For the past several weeks Handsome Furs have been collaborating on a documentary series for CNN that chronicled the band and real life husband and wife pair on tour across Asia. The 5th and latest episode of “Indie Asia: On Tour with Handsome Furs” published this week and shows Dan and Alexei in Shanghai where they reflect on meeting the locals, and travel to Hong Kong to gear up for their next concert. 
This year is loaded with hotly anticipated releases, including the new forthcoming disc from Jersey boys, The Gaslight Anthem. The new disc titled, American Slang is tentatively due to be released this June 15 on SideOneDummy records, which saw the band team up with producer Ted Hutt. 
When I last spoke to Frightened Rabbit fromtman, Scott Hutchinson about what was next for the band and the pressure of their next record, he stated ...."Does anyone want to hear me sing a break-up song again? I think I've covered it." Indeed following up 08's brilliant The Midnight Organ Fight was no easy task for the band, with critics and fans falling in love with the brutally honest and personal take of Hutchinson's dissolved relationship on that disc. It's definitely one of my favorite albums of the last several years and with the new disc hitting stores, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, I was anxious to hear the bands latest direction. So often in life high expectations just fall short, but I honestly have to say that the disc sucked me in on it's first listen and has been growing on me more and more with each additional spin. Granted it's not another break-up record, but what did you expect 'The Midnight Organ Fight pt2'? The disc shows a writer moving forward after the chaos of his relationship, maturing in front of us, and dealing with the pieces that are left. Hutchinson to me, cements himself as one of the best songwriters around right now, the guy just flat out knows how to capture the uneasyness of love. 
Currently hard at work on the follow up to her breakthrough album Youth Novels, Swedish songstress Lykke Li took some time to contribute a new track to Twilight’s latest film & soundtrack ‘New Moon’. This is the first new song to follow her debut, and she just came out with a new video for the track which was shot at Decibel Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. 
One of our favorite bands here on the blog, The Wooden Sky, who nabbed our album of the year honors for 2009, with their sophomore effort, If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone, just released the latest installment of their ongoing documentary series. The 10 part documentary series titled, “A Documentary in Pieces” directed by Scott Cudmore, captured the group during their 'Bedrooms and Backstreets' tour last Summer prior to their albums release. The Wooden Sky - A Documentary in Pieces - PART EIGHT (HD) from Black Box Vimeo on Vimeo.
Montreal Canada's, Stars, will be releasing their fifth studio album, The Five Ghosts, this coming June 22nd. The new disc follows up their critically acclaimed and deservedly so, LP In Our Bedroom After the War, which featured the tracks,"Take Me to the Riot" and "The Night Starts Here." The new disc will be the bands first release on their very own label Soft Revolution, which will be distributed outside Canada via Vagrant.
Brooklyn 5 piece, Here We Go Magic, led by frontman Luke Temple made a splash last year with their self-titled debut,earning slots opening for bands like Grizzly Bear, and the Walkmen. The band is now readying their sophomore release, after signing with Secretly Canadian (Yeasayer, Damien Jurado) titled, Pigeons, which is scheduled to come out this June. 
A few weeks back we were talking about Handsome Furs collaborating on a documentary series for CNN while on tour across Asia. The 4th and latest installment of the series “Indie Asia: On Tour with Handsome Furs” published yesterday and shows the couples behind-the-scenes look at the Chinese music scene. 
Last week Altpress premiered 
Josh Ritter recently posted a new album teaser video, featuring a new song, "Another New World" off his forthcoming release, So Runs The World Away. The disc hits stores this May 4th on Pytheas Recordings, and you can grab a free download of the track, "Change of Time" from the album here. 
Ever since hearing the first chord on his first album back in 1997, I've been a huge fan of Matthew Ryan's music. As honest and inspiring a songwriter as there is out there, Ryan just released his latest CD, Dear Lover in stores last month, and also just put out a new video for the album track, "The World Is" directed by fine-art photographer Jack Spencer. 
Georgia rockers, The Whigs have a new disc coming out next week March 16th via ATO records. The new record titled, In The Dark, features the new tune, "Kill Me Carolyne," which you can grab a free download of here. 
I've been looking forward to this one for a long time. The National have confirmed a release date for their new album titled, High Violet this May 11th on 4AD. The bands 5th LP, is said to be edgier than it's predecessor, 2007's brilliant, The Boxer. 
After nearly three years since the release of their last album, 'Cease to Begin', Band of Horses have announced plans for their new forthcoming disc, Infinite Arms. The album comes out this May 18, and is the groups first disc with members Tyler Ramsey and Bill Reynolds who toured with the band for Cease to Begin.
Completely fell in love with this UK groups music when I first heard their song, "The Cave." The band jsut recently saw the release of their debut album, Sigh No More in the U.S. last month, after earning rave reviews overseas. 
Today Damien DeRose, aka Peasant, comes out with his brand new disc, Shady Retreat, on Paper Garden records. 
Another one of our favorite Scottish bands, The Twilight Sad are ready to bring their brooding noise-rock back to the US & Canada this Spring as they will be supporting the Japanese orchestral metal outfit, MONO. The Twilight Sad - The Room from TLOBF.COM on Vimeo.
Generating a huge amount of buzz of their 2009 5 song EP, this Upstate NY duo just released their debut full length titled, Eyelid Movies last month on Barsuk. Having formed in just 2007, guitarist Joshua Carter and keyboardist Sarah Barthel have rose quick, with their brand of layered electronica & addictive funky beats, which have helped the band open up for acts like, Zero 7, Ra Ra Riot and Yeasayer within the last few years.