Hear the New Blitzen Trapper Single

In the immediate aftermath of the Newport Folk Festival, there's a deluge of music to hear online. (Basically everything NPR is posting from the event demands attention.) However, let me distract you for a few minutes to check out the new Blitzen Trapper song "Ever Loved Once" off their forthcoming album VII, due October 1.

The song would be well placed on the FX show Justified with its small town love story and pedal steel– in other words, it's got a rich Southern sound, something Blitzen Trapper can do really well.  

Hop on over to RollingStone.com to hear it.

Five Reasons 'American Graffiti' Made Us Teenagers of ’62

I will fight anyone who says American Graffiti isn't a perfect movie. It's solid top to bottom. George Lucas captured both the end of a very specific era (the 50s) and the universal experience of growing up. The movie lets the viewer in on the experience in a way that has nothing to do with where you actually were in 1962. Lucas made it all feel like magic. Or maybe it was the music. 

It was definitely the music. Check out my latest for Consequence of Sound in which I layout my argument for why we all got to be teenagers of '62 thanks to American Graffiti.

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The Head and the Heart to Release to New Album

Seattle indie-folk band The Head and the Heart are set to release their sophomore album Let's Be Still on Oct. 15 via SubPop. They also posted a short clip of a new song called "It Continues" on Youtube. The song is surprisingly synth-y. There aren't too many other details, but I suppose it's about time they put out a new album. After all, I think we're all due for a good cry. Stay tuned.

Five Reasons Eugene Hütz Should Be Our World Ambassador

Because absolutely nothing could go wrong with this idea. Check out my latest for Consequence of Sound in which I make the argument that Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hütz should be our ambassador. I mean, international incidents aside, how much fun would that be? Lots. Also, please enjoy the band's performance on Jimmy Fallon the other night. Fallon himself describes it as "so fun."

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Mikal Cronin on Conan

One of the best summer albums you'll hear this year is MCII by Mikal Cronin. It's an excellent mix of distortion and surf pop/rock. It's fast, it's hooky, and it's just about everything you want out of an album this time of year. If you haven't been introduced yet, check out Cronin's performance of "Change" on Conan last night.

Five Reasons the Avett Brothers Still Surprise Us

Ever since I started writing the Five Reasons feature for Consequence of Sound, I've been trying to come up with a way to write about the Avett Brothers. That means biding my time for the next news hook. Happily, it came last week with their unexpected announcement of a new album this fall. YAHTZEE. Check out my lastest Five Reasons on why the Avett Brothers still have a few tricks up their  sleeves. Also, please enjoy this photo of Scott Avett with kittens because why not. 

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'Right Action' : Franz Ferdinand

The Internet seems to have come to the conclusion that Franz Ferdinand's new song (and music video) "Right Action" is a return to form. I don't know I'll dig too many other modern guitar riffs as much as I did the one from "Take Me Out" back in '04, but "Right Action" is definitely doing some stuff right. Check out the video, directed by Jonas Odell, who once again brings his familiar aesthetic (he directed the video for "Take Me Out") to the track, placing the band in a sort of mod infographic universe. There are many typefaces to admire, and then of course, Helvetica. Expect a new album from the group called Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, out August 27.

Five Reasons 'Greetings From Michigan' Gave Us Hope (in the Great Lakes State)

If you like Sufjan Stevens and states shaped like mittens, I've got just the piece for you. In honor of the ten-year anniversary of Stevens' Greetings From Michigan, I got to put together a Five Reasons article on the album's relevance to the Great Lakes State a decade later.

And the best part? I restrained myself from mentioning how "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti" was featured on The O.C.

Be proud. (And watch the clip from the show above anyway!)

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