NPR has a couple of albums that you can stream from their site.

First up is the new collaboration by Shins frontman, James Mercer, and Danger Mouse called Broken Bells.  While the Shins linup is changing, the band is going to a new label, and Gnarls Barkley is between albums, Broken Bells formed and put out a pretty fantastic record.

Second is the latest installment from Gorillaz who will headline Coachella later this year.

UPDATE:  fixed the Broken Bells link as it was broken.  Thanks Erik!

Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer has replaced Jesse Sandoval in The Shins, as part of a shuffle in the lineup of the band. - Source

Last night's Shins show featured an interesting line-up: No Marty Crandall? Also no Jesse Sandovol on drums, although the keyboardist's absence is more likely to be the focus of internet conjecture. Rounding out the lineup were Eric Johnson on keys (Fruit Bats), Ron Lewis on bass (Fruit Bats, Ghost Stories, Grand Archives, etc.), and an unrecognized drummer. It was the second show on the Sub Pop-free band's May tour of the coasts, and our photographer Laura Musselman tells us the new crew sounded tight, if missing Marty's energy. No new tunes to speak of, but this setlist spanned the discog nicely: Continue reading The Shins @ Showbox, Seattle 5/4/09... - Source

Chances are, when you rush to your local record shop on some far-off Tuesday to pick up the Shins' fourth album, it will bear the mark of frontguy James Mercer's own Aural Apothecary imprint. And maybe not the logo of the band's longtime label Sub Pop. - Source

Here's more on the venture entitled 'Rock The Rabbit': *Rock The Rabbit artists will put their twist on the iconic Playboy Rabbit Head logo by creating limited edition t-shirt designs. Original prototypes of all t-shirt designs will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting Rock The Vote. A special collection of RTR t-shirts will be available nationwide at select Bloomingdale's locations and online at ShopTheBunny.com.*

Some of the artists include: Iggy Pop, Duran Duran, Daft Punk, The Shins, Hot Chip

Source

I was flipping around the schedule for my MythTV machine and found out that FRANZ FERDINAND was playing on the PBS show, Austin City Limits. Looking at their upcoming schedule, they have a bunch of cool acts coming up like PIXIES, WILCO, POLYPHONIC SPREE, THE FLAMING LIPS and the SHINS. Check your local listings...

I received a few emails from people who were glad to get the tip for The Magic Numbers at SxSW so I thought I'd pass along my highly anticipated tour this month... THE BRUNETTES. This New Zealand 7-piece is about to embark on their first tour of America and is doing it as the opening slot for indie-kids-who-can-do-no-wrong THE SHINS. Hand picked by the Shins to open on this cross continental tour after a stint with them in New Zealand... The Brunettes are a band on the make. Creating 60's happy-go-lucky sounds with grace and ease I hear they put on one hell of a live show. Go check them out when they hit a venue near you. If you can't make it in the very least give a listen to some of their material so you know what you're missing out on.

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Magnet Magazine, the music lovers at Magnet have organized a fabulous party. September 5 will see the likes of Guided By Voices, The Shins and My Morning Jacket take over the Trocadero in Philadelphia to celebrate. It's all ages, so gather up some pre-teens and introduce them to what a night of indierock should be.