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?