Oval – “Ah!”

Stunning video from the forthcoming O double-album, out 9/7 from Thrill Jockey.

And note: Oval is doing 2 super-rare US performances next week: 9/9 in New York (Issue Project Room), and 9/10 in Chicago (Sonar Festival).

Destroyer - “Sick Priest Learns To Last Forever” Here’s a fun thing to think about: Imagine that Dan Bejar has been commissioned to record a cover version of John Williams’ score for the Star Wars movies in the style of Destroyer. Not instrumental, by the way — he is expected to sing the entire thing, and reinterpret the films’ story in his lyrics. I can conjure this music in my mind, but only up to a point. I can get the sound of it, but I’m not nearly clever enough to translate Star Wars into Bejar-ese, though I can definitely get a sense of where he’d go with it, especially in terms of Princess Leia’s sexuality and royal privilege. Daughter of the evil king! Romantically pursued by her brother and a scoundrel! That sounds like the makings of a Destroyer song to me.

There is something in Dan Bejar’s voice that makes it impossible to tell the difference between artsy seriousness and intellectual campiness. It’s all a blur, intentions are always tangled, and mixed up in base urges. Through Bejar, all of life is droll comedy, and all of civilization is just endless posturing and pageantry. “Sick Priest Learns To Last Forever” may be my favorite Destroyer song, and I think it captures the essence of the band, or at least what is most appealing to me. All of Destroyer’s Rubies sounds like it is set deeper and deeper into the night, but “Sick Priest” sounds as far into the night as you can go before tripping into the dawn. It sounds like the part of night that most feels like a secret, the bit most everyone sleeps through, but there you are stumbling through it, and somehow reaching an understanding that you’ll just forget by the time you finally pass out. Bejar is typically obscure on the verses, but as he leans into the refrain, he’s reassuring: “That’s okay, yes, it’s fine…” You just take his word for it.

Buy it from Amazon.

Clinic – “I’m Aware” From Bubblegum, out 10/5 on Domino and available now for pre-order. The LP version comes with a bonus LP (on bubblegum pink vinyl of course), entitled Son of Bubblegum, featuring acoustic versions of 6 of the album tracks. It’s also got a poster, iron-on transfer, sticker, and early download of all the tracks on 9/20.

Paste Magazine is dead.

Vanity Fair interviews Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice about their duo, Jenny and Johnny, and new album, I'm Having Fun.

There seems to be a revived interest in the last few years in the duet format— She & Him, Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson have had recent success—what’s unique and fun about this approach?

Jonathan Rice: To me, selfishly, I find it more interesting, than hearing just myself.

Jenny Lewis: I never intended to set out and be a singer-songwriter. I just sort of became one, because I put out my own record. But it’s very difficult to do everything all on your own; to stand up there and sing all alone and having to field questions. It’s a lot easier when you’re part of a gang, or a duo. And we feel happy to be a part of the ampersand-band movement.

SoundSpike also interviews the duo.

Stuff profiles Sleigh Bells.

“I think the music we make is reflective of the atmosphere we want to create in a live setting ... We want the crowd to be hot and sweaty and dancing. We want this to be the type of record people blast in their cars really loudly when they're driving to the beach, or dancing in a club.”

NYU Local lists the 20 best songs of the summer.

The Chicago Tribune previews fall's top album releases.

Capital New York profiles Antony and the Johnsons.

Jeph Jacques (the cartoonist behind the webcomic Questionable Content) lists his favorite albums of 2010 (so far).

Aquarium Drunkard shares a Mondo Boys, Tidal Wave mixtape of summer music.

At All Songs Considered, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch previews the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival.