Jam of the Day | Cymbals Eat Guitars - Jackson

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Fear not good people! Despite the alarming news that Antarctica is pretty much fucked, there is still reason to rejoice: Cymbals Eat Guitars have released the first single from their new album, Lose, and confirmed a few tour dates for this summer.

"Jackson" is a sprawling psych-rock love letter to anyone who has ever enjoyed this band. Textures are in no short supply as dense pillows of guitar and skittering keyboards wallow over the sparse beat. It's seriously the best thing I've heard from these guys, and excitement for this new album is at fever pitch.

Lose is out 8/26 on Barsuk Records

Video | Ra Ra Riot - Beta Love

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The video for the title track off Ra Ra Riot's upcoming release is thick with nostalgia, featuring footage of '80s teenagers grooving away unselfconsciously in a TV studio. "Beta Love", the song, is similar: thick with synthesizers and falsetto vocals, it's old school in its newness. Beta Love was one of our most anticipated first quarter albums, so look for it when it drops on Barsuk Records on March 18.

Check out the video below, and North Carolinians, hie yourselves to the Cat's Cradle tonight, where Ra Ra Riot's show is miraculously not sold out. Tickets are $17 at the door, Pacific Air opens at 8:45, and then you, too, can have yourself a retro dance party.

Free EP of the Day | John Vanderslice - Green Grow The Rushes

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Native Floridian singer-songwriter John Vanderslice (now based in California), has chased his latest LP, Romanian Names, with a lovely (and $FREE.99) six song EP entitled Green Grow The Rushes. Since starting his solo career about eleven years ago, Mr. Vanderslice has consistently carved out expertly crafted, somewhat "lo-fi" tunes that tend to be characterized lyrically by seemingly raw honesty and strong narratives. See in particular, 2005's dazzling Pixel Revolt (video for single "Dance Dance Revolution" below) and the 2007 follow up Emerald City, both somewhat inspired by the artist's reaction to 9/11, the 2000 election, and the war on terror.

Download Green Grow the Rushes HERE.

If you enjoy the generous freebie, and we think you will, buy yourself some more Vanderslices HERE and HERE.