David Vandervelde – “Learn How To Hang” From his new digital single, out now on Secretly Canadian.

The Morning Benders – “Excuses” From the forthcoming Big Echo, out 3/9 on Rough Trade/Beggars.

SXSW has posted the official music showcase schedules for the 2010 event.

Spinner profiles Correatown as part of its 2010 SXSW preview.

MP3.com interviews Jimmy LaValle of The Album Leaf about the band's new album, A Chorus of Storytellers.

The Wall Street Journal examines the scarcity of available good band names.

PopMatters interviews Pavement guitarist Spiral Stairs.

Do you think the Internet has improved music culture in the past decade? Has it helped or hurt you in a significant way?

I think it’s out there helping. It tears away a lot of the mystery in a band, but I think maybe the amount of people that might hear about you, it’s a good thing. People cannot worry about the stuff other people say. It’s just weird how much of the mystery gets torn away and things that get said. People like to focus on negative things a lot about bands. In the old days, people used to focus more on the positive.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation examines the latest battles between copyright holders and music blogs.

MakeUseOf lists 10 ways to discover new music online.

Stereogum is streaming a new song by Robert Smith of the Cure, his contribution to the Tim Burton film, Almost Alice.

NPR is streaming the new Eluvium album, Similes (out February 23rd).

Alan Sparhawk's Retribution Gospel Choir visits The Current studio for an interview and live performance.

Gimme Noise also interviews Sparhawk.

Paste is streaming the new Rocky Votolato album, True Devotion (out February 23rd).

Quasi – “Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler” From American Gong, out 2/23 on Kill Rock Stars. Pre-order it now from the label and you’ll get a free DVD of Quasi: Who Year’s Eve, the NYE show where the band performed all Who covers.

*My Fränch ain’t what it used to be, but I’m pretty sure that’s “Let The Good Times Roll.”

Frank YangJust one question for everyone at Lee’s Palace for Mumford & Sons on Monday night. Where did you all come from?

This question doesn’t just come from the fact that this band – whose debut album Sigh No More was only just released in North America yesterday and who were conducting this super-short, four-date North American tour without, at least to my knowledge, any major promotional push – had sold out Lee’s Palace, but had filled it not with curious musical passers-by, but raving, honest-to-god fans. Largely of the shrieking variety. Seriously, I had not seen Lee’s – or any venue – so packed and so unbelievably LOUD.

It’s not especially original by any stretch, but the phrase “bluegrass Beatles” crossed my mind later on in the evening as I tried to articulate what I witnessed with Mumford & Sons’ set. From the moment Ted Dwane carried his upright bass across the stage while they were still setting up until the end of the encore, the capacity crowd roared, shrieked and just went completely bonkers for the London quartet. And while I am incredulous about the fact that so many were so enthralled by them so early in their career-- that it’s happened really doesn’t surprise...

Read more at Chromewaves →

Photos: Mumford & Sons, Sunparlour Players @ Lee’s Palace – February 15, 2010
Video: Mumford & Sons – “The Cave”
Video: Mumford & Sons – “Winter Winds”
Video: Mumford & Sons – “Little Lion Man”

Clash chats with Field Music while Drowned In Sound takes a track by track tour through their new album (Measure), which you can follow along with thanks to MBV Music, who are streaming the album right now.

Stream: Field Music / (Measure)

Baeble Music is streaming a full live show from Fanfarlo.

Florence Welch of Florence & The Machine talks to BBC and The Daily Mail.

Check out this PitchforkTV Surveillance session with The xx.

Clash has excerpted part of their feature piece on Hot Chip.

Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit takes Clash on a guided tour through their new record The Winter Of Mixed Drinks, due out March 9.

BBC checks in with Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos on the direction of album number four.

Laundromatinee has a video session and The Boston Herald an interview with We Were Promised Jetpacks.

Drowned In Sound is currently streaming the whole of Lightspeed Champion’s latest opus Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You, out now.

Stream: Lightspeed Champion / Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You

PopMatters talks to Andy Partridge of XTC.