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News Roundup: Mudhoney, French Kicks, Hot Chip, Notorious B.I.G.

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On May 20, Seattle’s grunge all-stars Mudhoney will return with The Lucky Ones, the quartet’s eighth album to date, out courtesy of longtime label Sub Pop. The new set, recorded in a mere three-and-a-half days, will drop alongside a deluxe, remastered edition of Mudhoney’s sophomore record, Superfuzz Bigmuff, and will also coincide with both the band and label’s 20th anniversary.

Unearth your suits and goggles, for the cinematic indie pop of Brooklyn-based quartet French Kicks will also return on May 20 with Swimming, the band’s second album on Vagrant, set to arrive just in time for summer. For the overly antsy, as well as members of the Polar Bear Club, Swimming will be available exclusively via iTunes on April 1. And to unveil the album nationwide, French Kicks will hit the road this spring. Check out the band’s MySpace page for a full itinerary. In the meantime, hold yourself over with Swimming track “Abandon” (DOWNLOAD MP3).

Hot Chip fans moonlighting as creative fashionistas look no further; in cooperation with Threadless.com, the floor rockin’ Brits are tapping fans to submit original T-shirts designs based on a “Made in the Dark (Glow-in-the-Dark Ink)” theme. The designer behind the winning submission will be rewarded with $2,000, a MicroKorg keyboard (just like the band uses), a signed 2′ x 2′ image of the band’s latest LP, Made in the Dark, plus Hot Chip’s full catalog (with a DVD) and a gift pack courtesy of their label, Astralwerks. Added bonuses: Threadless.com will award the winner a $500 gift certificate and sell the victorious design to the masses. For additional details click here.

After a long and arduous search, producers behind the forthcoming biopic on Notorious B.I.G. have finally filled the lead role with Jamal Woolard, a relatively unknown rapper hailing from none other than Biggie’s birthplace: Brooklyn. And Woolard and B.I.G., a.k.a. Christopher Wallace, share more than a common borough: Woolard also led a gangsta life, dealing drugs before becoming a rapper, and was even shot before an interview with New York’s Hot 97. The film, titled Notorious, is expected in January 2009. [Via Billboard.com]