As the 2008 presidential election heats up, so are the opinions in the artistic community, notably its most vocal: musicians. And now, Win Butler, Spin cover subject and Arcade Fire frontman, has taken a firm stance. "Barack (Obama, democratic candidate) is the first candidate in my lifetime to strip some of this bullshit away, and I just hope we don't blow this chance," Butler wrote in a detailed blog post. But wait! Before you call foul on some seemingly foreign critic consider this: though he may call Canada home, Butler is as American as baseball and child obesity; yes, he was born in Texas. Booya! [Via NME.com]

Black Lips thrive on the live! Not only has the band been touring its guts out, the Atlanta-based quartet which dropped a south-of-the-border live set last year and is currently amidst a gigantic U.S. outing, will now release yet another live collection: The Live Sessions EP. But don't let your anticipation get the best of you; the five-track set is available starting today exclusively via iTunes. [Via Pitchfork]

Ex-Concrete vocalist and Swede extraordinaire Victoria Bergsman, and, you know, the cute yet indifferent co-vocalist on the uber-ubiquitous Peter Bjorn and John hit "Young Folks," will bring her new project, Taken By Trees, stateside this spring. Why, other than bless you with her lo-fi twee wonders? Well, probably to escape Scandinavia and see the light of day. [Via Pitchfork]

Seattle-bred indie rockers the Blakes, which SPIN.com caught up with at the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival, will hit the road this winter behind the release of their self-titled debut, out now via Light in the Attic. Oh yeah, and don't be surprised to catch them boozing in their van post-show.

The Blakes tour dates:

1/18, San Francisco, CA (Bottom of the Hill)
1/19, Reno, NV (Satellite)
1/22, Fresno, CA (Crossroads)
1/23, Bakersfield, CA (Fishlips)
1/24, Pomona, CA (Glasshouse)
1/25, Santa Barbara, CA (Muddy Waters)
1/26, San Diego, CA (The Casbah)
1/27, Los Angeles, CA (The Echo)
1/30, Albuquerque, NM (University of New Mexico/12 P.M.)
1/30, Albuquerque, NM (Launchpad/8 P.M.)
1/31, Phoenix, AZ (Modified)
2/1, Flagstaff, AZ (Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge)
2/2, Las Vegas, NV (The Bunkhouse)
2/5, Santa Cruz, CA (Moe's Alley)
2/6, Sacramento, CA (Blue Lamp)
2/7, Portland, OR (Dante's)
2/8, Bend, OR (Bend WinterFest)
2/9, Yakima, WA (Yakima Sports Center)
2/10, Boise, ID (Neurolux)
2/12, Bozeman, MT (The Filling Station)
2/13, Missoula, MT (The Loft)
2/14, Spokane, WA (Bourbon Street)
2/15, Seattle, WA (Chop Suey)
2/29, Arcata, CA (The Jambalaya)