In the headlines for the first full week of April, we have news from MUTEMATH, The Flaming Lips, Blink 182, and the Grammys, along with coverage of the final LCD Soundsystem show and the late Michael Jackson’s doctor’s trial. As usual, we also inform you of the latest on the Billboard charts in our “CHARTWATCH” section, as well as noting the FAIL and WIN of the week. And since there’s so much to get to, without further ado, we present…the news survey:
- CHARTWATCH: Very disappointed to see the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 go
to Britney this week, after such a disappointing album, but shit happens. Nice to see Songs For Japan selling well, and Radiohead at #6 is promising!
- CHARTWATCH: Adele breaks the U.K. record for weeks at #1, topping J-Lo.
- The Grammys are cutting or combining 31 categories. Find me someone who cares.
- You can see a video of Mark Hoppus recording vocals for the upcoming Blink 182 album here, and check out some lyrics for another song here.
- The defense lawyer for Dr. Conrad Murray, who is accused of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, said the pop star committed suicide because of monetary issues. He is also trying to ban Jackson’s autopsy photos from the proceedings.
- WIN/FAIL: LCD Soundsystem‘s 4-hour break-up show in NYC is a total win because the band rocks, but a fail because it’s their last show.
- The Flaming Lips are planning a musical based on their epic 2002 album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. Hopefully it’ll be better than American Idiot.
- Hear the new Foo Fighters album, Wasting Light, (which we’ll be covering this weekend) and watch an exclusive documentary clip here.
- Check out a clip of a new song by Portugal. The Man, one of The Tune’s favorite artists, and go look at their tour dates.
- U2 will break the record for highest-grossing tour of all time.
- Farewell Flight, the Pennsylvania band who released the little-known 2008 standout Sound. Color. Motion., have changed their name to “Indian Summer” and will be releasing a new/old album this summer.
- WIN: Candy Claws, an indie pop band from my town of Fort Collins, CO, are featured on the front page of Pitchfork today with their “Dreamland” episode series.
- OK Go have written a song for an upcoming Morgan Spurlock documentary, and you can listen to “The Greatest Song I Ever Heard” on RollingStone.com.
- Listen to some new Gym Class Heroes material here.
- FAIL: After years of unexplained delay, The Ataris will (meaning MIGHT) finish their new album The Graveyard Of The Atlantic and release it this year.
- MUTEMATH are done with their new album, and it should be out by September. Stay tuned for an exact release date, which will be posted during one of our news surveys in the section below:
New Release Dates
- All Time Low – Dirty Work – June 7
- Cults – Cults – June 7
- Incubus – If Not Now, When? – July 12
- Angels & Airwaves – Love II and Love, The Film – November 11
- They Might Be Giants – Join Us- July 19
- The Rosebuds – Loud Planes Fly Low – June 7 (MP3)
- Kate Bush – Director’s Cut – May 16
- Of Mice & Men – TBA – June 14
- The Dear Hunter – Color Spectrum 9-EP series (36 songs) – June
- The Dangerous Summer – TBA – July
- Memory Tapes – Piano Player – July 5


![Video: The Flaming Lips’ “First Time” gets a naked Amanda Palmer <small>[NSFW]</small>](http://www.the-tune.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/the-flaming-lips-amanda-palmer-nude-hairy-beautiful-video-2012-134x90.jpg)




