The XX

Im late on these guys, but fuck me if this isn't the best make out song of the year

The XX - Islands

Pitchfork's Top 100 Songs/50 Albums

The infamous music blog Pitchfork recently posted their lists for Top 50 Albums and 100 Tracks of 2009. I have been religiously following this blog ever since I first found out about it and believe their lists of best songs/albums of the year are the best I have come across. If your looking for new music, or would like to hear reviews about music you've already heard, check it out.

Pitchfork's Top 100 Tracks
Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums

Distant Relatives

Nas and Damian Marley are collaborating on a new album called, "Distant Relatives" it looks like its gonna be pretty sick.

Headed South...

Tommorow I fly down the beautiful island of Barbados to catch some sun and surf. Barbados is one of my favorite places in the world... the people are nice, everything is beautituful, and reggae blares out of every sound system. Thought i'd leave ya with a jem from roots reggae legend Gregory Isaacs...Happy holidays!

Young Jeezy- 4 My Town Remix

Young Jeezy is set to release "Thug Motivation: 103" on February 9th.

Dilla and ?uestlove Article

Props to my boy Femi for putting this article up. Great story about Questlove's expierence chillen with Dilla in a more casual setting then the studio. Its great to learn about Dilla through such a talented musician as Questlove. His perspective on Dilla really goes to show that Dilla is one of all-time greats. Just one day in Dilla's life... wow

Questlove vs. Jay Dee: The "Little Brother" Beat Story

Philly Trip

I have spent the last three days hanging in Philly with my buddy Matt. Our days were spent walking around Philly, playing the new Call of Duty and listening to Altas Sounds' Logos and Animal Collective's Fall Be Kind EP. Among other things, im stoked i got a chance to really spend time with the Animal Collective EP. I've come to love the Fall Be Kind EP as well as the entire Atlas Sound album. Below is 'What Would I want Sky', a favorite track off the Animal Collective EP. This version however is taken from a BBC Freak Zone session and is a different version then the one on Fall Be Kind. Some say they like this verson better then the one on the EP....

Animal Collective - What Would I Want Sky

New Washed Out track + video

Washed Out - Belong (Music Video) from Blake Salzman on Vimeo.

South Carolina's Washed Out recently released a new video for a new track entitled 'Belong'. Following the hazy-electronic pop style of his other tracks, 'Belong' is definitely a track to check out. The music video for 'Belong' is directed by Blake Salzman, a music video director who also directed a video for Banjo or Freakout's 'Upside Down'. Below is the track to download as well as the music video... enjoy!

Washed Out - Belong

Salem- Frost

I found out about these guys on Bad Beat LA

Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue

I just recently found out about Bibio, a one man production by Stephen Wilkenson, a british multi-instrumentalist. I have listened to his most -popular album Ambivalence Avenue and loved it. With a variety of musical influences, Bibio's Ambivalence Avenue displays progressive music in many forms. Ranging from folk to hip-hop, Bibio most definitely has a keen sense of his musical surroundings. 'Fire Ant', a standout track on the album, takes influence from hip-hop producers J dilla and Madlib, two artists of whom now, after spending time with, I am gaining huge amounts of respect for. Anyway, i highly recommend downloading this album. Tracks 'Ambivalence Avenue' and 'Fire Ant' are posted below. Check it!

i can dig it

I Make Music

I always wanted a trampoline. Now I understand why my parents would never buy one.

Sunday Funday Folk

The 10- piece group, led by "Edward Sharpe", Alex Ebert, and the love of his life Jade Castrinos (girl's got soul), have been dominating the LA scene all summer, and are now out on tour across the states. Tambourine, xylophone, accordion, mandolin, whistling...

Folky, affectionate, and carefree -- seemingly straight out of some kind of beautiful narcotic induced dream... If this video doesn't make you want to go see them live, try out this Tiny Desk Concert from NPR to check out the best white girl dance moves you've ever seen.

fuck yeah

Phoenix - 1901 - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

staying warm

watching Kentucky beat UNC on mute next to the fire, listening to this

Rubber and soul -Ane Brun

J Dilla - Midnight Snack

Recently all I have been listening to J Dilla and this Mix is one to check out for sure. Dj RP3 mixed a bunch of more chilled out Dilla tunes into a 65 minute mixtape. Featuring some songs of more popular albums like "The Shining" and "Donuts" as well as a bunch of tunes ive just never heard before. Put your headphones and just kick back...enjoy a midnight snack

I've been listening to this song regularly since I got this album about a month ago (irony noted). I just gave the video a look see and due to its absurdity decided I had to share it with you all. I recently started getting into these guys but have for a while been a fan of Dan Bejar's other project Destroyer. All good things!

Tycho - Coastal Brake

Graphic Designer ISO50 from San Francisco is releasing his third LP on December 8th. Under the name of Tycho, Scott Hansen writes electronic soundscape music that has a great feel to it. Writing a variety of down-tempo songs, Tycho's songs are super chill and peaceful. Lay on the couch, sit back and relax to the single off the LP, "Coastal Brake".

Tycho - "Coastal Brake" - MP3

MPHO

the piano is a little much

Monsters of Folk - Temazcal (Live)

For those who haven't listened to it yet, this album is sick. It came out a few months ago. The group is made up of M. Ward (vocals on this track), Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes, and Jim James of My Morning Jacket.

Toro Y Moi

South Carolininan Toro Y Moi released his first EP last month off of Car Park records. I just started listening to this guy and i really dig his stuff. Similar to Washed Out, Toro Y Moi is one of the few indie experimental artists in South Carolina. Below is a video to one of his newer tracks 'Talamak', which supposivly means 'cronic drugs' in Tagalog, the native language of the Philipines, where Toro Y Moi descends from. Check it.

This Is Kinda Cool

QD3 Presents Lil' Wayne "The Carter" (Sundance)

New AnCo - Fall be Kind EP

New Animal Collective, not supposed to drop until Dec. 15th..

Download it here, now.

Enjoy.

Blackroc Album Releases Nov. 27

Guitar Drums duo The Black Keys are now finalizing their rap collaboration album as it it set to release around the 27th of November. The album features instrumentals written by The Black Keys with raps and other vocals from 11 different artists. The artists included on the album are ODB, Raekwon, Mos Def, Jim Jones, Q-Tip, Ludacris, NOE, Pharoahe Monch, RZA, Nicole Wray and Billy Danze. Blackroc has released a collection of webisodes following the recording process and the most recent one has made me really exited to hear the album. Below is the webisode that got me stoked...this song is going to be the first track on the album...Enjoy!

Grizzly Bear in Claymation

I'm a huge fan of the weird and wonderful in terms of art and music. So when I read my friend's blog a few months ago, (www.dailyserving.com, a cutting edge contemporary art blog updated daily) to find a claymation film set to Grizzly Bear I was psyched. Titled "Hobo Clown" the first film by Allison Schulnik is set to "Granny Diner" off of one of Friend's. Her use of color, movement, and subject all create a hauntingly beautiful accompaniment to the band's tune, and gave me a new respect for Play-Doh.

It seems as though Grizzly Bear enjoyed the pairing so much that they recruited her to make the official video for one of my favorite tracks off of Veckatimest, "Ready, Able". Full of mutating faces, dramatic lighting, little green jungle men, and even a crystal spaceship, it's even weirder than the first, but inspiring nonetheless. Think what you may, but I think it's bad ass...

Sleepy Sun - Embrace LP

I've just started to get into these guys and the more I listen to them the more I like them. Hailing from San Francisco, the band plays a mixture rock and folk, adding a phycadelic touch to both. The band seems to put a new touch on retro styles and damn does it feel good to hear a guitar solo these days that gets me amped. Their somewhat new LP 'Embrace' (March 2009) is definitely one to check out. Highlight tracks are "New Age", a seven minute hard rock jam with a bad ass distorted bassline and a gnarly guitar solo, and "Lord", a ballad showing off the bands song-writing ability. Attached is the music video to the song "New Age"...enjoy!

New Yeasayer

Universal Hall Pass

Some of you may already know about Universal Hall Pass but i just found out about them and they are pretty awesome.

Big Boi Feat. Gucci Mane - Shine Blockas

At first I had no idea why people liked Gucci Mane. I thought his shit was just plain retarted. But after weeks of Tucker bumping Gucci in the house, I started to see why people like him. Although i still think some of his songs/lyrics are retarted, i dig his diirty south style. Him and Big Boi kill this one, check it out....

Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane - Shine Blockas

Turquoise water at 15,000 ft

After backpacking through Peru and Ecuador for 2 months, I'm finally back in the states and back to the reality of unemployment. For the past 7 weeks my reality has been marathon bus rides, guinea pigs roasting on an open fire, coca leaf tea, llamas, pisco, broken Spanish, cold showers, and lots of trekking. Obviously it was all amazing, but hiking at 14,000 feet definitely sucked at times. What made it exponentially better was the music we shared -- a little bit of inspiration when all I could feel were the blisters on my feet and the frozen rain on my face.

Here's a bit of my motivation for the way up..

Ra Ra Riot - "Ghost Under Rocks"

MGMT - "Electric Feel (Justice Remix)"

Hot Chip - "One Pure Thought"

And for what transcends my vocabulary, the view from the top...

The Xx - "Crystalised"

The Field - "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometimes"

Kings of Convenience - "The Weight of my Words (Remix)"

New Leak of Weezy's mixtape "No Ceilings," which is being released on halloween

Run This Town Freestyle

MUSEYROOM EP FINISHED

We've worked really hard to put together the final version and are really happy with the way it sounds. you can listen to the entire EP on our myspace here

The album will be up for sale within a couple weeks

Pitchfork's Daytripping: Bon Iver

Pitchfork takes us through a day in the life of Bon Iver at the Oya Music Festival in Norway.

Gucci Mane - Mixtape Takeover

Ahhhh shit, Gucci has just released a 3 mixtape series called The Cold War. It is 3 new tapes with 3 different DJ's and all new material, Guccimerica with DJ Drama, BRRRussia with DJ Holiday & Great BRRRitain with DJ Scream. Here they are ! BURRRR BURRRR BURRRR !!!

DOWNLOAD: DJ Drama & Gucci Mane - Guccimerica

DOWNLOAD: DJ Scream & Gucci Mane - Great BRRRitain

DOWNLOAD: DJ Holiday & Gucci Mane - BRRRussia

Sold my red horse for a venture home

Mixing Up The Medicine

Here is a new Juelz Santana track, he uses a Bob Dylan sample from the song "Subterranean Homesick Blues", it pretty sick, definitely worth checking out . . . 

DOWNLOAD: Juelz Santana - Mixing Up The Medicine

trade your gold chains and chest hair for a glow stick and body paint. disco is back.

Smoky Mountains

I spend the last three days camping in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Although I didn't have my ipod during the camping portion of my trip, I did spend alot of time in the car driving through the beautiful hills of Tennessee, heres the playlist from the trip....

1. The Band - "Twilight"

2. The Dodos - "Walking"

3. Fleet Foxes - "Blue Ridge Mountains"

4. Fleet Foxes - "Mykonos"

5. Horse Feathers - "This Is What"

6. Justin Vernon - "Hazleton"

7. Marshall Tucker Band - "Fire On The Mountain"

8. Megafaun - "The Fade"

9. My Morning Jacket - "The Way That He Sings"

10. My Morning Jacket - "The Bear"

11. Patrick Watson - "Man Like You"

12. Real Estate - "Beach Comber"

13. The Shaky Hands - "The Sleepless"

14. Tallest Man On Earth - "The Gardener"

15. Van Morrison - "Warm Love"

16. Wood Brothers - "Postcards from Hell"

17. Wood Brothers - "Loaded"

18. Yim Yames - "Long, Long, Long"

19. Bonne "Prince" Billy - "Horses"

20. My Morning Jacket - "Golden"

21. Built To Spill - "Good Ol' Boredom"

Duck Sauce

Check Out this super steezy new video by electronic duo Duck Sauce. The duo is a collaboartion of A-Trak and Armand Van Helden and are officially releasing an album this month. Its a sicko...

Kick the Sunday blues...

NEW GUCCI MANE MIXTAPE !!!!!!

DJ Drama & Gucci Mane - The Burrprint (3-D MOVIE) [GANGSTA GRILLZ]

Here is the new Gucci Mane Mixtape, It's SICK, I know most of the boys are going to be over it but I had to post it! ITS GUCCI BITCHES BURRRRR ! ! !!

Download: GUCCI MANE - THE BURRPRINT (3-D MOVIE)

New Animal Collective album??

Word on the street is that Animal Collective will be releasing a record this December entitled Fall To Be Kind. All the hype is coming from Amazon, as they put the album up for Pre-order in the last day or so. Well, i guess well wait and see... For now heres links to an article about a movie that the band plans to release as well as the Amazon page. Check it

Amazon Page

Animal Collective Movie Article

New Freeway Song

"When I Rap" by Freeway

Museyroom EP

Here's an early mix of track 3 from out upcoming EP. Right now we're putting the finishing touches on the final mixes, and hope to have the mastering done within a couple weeks. I'll post when the whole EP is available to download.

Download Track 3 here...

Museyroom Myspace

Bon Iver - Lump Sum

Cup of coffee and some Bon Iver to start the week...

Volcano Choir - Unmap Review

Bon Iver and Collections of Colonies of Bees collaboration, Volcano Choir, released their debut LP last month September 22nd. I was planning on writing a review but after reading Pitchfork's review, I decided it would just be better to attach a link to the review....

Check out the review here

Joell Ortiz - Call Me (ft. Novel)

Call Me (ft. Novel)

Taken By Trees - East of Eden LP

Under the name of Taken By Trees, Victoria Bergsman released her second LP East of Eden this month. Using loops, samples, and acoustic instruments Bergsman creates ambient music accompanied by beautiful vocal harmonies. Panda Bear from Animal Collective is featured in the album on the track "Anna". Attached are links to my favorite tracks...

Watch The Waves - Taken By Trees - Mp3

Anna - Taken By Trees (ft. Panda Bear) - Mp3

Your Name No More

Piers Faccini - Your Name No More / The Wind That Blows - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

for anyone who hasn't seen this yet.

We're all in the mood for a Melody

Everybody likes a good drinking song...

Love me Tenderly- The Felice Brothers

Built To Spill - There Is No Enemy LP

Over three years have passed since indie rock great Built To Spill have released their past album. There new album, There Is No Enemy, is scheduled to release in a few days on Oct 6th. I am a huge fan of Doug Martsch (lead singer) and am stoked to hear what the band can come up with, as they have been together for almost 20 years. Below are links to listen to two of the eleven tracks on the LP, enjoy.

Built To Spill - "Hindsight" (There Is No Enemy 2009) - Mp3

Built To Spill - "Things Fall Apart" (There Is No Enemy 2009) - Mp3

Wisconsin is for lovers

Discovered this little diddy after my second cup of coffee this morning. It was a pleasant surprise for sleepy eyes. The group is called DeYarmond Edison, Justin Vernon's band before Bon Iver. This is the band that split up after Justin got a case of the ol' mononucleosis, fueling Justin to go to his fathers cabin and create "For Emma, Forever Ago", which may be the most productive thing ever done by someone with Mono. The rest of the members created a group called MegaFaun, but before all that, they created this enjoyable folk number

Love Long Gone-DeYarmond Edison

Young Buck & The Outlawz Lord Have Mercy

DJ Green Lantern & Styles P - "The Green Ghost Project" Press Release & Artwork

“The Evil Genius” DJ Green Lantern, and Styles P “The Ghost” have joined forces to create a monster – “The Green Ghost Project” – and on Nov 17th the world will say “It’s Alive!!!”

“The Green Ghost Project”, a joint album filled with original production from DJ Green Lantern, Alchemist, Scram Jones, Statik Selektah, etc., can be seen as the next natural step for the two mixtape veterans who constantly look to push the boundaries of how Hip Hop is given to the fans. “Styles and I got together and made a monster”, says Green of the project, which is being distributed through Invasion/The Orchard.

“Don’t call me ‘The Ghost’ right now, call me ‘The Green Ghost’”, remarks Styles P about the album’s sinister undertone. “It’s a different display of talent. We got together and brainstormed about it and it came out crazy!”

DJ Green Lantern and Styles also added some potent ingredients to the mix in the form of guest appearances from Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, M.O.P, N.O.R.E, Uncle Murda, Junior Reid, and more, taking “The Green Ghost Project” to truly “monstrous” proportions.

Alela Diane - "The Rifle" and "Pirate's Gospel"

#26 Alela Diane - The Rifle
by lecargo

#26 Alela Diane - Pirate's gospel
by lecargo

NEWBURGH NY

I don't usually listen to much hip-hop, but when I heard this song I just couldn't stop re-playing it. Angel's innovative lyrics mixed with his un-matchable flow makes him a serious force to contend with in the rap game today. What can I say Angel just has love for his city, and he rep's it hard. Matt this one is for you... also this is a joke if anyone hasn't realized that yet.. sorry it wont happen again

Working For a Nuclear Free City - "Asleep At The Wheel"

Despicable Dogs - Washed Out Remix

Washed Out, A.K.A Ernest Greene, recently remixed Brooklyn band Small Black's "Despicable Dogs". I love this remix, straight 80s steez. Check it out...

Gotye - Learnalilgivinanlovin´ (Passion Pit remix)

Gotye (Aussie one-man band) + Passion Pit = Learnalilgivinanlovin´remix mp3

Caught Gotye in London, and his talent is unreal. Get past the south beachy beginning of this remix and dance, dance, dance.

Apple Cidar Season (Part II)

Slaraffenland - A Take Away Show - Part 2 from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

New Take Away Show from the indie-folk band Slaraffenland...

Apple Cidar Season

I am big fan of fall in New England. Sweaters, soup, orange skies and brown leafs. I have playlist upon playlist dedicated to this time of year, lots of Bon Iver, Fleet foxes, Bowerbirds, Horse Feathers and Elvis Perkins. Recently I have being listening to alot of Peter and The Wolf, a folkie band out of Liverpool, UK.

So put on some chords and tweed, put a little whiskey in your Cidar and enjoy.

Safe Travels- Peter and The Wolf

Calvin Harris is sick. So is this remix.

Oh No - Dr. No's Ethiopium

Oh No recently released the LP Dr. No's Ethiopium. Brothers with rapper Madlib, the incredibly talented MC has been writing and recording beats since age 11. Digitally released on Stone Throw Records, the LP features a combination jazz, funk, hip hop, and electronica. I ended up just buying the album online and it was well worth it. J Dilla fans... you gotta check this one out! Attached is a link to the song "The Pain" thats off the LP.

The Pain - Oh No - Mp3

Download Dr. No's Ethiopium Here

Animal Collective and The Beach Boys

Recently released by a blog called Porch of the Mystics is a Animal Collective and Beach Boys remix entitled "I'm Waiting for My Banshee". The song is a mixture of Animal Collective's "Banshee Beat" and the Beach Boys's "I'm Waiting For The Day". The song shows off vocal harmonies from both bands with Banshee Beat as the instrumental. Its definitely worth the listen, check it.

I'm Waiting for My Banshee - Animal Collective and The Beach Boys - Mp3

Feel It All Around (Remix)

Ernest Greene, A.k.a Washed Out, just released a remix of his track "Feel It All Around". The remix was made by Toro Y Moi, a fellow South Carolinian and friend of Greene. Keeping the laid back sound of the original track but adding percussion and a funkier rthym, Toro Y Moi's remix is a fun listen. The track will be released on Greene's Feel It All Around 7" single coming out soon. Check it out...

Washed Out - Feel It All Around (Toro Y Moi Remix) - Mp3

Real Estate

I recently found out about the band Real Estate, a New Jersey/Brooklyn collaboaration that is gaining popularity amongst the thousands of music blogs out there. Following the trend of low-fi recording, the band has recorded most (if not all) of their music themselves in various locations throughout Brooklyn and Ridgewood, NJ. The band's style is unique, as their songs sound like a mixture of hazy summer pop with a bit of punk. Below I have attached my favorite tracks thus far, Enjoy!

Real Estate - Myspace

Real Estate - "Fake Blues" (Mp3)

Real Estate - "Suburban Beverage" (Mp3)

Jay Z cover, kinda

I've been listening to alot of rap lately, I am not proud of it, but I have been. Jay Z's new album The Blue Print 3 "leaked" on the internet a week or so ago, and since then there has already been a shit ton of remixes, I found this gem on hypem. I have no clue who it is, but he kills it, makes me want to buy an AK-47....

RUN THIS TOWN

Washed Out - Life of Leisure

Finally something progressive to come out of South Carolina.  At first, I wasn't sure what to make of Washed Out or their latest venture Life of Leisure, but as I leave for springy South America, the hazy track "You'll See It" makes me want for one last dehydrated day on Folly beach.  The beginning of "Hold Out" could totally be Cut Copy, but the distant vocals and lazy beat lends to a sound all Ernest Greene's.  You can stream most of Life of Leisure here with additional links for downloads, and if you're into Washed Out and washed-out photography be sure to check out Mr. Greene's blog for a few snapshots as ethereal as the music he makes..  

Muscles

Tell a Bitch Just Dance

Feel like dancing??!?! Listen to Not Made for Love (remix) by Metronomy here.

High In One Eye - Neon Orange Walker

Guitar/Drums duo High In One Eye just released their first album Neon Orange Walker last month. The New Orleans band is super talented (last track "Digital Messiah" is improv, shits crazy) and plays with a ton of energy. The album is available for a download at Bandcamp.com and can be streamed at their Myspace. This band kills it, its definitely worth the download.

Yim Yames - Tribute To EP

Jim James, lead singer of My Morning Jacket, recently released a six-track compilation of George Harrison covers entitled Tribute To EP. Under the name of Yim Yames, the album features beautiful renditions of Harrison's tunes featuring the popular "My Sweet Lord" and "All Things Must Pass". Recorded in 2001, the EP sounds more like At Dawn then some of My Morning Jacket's newer releases. I am a huge fan of Jim James and I hope he continues the solo work. Check out Yim Yames at his myspace or download the EP on itunes....

Museyroom EP

Consisting of Guitar, Drums and Moog/sampling/other crazy shit, Museyroom is a up and coming band from Brooklyn, NY with a ton of potential. Their EP (which is set to release in a couple of weeks) contains well written songs, featuring powerful vocal melodies backed by guitar, Wurlitzer piano and percussion. Check out some of their other songs on their Myspace and ill be sure to post links to the EP when it comes out (expected to release in a couple weeks)....