The classic British comedy series Fawlty Towers has turned 30 years old and in honor of the occasion BBC Video has just released a 3 disc box set containing all 12 episodes of the original series, plus interviews, commentaries, outtakes and a whole disc worth of special features. The Times Online recently ran an interview with an interview with Prunella Scales (Sybil Fawlty) where they discussed the 30th anniversary of the series and her role in British television history:

One of the striking things about the shows is that most scenes were filmed once without the opportunity to reshoot if things weren’t quite right. On the new set of remastered DVDs, Cleese provides a commentary that reveals him as a frustrated perfectionist. He chuckles along at classic moments — “excuse me laughing at my own jokes, but I think that was Connie’s” — but is also hypercritical. He points out where moments of slapstick weren’t spot-on, analyses how lines could have been tweaked and picks over minute editing decisions: “Could have taken the first three seconds off that shot.”

But what is striking is how quick the show still seems. “It hasn’t lost pace, that’s the great thing about it,” says Scales. “And that’s because of the talent of Connie and John and the rigour of John; how fast he played. If you couldn’t keep up with him you had to really get in there. That’s what its enduring quality is, the pace.”

The reaction of the audiences when they recorded the shows was positive, but she had no inkling that she was involved in something that would go on to top polls of the greatest British television programmes. [Times Online]

This set is truly a gem and something every comedy fan should own, that’s why I’m pleased to offer 3 copies of Fawlty Towers: The Complete Series Remastered DVD box set to three lucky readers of this site. To enter the contest, just fill out the entry form after the jump (just don’t mention the war!). Winners will be notified and selected on November 11, 2009. Contest is available to US and Canadian residents.

But wait, that’s not all, in addition to my contest, there is a “Fawlty Towers Lookalike Contest” going on right now on Facebook where you can win even bigger prizes including a signed John Cleese Photo, a John Cleese signed Fawlty Towers DVD and a bunch of other FT related items. John Cleese himself will be picking the winners of this contest!

Bumpershine contest entry form, more info about the DVD box set and the Fawlty Towers Lookalike Contest after the jump.

“Fawlty Towers Complete Series Remastered DVD Giveaway + Fawlty Towers Lookalike Contest on Facebook” continued after the jump

Sure, this stuff would have probably gone great with your kid’s Halloween costume, but I guess I’m a day late and a dollar short for that. (I’d imagine it could still be part of a pretty good Chanukah present, but I digress.) In any event, if we went to Walmart today*, some of this Where The Wild Things Are merch might be 50% off, but I’ll one up the evil empire of everyday low prices and give it all away to you, my loyal readers (and random people trolling the Internet for free stuff), for free. OK, enough suspense, here’s what’s up for grabs:

1 Copy of the Where The Wilds Things Are Original Soundtrack on Vinyl;
1 Carol Mask;
1 Carol Tote Bag, and
1 Where The Wilds Things Are Crown.

To enter the contest, fill out the entry form after the jump. A random winner will be notified and selected on November 9, 2009. Contest is only available to US residents.

Where The Wild Things Are is in theatres now, the original motion picture soundtrack featuring Karen O and the Kids is available now on Interscope Records, and you can still purchase the award winning Maurice Sendak book that started it all in fine bookstores everywhere.

* Who’s kidding who, you can’t get quality schwag like this at Walmart.

““Where The Wild Things Are” Day After Halloween Prize Pack Giveaway” continued after the jump

Islands at Siren Festival (07/19/2008)

Photo: Jon Klemm (more)
DOWNLOAD: Islands – “No You Don’t” (mp3)

Montreal’s Islands released a new record last month entitled Vapours, and in case you forgot, here’s what bumpershine critic-in-residence Drake had to say about it when it came out:

For those that found Islands‘ sophomore release Arm’s Way a bit too prog-y, I’ve got good news for you, Vapours is a return to the kitchen sink-pop that Nick Thorburn joyously captured on their debut, Return to the Sea. At times Vapours is a bit all over the map, and there a couple of tracks (including “Shining” and “The Drums”) that slip into Arm’s Way-like tendencies, but on the whole, the album sounds like the quirky pop-driven Islands you’ve come to know and love. Highlights include the title track, the soulful (and auto-tune utilized) “Heartbeat,” and the bright pop of “Tender Torture.”

Islands are on the road right now promoting Vapours and I’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to their show at the Bowery Ballroom on November 5 with Jemina Pearl (Buy Tickets). To enter, send an email to contests@bumpershine.com and tell me who Islands last opened for last time they played NYC (best guesses will be accepted to). One random winner will be chosen and notified on Monday, November 2.

More Islands tour dates after the jump.

“Islands Ticket Giveaway, New Album “Vapours” Is Here, Tour Dates (Bowery Ballroom)” continued after the jump

Timber Timbre

From now until midnight on October 31, Canada’s Taylor Kirk aka, Timber Timbre will be giving away his entire self titled Arts & Crafts debut record for FREE at www.timbertimbre.com. I’ve actually listened to the Timber Timbre album quite a few times now and while I can’t really place it in any kind of box, the adjectives “haunting” and “eerie” always come to mind whenever I hear it. Since it’s perfect mood music for a haunted house, it’s no surprise then that this treat of a record is being offered just in time for Halloween.

For those of you that missed his recent performances at CMJ, Timber Timbre is coming back to town on November 20 to play Joe’s Pub. For those of you that haven’t heard this Polaris Prize nominated record yet, download it while you still can! More Timber Timbre tour dates after the jump.

“Timber Timbre Giving Away Album for Free, Playing Joe’s Pub” continued after the jump

(Untitled)

The Hebrew Hammer (Adam Goldberg) is back on the big screen this weekend and this time he’s not playing an Orthodox private dick, but rather a composer of “unlistenable” music who becomes romantically involved with an art gallery owner (Marley Shelton). His new film has the Google friendly title of (Untitled) and it opens in New York and other selected cities today (Oct 23). I haven’t seen it yet, but the trailer looks pretty funny, and Marshall Fine of the Huffington Post seemed to be pretty jazzed about it:

A laugh-out-loud satire with a dry-martini wit, (Untitled) manages the neat trick of poking wicked fun at the worlds of experimental music and art — from all angles — even as it gives a humorously sympathetic look at the plight of the serious artist working far outside the commercial mainstream. [HuffingtonPost.com]

Last but not least, because I haven’t done this in a day or two, I’m giving away a couple of movie related items to one lucky reader who emails me at contests@bumpershine.com and tells me the name of their favorite Adam Goldberg movie. You could win the following:

1) A copy of the official movie soundtrack by David Lang, and
2) A full size movie poster.

US residents only please, a winner will be chosen on Friday, October 30. Please include your name and address if you want to have a chance at winning.

Check out the (Untitled) movie poster and trailer after the jump (keep your eyes peeled for Dean & Britta’s Dean Wareham).

“(Untitled) Opens Today In Theatres, Soundtrack & Poster Giveaway” continued after the jump

Delta Airlines has signed a “new and exciting” sponsorship agreement with Madison Square Garden and according the @MSGnyc Twitter Feed, they are giving out free Metallica tickets today at Grand Central. Upon further investigation, it seems like it is more like “a chance to win tickets”, rather than a guarantee.

Brand ambassadors will be around New York City and at Delta’s local terminals through Saturday, October 24th handing out scratch and win boarding passes.

Check out the list of dates and times for all the giveaways below.

Delta is now the Official Airline of Madison Square Garden.

To celebrate the partnership, Delta and MSG are offering fans exciting discounts and the opportunity to win flights on Delta and tickets for upcoming sporting events and concerts at The Garden.

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
TIME LOCATION
8-11 AM LaGuardia Airport Terminal
8 AM-2 PM Columbus Circle
8 AM-2 PM Grand Central
11 AM-2 PM Madison Square Garden North Mall
5:30-10 PM Madison Square Garden North Mall

Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
TIME LOCATION
8-11 AM LaGuardia Airport Terminal
8 AM-2 PM Bryant Park
8 AM-2 PM Times Square
11 AM-2 PM Madison Square Garden North Mall
6:30-10:30 PM Madison Square Garden North Mall

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009
TIME LOCATION
8 AM-2 PM SoHo
8 AM-2 PM Washington Square Park
11 AM-2 PM Madison Square Garden North Mall

 
DOWNLOAD: Betty Davis – “Is It Love or Desire?”

Two weeks ago, the master restorers and ultimate crate diggers over at Light In The Attic Records put out two fantastic new reissues from the “Queen of Sexified Funk”, otherwise known as Betty Davis. Like all of their releases, these two new albums are both meticulous and beautiful creations; each one includes a deluxe 32 page booklet featuring the original album artwork, new liner notes, unseen photos, and full song lyrics.

The hard to find Nasty Gal, Betty Davis’ third album and her first on a major label (Island) appeared briefly on the shelves in 1975 and is finally getting its first official CD release some 35 years later. Though a falling out with the label would cause Nasty Gal be her last record released on Island, she recorded a final album originally entitled Crashin’ From Passion in 1976 in Bogalusa, Louisiana at the famed Studio In The Country. Up until now, a one-of-a kind acetate pressing of this album had quietly circulated in private hands, while the original master tapes sat forgotten in vaults in New York and Louisiana. Bouyed by the success of their 2007 reissues (They Say I’m Different and Betty Davis), the folks at LITA were able to recover that lost Betty Davis album and officially release it for the first time ever under the name of Is It Love Or Is It Desire. Because I haven’t given anything since last week, I’m giving away copies of both Nasty Gal and Is It Love or Desire to one lucky winner who emails me at contests@bumpershine.com and tells me who was Betty Davis’ famous musician ex-husband? A random winner will be chosen and notified on October 26, 2009. (Contest open to US entrants only, please include your name and address in the email.)

Rosanne Cash – The List

Rosanne Cash’s new album The List comes out this Tuesday (October 6) and it features versions of 12 classic songs selected from a list of essential country tunes given to her by her father, Johnny Cash, in 1973.

On Tuesday, you’re releasing your 14th album, “The List,” a stirring leap into the past whose title refers to an actual list of 100 mostly country songs compiled by your father, Johnny Cash, in 1973 in an effort to expand your teenage taste in music beyond the Beatles.
He realized that I lacked something essential about my own musical genealogy, and he made this list for me. He said, “This is a template for excellence.” He would play the songs for me on his guitar, and I sought out the records in the years afterward.

Did you have a good relationship with him?
It’s hard to be close to a drug addict when they’re active. He was erratic and withdrawn. But when I was 17, he said, Come with me, and I left the day after I graduated high school, went on the road with him. It was wonderful. He was clean and sober by that time. That’s when he wrote the list for me, on the bus.
…
My favorite song on the album is “Heartaches by the Number,” which you perform with Elvis Costello. You also sing duets with Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Tweedy and Rufus Wainwright. Don’t you know any female performers?
I did ask Neko Case, and she sang with me on a song that’s just on iTunes. We have “Satisfied Mind.” [NYTimes.com]

The List is currently streaming in its entirety on NPR music (for one more day at least), and you can listen to it over here. If you like what you hear, then send an email with your name and address (US residents only please) to contests@bumpershine.com for a chance to win a copy of The List on vinyl. A random winner will be selected and notified on October 12, 2009. But wait, there’s one more thing… New Yorkers get to watch Rosanne perform The List at the opening of the 30th Anniversary Season of St. Ann’s Warehouse by on October 9th and 10th. Tickets are currently on sale, visit stannswarehouse.org for more information.

Video for “I’m Movin’ On”, The List track list and some more Rosanne Cash tour dates after the jump.

“Rosanne Cash Vinyl Giveaway, “The List” World Premiere at St. Ann’s Warehouse” continued after the jump

After a brief sojourn into the world of young adult fiction (Slam) and feature film writing (An Education), Nick Hornby has returned to his bread and butter themes (rock’n roll, super fandom and love) with his latest novel, Juliet, Naked. Juliet, Naked will be available in fine stores everywhere starting today (September 29) and Mr. Hornby will be appearing tonight at Barnes & Noble in Union Square where he’ll be reading from and signing copies of his new book. In other Nick Hornby news, he’s also got two more releases coming out in the next couple of days (three if you count the movie and the screenplay as separate releases), his book Not A Star will be released in paperback on October 1, 2009 and the aforementioned screenplay, An Education, will be comes out in paperback on October 6, 2009 and in select theatres on October 16, 2099. But wait, there’s one more thing… I’m giving away an autographed copy of Juliet, Naked to one lucky reader who emails their name and address to contests@bumepershine.com and tells me the name of their favorite Nick Hornby novel. A random winner will be chosen and notified on Wednesday, October 7. View all Nick Hornby’s upcoming book tour dates over here.

Last but not least, below you can find a list of some October NYC Barnes & Noble events that I found interesting for one reason or another:

October 2009 at Barnes & Noble (NYC)
10/01/09 Kevin Smith (USQ)
10/03/09 Sherri Shepherd 3:00 PM (LT)
10/03/09 Howard Shore 6:00 PM (LT)
10/05/09 Audrey Niffenegger (USQ)
10/06/09 Cousin Brucie (86th & Lex)
10/06/09 Julie Andrews 5:30 PM (Tribeca)
10/06/09 Sarah Vowell (USQ)
10/07/09 Michael Chabon (USQ)
10/07/09 David Alan Grier (Tribeca)
10/08/09 Fran Tarkenton 12:30 PM (5th)
10/12/09 Alicia Silverston (Tribeca)
10/13/09 Andy Williams (LT)
10/13/09 Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sulenberger 12:30 PM (5th)
10/14/09 Ivanka Trump 12:30 PM (5th)
10/14/09 Paul Shaffer (USQ)
10/14/09 Barbara Ehrenreich (82nd & Bwy)
10/15/09 David Javerbaum, John Hodgman (Tribeca)
10/15/09 Valeri Bertinelli 12:30 PM (5th)
10/15/09 The RZA (USQ)
10/15/09 Richard Belzer (LT)
10/16/09 Mario Lopez (LT)
10/19/09 Chita Rivera (LT)
10/21/09 Richard Dawkins (Tribeca)
10/21/09 Gore Vidal (USQ)
10/21/09 Clarence Clemons (LT)
10/22/09 Tracy Morgan (USQ)
10/23/09 Jonathan Lethem (86th & Lex)
10/23/09 R. Crumb (USQ)
10/26/09 Chuck Klosterman (USQ)
10/27/09 Elna Baker (Tribeca)
10/27/09 Heeb Storytelling: Ben Greenman, Andy Borowitz (86th & Lex)
10/27/09 Sherman Alexie w/ Kelley McRae (USQ – “Upstairs at The Square”)
10/27/09 Hulk Hogan 12:30 PM (5th)
10/29/09 John Irving (USQ)
10/30/09 Rosanne Cashe (LT)

More Nick Hornby book tour dates and a trailer for An Education after the jump.

“Win an Autographed Copy of Nick Hornby’s Juliet Naked, See Him at Barnes & Noble Tonight, Plus other B&N October Events” continued after the jump

The Beatles Lithograph Giveaway

Send an email to contests@bumpershine.com to win this lithograph!

Number 9, Number 9, Number 9? Today is an auspicious day for music fans and gamers alike. The entire Beatles discography has been given a complete and long overdue digital overhaul and will be lovingly reissued (in both mono and stereo) on CD today. The stereo albums will be available for purchase as a complete box set or as individual CDs. Mono mixes of the first 10 Beatles albums will only be available for purchase as part of a limited edition boxed set, an early buying frenzy actually lead the initial run of the 10,000 mono box sets to sell out completely before their official release date, EMI has since stated that more copies will be produced to satisfy the demand. Eventhough I’ve got most of the Beatles catalog on CD in their original analog releases, I’m having a hard time resisting pulling the trigger on the new stereo box set. The increased fidelity would surely be a welcome to my home stereo system, but for a music geek, the new packaging is kind of exciting too:

Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album.

On their own, The Beatles reissues are a huge deal, (granted they would have been even more earth shattering five years ago), but today also marks the release of The Beatles Rock Band video game, which digitally chronicles the progression of the band from their early days at the Cavern Club to their final live performance on the rooftop of the Apple Corps in 1969. Not being a real gamer myself, I’ll admit that the meticulous attention to detail that has obviously gone into making this game has made me think twice about getting myself a little early chanukah present, here’s just a small example of what I’m talking about:

To turn classic Beatles songs into the stages of a video game, each song needed to be separated into its several components, so that if the person playing the guitar misses a note, the guitar sound can drop out while the music made by the other instruments is unaffected. Because the Beatles mostly recorded on four-track and two-track equipment, with multiple instruments sharing a tape, Martin had to spend months using digital filters to eliminate sounds at certain frequencies and not others.
…
Just as Giles Martin chose to walk a line between reality and fantasy when choosing and mixing the audio, Harmonix put an extraordinary amount of research toward a result that is at once meticulously detailed and purposefully ahistorical. They pored over reference books to determine which instruments the Beatles used on each song and studied photos of concert venues and their respective crowds in order to properly render 1960s fashion and hairstyles. When Olivia Harrison was worried that George looked a bit off, she invited the art team over to look through her personal photo archive — with a set of calipers. And when the designer of the guitar-shaped instrument controllers couldn’t find a high-resolution photo showing the wood grain on McCartney’s Höfner violin bass, he had the Höfner company send over a block. [NYTimes.com]

In honor of all this hoo-hah, I’m giving away a copy of the Beatles lithograph shown at the top of the page. To enter the contest, just send an email with your name and address (US entrants only) to contests@bumpershine.com and tell me the name of your favorite Beatles record. A random winner will be notified on September 18, 2009.

But wait, there’s one more thing… Today is also the day for Apple’s Annual Music Event, which will take place at Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco, CA. Rumors are running wild about what might possibly be announced, but among the things that could happen are:

• A revamped iPod Touch lineup, including a 64GB iPod Touch with a camera and microphone
• The addition of cameras and increased HD capacities to the entire iPod lineup
• The scrapping of the entire iPod Classic lineup
• An update to the Apple TV device
• iPhone HD video out
• The return of Steve Jobs to the podium
• The new “Cocktail” digital album format
• iTunes 9 (a fitting day for a version number increment)
• The mythical Apple tablet device, and
• The Beatles catalog coming to iTunes

As for the last rumor on the list, Yoko Ono confirmed in a now-pulled Sky News article that The Beatles catalog is headed for digital distribution, but that the announcement will not be made today. For what it’s worth, EMI has also denied that any announcement will be made today [Engadget.com]. If you’d like to keep up with the minute by minute play by play of today’s music event, you can follow the live blog stream over here or here starting at 1 PM ET.

Apple Music Event

The Beatles remasters and The Beatles: Rock Band product shots after the jump.

“What’s Happening on 09-09-09? The Beatles Reissues, The Beatles: Rock Band, Apple Music Event, and a Beatles Lithograph Giveaway” continued after the jump

At what point do you score a movie?

In three stages. I pick a lot of music as I’m writing, some of it even before I write. I have a vinyl room, like a record store, in my house—that’s one of the perks of being me. I dive into my record collection, I have a turntable already set up to make tapes, and I’m trying to find the rhythm, the beat of the movie. For instance, I wanted to set Jackie Brown in a more black world than the book took place in—even if it’s not a blaxploitation movie, it will have that energy or vibe. So then I go diving into ’70s soul music. Usually, I’m trying to find that opening credit sequence and once I find that, then I’m like, “OK, I can do this now,” ’cause that gives me enough to be excited by it. Also, if I get tired writing, or whenever I just need enthusiasm, I go into that room, play those songs, and imagine watching the movie with my friends and everyone’s oohing and aahing, and that gets me going again. I might even play those on the set. Then I’m always looking for music while I’m doing the movie, and then that last thing is in the editing, I’m diving for more stuff. And Harvey [Weinstein] always wants me to put more music in. I’m like, “Harvey, the reason it works so good is that there’s not wall-to-wall noise, [so] when it comes on, it’s cool.” [It's] the last little thing before we lock picture—because Harvey pays a lot of money for my movies so let me give him a little respect. I dive in, and if I find something [else], it’s good, and if I don’t, I don’t. But I know that if I look hard enough, I’m going to find something. [VillageVoice.com]

Inglourious Basterds, the new film by Quentin Tarantino is out in theatres this Friday, August 21 and as you’ve probably heard, the Weinstein Company has a lot riding on this release.

“The ship’s riding on the slate,” Harvey says, sounding remarkably buoyant, all things considered. “If by February, when we release ‘Hoodwinked 2’ ” — he playfully thumps a hand on the table, dramatizing the sound of failure — “I’ll be driving you, or making cheap hamburgers, or selling trailers, or refrigerators, or something. If the slate works, we’re right back to plan.” [NYTimes.com]

In celebration of the film’s release (or really just because I like contests), I’m giving away the following Inglourious Basterds items:

• One special edition David Bowie 7″ vinyl edition edition of “Cat People”
• One copy of the official soundtrack on CD
• Two Inglorious Basterds movie posters

To enter the contest, send your name and address (US residents only) to contests@bumpershine.com and tell me the name of your favorite Tarantino movie. Winner will be randomly chosen on August 28, 2009.

Movie trailer, Inglourious Basterds Soundtrack track list and album art after the jump.

“Inglourious Basterds Out In Theatres on Friday | CD Soundtrack, Poster and David Bowie 7″ Giveaway” continued after the jump

Just a reminder that today is the last day to enter the contest to win The State Complete Series on DVD, plus a T-shirt and a poster. To be eligible to win, send your name and address to contests@bumpershine.com and tell me the name of your favorite cast member.

Michael Showalter at Tearing The Veil of Maya at The Bell House (07/19/09)

Michael Showalter was on hand last night (Jul 19) at the Bell House to celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of Tearing The Veil of Maya (a weekly comedy show Union Hall he used to regularly co-host), he was also there last Wednesday to launch his new television show Michael and Michael Have Issues, which just happened to premiere the day after his very first sketch comedy show, The State, came out on DVD. (Really, you think you could do it in less steps?)

As fans of the show may be keenly aware, the path to this highly anticipated DVD release was not an easy one nor a short one, and that’s why I’m pretty psyched to be giving away two awesome “The State” themed prize packs which include:

• The State Complete Series on DVD
• The State Poster (pictured below left)
• The State T-shirt (pictured below center)

To enter to win a prize pack just send an email with your name and address to contests@bumpershine.com and tell me the name of your favorite The State cast member. A random winner will be picked on Monday, July 27. (Please note: This contest is open to US entrants only.)

Watch “The Pope’s Visit” sketch or explore The State widget after the jump. More pics from The Tearing Veil of Maya 3rd Anniversary Show at the Bell House coming in a separate post.

PS The NYTimes is running a series of “State Secrets” posts on their ArtsBeat blog, you can check those out over here.

“The State Complete Series on DVD Giveaway, Michael Showalter at The Bell House” continued after the jump

Fanfarlo’s Reservoir Limited Edition Box Set

DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo – “Finish Line”
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo – “I’m A Pilot”

First off, in case you missed out on the amazing $1 download deal, I’m happy to report that I’m giving away a copy of Fanfarlo’s debut album in some sweet limited packaging. The “Reservoir” box set (which sold out at Rough Trade shops in 4 days), comes in a special foil-blocked, embossed linen-covered dvd-shaped box, packed with six heavyweight art postcards containing original artwork by Sarah Hooper, the album’s liner notes, and the lyrics to each song on the album. To enter to win the CD box set send an email to contests@bumpershine.com and tell me your favorite Fanfarlo song. Winner to be selected on Wednesday, July 22 (US entrants only please).

Finally, as you may have noticed, I’ve really been digging the new record by Fanfarlo, and that’s was I very pleased when Justin from Fanfarlo agreed to do a little Q&A with bumpershine.com. Check out the result of our exchange (otherwise known as an email interview) below.

Interview with Justin Finch of Fanfarlo

Bumpershine: I was trying to find out a little more about your band name, and I read that it was inspired by Charles Baudelaire’s novella La Fanfarlo, can you tell me little bit more about how you settled upon the name? Was one of you reading him at the time?
Justin Finch: Simon decided to call his project Fanfarlo in Sweden when he started writing songs. I think he read La Fanfarlo by Baudelaire and kind of liked the word. It has a few conotations whilst not being an actual word. At least I don’t think it means anything in French. La Fanfarlo is a novella about a dancer called Fanfarlo that everyone falls head over heels in love with.

Bumpershine: You guys recorded Reservoir in October and November of 2008 with producer Peter Katis who has also worked with bands like Interpol and The National. Can you tell me a little bit about how you chose Peter to be your producer and what the recording process was like?
JF: We constructed a list of producers we would like to work with. We narrowed it down to the ones that were realistic and then we got our management on the case. We had a few options. We knew that we wanted to get out of the country to do it and we knew we wanted to just stick together day in day out for a period of time until it was finished. We all lived in this big old house in Connecticut with the studio in the attic. Man if you listen to Peter’s work with Interpol and The National specifically you can tell why we chose him. He’s a clever guy.

Bumpershine: Reservoir was released in the UK in May of 2009 via Raffle Bat records, which is your own label, was the plan to always release the album on your own or were there plans to shop it around to labels after recording it?
JF: Getting a good label on board just seemed like the normal thing to do. As it turned out everyone just wanted too much from us for too long a period of time so we thought we would go it alone for a while until something more attractive came along. We have good backing and support from our managers so we all feel good about what we’re doing.

Bumpershine: You guys recently released your album for $1 on your website (fanfarlo.com), I heard the response was pretty great, can you tell me how many people ended up downloading the record? Is this something you guys would consider doing again in the future?
JF: I don’t know the final figure. I do know that after a few days it was into 5 figures which we were pretty stoked about. We feel the experiment was a success in as much as it got people listening and talking about the record and the band. We would do it again I’m sure. That is if we could afford it. Having people listen to the record is the objective, y’know. Having people pay money for it is just something that has to happen if we wanna carry on doing it.

Read the rest of the interview after the jump.

“Fanfarlo: An Interview and a CD Giveaway” continued after the jump

So this is a real drag for everyone, but I literally just found out that the show I’m co-curating tonight at Pianos is NOT FREE. Apologies to everyone, but I had absolutely nothing to do with this decision and am quite disappointed about it. The good news is, if you’re still interested and still reading, I’ve got two free pairs of tickets to give away the show tonight, just send an email ASAP to contests@bumpershine.com with “Anni Rossi” in the subject. Please make sure to include your full name in the email.