New Band of Horses track: “Factory”

Continuing their string of pre-release online promotion, Band of Horses has made “Factory” available for free download on their website. All you have to do is sign up for their mailing list.

Band of Horses will release Infinite Arms on May 18.

I Can Make A Mess album up for pay-what-you-want download

The surprisingly good new I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business album, The World We Know, is up for pay-what-you-want here. It’s been almost two and a half years since In Rainbows, so you know the drill by now: type in what you want to pay and the download link will be in your email inbox. The album is definitely worth whatever an undeniably solid record is worth to you.

New Coldplay – “Don Quixote” (live)

Listen to Coldplay perform a new song entitled “Don Quixote” about “the magic escape that the band receives when [they] come to Latin America.” Chris Martin dedicated the song to the fans in Buenos Aires, Argentina, because everyone “from Bono to Beyonce” says they make up the best crowds (for gigantic and absurdly famous artists to play in front of). All subtle douchebaggery aside, the song follows the track of the fantastic Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends with its colorfully pounding kick drum and atmospheric strumming. As annoying as the token “Ole’s” in the bridge may be, the song is further proof why, for some reason, Coldplay can do self-righteous, obnoxious, gimmicky shit all they want and still be a great band.

John Nolan covers Justin Bieber’s “Baby”

For the past week or so, it seems John Nolan’s running Twitter joke has had a Justin Bieber theme. He finally took it all the way and recorded a cover of Bieber’s “Baby,” which he calls “one of the best pop songs I’ve heard in a long time.” Download it on Nolan’s Band Camp site or stream it on his Tumblr.

Download Girlfriends’ Ampeater digital 7″

Read a review by The Ampeater Review of Girlfriends’ Our Very First Cassette and download the digital 2-song 7″ of the band’s live session for Ampeater.

New Cursive – “Discovering America”

Listen to the new Cursive song, “Discovering America,” on Stereogum. The track will be released as a single tomorrow (March 9) and all proceeds will benefit the American Indian College Fund.

Jagjaguwar: “Bon Iver will be back, dudes…”

According to Jagjaguwar.com, “Bon Iver will be back, dudes, do not fear.”  Justin Vernon announced a hiatus at a concert in San Francisco on September 22. In the meantime, apparently, Justin Vernon has been collaborating with Anais Mitchell (in addition to working on Volcano Choir and countless other collaborations with the likes of St. Vincent, Aaron Dessner, and others).

Download a Anais Mitchell’s “Dont Wait For Me,” featuring Justin Vernon

New Horse Feathers: “Belly of June” (mp3)

 

Horse Feathers, the Justin Ringle solo project-turned-duo-turned-trio-turned-quartet will release their third LP, Thistled Spring, on Kill Rock Stars April 20. Until then, you can download “Belly of June,” the first we’ve heard from the Oregon folks since 2008′s spectacular House With No Home.

 The track has all the same elements that made the last album unforgettable: the whispered vocals, the scenic instrumentation, and Ringle’s profound song craftsmanship. But what has set this band so far apart from the hundreds of other bearded folk bandwagon jumpers is the string arrangements; the violin and cello players are full-time members of the band, so the string arrangement is treated as a core element to the song rather than just an afterthought by a third-party composer.

“Belly of June” is no exception. The strings float spirals around Ringle’s lightly exhaled words and ascend to prominence when he stops singing. At other times, they freckle the verses with plucked strings as the banjo and softly strummed guitar serve as the foundation. Whatever is going on, the song is just as relaxing and authentic as House With No Home, and the solidification of an official four-piece lineup makes the arrangement and structure even more interesting and advanced. If “Belly of June” is any indication, expect good things out of Thistled Spring.

Download: Horse Feathers – “Belly of June”