Song of the Week

Hope Sandoval is back with a Record Store Day single, "Isn't It True," from the forthcoming album of her sometimes band The Warm Inventions.  A superb song that taps into her evocative trademark: longing, hazy dream pop.  After a 17-year hiatus, her recent album with Mazzy Star was a welcome return, and this is clearly more of the some, with no intention of fading away soon.

Five Things

Five things from the last week, yo!

• The D Man hit the Pete Yorn show with Rip and Rizzo.  It was the fifth time I've seen the low-key rocker and was easily his best performance since his ripping set in 2001 on the heels of his classic debut musicforthemorningafter.  He covered terrain from his 15-year career, including songs long-time fans secretly hoped for, and he also played five or six songs from his new album ArrangingTime, a strong return to form.  In the past few years, Yorn got married, spoke at Syracuse's commencement, and welcomed a new baby.  It was obvious that he is in a good groove, and his new music reflects that mid-life optimism.
• Check out Explosions in the Sky perform "Disintegration Anxiety" from the band's excellent new record, The Wilderness.
• Andrew Bird's new record, Are You Serious?, is well worth your time.  "Truth Lies Low" is a superb track with an uncanny, violin-laced breakdown.  Even an iPhone recording of a recent performance in Paris sounds pitch perfect as always.
• Still been spinning Daywave's EPs at work, trying to channel that hazy summer nostalgia to get me through some long afternoons.
• Do it, try it!