[News] The Strokes Working On New Album

The making of The Strokes' last album Angles was a struggle in every sense of the word. Not only did it take five years to record, but the recording process itself was fraught with setbacks, Julian Casablancas recording separate from the rest of the band, and an overall sense of disparity within the band. It's good to hear, though, that the band is back in the studio working on their fifth album, and they're all together recording as a band. According to Billboard, The Strokes are hard at work in New York's Electric Lady Studios on their as-of-yet-untitled fifth studio album. The album is being mixed by Gus Oberg, who helped mix both Angles and Albert Hammond Jr.'s 2008 solo effort Como Te Llama?, and is the band's final album under their contract with RCA. Let's all hope that the recording of this album will go over much more smoothly than Angles, and hopefully the band can recapture the fantastic sound and energy they put forth in their debut album Is This It over a decade ago.

[News] No Doubt Titles Reunion Album 'Push and Shove'

According to an issued press release, the Gwen Stefani-led ska outfit No Doubt will be returning on September 25th with their first album in over a decade. The album is titled Push and Shove and the first single, "Settle Down," will be released on July 16th. As well, the accompanying video for the lead single will be directed by Sophie Muller and will also be released next month.

For more details regarding Push and Shove, head over to the band's official website.

[News] Bloc Party Announce Intimate Rehearsal Gig Competition

Fresh off the back of their newly announced album, Four, Bloc Party have now unveiled details of a very special rehearsal gig in which they'll debut new material along with playing some of their classic hits. To be in with a chance of being at the show head over to the band's official facebook page. 5 winners will be chosen, each are then allowed to bring a guest to the show which takes place at "a legendary London venue" on Monday, June 18th. I've applied, have you?!

Four is released on the 20th of August via Frenchkiss Records.

[News] Passion Pit Announce Fall Tour

With their highly anticipated sophomore LP Gossamer dropping on July 24th, Passion Pit have a busy year ahead of them. Their summer is already full of tour dates and festival appearances, including one-off shows with both Justice and Hot Chip, the band has decided that a fall tour is in order. Starting on September 11th, the Massachussetts outfit will be back on the road for two full months, performing at fifteen cities across North America. Check out their full tour schedule after the jump, with newly added dates in italics.

Passion Pit 2012 Tour Dates:
06/22 – Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
06/23 – New York, NY @ Governors Ball Music Festival
07/15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bunbury Music Festival
07/16 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
07/17 – Knoxville, TN @ The Valarium
07/19 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
07/20 – Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
07/21 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival
08/03 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/05 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Music Festival
08/07 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater *
08/09 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Twilight Concert Series
08/10 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival
08/18 – Tokyo, JP @ Summer Sonic
08/19 – Osaka, JP @ Summer Sonic
08/21 – Singapore @ Esplanade Concert Hall
08/24-26 – Reading and Leeds, UK @ Reading and Leeds Festival
09/09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl #
09/11 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
09/12 – Santa Fe, NM @ Santa Fe Convention Center
09/14 – Arlington, TX @ College Park Center
09/15 – Austin, TX @ The Backyard
10/18 – Raleigh, NC @ Disco Rodeo
10/19 – Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
10/20 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
10/22 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
10/26 – Oxford, MS @ The Lyric
10/27 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall
10/29 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
11/01 – Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
11/02 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oa Music Theatre
11/06 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
11/14 – Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion

* = w/ Justice
# = w/ Hot Chip

[News] Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter Scores New Lindsay Lohan Short Film

In the midst of recording their not-so-secret fourth studio album, Thomas Bangalter, one half of French electro duo Daft Punk, has scored a new short film titled First Point, starring Lindsay Lohan. According to The New York Times, the film focuses on the subject of surfing and is the brainchild of artist Richard Phillips. No stranger to scoring films, Bangalter created an "ominously swelling score," fitting with the subject matter of the film.

The film also features the work of legendary surfer filmmaker Taylor Steele, as well as the help of surfer Kassia Meador as Lohan's stunt double. First Point is set to premiere this week at Art Basel. Check out the official trailer above.

[News] Animal Collective Announce North American Tour Dates

In support of their forthcoming LP Centipede Hz, due out on September 4th through Domino Records, Animal Collective will be hitting the road and touring throughout North America. Starting on September 18th in Seattle, the tour will take the Baltimore psychedelic outfit down the West Coast, through the Southwest, and even to their favorite venue, the famed Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. Check out their full tour itinerary after the jump, and if you've yet to hear their recent two-song single, "Honeycomb" and "Gotham," head here.

Animal Collective 2012 Tour Dates:
07/12 – Ostrava, CZ @ Colours of Ostrava
07/13-15 – Lake Balaton, HR @ Balaton Sound
09/18 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
09/19 – Vancouver, BC @ Malkin Bowl
09/20 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
09/21 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre
09/23 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
09/25 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
09/27 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
09/28 – Austin, TX @ The Backyard
09/29 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
09/30 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
10/02 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
10/03 – Philadelphia, PA @ Mann Centre for Performing Arts
10/05 – Brooklyn, NY @ Williamsburg Park
11/01 – Utrecht, NL @ Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn
11/02 – Paris, FR @ Pitchfork Music Festival Paris
11/03 – Strasbourg, FR @ La Laiterie
11/04 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
11/06 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street
11/07 – Glasgow, UK @ ABC 1
11/08 – Manchester, UK @ The Warehouse Project
11/09 – Tourcoing, FR @ Le Grand Mix
11/10 – Antwerp, BE @ Trix Club
11/12 – Copenhagen, DK @ Copenhagen Film Festival
11/13 – Goteborg, SE @ Pustervik
11/14 – Stockholm, SE @ Debaster Medis
11/15 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene
11/16 – Lund, SE @ Majeriet
11/17 – Weissenhauser, DE @ Rolling Stone Weekender
11/18 – Berlin, DE @ Astra Kulturhaus
11/19 – Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks
11/20 – Zurich, CH @ X-tra

[News] Grimes, Kreayshawn, Blood Diamonds, and Tragik Form L$D

In a completely out of the blue and random turn of events, Grimes, Blood Diamonds, Kreayshawn, and LA rapper Tragik have announced that they have formed a new group called L$D. The new collective's first track is titled "Don't Smoke My Blunt Bitch," which apparently took a total of ten minutes to record, with the accompanying music video taking less than an hour. If you decide to watch the video for the song above, you'll understand right away.

[News] Big Boi Announces Release Date for 'Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors'

Big Boi recently took to Twitter to announce that his next album will be titled Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors, and followed that up with a brand new track featuring Theophilus London. Now, the rapper has once again taken to Twitter to announce that the album will be released on November 13th, so here's hoping he's true to his word. Give the Theophilus London-featuring track "She Said OK," which may or may not be included on the album, below.