Kasabian guitarist Serge Pizzorno recently spoke to BBC 6 Music about the forthcoming album, due in the spring. The band are working with producer Dan "The Automator" Nakamura. [www.bbc.co.uk]

Foals are currently writing their follow-up to Antidotes. As a New Year gift to their fans, they've posted a few demos on their MySpace blog for download. As reported, Foals next album is reportedly to be more "surf rock inspired." [angryape.com]

The Dillinger Escape Plan has hired drummer Billy Rymer to replace Gil Sharone, who appeared on Ire Works. Ben Weinman set the record straight about the amicable split on Rock Sound. [rocksound.tv]

Royksopp will release a new album, Junior, on March 23rd via Astralwerks. The album features performances from Robyn, Lykke Li and Karin Dreijer of The Knife. [www.billboard.com]

G. Love and Special Sauce have set a headlining tour in February and March, in continued support of 2008's Superhero Brother. G. Love underwent vocal cord surgery in November and the lull marks Love's longest break from touring. [www.livedaily.com]

On January 27th, the Beastie Boys will reissue a 20th anniversary version of 1989's Paul's Boutique. The album was run through a 24-bit remastering process and will be released as an eight-panel digipak. Fans can also download a track-by-track audio commentary from the Boys, which syncs with the album. [www.rollingstone.com]

The Sun is reporting that Paul McCartney is eager to work with The Killers on some new songs. McCartney saw the band play at the Royal Albert Hall in November. However, the news comes from an "unnamed source." [www.thesun.co.uk]

Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance recently told MTV News that the band are set to begin work on their fourth full-length. Instead of planning a concept album, the band intend to "go into it not thinking about a definite story." [www.mtv.com]

Ian Brown, formerly of Stone Roses, has announced plans to release a new, solo album in August 2009. Brown says the songs are "the best on all levels." [www.nme.com]

The Whigs have charted a headlining tour for March and will open a string of Kings of Leon shows this month. The Athens trio is out in continued support of 2008's Mission Control. [www.livedaily.com]

Mt. Helium, made up of former members of The Apex Theory, resurfaced this year. Back in June, they issued the digital full-length Faces. You can preview six tracks on MySpace. Think minor, alternative rock without the 90's nostalgia.

Vagrant will release The Alchemy Index vinyl boxset from Thrice on February 17th, 2009. The package compiles all four Alchemy Index EPs into limited-edition 10" colored vinyl (in the respective elemental colors) and a hand-bound hardcover book. [www.punknews.org]

Tonight, Dustin Kensrue from Thrice, Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, Chris Conley of Saves The Day and Jim Ward from Sparta will perform an acoustic benefit concert for Invisible Children at the Troubadour in LA. Stream a webcast over on Band Crashers. [www.punknews.org]

Morrissey will return with Years of Refusal on February 17th, 2009 via Lost Highway. Not to mention, a massive 2009 tour [www.punknews.org]

On January 17th, Elbow will perform The Seldom Seen Kid with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London. Only 75 pairs of tickets are being given away to fans, but BBC will broadcast the concert live on BBC Radio 2. [www.bbc.co.uk]

I completely missed this one: Sebastien Grainger singer/drummer from Death From Above 1979 released a solo album, Sebastien Grainger & the Mountains, through Saddle Creek back in October. This could be the rock record you were missing this year.

U2 have dubbed their twelfth studio album No Line on the Horizon (we hinted at it a couple weeks ago). The record will be released on March 3rd, 2009, but no track list has been set. [www.billboard.com]

Jason Isbell will release his new, self-titled album on February 17th, 2009. The record is Isbell's first with his new band, The 400 Unit. A spring tour has been scheduled in support. Stream the opening track, "Seven-Mile Island", over on Isbell's MySpace page. [www.livedaily.com]

The Von Bondies have announced February tour dates in support of their forthcoming album, Love, Hate, and Then There's You, due February 3rd on Majordomo. [www.livedaily.com]

Eagles of Death Metal have scheduled a string of US headlining dates for February in continued support of Heart On. [www.livedaily.com]