I miss the old R.E.M. I really do. But hearing this live track courtesy of Stereogum guest blogger Matthew Fluxblog quickly reminded me of how powerful a live act they still remain, even with the absence of former drummer Bill Berry still looming large above them. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

R.E.M.: Me In Honey (live at Rock Am Ring 6/3/2005)

The Fantastic Friday Four (4):

Bright Eyes: Gold Mine Gutted

Blur: Tender

Beck: Mixed Bizness (Sizes n' Bed mix)

Her Space Holiday: My Girlfriends Boyfriend


EDIT: Better late than never:



RADIOHEAD have broken the silence over their new album. Singer Thom Yorke has said sessions for their new album remind him of working on ‘Kid A’. The band recently regrouped to start rehearsing and recording new songs for the follow-up to 2003’s ‘Hail To The Thief'.The album, not due until next year, will be the band’s seventh. Yorke said that early sessions had seen the band changing the way they work, reminding him of the change between 1997 LP ‘OK Computer’ and ‘Kid A’. He said: “It’s going well. It’s a bit like ‘Kid A’ – we’re going through a period of change. But that’s good. We’ll get there”