Year: 2017

They Might Be Giants unveil new album ‘I Like Fun,’ massive U.S. tour — hear new single

They Might Be Giants unveil new album ‘I Like Fun,’ massive U.S. tour — hear new single

They Might Be Giants will release their 15th studio album — the 15-song “rock album” I Like Fun — in January, and will embark on a marathon 50-date U.S. tour that will take the two Johns from coast to coast while on the road from January through April. Here the album’s first single right here.

This week’s new releases: Billy Bragg’s new protest songs, plus INXS ‘Kick 30’ box set

This week’s new releases: Billy Bragg’s new protest songs, plus INXS ‘Kick 30’ box set

Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs. All releases due out this Friday unless noted. This week’s releases include a new mini-album from Billy Bragg and the UK release of INXS’s ‘Kick 30’ box set.

Playlist: Sirius XM’s ‘Dark Wave’ — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (10/29/17)

Playlist: Sirius XM’s ‘Dark Wave’ — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (10/29/17)

“Dark Wave,” hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Matt Sebastian, airs 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. EDT every Sunday on Sirius XM satellite radio’s 1st Wave (Channel 33). The most recent two episodes also are available via Sirius XM’s On Demand service for online subscribers. Check out the full playlist right here.

Tears For Fears announce ‘Rule the World’ arena tour of U.K., Ireland with Alison Moyet

Tears For Fears announce ‘Rule the World’ arena tour of U.K., Ireland with Alison Moyet

Tears For Fears will embark on an arena tour of the U.K. and Ireland next May in support of the group’s new best-of Rule the World — an eight-city trek that will see Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith supported by Alison Moyet. The tour opens May 2 in Dublin and continues through May 12 in Brighton.

Morrissey announces U.K. arena tour, plays new single on ‘The Graham Norton Show’

Morrissey announces U.K. arena tour, plays new single on ‘The Graham Norton Show’

As he prepares to embark on his U.S. tour next week, Morrissey has now announced a tour of arenas and larger venues in the U.K. and Ireland early next year in support of his forthcoming album Low in High School. The trek opens in Aberdeen on Feb. 16 and wraps up with London concerts on March 7 and 9.

Listen: R.E.M., ‘Photograph’ (Demo) — off ‘Automatic For the People’ reissue

Listen: R.E.M., ‘Photograph’ (Demo) — off ‘Automatic For the People’ reissue

R.E.M. has offered up the latest taste of its upcoming multi-disc 25th anniversary reissue of Automatic For the People in the form of a demo of the song “Photograph,” an AFTP-era track that, in its completed version, would feature a duet between Michael Stipe and Natalie Merchant and appear on 1993’s Born to Choose.

The Mission to record upcoming tour rehearsal for ‘Bending the Arc’ double live album

The Mission to record upcoming tour rehearsal for ‘Bending the Arc’ double live album

Wayne Hussey admits he’s no fan of live albums, but he knows other people like them, so he’s come up with a plan: The Mission will record one of its tour rehearsals — a more “controllable environment” than a concert — for release as a two-disc live set called Bending the Arc. Full details here.

Conway Savage of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds recovering from brain tumor surgery

Conway Savage of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds recovering from brain tumor surgery

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds today revealed that Conway Savage, who plays piano and organ, and provides backing vocals, has been absent from this year’s Bad Seeds tour because he underwent surgery that was “largely a success” for a recently diagnosed brain tumor. Read the full statement from the band.

Watch: Wheelchair-bound Mark E. Smith leads The Fall in live return following health scare

Watch: Wheelchair-bound Mark E. Smith leads The Fall in live return following health scare

Two months after Mark E. Smith’s health forced the postponement of the first U.S. concerts by The Fall in more than a decade, the irascible frontman brought his long-running band back to the stage in the U.K. last week — strapped into a wheelchair, but still delivering his trademark vocal blast. See video of that performance here.

5-disc, 100-song ‘Revolutionary Spirit’ box set to map sounds of Liverpool 1976-1988

5-disc, 100-song ‘Revolutionary Spirit’ box set to map sounds of Liverpool 1976-1988

Cherry Red Records will follow up this year’s Manchester-centric box set with one that examines the legacy of Liverpool’s scene from 1976 to 1988, a 5-disc, 100-song collection that will feature music by Echo & The Bunnmen, The Teardrop Explodes, OMD, Wild Swans, Icicle Works, The La’s and more.

Listen: Morrissey, ‘I Wish You Lonely’ — 2nd track off forthcoming ‘Low in High School’

Listen: Morrissey, ‘I Wish You Lonely’ — 2nd track off forthcoming ‘Low in High School’

Morrissey today debuted the second track off his upcoming 11th solo album, Low in High School, via the lyric video you can see below for “I Wish You Lonely,” driven by its mid-tempo stomp and Moz’s insistent vocals. The song follows lead single “Spent the Day in Bed.” Hear the new song right here.

Richard Hell and the Voidoids’ ‘Blank Generation’ to be expanded with unreleased material

Richard Hell and the Voidoids’ ‘Blank Generation’ to be expanded with unreleased material

Richard Hell and the Voidoids’ 1977 debut Blank Generation — a landmark chapter in the history of New York City punk — will receive an expanded 40th anniversary reissue next month, with the original record paired with a disc of previously unreleased studio takes and live tracks. Check out the full tracklist right here.

This week’s new releases: The Dead Milkmen, Alison Moyet, Frankie Goes to Hollywood

This week’s new releases: The Dead Milkmen, Alison Moyet, Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs. All releases due out this Friday unless noted. This week’s releases include titles from The Dead Milkmen, Alison Moyet and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.