Gone for far too long, there is finally some good news from Teenage Fanclub – they are releasing their first album since 2000 (not counting the best-of comp), Man-Made, on May 2 in the UK (see cover art). Since this is coming out on their own PeMa label, there’s no info on a North American release but surely someone will arrange to distribute it in the colonies.

It might be a little much to hope for a tour as well, but considering they came over in 2001 for no particular reason (I don’t think Howdy! had been out in the US yet though it was available up here) and played a magnificent sold-out show at the Opera House, I know at least one city would make it worth their while. We loves the Fannies, oh yes we do. Very much looking forward to this one. And if you haven’t yet, check out the exclusive live and demo tracks available on their website.

Also coming out May 2 in the UK is the debut album from The Tears, aka Bernard and Brett from Suede (if you didn’t know). The record is called Here Come The Tears (which also answers the question of how the band name is pronounced – ‘tir or ‘tar). The first single is “Refugees” and there’s a streaming clip of it available here. Their label also has a big long writeup on the album.

The Shins are finally coming back to Toronto after almost three years. April 17 at the Kool Haus. That’s right, the Kool Haus. God I hate that place. Anyone else remember seeing them at the Rivoli in July 2002? That was a nice little show. I’m having some trouble envisioning their indie pop in a cavernous room like the Kool Haus… Man, I had no idea they were so big now. I blame Natalie Portman. She needs to be punished. Yes she does… Oh yeah, it appears support on this tour will be New Zealand’s The Brunettes. Tickets $21, on sale now.

Also coming back to town at Lee’s Palace on April 17, after a two month absence, is M Ward who kicked so much ass at the ElMo on Sunday. This time it’ll be with a full band, Norfolk & Western, who are also opening along with Devotchka.

And if you don’t want to see The Shins or M Ward, you can catch The Golden Republic and Aqueduct at the Horseshoe that same night, April 17, tickets $8. God, when was the last time so much was going on in town on a Sunday night? Oh yeah, this past Sunday.

Also at the ‘Shoe on April 29 will be Sweden’s Mando Diao and The Comas, admission $10.

Oh, and what was I saying about Joe Pernice yesterday? May 5 4, Horseshoe, $10. We love ya, Joe. Update: Hang on, just noticed that Adult is scheduled for the ‘Shoe on May 5. Maybe The Toronto Star had the date wrong? I’ll try to find out what’s what… Update 2: Thanks to Craig from Against The Grain for sorting things out for me. The show is May 4.

Pitchfork and XFM are reporting that J and Lou and Murph are together again as Dinosaur Jr and will play the Fuji Rock Festival and then some UK dates. J Mascis’ website confirms. I don’t know how I feel about this – I only got into Dino Jr when Lou was already gone, so he’s never been an integral part of the band from my perspective – hell, my favourite Dino Jr albums – Green Mind, Where You Been – are both post-Lou, though I will not argue that Bug is awesome. I would hope their hatchet can stay buried long enough to do some North American dates. I’ve never seen Dino in any incarnation, nor J on his own, so I’d be happy to get the opportunity – especially if they’re doing Dino tunes. But if they play “Poledo”, someone’s gonna get hurt. Lou Barlow recently talked to The Journal News about his new album Emoh and he also pretty much confirms the reunion plans.

Billboard introduces America to Stars. Set Yourself On Fire gets a release Stateside next Tuesday.

Sloan’s Twice Removed has been voted the greatest Canadian album of all time by Chart readers.

Why does “priceless” have a positive meaning while “worthless” has a negative meaning? Just wondering.

np – Arcade Fire / Funeral

Sometime in the wee hours of last night, at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom, Luna played one last encore, said farewell and left the stage for the last time. They leave behind seven studio albums, one live album, several EPs and a sad spot in my heart as one of my favourite bands ever are no more.

Andy, who runs the Galaxie 500/Luna website Full Of Wishes, has started a groupblog – Luna’s Last Waltz – to document the final days of the band, collecting reviews, photos, testimonials and reminiscences from fans over the course of their final tour. There’s some really nice dispatches and photos from last night, including a pic of Dean loading his guitar into a cab to go home.

For my part, I bid the band farewell last Fall, first in Toronto and then Chicago (from where today’s photo was taken) even though that turned out to not be their final date in the Windy City – they stopped by once more last month on their way back home to New York City for their final four shows over three days.

Update: Photos from the last show.

As a parting gift, I present a farewell track – a Velvet Underground cover, natch – recorded June 3, 1993 at the Borderline in London.

MP3: Luna – “Ride Into The Sun” (live)

Goodbye.

One to put in your distant future pipe… Joe Pernice is trying to add a solo Toronto date onto “his very extensive 2-4 show tour of the world” (mailing list’s words, not mine) which currently includes London, New York and probably Boston. If it happens, it’ll probably do so around late April/early May. I admit, when Joe moved up here last Fall, I was hoping it would mean at least a couple local appearances, but the man’s been keeping a very low profile. But still, I’ll take what I can get.

The Times and The Guardian both run Manchester-angled interviews with Doves, whose Some Cities came out a couple weeks ago in the UK and is out today in North America. From Pop (All Love). And anyone who’s not rushing out today to buy the new record and needs a little more convincing, there’s a streaming audio sampler here. And if you like other people to tell you what to like, Pitchfork testifies.

You can preview a couple of tracks from The Carlton Chronicles, the new album from Centro-Matic side-project South San Gabriel. It’s out April 5.

David Bowie tells Rolling Stone why he likes Arcade Fire.

Wait for the punchline. Wait for it. From Golden Fiddle.

24: Well, I guess they decided that schizophrenic daughter storyline wasn’t going anywhere. So that’s the second major plotline wrapped up (kidnapping, meltdowns) by 6PM. Thirteen hours to go – what will they do next? Hopefully Jack will get a chance to have a sandwich or something, the boy hasn’t eaten all day. But really, I must once again applaud the producers for not dragging things out. Lots of believable (relatively speaking) mini crises are much more interesting than one drawn-out completely incredulous one. Of course, they’re also not going to convince anyone that the terrorists have yet another contingency plan in place… but they’ll try anyways. Let’s see what’s next. Maybe they’ll spend the next few hours in couple’s therapy where Audrey will confess that seeing Jack apply live electrical wires to her ex-husband’s nipples didn’t repulse her so much as excite her.

np – New Order / Power, Corruption & Lies