The Anthem

(Brian King and David Prowse of Japandroids)

And if they try to slow you down, tell them all to go to hell. We just found our anthem! Indeed, every good trip needs one. Especially when you are heading to the Big Easy with Rip, Rizzo, and the Old Ball Coach. Celebrating a career. Looking for some release. Secretly hoping for a fight. And if not a fight, some crawfish and basketball. Celebration rock. Undaunted.

Song of the Week

On his 2006 debut, the fantastic The End of History, Fionn Regan shared a simple directive: Be good or be gone. Thankfully, Regan's music followed suit--he understands how to write graceful acoustic ballads, warming odes that can linger in your heart for days. On the Irish troubadour's recently released third album, 100 Acres of Sycamore, the songs are characteristically rich and uncomplicated. Enjoy "For A Nightingale" and go pick up something good before it's gone.

Five Things

(Jack White)

Change has really been in the air. Father is retiring. Friends are leaving. Farenheit is creeping up (thankfully). The D Man could really use the release from a great rock show. Looking forward to hitting The War on Drugs concert later this month. That could do the trick. Otherwise, I might just have to start taking some real drugs. But considering the way that caffeine keeps me up at night, probably not the best idea. So sticking to music. Mercifully.

• Blunderbuss. Jack White's solo album is set to become a reality. Some could snicker and argue that The White Stripes were largely a solo routine. Whatever the case may be, The D Man is definitely looking forward to more tracks like "Sixteen Saltines."
• Beach House will release Bloom in May. How appropriate. Check out the superb first single, "Myth." Alex Scally's rippling guitar line is intoxicating. Not to mention Victoria Legrand.
• Twin Shadow covers Peter Gabriel's "Here Comes the Flood" at some kind of backyard pool party. Not to be confused with Peter Frampton, a sorry mistake that Stark the Vinyl Shark recently admitted to. Sheesh.
• "County Line" was one of the most underappreciated tracks from 2011. (Like Marvin Gaye channeled through a folk song). Check out "Robin Egg Blue," another fine track from Cass McCombs.
• Digging on the first single from Wrecking Ball. The Boss still has something to say.

Song of the Week

Andrew Bird, that master of picking and palindromes, is back with another fine album, Break It Yourself. The whistling violinist is in top lyrical form with the whimsical "Danse Carribe." So enjoy.

Five Things

(The Shins' Jame Mercer)

The D Man has recently been enjoying good tunes, but none of them are coming from new albums. For whatever reason, nothing has really grabbed me this year. With several albums to look forward to from established artists (Andrew Bird, The Shins, Jack White, Sun Kil Moon, etc.), here is hoping for fertile spring listening.

• The Shins are preparing to release their first record since 2007's Wincing the Night Away. Enjoy the video for the very Shinsian first single "Simple Song."
• Check out "Sunshine Chicago," the second track from Sun Kil Moon's forthcoming fifth album, Among the Leaves. The acoustic song finds Kozelek humorous and direct, but reaching again into his realm of wistful sadness, sunlight be damned.
• Bon Iver releases a new video for "Towers." The cinematic rendering is what you would expect: absolutely perfect for the song.
• Check out the fun video for one of the The D Man's sleeper songs from last year, Beirut's "Vagabond." The splendid horns accompany soldiers, nurses, smoking and drinking. Awkward dancing ensues.
• Radiohead plays two new songs. That's something, right?