Pitchfork

-- Modest Mouse's Marr-less winter tour is now bigger and probably better than it was before. The trek will start tomorrow and run through March 15 and take the band from [Obama voice] Oregon...to Oklahoma City...to Baltimore...to New York. All dates are listed at the band's site. And those who can nab tickets will be able to buy a tour-exclusive limited edition MM photo book featuring the work of professional shutterbug Pat Graham.

-- Remember "Firestarter"? The Prodigy? They're back! (That probably doesn't deserve an exclamation point, on second thought.) I heard one of their new songs on The Guardian's great Music Weekly podcast last week and was not impressed. Still, the band is pressing on with comeback album Invaders Must Die, which drops in the U.S. on Cooking Vinyl March 3. To celebrate, the guys are playing three Stateside shows-- in Toronto, New York and Miami-- during their current world tour.

-- Based on songs like "Lady Luck" and the incredible Motown throwback "Would You", I believe soulful singer-songwriter Richard Swift may have a great album in him. And The Atlantic Ocean-- due April 7 on Secretly Canadian-- just might be that album. According to a press release, Swift describes the album as "Prince sitting in on John Lennon's Plastic Ono sessions" and I really hope that's not a load of shit. Do not let me down, dude. Swift heads out on a West coast tour next month.

-- New Zealand isn't just good for joke-rock and wizard movies and "lush vistas" anymore thanks to NZ indie pop-punk band Cut Off Your Hands, who will take part in an extensive U.S. tour with Ra Ra Riot starting this very weekend. If you're not yet familiar with this Frenchkiss band, take a gander at their new video.