System of a Down will officially return in 2011. They have "no master plan" and have only committed to a string of summer European shows, thus far. Find the show dates on The PRP and a full statement on the band's website. [www.systemofadown.com]
Jens Lekman has two US shows coming up in December, to set the wheels in motion for what probably means a new album in 2011 (the follow up to 2007's Night Falls On Kortedala). He'll play Skybar in Los Angeles on December 4th and at Green Building on Union in Brooklyn on December 10th. As well, you can download a new song, "The End Of The World Is Bigger Than Love", on Secretly Canadian. [secretlycanadian.com]
The debut full-length from And the Relatives, Green Machinery, has just been released in standard formats as well as a limited edition vinyl that is well worth owning. If you aren't convinced, you can listen to the full album over on Bandcamp. [andtherelatives.bandcamp.com]
Modern Skirts from Athens, GA will release their third full-length, Gramahawk, on January 18th, 2011. The band recorded the album in New Orleans and the new material offers "insight into [Jay] Gulley's dark, imaginative and humorous brain." Download or stream "Bumpercar" from said album in Music. [www.myspace.com]
David Terry has revived Aqueduct and will release a new album in 2011. Currently, he's out on tour with The Posies and Brendan Benson. You can preview "Past The Point" from his new album in Music. [aqueductisgoodmusic.com]
Gang of Four have announced a 13-date North American tour in February 2011, kicking off on February 4th in Toronto, ON. In January, the band will release their first new album in 16 years, Content, through Yep Roc. [www.gangoffour.co.uk]
Asobi Seksu will relrease their fourth album, Fluorescence, on February 15th, 2011 through Polyvinyl Records. Download "Trails" from said album in Music. [www.polyvinylrecords.com]
Crystal Castles will tour North America in March 2011, in continued support of their self-titled, sophomore effort. The trek kicks off in San Diego, CA on March 3rd. [crystalcastles.com]
We jumped the gun a little bit. If we had waited four more days, we could have told you definitively that PJ Harvey will release Let England Shake on February 15th, 2011. The album was "[recorded] in a 19th Century church in Dorset with long time collaborator Flood who co-produced the album with PJ Harvey, John Parish and Mick Harvey." [pjharvey.lucidwebs.co.uk]
Caitlin Rose will release her full-length debut, Own Side Now, on March 15th, 2011 through Theory 8 Records. The album was co-produced by Mark Nevers (Lambchop, Andrew Bird) and Skylar Wilson (Justin Townes Earle). Rose will play some US dates with Justin Townes Earle later this month and into mid-December. [www.theory8records.com]
Chaz Bundick will release the sophomore Toro Y Moi album, Underneath the Pine, on February 22nd, 2010 through Carpark Records. Pitchfork has the track list. [pitchfork.com]
According to a little Twitter sleuthing from TwentyFourBit, it appears that The Strokes completed recording their fourth album earlier this week. The band will hopefully now move on to mixing and release the album in early 2011 (maybe March 2011). [www.twentyfourbit.com]
According to a MySpace blog post from Mick Harvey (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), it appears that PJ Harvey will issue her new album in early 2011. To give credence to these reports, a string of 2011 European tour dates have been plotted, there's a cryptic link on her Facebook wall, and her official site states an announcement is coming on November 23rd. [www.twentyfourbit.com]
Beans (Anti-Pop Consortium) will release his new album, End It All, on February 15th, 2011 through Anticon. The set features production from Four Tet, Tobacco, Clark, Bumps (Tortoise) and Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio, among others. [www.prefixmag.com]
According to Resident Advisor, Jon Hopkins scored the upcoming, sci-fi film Monsters. Hopkins' recent work includes contributions to the new Brian Eno and Coldplay albums. Find the track list and trailer on RA. Listen to some music samples on the movie's official site. [www.residentadvisor.net]
Ocean is Theory will release their debut full-length through Razor & Tie in early 2011. The band is currently recording in Los Angeles, CA the album with producers Stacy Jones and Bill Lefler. [www.razorandtie.com]
Rhode Island's The Low Anthem will release their fourth full-length, Smart Flesh, on Februrary 22nd, 2011 through Nonesuch Records. The album was recorded in "a cavernous, vacant pasta sauce factory" and explores "love, longing, and the vain contortions of our lives before death." Watch an album teaser on Vimeo. In related news, the band is currently out on the road supporting Emmylou Harris and Carolina Chocolate Drops. [www.nonesuch.com]
New Raleigh has a new single, "Invasion," from Birds of Avalon. The song is taken from their forthcoming, self-titled album, due on January 11th, 2011 on Bladen County Records and recorded with Mitch Easter (R.E.M., Wilco, Pavement). [www.newraleigh.com]
Gatling Pictures is currently in post-production on Cure for Pain: The Mark Sandman, which "examines the life and work of Mark Sandman, deceased frontman of Boston 'low rock' band Morphine." Nic Harcourt, Ben Harper, John Medeski, Les Claypool, Mike Watt and Joshua Homme appear in the film. Watch the trailer on Vimeo. [www.gatlingpictures.com]
Adele will release her sophomore album, 21, on February 22nd, 2011. Listen to the lead single, "Rolling in the Deep," on YouTube, which is set to some studio footage. [www.people.com]
