Guardian Music — Arctic Monkeys have got a brave new California sound. Thankfully, they've kept their homegrown sense of humour, says Alexis PetridisAn odd sense of uncertainty hangs over the third Arctic Monkeys album. They are almost guaranteed success: if Oasis's ... more info

Rolling Stone — Rolling Stone’s Kevin O’Donnell breaks down two recent hot releases — Brendan Benson’s My Old Familiar Friend and Jay Reatard’s Watch Me Fall — in this week’s new music podcast. Up first, Raconteur Benson returns with his fourth solo LP... more info

Pasta Primavera — Australia’s St Helens and their album Heavy Profession is this weeks rotation highlight.  Jarred Quarrell is a modern friggin’ Lou Reed.  Really.  The music behind him lulls you along like a Neil Young burner, then BLAZOW!  You get po... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — Tickets are now on general sale for the upcoming Pixies shows at Hammerstein Ballroom. Tickets are on general sale (@ noon) for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs show at Radio City Music Hall. Tickets are on sale for the show Regina... more info

Guardian Music — The minimalist four-piece band from a Notting Hill garage are equally awed by Pixies and AaliyahUnder the pale blue painted metal of Putney Bridge, beside the Thames in west London, is a tiny black and red door. Oliver Sim, a teenager with a high, oi... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — During the recording sessions, Whore was discarded as a potential album title, after Oliver changed the cover artwork idea to a monkey and halo cover. Francis later explained his rationale for the move: "I thought people were going to think... more info

The Vinyl Villain — I decided that the money I won recently in the credit union sweepstake (see here for a reminder) would be better spent buying up some old vinyl and CD. So I've been busy on the internet and in a couple of second-hand shops in Glasgow. One of yesterd... more info

JamBase — Brendan Benson Announces First Leg Of North American Tour Forthcoming Album, My Old, Familiar Friend, Streaming now on NPR.com Brendan Benson American singer-songwriter Brendan Benson (who you might know for his work with The Raconteurs will ... more info

Pop Candy — Check out Whitney's list of morning links for Aug. 5. more info

LargeHeartedBoy — The Mountain Goats have announced fall tour dates for Europe and the US. PopMatters interviews Kim Deal of the Breeders and the Pixies. Vincent Lam talks to the Globe and Mail about adapting his novel, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, into... more info