In case you didn't get the memos, here are a few more album releases announced recently:
Phantom Planet will release "Raise The Dead" April 15 on Fueled By Ramen. It's available for pre-order on the label's website, or if you want a sneak preview, listen to the now-available digital single "Do the Panic" at the band's MySpace page. The band comes to Roseland Ballroom May 7 and 8.
Counting Crows will drop "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings" on Geffen Records March 25. A mix of acoustic and electric songs, the disc features production by Brian Deck (Modest Mouse) and Gil Norton (Pixies). Download the combo single "1492" and "When I Dream of Michelangelo," which showcases both aspects of the new album, at www.CountingCrows.com. No proof of this theory, but the title may come from "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning," the old British movie starring Albert Finney as the classic Angry Young Man.
In the 1980s category:
The Wedding Present releases its Steve Albini-produced disc "El Rey" on Manifesto Recordings May 20. The title may be a nod to the famous El Rey nightclub in Los Angeles, where frontman David Gedge has been living for the past year or so. Says Gedge in a press release: "While I’m not going to claim that this is my ‘L.A.’ album, there are some references. I suppose the themes are lust, jealousy, betrayal, regret, obsession, super-heroes… the usual."
Tears for Fears co-founder Curt Smith will release "Halfway, pleased" (note odd use of lowercase) on his own KOOK Media label (note odd use of uppercase) on May 20. It's his first solo album in 10 years.