Now Streaming: New CDs from Aimee Man, Dinosaur Jr., Amanda Palmer, Band of Horses, & More

The Fall parade of hot new albums streaming continues this week, headlined by releases from Aimee Mann, Dinosaur Jr., Band of Horses, The Raveonettes, Amanda Palmer, Grizzly Bear, The Sea and Cake, and more. [JUST ADDED: the new album by the Corin Tucker Band, the second release by the former Sleater-Kinney member.]



It's good to see a new release from Aimee Mann, and the video for the title track from "Charmer" (directed by Tom Scharpling, above) is lots of fun, starring Laura Linney as a Mann body double that the singer sends out on tour.

As you've no doubt heard, Amanda Palmer's "Theatre Is Evil" is the release she funded by raising more than a million dollars on Kickstarter. If you signed up, you may be getting all kinds of swag from Palmer, or (like me) you just kicked in one dollar, which nevertheless gets you a free digital download of the entire album. So what's it sound like? Find out by listening on Spinner below.

As always, check the individual sites for more releases (especially from Spinner, which typically has at least a couple of dozen new albums each week).

CBC:
"Mirage Rock" by Band of Horses

Stereogum:
"Kill My Blues" by the Corin Tucker Band

KCRW Album Preview: 
"The Runner" by The Sea and Cake

NPR First Listen:
"Charmer" by Aimee Mann
"I Bet on Sky" by Dinosaur Jr.
"Shields" by Grizzly Bear

Spinner.com's Listening Party:
"Theatre Is Evil" by Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra
"Observator" by The Raveonettes
"Negotiations" by The Helio Sequence
"Palindrome Hunches" by Neil Halstead
"Butter" by Turbo Fruits
"Scorpion" by Will Johnson
"A Tear in the Eye Is a Wound in the Heart" by Black Prairie
"We Were Always Loyal to Lost Causes" by The Dandelion War
"Grow Up" by Mister Loveless
"Inner Classic" by Snowblink

Free Album Streaming: New CDs from Paul Simon, The Raveonettes, Vivian Girls, & More

Paul Simon's "So Beautiful or So What" (out April 12th) is one of the new albums now available for free streaming.

There's a lot I want to check out in this week's slate of albums for free online streaming. The legendary Paul Simon is back with his first album in five years, to start things off. In addition, there are new discs by the Vivian Girls, the Brooklyn-based Danish duo The Raveonettes, and UNKLE, a collective whose new EP features Liela Moss of the Duke Spirit and Nick Cave.

As always, what's listed here is usually only a sampling of what's available; see each station or service's website for the full listings.

KCRW Album Preview: 
"Build a Rocket Boys!" by Elbow (streaming until May 3) — The fifth album from the Manchester, England band
"Euphoric / Heartbreak" by Glasvegas (streaming until May 3) — The Scottish band recorded this new album near KCRW's headquarters; the station wonders if the sunny climate was responsible for the album's more optimistic, less melancholy sound

NPR First Listen:
"So Beautiful or So What" by Paul Simon (streaming until April 12) — "Rhymin' Simon" is back with his first new album in five years
"Share the Joy" by the Vivian Girls (streaming until April 12) — The Brooklyn rock trio's third album
"Tomboy" by Panda Bear (streaming until April 12) — The much-anticipated solo album by the frontman of Animal Collective

Spinner.com's Listening Party:
"Blood Pressures" by The Kills
"Only the Lonely" by UNKLE
"Raven in the Grave" by The Raveonettes
"Love Notes / Letter" by The Submarines
"And I Feel Fine...The Best of the I. R. S. Years 1982-1987" by R. E. M. (reissue)
"2011" by The Smithereens

Built to Spill Headlines 2009 Siren Festival on Coney Island

After missing every previous Siren Festival, the all-day, two-stage indie music festival on Coney Island, I'm determined to make it to this year. As usual the festival, which takes place Saturday, July 18th, features a fine lineup of indie/alt-rock acts. Built to Spill headlines on one stage while Spank Rock leads the way on the other stage.

The bill also includes Danish duo The Raveonettes, Scottish band Frightened Rabbit, Frank Black's band Grand Duchy, and up-and-coming Canadian rockers Japandroids. Each stage will have a DJ spinning tunes between sets.

Check the official Web site for the 2009 Siren Festival schedule as well as directions, frequently asked questions, and more information. To answer a few of the main questions:

• The Siren Festival is totally free, and no tickets are required.
  
• The event is an all-ages show, and goes on rain or shine.
  
• The live music starts at 1 p.m. (Tiny Masters of Today, on the Main Stage)
  
• The last band to play is scheduled to go on at 8:00 p.m. (Spank Rock, on the Stillwell Stage. Built to Spill takes the Main Stage at 7:30 p.m.)
  
• The D, F, Q, and N trains will get you to the Siren Festival. Check the official Web site for the stations to use on each line. Note: as the site says, the trains to Coney Island can take about 45 minutes.
  

You can find updates on the festival at the Siren Festival's Twitter page, www.twitter.com/SirenFestival.

The New York City tourism site NYCgo.com has an interview with Siren Festival headliners Built to Spill.