Chris Chu of the Morning Benders asked Wes Miles of Discovery/Ra Ra Riot to remix some of the MB's new tunes via Twitter. I'm constantly amazed/flabbergasted at how much new technology changes the shape of the music industry.

R-R-Raaaaaaaandy!!! (NSFW)

Aziz Ansari's fake character for the "Funny People" movie has a website. I guess a lot of the crowd thinks that Randy is an actual comedian, rather than a character. Check out "Randy's" website.

The Boss Joins Gaslight Anthem FINALLY

New Jersey punks Gaslight Anthem, who have been channelling the spirit of the Boss for some time now, finally got the chance to share the stage with their idol during their set at Glastonbury this past weekend, and Bruce f*ing owned it on that stage. Just owned it. And the pure unadulterated joy and adulation in singer Brian Fallon's face, the sort of look that says "how the shit did I get from 250 capacity clubs with barely enough money to live to this stage next to this man," well it almost brings tears to my eyes. It's the look of a man who could at that moment probably die happy. We should all be so lucky as to wear that look at least once in our lives.

the 59 sound - bruce springsteen & gaslight anthem( glasto )
by runawaydream

 

Bad News For Editors Fans

HERE.

HERE.

HERE.

HERE.

Genre Alert: Crabcore

I guess this band has created, or is the source of, a new genre of music defined not by aural, lyrical, or geographical means, but rather by the stances that the guitar-wielding members take while performing. I dunno. I thought it worth posting because it is just super bizarre to me. You can watch the video HERE. Not one to cast judgement on other musical styles, but I'd recommend utilizing the mute button.

Picaresque Trailer

Reasons I love this trailer: ambient music intro, lots of long-boarding, M83's "Teen Angst."

Picaresque Trailer 2009 from High Seas Films on Vimeo.

New Dirty Projectors Video: "Stillness Is The Move"

Such an awesome song. I'll post a full review of their concert from last Monday sometime soon.

The Veils: "Calliope"

I've got tix to see these guys (w/ Foreign Born opening!) in July at the Empty Bottle (same place I saw Passion Pit) and I'm getting real excited. If I had to put them in a genre, I guess I'd say Britpop. But the lyrics are heavier and less transparent than a lot of the current bands that fall into that category (see a number of songs off the most recent albums by the Kooks and Bloc Party, two bands that I normally love). Lots of existential, heaven/hell, God/devil-type stuff, which I love, put in an intelligent and poetic way. This is a great video for a great song off of Nux Vomica, a great album.

The Low Anthem: "Oh My God, Charlie Darwin"

This song is gorgeous. I hear juuust a hint of Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) in the vocals. This song is great, though. Haunting. Thanks to Whilden for the heads up.

Arctic Monkey Single Due Next Week

The Arctic Monkeys will be releasing the first single from the band's upcoming third full-length, Humbug, on July 6 in the UK (so I'm presuming the 7th in the US). The single will be the previously posted and previously gushed over song "Crying Lightning." Right now that song's got my vote for favorite bassline of 2009. So legit. No news on any b-sides as of yet, but the band has never been stingy in that department, so my guess is that there will be some. I'll keep y'all posted.

New Blogotheque Gimmick(?): Soirees de Poche

Not sure if Blogotheque has been doing these for awhile or not, but this is the first I've seen of these types of things. It seems to just be a sort of makeshift concert in someone's apartment/house. Beirut's doing the playing, and it's an excellent watch. The cinematography is great, as is the music (obvs.). Enjoy.

Y'all Ever Wonder Why/How Mexican Jumping Beans Jump?

Kings Of Leon DVD?

KOL drummer Nathan Followill wrote (via twitter) "Tomorrow night is the big dvd filming at the o2 so wear something pretty and get drunk before you get there. Party time." The logical connection to that statement is that they'll be making a DVD of the performance. Hope so.

New Morning Benders: "Hand Me Downs (demo version)"

I've been waiting as patiently as possible for some new tuneage by San Fran Beatles-esque popsters the Morning Benders. As far as I can tell, they're totally finished recording, mixing, and sequencing their sophomore effort, Big Echo (produced Grizzly Bear's uber-talented Chris Taylor). So I'm not too sure what's left to do before releasing, aside from announcing a release date. Album art, perhaps? Vinyl pressings (hopefully)? Anywho, if you head over to their MYSPACE, you can hear a demo version of Big Echo track "Hand Me Downs." The demo's pretty bare, just guitar and some layered vocals, but it sounds really promising. Singer/guitarist Chris Chu warns not to get too attached, though, as the album version sounds "completely different."

New Local Music: The Smith Westerns

Today Pitchfork posted on this group of apparently superyoung pop and fuzz minded Chicagoans' song "Be My Girl." And while the scuzzed out lo-fi garage pop genre is at about the tipping point for me, these guys are worth the listen. I for one have been a bit hesitant to jump on the wagon for like-minded lo-fi bands like Wavves and Girls, but the Smith Westerns feel a bit different to me. More attention to hooks and melody. Overall, more focus on pop than on feedback. A scuzzified Rooney.

Check out "Be My Girl" and a few others over HERE.

Another two strong tracks can be streamed HERE.

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009))

I'm sure the news/blogposts/tweets/soundbites/talkingheads/etc. regarding the news of MJ's death is probably already past the saturation point, so I hesitated to write anything substantial about this at all. But when I stop and think about where I've been in my life up to now, and where I'm trying to go (career-wise at least), I don't think I can go without saying something about the man that I owe my entire musical existence to. I'm not going to waste my time waxing poetically about what a cultural and musical force and icon he's been, or how the title "King of Pop" has not yet passed (nor probably ever will), or about how he represents the genuine worth and intrinsic value of pop music when so much of modern pop music is in such a bad way right now. I'm not going to talk about any of that because I know somebody else can and will do it better. I just want to say what he's been for me.

Now I'm not going to claim for a second that I'm the biggest Michael Jackson fan, or that I know every word to every song, or that I know all about his superstar trajectory. Because none of that would be remotely true. But what I can say is that he was the first thing I was ever a "fan" of, the first thing I ever took interest in that wasn't a result of parental/sibling/peer influence. As a kid, while everyone else was playing T-ball, I was watching Transformers and listening to Michael Jackson. The very first cassette tapes I ever owned were Michael Jackson tapes. I was four years old. Bad and Thriller. That was the only music I listened to, the only music that I wanted to listen to, the only music that I knew existed and the only music that I needed to exist. It was music that I actually chose for myself. My entire musical lexicon was Michael Jackson. Hell, my cultural lexicon was Michael Jackson. I distinctly remember coloring in my BraveStar coloring books at my house on South Stough Street just after we moved in, while listening to "Billie Jean," having absolutely no idea what he was talking about when he sang "she said I am the one, but the kid is not my son" (admittedly that lyric is pretty straight forward, but I was pretty slow as a kid, and didn't realize that someone named Billie could be a girl), but wearing out the tape listening to it over and over again regardless. First, that straight forward drum beat, then that fat-as-hell bassline slithers in, then a signature Jackson "chk-ah-shsh," and I don't care who you are, you were moving some part of your body to the rhythm whether you wanted to or not.

And MJ was pretty much all I had ears for until about 5th or 6th grade, before being influenced by my peers and that awkward pubescent desire to be like everyone else, buying albums by the likes of Spin Doctors and Ace of Base. But even then, MJ remained my "guilty pleasure." I remember my friends would watch MTV all afternoon waiting for the"Black and White" video to come on. They loved to make fun of it, thought it was stupid and funny when (during the Statue of Liberty human-morphing-into-other-human part) the fat Asian guy turns into Tyra Banks. I remember waiting all afternoon for it to come on, as well. But that was because I thought it was one of the best songs I'd ever heard in my life. Also, I desperately wanted to be Macaulay Caulkin.

Everything sort of got weird for MJ after that. An odd marriage. More and more face surgery. Disturbing allegations regarding his private life. But the MUSIC, it would just not stay out of my life. My freshman year at the University of Iowa I got called down to the Quad for using Kazaa. I got in trouble for downloading and the University's administration had to point out which copyrighted work was illegally downloaded as well as reprimand me. The song? "You Rock My World." At the time, I felt a little guilty about it, but it soon became my favorite Michael Jackson song EVER, also maybe my favorite video ever. It was at that point that I sort of realized there was no escaping it.

Do you remember the first time you saw him dance (watch the last five minutes of the "Black and White" video, linked above for a refresher)? Primal. Sexual. Effeminate but some how more masculine than anything you've ever seen? Do you remember the first time you saw him moonwalk, those highwater pants hiding any possibility of it being some sort of elaborate optical illusion? The feeling that you were actually witnessing someone defy the laws of physics? Then do you remember you and all your friends trying to do it, but mostly just walking backwards?

I remember all of that. I remember wanting to wear just one glove in the winter. I remember wanting to wear button up shirts so that I could leave them unbuttoned and stand in front of a fan. I remember wanting to grow my hair long and semi-curly, and tie it in a loose ponytail.

I guess in the end I'm really trying to say that I'm grateful. Michael Jackson's music profoundly informed my musical leanings at the early age four. Twenty-two years later, and I'm still digging into his extensive catalogue, and twenty-two years later, his music is still what moves me most. I was a child of the 80s, and I feel like there was a lot of shitty music that I could have become infatuated with. But by the Grace of God, it was Michael Jackson that I loved. It's Michael Jackson that I love.

Thanks for everything.

Rest In Peace.

UFO?

Will Arnett

Great To See You Feat. Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Peter Serafinowicz and Sarah Alexander - watch more funny videos

This Is Basically What I've Put Up With For My Entire Life

Amazon Daily Deal: "Long Road Home - The Ultimate John Fogerty/Creedence Clearwater Revival Collection"

Over 25 songs for under 3 bucks. Can't beat that. Grab it HERE.

Video: Twitter & the Death of Rock Criticism

Rolling Stone and freelance rock critic Christopher R. Weingarten gave a speech/presentation at some sort of Twitter conference about how music blogs, album leaks and Twitter are changing/ruining the role/rule of the music critic. Some points are really spot on. Some points are your typical snarky holier-than-thou music critic bullshit (he also knocks Phish, Fleet Foxes, and jam bands). But it's still worth a watch. 

 

Most Alien-Looking Place On Earth

THESE PICTURES are definitely worth checking out. It's awe-inspiring and also a little bit frightening. Not sure why it would be frightening. Maybe because in this day and age with the level of media/info-saturation that we experience from such a young age, we get to the point where we feel we know about (or have at least heard about) everything there is, and when you encounter something so otherworldly, it gives us a bit of a surprise. I think that's a good thing.

On Silbo Gomero, a small island in the Canaries, indigenous people communicate with each other from miles apart, across the island's high peaks and deep valleys, by whistling. How sweet is that? You can listen to a sampling below.

This flower is called the Amorphophallus Titanum, which means "giant misshapen penis." It can generate an amount of heat comparable to the human body temperature which helps strengthen the illusion of rotting meat that attracts the meat eating insects which help to pollinate it. Giant misshapen penis that smells like rotting meat.

Don't forget to thanks your dads today (whose reproductive organs were probably appropriately sized and generally unscented) for putting us on this great big beautiful earth. 

So I think I've always been pretty vocal about how much I've enjoyed Little Joy's debut album. And it was one of those albums that I could listen to from start to finish. Well, almost from start to finish. Even my most favoritest albums seem to have that one song that I'll always skip. That one song that, for whatever reason, rubs me the wrong. On Little Joy, that song was "No One's Better Sake." That song was the automatic skip song until just the other day. Don't know what it was, but all of a sudden, it just clicked, and now I love it. Maybe it just needed some time to ferment, maybe it's the weather, maybe it's because it has one of my favorite lyrics ever: "I worry about the smoke instead of putting out the fire." Agh! Brilliant! I wanna tattoo that on my face! Watch the Devendra Banhart-featuring video below.

Triumph On Conan

Sometimes I forget how funny Triumph is.

Magistrates on Blogotheque Takeaway Show!!!

This makes me so happy. I really love these guys (albeit on the strength of only a few songs) and am really looking forward to their full-length debut album. Makes me really glad to see that some other people dig 'em too. Their music isn't really super-suited for the stripped down acoustic thing, but still worth a watch. Check the videos below and grab the downloadable studio version of "Make This Work" beneath.

Magistrates - "Make this Work" - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Magistrates - She don't Wanna - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Magistrates -  Make This Work

New Air France: "GBG Belongs To Us"

Looooove Air France. Love 'em. Their output is pretty limited at this point (two EPs + a remix), so I get a little bit worked up anytime something new comes up, but this duo's work is so consistently great it's hard not to get excited. Download the jam below (and note, this is the type of song/band where those "old skool" piano lines work [compare with Bloc Party's "One More Chance," where I still hold that the piano line is great, but it just doesn't work with the song/band...but who knows, maybe it'll grow on me]).

air france :: GBG belongs to us

AnCo News: Brother SportEP + Possible Panda Bear Album

The Onion's A.V. Club did an interview with the guys in Animal Collective. You can read the whole thing here, but some highlights.

New EP with unreleased MPP tracks?

BW: And “What Would I Want Sky” is something that Dave wrote for Merriweather and sent Noah and I, but we didn’t have time to work on parts before we got to the studio, and then one day a week, the engineer would like to have a day off. But we would usually go into the studio anyway and work on the songs that we had never played live, and some that didn’t make it on the record. “What Would I Want Sky” is one we just never got to. We just didn’t have enough time, so we worked on it in Lisbon in January. We all went to Lisbon to hang out for a week, and that’s when we made a full-band version of that song. 

DP: Hopefully, we’re gonna do a kind of Brother Sport EP at the end of the year, with the extra tracks and maybe “What Would I Want Sky.” I think that would be sweet. 

New Panda Bear album?

AVC: Is there another solo record in the works for you? 

NL: I’d like to do one. I started working on a bunch of songs, but I haven’t really found the space that’s really good to work in; I’m not sure when I would work it in.

Chicago Concert Review: Passion Pit @ the Empty Bottle

THE VENUE:

This was my first time at Empty Bottle, but I would definitely go back. The sound was great and the volumes were perfect. For going to two shows in a row (and already being afflicted with tinnitus), I only needed a single night's sleep to get my ears back to normal after this one. It was pretty small, probably not more than 5-600 capacity, if that, and sort of V-shaped with the point being at the foot of the stage (which was only about three feet off the ground), and the arms branching away. For you Iowa City folk, a bit like the Picador, only cleaner and with better sound.

THE BAND:

PPit killed it. They were so into it. Every member of the five-piece band bobbing and dancing while playing, which was impressive considering the mess of synths up there (3 in all). I had listened to NPR's live broadcast of Passion Pit's performance at the 9:30 Club a couple weeks ago, and wasn't overly impressed. The vocals sounded a little wispy and a little wimpy. Happily, when you're actually there, hearing it live, they sound just fine, although, to be honest, it was a little tough to tell, what with at least half the crowd singing every word to every song in singer Michael Angelakos' signature falsetto, no less.

THE CROWD:

I was actually really nervous about the crowd on this one, mostly because everyone that told me that they were going to get a ticket did not get a ticket. Yes, I went by myself (and not the first show I ever went to alone [the Decemberists @ the Mill way back when]), which was a little unnerving. I know that everyday I wake up and tell myself "Christopher: sing like no one is listening, dance like no one is watching, and love like you'll never get hurt," but when you're actually in a room full of hipsters by yourself and it comes time to sing and dance, you sort of feel like EVERYONE IS WATCHING. In general, the crowd seemed to divided up into different pockets of people, some pockets were pretty immobile, others were pretty dynamic, and the front was like a GD rave. I was fairly close to the front, but unfortunately in a sort of no-dance zone. Luckily, a dude and dudette next to me kept bumping into me and apologizing. I was all like "chill y'all! It's a concert and we should all be bumping into each other!" and they were all like "OMG let's dance" and then we srsly boogied for the rest of the set. Dance truly is the universal language.

THE HIGHLIGHTS:

Well, we can knock out the obvious one: "Sleepyhead." Sounded great live, got a great response from the crowd. They played a few others from Chunk of Change which, to me, didn't sound all that impressive. As for the new album, one of the ones that surprised me live was "Make Light." That shiz was the jam. Huge crowd response for "Little Secrets." "Folds In Your Hands" was reeeeaaall slick live. The little breaks you hear on the album were made super-dancey sounding live. My hips weren't lying on that song. The best song of the night, however, had to be encore song "The Reeling." Angelakos ditched the synth-work to focus entirely on frontman duties, leaning off the stage and jamming the microphone out into the crowd to get a huge call-and-response session of "oh no-oh-oh's" before ending the night with a heartfelt "thank you" to the crowd.

BIGGEST COMPLAINT:

Late start and short set-time. The band didn't go on until after 11.45 p.m. on Sunday night and was done by 12.40 a.m, less than an hour in all. I understand that they've only got one full album out plus a short EP, but there were more than a few songs that they hadn't played. Could have beefed it up a bit. Regardless, I highly recommend seeing a Passion Pit show in the near future, while they're still playing in small venues. And bring friends. I can't even imagine what that show would have been like had I had two or three scopies with me. I'm actually scared to imagine it. Would have danced myself to death.

OVERALL RATING:

A-.

The Kooks Working On 3rd Album In Marseilles

Stream New Bloc Party: "One More Chance"

Hahaha...whoa. This one was sort of out of left-field, but then again, sort of not at all. To the disappointment of some, this song strays further from the sounds of Silent Alarm and follows the band past Intimacy into the darker depths of the dance floor. Where in the past the band used angular guitars, superfast metronomic drumming, and hefty bass lines to make danceable rock music, here the band seems to be going for broke into straight-up club music, with very little pretense of trying to make use of traditional instruments, filling the hole with studio effects and drum machines. The band, or perhaps more specifically Kele, seem bent on making Bloc Party an outright dance-act a la CSS. 

It would be dishonest of me to say that I don't like anything about this song. The keyboard line is really awesome in a sort of Bruce Hornsby "That's Just The Way It Is" remix type of way. But its just not a Bloc Party song. It feels something that would fit better in the Calvin Harris/Sam Sparro/Miike Snow territory.

I don't mean to say that the band shouldn't be trying new things, but this seems like it should be some sort of Kele Okereke side project. The band isn't being utilized. And for a band whose members are all so adept at their respective instruments and who work so well when they all come together, it's a real shame to see it go to waste.

Anywho, you can stream the jam at the band's website over HERE.

Incubus on Conan tonight, likely performing "Black Heart Inertia," the somewhat lackluster song I posted the song's official video on here earlier. I'll post video of the Tonight Show performance when it's available.

New Deer Tick: "Easy"

Deer Tick (who did a phenomenal 50s-inspired take on Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls") will be releasing a brand new album, Born On Flag Day, on June 23 (this upcoming Tuesday). I understand that guitarist/singer/songwriter John McCauley's vocals can be a bit grating for some, but personally I find them pretty easy to get behind. Sort of like some folkified Kurt Cobain crossed with mid-career Dylan. "Easy" is a track off of that album. The intro is a little uninviting, and the verse sort of pulls you in but is quick to push you away again, making you feel like you're on the outside looking in. But then comes the chorus. A nice big hook of a chorus, and you feel like you're on the inside, part of it all, detached from and looking out at the rest.

Deer Tick - “Easy”

Heeeyy

Chicago Concert Review: Phoenix @ Park West

Heeeeeey y'all! Hopefully I'll be able to do a lot of these in the near future (b/c I'll hopefully be going to a bunch more shows). But without much further ado, I'm gonna dig right in. 

THE VENUE: 

This was my first time at Park West, but it was pretty legit. Nice, cozy, great sound. Described by Bo, B., and myself as having a 70s feel, 80s feel, and 90s feel, respectively (do with that what you will). There are a bunch of permanent lounge-y tables and benches and chairs there, which were a little bit obnoxious for a show like this, but if you get close enough to the front (like I did), it was no biggie. 

THE BAND: 

The band was EXCELLENT! Up until now, Kings of Leon held the title for most spot on sounding live band. After Saturday, Phoenix became the new title-holders. Considering how meticulous the instrumentation and orchestration on the albums can be, I was blown away to hear not a single note out of place in the live setting. I don't mean to say that the songs were played verbatim (they weren't, as there was quite a bit of jamming and new arrangements going on), but just that they nailed every single note with such precision and conviction. On top of that, the band looked like they were enjoying themselves so so much. Vocalist Thomas Mars (who was an extremely charismatic frontman) couldn't stop smiling the whole show, like a little kid on Christmas, skipping around on stage and weaving in and out of the crowd. Also, the band's got one of the most fun drummers I've ever watched. Such exaggerated stick swinging. Loved it.

THE CROWD:

Much to my surprise, the crowd was great. With a lot of "buzz bands" or even "indie bands" in general, the crowds can tend to be very static, just sort of standing there, seeming like they're waiting to be impressed. And since Phoenix's p4k-approved Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix has been getting love from all over the place (coupled with an SNL appearance), I was sure that the crowd would be filled with casual listeners and hipster head-nodders. Not the case. The crowd was dancing and singing the whole time, just as much for the new songs as for the old ones.

THE HIGHLIGHTS:

Lots of 'em at this one. One of the ones that sticks out the most in my mind was the jammed out "Run, Run, Run." Never been a personal favorite of mind, but it was supersick and superslick live. Oldies "Too Young" and "If I Ever Feel Better" (which turned into a bit of an "Owner of a Lonely Heart" medley) were particularly dancified and particularly awesome. But the real highlight came with final song and Wolfgang standout "1901," (extended to 9 plus minutes live) where in the middle of the song Mars snuck into the middle of the crowd, looked back at the stage, and with a smile from ear to ear and commanded the band to "get harder" (or maybe he said "get louder," or something to that effect), to which the band swiftly complied and rocked the flippin' house while the crowd fist pumped to the "hey hey hey heys"!!! So good. The only song that was conspicuously absent from the set was "Everything Is Everything." Not my favorite Phoenix song, but that was my introduction into the band, so I was a little disappointed. But with a show that strong, I was able to cope.

OVERALL RATING:

A.

Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab For Cutie) Covers Avril Lavigne (of Avril Lavigne)

Complicated (Avril Lavigne cover)

New Bloc Party Song/Single

In what seems to be a recurring in-between-albums trend for the band (see "Two More Years", "Flux") BP will be releasing not only a new single, but an entirely new song on August 10 (11 in the US). The new song, titled "One More Chance," was recorded this past April with Silent Alarm and occasional Intimacy producer Jacknife Lee. The song will be aired on Zane Lowe's Radio One radio show this Thursday, which means some radio rips will likely be available by Friday. 

I have absolutely no idea what to expect on this one, as these one-off singles are often steps in different directions for the band, but I've got high hopes. I always thought that "Two More Years" was better than at least half of what was on A Weekend In The City and I think Flux was better than more than a few of Intimacy's tracks.  I'll keep y'all posted.

Gaslight Anthem Live on the Interface

You can check out New Jersey punks Gaslight Anthem performing live for the Interface over HERE.

Arrested Development Cast Simpsonized

I don't remember the last time I enjoyed a new episode of the Simpsons, but I sure do like this picture. Excellent inclusion of some secondary characters (Franklin, Ang Yong, Yam, and Steve Holt). Also, Buster. Classic.

New Beirut Video: "Concubine"

I thought this was one of the better songs off of the solid but somewhat unfulfilling recent release by Beirut. 

Music News Via Twitter

Tokyo Police Club enter into the studio today to record for album number two.

Discovery put songs (not sure how many) for sale on itunes tomorrow.

Ra Ra Riot have big tour announcement coming soon.

This last weekend was a good one. Ribfest, Phoenix, and Passion Pit mixed in with lots of brotherly love and dancing. I'll be posting reviews of all three in the next day or two. 

New Typically Trippy ("Tripically"?) Animal Collective Video: "Summertime Clothes"

New Calvin Harris/Dizzee Rascal Collab

According to NME, Calvin Harris and Dizzee Rascal have another single in the works set for an August release. Dizzee describes it thusly:

"It's some knight in shining armour shit," [Dizzee] explained. "It's got some trance sounds but the tempo is quite slow - it's danceable, though, it's got a really summery  feel."

Their last go yielded an excellent dance track (see below), and Calvin's recently released single "I'm Not Alone" was mega, so I'm expecting good things on this one.

Dizzee Rascal ft. Calvin Harris - "Dance Wiv Me"

New Leo/Scorcese Joint Looks Legit

- thanks Clark

The Horseshoe Comes To Chicago

If any of y'all readers know Cicci, then you know the horseshoe. One cannot exist without the other. If you don't know of the horseshoe or have never had one before, get over to THIS PLACE ASAP.

New Coconut Records Video: "Microphone"

I love Jason Schwartzman. Period. This song is also dang catchy, and the video is kewt.

"Yo Teach!" Bonus

Vampire Weekend Talk More About New Album

You can check the whole report over at Spin. But what to really take away is that they've written the fastest and slowest VW song ever, Ezra sings in the highest and lowest register he ever has, and there's a song that will probably feel a lot like Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side"

New Discovery Tracks

Check out these two new R&B-electropop jams (+ the two previously released ones) from Discovery's upcoming self-titled debut. Remember that Discovery = Ra Ra Riot singer Wes Miles + Vampire Weekend keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij. Sounds like Postal Service - sadness + the Dream. The perfect summer songs, fosh.

New Stills Video: "I'm With You"

To be honest, the video is a little boring. But the song is great. Worth a listen if not a watch.

The Stills - I'm With You

Hammer Pants Meme

Miike Snow Followup

After that last post I decided to check out Miike Snow's myspace, and am finding that all of their stuff is super legit. Straight-forward club/radio-pop maybe? Maybe a little bit like Sam Sparro (although not quite as excellent) if he mellowed out a bunch? I dunno, but I'm really digging it. The album comes out tomorrow. Grab it while it's hot.

Also, they'll be at Lollapalooza this summer.

Arctic Monkeys' upcoming August album is rumored to be entitled Humbug.

Dark Night Of The Soul: "Revenge"

The backstory to this Sparklehorse/DangerMouse collaboration has been talked about enough as of late. I'm not going to bother with it here. If you're really interested, you can google it. But I did want to post the first song off of said collaboration. It's called "Revenge" and features vox by Wayne Coyne (of the Flaming Lips fame). The song (lyrically, melodically, and production-wise) is pretty lugubrious. When combined with Coyne's unaffected delivery, it's misery becomes mesmerizing.

(sidenote: the off-kilter drums at 3.55 are excellent)

Dark Night Of The Soul - "Revenge"

Sweet blog for the fellas (and I guess the gals, too). It's called 1001 rules for my unborn son, and it is pretty much what it sounds like. I'm in love with it. Little tidbits like "don't fight unless you absolutely have to, and if you do, punch first and punch hard." Priceless.

A new Final Destination movie. Seems like it will be the most ridiculous out of all of them. 

The Final Destination trailer in HD

I feel like they're running out of interesting ways to have these characters die. I mean, the escalator that somehow turns into an enormous fire-wielding torture slide? The car wash?

New MGMT Video: "Kids"

You can read up about the song (the band's first they ever wrote) and the conception of the video HERE.

I hope they didn't actually do that to that poor kid.

Another New Regina Spektor Video: "Eet"

Another melancholy ditty in the same vein as "Laughing With."

Eet

Taking Back Sunday Do Kimmel

New KOL Video: "Notion"

New Kings of Leon music video and (surprise surprise) it's yet another video of them playing the song!! PUH-LEASE gimme something different. Every single GD video is just them playing. For one video, have them go on a road trip. Or fight aliens. Or ride dinosaurs. Or be like preaching to a bunch of people. Or have them all shirtless and kissing each other and stuff...I mean I personally wouldn't like that...just saying some people might.
Kings Of Leon - Notion

Christopher Walken Was (Is) Sliiiick

I've been a loud and long-time supporter of Christopher Walken. I like him in dramatic roles and love him in comedic roles. He has an extremely unique style of delivery when acting (allegedly he takes out all punctuation from the script so as to free up his interpretation of the dialogue) and he's a sick dancer to boot. But I never realized how slick he looked back in the day. What a lady-killer. Classic Walken.

Arctic Monkeys New Album News

AM will be releasing their third album on August 24 (25 in America), available on CD, digital, and vinyl (yay). Those in the Chicago-land area can catch the band at Lolla this August.

Tracklisting is as follows:
01. My Propellet
02. Crying Lightning
03. Dangerous Animals
04. Secret Door
05. Potion Approaching
06. Fire & Thud
07. Cornerstone
08. Dance Little Liar
09. Pretty Visitor
10. The Jeweller's Hands

KOL Perform "Use Somebody" on MTV Movie Awards

The mixing was a little off (sounded a little heavy on lead guitar and the tom) but the band nailed it, which by now should be a given.

Kings Of Leon - New Music - More Music Videos