Washed Out - “Feel It All Around” I’m not sure whether or not the background hum in “Feel It All Around” is actually a sustained sample from 10cc’s “I’m Not In Love,” but either way, the sound effectively places this song in the same emotional spectrum while carving out its own niche of muted, shell-shocked melancholy. The genius in this music, however, is in the way this lovelorn state is presented with a cool, dispassionate front of someone who has either become deliberately numb, or is in very deep denial about their pain.

Visit the Washed Out MySpace page.

Grooms - “Dreamsucker” The guitars here trade off between mellow arpeggios and blasts of distortion, and so we’re in well-trod and comfortable territory, particularly if you’re into Sonic Youth and more guitar-centric post-rock bands like Gastr Del Sol and Dianogah. The thing that makes this track really pop, though, is in the way the percussion and vocals build up this fidgety, wired feeling, like you’re literally shaking from too much caffeine, but you’re still a bit sleepy and/or lost in some sort of mental fog.

Visit the Grooms’ MySpace page.

Jacket Copy interviews Lemony Snicket author Daniel Handler about curating the CD for the Believer's annual music issue.

SF Weekly profiles singer-songwriter Kurt Vile.

Free-spirited but not quite punk, Childish Prodigy makes the most of Vile's blissfully aimless wanderings. The album was primarily produced by Jeff Zeigler of the Philly shoegaze band Arc in Round, though "Blackberry Song" and "Overnite Religion" were recorded at Granduciel's house and then dumped to a computer for overdubs. There are two hidden tracks, "He's Alright" and "Goodbye, Freaks," while seven-minute tunes like "Freak Train" and "Inside Lookin' Out" heighten the truly surreal vibe.

The San Francisco Bay Guardian profiles Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance and Comets on Fire.

Author Carlene Bauer creates a music playlist at Paper Cuts.

BBC News lists forthcoming Michael Jackson memorabilia, including a singing teddy bear.

Verbicide interviews musician/cartoonist/publisher Zak Sally.

Metromix Atlanta lists the top 18 rock documentaries.

Stream Mew's new album at the band's MySpace site.

hopesandoval.comIt’s been over a month since word came that the reclusive Hope Sandoval was returning to active duty – she had not only completed a new Warm Intentions album with My Bloody Valentine’s Colm O Cíosoig, but was also putting finishing touches on a new record from Mazzy Star. Now there’s been no further word on what would be her and David Roback’s first album since 1996, but the new Warm Inventions album Through The Devil Softly is definitely happening, albeit with a September 29 release date instead of the originally announced September 15.

Entertainment Weekly is streaming a new song from Through The Devil Softly to go along with the MP3 which was previously released. Update: Actually that EW track is also now available to download.

MP3: Hope Sandoval & The Warm Intentions – “Trouble”
MP3: Hope Sandoval & The Warm Intentions – “Blanchard”

Also with a new album out on September 29 are The Avett Brothers, who will be releasing their latest I And Love And You. The Boston Globe has a feature and Rolling Stone declares the trio, who’ve been putting out records since 2000, an “artist to watch”.

MP3: The Avett Brothers – “I And Love And You”

Israeli nutjobs Monotonix will release their debut full-length Where Were You When It Happened is out August 31 – details at Strange Glue.

MP3: Monotonix – “Ride”
MP3: Monotonix – “Body Language”

Both They Shoot Music and aux.tv have posted up video sessions with Malajube, who are this week’s featured Polaris Prize nominee, which basically means you can download an MP3 for free via the Polaris website. And speaking of free, you can also enter this contest to win a trip to Toronto for the September 21 Polaris Prize awards gala – all ten nominees will be performing this year!

Exclaim has details on the new Do Make Say Think record Other Truths, out October 20, while Stereogum is steaming a first preview track from it.

Time Out and The Sydney Morning Herald talk to Aimee Mann.

The first MP3 from Headlights’ new album Wildlife, out October 6, is now available over at RCRDLBL.

Elvis Perkins In Dearland will release a new EP on October 20 entitled Doomsday, featuring five new tracks in addition to the title track taken from their self-titled album.

MP3: Elvis Perkins In Dearland – “Slow Doomsday”

Yet another video from Yo La Tengo’s new album Popular Songs has emerged. The record is out September 8.

Video: Yo La Tengo – “Nothing To Hide”

Pitchfork has details on the new R.E.M. live album Live At The Olympia, which will feature 39 songs across two CDs recorded in Dublin in 2007. Look for it October 26.