If you've ever followed the many forms of Dance Hall Hips in the past, or are privy to the musical aspects of my life, you'll know I'm a huge sucker for anything Ben Gibbard related. This week Stereogum gave us the pleasure of releasing Death Cab's entire new EP, Open Door

 

Modest Mouse has got a new EP full of odd's and ends, headed your way entitled No One's First and You're Next, following the paradoxical, ironic, literally titles Mr. Brock seems to love. Prior the EP's release the band is releasing an orange 7"-vinyl for "Satellite Skin" (b/w "Guilty Cocker Spaniels"), followed by three more 7". Here's the EP's traclist:

"Autumn Beds"
"Guilty Cocker Spaniels"
"History"
"I've Got It All (Most)"
"King Rat"
"Satellite Skin"
"Tie the Lake Down"
"The Whale Song"

 

Seattle's famous Crocodile Cafe is reopening/mending many broken indie hearts. One of the venue's first shows will be put on by a wonderful website Three Imaginary Girls, which I coincidentally enough have contributed to in the past. TIG is run by some lovely ladies with extraordinary tastes in music. The TIG sponsored concert, which happens April 4th (and no this is not a prank), features such local Seattle acts as "Awesome", Boat, Tullycraft, and the up-and-coming band who's accumulated some remarkable buzz already, Iji. Ticket's are only $10. I plan on being there to snap some pics and maybe even snag a few interviews. If you're in the Seattle area, definitely check this show out!

-Hips

 

Though she may have sauntered onto the mainstream platform a little these days, Ingrid Michaelson undeniably beautiful voice makes up for any "indie cred" you think she might've lost. Check out this newly released video for "Breakable" off her 2008 effort Boys & Girls.

See it here

 

After wearing out my leaked copy of Veckatimest, I got fairly sick of the terrible sound quality it had to offer. Thanks to Grizzly Bear, we can experience something a little more...ok....a LOT more listenable for the time being. The band is offering "Cheerleader" on their website for free. Sure, it's not the whole album, but it's certainly regained my interest for the album. Check it out:

Grizzly Bear - "Cheerleader" (via Grizzly-Bear.com)

 

Maybe it's my weak spot for young indie girls, or maybe it's my weak spot for young indie girls, but I'm loving Canadian musician Lights. This little sweet slice of heaven, who also goes by the name Valerie Poxleitner, is chipping away at her first full-length. The Toronto 21-year-old already has an EP, and a couple music videos under her neon hipster belt. Check out her Myspace to hear tracks off her latest EP.

 

Leerone deserves some much needed attention. For starters, she's easily the nicest artist who's contacted me over the years; she sent me a Valentines Day card last month! Not to mention she's got one heck of a cool website. Plus, she evenblogs and tweets. How tech-savvy. And, oh yeah, she's awfully gorgeous and wonderfully talented to boot. Check out her Claire Carré directed video for "To Fill the Void" ASAP.

 

The Silversun Pickups have a new single out, "Panic Switch," which channels Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, and latter day New Order. Their upcoming album, Swoon, is due out April 14th on Dangerbird Records. 

Silversun Pickups - "Panic Switch" (Radio Edit) 

OR

Stream the album version here.

 

Phoenix's latest gift to the world, Mozart Amadeus Phoenix is perhaps their greatest achievement to date. In the very least, it's quickly becoming my favorite album this year. Check out their latest damned catchy single:

Phoenix - '1901'

 

If the White Stripes and Raconteurs weren't enough to keep Jack White busy, the guitar god has wrangled up another supergroup, the Dead Weathers. The group consists of Allison Mosshart (of the Kills), Jack Lawrence (Raconteurs), Dan Fertita (Raconteurs, Queens of the Stone Age) and, of course, Jack White. But here's the kicker: Jack White has traded in his ax for the drums, though he does add to the band vocally. The Group made their live debut at the opening of White's new label, Third Man Records. Their debut album, Horehound is out in June.