Nine Inch Nails “Not So Pretty Now” When Trent Reznor bitches people out in his lyrics, do you ever feel — if just for a moment! — like he’s actually angry at you? Though it’s pretty clear in this song that he’s calling out a vain, formerly beloved star too deluded to notice they are past their prime, there’s something in his voice and the sheer force of the track that forces the listener to take the brunt of the attack, even if the invective is actually intended for Courtney Love, Marilyn Manson, or hell, Reznor himself. I suppose we’re all just collateral damage in the Godzilla vs. Mothra-esque battle of rock star egos.

Get it for free, along with another new NIN song and material from Jane’s Addiction and Street Sweeper from the NIN/JA 2009 site.

Patrick Wolf “Vulture” The wonderful thing about Patrick Wolf right now is that it’s very hard to tell where his campiness ends and his seriousness begins. “Vulture” is an excellent goth synthpop number, and exactly the sort of song that benefits greatly from a performer fearless enough to fully commit to a cartoonishly dark and depraved tone knowing full well that he’s probably going to come out seeming at least a little bit silly. It certainly helps that Wolf’s composition and arrangement is perfectly executed, from its general vibe of pervy menace on down to its exceptionally strong chorus and ruthlessly effective “80’s dance party” beat.

Buy it in June from Bandstocks.

N.A.S.A. ft. Kanye West, Santigold, and Lykke Li – “Gifted”

The IndependentThough not a performer, Neil Young’s presence was keenly felt down at SXSW last week. The man himself was in town showing off his LincVolt electric car which is serving as inspiration for his forthcoming album Fork In The Road, due April 7, and for which he continues to crank out many high-quality promo videos. I’m a little bit concerned that the songs are starting to grow on me just a bit.

Director Jonathan Demme was also on hand to talk about Neil Young Truck Show, his forthcoming Neil documentary and second following 2006’s Heart Of Gold. Rolling Stone has details on the deliberately rough and DIY-aesthetic film, which should be finished post-production for a 2009 unveiling.

But the most exciting piece of news revealed last week was the announcement by Neil’s manager Elliott Roberts of an official release date for Archives Volume 1 - June 2. I know many release dates have come and gone over the years but this seems for real. The massive collection will be available as an 8-CD set for $99, a 10-DVD set for $199 and a 10-BluRay set for $299 (suggested prices in US dollars). Needless to say, the more you spend, the more you get. Billboard has details.

Video: Neil Young - “Cough Up The Bucks”
Trailer: Neil Young / Archives Volume 1

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy talks to GQ about their new album, due out in June, and the Ashes Of American Flags DVD being released April 18. Creative Loafing has an interview with the director of the doc, Brendan Canty.

Spinner has an MP3 from Bob Mould’s new record Life And Times, out April 17.

MP3: Bob Mould - “City Lights (Days Go By)”

Ira Kaplan comes clean to The Hartford Advocate about the mysterious relationship between Condo Fucks and Yo La Tengo. Fuckbook is out now and streamable in its entirety.

Stream: Condo Fucks / Fuckbook

Also out now and doing the stream thing is The Decemberists’ latest The Hazards Of Love. Magnet Q&As Colin Meloy about the new record.

Stream: The Decemberists / The Hazards of Love

Chart and NOW have features on Julie Doiron, who’s playing the Horseshoe tonight in support of her new album I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day.

Music and Culture Mag Blender Folds

Haunted House - “Sierra Trail” I dreamed about a rock-band last night. I don't remember anything about them except that the word "Pip" was in the band's name, in a kind of nautical sense. And that the fish-men lunged forward when they played their guitars. And there were bass on bass and whale-shark on keys and the lead singer was some kind of crayfish, wild-eyed and furious, raging at us through a seaweedy warble, speaking English backwards in a way that trawled our hearts. The band trundled over the same beautiful chords, part 80s chintz and part 00s noise, like an FM radio drowning in an aquarium, like Minneapolis getting eaten by a black hole, like all my longings getting tied to my old tape-decks, my hopes all mashed in the trash compactor. [“Sierra Trail” is from wondrous Lifted Brow 4 book/CD set (previously)/ More of Haunted House at Cardbirdseat / MySpace]

Glass Cake - “Blanket” Cold wind last night. Blew out all the candles. Fixed the creaks in the floor. When I got up in the morning, all the honey had gone hard, like crystal. The milk had disappeared. There were holes in my sweaters. The windows had been polished and the swings had been ripped out of the swing-set. I had a bracelet on each wrist. Upstairs my lover lay sleeping. [MySpace / via Popsheep]