Sigur Rós, Elin Ruth Sigvardsson & other hard-to-spell things

We just wrapped up putting together Paste's International Issue for August, which will be out in a couple of weeks (one of the problems with working at a long lead magazine is keeping up with which month I'm actually in). The idea behind the issue is that there's great music coming from all over the world. This week's picks continue that theme:CD Pick of the WeekSigur Rós - Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaustOne of the highlights of Bonnaroo, Iceland's Sigur Rós is no less impressive on album. For the first time, the band left their now-famous studio built...  read more

Levon Helm, Pearl Jam and Sigur Rós at Bonnaroo

We just finished putting together our August issue, which is our special International Issue. Our premise is that "world music" isn't a genre; musicians from around the world are contributing to every style of music and adding their local flavors. International influence certainly proved to be true the first part of the day yesterday at Bonnaroo. I started local with Augusta, Ga., native Sharon Jones and her Dap Kings. It was like watching Amy Winehouse if she was better and likable—and could dance. From there, I caught Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet. Abigail is from Tennessee, but her music...  read more

R.E.M. with Johnny Marr, New Sigur Rós Stream

Forget that R.E.M.'s new record is their best in years. Forget that even when their albums started sucking, their live shows remained phenomenal. Forget that one of the openers is one of the best young bands around (The National, whose album was declared by Paste as the best of last year—an honor that has gone to their heads, according to Rainn Wilson). And forget that Modest Mouse is also on the bill. This one thing is reason enough for you to make sure you get out to see R.E.M. on their North American tour......  read more