Click to watch the video for "Try To Understand"

Two piece band from NYC, The Gay Blades, have a new album called Savages that’s set for release in October. If you like the Black Keys, definitely give this duo a listen. The tracks all have a little something that makes them stand out, and none of them sound the same either. Opening track “Rock N’ Roll (Part 1)” reminds me a little bit of the White Stripes. “November Fight Song” is another fantastic song from Savages that is original to me in the way that it doesn’t bring any other bands to mind.

Here’s a free download of “Try To Understand” for your enjoyment!

Click to watch the video for "Dance the Way I Feel"

I am very saddened to hear of the death of Charles Haddon, the lead singer of UK synth pop band Ou Est Le Swimming Pool. This past Friday night he jumped from a telephone mast behind stage at the Belgian music festival, Pukkelpop. He was only 22 years old.

From Spinner UK:

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool had a promising career ahead of them after a successful debut in 2009. The band’s single ‘Dance the Way I Feel’ reached No. 10 on the UK singles chart. The band also supported fellow UK pop act La Roux on tour. A debut full-length, ‘Christ Died for Our Synths,’ was to be released this October, and the band had a headlining UK tour scheduled. It is not known yet whether the band will hold the album or release it as planned.

A statement on Ou Est Le Swimming Pool’s MySpace page reads, “We are all so deeply saddened to confirm that our friend Charlie Haddon passed away yesterday, Friday 20 August. The singer had just performed with his band, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, at the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium. Charles Alexander Haddon R.I.P. Thanks for all your messages of support. x.”

During their show, Haddon had taken an unexpected stage-dive that turned out badly. A girl was hurt pretty severely, but was taken to the hospital and expected to recover. After the band’s performance, Haddon and his bandmates were in an argument about the incident, which came close to starting a riot.

Following their sell out Australian tour NAPT are giving away their N-Funk DJ battle weapon remix of Miike Snow’s “Black And Blue“, which also features Passion Pit’s “Sleepyhead”, as part 2 of their Contraband series. Hold tight for their forthcoming new single “Emotion”, out later this year, with remixes, from amongst others DnB superstars Brookes Brothers.

Click to watch the video for new track "If You Want It"

We’ve all swooned over OMD’s hit “If You Leave” (at least, if you’re normal you have); well now Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphrey are back for the first time in 15 years with new album History of Modern.

In these electro-friendly times, OMD’s influence has become ubiquitous. The XX, Brandon Flowers of The Killers, and LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy have cited OMD as an inspiration, while the likes of La Roux, Cold Cave and The Horrors show traces of OMD’s DNA. Andy notes that today OMD is perceived to have its place in the “pantheon of relevant popular music history”, something which seemed unthinkable during the Britpop era.

Upbeat and bristling with ideas, History of Modern was mixed by Arctic Monkeys/Foals engineer Mike Crossey, and offers a slightly rawer kind of pleasure to the serene melancholy of OMD’s early-’80s moments. In a nice touch, the record’s sleeve was designed by Peter Saville, who was responsible for the iconic artwork of those first OMD albums. Saville was the in-house designer at Factory Records, the label that released OMD’s debut single “Electricity“ in 1979. For many, History of Modern will be their first experience of OMD, and one hopes their curiosity will lead them to other oldie but goodies.

“I suppose the nice thing is that, just like in the early days, we made this record simply because we fancied making a record,” says McCluskey. “There was no pressure to make a record in order to sell records and sustain a career. It was like making a first album again.”

US Tracklisting:

1. New Babies: New Toys
2. If You Want It
3. History of Modern (Part I)
4. History of Modern (Part II)
5. Sometimes
6. RFWK
7. New Holy Ground
8. The Future, The Past, And Forever After
9. Sister Marie Says
10. Pulse
11. Green
12. Bondage of Fate
13. The Right Side
14. Save Me (featuring Aretha Franklin)

Spin has released a great article and you can check out another new OMD song, “New Babies: New Toys,” by clicking here.

Starting today, NPR is streaming Ra Ra Riot’s entire new album for your listening pleasure! The album will be available for purchase August 24th…next week!

Go check out Ra Ra Riot’s The Orchard here.

Oh, and recently I posted about their track “Boy” and how you can download it for free at the band’s website. Now you can check out RAC’s remix of “Boy” by clicking here. Enjoy!

Check out Lance Herbstrong. From electro to dubstep to  drum-and-bass and electronica, Herbstrong’s mixes are as inventive as their name.

These guys played at Lollapalooza last week (anyone see them?), and they’re giving away a couple free tracks of some reggae remixes! I’ve heard it’s great smoke music, too –(uh, I mean…the name is Lance HERBstrong…) so let that be just another incentive to check them out, even if it’s just outta curiousity.

Click to listen/download:

Budy Bye

On the Road Again

Zunguzung

Download Spilling Over Every Side here!!!

It’s a crafted mix of hip-hop, soul, breakbeats, and a dash of dubstep. In other words, a complete must-have!

Pretty Lights has also announced the bringing in of a new drummer, Adam Deitch, beginning with Wanderlust Festival today in California.  He’s done session/live work for everyone from Wyclef and Eve to Justin Timberlake in addition to his own projects Break Science and Lettuce. Expect Pretty Lights shows to be taken to a whole new level!

07/30 SQUAW VALLEY, CALIFORNIA Wanderlust Festival
08/07 MORRISON, COLORADO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
08/14 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Outside Lands
08/14 SAN FRANCISCO, CA The Independent (night show)
08/25 KNOXVILLE, TN The Valarium
08/26 MEMPHIS, TN Minglewood Hall
08/28 NEW ORLEANS, LA CAC Warehouse
09/03 CHICAGO, IL North Coast Music Festival
09/04 NEW YORK, NY Electric Zoo Festival
09/05 AUSTIN, TX Nocturnal Festival
09/25 SANTA BARBARA, CA West Beach Festival

Pete Yorn’s new self-titled album will be out September 28th, but until then — how about a free download of his new song “Precious Stone”?!?!?!

August 24th marks the release date of Ra Ra Riot’s sophomore album, The Orchard. They will soon be embarking on a pretty extensive tour, including playing in Toronto at the Molson Amphitheatre with City and Colour and Tegan and Sara on August 28th. The band will also support Wintersleep during a Western Canadian tour in November. Full tour dates are on their MySpace page here. 

The Orchard follows the band’s debut full-length, The Rhumb Line, which was released two years ago and hailed by such publications as Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly which called it, “worthy of a living room dance party.”

The album is now available for pre-order at Gallery AC in digital and physical formats, including a deluxe limited edition CD+DVD package with a “making of” documentary. All pre-orders of The Orchard include with a free MP3 of the albums first single, “Boy.” Pssssst…you can also get “Boy” here by entering your email address! (It’s fantastic, so I suggest you just do it!)

Tickets for The Drums & Surfer Blood’s North American Tour go on sale on July 30-31 with a band presale at thedrumsandsurferblood.com on July 28.

The Drums/Surfer Blood 2010 North American Tour Dates

9/11 Providence, RI @ Jerky’s Live Music Hall
9/12: Washington, DC @ The 9:30 Club
9/13 Chapel Hill, NC @  Local 506
9/15: Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
9/17: Orlando, FL @ Social
9/18: Miami, FL @ Grand Central
9/19: Tampa, FL @ State Theatre
9/20 Gainesville, FL @ Common Ground Coffeehouse
9/21: Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder
9/23: Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s (The Drums ONLY)
9/24: Dallas, TX @  The Loft (The Drums ONLY)
9/25: Austin, TX @ ND (The Drums ONLY)
9/27: Phoenix, AZ @ Clubhouse
9/28 Pomona, CA @ Glass House
9/29: Los Angeles, CA @ The Music Box
10/01: San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (The Drums ONLY)
10/03: Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
10/04: Seattle, WA @ Neumos (The Drums ONLY)
10/05: Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore Cabaret
10/07: Boise, ID @ Neurolux
10/08: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
10/10: Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
10/13: Minneapolis, MN @ The Varsity Theater
10/14: Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
10/16: Toronto, ON @ Mod Club (The Drums ONLY)
10/17: Montreal, QB @ Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire (The Drums ONLY)
10/18: Boston, MA @ Paradise (The Drums ONLY)
10/20: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
10/22: Philadelphia, PA @ Making Time