It seems the whole boy/girl duo creating happy indie pop songs has been done a million times over now with the breakout success of bands like Tennis and Cults. Freedom Fry haven’t changed the formula, but they’ve certainly done a great job trying to perfect it. Here’s their new single “Earthquake” which will be released valentines day on iTunes. If you’re into either of the aforementioned acts, chances are you’ll dig this…Catch the stream along with the official video below

Some pretty sick riffage coming out of England with Band of Skulls new single “Sweet Sour” the title track off of their second full-length. It’s a garage rock stomper heavily reminiscent of Black Rebel Motorcycle Clubs last release. Check out the full album when it drops digitally 2/7 on iTunes with the physical release out a week later.

Sweet Sour by Band of Skulls

La Dispute have lined up a pretty slick roster to head out with them this winter as they embark on a full North American tour. Supporting bands will be Balance & Composure, All Get Out and Sainthood Reps. See you guys at the Ogden date, I’ll definitely need to make the trip for this one.

Check out the dates below. Presales go live noon local time this Monday, February 6th.

03/24 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
03/25 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room
03/26 Iowa City, IA Gabe’s
03/27 Lawrence, KS Jackpot Music Hall
03/28 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
03/29 Ogden, UT The Basement
03/30 Boise, ID The Venue
03/31 Seattle, WA Vera Project
04/01 Portland, OR Branx
04/03 Oakland, CA Oakland Metro Operahouse
04/04 San Francisco, CA Sub-mission Art Space
04/05 Anaheim, CA Chain Reaction
04/06 Los Angeles, CA Center For The Arts, Eagle
04/07 Camarillo, CA Rock City
04/08 San Diego, CA Che Cafe
04/09 Phoenix, AZ The Underground
04/11 Midland, TX The Pine Box
04/12 Austin, TX Red 7
04/13 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
04/14 Dallas, TX Rubbergloves Rehearsal
04/15 Oklahoma City, OK Conservatory
04/16 St. Louis, MO Firebird
04/17 Nashville, TN The End
04/18 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
04/19 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
04/20 Pembroke Pines, FL The Talent Farm
04/21 Jacksonville, FL The Pit
04/22 Columbia, SC New Brookland Tavern
04/24 Raleigh, NC Southland Ballroom
04/25 Richmond, VA Kingdom
04/26 Baltimore, MD Otto Bar
04/27 Syracuse, NY Lost Horizon
04/28 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
04/29 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
04/30 Boston, MA The Middle East Downstairs
05/02 Montreal, QC La Sala Rosa
05/03 Toronto, ON Mod Club
05/04 Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place
05/05 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
05/06 Chicago, IL Metro

Neon Indian’s new video for the Era Extraña slow jam “Fallout” follows a well endowed animated bombshell as she cruises through summer landscapes torturing poor old dudes with her looks. Everything isn’t always as it seems at the surface as the the video’s surprising ending reveals there’s more to her than meets…the eye. heh heh

What better way for Nas to bring the epic flows of “Nasty” to late night television than with The Roots as his backing band? Nod ya head.

MP3 // NASTY

Well this is definitely not only the best post I’ve got to do today, but probably all week. Joyce Manor are on fire. After releasing their best of’d self titled debut last year, the band are already following it up with their sophomore full-length Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired. The new record is out April 17th via Asian Man Records. That’s the artwork up there, peep the tracklist below

Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired
These Kind of Ice Skates
Comfortable Clothes
See How Tame I Can Be
Drainage
Video Killed The Radio Star
If I Needed You There
Bride of Usher
Violent Inside
I’m Always Tired

MORE // 2012 RELEASE NEWS

Deerhunter have been tucked away from recent activity since 2010′s Halcyon Digest, but they broke silence today with the stream of a new track “Curve”. The track will appear on a 14 song benefit compilation for the victims of 2011′s tragic tsunami in Japan. The 2xLP vinyl release is out next week but you can pre-order now. Head over to Pitchfork to stream the contribution from Deerhunter, one that’s full of floating graceful ambience

Lemuria have released their new music video for “Wise People”. There’s satisfaction in the simple things, and simplicity is at the heart of this one. The track comes from the bands last full-length Pebble released back in 2010.

Basement took to the studios of BBC to play a grungy new and unreleased track entitled “Whole”. You can stream it / grab the MP3 below.

MP3 // WHOLE

M. Ward will release his new solo album A Wasteland Companion April 10th via Merge. Today we get the first glimpse of the album via the new video for the new tune “The First Time I Ran Away”. Check out the animated representation of the song above.

Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band have announced a new CD/DVD release entitled One Of My Kind. The CD/LP package will include 11 outtakes from the recording sessions of 2009′s Outer South as well as the DVD version of the previously released documentary of the same name. I’m crossing my fingers these are proper studio recordings, because if we’re lucky enough to get a studio recording of the title track, that alone is worth the pre order price.

The release is slated to drop May 15th via Team Love. Grab your pre order here

One Of My Kind Tracklist

Disc 1 (CD or LP)
ONE OF MY KIND
GENTLEMAN’S PACT
CORINA, CORINA
SYNESTHETE SONG
BREEZY
CENTRAL CITY
I GOT THE REASON #1
PHIL’S SONG (LEARN TO STOP TIME)
NORMAL
KODACHROME
WHITE SHOES (REPRISE)

Disc 2 (DVD)
ONE OF MY KIND: THE STORY OF THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND – A DOCUMENTARY BY PHILIP SCHAFFART

MP3 // ONE OF MY KIND

A few weeks back Grizzly Bear member Daniel Rossen announced his new solo EP along with a new track. Today he’s debuting “Silent Song” the next song from it. You can stream it below:

The Silent Hour/Golden Mile EP is out March 20th, via Warp

State Lines – Win Free from Mark Sylvester on Vimeo.

State Lines have signed on with Tiny Engines to release a new EP in April. More information is on it’s way, in the meantime you can check out the band playing a new song from the release acoustically while walking some frigid city streets above.

Don’t forget to check out their debut which made my Best of 2011 list

Though both these bands have been relatively quiet over the last year or so, the musical landscape for both bands is set to change. Fanfarlo will release their new full-length Rooms Filled With Light on 2/28 and Yeasayer also plan to follow-up with a new record this year. In the meantime you can check out Yeasayer giving their trademark psych-infused tribute to Fanfarlo’s new single “Shiny Things”

MP3 // SHINY THINGS (YEASAYER REMIX)

Maps & Atlases have announced they’ll release their sophomore full-lenth Beware and Be Grateful, out April 16th. Check out the eccentric introductory video to the new LP which includes a clip of a new song at the end. Sounds promising.

MORE // 2012 RELEASES

After “Shuffle” and “Leave It” i’m really happy Bombay Bicycle Club went with “How Can You Swallow Much Sleep?” as the next single off of last year’s fantastic release A Different Kind of Fix. Check out the new beautifully composed video courtesy of Anna Ginsburg above.

Cursive are set to release I Am Gemini in just 3 weeks. Today, the band have released the third full track from it. “Wowowow” is easily the best of the 3 tracks released thus far in anticipation of the new record. Full of jagged, angular riffage the band casually sprawl through some experimental instrumentation before lending way to a final minute of eerie ambience.

PREVIOUSLY // THE CAT AND MOUSE THE SUN AND MOON

You’ll have to have access to iTunes which is kind of a bummer, but you can now here 90 second clips of every song from fun’s new album Some Nights. We’re about 3 weeks away from one of the most highly anticipated records of the year dropping. Get stoked.

STREAM // 90 SECOND CLIPS “SOME NIGHTS”

A week or so ago, Ace Enders released a 3 song EP under his solo moniker I Can Make A Mess. He’s currently out touring on the Wheres The Band Tour where you can catch him playing some of the new songs. Check out “If I’m Still Not Home” from a recent PA date and check the remaining dates below

Jan 31 — Dallas TX — Club Dada
Feb 1 — Austin TX — Antone’s
Feb 3 — Phoenix AZ — The Crescent Ballroom
Feb 4 — San Diego CA — House of Blues *
Feb 5 — West Hollywood CA — The Troubadour *
Feb 7 — Santa Ana CA — Yost Theater *
Feb 8 — San Luis Obispo CA — Downtown Brew
Feb 9 — San Francisco CA — Bottom of the Hill
Feb 10 — Portland OR — Doug Fir Lounge
Feb 11 — Seattle WA — Tractor Tavern

MP3 // IF IM STILL NOT HOME

Shabazz Palaces new video for “Are… Can You… Were You? (Felt)” is cryptically confusing despite the seemingly normal events it documents. Much like Black Up you’ll probably have to take this one in a few times for the pieces to come together

MP3 // ARE YOU… CAN YOU… WERE YOU? (FELT)