Coldplay member Guy Berryman's side project Apparatjick, which also boats members of Mew and A-Ha, will release their debut February 1 in Europe. It will be released to the rest of the world the following day.
Franz Nicolay has explained his decision to leave The Hold Steady. Speaking exclusively to Paste Magazine, the mustached piano/keyboard/accordion player says "In the Hold Steady, I was kind of a fox in a hedgehog band. The Isaiah Berlin thing about the hedgehogs who have one defining idea and the foxes who have a lot of different ideas. So this is going to let me indulge a lot of those different ideas." Nicolay also expressed that he had begun work on a new Hold Steady record, and since his departure in November the band has redone his sessions with another keyboard player.
Sigur Ros has scrapped their nearly completed sixth album so that band members can take care of their families and pursue solo ventures. Sigur Ros front man Jonsà Birgisson will release his solo album in March.
Former Jam front man Paul Weller has given details about his forthcoming record. Wake Up the Nation, will be out April 12 in UK and the follow day in the rest of the world. Weller describes the politically charged album on his website paulweller.com by stating "We've got to reclaim our heritage and our culture. Claim it back from the fucking politicians and the establishment."
California surf-punk band The Soft Pack set a record and played a marathon 10 shows in the same day in the LA area on Saturday in support of their debut album which is released Tuesday. I have listened to the album, and I must say it is great. A review will be up later this week, certainly one to check out!
Liam Gallagher has vowed that his first post-Oasis album, featuring everyone in Oasis but older brother Noel will be out in July.