Now that we’ve unveiled the results of our latest Slicing Up Eyeballs readers poll — one that ranks 282 songs recorded by R.E.M. — it seems like a good excuse to put that data to good use. Namely, we’ve thrown together a Spotify playlist of that ranked countdown. Well, minus the 38 songs that aren’t on the streaming service.
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 titles by The Fall, Jane’s Addiction, The Rain Parade, Blancmange and Brian Eno.
“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 the full playlist from tonight’s show.
The legendary 40 Watt Club in Athens, Ga. — an early home base for college-rock mainstays R.E.M., The B-52s, Pylon, Love Tractor, Guadalcanal Diary and more — was burglarized Friday, with dozens of pieces of equipment stolen related to the venue’s PA system. Members of R.E.M. and Cracker have offered rewards.
After dropping three new songs over the last three Saturdays, Paul Westerberg today doubled up, releasing the electric rocker “Dead Sick Of” via his anonymous Soundcloud account, plus a cover of Hank Williams’ “Someday You’ll Call My Name.” Listen to both right here.
Experimental psych-rock legends Butthole Surfers will return to the studio to record their ninth album and first in 16 years — news that broke last week at, of all places, a meeting of the Austin, Texas, City Council’s music advisory commission, according to the Austin Chronicle.
For the last few years, Andy Partridge has been overseeing audiophile reissues of XTC titles, releasing a series of albums — Nonsuch, Drums and Wires, Oranges and Lemons and Skylarking — with new stereo and 5.1 Surround mixes by Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson. It appears Black Sea is next.
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 