Born Ruffians’ new record Say It comes out this June. If that seems like too long for you to take, just know that they understand how hard the wait is going to be — that’s why they gave us this MP3 to enjoy three months prior to the albums’ release.

MP3: Born Ruffians – Sole Brother
Born Ruffians and Harlem Shakes (RIP) have always reminded me of one another; “Sole Brother” only continues that trend. It’s a fun, light pop track that plays it cool most of the way through but leads up to everyone in the band just sort of tumbling their voices together. Super cool track.

Born Ruffians on Myspace

MP3: Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Play, Guitar, Play (Conway Twitty)

Thanks to Backseat Sandbar for pointing out that Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy has just announced a show at the Louisville Salvation Arm’s Old Male Campus. It’s $10, but $15 buys you a meal. Pretty sweet deal, huh Kentucky?

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & the Cairo Gang
Sunday March 28
at the Auditorium at Salvation Army’s Old Male Campus
911 S. Brook Street
$10 concert – $5 dinner

The whole thing starts at 6pm, so come hungry!

Buy tickets here

Hey Lexingtonians and music lovers worldwide! James Friley is finally putting Idiot Glee’s music out into the wild with a physical release. He’s got a new 7″ out for preorder, which is great timing because now he’ll have something to lug with him and sell at SXSW!

Pick it up at HOP HOP.

Tracklist after the jump.

[Read more →]

Thanks to RSL for pointing out that Jonathan Visger of Mason Proper has recorded a debut solo record under the name Absofacto. So snag this free MP3, then slide over to his web site and download two more.

MP3: Absofacto – Gnat Years
I don’t know if Jonathan put all the Absofacto record together by himself, but it definitely has the feel of a work that was crafted by one free hand rather than many. “Gnat Years” and a couple other tracks on his Myspace feel like if you’d asked the Starlight Mints or Menomena to record a record in their bedrooms with about half their normal allotment of instruments — it’s inventive, quirky and creative in the way that pop music unfortunately often isn’t.

Absofacto on Myspace

I guess this isn’t the best cover I’ve seen all year, but I’d definitely put it comfortably in the top three so far (and Jamey gets points for being involved in the #1 slot too — Of Montreal covering the Jackson 5!) When I saw James Husband/Of Montreal in Nashville, one of the highlights was this spirited cover of Lykke Li’s “Little Bit.”

Thanks to the Booty Patrol for tracking down a good video of Jamey performing it in Athens.

Lemme tell you what: every band that’s ever done a Take Away Show is probably angry at the Blogotheque guys right now. “You mean we could’ve recorded our session on a cool french carousel? That was an option?!” they are likely yelling after watching this video.

Mix some of the best songs of the year with the Take Away Show’s always fantastic cinematography and you’ve got a video that’s perfect for your Saturday afternoon.

Thanks to the Decibel Tolls for pointing me to this new cover Emily Reo did of Built to Spill’s “Cars.” Unfortunately I’m not really that up on my BTS, so I had to youtube the original. Embarrassing, I know.

MP3: Emily Reo – Car (Built to Spill)

And if you missed it, here’s her original track that I fell for earlier this month.

MP3: Emily Reo – Metal On Your Skin

Thanks to Stereogum for this great video of Bat for Lashes covering Radiohead’s “All I Need” live in concert. It’s not quite up to Radiohead standards — but really, who is? Would’ve been sweet to catch this in concert, but then again I’d just like to see Bat For Lashes in concert at all.