It hasn’t taken too long for the boys from England to start working on their next album. The follow-up to last year’s Pala has already begun, and the trio is looking for inspiration in different places.

Friendly Fires is channeling the atmosphere of Stanley Kubrick’s classic The Shining for their next album.  In a recent interview with 6Music, guitarist Edd Gibson stated, “I think we are trying to force on an element of the film The Shining, or the book The Shining, as a cultured gentleman who reads and doesn’t just watch films… We’re trying to alienate ourselves into a world of music alone and see what we come up with.”

The group is changing their location to Sweden, where a log cabin will provide a setting all too familiar among the musicians. Although their time will be short-lived, as their stay will be under two weeks, the group is trying to make the most of their time in their frozen living quarters.

What could this all possibly mean for the group? They won’t be trying to pull off any Bon Iver tricks any time soon, and any attempts to do so will be interesting. Despite the implication of channeling The Shining I highly doubt their next release would be able to pull off a longer, slow-paced sound. Hopefully, the next album won’t leave us wanting to murder our families. Additionally, listening to it won’t be able to make us communicate with each other telepathically (unfortunately). If the band can develop the telepathy The Shining gives its name to, the band will be able to craft an album more refreshing than Pala and if lucky, one better than their debut as well.

Each week, the WKNC music directors tally up spins for new releases and submit their top charts to CMJ.

CMJ Loud Rock from WKNC’s Chainsaw Rock

CMJ RPM from WKNC’s Afterhours

CMJ Hip-Hop from WKNC’s Underground

CMJ Radio 200 from WKNC’s Daytime Rock

(click for top 30)

Enjoy these albums, compiled by The DJ Ones.  [editors note: Those Darlins' album art is quite interesting!]

Here are the top ten albums in Afterhours.

Another week, another Top 30 hits from your friendly daytime music director, Michael Jones.

The Top 30 artists and albums of this week, as compiled by Daytime Music Director Michael Jones.

Friendly Fires Courtesy of Friendly Fires

1. Sufjan Stevens has come out saying that his plan to write an album for each state was a result of him becoming a “cliche” and in looking back on the project idea he has claimed that it is now a “joke”. This is after he released “Illinoise” in 2005 and “Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State” in 2003. He would go on to say the project seemed a bit silly. via (Paste Magazine)

2. According to the Matador Records‘ Web site they have acquired True Panther Sounds. This comes after Matador helped promote True Panther Sounds’ band Girls‘ new album. via (Matador Records)

3. In what seems to be a growing trend among band front men, Bloc Party‘s Kele Okereke has announce plans to release a solo album while the band is still on hiatus. Complete detalis on the record are yet to be released.via (NME)

4. Friendly Fires has announced the follow up to its self-titled debut album. The album, which has yet to be named, is planning on being released next May. Accoring to member Ed MacFarlane the band already has four tracks they have already completed for the album. Ed MacFarlane also said, “We’re going to hopefully have all the songs finished by the end of the year, record in January and have the album ready for May time, and do some festivals around then.” via (NME)

5. The side project of Art Brut‘s Eddie Argos and The Bloody Arm‘s Dyan Valdes called Everybody Was in the French Resistance…Now are set to release its debut album, “Fixin’ the Charts,” in January. The album was produced by David Newton, and the full track listing is available. via (NME)