Now Streaming: New CDs from the Mountain Goats, Freelance Whales, Matt & Kim, & More

There's not a huge selection of new albums streaming online this week, but the quality of the offerings more than makes up for the lack of quantity. There are new albums from indie artists such as Freelance Whales, Tame Impala, and Lord Huron—and those are just the ones NPR Music is offering. (Speaking of NPR Music, they're live streaming Wednesday's Tori Amos concert in New York.)


"Sycamore Trees" from Sarah Fimm's new EP.
 
Elsewhere, Spinner has the new releases from other much-loved indie musicians, including Mountain Goats, The Vaccines, Matt and Kim, and Tristan Prettyman, as well as those ageless rockers Heart (I posted the video for their new song "Rock Deep (Vancouver)" last week). I'm also looking forward to listening to Lindi Ortega, an artist I hadn't heard of until a couple of weeks ago, when she won the "shadow Polaris Prize" poll by readers of North by East West, a group blog covering Canadian music and arts.

AOL Music has the latest release from longtime favorites Drivin N Cryin, as well as a five-song EP from the singer-songwriter known as Sarah Fimm, who I'd previously heard of through the now-defunct CD Baby podcasts (she's got more than half a dozen albums that are available through CD Baby and other outlets).

And The New Yorker (yes, The New Yorker) even has an album preview this week. It's streaming the debut collection from the Canadian band Metz and featuring a Q&A with the band by Sasha Frere-Jones.

It's a solid lineup this week, fire up your speakers and enjoy.

[Update: CBC is now streaming A.C. Newman's new album, below.]


NPR First Listen:
"Lonerism" by Tame Impala
"Diluvia" by Freelance Whales
"Lonesome Dreams" by Lord Huron

CBC Music:
"Shut Down the Streets" by A.C. Newman

The New Yorker: 
"Metz" by Metz

Spinner.com's Listening Party:
"Come of Age" by The Vaccines
"Lightning" by Matt and Kim
"Transcendental Youth" by the Mountain Goats
"Cedar + Gold" by Tristan Prettyman
"Cigarettes & Truck Stops" by Lindi Ortega
"Boredom and Joy" by Jets Overhead
"Fanatic" by Heart

AOL Music Listening Party:
"Vacilador" by The Giving Tree Band
"Songs About Fast Cars, Space and Ramones" by Drivin N Cryin
"Insignificant Fire" by James Arlowe & the Ruffian Circus
"Barn Sessions" EP by Sarah Fimm
"One Year of Songs" by Heather Mae

See/Hear New Songs/Videos from Joey Ramone, Soundgarden, Grizzly Bear, & More

If you're looking for new music to listen to, there have been a number of new tunes (and some videos) dribbling out in the last week or so. And there's a great new video of one of Joey Ramone's last songs, with appearances by Tommy Ramone, Andrew W.K., Matt and Kim, and even TV foodie Anthony Bourdain. See it all below.

* Watch the video for Joey Ramone's "New York City" below.

Video for Joey Ramone's "New York City" (via Rolling Stone)

* Soundgarden will release its first album in 15 years "King Animal") in November. The song below is titled, appropriately, "Been Away Too Long." (via Consequence of Sound)


* Listen to Heart's new song, "Rock Deep (Vancouver)," from their forthcoming album "Fanatic" (to be released Oct. 2nd). (via Spinner)

* Watch Grizzly Bear's video for "Yet Again" below. (via Brooklyn Vegan)


* Hear the new Joy Formidable tune "This Ladder Is Ours," from their forthcoming album "Wolf's Law." (via Consequence of Sound)

* See the premiere of the new video for "Picture Me" by Susanna Hoffs (of the Bangles) (via Rolling Stone)

* Listen to "Stompa" by Serena Ryder, the first single from her new album, "Harmony." (via CBC)

* Watch the video premiere for Eleni Mandell's "Bun in the Oven" below. (via Paste)

Joan Jett, Heart, Guns 'N Roses, & Beastie Boys Among Rock Hall of Fame Nominees

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (seen here at Coney Island in July) are among the nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Female rockers may finally get their due this year in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as Heart and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts are among the nominees. Also nominated are Guns 'N Roses, the Beastie Boys, The Cure, Freddie King, The Spinners, Donna Summer, Donovan, Eric B. & Rakim, Laura Nyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rufus with Chaka Khan, The Small Faces/The Faces, and War.

I've seen Joan Jett and Heart in the last year and a half (Jett just a few months ago) and they can still rock (pretty good considering that Jett just turned 53 a few days ago, and Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart are a bit older than that). Jett and the Blackhearts haven't had a new album in a few years, but Heart released its first collection in more than half a decade, "Red Velvet Car,"last year.


Above: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts performing "Light of Day" (written by Bruce Springsteen). 

Besides Jett and Heart, I'm glad to see a couple of influential 1960s singer-songwriters (Donovan and Nyro) represented. Freddie King definitely makes sense, since so many rockers were influenced by King and other veteran bluesmen, but as usual some of the non-rock choices leave me scratching my head: Donna Summer? The Spinners? (See information on all the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees here.)

The inductees will be chosen in a few weeks, so we'll find out then who actually is getting into the hallowed rock hall in Cleveland.


Above: Heart performing "WTF" from their latest album, 2010's "Red Velvet Car."

In addition to Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, I think it's time to induct her former bandmates—the Runaways—as well as one of their key influences, Suzi Quatro.

Which of these nominees do you think deserve to get inducted? What artists or other figures would you like to see chosen?

New York Concerts on Sale: Sting at the Met, Public Image Ltd. (2nd Show), Modest Mouse, John Mayer, More

Above: John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) and Public Image Ltd. play a second show at Terminal 5 on May 19th. Photo: Flickr user Ed Vill.

More summer concerts are going on sale, and more summer festivals are showing up on the schedules. Here's a look at some of the in-demand events and other shows of interest going on sale this weekend, along with a few that went on sale today or recently.

Now on sale: 
* Diane Birch - Highland Ballroom - Tues., June 1 (went on sale April 16)
* David Johansen - Highland Ballroom - Sun., June 27, (on sale now)
(Performing the songs of the New York Dolls, David Johansen, Buster Poindexter, and more)
* B-52s - Highland Ballroom - Tues., July 6 (on sale now)

On sale Friday, April 16: (times in parentheses, if known)
* Public Image Limited (PiL), 2nd show added - Terminal 5 - Wed., May 19 (on sale 12 p.m.)
* Toby Keith's American Ride Tour - PNC Bank Arts Center - Sat., June 19 (on sale 10 a.m.)
(with Trace Adkins and James Otto)
* Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra - The Metropolitan Opera - Tues., July 13 and Wed., July 14th (on sale 10 a.m.)
("Performing his most celebrated songs," the site says)
* Modest Mouse - Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ - Thurs., July 22 (on sale 12 p.m.)
* Modest Mouse - Williamsburg Waterfront - Fri., July 23 (on sale 12 p.m.)
* Rockstar Energy Drink Festival - PNC Bank Arts Center - Wed., July 28 (starts 2:15 p.m.) (on sale 10 a.m.)
(featuring KORN, Rob Zombie, Lamb of God, Five Finger Death Punch)
* Lyle Lovett - Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ - Sun., Aug. 15 (on sale 12 p.m.)
* Heart - Hammerstein Ballroom - Tues., Aug. 3 (on sale 10 a.m.)
* Dirty Projectors - Terminal 5 - Sat., Sept. 11 (on sale 12 p.m.)

On sale Saturday, April 17:
* John Mayer - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater - Wed., July 21 (on sale 11 a.m.)
* John Mayer - PNC Bank Arts Center - Tues., Aug. 3 (on sale 11 a.m.)

Music News: Lollapalooza 2009 Lineup, Heart Prepares New CD, Richie Havens Remembers Woodstock

While the world digests the verdict and the next moves in the Pirate Bay trial, there have been lots of other developments in the music world. Among them:

Lollapalooza 2009 Lineup Announced: The more than 100 acts that will make up this year's Lollapalooza Festival lineup on August 7-9 have been announced. The festival in Chicago's Grant Park will feature headliners Depeche Mode, Tool, the Killers, Jane's Addiction, Beastie Boys, and Kings of Leon. Also on the bill are a diverse range of acts including Lou Reed, Ben Harper and Relentless7, Thievery Corporation, Snoop Dogg, Rise Against, TV on the Radio, Neko Case, and Arctic Monkeys.

Heart Working on New CD:The sisters Wilson are working on a new Heart album, and according to this Reuters story Nancy will be sharing more of the singing duties. Ann had always been the lead singer of the group, with Nancy doing backing vocals in addition to playing guitar.

Richie Havens Remembers Woodstock: Americana music legend Richie Havens is returning to the site of the landmark Woodstock festival. Havens will play at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, on the site where the original festival took place, to mark 40 years since that seminal concert and be-in. Havens looks back on his Woodstock experience: he had the distinction of being the festival's first performer. He was scheduled to go on fifth, but was called up early when the acts to play ahead of him were delayed in the massive traffic jams that plagued Woodstock.

Havens is still going strong, and is currently touring to support his 2008 album, "Nobody Left to Crown."