So late yesterday afternoon Pitchfork revealed a bit of news that I’ve been sitting quietly on for almost a couple months now – namely that Shearwater have signed to Matador – congratulations to both the band and the label on what will hopefully prove to be a fruitful partnership. To kick things off, Matador will re-release their 2006 masterpiece Palo Santo on April 10 in a deluxe, expanded format usually reserved for Pavement reissues.

Firstly, the album proper will feature five re-recorded tracks – though Palo Santo was originally in May, the band went back into the studio in December and re-tracked a goodly portion of the album with an eye towards this release (their idea, not the label’s). Now I’m on record as feeling that the record was stellar the first time around but the band disagreed and with this new edition have declared “This is Palo Santo the way we wanted it.”. And based on the new version of “Red Sea, Black Sea” which I’ve posted below, I’m not going to argue. And as further enticement, it will come with a second disc with eight unreleased tracks. Their first Olé-powered disc of new music is slated for an early 2008 release.

You can see a teeny tiny pic of the new cover art to help distinguish it from the original version, but let me say this – I don’t think that the release of this new version in any way diminishes how good the 2006 edition of Palo Santo was. An edition, by the way, that Misra is clearing out for a mere $4 USD right now. Buy it, then buy the deluxe version. Then buy the double vinyl edition. Then go see them at SxSW both at their official showcase at 7:30PM on Thursday, March 15 at the Central Presbyterian Church (Shearwater in a church? Hells yes) and then on the Friday headlining The Hot Freaks at Mohawk. Then see them on tour. Palo Santo was unjustly overlooked in the 2006 year-end round up, so here’s an opportunity for folks to rectify that mistake (though I don’t think I’m allowed to put it on my year-end list twice in a row. I’ll have to check with the judges on that).

MP3: Shearwater – “Red Sea, Black Sea” (new version)
MySpace: Shearwater

X-Press talks to one of Shearwater’s new labelmates, Yo La Tengo, about why they’re no longer quite as prolific as they once were. The Kansas City Star also catches a few minutes with James McNew.

And Chart talks to one of Shearwater’s former labelmates (in the US, anyways), Great Lake Swimmers, about their new record Ongiara, out March 27. They’re playing two shows at the Church Of The Redeemer in Toronto on April 14.

Billboard talks to Rachael Yamagata about creating Wild Hope, the follow-up to Happenstance, which will finally be released later this Spring.

The Age and The Courier-Mail ask Peter Bjorn & John about the whistling thing. They’re at the Phoenix on May 6 and BrooklynVegan directs us to a new video:

Video: Peter Bjorn & John – “Objects Of My Affection” (YouTube)

The Belfast Telegraph talks to Maximo Park frontman Paul Smith about their new album Our Earthly Pleasures, out April 3. He also tells MTV UK that the new record draws on hip-hop for inspiration.

Tortoise are at Lee’s Palace on July 3.

And I had meant to write up Cortney Tidwell today but as it stands, I won’t get to that till probably later next week. But since this album stream from AOL will probably be gone by Tuesday, I’ll post a link to it now and suggest if you’ve got some time and want to hear something great, give it a listen.

Stream: Cortney Tidwell / Don’t Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up

I’ve got a lot of work to do this weekend so I’m taking it off from posting. See you Monday.