2011 was an amazing year for music. Some old favorites stayed the course or broke new trail, some new bands poked their heads into the scene and a few acts even kicked the door in. 2012 promises to be no different. Some of our favorite bands have either set release dates or tickled our senses with rumors of a potential release. There are some interesting questions that will be raised with this years releases though. Will this be fun.’s breakout year? Can James Mercer get old fans to forgive him for firing half his crew? Will Andrew Bird continue his whistling dominance?

First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar January 24th
The Twilight Sad – No One Can Ever Know February 7th
of Montreal – Paralytic Stalks February 7th
Shearwater – Animal Joy February 14th
fun. – Some Nights February 21st
Fanfarlo – Rooms Filled With Light February 28th
Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself March 6th
Muse – TBD Fall 2012
Regina Spektor – What We Saw From The Cheap Seats May
Sigur Ros – Spring
The Shins – Port of Morrow Spring
Rufus Wainwright – Out of the Game Spring
Yeasayer – TBA
The Walkmen – TBA

It seems as though most of the indie world was up in arms when during the summer of ’09 it was reported that James Mercer “let go” keyboardist Marty Crandall and drummer Jesse Sandoval. We were all left holding our hats wondering where Mercer gets off firing band mates. Ok, maybe not everyone, but I sure was.

We know that Jesse Sandoval sought out his roots and opened a taco cart in Seattle but Marty Crandall seemed to be keeping his plans, or lack there of, close to his chest. Crandall found himself at a crossroad wondering whether to continue in the music business or to seek his fortune else where. Well today we get that answer. Along with former Shins guitarist Neal Langford, brother Maury Crandall on drums, guitarist/vocalist Jason Ward and Sean McCullough on bass Sad Baby Wolf is up and running with two 7″ singles. You can grab the two tracks below and decide for yourself whether they’ve taken a different road from what their past would have dictated.

“8th Level” is a pretty straight forward indie rock track with an ethereal feel closing it out while “Survival Guide” taps into a more psychedelic drone of controlled chaos. I couldn’t really hear either of these tracks on a Shins album but considering the reception that Wincing The Night Away got that’s probably a good thing.

Sad Baby Wolf – “8th Level”
Sad Baby Wolf – “Survival Guide”

A full length is tentatively schedule for release early next year with both of these tracks making an appearance on it.

The Shins – “Breathe” (Pink Floyd Cover)

The remaining week will unfold like this:
Tuesday – Foo Fighters w/ Roger Waters performing “In The Flesh?” from The Wall
Wednesday – MGMT performing “Lucifer Sam” from Piper At The Gates of Dawn
Thursday – Dierks Bentley performing “Wish You Were Here” from Wish You Were Here
Friday – Pearl Jam performing “Mother” The Wall

So at best, I can share with you the most memorable music from … last week. I’m speaking of some new efforts by Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock. Only today it’s not about Modest Mouse, it’s about his other band, Ugly Casanova. Alongside James Mercer (the Shins), Mason Jennings, Jack Johnson and Love as Laughter, Ugly Casanova is expected to release 9 tracks for the documentary “180? South”. Should be pretty great. Read more about it all here.

Ugly Casanova – “Lay Me Down”

This was a strange collaboration when I first heard about it a few months ago but I must say that somehow they were able to find middle ground where both artists are featured for what they do best. Mercers with his hypnotizing voice and Danger Mouse filling in all the gaps with synthesizer delight.

The album is also title Broken Bells and will be released via Columbia Records on March 9th, 2010.

The movies website says:

Some Days Are Better Than Others is a poetic, character-driven film that asks why the good times slip by so fast while the difficult times seem so sticky. The film explores ideas of abundance, emptiness, human connection and abandonment while observing an interweaving web of awkward characters who maintain hope by inventing their own forms of communication and self-fulfillment. Some Days are Better Than Others is a sad valentine to the forgotten discards of a throwaway society, and is a story about knowing when to hold on, and when to let go.

I still haven’t decided whether I will spend my money to see this or not. It looks like the typical indie film with two troubled souls that find each other to lean on. Lots of dialogue but little plot.

But don’t worry, with Mercer and Brownstein busy being in the cast Zach Braff is going to be doing the soundtrack.

The interview is good, I just wish I could say the same thing for the interviewer.

Marching Band

Tracks of note are: “Gorgeous Behavior”, “Make Up Artist” and “Travel In Time”

Unable to purchase the music, fans are encouraged to buy the project’s accompanying book, with photographs by filmmaker David Lynch, which comes with a blank recordable CD-R. “All [CD-Rs] will be clearly labeled: ‘For Legal Reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will,’” the website states. The limited-edition book and CD-R cost $50 (£33), or fans can buy a poster and CD-R for just $10 (£6.60).

Dark Night of the Soul is the second release from Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse and contains contributions from Iggy Pop, Suzanne Vega, the Pixies, Flaming Lips,  the Strokes and The Shins.

For the time being the entire album is streaming on NPR but it is unknown how long that will be available.

A couple of days ago we posted a video of the new song “Double Bubble” and we now have a video of the new track “The Rifle’s Spiral”. Of course, once again, a fan shot video with terrible sound and even worse camera work but you can kind of get the idea of the song.

In further Shins news, what are you supposed to do if you are the ex-drummer for an indie band? You open a taco cart of course, at least that’s what Jesse Sandoval has decided to do. Inorder to further the stereotype Sandoval will open Nuevo Mexico next week in Seattle at 3rd and SW Stark.