Alt.folkie calms down, but still delivers some classics...

Throughout August, American record label Kill Rock Stars are making available previously unreleased tracks by singer/songwriter Elliott Smith. The label has already released outtakes of "Punch And Judy" and "Alameda", and have now issued an alternative version of "Angeles", from Smith's 1997 album, Either/Or. Kill Rock Stars are also releasing Smith's complete discography digitally this month, packaged together as 'The Indie Years', at: http://www.killrockstars.com/elliottsmith/

This month’s issue of Uncut (September 2012, Take 184) features Joe Strummer on the cover – inside is an in-depth exploration of his secret history, after The Clash split up to his redemption in the late ’90s. To complement this, our archive feature this week finds Strummer looking at the demise of The Clash – from their epic Sandinista! album to their bitter disintegration. This excerpt is taken from a longer piece in the September 1999 (Take 28) issue of Uncut. Words: Gavin Martin __________________________________

Steely Dan Donald Fagen is scheduled to release a new solo album, Sunken Condos, on October 16, according to the musician's website. Sunken Condos will be Fagen's fourth solo album. His first three solo albums were The Nightfly (1982), Kamakiriad (1993) and Morph The Cat (2006). Sunken Condos will feature eight Fagen originals and one cover, which Fagen describes on his website as "an Ashkenazi recasting of Isaac Hayes' Out Of The Ghetto".

The Horrors have revealed that they will start work on their fourth album as soon as the festival season is over. Guitarist Josh Hayward told NME that the band expect to go off in a new direction for the follow-up to Skying. He said: "We've started some new material but it's still gestating. I've been telling people the new album is going to sound like Hawkwind, but I'm sure it'll take a big tangent when we get in there. That's what usually happens. It's never a premeditated thing – we just see what's happening when we play together."

Paul McCartney has sent a message of support to Pussy Riot, the Russian feminist punk band who face three years in prison for staging a protest against President Vladimir Putin inside a Moscow church. The message, which appears on the homepage for McCartney's website, reads:

Soundgarden have confirmed that their long-awaited comeback studio album will be released in November. The grunge veterans, who split up in 1996, last released an album in that same year and have been working on its follow-up since they reunited in 2010. Speaking to Rolling Stone about their new album, guitarist Kim Thayil promised that the band's as yet untitled new LP will be "little weird". He also confirmed a release date of November 12 in the UK and November 13 in the US for the record.

Twenty mostly new records for your delectation this week, with particular emphasis on: the Michael Chapman full and free download from Black Dirt Studios’ consistently excellent “Natch” project; Cody ChesnuTT’s plush, upscale return; Corin Tucker tapping back into the punch of earlyish Sleater-Kinney; Jeff Lynne’s weird forensic re-recordings of his greatest hits; that Crazy Horse boot I wrote about yesterday; and Rangda, of course.

Robert Wayne Birch, Elton John's longtime bass player, has died at the age of 56. Birch's body was discovered yesterday morning (August 15) around the corner from his home in Los Angeles. It is thought he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, although police have yet to confirm this. According to TMZ, Los Angeles County Assistant Coroner Chief Ed Winter has said that Birch's death is being ''investigated as a possible suicide'', although no suicide note has been discovered as yet.

Outkast's Big Boi has revealed that he has been talking to singer Kate Bush and has hinted that they may be planning a collaboration. The rapper tweeted last night (August 15) that he had been in contact with the singer, writing: "Just got off the phone with Kate Bush!" When fans then pressed him to ask if the pair were collaboration, the rapper said: "Stay tuned..... ooooowwww!"