Totally Fuzzy — First Listen: Red Fang, 'Murder The Mountains' In the sometimes insular world of metal, the uglier, the rawer, the lo-fi-er, the better. And once a band trades in its rough-around-the-edges songwriting for a straightforward approach and some pro stud... more info

Bradley's Almanac — Next week, on Tuesday the 12th, Baltimore's Wye Oak returns to town for a headline show at the Middle East in support of their stunning new album, "Civilian". The duo was last in Boston in late-January for a two-night stand opening up for the Decembe... more info

Altsounds — There's no point in trying to unearth an obvious “single” in Other Lives' second album, Tamer Animals. Here's a better idea instead: succumb. Let every last song wash over you like proper long players once did, from the swift stri... more info

Topix — Indie folk rockers The Decemberists will join singer-songwriters including Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch for a weekend of music at the 2011 Newport Folk Festival. more info

LargeHeartedBoy — Rolling Stone reports that Patti Smith is working on a sequel to her memoir, Just Kids. The Telegraph profiles author Jennifer Egan. On sale for $3.99 at Amazon MP3: The Decemberists' The Crane Wife album. Five Chapters is serializing a... more info

Guardian Music — Art Department Feat Seth Troxler Living The Life (Crosstown Rebels)Here, Canadian duo Art Department attempt to confront us with awkward questions about life, death and working 9-5 in a job you hate. It's like the Smiths' Frankly Mr Shankly, only ren... more info

Twangville — My favorite albums from the Winter of 2011. Links will lead you to Twangville reviews. Also, be sure and check out the video companion below. Enjoy! Top 10 THE DECEMBERISTS, The King is Dead [★★★★★/4.700]Album number 6 for the Portland, OR ... more info

The Music Fix — O Valencia! The Decemberists seduce Manchester. more info

Brooklyn Vegan — As you already know, limited $60 Northside Fest passes go on sale at noon, BUT what you might not realize is that they are also selling individual tickets to the Beirut show at McCarren Park, and those go on sale... more info

Guardian Music — Academy, ManchesterIn this era of Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, you really wouldn't have put money on Oregon's Decemberists becoming huge. They play old-fashioned instruments ranging from piano, pedal steel and accordions to a funny gadget wound wi... more info