Merge Records, a music label responsible for records from the likes of Spoon and M. Ward, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a tribute CD full of amazing bands covering a bunch of awesome songs. Some of the bands on this compilation include The New Pornographers, Death Cab For Cutie, Ryan Adams, Okkervil River, Bright Eyes . . . the list goes on and on. It's a who's who of the indie music Read more

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Last week I dug up fun t-shirts for the ladies so today I'm tackling the men's t-shirt department. I love the idea of buying entertainment-related tees for guys because it not only shows you care, but that you really are listening when they quote, say, Arrested Development all the time. For those buddies I Read more

I've always assumed Natalie Portman has good taste in music — simply because of her Shins-loving character in Garden State, I'm sure. But it turns out the actress really does know her stuff. Portman rounded up a pretty great set of collaborators for her new charity compilation, Big Change: Songs for FINCA, including M. Ward, Portman's My Blueberry Nights co-star Norah Jones, and — yup — The Read more

Variety reports that Mr. Bean's next role will be in an upcoming adaptation of David Copperfield, Charles Dickens' largely autobiographical novel. The Shins, Modest Mouse, Incubus and Wolf Parade have signed on for the Download Festival, Billboard reports. A screening of Babel in a Tokyo theater caused several moviegoers to fall ill, the AP reports. Hugh Laurie will star in cop thriller Night Read more

"Sleeping Lessons" is easily my favorite song off The Shins' latest album, Wincing the Night Away, and I like the way the band gives it an entirely different vibe on this remix from the new Australia EP. The slowed-down "Sleeping Lessons (The Rac Mix)" eschews the startling mood swings of the original in favor of a more soothing and lullaby-like sound. To listen and tell me what you Read more

Last week was a big week for indie rock, ushering in two highly anticipated new releases: the Shins' Wincing the Night Away and Of Montreal's Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? How fitting, then, to discover that Of Montreal have actually covered the Shins, and the result is this more psychedelic version of the neat little pop song "Know Your Onion," off the Shins' 2001 album Oh, Inverted Read more

I've never been as smitten with The Shins as my music-listening peers, including Zack Braff and the hosts of most dinner parties I attend. The band's debut, Oh, Inverted World, was a jangly indie-rock pleasantry but often mellow to the point of boredom, while Chutes Too Narrow was catchier and twangy but not particularly deep. I had high hopes when I heard the first track off the Shins's new Read more

The Watcher has the scoop on more "Ugly Betty"/"Project Runway" crossover: Tim Gunn will guest-star on two February episodes. Stereogum has the clip of the Hold Steady rocking out on Letterman. Hecklerspray dishes that Jennifer Aniston will play a rival magazine editor on "Dirt." Rolling Stone Daily points out that the Shins' SNL appearance is a first for Sub Pop. You Ain't No Picasso gives us Read more