Megafaun’s self-titled new album arrives September 20th on Home-Tapes.

Next week Gardens & Villa will release their self-titled (and Richard Swift produced) album on Secretly Canadian.

I haven’t been able to stop listening to it over the past week. You can stream the record in full over at Yours Truly. The band is currently on tour with Foster The People. Looking forward to their Austin show on Saturday.

MP3: Gardens & Villa – “Star Fire Power”
MP3: Gardens & Villa – “Black Hills”
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Buy: Gardens & Villa

In 2008, Matt Bauer released The Island Moved In The Storm, one of our favorite records of that year that has continued to hold its weight in rotation since.

Earlier this year Bauer released The Jessamine County Book Of The Living, a continuation of greatness which demonstrates Bauer’s a firm grasp on the songwriting craft.

If you live in Austin be sure to catch Matt Bauer at Waterloo Records at 5pm this Wednesday and later that night at the Mohawk. Both shows feature the equally talented Dana Falconberry.

We couldn’t think of a more fitting subject to draw favorite sad song selections from and are thrilled to feature Matt Bauer’s selections below.

Jolie Holland – “The Future” (Listen)

There are a million love songs and a ton of break up songs, but I can’t think of another song that touches on love and break ups in this way. The speaker in the song recounts to her partner all of the things they’ve had, recounts their love in detail as a kind of tribute as she asks him gently to wake up from their “beautiful dream” because it’s ending. Such a strange, generous, unique and heartbreaking song.

Dolly Parton – “Lonely Coming Down” (Listen)

If someone other than Dolly delivered this, it could swing way too far into melodrama, but she captures the over the top longing and sadness of having your heart broken just perfectly. The little detail in the lyrics that describes the impression left on her pillow from her lover’s head is so specific and sad!

Tom Brosseau – “How To Grow A Woman From The Ground” (Listen)

The over all feel of this recording is just wonderfully late night and lonesome. It was recorded live with no audience in a bar. This song in particular has a lonely and surreal feeling of jumbled memories, longing, and regret that knocked me over when I first heard it years ago and still kills me.

Hazel Dickens – “West Virginia, My Home” (Listen)

Hazel had one of the saddest most beautiful voices I can think of. Listening back to this song recently I realized it’s more complicated than just a song about longing for home, its also about what happens when you leave home to follow a dream and things don’t work out the way you hoped.

Mariee Sioux – “Old Magic” (Listen)

I’ve heard Mariee sing this a million times and I still well up a little every time I hear it again. I’m not really prone to crying at shows except when something is so bad I weep for the minutes of my life being wasted! The part about “a snake who knows he’ll never stand” is usually my breaking point. So, so good.

Buy: Matt Bauer – The Jessamine County Book Of The Living
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MP3: Matt Bauer – “Blacklight Horses”
MP3: Matt Bauer -”Hammer Down”

The new Bon Iver album is out today. We highly recommend it. Pitchfork gave the record a great review. The band played The Colbert Report last night.

What do you think of the new record?

Buy: Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears just released a new mixtape called “Livin in the Jungle” curated by DJA of Mad Decent. It’s a collection, that, in their description: “combines our music with some of the most-buzzing rappers and producers out now. Even President Obama makes an appearance!”

Download: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears :: Livin’ In The Jungle

Golden Coins are offering a free download of their new Animal Variables EP. Highly recommended. We love track #2, “Dimecakes.”

Elsewhere:

Stereogum premieres a new Future Islands track. Did anyone make their show last night in Milwaukee? How was it?

Pitchfork, Vanity Fair and Guardian all feature Bon Iver.

I’ve listened to this a lot: Quietus Mix 32: Toro Y Moi Serves Up Creamed Coffee

Gillian Welch’s new album, The Harrow & The Harvest is available for pre-order.

Consequence of Sound has video of Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears on David Letterman. I’m hoping to be able to catch their ACL Live taping next week.

Pitchfork premieres Eleanor Friedberger’s video for “My Mistakes.” Look for her solo album, Last Summer to arrive later this year on Merge Records.

Fuel/Friends has posted their chapel session with Strand of Oaks. It includes a cover of Beck’s “Golden Age.”

Photos: Famous people hanging out with their vinyl

Some Velvet Blog shares two new songs from Gardens & Villa.

Have you picked up The Rosebuds new album, Loud Planes Fly Low? I’m super proud to have been a part of making this record happen. Check it out!