New Walkmen album on the way, everybody. We got our last listen of new stuff from Ham & Co. a year ago with the one off "Lemon Hill," but don't look to that tipsy instrumental as a sign of what they have in store for You & Me (remember they said it wasn't "exactly in line with the other stuff we are doing now"). Instead, the press release sets our expectations with references to Elvis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Randy Newman, the Modern Lovers, and their beloved Pogues. The band invited John Agnello (The Hold Steady's Boys & Girls... and Stay Positive) and Chris Zane to engineer, and recorded it in two studios: Sweet Tea in Oxford, MS (of Bows + Arrows fame) and NYC's Gigantic. No sounds to sample just yet, but here's a tracklist so you can begin imagining:

Yesterday BBC Radio 1's Colin Murray show unveiled a second single from Sigur Rós's mucho anticipated með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. We all had fun passing the Sung Tongs references around while being blown away by the sound shift (plus ample NSFWisms) brought by "Gobbledigook," and the accompanying album statement had a few of us thinking every song was gonna be a comparable mindfuck. Well calm down, a few of us. "Festival" does not recall Animal Collective, nor any other band but the ones in this post title.

The song's just over nine minutes and split evenly into two movements: the first is straight ( ) style, slowly unfolding, organ-laced celestial coos from Jonsi; the second comes at 4:35 with a very Takk-y "Hoppípolla"-->"Með blóðnasir" transition (see: downstroking bass, surrounding band swells), ending in what sounds like, yes, a festival. In other words: it's a Sigur Rós song. In other other words: It's good. I hear a few Hopelandic-y "yu-so"s in there, so my barely educated guess is that this is not the song that is meant to be in English. But prove me wrong at Hype Machine.

Also worth mentioning: The band will be touring all through Europe this summer (including a vacation-worthy show in Icleand with Björk), but not before hitting the US for shows in Omaha, Kansas City, Bonnaroo, and in NYC's Grand Ballroom (6/16) and Museum of Modern Art (6/17). Dates and ticket info here.

Yesterday BBC Radio 1's Colin Murray show unveiled a second single from Sigur Rós's mucho anticipated með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. We all had fun passing the Sung Tongs references around while being blown away by the sound shift (plus ample NSFWisms) brought by "Gobbledigook," and the accompanying album statement had a few of us thinking every song was gonna be a comparable mindfuck. Well calm down, a few of us. "Festival" does not recall Animal Collective, nor any other band but the ones in this post title.

The song's just over nine minutes and split evenly into two movements: the first is straight ( ) style, slowly unfolding, organ-laced celestial coos from Jonsi; the second comes at 4:35 with a very Takk-y "Hoppípolla"-->"Með blóðnasir" transition (see: downstroking bass, surrounding band swells), ending in what sounds like, yes, a festival. In other words: it's a Sigur Rós song. In other other words: It's good. I hear a few Hopelandic-y "yu-so"s in there, so my barely educated guess is that this is not the song that is meant to be in English. But prove me wrong at Hype Machine.

Also worth mentioning: The band will be touring all through Europe this summer (including a vacation-worthy show in Icleand with Björk), but not before hitting the US for shows in Omaha, Kansas City, Bonnaroo, and in NYC's Grand Ballroom (6/16) and Museum of Modern Art (6/17). Dates and ticket info here.

As far as we can tell, the new Stills is pretty dark. Though not half as dark as this accompanying promo picture. Judge for yourself: The band already has three Oceans Will Rise tracks streaming at their MySpace. We posted the video for the bleak "Snakecharming The Masses" a ways back, but now you can hear it sans visuals along with the U2-like, ostensibly Amos Tutuola-referencing "Rooibos/Palm Wine Drinkard" and official first single "Being Here." The guys have also just posted an apocalyptic all-around update. Guess what? They've been "scraping and gouging frantic, ripping through thick black unbelievable earth." You've been forewarned.

As far as we can tell, the new Stills is pretty dark. Though not half as dark as this accompanying promo picture. Judge for yourself: The band already has three Oceans Will Rise tracks streaming at their MySpace. We posted the video for the bleak "Snakecharming The Masses" a ways back, but now you can hear it sans visuals along with the U2-like, ostensibly Amos Tutuola-referencing "Rooibos/Palm Wine Drinkard" and official first single "Being Here." The guys have also just posted an apocalyptic all-around update. Guess what? They've been "scraping and gouging frantic, ripping through thick black unbelievable earth." You've been forewarned.

We all like to listen to Daydream Nation while sipping skinny mochas at the local Starbucks. Of course we do. Making that guilty pleasure a little bit easier, 14 celebrities of various stripes each chose a SY track for a Starbucks-approved compilation, Hits Are For Squares. (Some would argue Starbucks-sponsored compilations are for squares, too, but whatevs.) The curators include Radiohead, Beck, one of America's Funniest People David Cross, the unlikely duo of Dave Eggers and Mike Watt, Who fans the Flaming Lips and Eddie Vedder ... and, uh, Chloë Sevigny, Flea, and others. In addition there's an exclusive track, "Slow Revolution." We have the Venti-sized tracklist.

We all like to listen to Daydream Nation while sipping skinny mochas at the local Starbucks. Of course we do. Making that guilty pleasure a little bit easier, 14 celebrities of various stripes each chose a SY track for a Starbucks-approved compilation, Hits Are For Squares. (Some would argue Starbucks-sponsored compilations are for squares, too, but whatevs.) The curators include Radiohead, Beck, one of America's Funniest People David Cross, the unlikely duo of Dave Eggers and Mike Watt, Who fans the Flaming Lips and Eddie Vedder ... and, uh, Chloë Sevigny, Flea, and others. In addition there's an exclusive track, "Slow Revolution." We have the Venti-sized tracklist.

There's no doubt Brian Wilson's not what he was in his prime, but he's still Brian Wilson (when we last checked), so it's good news That Lucky Old Sun finally has an official release date. As well as an official label, the direly fucked/Citigroup indebted Capitol/EMI, where BW started his career way back when the Beach Boys released "Surfin' Safari/409" in 1962. As the press release tells us:

"I'm thrilled to be back home with Capitol, and I'm looking forward to sharing That Lucky Old Sun with everyone," says Brian Wilson. "This music is really special to me."

...A musical love letter from Southern California, That Lucky Old Sun shimmers with sun-dappled choruses and arrangements that swell and swirl as if carried by the Pacific tides ... The album is narrated in transitional interludes spoken by Wilson as "That Lucky Old Sun," the storyteller. The narratives, cameos on life and the heartbeat of Los Angeles, propel the album's musical story.

Last summer, Wilson found himself singing the 1949 classic song, "That Lucky Old Sun," which became the inspiration for a unique approach to what would become his next studio release. He bought Louis Armstrong's version of the track and was inspired to collaborate lyrically with his band mate Scott Bennett, and with Van Dyke Parks, his old "sidekick," to create vibrant spoken narratives.

...Wilson describes That Lucky Old Sun as an "interwoven series of 'rounds' with interspersed spoken word," and as an autobiographical travelogue of sorts. The new studio album is produced by Wilson and was created with his acclaimed band at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, where he first recorded in 1962.

As we mentioned previously, Wilson debuted That Lucky Old Sun in London this past September. But now we have a full tracklist.

There's no doubt Brian Wilson's not what he was in his prime, but he's still Brian Wilson (when we last checked), so it's good news That Lucky Old Sun finally has an official release date. As well as an official label, the direly fucked/Citigroup indebted Capitol/EMI, where BW started his career way back when the Beach Boys released "Surfin' Safari/409" in 1962. As the press release tells us:

"I'm thrilled to be back home with Capitol, and I'm looking forward to sharing That Lucky Old Sun with everyone," says Brian Wilson. "This music is really special to me."

...A musical love letter from Southern California, That Lucky Old Sun shimmers with sun-dappled choruses and arrangements that swell and swirl as if carried by the Pacific tides ... The album is narrated in transitional interludes spoken by Wilson as "That Lucky Old Sun," the storyteller. The narratives, cameos on life and the heartbeat of Los Angeles, propel the album's musical story.

Last summer, Wilson found himself singing the 1949 classic song, "That Lucky Old Sun," which became the inspiration for a unique approach to what would become his next studio release. He bought Louis Armstrong's version of the track and was inspired to collaborate lyrically with his band mate Scott Bennett, and with Van Dyke Parks, his old "sidekick," to create vibrant spoken narratives.

...Wilson describes That Lucky Old Sun as an "interwoven series of 'rounds' with interspersed spoken word," and as an autobiographical travelogue of sorts. The new studio album is produced by Wilson and was created with his acclaimed band at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, where he first recorded in 1962.

As we mentioned previously, Wilson debuted That Lucky Old Sun in London this past September. But now we have a full tracklist.

Shearwater hooked us into their new material with the lovely, melancholic, horn-threaded, feather-and-ambulance-themed lead track "Rooks" and now they've got us with the "Rooks" b-side as well. Surprise: It's a cover of Talk Talk's Spirit Of Edem opening epic, "The Rainbow." Jonathan Meiburg & Co. keep it expansive and atmospheric, letting the track unroll slowly like Talk Talk intended. Note that the accompanying photo is Shearwater in their current power-trio form. Thor's beard is coming along nicely.