News Roundup: 10/23/2009

Experimental composer Maryanne Amacher has died at the age of 66. Amacher worked heavily with “ear tones,” claiming that her music could turn the listeners’ ears into sound-making mechanisms when played at the right volume. [ChicagoReader.com]

While taping a future installment of AOL Sessions, Weezer welcomed some unusual guests into the studio. Chamillionaire filled in for rapper Lil Wayne on “Can’t Stop Partying,” songwriter Sara Bareilles dueted with Rivers Cuomo on “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To,” and smooth jazz veteran Kenny G improvised a solo during “I’m Your Daddy.” Bareilles will join Weezer tonight, when the band performs “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” on Jimmy Kimmel Live. [Pitchfork.com]

Noel Gallagher has confirmed plans to launch a solo career following Oasis’ fist-fueled breakup in August. Brother Liam will also continue making music, and neither sibling plans to use the Oasis moniker. [NME.com]

Pearl Jam and REM have joined the likes of Jackson Browne, Billy Bragg, Bonnie Raitt, and Rage Against The Machine as part of the National Campaign to Close Guantanamo. The musical coalition supports Barack Obama’s efforts to close the prison, which often uses loud music to help interrogate prisoners. “We have spent the past 30 years supporting causes related to peace and justice,” said R.E.M. in a public statement. “To now learn that some of our friends’ music may have been used as part of the torture tactics without their consent or knowledge is horrific.” [EW.com]

Tickets for Phish’s upcoming fall tour have been selling out mere seconds after they go on sale. A new batch of shows will go on sale tomorrow. If those also sell out instantly, slow-on-the-draw fans can still buy tickets for Festival 8, the band’s three-day residency at the Coachella festival site. Festival 8 launches next Friday. [Spinner.com]

Them Crooked Vultures — the rock royalty supergroup comprising Josh Homme, Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones — will make its debut with a self-titled, self-produced album on November 17th. Having recently toured North America, the band will head overseas for a series of shows one month after the album’s release. [FMQB.com]

Albums by Muse, Animal Collective, Paramore, and the Flaming Lips are among Gigwise’s top 50 album covers of the decade. [GigWise.com]

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