Sondre Lerche, fan of Merriweather Post Pavilion
photo by Christopher Nelson

• Everybody loved that Animal Collective album this year. Including Sondre Lerche who called the song “Bluish,” off that album, his “favorite song of the year.” As a result of this love, you can download a faithful but scaled back cover of the song below, courtesy of Stereogum.

• Kimya Dawson’s new band, also featuring Jeffrey and Jack Lewis, Karl Blau, and an unfamiliar (to me) person named Anders Griffen. They’re called The Bundles and they’ll be releasing their self-titled debut on March 9th on Olympia’s K Records. As we mentioned Monday, they’ll be competing on the charts with Beulah frontman Miles Kurosky.

• Radiohead is looking to put out another one in 2010. It seems to be a big goal year for a lot of musicians and there already too many high-profile 2010 albums to count, but check out this list for a little sample. They missed a couple that I’m stoked for, though: local indie pop band The Long Winters (and maybe a John Roderick/Kathleen Edwards side project?) and Okkervil River to name a couple…

• It’s becoming a bit of a weekly custom here in Thursday News Threads-land to update you all on Broken Bells, the new Danger Mouse/James Mercer collaboration. Well, now they’re giving you a free download of their first single over at their website… you’re going to have to give them your email address, though. Or buy it on iTunes or Amazon.

• Julian Casablancas, that guy from the Strokes who put out an album that a lot of people apparently have gone a bit gaga over, just released a new video for his song, “11th Dimension.” This video, guys. Maybe I’m just about to go a little bit gaga over him, too.

• Local Seattle singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile played some stuff from her new record at Rolling Stone. They’ve posted some videos on the web… check ‘em out!

• In news-you-probably-don’t-care-about, Amy Winehouse was arrested again, Pete Doherty was arrested again, and Steven Tyler checked into rehab for his painkiller addiction. Niiice.

photo by Christopher Nelson

Membership does have its rewards, and if you support KEXP during the Fall Membership Drive at the $500 level, you will automatically be enrolled in the KEXP 500 Club and invited to four exclusive VIP Club Concert Series performances throughout the year. In the past, these concerts have featured such great bands as Interpol, The Frames, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Sebadoh, Okkervil River, Neko Case, The Walkmen, and many, many others.

Last week, Norwegian singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Sondre Lerche played a stripped down and intimate set of songs new and old just for KEXP listeners at The Triple Door, one of Seattle’s most beautiful venues. Enjoy these songs from the session and remember that all gifts of support to KEXP enable us to not only put on these exclusive performances but also videotape and present them for all members to see!