Former Pavement (love ya!) frontman Stephen Malkmus and his Jicks band are set to release their 5th full length recording on August 23rd, titled Mirror Traffic, and the press surrounding the album suggests that this might be the bands best work to date. If you are interested in checking it out, you can find Mirror Traffic streaming in it’s entirety over at NPR. We’ve got the track “Senator” here for you as well. You know what a Senator wants? Just take a listen.

MP3> Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks ‘Senator’

Tour dates below as well, with no Austin date currently scheduled, but you would have to believe that Malkmus wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to play our fine city.

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks – TOUR DATES

8/23 – Los Angeles, CA Amoeba Free All Ages Instore Performance – 6pm
8/25 – Brooklyn, NY Academy Free All Ages Instore Performance – 6pm
8/25 – Manhattan, NY Other MusicFree All Ages Instore Performance – 9pm
9/20 – Detroit, MI, Majestic Theater
9/21 – Toronto, ON, Phoenix Concert Theatre
9/22 – Ottowa, ON, Ritual
9/23 – Montreal, QC, Corona Theatre
9/24 – Boston, MA, Royale
9/26 – New York, NY, Terminal 5
9/28 – Philadelphia, PA , Theatre of Living Arts
9/29 – Baltimore, MD, Ram’s Head Live
9/30 – Charlottesville, VA, Jefferson Theater
10/1 — Saxapahaw, NC, The Haw River Ballroom
10/2 – Atlanta, GA, Variety Playhouse
10/4 – Nashville, TN, Mercy Lounge
10/5 – Indianapolis, IN, Earth House
10/6 – Chicago, IL, Vic Theatre
10/7 – Milwaukee WI, Turner Hall
10/8 – Minneapolis, MN, Pantages Theatre
10/11- Seattle, WA, Neptune Theatre – (with Ty Segall)
10/12 – Vancouver, BC, The Biltmore Cabaret – (with Ty Segall)
10/13 – Portland, OR, Crystal Ballroom – (with Ty Segall)
10/16 – San Francisco, CA, Treasure Island Music Festival
10/19 – Los Angeles, CA, The Music Box – (with Ty Segall)
10/20 – Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern – (with Ty Segall)

Austin’s own The Boxing Lesson have managed to stay in mind’s eye with the constant evolution of psych-rock and their videos that span just plain weird and freaky to eerie. And that’s not a bad thing, it just makes them that much more interesting. The latest video for the title track from their recently recently release Muerta EP keeps in step with that path. The video features the band slowly drowning in the deep sea complete with sea creatures and musical instruments. Victims of a plane crash or boat sinking, we may never know….rest assured they are still quite alive.

The Boxing Lesson – “Muerta” from Consequence of Sound on Vimeo.

I’m not sure why I’ve neglected to spend any time with David Bazan‘s solo work much less his outfit Pedro the Lion, but hearing “Strange Negotiations” early today on KEXP has me scratching my head as to why. Upon some quick Internet investigation seeking some possible live dates, I found this interesting post on Bazan’s site. It seems that there is a very interesting approach to a tour in the works. A living room tour. And they are looking for people to offer up their living rooms for very intimate shows. Great idea, and I wish my living room was bigger.

Seems like all I’ve been posting about lately is Fun Fun Fun Fest, but I can’t help it…don’t have as much time as I used to to devote to this and Fun Fun Fun Fest is completely awesome. And it just got uber awesome with this full lineup just announced..

check it…