While the previously-released title track from their impending album, Return To The Moon, was a pleasing pop-stretch for Matt Berninger (The National), we weren’t prepared for EL VY’s new song I’m The Man To Be released today via the lyric video below.  EL VY is the new project from Berninger and Brent Knopf of Menomena/Ramona Falls.  Watch/stream below as Knopf sets Berninger’s scatological, stream-of-consciousness rap (“from the perspective of a pathetic self-aggrandizing rocker alone in a hotel room, something I know a lot about” according to Berninger) to an invigorating, angular musical backdrop of vibraphone-sounding keys, savory synths and Gang of Four-influenced guitar. It’s a grower.

The video adds some further unexpected moves from Berninger, as directed by brother Tom Berninger (Mistaken For Strangers).

Check the song/video out below.

One of our favorite live bands, Elbow, headlined the Kendal Calling festival last night in England’s Lake District.  Elbow has today  dropped a vibrant vignette from their headlining set–video of their performance of Newborn (deserving lyrics at bottom) off of their seminal album, Asleep In The Back.  Feast on it below, but pay particular attention as the band takes flight from the 5:30 mark on to the rousing finale.  And watch as Guy Garvey shows from 7:30 on (in particular) why he remains one of our more gifted and compelling vocalists.  Don’t miss ’em next time they come ’round your town.

Newborn

“I’ll be the corpse in your bathtub
Useless
I’ll be as deaf as a post
If you hold me like a newborn
Whisper what you feel
My badly strung declaration
To you
You’ll spend the end of your days
Gently smiling like a newborn
Love not by degrees

Press your lips
To my eyes
Taste my tears
On your tongue,
Pull the blinds
Play our song
Nothings changed
Nothing could be wrong.

Scream in the night
Kick and strike
Like a newborn
Holding me shaking
Awake in the dark
All of these promises
Kept and unbroken
Tracing the scars
Tracing the scars
Even and cold
As we both become older.
Your arms bound about me
The hush in your voice.
The warmth of your fingers
Entwined around mine
In the eve of our lives
Never a choice”

As mentioned recently, the talented and grace-filled Glen Hansard (Frames, Swell Season, Once) will soon release his new solo album Didn’t He Ramble on September 18th on Anti-.  Hansard recently happened by Canada’s Exclaim!TV to perform the winsome Winning Streak off the album.  Check it out below and don’t miss his U.S. tour beginning in November (tickets can be found HERE).

“And may the sign of the cross be some comfort when you’re lost
And help you when you’re all broke down
May the spirit of St. Christopher turn you around
And may the devil’s evil eye pass you right by
Don’t you look back my friend
And may the sisters of good charity take you in

Through summers long and winters cold
May you always have someone good to hold
May good fortune be your constant and a loyal friend
And may your winning streak never end.”

Can we hear an “Amen!”?