After a nine-year split, the newly reunited Verve -- best known here for their 1997 hit 'Bittersweet Symphony' -- are gearing up for a European tour and the release of their fourth album, the aptly titled 'Forth.' The band's energetic first single, 'Love is Noise,' features a dark dance beat underlying Richard Ashcroft's bittersweet lyrics. Have a listen.



Check out the Verve's tour dates after the jump.

The Mother Hips and the Bees -- two bands from different parts of the world -- converge on a format that is just as classic as their sound: the forgotten split 7" single.

For the AA side, Bay Area troupe the Mother Hips offer up the jangly rock tune 'Childish Dreams.' It's enough to make one wonder why this band is one of San Francisco's best kept secrets, even after scoring a slot in 'Rock Band.'

It's been over 20 years since Cyndi Lauper originally proclaimed that "girls just want to have fun," and now the New Wave pop queen is back lauding the wonders of nightlife. Produced by Peer Astrom (Madonna, Britney Spears), 'Into the Nightlife' is Lauper's latest dance anthem (and inevitable club hit), off her upcoming studio album 'Bring Ya to the Brink.' The new collection of dance-pop tunes will be available May 27, and you'll be able to hear the entire disc as one of Spinner's Full CD Listening Parties during release week. Until then, take a listen and enjoy this exclusive premiere.

One of the most high-profile police shooting trials came to an end Friday in New York City as three NYPD detectives were acquitted on all charges in the death of 23-year-old Sean Bell, who was gunned down in a 50-shot round outside a Queens strip club on November 25, 2006 -- the day before his wedding day. The ruling has sparked outrage among Bell's family and friends, as well as the surrounding community.

Among the outraged is Constanza Francavilla, a Brooklyn transplant by way of Rome, Italy. Francavilla penned a song, titled '50 Bullets Fired in Queens,' as a reaction to the shooting. "Take me to New York/I'm away from Rome/Oh what a nice neighborhood/Where cops like to shoot," she sings, buoyed by an electronic backbeat. The song, which will be featured on her forthcoming album, 'Sonic Diary,' can be heard here.

It's been more than a decade, but all four original members of Mötley Crüe are back together in full force. 'Saints of Los Angeles' is the title track and lead single off the notorious rock band's new album due this Summer. With its powerhouse hook, the track aims to prove that the gang is still on top of its game, rocking harder than ever.

Bay Area rapper Lyrics Born will drop 'Everywhere at Once,' his first album in three years, on April 22. In advance of the disc – which includes the contagious lead single 'I Like It I Love It' – the man born Tom Shimura will make two appearances this week at Austin's South by Southwest Music Festival, at the Cedar Street Courtyard on March 14th and at Auditorium Shores on March 15th.

"I wanted to make something that was both accessible and personal at the same time," LB tells Spinner. "After my last three albums, I was able to recognize what it was about my work people gravitated to most, and played to those strengths. I get the party going, keep each song unique and diverse in terms of tone, topic, cadence and vibe, and – of course, I writes them hooks."

Singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg passed away from prostate cancer last December at the age of 56, but thanks to his wife, Jean, the voice that soundtracked many a love affair -- particularly with the wedding standard, 'Longer,' -- will help couples celebrate their love just in time for Valentine's Day with 'Sometimes a Song,' a simple, tender acoustic number.

"In February of 2005, Dan went to Colorado for a few weeks to supersive some ranch business and to do some work in the studio," Jean said in a statement. "I stayed in Maine. It was hard for us to be so far apart for so long, especially since we'd miss Valentine's Day together. On the afternoon of the 14th, the florist brought me a dozen long-stemmed roses; Fed Ex brought me a CD with a song Dan had written for me just for Valentine's Day."

The song is being released on Tuesday as a digital download on iTunes, among other places. Most importantly, all of the proceeds will be donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

'Possession'
--Sarah McLachlan (1993)

The Kiss-Off: "And I would be the one to hold you down, kiss you so hard, I'll take your breath away"

The lyrics were inspired by McLachlan's real-life stalker, who "won't be denied." The guy actually tried to sue her for paraphrasing his love letters, but he killed himself before the suit reached trial. That, friends, is what you call giving "love" a bad name. Download Sarah McLachlan on Napster

'Under My Thumb'
--The Rolling Stones (1966)

The Kiss-Off: "It's down to me/The way she does just what she's told, down to me"

Seriously: Did any girl ever push Mick Jagger around? Hard to reckon, but if there's truth in these lyrics, at least one did – until Jagger turned the tables. Now she's either a contradictory "squirmin' dog" or a "Siamese cat of a girl." Either way, safe to assume this is not a big chart-topper on Gloria Steinem's iPod.

'Ex-Factor'
--Lauryn Hill (1998)

The Kiss-Off: "No one's hurt me more than you/And no one ever will"

"Yo, it ain't workin'." Gotta figure that's what someone in the studio said when the Wu-Tang Clan sampled Gladys Knight's version of 'The Way We Were' for their classic 'Can It Be All So Simple.' Ms. Hill then recycled the Wu's recycled version for this, her futile plea for the simple life. "Loving you is like a battle," she tells her man, who best be looking out: She's got skills.

'The One I Love'
--R.E.M. (1987)

The Kiss-Off: "A simple prop to occupy my time"

Oh, Monsieur Stipe, you are a clever, clever man. Wholly uninterested in writing the old, formulaic type of romantic ditty, the singer crafted his band's first big pop hit by masking a wicked putdown as an old, formulaic type of love song.

'I'm Looking Through You'
--Beatles (1965)

The Kiss-Off: "I thought I knew you/What did I know?"

The bitterness was directed at Jane Asher, Paul's actress girlfriend. While he blamed her for giving her career priority over romance, he neglected to mention the fact that his routine one-nighters were at the root of the couple's troubles. Asher supposedly inspired several McCartney tunes, including 'You Won't See Me' and 'We Can Work It Out.'

'Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)'
--Blu Cantrell (2001)

The Kiss-Off: "Found another way to make him pay for it all"

American consumers have been up to their gills in credit card debt for years now, and this one-hit wonder let us know why: Men who cheat can be sure their ladeez will get their payback at Saks. For the shattered dreams (oops!), the house (oops!), the lies -- fellas, this is what you owe. Download Blu Cantrell on Napster

'I Want You'
--Elvis Costello (1986)

The Kiss-Off: "It's the thought of him undressing you or you undressing"

From perhaps the ultimate kiss-off artiste -- on this album alone, 'Blood and Chocolate,' he gave us the sweet nothings 'I Hope You're Happy Now' and 'Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head' -- Costello outdid himself with these chilling, murderous seven minutes. "I want you so it scares me to death," he sings, but it won't be his death. Download Elvis Costello on Napster

'Two Out of Three Ain't Bad'
--Meat Loaf (1977)

The Kiss-Off: "I want you, I need you/But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you"

Writer Jim Steinman wrote this after hearing Elvis' 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' on the radio. "Baby, we can talk all night," sings the Loaf, rather sweetly, speaking for all men in relationships. "But that ain't getting us nowhere."
Download Meat Loaf on Napster