Guardian Music — (Welkmusic Group)Joining the many hybrids of alt. country, here's an album that's almost chamber country. Black Prairie is a side project for three members of the Oregon group the Decemberists, bringing that group's dobro and accordion into a largely... more info

Rolling Stone — In a short video interview posted on his own Trapmuzik site, T.I. reveals his new post-prison album is going to be “different in many ways,” adding “Paper Trail was more about thoughts, this is more about feelings.” He says the “significant... more info

Guardian Music — Last week was all about making a grand entrance. This time, it's all about making a grand re-entranceWell, bless my soul, I'm the son and the heir/You were working as a waitress in dismal, dull affairs.I didn't quite know how to start this week's blo... more info

Pitchfork — Photo by Brian Leli Right now, Portland bookworms the Decemberists are in the studio, hard at work on their sixth album. And this time around, they'll have at least one pretty serious guest: R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. Last week, Decemberists frontm... more info

Pitchfork — Ever since the demise of mid-1990s alt-poppers That Dog, frontwoman Petra Haden has kept herself busy, whether by touring as a member of the Decemberists, or with projects like her 2005 solo a cappella cover of The Who Sell Out. And Haden's experienc... more info

Pitchfork — Front page photo by Ahmed Klink Canadian indie pop dramatists Stars will release new album The Five Ghosts on June 22, via their own Soft Revolution imprint. Before the album drops, the band will tour North America, playing The Five Ghosts in full ev... more info

Live Daily — (LiveDaily.com) The guitarist, bassist and accordion player from The Decemberists have teamed with Portland, OR, violinist Annalisa Tornfelt and guitarist Jon Neufeld to create a hybrid string band that springs from UK folk, French cabaret and bluegr... more info

Here Comes The Flood — Want some free music and climate change? USA citizens are encouraged to write to their senators to make it happen. And there is a free Best of Bonnaroo album up for grabs after entering some information at musicforaction.org. You don't have to ca... more info

NME — The Decemberists, Death Cab For Cutie and Jack Johnson also feature more info

Guardian Music — Weighing up true love against the cold truth of mortality – the amorous and the anatomical – is a surprisingly effective wooing techniqueA friend of mine recently lent me a copy of some collected short stories written by the American wr... more info