Under The Cover

I'm not sure who to blame my new found smitten-ness of Vampire Weekend on. Maybe it's my editor who said I should check them out. Maybe it's because the three songs of theirs I've heard on KXT. Maybe I decided to listen to Madonna's advice and "open my heart" to them. Regardless, I officially dig the whitest band alive.

That being said, they did a pretty boss cover of Rancid's "Ruby Soho."

MP3: Vampire Weekend - Ruby Soho

Seabear | Build A Fire | Video

We told you a while back about the goodness of Iceland's Seabear. Now, you can see them live, on tape, on your computer! Of course the closest the band is coming here is SXSW... so, if you want to see them, I would suggest catching their Austin show.

Dawes | Love Is All I Am

I've recently been enraptured by the AM gold that is L.A's Dawes. You gotta love a song that actually says "love is more than kissing and holding hands." I think it's actually a pretty ballsy statement for someone writing a pop song, but, I digress.

The pop-folk treatment on this one reminds me of the not-dead Gordon Lightfoot and Cat Stevens.

The group will be at The Cavern a week from Thursday.

MP3: Dawes - Love Is All I Am

Lay Low | By And By

Iceland's Lay Low is a one woman, twang fest. Her song "By And By" feature great finger picking that you wouldn't expect from someone the same nationality as Bjork or Sigur Ros. She's been called the "Icelandic Patsy Cline," so, I'm assuming that would be for the song writing... because she sounds nothing like Patsy. However, "By And By" with it's subject matter focusing on her breaking a guys heart and telling him to think about how she'd done him wrong is irresistibly catchy.

MP3: Lay Low - By And By

It's A Head Song Swap!

Brent Best, Danny Balis and Ronnie Fauss will perform a "song swap" at All Good Cafe this Thursday. I would highly suggest you making a cameo for this one boys and girls...

Tracey Thorn | "Oh, The Divorces"

Tracey Thorn is back with her third album after 2007 Out Of The Woods. It's hard to imagine her singing without being backed by hubby Ben Watt or even performing anything other than Everything But The Girl. But, she's back and her voice is as amazing as ever.

MP3: Tracey Thorn - Oh, The Divorces! (via Pitchfork)