Tuesday Rundown

... and it's a big one. To wit:

1. Shearwater frontman Jonathon Meiburg has stepped back from work with sister band Okkervil River to focus full time on his main project. No word on whether Will Sheff will continue his relationship with Shearwater, his part-time band.

2. Hip hop flavoured electro pros Ratatat have firmed up details on their third record to follow the incomparable S/T and Classics. Creatively titled LP3, it should hit streets July 8th, lest Ratatat catch Lil Wayne release date fever via XL, who are still basking in the glow of strong Vampire Weekend sales. Hell of a one-two punch, XL.

3. The Faint are apparently also in a leavin' mood. Omaha's own have quit Omaha's own Saddle Creek to release their forthcoming LP on their own new label blank.wav. August 5th will herald Fasciinatiion's release and Todd Fink et al will also hit the road late this summer including shows immediately preceding and coinciding with their big release:

August 4th @ The Fillmore
August 5th @ the Grand Ballroom

This begs the question: how viable of a creative force is Saddle Creek? Conor Oberst is set to release solo material on Merge. Sister label Team Love, is siphoning talent, including the smash Jenny Lewis solo work. They recently picked up out-of-countryers Tokyo Police Club, but by most accounts, botched their debut release, with too much sentimentality creeping in. Only time and NLtS will tell.

Shearwater/OR, Ratatat, and The Faint in the same day? Excitement grips NLtS.