When I saw Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes live for the first time at Coachella, I felt transported 40 years back to Woodstock (or at least what I imagined Woodstock to be). Though the folky collective is a relatively new group (their first shows were in 2009), their sound conjures images a gritty and aged travelling band. In fact, their new track, “Man on Fire,” begins much like a classic Johnny Cash track. Their latest track “That’s Whats Up,” draws heavy influences from country and Americana, highlighting their female vocalists much more to create the kind of folky jam one would hear in small-town Southern USA.
Their upcoming album, Here, is scheduled to be released on May 29th so heads up for that if you’re really diggin these folky jams.
Psychedelic rockers, Dandy Warhols, have been around since ’94… almost 20 years ago. Yup the early 90s were 20 years ago, a weird epiphany I had only a few months ago (we’re getting old, yo). Despite their aging status, they’re slated to release their eighth album, titled This Machine, on April 24. This latest track, “Sad Vacation,” is a testament to the band’s older, grittier sounds, and is characterized by a heavy distorted bassline throughout the song.
Download The Dandy Warhols Sad Vacation
I do my best not to read too much into the little details. But in the end, its these minute coincidences that persistently pick at me to no avail. In this instance, I find myself fixated on the word ‘Bloody’ from Silversun Pickups new single ‘Bloody Mary’. Off of their just announced album ‘Neck of the Woods’, this Silversun Pickups’ single plays like a ‘what if My Bloody Valentine attempted a summer album for the masses’ type of deal. The sound here is a bit nightmarish but also oddly soothing in its own eery way. The single is strong and confident. Listen closely, and it even tries to clue one in on the potential setup of the album’s tracklist. (My money is on a story-telling structure, like Mylo Xyloto) Yet, after a few listens, I guess its these little things that Silversun Pickups really thrives at patiently etching out.
The album drops May 8th.
In case you haven’t been watching any movies, TV, or YouTube videos recently, Internet Explorer is trying oh so vehemently to shed itself of the “backwards browser” image. This illustration captures it pretty well:
As users switch to Mozzila Firefox and Google Chrome in droves, Internet Explorer launched its aggressive ad campaign to rebrand itself… Doesn’t look like its working in their favor though… Top comments are calling the commercial “too cool for Internet Explorer” and “I’m watching this on my Chrome browser.” That being said, however, Alex Clare—previously quite unknown—has gotten millions of hits on his tracks thanks to Internet Explorer for featuing his track, “Too Close,” on their commercial. You can see the commercial for yourself below:
SoundCloud saw plenty of great activity this week, with tracks ranging from The Shins to Lazy Rich throwing up tracks all over the board.
The new Shins track “Fall of 82″ is an extremely catchy gentle indie pop-rock track. Fans of AC Newman and New Pornographers will especially love the track, which is very reminiscent of their power-pop tracks.
T.E.E.D‘s “Tapes and Money (Eats Everything Remix)” shows the awesome experimental side to the electronic dance track.
Of course there’s also Madeon’s remix of Martin Solveig‘s track, “The Night Out.” As always the French teenager doesn’t dissapoint, creating a highly energetic, catchy, and bouncy version of Martin Solveig‘s already club-friendly track.
Bart B More remixed Miike Snow‘s latest single, titled “Paddling Out.” The remix puts a little balearic dance-club twist to Miike Snow‘s catchy tune.
I don’t always like mashups… In fact I usually hate them. Urban Noize is definitely an exception to this rule. Recently, he mashed Lana Del Rey and Jay-Z over her track, “Diet Mtn Dew.” At first, I kind of cringed (Lana Del Rey annoys the fuck out me) but Urban Noize‘s wizadry made the track more than bearable. Check out the excellent remix below.
Download Jay-Z & Lana Del Rey Diet Mountain Dew [Urban Noize Remix]
If you really enjoyed that little remix, check out this number below—Jay-Z and Pharrel‘s track “Allure” featuring Lana Del Rey. Pretty damn good as well, and released a few months back.
The El Paso-based Alternative experimental rock group is streaming their upcoming album, Noctourniquet, via Rolling Stone for a preview before the March 27th 2012 release date. Despite being their 6th full studio album, the album stays true to the band’s classic sounds, highlighting Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s piercing vocals with an array of effected guitars, arpeggiating synths, and unorthodox syncopated drum patterns. For first time listeners, I suggest listening with a very open mind, as the sounds of The Mars Volta aren’t exactly conventional.
With the 2010 Broken Bells album, it seemed as though James Mercer vocally closed the door on any notion of a new Shins album. It truly appeared as if Mercer was embarking on a new, independent era of musical discovery. Furthermore, it was his collaboration with Danger Mouse in the Broken Bells album that hopelessly dashed my wishes for another Shins release.
However, a lot happened in that span of five years.
And so, here we find ourselves anticipating The Shins fourth album release in a span of eleven years. It hasn’t been easy, as Mercer cleaned house with a radically new group of musicians comprising his band. The doubts on the preservation of their sound, material and symbolic quirkiness have remained palpable for these few months. In addition, Mercer’s meandering attitude with the album didn’t instill a great amount of confidence within his listeners. (more…)
Nardwuar x A$AP Rocky & The Mob
Nardwuar has to have the best interviews out with hip-hop artists. Not only does he have a comical persona, he approaches each interview with a boat load of research and out of the park questions the artists never expect.
Check out his latest interview with Harlem’s fastest up-and-comer, A$AP Rocky, and the rest of his A$AP Mob.
Hip-Hop Highlights from SoundCloud:
- Germany’s Je$u$‘ tracks “WeCameUp” and “OffTheBooks”
- COR STIDAK and Pepil Pew‘s “Flat Black Ducati”
- Ibn Hasan‘s “Come Forward”
- Handbook‘s “Ungodly Etiquette featuring Supreme Sol“
- DJ Numark‘s “When You Sleep feat. Large Professor“
- The P.O.G‘s “Ten-Thirty” and “B.Lowe on Jazz” both featuring B.Lowe
- …and weirdough‘s “Coconut Juice”