Three albums come out today; all of them might be called "Indie" releases; they will be promoted and marketed heavily at Indie record stores and compete on the same Indie charts this week.

Needless to say the genre is almost meaningless as a description of the music. One of the bands is from Brazil, one is on a major label, and the third is on a label nobody's even heard of. And one band makes club-ready synth-punk, while another makes clever '80s-inspired dance-rock, and the third makes dense, harmony-laden classic rock-inspired power pop. How can three such disparate bands be part of the same scene?

Of course the designation "Indie" never stood for a genre.  read more »

Today, Pitchfork brings us a brand new Morrissey video for a forthcoming single called “All You Need is Me.” The interesting part is that the video was directed by Patrick O’Dell, the Manhattan photographer and former Vice magazine photo editor whose blog, Epicly L’aterd has become something of a must read for downtown scenesters and skater kids.  read more »

Some exciting music news from the Brits today: A new multi-format Radiohead best-of compilation (aptly titled, The Best Of) is due out June 2 in the U.K. on the band's former label, Parliphone/EMI, Pitchfork reports. What hits will the disc include? "Paranoid Android," "Fake Plastic Trees" and (bringing it back to '93!) "Creep," all made the cut, as well as the rarity and super-fan favorite "True Love Waits." Radiohead, who are headlining the first two nights of the All Points West festival in Jersey City this August, did not sanction the release. Meanwhile, Morrissey today won an apology in court from the British music mag Word over phrasing in a March 2008 article that "could have been construed to suggest that Mr. Morrissey was a racist, held racist opinions or that (as the child of migrant parents) he was a hypocrite," Reuters reports. The 48-year-old crooner, who has a similar case going against the tabloidy NME, said he was "delighted" with today's decision. His lawyer added: "Ultimately, my client would rather spend his time in concert than in court." Indeed, the Moz (sorry, calling him "Mr. Morrissey" just sounds too awkward), is expected to tour later this year in support of his forthcoming new studio album in the fall.

As late winter’s doldrums penetrate the city, it’s becoming harder to find a reason to leave the house at night. But what if we told you Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds were headlining the Plug Independent Music Awards tomorrow at Terminal 5? And then what if we told you it was only $10?  read more »

Barack Obama has really been raking in the indie cred: Scarlet Johansson, Bright Eyes, Morrissey! Add to that list Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie, who was in New York promoting his new solo album late last week when he told MTV News that he’d jumped on the bandwagon, and would be supporting Mr. Obama in the Democratic primaries.  read more »

On Thursday, Jan. 17, Manhattan photographer Patrick O’Dell sent a message to his friends on MySpace urging them to come to the opening of his first solo exhibit.

“I have a fear this is going to be like my birthday or whenever else I invite everyone I know to something and like 4 people show up...I've already had bad dreams about it,” he wrote.

On the contrary, Mr. O’Dell’s opening Saturday night at Fuse Gallery, which is housed in the back of the cave-like East Village bar Lit, on 2nd Avenue, turned out to be a generously attended affair. A mixed crowd of downtown hipsters and art patrons snaked through the 33-piece photo exhibit, sipping on bottles of Bud and Red Stripe as actor Leo Fitzpatrick, a friend of Mr. O’Dell’s, spun classic ‘80s records.  read more »

Klaus Nomi, the influential New Wave opera singer, semi-alien, and early ‘80s Lower East Side performance icon, was one of the first gay artists to succumb to AIDS when he died in 1983, as documented in Andrew Horn’s tear-inducing, yet hilariously quirky, 2004 film The Nomi Song. Though Nomi’s career was short-lived, and his synth-infused opera music -- for lack of a better word -- bizarre, the eccentric, German-born singer’s influence was considerable, touching pop stars (Morrissey) and contemporary composers (Austria’s Olga Neuwirth) alike. Now, on the eve of what would have been Mr. Nomi’s (nee Klaus Sperber) 64th birthday on January 24, a portion of his unfinished opera, Za Bakdaz, or “Nomi Homeland,” has for the first time been made available on CD.   read more »

Our Web site had a hairball for most of the day, so excuse the Culture Czar for coughing up these stories a little late. Here’s what we missed:

Into the Wild was, predictably, the big winner at the Gotham Awards last night in Brooklyn. Go Emile!

The Weinstein Co. has acquired publishing and screen rights to Bridie Clark's upcoming novel I Think She's Got It, which is billed as a modern version of Pygmalion set in New York.

25 million people watched Dancing With the Stars. We’re losing faith in humanity.

Carrie Brownstein ponders Rock Band vs. real bands.

Morrissey is no longer a free agent after signing with Polydor/Decca.

Brooklyn Vegan reports:

Morrisey played Monday night and Tuesday night. Morrissey plays again Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Some of these shows were reduced in price at various times. This time it's for the Sunday show. "Beginning Thursday, October 25th at noon, purchase $20.00 Tickets for the October 28th show - while supplies last. Tickets can be purchased at The Irving Plaza Box Office, Ticketmaster locations, charge-by-phone, and ticketmaster.com."