Morphine recently canceled a chunk of concert dates, but fans won't be upset at the reason -- they've gone back into the studio to begin recording their fifth album.|

The Boston-based noir rock trio was to play a series of dates throughout the United States, but Morphine decided to get back into the studio and start experimenting with new material, according to a spokesman for the band. Morphine is currently working with John Williams, an engineer from Burlington, Vt., at Fort Apache, a recording studio in Beantown.

Although Morphine postponed the tour dates, they plan to play two shows in November. First, they'll hit the Roxy in Boston on Nov. 5 and then fly down to Mexico City on Nov. 10 to play a gig at the Teatro Metropolitano. Mark Hamilton, Morphine's tour manager, said the band will reschedule the canceled dates, but as far as when, that's still up in the air. "It most likely won't be until next year," he said.

In related news, Rykodisc released an album of rare Morphine singles called B-Sides and Otherwise on Sept. 23. The CD is an album full of experimental material that never made it onto other Morphine albums, according to a spokesman for the band. Also, Rykodisc is calling B-Sides a "must-have collection" that includes out-of-print tracks, live radio sessions, songs from film soundtracks and excerpts from compilations. (Ari Bendersky)

Morphine's canceled tour dates:

• Oct. 25 & 26 - Howlin' Wolf, New Orleans
• Oct. 28 - 30 - Vic Theatre, Chicago
• Nov. 1 & 2 - First Avenue, Minneapolis
• Nov. 4 - Paramount Theatre, Seattle
• Nov. 5 - 7 - The Fillmore, San Francisco
  (all dates courtesy of LMI International)