If you've been waiting to hear the new Bat for Lashes album, Two Suns, now is your chance. The album doesn't hit stores until next week, April 6th & 7th depending on your locale, but you can listen to it now in full, streaming over on Last FM. 
One of the most prolific and often underlooked songwriters of his generation, Matthew Ryan, adeptly captures the heartbreak, struggles and triumphs of the everyman, like few can. With a catalogue of work that goes back to 1997, Ryan has put out 11 LP's in just under 12 years, ranging from some of his solo work, Mayday, From a Late Night Highrise, and his most current disc, Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State, to the side project, Strays Don't Sleep. In between currently recording his next solo LP, Ryan unveiled an impromptu side project he's been working on The Dead Satellites, with Rami Jaffee and Greg Richling. The trio recently threw up a myspace page, where they have two new songs streaming, one of which is the protest song, "Shook Down." 
We talked about Brooklyn's The Antlers new LP, Hospice a while back prior to the albums release, and we've been meaning to get back to give it another mention since coming out in the beginning of the month. You can stream the album in full below, which is the best way to hear the disc, as it is an album that flows best when listening to it from start to finish. 
Ex-Distillers frontwoman Brody Dalle's long rumored and buzzed about new project, Spinnerette, is finally ready to unleash her new full length self titled LP on June 2nd. Talked about since as far back as 2007, Dalle and former Distillers guitarist Tony Bevilacqua were even signed and later negotiated their way out of their record contract, before getting to where they are now. Fast forward to this past January, and the pair put out a four-song EP, Ghetto Love, as a pre-cursor to the new LP, which featured the heavy, distortion filled track of the same name. The new disc, was recorded at Pink Duck studios in California, and features Dalle working with multi-instrumentalist Alain Johannes, drummer Jack Irons and Bevilacqua.
UK singer/songwriter Ed Harcourt has never been one to be afraid to get personal in his music, and on his new EP Russian Roulette, due out on May 5th (Dovecote Records) he sticks to that same winning formula. His new 6 track 'mini album', which is his first new work since 2006's A Beautiful Lie , is meant to be a buffer of sorts for fans, 'till his new full length comes out sometime next year. The six tracks delve into some recent highs and lows that Harcourt experienced earlier in the year, like on the track, "Caterpillar" about his newborn daughter Roxy, who had been placed in an incubator after birth. Describing the experience Harcourt says, "It's the first song I've written about her. She was a little ill and we waited for her in the hospital for the chrysalis so we could take her home." On the title track, "Russian Roulette" he adds, "We've all got that one acquaintance who acts out of their league, it's a constant pain. But you still love them.. Every fucking singer is that typical molotov cocktail of insecurity and arrogance. It's no excuse unless you can back it up." 
The Arcade Fire documentary film Miroir Noir, which was released online back in December, is finally getting it's physical release this coming April 6th. The film which was directed by Arcade Fire collaborater, Vincent Morisset (Neon bible video) and shot by Vincent Moon (LaBlogotheque), followed the band through both the recording process and world tour of 2007's Neon Bible LP. The DVD will come out in two formats, the standard edition, which just features the 70 minute film Miroir Noir, and the deluxe edition, which is a limited edition double disc, featuring the documentary plus a bonus disc of extra's including Arcade Fire’s live performances on Jonathon Ross and Saturday Night Live.
After nearly a three year hiatus, Canadian ambient/folk singer Patrick Watson is back on the map. Watsons 2006 sophomore LP, Close to Paradise , featuring the intimate tracks, "The Great Escape" and "The Storm" earned him the prestigous 2007 Polaris music Prize in Canada (think the UK's Mercury Prize). 
The powerful Austin, TX trio, Ume, are geared for big things in 2009. The band just recently released their new 5 song EP, Sunshower that delivers the bands high energy, wide ranging sound. Led by dynamic frontwoman Lauren Lagner Larson, the band do their best to defy genres or labels, going from raw punk rock all the way to delicately orchestrated numbers on the new EP, mixing equal parts early 90's Breeders, with hints of My Bloody Valentine. From the beautiful slow builder "Sunshower" to the the explosive "'Conductor", the band flat out bring it on the new disc, leaving you looking for more. With the backing support of some big name fans, like Gang of Four bassist and Pampelmoose founder Dave Allen, the band have been garnering a good share of buzz, including a stop at this years SXSW music showcase. Right now the band have tentative plans for a full length release later in the year, stay tuned.
I've been following the guys in the Nashville based band, Paper Route ever since randomly finding them on a compilation disc of Tennesee musicians called 'Ten out of Tenn' back in 2005, with their simply haunting track, "Second Chances." Since then, there has been talk of a full length that never seemed to materialize, as the band put out a few EP's along the way, including last years Are We All Forgotten (to read our review click here), which showcased their ability to create sweeping, grand electronic/rock. Fans will be happy to know though that the group has finally wrapped up their full length debut, titled Absence, and it will get a release date of April 28th on Universal Motown. The band, who has been out on the road for most of the past year, kick off another leg of their tour this coming April 2nd, playing dates with Copeland, and Brooke Waggoner. see dates below. 
Just the other day we were telling you about the new Matthew Ryan side project called the Dead Satellites, that sees him collaborating with producer and members of The Wallflowers, Greg Richling, and Rami Jaffee. Well, some more info on the new project is trickling in, including the band adding a second song over on their myspace page titled, "If I Wanted You I Could Have You." The trio is also offering a free download of the previous track we had spoke of, "Shook Down" if you go here "http://cache.reverbnation.com/widgets/swf/31/widgetPlayerMicro.swf?emailPlaylist=artist_405799&backgroundcolor=1D1A1A&font_color=F61607&posted_by=artist_405799&shuffle=&autoPlay=false or by just downloading it over on their myspace. 
Having already spawned up to five hit singles across Europe, pop/punk singer Ida Maria from Norway, is ready to try her luck across the Ocean in the US. Her debut disc Fortress ‘round My Heart has been out for some time overseas, but is out digitally today in the States. The album features two of her biggest hits “Oh My God” and “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked.” Ida first gained attention in her native country of Norway after winning two national competitions for unknown artists, the Zoom urørt in 2006 and Urørtkonkurransen in 2007, later going on to tackle the UK and eventually playing at the Glastonbury festival. She is currently out on tour on select dates in the US.
There's something about those Swede's and their catchy hooks, whether it's Robyn, Lykke Li or Peter Bjorn and John, they have an uncanny knack for creating a melody that stays in your head. Peter Bjorn and John did just that with one of 2006's most infectious tracks, "Young Folks", off of their LP Writers Block. Now after a long break that included some solo work by Peter Morén, the band is back with their new album Living Thing, due out next week on March 31st. The group is currently offering up a free listen to the whole LP over on their myspace page , which features the new single "Nothing to Worry About."
An old favorite of mine and one I've been following closely since back in 1997, is singer/songwriter Matthew Ryan. Whether it was his first album Mayday from '97, side project Strays Don't Sleep, or his latest disc, Matthew Ryan vs The Silver State in '08, Ryan always seems to deliver. So i definitely took notice when Ryan recently posted a quick note over on his myspace, that there was a new project he has been working on called The Dead Satellites. Unfortunately there isn't too much other info available on the project, other than there being a new song up called "Shook Down" over on their myspace page, which sounds real promising for what's to come, whatever that may be? We'll keep you posted as more info comes in.
With their new hotly anticipated LP on the way, Grizzly Bear are gearing up for what will be a busy Spring and Summer ahead. Their new disc, Veckatimest doesn't hit stores until May 26th on Warp Records, but the band is offering up fans a free download of the mellowed out track, "Cheerleader" over on their website now. You can also hear two of the albums other tracks over on their myspace page, "Two Weeks" and "While You Wait for the Others." The band kick off their tour one day before the albums release at the Sasquatch Music festival in Washington State.
Brooklyn singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten is offering up a tiny sneak peek of her new forthcoming LP, Because I Was In Love, which is due for a release date of May 26th via Language of Stone. The enchanting new track, "For You" is currently up over on her myspace page and showcases Sharon's sparse arrangements and heartbreaking voice. The new album was co-produced with Greg Weeks. 
Indie/folk singer, Joshua James hails from Nebraska in the mid-west of the US, and you can clearly hear the wide open plains in James' music, as he crafts delicate and personal melancholy tunes. James recently released a new 5 song EP called, Sing Songs, which are tracks from his forthcoming LP,'Build Me This' sessions that he has been working on for the last year or so. The new disc has a tentative date scheduled for sometime this Spring, and according to James there were a total of 26 songs that were recorded for the sessions with 13 of them making it to the new record. Although the five songs on the EP almost made cut, James felt that they stood out on their own and chose to give them a seperate release. The EP is not availanle in stores, it is only being made available at live shows, and through mailorder. You can purchase it here.
One of our favorite albums to come out in the past half year is Gregory and the Hawk's, Moenie & Kitchi, led by Meredith Godreau. The album is loaded with intimate, rich, beautifully orchestrated numbers that reveal more of a depth with each listen. GATH began in 2003, and became a sort of independent/internet success story in 2006 when she released her Boats and Birds EP, which in part, blew up due to an unexpected feature on Myspace. GATH sold over 15,000 copies of her own work before signing to Fat Cat Records just last year. 
Julie Doiron has been making music since back in 1990 at the young age of 18, playing bass for the indie band Eric's Trip(named from a Sonic Youth song title). The band had a nice underground following up in their native Canada, but later split in the mid 90's. Doiron has released a number of albums since, both solo and collaborative (Wooden Stars, Mt. Eerie), but it may be her playing the past couple of years on some of Eric’s Trip reunion tours that reignited Doiron to explore more of her old sound. Her new disc, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day , sees Doiron working with old friend and Eric's Trip mainstay Rick White, delivering an album loaded with indie pop/rock hooks, distortion and Doiron's strong songwriting. Two favorites off the new disc are "Consolation Prize" and "Borrowed minivans" which you can hear below.
The new haunting electronic collaboration between Orenda Fink (Azure Ray, Art in Manila) and Cedric LeMoyne (aka Scalpelist of Remy Zero) known as O+S is a long time in the making, as the pair met over 16 years ago in Alabama. According to LeMoyne ..."When Remy Zero was just starting and becoming successful in Birmingham, Orenda and her musical partner Maria were a 16-year-old songwriter duo that would just hang around. We quickly recognized a talent in them and knew they would do well." The duo then reconnected while Fink was working on an art project in Omaha and decided to bring LeMoyne on board for some help, which eventually turned into the early stages of what is the debut. The new LP comes out next week, March 24th on Saddle Creek, with their first ever tour already underway. Fink says this on the bands sound ..."We listened to a lot of David Lynch soundtracks, 10cc and old 4AD records," ..."I was looking for this balance of light and dark. You don't know why it is dark because it is actually very light sounding. That is what I was going for." 
We haven't heard from UK's Doves since way back in 2005, when they came out with their very solid Some Cities LP, which had more than a few good tracks on it. So I was definitely curious to hear what the band had to offer up nearly four years later when I heard news of their new album, Kingdom Of Rust getting released on April 7th via Astralwerks. The first single "Kingdom of Rust" sounds like vintage Doves material, urgent and slowly building with a dark melancholy undertone, what the band does well. You can check out the video for the track below.
With a long 4 year break now behind them, Metric are back with their hotly anticipated fourth full length studio album Fantasies. The album isn't due out for over a month, on April 14th, but you can listen to the entire thing right now over at the bands myspace. If it's anything close to 2005's Live It Out the band will be in good shape, and from a quick listen it sounds like a nice mix of dreamy electro indie rock, with the single "Help I'm Alive" leading the charge. 
The Harlem Shakes are almost ready to unleash their brand new disc, Technicolor Health, as the new LP will be hitting stores this March 24th on Gigantic Music. The Brooklyn 5 piece known for their infectious brand of indie-pop melodies also just released their new single, "Strictly Game," which you can also stream over on their myspace with another new song "Niagara Falls.''
Los Angeles band Foreign Born recently signed on to a new label, Secretly Canadian (Antony and the Johnsons, The War On Drugs, Damien Jurado) and are ready to release their debut for their new bosses. The band announced plans for their second full length, Person to Person, which will come out on June 23rd, and follows up 2007's debut On The Wing Now which featured the soaring track, "In The Shape."
