Ladytron Reveal Velocifero Tracklist
Announce European Tour

Photo by Staphane Gallois

Looks like we got us a tracklist for Velocifero, the new one from that moody bunch in Ladytron, which hits U.S. shelves June 3 from Nettwerk. The disc, as we noted last week, was produced by the band in Paris, with Alessandro Cortini and Ed Banger associate Vicarious Bliss lending hands when needed. What we didn't mention (until now) was this slew of very Ladytron-y song titles. "Black Cat"! "Ghosts"! "Burning Up"! (Madonna cover?) And "I'm Not Scared"! Speak for yourselves, Ladytron!

There's a big ol' Ladytron tour on the way, too-- now with European dates! [MORE...]

MP3: Ladytron: Destroy Everything You Touch [Hot Chip remix]

The Game Sentenced to 60 Days for Gun Charge

Video: Nas [ft. The Game]: Hustlers [from the Hip Hop Is Dead LP]

Replacements' Twin/Tone Catalog Reissued, Expanded
Deluxe editions of Sire albums due later in the year

Those long in the works Replacements reissues are finally here! Whether you've never pored over their tales of Upper Midwestern debauchery and desperation, or you just need to switch out your tired, beer-soaked copies for shiny new models, there's plenty for fans and new converts to dig into throughout Rhino's deluxe editions of the 'Mats' four releases for the Twin/Tone label.

On April 22, Rhino will throw a ton of stuff you've never heard on the back of these classic Replacements platters. 1981's Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash gets a bunch of demos and outtakes as well as the B-side "If Only You Were Lonely", the 1982 EP Stink gets some covers, 1983's Hootenanny gets rough mixes and alternate takes, and 1984's Let It Be (Pitchfork's 29th favorite album of the 1980s) gets T. Rex and the Grass Roots covers.

The reissues were overseen by producer/Replacements manager Peter Jesperson, and according to a press release, the band was involved in picking the bonus tracks.

Rhino plan to do all this again later this year with similarly stuffed reissues of the band's Sire catalog, including Tim, Pleased to Meet Me, Don't Tell a Soul, and All Shook Down.

In other Replacements news, All Over but the Shouting, a book about the band with contributions from Jesperson, Twin/Tone label co-founder Paul Stark, the Hold Steady's Craig Finn, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, and Hüsker Dü's Bob Mould and Grant Hart, is out now on Voyageur Press. [MORE...]

Video: The Replacements: Careless (live) [original track from the Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash LP]

Pitchfork Seeks Graphics Intern in NYC Office
See what we did on the left there? That took us seven hours

Thom Yorke, A.C. Newman Do Farrell Benefit Auction

MP3: Rogue Wave: Publish My Love [from the Descended Like Vultures LP]
Video: Magnolia Electric Co.: Shiloh Temple Bell (live at Bumbershoot 2007)
Video: Evan Farrell and David Gantz: Lowly Lows, the Gogo Yaya Story

Radiohead! North! American! Tour! Details!!!

As expected, popular alternative rock combo Radiohead will sail across the Atlantic in the coming months to show North American audiences what they've been up to. These promising youngsters have been causing quite a stir, let me tell you!

Lead by enigmatic frontman Thomas Edward Yorke, Radiohead are making waves for their innovative approach to the tried-and-true rock band setup. Their distinct sound also incorporates strains of electronic music, and their lyrics address such enticing topical fare as post-modern paranoia and dystopian angst. I'm not sure what that means, but boy does it sound neat!

Truly, this is a band destined for greatness. But don't take my word for it. See this Radiohead for yourself live and in the flesh at any number of the quintet's upcoming tour stops. The Southern leg of their North American trek has been announced, beginning in West Palm Beach, Florida on May 5. Many more cities are expected to be announced on our continent, before the band attends to some previously discussed European engagements through most of June and early July.

(Editor's note: Looks like this is a Live Nation tour, folks. So those of us who don't like supporting monstrously huge music industry corporations might have to choose between our ethics and Radiohead.)

Wow, how does this band ever sleep, let alone find time to craft its challenging, envelope-pushing music? [MORE...]

Video: Radiohead: Live in London at 93 Feet East

YACHT to Open for Vampire Weekend

Much (too much?) has been made of the affluence of the Ivy league-rooted, crunk-trusting upper crust-ers of Vampire Weekend. Shucks, even they poke fun of their image a bit in the video for "Mansard Roof" from their self-titled LP by lazing about on a boat and wearing deck shoes.

So they had to know somebody would say something when they lined up the opening act for their spring tour.

That's right: on a string of dates on their current North American trek, Vampire Weekend will be employing a real live YACHT. Yup, Jona Bechtolt will join the boys in blue Polo from mid-March on into April. And he himself will be joined by Claire L. Evans, who is now a regular touring member of YACHT. (She's also his partner in creating those excellent MacBook Air envelopes.) Check out this adorable photo of the two of them:

What a lineup! Vampire Weekend-- who, like, probably own yachts-- and YACHT, the dancin' beatmaker guy! The irony is just too rich.

YACHT has a mess of dates of his own, too, including a spring European trek. [MORE...]

Video: Vampire Weekend: Various Tracks [live at Other Music]
Video: YACHT: Women of the World [from the I Believe in You, Your Magic is Real LP]

Kanye West Reveals "Glow in the Dark" Tour Dates

Video: Kanye West: Hey Mama (live at the Grammys)

Cover Art Cop: Colin Meloy vs. Peter Moren

Above: Colin Meloy album cover. Below: Peter Morén album cover.

Colin Meloy and Peter Morén are brothers from another mother. Here are the things they have in common:

• Both are frontmen for popular indie rock bands: The Decemberists (Colin), Peter Bjorn and John (Peter).
• Both are adorable, slightly doughy men with modified mop top haircuts, occasional beards, and side parts.
• Both are releasing their debut solo albums on April 8 in North America. As you know, Colin's is called Colin Meloy Sings Live!, and it's on Kill Rock Stars on CD and Jealous Butcher on vinyl. (If you pre-order it from Kill Rock Stars, you'll get a poster and a "one of a kind bookmark.") As you also know, Peter's is called The Last Tycoon, and it's on Quarterstick. (According to a Myspace blog post from Peter, Wichita / Cooperative will release The Last Tycoon in Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Scandinavia.)
• Both will embark on solo tours in April. They will play many of the same cities, often within days of each other.

• Both decided to feature portraits of themselves on their album covers.
• Both are depicted with their eyes closed in said portraits.
• Both commissioned their significant others to draw/paint the portraits: Frequent Decemberists illustrator Carson Ellis (Colin), Christine Jacobsson (Peter).
• Both are apparently very much in love.

UPDATE: Looks like Victoria Bergsman wants in on the action as well! Here's the new Taken by Trees single, which features a cover of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine": 

[MORE...]

Stream: Colin Meloy: Various Tracks
Stream: Peter Moren: Spanish Guitar (Gene Clark cover) [from The World Turns All Around Him: A Tribute to Gene Clark]

Radiohead North American Tour Breaking Development

Video: Radiohead: Live in London at 93 Feet East

R.E.M. Add Dates, Reveal Accelerate Special Edition
Plus: Brief Michael Stipe video interview

Geared up to Accelerate and readying themselves to pal around North America with the youngsters in Modest Mouse and the National, R.E.M. have announced their big plans for the summer. The band will head to Europe in July, August, and early September, with more festival appearances and a full UK trek to be announced shortly.

But before any of that, the band will play a one-off show in London on March 24 at the legendary Royal Albert Hall. It's a benefit for the ICA.

Accelerate drops March 31 in the UK and April 1 in the U.S. from Warner Brothers. And like any major album these days (and a lot of minor ones), it will be available both as a regular ol' CD and a special edition. The latter is a CD/DVD combo featuring "special Amray package with a 64-page booklet inside" and, on the DVD, " a Vincent Moon 48 min. film of behind-the-scenes footage, and performance pieces of various songs on the album." And if all that wasn't enough, you also get two bonus mp3s: "Red Head Walking" (ooh ooh, Beat Happening cover?!) and "Airliner".

Stream: R.E.M.: Supernatural Superserious [from the Accelerate LP]

Photos: Daniel Johnston [Omaha, NE; 02/09/08]

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