We first saw Sweden’s Shout Out Louds play with our friends’ band, Metropolitan at the now defunct NYC club, Sin-e back in 2004. We were both totally blown away and have been fans ever since. They’ll be releasing their third full length, Work, on indie super-label Merge Records next month. In the meantime, they’ve graced us with a beautiful, catchy single that showcases a stripped-down, more honest sound that we hope is indicative of the coming record. You can hear it as this week’s Song of the Week and even check out a video for another single, “Fall Hard”. Their first show of the tour, at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg, has already sold out, but you can still catch them at Webster Hall in May and a number of other lovely cities around our fine country. Pre-order their record here, if you like.

Dearest readers, at long last, we are back. We’ve journeyed our way through the cold, cold months of November and December largely without you, being harrowed by the frost and many tragic calamities along the way, and, through it all, that which chilled us most was the lack of you, dear reader. You have been missed, silent, mostly-hypothetical audience, and we are overjoyed to once again be locked in your somewhat limp, unengaged embrace.

Apologies for the lack of posts in the past month. I know, I know. You were totally worried we had quit the game, right? Well, after over a year of writing for this blog and just over 100 posts (hey, that’s a lot), we’re making a few changes to the format and plan to re-launch in the new year, post design work craze and post holidaze. In the meantime, enjoy whatever celebratory thing, secular or not, you may do in December, and get ready to win in aught ten!

Last week, one of my favorite bands, Copenhagen’s Efterklang, announced the new album they’ve been working on will be released on 4AD February, 2010. Efterklang truly produces some of the most unique, beautiful music I’ve heard in my recent years, so I’m obviously very excited. And, to add to the excitement and tide us all over for the next few months, they paired the announcement with the free release of a track from the forthcoming album—this week’s Song of the Week, Modern Drift. Now, having such a unique sound, you might think that the band would be one that morph or grow too much from disk to disk, but Efterklang has actually made significant strides in development with each release, starting out with charismatically glitchy electronic sounds and, more recently, bringing their unconventional song writing and structure to very conventional instruments—horns, acoustic stringed instruments and the like. With this tiny glimpse into their future, the first thing that strikes me is a much more mainstream sound. The structure is still edgy and, at times, unpredictable, but the voice and starting piano sounds almost Billy Joel-like. Okay, it’s not THAT mainstream, but, given the far from mainstream career this band has led to date, it’s surprising. That said, the song is an absolute gem—a shimmering, shifting reflection of autumn that’s made me smile every time I’ve listened to it. Check it out. Album cover by design studio, Hvass & Hannibal.

It’s that time of year again. NYC-based clothing designer Steven Alan is holding his legendary, bi-annual sample sale this week, and we’re ready to do our part to contribute to the revitalization of the economy. With his beautifully-made button-ups in myriad fabrics and ever-growing womenswear line, Steven Alan has become a staple of the American design world. And his sample sales are glorious circuses of discounted chaos. So we’ve figured out our spending limits, done our sample sale push-ups and sit-ups so we’re in peak rack searching condition, and we’ve even pulled out our old elbow pads, just in case things get a little rough in Tribecca. In addition to checking out the ground-level floor—full of massively discounted Steven Alan brand pieces for men and women—be sure to check out the basement too, where they keep the other designers’ merchandise. And be prepared to wait in line a bit outside as things tend to get pretty crowded. But trust us, it’s worth the crowds and worth the wait. Sale starts Thursday and runs through this Sunday, at which we assume you’ll be able to choose from a pair of argile socks and a XXXL sports jacket.

You might not know it looking at her EP’s scarily reminiscent of 2 Live Crew cover, but Lissy Trullie can write a damn good song. The cover shot is actually taken from a risque ’70s magazine—who doesn’t love retro porn?—and Lissy Trullie is actually Elizabeth McChesney, a DC kid who moved on up to NYC, and dabbled in graphic design and modeling before she and her band—also called Lissy Trullie—recorded the EP, Self-Taught Lerner at the beginning of this year. With the EP now re-released with four new songs and a new contract with Downtown Records, the band’s currently working on a full-length with Bernard Butler producing. But while you’re waiting for that one to hit the stores, check out her blissfully catchy Don’t to Do, this week’s song of the week. And no, I have no idea what that song title means. Kids these days…

Sifting through the myriad new music that washed ashore in the wake of the CMJ Marathon, we came across this drum/vocal + guitar/keys duo from Amsterdam, The Moi Non Plus. First listen lumps them in with the art noise scene out of LA—Health, No Age, those kids. But I’m liking The Moi’s energy and obnoxiously endearing vocals, especially on this week’s Song of the Week, Ha Ha Ha. Plus ya gotta like a band that can make that much noise with just two dudes. Check ’em. Photo and track courtesy of Subbacultcha.