To build up anticipation for the release of The Stand-Ins on September 9, Okkervil River have set up a YouTube channel wherein they’ll be posting videos of various artists covering songs from the new record. Two are up so far – one featuring New Pornograper Carl Newman handling Jonathan Meiburg’s parts in a duet of “Lost Coastlines” with Will Sheff, and one with David Vandervelde tacking “Singer Songwriter. Look for nine more of these to roll out over the next two weeks. Okkervil River are at the Phoenix on October 12.

MP3: Okkervil River – “Lost Coastlines”
Video: Will Sheff & Carl Newman – “Lost Coastlines”
Video: David Vandervelde – “Singer Songwriter”

And speaking of Meiburg, An Aquarium Drunkard has an interview with the now full-time Shearwater frontman.

Pitchfork and The Other Paper interview David Berman of Silver Jews, who are at Lee’s Palace on September 2. Hallelujah The Hills support.

Lucinda Williams is at Massey Hall on October 11 in support of her new record Little Honey, due out three days later on October 14. She talks to Rolling Stone a bit about it.

Filter and The Age get to know Beach House, who recently filmed a performance for the Black Cab Sessions.

The Secret Machines are offering a download of a new song not appearing on their new self-titled album, due out October 14.

MP3: The Secret Machines – “Dreaming Of Dreaming”

Muzzle Of Bees reports that the new studio record from Neko Case will be entitled Middle Cyclone and due out in March 2009.

The Skinny talks to Mercury Rev’s Jeff Marcel about their new album(s) Snowflake Midnight and Strange Attractor, both out September 30. Spin is offering a download of one of the tracks from the former.

MP3: Mercury Rev – “Snowflake In A Hot World”

The Village Voice finds out what the members of Rainer Maria have been up to since the band called it quits two years ago. Singer Caithlin De Marrais will release her first solo record My Magic City in October.

North Country Times talks to Matthew Sweet about his new record Sunshine Lies, out next Tuesday.

The Quietus asks Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste how it feels to be Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood’s favourite band, as declared at the Toronto show last week. Droste has a final tour blog entry at Rolling Stone.

The follow-up to The Crane Wife is still forthcoming, but Pitchfork reports that The Decemberists will release Always the Bridesmaid: A Singles Series throughout the Fall as three singles available digitally or on vinyl, and I expect as a compilation CD at some point in the future.

Time Out Chicago talks to Joanna Newsom about performing her music backed by an orchestra.

Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers gives Independent Mail a list of his top ten albums of all time. The Truckers are at the Phoenix on November 11.

Stereogum has a new, unreleased track from Centro-Matic available to download.

Jay Reatard returns to Toronto on October 16 for a show at Sneaky Dee’s, just down the street from the rather infamous Silver Dollar scuffle went down in April. Here’s hoping everyone is on their best behaviour this time around… yeah, not likely. Reatard has a compilation of his 2008 7″ singles series cleverly entitled Matador Singles ’08 coming out on October 7. Via Matablog.

MP3: Jay Reatard – “See Saw”

There’s now a second MP3 available from The Broken West’s new record Now Or Heaven, out September 9. I must say the new album is a quantum leap ahead of their debut, and that record was no slouch. Check them out at the Horseshoe on September 17 when they play with The French Kicks.

MP3: The Broken West – “Auctioneer”

You can currently stream The Rhumb Line, the debut full-length from Syracuse’s Ra Ra Riot. They’re at the Horseshoe on September 4.

Stream: Ra Ra Riot / The Rhumb Line

And now let’s hop across the pond to check in with some Scandinavian acts – Lykke Li released her debut full-length Youth Novels this week and it’s streamable over at Spinner. She’s featured in the pages of Paste and the Wall Street Journal, guest lists for Pitchfork and will be at the Mod Club on October 24.

Stream: Lykke Li / Youth Novels

Frida Hyvonen will release her new record Silence Is Wild on November 4, and has made available an MP3 to give a taste.

MP3: Frida Hyvonen – “Enemy Within”

Sigur Ros have released a second, considerably less naked video from Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust. CurrentTV also has their show at the MoMA in New York in June available to watch, while Deaf Indie Elephants has the show in MP3 form. They’re at Massey Hall on September 22.

Video: Sigur Ros – “Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur”