The Promise Ring played a couple of reunion shows earlier this year and decided that it was enough fun to schedule a full summer tour. A rarities collection is due this summer from Dangerbird Records. [filtermagazine.com]
Will Oldham is set to release a new Bonnie 'Prince' Billy EP, Now Here's My Plan, on July 23rd through Drag City. The set features new performances of past Bonnie "classics". Watch the new rendition of "I See A Darkness" on YouTube. [www.dragcity.com]
Charlotte, North Carolina's HRVRD (formerly Harvard) have signed to Equal Vision Records. The group has just wrapped up work on their sophomore album with producer Brian McTernan (Cave In, Thrice, Circa Survive). Check out some in-studio footage on YouTube. [equalvision.com]
Animal Collective will return on September 4th with Centipede Hz via Domino Records. Brian Weitz told BBC Radio 1 that the group has "gone back to their roots" with the new record and wrote the songs as "rock band in a room". Stream the non-album single featuring "Honeycomb" and "Gotham" on spin.com. [www.dominorecordco.us]
Converge and Napalm Death have announced plans for a split-EP, "bridging the worlds of personal and politically driven extreme music". Converge will contribute the new song "No Light Escapes" and a cover of Entombed's "Wolverine Blues". Their eighth album is due later this year on Epitaph/Deathwish. [www.convergecult.com]
Death Cab for Cutie has announced a summer tour in continued support of last year's Codes and Keys. Chris Walla reported that "a break of some kind is probably in order" following the tour, however any plans are "malleable". The group just wrapped up their orchestral tour with Magik*Magik Orchestra. [www.billboard.com]
Passion Pit will release their sophomore album, Gossamer, on July 24th through Columbia Records. The album features Michael Angelakos' "ever-expanding lyrical talents" and "irresistible beats". Stream "Take A Walk" from the full-length on Sound Cloud. [www.passionpitmusic.com]
Sleigh Bells will continue touring this summer in support of their latest album, Reign of Terror, with a newly announced July trek of North America. The dates include a stop at Pitchfork Music Festival as well as a show with Hot Chip and James Murphy at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Washington, DC. [www.pitchfork.com]
Against Me! have added some headlining dates onto their upcoming tour with The Cult in May and June. The Icarus Line will be joining the band for all shows. You can find all of the dates on the band's Facebook page. In related news, singer/guitarist Tom Gabel recently revealed to Rolling Stone that he is transgender and plans to begin living as a woman. [againstme.net]
In an announcement posted on YouTube, No Doubt will release their sixth album and first over a decade on September 25th. The full-length was recorded with Major Lazer (aka Diplo and Switch). Rock Steady was released in 2001. [www.youtube.com]
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Chris Cornell mentioned that a new Soundgarden album will "be out in probably October". The new track "Live to Rise", which is featured on The Avengers soundtrack, was written specifically for the film and is "more straightforward 'cause it's for a broad audience". Accordingly, it will not appear on the album. [www.rollingstone.com]
Baroness will return on July 17th with a new double-album, Yellow & Green, through Relapse Records. You can view the album artwork and track list on the band's website. Check out an album teaser on YouTube. [baronessmusic.com]
Many have said Chino Moreno is vying for the title of "new Mike Patton" and he's on his way (Deftones, Team Sleep, Crosses). Moreno has teamed up with ex-Isis member Aaron Harris, Clifford Meyer and Jeff Caxide to form Palms. Oddly enough, Patton's own Ipecac Recordings will release the debut album later this year. [www.theprp.com]
Modest Mouse have announced some June tour dates, presumably to preview new songs from that Big Boi-produced album they've been working on since last summer. [www.modestmousemusic.com]
As reported, Sigur Ros will release their new album, Valtari, on May 28th. The group has announced a North America tour "featuring eleven people on stage" in July and August. Stream a radio-rip of album track "Varuo" on Sound Cloud. [www.sigur-ros.co.uk]
Micachu and the Shapes will return on July 24th with Never through Rough Trade. The album formally follows 2009's Jewellery, even though they released the live album, Chopped & Screwed, last year. In related news, Micachu recently collabortated with London's Kwes on second mix, Kwesachu Mixtape Vol. 2, which you can stream on Sound Cloud. [www.pitchfork.com]
Regina Spektor will release her sixth album, What We Saw From the Cheap Seats, on June 25th. Watch the video for "All The Rowboats" on YouTube. "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)" and "Small Town Moon" are streaming on Sound Cloud. [www.reginaspektor.com]
Paul Banks will revive Julian Plenti with a new EP, Julian Plenti Lives..., on June 12th via Matador Records. The set features the single "Summertime is Coming", an original instrumental and three covers. [www.matadorrecords.com]
Toadies will return on July 31st with a new full-length, Play.Rock.Music, through Kirtland Records. The lead single, "Summer of the Strange", will drop on May 8th. The group is currently on tour with Social Distortion and will hold the fifth annual Dia De Los Toadies in the fall. [thetoadies.com]
Toronto's Eight and a Half recently released their self-titled, debut album through Arts & Crafts. The group features Justin Peroff (Broken Social Scene) as well as Dave Hamelin and Liam O'Neil (The Stills). Stream "Scissors" and "Go Ego" on Sound Cloud. The full album is streaming on Paste Magazine, for the time being. [arts-crafts.ca]
