alt-J: 3WW

With a meditative, lengthy instrumental lead-in, alt-J’s new single “3WW” shifts chameleon-like with each of the rotating vocalists to follow. Emotive and awash with lyrical depth, the almost five-minute-long song rises from dream sequence to tangible love story. The track hails from the band’s forthcoming album, Relaxer, out 2 June. Alt-J will be touring the US and Europe this summer.

New York City’s Weekend of Art Fairs

It’s Armory Week in NYC and as the New York Times makes clear: the art-oriented festivities now comprise about a dozen fairs (and plenty of gallery activations). Of course, the Armory Show (across Piers 92 and 94) is by far the largest while The Art Show at the Park Avenue Armory is the most prestigious, but the Times also focuses on happenings at NADA and …

The Shins: Painting a Hole

The fourth preview release from their forthcoming album Heartworms, “Painting a Hole” is a refreshing burst of psychedelic energy from The Shins. With kooky catchiness, pounding drums and a divinely palatable eccentricity, it distances itself from the previous three singles—with James Mercer putting his vocals to a pointed use. It gives reason to be excited about the band’s first album since 2012.