Tell Us What It's All About

Matthew Sweet has emerged out of nowhere on the Nancy Drew Soundtrack. WTF?! Nancy Drew?! Supposedly it's a "newly recorded original exclusive" track featuring Susanna Hoffs, but the tracklist shows Come to California, which most certainly is not new, original, exclusive, or featuring Hoffs. I suppose he could've redone it, but why the hell for? It's not one of his best, even on my least favorite Blue Sky On Mars. Sigh.

And where the hell is Rock Bottom?!? I'm starting to become impatient. Fall 2006 / Spring 2007 my ass!

UPDATE: Now that I listen to it, it's clear that it has been re-recorded. Odd. Just odd.

Watch a video of Matthew and Susanna singing The Beatles' Rain here.

My Love Does It Good

Apple launched iTunes Plus today, which features higher-quality DRM-free tracks for only $1.29 rather than the $.99 for regular tunes. I'm not sure I hear a big difference, but I like the option and the fact that you can upgrade previously purchased tracks is tremendously well thought-out. That kind of post-purchase flexibility is what makes the digital format superior over CDs (ever buy a whole album twice because the second version is remastered or features additional tracks?)

As a bonus, Apple took the opportunity to announce that "more than a dozen" of Paul McCartney's catalog is now available in both formats. Excellent, but "more than a dozen?" Why not "all?"

The Hope of Spring

Great news! Stereogum has new New Pornographers that is new. The new New Pornographers song that is new is called My Rights Versus Yours. It's a new song from the New Pornographers' new album coming out August 21. The new album is called Challengers. It's new, and here is the new song by the New Pornographers. The new song is delicious.

MP3: New Pornographers - My Rights Versus Yours (via stereogum)

Everything I Wanted

Soundtrack fave Cary Brothers releases his full-length album Who You Are today. It includes the excellent Ride, which has been featured in the types of TV shows you'd expect. Blue Eyes, which previously featured on the Garden State soundtrack, can be found here too.

Stream here. Download here.

To give you a sense, here are his responses for "Influences" on hisspace:

Brit Pop (from The Stone Roses to Radiohead), acoustic folk (Simon & Garfunkel and Nick Drake to Badly Drawn Boy) with a dash of 80's new wave.

Watch the video for Ride below.

I'm So Amazed By You

In case you missed it, Steve Bertrand's solo album, Pain Is A Megaphone, was released on 08 May. Through the first listen it's awesome. As a huge fan of the Tories, it is nice to hear Steve's distinctive vocals. Checkout the EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for the album below. If you're as big a fan as I, you'll also want to pick up Steve's previous band, Avion.

You Gotta Hold On

Wow. Here's another fantastic tune from Paul McCartney's upcoming Memory Almost Full, so far shaping up to be one of his best in a long time. Thanks, stereogum.

So He Takes Another Drink

Attention Pedro the Lion fans: frontman David Bazan has released a solo EP on Barsuk appropriately called Fewer Moving Parts. As if you fans didn't know,

Bazan is a gifted storyteller, weaving parables of spiritual conflict, suburban ennui, and personal surrender into magnetic, well-crafted songs.

Read and buy here.

MP3: David Bazan - Cold Beer and Cigarettes (via Barsuk)