Sam McAllister is an ambitious young musician and business owner. As the founder of Tandem Shop he has released four albums over the last two years including albums by Mr. Bear and Honest Engines. The label releases are thoughtful and well-produced, and his latest release just happens to be his own. When he partners musically with his high school friend Megan Frestedt the duo Project Film emerges. The duos debut album called Chicago finds the duo presenting an exercise in indie pop. At times the sound is soft and sweet ("Sun"), and at others bouncy and fun ("Cut Outs"). The album was recorded in McAllisters studio apart in the Fall and Winter of 2009, and documents the two worlds that they have existed in. The album contrasts growing up in Minneapolis and relocating to Chicago. Chicago is a beautifully simple and charming duo for a musician and producer that plans to do big things here in Chicago.

Project Film released Chicago on November 9th.

If winning the most recent poll did not temp you enough to check out the uniquely tropical sounds of Esta Vivo than hopefully this post will. This primarily a project by Ryan McMahon (formerly of Bearries), and as Está Vivo he constructs dense sounds that reminds me a little of Os Mutantes at times. This is especially true in the track "Natural Blossom" below.

Está Vivo’s debut LP, Together We Step, is due out later this year.

Ok Go has done it again. The band’s latest video is for the track "Last Leaf" which appears on their recent release Of The Blue Colour of The Sky. The band recently release an "Extra Nice" edition of the album which comes complete with an entire second disc of bonus material, as well as a download card for 12 OK Go remixes.

Cast Spells have released a new video for their song "Glamorous Glowing" which appeared on their August 2009 ep Bright Works and Baton.

Shapers just released a new video for their track "Happy Birthday Polywog". "Happy Birthday Polywog" from SHAPERS’ new 7-inch, coming out November 16 on Whistler Records. The video feature video art and guest vocals by Joe Carsello of the band Lasers and Fast and Sh*t.

You can catch Shapers at The Empty Bottle on November 15th with Small Black and Class Actress.

Colin Caulfield (aka Young Man) had a good amount of buzz heading into CMJ, but his performances have seem to launch onto the next plateau. Video from his performance has appeared on several blogs including Spin’s Interface. Colin recently posted a new video for an unreleased song called "Enough". Colin understands how to promote and spread his "ideas" around the web, and that seems to be making a difference as his hype is spreading quickly.

Camera will be performing Live @ The Metro on Friday 11/5/2010 (tonight!). Also appearing are Loyal Divide, A Lull, and Louis and The Hunt ($10 door / $6 advanced). Tickets may be purchased directly from The Metro’s website. This video was shot by Realistic Films live from our Pitchfork Aftershow at The Darkroom. "The Negotiator" is a new song from our debut LP, The Panic and The Permanence, which will be released sometime just after the 1st of the year!

Minneapolis based Northern Outpost have created a video for our very own Geronimo! for their track "Design Yourself A Heart". The track comes from the bands debut album Fuzzy Dreams. Geronimo! is currently working on a new full length due out in 2011 and is scheduled to play Canadian Music Fest 2011 in Toronto.

It’s incredible what you can do with an iPhone 4. Pinto and The Bean are a duo that like to record in their living room and make videos in their Kitchen.

Secret Colours have released a new digital single this week called "In The Absence". The band has received a lot of local and national praise since releasing their self-titled debut album back in August.

Secret Colours will be performing at Subt on Nov. 12th with Wolf in Spacesuit and Calm Palm Vapors.

We now have our first taste of the new album, Dye It Blonde, from The Smith Westerns. They have released the first single from the album "Weekend". As we reported last week, Dye It Blonde will be released by Fat Possum on January 18th.

You can catch The Smith Western this Friday (Nov. 5th) at Lincoln Hall with Mickey and Dead Luke. (Photo by Jaein Lee)

Today is the official release date of the new album from The 1900’s, Return of the Century. The band recently released a video for the first track on the LP "Amulet". You can purchase the album here or stream it on the band’s bandcamp page.