The New Pornographers have always had a great sense of humor when it comes to making music videos, putting out some truly  irreverent clips for songs like My Slow Descent Into Alcoholism, Use It and Moves. So it should come as no surprise that A.C. Newman, the indie-pop band’s front man, would also go down that road when it came to making a clip for his latest solo album Shut Down the Streets – which was released back in October. In the video for the record’s lead track I’m Not Talking, which also features Neko Case on backing vocals, the singer-songwriter decided to play on his vintage AM pop sound, as he performs it on the set of what looks like a 1970′s cable access show.

A.C. Newman – I’m Not Talking

The members of The New Pornographers are very judicious when it comes to the release of their solo albums, putting them out usually in between releases and touring commitments for the indie-rock super-group. This fall the band’s front man, A.C. Newman, will put out his still-untitled third solo effort, and first since 2009, via Matador Records. While the details of Newman’s record are still TBD, he has revealed a full slate of fall dates in support of the record. Newman’s North American tour kicks off on October 21, with a gig at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, Ontario, and will wrap roughly three weeks later in San Diego, Calif. on November 14, at The Casbah.

[Photo by Noah Kalina]

If you’re not into a night with Mr. Newman, then maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…

• Father John Misty: Fall North American Tour (9/2 – 11/3)
• North Mississippi All Stars/Missing Cat: Fall Tour (9/7 – 10/6)
• Nada Surf: December U.S. Tour (12/6 – 12/14)
• New Order: October North American Tour (10/5 – 10/23)
• Bowerbirds: Fall West Coast Tour (10/16 – 11/1)
• Aaron Neville: Christmas Celebration Tour (12/1 – 12/18)
• Mike Watt & The Missingmen: Fall Tour (9/28 – 11/10)

A.C. Newman & Will Sheff – Lost Coastlines

With 2008 starting to look smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror and 2009 now in full swing, we’re sure that you’ve probably grown tired of some of the music you injected into your iPod last year. Since you may not get the itch each Tuesday to hit your local record shop for new tunes, I thought I’d use this week’s mix tape to feature some new music that has already hit stores this year. So sit back, relax and take a listen…

We kick things off with the Derek Trucks Band’s soulful cover of Down In The Flood from the band’s seventh album Already Free. From there, we’ve got A.C. Newman – the “side-project” from New Pornographers front-man Carl Newman – with The Palace At 4 AM from Get Guilty. We continue on with the beautifully, spooky title track from Bon Iver’s recent EP Blood Bank. Next up is Whispered Words from Black Keys guitar-slinger Dan Auerbach’s solo debut Keep It Hid. Then, we’ve got another cover tune. This one comes from M. Ward who takes on Buddy Holly’s Rave On from his upcoming release Hold Time. Finally, we close things with some indie-twang-pop with Ben Kweller’s Things I Like To Do from Changing Horses.

• CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK’S MIX TAPE