It’s been a busy year for the genre bending producer-extraordinaire Pretty Lights, aka Derek Vincent Smith; he’s carrying out the ambitious goal of releasing three EP’s in 2010.
July 29th we’ll see the second installment of the 2010 EP trilogy, with the third set for the late fall. Smith self-releases for free all his music through his website, www.PrettyLightsMusic.com, and with over half a million downloads & counting, and sold-out shows nationwide, the world has officially caught on!
The new We Are Scientists album Barbara is out today. It says something when I immediately purchase an album with out even previewing it. That’s what I did just a few minutes ago. Maybe because one of the songs is titled “Pittsburgh”.
UPDATE: Aaaaaaaaaaand they are coming! We Are Scientists are playing a show at Brillobox on Sunday, August 15th. 9:30 pm. $15
Check it out over at Amie Street (and get it for $5 while you still can)!
Track List:
1. Rules Don’t Stop
2. I Don’t Bite
3. Nice Guys
4. Jack & Ginger
5. Pittsburgh
6. Ambition
7. Break It Up
8. Foreign Kicks
9. You Should Learn
10. Central AC
Filed under new albums
Despite his fear of flying, R. Kelly boarded a plane to South Africa to perform at the 2010 FIFA World Cup kick-off ceremonies. The Pied Piper has penned “Sign of a Victory,” an inspirational song that’s been declared the official anthem for the World Cup, featuring Africa’s Soweto Spiritual Singers.
Click to watch the video coverage of R. Kelly’s performance
Click above to watch Shakira’s performance of “Waka Waka” at the Kick-off concert!
Click above to watch K’Naan’s performance of “Waving Flag”
Filed under video
Did anyone else know that the character Darnell (aka Crabman) from My Name is Earl is in a sweet ass group?
No stranger to the New York underground scene, No Surrender is gearing up to release their intricate sophomore effort Medicine Babies (ZerOKilled Music, Fall 2010). Blending hip-hop, electro, soul, synth-pop, and indie-rock, No Surrender’s spanning sound is genre-bending.
Enlisting European production team Radioclit, TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, New York fixture DJ Monica Sharp, and former Tricky muse Costanza, their guests are equally as diverse, and equally as interesting.
After self-releasing their critically lauded debut, White Power Black Magic, No Surrender was put on hold when Eddie Steeples became a permanent cast member on NBC’s My Name Is Earl, playing Darnell/Crabman. Putting unfinished tracks on the back burner, Seraphim participated in different projects (including guesting on tracks for Evil Nine) until Steeples finished filming. Picking up right where they left off, but adding years of experience and influences, No Surrender took on producer Costanza Francavilla to finish Medicine Babies in the ZerOKilled studio in Brooklyn.
“Your new favorite shit.” –Vice Magazine
“…a groping, grimy jam sticky with parking-lot feedback, Rick James-esque yelps, and fuzzy synths… Just remember that Medicine Babies is the name of the album dropping this fall, and it’s gonna be dope.” – RCRD LBL
Get It Now: The first single from Medicine Babies is “Godda Get It” featuring production by Radioclit.
Filed under Check 'em Out!, downloads, Whoa!
First of all, by going to their site you’re immediately hit with a video and if you type in your email address you can get a free mp3 of “It Will All End In Tears” sent to your inbox.
Awwwwweeeeesssssssooooooooommmmmeeeeeee.
Filed under downloads, Highly Anticipated, new albums, Newest Love, video
Today marks the releases of the new Rooney album, Eureka. And from now until Saturday, June 12th, you can go buy the album at Target for a measly $7.99. If you’d like to sample the album before you buy it, it is now streaming on AOL Music.
Two of the songs will also be featured tonight on MTV’s The Hills. They will be featuring “All Or Nothing” and “Not In My House,” so make sure to tune in to hear the songs. They are also the ‘Featured Artist’ in ‘Songs From The Show.’
ALSO, today the new RATATAT album LP4 is available! Whoooooooooo! (I am super excited!) I recommend listening to “Bare Feast” and “Alps.”
Filed under new albums
The Music Tee is a new product line that combines digital music and t-shirt fashion in one eye and ear-catching package. Each Music Tee features an artist (or compilation) with a graphic image (“cover art”) on the front of the shirt and a track listing on the back. Each shirt comes with a unique code that can be used to download a digital copy of the album featured on the shirt, redeemable at www.themusictee.com. The result is a new way of delivering music to fans, allowing them to easily fill their iPod while landing the “album art” a coveted place in their wardrobe!
Already generating a huge buzz state-side, The Music Tee boasts over fifty artist collaborations, including The Cold War Kids, Amanda Blank, Mos Def, Monsters of Folk and more. The line has also launched a “vintage” collection, featuring Bad Brains, Bad Religion and The Exciter, with more titles coming soon. With festival season upon us, The Music Tee is sure to be a must-have for the summer season.
“The Music Tee has been a phenomenal success in the US by giving artists a new platform to distribute their music,” says Jeremy Wineberg, President of The Music Tee. “We continue to sign new major label partners and content providers each day. For the UK launch (June 9th) we wanted to introduce fresh artists and will be kicking off with The Daisy Dares You Music Tee arriving in June. We are excited about engaging music and fashion fans in the UK while continuing to grow our collection of compelling artists.”
“The Music Tee is a unique fashion concept that’s perfect for the summertime,” notes Selfridges Contemporary Buying Manager, Gary Edgley. “Band tees have long been a wardrobe essential and the idea brings an interesting update to a modern style classic.“
Filed under Check 'em Out!, Whoa!
Setting Sun released their newest masterpiece, Fantasurreal, through Young Love Records yesterday.
This is the fourth release from Setting Sun, and definitely the most sonically ambitious. Over the course of six months, the record just flowed. “This was the easiest record I’ve ever made,” says Levitt. “It felt natural to come home to my studio and let these songs pour out while embracing some solitude that is so hard to find on tour. It was a big relief and a great way to ease back into my life.” The end result was energetic indie folk textured with percussion, swirling electronics, trumpets and strings creating a record that exists somewhere between Beck’s most insular moments and the giddy excitement of MGMT, simultaneously undercutting the vitality with raw, emotive vocals and lyrics that channel Bright Eyes or Elliott Smith. Buoyant pop songs like “Driving” share space with introspective indie folk tunes like “Don’t Grow Up”. Add in booming floor stomps like “Make You Feel” and Fantasurreal becomes Levitt’s most diverse work to date.
Here are my 2 favorites from the album:
This record marks Setting Sun as a mainstay of the indie scene, as songwriter Gary Levitt further carves a niche writing and producing another soaring batch of sweepingly beautiful indie pop songs.
Filed under Check 'em Out!, downloads, new albums
Due to some scheduling changes to U2’s tour schedule, Interpol has cancelled 11 of their shows that were previously scheduled. Fortunately, this does not affect Pittsburgh’s show (June 23rd) since U2 was not scheduled for a show here.
Here’s the ones that are now cancelled:
Des Moines, IA People’s Court
Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s
Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
Columbia, MO Blue Note
Athens, GA Watt Club
Charleston, SC The Music Farm
Baltimore, MD Ram’s Head Live
Providence, RI Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
Haven, CT Toad’s Place
Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
Lancaster, PA Chameleon
Also, Carlos Denger has left the band. He did contribute to their upcoming fourth album, but the band will replace him with a series of other bassists for their tour. Gladly, there were no hard feelings on this split.
Click here to go to the band’s website and get a free download of their single “Lights” from the new album.
Filed under Band Change-ups, downloads, Events, Highly Anticipated, new albums, Shows
Musically Amusing 