Catbird Records’ 1st release, the split LP between Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and Michael Holt is now, as in now, (finally) shipping.

Each disc comes in a hand-made, hand-bound booklet, and each has a unique hand-painted cover. It’s an edition of 250, but note that only about a third of those are available via the CB Recs site, so go get one while the gettin’s good.

Also, I haven’t forgotten about that Stellastarr* contest, you know. Winners will be drawn later today.

If you lived in Canada, you’ve already have the new Constantines record, Tournament of Hearts, as it was released this week by (the now ‘done’ done(?)) Three Gut. Yanks and others will have to wait a few more weeks. Unless of course you’ve already downloaded it, in which case you can ignore the entire preceding paragraph altogether.

::: The Constantines - Love In Fear :::

Also, as long as we’re talking Canada (and when is anybody not anymore), note that Nathan Lawr’s finally got an updated website. Not a whole lot of new stuff there yet, but quite a bit of detail about the upcoming record, Secret Carpentry, which, I guess, is actually available…right now? I dunno, I mean, I think I just ordered it from Maple Music.

Also, Parasol is now shipping that Unbunny Typist EP.

Wow, it’s new release Tuesday already. New stuff out from The Joggers, Her Space Holiday, Wolf Parade, and many others. I had hoped I’d be telling you that the Michael Holt / Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin split was going to be available today, but we’re running a few days behind schedule. Patience, grasshopper. The week is not over yet.

In other news, I owe a great debt of gratitude to Justin (of the always-excellent Terribly Empty Pockets) for handing me a copy of this brand-new album by Mr. Jordan O’ Jordan, titled Not Style, Nor Season, Nor Hard Handed Lesson. It sounds to me to be like equal parts Sufjan, Devendra, Stephin Merritt, and Tiny Tim, which is to say: it’s very, very good.

::: Jordan O’ Jordan - Letter To A Lightning Bug :::

The disc is available for a mere $10 (shipped) from Columbus Discount Records.

Yes, I’m back. NYC was too too kind. And my one big lesson learned is that I really messed up by not giving that Sparrow record more listens back when it came out. ‘Cause Mr. Zumpano & co. really blew me away. I know I posted these tracks back in Mar/Apr, but I’ma do ‘em again, in case you missed ‘em:

::: This Is How It’s Done :::
::: The Early Years :::
::: Gone :::

Between Wolf Parade, Wolf Eyes, Patrick Wolf, Guitar Wolf, AIDS Wolf, Superwolf, etc. etc. etc., we are rapidly running out of band names using the lupine descriptor. Thus, I present:

The Top 5 Remaining Band Names With The Word “Wolf” In The Title:

KraftWolf

Two All-Beef Patties Special Sauce Lettuce Cheese Wolf

Wolf N’ Stein

The Wolfnetic Fields

Wolf Dick

Hands up who likes free wallets, vinyl, posters, stickers, and pins: Shawn sent over this contest that ties in
with that new Stellastarr* album, Harmonies For The Haunted,
which just came on Tuesday. 1st prize is an autographed wallet (ltd. edition of 24) by Tiny Meat,
who seem to be in the habit of making some really cool stuff. Plus also, the winner gets the vinyl single for
Sweet Troubled Soul (rm link)/Love and Longing, plus a poster, stickers and pins. 2nd and 3rd place get all that stuff minus the wallet. Winners on the 30th.

NOTE: 9/30 - Contest now closed.

And Miguel asked me to remind everyone about the big Brendan Benson show on the 30th at Irving Plaza (w/ the Greenhornes + Tralala). Where all my Sweet, Sweet Pop Lovers at? Should be a good show, don’t miss it.

::: Brendan Benson - Cold Hands Warm Heart (C. Shaw Mix) :::

Hey, Parasol is now taking pre-orders for the upcoming Unbunny EP, Typist (out Sept. 30th on Important Records, limited to 500). From the description: “This is the 4th release in Important Rec’s Arts & Crafts series. Typist comes packaged in a screen printed oversized matchbook containing various envelopes in which slides, seeds, stamps, original typewriter artwork, wallpaper, vintage photos & more can be found. Each package was hand made by Unbunny’s Jarid del Deo & is limited to 500 copies.”

Jesse sent over this link for Proud To Swim Home dot com, a charity put together by Dan from godheadSilo/Smoke and Smoke. They’ve got bumper stickers for $3, and all proceeds go to benefit Katrina victims.

In other charitable organization news, Nick sent over a link to Move The Music dot org, an organization that’s been put together to help independent artists handle the
various costly expenses associated with touring.

Stereogum’s got a track up from the new Devendra. And another track from the new Holopaw.

I’ve been meaning to post these tracks by The White Birch that Stephan sent over, but Songs:Illinois now already has a good writeup for them, go check it.

Hey, this band The Sterns, seems to really like British stuff from the 80s. Thank god for that. Their new album is called Say Goodbye To The Camera and is available at CD Baby, as well as on iTunes, etc.

The new Supergrass, Road to Rouen, came out recently.
I’ve only heard it once, but I liked it. Here’s the video for their single “St. Petersburg.”

And a big big thanks to everyone who came out to the Someone Still Loves You Michael Holt release show last night. Now, if you happen to be anywhere near the East Village on Tuesday, the 20th, like, at around 8pm, I urge you to come by Micky’s Blue Room, 171 Ave. C, between 10th + 11th, as that’s when SSLYBY will make their NYC debut.

* Please note: I was just informed that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the SSLYBY show tonight (9/20)in NYC has been cancelled.

Spent this past weekend up in Michigan, saw the Sufjan show, and scoured the streets with Ron$, looking for CDs from a local artist called Jib Kidder, who I first heard on the States Rights Bro Zone comp. Go check out those Jib Kidder tracks, and if you like, don’t waste yr time driving to Ann Arbor hunt for discs, b/c you can get ‘em right here.

And sheesh! Almost forgot this reminder: This is tonight-

Catbird Records’ Someone Still Loves You Michael Holt CD release show
Tuesday, September 13th, at Kafe Kerouac, 2250 N. High St. 8pm.

I’ll be in NYC the 15th - the 21st. Please drop me a line if you want to meet up/say hey/whatever.

The Buddyhead MP3 Blog has some tracks from the new dios (malos).

That New Pornographers “Use It” video is pretty cute.

Yo, Black Sheep is back together.

In case you missed it, here’s that TV On The Radio Katrina song:

::: Dry Drunk Emperor :::

That Mark Kozalek/Sun Kil Moon album of Modest Mouse covers sounds interesting. I don’t think the frat-boy MM contingent will know what to do with it, though.

And I bid a fond farewell to ‘Overtones’. Carl, you are, in my opinion, one of the finest music writers out there, and I wish you the best of luck with future endeavors.

Finally, a Catbird Records update. The CBR site’s been updated with full details on CBR 001, the Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin/Michael Holt split CD. They’ll be made available before the end of the month, so sign up for the mailing list if you haven’t already.

And the CD release show will be here in Columbus on Tuesday, September 13th, at Kafe Kerouac, 2250 N. High St. It’ll be Mike, SSLYBY, and Chris Forbes of Orchestraville. Come to it, why dontcha?