The loveable whistler is back with a new single, album, and tour.  “Eyeoneye” is the first taste of Andrew Bird’s upcoming record Break It Yourself and we find he hasn’t missed a step when it comes to catchy indie rock.  Break It Yourself releases March 6th and be sure to catch the bird on tour–trust me you won’t be disappointed.  See his tour schedule after the jump.

Andrew Bird – “Eyeoneye”

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I will be attending my first Coachella ever this year.  In other firsts, the festival is being held over back to back weekends (April 13-15 and 20-22) with identical lineups.  The three night headliners are The Black Keys, Radiohead, and Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg and as much fun as those sound I’m more excited about all the small font bands (see full poster after the jump).  To start it off two legendary post-hardcore bands, At The Drive-In and Refused, reunite just in time.  Then there’s obviously M83, Explosions in the Sky, Frank Ocean, Bon Iver, araabMUZIK, Childish Gambino…the list goes on.  Coachella has a knack for putting together a cohesive weekend of music spanning genres from rock to hip-hop to electronic to folk.  Listen to the Coachella Playlist below to get hyped if you’re attending and jealous if you’re not.

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Claire Boucher, better known as Grimes, recently announced she will be releasing her second album on the legendary label 4AD.  The album Visions is now due out February 21st and contains 13 tracks including the perky electropop number “Genesis”.  Listen to it below.

Grimes – “Genesis”

Dreampop duo Memoryhouse is set to change their image from “bedroom recording project” to full-on indie rock band with their debut record coming early 2012.  With our first taste of the new direction, “The Kids Were Wrong”, we find the Toronto act moving away from a reliance on ambient sound towards reverb-laden guitar riffs.  The 10-track affair entitled The Slideshow Effect is due out on Sub Pop February 28th.  Listen to their new sound below and standout “Modern Normal” from The Years EP.

Memoryhouse – “The Kids Were Wrong”

Memoryhouse – “Modern Normal”

News from the Sleigh Bells camp.  The duo revealed that their new album is due out Valentine’s Day 2012 February 21, 2012 [update] and it is entitled Reign of Terror.  To add to the excitement, Sleigh Bells will be going on a nine stop tour of Florida with FL-native Diplo. Yes, that’s right, it finally pays off to live in Florida.  The tour is aptly named Paradise Lost.  Check out the badass teaser video above and after the jump tracklist and FL tour schedule.   And in case you forgot why you should be excited:

Sleigh Bells – “Infinity Guitars”

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Hopscotch Music Festival is just around the corner so I’m gearing up. This is only the second annually Hopscotch and yet the festival already has some real prominence. Headliners this year include The Flaming Lips, The Dodos, Guided By Voices, Superchunk, and Drive-By Truckers and they are accompanied by over a hundred bands performing at 12 venues throughout the weekend. Here’s a playlist to get you in the mood (if you’re going) or (if you’re not) a reason to go next year. I’ll keep adding to playlist as I discover more gems in the line-up. For more information on the festival head HERE.

M83′s epic new album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is due for release October 18th via Mute Records.  Pretty Much Amazing has the full album up for streaming now HERE.  Definitely worth a listen.  And don’t forget to PREORDER your copy.  Listen below to the jumpy Big Black Delta remix of “Midnight City”.

M83 – “Midnight City (Big Black Delta Remix)”

Mogwai apparently aren’t done with 2011.  After merely releasing one of the best albums of the year (so far) with Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, the band is set to release an EP in September.  The Earth Division EP will apparently be a bit of a diversion from the group’s guitar slaying norms into a “more recontextualised domain of hazy electronic distortion, accompanied by spiky wafts of violins, violas, cellos and double bass and jagged keys.”  Well I just got goosebumps.  The 4-track EP will be available in North America September 13th via Sub Pop.  Re-listen to “Rano Pano” below and more for the tracklist.

Mogwai – “Rano Pano”

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It’s been quite awhile since there has been a Chiddy Bang update around here, but that doesn’t mean the duo hasn’t stayed busy.  They’ve been performing at festivals around the country (see Bonnaroo) alongside players like Lil Wayne, Big Sean, and XV.  And after setting the world record for the longest freestyle, they’ve released the first single from their long awaited and upcoming debut album “Breakfast”.  With a catchy chorus and an energetic feel, the upbeat tune could catch some buzz in the pop world.  Check it out.

Chiddy Bang – “Mind Your Manners”

If you can’t wait until July 17th for “Breakfast”, snack on the latest full length mixtape “Peanut Butter and Swelly” available on their Bandcamp page, which includes a Matt & Kim sample and some nice work with Mac Miller.

In just a couple of weeks SLAPtheBASS will be heading to Pitchfork Music Festival AGAIN. Every year the people at Pitchfork manage to impress with a stellar genre-spanning lineup. They also do a great job at giving smaller less known bands a chance to play a high profile gig making a festival goer’s one stop shop for new finds as well old fav’s. This year is no different. For those of you that might be attending as well, below is a playlist of some acts we’re looking forward to seeing (in no particular order).

Pitchfork Music Festival Playlist