Now Streaming: Hear New CDs from Black Angels, Mudhoney, Kurt Vile, Drowning Pool, & More

There are some great new albums streaming online this week, from newer acts like Kurt Vile and Kopecky Family Band to more established groups such as Drowning Pool, The Black Angels, and Cold War Kids, and even the return album by Mudhoney, one of the original grunge bands from Seattle.



And speaking of older artists, also streaming this week is the remastered version of Albert King's blues classic, "Born Under A Bad Sign," which was originally released in the late 1960s. Yes, the title tune is the song that Cream made famous, but King did it first. What's more, King is backed on this album by a stellar group of musicians in the form of Booker T. & The MG’s, including Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, and Donald “Duck” Dunn.

Another notable release streaming this week is the latest album from the Brooklyn-based folk/indie/Americana collective Hem, its first album of original new songs since 2006 (unless you count their soundtrack for the 2009 Public Theater production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," which was performed in Central Park).

And Pitchfork has two tasty albums: the new release from Canadian indie rockers The Besnard Lakes and "Rkives," the anthology from the late great Rilo Kiley.

There are many more albums streaming this week; see the links below to NPR Music, Spinner, and AOL Music for the full listings. Enjoy!

NPR First Listen:
"Wakin On a Pretty Daze" by Kurt Vile
"(Awayland)" by Villagers

Pitchfork:
"Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO" by The Besnard Lakes
"Rkives" by Rilo Kiley

Spinner.com's Listening Party:
"Dear Miss Lonelyhearts" by Cold War Kids
"My Shame Is True" by Alkaline Trio
"Kids Raising Kids" by Kopecky Family Band
"Migrant" by The Dear Hunter
"Vanishing Point" by Mudhoney
"Indigo Meadow" by The Black Angels
"The Music Is You: A Tribute To John Denver" by various artists
"Born Under A Bad Sign" by Albert King

AOL Music Listening Party: 
"Resilience" by Drowning Pool
"Departure and Farewell" by Hem

Concert Notes: Tickets for The Postal Service, Mudhoney, fun., Aimee Mann, & More on Sale This Weekend

Just a quick post here with links to a bunch of interesting concerts going on sale Friday, Feb. 16th, and a few that go up for grabs Saturday. Among the offerings: 'the innovative 70s-and-beyond rock performer and producer Todd Rundgren, !!!, Foals, Youth Lagoon, the return of Mudhoney, and Kurt Vile.

fun. plays two summer nights in July with Tegan and Sara.

Also, The Postal Service has added another show at the Barclays Center; Aimee Mann returns to New York; and fun., fresh off its Grammy wins, will play two shows in July at Pier 26 on the Hudson River (with Tegan and Sara on the bill).

Enjoy...

* Scott Weiland at Irving Plaza: Celebrating STP Core and Purple in their entirety, Sat., March 9th. On sale Friday at 10 a.m.
* Todd Rundgren at Gramercy Theatre, Fri,. May 10th. On sale Friday at 10 a.m.
* !!! at Bowery Ballroom, Fri., May 17th. On sale Friday at 12 Noon
* Ben Howard at Central Park SummerStage, with very special guest Michael Kiwanuka, Monday, July 29th. On sale Friday at 12 Noon
* Foals at Terminal 5, Friday, May 3rd. On sale Friday at 12 Noon
* Youth Lagoon with Eddi Front at Bowery Ballroom, Wed., March 6th. On sale Friday at 12 Noon
* The Virgins and Har Mar Superstar at Bowery Ballroom, Mon., April 1st. On sale Friday at 12 Noon
* Aimee Mann at Webster Hall, Sat., April 20th. On sale Friday at 12 Noon
* Kurt Vile and the Violators at Bowery Ballroom, with Angel Olsen and Steve Gunn, Thurs., May 16th. On sale Friday at 12 Noon
* Mudhoney at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Sat., May 11th, and at Bowery Ballroom, Sun., May 12th. Both on sale Friday at 12 Noon

On Sale Saturday February 16 at 12 Noon:
* The Postal Service at the Barclays Center, Sat., June 15th.
* fun. at Pier 26 at Hudson River Park, Mon., July 22nd and Tues., July 23rd.

Live SXSW Audio on NPR Starting Sat. afternoon: Bright Eyes, Felice Bros., Kurt Vile, & More

There's more live audio from South by Southwest (SXSW) coming at you right now from NPR Music. Head to their SXSW website for webcasts starting at 4:30 p.m.:

• Kurt Vile - 3:30 Central Time/4:30 Eastern
  
• Man Man - 4:35 CT/5:35 ET
  
• Middle Brother - 5:30 CT/6:30 ET
  
• The Felice Brothers - 6:15 CT/7:15 ET
  
• Bright Eyes - 7:30 CT/8:30 ET

Their previous webcasts are available online for streaming or, in most cases, podcast download (through iTunes and other podcast programs). You can watch SXSW sets from:

• The Head and the Heart
  
• The Antlers
  
• Raphael Saadiq
  
• Smith Westerns
  
• The Joy Formidable
  
• Wild Flag
  
• Khaira Arby
  
• Colin Stetson
  
• James Blake
  
• Yuck
• tUnE-yArDs

… and Jack White's impromptu set played in a parking lot.