The Cardigans’ Long Gone Before Daylight, was released everywhere else in the world last year but finally comes out in the US May 25. It’s easy to dismiss them as twee one-hit wonders, but kitschy Sabbath covers and “Love Fool” aside (and that’s still a brilliant pop song – for the record), I think they’re still worthy of your attention. Their last album Gran Turismo was a bit of a snoozer, but the new one is very good. It’s very downbeat, residing on the right side of polish and sophistication, and carries over much of the country influence Nina Persson discovered with her A Camp project. It’s got some real heart to it. The production and musicianship is excellent – it sounds great – and Persson’s voice has got a very convincing weariness about it. Others have dismissed the record as bored and lifeless – and while I can understand that point of view, to each their own. Either it connects with you or it doesn’t, but I say it’s worth a listen to make your mind up yourself. Watch their video for “Live And Learn” here, if you like visuals. And with Nina, who doesn’t want visuals? Damn, almost made it through without commenting on Persson’s hottness. Oh well.

Calexico’s odds-and-sods EP Convict Pool is out April 6, and you can get their cover of Love’s “Alone Again Or” at Touch & Go’s website. Skinny from The Slatch.

Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow are busy fellows. In addition to their Posies reunion album out this Summer, Billboard reports they will also be getting together with Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens to record the first new Big Star album since 1978’s album-that’s-not-really-an-album, Third/Sister Lovers. And to top it off, Stringfellow’s solo follow-up to Touched is due out in July and Auer’s solo record Songs from the Year of Our Demise is still working out label details before it can be released. And oh yeah – Stringfellow is also working on the new REM album. The boy likes to work. Info from Coolfer.

Burned By The Sun has taken it upon himself to offer audio downloads of every band on the bill at Coachella. Awe-inspiring. Go listen.

Happy 1st anniversary to the hippest hipsters in Columbus, OH – Donewaiting.com.

Fontifier is a neat service that converts your own handwriting into Windows or Mac fonts for a reasonable $9. Or, if your handwriting is identical to Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev, you can download a font set of his handwriting here, gratis. Info from Derek.

Conan has apologized to the people of Quebec.

Twenty-Four – Hmm. Boring, boring, more boring, even more boring, excruciatingly boring, EXCITING! But then the only character responsible for making things exciting is dead. Which means more boring coming up. And Kim’s hair is looking even worse than before, if that’s possible.

np – Papas Fritas / Pop Has Freed Us

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