The awesome Swedish Indie-Pop label Friendly Noise, home of Urban Alternatives dandies Most Valuable Players, like to give their music away for free. In fact, they've been releasing a new, totally free, downloadable single every month this year!

The newest free digital-only download release from the label is a two-track single from a mysterious singer and musician named Peter Nilsson. I can't find any other information out about the guy aside from what's on the download page, so here's what he had to say about his music there.

Sometimes I make stuff on my own. Sometimes I hear something so good I want to incorporate it with my compositions. Sometimes I feel a little lost in my music and need to sense the presence of someone or something else in there. Sounds from the 70s, words from the 60s, machines from the 80s, things I’ve done and places I want to go. Roughly sketched out in these two songs.

So far my favorite cut on the single is "Song for Stina." It's uptempo, with a funky broken beat, a lot of cool synths and keys, a fat synth bassline, and a really pretty male/female vocal. The other track "Get Nowhere" is really good too though. It's a loping slice of Sunny Pop bliss, with jangly guitars, buzzy synths, racket-making percussion, and hand-claps. Download both tracks below.

Peter Nilsson "Get Nowhere"

Peter Nilsson "Song for Stina"

As I was watching the video for UK Grime emcee Wiley's new single "50/50" I found myself wondering if he would ever reprise his memorable "who ate all the pies" (answer: Cereffusion) line. Half-way through the video I didn't have to wonder any more. Yes!



I obtained a leak of Wiley's sophomore album 'Playtime is Over,' out June 4th on Big Dada Records, a number of weeks ago. Unfortunately it had a promobot talking on it, so I sent it straight to the recycling bin. So, I can't tell you how it stacks up against 'Treaddin' on Thin Ice.'

More funky goodness from The Gossip who have issued a new video for the UK release of a remixed version of their single "Listen Up!" You might be aware they already released a video for this track, but this is a totally new and different clip. It's also a completely new mix of the song, and I can't figure out who did it. I have a bunch of remixes of the song and this isn't any of them.



The original mix is still available on The Gossip's stellar 'Standing in the Way of Control' LP which dropped here in the states back in 2006 on the Kil lRock Stars label. The re-release of "Listen Up!," which may or may not feature the remix from the video, is out now (?) in the UK on Back Yard Records.

This is the official video for "The Game" featuring DJ Premier, the bangin' first single from Chicago emcee Common's seventh full-length album 'Finding Forever.' The video is simple, to the point, and very dope, just like the song.



'Finding Forever' hits stores July 31st, on G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen Records. It features production from Kanye West, J Dilla (Rest in Peace), Will.i.am, Devo Springsteen, and Jeff Akins, and guest-appearances by D'Angelo, Dwele, Lily Allen, Bilal, Kanye West, and Will.i.am.

* — Yes, this video reminds me of LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out."

Hip-Hop news site HipHipDX (where everybody seems to really like the word "fag") is reporting that Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Williams are planning on forming a Hip-Hop supergroup. The group project is supposedly going to be called CRS, which stands for Chicago Runs Shit, a name that doesn't make a good-God-damn bit of sense since Pharrell isn't even from Chicago!

Regardless, the first appearance of the "group" is on a song called "Us Placers" from Kanye's new Plain Pat (of C-Rayz Walz fame?) helmed mixtape project 'Can't Tell Me Nothing.' Believe it or not, the track features Kanye, Lupe and Pharell busting rhymes over the instrumental version of Thom Yorke's "The Eraser."

CRS (Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West and Pharrell) "Us Placers"

The mixtape isn't great, but there were a bunch of nice surprises on it including "Us Placers," the Daft Punk-sampling "Stronger," a version of Kid Sister's "Pro Nails" featuring a guest-verse from Kanye, and a cut where Mr. West raps and sings over Peter Bjorn and John's "Young Folks."

This photo of The Gossip's front-woman Beth Ditto from the cover of the new issue of British music mag NME is probably all over the interweb already. I'm forced to assume this since none other than Emeyesi was IMing me yesterday afternoon saying "Oh shit beth ditto nakey on the cover of NME!" The conversation looked something like this.

[21:20] Emeyesi: Oh shit beth ditto nakey on the cover of NME
[21:20] Emeyesi: Look out now!
[21:20] elketerbentzadik: lol, word?
[21:20] elketerbentzadik: she been getting naked a lot lately
[21:21] Emeyesi: Sexy
[21:21] Emeyesi: We need more chubby ladies
[21:21] elketerbentzadik: if by "we" you mean "me," and "in my bed" then sure
[21:21] Emeyesi: Lol

That pretty much sums up my feelings about the cover (and Ditto's previous naked appearances, documented by Brooklyn Vegan here and here). I've made no secret about my thoughts regarding the zaftig Ms. Ditto, so if you've been reading this site for any length of time you should know I think she's a hottie. What you probably don't know is that my internet browser history is littered with the URL's of BBW porn sites, so Beth Ditto naked is right up my alley.

Of course, Beth Ditto's also a smart cookie with strong opinions about sex, gender and body image, and unlike the porn chicks who never get to say much of anything other than rutting grunts, she's got a forum to speak her mind on all those issues thanks to her band, and media like the NME. And if there's anything I like more than a fleshy lady (oddly enough most of the women I've fallen in love with have either been voluptuous big-girls, or stick-thin pixies, I don't know what's up with that) it's a smart girl with strong opinions and no fear of speaking her peace.

Here are some excerpts from the interview.

Yet one of the things Beth Ditto does gives a f*ck about, is body image. So much so, that Beth recently refused for The Gossip to play instores at Topshop, citing her dissatisfaction that there isn’t a clothes range available in her size. She even went as far as to offer to design clothes for them. She’s never claimed to promote her body size (“I’m just saying people should be empowered about who they are,” she tells us), yet it’s worth asking, does she feel a responsibility to pick a side in the size zero debate?

“Not at all,” says Beth, immediately. “Things are more complicated than that – there’s too many factors to pick a side. The older I get and the more models and designers I meet... sometimes models are naturally just thin. Like, that’s their size.”

When you talk about meeting models, do you mean Kate Moss?
“Kate is amazing,” purrs Beth. “I spent one night talking to her and she just said the most amazing things about bodies. At first I didn’t think I was going to like her, but she just turned up to one of our shows and said, ‘Do you know what I hate, Beth? When people tell my big girlfriends, ‘You have a beautiful face...’’ I mean, that’s a really radical concept.”

Do you not think Kate Moss actually has a responsibility to answer to the size debate, though?
“You can’t hate a person for dieting, and you can’t blame a person for feeling shit about themselves. You have to blame the machine that feeds it, the thing that makes people feel like that. There are lots of things that are part of that machine, and it’s too easy to lay the blame at the feet of women – men don’t know what it feels like to be a woman and be expected to look a particular way all the time. The Beckhams are part of the machine; Paris Hilton is part of the machine. There’s that thing Paris Hilton said about Lindsay Lohan – ‘You’re poor, ugly and fat’. It’s always women who are victims of that machine and the messages the machine gives out.”

But surely Kate Moss is that machine?
“I had those conversations with Kate,” says Beth, “and Kate agreed with me. She’s a smart person.”

Do you think she’s happy doing what she’s doing?
“I don’t know.”

But if she agreed with you...
“I have this thing where I don’t ever want to bad-mouth a woman. Except for Paris Hilton.” She laughs again. “Please tell me you saw that thing where she was crying in the newspapers, about her going to prison. It was so funny. I was laughing until I was crying.”

Tell me more about not wanting to bad-mouth women...
Beth speaks quietly again. “I pick and choose my battles. I think Condoleezza Rice is more of a goddamn shame than Kate Moss, and I think those are the things people should concentrate on. What I’m saying is that, if there’s anyone to blame for size zero, it’s not women. Blame the media. Blame gay men who work in the fashion industry who want these women as dolls.”

I found the stuff about her refusal to appear at Topshops over the fact that they don't carry larger-sized clothing and her offer to design a line for them particularly relevant.

Just yesterday Emeyesi and I were talking about various "hip" streetwear companies and how I'm on the verge of buying a bunch of silk-screening equipment so I can make my own damn shirts because most of them don't make "cool" tee-shirts and stuff in sizes that will fit me or other people my size comfortably. I'm a big dude, and I like my clothing to fit right and hang properly. Skinny dudes might like wearing tee-shirts where the sleeves don't even cover their bicep. But I like my sleeve to at least hit my elbow. And I want a shirt that doesn't ride up like Ozone's half-shirt in 'Breakin'' if I reach up to pull the ding cord on the city bus. But issues of comfort aside, they just don't make their shirts big enough. And it makes no sense that companies who hand silk-screen their "limited edition" shirts can't make me a tee-shirt in whatever fucking size I want and would be comfortable in other than the fact that it's just not "hip" to be anything other than a walking skeleton.

I can honestly say that there have been a number of occasions where I've seen a really fresh shirt and wanted to post about it here on Imageyenation, but have thought twice because the biggest size it's available in is XL

But I digress, I guess Beth Ditto has all the bases covered; making good music, giving me an erection, and talking about shit that speaks to me personal. Way to go Beth!

Would you believe I've found a band who plays cutesy Swedish Indie-Pop... only they're from Indonesia? Well, believe it buddy! The co-ed quintet is called Annemarie, and their music is so sugary sweet that it might give you "the diabeetis" like poor old Wilford Brimley. Then the doctors will have to cut off your foot, but you won't be sad, because you'll have Sunny Twee-Pop from Indonesia via Sweden to make you happy!



Annemarie "Apple (Suicide on Your Stereo Set)"

The song and video "Apple (Suicide on Your Stereo Set)" are taken from their debut LP 'ABC on TV,' which is out now on the awesomely-named Music Is My Girlfriend label. You should get it, for yourself, and for all your diabetic friends and family-members. It might be the only thing that makes life worth living this Summer.

Speaking of Spank Rock, I know their Fabriclive mix was a little disappointing but don't let that discourage you from checking out Devlin & Darko's dj sets live. All your favorites from "Bump" to yes, "Lindsay Lohan's Revenge" will be played and then some, including this Spank Rock remix of Teki Latex that I've been playing daily for maybe 2 months straight now (in part due to my woman-crush on Amanda Blank).

Teki Latex (Spank Rock Remix ft. Amanda Blank) "Disco Dance With You"

Plus, there will be fun girls there. Like these ladies from the San Francisco set at Rx Gallery a couple weekends ago. Admit it, you'd be happy getting in a dance-off with them and losing.



Check the list of all of Spank Rock's upcoming live dates to see if they're coming to a club near you.

Justin Timberlake is moving up in the world. He has launched his very own record label, Tennman Records (site coming soon). Launching with Interscope Records, Former Vice President of A&R at Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Ken Komisar, has been appointed President while J.T. will serve as Chairman and C.E.O of the label.

Here's an official press release, for those who want to read it. Also, no article has yet to say who will be the first artists to be signed to Tennman Records.

If anyone gets a heads up or finds out if Tennman is connected to this, let a Lady know?

Which may or may not be true but I'm pretty certain that said YouTube commenter must just hate FUN because that's what Baltimore-based Dan Deacon is. He's also an "absurdist electronic music composer/performer" with a Master's degree in electro-acoustic composition receiving commissions from galleries and museums alike but that's less important than the fact that he is FUN wrapped in a candy shell of unabashed dancing goodness who with his latest album 'Spiderman of the Rings' is going to turn you into a dance-machine for his Factory of FUN.

So much synth and percussion, epic and epileptic loops of Woody Woodepecker sound effects, Dan Deacon's songs on paper sound like everything I'd hate. Which is why I don't listen to them on paper. Obviously. The album is so good it was hard to choose what I wanted to post: the 12-minute up-and-down-and-sideways ride that is "Wham City," a reference to the art collective to which he belongs, "Crystal Cat" (which El Keter posted the video for), or the song that could have inspired Man Man's whole sound, "Snake Mistakes." After playing three rounds of rock-paper-scissors with myself and winning and losing, I decided on "Wham City."

Dan Deacon "Wham City"

Seriously. This is super long. Be ware your internet connection.

Gym Class Heroes' touring keyboardist Tyler Pursel has taken time out from stacking bank with the Pop-Punk-meets-Rap stars to team up with vocalist Teeter Sperber as LadybiRdS. Describing their music as "Pop tunery inspired by an 8 bit Nintendo or Atari 2600, or Cyndi Lauper superfan meets a cupcake pop version of The Postal Service on diet pills before Ephedra was banned by the FDA," the duo craft catchy, electronic-infused, Punk-influenced Pop songs.

Their first single is called "The Brown and Red Divide," and you can watch the video, and download the MP3 below.



LadybiRdS "The Brown and Red Divide"

The band's debut album 'Regional Community Theater' is due in stores September 4th on Pennsylvania indie-label Creep Records. The album will feature contributions from a whole host of Pop-Punk artists including Max Bemis of Say Anything, Neil Sabatino of Fairmont, Justin Johnson of The Danger O's, Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack, and Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids.

And yes, this post's title is indeed a reference to former first-lady Ladybird Johnson.

Montag "Best Boy Electric"

I was a big fan of Canadian electronic musician, and Imageyenation "Best of" list alumnus, Montag's 2005 LP 'Alon, Not Alone.' So, I'm happy he's returned, accompanied by collaborators like M83, Ghislain Poirier, Ida Nilsen, Final Fantasy, Amy Millan, Leah Abramson, Victoria Legrand and Au Revoir Simone, with an another album, titled 'Going Places,' full of beautiful Electronic-Pop songs. The album drops June 5th on Carpark Records. The track "Best Boy Electric" sounds like Postal Service remixing a song by a band from the '80s who was trying to replicate '60s Pop. It should set your Summertime party off right.



Misha "Delovedly"

New York-based co-ed duo Misha is a totally new discovery to me. They're both Asian though. And apparently the programming and editing is all handled by a really pretty girl. Awesome, right? Oh, and their album 'Teardrop Sweetheart' is due out on German Poptronica label Tomlab on June 19th. The tune "Delovedly" is one of the best songs I've heard all year. It's super-pretty, features awesome drum-programming and synths, but somehow breaks out into a bass and electric-piano driven slow jam that evokes the sound and spirit of John Lennon in a really incredible way. If you got down with that Benny Sings I posted a number of weeks back you should love this too.



Strategy "Stops Spinning"

I said it on Okayplayer a couple weeks back, and I'll say it again here, Portland, Oregon is kicking an unholy amount of ass! Acts like The Gossip, The Blow, Copy, Panther, and YACHT have been been dropping nothing but the hot poop. And you can now add Paul Dickow, also known as Strategy, to that list of ass-kicking Oregonians as well. His album 'Future Rock,' a lo-fi affair mixing dubbed-out Euro-Disco-influenced minimal House, Electro and atmospheric Electronica, saw release last week on the Kranky Records label. The track "Stop Spinning" is another slow-burner, but like Misha's entry in this week's post it's eerily pretty. It's what a soulful Deep House cut might sound like if you brought the tempo way down, stripped it of it's heavy four-on-the-floor beat, dubbed it way out, and had a self-conscious white guy sing it instead of a overwrought Gospel-trained Gay Black dude. It's basically a club song (seriously, listening to it makes me feel exactly the way I feel being in NYC's Club Shelter... I'm sure it'd sound amazing on that system), but it's also totally an anti-club song. And it's dope.



Khan "On the Run"

Most of you probably weren't aware that Imageyenation family-members Emeyesi and Miss Behavin' were on the West Coast all this past week. They're back now, but I sort of wish I'd had the chance to post this track by German "Rock + Pop + Electro + House = my music" guy Khan before they left. It's from his Tomlab LP 'Who Never Rests,' which hit stores last week, and it's perfect for driving a rental car down a winding California highway with the windows down. It's called "On the Run," and it's nother amazing piece of electronic Pop with a smooth organic edge and Old School sensibilities that's bound to be a Summertime favorite.

This isn't exactly a new discovery, but UK singer Kate Nash is sure to blow up at some point. And while I haven't noticed a lot of people fawning over her here in the States, that's bound to change soon enough, and I want to be in on the ground-floor when it does! Lily Allen (who she bears more than a little similarity to) has touted her as the "next big thing," and the NME has dubbed her genre non-specific output as "chavtronica." Her first release was a 7'' vinyl-only single "Caroline's a Victim," on the independent Moshi Moshi Records. Get hip!



Here's a remix of the track that ups the electro quotient by about 25%, sexes it up about 30%, and gives it a little bit more of a choppy club flavor.

Kate Nash "Caroline's a Victim (Tapedeck Revised Remix)"

Her new single is the chav culture meets "Hey Ya" sounding "Foundations," which is coming soon on major-label-affiliated Fiction Records.



As a bonus, here's some live video of Grime emcee Kano and Kate Nash performing "Me & My Mic" from Kano's forthcoming 'London Town' LP (due in July on 679 Recordings), at The Anson Rooms, Bristol, for MTV UK's Spanking New Music Week.



It'll be interesting to see what Nash does with a whole album, but judging by "Me & My Mic" it'll be even more interesting to hear Kano's new album. That shit is hot!

The MP3 of "You Can't Tell Me Nothing," the first single from Kanye West's forthcoming third LP 'Graduation' leaked a while back. I thought about posting it, but honestly I was underwhelmed by the song. Why is one of the dopest producers in the game releasing a song produced by DJ Toomp (with Young Jeezy on the ad-libs) as the first single from his album? It didn't make sense to me, and I didn't really give the song a fair shake.

The song's grown on me a little since. My favorite element is still the female background vocal that runs throughout the track. But Kanye is a charming motherfucker, and his charm and personality go a long way to making the song enjoyable. I'm still lukewarm on it compared to previous Kanye singles, but I don't hate it. I don't know how I feel about the video though... It's definitely not doing a lot to energize the song, that's for sure.



Kanye's given Common some straight heat for his forthcoming album, so I assume 'Graduation' isn't going to consist only of him rapping over tracks from whatever random beatmaker is supposedly "hot in the streets" right now. I expect some of his patented samples and platinum-selling backpacker-isms. I think I hear what he was trying to do with this single though, but I can't help but think his boys Sa-Ra could have given this track what it really needed.

Even better, I hope Kanye gives "You Can't Tell Me Nothing" to his DJ A-Trak to remix. He could even go so far as to give it to his Electro-producer buddies and they could go fucking crazy with it. Amp-up the synths, add some grainy acidic bits, crunch up the beat a little, and blammo, this shit would actually rock really hard. It still wouldn't be "Kanye," but it'd rock hard. But that's probably wishful thinking on my part.

Portland, Oregon's Soul/Punk phenomenons The Gossip have posted a hot new demo track on their MySpace page. It's called "Love and Let Love" (although it's only listed as "White Label Demo" on their MySpace) and it's a total change from their usual hard-edged style to some straight-up Electropop shit!

According to the band the Electro sound is a result of "listening to much Arthur Russell and Sylvester." And come to think of it, I'd love to hear the ever-foxxy Ms. Beth Ditto belt out a crazy amped-up Disco-Punk cover of a Sylvester tune some time.

Anyway, check out "Love and Let Love" while it's up.

Cambridge, Massachusetts's "two-man party attack" Big Digits have released their first video ever, for a track called "The World Iz Yourz." The video looks exactly like they sound. And much like their live shows it's both exciting and more than a little disturbing.



Their album 'Smoke Machines In Lazervision' is available now on the Bodies of Water, Arts and Crafts record label. And you can catch Big Digits infectious live show pretty regularly around the Boston area. I try to add their shows to our calendar whenever possible. So keep an eye on the calendar section to the right, and don't front if you get the opportunity to rock with them in person.

I have every reason to believe that this is hog-wash. But a post on the Wu-Tang Corp. message boards has started a flurry of rumours about a new MF Doom album, to be titled '3 Years Later,' possibly coming this Summer. And I so want to believe it's true.

The poster claimed that a message he received from MF Doom on MySpace provided the following info.

It will be MF Doom as MF Doom

It is to be titled '3 Years Later'

It is set to be released July 3rd

The album will mark the Debut of the new rap trio The Dukes of New York consisting of MF Doom, R.A. The Rugged Man, and Timbo King

It is to feature Ghostface Killah, R.A. The Rugged Man, Timbo King, Mr. Fantastik, Kool Keith, MC Serch, KMD and Crunchy Black

Doom is said to have produced every track for the album

There is to be 16 tracks

There will be a tribute track to his late brother DJ Subroc titled "I Use To Be Zev"

There will be a Monsta Island Czars dis titled "Midgets Into Crunk"

There will be some "Mr. Hood" skits

There will be a new KMD Track featuring a new verse from Doom and Onyx, and a unreleased Subroc verse titled "Kausing Much Damage"

The poster also included the following track listing.

1. "A Taste Of Doom" (Intro)
2. "I use To be Zev"
3. "DOOM As DOOM"
4. "The Waffle House" feat. Kool Keith
5. "The Return Of Mr.Hood" (Skit)
6. "Church Goers"
7. "The Mask (Remix)" feat. Ghostface Killah, and Mr. Fantastik
8. "Viktor"
9. "The Gas Face Pt. 2" feat. MC Serch
10. "Midgets Into Crunk"
11. "Kausing Much Damage" feat. KMD
12. "16 Barz"
13. "Kurt Russell vs. Snake Plissken" feat. The Dukes of New York
14. "Collect Call To Memphis" (Skit)
15. "Black Mask" feat. Crunchy Black
16. "Mr. Hood Says Goodbye" (Outro)

Of course, there was no information about what label this supposed album is to be released on. So, like I said, it's probably a load of horseapples. But it would be really nice if it were true.

A couple months ago, I posted the video for DJ Mehdi's "Singatune (Thomas Bangalter Mix)." It was directed by France's Romain Gavras. Gavras has now produced another great video for the British electro group Simian Mobile Disco for "I Believe," the newest single from their forthcoming album 'Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release,' out June 18th on Wichita Records. The video was filmed in Romania and features some of the Romani people who inhabit parts of the country's rural areas. There are moments in the video where it sort of feels like a documentary, but with a better soundtrack.



Romain Gavras is actually part of a Parisian production team called KOURTRAJMÉ which consists of directors, actors and producers who work together to create short films, documentaries and music videos. For the most part, Kourtrajme uses the films created in order to make political statements about urban life, poverty and racism. While mostly based out of Paris, the group is trying to broaden their horizons. Actor Vincent Cassell is closely tied to the group as is photographer/graffiti artitst/activist JR, whose film '28 Millimetres' as shot together with Kourtrajme director Ladj Ly.

To check out more films from Kourtrajme, go to the official website.

The Australian band Dappled Cities dresses up as a bunch of Eskimos in their video for the song "Fire, Fire, Fire." Remember how a couple of years ago everybody was saying that Gay was the new Black? Well, now I'm pretty sure that Eskimos are in fact the new Gay. Which means they're cool... like Black people used to be.



I don't know anything about Dappled Cities besides the facts that they're from Australia and their 2006 album 'Granddance' is being re-released here in the States June 5th on Dangerbird, the same label that released the last One AM Radio record. But I thought the song was pretty, the video was fuckin' awesome (it's got a Polar Bear, and Eskimos are cooler than a Gay Black guy), and I really wanted to use that Black/Gay/Eskimo comparison in a post because I thought it was funny.

Though I was playing their music on Urban Alternatives last year at this time. And they were on our "Bost of 2006" list here at Imageyenation way back in January. British Dance band Fujiya & Miyagi have been building up a buzz as of late. I've been seeing their name everywhere, and they're even releasing new videos!



This clip for their track "Ankle Injuries" is pretty freakin' sweet. It's animated, using dice! The use of dice to animate the video gives it a really cool pixelated look that suits the song, which repeatedly makes reference to stuff being pixelated.

Their album 'Transparent Things' is out now on different labels in different countries.

The video for the second single off of Timbaland Presents Shock Value has been released. The track, "Throw It On Me" features Swedish rock group The Hives and the video is done in the same style as Robert Rodriguez's film version of Sin City. It's visually pretty nice to watch. Especially if you like Battle Royale pillow fights between two girl gangs called "The Baby Faces" and "Extreme Expose"



This is actually one of the better songs off of 'Shock Value.' Personally, I felt the rest of the album was really lacking (or as someone told me...it sounds like Justin Timberlake's leftovers). Perhaps this video was trying to make up visually what the album was missing sound-wise.

We reviewed (or should I say Add-Mmm did... what happened to that guy anyway?) Dntel's new album'Dumb Luck what feels like forever ago. And me and Emeyesi have been playing tracks from the album on Urban Alternatives. I also featured it on 'Blogarhythms' over at Okayplayer. But for whatever reason it doesn't feel like there's much buzz around the album. Which kind of sucks, because it's amazing. Maybe a weird new video for "The Distance" featuring Arthur & Yu will help get people excited?



I don't know if this is necessarily the best song choice for a single and video, but it is what it is. Like most of the songs on the album it's very pretty. And it kind of reminds me of an understated "Heart It Races" by Architecture In Helsinki. But the video is pretty attention-grabbing, so who knows? The 'Dumb Luck' LP is in stores now on Sub Pop Records though. You should buy it.

In the video for their song "Listening Man", British band The Bees tackle one of the most difficult situations in a relationship: Getting your girlfriend to stop talking.



So, ladies remember. If your boyfriend/girlfriend kisses you while you are in the middle of a sentence, its not because he/she was being romantic. It's because he or she wants you to shut up.

Adult Swim brings you another downloadably delicious album.

Entitled 'Warm and Scratchy,' this mix features tracks from TV On The Radio, The Good, The Bad and The Queen, The Rapture, Asobi Seksu and The Ravonettes, just to name a few.

You can also check out the trippy video for TV On The Radio's track "Me-I" which features a dreaming, walking bird, dancing trees and a sandwich that wants to shank somebody.

To preview tracks, download the 'Warm and Scratchy' compilation, and watch the video, go here.

I love Stones Throw soulsters Dudley Perkins and Georgia Anne Muldrow. And I have no idea who UK producer DJ 2Tall is. But they've all teamed up, with the Amalgam Digital and Eclectic Breaks labels, for a collabo record called 'Beautiful Mindz.' Peep the promotional video for the title track below.



Like I said, I love Dudley and Georgia, and from what I hear the beats from 2Tall are butter-smooth. So I really want to check this out. If you wanna hear a little bit more, check out the mega-mix/sampler put together by DJ 2Tall below.

Beautiful Mindz "Promo Sampler Mega Mix"

The 'Beautiful Mindz' album will be available world-wide June 12th 2007 on Eclectic Breaks/Amalgam Digital.

I really need to hear the new Chemical Brothers album 'We are the Night.' The lead single "Do It Again" is like some old Trevor Horn-produced Frankie Goes To Hollywood shit smacked with early '90s Club/House beats.



The melody on that "turn off my robotic brain" part is too dope! But don't you wish relations between Arab nations and the West were as simple as dropping a funky dance tune and awkwardly dancing around the desert?

Mudville "Wicked"

The art of moody, downtempo Trip-Hop is alive and well thanks to Brooklyn-based co-ed duo Mudville. Featuring an eclectic team of collaborators, including Karsh Kale and R.E.M.'s Mike Mills, their new album 'Iris Nova' presents listeners with a whole cornucopia of Lounge weirdness. The track "Wicked," which combines Latin guitars, heavy beats, string-samples, and a strikingly unique vocal is one of my favorite cuts from the album.



Boom-Bip "Coogi Sweater" feat. Ali Lee

I've never been a huge fan of California-based producer Boom-Bip, although I've wound up owning a 12'' or remix of his here or there. That's all changed with his newest release, the 'Sacchrilege EP' out now on Lex Records, though. He's upped the Electro ante and came with some really ill tracks, which have me anticipating his next project, 'Neon Neon' with Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals and a whole host of collaborators, a whole helluva lot. I actually decided to forgo posting tracks from the new Calvin Harris and New Young Pony Club albums in favor of this joint, "Coogi Sweater" featuring vocals from Ali Lee. Why? Because it's the shit!



Juba Dance "Double Dutch Hymns"

Despite what you might hear on this track, Chicago-based Juba Dance is not a Hip-Hop act. Mixing Soul, Jazz, and Blues, with beats influenced by Hip-Hop, Electro, glitchy Electronica and more their album 'Orange,' out now on Audio8 Records, is really the epitome of the "urban alternative" style of music which gave my radio show it's name. The track "Double Dutch Hymns," a tough Old-School Rap jam with big drums, a huge Post-Punk bassline, and school-girl chants, is stupid-fresh.



Matthew Dear "Don and Sherri"

Michigan-based Post-Techno producer Matthew Dear's new album 'Asa Breed,' out June 5th on Imageyenation favorite Ghostly International, is fucking awesome. Comprised of vocal tracks that turn Detroit Techno into what it always wanted to be, Post-Industrial robotic Pop music, it's the second-best Dance album of the year so-far after LCD Soundsystem's 'Sound of Silver.' The track "Don and Sherri" sounds like the Minneapolis Electro-Funk sound of the early '80s filtered through the Detroit Techno and New York Disco-Punk scenes.

If you saw Of Montreal live during their most recent tour there's a good chance you saw Swedish Indie act Loney, Dear open for them. Taking a peek at Loney, Dear's new video for the track "Saturday Waits" from their recent Sub Pop LP 'Loney, Noir' it would appear that a good deal of Of Montreal's weirdness rubbed off on them.



As you might be aware, I hate dogs, but their use of dogs in this video is pretty stupendous. Maybe it's the fact that these anthropomorphic pups fit in with a conversation Lady Glock and I had last night about dressing cats up in little outfits? I dunno, but the song is heartbreakingly pretty, and the video is totally precious.

Former star of the breakout Hip-Hop crew The Fugeez, and a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning, solo-artist in her own right, Lauryn Hill is back from her extended hiatus from the recording industry with a sweet new tune for Summer. And though she's definitely explaining herself, she's not offering any excuses. Her new track "Lose Myself," which is from the soundtrack to the animated surfing penguin movie 'Surf's Up' of all places, finds her doing her confessional, over-emotional thing over a track that would easily suit folks like Andre 3000 or Res. But since they're on hiatuses of their own now it's working for Ms. Hill just fine.

Lauryn Hill "Lose Myself"

It's pretty cool and suits her well. Since she was really one of the first contemporary Black artists to do the whole sixties Pop-Soul throwback thing which the likes of Andre 3000, Gnarls Barkley, Amy Winehouse, John Legend, and even Christina Aguilera have jocked to such success and acclaim recently, way back in the late '90s, it's nice to see her coming back and claiming what's hers. The fact that she flips it with a sort of '80s Synthpop thing, a nod to all the British Sythpop acts from that decade who were heavily influenced by Northern Soul, just makes it that much better.

The electro/pop duo My Toys Like Me is by no means new to Imageyenation. Last year, El Keter wrote a solid post about them and they've been Imageyenation favourites ever since. Now, they just sent out a MySpace bulletin to check out their first video. It's for their song "Barnaby".



The video has a very "final art school project" vibe to it with lots of Photoshop-like effects and stop-motion shots. But considering its their first video, it's ok. My Toys Like Me pull off "art school" really well, plus, it seems that they have a sense of humor about the whole thing. The song "Barnaby" also makes up for it. Cause it's got a great beat, and you can dance to it.

I posted an MP3 from crazy-ass Baltimore-based Electro artist Dan Deacon's 'Spiderman of the Rings' album a number of months ago. But I just saw this super-happy-fun-time style video for another album track, "Crystal Cat."



Seeing dude wild-the-fuck-out like that makes me want to catch his live show when he comes through Boston in a couple months. The Boston date will feature our old "buddies" Big Digits as the opening act.

Peep the dates!

05/16 - FREE SHOW 7pm at SOLAR ONE, NYC (Studio B Rain Location)
05/25 - Two Art Chicks, Greensboro, NC
05/26 - Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
05/27 - Harvest Records, Asheville, NC
05/28 - Pilot Light, Knoxville, TN
05/29 - Bottletree, Birmingham, AL
05/30 - Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, GA
05/31 - The Jinx, Savannah, GA
06/01 - TSI, Jacksonville, FL
06/02 - Back Booth, Orlando, FL
06/03 - TBA, Miami, FL
06/04 - New World Brewery, Tampa, FL
06/05 - Common Grounds, Gainesville, FL
06/06 - The Beta Bar, Tallahassee, FL
06/07 - Thirsty Hippo, Hattiesburg, MS
06/08 - The Green Space, New Orleans, LA
06/09 - Spanish Moon, Baton Rouge, LA
06/10 - Mink, Houston, TX
06/12 - Emos Lounge, Austin, TX
06/13 - The Cavern, Dallas, TX
06/14 - Warehouse 21's Luna Space, Santa FE, NM
06/16 - ExPlx, Los Angeles, CA
06/17 - Che Cafe, San Diego, CA
06/18 - Pehrspace, Los Angeles, CA
06/19 - Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
06/20 - 21 Grand, Oakland, CA
06/21 - Fools Foundation, Sacramento, CA
06/22 - Holocene, Portland, OR
06/23 - TBA, Seattle, WA
06/24 - Higgins Hall, Missoula, MT
06/25 - Grouse Mountain Lodge, Whitefish, MT
06/26 - Neurolux, Boise, ID
06/27 - Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT
06/28 - Hi Dive, Denver, CO
06/29 - The Jackpot Saloon, Lawrence, KS
06/30 - Waiting Room, Omaha, NE
07/02 - Triple Rock Club, Minneapolis, MN
07/03 - Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI
07/05 - The House Cafe, Dekalb, IL
07/06 - TBA, Kalamazoo, MI
07/07 - Scrummage University, Detroit, MI
07/08 - TBA, Hamilton, ON
07/09 - Sneaky Dees, Toronto, ON
07/10 - Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa, ON
07/11 - La Sala Rossa, Montreal, PQ
07/12 - Middle East Upstairs, Cambridge, MA
07/14 - Pitchfork Music Festival, Chicago, IL
07/21 - Whartscpae Festival, Baltimore, MD

Madonna has a new song out. Produced by Pharrell Williams and inspired by Al Gore's Live Earth Concert series, the new track "Hey You" is available for free download over at MSN. You can get to the page by clicking here.

To be honest, the song is so-so. Definitely not one of her better ones. But the production is nice and sweet, thanks to Pharrell. It starts out with that sort-of "girl and her guitar" sound, which I'm really sure is the look Madge is going for. Regardless, the message is good. Save the Earth and all that jazz.

Lil Cease. He likes to get nakey.

Editors Note: Sadly, the douchebags hosting the video started redirecting every page that had the video embedded to their website instead, so I had to remove the video.

This is a video for a track called "She's So Nice, She's From Sweden," by a group called Swiss Boarding School. It's what I'll be singing after I go to Sweden and meet a smokin' hot Swedish indie chick.



The song is lush, orchestral Pop, on some '60s European shit. And the video is really fresh, set up like the credits to some old artsy French flick, or maybe some campy softcore Euro-porno from the '70s.

Swiss Boarding School's album 'Vol. 1' is out now on Fair Frank Records.

I just posted the audio for Pharoahe Monch's next single "Body Baby" yesterday. Somebody popped the video up on the old YouTube today. Here it is.



I already explained that I think this song has some serious Pop potential while still managing to keep Pharoahe's flow intact. I think the video just builds on that potential. I don't think any of his long-time fans expected this shit from Monch. But I ain't mad. And I hope this wins him some mainstream attention.

I was kinda confused when KRS-One and Marley Marl leaked that song dedicated to Nasir "Hip-Hop Is Dead" Jones a couple months back. It just didn't make any sense. Then Kris and Marley released the second single, the title track from their forthcoming collaborative effort 'Hip-Hop Lives.' And it started to make a little bit of (very weird) sense. The track itself isn't half bad, and the new video is really classy.



The 'Hip-Hop Lives' LP, which teams former rivals, legendary Bronx emcee KRS-One, with seminal Queens producer Marley Marl, drops May 22nd on Koch Records.

I always feel like I never find out about shit like this until it's too late. But regardless, here's a dope animated video (official, or fan-made?) for the track "Golden Cage" by Erlend Øye side-project The Whitest Boy Alive, from their 2006 album 'Dreams.'



As a bonus, here's a video of Erlend and company covering the Robin S. club classic "Show Me Love" live in concert which I just found by happenstance on good ol' YouTube.

I'm not really sure what's going on with former Organized Konfusion member Pharoahe Monch.

I thought that joint he did with Dilla where he was singing was hot. But I wasn't too psyched about the singles he's dropped in anticipation of his forthcoming sophomore LP 'Desire.' A couple weeks back he slipped out that remix of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" where he basically chewed the track to pieces on some abstract lyricism shit while kicking a bunch of funny references to Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and the like. It was a surprise, but it was dope. Then he leaked that "What It Is" joint which was the polar opposite musically, stripped down to drums and noise, which found him in lyrical-lyricist mode. Now there's this, his new single "Body Baby."

I guess Monch is on some straight-up Cee Lo Green shit, because this song is some old throwback Brill Building Pop like Gnarls Barkley or the aforementioned Amy Winehouse. It's really light, really airy, and really accessible... but Monch is still spitting some real Monch shit flow-wise. I don't even know how to feel about this.

Pharoahe Monch "Body Baby"

Windows Media

Real Media

Pharoahe Monch's long-awaited sophomore solo LP 'Desire' drops June 26th on the SRC Records label.

Pop singer Kennedy wants kids to know: They may love their moms on Mother's Day, but he's lovin' their mamas everyday. The video for this catchy tune was played on Fuse's show "Oven Fresh" this past week. And as always, you can listen to more of his popilicious tracks on his MySpace page.

LoDeck "Behold"

Out of the Johnny23 camp comes indie/underground vet LoDeck with his newest release 'Behold...' and it's exactly what I want from the rugged-but-bugged backpacker underground. From the imitation William Cooper cover to the dusted beats and rhymes this shit is just raw. The title track is the dopest drug-induced hallucination meets spiritual-vision put to beats since Bunny Rabbit's "It Ain't Easy."



Justice "The Party" feat. Uffie

I wasn't sure if French Electro dudes Justice could duplicate, much less top the feel-good Dance-Pop of "D-A-N-C-E" on their forthcoming (it's due out overseas June 11th, and July 10th here in the states) debut album '†' or not. Surprisingly enough the closest they come to doing either (I'll leave it up to you whether they succeeded or not) happened when they recruited foul-mouthed rapper-but-not-a-rapper Uffie for the not-quite-uptempo Synthpop jam "The Party." Her goofy flow is perfect for an understated body-rocker like this. Totally dope.



Amerie "Some Like It"

I can honestly say I never thought I'd be anticipating the release of an Amerie album, especially one that doesn't feature the production acumen of her longtime collaborator Rich "Crazy In Love" Harrison. But here I am, thinking Amerie just might have some of the best Pop tunes of the year on her hands, not to mention some of the best "Hip-Hop Soul" joints since Mary J.'s 'What's The 411.' Yes, some of the material on her forthcoming album 'Because I Love It,' out tomorrow overseas and July 17th here in the states on Sony/Columbia, is that good. The track "Some Like It" sounds like it was produced by MF Doom or something, all old-school keys and drum-breaks. The track, coupled with Amerie's sweet spoken-rap vocals and airy harmonies puts me in mind of urban Pop from the '80s in a major way.



Bonde do Role "Caminhao de Gas"

After their first couple of singles I wasn't really planning on anticipating Bonde do Role's debut album 'With Lasers,' which is available now via iTunes, either. But then I got their newest single "Solta O Frango." Now 'With Lasers' is already near the top of my "best of" list for the entire year! I can't stop playing this shit, and probably won't be able to all Summer. I think this is gonna be a repeat of M.I.A.'s 'Arular' for the Imageyenation posse. I love the entire record from front to back, so I could have posted any track here, but I picked "Caminhao de Gas" because it flips the Baile Funk "ringtone" shit over a "Planet Rock" type beat and has a dope vocoder breakdown.

So, I finally get my hands on 'Kingdom Came,' the debut release from Swedish producer Kocky (out now on La Vida Locash), which I've been searching for for what seems like forever, today. I'm listening to it, when all of a sudden I have a "what the fuck" moment.

I've got the last track on the album "Keep Ballin'" featuring vocalist Daniel Dermes on blast. I'm feeling it. But there's something strangely familiar about the melody. Then dude starts singing "aah-ah-ahh, aah-ah-ahh, aah-ah-aah-ah-ahh... KEEEEP BAAAALIIIN'... KEEEEP BAAAALIIIN'!" Wait, did these motherfuckers flip Hot Chip's "Keep Fallin'" like I think they did? Yup, they sure as fuck did!

That's some shit Cam'Ron or one of those other rappy-rappy dudes who say shit like "ballin'" should have done. But they've been beaten to the punch by a European Dance Music producer. Nice!

Kocky "Keep Ballin'" feat. Daniel Dermes

For a few weeks there I was starting to feel like Sweden was falling off, but they came back hard recently. So hard in fact that this week's "New Music Post" was an all Sweden edition. Even though they're still kicking Pop ass it looks like Sweden might have some competition though, from nearby Scandinavian/Nordic nation Finland. Leading the potentially Swede-killing Pop crusade is the band Regina, with a tune called "Paras Aika Vuodesta."



Regina "Paras Aika Vuodesta"

The song, and it's animated video, reminds me a lot of Mexican singer Julieta Venegas' "Lento." It's really light, bubbly Pop, with acoustic guitar, toy keyboard melodies, vocal percussion, synthetic drum sounds, and even some almost-rapping. It's from Regina's album 'Oi Miten Suuria Voimia,' which is out now on the Next Big Thing label in Finland and Songs I Wish I Had Written in Sweden.

Portland, Oregon's Panther dropped the awesome 'Secret Lawns' LP on Fryk Beat Records earlier this year. I haven't had the opportunity to see him live, but apparently he's been selling an 11-track, tour-only album titled 'Yourself' at his live dates. He's now offering this sold-out, vinyl-only record for sale digitally.

The tracklist looks something like this.

Panther 'Yourself'

1. Time Zones
2. He Enjoys the Leg
3. Backs
4. Black Baby
5. I’ve Been Waiting
6. You Don’t Want Your Nails Done
7. Cello Vs. Mouth
8. Off the F**k the Phone
9. Let Me Down
10. Black Baby Disco Club (Copy Remix)
11. You Don’t Want to Hear This (E*Rock Remix)

It's available through iTunes, eMusic, Napster, Urge, and Rhapsody on the Audio Dregs imprint.

Give a listen to the album track "He Enjoys The Leg" below.

Panther "He Enjoys The Leg"

Ok now I JUST got through telling El Keter that I am sick of seeing videos that feature bands out in the desert. It's just preposterous. The latest culprit is Linkin Park, who's new video features them rocking out for all the gila monsters in the Sahara.

Enough already.

Well wouldn't you know that the very next video that came on after Linkin Park's had another band SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT! Only this video was an entire different animal. The band's name: No More Kings. The song: "Sweep The Leg". Now this is where preposterous can work in you favor. Enjoy.

I don't know much about Brooklyn-based production crew Thisish, other than the fact that they're down with Large Professor. But after hearing crew-member Marshall Law's new 50-minute, 25-track mash-up mixtape project 'Testing the Waters' I think I might want to know more.

Marshall is apparently the former sound-engineer for legendary New York DJ crew the X-Ecutioners, and has recently formed a group with Sunspot Jonez of the Living Legends called Sidewinder. 'Testing the Waters' is way more than a mixtape, and should get you just as psyched to hear more from dude as I am.

Marshall Law 'Testing the Waters' (.zip)

But I don't think that's what Phat Kat and Slum Village's Elzhi were talking about when they recorded the Dilla-produced "Cold Steel" and it's accompanying video clip.



Hip-Hop releases have been really slow this year, but Phat Kat's "Cold Steel" is one of the undisputed bangers out right now. His long-awaited 'Carte Blanche' CD, featuring production from Dilla and Black Milk, is pretty dope as a whole actually.

Phat Kat is on a cross-country US tour, alongside Slum Village, right now.

May 11 - Poleng Lounge - San Francisco
May 13 - Key Club - Los Angeles, California
May 15 - Launchpad - Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 16 - Cervantes - Denver, Colorado
May 17 - Suede - Park City, Utah
May 18 - BERBAITS PAN - PORTLAND, Oregon
May 19 - (TBA) - VANCOUVER B.C., British Columbia
May 20 - Chop Suey - Seattle, Washington
May 23 - Alvin's - Detroit, Michigan
May 26 - LITTLE ,BROTHERS - COLUMBUS, Ohio
May 28 - Sonar - Baltimore, Maryland
May 29 - Southpaw - Brooklyn, New York
May 31 - The Middle East - Boston, Massachusetts
Jun 2 - THE SAINTS SHOW BAR - MONTREAL, Quebec
Jun 3 - GROG SHOP - CLEAVLAND, Ohio

I was surprised to see this new video for LCD Soundsystem's ballad-meets-banger "All Your Friends" when I hopped online this morning. It's an understated, somewhat artsy clip for one of the cuts from the recent 'Sound of Silver' that managed to be both a beautiful song and a dope club track at the same time.



The "All My Friends" single features a bunch of new mixes, cover versions by Franz Ferdinand (produced by Erol Alkan) and the former Velvet Underground member John Cale, a new LCD cover of Joy Division's "No Love Lost," and a new LCD track "Freak Out."

LCD Soundsystem is on tour here in the states right now, and will be launching a round of festival dates overseas shortly.

May 11 - Avalon - Boston, Massachusetts
May 12 - Studio B - Brooklyn, New York
May 13 - 9:30 Club - Washington DC
May 14 - Webster Hall - New York, New York
Jun 10 - The El Rey - Los Angeles, California
Jun 11 - The El Rey - Los Angeles, California

Cali based band The Little Ones have released a single entitled "Lovers." This single also happens to have a very cute and sweet and even sad video which tells a story of what happens when two star-crossed lovers don't cross paths.



For more tracks from the Little Ones, check out their MySpace page.

The name might make it seem as if you're in for some rappin', but the band Polysics are bringing nothing but Japanese New Wave/Synth-Rock with a bad-ass vocoded chorus. This song "Electric Surfin' Go-Go" and it's video are almost a year old, but their newest album 'Karate House' (which it's taken from) came out this year, and I just got it today.



I like the song a lot, it's fun, and I think the video is really cute and well crafted. The switches between the different versions of the band, the different outfits and the animation and live action are pretty sweet. I have no idea what they're saying other than "electric surfin' go-go," but it's a rockin' Summertime tune regardless.

I just saw this video on Fuse and I felt it was funny enough to post here. It's a pop band from Los Angeles that has a song about phone sex and a video that features Bollywood, rabbis and Henry Winkler. I mean really, what's not to like?

...though I'm not sure if the result is all that great.

I got an email from Loosie Music with links to these MP3s and I was so psyched, until I realized that a lot of bloggers got the same email. Then I was a little disappointed.

At any rate, Brooklyn rapper Spec Boogie rapped over a few "hipster" tracks by some great "hipster" artists: Peter, Bjorn & John, LCD Soundsystem and Mark Ronson. Personally, I'm not that big into tracks that rappers just rap over. Especially if they were good tracks to begin with. But Spec Boogie is definitely giving it a good shot and getting good feedback for it.

Peter Bjorn & John feat. Spec Boogie - "Amsterdam (Loosie Remix)"

LCD Soundsystem feat. Spec Boogie - "New York I Love You (Loosie Remix)"

Mark Ronson feat. Lily Allen and Spec Boogie - "Oh My God (Loosie Remix)"

Electro duo Does It Offend You, Yeah? have a great sound. They also have a creepy video. I mean, really creepy. Here's the video for their single "Weird Science" which contains siamese twins who want to get dirty. And bloody apparently.



It sort of reminds me of a clip from Marilyn Manson's new video. But it doesn't make me want to throw up as much.

The Lovekevins "Eurovision"

This track from the oddly named The Lovekevins has a guitar and string loop that could easily work on a Wu Tang Clan song. It also features the term "fuck-all," and lyrics like "I wish I was a Panda bear, quiet life, perfect hair." Do I really need to say anything more to convince you of it's awesomeness? It's from The Lovekevins' debut full-length 'Vs. The Snow,' which is out now on the Songs I Wish I Had Written label.



Mixtapes & Cellmates "The Better Half of Cynical Boys"

I posted a link to Mixtapes & Cellmates' current single "Quiet" quite some time ago. This is another track from their new self-titled full-length, out now on NoMethod Records. The new album is way more New Wave, with some hints of glitchy, Postal Service-esque laptop Pop than their previous efforts, which were a lot crunchier and more downtempo. This cut is one of the jittery laptop-style jams I was talking about. It's really a pretty little number.



Familjen "Det Vet Du"

I have no idea what any of the lyrics on Familjen's new album 'Det Snurrar I Min Skalle' (out now on stalwart Swedish Indie label Hybris) mean, because they're all in Swedish. But dude's 8-Bit/Electro/Club beats are pretty bangin', and his singing voice ain't half bad either. The track "Det Vet Du" is probably the bassiest song on the album. That synth-bass kicks ass. It should make you feel like you're about to face off against a really wicked end-level boss.



The Honeydrips "It Was a Sunny Summer Day"

It's not Summer just yet, but the forecast says it's supposed to be 80 degrees here in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts tomorrow, so I thought The Honeydrips' Depeche Mode-ish (with an Afro-Latin breakdown?) "It Was a Sunny Summer Day" was appropriate. Besides, it was indeed a sunny Summer day last year when all my hope drifted away... let's hope that doesn't happen again this year. Anyway, this is from The Honeydrips' new album 'Here Comes The Future,' out now on the Sincerely Yours label.

Scottish Electro guy Calvin Harris, who kicked our collective asses here at Imageyenation with his single "Acceptable In The '80s," is back with a video for his new single "The Girls." I think I relate to this song a little more than "Acceptable..." despite it's lack of fly-ass falsetto. Because although I like the '80s just fine, I wasn't actually born in the '80s (sorry, I'm an old man), but I do in fact love all the girls Calvin name-checks this time around.



Calvin's debut full-length, titled 'I Created Disco,' which I really wish was out already, is supposedly due out some time in June, even though it still doesn't have a firm release date set as of yet.

I posted the MP3 for this track what feels like forever ago. But it's still one of the dopest random album cuts of the year so far. It's a tripped-out, psychedelic, spiritual, B-Boy-Folk jam called "Rainbowarriors" by CocoRosie, from their newest album 'The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn.' It makes me want to breakdance.



For some reason this song makes me think of 'The Matrix' sequels whenever I hear it. Not how they actually were, but how they should have been. Like maybe if they'd been a little more CocoRosie and a little less P.O.D. they would have been that much more satisfying. I don't know why... I just do.

I think we've played Architecture in Helsinki's 2005 single "Do the Whirlwind" on our Urban Alternatives radio show as recently as last month. But the Australian musical collective is finally putting out a new album, 'Places Like This,' coming in August on the Tailem Bend Records label. The first single is called "Heart It Races," and it's got a cool video clip. Watch it.



I think I like the video more than I like the song. The song's good, but the video is just crazy! It's cute and precocious and goofy and DIY, but it's also really tightly executed and weirdly creepy. The part where the dude switches off the Sun is especially scary-tastic. Truth be told, I had an almost identical spiritual vision a number of years ago when I was deep into daily Kabbalistic meditation. Seeing it in a music video is pretty freaky. Anyway, the single is out now I think, and it's got some remixes, including one from Canadian DJ A-Trak.

Vancouver native Jaron Albertin (Cut Copy, MSTRKRFT, Mew) lends his directoral hands to Junior Boys and hooks them up with a fresh video for one of my favorite songs of recent memory, "In The Morning."



Check for their 'Dead Horse EP' which dropped last month on Domino, and contains remixes by Hot Chip, Carl Craig, Kode 9, Marsen Jules and Tensnake.

Okay, so after I visit the Indie kids in Sweden, and after I hang out with the Baile Funk chicks in Brazil, I'm going to motherfucking France to dance with the greasy hipsters and have sex with girls with underarm hair. I've come to this decision based largely on the awesomeness of French Electro duo Justice, their infections new single "D-A-N-C-E" and it's accompanying video clip which seems to indicate that they now sell cool animated tee-shirts in France.



The "D-A-N-C-E" single is out now, and will be followed by Justice's debut full-length album '†' (yes, that's really the title) which will be released by France's Ed Banger Records and their North American friends Vice Records. Oh, and I think I'm gonna play the alternate mix of "D-A-N-C-E," titled "B-E-A-T," on the Urban Alternatives radio show tonight (12 midnight to 3AM EST on 90.7 FM WTCC here in Western Massachusetts), so tune in!

Hopefully you caught the MP3 for "Sole Mate" from British Hip-Hop duo The Mitchell Brothers when I posted it a couple months back. If you didn't, you still have a chance to check it out, this time with accompanying video!



The "Sole Mate" single will finally see official release on May 14th on Mike Skinner's The Beats Records label. The Mitchell Brothers and The Beats have also started a novel MySpace campaign to hook you up with your "sole mate."

In honor of International Workers Day, former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker invites you to sing along to his tune "Running The World."



Jarvis Cocker "Running The World"

Jarvis Cocker "Running The World"

Well did you hear there's a natural order?
Those most deserving will end up with the most,
But the cream cannot help but always rise up to the top,
Well I say, "Shit floats."

If you thought things had changed,
Friend you've gotta think again,
Bluntly put, in the fewest of words…

Cunts are still running the world.
Cunts are still running the world.

Now the working classes are obsolete,
There are surplus to society's needs,
So let them all kill each other,
And get it made overseas.

That's the word don’t you know?
From the guys that's running the show,
Let's be perfectly clear boys and girls…

Cunts are still running the world.
Cunts are still running the world.

Ah yeah.
Ah yeah.

Oh feed your children on cray fish and lobster tails,
Find a school at the top of the league,
In theory I respect your right to exist,
I will kill ya if you move in next to me.

Ah it stinks, it sucks, it's anthropologically unjust,
Oh but the takings are read by a third,
Oh so…

Cunts are still running the world.
Cunts are still running the world.
Cunts are still running the world.
Cunts are still running the world.

If you knock it, it's perfectly natural,
Do you think that I'm some kind of dummy?
It's the ideal way to order the world,
"Fuck the morals, does it make any money?!"

And if you don’t like it? Then leave.
Or use your right to protest on the streets,
Yeah use your right, but don't imagine that it's heard.
Oh no no…

Cunts are still running the world.
Cunts are still running the world.
Cunts are still running the world.
Cunts are still running the world.
Cunts are still running the world.
Cunts are still running the world.

His debut solo album 'Jarvis' is in stores now on the Rough Trade label.

I've come close to copping UK Alterna-Popster Patrick Wolf's recent album 'The Magic Position' numerous times since it dropped overseas earlier this year. Something stopped me every time though, and other than samples online I never really gave him a serious listen. Until today that is. I finally bit the bullet and nabbed a copy of his album, which was re-released by the Low Altitude Records label here in the states today. And it turns out it's pretty good. Check out the video and an MP3 download of the new single, "The Magic Position."



Patrick Wolf "The Magic Position"

It turns out he's on something of a retro-Pop kick, sort of like Amy Winehouse (which makes sense, since they've been touring together) just without all the overtly Soul and Jazz influenced histrionics. But it's all very influenced by Northern Soul and the soulful Pop of Motown, New York's Brill Building and Phil Spector and his "Wall of Sound," but with subtle electronic overtones. It's funny, cuz me and Emeyesi were just talking last night about how British Pop music, especially the Synthpop of the '80s, was largely influenced by the same sort of Old-School Soul and Pop records. I guess those Brits are still up to their old tricks?

Catch him on tour on this side of the pond throughout the month of May.

05-02 - Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater*
05-03 - Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre*
05-05 - Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory*
05-07 - Boston, MA – Avalon Ballroom*
05-08 - New York, NY – The Highline Ballroom*
05-09 - New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
05-12 - Toronto – Mod Club*
05-13 - Toronto – Mod Club*
05-16 - Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour

*with Amy Winehouse

They've been kicking our asses with hot remixes (for the likes of Lo-Fi-Fnk, New Young Pony Club, Au Revoir Simone and Simian Mobile Disco) for a while, but now The Teenagers are dropping heat of their own. Their first release is a single called "Homecoming." It's about filthy almost-incest. It's hot as fuuuuuck! And it's got a pretty sweet video clip. Check it out.



The single for "Homecoming," backed with "Fuck Nicole" hits stores May 20th on Merok Records. You can hear "Fuck Nicole" and a couple other cuts, including the dope-ass "Starlett Johansson," on their MySpace Page if you're interested in hearing more. Me? I'm already fiending for a full-length album from these guys.

I don't know what's going down with Brazilian Baile Funk act Bonde Do Role, except that their newest single "Solta O Frango" is a monster, and will be rocking soundsystems hard this Summer. The title supposedly translates to "release the chicken." The video clip seems to support that. Although I totally thought the phrase was a euphemism for something entirely different.



The video is super freakin' awesome, and has helped me decide that after I visit Sweden the next stop on my world tour has to be Brazil. Like I said though, I don't know what's going on with Bonde Do Role. Their album, 'With Lasers,' seems long over-due, and it's supposedly coming soon on Domino Records. But their MySpace page says it's already available on iTunes, so who the fuck knows?