The brand-new album from The House of Love will be titled ‘She Paints Words in Red’ and is expected to be released in March or April on Cherry Red Records, according to an announcement today on the band’s Facebook page that also revealed the cover art for the group’s second post-reunion effort.

Sonic Youth is no stranger to guitar thefts, and Thurston Moore has been victimized again. He reports via the band’s Facebook page that his “iconic” circa-1966, decal-encrusted black Fender Jazzmaster was stolen from a Best Western hotel at 501 N. 22nd St. in Philadelphia around midnight last night, 12/12/12.

R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe made a pair of high-profile public appearances last night, first popping up on “The Colbert Report.” to sing the Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslas” with Stephen Colbert and Mandy Patinkin, then joining Coldplay’s Chris Martin to perform “Losing My Religion” at 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief.

Paul McCartney closed out Wednesday night’s marathon 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief and had a few special guests up his sleeve: the surviving members of Nirvana, who reunited to back McCartney not on one of Kurt Cobain’s songs or a Beatles classic, but, rather, a sludgy new rocker called “Cut Me Some Slack.”

We interrupt our regular programming to present what promises to be a historic musical event, 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief, featuring performances tonight from The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bruce Springsteen and, reportedly Paul McCartney fronting the surviving members of Nirvana.

Killing Joke will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2013 with the release of the brand-new, multi-format ‘The Singles Collection: 1979-2012’ — including a 34-disc version — a still-to-be-announced new studio album and a world tour beginning in March, initial dates of which were announced today in Europe and North America.

Yo La Tengo are part way through their annual run of eight Hanukkah shows at Maxwells in Hoboken, N.J., and, as usual, the events feature a variety of guests — including, on Night 3, an appearance by The Feelies, who helped close out the show by joining YLT for a 16-minute jam through The Velvet Underground’s “Sister Ray.”

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.