POINTS OF REFERENCE is a music news blog for people with actual lives and/or short attention spans: a weekly selection of topical, pop music talking points fit for bars and break rooms. It’s divided into three sections: NEWS (duh), ALBUM RELEASES (once more with feeling), and STUFF AND THINGS (random, music-related crap from the internet). So, I’m all finished up here. Scroll down, won’t you?
NEWS:
- Prince re-signed with Warner Bros. Records. The Purple One plans to release a new studio album and an expanded reissue of his 1984 masterpiece “Purple Rain” (Warner Bros.).
- Jack White made the “world’s fastest released record.”
- Organizers for the Electric Zoo Musical Festival announced that the event will indeed return to Randalls Island Aug. 29-31. Last year’s festival ended prematurely after a some pretty terrible events transpired –– most notably, two fatalities and one instance of sexual assault.
- The National canceled their tour stops in Russia and Ukraine.
- Austin City Limits released the lineup for its 2014 festival. Austin City Limits Music Festival takes place Oct. 3-5 and Oct. 10-12 in Austin, TX.
- The Country Music Hall of Fame announced its 2014 inductees: Ronnie Milsap, Mac Wiseman, and Hank Cochran.
ALBUM RELEASES, APRIL 29:
Damon Albarn, “Everyday Robots” (Parlophone). Listen.
Old 97s, “Most Messed Up” (ATO). Listen.
Pixies, “Indie Cindy” (Pixiesmusic). Listen.
Wye Oak, “Shriek” (Merge). Listen.
STUFF & THINGS:
- Chuck Klosterman loves Kiss.
- Howard Smith interviewed John Lennon and Yoko Ono. PBS released the interview –– along with some nifty animations –– as part of its “Blank On Blank” series.
- Buzzfeed staffer Summer Anne Burton published an essay: “The Fine Art of Mixtape Seduction.”
- Some designer at Pitchfork didn’t sleep for a month.
