Music news: Whitney Houston, Sigur Rós, Cheap Trick

Come September, Whitney Houston is taking a crack at staying relevant with a new album. Not sure what the once-fantastic diva has up her sleeve, but we’re hoping for some seriously good tracks (get it?).

If you actually want something to look forward to in September, stay tuned for the Beastie Boys’ newie Hot Sauce Committee and Jay-Z’s long-awaited Blueprint 3 on his own label, Roc Nation. While we’re at it, indie trio Yo La Tengo pops out its 12th full-length, too: Popular Songs.

Sigur Rós is hard at work on upcoming album Out There. It won’t be out anywhere until 2010, but drummer Orri Páll Dyrason revealed in an online interview that it’ll be ‘melodic but much less noisy and more “out there” than previous albums’. In the meantime, amuse yourself with singer Jónsi Birgisson’s side project Riceboy Sleeps with boyfriend Alex Somers.

Late last month, power-pop veterans Cheap Trick released their new album The Latest on CD, vinyl, and…wait for it…limited-edition 8- tracks. Nostalgic rockers were quick to place neurotic pre-orders for these collectors’ items – if you missed out, get movin’ on eBay.

James Mercer of The Shins has taken to blogging about his dreams. If you love Garden State and adult-strength cough syrup, try www.mimandhoney.com.

Refusing to fade gracefully into the night, Linkin Park is recording a fourth album, due out in 2010. Mike Shinoda tells Rolling Stone ‘they’re going to have to come up with a new genre name for what this record is’, and that people just want ‘throwaway junk-food music that’s going to make them lethargic and fat.’ Co-vocalist Chester Bennington is busy with solo project Dead by Sunrise and plans to release material later this year.

New album releases

• Totems Flare by Clark (13 July)
• Riceboy Sleeps by Riceboy Sleeps (20 July)
• I’m Going Away by The Fiery Furnaces (21 July)
• Music for Cougars by Sugar Ray (21 July)