At the beginning of a recent interview with Rocksucker, guitarist Jim Fairchild briefly touches on Modest Mouse's recording progress. Specifically on the work that was recently done with Big Boi, and unfortunatly it's a little disheartening for anyone who's hoping to hear a new album any time soon:

How did the Modest Mouse sessions with Big Boi go?

I didn't go out to those sessions. They were trying out some songs with Big Boi. I'm not really sure what's going to come of that. I think Isaac's still in the process of deciding who he wants to record the record with.

So it's going to be primarily a Modest Mouse record, as opposed to some kind of collaboration?

Yeah, they were recording Modest Mouse songs out there. But I don't think Isaac knows what he wants to do with the new record yet so it's very early stages.

The rest of the article deals mainly with the recent reissue of Grandaddy's album The Sophtware Slump, his time with them, replacing Johnny Marr, and his solo project All Smiles. It's quite an interesting read, even if you're only interested in the Modest Mouse parts.

Source: ROCKSUCKER: Interview: Jim Fairchild (Grandaddy, Modest Mouse, All Smiles)

The Joe Plummer side project's (with Nick Diamonds and Honus Honus) debut album comes out in a week, but you can now stream the entire album over on Paste Magazine's website.

Their tour also kicks off next week Thursday in Portland, OR. Find more tour dates over at their website.

In other Joe Plummer news, The Shins played their first show with their new lineup, which includes Joe, in Eugene, OR last night. Watch a video of them covering David Bowie's Ashes To Ashes below.

Source: Album Stream: Mister Heavenly - Out Of Love :: Featured Audio :: Paste

Long time Modest Mouse photographer, Pat Graham, has just released a new book entitled Instrument.

The link between musician and instrument is emotional, physical-and sometime volatile.

INSTRUMENT is a photography book that represents an intensely personal exposure by some of the world's most important and dedicated musicians. Instrument features beautifully photographed iconic instruments with thoughts, stories, and captions about them from the owners/musicians.

The book comprises over 10 years worth of Pat's work with numerous artists such as Modest Mouse, The Smiths, Sonic Youth, The Flaming Lips, R.E.M., New Order, Wire, Fugazi, Built to Spill, Band of Horses, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and more. It also features a forward has been written by former Modest Mouse guitarist, Johnny Marr.

The iconic sleigh bells that can be heard The Beach Boys Good Vibrations and Phil Spector's wall of sound, The moog that created New Order's Blue Monday, The organ that gave the Special's hit Ghost town, The bass from The Pixies, The guitar played by Ian Curtis on Love Will Tear us Apart, Joy Division. Johnny Marr's Gibson that was played in the height of the Smiths. Etc Etc... All these and many more photographed by Pat Graham with captions from the musicians.

The book has just been released in the UK, but has unfortunately been pushed back in North America to late September / early October. It can be ordered through Amazon or Chronicle Books.

Source: Instrument

As announced back in 2009, Joe Plummer is drumming for The Shins. Which hasn't meant much, as The Shins have been pretty quiet the last few years, with the exception of James Mercer playing a few solo performances with the help of Joe.

Things may change now, The Shins have announced that they will be putting out a new album next year on Mercer's Aural Apothecary label (via Columbia).

They will also be embarking on a short tour, with dates scattered over August, September and October. Mercer will be backed by Joe, Jessica Dobson, Yuuki Matthews and Richard Swift.

These dates will be bookending Joe's other tour with Mister Heavenly.

Find more details on The Shins' website and watch James and Joe debut a new song earlier this year below.

Source: The Shins | The Shins Official Site