The Fixx returns today with their first new album in a decade, the 11-track Beautiful Friction, and they’re promoting the effort with a new music video for first single “Anyone Else.” The arty clip references various forms of conflict, from political debates to the Westboro Baptist Church and the Occupy movement.
The future of Sonic Youth may remain in doubt following last year’s Kim Gordon-Thurston Moore split, but the band is working on a host of archival projects, according to Lee Ranaldo, including a live album recorded in 1985, a previously unseen 1986 concert film and a possible deluxe-edition reissue of 1987’s ‘Sister.’
Universal Music is planning a 30th anniversary box set of The Jam’s chart-topping 1982 album The Gift — featuring one of Paul Weller and Co.’s best-known singles, “Town Called Malice” — and is asking fans to submit memorabilia such as “photos, tour tickets, posters or newspaper articles” for inclusion in the reissue.
Versions Galore — a great blog that celebrates cover versions “of, but not limited to, 80’s, funk, soul, rare groove, electronica, reggae, dub and indie” — recently asked Slicing Up Eyeballs to put together an hour-long mix of some of our favorite covers, and we happily obliged.
This week’s new releases include new albums from The Fixx (‘Beautiful Friction’), Soul Asylum (‘Delayed Reaction’) and Susanna Hoffs (‘Someday’), plus a new live album from Black Francis, a 2CD best-of from Blancmange, a reissue of Stan Ridgway’s ‘Mosquitos’ and a reissue of Peter Gabriel’s ‘Secret World Live’ film.
The playlist from tonight’s edition of “Dark Wave” — the Sunday night “darker side of alternative” show on Sirius XM’s 1st Wave — featured Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, The sisters of Mercy, Giorgio Moroder, Yazoo, Ministry, The Normal, The House of Love and much more.
Welcome to the Week in Rock, where we round up all of the headlines posted on this site over the past week. This edition includes items about INXS, Depeche Mode, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Johnny Marr, Alison Moyet, The Cure, Public Image Ltd., The Dream Syndicate, Franke Goes to Hollywood, The Fixx 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 