The Smithereens frontma Pat DiNizio has teamed up with jazz musician Christian Josi to record and release a brand-new Christmas single entitled “Holiday 2012” featuring bossa nova takes on holiday standards “Winter Wonderland” and “White Christmas.” Check out their version of “Winter Wonderland.”
Tonight’s episode of the Slicing Up Eyeballs Music Hour featured music from Johnny Marr, Miracle Legion, The Replacements, Not Drowning Waving, Guadalcanal Diary, The Might Be Giants, Wild Swans, The Mission, The House of Love, Concrete Blonde, Wire and more. Replay at 2 p.m EST Friday.
Depeche Mode today announced that Columbia Records will release its upcoming 13th studio album in March, signalling an end to the synthpop act’s relationship with EMI Music, which picked up the group when it purchased Mute Records in 2002. Neither an exact release date nor the album’s title have been revealed.
XTC mastermind Andy Partridge took to Twitter this morning to announce that the band’s 1992 album Nonsuch will receive a new 5.1 Surround mix by Steven Wilson, the frontman for prog-rock act Porcupine Tree who has worked on remasters for King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer and Jethro Tull in recent years.
Reunited synthpop favorites OMD have yet to announce a release date for their upcoming 12th album English Electric, but the group has gone ahead and unveiled a 13-date U.K. tour in support of the album that’s slated to run from late April into mid-May — with European dates expected to be announced shortly.
All right, we’re a little behind schedule this year, but, as the saying goes, better late than never. That’s right, it’s time to throw down your picks in the third-annual Slicing Up Eyeballs Readers Poll, which will crown 2012’s best new and reissued music, as well as the top live performances, from veterans of the ’80s alternative scene.
As part of their Kickstarter campaign to raise $75,000, the makers of the documentary “Beautiful Noise” have released footage of their interview with The Cure’s Robert Smith in which he discusses his love of the Cocteau Twins and how that band’s 1984 album Treasure helped prepare him for his wedding.
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 