We recently profiled Owen Pallett and praised his 2010 album, Heartland, saying it “has a fine polish that feels as expansive as it is ornate.” Pallett recently stopped by Q TV and here is his live take on “Lewis Takes Off His Shirt”.

—PopMatters Staff

Basement Jaxx have remixed ‘80s new wave classic from those old New Romantics, ABC. Man, this one takes me back… Actually, the album that song originally comes from (The Lexicon of Love) is a perfect Valentine’s Day soundtrack all around.

Basement Jaxx
“Look of Love (Felix Jaxx Booty Remix)” [MP3]
     

and the original…

—PopMatters Staff

Jamie Lidell
Compass
(Warp)
Releasing: 18 May

Beck and Feist are just two of the musical luminaries stepping in for an assist on UK blue-eyed soul meister Jamie Lidell’s new platter due out in May. This goes beyond the casual guest appearance, as both Beck and Feist wrote tunes with Lidell for Compass. Oh, and some folks from Wilco and Grizzly Bear turned up too. This should be a good one and here’s a stream to whet the appetite.

—PopMatters Staff

Indie film upstarts the Duplass brothers have a new movie being released to US theaters on July 9th. These recent arrivals to the scene are most notable for their writing/directing/producing work in The Puffy Chair and Baghead. The upcoming comedy is sort of 40 Year Old Virgin meets Step Brothers. It focuses on recently divorced John (John C. Reilly) who gets involved with a woman named Molly (Marisa Tomei) and ends up butting heads with her grown son Cyrus (Jonah Hill).

—Matt Moeller

Jónsi
Go
(XL)
Releasing: 6 April

Sigur Rós’ Jónsi Birgisson has big plans for a solo career this year with Go, due out in April on the uber-trendy XL label, and a long list of upcoming US and Canadian tour dates (listed after the jump).

SONG LIST
01 Go Do
02 Animal Arithmetic
03 Tornado
04 Boy Lilikoi
05 Sinking Friendships
06 Kolnidur
07 Grow Till Tall
08 Around Us
09 Hengilas

—PopMatters Staff

Erykah Badu
New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh
(Universal Motown)
Releasing: 30 March

It has been two years since singer/songwriter/producer Erykah Badu’s last release, New Amerykah Part 1: 4th World War. Now the empress of soul has announced her follow-up New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh. The album is scheduled to be released 30 March by Universal Motown. Each song was either produced or co-produced by Badu, and features a guest appearance by drummer/DJ ?uestlove. The album will also include a web-only track featuring Lil’ Wayne and Bilal.

SONG LIST
01 20 Feet Tall (produced by Erykah Badu and 9th Wonder)
02 Window Seat (produced by Erykah Badu and James Poyser, featuring ?uestlove)
03 Agitation (produced by Erykah Badu and Shafiq Husayn of SA-RA Creative Partners)
04 Get Money (produced by Erykah Badu)
05 Don’t Be Long (produced by Erykah Badu and Taarak)
06 Love (produced by Erykah Badu and J Dilla)
07 Umm Hmm (produced by Erykah Badu and Madlib)
08 Fall in Love (produced by Erykah Badu and Karriem Riggins)
09 Incense (Instrumental) (produced by Erykah Badu and Madlib)
10 Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 1) (Undercover Over-Lover) (produced by Erykah Badu)
11 Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 2) (produced by Erykah Badu and Georgia Anne Muldrow)
12 Jump in the Air (ft. Lil Wayne and Bilal) (produced by Erykah Badu, RC Williams and Jahborn)*
* web-only bonus track

Erykah Badu
“Window Seat” [MP3]
     

—Allison Taich