“Boy With a Coin” is the new single from the forthcoming Iron & Wine album, The Shepherd’s Dog, due out September 25. Sam Beam has mentioned that he was planning to make a lighter album and this song is definitely indicative of a more upbeat and fuller sound from the normally hushed singer-songwriter. Dig those handclaps and distant electric-guitar! The single comes with two bonus tracks, “Carried Home” and “Kingdom of the Animals”.

MP3: Iron & Wine - “Boy With A Coin”

More good news for fans of free concert DVDs following last week’s downloadable Glastonbury documentary!

“Awesome” and “generous” might better describe self-professed “regular dude” Mike, who is releasing a free Panda Bear tour DVD via his website! Made up of footage from several of Panda Bear’s 2007 solo shows, the DVD will also contain sound checks, audience responses, a Panda Bear interview, and other random footage. Hypeful will keep you updated about when you’ll be able to order your free DVD as soon as Mike is finished putting it together. (Thanks to gorillavsbear for the heads up!)

Today kicks off Live Earth - the organized event includes 24 hours of music across 7 continents and performances by more than 150 musicians. The goal of the concert is to inspire individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve the climate crisis - and maybe, just maybe, rock your socks. You can watch it online - just don’t expect any Arctic Monkeys.

>Chicago’s daily newspaper RedEye is having an online tournament to determine the greatest Simpsons character of all time. The first bracket has 32 Springfield denizens facing off with some tough choices.

>Blender has a list of the 100 days that changed music. Sadly, Hypeful’s launch date was overlooked…

>Aural Fitness is sharing five super rare acoustic Prince tracks.

Two men who had important roles in pop music and culture have sadly died this week.

Boots Randolph, whose legendary saxophone playing on songs like “Yakety Sax” made him one of Nashville’s top musicians, died on Tuesday. He recorded more than 40 albums and as a session musician played on many hits - including Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender,” Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “I’m Sorry,” REO Speedwagon’s “Little Queenie” and Al Hirt’s “Java.”

Lyricist Hy Zaret, who wrote the words to one of the most frequently recorded songs of the 20th century - “Unchained Melody,” died on Monday about a month shy of his 100th birthday. Not only did the song score Zaret an Academy Award nomination, but the the song has been recorded more than 300 times by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Lena Horne, U2, Guy Lombardo, Vito & the Salutations and Joni Mitchell.

Hypeful’s friend Chris noted that the only song that should be played is “Yakety Taps” - and sadly that song has not been written. Instead, please enjoy “Yakety Sax”.

MP3: Boots Randolph - “Yakety Sax”