LHB’s Shorties (Jason Lytle, Merge, and More)

The Buffalo News profiles singer-songwriter Jason Lytle.

The Washington Post's Post-Rock blog lists the top 20 Merge Records albums of all time.

PopMatters excerpts from the intriguing book Radiohead and Philosophy: Fitter Happier More Productive.

Radiohead seem especially attuned to this fear of the tie between violence and power. From OK Computer to Hail to the Thief, their records consistently portray a world rife with terror, despondency, and violence. Piggies squeal, bruises don’t heal, and police arrest citizens for random crimes like offensive hairdos or annoying conversational habits. Knives come out, armies are taken out, and bodies float down muddy rivers. Little men are erased, young blood is effaced, and the feeling of being strangled, beaten, and skinned-alive is never far. Radiohead seem to live in a violent world.

The National Post profiles the Rural Alberta Advantage.

The New York Times examines alternate funding sources as musicians increasingly turn away from record labels.

On sale for $1.99 at Amazon MP3: Angus & Julia Stone's 13-track album, A Book Like This.

The Baltimore Sun profiles indie rock duo Wye Oak.

The Quietus offers an alternative set of nominees to the Mercury Music Prize.

Stereogum reports that a nine-song set of demos from Coldplay's Viva La Vida recording sessions has leaked.

- David Gutowski