According to a press release from Nettwerk Music Group received this past Monday, Maria Taylor's third solo album, LadyLuck, will be released April 7 on Nettwerk. "Teaming up with producer friends Andy LeMaster (Bright Eyes, Azure Ray and a host of Saddle Creek label mates), Mike Mogis and Lukas Burton and featuring collaborations with Michael Stipe, Nate Walcott of Bright Eyes and Mckenzie Smith of Midlake, LadyLuck showcases Taylor's ability to pull at your heart strings while proving she's not a woman down on her luck," said the release. Two tracks from the album will be available on iTunes Jan. 13, and listeners can get a sneak peak right now at myspace.com/mariataylor.

I'm told Nettwerk has handled Taylor's management for years. A Canadian company, Nettwerk has released music by Great Lake Swimmers, HEM, Guster, Sarah McLachlan, Skinny Puppy, Ladytron, Josh Rouse, and Single Gun Theory, among others. (Interestingly, Nettwerk has a history of fighting the RIAA, and has even offered to pay legal fees to defendants being sued for downloading. According to Wiki: "Nettwerk is one of the first major music companies to abolish DRM, releasing songs in the unrestricted MP3 format, as well as the lossless FLAC and Apple Lossless formats.")

It's a shame to see any act leave Saddle Creek, but this shouldn't be a big surprise to the label, considering her past relationship with Nettwerk. In all honesty, I figured Orenda Fink/Art in Manila would be the first to jump ship. Is this a body-blow to Saddle Creek? Well, anytime you lose a performer of Taylor's caliber, it's gotta hurt.

Meanwhile, Creek continues to secretly market (now there's an oxymoron for you) a project called O+S. Creek's December e-mail update listed a full-length from O+S as a future release. I asked Creek who/what O+S is, and was told "More info to come" from Creek exec Jason Kulbel. Meanwhile, Saddle Creek twittered the following message to its followers this morning: "can't wait for you to hear the new O+S album! you're going to love it!" The plot thickens...

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The weekend starts early tonight at The Waiting Room as XL recording artist Tapes 'N Tapes performs with Wild Light and our very own Little Brazil. $12, 9 p.m.

And speaking of shows, last night I bought my ticket to the Jan. 24 Cursive show at Slowdown. For Just $5. If you want to go you better get your ticket toot-sweet. The Friday, Jan. 23, show has already sold out.

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