I just noticed that Madvillainy came out over four years ago.  That makes me feel old, so I can’t imagine how it makes MF DOOM feel.  No one seems to really know where the masked rapper disappeared to over the past five years.  He released a somewhat boring Danger Doom w/ Danger Mouse, and did a little touring (rumored to be awful and potentially not even him), but nothing to compare to the grandeur of Madvillain.

None of that matters anymore, because DOOM is back (minus the MF) with a new LP titled Born Like This, and potentially a return to form.  From the two tracks floating around the web, “That’s That” and “Ballskin,” it’s definitely the DOOM we all know and love - full of inside pop and culture references, short blasts of raps and no regard for chorus.  The album will drop on March 23rd.  Pitchfork just reported that Thom Yorke will be remixing “Gazillion Ear” as a bonus track on the album.  Sweet.

[mp3] DOOM - Ballskin

tracklist:

01 Supervillain Intro
02 Gazillion Ear
03 Ballskin
04 Yessir [ft. Raekwon]
05 Absolutely
06 Rap Ambush
07 Lightworks
08 Batty-Boys
09 Angelz [ft. Tony Starks]
09 Cellz
10 Still Dope [ft. Empress Sharhh]
11 Microwave Mayo
12 More Rhymin’ [ft. Kurious]
13 That’s That
14 Suppervillainz
15 Bump’s Message
16 Thank Ya

After a much buzzed about appetizer EP, Harlem Shakes finally returns for the main course.  It’s called Technicolor Health, features kickass album cover art and some lineup changes.  “Strictly Game,” the full length track streaming on their Myspace page starts off  guns blazing from all directions.  You get thick static, saxophone, vocal harmonies, old school Modest Mouse guitar hammering all coming together into a lean, kinetic tune speaking of how “this will be a better year.”  I think Lexy is right about that.

Techincolor Health will be released on March 24th through Gigantic Music.

We just got word that Cursive will be releasing a follow up to Happy Hollow on March 10th.  The record will be called Mama, I’m Swollen and will be the band’s sixth LP.  I can’t say much about the record, but I’m sure Tim Kasher and Co. won’t disappoint.  I do have the tracklist and some tour dates below.  Listen to Cursive here

1.    In The Now
2.    From The Hips
3.    I Couldn’t Love You
4.    Donkeys
5.    Caveman
6.    We’re Going To Hell
7.    Mama, I’m Satan
8.    Let Me Up
9.    Mama, I’m Swollen
10.    What Have I Done?

(more…)

 

As you must all know by now, Merriweather Post Pavilion made its leaked debut on Christmas Day, and quickly became my #1 album of 2008.  Of course it will have to wait almost a year before it inevitable finds itself on everyone’s Best of 2009 lists, but it holds an honorary position in 08.  The most staggering statistic about Merriweather is that it’s Animal Collective’s eighth proper LP.  With multiple side projects and a steady diet of touring, it’s incredible that AC keeps the release pace they do.  Not to mention that each release is a wholly new sound and evolution from the prior release.

We’ll wait until the proper release date, before diving too much farther into Merriweather, but we wanted to make everyone aware of some upcoming tour dates.

LA Dates:

1-23-09 Henry Fonda Theatre

1-24-09 Troubadour

Remaining tour dates

Some time before the new year, we will be releasing our top 10 albums of the year, but for now please enjoy some lists from the sites we love…

Pitchfork Top 50 Albums

I Guess I’m Floating Top 25 Albums

Aquarium Drunkard Top 5 Albums (x3)

The Yellow Stereo Top 20 Songs

You Ain’t No Picasso 12 Days of X-mas

Said the Gramophone Top 10 albums and top 50 songs

Rubin Recommends Top Albums

The art of the mixtape has different meaning to different communities.  In the hip hop world it basically means LP “lite” -  drop the production value, give some smaller artists a shot at the mic and sell them off the back of a truck or now on mediafire and rapid share.  DJ Drama brought the mixtape to the public when his studio was raided by the FBI and a massive amount of bootleg CDs confiscated.  The US Government isn’t too fond of businesses missing their tax ID.

If anyone needed more evidence that Lil Wayne is the most prolific artist in hip hop, Dedication 3 puts the last nail in the coffin.  Not much else to say except enjoy.

Download the mixtape here

Tracklist after the jump

(more…)

Here’s a nice holiday treat for you all -  Two great bands, one great club, and nothing to do but sign up.  Shock Hound is putting on a series of free shows (which are all selling out so act quick!), and on Dec 2nd No Age and Titus Andronicus will be packing in The Troubadour.  Both these bands are great live, so don’t miss out on this opportunity.  Follow the link below and sign up to get your name on the guest list.  This will sell out so move fast.

 Get Tickets

 

So it turns out that Kanye didn’t quite love his mastering of “Love Lockdown” and “Heartless.”  This being 2008, Kanye goes back into the studio, reworks the songs and then gives them away for free on his (frequently updates and quite awesome) blog.  He then posted another song with Jeezy called “Amazing” - again free to download.  Finally two more songs surfaced on the same hosting service he uses, so I’m assuming they are from him.  Links to all below.

 Love Lockdown and Heartless

Amazing

Streetlights

Tell Everyone You Know

The landscape of the music industry has changed tremendously over the last 10 years, and the smartest artists are learning to adapt.  Artists and labels have come to realize that consumers want constant contact and content from the artists they follow, and if they get bored they’ll look elsewhere for that fulfillment.

Kayne West understands this new system and is doing everything he can to continue his reign on top.  On the heels of a incredibly successful latest album and equally  impressive concert tour, Kayne is already completing a new record that he will be releasing practically the day it’s finished (sometime in November).  He is also an obsessive blogger and keeps a great connection to his fans that way.  To keep the experience interactive, Kanye has released the stem tracks to “Love Lockdown” for everyone to remix and rework.  When you finish post it online and link it through the comment section.  We want to hear your creation!

Download the stems here

A lot of people loved them and a lot of people got tired of them.  Come this September, the Cold War Kids are going to try and strengthen the testimony of their followers or convert the nonbelievers with their sophomore release Loyalty to Loyalty.  Though the Cold War Kids were one of my favorite local, LA-based acts of 2006, I find myself in need of some convincing that their new album will be “something of a masterpiece…brimming with the poignant, intimate narratives and brooding atmospherics”, as their press release states.  I am hopeful though after I heard this little snippet from the upcoming album:

Loyalty to Loyalty tracklisting:1. Against Privacy
2. Mexican Dogs
3. Every Valley Is Not A Lake
4. Something Is Not Right With Me
5. Welcome To The Occupation
6. Golden Gate Jumpers
7. Avalanche in B
8. I’ve Seen Enough
9. Every Man I Fall For
10. Dreams Old Men Dream
11. On The Night My Love Broke Through
12. Relief
13. CryptomnesiaDates in Full:
08/22/08 Outside Lands Festival, San Francisco, CA
08/23/08 Sunset Junction Festival, Los Angeles, CA
08/24/08 Les Schwab Amp, Bend, OR
09/20/08 Street Scene, San Diego, CA
09/27/08 Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR
09/28/08 Richards on Richards, Vancouver, Canada
09/29/08 The Showbox at the Market, Seattle, WA
10/01/08 The Neurolux, Boise, ID
10/02/08 In The Venue, Salt Lake City, UT
10/03/08 Boulder Theatre, Boulder, CO
10/10/08 Fine Line Music Café, Minneapolis, MN
10/11/08 Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL
10/14/08 Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
10/15/08 Webster Hall, NYC
10/16/08 Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
10/17/08 Theatre of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
10/18/08 Nightclub 9:30, Washington, D.C.
10/20/08 Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
10/21/08 Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN
10/23/08 Lola’s, Ft. Worth, TX
10/24/08 Emo’s Alt. Lounge-Outside, Austin, TX
10/25/08 Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
10/26/08 Voodoo Music Experience, New Orleans, LA

Tickets are available through the band’s website www.coldwarkids.com

[mp3] Cold War Kids - Tonight, You Belong To Me (Cover)

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