Pitchfork

Merge Records is a trusty source for things musical in nature, and this spring, they're got a couple discs lined up from a pair of veteran acts practically guaranteed not to disappoint.

First up is Auditorium, the fifth LP (and third for Merge) from the Radar Bros. Out January 29, Auditorium was recorded entirely at vocalist Jim Putnam's home studio. Jim and the lads will step out in public every Monday night in January at Los Angeles' Echo, where they'll play for the low low admission fee of zero dollars. Can't beat that price!

The ninth LP from veteran sadsack Mark Eitzel and his kinda-recently-rejuvenated American Music Club, entitled The Golden Age, is due from the label February 18. Eitzel and longtime partner Mark "Vudi" Pankler are joined by "new guys" Sean Hoffman and Steve Didelot on the disc. In The Golden Age, expect a wealth of longing, heartbreak, and songs about the city by the bay (the band's former home). In spring of 2008, expect a full-bore American Music Club tour, though in the meantime, you'll have to catch 'em in Cali. Or wait until February and head to Europe.

Auditorium:

01 When Cold Air Goes to Sleep
02 Warm Rising Sun
03 Happy Spirits
04 Hearts of Crows
05 On Nautilus
06 Hills of Stone
07 Lake Life
08 Watching Cows
09 Pomona
10 A Dog Named Ohio
11 Brother Rabbit
12 Morning Bird

Radar live:

01-07 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
01-14 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
01-21 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
01-28 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo

The Golden Age:

01 All My Love
02 The Victory Choir
03 The Decibels and the Little Pills
04 The Sleeping Beauty
05 The Stars
06 All the Lost Souls Welcome You to San Francisco
07 Who You Are
08 The Windows on the World
09 One Step Ahead
10 The Dance
11 I Know That's Not Really You
12 On My Way
13 The Grand Duchess of San Francisco

American Live Music Club:

11-09 San Francsico, CA - Rickshaw Stop
11-13 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo *
02-14 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
02-16 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands - W2 Concertzaal
02-17 Groningen, Netherlands - Vera

* with Emma Pollock