News Roundup: Franz Ferdinand, Eminem, Pinback, Brother Ali

Much like Thurston Moore, Scot sensations Franz Ferdinand have been pondering a few filthy pleasures. "The idea of making a dirty pop record -- this is what has been on our minds," frontman Alex Kapranos told Billboard.com of their yet-to-be titled LP, expected to drop this summer. The album, currently under production in Glasgow, will contain a "real dirtiness, edge, and attitude," and be "rhythm-and dance-based." You don't say.

As you may remember, Eminem has suffered a few health problems of late, which many attribute to his ballooning weight -- some say well over 200 pounds, and he's only 5'8" tall. But one man's junk food is another's tofu and the opportunistic executives over at Slim-Fast have extended a hand to Mr. Mathers, and asked if the rapper would be the next poster boy for the company and loose his weight the old fashion way -- by drinking disgusting diet shakes, duh! Note to Eminem: please channel the situation into a song and accompanying music video. [Via NME.com]

It appears those Christmas dates were just a warm up run for grander plans; Rob Crow and Zach Smith's Pinback will tour the U.S. this winter/spring in continual support of fourth LP Autumn of the Seraphs, which dropped last fall via Touch and Go. The West Coast outing will kick off Feb. 5 in Chula Vista, CA and wrap Feb. 21 in Los Angeles. For the complete tour itinerary, check out Pitchfork.

One of the shining stars -- literally, dude is an albino -- of Spin's Year in Music Party this past Tuesday (Jan. 15) was Brother Ali. The Minneapolis stalwart tore through a searing set, and, turns out, he'll be doing the same all across the country this spring in continual support of The Undisputed Truth.

Brother Ali tour dates:

2/29, Madison, WI (High Noon)
3/1, Iowa City, IA (Picador)
3/2, Houghton, MI (WMTU Houghton)
3/3, Duluth, MN (Pizza Luce)
3/4, Menomonee, WI (UW Stout)
3/5, Omaha, NE (Waiting Room)
3/6, Boulder, CO (Fox Theatre)
3/7, Denver, CO (Bluebird)
3/8, Salt Lake City, UT (Kilby Court)
3/8, Salt Lake City, UT (Urban Lounge)
3/9, Boise, ID (The Venue)
3/10, Seattle, WA (Neumo's)
3/11, Portland, OR (Hawthorne)
3/12, San Francisco, CA (Slim's)
3/13, Los Angeles, CA (Troubadour)
3/14, San Diego, CA (Canes)
3/15, Tucson, AZ (Congress)
3/16, Albuquerque, NM (Sunshine Theatre)
3/19, Dallas, TX (The Prophet Bar)
3/21, Tampa, FL (Orpheum)
3/22, Orlando, FL (The Social)
3/24, Carrboro, NC (Cat's Cradle)
3/25, Baltimore, MD (Ottobar)
3/26, Philadelphia, PA (World Cafe Live)
3/27, New York, NY (Bowery Ballroom)
3/28, Boston, MA (Middle East)
3/29, Buffalo, NY (Neitzches)
3/30, Ann Arbor, MI (Blind Pig)
3/31, Chicago, IL (Abbey Pub)