So is it EELS or Eels? As a blogger, do I conform to the artist's presumed preference (EELS) or to otherwise proper English? These are the things that almost keep me from blogging. Ok, today, let's go with EELS...Matthew Sweet is about to head out on tour, and we need volunteers to help make these shows a success. If you are interested in being a Street Team member to help distribute posters and fliers in your hometown, please email: MatthewSweetTeam@gmail.comMy email has been sent - let's see if I get to meet the man once again! Thanks for the tip, Dan!
Here are the details:
1. We will give volunteers a free pair of tickets and a meet and greet with Matthew.
2. If you are interested, please notify us as soon as possible.
3. The subject line must start with your city and please only select cities listed below.
4. Please provide us with your mailing address.
5. You will be notified ASAP, if you are selected to join.
Thank you very much for your support and your help in getting the word out!
Best Regards,
Russell Carter
Russell Carter Artist Management
6/18 Des Moines, IA – Simon Estes Amphitheater
6/19 St. Louis, MO – Blueberry Hill
6/20 - Naperville, IL – Naper Days
6/21 Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
6/23 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
6/24 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
6/25 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
Call them He & Her if you will since She & Him is already taken - Pete Yorn has hooked up with Scarlett Johansson only to Break Up on September 8. The first single Relator is already available via iTunes or streaming at their site here and definitely carries a similar vibe to what M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel did so well last year. What is it with these singer-songwriters and their lovely actresses with hard names to spell and a hankering for a music career?
Now this is big news - Macca and Dylan are recording over the summer according to the Daily Express (via Gigwise). Details are scarce but the assumption is they'll record in either Paul's or Bob's home in California which are not too far from each other. Can't wait to hear the musical outcome.
Is it sad that I'm getting more and more of my music news on Facebook? 
Rooney announced on Facebook today that they've finished their new album and are currently shopping it around for mixing. They've described it as a "gothic, romp, mud". You'll have to watch the video on their page to understand. 
Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse have collaborated on a new album called Dark Night of the Soul. Interesting enough, but check out the other artists featured on the album:In addition to Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse, other artists appearing on Dark Night of the Soul include James Mercer of The Shins, The Flaming Lips, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, Frank Black of the Pixies, Iggy Pop, Nina Persson of The Cardigans, Suzanne Vega, Vic Chesnutt, David Lynch, and Scott Spillane of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Gerbils.Much more interesting and likely to hit many year-end lists. I've only had a chance to listen to The Flaming Lips' Revenge and it was quite good.
I've listened to the album all the way through at least a dozen times, and can confirm that Dark Night of the Soul delivers in every way you'd hope for. It's beautiful but haunting, surreal and dark, but sometimes comical and affecting, with ear-popping, multilayered production work. It just gets more mesmerizing with every listen.NPR is quickly becoming one of the finest music destinations on the web. Dark Night of the Soul doesn't come out until July but you can hear the album in its entirety at NPR.org. Amazing.
Taste of Naperville, activities for children, the Naper Days Express train, music from The Smithereens and Matthew Sweet. Admission: $5; children 8 and under are free. Concert tickets are available at www.naperdays.org. After 6 p.m. on June 20 and 21, tickets are $10 at the gate.Naperville is in Illinois in case you didn't know. I lived there once upon a time. A bit too suburban for my tastes, but if this is really a "Taste of Naperville" then I may have been wrong.
Paste Magazine is in trouble and they're asking decent music fans like us to help. The economy is hitting the magazine industry hard because advertisers are cutting budgets and Paste - despite its awesomeness at times - is no exception. Here's what you can do:Even the smallest contribution can make a difference to us-- as a thank you, we're offering rare and exclusive tracks that have been contributed by artists responding to our campaign. We're also giving away some prizes through a drawing of all donors of $25+ dollars.Artists featured include Matthew Sweet, Ben Folds, The Jayhawks, Liam Finn, Bob Mould, Duncan Sheik, and many others. Most intriguing to me is a live cover of Pink Floyd's 20+ minute epic Echoes by the Decemberists. Preview the tunes here.
Donating isn't the only way you can help us out: post this link on Facebook, Tweet it with #savepaste, email your friends, renew your subscriptions or gift them to others. Whatever you can do, we will sincerely appreciate.
Listen to Wilco (the album) in its entirety right now - it's currently streaming at wilcoworld.net! Out June 30.Among the new songs currently in the mix are the Joy Division-meets-Miles Davis Group (John McLaughlin era)-sounding "Convinced of the Hex" and the John Lennon-inspired "I Don't Understand Karma," which Coyne describes as his response to "Instant Karma."Of course with Flaming Lips, you should abandon all expectations anyway. A late summer release date is expected - or not expected.
Bleu has finally announced a release date for his new album A Watched Pot. Ok, so it's more of a release month (July), but it's close! Evidently Sony held it captive for awhile, but it has since seen freedom and will soon hit our iPods or other music players of choice.there will also be a companion EP released simultaneously with some b-sides and a few tracks from my nEXt record (whazup biatch, i'm a record releasing dynamo now!!)Don't worry, nothing is wrong. That's how he always writes.
Brandon Schott - Homegrown Recordings"...a daydream" is an older demo i recorded at home (on my particularly saloon-esqe piano), sometime between the RELEASE and GOLDEN STATE records. conceived on a particularly hazy and restless work-day afternoon (read: bored at the ol' day job), i always kinda dug the journey this little tune took - it kind of ambles along at its own whimsy....much like too many afternoons at work :) hope you guys dig."
The Beatles: Rockband is officially available for pre-order right now at participating retailers including Amazon.com. Time to dig through the underwear drawer for some loose change if you're going to afford the $250 price (which I'm sure will be totally worth it)! Exclusive content for the "Pre-order Club" is also already available right here.The gripping "One Wing" builds from a quiet introductory section to a strident, arena-worthy stomper, while strings and horns color the majestic final portion of album closer "Everlasting."...and...
Rounding out the album, "You Never Know" is a flashback to the ebullient pop/rock of 1999's "Summerteeth."Something for everyone on this "eclectic" new album! Can't wait.
Monday seems to be a good day for a biz update. Here are three updates about Apple; two about the company and one about the band of the singer who inexplicably named his kid after the ubiquitous fruit.