Colin Meloy talks to Spin about the next Decemberists album, The King Is Dead (out January ).

PopMatters reviews the new book, Hüsker Dü: The Story of the Noise-Pop Pioneers Who Launched Modern Rock.

Time Out Chicago interviews former White House chief of staff and Wilco fan, Rahm Emanuel.

7. What is your favorite local band? How about your favorite theater company? Restaurant? Artist? Comedian or other performer?

Wilco is my favorite local band, and Jeff Tweedy is my favorite local artist—when they played all of their albums over the course of five days at the Riviera a couple years back, I made it to three shows and regret that I couldn't make the other two. I also have to include the early Smashing Pumpkins' albums.

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The Tallahassee Democrat profiles singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom.

The A.V. Club offers a primer to the music of David Bowie.

The A.V. Club staff lists its favorite film soundtracks.

Junip visits The Current studio for an interview and live performance.

All Things Considered reviews the 13-CD, 300-song box set Next Stop Is Vietnam.

Matthew Friedberger - “Shirley” Matthew Friedberger’s voice always seems to be a little different on his solo recordings than when he sings on Fiery Furnaces records. He’s a bit bolder with the Furnaces, his intonation is more blunt, sort of dense and blocky. I think this is because he writes those songs with and/or for his sister Eleanor, whose tone is always rather assertive. There’s a particular lyrical rhythm to those records, it’s very distinct and unusual and I think if you fall in love with it, you end up being a sucker for pretty much everything they do. His diction in his solo work isn’t dramatically different, but it lends itself to softer, grainier aspects of his voice. You hear more strain in his voice, more grit and character. There are some Furnaces songs where his voice reminds me a bit of Chris Eigeman in Whit Stillman’s movies, sort of brash and imperiously snarky, but he always seems smaller and more human when he’s alone. This isn’t always my favorite thing — he sort of recedes into a lot of Winter Women and Holy Ghost Language School where I’d prefer him to be much bigger and brasher. He has a much sharper presence in “Shirley”, the first track off of Napoleonette. As I’ve noticed in concert and on songs like “Inca Rag,” Friedberger’s voice is flattered by the piano, the characteristic tonality of that instrument just fits nicely with his natural tone, particularly when he’s banging out chunky yet finely articulated chords in a way that recalls Hunky Dory-era Bowie. There’s some surprising harmony in this composition too — I’m not totally certain, but at some points, it sounds like a regularly tuned piano is paired with a pleasantly shrill prepared piano part.

Buy a subscription to Matthew Friedberger’s series of solo albums from Thrill Jockey. Every two months, a new vinyl album will be sent to you, eventually resulting in an eight album box set. This song is from the first volume, Napoleonette.

Very excited to be posting today’s streaming 7-inch: it’s the new one by the perennially MBV-adored Sharon Van Etten. Two all-new exclusive tracks (you won’t find them on the new full-length, Epic, but you should definitely pick that up), recorded by Greg Weeks (Espers) at Hexham Head Studio (Marisa Nadler, Bonnie Prince Billy). I would tell you to pick this up from the Polyvinyl Store for $5, but it looks like it’s already sold-out in presale. It appears that Insound has some copies, though, so grab one while you can.

Ariel Pink talks to Washington City Paper about his latest album, Before Today.

Yet his latest record Before Today—his first recorded in an actual studio—sounds utterly unique. Certainly, there are sounds drawn from the past, and not just the psychedelic pop he clearly loves. Take the bass line of "Menopause Man," which isn't so different than the one from "Billie Jean". Observers tend to describe Pink's music as nostalgic and classic-sounding. He wouldn't necessarily disagree. "Everyone wants to be sincere, an individual. But how would you describe an idea, if you didn't have words already?"

The Montreal Mirror also profiles Pink.

Fresh Air interviews legendary singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn.

The Boston Herald interviews John Stirratt of Wilco and the Autumn Defense.

RIA Novosti profiles Russian folk-punk singer-songwriter Yanka Dyagileva.

Yanka was part of the brief flowering of a genuine musical underground that occurred during the final days of the Soviet Union and the early years of the new Russian state. With society in a state of upheaval, groups like Kino, Akvarium and her sometime lover Yegor Letov's magnificently uncompromising punk rock ensemble Grazhdanskаya Oborona captured perfectly the confusion and excitement of a country that had no idea where it was heading. The era was to Russia what the sixties were to the West, and the music was just as vital.

On sale for $3.99 at Amazon MP3: Superchunk's latest album Majesty Shredding.

The 25 best blogs for folk music fans.

The Man from London lists the five best electropop albums ever,