Music News & Notes

Mastodon Release Another Box Set

Atlanta metal monsters Mastodon have already released their crust-prog opus Crack the Skye as one badass special edition, but next month, they'll turn it into another big box. Crack the Skye's "Royal Edition" is available only from Mastodon's website, and it'll ship on December 15. And it's pretty fancy.

The Royal Edition will include both the full-length Crack the Skye album on CD and the Crack the Skye score on a second CD. You'll also get an exclusive lithograph (the first few of which will be signed by the band) and instant downloads of live versions of "Divinations" and "Colony of Birchmen". It'll all come in a gold-stamped foiled digi-book with new art from longtime Mastodon cover artist Paul Romano.

Order it here: www.mastodonrocks.com

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New Interpol Album Coming Next Year

Interpol haven't released a new album since 2007's middling Our Love to Admire. Since then, the members of the band have been pretty busy with extracurricular activities: singer Paul Banks' solo project Julian Plenti, bassist Carlos D's short film, drummer Sam Fogarino's band with Swervedriver's Adam Franklin, Magnetic Morning.

Now, Fogarino tells Paste that the snappily dressed NYC brooders spent spring 2009 recording a new album, which is due for release via Capitol early next year

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JORN, WINGER, DANGER DANGER Limited-Edition Picture Discs Due In January

Inner Wound Recordings has announced the first releases on the label. JORN's "Spirit Black", DANGER DANGER's "Revolve" and WINGER's "Karma" will all be made available as limited 12" picture-disc editions, strictly limited to 250 copies. A deal was inked with the Italian label Frontiers Records and the release date is set for January 21 for the three releases.

The discs are available for pre-order here: www.innerwound.com

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Eminem Releasing “Relapse: The Refill” Instead of “Relapse 2 ” in December

Eminem will release Relapse: The Refill — and not Relapse 2 — on December 21st, the rapper announced on his official website yesterday. The Refill will include the entire Relapse, plus seven songs that didn’t make the album. The DJ Hero exclusive “Taking My Ball” and the Drake/Lil Wayne/Kanye/Eminem collaboration “Forever” will be included on Refill, Rap-Radar reports, with the other five songs being previously unreleased.

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Starr and McCartney Duet on New Ringo Album

The new Ringo Starr album is a star-studded affair, with a visit from the only surviving Beatle as well as other famous musicians.

McCartney shares the lead on the albums first single, "Walk With You," which was composed by Starr and Van Dyke Parks and plays bass on the cut "Peace Dream."

Starr told the story of the McCartney collaboration on "Walk With You" in a press release:

"Paul was doing the Grammys, so he came over to the house and was playing bass on ‘Peace Dream.’ So I played him this other track and Paul said, ‘Give me the headphones. Give me a pair of cans.’ And he went to the mike and he just invented that part where he follows on my vocal. That was all Paul McCartney, and there could be nothing better."

Also included on the album, either performing and/or as a songwriter:

•Joe Walsh who co-wrote "Fill in the Blanks," the album's opener, and performs the song with Starr.
•Joss Stone
•Richard Marx
•Ben Harper
•Benmont Tench of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
•Dave Stewart
•Glen Ballard

The album is produced by Ringo who said in his statement

"I was the least involved in the production of the Beatle records and then with my solo records, I worked with some other great producers like Richard Perry, Arif Mardin, and Don Was. So it just seemed like that's the way that it goes. Then suddenly, it's another point in your life, and you say, 'I'm going do this now.' So I'll be producing anything I make from now on."