Singing that "It's easier to leave than be left behind," Michael Stipe waxes pensive in R.E.M.'s latest single "Leaving New York". Check out the video on IFilm, here.

Son, Ambulance has finished up their follow-up to 2001's debut full-length, Euphemystic. The new record is entitled Key, it will be released October 26th, 2004. We here it's pretty great.

Now It's Overhead's recently released their new CD Fall Back Open and the band also just released the first single "Wait in a Line." Check out the tour dates below. All shows opening for Rilo Kiley except a few that Athens buddies REM asked them along for.

Bright Eyes has announced plans for 2 new singles, 2 new full-lengths, and loads of touring in the coming months. After the first of the year, there will also be a full US tour in support of the new records. Here are the dates for the new Bright Eyes releases:

Last week, Liars Academy had all their equipment stolen out of their trailer in the Roland Park area of Baltimore, MD. This comes right on the heels of the release of the band's new album, Demons, and in the middle of their east coast tour. In an effort to get Liars Academy back on their feet and out on the road, the band is accepting donations via Paypal to the account: LiarsAcademy@equalvision.com.

The soundtrack for the movie I Heart Huckabees will be completely done by Jon Brion, whose previous soundtracks include Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love. The soundtrack will include instrumental music from the movie as well as five new songs by Mr. Brion. The soundtrack is due out October 12.

The Ike Reilly Assassination is set to release their second album, Sparkle In The Finish, on October 12. Two tracks from the new album and a few from their first album, Salesmen and Racists, are available for streaming on the official website linked here.

There is tons of speculation coming off an interview last night with ex-Stone Roses/current Primal Scream bassist Mani. It seems that he and Roses ex-frontman, and pretty successful solo artist in his own right, Ian Brown have been chatting lately. In Primal Scream news, the band is back in the studio and plans to release an album around Easter.

Sorry for the short notice, but the Polyphonic Spree will be playing a free show as part of the Kennedy Center's Performing Arts for Everyone Series in DC tomorrow night (Oct 1st). The line will form at 5pm on the River Terrace, and the free show starts at 6pm. Bring your smile.

Following in Jewel's footsteps, ex-Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan will release a book of poetry tomorrow (Oct 1) entitled Blinking With Fists. Corgan will also be heading out on a book tour where you can meet him and have your copy signed on a first come/first served basis. However, if you want to catch him reading his poetry, that will cost you a bit. Tour dates below...

On Oct 8, Sonic Youth, David Johansen (New York Dolls), The Strokes, Blondie, Andrew W.K., Sean Lennon and more will be teaming up to perform for the Cedars Sinai Cancer Research Center and the Lymphoma Cancer Research Foundation at the club Spirit in NYC. Johnny Ramone was heading up the event, but sadly passed away from prostate cancer on Sept 15.

After a 20-year legal battle, a California judge has ruled that the remaining 10 pages of the FBI's file on John Lennon must be turned over to Jonathan Wiener, a UC-Irvine professor who sued the government in 1983 for the file under the Freedom of Information Act. One has to wonder what 10 little pages could contain...

Massachusetts-born Joe Pernice of the Pernice Brothers has posted a song in honor of the Red Sox' Manny Ramirez on their website for limited-time download. Proceeds from the song, "Moonshot Manny (Pega Luna Manny)," will go towards Boston's First Night.

According to a news post on Cave In's site, they have been working on a joint effort with fellow New Englanders Converge. There is no word yet on when it will be completed or how it will be released. In the meantime, check out both bands together on their fall tour.

Multi-talented Norwegian singer/songwriter Sondre Lerche is coming back to the States for a club tour that runs from mid-October to December. Check out the dates...

Word on the official website is that a new Weezer album, the follow-up to Maladroit (2002), should be complete sometime after the holidays. That would put it in line for a spring release. Now doesn't that make you feel good?

Flaming Lips' frontman Wayne Coyne has been heard talking cryptically about their next album, set for release in mid-2005. When describing the sound of the new music they're making, Coyne said it is "a sort of progressive Dixieland." Well, alrighty then.

Since reunions are en vogue right now, it shouldn't be all that surprising that Evan Dando is said to be getting the Lemonheads back together. According to reports, the band is working on a new album (their first in 8 years), and they did play a festival in Norway this summer.

After their successful run as an opening band for Franz Ferdinand, Sunderland's finest The Futureheads are planning to come back to the States for their own club tour in November. No dates have been set as of yet, but when they are, we'll let tell you all about it.

Did anyone realize Death Cab for Cutie has one of the most relentless touring schedules ever? Strangely you might even be able to see them with Pearl Jam, blink 182 (as the opening act), or possibly headlining with Travis Morrison or Pretty Girls Make Graves in tow.