It’s been three decades since the last appearance of Popeye in a hand-drawn form, but today the iconic spinach-loving Sailor Man returns along with Olive Oyl, Swee’Pea, Wimpy, Bluto, and… Wilco. Watch above as director Darren Romanelli and King Features bring the classic cartoon back to life, just in time for Jeff Tweedy to settle Bluto and Popeye’s near-century-long rivalry for the love of Olive Oyl, once and for all.
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Andrew Bird: “Eyeoneye”
The lead single off Andrew Bird’s 7th solo studio record, Break It Yourself, is here with a few nods to “Wall of Sound” production (via his Mississippi River-side barn), a trademark avian whistle solo, and rousing arrangement that builds on the promise of live previews we’ve heard from the March 6 set. Give “Eyeoneye” a spin above, while copies can be pre-ordered or picked up in exchange for concert tickets over on his site.
From the title track to their Rosanne Cash-approved homage to Johnny, June Carter, Gram, and Emmylou, previews of the Söderberg sisters’ sophomore LP promised a big step forward for the Swedish duo. Now we get to hear the Mike Mogis-produced set in full, complete with guest vocals from Conor Oberst on the triumphant closing track “King of the World,” the seasonally apropos “New Year’s Eve,” and 8 more of some of the best folk tunes we’ve heard so far in 2012. Without further ado, get acquainted with The Lion’s Roar above (via Paste).
Lambchop: “Gone Tomorrow”
Hearing a bit of Cat Stevens in Kurt Wagner’s voice on “Gone Tomorrow,” a fine preview of his forthcoming Lambchop LP, Mr. M, that floats along in hushed, alt-country waters before washing ashore into more unknown territory. Collaborator Mark Nevers described the LP’s instrumental concept as having a “psycha-Sinatra sound, one that involved the arranging of strings and other sounds in a more open and yet complex way.” Whatever they’re up to, it’s really working here. You can give it a spin above and download the sprawling, 7-minute cut here.
Bob Dylan performed on television last night in tribute to Martin Scorsese, who was being feted by the Critics’ Choice Awards for his music documentary work. In the performance that followed an introduction by George Harrison’s widow, Olivia, Dylan didn’t pluck an obviously reverent cut from his oeuvre, however, opting to treat the No Direction Home director and room full of Hollywood A-listers to 1983 rarity “Blind Willie McTell” — perhaps alluding to Scorsese’s The Blues series. Watch the poet laureate of rock, whose damaged voice and unpredictable phrasing still pulls through for old blues-style tunes, baffle the crowd above.
Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince commemorate their decade as the Kills with this new official video for Blood Pressures single “The Last Goodbye,” directed by actress Samantha Morton.
Watch the black-and-white clip above, as the pair reflect from the view of a photo booth lens.
Magnetic Fields: “Andrew in Drag”
Last month, the new Magnetic Fields record, Love at the Bottom of the Sea, was teased as a return to form, of sorts, to Stephin Merritt’s most endearing set so far, 69 Love Songs. Now we have a glimpse of his reunion with Merge Records, and yeah, many of the key elements from that 1999 LP (indelible melodies, droll lyricism, whimsical instrumentation, et al.) feel refreshingly present upon first listen. Hear his ode to “Andrew in Drag” above.
Leonard Cohen: “Darkness”
The great Leonard Cohen settles into a world-weary blues groove for “Darkness,” the latest preview from his 12th studio LP, Old Ideas. “I caught the darkness, baby,” he sings toward the end of the bleak track, in which the titular refrain alludes to an ambiguous illness Cohen has failed to evade — not unlike the darkness Will Oldham once saw. “And I got it worse than you.”
Update: The album’s opening track is now streaming, as well.
The title track to JTE’s fourth album, Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now, arrived today, replete with a raw, live-recorded feel befitting of such a surrendered morning after cut. Looking forward to hearing more of the set’s “Memphis-soul direction” soon, but in the meantime, give this promising preview a spin above and/or grab a free download over at RS.
Our first taste of Port of Morrow, James Mercer’s first record as the Shins since 2007’s Wincing the Night Away, is here in the form of “Simple Song.”
Hear Mercer lead his brand new lineup through the catchy cut above.
