New music

• The Roots, full album stream of How I Got Over (June 22nd), Pfork
  
• James Mercer (of the Shins and Broken Bells), "Journey Through the Past" (Neil Young cover), 180° South soundtrack (out today), Pfork
• Amanda Palmer (of the Dresden Dolls), "Idioteque" (Radiohead cover), Amanda Palmer performs the popular hits of Radiohead with her magical ukulele (July), I am fuel
• Black Lips, "Before You Judge Me," from the Adult Swim Singles Program, Pfork

New Music

• White Stripes, "Let's Shake Hands" (not really new, but I think it's only available on the Japanese version of the Stripes' S/T album), The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights (March 16th), TwentyFourBit
• Broken Bells (Danger Mouse and the Shins' James Mercer), "The High Road," Broken Bells (March 9th), Drowned in Sound
• Mos Def, "24 Hours Karate School," no album information, The Smoking Section
  

Hooray Friday!

- And the Best of 2008 lists keep coming... Metro D (part 1 & 2), NME, SPIN, Rolling Stone (albums, singles), A.V. Club, Drowned In Sound. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you're craving more, more, more, Largehearted Boy's list keeps growing by he day.

- The Shins cover "Strange Powers" and Aquarium Drunkard thinks it's better than the original by the Magnetic Fields. Have a listen for yourself.

- Double-shot from AD... this one from Pavement's stop in Minneapolis on their 1992 Slanted & Enchanted tour.

- Some "reissue" packages really piss me off, mainly because it's obvious that bands or labels are just looking to cash in on the greenbacks. That doesn't seem the case though with Pearl Jam's reissue of Ten in March. While prices haven't been set yet (which may change my mind), they are definitely giving fans options... four to be exact. Seems like some pretty sweet extras if you ask me. Let's keep our fingers crossed that they keep the prices reasonable.

Hooray Friday!

- Band of Horses played the Accelerator Festival this week in Stockholm and let loose on an unreleased song. Check out the video at P-fork.

- All reports from Bonnaroo are that MMJ killed with a 3+ hour set. I've been back and forth on seeing them when they swing through DC for their "An Evening with..." tour and I think this sealed the deal for me. Have a listen for yourself at You Ain't No Picasso.

- If you're looking for some new music to check out, head over to Sixeyes who has the list of nominees for the Polaris Music Prize which is given to the best Canadian album released in the last year.

- Not sure if I've already posted this, but Radiohead's April concert at the BBC Radio Theatre is available for download on Sixeyes.

- And the trifecta for Sixeyes! Some Shins live tracks from a concert last year are up and available for your listening/downloading pleasure.

- Spoon recorded a Daytrotter session which includes a cover of Paul Simon's "Peace Like a River" and three other songs.

- The Editors cover Calvin Harris' "Acceptable in the 80s". Thanks to Lets Sexy Fighting for the love.

- More covers from Lets Sexy Fighting. Grizzly Bear takes a crack at "Owner of a Lonely Heart" - can't wait to hear to this one.

- Take a listen to Blitz Trappen's title track off of their upcoming release Furr, due out in September. Thanks to You Ain't No Picasso.

- Another Peel Session from Aquarium Drunkard, this one courtesy of Fugazi from 1988.

- Aaaand the first of the 1/2 year lists are out.

Get your tour dates here

- Well, it looks like the Cold War Kids subscribe to Gus "R" Us and read my thoughts on their concert with Muse a few week back. I should have been a band manager when I grew up. They're hitting a few smaller venues at the major cities in Nov/Dec. That is after they're done whoring themselves out as openers for Muse & the White Stripes (just kidding fellas).

- Jose Gonzalez is touring this fall to promote his new album In Our Nature. Dates and his new single here.

- Spoon was supposed to be hitting up some smaller venues again this fall, but then a little band called the Shins asked them to open for them. I know Spoon has cancelled their dates at the 9:30 Club because it conflicted with the Shins at Merriweather, so I'm assuming they're doing the same with the rest of their tour. Shins dates here.

- For anyone who has not sunk their teeth into the newest Cloud Cult album, The Meaning of 8, you are truly missing out. They have started announcing dates beginning in September (October/November dates TBA). Unfortunately, I don't see a DC area venue on there as of now.
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- Queens of the Stone Age are giving no love to DC this time around. They'll be hitting up B-more, but it's 2 days before I'll be up in that area for a night of debauchery (read Bachelor Party). Dates here.

- Bright Eyes anyone? Dates are hot off of the press.