Morrissey's Greatest Hits Collection Coming to U.S.

Quite a while in the making, Morrissey's Greatest Hits collection is coming to the U.S. March 25 on Decca. And, well, with a solitary exception, you'd have a real hard time distinguishing its tracklist from that of its overseas counterpart, which is out now.

The tracklisting for the U.S. Greatest Hits is identical to that of the UK version, and the limited edition bonus CD, Live at the Hollywood Bowl, is practically the same as well, with the lone addition of a U.S.-only bonus take on new single "That's How People Grow Up" from the same show. Like the UK version, the set will arrive on single CD, limited edition two-fer with the live disc, and a double vinyl edition.

Moz has big plans to hit the road in Europe later this year, and, of course, issue that new studio album now due in the fall. Plans so big, he's not even letting us in on 'em. Yet! [MORE...]

Blitzen Trapper Release iTunes, Tour EPs
Collaborative recordings with Fleet Foxes in the works

Photo by Jade Harris

As Blitzen Trapper gear up to take this Wild Mountain Nation (and Canada) by storm on tour starting this weekend, the Portland band is stocking up on the studio goodies for the fans.

First, there is their Live/Acoustic EP, which hit iTunes exclusively this week. It contains five songs, amongst them a single new original ("Going Wrong"). More originals grace the Trappers' other EP release, that previously reported tour-only CD they've prepared for the upcoming trek. On it are six brand spanking new, previously unreleased studio tracks.

Getting back to that tour, it begins February 22 in Seattle and includes stops alongside Man Man, Menomena, Mahjongg, Grand Archives, and others. Most of the dates, however, are with Sub Pop labelmates Fleet Foxes, and they will use the time together to record a collaborative Daytrotter session.

Speaking of Daytrotter sessions, one from last year was just posted this week, featuring the previously unreleased songs "Big Adventure", "Stolen Shoes", and "Preacher's Sister's Boy", the latter of which is also on the tour EP. [MORE...]

GZA Does More Swords, RZA Plans Gigs, Designs Gear

Attention, San Diego, L.A., and San Fran: the head to the Wu-Tang's Voltron body, GZA, is coming to your city to perform 1995's classic Liquid Swords in its entirety.

This trio of Cali dates finds the Genius swinging Swords and cutting clowns much as he did last year at the Pitchfork Music Festival, in London, and a couple times in New York. Bodies will drop, heartbeats will stop, and rhyme thoughts will travel at tremendous speed as the GZA tackles the 1995 classic in full. Come to think of it, that line about "natural blends of weed" will probably apply to the proceedings as well.

RZA has a few shows of his own lined up too. The one they call Bobby Digital will rock Brooklyn this weekend and head to Toronto next month, and he'll also drop by the Hollywood branch of Guitar Center before long for the unveiling of one hella sweet piece of swag, the Roland RZA/Forat Custom MV8800. Co-designed by RZA and audio guy Bruce Forat, the sampler/synthesizer is limited to a run of eight machines. They go on sale February 28 and will put you back nearly six grand, but the price includes a tutorial session with the RZA himself that very day.

RZA's also working on a new Bobby Digital album for Koch records, and will appear in the upcoming movie Gospel Hill with Danny Glover, Julia Stiles, and Angela Bassett.

In other news of the Wu, they recently wrapped their kickass (if RZA/8 Diagrams free) winter tour, U-God's suing the Wu Music Group over royalties for said 8 Diagrams, and the Tough Alliance recently showed some love (and their stripes) in tribute to a fallen Wu legend. [MORE...]

PJ Harvey to Issue "The Devil" Single

Front page photo by Kathryn Yu

Swooping down on CD, 7", and digital packets of data and such comes "The Devil", the third single from PJ Harvey's stark and stunning White Chalk LP. The tune will be backed with the previously unreleased track "Liverpool Tide", which NME reports dates back a decade. "The Devil" emerges March 10 in the UK on Island.

Polly Jean and her band have a handful of dates on the way at the moment, including one tonight in Melbourne, Australia. No plans to return to the U.S. right now, but we can watch her perform on the March 21 episode of Nigel Godrich's TV show "From the Basement".

And, should you need yet another reason to worship this woman, she and John Parish will meet yet again for their follow up to 1996's Dance Hall at Louse Point due later this year. [MORE...]

Pumpkins Add Dates, Corgan Sings for Hook's Freebass
New Smashing Pumpkins jam turns up on Guitar Center comp

Photo by Shervin Lainez

Wherefore art thou, Billy Corgan? It's been some six weeks since you and your Smashing Pumpkins last graced our news pages, but here you are again, with plentiful items of interest for your devotees.

First there is the matter of Freebass, the Peter Hook/Andy Rourke/Mani all-bass supergroup. Freebass, as you know, have been recording with a number of different vocalists, including ex-Stone Rose Ian Brown and the Charlatans' Tim Burgess. A BBC 6 Music report yesterday quotes Hook as saying, "We persuaded Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins [to work with us]." Mr. Corgan will, presumably, assist in the vocal capacity, as will Haven frontman Gary Briggs, UK singer Rowetta, and celebrity dope-dealer Howard Marks ("doing a rap," according to Hook). Oh boy!

Then there is the matter of new Smashing Pumpkins tune "Superchrist", which will appear exclusively on a Guitar Center compilation due from the retailer March 1. According to a Billboard.com report, said compilation will be rounded out by a bunch of bands comprised of Guitar Center employees. Oh boy!

And finally, of course, there is the matter of the Smashing Pumpkins' touring travels, which have expanded since our last report to include three stops in New Zealand and one in Adelaide, Australia. Oh etc. [MORE...]

Spoon Announce Spring Tour With the Walkmen
White Rabbits, too

Spoon photo by Matt Jordan, Walkmen photo by Natalie Kardos

In a teaming of two of the most nattily dressed bands in indie rock (at least in an Esquire magazine sort of way), Spoon and the Walkmen will hit the road together this April. Expect a run on well-tailored, high-quality button-down shirts just before the outing begins April 2 in Kansas City.

Up-and-comers White Rabbits will open the trek. They have also been known to go business casual.

Spoon have also added a few U.S. dates sans Walkmen and White Rabbits. The Walkmen have that tour with Vampire Weekend coming up as well, speaking of business casual.

And don't forget that just in time for the tour, Merge will release Spoon's "Don't You Evah" EP on April 8. [MORE...]

Arctic Monkeys' Turner Preps Last Shadow Puppets LP
Strings by Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett, production by Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford

Arctic Monkeys frontguy Alex Turner writes well into the margins, and it's no real surprise that-- even with his Monkeys' current "one album a year" average-- he's got even more to say than a single band can contain. So he's teamed up with old friend Miles Kane, formerly of onetime Monkeys tourmates the Little Flames and presently of the Rascals (not the "Good Lovin'" Rascals, mind), for a forthcoming LP.

Calling themselves the Last Shadow Puppets, Turner and Kane will release their debut, The Age of the Understatement, via Domino on April 21 in the UK and May 6 in the U.S. The disc features production from Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford (who also helmed the sessions for the last AM disc), and packs in 12 tracks. Orchestration was provided by another young talent: Owen Pallett of Final Fantasy, who conducted the 22-piece London Metropolitan Orchestra for the recording.

The world will get a glimpse of the Last Shadow Puppets on April 15, when Domino unleashes a single for title track "The Age of the Understatement" in 7" and digital formats.

First the first time in some time, there's not a whole lot else going on with those Arctic Monkeys at the moment, though their own Matt Hedlers did recently remix the Hives, so that's something. [MORE...]

Dalek Tour With Russian Circles, RJD2
Young Widows join in the fun as well

Starting now, February becomes a loud month, as noise-hoppers Dälek and headbanging Chicago now-duo Russian Circles join up for a U.S. tour that will take them from Chicago to Rockford, Illinois (with, admittedly, quite a few stops in between). The jaunt kicks off tonight at the Windy City's Subterranean.

Both groups have plenty of shows following the tour. For Dälek, those shows include a run with RJD2 and a bunch of gigs in Europe (including pretty much every nook and cranny of France). For Russian Circles, who release their new album Station May 6 on new label Suicide Squeeze, the shows are at SXSW and with Red Sparowes beyond.

Jade Tree UPDATE: THEY JUST SIGNED TO TEMPORARY RESIDENCE post-punkers Young Widows will join Dälek and Russian Circles for all dates of the joint tour. And speaking of Jade Tree, the label released Paint It Black's New Lexicon today, which features production by Dälek's Oktopus. [MORE...]

Black Mountain, Bon Iver Kick Off Joint Tour Tonight
NPR to stream tonight's gig, 4AD to issue Bon Iver' album in UK/Europe

Black Mountain photo by Jessica Miller

From Forever Ago to way off In the Future, they'll flock: Jagjaguwar labelmates Black Mountain and Bon Iver kick off their joint North American tour tonight at Washington, DC's Rock and Roll Hotel. From there, the two entities will bring their potent blend of arresting, atmospheric folk and punishing hard rawk to stages far and wide for three weeks or so before jointly making their ways to SXSW.

And if you're not available for a trip to the District this evening, feast your ears on this: NPR's All Songs Considered Live in Concert series will bring the whole streamin' thing to its website starting tonight at 9 PM EST. And, if you've been unable to make it to a North American record shop today to pick up the Jagjaguwar reissue of Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago, 4AD will bring the disc to the UK and Europe May 12.

Bon Iver recently added a few Midwestern dates in April to follow his brief post-Mountain run with Phosphorescent, so we've got those if you're looking for 'em. And Black Mountain's "Don't Run Our Hearts Around" (along with tracks from Ladyhawk and Vetiver) appears in Murray Siple's shopping cart racing flick Carts of Darkness, which is making the festival circuit at present.

And, hey, speaking of the festival circuit, Black Mountain will join the rest making the rounds at the ATP vs. Pitchfork festival in early May. [MORE...]

Hot Chip, Diplo, Spank Rock Remix Delicious Vinyl

Remember "Wild Thing"? How about "Bust a Move"? "Drop"? "What's Up Fat Lip"? All were released by pioneering L.A. hip-hop label Delicious Vinyl.

This summer, the imprint responsible for launching the careers of Tone-Loc, Young MC, the Pharcyde, Brand New Heavies, and many more will celebrate itself with the remix compilation Rmxxology. Hot Chip, Diplo, Spank Rock and Amanda Blank, Ed Banger's Mr. Flash, Phillipians, and Bobby Evans of Brother Reade are among those who will contribute tweakings of the Delicious Vinyl catalog.

The compilation's first single was Peaches' remix of Tone-Loc's "Wild Thing". Its second is by Baltimore club connoisseurs (and Lily Allen pals) Aaron LaCrate and Debonair Samir, who have remixed Young MC's "Know How Theme" and Masta Ace's "Jeep Ass Niguh". The "Delicious Gutter" single is out February 26 on 12", CD, and digital download.

Check out the single's cover up there at the top of the story, and the "Gutter" remix of "Know How Theme" right here:

Tilly and the Wall Tour, Pressnall Does Flowers Forever

Something happened to Tilly and the Wall's Derek Pressnall. Something weird, inexplicable, and otherworldly. Just what happened isn't exactly clear, but it was a powerful enough trip to cause Pressnall to drop the Tilly stuff for a bit and form Flowers Forever, a new band featuring Pressnall and pals. The self-titled debut full-length from Flowers Forever hit stores today (February 19) from Team Love, and a couple live dates are set to follow.

Fear not, though; Pressnall's break from Tilly, like his break from reality, is only temporary. Here, come see Tilly and the Wall as they tour the country with labelmates Capgun Coup in the coming weeks! Ahh, that's better. [MORE...]

TVT Files for Bankruptcy, Trent Reznor Rejoices

Current home to Lil Jon, the Ying Yang Twins, Pitbull, Dude 'N Nem, the famed Crunk Hits compilation series, and (why not?) the Polyphonic Spree, NYC-based TVT Records has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection, according to an official statement released today.

The independent label made the move "in order to address urgent financial challenges and to support its future development," according to a press release, although it plans to "continue to market and promote its current projects and schedule upcoming releases." Affiliate company TVT Music Publishing will not be affected by the filing.

"The downturn in the music business has affected all of us, independents and majors alike," said TVT president and founder Steve Gottlieb in the statement. "We all seek to adapt to a new business model. I believe our history of innovative marketing, creative branding, and artist discovery are as much in demand today as ever before and that we will emerge from this reorganization a stronger entity."

While focused primarily on hip-hop and the odd indie band in recent years, TVT originally gained prominence with early releases from Nine Inch Nails and KMFDM, and went on to release records from Guided by Voices, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Autechre-- among many others-- over its 23 years so far in the business.

A representative from TVT tells Pitchfork that the label plans to continue to put out new records by all of its artists, including the Polyphonic Spree, Dude 'N Nem (check out these amazing new songs), Ambulance LTD, the Holloways, Lil Jon, and others. However, the label's financial setbacks will slow down business as usual, naturally.

For commentary on the situation, we turn to Trent Reznor, mastermind behind former TVT signing Nine Inch Nails. "Not ALL news about the music industry is bad these days," wrote Reznor in a posting on the NIN site yesterday that included a link to AllHipHop.com's breaking story about TVT's bankruptcy. The title of that post: "you're gonna get yours." No hard feelings, huh Trent?

Do you have a news tip for us? Anything crazy happen at a show you attended recently? Do you have inside info on the bands we cover? Is one of your favorite artists (that's not somebody you know personally) releasing a new record you'd like to see covered? You will remain completely anonymous, unless we are given your express permission to reveal your identity. (Please note that publicists, managers, booking agents, and other artist representatives are generally exempt from this rule, but will also be granted anonymity if requested.)