Album Review: Let's Wrestle - In the Court of the Wrestling Let's

Let's Wrestle's debut In the Court of the Wrestling Let's is an honest introduction to a band that relies on energy, humor and decent melody to make its music.

At its best this album sounds like the perfect soundtrack to a summer afternoon of imaginary WWE in the backyard. Songs like “We are the Men You'll Grow to Love Soon” and “Song for Old People” are carefree, driving and triumphant and conjure up images of some goofy chaps running about and creating mischief. It obvious this is the sound with which Let’s Wrestle is most comfortable.

Matt Pond PA taking 'The Dark Leaves' on tour

The eighth LP from Matt Pond PA will be out on April 6 titled The Dark Leaves, and the New York group will hit the road this spring to promote it. The tour will stop at Local 506 in Chapel on Saturday, May 22. Bobby Long will open the show and tickets go on sale Friday, March 12 for $10 via etix. Hopefully the band won't suffer the from the same bad mixing that plagued their March 2008 show at the Cat's Cradle.

Download the song "Starting" from the new album via the link below. You'll also find more tour dates below too.

New music video from She & Him - "In the Sun"

With the release of She & Him's sophomore album Volume Two just a couple of weeks away (March 23 to be exact), the first music video has been released for the lovely tune "In the Sun." The charming video features Zooey Deschanel and a group of dancers following M. Ward, the too cool for school guy, through a school. Ward's retro outfit alone is worth a viewing. Watch it after the break.

The video was directed by Peyton Reed who has directed videos for Superchunk as well as the films Yes Man and The Break-Up. He and Phil Morrison were the MCs for one of the nights of the XX Merge Festival in Carrboro last July. Speaking of XX Merge, check out photos and a review of She & Him's set from the festival here.

Stephin Merritt documentary screening in Durham

Have you ever wanted to know more about the seemingly grumpy, but phenomenal songwriter Stephin Merritt? Now you'll have your chance. It has just been announced that the new documentary about Merritt titled Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields will be screened during the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, which will take place on April 8-11.

The specific date and time of the screening as well as ticket info is not available yet, but you can buy a pass to the entire festival here. We'll keep you posted on the Strange Powers details.

Check out the trailer for the film below.

Swell Season announce spring dates, returning to Raleigh

The Oscar winning duo of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, better known as The Swell Season, are gearing up for a new U.S. tour that will bring them back to Raleigh. They last played here in May 2008 at Meymandi Hall, which was a fantastic show. You can read that review here.

This time, the band will grace the outdoor stage at the North Carolina Museum of Art on Friday, May 21. Ticket info is not yet available for the show, but we'll keep you posted. Tickets are on sale now here for $30 or $20.

Check out the Triangle Music review of The Swell Season's latest album Strict Joy here.