The reclusive and now very much bearded Paddy McAloon returns next month with a brand-new Prefab Sprout album entitled Crimson/Red, and BBC 6 Music listeners recently got to hear the first single, “The Best Jewel Thief in the World,” when it was premiered on the “Radcliffe and Maconie” show.

Elvis Costello and The Roots have been busy this week promoting their just-released new album Wise Up Ghost, performing in Brooklyn Monday night — where they covered The Specials’ classic “Ghost Town” — and appearing on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” aka ?uestlove and Co.’s day job, on Monday night.

Modern English — original members Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar), Mick Conroy (bass) and Stephen Walker (keyboards), plus drummer Ric Chandler — have announced a seven-date tour of California cities with a quick trip out to Las Vegas for mid-October.

The new Pixies lineup got its national television debut last night as the band appeared on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” in advance of its four-night run in New York City, performing new single “Bagboy” on air and then sticking around to play “Indie Cindy,” off the just released EP-1, as a web exclusive.

Mazzy Star — the reunited dream-pop duo featuring David Roback of Rain Parade and Opal plus singer Hope Sandoval — next week will release Seasons of Your Day, the group’s first new album in 17 years, but you can listen to the whole record right now as we’ve got it streaming below via KCRW.

This week’s new releases include brand-new studio albums from The Mission, Elvis Costello and The Roots, Sebadoh and Berlin, plus a live DVD/Blu-ray release from Peter Gabriel, a 1992 live album from The Wedding Present and an audiophile vinyl pressing of The Sisters of Mercy’s ‘Floodland.’