To help promote ‘Several Shades of Why,’ the forthcoming solo album from Dinosaur Jr mastermind J Mascis, the folks at Sub Pop Records have posted this rather odd interview with some woman named Maureen.

With a new multi-disc box set of live and studio rarities due this spring, Karl Wallinger will kick off World Party’s 25th anniversary year with five concerts at South By Southwest and in New York City in March — a prelude for the band’s ‘most extensive U.S. tour since 2006.’

The surviving members of The Cars today released the video for their first single in 24 years: ‘Blue Tip,’ off the reunion album ‘Move Like This,’ due out May 10 via Concord Music. Watch it here.

Duran Duran finally will issue its new album ‘All You Need Is Now’ in physical formats — CD, vinyl and a CD/DVD “Deluxe Edition’ package — on March 22 in North America, with up to six new songs added to the original nine-song tracklist, depending on which format you buy.

Next month, Los Angeles’ Dum Dum Girls — equal parts The Ronettes and The Jesus and Mary Chain — will follow up their 2010 Sub Pop debut with a four-track EP called He Gets Me High that includes a blissfully fuzzed-out cover of The Smiths high-water mark ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes’ Out.” T

Former members of KMFDM and Revolting Cocks will join Front 242 and My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult this spring at the Wax Trax! Records Retrospectacle: 33⅓ Year Anniversary, a two-night multimedia concert in Chicago celebrating the legendary record store and industrial music label.

Today’s roundup of interesting web nuggets includes two members of the Pixies discussing a new album, the 30th anniversary of ‘Dance Craze,’ a new streaming song from Nick Lowe’s ‘Labour of Lust’ album and a word from Soundgarden.