Tidbits (for Thursday)

Nothing much today, but here are some lovely links:

• ABC News speaks to the Shins. Not a lot of new info, but it's a good article. (I'm particularly fond of now being known as a member of a "quirky, dedicated legion.")
  
• Meanwhile, the Patriot-News discusses the Decemberists. This isn't the greatest, though I'm pleased to see them getting coverage nevertheless.
• My favorite link of the day: Mike Watt as summarized by Exclaim!. What a fun article. I'm a huge fan of Watt's, and it's always a pleasure to see him still jamming (despite ill-advised Good Charlotte video appearances...).
• Arcade Fire are releasing their second single from Neon Bible - "Keep the Car Running". I'm terribly excited about this; it makes a nice follow-up to "Intervention". (Note the other item on that page: SUPERCHUNK!)
• Tom Ewing of Pitchfork's "Poptimist" ponders "spoilers" in pop music. It's a good article; I can't help but sort of agree - though the truth is, I do still find myself waiting eagerly for the new issue of The Big Takeover (not to mention my own halfhearted attempts at rock criticism). I think the best example of beautiful rock writing has to be Said the Gramophone - I can't think of another blog which has as consistently forced me to download, buy, etc. - often based not just on prior knowledge of the artist or song but mostly just on the gorgeous prose accompanying each. They might fail Tom's criteria for attempting to 'sway opinions' but I rarely see a post of Dan's, Sean's, or Jordan's that resorts to name-dropping vomit. It's more like an experience, and I commend them for that.
• I keep becoming intrigued by Songbird. It's an interesting idea for a music application that I think isn't quite being used to its full potential - but seeing as it's still way in development, I'm willing to give them a chance. It's certainly a beautiful application, and I'm impressed by what I see - it's still no replacement for iTunes, however.
• Finally, Bloc Party are guests on David Letterman tonight - I'm excited! I'm a big fan of A Weekend in the City, particularly "I Still Remember"; sure, it's the new single, but it's lovely as hell. I'm hoping they'll play it tonight - in the meantime, here's the equally lovely b-side to the first single, "The Prayer".

Listen: We Were Lovers
Buy: The Prayer / A Weekend in the City