Matador Records today debuted the first track off Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo’s forthcoming solo album ‘Between the Times and the Tides.’ The 3-minute ‘Off the Wall’ — a gentle, mid-tempo rocker that mixes acoustic and shimmering electric guitars — can be streamed or downloaded here.
Karl Wallinger’s long-dormant World Party today announced plans for a forthcoming 5-disc box set called ‘Arkeology’ that will feature new songs, live recordings and cover versions, as well as ‘lots of pictures,’ liner notes and something called the ‘the amazing any-year diary.’
Bob Mould will perform Sugar’s 1992 debut ‘Copper Blue’ in its entirety for the first time ever at San Francisco’s Noise Pop festival next month, marking the 20th anniversary of both the album and the music fest in what is expected to be the first of a “very limited” number of live performances of the record this year.
The reunited fIREHOSE — the band formed by Mike Watt and George Hurley following the 1985 death of their Minutemen bandmate D. Boon — will precede its appearances at April’s two-weekend Coachella Festival with an 11-date club tour of the western U.S. — the trio’s first concerts since splitting in 1994.
Morrissey has followed up his Top 10 albums list by ranking his singles, again favoring recent output (‘First of the Gang to Die’ and ‘Irish Blood, English Heart’ top the list), while minimizing his Smiths contributions to just two entries (‘Panic’ at No. 5 and and “Girlfriend in a Coma” at No. 6).
Thomas Dolby will embark on a 24-date North American tour this spring with his Time Capsule in tow: a chrome- and brass-plated road trailer that ‘resembles a Jules Verne/HG Wells-inspired time-travel machine’ outfitted with a video studio so fans can upload ‘a personal video message to the future.’
This week’s episode of Slicing Up Eyeballs featured tracks by The Mighty Lemon Drops, David Bowie, The March Violets, Depeche Mode, Sparks, Steve Kilbey, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Lime Spiders, Fad Gadget, The Housemartins and more. Replay at 2 p.m. EST Friday.
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 