News and Notes and MP3 (part 1)

- NPR's "World Cafe" picks their Top 10 of '08 ... (Really, Kings of Leon that high? Really?)

- Written and recorded Gramercy Arms’ studio in NYC, "This Christmastime", is a collaboration that features Mascott’s Kendall Jane Meade on lead vocal. Gramercy Arms' is a New York supergroup that features current and former members of Guided By Voices, Luna, Joan Wasser of Joan as Police Woman, Dead Air and The Damnbuilders lead Dave Darby.

Their debut album features guest performances by comedienne Sarah Silverman, Lloyd Cole, Chris Brokaw and Joan Wasser as well as present and former members of Nada Surf, The Pernice Brothers, Dead Air, Shudder To Think and more.

Listen to "This Christmastime" here

- Chicago's The Bitter Tears release their sophomore album, Jam Tarts in the Jakehouse, nationally on March 3, 2009 through Carrot Top Records ... (There's Carrot Top Records, Really?)

- Roger O'Donnell, formally the keyboardist for the Cure, has released the first song, "In Your Hands Now," from his upcoming solo full-length Songs from the Silver Box. The track is a collaboration between O'Donnell and Australian singer Lenka. MP3 here

- Fans of Midlake: Eric Pulido is in the coffee business with his fair-trade Cappulido Coffee

- Atlanta's All the Saints (a long time fav of the DJ going back to their early days) will be playing a show at the Drunken Unicorn on December 13. Their single, "Sheffield" is getting a lot of play, so if you haven't heard it, click here

- JJ Cale's new album Roll On comes out on Rounder Records on February 24, 2009.

Here's Beck, live, covering "Magnolia" in 2002: