Within a few days of Grizzly Bear’s jaw-dropping performance with the Brooklyn Philharmonic this past February, their new album was all over the internet nearly three months early. Full of the kind of vocal interplay and haunting harmonies any Grizzly Bear fan will love, Veckatimest has since proven its worth time and time again no matter what unseasonably cold month it may be, ultimately debuting at number 8 on the Billboard album chart at the beginning of June. Check out these videos for a taste of Grizzly Bear:

“Two Weeks” – The official video for Veckatimest’s first single. Sweet video.

“Ready, Able” – One of Veckatimest’s finest tracks performed with the Brooklyn Philharmonic in Fort Greene 2/28/09.

“Colorado” – The closing track from Grizzly Bear’s last album, 2006’s Yellow House, taken from that same GB/BP show. This song was one of the best performances I’ve seen in a long time.

(Refresh this page after watching two or three videos. It sucks like that.)

Current Listening: múm’s Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today Is OK

The pilot episode that started it all.

Current Listening: “Reba” from Jones Beach

Nathan’s Hot Dog, 1.5 Slices of Kraft White American, Martin’s Potato Bread Roll

Currently Watching: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCXlCkY4Y5g

Here’s an outstanding live performance of another one of Dark Was The Night’s standout tracks, Yeasayer’s “Tightrope”. From the top:

Current Listening: Dirty Projectors’ Bitte Orca

Bitte Orca, the new album from Dirty Projectors, came out yesterday.  I haven’t listened yet but it’s getting pretty solid reviews. Here’s the band performing a song that was released earlier this year as part of the Dark Was The Night benefit compilation.  Though it lacks the accompaniment of David Byrne from the record, this live take actually manages to improve upon the studio version with band member Angel Deradoorian handling Mr. Byrne’s parts.  You’ll have to skip forward to the two-minute mark to get to the beginning of the performance, but this “Knotty Pine” is well worth it.

“Knotty Pine”

Current Listening: Deradoorian’s Mind Raft

Talking Science, Episode 2: “Transmission Properties”

The second installment in a multi-part series starring everyone’s favorite scientist.  See him blog his brains out at www.blogforyourbowels.com.

Current Listening: Octahedron, it’s great.

Beach House performing “Gila” at Webster Hall 4/17/09

Current Listening:  Dungen’s 4

Download Absorption/Transmission’s version of Neil Young’s “Birds”

Current Listening: Yeasayer’s All Hour Cymbals

Last year’s Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust is arguably Sigur Ros’ best album yet, featuring more guitar than their earlier work, while still incorporating orchestration and lead singer Jónsi’s signature falsetto vocal style.  These two songs demonstrate the range of the album.

The first, “Illgresi,” is a simple acoustic guitar and vocals ballad with minimal string accompaniment:

The second is a much larger piece shown here recorded live at London’s Abbey Road Studios. “Ára bátur” begins with just piano and vocals but navigates beautifully through the gradual addition of a 67-piece symphony orchestra and The London Oratory Boys Choir towards the song’s climax just under eight minutes in:

Current Listening: Dirty Projectors’ Rise Above