The future of Sonic Youth may still be uncertain, but fans can at least take solace in Matador Records’ announcement today that Lee Ranaldo will release a new solo album called ‘Between The Times & The Tides’ next spring — and judging by the recent live debut of the songs, it’s a fairly rock-oriented affair.
Killing Joke’s reunited original lineup has plans for a busy 2012, with recording underway for a new studio album due early in the year, an elaborate live CD/DVD package set for release in January and a tour of the U.K. and Europe set to open in March.
The Mike Peters-fronted Big Country is commemorating its U.K. comeback tour earlier this year with a collection called ‘Dreams Stay With You: Live 21st April 2011,’ a full 19-track performance spread across two CDs and two DVDs — and which you can preview via a clip of the show-closing ‘In a Big Country.’
EMI this week released the first in a new series of Peel Sessions compilations, a 2CD set called ‘Movement: BBC Radio 1 Peel Sessions 1977–1979’ that compiles recordings by 41 different punk, post-punk, reggae and 2 Tone acts including Joy Division, XTC, The Jam, Simple Minds, The Specials, Public Image Ltd. and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
The Cure will release a 2CD live recording next month of its full, 32-song set at the U.K.’s Bestival this past September, marking the first official live album from Robert Smith and Co. since 1993’s back-to-back ‘Show’ and ‘Paris’ releases recorded during the ‘Wish’ tour — and the first time ever the band has released a complete concert on disc.
Magazine — the post-punk act that Howard Devoto formed in 1977 after leaving the Buzzcocks — is poised to this week release ‘No Thyself,’ the band’s fifth studio album and first in 30 years, before embarking on a short U.K. tour this November.
David J is poised to release a new solo album called ‘Not Long For This World’ — featuring new songs and covers of tracks by Smog, Ed Harcourt, Tom Waits and Dennis Wilson — and he’ll revisit his Love and Rockets tenure by playing two California shows next week with tribute act Luv’n Rockets.
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 