Part 1 of a new ongoing series at MBV looking at Merge Records.

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NPR is streaming Leonard Cohen's recent New York performance.

Filter profiles Andrew Bird.

Oftentimes Andrew Bird is reduced to a triptych, not because he only does three things, but because three of the things he does, he does so much better than anyone else. Most strikingly, there is the whistling—trilling, lacy adornment that typically soars and loops throughout his recordings. That he can perfectly reproduce his whistling in the chaos of a live show, guitar slung and arms akimbo with violin and bow, is difficult to believe. “I’ve been doing it since I was six or seven years old, and I do it incessantly.” Questioned beyond that, and Bird doesn’t think whistling is a particularly unique ability he possesses—it’s something that most people can do. “You don’t want it to become a novelty. I resisted it at first when I started because it’s too easy. I’m used to playing the violin…it’s hard. It took years of pain and suffering. And suddenly everyone goes for the whistling? You want to believe that everything you put yourself through is for something,” he says.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interviews Ben Kweller.

What if they asked you to open for Tim McGraw on his tour or something? What would you do?

I'd probably do it, man. Look, if I got offered to open for Tim McGraw or Alan Jackson or something, I would totally do it, man. At this point, I've paid my dues, I guess you could say, in the indie circuit. There's no reason for me to try to prove any cred anymore. Deep down, I love watching those huge country singers perform on TV, so if anything, I would do it so my family back in Texas would know that what I'm doing is legit now.

The Sonic Youth Live Recordings Lossless Archive is a treasure trove of live performances by the band, and also includes live mp3s and videos.

RIP, Pylon guitarist Randy Bewley

Ganache - “In Pidgin”

The Grey Wizard is gonna start living his life & not worry about what anyone else thinks anymore cuz in the end it really doesn't matter. at 8:19pm Thursday

The Grey Wizard is sitting next to the weirdest guy on the bus right now. at 9:14am Friday from mobile

The Grey Wizard is text me, I'm going to Rise of the Lycans! at 7:16pm Friday

The Grey Wizard has a pretty great belly-button. at 12:33pm Saturday

The Grey Wizard just bought a sweet new couch! at 4:04pm Saturday

The Grey Wizard wants chocolate. at 7:41pm Saturday

The Grey Wizard is excited to see his friends tonight! at 5:04pm Sunday

The Grey Wizard is casting spells. at 10:10am Monday

The Grey Wizard is settling his debts. You know who you are. at 2:00pm Tuesday

The Grey Wizard looks good in a ball cap. at 4:46pm Tuesday

The Grey Wizard is jonesing for Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 6. at 8:12pm Wednesday

The Grey Wizard loves curling. at 7:34pm Thursday

The Grey Wizard is so sleepy, but yet here I am. about 14 hours

The Grey Wizard is watching wrestling. Randy Orton is EVIL. about 12 hours ago

The Grey Wizard is can't wait for a weekend in NYC!!!! about 5 mintues ago

[Ganache is Thom Stylinski of The Whiskers, and his record comes out in March]

Eternal Summers - “Able To” Are you able to? Are you able too? Are you Abel II? Are you a bull too? Eternal Summers tune their guitars apparently using my heart, because I feel it every time they play. Even when they practice.

Breaking: Layoffs Confirmed at RIAA

Bring on the schadenfreude, internet.

MP3: Dr. Zilog – “Kids” (MGMT Cover) [Chiptune Version]

Careful, Dr. Zilog. MGMT will have no qualms about suing your ass.

Ohbijou The release of Ohbijou’s second album Beacons is still over a month away - April 14 is the date to circle - but thanks to the deluge of MP3s that accompanies the official SxSW lineup and schedule, a sample is now available to download. I’ve had the privilege of living with a copy of Beacons for a little while now, and can say that “Black Ice” very much captures the feel of the record - taking everything that made Swift Feet For Troubling Times such a cozy orch-pop gem and makes it more expansive without losing the intimacy.

MP3: Ohbijou - “Black Ice”

Another artist doing the SXSW thing - at Beauty Bar at 9PM on March 21 - is Gentleman Reg. The SxSW site is also offering up another track from his just-released Jet Black. And though I couldn’t make his in-store at Soundscapes on Tuesday, videographer Colin Medley did and has a really nice HD clip of one of the songs performed.

MP3: Gentleman Reg - “How We Exit”

Human Highway will also be hitting the highway between Toronto and Austin next month. Stereogum has what they call the premiere of the video for Human Highway’s “The Sound”, which means that the stuffed animal version which surfaced a little while back isn’t actually “official”. Which is too bad, because I prefer it to the new one.

MP3: Human Highway - “The Sound”
Video: Human Highway - “The Sound”
Video: Human Highway - “The Sound” (unofficial)

Exclaim’s cover story this month is Montreal’s Malajube, thanks to the recent release of their new record Labyrinthes.

MP3: Malajube - “Porte Disparu”

Gui Boratto “No Turning Back” (pulled by Kompakt) One of the most remarkable things about Gui Boratto’s music is how well he can evoke a state of contentment, and make that feeling urgent and visceral, implying a full awareness and presence within a particular magical moment. In “No Turning Back,” he creates an overwhelming sensation of romance, comfort, and a very mild melancholy that builds gradually before reaching an emotional plateau during its vocal sections. The lyrics and vocals ground the song in pop music and provide a useful bit of context, but the piece seems most articulate when the sound takes over and carry us through its most turbulent and placid moments with equal measures of grace.

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