Counting Crows have finally announced the release date of their next studio album called “Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings” – which is to be March 25th 2008 although this may well be different for us in the UK.  The New Counting Crows album is in this month’s Uncut as a much anticipated album for 2008.

More information can be found at http://www.countingcrows.com

As the crucial period pre-Christmas period for music sales comes to a close we’re starting to already see more doom and gloom reports which will ultimately be blamed on peer-2-peer sites and so on.  However these statistics wont be examined within the context of the wider economy – such as a general economic down turn and consumer confidence post credit crunch.   The figures that Digital Music released today also point out the number of albums that have gone platinum compared to last year as another indicator.  However such indicators need good as many good albums being released each year, and I’d say that this year just isn’t the case.

A final factor in all of this is market competition and prices in relation to inflation.  This Christmas not a day goes by without being offered some sort of discount by the likes of HMV, Bang CD and CD Wow, and the prices are the same or cheaper than last year – which means in real terms prices have dropped by 2-3%.

Ike Turner accredited with one of Rock n Roll’s first songs (Rocket 88) and vilified former husband of Tina Turner has died today at his home in LA. More information can be seen at BBC NEWS – US soul musician Ike Turner dies.

 KSGR is a radio station in Austin, Texas I’d not heard of before (unlike the amazing KCRW) until hearing about it on a forum.  However KGSR, like KCRW and others records special studio sessions with bands (and has the potential to be very interesting given SXSW).  Highlights from these sessions are then compiled into a limited ‘Broadcasts’ double CD which are sold to raise money for a charity.  They can be purchased through Waterloo Records & Video at $20.  The only downside is that according to Waterloo for shipment to the UK you can add at least another $8.

The current ‘Broadcasts’ includes performances by names like Gomez, Calexico, Ryan Adams to name just a few.

As we’re into the last month of the year for publishers, the annual craze of compiling lists of the best albums/singles/gigs/widgets/insert your own list of things of the year is upon us.  Rather than trying to compile my own list, and trying to justify why my choice is right I thought Large Hearted Boy had a good solution – he is compiling a list of all the lists (here), just checkout the list(s) you think may favour your musical preferences, and flame out the others (if you dare).

Largehearted Boy: 2007 Year-End Online Music Lists

The Guardian are running a series of five supplements from this Saturday (17th November) which detail what they believe should the 1000 albums that you should hear before you die.  You can get a little more information here.

The Guardian are also publishing the list online if you want to see what they say.

Moby’s next album, which I believe has been in the ‘can’ as they say in Hollywood for a little while has now been scheduled for release in March coming.  The album, is reportedly going back to his more dance orientated (rather than chill out) routes.  If the shaven headed one tours the album, it will make for some exciting/clubby gigs.

On the subject of Moby, it would seem that press are slowly picking up on the fact he has been making some new music freely available for download for indie film makers to use.

According to the NME (Kate Bush announces new material – NME.COM) the very unprolific Kate Bush is releasing new material.  unfortunately it is only one new song for the film The Golden Compass starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.  The song will be used with the closing credits of the film.