Clinic – “I’m Aware” The masked men of Clinic are kicking off a US Tour next week, in support of their brand-new long-player, Bubblegum, and the show that kicks things off on Tuesday (11/2) happens right here in NYC at the Bowery Ballroom, with support from The Fresh & Onlys and The Girls At Dawn.

I mention all of this because the label has been kind enough to offer us up two pairs of tickets for Tuesday’s show– and what’s more, they’re also going to give each of the winners a free copy of the Bubblegum vinyl (which includes a second bubblegum-pink LP featuring acoustic versions). So you know the drill: if you live in NYC and you wanna go to the show (and nab free vinyl to boot), just enter ye olde email address below. We’ll draw some winners on Monday.

Eternal Summers - “Safe at Home” 10 different hats, 8 of them are scoop cuts. 40 pairs of shoes, 33 are slip-ons. 99 dresses, only 3 aren't empire cut. 5 bikes, all with a basket, 4 have chain guards, a different 4 have plastic flowers in the handlebars. All this in a warm evening fog. The streetlights bloom and bead up like droplets. Figures come into light and drift out into grey. Not a single discernible face, only feelings, only drinks, only walks home.

This song is stretched, arms outstretched, tips of fingers touching summer and knuckles gripping grasping onto fall. [Buy]

The Donkeys - “Lower the Heavens”Fall onto grasping gripping knuckles, and summer. Touching fingers of tips, outstretched arms.

And wool. My God, the wool in this song. [Buy]

Reading Rainbow - “Always On My Mind” It wasn’t too much of a shock to find out the two members of this band are a married couple — they sing with each other like people in love. “Always On My Mind” is about struggling with a long-distance relationship, and missing someone very badly and hating every moment of being apart. Given that this is a married couple who are also an indie rock duo, I imagine this means they are singing about their ultimate nightmare. The song itself is a brilliant, elegantly constructed, extremely catchy indie-pop gem. It’s a bit lo-fi, but its charms come from its old-fashioned hooks, not an affected haziness. In a field overcrowded with lo-fi indie rock, this stands out as a keeper.

Buy it from Hozac Records.

Fresh Air interviews Keith Richards about his new memoir, Life.

Blog on the Tracks interviews Elvis Costello about his new album, National Ransom (out November 2nd).

The Record profiles Screaming Females.

The band draws on the riot grrl bands of the 1990s, along with more mainstream fare like Smashing Pumpkins. But its sound is a far cry from the tasteful understatement that characterizes most blog bands du jour.

Pop & Hiss examines how much musicians earn when they release their music via TuneCore themselves.

"If you go directly to iTunes and sell two songs, you'll net $1.40," Price said. "You will have made the equivalent of selling a full album at Tower Records."

At Reverb, Long Winters frontman John Roderick lists Seattle's four most conspicuous rock crowds.

Dr. Dog visits The Current studio for an interview and live performance.

PopMatters interviews TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek.

Drowned in Sound reflects on the New York music scene from 2000-2009, and also shares a mixtape from that era.

Aquarium Drunkard shares a Halloween mixtape.