Album of the week: Beware and Be Grateful by Maps & Atlases

The indie-rock group Maps & Atlases have gone though some changes throughout the years. Their early albums were heavily steeped in math rock influence, but the Chicago natives continue to make their experimental sound a little more pop-centric. The opening track on M&A’s new album, Beware and Be Grateful, features ethereal harmonies, numerous trills and a simple quarter-note beat. Dave Davison adds strangely alluring vocals over Erin Elders’ technical guitar work. Many songs also bleed into each other, which gives the album an overarching theme.

Conor Oberst to open bar in Omaha

Frontman for Bright Eyes, who originally put Omaha on the map in an indie-rock sense, has plans to open a bar in his hometown. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Oberst along with another fellow musician will be opening the bar at a location that was originally a bookstore named Pageturners Used Books. Preliminary gossip indicates that the bar might retain this moniker, only slightly tweaked to Pageturners Lounge. Either way, what better way to drown your sorrows.

Levon Helm, singer and drummer for The Band, dies at 71

As Vox reported earlier in the week, legendary singer and songwriter Levon Helm passed away after his long battle with throat cancer on Thursday. This sad news was expected after his wife posted on his website that Levon was nearing the end of his battle with cancer. Former bandmates have flooded music channels with nothing but praise for Mr. Helms. The music industry has lost a great musician and friend.

David Byrne and St. Vincent announced anticipated release date

Perhaps the greatest musical pairing since David Bowie and Queen, David Byrne (Talking Heads) and St. Vincent have finally announced a fall release for their yet-to-be-titled album. The duo have been working on the release since 2009 and St. Vincent lead singer Annie Clark told Rolling Stone this about the release: “We just started writing and kept writing and writing,” she says. “It just evolved to become this much bigger thing.”

Wiz Khalifa was “kinda freaked out” by 2Pac hologram

If you haven’t seen it yet, head over to the YouTubes and check out Dr. Dre and Snoop’s 2Pac hologram. Although the screaming crowd is a good indicator that the crowd was enjoying the resurrection experience, not everyone present found the hologram wonderfully nostalgic. Wiz Khalifa, who was sharing the stage up until 2Pac’s entrance, confesses the he was a little “freaked out” by the 2Pac’s ghostly apparition. I guess Khalifa better steer clear of the possible 2Pac tour. Oh, a Jimi Hendrix hologram might be reality in the near future as well.