[Watch] Sigur Rós - "Brennisteinn" (Official Video)

I have a seriously hard time believing of all the things you can do in 7 minutes and 40 seconds today that this will not be by far the best use of your time. From their just recently announced forthcoming album, Kveikur, we have the video for their first single from the record, "Brennisteinn". I have to admit, over the past few years my love for Sigur Ros had begun to mellow out quite a bit. I happily bought their albums and put them on from time to time, but if this song is an accurate indication of what's to come for this new album, I believe I just fell madly in love with them all over again. As you can see and hear from the video above, "Brennisteinn" is a much darker, more aggressive approach than what the band has done in the past, and they did it with such balance and poise that you're a little taken back for a second and then immediately so drawn to it that you keep asking yourself throughout the rest of the song why this hadn't already existed before. 

The countdown to June 17th (18th in the US) when Kveikur officially drops has begun. I need more of this and I need more of this NOW. 

[Watch] Cancer Bats - "Sonic Mind Assault"

Cancer Bats' Dead Set On Living got so much play from myself last year and it still does. It was a damn solid release from the Canadian noise makers. On the re-issue of the album there comes a delightful bonus. It's titled "Sonic Mind Assault" and for the video accompaniment their bassist, Jay R. Schwarzer, has thrown together some pop culture references that will have your mind going into overdrive while the riffs will have you throwing your head back an forth at the screen. Check out the "frantic, frantic noise" above.

[Watch] Muse - "Animals" (Official Video)

Being on the road pretty much constantly doesn't really leave you with much time to record new videos. Although we have seen a couple from Muse since the release of their latest album The 2nd Law. We've already had videos for "Madness", "Supremacy" and "Follow Me", although the latter was a live clip. So, for their latest release, "Animals", the band put on a competition and the winner has been picked and used as the official video. Funnily enough, this was the only entry I'd previously seen before they announced the winner and I thought it was pretty cool considering the concept of the song. This stood out as a highlight of the album for me, I don't know if it was the flicker of old Muse coming through or the side step from the rest of the curve ball album but I like it. 

Regarding the clip the band said:

Your votes have been cast, the band have deliberated and we all seem to be in agreement that the excellent version of Animals by Inês Freitas and Miguel Mendes from Portugal is the winner of our Animals video competition.

Check out the topical animated video at the top.

[Listen] The Family Rain - "Waterfall"

We've spoken about The Family Rain a few times in the past 6 months. Most recently we talked about the Walter Brothers' track "Carnival" which has now been released but with it comes a delightful B-Side titled "Waterfall". The track was actually recorded as a demo in the boys' basement which in fact where they rehearse together. Being a live recording of them playing it definitely has a blues tinged rawness from them. We're certainly going to be keeping a close eye on this band of brothers in the coming months and looking forward to some more new material.

"Carnival" is out now on Bigger Splash Recordings.

[Listen] Shlohmo feat. Jeremih - "Bo Peep (Do U Right)"

Yours Truly's "Songs From Scratch" series has resulted in some pretty amazing collaborations, with results like Danny Brown and AraabMuzik's "Molly Ringwald" or Angel Haze and Lunice's "Gimme That". This round of the series delivers some sexy production and soulful singing from Los Angeles' Shlohmo and Chicago's Jeremih. The two come together and created "Bo Peep (Do U Right)", a pulsating R&B cut with grimy production and emotional croons echoing throughout. It's dirty, but it's oh so good. Stream the song, along with a making-of video, below.

[Listen] The Postal Service - "Turn Around"

The Postal Service offered up their first new music in over a decade a few weeks back with the song "A Tattered Line of String", one of two new songs from the upcoming tenth-anniversary reissue of Give Up. Today, Seattle radio station 107.7 The End points us to the second new song, titled "Turn Around". Stream it below and let us know if Ben Gibbard and Dntel fit into the 2013 mould.

The Give Up Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition reissue is set to drop on April 9th on double disc CD or Triple LP. Check here for the full details of the release, and head here to see The Postal Service's full 2013 tour schedule.

[Watch] Banks - "Fall Over" (Official Video)

Los Angeles singer Banks' video for "Fall Over" is a black-and-white affair, staying true to the despondent, emotional tone of her second single. While the imagery is seemingly random—chain link fences, projections of explosions, and Banks half naked on a bed—it somehow works with her powerfully emotive vocals and dark electronic production. Check out the clip above.

For those unaware of Banks, check out her SoundCloud to hear more of her sounds.

[Album Stream] Controller - 'Controller' EP

Controller is a stupid-good band out of Brooklyn, NYC. They just put out their very first EP and they're rocking a sweet show at The Studio at Webster Hall this weekend.

Full disclosure, you guys. Our friend Josh Shabtai is in this band. We've been friends for somewhere in the vicinity of 3 years now. For the last 8 months or so, he's been saying things like "Yo man! You should come to our show next week!" and "Yeah, we're working really hard recording some new stuff right now.". My only reaction was ever "Hah, cool man!". In all honesty, I didn't expect them to be any good. Not because Josh isn't a cool cat (he is), but because everyone has a band these days and I just didn't have any good gauge for his musical prowess. I dismissed him as just another bud with a band. Boy, was I wrong.

When the EP came out a few weeks ago, I almost peed myself. Controller possesses a truly unique sound. If you take The Gaslight Anthem, dip them in some pop-rock, and add a melodic vocal twang akin to U2, you kinda sorta get Controller's sound. This doesn't really do them justice, though. Their lyrics are easy to pick up and it's not hard to forget you're listening to the same 3 tracks on repeat. If you like honest rock 'n roll, you owe it to yourself to listen to the 3 track EP. It's free to stream and listen to, but if you like it, you should through a couple of bucks their way, as you should with any band you like. You can also find them on Facebook if you should be so inclined. Really looking forward to the show and hearing more from these fellas. Check 'em out and let us know what you think in the comments.