Michael McDonald Sings Grizzly Bear

I'm sure most of you have heard this already, but for those of you who haven't: join me in listening to the most surreal moment in music this year. Michael McDonald singing "While You Wait for the Others", the second single off Grizzly Bear's luminous second LP, Veckatimest. (Yes, that Michael McDonald. The old guy with the white beard who used to rock out in Doobie Brothers and who sings like an insane person.)

I don't quite know what to do with this track. "While You Wait for the Others" was one of my top five favorite songs of the past year, and then the band brings in one of the most ridiculed singers alive to sing it for the B-side of their single. Are Grizzly Bear fans of McDonald? Or is this some joke? (If it is a joke, it's a pretty mean one. I think. Then again, McDonald could use the work, I guess.)

Basically, I've been scratching my head about this for a good week or two. Check it out.

CYHSY and Foreign Born free tracks

In case you haven't heard, two great bands have recently released free tracks.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah released "Statues." They consider the song a demo version which they say they plan to keep working on, hopefully in preparation for a new album. Its interesting for a band to release a work in progress, as so many artists wait until an album is 100% done before they release songs. Download it from their official website here.

The second track I found while checking out Grizzly Bear's blog. Foreign Born, who have apparently become friends with Grizzly Bear, let them post "Vacationing People" for download. For those not familiar, Foreign Born are a Los Angeles band who makes good pop experimental rock. Download the track off Grizzly Bear's blog.