Formed out of the ashes of the late (and great) Joy Division, New Order can lay claim to having one of the best-selling 12-inch releases of all time (the terrific “Blue Monday”). The group’s legacy gets the reissue treatment from Rhino Records on Nov. 11 when it puts out collectors edition versions of the band’s first five albums (Movement, Power Corruption and Lies, Low-Life, Brotherhood, Technique). In celebration of the releases, Rhino is holding a contest where you can win a signed bass from Peter Hook of New Order. Head here enter. Runners-up will win copies of the five reissues.

Given the ongoing political bent of the Beastie Boys’ lyrics, it’s no wonder why the world’s oldest (but potentially coolest) rappers are in the midst of a mini-tour called “Get Out and Vote!” Similar to last election’s “Vote For Change” outing, the bill will rotate depending on the city, drawing together artists of all genre associations united under the banner of political awareness. Though the trek originally kicked off this week, there are still several shows on the books leading right up to election night. (more…)

Nada Surf is that rare indie rock band that’s caught a second wind. Elektra Records dumped the band, which formed in 1992, following its 1998 breakthrough The Proximity Effect. But it found new life when it signed with Barsuk, home to acts such as Death Cab for Cutie, Mates of State and Rilo Kiley.

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By now the news of Jennifer Hudson loosing her mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew is of household knowledge, moving well beyond the music industry niche into a full-fledged FBI Investigation. Rather than rehashing details of these heinous murders or attempting to make sense out of the insanity, it’s important to reflect on the tragedy and support the famed “American Idol” contestant turned “Dreamgirls” star turned solo artist. Obviously this entire scenario has taken its toll on the “Spotlight” singer and comes at the tricky time of having just released and album and preparing to go on tour. (more…)

Most famous for her tune, “Thank You,” a song that became a hit after rapper Eminem sampled it for his smash “Stan,” British singer-songwriter Dido is about to release her third album, Safe Trip Home (it streets Nov. 18).

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Not only is it a rock n’ roll miracle that AC/DC not only survived after the death of original lead singer Bon Scott in 1980, but it’s astounding the group is still thriving through today. Even though it’s been eight years since the Brian Johnson-led outfit stepped into the studio, 2008′s Black Ice (Columbia) hasn’t showed any signs of the group slowing down, softening its sound or failing to sell out stadiums across the globe. (more…)

The video for “Momma Sed,” the third song to get the visual treatment from Puscifer’s debut album, V is for Vagina, has just been posted on the band’s website and a higher quality version is available for purchase via iTunes. Puscifer singer, the enigmatic Maynard James Keenan, who doubles at the frontman for Tool and This Perfect Circle, plays a cowboy in the video, which takes place on a desert landscape.

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Over the years, the guys in Ween have refined their live show to the point that’s a polished, well-crafted affair. Dean and Gene Ween can pull off covers of old funk favorites in addition to their own repertoire, which ranges from epic jams to country western send-ups. It wasn’t always that way.

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Ostensibly on tour to promote Everything that Happens Will Happen Today, his new, digital only collaboration with Brian Eno, singer-guitarist David Byrne inadvertently made the case for a Talking Heads reunion during a two-hour show at the Allen Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Every headline on Madonna in the past week or so relates to her divorce with film director Guy Ritchie, though somewhere in the equation, a lot of articles are forgetting about the fact that she’s currently on an extensive concert tour. Sure, she can still sell tickets on two and a half decades worth of lip-smacking hits, but how does her new stuff stack up to those golden oldies that have filled countless dance floors for so long? Well for starters, the new Hard Candy is no Confessions on a Dance Floor, let alone anything from the ’80s, though it has sparked a few high energy singles including “Give It 2 Me” and “4 Minutes.”

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