Crystal Stilts is described as “Suicide-ish 50s buzz twang and a dash of 80s jangle,” which really just means they’re Brooklyn poppers with a weird vibe I’m jealous of. Their Alight of Night LP from last year was a good listen, but I hadn’t been keeping tabs on their recent activities. Thanks to Gorilla vs. Bear, I’m now much more in the know (zing) – “Love is a Wave” is off their March 2009 7″ via DC’s Slumberland Records.

Let me be the first to say that in the days of Friend, I considered Grizzly Bear extremely overrated. And while I am still a bit perplexed by the way the blogosphere fawns over them, initial listens of Veckatimest are much better than I anticipated (the hype was nauseating). Maybe it’s Jay’s constant ribbing, or my warming up to Department of Eagles, but Grizzly Bear now annoys me less. Yes, admitting that was difficult for me. We posted the video for “Two Weeks” yesterday, but come on – we all know you want the mp3.

Dark Night of the Soul is complicated. For starters it’s a project spearheaded by Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse. Second, it might never be “officially” released because of a Grey Albumesque legal situation with EMI Records. And finally, a book of David Lynch photos that is meant to be a “visual narrative for the music” will be released with a blank cd that Danger Mouse encourages fans to use as they see fit. Right… so basically record it to your sound card via the NPR full album stream. The album features collabs with everyone from the Flaming Lips and Iggy Pop to Black Francis and Suzanne Vega.