This week’s new releases include brand-new albums from Dinosaur Jr (‘I Bet on Sky’) and Aimee Mann (‘Charmer’), plus expanded reissues of multiple titles from Echo & The Bunnymen’s Ian McCulloch and Aztec Camera, and a special U.S.-only 7-inch single from Paul Weller.
Dinosaur Jr’s third post-reunion album, and 10th full-length effort overall, ‘I Bet On Sky,’ is due out in less than 10 days now, but, starting Sunday night, the band is streaming the full 10-track album via NPR Music. The reunited band recorded the album earlier this year, and it follows 2007′s ‘Beyond’ and 2009′s ‘Farm.’
With the release of Dinosaur Jr’s third post-reunion album, ‘I Bet On Sky,’ growing closer, the band this week premiered a music video for first single “Watch the Corners” over at Funny Or Die —presumably because it stars comedian Tim Heidecker, even though it’s not particularly funny. But there is creative use of digital blurring.
This week’s new releases include ‘Tiempo de Lujo,’ the 13th studio album from Scott McCaughey’s long-running Young Fresh Fellows, the limited-edition, purple-vinyl ‘Bug: Live at the 9:30 Club’ from Dinosaur Jr,’ and the third EP from VCMG, the collaboration between Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore and Vince Clarke.
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 Dead Can Dance, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, The Fixx, The Mission, OMD, Laibach, The Wedding Present, Killing Joke, Morrissey, Devo, Madness and more.
Dinosaur Jr guitar savant J Mascis is no stranger to deliciously awkward interviews, so putting him head-to-head with “Portlandia” star Fred Armisen’s near-lookalike character Candace — co-proprietor of the Women and Women First feminist bookstore — was an inspired bit of promotion by Jagjaguwar Records.
Check out the opening track from the forthcoming ‘Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac,’ a new take — by Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo with an assist from Dinosaur Jr shredder J Mascis — on the Peter Green-era instrumental hit ‘Albatross.’ The album arrives Aug. 14.
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 