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SPIN’s Week in Review, August 18-22

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It was a busy week in SPIN.com-land, as we deployed our fearless rock’n’roll vagabond Zack on the road with Radiohead; hosted a stream of the entire new LP from Heavy Heavy Low Low; and debuted tracks from the Verve, Mercury Rev, and School of Seven Bells, among others. Check out this week’s booty below:

What we learned from Radiohead’s West Coast tour: On the road with one of the world’s biggest bands may be a perilous place for a mere mortal, but SPIN.com picked the right man for the job. Our unwavering Pearl Jam blogger Zack “The Tourist” Newman was back on the road this week, now trailing Radiohead from Canada to California and documenting the journey through a series of video blogs.

What we learned from Heavy Heavy Low Low: Math rock can be funny!. The Cali outfit debuted their hilariously-titled sophomore LP, Turtle Nipple and the Toxic Shock, with an exclusive stream that featured not only a song titled “Please, That Bitch Will Outlive Us All,” but a cover of Black Flag’s “Wasted.”

More highlights from this week…

AUDIO/VIDEO:
Exclusive Stream: School of Seven Bells, “Face to Face on High Places”
“Dreamy! Woozy! Psychedelic! Ex-Secret Machines axeman shows off his new band’s sound.”
New White Denim MP3: “Sitting”
“Does the Austin-based power trio live up to the buzz? SPIN tells you.”
Exclusive MP3: Mercury Rev, “Snowflake in a Hot World”
“Catskills-based dream-poppers let loose on a tune from their forthcoming seventh album, Snowflake Midnight, out Sept. 30 via Yep Roc Records.”
Exclusive Stream: The Verve, “Noise Epic”
“Bassist Simon Jones details the ethereal, Britpop-reviving track off the reunited lads’ forthcoming full-length, Forth, out stateside Aug. 26.”

NEWS:
Members of the Format, Steel Train, Anathallo Unite as Fun “Ex-Format leader Nate Ruess spills the beans about his new indie rock project, Fun, an ambitious new collaboration with Steel Train vocalist/guitarist Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost of Anathallo.”
Duffy Unveils U.S. Tour, Plus Dates With Coldplay
“The pop-soul bombshell headlines a fall jaunt across America, including stage-warming slots for Gwyneth’s favorite band.”
Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie Open Neil Young’s Upcoming Tour
“Get ready, St. Paul! You’ve died and gone to rock’n’roll heaven.”
Nine Inch Nails Extend Tour
“Trent Reznor and his backing band of industrial noisemakers add dates to NIN’s Lights in the Sky tour.”
New Bloc Party Album Out Digitally August 21
“Yet another band rushes an album to market, foregoing the typical build up. The new set from Bloc Party is entitled Intimacy.”
Hold Steady, Drive-By Truckers Map Co-Headlining Tour
“The classic-rock revivalists will join forces for a month-long North American jaunt, kicking off Oct. 30 in Louisville, KY.”

IT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT:
Cool Kids Heat Up in Austin
“With rhymes and beats aplenty, Chicago’s throwback hip-hop duo take the Lone Star State’s capitol for a ride.”
Anthony Green’s Versatility Shines in S.F.
“Post-hardcore hero’s acoustic show highlights his debut solo disc, Avalon.”
The Faint Pique Fans’ ‘Fasciinatiion’ in New York
“Omaha’s emo-dance outfit perform their new album at Manhattan’s Terminal 5 venue to the delight of a rowdy audience.”
Portland’s Rock Elite Attend Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks’ ‘Gardenia’ Video Premiere
“Members of Spoon, Sleater-Kinney, the Thermals and more check out local musical handyman Dantronix’s star-studded video treatment for Malkmus’ breezy tune.”
Rancid Wreak Havoc in NYC
“Punk nobility return to Gotham with a five-night stand at Irving Plaza.”

REVIEWS:
New Albums From Ra Ra Riot, Fiery Furnaces and More
“Get our take on 17 hot releases available now!”
David Vandervelde, Waiting for the Sunrise (Secretly Canadian)
The Stills, Oceans Will Rise (Arts&Crafts)
Sonny J, Disastro (Astralwerks)
Shwayze, Shwayze (Suretone/Geffen)
sBach, sBach (Suicide Squeeze)
Ra Ra Riot, The Rhumb Line (Barsuk)
Kristoffer Ragnstam, Wrong Side of the Room (Bluhammock)
Lee “Scratch” Perry, Repentance (Narnack)
Lindstrøm, Where You Go I Go Too (Smalltown Supersound)
Lykke Li, Youth Novels (LL)
Human Highway, Moody Motorcycle (Suicide Squeeze)
Caesars, Strawberry Weed (Astralwerks)
The Dandy Warhols, …Earth to the Dandy Warhols (Beat the World)
The Fiery Furnaces, Remember (Thrill Jockey)
Juliana Hatfield, How to Walk Away (Ye Olde)