So four years after the release of their last album, The Flaming Lips have finally completed their new record, At War With The Mystics, and given it a release date of April 4. They’re also releasing a 5.1 surround sound version of The Soft Bulletin on DVD-A on January 31, along with a slew of bonus cuts. Billboard has more details.

It’s also worth noting that another holiday season is about to come and go without the Lips’ cinematic opus Christmas On Mars seeing the light of day. It went into production more than five years ago and wrapped filming in October and according to the Wikipedia entry, will be released next Summer. Maybe that’s the Christmas season on Mars? I don’t know if anyone is REALLY anxious to see this film – at least not after seeing the trailer, which first appeared on the Fight Test EP. I don’t care how big a Lips fan you are, there’s no way you can say this thing doesn’t look awful. But for your Flaming Lips Christmas fix, Filter helpfully points to this streaming version of “White Christmas” by the Lips which isn’t awful, but isn’t great either.

Blake Sennett tells Billboard that his and Jenny Lewis’ respective solo projects do not spell the end of Rilo Kiley by any means. Filter has an early review of Lewis’ Rabbit Fur Coat while Chart wants to talk about both of them. There’s finally a legal download from Rabbit Fur Coat courtesy of Insound – for the five of us who haven’t downloaded the leaked copy…

MP3: Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins – “Melt Your Heart”

The official Life Pursuit bio for Belle & Sebastian is now up at Matador Records. Click on the lovely ad over on the right to see it!

Stylus conducts a comprehensive-like interview with Feist.

The Sydney Morning Herald talks to Jonathan Bree of Kiwi popsters The Brunettes, who will release their first album for Sub Pop in August of next year. Via Largehearted Boy.

And both Largehearted Boy and I are on Armchair Novelist’s list of the best blogs of 2005.

More concert news – Imogen Heap is at the El Mocambo on January 12, tickets $15, The Walkmen are at Lee’s on January 28, tickets $15 on sale next week, and The Airfields will be supporting The Wedding Present at their Toronto show at Lee’s Palace on March 10. And thanks to Sara for pointing out that Bloodshot has two Toronto dates listed for Neko Case on February 3 and 4, venue TBA. It’s hard to tell if these are her shows or if she’s guesting, because they also list Jon Langford, The Sadies and Ronnie Hawkins on the same bill. But whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be twangy. Update: The ads in today’s NOW indicate that this is a Jon Langford show – no mention of the guest stars, though.

Your daily year-end list roundup: The AV Club tallies their top movies of 2005, Aversion selects their albums of the year and eye rounds up their best concerts of the year along with good things and bad things in the Toronto scene.

Looking forward to the premiere of 24 on January 15 and 16? Pissed that they’ve put a ten-minute bridging prequel on the season 4 DVDs? Gripe no more – you can see the whole thing here (though I’m sure it’s torrented everywhere as well). Both Jack and Chloe have new hair! Chloe’s is good. Jack’s, not so much. Still – getting excited for the new season! Via Bradley’s Almanac.

np – Ryan Adams & The Cardinals / Jacksonville City Nights