Stream “Four Score and Seven,” the First Track Available off Titus Andronicus’s Sophomore Effort The Monitor, Which, as You May Already Know, is Entirely Based on the Civil War, and Therefore is Too Intrinsically Awesome to Warrant a Joke [Myspace]

Stream “Back to the Sun” and “Girlfriend Swap” From Fucked Up and Marvelous Darlings Side Project, Roommates, Which, Considering the Source Bands, is Really Fucking Happy [Gorilla vs. Bear]

What Do Black Hammers, What I’d Guess the Drummer from Staind Looks Like, Basketball, and a Ton of Rorschach Tests Have in Common? Jay Z’s Video For “On To the Next One” Attempts to Provide a Vague Explanation [Idolator]

Stream All of Vampire Weekend’s Sophomore Release Contra, More than a Full Week Before Its January 12th Release Date; Feel Genuinely Moved By It, Grow To Hate Yourself Over That Sensation, Purchase a Timeshare in Cape Cod to Deal With the Conflict [Myspace]

UK Charity, Warchild, Announces Tracklist for David Bowie Tribute Album, Which Features Vivian Girls Doing “John I’m Only Dancing” and A Place to Bury Strangers Covering, “Suffragette City,” Neither of Which I’d Expect to Have Ever Actually Listened to David Bowie, But Most Likely Enjoyed His Frequent Appearances on Wes Anderson Soundtracks [NME]

Kanye West Announces That He is Currently Working on a New Album, Likens Self to “Kobe on the Court,” Meaning that He Will Most Likely Hog the Microphone, and Purposefully Alienate Anyone Else He is Surrounded With in Attempt to Inflate His Already Massive Ego (Which, Weirdly, Already Sounds Exactly Like Kanye) [Kanyeuniversecity]

Joanna Newsom Announces U.S. Tour Dates; Is Playing Grand Rapids, Michigan, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia Instead of New York; Harp Enthusiasts Disappointed, But Few In Number, and Therefore Lack Impact [Pitchfork]

Unicorns/Islands Frontman Nick Thorburn and Man Man’s Honus Honus Announce New Collaboration, Claiming it Will Be “Doom-Wop,” Which is Officially My Favorite Invented Genre (Sorry, Piss-Wave, You’ve Been Bested) [Prefix]

compiled by Max Sebela

ORIGINALITY CORNER

Photo by Mike Persico

I was talking with a guy named after a sausage and often referred to as “Captain Schnitz,” in my kitchen the other night. In some strange and backwards manner that I can’t quite recount, the conversation turned to Man Man. “Who?” I asked.

Though perhaps a bit late to the game, I found out shortly thereafter - totally esoteric, totally hilarious, and totally talented artists. I decided that if Frank Zappa and Phish had a lovechild it would be Man Man. Based out of Philly, members Honus Honus, Pow Pow, Critter Cat, and Chang Wang, Organ “Turkey Moth” Freeman, and Jefferson perpetuate the beauty of dissonance.
More on Oh Man, Man Man!

The men of Man Man are briefly hopping the northern border to visit British Columbia before taking a trip around the United States. Catch them if you can. Read more to see the dates…

More on Man Man US Tour Dates