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It's been about six years since we've heard new music from Natalie Merchant, retrospectives, reissues, live performances and an appearance on the homeless benefit album 'Give Us Your Poor' notwithstanding. But along comes eternally optimistic singer-songwriter Brett Dennen and now Merchant is back in the spotlight on a new duet.

The tune is 'Heaven,' which Dennen originally released last year on his sunny-side-up album 'Hope for the Hopeless.' That album title was even pulled from 'Heaven's' lyrics. Nonetheless -- and not surprisingly -- Dennen doesn't seem too upset about remaking it to include Merchant.

"Working with Natalie was a dream come true," Dennen tells Spinner. "I've been a big fan for a long time. When I hear her sing my lyrics with her unmistakably beautiful voice, it is a profound encouragement."

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Although They Might Be Giants tackle more complex material on their latest children's album, 'Here Comes Science,' they're certainly not experts in the field. "Oh man, I was such a bad student in science," co-frontman John Flansburgh tells Spinner. "I wasn't a good student at all. We're not educators. We brought in a science consultant to make sure we didn't mess something up or misread the Wikipedia entry."

With the help of Eric Siegel, the Director and Chief Content Officer of the New York Hall of Science, the quirky Brooklyn rockers were able to make sure they got their facts straight while keeping their fun vibe on songs like 'I Am a Paleontologist,' 'Meet the Elements' and 'Electric Car,' featuring Flansburgh's wie, Robin Goldwasser. "Working with Eric was really good because working in a museum is kind of the same challenge as making an album about science," Flansburgh says. "You're trying to figure out the ways of making it interesting and still keeping to the facts. You want it to be funzy-wunzy but it can't be wrong. That's a little bit of a tightrope walk."

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Back in 1970, the Doors played four nights at Madison Square Garden's Felt Forum. The shows, which would be the band's last in New York City, were part of 12 recorded for the 'Absolutely Live' album. "We would use one song from here, one song from there to make a live album. We didn't really think about using an entire show because we thought, 'Well, let's take the best song out of each night and put those together as an album,'" Doors guitarist Robby Krieger tells Spinner.

But Krieger believes that ultimately didn't work. "When you do that it's kind of sterile. It's like it doesn't really have the flow of a live show," he says. "And even though there might be little mistakes and sloppy drum part of guitars here and there it doesn't matter. At the time it did, but 40 years later it doesn't matter."

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Czech singer Marketa Irglova and Irish musician Glen Hansard won hearts with their critically acclaimed film, 'Once,' and the Oscar-winning hit, 'Falling Slowly.' As the Swell Season, the two have played sold-out shows all over the world. Despite all their successes, Hansard admits that he and Irglova are recognized on the street more but make sure to be true to themselves. "When you're shocked to your core with the success of an award like that, I think you have to really look into yourself and look into your roots and look at how grounded you are," Hansard tells Spinner. "And don't resist [success]. Just go with it."

And now the Swell Season is back with 'Strict Joy' -- a new collection of crooning ballads and heart-melting love songs. "For me, it's just an audio diary," Hansard admits. "It's just another installment of the life we lead."

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One minute you're Sean Sullivan working a day job in New York City's fashion biz and playing guitar in an indie rock band called Sam Champion. Seemingly, the next moment you're sailing off to Jamaica to star in a movie with Norah Jones ('Wah Do Dem') and a record label is asking you to follow up your fun reggae-tinged solo single, 'Easy Street,' with a full album. Such has been the whirlwind year for Brooklyn-based Sullivan, who's about to be better known as Sean Bones, author of the catchy summer beach party anthem, 'Dance Hall,' which has now been remixed with a techno feel by Boston electro punks, the Bodega Girls.

"It started with a seven-inch record," Sullivan tells Spinner. "A year later, I've got a full-length and tour dates. Now it's on, Sean Bones-style," he jokes. Sean Bones style is a charming blend of ska and Britpop -- the Specials and Blur are two of Sullivan's touchstones -- that's collected on the infectious reggae pop grooves of his debut album, 'Rings,' which was released by Frenchkiss Records in July.

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For an artist like Amanda Blank, influences are everything. The Philadelphia rapper/singer says she's been influenced by everyone from her producers, Diplo and Switch, to her mom. She also says that friend, colleague and partner in dance-music crime Santigold, is a huge influence.

"Santi was really instrumental to my growth," tells Spinner. "We're two women, two solo artists, doing our thing, our way." M.I.A. hitmaker Diplo also has a strong hand in her sound. "We're superhomies, friends forever," she says, adding that Diplo is always encouraging her by saying "Be better, rap it better."

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The first single from Har Mar Superstar's upcoming album 'Dark Touches' was originally intended for one of Mr. Superstar's contemporaries: Britney Spears. Well, at least he wrote it with her in mind, but eventually Har Mar (aka Sean Tillmann) came to his senses and decided to record 'Tall Boy' on his own.

The song is "about drinking tall boys, tall beers and also sex," Har Mar tells Spinner. "It's a double, sometimes triple, entendre depending on who you are. Also, it's really just a party jam."

Good thing, then, that it arrived just in time for the second half of summer. Crack one open and crank it up.

Download: 'Tall Boy' (MP3)

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For your rock star wannabe, daughter these Hannah Montana costumes from Halloween Party Store will do perfectly.

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Spinner.com: Artist: Pretenders Song: 'Boots of Chinese Plastic'Album: 'Break Up the Concrete'Why You Should Listen: Many changes have taken place in the band's line-up in the past 30 years, but frontwoman Chrissie Hynde holds steady with her signature vibrato on... Read more

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Spinner.com: Artist: Sunfold Songs: 'Sara the American Winter'Album: 'Toy Tugboats' [iTunes]Sounds Like: Annuals, Band of HorsesDownload: Sunfold, 'Sara the American Winter' (MP3)[Get Winamp] [Download Help] Next MP3... Read more