If you live in or will be traveling to England anytime after January 7 of 2010, you might be able to purchase your favorite classic (or new wave for that matter) album in stamp format. So there’s a cheap souvenir! Albums that look to be a part of the collection at this point include The Clash’s London Calling‘, Led Zeppelin IV, Power, Corruption & Lies by New Order, Primal Scream’s Screamadelica, Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones and yes, A Rush of Blood To The Head by Coldplay. Good thing it wasn’t Viva La Vida, or Joe Satriani’s face would have been legally obliged one tenth of the stamp. We kid. (Via: NME)

British new wave giants New Order are teaming up with Blur bassist Alex James under the title Bad Lieutenant, and the group have recorded an album which is due this fall, reports SPIN. Despite the fact that Blur seems to be in the middle of a come-back, James has expressed great enthusiasm about this new project, saying “I’m very proud of it, it’s a very good album.” New Order’s collaboration with James seems to be the result of a messy blow-out with former bassist Peter Hook, about which Sumner is reluctant to spill details. Keep an eye out for Bad Lieutenant tour dates for later this year, as dance parties are sure to ensue.

—Nikki Turner

This week’s edition of New Music Thursdays was curated by Notes From Middle America columnist Danny R. Phillips.

It’s a bit like running through razor blades then diving into a swimming pool full of rubbing alcohol when a band takes on groups like The Cure, Bloc Party, Jane’s Addiction, New Order and Franz Ferdinand: the chances of catastrophe and painful death are magnified by 47 million.
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