As previously reported, Jens Lekman plans to follow up his recently released EP, An Argument With Myself, with a full-length album, his first since 2007′s Night Falls Over Kortedala. As The NJ Underground points out, Lekman recently previewed a new song titled “I Don’t Know What To Do With This Information” during a short acoustic set for BBC Radio 1. The replay is up for grabs below and it also features performances of the unreleased yet previously revealed “I Want A Pair of Cowboy Boots” and An Argument With Myself‘s “Waiting For Kristen”.

Swedish indie-popper Jens Lekman‘s recently-released EP An Argument With Myself was meant to be a “taste of what’s not to come” ahead of his upcoming, currently-detail-less full-length album. During his October 3rd gig at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall, however, Lekman offered a taste of what we might actually expect to hear when he debuted a brand track. Revealing his fascination with the moon, Lekman unveiled a sweet little number perfect for a midnight stroll thanks to its light, airy feel. Check it out below (via TwentyFourBit).

Stay tuned for more on Lekman’s next full-length as it’s announced.

The EP leads with its titular track, a frantic chronicle of a drunken stumble through the streets of Melbourne. The song captures Lekman, ahem, arguing with himself in a booze-fueled moment of introspection, playing both sides of the conflict with lines such as “F*ck you, no, you f*ck you!/You didn’t come here for nothing, did you?”. It’s a funny affair, especially sung with Lekman’s soft voice and Scandinavian accent.

In “Waiting for Kirsten”, Lekman and a friend stalk Kirsten Dunst across Gothenburg after she mentions she’s a fan of his music in an interview. Ultimately, Lekman fails to meet the actress and is turned away by the hotel receptionist for being too intoxicated when he tries to leave her behind a mash note. “A Promise” forgoes the humor for a sadder tribute to a sick friend. Lekman’s arrangements on the songs are all lavish endeavors, as expected, with horn sections, melodic strings, and sax and flute solos kicking in at different points.

The songs on An Argument With Myself reportedly didn’t gel with the songs on the currently in-development third LP, so this may not offer any clues to what that next record will sound like. Nonetheless, it’s a great mini-dose of Lekman charm that should be welcome to anyone that’s been missing him these four years.

Essential Songs: “An Argument With Myself”, “Waiting for Kirsten”

Jens Lekman’s brand new EP, An Argument With Myself, arrives next Tuesday, September 20th, via Secretly Canadian. But right now, you can stream the five-track effort in full below (via TwentyFourBit).

As previously reported, Lekman is already working on a full-length follow-up to An Argument With Myself, so there’s a lot more mind-numbing indie-pop sounds to come. He’s also about to launch a U.S. tour; those dates follow:

Jens Lekman 2011 Tour Dates:
09/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
09/29 – San Francisco, CA @ California Academy of Sciences
10/01 – Seattle, WA @ Columbia City Theater
10/03 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
10/05 – Washington, DC @ Sixth & I Historic
10/06 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Philadelphia Ethical Society
10/07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/08 – Boston, MA @ Somerville Armory
10/09 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/14 – Nijmegen, NL @ The Vereniging
10/15 – Düsseldorf, DE @ Schumannsaal Düsseldorf
10/17 – London, UK @ Heaven
10/18 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla
10/19 – Manchester, UK @ Band on the Wall
10/22 – Stockholm, SE @ Sodra Teatern
10/23 – Gotenburg, SE @ Nefertiti
10/24 – Copenhagen, DK @ Studio 2
10/26 – Vienna, AT @ Odeon Theater
10/27 – Milan, IT @ Salumeria della Musica
10/29 – Paris, FR @ Pitchfork Music Festival Paris

Well, folks, it’s officially August. The summer is coming to a close, which is sad on all counts. One of the best ways I know to get over a bout of depression (like the one the ending of summer will certainly bring) is to dive headfirst into music, new or old. The comfort of old favorites can bring a sense of nostalgia that has the ability to cheer you up in no time. As far as diving into old music goes, seing as how Lollapalooza begins today, we might suggest you dust off some old My Morning Jacket, Coldplay, or Eminem. Whatever floats your boat. New music, however, can bring hope for the future. A sense that with the changing seasons one thing will remain constant: good music. All right, I’m off my sad sack soapbox. Here are, without a doubt, the top 10 mp3s of the week. – Winston Robbins

Best Coast – “How They Want Me To Be”

Best Coast unveiled one of the year’s best videos last week, but that doesn’t mean they still can’t make headlines this week. Bethany Cosentino dropped this track a few days back, the first taste from what will eventually become their sophomore LP. And though it’s only a demo, the track is as solid as can be. If this version of “How They Want Me To Be” is a demo, imagine what it’s gonna sound like when recorded properly. No, really. Imagine. Go. -Winston Robbins

Best Coast – “How They Want Me To Be”

Canon Blue – “A Native (Madison)”

Backed by Amiina, better known as Sigur Rós’ string section, Daniel James, aka Canon Blue, comes off the blocks with a chamber power-pop morsel. When you have something akin to “driving violins”, that’s a step in a good direction. -Jeremy D. Larson

Canon Blue – “A Native (Madison)”

Cymbals Eat Guitars – “Definite Darkness”

As Cymbals Eat Guitars ready their sophomore followup Lenses Alien, lead singer Joseph D’Agostino is still as scattered as ever. But that’s a good thing, and so is the scatterbrain guitars of this track which gives you something to dig into as well as float on. -Jeremy D. Larson

Cymbals Eat Guitars – “Definite Darkness”

Das Racist – “Michael Jackson”

I don’t even know who the joke is on anymore with Das Racist, and I think that’s the point. Even if they’re shrouded in layers of irony and goofs like the gaggle of comedians they are, all you have to do is craft a hook like this and it all washes away. This may be the late entry for the jam of the summer. -Jeremy D. Larson

Das Racist – “Michael Jackson”

Jens Lekman – “An Argument With Myself”

Swedish heartthrob Jens Lekman is all prepped and ready to drop his An Argument With Myself EP. To keep us enticed (oh, and what a job he’s doing), he hit us off with a little taste of the EP, the title track to be precise. It’s afro-pop, it’s spoken word, and it’s blissful. ‘Nuff said. -Winston Robbins

Jens Lekman – “An Argument With Myself”

jj – “We Can’t Stop (Feat. Ne-Yo)”

Swedish outfit jj’s never been shy about their love for hip hop in all its forms, so the fact that they just dropped a track with a legitimate hip hop artist (Ne-Yo to be exact), makes all kinds of sense. What doesn’t make so much sense, however, is how Adult Swim keeps on cranking out incredible tracks week after week. Seriously, those guys don’t miss a beat. jj’s track is the latest addition to the collection and it’s just as good as the others. -Winston Robbins

jj – “We Cant Stop” (feat. Ne-Yo)

Katie Dill – “Bluish” (Animal Collective cover)

This track serves several purposes. On the tertiary, it highlights Animal Collective’s heart-felt songwriting of late by stripping away all but two layers of the Merriweather Post Pavillion track “Bluish”. Secondarily it serves as an entry for those unversed in both AnCo and Katie Dill‘s work, but primarily it showcases Dill’s outstanding vocal performance as she snakes her way through this ballad. Dill fronts the Deleware band Mean Lady, which I also recommend. -Jeremy D. Larson

Letting Up Despite Great Faults – “Teenage Tide”

This little ditty may have gone unnoticed by the masses, which is unfortunate since it’s possibly the pick of the litter this week. L.A. trio Letting Up Despite Great Faults dropped their latest EP Paper Crush earlier this week, with this track as the centerpiece. “Teenage Tide” is just further proof – pop-centric shoegaze will never die and thank goodness. -Winston Robbins

Letting Up Despite Great Faults – “Teenage Tide”

Neon Indian – “Polish Girl”

Neon Indian made the Top 10 cut last week with their big-league banger “Fallout”, and it doesn’t appear that they have any intention of slowing down. No matter that their sophomore album Era Extraña isn’t slated to drop until September 13th, they decided to crank out another hit, this one possibly even better than the last, which is saying a lot. It certainly carries a deeper pop vibe, and is immensely catchy. This could very well be an autumn season ruled by Neon Indian. -Winston Robbins

Sleep ? Over – “Romantic Streams”

This slow electronic cut is courtesy of Austin, TX’s own Stefanie Franciotti (aka Sleep ? Over). The little known electronic auteur allegedly played an incredibly moving set at Gorilla v. Bear Fest a little over a week ago, and judging by this track, it’s probably true. Her smooth vocals are right at home sitting atop the driving beat and the relentless barrage of synthesizer that lulls you right into a steamy trance. -Winston Robbins

Sleep ? Over – “Romantic Streams”

Last month, Swedish indie-pop maestro Jens Lekman outlined phase one of his musical master plan – which consists of releasing an EP and an LP by year’s end – with the announcement of An Argument With Myself EP. Now, via his official site, Lekman has unveiled the first song from that EP with the title track. We love it when a plan comes together.

We could describe the bouncy, Carribbean-inspired track ourselves, but why not let Lekman defend his creation: “In the case ‘Jens Lekman vs. Jens Lekman’, we will look closer at the evidence presented – the photo I had carried in my breastpocket for a whole year, the pressed honeysuckle, the wind so rich on summer and so sweet – how are these things connected and why are they relevant?” Regardless of either, it’s a great kick-off to a highly-anticipated effort and Lekman’s first release since 2007′s Night Falls Over Kortedala.

Check out “An Argument With Myself”, along with the EP tracklist and Lekman’s upcoming tour dates, below. An Argument With Myself EP is in stores September 20th via Service/Secretly Canadian.

Jens Lekman – “An Argument With Myself”

An Argument With Myself EP Tracklist:
01. An Argument with Myself
02. Waiting for Kirsten
03. A Promise
04. New Directions
05. So This Guy at My Office

Jens Lekman 2011 Tour Dates:
09/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
09/29 – San Francisco, CA @ California Academy of Sciences
10/01 – Seattle, WA @ Columbia City Theater
10/03 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
10/05 – Washington, DC @ Sixth & I Historic
10/06 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Philadelphia Ethical Society
10/07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/08 – Boston, MA @ Somerville Armory
10/09 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/14 – Nijmegen, NL @ The Vereniging
10/15 – Düsseldorf, DE @ Schumannsaal Düsseldorf
10/17 – London, UK @ Heaven
10/19 – Manchester, UK @ Band on the Wall
10/22 – Stockholm, SE @ Södra Teatern
10/24 – Copenhagen, DK @ Jazzhouse
10/27 – Milano, IT @ Salumeria della Musica
10/29 – Paris, FR @ Pitchfork Music Festival Paris

Earlier this year, Jens Lekman revealed that the could release both a EP and LP before the year’s out. Part one of this master plan will come on September 20th, when the Swedish indie-pop maestro releases a five-track EP titled An Argument With Myself via Secretly Canadian. A week later, he’ll support the release with the launch of a nine-date U.S. tour.

Speaking in an interview with the Walla Walla Union Bulletin, which was attached to the issued press release, Lekman explained that the EP’s material comprises of tracks that did fit on the full length record. “I really loved these songs, and I thought they were great, but they just didn’t seem to fit the mjenood of the record. And they seemed to be the songs that people enjoyed the most when I played them live, so I decided that they belonged together on an EP, sort of like a little taste of what’s not to come.”

Below, you can find the EP’s tracklist and Lekman’s upcoming tour dates, which he said will likely feature just him and a drummer. There’s also a clip of Lekman performing the track “Waiting for Kirsten” during a show earlier this year.

As for the LP, Lekman admitted that “all the songs ready, but they haven’t been working. It seems like they want a more organic and soulful treatment. I’ve spent almost two years recording and perfecting the arrangements and now I feel like they don’t sound exactly like I want them to, so I’m probably going to go into the studio with a producer and rerecord them.”

An Argument With Myself EP Tracklist:
01. An Argument with Myself
02. Waiting for Kirsten
03. A Promise
04. New Directions
05. So This Guy at My Office

Jens Lekman 2011 Tour Dates:
09/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
09/29 – San Francisco, CA @ California Academy of Sciences
10/01 – Seattle, WA @ Columbia City Theater
10/03 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
10/05 – Washington, DC @ Sixth & I Historic
10/06 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Philadelphia Ethical Society
10/07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/08 – Boston, MA @ Somerville Armory
10/09 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/29 – Paris, FR @ Pitchfork Music Festival Paris

Despite popping up for a few gigs last winter and that one time he got swine flu, Swedish indie-pop maestro Jens Lekman has remained out of the spotlight for the last couple of years. But with promises of two releases in 2011, it’s about time he shows his face — err, at least we hear his voice. So credit is due to Lekman’s friend/labelmate Tig Notaro, who recently invited him to appear on her podcast “Professor Blastoff.” While there, Lekman debuted a new track titled “Cowboy Boots”, which you can now hear archived at the 20-minute mark of said podcast. The full episode is available for streaming below.

There’s no word if the song will appear on Lekman’s next studio effort, but his label confirmed that it is indeed new.

You can find the first part by clicking here. Keep an eye out for additional posts next week as well.

And be sure to keep checking out our site. As you can clearly see, December has gotten off to a great start. We intend to end it, and the year in general, on a high note.

– Consequence of Gorillaz, anyone? Damon Albarn and co. pretty much dominated our headlines this week, with everything from retirement rumors to new album details to, um, Olympic-related updates surfacing within a few days of each other. And I almost forgot to mention the new video with Snoop Dogg. And the scavenger hunt.

– Coachella doesn’t arrive until next spring, but we’ve already started our lineup predictions.

– Sir Paul McCartney made Saturday Night Live watchable.

– Robert Plant told us not to get our hopes up for a Led Zeppelin reunion anytime soon.

– Big comebacks: Jeff Mangum appeared in public, Godspeed You! Black Emperor performed for the first time in six years, and Rammstein delivered their first U.S. performance in a decade.

– Michael Jackson‘s new single, “the 2010 version of ‘Thriller’,” dropped.

– Peter Bjorn and John‘s forthcoming LP now has a release date.

– While we’re on the subject of Swedish indie stars, Jens Lekman wrote a song about stalking Kirsten Dunst.

– Heather Mills took credit for putting The Beatles‘ catalog on iTunes.

– Q-Tip clarified a few things about the upcoming A Tribe Called Quest documentary.

– On a sad note, Aretha Franklin was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

– Judas Priest announced their final world tour. Ever.

– Pete Doherty is set to make his acting debut soon.

– Need tips for Bonnaroo? Well, you’re in luck.

– Raekwon‘s s new LP is allegedly due out next year.

– The Cars put out even more new material. These guys haven’t been this productive in a long time. Twenty-three years to be exact.

– Pearl Jam announced plans to host their own music festival.

– Want special-edition Daft Punk headphones? Okay, but it’ll cost you.

– The new Death Cab for Cutie album now has a title.

– R.E.M. jumped on the holiday single bandwagon.

– Watch this clip of Feist and Broken Social Scene performing “I Feel It All” together.

– Don’t watch this Kings of Leon video.

– Chris Coplan reviewed Ryan Adams‘ latest effort. Coplan also took on lists in the latest edition of Nod Your Head.

– Ted Maider shared his thoughts on deadmau5′s 4 x 4 = 12.

– Jónsi has finally made his solo debut. Find out what David Buchanan had to say about it here.

– Ted Leo and The New Pornographers played NYC’s Terminal 5. Alex Young and Kelly Staskel were there.

– We debuted our podcast this week, something we like to call Audiography.

– Derek Staples interviewed Gang Starr‘s DJ Premier.

– Harry Painter sat down with Thomas Ross Turner of Ghostland Observatory to discuss, well, lots of different things.

Our friends at TwentyFourBit have reported that the 29-year-old Swedish singer-songwriter took to the poolside at Los Angeles’ swanky Mondrian Hotel where he performed a stripped down version of “The End of the World is Bigger Than Love” and a bunch of new songs. One of those new tunes – titled “Waiting For Kirsten” – tells the tale of Lekman and a friend waiting for a certain Ms. Dunst outside of her hotel. She doesn’t show, so the tune takes the boys to a club where they find out that the object of Lekman’s affection had been turned away at the door.

The cut get’s really funny after that with Lekman singing, “I know, I know/ no one told her before/ in Gothenburg we don’t have VIP lines/ in Gothenburg we don’t care who you are.” He imagines consoling Dunst by explaining that in his hometown, “the VIP lines aren’t to clubs/but to health care, apartments, and jobs.”

There’s a surprise ending and the whole thing is pretty damn amusing. The clip is available for your viewing pleasure below, and Rawkblog has posted videos of nearly all of Saturday night’s performance. If you want a chance to see the song in person, then you’re in luck.  Lekman is set to play two sold-out shows at the Green Building in Brooklyn on December 9th and 10th, and eBay’s got some tickets up for auction right now.

Photo via Meg

Photo via Meg

Jens Lekman 2010 Tour Dates:
12/09 – Brooklyn, NY @ Green Building on Union (Sold Out)
12/10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Green Building on Union (Sold Out)

Vampire Weekend, yes Vampire Weekend! played at SXSW:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=yNgjTvMp_uw&rel=1]

MGMT played at Urban Outfitters:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=atFOGiGruoY&rel=1]

Jens Lekman played “pop music”:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=qvxg0xA8PA8&rel=1]

The Breeders were interviewed during their set:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=QTv8Lh03C2w&rel=1]

Cut Copy got interviewed too:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=MonW9Ey0YxE&rel=1]

Lykke Li performed “Little Bit”:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=l0_Zn8y0nJY&rel=1]

Bon Iver performed “What Might’ve Been Lost” and were also robbed:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=rtyyEr4vbrk&rel=1]

The Weakerthans played at the Paste/Stereogum party:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=G_MXmzP9Jso&rel=1]

Enter Shikari performed “Mothership”:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y2N7Zt4uC20&rel=1]

What we missed for Wednesday…

The Presidents of The United States of America played at Cedar Door:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=FtBkIE-Xh4I&rel=1]

Phosphorescent were at Emo’s:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=VvJGJYuhmek&rel=1]

Ben Harper and Tom Morello played together for War:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y1FYDW3U3Bo&rel=1]

Billy Bragg played at the SESAC Day Stage Cafe Austin Convention Center:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=sufzecFZxyk&rel=1]

Tokyo Police Club got interviewed by NME:

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=1ruT3mvZk0s&rel=1]

What else?  

•  Austin 360 has video from the Pitchfork party along with tons of photos from day three.
• Club.kingsnake saw Blue Rodeo and Friends.
• Spin interviewed Tapes ‘n Tapes and reviewed the Playboy party.
• Pitchfork continues to have many reviews.
• Donewaiting.com is drinking.
• Flickr has many photos tagged “SXSW”.

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