Today we cross the halfway point in our “7 Inches of MBV” Polyvinyl Fall 2010 streamer series with Joan of Arc‘s latest single, Meaningful Work. The sound can be described thusly (by Tim Kinsella):

“…feeling the pinch, Joan of Arc has had to tighten its belt… Who can afford a second drummer, a vibraphone, a cellist, post-production processing? The songs are the same. I sit on my couch and play guitar and sing. But the production values have been restricted. And as a result, for the same amount of sonic information to get across we each have to work a little harder. This is the Joan of Arc of the new dust-bowl daze.”

So, enjoy, order up this bad boy on dark green vinyl, and tune in later this week for the new singles from Japandroids, Sharon Van Etten, and Deerhoof/Physical Forms.

At NPR, Michael Schaub reviews Keith Richards' new memoir, Life. An excerpt is also presented.

The Daily Iowan profiles singer-songwriter Ben Weaver.

For musician Ben Weaver, mirepoix isn't just a culinary term for the mixture of celery, carrots, and onions. It's also the name of his newest album, Mirepoix & Smoke, which is based on the artist's experience working in the restaurant business.

The Guardian profiles Pulp as the band prepares for its 2011 reunion tour dates.

The Frisky shares a firsthand account of Ladies Rock Camp.

The A.V. Club interviews Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout about the band's new album, Let’s Change The World With Music.

PopMatters takes a detailed look at Modest Mouse's 1997 album, The Lonesome Crowded West track-by-track.

Flavorwire shares a brief visual history of Riot Grrrl zines.

Crave lists 10 albums worth a second listen.

MP3: Air Waves – “Knockout”

The Catbird family’s own Air Waves (aka Ms. Nicole Schneit) has a new record titled Dungeon Dots out on Underwater Peoples* come 11/30, from whence this new track comes. Hey UP guys, get a pre-order link up for it already!

Please to enjoy today’s “7 Inches of MBV” installment, from Portland’s STRFKR. It’s their Julius 7-Inch, which was just recently released by Polyvinyl, and which you can procure for yourself — on nice dark-blue vinyl — for just 5 bones at the Polyvinyl Online Store.

Birthmark – “Fossil Record” From the upcoming Shaking Hands album, the second from Mr. Kinsella under his Birthmark moniker, due out 12/14 from Hidden Agenda.

Check out this track along with an exclusive non-album b-side (“Be However You Please”) over on the Birthmark Bandcamp page.

The Guardian reports that Pulp will reunite for live dates in 2011.

Shearwater has a new instrumental album, Shearwater Is Enron available at Bandcamp.

The band's drummer Thor Harris shares his 21 rules of how to tour in a band or whatever.

Under the Radar interviews A.C. Newman of the New Pornographers.

i(heart)music has compiled its annual list of the hottest bands in Canada.

NPR is streaming Stereolab's new album, Not Music (out November 16th).