PLAASTIK NEWS (2006)

Current News / 2005 news / 2004 News / 2003 News [Older news is archived at Dave Hall's page.]

12-21-06:

Merry Christmas, kids, and happy birthday to Mitchell Blank, who turns 70 today!
Sorry for the long absence, but I've been quite busy... I can't disclose much at this point, but I can tell you with considerable happiness that we are in for a hell of an interesting 2007! As a few of you know, the band invited me to their new bungalow in Memphis earlier this month. I have heard the tracks. I'm not allowed to say much except... I personally feel that this will be the time of redemption for the band. They've learned from their mistakes last year, and they've learned about their own commercial potential. They're ready to tap into the market again.
Small tidbit: The album is called COOL COMMUNITY. The rumors that it is reggae-infected are partially true. I have not heard anything close to a completed version of the album because one does not exist. The band's new approach to recording is to become intimate with the songs prior to putting them on tape. The band was forthcoming in their opinion that the album will not necessarily be released in 2007, and will in fact only come out "when it's finished." Nick told me he fully expects this to become the longest-ever span of time between Plaastik albums.
The band is working with around twenty songs. I wanted to come home and post my favorite of the lot, an incredible Nick-led item called "Unanswered Calls", but Capitol is refusing any such prematurity. But I'll say that the songs are the best-written and most detailed I've heard from the band in a long time, and they'll be even better by the time you hear them. The question I'm asked most often is whether any live-only chestnuts are in the running. I can verify that at least two of them are, but Nick doesn't want me to tell you one of them (it's not "Dreams of Old News", just so you know). I can say that "Laboratory" is slated to be the first single off the album. Yeah, you heard me.

9-24-06:

Still quiet, but I am being asked over and over again what has happened to the promised 2006 tour; Plaastik has indeed not played a single live show in a year and a half, despite the promise for both a theater tour and a large-scale tour this year. Jeff Jooce may have some insight into what's happening. He emails:
We have a new album coming out in the 2nd quarter of 2007. It is shaping to be pretty much the most ambitious thing we've done to date, and I seriously cannot overstate how beautifully it has come together. This is absolutely the best work we've ever done, in my estimation. We are so excited about this record -- every one of us -- that we are working full-time on it straight through the holidays, and we'll definitely tour behind it. I know this stuff all may sound familiar, but I promise you, there will be no disappointment this time.
Capitol confirms that the "break" has ended and that the band has been in the studio picking up on the tentative sessions from the summer and fall of 2005. My Capitol source claims that several new songs came out of those sessions but that the new album consists of entirely new 2006 recordings that began production in July. Nobody at Capitol has heard the new songs yet as far as she knows, so it's hard to confirm whether this material is as different as Jeff says, but we'll see.

6-1-06:

Three months and no updates, but these are quiet times in Plaastik land. The band's studio time suffered a breakdown because of a scheduling problem and an apparent family emergency, and since mid-March they've been on hiatus. This is, as you know, the fourth or fifth time this has happened in the last couple of years, so it's hard to get a real perspective on when the next record is coming. Hopefully the tour is a bigger priority. If any band members are reading this, we would love your thoughts.

3-1-06:

I am able to confirm that Plaastik is currently in the studio working leisurely on a new album. Album #18 will be released at some point in 2007. No word on possible songs, sounds, themes, titles, or ideas.
Like most curious Plaastik buffs I bought the Crisis album, POLKAS, SCOTTISCHES & WALTZES, on Tuesday and have enjoyed it. Tina is singing lead now that the band basically consists of her alone with Mitch and whatever session drummer is available, and she really does a fine job on the guitar, so this is great hard-edged girl pop. Nothing hugely special, but recommended.

1-31-06:

The discography page for RECENT ACTIVITY has been finalized. Thank you all for your contributions.

1-3-06:

I was expecting tour news by now, but it's reported to me that Plaastik is in a two-month break period at the moment and will reconvene in February. My source does not clarify the exact meaning of "reconvene" (where? for what?).
RECENT ACTIVITY is doing about the expected business. It didn't chart well in the first week (#22) and has only gone downhill, no surprise considering what little effort seems to have gone behind it. It's not doing nearly as well as PROJECTION CONSISTENCY or MEAT. Some say it's because the content isn't as strong, but the band has usually not had a shortage of worthwhile singles; the issue is more, I think, the small amount of material released between 1998 and now. Next to MEAT that's an underwhelming collection. No way around it. And I'm not sure why Capitol even felt it was the time to release a compilation, with the band still owing three more albums on their contract (two if RA counts, which I'm not sure it does). Plaastik members have spoken off the record to me about their disdain for the project, which says a lot about how far downhill the relationship between band and label has gone in eight years.
The 2005 ranking of Plaastik's albums and EPs had the following result. (RECENT ACTIVITY was released too late in the year to be properly counted, hence its arbitrarily low ranking.) There was some debate about whether the LOVE singles counted as EPs, but ultimately we decided they did not. The top eleven, you'll notice, remain unchanged from last year.

1. Mr. Evil Breakfast
2. Mr. Ross Verdict, Gadabout
3. On Such a Night
4. Not Unplugged (album/film)
5. Salt
6. Meat: The Best of Plaastik
7. Hear the New Noises
8. Today's Cajun Spice
9. Projection Consistency: Greatest Hits
10. Herd Politics
11. Dinosaur Distribution Fiends
12. Fun Goldfish Toys/Super Fun Goldfish Toys
13. Fortunate Smiles
14. No Parking Anytime
15. Child
16. Love
17. Sodas in Hell
18. Pinwheel Blood Box
19. Olives and Such
20. Science Tour EP
21. Plaastik: Science (DVD)
22. Cartoons
23. Live in San Francisco EP
24. Plaastik: The Information Tour (VHS/DVD)
25. Recent Activity: Singles Collection III
26. Playtime (VHS)

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