Since Maraqopa came out yesterday, I thought this would be a good opportunity to plug the interviews I did with Damien Jurado and Richard Swift for my “day job.” (That’s in quotes because it’s actually a nighttime gig…irony, right?)

During the FPK After Dark conversations, a number of topics were discussed. We talked about everything from Swift’s time in Starflyer 59 to Jurado’s love for the Grateful Dead. And no, that’s not a typo.

We also talked at length about Maraqopa and the nuances of their relationship in the studio. Plus Swift used the term “grown ass woman” while discussing Captain Beefheart. That counts for something.

Richard Swift is slowly boring his way into Damien Jurado’s head, or at least that’s the impression you get from Jurado’s latest single, Nothing Is the News. It’s the first track from his upcoming album, Maraqopa, which hits shelves Feb. 21.

The song is a fuzzy journey through a jazzy world inhabited by Picasso caricatures wearing elf shoes. I don’t know about the rest of the album, but Nothing Is the News continues further down the collaborative path blazed by Saint Barlett, and it illustrates the deepening Vulcan mind meld between Jurado and Swift.

The new Richard Swift 12-inch EP is golden, as are the records from M83 and My Brightest Diamond. Also worthy of your time: The Mommyheads, Rob Crow and Puscifer. I haven’t explored much beyond that, but there might be a couple other worthwhile albums in this week’s batch of new releases.

See this week’s new releases.

:: Richard Swift gave a rundown of all the songs he and Damien Jurado recorded for Other People’s Songs Vol. 1.

:: It only took five months, but Duff McKagan is done with Jane’s Addiction.

:: Narduwar took on Greg Ginn and Ron Reyes of Black Flag.

:: In case you’ve been waiting patiently for naked Pete Doherty pictures, you’ve been rewarded for that quiet steadfastness.

:: Mumford and Sons apparently don’t think too highly of themselves. They don’t think there’s much chance the Mercury Prize will be coming their way. Oh false modesty.

:: Fucked Up‘s Damian Abraham wants everyone to know he doesn’t wear a fat suit.

:: All Tomorrow’s Parties looked like lots of fun. Mainly thanks to the karaoke signs. And Shellac. Always Shellac.

:: So true: “Stream Hurley on Weezer’s MySpace, if you want to ruin your day.”

It looks like the collaboration between Damien Jurado and Richard Swift is going beyond just one studio album. And from the looks of things, it’ll be going beyond this volume of covers the duo just posted on their new Tumblr.

Other People’s Songs Vol. 1 was recorded on the spot by Jurado and Swift over a weekend, and it includes tracks from sources as disparate as Yes, John Denver, Kraftwerk and Chubby Checker.

Here’s hoping for a lush, dreamy version of Treat Your Mother Right (Treat Her Right) when volume two rolls around sometime this winter.

I was recently challenged to create a list of 10 bands you can’t ignore this summer. However, since you can always just ignore them — but you better not ignore them! — and because this will serve as the first of many lists celebrating Buzzgrinder’s upcoming ninth birthday, we’ve brought you nine bands you shouldn’t ignore in the coming months.

And instead of raving about normal Buzzgrinder touchstones (which I could do, since J. Roddy Walston and the Business, These United States, Rodeo Ruby Love and a bunch of others have new albums coming out, not to mention all the folks who are just always awesome), this list will focus on up-and-coming bands we’ve barely talked about, if at all.

See which nine bands you shouldn’t ignore this summer.

The first half of Saint Bartlett is Richard Swift meets Damien Jurado. The second half is Damien Jurado meets Richard Swift. Both of those are pretty self-explanatory. And neither are a bad thing.

:: Weird Al is Nostradamus, eh? I always felt like he was more of an Edward Cayce or Wolf Messing.

:: Poor Dolly Parton. Or should I say, poor Dolly Parton’s plastic surgeon. She doesn’t even look as much like Dolly Parton as a man impersonating her…

:: If you enjoy clubbing baby seals, you should reconsider your pastimes. Because if you don’t, I’m assuming Dillinger Escape Plan‘s Greg Puciato will end up breaking your clubbing hand. And your clubbing arm. And your clubbing leg. And your clubbing ribs.

:: Elijah Thomson of Everest discusses the music of, and his history with, Richard Swift. As he was reflecting on Swifty, the bizarre scope of his relationships and collaborations hit me. Jason Martin, Jeff Tweedy, Damien Jurado, Sean Lennon, Mark Ronson. Dude is all over the map. Oh yeah, also he’s good.

:: Limp Bizkit canceled a tour because “Limp is not an amphitheatre band,” says Fred Durst. Good call. I guess they’re busy getting on the frat boy date rape party scene, then.

:: Nothing like former editors of a lackluster magazine “writing” an oral history (i.e. recording people talking, then having their assistants transcribe it) of a lackluster TV channel to get you all excited. Amirite?

:: The insanely large metal death toll of the last year and some change keeps rising. One of Slipknot‘s few remaining founders, bassist Paul Gray, has died at the age of 38.

:: Random tracks that don’t suck:

:: Austin City Limits has announced its lineup for 2010. The Eagles and Phish. Oh boy, oh boy…

:: The New York Times doesn’t seem too keen on LCD Soundsystem‘s new record. Preach.

:: Yim Yames, Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore are heading out on tour together in July, and a portion of the proceeds will go to Appalachian Voices.

:: Not sure about the last time I saw a promo shot this lame. Oh wait, I remember now.

:: Welcome to the dark carnival, ninjas.

:: So Jimi Hendrix‘s old place was next door to Handel’s pad. Talk about a mashup.

:: Random tracks that don’t suck:

Cloudy Shoes, the second track released from Damien Jurado‘s upcoming album Saint Bartlett, might not sound as much like a Richard Swift song with Jurado vocals as Arkansas — but it’s still obvious Swift was involved.

The direction Jurado has taken with this new record has me wondering what his live show will be like, particularly since he’s taking an eight-member band on the road with him. Thankfully, I’ll be able to find out June 10.

See the Damien Jurado tour dates.