Stereogum — Last time we checked in on the New Pornographers, we didn't have many details about their anticipated Challengers followup. Now we do: The band's fifth album, Together, comes out in early May. It was produced by the band with Phil Palazzolo and wa... more info

Silent Uproar — Fran Healy (of Travis) is currently working on his solo album, tentatively titled Wreckorder. In a pair of blog posts, Healy revealed that both Paul McCartney and Neko Case will perform on the record. [franhealy.com] more info

Guardian Music — The Travis frontman has thanked the former Beatle for playing on his new solo album by waving goodbye to chicken dinnersWhen Travis' Fran Healy convinced Paul McCartney to play on his forthcoming solo album, he didn't pay him in money – he pai... more info

Perez Hilton — Horror author Stephen King has collaborated with John Mellencamp for a new musical called Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, and the cast is looking fantastic! Elvis Costello has just signed on to play a Satanic character (ooh!) named "The Shape", an... more info

Musicaddictz - Addicted To Music — 50. Dave Matthews BandAt a time of dying albums, DMB have had five straight debuts at No. 1. Plus: the bandleader's awesome Ozzy impersonation on 'SNL.'49. Lily Allen"Do you get a little kick out of being small-minded?" England's MySpace success stor... more info

Music News Net — MUSIC NEWS - Word out is that John Mellencamp has nearly completed recording and “assembling” the “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County”; his musical theater collaboration with author Stephen King. The show is now running two hou... more info

Rolling Stone — John Mellencamp’s long-in-the-works musical theater collaboration with author Stephen King, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, is assembling its cast for its September debut in Atlanta. According to the Fire Wire (via TwentyFourBit), Kris Kristoffe... more info

Persona Sauna — I've let my obsession with the holidays get to me and not allow for any time to concentrate on keeping updated on music.My apologies.I will be back.In the meantime, here is a nice little list compiled by Spinner of the best songs of 2009. Go over to... more info

Rollo & Grady — Redd Foxx – Merry Christmas Morphine – Sexy Christmas Baby Mine Neko Case – Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis Deerhoof – The Little Drummer Boy White Stripes – Silent Night (Meg White) Ryan Adams – Hey Parker, It’s Christmas ... more info

Maxwell defies current R&B on his fourth album. Animal Collective, Green Day, U2 and Neko Case round out the best of rock music for 2009. more info