U2

An interesting tidbit from The New York Times: U2 is selling a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting that its bassist, Adam Clayton, bought at a New York gallery in 1989. According to Bloomberg, the band is expected to fetch as much as 6 million pounds (that’s $11.7 million) at a Sotheby’s Contemporary Art auction in London on July 1. The auction record for a Basquiat work is $14.6 million.

The painting, a 6-foot-square acrylic, oil stick and collage canvas, was completed in 1982 (some reports say 1983) when the artist was 22 years old. He died of a drug overdose in 1988.

“It seems especially appropriate that a work by Basquiat should end up in a music studio, since so much has been said about the relationship between his art and music,” Oliver Barker, of Sotheby's Contemporary Art department, told the BBC. The painting had been hanging in U2’s studio until now.

No word on whether Bono plans to do something philanthropic with the money.

Unless you’re a fan of Jordin Sparks—the American Idol winner—or Nicole Scherzinger—of Pussycat Dolls fame—both of which have albums coming out today, you’re probably excited for the new Six Organs of Admittance album, Shelter From the Ash. Although Six Organs has been putting out albums since 1998, its founder Ben Chasny is probably better known for his work with the psychedelic acid rock band, Comets on Fire, another Pitchfork darling. But with Organs, Chasny has been quietly amassing a moving oeuvre of eerie, moody post-rock. On his newest album, Chasny invited members of Magik Markers, Comets on Fire (big surprise!), and Fucking Champs into the studio. Light listening, this is not.

You know what Thanksgiving means for record companies? It’s almost Christmas. And these days, that means Gift Packs! You basically already know these as box sets, but that name has fallen out of favor and so it will soon fall out of favor with you, too! The box set, with its relatively high ticket price and its focus on the packaging of compact discs, is a format for affluent thirtysomethings and so today's Gift Pack! releases are age appropriate: The Beach Boys, Pat Benatar, Blondie, Blur, The Chemical Brothers, Coldplay, Crowded House, Grand Funk Railroad, Massive Attack, Poison. Nothing says Christmas quite like an egg-nog fueled sing-along of “Talk Dirty to Me.” Who needs Perry Como?  read more »

Dear Neighbors,  read more »

Tomorrow morning Tom Suozzi will be recognized for his service as the outgoing co-chairperson of the Metropolitan Transportation Council at their annual meeting.

Madame Tussauds unveils a wax figure of U2 lead singer Bono--will they put him next to Hillary?

Then the City Council Committee on Lower Manhattan Redevelopment will unveil its proposal regarding construction authority at the World Trade Center site.

In the evening, the Metropolitan Republican Club hosts its St. Patrick's Day Party, while the New York Young Republican Club meets with special guest John Faso (which requires business attire), and finally, the Chinatown Republican Club hosts a fundraiser for Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco.

—Nicole Brydson

You've seen the ad: Shadowy figures wearing white earpieces gyrate against brightly colored backdrop  read more »

Gastro-pub Girl comes to town; backed by Ken Friedman, Mario Batali-and maybe Bono-a British chef is  read more »

U2: All That MattersA brief history of U2: Act 1 (the 80's): Irish band adds dynamism to the chill o  read more »