Polar Bear Club - I’ll Never Leave New York (Acoustic)

This is part of a session that the band recorded for Hurley (here’s the original post).  They also performed the song Pawner.  Both songs are from their new album Clash Battle Guilt Pride.

Polar Bear Club - Pawner (from the album Clash Battle Guilt Pride)

I’ve been listening to this new Polar Bear Club album regularly since I got it a few weeks ago.  This past Sunday, Jess and I went to see PBC with Fireworks and Balance And Composure at the Altar Bar.  It was a really good show.

* Ryan Adams recently performed a cover of Iron Maiden’s “Wasted Years” for BBC Radio.  Ryan also released another new song called ‘Invisible Riverside’ from his upcoming album ‘Ashes And Fire’.
* Polar Bear Club recorded a few songs for the Switchboard Sessions.
* Bon Iver recently performed a solo piano version of ‘Beth/Rest’ for NPR.
* Fanfarlo have released a video for the first song from their upcoming album.  The song is called ‘Replicate’ and the track is available for download to those that sign up for the band’s mailing list.
* Maritime have released a new song called ‘Sea Horse Love’ on a free Dangerbird Records sampler which is available exclusively on iTunes.
* Radiohead have released the sixth volume of their 12” remix series for streaming online.
* Pearl Jam have released a new song called ‘Olé’ for free download.
* She & Him have revealed the details of their upcoming Christmas album.  It is called ‘A Very She & Him Christmas’ and it is coming out on October 25.
* Office Of Future Plans will release their debut, self-titled album on November 14 via Dischord Records.
* Coldplay have released the second single ‘Paradise’ from their upcoming album ‘Mylo Xyloto’.
* Saves The Day have released a video for ‘Deranged & Desperate’
* Boy Sets Fire are planning on writing new material.
* The Casket Lottery are recording a new album for the first time since 2002.
* Hum are planning to play some reunion shows.
* Album Stream: Pearl Jam Twenty soundtrack
* Album Stream: Saves The Day - Daybreak
* Album Stream: Mates Of State - Mountaintops
* Album Stream: Bridge & Tunnel - Rebuilding Year
* Album Stream: Chuck Ragan - Covering Ground
* Album Stream: Samiam - Trips

* Bon Iver and James Blake have released a collaborative song called ‘Fall Creek Boys Choir’.
* Mike Kinsella (Owen) has started a blog.
* Thrice have released a lyric video for the song ‘Promises’ off of the upcoming album Major/Minor.  The band also performed the new song ‘Blur’ on The Daily Habit.
* Sigur Ros’s upcoming live film ‘Inni’ will also be released as a double live album.
* Jonah Matranga has released an Alkaline Trio cover for an upcoming compilation.
* Jeff Tweedy of Wilco performed an acoustic version of ‘Dawned On Me’ at a recent photo shoot.  The song is from Wilco’s upcoming album ‘The Whole Love’.
* Radiohead have released the fifth volume of their remix 12” series for streaming online and posted their entire From The Basement performance on Youtube.
* Polar Bear Club have released a new song ‘My Best Days’ from their upcoming album ‘Clash Battle Guilt Pride’.

Sorry this is such a massive list…I’ve been meaning to post this for awhile and my list of news just kept growing and growing…

* Owen (Mike Kinsella) has finished a new album called Ghost Town which is scheduled to be released on November 1.  He also has a song on the new Polyvinyl compilation ‘Japan 3.11.11’ (it’s a cover of Screeching Weasel’s ‘Guest List’) and he recently performed a cover of Jane’s Addiction’s ‘Summertime Rolls’ for the AV Undercover series.  (Other recent AV Undercover series videos: They Might Be Giants perform Chumbawamba’s ‘Tubthumping’, The Get Up Kids perform Blur’s ‘Girls And Boys’, and Matt Nathanson performs Prince’s ‘Little Red Corvette’.)
* Hot Water Music have signed to Rise Records.  After self-releasing a new 7” this fall (the A-side is available for streaming now and so is the B-side), the band plans to record a new album this winter and release it on their new label in 2012.  The band will also be releasing a 2xCD/3xLP called ‘Live In Chicago’ on No Idea Records on September 27.
* Polar Bear Club have announced that their new album ‘Clash Battle Guilt Pride’ will be released on September 13.  The band has posted the album’s cover and their fall tour dates on their website.  The first single ‘Screams In Caves’ is available for streaming and for pre-order as part of ‘The View. The Life’ 7” from Bridge Nine Records.
* Mates Of State have revealed the tracklist and cover art for their new album ‘Mountaintops’, which comes out September 13. The first single ‘Maracas’ is available for download from the band, and the song’s video is available for viewing.
* Maritime have posted all of their b-sides on Soundcloud for free download.
* Radiohead recently announced a series of 12” records featuring remixes of songs from The King Of Limbs.  So far, you can listen to the first volume, listen to the second volume, order both directly from the band, check out the details for the third volume, and check out the details for the fourth volume.
* Wilco have released a new 7” and both songs are available for streaming now: ‘I Might’ and b-side ‘I Love My Label’. The band will be releasing a new album ‘The Whole Love’ on September 27, and they recently played several new songs live.
* Ryan Adams has released a new European tour 7” with the songs ‘Empty Room’ and ‘Nutshell’ (which is an Alice In Chains cover) and both songs are available for streaming now.
* MuteMath have released the cover art and the video for the title track from their upcoming album ‘Odd Soul’ which comes out October 4.
* Blink 182 have released the first single from their new album.  It’s called ‘Up All Night’ and it is streaming on their website.
* Bon Iver recently performed on Jimmy Fallon (‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’), performed on The Colbert Report (‘Skinny Love’ and ‘Calgary’), and then performed again on Jimmy Fallon (‘Holocene’). The b-side from the first single ‘Calgary’ is available for streaming (‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’) and the second single ‘Holocene’ will be released on September 5 with b-side ‘Come Talk To Me’.  The band also announced a string of tour dates.
* Chuck Ragan will be releasing a new album called ‘Covering Ground’ on September 13.  It is available for pre-order now and the first song is available from Chuck on his website.
* Iron & Wine recorded a 4AD Session and it is available for viewing now.
* Thrice have released a song called ‘Yellow Belly’ from their upcoming album ‘Major/Minor’, along with a number of tour dates for the fall.
* Office Of Future Plans have announced that their debut album will be released on Dischord Records in the fall.
* Feist will be releasing a new album called ‘Metals’ on October 4.
* Joshua have released their new album ‘Choices’ in the US.  It is available for streaming and purchase from their Bandcamp page.
* Imogen Heap has released a new song called ‘Propeller Seeds’.  It is the second song in her multi-year collaborative project of writing her new album.
* Minus The Bear have announced a 10th Anniversary Tour where they will be playing ‘Highly Refined Pirates’ in its entirety.  The band is also issuing ‘This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic’ on vinyl for the first time and ‘Highly Refined Pirates’ on 180-gram vinyl.

Polar Bear Club - Screams In Caves (from ‘The Life. The View’ 7”/digital EP)

This song will appear on the new EP ‘The Life. The View’ (pre-order the 7” here) and also on the upcoming album ‘Clash Battle Guilt Pride’ which will be released on September 13.

* Bon Iver will be releasing a new self-titled album on June 21st [Link]
* Fleet Foxes have released a full album stream of their new record Helplessness Blues [Link]
* Polar Bear Club will be releasing their next album Clash Battle Guilt Pride in late summer/early fall [Link]
* Wilco will be releasing a new single called I Might sometime in June or July [Link]
* Death Cab For Cutie have released another song (‘Some Boys’) from their upcoming album Codes And Keys [Link]
* Explosions In The Sky have released a full album stream of their new record Take Care, Take Care, Take Care [Link]

* Radiohead’s new album ‘The King Of Limbs’ is available now [Link]
* Foo Fighters will release their new album ‘Wasting Light’ on April 12th [Link]
* Death Cab For Cutie will release their new album ‘Codes And Keys’ on May 31st [Link]
* Braid have reunited and will be recording a new album with J. Robbins [Link]
* Fleet Foxes will release their new album ‘Helplessness Blues’ on May 3rd [Link]
* Pearl Jam have released the details for the upcoming reissues of ‘Vs.’ and ‘Vitalogy’ [Link]
* Small Brown Bike will release their new album ‘Fell & Found’ on April 26th [Link]
* Joshua have launched a full album stream of their soon-to-be-released album ‘Choices’ [Link]
* 13 & God (the collaboration of The Notwist and Themselves) will release their new ‘Own Your Ghost’ on May 17th [Link]
* Bright Eyes have posted a full album stream of their new album ‘The People’s Key’ which came out this past week [Link]
* Team Goldie have posted their remix of Polar Bear Club’s ‘Drifting Thing’ for free download [Link]
* The Strokes have released the first single from their upcoming album ‘Angles’ [Link]
* Thursday will release their new album ‘No Devolucion’ on April 12th [Link]

I suppose this is slightly late, but here’s my list of best albums of 2010 in no particular order:


* Jonsi - Go
I was really surprised that I liked this as much as (if not more than) the last Sigur Ros record.  Even during its slower moments, it is such an energetic record.


* Iron Chic - Not Like This
My friend Troy recommended this record and I’m so glad he did.  I would describe this as some combination of Dillinger Four and Hot Water Music…in other words, it is punk rock at its finest and it totally rules.  You can listen to the entire album and buy it for whatever price you like over at the band’s Bandcamp page.


* The National - High Violet
I still can’t decide where I would rank this against The National’s last two records (Boxer and Alligator), but since I love both of those records, that’s no knock on it.


* Polar Bear Club - Chasing Hamburg
Another recommendation from Troy (he’s on fire!) who described the band as Hot Water Music meets Third Eye Blind (after that description, how I could I possibly not check them out?).  I have seen these guys in concert and they rock live just as much as they do on record.


* Jim Bryson & The Weakerthans - The Falcon Lake Incident
Any record featuring John K. Samson and the boys is worth checking out, and I’m glad I checked out this one.  Jim Bryson makes a great front man and The Weakerthans work well as a supporting band.  This record flies by and always leaves me wanting more.


* Far - At Night We Live
I’m always nervous about records by bands that broke up and got back together (see the upcoming Get Up Kids record), but this exceeded my expectations.  I have followed Jonah Matranga’s career for years, but it’s good to hear him howling in the context of a band again.


* Minus The Bear - Omni
Definitely not my favorite Minus The Bear record, but even at that, it’s a really good album.


* Vampire Weekend - Contra
I thought the first Vampire Weekend album was ok, so I wasn’t really planning on getting this until my friend Cory recommended it.  He said (and I agree) that it sounds quite a bit like Paul Simon’s Graceland.


* Lovedrug - EP Part I
I liked Lovedrug’s first album better than their second, and I liked their second album better than their third which wasn’t a good sign to me.  They have come back incredibly strong this year with the release of several EP’s, none better than EP Part I.  I am really excited about their yet-to-be-recorded fourth album, which should be out this year.


* Eric & Magill - All Those I Know
This album from Ryan Weber (of Decibully) and Eric Osterman sounds quite a bit like Decibully and features plenty of guests: Mike Kinsella (Owen, American Football, etc.), Erin Fein (Headlights), Todd Bell (Braid, Hey Mercedes), Davey Von Bohlen (Maritime, Promise Ring, etc.), and Chris Rosenau (Pele, Collections Of Colonies Of Bees, etc.).  You can listen to and download the album for free at the band’s Bandcamp page.

And finally, two honorable mentions to albums that came out in late 2009, but were in heavy rotation for me in 2010:


* Freelance Whales - Weathervanes
I first heard this band when they opened for Fanfarlo and I’ve loved them since that first listen.  Weathervanes is simply a fantastic record.


* Decibully - World Travels Fast
I still like the prior Decibully record (Sing Out America) better, but World Travels Fast is another solid outing from this Milwaukee outfit.  You can listen to and download the album for whatever price you like at the band’s BandCamp page.

Here are the latest music-related links that I enjoyed:

* Matt Nathanson has released an exclusive song to members of his mailing list.  Sign up at his website [Link]
* Trent Reznor is releasing a re-issue of the Nine Inch Nails album Pretty Hate Machine on November 22 [Link]
* Phish have released Live Bait Volume 2 for free download [Link]
* U2 are working on a new album with Danger Mouse [Link]
* The National have released a video for the alternate version of Terrible Love [Link]
* Dntel is releasing two new EP’s on December 7 [Link]
* Myspace and Spin have released a tribute to Bad Religion for free download.  The album contains 12 covers by The Weakerthans, Polar Bear Club, and more. [Link]
* Sufjan Stevens talks about his recent health problems [Link]