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 mini-album from Billy Bragg and the UK release of INXS’s ‘Kick 30’ box set.
“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. Check out the full playlist right here.
Tears For Fears will embark on an arena tour of the U.K. and Ireland next May in support of the group’s new best-of Rule the World — an eight-city trek that will see Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith supported by Alison Moyet. The tour opens May 2 in Dublin and continues through May 12 in Brighton.
As he prepares to embark on his U.S. tour next week, Morrissey has now announced a tour of arenas and larger venues in the U.K. and Ireland early next year in support of his forthcoming album Low in High School. The trek opens in Aberdeen on Feb. 16 and wraps up with London concerts on March 7 and 9.
R.E.M. has offered up the latest taste of its upcoming multi-disc 25th anniversary reissue of Automatic For the People in the form of a demo of the song “Photograph,” an AFTP-era track that, in its completed version, would feature a duet between Michael Stipe and Natalie Merchant and appear on 1993’s Born to Choose.
Wayne Hussey admits he’s no fan of live albums, but he knows other people like them, so he’s come up with a plan: The Mission will record one of its tour rehearsals — a more “controllable environment” than a concert — for release as a two-disc live set called Bending the Arc. Full details here.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds today revealed that Conway Savage, who plays piano and organ, and provides backing vocals, has been absent from this year’s Bad Seeds tour because he underwent surgery that was “largely a success” for a recently diagnosed brain tumor. Read the full statement from the band.
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 