, 100 Nights” [DOWNLOAD]

CONNECT: Website | World’s Fair | Myspace | iMeem | YouTube

Catch the 2-part premiere of ManiaTV’s massive interview with Aesop Rock on Monday, December 17, 2007 for part 1 and Wednesday, December 19, 2007 for part 2 at 1pm EST. Please note that piece now airs again on the main channel on Flipside Tuesday (Dec. 18th) and Saturday (Dec. 22nd) (part 1) at 1pm EST and Thursday (Dec. 20th) and Sunday (Dec. 23rd) (part 2)… Or just peep the Video-on-demand right hurr:

Aesop Rock – Interview @ Flipside / ManiaTV [WATCH]

Peep this, Aes Rizzle honored in his hometown rag for blowin’ up 2007 with “None Shall Pass”!

Plus,
“None Shall Pass” makes Pitchfork’s Top 100 Tracks of 2007, at #56!

“Cate Blanchett’s Jude Quin may have been 2007’s most effective channeling of 1965/66 Bob Dylan, but Aesop Rock’s “None Shall Pass”– the most appealing single yet from the verbose Def Juxer– hits the same judgmental notes as “Positively 4th Street” and “Like a Rolling Stone”. Attempts to decipher or decode Aesop’s lyrics are often futile, but here, Biblical retribution is called for as he aims his vengeance at those who preach one thing and practice another. This includes those who “flash that buttery gold” as well as “comply and conform, miles outside of the eye of the storm.” It’s nothing Aesop hasn’t tried dozens of times before, but “None Shall Pass” is a step above: He lithely and calmly navigates Blockhead’s beat-the-clock track, the virtuosity of his delivery making the song undeniable.” – Pitchfork

Aesop Rock – “None Shall Pass” [DOWNLOAD]

CONNECT: Definitive Jux | Website | iRock | Aesop Rock Wins

“A hard-touring, Brooklyn-based funk/soul band, The Dap-Kings mixes percussion, trumpets, guitars, organs and bass, but its key ingredient is the incredibly soulful voice of Sharon Jones. The group expertly emulates classic ’60s and ’70s funk, using only analog recording equipment and vintage instruments. Hear Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings perform a concert from WXPN and the Fillmore at the TLA in Philadelphia on Friday…” – NPR.org [MORE]

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Live In Philadelphia @ WXPN [LISTEN]

Also in Philly… “Right now it couldn’t be more about Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. Whether it’s the press tagging Jones and her mixed-race backup band as much-needed, thank-God-you’re-here soul saviors or music bloggers incessantly writing about their hellacious retro R&B or white hipster kids at your job who saw them in concert and said they put on the best freakin’ live show they’ve ever seen, it’s all about Miss Jones and her boys…” – Philadelphia Inquirer [READ MORE]

Flip it back to the west coast – in case you missed, there’s also the live performance in Seattle to enjoy c/o KEXP!

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Live in Seattle @ KEXP [LISTEN]

Also in Seattle… “When finally she took the stage, the crowd erupted. And before Jones had belted out even a single note, it was an obvious love fest within Neumos. Her presence was almost palpable in the air and we felt so fortunate to be a part of it. Her energy was staggering and contagious…” – Seattlest [READ MORE]

Over in Portland… “On Friday night at the Doug Fir Lounge, during the song “How Do I Let a Good Man Down?,” as the Dap-Kings, her band, played behind her, she got down on her knees to sing because she knew that would get her man’s attention — but then she wiped that smile right off his face… The unnamed good man might have been sad, but the crowd went wild…” – The Oregonian [READ MORE]

Back in San Fran… “Perhaps it was the décor, the classic soul and funk blaring from the trumpet, bass, and saxophone, or maybe even the costumed audience members in their vintage garb that made everyone feel like they were living in a new place and time. For a night, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings made everything old-school fresh and new again.” – Venuszine [READ MORE]

Got yr tickets yet for the Jan/Feb tour???

CONNECT: DapSite | DapSpace | DapMeem | DapTube