Yeasayer

Last year I picked up a used copy of Yeasayer's debut album All Hour Cymbals after hearing one or two of their songs on internet radio and reading a lot of positive press. It has turned out to be one of my favorite releases of the past few years. If you haven't heard it, I implore you to do it now. The good news here is that they have set a date to drop their sophomore full length. Odd Blood will come out on February 9th of next year on Secretly Canadian. They have yet to preview any of the tracks yet, but you can listen to Tightrope, their contribution, and one of the highlights from the Dark Was the Night compilation (which you should own for two reasons, it's excellent and it's proceeds benefit AIDS).

Tightrope - Yeasayer

ADDENDUM:

The new single is out!

Ambling Alp - Yeasayer

Frightened Rabbit

Here we have a band from Scotland who a year ago were but a blip on my radar. They showed up on enough 2008 year end lists for me to finally give them some real attention and their album The Midnight Organ Fight turned out to be one of my after-the-fact favorites of the year. So word of a follow up (which will actually be their third) album is welcome news. It won't be out until next Spring, but the first single (and it's b-side) are already streaming on their label's website, Fat Cat Records. Go have a listen.