Man, what a pretty song. The Lovely Sparrow’s “Year of the Dog” gets the perfect video treatment. It’s a breezy, laid-back song like Dr. Dog laying out on a summer hill.

MP3: The Lovely Sparrows - Year of the Dog

Preorder Bury the Cinics from Abandoned Love Records (ALR hasn’t been up to much in a while, but might I suggest their back catalogue? You should snag those $5 Grumpy Bear or Capstan Shafts albums while you’re there)

I’ve never been a big fan of the National, but after listening to this song a few times I might be ready to change my tune. Hell, just the horns and outro are enough to win me over.

Via IGIF

I like Oxford Collapse’s records OK, but their live show really takes those songs and throws them into a whole new level. They’re in no way a pop-punk band, but they play some pop music in a very punk way. They really go all out.

Keith Murray from We Are Scientists with Oxford Collapse

I’ve been enjoying Rodriguez’s reissue of Cold Fact for a little while now. I was introduced to it by my metal-loving co-worker at CD Central; so imagine my surprise when it was actually some dreamy pop! Thanks to Aquarium Drunkard for the MP3 as well, as I’ve yet to actually pick up the record…

MP3: Rodriguez - Sugar Man
What a fun song. The whole album reminds me of a sort of alternate take on Donovan with some Bob Dylan thrown in and this song is no different.

Buy Cold Fact on Amazon

I had no idea Bad Veins were on the bill for Sunday’s show. Because of that unfortunate fact I arrived halfway through their last song. Bummer. Oh well; they’ll soon be flying to LA to finish up their full-length record. That’ll ease the pain a little bit.

AtEase is reporting that Radiohead will contribute a new song as well as ambient music for the film adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s book Choke.

Palahniuk said that he wrote Choke while listening to Pablo Honey (especially “Creep”) on repeat. Knowing that, director Clark Gregg approached Radiohead about contributing some music.

Palahniuk: “So Clark got Radiohead to contribute a song; to write a song for the very end of the movie, the final credits. Apparently Radiohead liked the movie so much, they’ve written the score, most of the ambient music throughout it. So it’s ‘Choke – with the music of Radiohead’

Diehard Radiohead or Palahniuk fans will no doubt remember that Brad Pitt and Edward Norton both wanted Radiohead to score the film Fight Club.

Choke hits theaters September 26

Tech-savvy friends of mine very frequently giggle at my reluctance to try any new bit of software. “But Matt,” they’ll say, “you run an occasionally-read web site? How can you not be on the cutting edge of internet technology?” It’s sad but true. I’m more often than not the old man of the blogging world. As such, I’ve just now started using Google Reader. Yeah, I know. I’ll wait for you to stop laughing before I continue.

Anyway, I’m now able to keep tabs on my favorite blogs, friends and friend-blogs. I’ll celebrate this by totally jacking a discovery from Skatterbrain.

MP3: The Tartans - Cats of Camerford
The Tartan’s “Cats of Camerford” is a really sweet song that calls to mind Camera Obscura, Belle and Sebastian and so many other north European twee pop. I left it on repeat while adding blogs to my Google Reader (!!!) and it must’ve played through ten times before I even thought that I might like to listen to anything else. It’s more of a journey than most any pop song I’ve heard since Beulah.

The Tartans on Myspace

Thanks to Optical Atlas for the heads-up about this.

Hi Hi Hi is Of Montreal guitarist the Late BP Helium’s Paul McCartney/Wings cover band. They recently did a set in Athens that was recorded by the good folks over at Southern Shelter. Here’s one of my favorites:

MP3: Hi Hi Hi - Jet (Paul McCartney cover; live)

Head over to Southern Shelter to download the full concert in MP3 or FLAC.