Here's an early Christmas present from Owen Pallett: the Canadian composer, violinist and songwriter is giving away an eight song Export EP full of "demos, covers, instrumentals and miscellany." Stream and download the EP on SoundCloud. [twitter.com]
Philadelphia's Kurt Vile will release a new album, Smoke Ring For My Halo, on March 8th, 2011 through Matador Records. The album was recorded with producer John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.) and is Vile's "most ambitious work to date," natch. [www.matadorrecords.com]
According to fansite Down Rodeo, Rage Against The Machine may return with a new album in summer 2011. If the shaky translation is correct, Zack de la Rocha reported the band are "working on a new album due out [summer] next year." [downrodeo.org]
Olafur Arnalds will return to North American in early 2011, in continued support of ...and they have escaped the weight of darkness. The trek kicks off on January 24th in Boston, MA. Watch a short tour documentary on YouTube. [olafurarnalds.com]
You can download "Shell Games" from the forthcoming Bright Eyes album, The People's Key, due February 15th, 2011. Pitchfork has a stream, if you'd rather go that route. [store.saddle-creek.com]
According to Amazon, Glassjaw will release Our Color Green (The Singles) on January 1st, 2011, which compiles the songs from their recent 7-inch series. In other news, the band has announced a string of US tour dates and are selling ticket bundles themselves. [www.ryansrockshow.com]
The Love Language and Telekinesis will team up for a co-headlining tour kicking off in late February 2011. The trek includes a stop at Noise Pop 18 in San Francisco. Telekinesis will release a new album, 12 Desperate Straight Lines, on February 25th, 2011. The Love Language is continuing to support Libraries. [www.mergerecords.com]
As mentioned previously, Death Cab For Cutie are hard at work on their follow-up to 2008's Narrow Stairs. Bassist Nick Harmer recently revealed the title of the band's seventh album, Codes And Keys, to Stereogum and reported there are less guitars than on previous records. Alan Moulder was tapped to mix the final product, due sometime in spring 2011. [stereogum.com]
According to The Playlist, Jon Brion is scoring the upcoming Miranda July film, The Future. Brion most recently scored The Other Guys and Synecdoche, New York. [blogs.indiewire.com]
As reported, R.E.M. are finishing up work on their fifteenth album, now title Collapse Into Now. You can download the first single, "Discoverer," from the band or stream it on SoundCloud. Said album is due March 8th, 2011. [remhq.com]
TwentyFourBit tipped us off to some details on the new Thurston Moore solo effort, Benediction. Apparently, the album was recorded and produced by Beck, as well "sings and plays a little bit on it." The full-length should drop sometime in 2011 via Matador. [www.philadelphiaweekly.com]
As previously speculated, Gorillaz will, in fact, release a new album, The Fall, on December 25th for free download for Sub Division fan club members from gorillaz.com. For the rest of us, it will be available as a stream. In case you've forgotten, the album was recorded completely on an iPad by Damon Albarn, during the group's most recent US tour. [gorillaz.com]
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have picked up a Golden Globe nomination for their original score for The Social Network. Reznor told Variety that he is "taking some kind of pride that [the film] industry has accepted the film and my score." [www.variety.com]
U.S. Royalty will release their much hyped debut album, Mirrors, on January 25th, 2011. The band worked with producer Justin Long (not the guy from the Mac commercials) and Gus Oberg (The Strokes). Listen to "Equestrian" in Music. [www.usroyaltymusic.com]
Reverberation Appreciation Society and The Black Angels have organized Austin Psych Fest 4, to be held April 29th through May 1st, 2011. The initial lineup includes Black Moth Super Rainbow, Dead Meadow, Atlas Sound, Prefuse 73, Crystal Stilts, Spectrum and Sleepy Sun, among others. [www.austinpsychfest.com]
As reported in March, The new Jonny Greenwood soundtrack for Norwegian Wood is out now in Japan. Green Plastic has the track list and movie trailer. No word as to when the album will officially hit US shores. [www.greenplastic.com]
Former Silent Uproar Records band, Far-Less has announced the self-release of of their final album, A Toast to Bad Taste, on vinyl. The double 12" LP will be limited to 500 copies and includes the original album songs, unreleased tracks, demos. You can pre-order the record on the band's online store. [farless.bigcartel.com]
Baltimore's Wye Oak will release their third album, Civilian, on March 8th, 2011 through Merge Records. The duo worked with engineer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Shearwater) on the album, which is described as "21st-century folk music, imbued with dense shoegaze guitars, nearly melodic rhythms, and impeccable splashes of electronic color." Stream and download the title track in Music. The band is touring extensively in 2011, January through April. [www.mergerecords.com]
As reported, Liam Gallagher formed the new band Beady Eye earlier this year and recorded a debut full-length with producer Steve Lillywhite. That album, Different Gear, Still Speeding, will be released on February 28th, 2011 (UK), with a US date to be confirmed soon. Watch the video for the first single, "Bring The Light," in Videos. [www.beadyeyemusic.com]
Ben Folds has added some Midwest dates in January 2011 to his current touring schedule, in support of his new album, Lonely Avenue. Folds is also currently a judge on NBC's The Sing Off. [benfolds.com]
