While we just LOVE sitting around on the Internet, our hope is that you are only reading this right now because you're waiting for another burger off the grill. Yes, it's officially summertime! Here's your Memorial Day 2012 playlist, featuring some of our recent favorites, including the perfected-rock of The Men, Sean Kuti's worldly rhythms, the Jagger-tipped rock of Foxygen, Pears' highlife by the water, Highlife's seance 'round the fire and much more. Download away, stream it from your phone and, no matter what, go outside and enjoy yourself. See you tomorrow!
Early release and a holiday weekend make for good spirits all-around. So does new music! Here's some favorites from the week, including the simple beauty of Katie Kate, throwback awesomeness of Foxygen, Sebastien Tellier's international disco, a killer Orbital remix and more. Check back on Monday for our Memorial Day playlist and get even more free MP3s! Until then, Mark Morrison foreva'.
San Francisco band Permanent Collection is preparing to release a new LP on August 7 via Loglady Records. The album, titled Newly Wed Nearly Dead, is a fuzzed-out collection of shoegazy rock numbers led by debut single “It’s Alright.” The track, a hazy, static-laced rocker, is reminiscent of groups like Autolux and Blonde Redhead, although certainly this has a little more bite behind its introspective melodies.
Mixtape master of old 50 Cent is trying to resurrect the whole 'aggressive content' style that made him a household name and Vitamin Water baron. One strategy? Going back to his mixtape roots and collaborating, here for the first time, with DJ Drama. The Lost Tape also features Eminem ("Murder One), Snoop Dogg ("Remain Calm"), 2 Chainz ("Riot (Remix)") and even some production araabMUZIK.
(Photo: Joel Barhamand)
New York’s New Beard will release its debut album, New Beard City, on June 26 via Shoulder Tap Records. And while you may not recognize the band yet, you will likely know its recent collaborator, Dungen’s Gustav Ejstes, who co-produced the effort with frontman Ben Wigler. Ejstes also appears on here on “Doom” – the album’s flagship single. It's an eclectic, folksy indie rock number that marries vintage instrumentation with a modern melodic swing.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: Music videos are so back. They preview new music, often provide a solid streaming experience and many acts are starting to return to experimentation with visuals that can really change the context of a song. But what are the good ones? You know we got you! Here are our three favorites of the week in a new recurring feature called Three Clips. This week features the gory Light Asylum, DIIV's jangly heavens and the blunted celebration of Wiz Khalifa. Happy viewing!
Seattle artist Katie Kate knows how to tack a mood on the wall. "Houses," a track with beautiful simplicity, rides a lethargic march with an airy beat and two-tone chords pinging around the mix. Her vocals provide more rhythm plus a sweet melody that will echo in your head after the song ends.
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(Photo: Alin Dragulin)
Surprising covers happen so often these days that, well, they aren't much of a surprise. But, after they took on Brigitte Fontaine and the Art Ensemble of Chicago, it would only make sense that YACHT covers the Velvet Underground. Right? Sure. It works as singer Claire L. Evans channels Nico while Jona Bechtolt transforms VU's spare jangles into stripped-down electronics.
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