Music news, album reviews and release dates, updated frequently

Factory Records co-founder Tony Wilson died Friday at the age of 57 of a heart attack while hospitalized for ongoing treatment for kidney cancer. Hugely instrumental in the Manchester music scene (especially during the 1980s), the one-time television presenter is best known for signing and managing bands like Joy Division, New Order and the Happy Mondays, and for co-founding the legendary dance club the Hacienda.

• Factory Records legend Anthony Wilson dies (NME)
• New Order pay tribute to Tony Wilson (NME)
• Peter Saville joins tributes to Tony Wilson (NME)
• Tony Wilson R.I.P. (Pitchfork)
• Joy Division/New Order Manager Wilson Dies (Billboard)

No news is too small as we roundup the day’s events from the music world, including word of an innovative new way to share illegal music, an alternative “OK Computer,” and the latest buzz on Madonna’s guitar-playing and Shaun Ryder’s smoking habit. READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE »

Having always been a fan of the Happy Mondays, I had very mixed feelings about seeing them return to recording after a 15-year hiatus, but return they did, with a new album out in the UK only. Let’s just say that my negative feelings won out after reading the reviews. This is probably not an album you want to be paying import prices for.

Happy Mondays: Uncle Dysfunktional

Thanks to the holiday, it’s not a huge release week, but here’s what’s arriving in US record stores today:

Andre 3000: Class of 3000 [Soundtrack] buy from amazon
Kelly Rowland: Ms. Kelly buy from amazon
T.I.: T.I vs T.I.P buy from amazon
Velvet Revolver: Libertad buy from amazon

For those of you in the UK, yesterday also saw the release of the Happy Mondays’ first album in a decade and a half (”Uncle Dysfuncktional”) and Ash’s “Twilight Of The Innocents,” neither of which have US release dates currently scheduled. Albums by Crowded House (”Time On Earth”), the Chemical Brothers (”We Are The Night”) and UNKLE (”War Stories”) were also released in the UK in advance of their US release dates (July 10th, 17th, and 24th, respectively).