Lots of new stuff has been happening in music this week, although announcements of new release dates seem to have slowed down somewhat compared to the past few weeks. But we’ve still got plenty of interesting headlines for you this week, from Lady Gaga to Arcade Fire to Mumford & Sons — and some free MP3s for you too? Find them below.
As usual, we also inform you of the latest on the Billboard charts in our “CHARTWATCH” section, as well as noting the FAILs and WINs of the week, and letting you know about newly-announced upcoming release dates at the end of the news survey. And since there’s so much to get to, without further ado, we present…the news survey:
- CHARTWATCH: The Foo Fighters‘ Wasting Light hits #1 on the Billboard 200. Adele follows at #2 with 21, and Paul Simon‘s, Mana‘s, and Alison Krauss‘ new albums also make appearances.
- WIN: A deluxe edition of Arcade Fire‘s Grammy-winning album The Suburbs will com
e with two bonus tracks — release date below!
- FAIL: Lady Gaga‘s album cover for her upcoming May release of Born This Way can be seen on the right:
- Record Store Day was a success for many bands, including Foo Fighters, Radiohead, and Gorillaz.
- WIN: The popular 2009 indie compilation Dark Was The Night might have a sequel soon, and The National are working on a Grateful Dead tribute album.
- Wilco have announced a new single, “I Might,” and a new album that won’t be ready “at least until September.”
- TV On The Radio‘s bassist, Gerard Smith, has died of lung cancer. R.I.P.
- Pop-punk group You, Me, and Everyone We Know have broken up, but have a new single called “Sad Bastard Music” streaming here.
- FAIL: Owl City will be on the next cover of Alternative Press, even though they’re not in the least alternative and deserve absolutely no press.
- The Kaiser Chiefs‘ Ricky Wilson collapsed during a marathon, but is all right.
- The Offspring are working on their 9th album, and Mumford & Sons are working on their sophomore release, due out in 2011. Andrew W.K. would like in on the action, and is also recording currently.
- WIN: Animal Collective announced some new tour dates, including playing Merriweather Post Pavilion, the Maryland venue that their acclaimed 2009 album was named after.
- Various indie artists covered Madonna‘s album True Blue, and the cover album is up for free download here. MP3
- Download Barely Blind‘s free new EP, My Life With A Giant, here. MP3
- Stream the new Explosions In The Sky album and the new of Montreal EP here.
- Washed Out have signed to Sub Pop (release date below), Shearwater have too, Diamond Rings have signed to Astralwerks, and Ellwood have signed to Fat Wreck.
- Washed Out – Within And Without – July 12
- Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV – June 21 (link to the artwork)
- Bon Iver – Bon Iver – June 21
- The Swellers – Good For Me - June 14
- Secondhand Serenade – Weightless EP (acoustic) – May 3
- I Set My Friends On Fire – Astral Rejection – June 21
- Friendly Fires – Pala – May 24
- Tom Vek – Leisure Seizure - June 6
- Fink – Perfect Darkness – June 13
- The Holy Mess – The Holy Mess – June 14
- Delay Trees – Delay Trees – May 10
- Twin Atlantic – Free – May 3
- The Wooden Birds - Two Matchsticks – June 7
- Polar Bear Club – Clash Battle Guilt Pride – summer 2011
- Vanna – And They Came Baring Bones – June 21
- The Crimson Armada – Conviction – June 21
- Chelsea Grin – My Damnation – July 19






