Brian McBride began Stars of the Lid here in Austin years ago, but his solo album, When the Detail Lost its Freedom, is one that gestated during a time of terrible strife (divorce, harrowing move to new city) in McBride's life. Recorded almost exclusively on an SR X keyboard sampler, Detail utilizes guitar, piano, vocals, harmonica, trumpet and strings, abandoning keyboards and synthesizers entirely. The result is a lovely, gentle and ultimately emotional album......

*This post comes from Austinist Special World Cup Correspondent Ben Gardner, Co-Host of KOOP’s SoccerMad, who will be traveling to Germany for this year’s Cup.* No longer under the radar, a strong United States team heads to Germany, looking to prove that their quarterfinal finish at the 2002 World Cup was no fluke. Their draw is brutal, as they will have to get past at least one of the two best teams in the world:......