Tommy Ill is releasing his debut Album & coming to corrupt your children
10.08.10
[press release]
Three EPs in, prolific MC, Tommy Ill, is a svelte yet metaphorically obese young man - as his proverbial belt is having to be stretched yet again to make room for his self-titled debut LP.
"My goal was to make the strongest album I possibly could. I didn't want to have any fillers - I wanted each song to be as exciting as the last. It's been a long time coming but I think I've succeeded - I'd be comfortable putting any track on this album out as a single." - Tommy Ill
Having released Toast & Tea Kettles (Empathy Recordings) in 2007, Matchsticks (LOOP) in 2008 and Come Home Mr. Ill (LOOP) in 2009, Tommy Ill has made his name with haphazard live sets and his humorous tales that document the foibles of your average, slightly awkward fellow with Dionysian-leaning tendencies.
Being piggybacked around the stage by his hype men, tackling audience members, climbing on furniture and collapsing into a sweaty heap on the floor is nothing out of the ordinary at a Tommy Ill gig.
"Live shows are the best thing in the world. People are crazy. I'm still freaked out when people in the crowd own my EPs and know the words to my songs. It's a weird, weird thing but I love it." - Tommy Ill
Now on his debut LP, Tommy Ill combines all his powers of past EPs with a new rap repertoire, kind of like when the Planeteers combined their powers to summon Captain Planet. The result - a fresh take on past offerings mingled with completely new tracks.
Lead single Robot (which features a robot on vocals) sees Tommy Ill professing his love to his robot; while familiar track Matchsticks gets a haunting re-work.
You can also still expect songs that tackle the everyday issues of hangovers, heartache and bills - party tracks full of dry witticisms and cheeky rhymes set to askew pop tracks from the 50s and 60s.
"I wanted to make this album a really solid introduction to my music for people who haven't heard it and a nod to everyone who's enjoyed my songs in the past. Also, it has a song about a robot. Robots are neat."
- Tommy Ill
TRACKLISTING:
1. Second Hand Concorde
2. Robot (featuring a robot)
3. Come Home Mr. Ill
4. Susan
5. Archie
6. Dead Horses
7. Cheap Wine Bender
8. Winning?
9. Best Damn Evening
10. Matchsticks
To celebrate the release of his debut full-length album, Tommy Ill will be touring the country with his sidekicks Buck, Shorty K and B-Cool and support act, 47 Diamantes, in tow.
LIVE SHOWS:
8 September
Dux de Lux, Queenstown
9 September
Refuel, Dunedin
10 September
No. 8 Wired, Timaru - All Ages show + R18 show
11 September
GoodBye Blue Monday, Christchurch
17 September
Cassette Number Nine, Auckland
18 September
Loop Select 009 Launch @ The Bacco Room, Auckland
24 September
Mighty Mighty, Wellington
