Thanks to Chris for tipping us to the fact that Jose Gonzalez has posted two songs from his upcoming album, In Our Nature on his myspace site.

Jose talked with us about the new album in our video 5 Questions w/MoB back in May, but hearing truly is believing. Take a listen for yourself, but I’ll go ahead and say I’m really looking forward to its release on September 26th.

Each Tuesday stop by Muzzle of Bees for our recommended purchases for the week. Here are the albums we suggest for the release date of July 31st:

Artist: Common
Album: Finding Forever
Label: Universal
Myspace: Common
Video: The People
MoB: When Common released Be in 2005, it gave me hope that he’d never release anything like the Electric Circus again. Finding Forever is a natural continuation from Be, which once again includes a helping hand from Kayne West. There are plenty of high points on this record, but we’re still waiting for Common to come full circle.

Artist: Bat For Lashes
Album: Fur & Gold
Label: SheBear
Myspace: Bat For Lashes
MP3: Bat For Lashes - Horse & I
Video: Bat For Lashes - Prescilla
MoB: “I was instantly captivated by her voice grouped with minimal, yet perfect background instruments - mostly piano, but sometimes delicate harpsichord and unobtrusive hand-claps.” Read the rest of our review here.

Artist: 1990s
Album: Cookies
Label: Rough Trade
Myspace: 1990s
Video: You Made Me Like It
MoB: I have Marathonpacks to thank for turning me into a fan of the 1990s. A rock and roll band at its finest, truly one of this years hidden gems!

Download: eMusic
Buy: Insound

Tonight I’m going to “Rest My Chemistry” with Interpol in Milwaukee. I’ll admit that I probably enjoy Our Love To Admire a little more than everyone else apparently does.

Check out the video below for “The Heinrich Maneuver,” whose lyrics have been embedded in my brain for the last 48 hours.

Myspace: Interpol

Here are the Wisconsin shows we recommend you take in this week. Check them out below and let us know which ones you’ll be attending or ones you think should really make our list.

7/30 - The Fratellis - Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
7/30 - Interpol - The Rave, Milwaukee
7/31 - Lucinda Williams/Charlie Louvin - Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
7/31 - White Rabbits/Pale Young Gentlemen - High Noon Saloon, Madison
8/3 - Aquaduct/Smoosh/Ben Weaver - The Annex, Madison
8/3 - Two Cow Garage - Points East, Milwaukee
8/4 - Two Cow Garage - Cranky Pat’s - Neenah
8/5 - Two Cow Garage - Kiki’s House of Righteous Music, Madison

+Remember to bookmark our shows page for all your Wisconsin concert announcements+

I got to know Rocky Votolato’s material pretty well while he was opening for Lucero on one of their more recent tours. I wasn’t initially interested, or perhaps aware is a more accurate statement, but he won me over when he came out on harmonica to join Ben Nichols for a few tunes in Richmond, VA.

Last month he released The Brag & Cuss on Barsuk Records, and it wasn’t until I caught him doing a few songs acoustically over at the Drunkard that the album really began to hold down a spot in heavy rotation.

Sometimes, it just takes a little help from your friends. I’m hoping I can continue that, by recommending his album, and suggest you start with “Postcards From Kentucky” below.

Myspace: Rocky Votolato
MP3: Rocky Votolato - Postcard From Kentucky

There are very few bands I’ve talked about on this site as much as I’ve talked about Lucero. They’re also the one band, above all others, who I’ve campaigned for countless times to play a show here in Madison (we’re working on it). That being said, there’s some really interesting news about a four date “mini tour” featuring Ben Nichols and Cory Branan coming up next month.

Memphis running mates and former label mates Ben Nichols of Lucero and Cory Branan join forces for a 4 show mini tour (Brew City III) to begin Mon., August 6th. While Nichols has spent the bulk of the year touring and fronting his band Lucero in support of their fifth release, Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers (Liberty and Lament), Branan continues to tour and gain acclaim for his 2006 indie release 12 Songs (Madjack). For fans of Nichols and Branan, this tour marks an opportunity for them to catch the two venerable performers / song writers on stage together, as opposed to hearing their contributions to eachs recorded work. While Lucero has seen their following grow exponentially over the last several years, many of their fans continue to catch onto Branan, many of whom know Cory from Luceros tune Tears Dont Matter Much, where Nichols remarks, Cory Branan’s got an evil streak, and a way with words that’ll bring you to your knees. Oh he can play the wildest shows and he can sing so sweet. I still sing along.

Myspace: Lucero
Myspace: Cory Branan

MoB: Ben Nichols: Dog Day Night
MoB: Lucero/Catfish Haven - Otto’s - DeKalb, IL
MoB: A Look Back @ Lucero/Red 40
MoB: Lucero - Alley Katz - Richmond
MoB: Lucero - Mad Planet Review
MoB: 5 Questions with Ben Nichols of Lucero
MoB: Gave you everything I stole

Last night I posted that Joanna Newsom would be playing the Pabst Theater on Sunday, October 21st.

Well, it has just been brought to my attention that the show will include Joanna backed by a 28 PIECE ORCHESTRA for the performance. This one should bring all types out to the show. Hipsters bring your folks, and have them bring their parents as well, because this one should appeal to the masses!

The only remaining question (for me at least) is will Bill Callahan be performing as well?

I came to know Justin Vernon aka Bon Iver while slightly drunk and in the front row of The Rosebuds blistering Hot Freaks set at SXSW. It was during said performance that Rosebuds front man Ivan Howard introduced Justin (then holding down guitar duties for the band) as a native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. When you’re a long way from home, had your share of Lonestar beer, and with good friends, that will earn you some easy respect and admiration from my entourage and I.

Since that time I’ve kept in touch with Justin, and was pretty close to getting him and The Rosebuds to play a show in Madison when it looked like their stop in Eau Claire wasn’t going to work out. Through the course of our conversations he mentioned his project, Bon Iver, and how much he thought I’d like it.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago beautifully packaged compact disc arrived in the mail. Through countless listens it was apparent that the music, not our mutual home state, was the important part of this story. This album is a little bit folk and, at times, hard to pin down to a specific genre or type - but that’s what I love about it. Expect this to be the release that takes everyone by surprise this year.

Admiration has already started to pour in from blog heavyweights Brooklyn Vegan and My Old Kentucky Blog, and I’m sure that’s is just the tip of the iceberg as the record finds its way through the circles of the internet, currently as a full album stream here.

More Bon Iver goodness to come including a 5 Questions w/MoB feature as well as a future Madison date.

Myspace: Bon Iver
MP3: Bon Iver - Skinny Love
MP3: Bon Iver - For Emma
MP3: Bon Iver - Blindsided

The Pabst Theater continues to bring quality live performances to Milwaukee with the recent addition of Joanna Newsom to their calendar on Sunday, October 21st.

Remember when Joanna played UW’s Great Hall? Good Times!

Also:

10/20 - The Raveonettes - Mad Planet, Milwaukee

MoB favorites The National tore it up on Letterman this week, bringing the horns along for good measure. Dave even lets Matt touch the Super Bowl Trophy at the end.

“It’s hard to keep track of you falling from the sky…”

Myspace: The National
MP3: The National - Fake Empire
Video: The National - Mistaken For Strangers