This week sees the release of a new album by The Alarm, a Pet Shop Boys complication, a Flaming Lips rarities set, and an And Also the Trees reissue.

The Cure will warm up for its three-night stand at London’s Hammersmith Apollo next week with a pair of special guest appearances on Thursday and Friday at the Brian and Robin’s Christmas Compendium of Reason benefit concert, performing “a small clutch of ‘happy hits'” both nights.

The Cure today announced a pair of Christmas concerts at London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo next month, promising two-and-a-half-hour shows that will find the band “playing songs drawn from their entire 37 year old catalogue including deep cuts, pop songs, fan favourites and surprises galore.”