U.S. Girls announce new album, shares music video for new song

The project of Meg Remy, U.S. Girls, has announced their sixth album called In a Poem Unlimited. It is set to be out February 16th via 4AD. The album features already released single “Mad as Hell,” and a new one named “Velvet 4 Sale.” Watch the music video for the latter below, and check out the tracklist for the new album as well. In a Poem Unlimited is the second U.S. Girls album released by 4AD.

In a Poem Unlimited:

01 Velvet 4 Sale
02 Rage of Plastics
03 Mad As Hell
04 Why Do I Lose My Voice When I Have Something To Say
05 Rosebud
06 Incidental Boogie
07 L-Over
08 Pearly Gates
09 Poem
10 Traviata
11 Time

Listen to Fleet Foxes cover Nina Simone

Robin Pecknold and Casey Wescott from Fleet Foxes were the guests on Lauren Laverne’s BBC Radio 6 Music show today. They performed “If You Need To, Keep Time on Me” from the band’s latest album Crack-Up. They also covered the song, “Do What You Gotta Do,” which was written by Jimmy Webb and performed by Nina Simone on her 1968 record ’Nuff Said! “I just love what she did to the melody,” Pecknold said. “I love her melodic phrasing.” Listen to the session here.

The Melodic Tree’s Weekly Playlist

1. Garden Hose – Strawberry Runners

2. 666Bus – Reptaliens

3. Quarter Past the Hour – Jack and Eliza

4. Mary – Major Murphy

5. Saturn – Yours Are the Only Eas

6. I Used To – Oddnesse

7. Later – Cones

8. Space – The Gloomies

9. I Can’t Stand the Rain – Tashaki Miyaki

10. So Long – Plastic Flowers

11. A Change in Weather – Rose Droll

12. GRAFFITI PAINT – Field MedicI Don’t Know – Twin Weaver

13. Toothache – Dama Scout

14. Jen’s Song (Shining Star) – Shiiva

15. The Moon – The New Spring

16. The Reservoir – Small Forward

17. Pigeon – Mauno

18. Halcyon Age – Vansire

19. Stratus Sheets – Pool Holograph

20. The Dancer – Ada Lea

Watch Jamila Woods cover Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, and Destiny’s Child

R&B artist, Jamila Woods headlined a BLK Wednesday show at the Metro in Chicago. During her recent set, as Consequence Of Sound points out, she performed a medley of Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing In The Name” and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Watch footage of the mashup from her performance at the Netherlands’ Crossing Border Festival below.

The National cover “Bob’s Burgers” Thanksgiving song “Give It to Teddy”

The National have continued their relationship with “Bob’s Burgers” by covering another one of their songs, “Give It to Teddy,” as Stereogum points out. The Thanksgiving tune was in a recent episode of the show, which became a mournful ballad in their hands. Hear it below.

Sufjan Stevens directs new stop-motion video for “The Greatest Gift”

Sufjan Stevens has directed a stop-motion video for the title track from his new mixtape, “The Greatest Gift”. The clip stars a cast of religious figures and joyful stock-photo people, all made from cutouts of photos and illustrations. They are placed with reassuring maxims in printed text saying things like “Give generously to all without finding fault” and “Donkeys can be very useful in an emergency.” Watch it below. The Greatest Gift—Outtakes, Remixes, & Demos from Carrie & Lowell is the companion piece to Sufjan’s Carrie and Lowell and is streaming at NPR ahead of its release tomorrow.

Listen to Death Cab for Cutie’s first show ever

Death Cab for Cutie are celebrating the 20th anniversary of being a band by releasing a rare audio recording of their first show. The set was recorded on a dictaphone at The Pacer House in Bellingham, Washington on November 22nd, 1997. Benjamin Gibbard wrote in a statement, “None of us thought we were starting a band nor did our ambitions for DCFC extend very far past this particular evening. We simply thought it would be fun to play these songs for our friends before moving on to other things.“ He concluded, “It was one of the greatest nights of my life at the time and its significance has only grown since.” Listen to the show below, and download it here. All proceeds will go to Seattle non-profit Aurora Commons.

Blood Orphans, Trust Fall, Radiator Hospital at New Moon Cafe in photos

Melody’s Echo Chamber gives first update since accident

Melody’s Echo Chamber’s Melody Prochet has posted her first update since June when she had to cancel her fall tour dates after a “serious accident.” A statement from her family said that they were “optimistic” about her condition but that Prochet would need to be hospitalized for several months at the time. In a new post, she thanks fans for “all the support letters and love,” along with a selfie. Find the status below.

The Melodic Tree’s Weekly Playlist

1. I Will – Camp Howard

2. Smoke Rings – Modern Vices

3. Greyhound – Kississippi

4. Comfortable – Jaunt

5. Yellow Love – Citizen

6. I Feel Exhausted – Everyone Everywhere

7. Dreamgaze – CASTLEBEAT

8. No Big Deal – Eerie Summer

9. haunt me (x3) – Teen Suicide

10. Pretty Girl – Clairo

11. False Alarm – Fraternal Twin

12. O.K. – Whatever, Dad

13. Familiar Haunt – R.L. Kelly

14. January 6 – Happy Trendy

15. Happy Hour – Infinity Crush

16. Hazy Past – Four Visions

17. Fireworks – Radiator Hospital

18. Natural – Okay

19. You’re Blue I’m Blue – Velvet Morning

20. Virginia – Julia Brown