Guardian Music — PICK OF THE WEEKAlphabeat Hole In My Heart (Polydor) Just a few short years ago, the planet positively teemed with attractive pop groups culturally uplifting the common man by making bedevilling, chart-bound music. Now there's only one of these beast... more info

Guardian Music — (Names)If there's something in the water of Nashville, Tennessee, that bestows country-music talent, then Caitlin Rose has found the source and drunk deep. There are songs on her debut mini-album that could have been written by Hank ­Williams; Sho... more info

Stereogum — So far the squeakuel to She & Him's first Volume has offered only "In The Sun." The studio sounds are still safely tucked away in a Merge vault somewhere, but promotional consideration inspired folk-buddies Zooey & Matt to perform some of its bits... more info

MVSW — Lay Low ~ “By and By” views: 6,696 It’s been a while since I have posted anything out of Iceland. Lay Low (aka Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir) is about to release her US debut album, Farewell Good Night’s Sleep, on March 9th. I h... more info

The 9513 Country Music — Equally influenced by Patsy Cline and Radiohead, Brandi Carlile blends country, pop, folk, and rock and counts Elton John as one of her fans. At only 28 years old, she’s already worked with the likes of T Bone Burnett and Rick Rubin, who produced h... more info

Equally influenced by Patsy Cline and Radiohead, Brandi Carlile blends country, pop, folk, and rock and counts Elton John as one of her fans. At only 28 years old, she’s already worked with the likes of T Bone Burnett and Rick Rubin, who produced h... more info

The 9513 Country Music — The town of Helotes, Texas voted to amend the name of one of its oldest drags. The street in question, Old Bandera Way, is remaining Old Bandera Way, but also taking on the name Willie Nelson Way. And in other street news, Patsy Cline won’t be havi... more info

The town of Helotes, Texas voted to amend the name of one of its oldest drags. The street in question, Old Bandera Way, is remaining Old Bandera Way, but also taking on the name Willie Nelson Way. And in other street news, Patsy Cline won’t be havi... more info

Stereogum — Pedagogically minded San Francisco septet Citay's third album Dream Get Together inspired a writing project of the same name. As their label Dead Oceans notes, a dream get together could very well refer to "the concept of an ideal musical pairing, or... more info

The 9513 Country Music — Yesterday afternoon Toby Keith announced Trace Adkins as the first artist signed to Show Dog-Universal Music. All it took to lure the big man from Capitol Records, his home for 15 years, was a smile: Adkins said he watched Keith on stage when the two... more info