The weather is beautiful and we’re looking forward to this week’s Rock Yard party. It’s at 354 Wythe Avenue. Also today, Brooklyn Fireproof will be hosting a music festival they’re calling Out in the Streets. And in case you didn’t hear, the final Pool Party featuring Delorean is back on for tomorrow. Get their early because it’s going to be packed.

Last week, Sufjan Stevens surprised us with his All Delighted People EP. Now, he’s starting our weekend off right with a free track from his upcoming record, The Age of Adz. Grab “I Walked” here. Asthmatic Kitty has the 411 about his upcoming record, due out October 12:

It’s much too soon to cast descriptive lots, but we can say the new album sounds nothing like the All Delighted EP (although it shares similar themes of love, loss, and the apocalypse). Nor is this new album built around any conceptual underpinning (no odes to states, astrology, or urban expressways).

We can say it shows an extensive use of electronics (banjos and acoustic guitars give way to drum machines and analog synthesizers), and an obsession with cosmic fantasies (space, heaven, aliens, love), to create an explicit pop-song extravaganza, augmented by heavy orchestration, and maybe even a few danceable moments. Enjoy Your Rabbit meets the BQE. But with songs. Verse, chorus, bridge, backbeat. Gated reverb. Space echo. Get your boogey on.

The “Adz” of the title loosely refers to the apocalyptic paintings of outsider artist Royal Robertson (1930-1997), whose work is used for the album cover, interior design, and as general inspiration for the tone of the album.

Unless you have a review copy or grabbed the leak on Amazon you’re going to have to wait until Tuesday to read the new Jonathan Franzen. Thankfully, The New Yorker has a sneak peak of the first two chapters.

If you’re jealous of President Obama for getting his hands on an advance copy of Jonathan Franzen’s new novel “Freedom,” don’t fret: versions of the book’s first two chapters, originally published in the June 8, 2009, and May 31, 2010, issues of the magazine, are available on our Web site. Read “Good Neighbors” and “Agreeable” while you wait—patiently or impatiently—for the book to go on sale Tuesday.

From TruePanther:

New single from Real Estate. Two brand new songs, “Out of Tune” and “Reservoir”. “Out of Tune” was recorded by Jarvis Taveniere and features some synthwork by Daniel Lopatin (aka Oneohtrix Point Never). Greater fidelity and more sophisticated songwriting than we’ve heard from Real Estate before. Available on 7″ and Digital Single 10/12/10.

by truepanther

We weren’t going to post this, since it’s already getting lots of attention. But on second thought…. we wouldn’t want any one to miss out.

Next week’s show is back on. Yahoo. As far as we know, today’s Chromeo show has not been canceled either. We’ll keep you posted. [via]

Five days after abruptly canceling the last installment of the Pool Parties concert series at East River State Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, because the promoter of the shows had not paid its bills, the nonprofit group that helps administer the park has reinstated that show, which is set for next Sunday.

The Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn said on Sunday morning that Jelly NYC, the promoter, had paid most of the money it owed for use of the park, and that two adjacent businesses to the park — a small strip along the waterfront with striking views of Midtown Manhattan — chipped in to make up the difference. Those donors were Norman and Elaine Brodsky, who are among the owners of CitiStorage; and Douglaston Development, which is building the Edge, a large luxury apartment building.

“We are pleased that Jelly was able to meet most of its obligations,” said Steve Hindy, the alliance’s chairman and the president of Brooklyn Brewery.

You can listen to a stream of the 5 song EP below, or buy it for 5 bucks here.

Who could be worse than Oysterhead? I’ve got a new piece up over on The Awl that will enlighten you on this important topic.

We’ve been enjoying their new video, “Foxy Moxy,” and now you can check them out tomorrow at Mercury Lounge.

7:30 :: THE NAKED HEROES
8:30 :: HACIENDA

MERCURY LOUNGE
SATURDAY AUGUST 21
7:30 :: $10
217 East Houston Street, NYC

I guess we can blame (or thank) Vampire Weekend for making Peter Gabriel relevant again. Is it weird that I would have preferred a cover of ‘Sledgehammer’?

Anyway, NME has the new track available for download now, so go grab it here.

Grab it soon though, they will be removing it at 4pm on Friday August 20th.