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News Roundup: R.E.M., Raconteurs, Costello, Vineland Fest, Shortlist Prize

From the sex shop to the restaurant, and soon to Austin, TX’s SXSW: R.E.M. just seem to Accelerate everywhere! And now, in support of the band’s forthcoming record, ahem, Accelerate, their 14th set to date due April 1, Michael Stipeand crew have unveiled a vital piece of information — the album’stracklist! Now in addition to first single “Supernatural Superserious,”we have 10 other gems to soon sink our teeth into, including titleslike “Living Well’s the Best Revenge,” “Houston,” and “Sing For theSubmarine.” [Via Billboard.com]

Accelerate tracklisting:

1. “Living Well’s the Best Revenge”
2. “Mansized Wreath”
3. “Supernatural Superserious”
4. “Hollow Man”
5. “Houston”
6. “Accelerate”
7. “Until the Day Is Done”
8. “Mr. Richards”
9. “Sing For the Submarine”
10. “Horse to Water”
11. “I’m Gonna DJ”

Jack White‘s Raconteurs, Elvis Costello, and the Rootswill all be adding a little extra flavor to New Orleans’ Jazz Fest,held at the Big Easy’s Fair Grounds Race Course April 25-27 and May1-4, while the likes of Allen Toussaint, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Dr.John, Irma Thomas, the Neville Brothers, Robert Plant and AlisonKrauss, and Randy Newman will be providing the more usual fare; simplythe thought of White riffing with Toussaint, or dueting with Wonder ismesmerizing.

Looks like New Jersey’s All Points West Festival will have a little less competition this summer, for Vineland Fest,the much-mooted event once slated to hit southern New Jersey Aug. 8-10,has been delayed “to early summer 2009.” Why, you ask? Well, accordingto a statement, the postponement is “due to the overall festivaltraffic in the northeast and big bands touring through this area at thesame time,” plus producers Festival Republic and C3 Presents “did notwant to force music fans to choose between three events on the sameweekend.” All Points West is slated for that same weekend, butLollapalooza is set for the weekend before, Aug. 1-3; maybe Baltimore’sVirgin Fest also coincides?

The ten finalists for the seventh annual Shortlist Prize— an award intended to help lesser-known acts crossover into themainstream — have been announced, and the nominees are… drum rollplease… Arcade Fire, Burial, Feist, Justice, LCD Soundsystem, M.I.A., Spoon, Stars, Wilco, and Working for a Nuclear Free City.The ten finalists were hand picked by five judges — Gary Lightbody(Snow Patrol), Ronnie Vannucci (the Killers), journalist Rev. Moose(CMJ), radio DJ Chris Douridas (KCRW) and the hosts of HunnypotInternet Radio — from the initial Long List of 54 nominees. The finalwinner will be announced in February.