Kevin Bronson on June 4th, 2009

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Post-punk/new wave quartet Stellastarr* reminds me of better times. “Jenny” occupies the No. 3 slot on my “Popular With Me 2003” mix, and the New Yorkers had another hit with “My Coco” before taking a drubbing in the backwash of other mid-decade post-punk bands who seemed to have more industry horsepower. Although label-less, they have a third album on the way July 7, “Civilized,” and, although it has all the caffeinated ingredients I liked in their first two albums, I almost didn’t recognized singer Shawn Christensen – he’s gone almost tenor. Stellastarr* will visit the Troubadour on July 31.

||| Download (via PureVolume): “Freak Out”

Be still my heart – Yo La Tengo has a new album on the way. “Popular Songs” is due Sept. 8 on Matador, and the press material assures that the album is every bit as all-over-the-map sonically as their past work. I’ll take their word for it. It’s the first album since 2006 for the band, which marks its 25th year in 2009. No West Coast dates in sight; the band will be playing the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago on July 17.

||| Download: “Periodically Double or Triple”