Young Widows are currently working on their follow-up to 2008's Old Wounds. In July, the band recorded around 17 songs with friend and producer Kevin Ratterman at The Funeral Home in Louisville, KY. As of early August, basic tracks are done and the band is on to vocals, overdubs and then mixing. Check out some studio photos on the band's MySpace blog. [blogs.myspace.com]
Manchester's Kong has posted the track "Count to Nine" on Bandcamp for free download. The song features vocals from Matt Cauthran of The Bronx and was taken from the "Leather Penny" single. [kongdoms.bandcamp.com]
Mos Def has signed to Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music label, presumably to release the follow-up to 2009's The Ecstatic sometime in 2011. Def also appears on "Lord, Lord, Lord" on West's forthcoming album. [www.mtv.com]
My Chemial Romance will release Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys on November 23rd. NME has the track list and you can stream the lead single, "The Only Hope For You Is Me," on Hype Machine. [www.nme.com]
Chris Walla recently told Spin that Death Cab for Cutie is "working in fits and starts" on the follow-up to 2008's Narrow Stairs. He reported the band is "trying on all the outfits with the songs," including stripping songs down to two acoustic guitars or sequencers. Ben Gibbard previously suggested the album might be out in early 2011, but Walla doesn't seem to be in any hurry. [www.spin.com]
Dustin Kensrue and Teppei Teranishi recently checked in on the Thrice blog with photos and a studio report. The band are currently writing material for the follow-up to 2009's Beggars. [www.thrice.net]
According to Green Plastic, Radiohead recently headed back into the studio to work on the follow-up to In Rainbows. Despite Colin Greenwood's report of the group finishing a group of songs, Selway told Canada's 570 News that "it’s all up in the air" and they might just "might just throw [it] all out." I guess it's all kind of non-news at the moment. [www.greenplastic.com]
We previously mentioned a collaborative, tribute album forthcoming from The Kinks. It now appears Metallica has joined in on the fun and recorded a cover of "You Really Got Me" with Ray Davies on vocals. Check out a clip of the group in the studio on Metallica's website. As well, it appears the previous list of collaborators is confirmed. [metallica.com]
David Bowie will release a DVD in the "Rare and Unseen" series from Wienerworld on November 23rd. The set features "archive interviews and rare and unseen footage," including material from ITN. The series previously covered The Beatles, John Lennon and The Rolling Stones. [www.tinymixtapes.com]
As previously reported, Iron & Wine will release Kiss Each Other Clean in early 2011. Pitchfork is reporting Sam Beam will issue said record domestically through Warner Bros. (4AD overseas), instead of the usual Sub Pop. Beam and Co. will tour some this month and next. [pitchfork.com]
Andrew Bird will release the instrumental album Useless Creatures on October 26th through Fat Possum. The set was previously only available with the deluxe edition of Noble Beast. [fatpossum.com]
After a relocation to Melbourne earlier this year, Regurgitator is active again. Of course, the band is touring Australia, but don't expect them to their leave continent. For the rest of us, the band has posted four new songs under the title Distractions on SoundCloud. Further, expect new music from the 'Gurge in this manner from here on out (possibly on a "monthly basis"), according to Quan Yeomans. Love And Paranoia was released in 2007. [blogs.myspace.com]
Ben Folds will tour the US in November in support of his new album with Nick Hornby, Lonely Avenue. The trek concludes with a show at Nashville's Performing Arts Center to benefit the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, which suffered $40 million in flood damage earlier this year. [benfolds.com]
Gorillaz will release a new single "Doncamatic (All Played Out)," featuring vocals from Daley, on November 22nd (UK). Listen to said track on YouTube.
The xx "don't want to rush anything" with their new album and will return to London to get "back to normality and writing again separate from each other." Translation: don't hold your breath for a new album. In related news, band member Jamie Smith will release a solo single, "Far Nearer," on Numbers Records this month. Listen to the track on Hype Machine. [www.spin.com]
According to an interview with Bloody Digusting, Richmond's American metal outfit Lamb of God will hit the studio in February 2011 to begin to work on the follow-up to 2009's Wrath. [gunshyassassin.com]
In an attempt to remind people when of when they made great albums, Weezer will release a two-CD Pinkerton - Deluxe Edition on November 2nd. The release includes the original album plus 25 'contemporaneous' bonus tracks, including every official B-side and 16 previously unreleased recordings.
Live in London, the first live recording and concert film from Regina Spektor, will be released November 22nd. The footage is primarily from a show at London's Hammersmith Apollo Theatre and features 23 tracks that span Spektor's catalog of music, including three new songs that have only been performed live. [reginasplash.warnerreprise.com]
Cake has announced the release of their first album of new material since 2004's Pressure Chief. The new disc, Showroom Of Compassion, will hit stores on January 11th, 2011 via their own Upbeat Records.
Tour mates Broken Social Scene and The Sea and Cake will be releasing a split 7" ofpreviously unreleased material on October 26th. [www.brokensocialscene.ca]
