Author: Slicing Up Eyeballs

This week's new releases: Marc Almond goes retro, Luna does covers and instrumentals

This week’s new releases: Marc Almond goes retro, Luna does covers and instrumentals

Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs. All releases due out this Friday unless noted. This week’s releases include a new album of retro covers from Marc Almond, and a new covers album and instrumental EP from Luna.

Playlist: Sirius XM’s ‘Dark Wave’ — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (9/17/17)

Playlist: Sirius XM’s ‘Dark Wave’ — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (9/17/17)

“Dark Wave,” hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Matt Sebastian, airs 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. EDT every Sunday on Sirius XM satellite radio’s 1st Wave (Channel 33). The most recent two episodes also are available via Sirius XM’s On Demand service for online subscribers. Here’s tonight’s full playlist.

Grant Hart, co-founder, songwriter and drummer for legendary Hüsker Dü, 1961-2017

Grant Hart, co-founder, songwriter and drummer for legendary Hüsker Dü, 1961-2017

Grant Hart, the founding drummer who served as co-songwriter/singer for pioneering hardcore-punk trio Hüsker Dü, a band that laced tuneful melody with blistering power to help define the ’80s indie scene, died overnight at the age of 56, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He had been diagnosed with cancer.

Listen: R.E.M., 'Mike's Pop Song' — unreleased 'Automatic For the People' demo

Listen: R.E.M., ‘Mike’s Pop Song’ — unreleased ‘Automatic For the People’ demo

We brought you news of R.E.M.’s expanded reissue of Automatic For the People yesterday, but now the band officially has announced the project, and given fans the first taste of one of its 20 unreleased demos in the form of “Mike’s Pop Song,” a sweet, “fully realized” track sung by Mike Mills. Stream it right here.

The Jesus and Mary Chain add 10 dates to fall North American tour for 'Damage and Joy'

The Jesus and Mary Chain add 10 dates to fall North American tour for ‘Damage and Joy’

The Jesus and Mary Chain, who last month announced a dozen U.S. concerts this October and November in support their first new album in 18 years, Damage and Joy, today expanded that trek by adding on another 10 concerts, including two in Canada.  See full dates here.

R.E.M.'s 4-disc 'Automatic For the People' reissue to include demos, Greenpeace live set

R.E.M.’s 4-disc ‘Automatic For the People’ reissue to include demos, Greenpeace live set

R.E.M.’s multiplatinum Automatic For the People will mark its 25th anniversary with a 4-disc reissue this November, with the original 1992 album joined by a live disc featuring the band’s famed Greenpeace benefit concert at the 40 Watt Club, another disc of 20 unreleased demos and a Blu-ray.

Contest: Win tickets to see The Church at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles

Contest: Win tickets to see The Church at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles

Australian rock legends The Church are in the midst of a North American tour in support of their forthcoming album Man Woman Life Death Infinity, and we’re thrilled to announce we’ve got 5 pairs of tickets to see the band in Los Angeles to award to lucky Slicing Up Eyeballs readers. Enter here.

Depeche Mode cancels Tampa concert due to hurricane impact, hopes to play Miami

Depeche Mode cancels Tampa concert due to hurricane impact, hopes to play Miami

Depeche Mode today announced that the group has been forced to cancel Wednesday night’s scheduled concert at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater in Tampa, Fla., due to the impacts of Hurricane Irma, which wreaked havoc across Florida over the weekend.

The Damned headed into the studio with Tony Visconti as bassist Paul Gray rejoins band

The Damned headed into the studio with Tony Visconti as bassist Paul Gray rejoins band

Legendary U.K. punk outfit The Damned will enter the studio next month with famed producer Tony Visconti to record their first new album in a decade — news that was accompanied by the announcement that early-’80s bassist Paul Gray is rejoining the band. Plus, check out their 2018 tour dates.

Listen: The Wedding Present, 'Shatner' — off Steve Albini re-recording of 'George Best'

Listen: The Wedding Present, ‘Shatner’ — off Steve Albini re-recording of ‘George Best’

The Wedding Present this month will release a long-shelved re-recording of the band’s debut album George Best by famed engineer Steve Albini, and are offering up a first taste of the project in the form of a new version of “Shatner,” which you can now stream in full right here.

Listen: The Church, 'Undersea' — second single off ‘Man Woman Life Death Infinity’

Listen: The Church, ‘Undersea’ — second single off ‘Man Woman Life Death Infinity’

With their North American tour now underway, The Church have released the second single off Man Woman Life Death Infinity — the band’s 26th studio album, which is due to be released on Oct. 6. You can stream the new song, titled “Undersea,” in its entirety right here.

Listen: The Smiths, ‘The Boy With the Thorn in His Side’ — unreleased live take from 1986

Listen: The Smiths, ‘The Boy With the Thorn in His Side’ — unreleased live take from 1986

After a slight detour late last week, we’re back on track with the weekly dribbling of previously unreleased versions of tracks off The Smiths’ classic 1986 The Queen is Dead album. We’re now up to “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side,” which you can stream in full right here.

The The announces new 3-disc 'Radio Cineola Trilogy' box set, first concerts in 16 years

The The announces new 3-disc ‘Radio Cineola Trilogy’ box set, first concerts in 16 years

Matt Johnson will follow up the release of The The’s first new music in a decade with a busy fall that will include the release of a 3-disc box set chronicling his 12-hour “Radio Cineola” live broadcast in 2015, screenings of an accompanying documentary and The The’s first concerts in 16 years.