Pitchfork — "To have something that is just mine, that has had its origin in me. But I'm not going to compare writing songs to making kids here, don't worry. Any idiot can make kids." -- Jens Lekman muses on his artistic inspirations. The Swedish troubadour is h... more info

Pitchfork - Tours — 08-01 Dublin, Ireland - Whelans08-03 London, England - Union Chapel08-04 Paris, France - Nouveay Casino08-05 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso08-07 Stockholm, Sweden - Strand 08-13 Goteborg, Sweden - Way Out West more info

Stereogum — Princeton spin-off project Kisses announced themselves with “Bermuda,” sounding something like Jens Lekman taking a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway and getting caught up at a daytime disco party. Scene compatriot Pat Grossi aka the excellent... more info

Guardian Music — Last week was all about shoes, real and metaphorical. This week, we want you to suggest songs that affront and derideI think my fave comment of last week was from Williamsbach who made this observation about (another) Carl Perkins song:"Pointed Toe S... more info

Guardian Music — From Elvis to Crass, pop stars of every stripe have found occasion to pen songs about footwear. Here are some of the most memorableThere are many ways to clean suede. A popular one is to apply a small amount of white vinegar to the stain, allow it to... more info

Guardian Music — From St Winifred's School Choir to Hanson, are children's angelic voices really the most hated sound in pop?What is it? Children! Singing! Er, obviously. Singing kids have surfaced in one-off singles by many bands since Pink Floyd's 1979 youth-refuse... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — Lorrie Moore talks to the Observer about her latest novel, A Gate at the Stairs. The Jakarta Post interviews singer-songwriter Jens Lekman. Author Richard Russo talks about his writing with the Tulsa World. Politics Daily interviews cartoonist Jules ... more info

Guardian Music — Fans of literate pop songcraft will enjoy this Irish singer's dark tales of obsession and the horror of tediumHometown: Dublin.The lineup: Conor J O'Brien (vocals, guitar), Cormac Curran (piano, organ), Tommy McLaughlin (guitar), Danny Snow (bass), D... more info

Guardian Music — The sunny but sad dance music from this LA duo suggests Bernard Sumner jamming with Belle and SebastianHometown: Los Angeles.The lineup: Jesse Kivel (vocals) and Zinzi Edmundson (keyboards).The background: Just behind Gorillaz, Foals and RJD2 in a li... more info

The Yellow Stereo — Summer Cats are set to release a brand new 7″ as a follow up to what I considered my go-to record of choice last summer, Songs For Tuesdays, next week on the 16th. As you would expect, both tracks remain true to the formula of being deliciously ca... more info