We’re counting down the top 10 albums of 2012 as voted on by Slicing Up Eyeballs readers earlier this month. This list includes albums released this year by Dinosaur Jr, Ultravox, Public Image Ltd., Killing Joke, The Fixx, Pet Shop Boys, members of Depeche Mode, Dead Can Dance and more.
Dinosaur Jr will follow up its just-released studio album I Bet On Sky with a limited-edition live album recorded in 1987 and released as a vinyl-and-download combo, according to listings at online retailers. The Chocomel Daze LP will be released Nov. 19 by Merge Records on 150-gram vinyl and limited to 2,000 copies.
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.
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.
Dinosaur Jr won’t release its third post-reunion album, ‘I Bet On Sky,’ until September, but fans can get an early taste via the first track to emerge from the records, the chugging rocker ‘Watch the Corners,’ which premiered on RollingStone.com on Friday and can now be streamed here.
Dinosaur Jr today announced they will release their third post-reunion album, the 10-track ‘I Bet on Sky,’ on Sept. 17 in the U.K. and Sept. 18 in the U.S. and then embark on a 29-date North American tour this fall. The band — J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph — recorded the album earlier this year. See tour dates here.
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Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Hifi Sean on life after The Soup Dragons and the quest to make the perfect 7-inch 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Echo & The Bunnymen’s Will Sergeant on new instrumental trio Poltergeist 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate reunion, upcoming tour — and new music 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Howard Jones on revisiting ‘Human’s Lib,’ ‘Dream Into Action’ — and future plans 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ the break-up of Bauhaus, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk