Last week ended on a grim note with a dramatic suicide during a Swell Season show and the death of Ou Est Le Swimming vocalist Charles Haddon (also widely believed to be a suicide). While these unfortunate events remain fresh in our minds, things have certainly picked up since then. Music, perhaps more so than anything else, proves that life does indeed go on. At least with music, there’s always something to look forward to. Tragedies cannot always be avoided, but for now let’s focus on the positive as opposed to the negative.
—Weezer caused some controversy after suggesting they may have been bought off for their new album.
— A week after surprising us with a new EP, Sufjan Stevens detailed his forthcoming full-length, his first since 2005’s Illinoise. He dropped an early taste of the album in the form of “I Walked”.
— Kanye West introduced G.O.O.D. Fridays.
— Bruce Springsteen pulled, well, a Bruce Springsteen and dropped plans for yet another mind-numbing box set.
— The equally legendary Bob Dylan also announced plans for a massive box set release. Get ready for some more bootlegs!
— Ted Leo took on Broadway.
— The Swell Season announced a hiatus. Not retirement. Get it right.
— U2 and Jay-Z will tour together down under.
— First there was Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg. Now Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen are teaming up! Look for their collaboration soon.
—Bjork premiered a new, kids-friendly song/ music video.
— Two tracks from Elton John and Leon Russell‘s forthcoming joint effort surfaced.
— Ronnie Wood teamed up with Eddie Vedder, Flea, and Slash for his new solo album.
— Ray Davies has tapped an eclectic group of collaborators for his new duet album.
— The Cure revealed that they’ve got lots in store for 2011.
— Badly Drawn Boy announced a new studio LP, his first in four years.
— Matt & Kim detailed their new record.
— Dhani Harrison, Joseph Arthur, and Ben Harper teamed up to form Fistful Of Mercy.
— Austin City Limits unveiled a slew of after shows.
–Think you know who will headline Coachella next year. Click here and let the debates begin.
— We premiered a brand new video from Montreal “sloppy pop” band Parlovr.
— Matt Melis reviewed Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell‘s new album.
— Chris Coplan offered his thoughts on of the biggest releases of the year: Interpol‘s fourth LP.
— Winston Robbins and Philip Cosores covered Rock The Bells.
— Karina Hall sat down with Chromeo.
— Ryan Burlson interviewed Evan Abeele of Memoryhouse.
— In the latest edition of our Cinema Sounds series, Ted Maider explores the Mallrats sountrack.