ContactMusic — New Zealand band The Checks have split after almost 10 years together The rockers formed in early 2003 and found fame after Michael Stipe asked them to support R E M on tour in 2005 The Checks who also opened for acts including The Kille... more info

Guardian Music — Hirsute, heavy and homegrown, Reading festival gets underway with Deaf Havana, Future of the Left and Hadouken!And so to Reading and Leeds, the no-frills Big Gig in a Field that acts as the solo-squealing encore for the UK festival season. It sneers ... more info

Time — REM behavior disorder has been very mean to Mike Birbiglia. This violent form of sleepwalking, in which the sufferer acts out his dreams, once compelled Birbiglia to climb a chest of drawers and leap from it. Another night, at a La Quinta hotel in Wa... more info

Chorus.fm — There's a tender spot in the '90s alternative rock scene that is held deep down in most avid of music listeners and musicians alike. It could have been the likes of Mudhoney and R.E.M., or the cold calculations of Unwound and The Jesus Lizard for tho... more info

Prefix — The fact that they broke up last year doesn't mean R.E.M. can't celebrate its own legacy. They'll do just that ... Read the full article at http://www.prefixmag.com/news/rem-to-release-25th-anniversary-edition-of-documen/67760/ more info

Consequence of Sound — Features an unreleased live concert and new liner notes. more info

Stopcryingyourheartout.com — Looking for the secret to being a Morning Glory? Sleep through The Shock Of The Lightning after being lulled to sleep Gallagher style.Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star is proud to release “Lullaby Versions of Oasis” featuring lush instrumental ver... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — RIP, author Gore Vidal. The Guardian lists 26 of his best quotes. Stereogum ranks R.E.M. albums from worst to best. Paste lists the six best film and television adaptations of the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Spin profiles the band Here... more info

ContactMusic — Cult Swedish band The Soundtrack Of Our Lives have announced plans to split after completing their current commitments The Gothenburg-based sextet formed in 1995 and counted R E M s Michael Stipe and Noel Gallagher among its fans The band will pla... more info

Guardian Music — (Damnably)It's hard to say if Cincinnati four-piece Wussy are hyped or not. On the one hand, you have heavyweight American rock critic Robert Christgau comparing them to the Beatles and the Stones, and saying they're the best American band of the las... more info