We've Been on This Shift Too Long

R.E.M.'s follow-up to Accelerate is ready to be mixed. The new album is expected out sometime next spring. Read more here.

In other news, the 25th (!!!) Anniversary edition of Fables of the Reconstruction was released today in a couple different formats:

iTunes
Amazon.com MP3
Amazon.com 2-CD set
Amazon.com vinyl set

Every Temptation and Device

Crowded House's Intriguer is finally out in the US today. Check out a few solid reviews: AV Club, Popdose, PopMatters. Sounds like yet another well-respected piece of work from Neil Finn and company.

iTunes
Amazon.com MP3

I Mean We All Live In America

The Charlatans are officially releasing their new album Who We Touch in the states on September 14, about a week after its release in the UK. Youth produced the album:

“We told Youth we wanted to the record to have the sound of a European winter, ” said Tim, “with that fresh, crisp sound you get from some British records, but also something fearless that was quite far-reaching, to challenge ourselves – a real journey.”

Tour:

September 2010
07 - The Loft, Atlanta GA
08 - Cat's Cradle, Carrboro NC
09 - Black Cat, Washington DC
10 - Royale, Boston MA
11 - Maxwell's, Hoboken NJ
13 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
14 - Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
15 - Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia PA
16 - Cabaret Musee Juste Pour Rire, Montreal QC
17 - Lee's Palace, Toronto ONT
18 - Double Door, Chicago IL
20 - Bimbo's 365 Club, San Francisco CA
21 - The Detroit Bar, Costa Mesa CA
22 - El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles CA

Previously...

I Still Have Faith

The band Live split up last year and even though it was originally meant to be temporary so individual members could do their own thing, it sounds acrimoniously permanent according to Wikipedia. Many of the problems stem from former frontman Ed Kowalczyk, who has always been a bit polarizing because of he constantly walks that fine line between sincerity ("we will all learn to appreciate the beauty of gray") and insufferableness ("can you hear the dolphin's cry"). I'll let you read about it for yourself.

Ed's solo album Alive (get it?) was officially released today and has inspired allmusic.com to declare it "the biggest, boldest music" from Ed since the unquestionable classic Throwing Copper. I gave up on Live a few albums ago and after testing the waters with the video for Grace I'm not sure I'm ready to dive back in.



Any thoughts? Recommended?

iTunes
Amazon.com MP3

Everybody's Got a Broken Heart

NPR is currently streaming the new album by Admiral Radley, the new band featuring members of Grandaddy and Earlimart. So far me likey! Ghosts of Syllables and I Left U Cuz I Luft U are particularly lovely.

Enjoy the stream until the album's release next Tuesday, July 13! Then buy it.

U Hate It

Liz Phair unexpectedly released a new album called Funstyle this weekend on her website, which has already earned a "WTF" and a "batshit weird" rush to judgment from Pitchfork. I haven't had a chance to hear it for myself, but if they think it's batshit weird, it must be pretty out there.

To go from commercially overproduced in 2005 to head-scratching DIY today might be the epitome of an overreaction. Regardless, her self-titled album remains one of my favorite summer albums despite the fact that it pissed off a lot of phans from the early days.

Funstyle is available via download for $5.99.

Will They Hate Me For All The Choices I've Made?

Metric has a new song and video for some new vampire flick. It's called Eclipse (All Yours) and it's a relatively generic representation of their music. Pick up Fantasies for much better tunage.

"Eclipse (All Yours)"

METRIC | MySpace Music Videos

via Stereogum