New Rekkid Alerts: LCD Soundsystem, Band of Horses

LCD Soundsystem have announced that their third, as yet untitled, album will be released May 18 on DFA/Virgin. In an interview with Pitchfork, bandleader James Murphy admitted to being embarrassed by the length of the new effort - a mere nine songs covering 65 minutes. In other Murphy news, he will contribute seven new songs to the soundtrack for a new Noah Baumbach film titled Greenberg. Pitchfork reports that these songs "sound nothing like LCD Soundsystem." The soundtrack is out on March 23 and the movie is due on March 26.

Band of Horses is all set to release their new album Infinite Arms on May 18, except they haven't decided on a label yet. According to Billboard, the band is being wined and dined by several major labels, so it's probably safe to say that they are no longer part of the Sub Pop stable. The album was produced by Phil Ek, known for his work with Built to Spill and Fleet Foxes.

Carissa's Wierd Reunion Show & Reissue News

Carissa's Wierd used to be hyped-to-the-high-heavens (hello, The Stranger!) in and around the turn of this century. After releasing three studio albums and developing a sizable cult following, they called it a day in 2003 and former members have gone on to greener pastures with acts like Band of Horses, Grand Archives and Sera Cahoone. 

Sub Pop sister label Hardly Art today announced they will release a Carissa Wierd retrospective compilation called They’ll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003 on July 13 and follow that with reissues of the band’s three studio albums — Ugly but Honest, You Should Be at Home Here and Songs about Leaving - all out of print and never before released on vinyl or digital formats. The band also plans to reunite to play at least one Seattle-area show around the release of the retrospective. Whee!

Hardly Art Rewinds With Limited Cassette Releases

Great news for all you folks who still drive Trans Ams and Dodge Chargers! Hardly Art is jumping headfirst into 1970, as they are tapping GGNZLA Records to release a select number of Hardly Art titles on cassette. GGNZLA have championed the cassette medium for years, churning out releases by The Spits, Pharmacy, Butts and more. Now available on GGNZLA's website  - a two-sided cassette featuring both of the Dutchess & The Duke's releases as well a spooly version of the new album by Golden Triangle. The upcoming Unnatural Helpers album will also be given the C-90 treatment. Only 200 copies of each cassette will be issued, so dive in, ya hoarder!

More Record Store Day Releases Revealed

Earlier this week, we told you about the Sub Pop Soundgarden single coming out for Record Store Day. Now we get word that EMI is trotting out a "John Lennon Singles Bag" - a limited edition, numbered Kraftpak envelope packed with three 45 singles with repros of original artwork - "Mother," "Imagine" and "Watching the Wheels." The package will also contain a 24" X 36" poster, three postcards and a plastic 45 adaptor. Also coming from EMI (c'mon, sneer it like Johnny Rotten!)  - a limited 180-gram double LP gatefold edition of the Sex Pistols' The Great Rock n' Roll Swindle soundtrack.

Death Cab's Chris Walla Starts Label

Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla has started a new record label called Trans Records, which will be part of Warner Brothers' Independent Music Group. Anacortes's finest, The Lonely Forest, is the lucky first band on the roster. Walla plans to accompany them to the studio this spring to work on their Trans debut. Congrats to both!

Out and About This Weekend

Go to a show or ten. Here's a good start...

Thursday

SXSW Send-Off Party w/Grynch, Dyme Def, THEESatisfaction, Pearly Gate Music, and Thee Emergency - Tractor Tavern

Mavis Staples - Jazz Alley

Friday

SXSW Send-Off Bash w/Visqueen, Hey Marseilles, Mash Hall and Fences - Neumos

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Whigs, The Hounds Below - Showbox Market

Thao (from Thao With the Get Down Stay Down), Alaskas, Deception Pass, GGR - Vera Project

Skerdio (Skerik & Radioactive from Spearhead) - Tractor Tavern

Hoquiam (Damien & Drake Jurado), Mongrel Blood, Generifus - Cairo

Snoop Dogg!, Helladope - Showbox SODO

Shackleton, Daega Sound System - Nectar

Saturday

Hollow Earth Radio's Magma Festival 2010: Rich Jensen, Alex Kostelnik, My Printer Broke, Butts, Human Skab, Al Larsen, Tom Price & Friends, The Thrown Ups, Sleepy Workers, DJ Bruce Pavitt - The Mine (5113 Russell Ave NW in Ballard)

The Cave Singers, The Dutchess & the Duke, Feral Children - Showbox Market

Grand Hallway, Mighty Tiger - The Triple Door

Sound Off! Finals - EMP

Little Boots, Dragonette, Class Actress, Tiger Beat - Neumos

Snoop Dogg!, Helladope - Showbox SODO

KEXP Presents Audioasis Live Remote And Benefit Show: The Whore Moans, the Cute Lepers, Spinning Whips, Afternoon America, DJ Hannah Levin

Ratcity Rollergirl After Party: The Pack A.D., DJ Shalimar - The Funhouse

The Spooges (Stooges tribute band!), Criss Crass, Thankless Dogs - High Dive

North Twin (last show!), The Tripwires, Jeff Fielder - Sunset Tavern

Grand Hallway, Mighty Tiger - The Triple Door

Sunday

Sunday Bloody Sunset: Broshis, the Fuzz, Rat City Brass (Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass tribute band!) - Sunset Tavern

Sevendust, Drowning Pool, Digital Summer, the Flood - Showbox Market

Basia Bulat, Ivan & Alyosha, Haley Bonar - Tractor Tavern