Jamie Hewlett’s CGI version of  Gorillaz is kind of amazing. Best video I’ve seen in a long time. And Damon Albarn has penned another infectious jam. Throw in James Murphy and Andre 3000, and it’s even harder to resist. All in the name of Converse.

Stephin Merritt likes synths again. Hallelujah. The band’s tenth studio album, Love at the Bottom of the Sea, is out next week via Merge.

What’s Beck been up to the past few years besides not making new records? Designing sunglasses for Oliver Peoples, of course. Amazingly, these frames have been in development for two years with Beck being “very involved” in the process. Beck drew inspiration from his personal collection of dead stock 80’s sunglasses, which is why they look like the junk you would find at a surf shop in Myrtle Beach. The resulting “Double Helix” frames can be purchased directly from Oliver Peoples for a mere $595. Before you balk at the price, be aware that Beck’s signature is printed on the right temple using the font from Midnite Vultures. How can you not buy them now? [via Stereogum]

I’ve been sort of ho-hum on School of Seven Bells until their recent output put me over the edge. Now I’m a full-fledged fan. Sirius XMU has been steadily spinning “The Night,” which was the first track of theirs to prick up my ears. The video for the first official single, “Lafaye,” was shot in an antique home in Dallas and caters to the song’s ethereal vibe with duotone lighting, slow motion pans, and a general cryptic atmosphere. Close ups of singer Alejandra Deheza make it much more palatable. [via Rolling Stone]

You can stream the whole new album, Ghostory, over at Consequence of Sound.

New Arctic Monkeys song. Harkens back to the stoner-rock vibe of Humbug. As Pitchfork pointed out, it’s not on their current LP, Suck It and See, nor is from any sort of impending release. Just a random one-off. I’ll take it.

If you fancy it enough to own it, download from iTunes.

John Lydon doesn’t give a rats ass about credibility or legacies or selling out. He’s in this game for his own amusement. Hence, the multiple ($$$) Sex Pistols reunions, the cringe-worthy butter commercials, and the even more cringe-worthy appearance on I’m a Celebrity Get Me out of Here.  PIL was merely the only outlet left for Lydon to exploit. For me PIL stopped being relevant after Flowers of Romance, but there were a few songs beyond that I could tolerate before the last few dreadful PIL records blighted the whole story. Anyway, well, an incarnation of PIL is back with a not-too-embarrassing stab at capturing what was once fairly experimental post-punk dub music.  Lydon himself seems to muck it all up, though, with a caricature of his old garbled vocal antics. Hear for yourself:

[via Slicing up Eyeballs]

Actual events are scheduled that lend credence to the news that Fiona Apple might have a new record nearing release. Ever since L.A. Reid recently tweeted a welcome back message to Fiona, news items have been trickling in. But now there are actual tour dates lined up. Still no concrete album news, but this is a start.

Fiona Apple 2012 Tour Dates [via Stereogum]

3/15 – Austin, TX @ Central Presbyterian Church
3/19 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
3/21 – Washington, DC @ Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
3/23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg
3/24 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Music Box
3/26 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
3/27 – Boston, MA @ Royale