It's a bit behind schedule, but here's my annual list of recorded releases I'm most looking forward to this year. A handful of 2012 Tuesdays have already passed, but the lag time allowed me to sneak in a bunch of just-announced full-lengths. I've included those that have already hit shelves (or servers), along with some rumored speculation and a couple of wishful thoughts to wrap it up. If something's not here, it's either due to apathy, ignorance, or forgetfulness. Your mission? Fill in the gaps. What'd I miss? What do I need to ...

Just about every comment I've read on the passing of 2011 boiled down to "good riddance". Not too shocking, since the internet was built for complaining after all (also - more than a few friends really were struggling), but I'm both surprised and very grateful to state that mine wasn't all that bad. I'd hazard to say it was actually pretty good, all things considered. After the personal hell that was my own 2010, things really had nowhere to go but up, and so up they went. Way up, at times. Mostly having to do with music ...

Just recently when discussing composer Mychael Danna's excellent score for the humanist sports drama, "Moneyball," we lamented the fact that writing about soundtracks isn't always easy, as often they're not the sexiest topic in the world. However, maybe we'll be putting that theory to the test in the fall of 2011. Another great soundtrack becomes available digitally tomorrow, David Wingo's haunting and moody score to one of the better films of the year so far, "Take Shelter," starring Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon. Known in indie-rock circles for his work in the atmospheric and folky ...

-- On August 8, Hot Chip co-leader Joe Goddard will release the solo EP Gabriel on Greco -Roman / DFA . A limited-edition, handpainted 12" arrives August 22. -- Electronic emo -pop veteran Marc Bianchi is getting ready to retire his Space Holiday">Her Space Holiday moniker. But before that happens, he'll release one final Space Holiday">Her Space Holiday album, this one a self-titled effort. The LP is out August 16 on Bianchi's own No More Good Ideas imprint, and it features contributions from members of Ola Podrida , Mice Parade, Via Tania, and others. Stream the song "Black Cat Balloons" at ...

Wooden Birds">The Wooden Birds just debuted the first video for the second full-length album, Two Matchsticks . Directed and created by animator Justin Goldwater, the hand crafted video for the album's title track follows the magical and colorful evolution and destruction of some very interesting wood. The Austin-based Wooden Birds is led by Andrew Kenny, who previously led American Analog Set and was a touring member/collaborator with Broken Social Scene in 2007. In creating Two Matchsticks, the band drew on the strengths of their live show, making it more driven, upbeat and fuller than the Birds' previous efforts ...

the wooden birds hatte ich dereinst sehr wach mit ihrem debut wahrgenommen. "magnolia" hatte ich hier vor allem wegen seiner ladeback cuts gewürdigt. auch mit ihrem zweitling stehen sie in nichts nach. das am 07. juni auf barsuk records erscheinende "two matchsticks" glänzt nun vor allem mit sehr bewussten gesangseinlagen. neben dem zweifelsfrei als chef im ring kenntlich zu machenden andrew kenny (dem american analog set gründer) kommen nun mehr und mehr auch leslie sisson und matt pond zum zug. so ergibt sich ein sinnbild schönmalerischer stimmen, die sich zueinander fügen, wie alte paare sich immer wieder neu verliebt berühren ...

Hot Tracks is a great little recording space on east 6th Street that has opened its doors to a laundry list of local bands over the years. Golden Bear, Leatherbag, Ola Podrida and Danny Malone are just a few of the names that show up on the Hot Tracks client roster. But now, after 5 years and over a 100 albums, Hot Tracks owner Matt Smith has been forced to evacuate the studio, with multiple records in tow. Turns out the city went to court with the landlord over the property and won in order to tear down the facility ...

Andrew Kenny’s resume was already impressive, however its latest bullet point is poised to gain an underline or some bold font or something like that. The founder/singer/songwriter/guitarist of the sadly defunct American Analog Set has also pitched in on tour with Broken Social Scene and lent a hand to other bands including Ola Podrida and the [...]

As you visit the Western Vinyl website, you’ll notice that under their logo, the statement “Thanks for listening” resides. My thought is, thanks for putting out so much great music. The label has churned out recordings by Dirty Projectors, Balmorhea, J. Tillman, Ola Podrida, Here We Go Magic, Sleep Whale..just to name a few. All [...]

Lotta love to Annie Sturgis Photography for tracking this one down. More on HD’s highly touted Ola Podrida.

Austin's David Wingo , who performs under the moniker Ola Podrida , grooves on where he comes from. Literally. The name under which he records his beautiful and spaced-out folk is a direct nod to the first time he ever performed in public—as a mouse at the Olla Podrida Mexica...

Just before Ola Podrida took the stage at the Cake Shop in New York City, lead singer, David Wingo, took the time to shoot a BUZZsession with [...]

Recommended Show: SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2010 SIREN FEST @ CONEY ISLAND W 8th St & Stillwell Ave Brooklyn, NY 11224 FREE, NOON I'm not sure why I'm even bothering to post other show listings after the jump. You know that the free daytime Siren Festival at Coney Island is going to completely exhaust you. Still, if you feel like being adventurous after checking out Apache Beat , Holy Fuck , Matt and Kim , Ted Leo , and so many more, check out a listing of today's shows after the jump. Free Blood @ Littlefield Hank and Cupcakes @ Pianos .357 Lover @ Ars Nova Theater ...

Recommended Show: THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2010 MONOTONIX @ 450 UNION STREET 450 Union St Brooklyn, NY 11215 RSVP , 8PM Are you as excited about Siren Fest this weekend as we are? Well, lucky for all of us, the festivities start off early this year with a pre-party tonight at 450 Union Street in Brooklyn. The amazing Monotonix are scheduled to headline. Wormburner @ Glasslands Violens @ The Rock Shop Beirut @ Guggenheim Museum Natalie Merchant @ Town Hall Langhorne Slim @ Brooklyn Bowl Mincemeat of Tenspeed @ Silent Barn Electric Six @ Rocks Off Concert Cruises Mates of State @ Music Hall of Williamsburg Boogie Boarder & Snakes Say Hiss ...

The Acorn Download: The Acorn – “Restoration” (Four Tet Remix) I literally spent all day listening to No Ghost which is The Acorn‘s brilliant follow-up to their gorgeous and irresistible 2007 LP Glory Hope Mountain. The band is playing the last of their three NYC record release shows tonight (July 15) at Littlefield with Austin’s [...]