Norah Jones has added another leg of U.S. tour dates, extending her travels behind Little Broken Hearts through the end of October. Check out her full tour schedule below.

Along with the release of Little Broken Hearts, Blue Note Records is reissuing Jones’ four previous albums — Come Away With Me, Feels Like Home, Not Too Late, and The Fall — in an array of higher fidelity editions. The albums have been mastered for iTunes specifically with the iTunes and iOS platform in mind, and will be released in multiple digital formats that deliver CD quality resolution or better. In addition, Analogue Productions will package the four reissues, Little Broken Hearts, and a bonus album of rare and unreleased covers in a LP and CD box set.

Norah Jones 2012 Tour Dates:
05/25 – Paris, FR @ Olympia Theater
05/26 – Frankfurt, DE @ Alte Opera
06/01 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
06/02 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
06/20 – Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theater
06/22 – Memphis, TN @ Mud Island Amphitheater
06/23 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theater
06/24 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
06/27 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap
06/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Man Center
06/29 – Rochester, NY @ Kodak Hall
07/01 – Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
07/02 – Wallingford, CT @ Oakdale Theatre
07/03 – New York, NY @ Central Park SummerStage
07/06 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
07/07 – Montreal, QC @ Montreal Jazz Festival
07/14 – Lucca, IT @ Lucca Festival
07/16 – Luxembourg, LU @ Neumunster Abbey
07/17 – Hamburg, DE @ Stadtpark
07/19 – Rattvik, SE @ Dalhall
07/20 – Molde, NO @ Moldejazz Festival
07/22 – Pori, FL @ Pori Jazz Fest
08/07 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
08/08 – San Diego, CA @ Copley Symphony Hall
08/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
08/12 – Lake Tahoe, NV @ Harvey’s Outdoor Arena
08/15 – Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheater
08/17 – Portland, OR @ Edgefield Winery
08/18 – Seattle, WA @ Marymoor Amphitheater
08/21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden
08/23 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks
10/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
10/08 – Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
10/09 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theater
10/11 – Des Moines, IA @ Civic Center
10/12 – Omaha, NE @ Orpheum Theatre
10/13 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
10/15 – St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House
10/16 – Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theatre
10/20 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
10/22 – Dallas, TX @ McFarlin Auditorium
10/23 – New Orleans, LA @ Mahalia Jackson Theatre

It’s hard to tell sometimes if David Letterman is actually being earnest, but regardless, he’s superb at giving glowing endorsements. ”We love having this woman on the program,” Letterman stated, while holding up Norah Jones‘ latest LP, Little Broken Hearts. “She is a nine time Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter. Nine times! I haven’t won anything.” Shortly after, Jones cheered up the late night host by performing a rather buoyant cut of “Happy Pills”. We’ll go ahead and say he’s a true fan, especially given the way he joked around with the singer after the performance. “Oh my god, don’t press that button,” he exclaimed, pointing to a pedal on her keyboard. “I’m begging ya.”

Prior to the performances, Jones delivered an hour-long performance at the Ed Sullivan Theatre as part of the Live on Letterman webcast series. You can replay both the TV performance and webcast below.

“Happy Pills” on Letterman:

Live on Letterman webcast:

Later… with Jools Holland was back on the air Friday night with a second set of performances by Jack White, Norah Jones, and Alabama Shakes. (Here’s the first set if you missed it.)

White tackled the Blunderbuss track “Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy” with the ladies, ripped through The White Stripes’ classic “Ball and Biscuit” with the fellas, and shared a few words with Jools.

Jones showcased her new LP Little Broken Heart with performances of its title track and “Say Goodbye”, plus teamed up with Jools for a cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “For the Good Times”.

Alabama Shakes performed “Hang Loose” from their recently-released debut, Boys & Girls.

Watch the video replays below.

Jack White – “Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy”:

Jack White – “Ball and Biscuit”:

Jack White Interview:

Norah Jones – “Little Broken Heart”:

Norah Jones – “Say Goodbye”:

Norah Jones – “For the Good Times” (Kris Kristofferson cover):

Alabama Shakes – “Hang Loose”:

Burton is one of the world’s biggest producers, and it’s no surprise that his diverse, singular set of sounds shapes Jones’ style in a new way. That smoky, lithe, gorgeous voice is still the same, the focal point that it deserves to be. That said, anyone still stuck on “Don’t Know Why” is a few steps back in Jones’ experimentation as an artist. She’s no longer anchored to the piano, and Little Broken Hearts steps out into a range that includes fuzzy guitars, string sections, and tinkling pop synthesizers. The two collaborators work together seamlessly, Jones smart enough to work with Burton’s envelope-pushing, and Burton smart enough to work to Jones’ vocal strengths.

Lyrically, this is a breakup album, but the album is anything but one-note, finding solace in a handful of different reactions. For example, album opener “Good Morning” works twinkling synths and shivering violins into a breathy realization, while “Say Goodbye” is the first hint of angst or aggression. Jones’ voice is sweet enough to sing a cutesy line like, “It’s alright, it’s okay, I don’t need you anyway,” without it having even a hint of going over the top. The latter song is as pure and twee as pop gets, the chugging bass, skipping drums, and Jones coos over the top like she’s been making this kind of music for ages.

The difference between this and the cafe music that first made Jones a household name is large, but the transition is anything but jarring. There are a handful of different types of pop covered on Little Broken Hearts, the studied, tried and true compositions of two incredibly smart musicians. Jones has a mastery of her own voice and delivery, fitting it with each new musical twist, and Burton knows just which buttons to push on the pop machine. Her narration in these tracks is always direct, describing specific moments in time and specific relationship details. That said, the emotional depth is in the instrumentals (from the haunting acoustics that open “Take it Back” to the finely wrought, western-tinged wave it rides to its conclusion).

Despite that shifting, the album remains unified by its breakup theme, as if the thing unravels like the stages of grief. The soft, melancholy “She’s 22″ sounds like a resigned, waftier Sharon Van Etten cut with its repetitions of “Does she make you happy?”, but the lone reference that “I’d like to see you happy” works the deepest into the gut. Conversely, “Miriam” takes a vengeful tone, threatening severe violence to the other woman who lured her man to cheat. This latter track, in particular, shows Jones’ ability to push her own boundaries. She’s not trading in dinner party music here.

This is a serious indie pop album. Jones and Burton have created something that should fit in the record collection of any Feist-loving indie kid just as easily as that of those soccer moms she won over years ago. Whether Little Broken Hearts actually finds that mass appeal or winds up frustrating both halves remains to be seen. It definitely walks a fine line between the two worlds, perhaps not edgy or different enough for indie pop, and too weird for the coffeehouse. But the songwriting, vocals, and clever production are undeniable, and the pairing just works, back on Rome and here as well. Only good things could come from Burton and Jones working together again in the future, perhaps pushing that envelope even further and finding an even more unique power.

Essential Tracks: “Say Goodbye”, “She’s 22″, “Miriam”

It was a big night on Later… with Jools Holland featuring performances from Jack White, Norah Jones, Alabama Shakes, and Grimes. (Music trivia timeout: Three of these four acts have worked together? Can you name which ones?)

Supporting Blunderbuss, which is out today, White ripped through “Sixteen Saltines” and “Freedom At 21″. Norah Jones showcased “Happy Pills” from her new Danger Mouse-produced LP, Little Broken Heart. Alabama Shakes performed “Hold On” and “Be Mine” from their recently-released debut, Boys & Girls. And Grimes offered “Genesis”, off her recently-released third LP, Visions. Watch the video replays below.

Jack White – “Sixteen Saltines”:

Jack White – “Freedom At 21″:

Norah Jones – “Happy Pills”:

Alabama Shakes – “Hold On”:

Alabama Shakes – “Be Mine”:

Grimes – “Genesis”:

In recent months, TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek has remixed the likes of DOOM and Florence and the Machine. Adding to eclectic source material, Sitek recently reworked two tracks from Norah Jones‘ upcoming Danger Mouse-produced album, Little Broken Hearts, for a limited-edition Record Store Day 7″.

In Sitek’s hands, “After The Fall” and “She’s 22″ both take on an air of sensual dub-pop, adding a layer of mystery to Jones’ usual vulnerability. The former sees Jones’ temptress-like vocals slowly melt into a mass of effects, all without forgoing any sex appeal. The latter spins Jones’ croon toward the realm of lo-fi, pairing it with a dark, menacing beat of eerie synths and heavy hi-hats. Stream both cuts below and/or download your own copies here.

“After The Fall”

“She’s 22″

Little Broken Hearts hits stores on May 1st via Blue Note/EMI.

San Francisco’s Outside Lands Music Festival turns five years old this summer (August 10-12th to be exact), and it’s celebrating with some pretty big name talent. Metallica, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Foo Fighters, Jack White, Stevie Wonder, and Beck top this year’s bill. Other notable acts include Sigur Rós, Justice, Regina Spektor, Norah Jones, Skrillex, The Kills, Dispatch, Passion Pit, and Grandaddy.

Also appearing on the lineup are Big Boi, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Andrew Bird, Explosions in the Sky, MSTRKRFT, Portugal. the Man, Dr. Dog, The Walkmen, Alabama Shakes, Fitz and the Tantrums, Amadou & Mariam, Reggie Watts, Sharon Van Etten, YACHT, Zola Jesus, Tennis, Die Antwoord, Thee Oh Sees, Tanlines, Caveman, Of Monsters and Men, Father John Misty, Tame Impala, Big Gigantic, White Denim, Yellow Ostrich, wallpaper., Trampled By Turtles, City and Colour, and Two Gallants, among others.

Tickets will go on sale Thursday, April 19th at Noon PDT via the festival’s website.

“A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.” -Willy Wonka

Cursive – “This House Alive”

Looks like the dudes from Cursive are fans of The Hunger Games. Like the book/film, their latest music video is chock full of murderous children, bows and arrows, and rough wilderness.

Drake – “HYFR”

Somebody better tell Lil’ Wayne that cough syrup isn’t kosher.

Feist – “Bittersweet Melodies”

This video falls into the “Damn, why didn’t I think of that?” category. Warning: may cause warm, fuzzy feeling inside.

Glen Hansard – “Philander”

“Philander: Someone who readily or frequently enters into casual sexual relationships with women.” There, now you can sound smart when you’re hooking up with a one-night-stand at a bar.

Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz – “Beez In The Trap”

I never would have thought it’d be possible to become desensitized to seeing Nicki Minaj’s famously ample back side. But she shows it off so much in pretty much every video she’s ever been in that it’s loosing its effect.

OFF! – “Wiped Out”

If there’s one thing to say about this video is that it lives up to its name.

Norah Jones – “Happy Pills”

Norah Jones does her best Betty Draper impression in her retro new music video. Full of tail fin equipped cars and frilly dresses, it follows Jones as she ditches her man and moves on to bigger and better things.

Squarepusher – “Dark Steering”

Oh no! Someone stole Daft Punk’s helmets!

tUnE-yArDs – “My Country”

My first grade field trip was to Ellis Island, these kids got to be in a indie rock music video. Youth is wasted on the young.

Ty Segall & White Fence – “Scissor People”

Get your daily dose of psychedelia with this flower child-inspired video from Ty Segall & White Fence.

Alt-jazz songstress Norah Jones has released a video for “Happy Pills”, the first single off her forthcoming Danger Mouse-produced LP, Little Broken Hearts. Featuring Jones singing in various ‘50s-themed outfits and surroundings, the video tracks the middle and seemingly infidelity-induced end of a relationship. It’s the perfect backdrop for Jones’ retro, pleading croon, “Will you please just let me go now?” Watch it below (via VH1).

Little Broken Hearts arrives May 1st via Blue Note/EMI.

Norah Jones has announced a slew of summer tour dates in support of her upcoming fifth studio album, the Danger Mouse-produced Little Broken Hearts. The tour kicks off in late May with a selection of shows in Europe before hitting the U.S. for a leg running from late June through the end of August. Peep the full tour schedule.

Little Broken Hearts hits stores on May 1st via Blue Note/EMI. Update: Stream the recently-unveiled album “Travelin’ On”, followed by the tour itinerary.

[soundcloud width="500"]http://soundcloud.com/norahjonesofficial/norah-jones-travelin-on[/soundcloud]

Norah Jones 2012 Tour Dates:
05/25 – Paris, FR @ Olympia Theater
05/26 – Frankfurt, DE @ Alte Opera
06/01 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
06/02 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
06/20 – Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theater
06/22 – Memphis, TN @ Mud Island Amphitheater
06/23 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theater
06/24 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
06/27 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap
06/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Man Center
06/29 – Rochester, NY @ Kodak Hall
07/01 – Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
07/02 – Wallingford, CT @ Oakdale Theatre
07/03 – New York, NY @ Central Park SummerStage
07/06 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
07/07 – Montreal, QC @ Montreal Jazz Festival
07/14 – Lucca, IT @ Lucca Festival
07/16 – Luxembourg, LU @ Neumunster Abbey
07/17 – Hamburg, DE @ Stadtpark
07/19 – Rattvik, SE @ Dalhall
07/20 – Molde, NO @ Moldejazz Festival
07/22 – Pori, FL @ Pori Jazz Fest
08/07 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
08/08 – San Diego, CA @ Copley Symphony Hall
08/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
08/12 – Lake Tahoe, NV @ Harvey’s Outdoor Arena
08/15 – Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheater
08/17 – Portland, OR @ Edgefield Winery
08/18 – Seattle, WA @ Marymoor Amphitheater
08/21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden
08/23 – Denver, CO @ Red Rocks

We’re a week and some change away from South by Southwest, so while most of you are soaking up sounds of all those artists you’ve penciled into your schedules, you might want to check out some newer cuts from Titus Andronicus, Regina Spektor, Norah Jones, The Dandy Warhols, and Melvins. Yeah, it’s been a good week for the veterans.

The Dandy Warhols – “Well They’re Gone”

We’re still a couple months out from the release of The Dandy Warhols’ ninth studio record This Machine, but they’re offering up an early preview of the album with “Well They’re Gone”, a desolate, surprisingly folksy cut that makes for a very solid first single. This Machine is out April 24th on The End Records. -Möhammad Choudhery

The Dandy Warhols – “Well They’re Gone”

Dent May – “Fun”

“Fun”, the first track released from Dent May’s upcoming sophomore album, Do Things (from Paw Tracks, on June 12th), stays true to its name. Cheesy, ’80s keyboard percussion and lithe, funky bass background the singer-songwriter’s psych-disco coo. The syrupy synth solo and equally saccharine talk about how much fun it is to be friends is over-the-top, but too danceably groovy to deny. After the reliance on strings on 2009′s Dent May and his Magnificent Ukulele, the chorus of “don’t know what’s in store for me/but I think it’s gonna be fun” pretty much sums up our anticipation for his album. -Adam Kivel

[soundcloud width="500"]http://soundcloud.com/paw-tracks/fun-1[/soundcloud]

Hundred Waters – “Caverns”

Gainesville, Florida psyche-rock sextet Hundred Waters have some big moments coming up on their calendar, including a stop at the CoS stage at Orlando’s Orange You Glad Festival. Those of us not able to make it down to the bright lights of sunny FL will have to make due with “Caverns”, a sleepy cut from their excellent, new self-titled debut. Sounding like Beach House vocalist Victoria Legrand and a twinkly, electronic soundscape, vocalist Nicole Miglis and company sound severely spacy, letting you float away into the ether. -Adam Kivel

Hundred Waters – “Caverns”

Lightning Bolt – “I Found a Ring In My Ear”

Few bands can pull off releasing a 20 minute jam on a whim, but Providence, RI noise duo Lightning Bolt are definitely one such band. Recorded straight to a four-track “in the Hillarious Attic, Lair of the Lightning Bolt,” the long-winded monster “I Found a Ring In My Ear”, guitarist/bassist Brian Gibson shreds at the high notes while drummer/vocalist Brian Chippendale clobbers the snare with an unmatched ferocity. The patch of melody that Gibson delves into around five minutes in drifts into a trance, everything coming together into a droney, pummeling bliss. -Adam Kivel

Melvins – “The War on Wisdom”

Like some sort of weirdo-metal Peter Pan, the Melvins keep punishing both their instruments and expected conventions of their genre. The shuddering drums and epic chords that open “The War on Wisdom” (from their upcoming Scion A/V presented EP The Bulls and the Bees) give way to a distorted guitar riff with tinges of hair metal peeking in at the corners. Guitarist/vocalist/idol Buzz Osborne’s rich, groaning delivery is echoed by a crowd of similarly chaotic hooligans, the whole thing sounding as badass as any of their old material. -Adam Kivel

Norah Jones – “Happy Pills”

The lead single off Norah Jones’ upcoming fifth LP Little Broken Hearts sounds about exactly as you’d expect, marrying the smooth jazz/blues of her past work to the textured, retro-leaning stylings of super-producer Danger Mouse. Little Broken Hearts is out May 1st on Blue Note/EMI Records. -Möhammad Choudhery

[soundcloud width="500"]http://soundcloud.com/norahjonesofficial/happy-pills[/soundcloud]

Regina Spektor – “All the Rowboats”

It’s been a while since we last heard from NYC singer-songwriter Regina Spektor. “All the Rowboats” makes for a dramatic first peek at her forthcoming sixth LP What We Saw From The Cheap Seats. -Möhammad Choudhery

[soundcloud width="500"]http://soundcloud.com/reginaspektor/alltherowboats[/soundcloud]

Tanlines – “All of Me”

Brooklyn electro-producer duo Tanlines have built quite the name for themselves with a series of top-notch remixes for Glasser and Au Revoir Simone and opening slots on tours with HEALTH and Julian Casablancas. “All of Me” is the second preview of their forthcoming debut, Mixed Emotions, coming on the heels of the fantastic “Brothers”. Mixed Emotions is out March 20th on True Panther. -Möhammad Choudhery

Tanlines – “All of Me”

THEESatisfaction (feat. Shabazz Palaces) – “Enchantruss”

The twisty, trippy vocal loop on “Enchantruss”, the latest leaked cut from avant R&B duo THEESatisfaction’s upcoming debut awE NaturalE (March 27, Sub Pop), wobbles, but it doesn’t fall down. Instead, it works together with clacking progression to provide a base for Stasia Irons and Catherine Harris-White to, at turns, harmonize beautifully and lay down some sick lines. Palaceer Lazaro stops in for a verse, but these two ladies are the standouts, calling themselves “time travellin’ nightmares” and working out a way to rhyme Black Keys with Black Jesus. -Adam Kivel

THEESatisfaction (feat. Shabazz Palaces) – “Enchantruss”

Titus Andronicus – “Upon Viewing Oregon’s Landscape with the Flood of Detritus (Andronicus)”

Photo by Jeremy D. Larson

Miss Titus Andronicus yet? We certainly do. It’ll be two years next week since they dropped their last, very phenomenal full-length The Monitor and we’re still waiting on word about a follow-up. Earlier this week, frontman Patrick Stickles announced that, in addition to hitting the road this spring for a slew of tourdates (which happens to include a headlining spot at Consequence of Sound’s SXSW event CoSigns), the Mahwah, NJ-punkers will release a split 7″ with tourmates Diarhhea Planet with a full-length reportedly due out on November. -Möhammad Choudhery

Stream here (scroll to the 2:37:00 mark.)

As previously reported, Norah Jones will release her fifth studio album, the Danger Mouse-produced Little Broken Hearts, on May 1st via Blue Note/EMI. For a sneak peek of what the duo’s most recent collabo has yielded, Jones has unveiled “Happy Pills”. The track features a bluesy guitar line as filtered through an ’80s pop sensibility, with vocals that are equal parts cooing sex kitten and retro soul songbird. Find the stream below, followed by the album’s tracklist and Jones’ upcoming tour schedule.

[soundcloud width="500"]http://soundcloud.com/norahjonesofficial/happy-pills[/soundcloud]

Little Broken Hearts Tracklist:
01. Good Morning
02. Say Goodbye
03. Little Broken Hearts
04. She’s 22
05. Take It Back
06. After The Fall
07. 4 Broken Hearts
08. Travelin’ On
09. Out On The Road
10. Happy Pills
11. Miriam
12. All A Dream

Norah Jones 2012 Tour Dates:
03/15 – Austin, TX @ Waterloo Records (SXSW) *
03/15 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s (SXSW) *
03/17 – Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa (SXSW)
05/25 – Paris, FR @ Olympia Theater
05/28 – Amsterdam, NL @ Carre Theater
06/01 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
06/02 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
06/29 – Rochester, NY @ Kodak Hall at Eastman Theater
07/14 – Lucca, IT @ Lucca Festival
07/16 – Luxembourg City, LU @ Neumunster Abbey
07/17 – Hamburg, DE @ Stadtpark
07/19 – Rattvik, SE @ Dalhalla
07/20 – Molde, NO @ Moldejazz Festival
07/22 – Pori, FI @ Pori Jazz Fest
08/10 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl

* = as part of The Little Willies

South by Southwest continues to add to its 2012 music lineup. Among the latest additions are a slew of notable rappers, including Nas, T.I., GZA, B.o.B., Freddie Gibbs, Curren$y, Big K.R.I.T., ScHoolboyQ, Action Bronson, El-P, Murs, and Juicy J.

Other recent adds include Santigold, Norah Jones, Jimmy Cliff, Cults, Tom Morello, Kaiser Chiefs, Keane, Trash Talk,  Ben Kweller, Charli XCX, Lower Dens, Torche, Bass Drum of Death, Father John Misty, Flux Pavilion, New Build, Crocodiles, Japanther, and Cymbals Eat Guitars.

Too see the full list acts confirmed for South by Southwest, visit our Festival Outlook. And stay tuned for additional lineup news and updates — typically, the biggest acts aren’t revealed until just days prior to the festival.

The music portion of South by Southwest 2012 runs March 13-18th in Austin Texas. Registration is now ongoing, with various types of badges to chose from. Click here for all the details.

Norah Jones has penciled in her fifth studio album, Little Broken Hearts, for a May 1st release via Blue Note/EMI. Spanning 12 tracks, the record was produced and co-written by Jones’ Rome compatriot, super-producer Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton. Much like Rome’s spaghetti western inspiration, the cover art for Little Broken Hearts (above) is an homage to classic movie posters, particularly the Russ Meyer-directed 1965 film Mudhoney.

Jones will premiere her new album with a performance at this year’s South by Southwest, where she will be backed by her new band. She’ll also play a pair of shows with her country band The Little Willies during the festival. A smattering of other dates are scheduled for the summer, with a more extensive endeavor to be announced shortly. See Jones’ current itinerary, plus the album tracklist, below.

Little Broken Hearts Tracklist:
01. Good Morning
02. Say Goodbye
03. Little Broken Hearts
04. She’s 22
05. Take It Back
06. After The Fall
07. 4 Broken Hearts
08. Travelin’ On
09. Out On The Road
10. Happy Pills
11. Miriam
12. All A Dream

Norah Jones 2012 Tour Dates:
03/15 – Austin, TX @ Waterloo Records (SXSW) *
03/15 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s (SXSW) *
03/17 – Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa (SXSW)
05/28 – Amsterdam, NL @ Carre Theater
06/01 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
06/02 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
06/29 – Rochester, NY @ Kodak Hall at Eastman Theater
07/14 – Lucca, IT @ Lucca Festival
07/16 – Luxembourg City, LU @ Neumunster Abbey
07/17 – Hamburg, DE @ Stadtpark
07/22 – Pori, FI @ Pori Jazz Fest
08/10 – Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl

* = as part of The Little Willies

Update: In a new video (via RollingStone.com), Young reveals that he has already finished one new Crazy Horse album, titled Americana, which features rearrangements of “songs we all know from kindergarten” with help from a children’s choir. A second album is currently in the works.

The Neil Young and Crazy Horse news just keeps galloping in (sorry, we had to do it). With plans in motion for one (maybe two) new album(s) and a 38-minute tease already kicking fans into a frenzy, word now comes that Young and his long-time backing band have scheduled their first joint live performance since March 2004.

As Rolling Stone reports, the performance will come as part of the GRAMMY Foundation’s MusiCares Person of the Year Gala in honor of Paul McCartney. Taking place February 10th at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the charity event will also feature Coldplay, Foo Fighters, James Taylor, Katy Perry, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Tony Bennett, the cast of The Beatles’ Cirque du Soleil production LOVE, and of course Macca himself. Comedian Eddie Izzard will act as emcee.

Crazy Horse hasn’t joined Young in public since the ’03-’04 Greendale tour, making the eight-year gap the longest of their careers. Whether this will lead to a full-fledged tour is unknown, though a postponed Buffalo Springfield reunion trek was also intended for this year. Keep as many fingers (and toes?) crossed as you can, and we’ll keep you updated.

Each member of The Little Willies has his or her own solid musical identity outside of the group, but together they’re a powerhouse. For the Good Times is a covers record, sampling some legendary tracks from the country cannon, including Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson, and these musicians give everything a fresh, breezy jazz tone much like that of Jones’ early work. The group’s adoration and close study of these staples occasionally alters or outstrips the power of the original, an important feat in a cover album. Their take on Loretta Lynn’s “Fist City” fails to channel the fury of the original, but takes a steadier, more lamenting approach. Lynn’s original is feisty and cute, while The Little Willies make it mournful, with just enough rhythm to keep you engaged. The title track is an endearing take on the Kristofferson original, mirroring their sweetly haunting version of “Jolene” that serves as the album’s curtain call.

Instrumental “Tommy Rockwood” is the only original track on the album, written by guitarist Jim Campilongo as the result of hours-long walks around New York City to kick his smoking habit. The distraction tactic clearly worked, as the whimsy shines in the tumbleweed, much like their idols. A well-crafted nod, For the Good Times finds the Little Willies showcasing their favorite pastime—giddily playing standards with their bandmates. Equal parts good time and fresh, original takes on these classic tracks, the band offers a medley of styles that color these standards in a new light.

Essential Tracks: “Permanently Lonley”, “For the Good Times”, and “Tommy Rockwood”

Sultry singer Norah Jones has tapped super producer Danger Mouse to produce her upcoming fifth LP, Little Broken Hearts, due out sometime this spring via Blue Note/EMI. The pair wrote and recorded the album at Danger Mouse’s Los Angeles studio last fall after Jones provided vocals for Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi’s Rome project.

In support of the album, Jones will tour extensively through 2012; stay tuned for those dates as they’re announced. In the meantime, check out “Black” from the aforementioned Rome below.

Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi feat. Norah Jones – “Black”:

For what is now a quarter of a century, Neil Young and his wife Pegi have been organizing the annual Bridge School Benefit, a two-day charity concert held in Mountain View, CA at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, usually sporting a better lineup than you could dream up yourself. The 25th anniversary of the monumental event continued this tradition, featuring performances from the likes of Eddie Vedder, Dave Matthews, Beck, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, and many more – including the man himself, Uncle Neil.

Update: Below, you can watch video of several collaborative highlights from day one, including Beck and Young performing the latter’s 1979 track “Pocahontas”; Vedder and Arcade Fire’s Régine Chassagne dueting “Tonight You Belong To Me”; Vedder and Beck tackling “Sleepless Nights”; Arcade Fire and Young taking on the CSNY classic “Helpless”; and Matthews Tim Reynolds, and Young covering “Oh! Susanna”.

Beck and Neil Young – “Pocahontas”:

Eddie Vedder and Régine Chassagne – “Tonight You Belong To Me”:

Eddie Vedder and Beck – “Sleepless Nights”:

Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, and Neil Young – “Oh! Susanna”:

Arcade Fire and New Young – “Helpless”:

As always, the proceeds benefit the Bridge School, assisting children with severe speech and physical impairments.

Since 1985, Neil Young has hosted his annual Bridge School Benefit, bringing together an assortment of artists for a two-day festival that supports the Hillsborough, CA-based school, which assists children with severe speech and physical impairments. This year’s inclusion, set to take place this weekend at The Shoreline Amphitheatre on October 22-23rd, marks the event’s 25th anniversary, and to celebrate Young has tagged the likes of Beck, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons, Eddie Vedder, and many more. However, unlike previous years, the organizers are ensuring millions witness the event.

To start, Saturday’s festivities will be webcast online for the first-time ever. Thanks to Facebook and YouTube, fans will be able to watch the surefire spectacle from the comfort of their own home. A special landing page has been designed by Facebook that allows users to interact while experiencing the event. In fact, those actually in attendance at the show will be able to upload content and messages to share amongst those watching from home. Visit the respective pages at Facebook or YouTube for more information, and peep the trailer for the event below. An exact webcast schedule is still to be announced.

Then, on October 24th, there’s the CD/DVD release of The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition. This collection digs deep into the benefit’s history, featuring appearances from Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, Band of Horses, Thom Yorke,  Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, and many, many more musical elite. You can pre-order the DVD set here and the CD set here. NPR Music is streaming the two-disc album portion in its entirety until next Tuesday.

And while your puny 32″ flat-screen and sub-par sound system may be enough to enjoy the all-star footage, the organizers are offering one better: on the day of the CD/DVD release (once again, 10/24), movie theaters across the nation will air the effort’s concert  film. Check out the entire listing of cities and locations below; all showings kick off at 7 p.m. For more information on tickets, head here. The trailer for the release is also available below.

The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition Theater Locations:
Atlanta, GA @ Midtown
Austin, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Lakecreek
Boston, MA @ Kendall
Chicago, IL @ Century
Dallas, TX @ TBC
Denver, CO @ Mayan
Los Angeles, CA @ The Laemmle Santa Monica
Madison, WI @ Sundance
Milwaukee, WI @ Oriental
Minneapolis, MN @ Edina
New York City, NY @ Sunshine
Philadelphia, PA @ Ritz Bourse
Pleasantville, NY @ Jacob Burns
Portland, ME @ Nickelodeon
Portland, OR @ Hollywood Theatre
San Diego, CA @ Hillcrest
San Francisco, CA @ Embarcadero
Santa Cruz, CA @ Nickelodeon
Santa Rosa, CA @ Summerfield
Seattle, WA @ Harvard Exit
Silver Spring, MD @ AFI Silver Theatre
Washington, DC @ E Street

Ottawa-born folkie Kathleen Edwards tapped boyfriend/tour mate/Bon Iver head Justin Vernon to help create the lonesome sound that was last month’s single, Wapusk. The collaborative nature doesn’t stop there, though, as Vernon and a slew of other artists also leave their mark on Edwards’ upcoming new album, Voyageur.

Co-produced by Vernon and Edwards herself, the record sees the Wisconsin resident also play banjo, guitar, xylophone, bass, and piano. Additional cameos include Norah Jones, Phil Cook (Megafaun), Sean Carey (also of Bon Iver), Stornoway, and Francis and the Lights. Of the collaborative-heavy effort, Edwards told Exclaim! that she allowed herself to make songwriting less of a secluded act. “For the first time, I was open to the idea of co-writing, and what had previously been an intensely private process became a challenge to see what would happen with an open mind to a different approach.”

Voyageur will hit stores on January 17th, 2012 via MapleMusic. Check out “Change the Sheets” once more below, followed by the tracklist and Edwards’ remaining tour dates with Bon Iver.

Voyageur Tracklist:
01. Empty Threat
02. Chameleon/Comedian
03. A Soft Place To Land
04. Change the Sheets
05. House Full of Empty Rooms
06. Mint
07. Sidecar
08. Pink Champagne
09. Going To Hell
10. For the Record

Bon Iver with Kathleen Edwards 2011 Tour Dates:
10/19 – Manchester, UK @ Apollo
10/20 – Dublin, Ireland @ Canal Theatre
10/22 – Edinburgh, UK @ Usher Hall
10/23 – London, UK @ Hammersmith Apollo
10/24 – London, UK @ Hammersmith Apollo
10/26 – Utrecht, NL @ MCV
10/27 – Brussels, BE @ AB
10/29 – Paris, FR @ La Grande Hall De La Villette (Pitchfork Music Festival)
10/30 – Koln, DE @ E-Werk
11/01 – Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle
11/03 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene
11/04 – Stockholm, SE @ Annexet
11/05 – Copenhagen, DK @ Falkoner
11/06 – Hamburg, DE @ Docks
11/09 – Birmingham, UK @ 02 Academy
11/10 – Leeds, UK @ Academy
11/11 – Bristol, UK @ Colston

Rome, the spaghetti western-inspired collaborative project of super producer Danger Mouse and composer Daniele Luppi, has now inspired a film. As Variety reports, the duo’s recently released album, which also features the talents of Jack White and Norah Jones, “underpins” a forthcoming film by director Chris Milk. If you recall, Milk was the force behind Rome’s interactive video for “3 Dreams of Black”, in addition to clips for Kanye West, Arcade Fire, and Modest Mouse.

According to Variety, the film centers on a “girl born into a post-apocalyptic world who must survive by her wits while finding moments of simple joy.” The story itself will be based on Alden Bell’s novel The Reapers Saw The Angels. 

There’s no title or release date for the film, but Anthony Bregman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and Megan Ellison (True Grit) are serving as producers. In a statement, the producers said “Chris Milk is perhaps the most innovative creative voice working in any art form today, and the ‘Rome’ project criss-crosses at least a dozen of them, including music, animation, live performance, film, web, literature, musicvideos, and graphic novels.”

Below, you can watch a making of video for Rome’s Milk-directed clip, “3 Dreams of Black”. The actual video can be viewed here, though you’ll need to be on Google Chrome.

Speaking of Bob Dylan, the next project from the legendary singer-songwriter comes in the form of The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams. As previously reported, the 12-track effort sees Dylan, Jack White, Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams, and Sheryl Crow, among others, finishing unreleased lyrics and song ideas found in the late country star’s ‘lost notebooks’. The end result will be unveiled this coming Tuesday, October 4th via Columbia.

Right now, you can stream Dylan and Jones’ contributions, titled “The Love That Faded” and “How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart?”, respectively, at NPR.org. 30-second samples for the album’s other 10 nine tracks are up for grabs at Amazon.com. Update: You can now hear the full-length recording of White’s track, “You Know That I Know”, at RollingStone.com.

Each year, Neil Young opens up his Rolodex (and it’s a mighty impressive one) and calls on all his rock star friends to play his charity concert, the Bridge School Benefit. With the shindig celebrating its 25th anniversary this October, Young and the folks behind the event have compiled the concert’s best moments in three-DVD and two-CD sets aptly titled The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition. 

The DVD release includes performances from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Fleet Foxes, James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, Devendra Banhart, and a plethora of other big-name acts. The third disc also includes documentaries on the concert’s history along with a bonus feature on the Bridge School.

The two-CD set features even more classic performances from the concert’s past 25 years. Artists include Willie Nelson, Pearl Jam, Thom Yorke, Metallica, Band of Horses, R.E.M. featuring Young, and much, much more.

The two releases, which also benefit the Bridge School, are in stores on October 24th. Check out a video trailer for both sets below and pre-order the DVD set here and the CD set here.

This year’s Bridge School concert goes down October 22-23rd at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. Acts scheduled to appear include Beck, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons, Eddie Vedder, and many more. Tickets are available via LiveNation right now.

The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition DVD Tracklsit:

DVD 1
Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA
Patti Smith – People Have the Power
Pearl Jam – Better Man
David Bowie – Heroes
Ben Harper – There Will Be a Light
Bob Dylan – Girl From the North Country
R.E.M – Country Feedback
Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller – Love Hurts
Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountains
Devendra Banhart – At the Hope
Bonnie Raitt – The Road Is My Middle Name
Billy Idol – Rebel Yell

DVD 2
Brian Wilson – Surfin’ USA
Gillian Welch – The Way It Will Be
The Pretenders – Sense of Purpose
James Taylor – Fire and Rain
Simon and Garfunkel – America
Tom Petty – Shadow of a Doubt
Dave Matthews – Too Much
Neil Young – Crime in the City
Tom Waits – 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six
Elton John & Leon Russell – A Dream Come True
Paul McCartney – Get Back
Metallica – Disposable Heroes
The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again

DVD 3
Backstage at the Bridge School Benefit Concert
The Bridge School Story

The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition CD Tracklist:

CD 1
Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA
Dave Matthews – Too Much
No Doubt – Magic’s in the Makeup
Jack Johnson – Gone
Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountains
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Love and Only Love
Sonic Youth – Rain on Tin
Pearl Jam – Better Man
Gillian Welch – The Way It Will Be
R.E.M & Neil Young – Country Feedback
Willie Nelson – The Great Divide
Nils Lofgrin – Cry Just a Little

CD 2
Sarah McLachlan – Elsewhere
Paul McCartney – Get Back
Elton John & Leon Russell – A Dream Come True
Band of Horses – Marry Song
Metallica – Disposable Heroes
Thom Yorke – After the Gold Rush
Sheryl Crow – The Difficult Kind
Tony Bennett – Maybe This Time
CSNY – Deja Vu
Norah Jones – Jesus – Etc.
Jonathan Richman – I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar
Brian Wilson – Surfin’ USA.
The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again

Norah Jones’ last side project (providing vocals for Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi’s Rome) may have had more star power, but her next outing has just as much retro flair. In January 2012, EMI’s Milking Bill Records will release Jones’ country-tinged band The Little Willies‘ effort of covers, entitled For The Good Times.

The 12-track effort features covers from a variety of down-home legends, including Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and many more. The LP is the band’s follow-up to 2006′s self-titled debut, which featured covers from Townes Van Zandt and Willie Nelson.

Formed in 2003, the remainder of the band is comprised of Lee Alexander (bass), Jim Campilongo (guitar), Richard Julian (guitar, vocals), and Dan Rieser (drums). The five-piece formed as an excuse for the friends/collaborators to play The Living Room on New York’s Lower East Side.

Check out the album’s tracklist below. Just before that is the band’s June 2007 cover of Hank Williams’ “Lovesick Blues”.

For The Good Times Tracklist:
01. I Worship You (Ralph Stanley)
02. Remember Me (Scott Wiseman)
03. Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves (Cal Martin)
04. Lovesick Blues (Cliff Friend/Irving Mills)
05. Tommy Rockwood (Jim Campilongo)
06. Fist City (Loretta Lynn)
07. Permanently Lonely (Willie Nelson)
08. Foul Owl On The Prowl (Quincy Jones/Alan Bergman/Marilyn Bergman)
09. Wide Open Road (Johnny Cash)
10. For The Good Times (Kris Kristofferson)
11. If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time (Lefty Frizzell/Jim Beck)
12. Jolene (Dolly Parton)

A half decade ago, Bob Dylan acquired the notebooks of the late, great Hank Williams. In them contained many unfinished lyrics and song ideas. Since then, he’s been working on a star-studded tribute album that sees himself, Jack White, Sheryl Crowe, Norah Jones, and more completing said lyrics and turning them into full-fledged songs. According to Rolling Stone, the end result of their efforts will finally see release on October 4th via Dylan’s imprint Egyptian Records.

Titled The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams, the tribute album features 13 tracks in all. Rolling Stone also reports that the full story of Williams’ notebooks will be told in the album’s liner notes, which were penned by Michael McCall of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Below, we have the tracklist.

The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams Tracklist:
01. Alan Jackson – You’ve Been Lonesome, Too
02. Bob Dylan – The Love That Faded
03. Norah Jones – How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart?
04. Jack White – You Know That I Know
05. Lucinda Williams – I’m So Happy I Found You
06. Vince Gill and Rodney Crowell – I Hope You Shed a Million Tears
07. Patty Loveless – You’re Through Fooling Me
08. Levon Helm – You’ll Never Again Be Mine
09. Holly Williams – Blue Is My Heart
10. Jakob Dylan – Oh, Mama, Come Home
11. Sheryl Crow – Angel Mine
12. Merle Haggard – The Sermon on the Mount

As previously reported, Ryan Adams has been working with producer Glyn Johns on a new studio album, his first since 2008′s Cardinology. Now, via Q Magazine, we learn the effort is titled Ashes & Fire and will feature “12 elegant country-rock songs, featuring Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers’ organist Benmont Tench and guest co-vocalist Norah Jones.”

Adams’ publicist confirms a U.S. release date has not yet been set, but below you can preview videos of Adams performing two new cuts during recent live performances.

“Dirty Rain”

“Invisible Riverside”

Even as his work manages to avoid classification, just about anything with Danger Mouse’s name in the production credits shares a singular, idiosyncratic vision, a compelling midpoint between retro nostalgia and hyper-futurism perhaps best captured on his much-lauded 2004 mash-up, the Grey Album, which saw him seamlessly combine the Beatles’ White Album instrumentals with Jay-Z’s Black Album a capella tracks. Burton’s love of Italian film scores is well-documented; his Gnarls Barkley outfit’s ubiquitous smash hit “Crazy” samples liberally from the soundtrack to a 1968 spaghetti western, Viva! Django, while many of the groups other tracks (like the Odd Couple‘s “Surprise”) rely heavily on the genre’s typically sweeping strings, choir sections, and steady percussion.

Enter noted Italian film score composer/arranger/producer Daniele Luppi, whose lengthy rap-sheet includes collaborations with Broken Bells, John Legend, Mike Patton and work on the Sex and the City movie. Luppi and his arrangements figure heavily into Burton’s aforementioned fixation on spaghetti western soundtracks (he also conducted strings on both Gnarls Barkley records). Together, the two spent several years rounding up the legendary orchestra and choir who recorded on some of the genre’s most seminal albums: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West. Recorded in the same hallowed studio where those albums and many more were cut decades ago, Rome manages to somehow toe the fine line between a reverently vintage soundtrack and a sprawling, post-modern Western concept album. But with its sweeping choral and orchestral parts, interludes and evocative instrumental pieces rendered in widescreen, much of the record ends up sounding more like a movie soundtrack without the sort of visual accompaniment that often makes even the best film scores even better.

Enter Jack White and Norah Jones to fill in said gap. Each of the two voice a nameless character on three songs a piece (think: Clint Eastwood’s lead role as the Man with No Name in the Good, the Bad and the Ugly). Half-crooning over the psychedelic twang of “The Rose with a Broken Neck” and carrying the splendid album closer “The World” through to its strutting conclusion, White plays the lead with archetypal cowboy swagger. Even on the limp, schizophrenic “Two Against One”, the icon seems more comfortable than he has in a while, reveling in the dimmed spotlight. Jones is a revelation, lending a hushed, sultry air to the moody overtones of “Problem Queen” and “Black” and finally proving to be much more than just a pretty voice. While she might at first seem an odd choice for the part alongside musicians as renowned as Danger Mouse and Jack White, Jones certainly holds her own on Rome, often stealing the show completely, as she does on the tense, steamy number “Season’s Trees”.

Perhaps the best thing about Rome is how open-ended it is. Is Danger Mouse shopping his soundtracking skills to Hollywood studios? Will this splendid production, orchestra and all, hit the road for an extensive tour? For all of its glorious string flourishes, vivid visual allusions, and bursts of choral splendor, the best parts of Rome are truly left to the imagination. While it easily could’ve been little more than a tribute to a (regrettably) bygone Golden Age in cinema or a soundtrack to an imaginary movie, Rome succeeds at much more: It’s a fantastic album in its own right.

Remember Arcade Fire’s interactive video for “We Used to Wait”? Well, Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi took a similar approach for “3 Dreams of Black” from their collaborative album, Rome. The interactive video was directed by Chris Milk and created by the smarty pants at Google using Google Chrome’s WebGL technology. Consequently, you’ll need Google Chrome to view it… or navigate through the three dream worlds that color the clip.

As an issued press release explains, “The worlds are experienced as 2D drawings and animations, interspersed with interactive 3D sequences in which the viewer becomes an active participant, guiding their own journey through the unfolding narrative. Participants can even create their own virtual artifacts — the best of which will then be integrated into the experience and become a part of other users’ dreams.” In other words, click here and have fun.

Rome hits stores  May 17th via Capitol Records. Stream it now.

After hearing samples that were intermittently dropped over the last few months, NPR is letting the whole story of Rome unfold with a full stream of the sonic brainchild of Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi. Featuring the vocal stylings of Jack White and Norah Jones, the LP sees the two producers combine the sounds of their star singers with the musicians who formerly made up Ennio Morricone’s orchestra to create an album that pays homage to Italian films of the ’60s and ’70s. The 15-track effort can be heard here. Rome is scheduled to hit stores May 17th via Capitol Records.

Ah, supergroups. As anticipation mounts for the dynamite collaboration between Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse) and Italian composer Daniele Luppi, fans keep receiving more and more goodies to tide them over until the duo’s Rome project hits streets on May 1st. Last month, the Jack White-sporting single “Two Against One” surfaced, and this morning (via Some Kind of Awesome), everyone’s ears can warm up to the midnight lounge crooner, “Black”.

As the B-side to the Record Store Day exclusive single for “Two Against One”, this one finds celebrated vocalist Norah Jones wading through some silky undertones, all with the signature finesse of Brian Burton’s knack for ’60s-sounding production. It’s not sweeping, but just under that. You’ll want a glass of wine, that’s for sure. Oh, it’s only noon? Didn’t see that. Oops. Regardless, enjoy this slowly.

Fans can pick up Rome starting May 1st (via Capitol Records). Pre-order? Also, depending on your region, you can check out a special trailer featuring the music.