Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – “Leaving Trails” From their new LP, Where The Messengers Meet, out 8/3 on Dead Oceans.

Gibson is counting down the top 50 guitarists of all time.

Make Major Moves interviews singer-songwriter Holly Miranda.

CBC News reports that an Ottawa high school is staging a play inspired by the Arcade Fire's Neon Bible album.

County Grind recommends five Talking Heads songs for Florida governor Charlie Crist (whom David Byrne is suing for unauthorized use of one of his songs).

The Telegraph profiles Booker T. Jones.

In 2006, Jones signed with independent label Anti. "They said to me, 'OK Booker – do what you feel, don't do who you’ve been'." In 2008 he was introduced to the Drive-By Truckers. "I heard those three guitars and I knew they could do what I wanted. Then the label said: 'Well, we hear Neil Young playing on that'," Jones laughs. "So he did. Really, this has been me finally getting to do some music that I've had inside me for years. It's a little loud, a little raunchy, but it’s who I am."

IGN interviews comedian and actor David Cross about his new comedy album, Bigger and Blackerer.

The Morning Benders list their favorite things at Pitchfork.

On sale at Amazon MP3: The Whigs' 11-track In the Dark album for $2.99.

The All Songs Considered Blog has its readers list the best opening album tracks.

Last.fmIt’s been a long time since there’s been a live music throwdown of any kind at Toronto's most picturesque and moderately inconvenient venue, the Toronto Islands. The 2009 edition of the almost-annual Islands concert was canceled thanks to a combination of the Toronto Indy and sluggish ticket sales, so excepting a private frosh week event last September, the last time the throngs gathered on Olympic Island was V Fest 2008, and that ended with the ignoble thud of Noel Gallagher getting knocked on his ass. 2010 seems set on making up for that absence, however.

Having sold out three nights at Massey Hall on their last visit to Toronto in 2007, where Arcade Fire would play next was a reasonable question – the idea of another multi-night stand would make wallets ache and still probably not meet demand, and yet any of the larger venues seemed unlikely. But having played the inaugural Olympic Island Concert in 2004 at the bottom of the bill as veritable unknowns, Arcade Fire will return to the Toronto Islands six years later on August 14 as one of the biggest bands in the country.

MP3: Arcade Fire – “Keep The Car Running”
MP3: Arcade Fire – “Black Mirror”
MP3: Arcade Fire – “No Cars Go”
MP3: Arcade Fire – “Wake Up”

The Black Keys are currently touring with The Morning Benders as support.

Video: The Black Keys – “Next Girl”

Though the new Belle & Sebastian record is nearly finished – their Twitter is abuzz with updates and hey, does anyone remember when this band was all mysterious and stuff? – Stuart Murdoch continues to find time to tend to his God Help The Girl project, releasing a new non-album single and video. “Baby You’re Blind” features vocals from Linnea Jonsson of Swedes Those Dancing Days; it’s available digitally and as a 7″, and has an accompanying video.

Video: God Help The Girl – “Baby You’re Blind”

Yours Truly has posted a video session with Camera Obscura.

Amelia Fletcher, formerly of Heavenly and currently of Tender Trap, talks to Spinner about being name-checked on the new Hold Steady record. The new Tender Trap record Dansette Dansette is due out on June 22.

MP3: Tender Trap – “Girls With Guns”
Video: Tender Trap – “Girls With Guns”

NYC Taper is sharing a recording of Neil Halstead’s performance at the Truck America festival in New York state earlier this month.

Platform chats with Frightened Rabbit.

Ian McCulloch of Echo & The Bunnymen gives Spinner his thoughts on audience participation at their shows.

Billboard talks to Richard Thompson about his decision to record his new record Dream Attic, out August 31, entirely live in concert.

NME reports that the second album from Nick Cave side-project Grinderman will arrive on September 13 under the title of Grinderman 2. The first record was greasy, grimy and awesome – I expect no less from this one.

Interview interviews Jonsi.

Magnet has a Q&A with Bettie Serveert’s Carol van Dyk as a kick-off to her week as guest editor of their website.

Another week, another new 7-inch from the pop mavens of Slumberland. Manatee were a short-lived band featuring Black Tambourine/Whorl alumnus Mike Schulman, and this 7-inch is their first (and only) release. It’s pure janglepop goodness, hearkening back to that turn-of-the-eighties “college music” sound. Good stuff.

Pick it up — on transparent ice-blue vinyl — from Slumberland for $4.

Wild Nothing – “Chinatown” From Gemini, out today on Captured Tracks.