'An incredible sense of serenity flows throughout the album and creates an incredibly fascinating work'. Junkmedia gets a early peek at the upcoming new Rilo Kiley album and - not incredibly at all - kinda loves it. Bandoppler too has heard and believes: 'Mop up my drool, forgive me for it, and buy this album'

So here's a plan. Go to cduniverse and stock up on a floppy hat-ful of late summer new pop goodness:

Rilo Kiley / More adventurous $9.79

Little Wings / Magic wand $11.19

Aberfeldy / Young forever $11.19

+$9.99 p&p = $42.16. Or £23. The technical term, I believe, is 'no-brainer'...

Aberfeldy's twinkly wee site is finally coming along; reviewed live here back in April...

Banjo-touting Sufjan Stevens roped in road buddy Denison Witmer on guitar & vocals for a recent kexp.org session/chat...

Harpin' on & on: Joanna Newsom at the 12 Bar next week is sold out...

A more immediately obvious candidate for a gig at that venue is long-time blog tip Haley Bonar [The size of planets discussed here back in June 03]. And who knows she might yet turn up there when she tours here for the first time next month in harness with (more trad-minded) fellow Minnesotan picker Charlie Parr. As it stands Londoners can (and really should) catch her at the Windmill in Brixton Sept 7. Those dates so far:
Sept 1 Brighton, Prince Albert
2nd The Cube, Bristol
3rd Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
4th Tchai Ovna, Glasgow
5th Dr Drakes, Aberdeen
6th Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
8th Windmill, Brixton

Somewherecold caught up with Haley earlier in the year; last week they posted a Q&A with Kendall Meade of the delectable Mascott...

A correspondent writes: 'Well, I listened to your recommendation and bought that album and it's amazing. I love it. Just wanted to thank you for recommending it and I Double recommend it to anyone else'. Yes indeed, Shelley Short's Oh' say little dogies, why? is a quite loveable thing as someone else (over at Delusions of Adequacy) this week also attests: 'Maybe that's why I like these songs so much: they're quiet and pretty and personal and different.' If you haven't already, please read on...