Ray Charles will release a new CD entitled Genius Loves Company on on 8/31. Check out some audio from the disc in the form of the Genius Loves Company E-card.

Blonde Redhead are returning to London on September 17th to play a one-off show at the Conway Hall. They'll be joined by Cass McCombs, who will play his first UK show since supporting Cat Power at Shepherds Bush Empire back in March. Tickets are available from the Rough Trade shops or online at Ticketweb.com.

TV On The Radio are back in Europe with appearances at Reading and Leeds, and a full European tour (dates below). Also, 4AD will release a brand new TV On The Radio single in October called "New Health Rock."

Junior Boys have announced club dates with Mouse on Mars and Ratatat to promote Last Exit, their debut LP due for release on September 21st. The full list of dates is below.

Gibby Haynes, frontman of the legendary Butthole Surfers, just released his first solo album on Aug. 24th titled Gibby Haynes and His Problem. You can downloada mp3 of the song '‘Kaiser’ over here.

Statistics are fresh off of a month long jaunt with The Velvet Teen and are already getting ready to saddle up again, this time with Seattle based punsters Minus The Bear. The dates are below.

Then you're in luck! To coincide with the release of their upcoming album, Pressure Chief, on Oct 5th, Cake is launching a tour of the US. They will play a handful of festivals and special dates in September, but the tour starts in earnest in October.

Finally, the sophomore record from UK band UNKLE is reaching our shores. On Oct 26th, Never, Never, Land will be released in the US. Featuring guest appearances by members of Massive Attack, Jarvis Cocker (Pulp), Brian Eno, and former Stone Roses members Ian Brown and Mani, the album has already made a big noise internationally. UNKLE is planning to tour North America in late fall.

In some rather maddening news, the upcoming ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead album release has been push from its October 5th date all the way back until January. The album is apparently finished but the label didn't want to go up against U2, No Doubt and Eminem, all of whom have releases slated for October. Read all about it here.

You are probably well aware and anticipating Interpol's new album, Antics. The album will be out one day earlier in the UK, with a 7"/CD single of "Slow Hands" coming out on September 13 (b-sides to be revealed shortly), so collectors, on your marks...

The new M. Ward album, Transistor will be released by Merge in North America this coming January. Transistor features guest spots from Beth Orton, Vic Chestnutt, and Rachel Blumburg (The Decemberists) as well as many other talented people. A new 3 song CD single will be released in Europe this October, but no song listing there as of now. Tour dates are readily available to you at the more.

Ooh, looky! Here comes a Freaks and Geeks Original Soundtrack, complete with Styx and the Leaving Trains. Tracklisting at the more.

Bjork (ice nymph du jour) and Kelis (she hates you and has a good milkshake) sing on an alternate version of Bjork's new song "Oceania." The two recorded their vocals separately, with Bjork in Iceland and Kelis in New York. You can get it online but not, um, officially.

You can now stream the new Black Keys record, Rubber Factory, in its entirety over at Epitaph. For lots more goodies check out this old post.

We have an update of some new videos on iFilm. Check out a "Prodigy Showcase" of new material from their latest album here. Then browse over here to see a PJ Harvey live at Amoeba Records in Hollywood slideshow. Last, and most definitely least, check out Papa Roach's Getting away with Murder video live here.

Chicago's The Firebird Band will release their first new album in over 3 years, entitled The City At Night, on October 26th through Bifocal Media and Lucid Records. The band is also embarking on an extensive US/Canadian tour insupport of the new album with label mates Kerbloki. This is the first touring The Firebird Band has seen in over 3 years and follows frontman Chris Broach'svigorous travels on the Braid reunion tour.

Durham NC's power duo Des_Ark are finishing up a new album with indie rock luminary Jay Mascis and Pox World Empire kingpin Zeno Gill. The record is slated for an early 2005 release on Bifocal Media and you can look for Des_Ark on tour later this year.

Tiger Army are gearing up for a two month U.S. tour as main support for Social Distortion, which follows up the release of their critically acclaimed new album, III: Ghost Tigers Rise. Rancid bassist Matt Freeman also joins Social Distortion for the tour after long time member John Maurer decided to leave the band. Tickets for the first part of the tour go on sale Saturday, August 28 through Ticketmaster.

After 15 years working together as Orbital, Paul and Phil Hartnoll have announced that their forthcoming LP The Blue Album will be their last. For much more on the album, read below.

How could we pass up posting some LL Cool J news? The rap icon will release his 11th album, DEFintion, on 8/31 and we have some A/V links for you. Check out the video for "Headsprung" in Windows Media and Real Video and the single "Feel The Beat" in Windows Media and Real Audio.