Download delights

Matador Records are currently offering a niftily-zipped downloadable version of their annual sampler album. Including Cat Power, The New Pornographers, The Jicks and - as they'd say if they were flogging it on the telly - much, much more.

Jings! Its the Jicks

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks are doing a slew of UK dates and, erm, a one of Ireland dates:

Shepherds Bush Empire – June 5
Manchester Academy 2 – 7
Glasgow Oran Mor – 8
Dublin Tripod – 9

Gorky, it's the compilations

Amongst a smattering of new and repackaged material being announced: Gorky's Zygotic Mynci have got an early singles compilation scheduled for March; Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks - talk about giving a band a bad name - have a new album 'Pig Lib' due March 14th; Supergrass desperately try to raise interest in their forthcoming tour by bringing out 'Seen The Light' as a single and Moloko return on February 10th with Statues. It's not all good news, though, Madonna is putting something out in April. If we start praying now, we might just persuade the powers that it should be more Ray of Light than American Pie.