In between performing at ACL and penning tunes for hit TV medical dramas, Ian Ball of Gomez managed to find some time in his schedule to pen a solo album - Who Goes There. The new songs are lovely, but it sounds like poor Ian’s heart only leads him into grief. Both “Elephant Pharmacy” and “I Knew You Were Trouble” are airy laments about no-good girls leading Ian down paths of drugs and heartache. In other words, the stuff great songs are usually made of. Head over to Stereogum for another nice track, “Failure”, and the album drops next Tuesday (October 30).

MP3s:
Ian Ball - “Elephant Pharmacy”
Ian Ball - “I Knew You Were Trouble”

While I’m very curious about the Todd Haynes-directed Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There hitting theaters in November, I’m just as interested in the 2-disc soundtrack dropping October 30. The soundtrack is overflowing with Dylan covers from some truly ace artists (seriously, just check out that tracklist) and the soundtrack’s MySpace page is currently streaming four tracks. It’s interesting to hear what the artists are doing with their covers. While Jeff Tweedy stays close to the original material, Sufjan brings his orchestral flare to his Dylan track. Check them out below.

MP3s:
Jeff Tweedy - “Simple Twist of Fate”
Sufjan Stevens - “Ring Them Bells”

STREAM:
Calexico & Jim James - “Goin’ to Acapulco”
Cat Power - “Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again”

Kate Nash recently dropped by the Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge and treated listeners with a cover of Arctic Monkeys’ “Fluorescent Adolescent.” It’s always nice to hear that Tom Jones ain’t the only one covering the A-Monks.

MP3:
Kate Nash - “Fluorescent Adolescent” (Arctic Monkeys Cover - Live Lounge)

In preparing for his classical debut at the 25th Next Wave Festival, Sufjan Stevens opened up to NY Magazine about his commissioned project The BQE — a symphonic and cinematic exploration of one of New York’s least celebrated monuments: the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Although Soof avoids getting too personal, the article provides some more insight into The BQE piece and the daunting tasks he faces bringing it together for the approaching sold-out performances. Perhaps most interesting are his thoughts on rock and roll, telling the mag:

“Rock and roll is dead. Rock and roll is a museum piece. It has no viability anymore. There are great rock bands today—I love the White Stripes, I love the Raconteurs. But it’s a museum piece. You’re watching the History Channel when you go to these clubs. They’re just reenacting an old sentiment. They’re channeling the ghosts of that era—the Who, punk rock, the Sex Pistols, whatever. It’s been done. The rebellion’s over.”

Hopefully Soof was joking a bit. After hearing “In The Words Of The Governor” earlier this year, I don’t think I was alone in wanting to hear a little more of Soof rocking out.

MP3:
Sufjan Stevens - “In The Words Of The Governor”

Following the release of the “Flux” studio recording earlier this week, NME has gotten its hands on the accompanying music video for Bloc Party’s new single. Giant robots and monsters smashing buildings are awesome. Unfortunately, the only available format for the video is Windows Media - which is not awesome. Thanks to Stereogum for the heads up!

VIDEO:
Bloc Party - “Flux”