We’re really enjoying what we’ve heard of the forthcoming Shearwater’s album, The Golden Archipelago, arriving February 23, 2010 via Matador Records. The band has confirmed a Milwaukee show with Wye Oak as support at Mad Planet on Monday, April 5th.

Pre-Order: Shearwater – The Golden Archipelago
Buy: Shearwater
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MP3: Shearwater – “Castaways”
MP3: Shearwater – “Black Eyes”

As 2009 draws to a close we begin to turn our eyes and ears towards what’s to come in the new year. One of the albums that I’m most excited about is Shearwater’s The Golden Archipelago (that’s the artwork above), arriving February 23, 2010.

Matador Records describes the new album as a reflection of Jonathan Meiburg’s “attention to life on islands – a world of lushness and austerity, silence and sudden cataclysms. From rising sea levels to displaced populations, Meiburg travels from the Falklands to Madgascar, from the Bikini Atoll to the Tierra Del Fuego.” We’re already sold. If they don’t play Milwaukee this year, I will be supremely crushed.

Pre-Order: Shearwater – The Golden Archipelago
Buy: Shearwater
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MP3: Shearwater – “Castaways”

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 June 3rd:

Artist: Centro-matic/South San Gabriel
Album: Dual Hawks
Label: Misra
Myspace: Centro-Matic/South San Gabriel
MP3: Centro-Matic – “I, The Kite”
MP3: South San Gabriel – “Trust To Lose”
Video: Centro-matic – “Triggers and Trash Heaps”
Upcoming: 6/8 – Centro-Matic/The M’s – Schubas Tavern
MoB: n case you missed our previous reporting on one of my favorite releases of the year, let this be another opportunity to tell you just how special this double disc collection is.

Artist: Shearwater
Album: Rook
Label: Matador
Myspace: Shearwater
MP3: Shearwater – “Rooks”
Video: Shearwater – “Palo Santo”
Upcoming: 6/24 – Shearwater – Mansion, Chicago
MoB: A delicate and splendid follow up to the twice released Palo Santo. This record is the culmination of Jonathan Meiburg making this band his full-time gig, and after repeated listens, I’m sure glad he did.

Artist: Fleet Foxes
Album: Fleet Foxes
Label: Sub Pop
Myspace: Fleet Foxes
MP3: Fleet Foxes – “White Winter Hymnal”
Video: From The Crowd | Fleet Foxes – “English House”
Upcoming: 7/18 – Fleet Foxes/A Hawk & A Hacksaw – UW Terrace, Madison
MoB: Madison fans need no reminder of the awesomeness that is the Fleet Foxes.. remember the High Noon Saloon, right? If you’re late to the party of praise for these harmonies loving residents of Washington state, go ahead and just check them out. Recommended for fans of Grizzly Bear and My Morning Jacket.

Artist: The Cool Kids
Album: The Bake Sale
Label: C.A.K.E Recordings
Myspace: The Cool Kids
Video: The Cool Kids – “Black Mags”
Upcoming: 8/1 – The Cool Kids – Lollapalooza, Chicago
MoB: I must thank MoB photographer/contributor Ed Oliver for turning me onto these guys through his photo recap of their recent stop at UW. Since that time, The Bake Sale has been one of our new favorite hip-hop albums.

Artist: Radiohead
Album: The Best of
Label: Capitol
Myspace: Radiohead
Video: Radiohead – “Karma Police”
Upcoming: 8/1 – Radiohead – Lollapalooza, Chicago
MoB: Radiohead is a band from England that are quite popular. They are headlining music festivals and have released several albums to date that have been talked about by many for some time. Some say Ok Computer is one of the best records ever recorded. If you don’t have any of their records, or are simply curious as to what all the fuss is about, I guess this is a worthy starting place. Honestly though, who doesn’t own their entire catalog already?

Find MP3′s at The Hype Machine or buy stuff from Strictly Discs | eMusic