Couple times each year, the Internet goes a flutter with wild rumors that The Smiths finally will reunite, and it appears we’re in the midst of another round, thanks to a recent interview with Morrissey himself and a totally unverified report that the band will reunite next year for four concerts in England, possibly headlining Glastonbury.
Since we’re headed toward that darkest of holidays, this month’s Auto Reverse mixtape is all classic goth and dark wave, featuring selections from Alien Sex Fiend, Xmal Deutschland, Bauhaus, Clan of Xymox, The Danse Society, Christian Death, Play Dead, The Rose of Avalanche, The Cure and much, much more.
Cherry Red Records this morning offered fans of The House of Love their first taste of the label’s upcoming 3CD expanded reissue of the band’s self-titled 1988 debut, posting a stream of one of the previously unreleased demos that will appear in the set: “I Don’t Know Why I Love You Like I Do.”
Peter Buck finally announced his debut solo album today, posting a note on R.E.M.’s website that reveals the album — we’re still not sure what it’s called; he doesn’t mention its title — will be released this Friday in a super-limited, 2,000-copy vinyl-only run by Portland, Ore.-based Mississippi Records.
This week’s new releases include the U.S. edition of ‘Don’t Be a Stranger’ from Mark Eitzel, plus a new album from the Jam’s Bruce Foxton, a double-A sided single form Public Image Ltd., a reissue of Aztec Camera’s 1984 album ‘Knife,’ and a 2CD singles collection form A.R. Kane.
The playlist from tonight’s edition of “Dark Wave” — the Sunday night “darker side of alternative” show on Sirius XM’s 1st Wave — featured Red Xymox, Killing Joke, Lords of the New Church, The The, Kate Bush, Love and Rockets, Cocteau Twins, The Bolshoi and much more.
This week’s roundup of Slicing Up Eyeballs headlines includes items about Simple Minds, Pixies, Soundgarden, Blondie, Devo, Morrissey, R.E.M., Rain Parade, Peter Murphy, Brian Eno, PiL, Robert Smith, The Dream Syndicate, Big Country, Erasure and more.
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 