Don’t think we forgot about Panda Bear’s Person Pitch album which came out earlier this year. As an occasional skateboarder, the recently released video for “Comfy In Nautica” perfectly encapsulates our feelings of carefree afternoons.

To quote Travis from our initial review, “If The Shins were playing a show drunk, on ‘shrooms, leaning over the edge of the Empire State Building, and standing on one leg, it would be half as risky as Person Pitch. It appeases those of us that ached for more edge. Person Pitch is decidedly anti-commercial, avoiding traditional track structure. It’s twisted, distorted, full of reverb, people moaning, fireworks and unabashedly catchy tunes I keep humming to myself hours later.”

“Try to remember always, always have a good time. Good Time.”

Myspace: Panda Bear
MP3: Panda Bear - “Comfy In Nautica”

Yesterday I got the thumbs up to do a advanced screening of Sigur Rós upcoming film Heima. What better opportunity than to have the film close down the Muzzle of Bees showcase at Madison Pop Fest on Saturday, November 10th.

Heima will be released on November 20th, “as a special edition double DVD package with a 116-page book containing stunning photos from the tour. It will also be released as a standard 2-dvd set.” The film itself is “the culmination of more than a year spent promoting their hugely successful ‘Takk…’ album around the world, the Icelandic tour was free to all-comers and went largely unannounced. Playing in deserted fish factories, outsider art follies, far-flung community halls, sylvan fields, darkened caves and the hoofprint of Odin’s horse, Sleipnir”

So, after watching The Selfish Gene, Common Loon and Bon Iver you can sit back and relax as the beautiful Icelandic sights and sounds of Sigur Ros wash over you. The set times for the bands and film are being finalized and will be posted by the end of the week.

Until then, prepare yourself…

Sigur Rós - Heima Trailer:

Myspace: Sigur Rós

Each Tuesday stop by Muzzle of Bees for our recommended purchases for the week. Here is the album we suggest for the release date of October 30th:

Artist: I’m Not There: Original Soundtrack
Album: I’m Not There (OST)
Label: Sony
Myspace: I’m Not There
Video: I’m Not There Trailer
MoB: Artists like Jeff Tweedy, Cat Power, Sufjan Stevens, Jim James of My Morning Jacket tackle Dylan’s great catalog for the film about his life. The I’m Not There Myspace page (above) offers a four-song preview.

Download: eMusic
Buy: Insound

Tonight The Mountain Goats and Bowerbirds play Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater. We’re hoping we can get out of work with enough time to make the drive. Recently, we’ve grown quite fond of the Bowerbirds, who recently participated in our continuing 5 Questions with MoB feature.

Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with the Mountain Goats, especially for a $10 show! Need more proof of John Darnielle’s awesomeness? How about checking out the video featuring his singing contribution to Aesop Rock’s “Coffee.”

Myspace: The Mountain Goats
Myspace: Bowerbirds
MP3: The Mountain Goats - New Monster Avenue
MP3: The Mountain Goats - Lions Teeth

I’ve been waiting to officially announce our Muzzle of Bees showcase for this year’s Madison Pop Fest. While we are still finalizing a few details and surprises, I can’t withhold my excitement that we managed to land recent Jagjaguwar singee Bon Iver, whose album For Emma, Forever Ago easily one of the best albums of the year, and now will certainly have the reach it deserves with the help of our friends at Jagjaguwar.

On Saturday, November 10th, join us at the Music Hall on the University of Wisconsin campus for our showcase which will also feature Madison’s very own The Selfish Gene and Common Loon from Champaign, IL.

We’re thrilled and honored to be working with the fine peeps at the WUD Music Committee as well as fellow Madison blog I’m Just Sayin’ Is All… who is also holding a showcase on Saturday.

There are lots of great options for live music on that Saturday, but it’s my sincere hope you’ll swing by the MoB showcase and check out Bon Iver before he gets even bigger, plus he’s a Wisconsin boy!

MoB: Homegrown: Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
MoB: 5 Questions with Bon Iver

Myspace: Bon Iver
MP3: Bon Iver - Skinny Love

Seeing Daft Punk on the first day of this year’s Lollapalooza festival remains one of my favorite memories of the now passed summer.

I’m sure this video has made it to all ends of the internet by now, but I wanted to post it here in the event you hadn’t seen it, or in case you were not aware that their upcoming live album, Alive comes out on November 20th.

Here is the first single “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” in video form, directed by Olivier Gondry, and features footage from 250 cameras captured by fans.

Here are the Wisconsin (and Chicago) 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.

10/30 - The Mountain Goats/Bowerbirds - Pabst Theater, Milwaukee
10/30 - The Hold Steady/Art Brut - Metro, Chicago
10/31 - The Hold Steady/Art Brut - Metro, Chicago
11/2 - Film School/Land of Talk/Eulogies - The Annex, Madison
11/2 - Jens Lekman - Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago
11/3 - Robyn Hitchcock/Sean Nelson - High Noon Saloon, Madison
11/3 - Kevin Drew - The Metro, Chicago

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

The Black Dice are new to me. They share the same label as Animal Collective, whom their music shares a similar tone and bizarreness. Though that’s not always something that I appreciate, and I still can’t really figure out what I think of Black Dice (or AC for that matter), their new track is worth mentioning.

I watched their seizure inducing video for “Kokomo” a couple of times over the weekend, and again, I’m on the fence. Their latest album, Load Brown came out last week. Has anyone heard the whole thing or been a fan of their past material? Get in touch and let me know. Otherwise, if you’re a beginner like myself, check out the links below for an initial taste.

Myspace: Black Dice
MP3: Black Dice - “Kokomo”

MoB HQ has switched to the Pacific Northwest for the next couple of days. We are now taking tips on the best places to see and eat in Portland and Seattle. Tonight, The Cave Singers play the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland and if we don’t catch them there tonight, there’s a strong possibility we’ll catch up with them the following night in Seattle at the Crocodile Cafe with Black Mountain.

We highly recommend The Cave Singers’ Matador Records release, Invitation Songs. The band just released the first video, a dance-y, foot stomping, black-and-white number that is sure to make you a believer (perhaps in more ways than one).

Cave Singers - “Dancing On Our Graves”

Myspace: The Cave Singers
MP3: The Cave Singers - “Seeds Of Night”
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Download: eMusic
Buy: Insound

After Ferraby Lionheart’s recent show at the High Noon Saloon we talked about getting together for 5 Questions with Muzzle of Bees. We’re still enjoying the songwriting on the Tuesday’s Gold stamped Catch The Brass Ring, make sure you check it out for yourself.

Could you lend some information on the recording process of Catch The Brass Ring? Where and how was it recorded, and were there any lessons learned that you’ll apply towards future recording sessions?

I recorded it with a guy i met named Dan Long, mostly in a home studio in west Los Angeles. I started with 5 songs, then wrote the rest after the album began taking shape. I had lots of friends play on it. some people say they like the EP that i did in my bedroom just as much, if not more. I guess I learned you don’t necessarily need to make something big and expensive to be good.

We really love your cover of “Man On The Moon” that you did for Stereogum’s Drive XV: A Tribute To Automatic For The People. What other R.E.M. songs or albums were important to you growing up?

I’m not an REM buff, but i definitely like them, and feel like they have consistently made quality music for a long time. i think that is rare. I like that song where he’s pushing an elephant up the stairs. I’ve always liked Michael Stipe’s lyrics.

What was the last show you went to see, as a fan? Also, who’s at the
top of your list as far as concerts you’d want to see?

Not sure, probably my buddy Charlie Wadhams.

I don’t know, but i really want to tour with Feist so spread the word.

The internet has dramatically altered the way bands can reach an audience. With things like blogs/myspace/etc, what are your thoughts on the power of the internet in terms of helping (or hurting) your music?

It’s done a whole lot for me, so i feel pretty good about it.

Do you have any favorite records that were released in 2007? Anything you care to recommend?

I like ‘Sky Blue Sky’ - Wilco

Myspace: Ferraby Lionheart
MP3: Ferraby Lionheart - “Man On The Moon (R.E.M. Cover) [via Stereogum]

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Elsewhere: Make sure to read Bon Iver: Believe the Hype via our friends at Reveille Magazine. Bon Iver will be playing a Muzzle of Bees showcase on Saturday, November 10th, as part of Madison Pop Fest. Big, full announcement on that coming soon.

Also: Pick up (or read here) the latest Wired Magazine for an interesting and coincidentally timely look into LaLa.com, “Free Music Now! Lala.com’s Plan to Give Songs Away Could Upend the Industry.”