Sloan

While I can't say I saw it coming, it doesn't completely surprise me either; Sloan and Belle and Sebastian have become the same band. Apparently, the merger took place in London, sometime around 1974. That's the impression you'd get if you only listened to Sloan's infectious new single, "Who Taught You To Live Like That." Check it out for yourself:

Sloan - Who Taught You To Live Like That (via Indieblogheaven)
Belle and Sebastian - White Collar Boy (via The Torture Garden's Best Songs of 2006)

The band's latest album (their eighth), Never Hear the End of It, has a heaping 30 songs on it, yet never feels like it's 77-minute length could have. It was released in the US on Jamuary 8th.