Spacelab Collective

Black Rebel Motorcycle Release Live Album "Live in London"

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are finding it harder and harder to make it as a touring and recording band. They cite a changing (crazy) music industry and tough economic times as part of an uncertain future.

"It's really difficult to make money to keep going anymore," Been says. "We toured around the world five times, the first time just on the one record. Every show was full and we were happy, doing what we thought we should be doing. We get off the road and every dollar went into that," said Robert Levon when speaking to Spinner about their new live album Live in London.

Thurston Moore and Beck Collaborate on New Album

Sonic Youth   Thurston Moore is preparing a new album for release, and he's working with none other than Mr. Beck Hanson on it. Beck is a the producer.

The new album is titled Benediction and is due out on Matador Records some time in 2011, and features appearances by Mary Lattimore and Samara Lubelski.

"It’s called Benediction, recorded in Southern California at Beck’s home studio with him producing. Beck sings and plays a little bit on it. Samara and Mary both play on it quite extensively and very, very beautifully. Beck really put them through the paces," said Moore in a recent interview with Philadelphia Weekly.

Papercuts Album Fading Parade Due Out in March

There's a new Papercuts album due out this Spring, titled Fading Parade. It's full of sophisticated dream pop (as Sub Pop puts it) that tries to avoid the usual dream pop, bedroom recording type of vibe.

Papercuts is the music of Jason Quever. He's got this very mellow and laid back vibe set on the edge of experimentation and psychedelic sounds. There's a folk undertone to this, so you probably won't be surprised to hear that this music comes from San Francisco.

“There was so much aggressive music when I was younger, and I just felt like trying something different. I don’t want to hit people over the head. That’s just not who I am. I don’t necessarily like to be the center of attention,” said Jason Quever when talking about his approach to Papercuts.

Fading Parade is due out on Sub Pop Records on Mar. 11.

Nick Cave in Car Crash

Nick Cave has been in a car crash, according to a report in the BBC. He and the occupants of the car were able to walk away unharmed.

"The crash happened on Tuesday evening as the 53-year-old Australian musician drove his twin 10-year-old sons along Kingsway. Cave, who lives in the area, and his sons walked away unharmed and no other vehicles were involved. Sussex Police said he was not arrested," reads the report in the BBC.

Das Racist Answer the Question of Purity vs. Soiling Yourself In Brooklyn

Do you live in Brooklyn and hate the overwrought trendiness that surrounds you? The two guys behind Das Racist can relate to you. In a piece in the New York Times Magazine, they answer the question of purity vs. soiling yourself in Brooklyn. More about the irony of commenting negatively about the "progressive liberal white America" in the New York Times later.

"I’ve been paying rent off the shows for a while now. My rent is $290, so it’s not a big deal. It’s five people in a four-bedroom in Bushwick. I keep my stuff at my parents’ house. I like to go home, hug my parents, drink chai with my mom, watch Hindi movies and re-Indianize two days a week before I re-emerge into the filth that is progressive liberal white America in trendy Williamsburg."

Sonic Youth Reissues Bad Moon Rising and Sister

Adding on to some of the bigger Sonic Youth reissues we've seen in recent years comes two more: the early seminal classics Sister and Bad Moon Rising. Both are due for release on Jan.18 in limited edition colored vinyl or regular ole' black vinyl.

They're also completing the soundtrack for the French film "Simon Werner a Disparu”" that will be released as SYR9.

The Return of Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes return from their self-imposed exile with a full-length album titled The People’s Key on Feb. 15. They've also announced two shows for 2011 -- Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Mar. 9 and Royal Albert Hall in London on Jun. 23.

The Clash 'London Calling' Biopic to Happen in 2011

There's a new Clash biopic on the way, and it's receiving help from Clash members Paul Simonon and Mick Jones. The film is set around the time of the band recording their classic album London Calling in 1979.

"Fans of The Clash all over the world have been waiting a long time to see their extraordinary story played out properly and accurately on the big screen. We're happy that Mick and Paul have given the project their blessing and are on board to help steer the ship," said producer Alison Owen when speaking to the BBC.

Paul Simon and Mick Jones are both executive producers, and the script is being written by Jez Butterworth. No cast members have been announced yet ... but we're looking forward to the soundtrack choices! What bands from that era would you include on your ideal Clash biopic soundtrack?

The Decemberists Announce Deluxe Version of The King Is Dead

The Decemberists have announced a new deluxe version of their upcoming album The King Is Dead, and it's due out on Jan. 18, 2011. Check out the details below and then watch them play some of the songs on the album with video from Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival.


The King Is Dead: Deluxe Box Edition
 - CD version of the The King Is Dead
 - 180-gram white vinyl version of the The King Is Dead
 - A DVD of Pendarvia, a film about the making of the album
 - A limited edition Decemberist print by Carson Ellis
 - A 72 page book of photographs by Autumn de Wilde and illustrations by Carson Ellis
 - A Polaroid photograph from the Impossible Project/Decemberists series by Ms. de Wilde

Mister Heavenly Gets with Sub Pop Records

Pop out the phrase indie super group and two things will invariably happen: you will divide the room between those who use the word and those who hate the very definition of the word. The second thing that will happen is that someone will drop the B-bomb -- they'll mention the band Boston, the world's most famous super group of yore.

With all of that behind us, members of Modest Mouse, Islands, and Man Man have formed a band. With the angelic moniker of Mister Heavenly, Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse), Nick Diamonds (Islands/Unicorns) and Honus Honus (Man Man) have gotten together to play music that they call Doom-wop, a combination of doo-wop and doomed love songs. They've signed on Sub Pop Records and will release a full length album in 2011.