LISTEN: St. Vincent - "Surgeon" (from Strange Mercy)

St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) will be releasing Strange Mercy, her third studio album, on September 13th. If you've been on Twitter recently, you've probably seen the hashtag #strangemercy, which apparently was tweeted in order to unlock a download of a track from the new album. Well, no need to tweet or hunt down the track as we've got a cut from the album below. Listen/download away.

Bon Iver Announces New Album, Shares Cover Art & More

Bon Iver album art

It's been a few years since the release of Bon Iver's classic, critically-acclaimed debut For Emma, Forever Ago. Since then, Bon Iver became a full-fledged band*, released a follow-up EP, and Justin Vernon cut records with new bands Volcano Choir and Gayngs. To top it all off, Vernon played a prominent supporting role on Kanye West's masterpiece My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Understandably, people were getting a bit anxious to hear anything about new Bon Iver material.

Today, we have some great news. Bon Iver will release that highly-anticipated sophomore album on June 21 through Jagjaguwar. The self-titled album was recorded and mixed at April Based Studio, a former veterinary clinic in Fall Creek, WI. Vernon wrote all 10 songs himself and recorded them, as well, with assistance from his brother, Nate. Bon Iver members Sean Carey, Mike Noyce and Matt McCaughan contributed vocals, drums and production. The new album also features the arrangements and strings of Rob Moose (Antony and the Johnsons, The National), the pedal steel of Greg Leisz (Lucinda Williams, Bill Frisell) and a horn section including Colin Stetson (Tom Waits, Arcade Fire), Mike Lewis (Andrew Bird, Happy Apple), and C.J. Camerieri (Rufus Wainwright, Sufjan Stevens).

Hear a bit of the new album and scope the tracklisting after the hop.

VIDEO: I Bought That New tUnE-yArDs Album Because of This

My 2011 Record Store Day purchases

I attempted to get to my local record store before doors opened this past Saturday (aka "Record Store Day"), but ended up getting there a few minutes after the floodgates had opened. I walked in to find a line snaking through all three aisles of the store. I proceeded to spend the next two hours or so waiting in line to get into the vinyl room of the store, which happened to be the room with all the Record Store Day exclusives. Needless to say, by the time I gained access to the room, a number of the releases (namely the Foo Fighters' cover album Medium Rare and seven-inches like Hendrix's "Fire") I was hoping to score had already been snagged. Apparently, people had started waiting outside the store between 4 and 5 in the morning. The store didn't open until 10. It was raining. I love Record Store Day, but I'm glad I stayed dry and got some sleep.

Knowing that my choice exclusives were gone (or didn't even come out...Kate Bush - Hounds of Love Collector's Edition, anyone?), I searched the racks for a few records. One record I came across was tUnE-yArDs' newest LP, w h o k i l l. I had been very interested in picking it up, or at the very least checking it out, after I saw a live performance of "Real Live Flesh" from tUnE-yArDs' debut Bird-Brains. As soon as I saw the new LP in front of me, I grabbed it and tucked it under my arm.

New England native Merri Garbus is the force behind tUnE-yArDs, and man is she an amazing performer and songwriter. w h o k i l l is a hybrid of afropop, punk, R&B, pop, and funk that is pretty mindblowingly awesome (and it only seems to get better with each listen). After the hop, check out the captivating performance of "Real Live Flesh" that got me -- and surely tons of others -- on the tUnE-yArDs bandwagon.

VIDEO: The National Debut New Song On "Fallon"

Last night, The National debuted "Terrible Love," the opening track from their upcoming album High Violet. The album isn't out until May 11th so it was special little treat for those thirsty for new material -- or for those unfamiliar with the band.

When I was in my favorite local record shop recently (okay a few weeks ago), I asked about the new Spoon album. The guy behind the counter said he was struggling to get into it, feeling that the band had entered adult contemporary territory. I had a somewhat similar feeling with the first few bars of this new National song. Turns out it was more apprehension than anything else. Luckily, the band progresses through the song displaying why they are one of the most distinguished bands around today, with their trademark eloquence and soaring spirit.

Watch The National's performance of "Terrible Love" below.

High Violet is out May 11th via 4AD.

*This is the album art according to confirmed reports via Pitchfork