This week’s new releases include a brand-new live album from Ministry (out this week in the U.K., but not until late August in the U.S.), plus new vinyl pressings of Echo & The Bunnymen’s first album ‘Crocodiles’ and ‘Fear of Music,’ the third album from Talking Heads.
Singer Chris Connelly and bassist/programmer Paul Barker — who played together in Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Pigface and various other Wax Trax! Records industrial-rock supergroups in the late ’80s and early ’90s — are writing and recording new music together as Bells Into Machines.
It’s been less than two years since Al Jourgensen reunited his iconic industrial/metal act Ministry, but after a mid-tour health scare and the loss of sideman and best friend Mike Scaccia late last year, Uncle Al his putting an end to the band once and for all with a final album, ‘From Beer to Eternity,’ and an autobiography.
Today we count down the best reissue of 2012 as voted on by Slicing Up Eyeballs in this year’s readers poll, and the Top 10 list includes releases by Icehouse, Ministry, The House of Love, Ian McCulloch of Echo & The Bunnymen, Yazoo, Bob Mould’s Sugar, My Bloody Valentine, Peter Gabriel and more.
This week’s new releases include “Memory of the Future,” the third single from the Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Elysium,’ which comes in two formats, plus a reissue of the Abecedarians’ ‘Eureka’ mini-LP on both vinyl and, for the first time, CD, as well as a new vinyl release of Ministry’s reunion album, ‘Relapse.’
Peter Buck finally announced his debut solo album today, posting a note on R.E.M.’s website that reveals the album — we’re still not sure what it’s called; he doesn’t mention its title — will be released this Friday in a super-limited, 2,000-copy vinyl-only run by Portland, Ore.-based Mississippi Records.
Last night in Seattle, former R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck played his first-ever solo show — after conducting, as he noted from the stage, his first-ever solo soundcheck — he debuted his new backing band Richard M. Nixon as the opening act for the first of two Young Fresh Fellows album-release shows at The Sunset.
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 