it's okay

You guys seemed to like that Fan Death stuff from the other day as much as I did, so here's another track that's available for free download on the group's myspace page. "When the Money's Right" is a pulsing, cinematic instrumental, and like the duo's exceptional first single, "Veronica's Veil," it's the live strings that really set it apart:

mp3:
fan death :: when the money's right

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not related to anything:

I've been inexplicably singing this jam all day, so I thought I'd dig up the video, which I hadn't seen since it was in rotation on BET for like a week back in the day. In addition to the impossibly infectious hook, this song features one of Andre 3000's most absurd (and underrated) verses ever, and his cameo here is just ridiculous. Anyone know what happened to this guy?



************************************************

finally:



Banksy in New Orleans (via YANP)

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video: Lykke Li live on Conan

There was quite a bit going on last night, so chances are you missed Lykke Li's national television debut. Also, if you haven't heard the Punks Jump Up remix of this song that I posted the other day, I highly recommend it:



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radiohead + high places + the streets

If you missed the Radiohead webcast last night from Santa Barbara, here's Thom Yorke's solo performance of The Eraser standout "Cymbal Rush," which kicked off the first encore:



More from the webcast here.

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unrelated:


high places (photo)

High Places have gone and made the prettiest song on their forthcoming self-titled debut LP available for free download. Here's the dreamy album-closer, which has already become a staple on our Sirius Blog Radio show:

mp3:
high places :: from stardust to sentience

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elsewhere:

Sounds like this new album from The Streets is shaping up nicely. Here's the new video for the title track, "Everything is Borrowed":



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radiohead to webcast tonight's santa barbara show...

radiohead live in dallas (photo)

...according to Colin's latest post on dead air space. This is the last show on the current U.S. tour (and probably the last U.S. date for quite some time), so anyone that missed the band this time around should probably check it out. I assume it will be streaming in a few hours at www.radiohead.tv.

EDIT: the broadcast is now live, the band took the stage just after 10:50 PM EST. Only about a 3 minute overlap with Obama's incredible speech.

********************************************

previously:

Radiohead covers Neil Young

********************************************

fan death

Some of my favorite online destinations have been raving about a sultry new disco-pop group called Fan Death. While the jams on their myspace are all pretty consistently sexy, "Veronica's Veil" is the obvious "hit" (12" coming soon): a string-laden after-hours gem with an authentic retro-disco feel, the song sounds like the most spellbinding Italians Do It Better single of the year. It's new(er), darker, vaguely Knife-like song "The Constellations," though, that's been on repeat all day, rendering me enamored with the mysterious duo. Hopefully we'll be hearing more from these two in the near future.

mp3:
fan death :: veronica's veil
fan death :: the constellations

************************************************

unrelated:

Looks like Radiohead may be planning some sort of webcast for later in the day. Stay tuned, if you care about that sort of thing.

************************************************

graceful, in the morning light

Two young girls from Sweden who call themselves First Aid Kit -- Klara is 15, and Johanna is 17, and they've recently signed to the Knife's Rabid Records -- cover Fleet Foxes' "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" in a Swedish forest. I'm generally not a big fan of covers, but at the risk of being banished from Blogville, I think I like this better than the original. I like my pastoral folk to be mad pastoral (via):



And here's the mp3, apparently ripped directly from the video:

mp3:
first aid kit :: tiger mountain peasant song (fleet foxes cover)

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new walkmen video :: "in the new year"

P4k.tv had themselves a good week. First that 3-parter thing with Beach House in a basement, and now the premiere of this perfectly appropriate new video for the Walkmen's best single since "The Rat," with Hamilton Leithauser starring as the "I Like Turtles" kid in director Norman Coady's awesome old-timey horror flick:



mp3:
the walkmen :: in the new year

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new Air France video :: "collapsing at your doorstep"

Not sure if this is the official video for Air France's sublime "Collapsing At Your Doorstep," but based on the imagery remaining pretty consistent with other Sincerely Yours vids, I'm going to go with a firm "probably." Either way, it's another chance to listen to one of the best songs of this year (if you're still not paying attention). Plus, I happen to find watching those wind turbine generator things pretty relaxing:



(watch hi-res version here)

mp3:
air france :: collapsing at your doorstep

new lykke li :: "breaking it up (punks jump up remix)"

Thanks to the anonymous reader who sent in this new Lykke Li remix, which finds her latest single "Breaking It Up" transformed into a euphoric club anthem by London's Punks Jump Up, creators of that great "Young Folks" remix from two years ago (almost to the day). I feel like this is probably the most eminently danceable reworking of a Lykke Li track yet, including that solid DFA remix I posted a couple weeks back; step-by-step instructional video here:

mp3:
lykke li :: breaking it up (punks jump up remix)

[purchase the "Breaking It Up" single here]

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previously:

mp3:
lykke li :: little bit (loving hand remix)

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i'll find you and i'll kill you

Here's the surreal new video for Chad VanGaalen's "Molten Light" -- taken from his excellent new Soft Airplane LP -- featuring some disturbing visuals, brought to life by Mr. VanGaalen himself. If you're unfamiliar, the dude is obsessed with death, murder, and revenge:



previously:

mp3:
chad vangaalen :: willow tree

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new TV On The Radio :: "dancing choose"

Here's the latest song to surface from TVOTR's new Dear Science LP (out Sept. 23). "Dancing Choose" finds Tunde Adebimpe essentially rapping frantically about a dude that "gets his ideas from a newspaper stand" and whose decisions are "underwritten by the cash in his hand." Rolling Stone calls the song the band's answer to R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It." Unfortunately, I can't stand that song, and this one didn't blow me away upon first listen either. But, it is growing on me, and it sounds like it could definitely evolve into bona fide banger status when performed live, with Tunde's elbows flying all over the place as an accompanying visual. Stream it here before it's gone.

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mp3: radiohead covers neil young

Thom Yorke + Jonny Greenwood played Neil Young's classic "Tell Me Why" last night in Hollywood. The video would be slightly better if that kid would shut up, but still not a bad clip. EDIT: now with better quality video + mp3:



mp3:
radiohead :: tell me why

(video + mp3 via ateaseweb)

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handsome furs added to monolith festival lineup

Montreal's Handsome Furs have just been added to an already stacked Sunday Monolith Fest lineup at Red Rocks, joining Justice, TV On The Radio, Band of Horses, Sharon Jones, CSS, Akron/Family, the Kills, and many others. I have sort of a newfound appreciation for Dan's genius after seeing Wolf Parade play a lot of his new material in Dallas recently, so I'm pretty excited about seeing his other band in such a beautiful venue. Handsome Furs go on at 3:45 PM.

mp3:
handsome furs :: what we had
handsome furs :: cannot get, started
wolf parade :: language city



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The Monolith Fest lineup also features Vampire Weekend, Cut Copy, Del, White Denim, Holy Fuck, the Muslims, and more. Buy tix here.

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beach house :: "holy dances" live in juan's basement

As you may know, I never get tired of Beach House live videos. Pitchfork.tv has posted the first two segments of their three part series with Victoria + Alex, featuring the band playing live in Juan's Basement. Here's Devotion standout "Holy Dances"; watch the clip for "Gila" here:



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new Vivian Girls :: "surfing away"

vivian girls

NYC's Vivian Girls stopped in Indy recently to record a few live jams for MOKB's Sirius show, and Dodge kindly hooked us up with the premiere of this brand new song that the girls debuted during the session. This recording of "Surfing Away" sounds like a Spector girl-group bubbling up from the bottom of a well, which only adds to the charm of their timeless, spooky/sweet harmonies:

mp3:
vivian girls :: surfing away (live on blog radio)

Vivian Girls play the last show ever at McCarren Pool on Saturday with Sonic Youth. Download the rest of their MOKB/Blog Radio session -- including another new song, and two from their stellar debut LP -- here.

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related:

The girls posted this video of their recent set at Brooklyn's Death By Audio on their blog:



previously:

mp3:
vivian girls :: where do you run to

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elsewhere:

Here's the full new video for Yeezy's "Good Morning," featuring a sweet animated Delorean:

gvsb sirius blog radio :: august 25

Our weekly GvsB Sirius radio show airs today at noon + midnight EST on Left of Center. New stuff this week from Department of Eagles, White Denim, VEGA, Empire Of The Sun, Blaqstarr, the Walkmen, Girls, and more. You can listen right here, for free. Full playlist for this week + some mp3s after the jump...

gorilla vs. bear sirius blog radio :: august 25

1. Department of Eagles :: No One Does It Like You
2. Daniel Rossen :: Too Little Too Late
3. White Denim :: Sitting
4. VEGA :: All Too Vivid
5. Gang Gang Dance :: House Jam
6. Burial :: Archangel
7. Empire of the Sun :: Walking on a Dream
8. The Sleepy Jackson :: Good Dancers
9. Pnau :: Embrace feat. Ladyhawke (Fred Falke and Miami Horror remix)
10. RATATAT :: Mumtaz Khan
11. RATATAT :: Wildcat
12. Ghostface Killah :: Run (RATATAT remix)
13. M83 :: Kim & Jesse
14. The Tough Alliance vs. Taken By Trees :: Taken Too Young
15. Quiet Village :: Free Rider
16. The Cool Kids :: Pennies
17. Clipse :: Hello New World
18. Dr. Octagon :: Earth People
19. Deerhoof :: Matchbook Seeks Maniac
20. St. Vincent :: These Days
21. The Walkmen :: On the Water
22. Blaqstarr :: Bang Hard
23. Hollertronix :: Staring at the Sun
24. Santogold x Diplo :: LES Artistes (xxxchange remix feat. Movado)
25. Girls :: Lauren Marie
26. Ariel Pink :: Politely Declined
27. Karl Blau :: Mockingbird Diet

dil cosby

madlib's dil cosby suite

Stones Throw keeps quietly dropping dope shit via their new webstore, with the latest gem being an advance digital release of the 5th installment of Madlib's esteemed Beat Konducta series. This one -- the awesomely titled Dil Cosby Suite -- is Madlib + J Rocc's tribute to the late, great J Dilla. I had this on repeat for hours last night, and if you like this flawless, album-closing jam, I can pretty much guarantee that you'll dig the whole record, which is made up of just over 30 minutes of one unstoppable Donuts-esque beat after another.

mp3:
madlib :: anthenagin (?)

Madlib's Beat Konducta Vol. 5: Dil Cosby Suite is officially out on CD/LP on October 28, but you can get it now digitally in 320 kbps mp3 format here (and it's well worth the $8.99).

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my morning jacket x erykah badu :: live in dallas

It's no secret that Dallas native Erykah Badu is a fixture at just about every respectable hip-hop show that rolls through town. I've seen her join in on performances by Outkast, Digable Planets, Common, the Roots, and others over the last 10 years or so. But if I would've known that Ms. Badu was going to show up at the Palladium last night to help out on My Morning Jacket's cover of her live fave "Tyrone," I totally would've actually gone. David was there, and he says Badu and the MMJs straight brought it. Check his photos, as well as a video & mp3 of the collab, below:


badu + mmj



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mp3:
erykah badu + my morning jacket :: tyrone (live in dallas)

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A few more photos after the jump...







jim james + badu

unreleased del the funkee homosapien :: "30 30"

del (photo)

Someone sent me a new Del "leak pack" with an unreleased track called "30 30" (not to be confused with "3030"). I hesitate to call this new, because, a. it sounds like he's just freestyling over a tossed-off beat from the mid '90s, b. i'm pretty sure some of these lyrics ended up on other Del joints, and c. he drops a Pinky & the Brain reference. Still, the flow is vintage Del, reminding me why I'm so psyched to see the guy at Monolith/ACL/here in Dallas next month.

mp3:
del :: 30 30

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t.i. x kanye x jay-z x weezy x m.i.a. :: "swagger like us"

(photo)

After the novelty of hearing four of the world's best MCs rap over an M.I.A. sample wears off, turns out this isn't that great. Download the mp3 here.

walking on a dream

As a huge fan of both the Sleepy Jackson's first record, and of basically everything I've heard from dynamic Aussie duo Pnau, I was happy to hear the two are collaborating on a side project called Empire of the Sun. They've got a record due in October; here's the colorful video (filmed in Shanghai) for lead single "Walking on a Dream," a blissfully dreamy dance-pop gem that'd make a nice addition to any late summer evening playlist:

the cool kids :: live in dallas

the cool kids




sober x ricky blaze


chuck inglish




mikey





Photos by David. More after the jump...


the party


ricky blaze






flossy d x sober

taken by sweetness

Sweden's Air France, architects of one of my favorite releases of 08, have reworked Taken By Trees' great new summer single "Sweetness." Not the first time an already beautiful song of Ms. Bergsman's has been enhanced by a Sincerely Yours band, as the Tough Alliance's version of "Too Young" was one of the best songs of last year. Listen to "The Sweetness of Air France" here, and buy the 7" here.

(via)

previously:

mp3:
taken by trees vs. the tough alliance :: taken too young
air france :: collapsing at your doorstep

**********************************************

related:


(photo)

Air France contributed a sweet little summertime "Roof Top Music" mix -- featuring songs from Quiet Village, St. Etienne, Aeroplane, and more -- to this site. Here's the mp3; check the full tracklist here. Highly recommended for your lazy August evenings:

mp3:
air france :: air france's roof top music (43 mb)

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new cool kids :: "the delivery man"

Reminder: The Cool Kids play tonight in Dallas at the Granada. Flosstradamus, Ricky Blaze, and Dallas' own the Party will be in the building as well. Also, it's free, and it looks like you can still RSVP here. In related news, the Cool Kids debuted a new song called "The Delivery Man" today on some new label that's somehow affiliated with Mountain Dew (extreme!), and you can download it for free here.

********************************************

related:

mp3:
Flosstradamus :: Mad Decent podcast (82 mb)

(tracklist)

gorilla vs. bear presents :: RATATAT

Last time these dudes rolled through town, we brought you the official afterparty, but this time, we're proud to present the real deal: RATATAT, live at Dallas' Granada Theater on September 16. The shit sold out last time the duo played in Dallas, but we've got 5 pairs of tickets to give away for this one, so hit us up at gorillavsbearcontests@gmail.com if you want 'em. If you're feeling unlucky, you can always buy tix here before they're gone.

mp3:
ratatat :: shiller
ratatat :: mirando
notorious b.i.g. :: party & bullshit (ratatat remix)

[flyer by david]

***********************************************

new gang gang dance :: "house jam"

I've been pretty anxious to hear the album version of "House Jam," the first single from Gang Gang Dance's upcoming Saint Dymphna LP, since hearing what xxxchange did with the song a few weeks back. I mentioned then that this is what it might sound like if Timbaland produced the Knife, and I'm happy to report that the original is just as danceable (and immediately infectious and accessible) as xxxchange's banger. Download it over at fluxblog.

And, in case you missed the remix the first time around:

mp3:
gang gang dance :: house jam (xxxchange remix)

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shake

Okay, let's try this again. Here's the new video for White Denim's latest UK single, "Shake Shake Shake," featuring a new and improved (and significantly dirtier) tripped-out mix of the song. Hopefully it's up for good this time:



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previously:

mp3:
white denim :: sitting
white denim :: mess your hair up

new Department of Eagles :: "no one does it like you"

Department of Eagles' new LP In Ear Park has been on repeat around here over the last few days, and apparently Ed Droste is into the record too (although he might be a little biased). The new album version of "No One Does It Like You, which we've blogged numerous times over the last year or so in its various incarnations (hell, the rough demo version was one of my favorite songs of last year), is amazing, and hints at the warm, nostalgic glow that Fred Nicolaus + Daniel Rossen have cast all over In Ear Park:

mp3:
department of eagles :: no one does it like you

In Ear Park was recorded by Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor, and is out October 7 on 4AD. Pre-order now and receive the No One Does It Like You 7" (pictured above), which comes complete with Rossen's great JoJo cover on the B-side.

mp3:
daniel rossen :: too little too late (jojo cover)


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Previously:

mp3:
department of eagles :: in ear park

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Clipse, St. Vincent, The National, more to play Austin's Fun Fun Fun Fest

st. vincent, ostensibly preparing for Fun Fun Fun

Also, motherfucking Kool Keith! Yes. GvsB is unbelievably psyched to be a media sponsor of Austin's FFFFest for the second year in a row. Other highlights include Deerhoof, Bad Brains, Atmosphere, Islands, and the list goes on...Our good friends over at Austinist have the incredibly diverse full lineup.

mp3:
st. vincent :: now. now.

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the walkmen :: "on the water" (live on Fox News)

Awkward...but helpful, if you weren't sure what the Walkmen are...



Watch it here.

(via)

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Also, I found this clip of the band playing "In the New Year" in some dude's basement. No further information on when/where this video was filmed, but man, I can't wait to see the band play their new stuff live in October...



mp3:
the walkmen :: in the new year

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new TV On The Radio :: "golden age"

One of the bands I was already pretty psyched about seeing at next month's Monolith Festival is TVOTR, and the first jam from their upcoming Dear Science LP (streaming over at their website) only adds to my excitement. The first thing about "Golden Age" that grabbed me is that filthy-ass bassline, but after reading a couple writeups on the track, I've yet to see anyone mention that it sure sounds like that's Kyp singing lead on this one, not Tunde. Then again, I'm wrong a lot. Anyone? [EDIT: it's definitely Kyp.]

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premiere: VEGA :: "all too vivid"

VEGA is the brand new project from Alan Palomo, ex-Ghosthustler frontman, and the kid mostly responsible for that group's small but impressive body of twinkling '80s Euro synth-pop jams. He's off to a swimming start on this first VEGA joint, which will be released in 12" format on new Austin/NYC label Vogue College Records. For me, Palomo's work sits head and shoulders above most of the run-of-the-mill "blog house" (WTF is bl0g house?) that's cluttering up the electro-blogosphere, thanks in large part to his self-assured, unstoppable signature vocal delivery, his legit retro-futuristic production steez, and most importantly, an uncanny and consistently tight pop songwriting sensibility. Alan hooked us (and our homies at Discodust) up with this, the cinematic and unabashedly romantic first single:

mp3:
VEGA :: all too vivid

Look for future VEGA contributions on upcoming projects from Todd Edwards, as well as the upcoming Miami Horror EP.

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unrelated:


blaqstarr + rye rye

Elitaste has an exclusive new track from Blaqstarr.

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premiere: White Denim :: "Sitting"

white denim

After releasing their stellar Workout Holiday LP in the UK to unequivocally glowing reviews, then proceeding to tear up clubs all over Europe, TX's White Denim is finally set to release their self-produced Exposion LP here in the states in November on Austin's young Transmission label. I might've gone on enough about how much I love these dudes over the last couple years, so let's just say that Exposion fully embodies this band's raw power and earnest, soulful approach, and is undeniably one of the best records that will be released this year. Here's the album's glorious closing anthem:

mp3:
white denim :: sitting

Exposion arrives November 3 on Transmission. The band will play both the Monolith and ACL festivals in September before heading abroad for the Iceland Airwaves fest in October.

********************************************

unrelated:

Our weekly GvsB Sirius radio show airs today at noon + midnight EST on Left of Center. New stuff this week from High Places, Fight Bite, The Cool Kids, Harlem, and more. You can listen right here, for free. Full playlist for this week + some mp3s after the jump...

gorilla vs. bear sirius blog radio :: august 18

1. The Walkmen :: On the Water
2. White Denim :: Sitting
3. Harlem :: South of France
4. Arch M :: 21st Union
5. Grouper :: Heavy Water/I'd Rather Be Sleeping
6. Burial :: Shell of Light
7. El Guincho :: Fata Morgana
8. J Dilla :: Last Donut of the Night
9. Air France :: Collapsing at Your Doorstep
10. Gang Gang Dance :: House Jam (xxxchange remix)
11. Terror Bird :: Shame is on Your Side
12. The Knife :: Silent Shout
13. Women :: Black Rice
14. Adrian Orange :: While You Live
15. Chairlift :: Planet Health
16. Quiet Village :: Free Rider
17. RATATAT :: Mumtaz Khan
18. Mujava :: Township Funk (edit)
19. The Cool Kids :: Pennies
20. Department of Eagles :: No One Does it Like You
21. Chad VanGaalen :: Willow Tree
22. Panda Bear :: Untitled (Song for Ariel)
23. High Places :: From Stardust to Sentience
24. Fight Bite :: Widow's Peak
25. Tenlons Fort :: Ghost on a Hill
26. Kleerup feat. Lykke Li :: Until We Bleed (cello version)
27. Sufjan Stevens :: Redford
28. Sufjan Stevens :: Vito's Ordination Song
29. Fight Bite :: Swissex Lover

new atlas sound :: "holiday"

Thanks to the commenter who alerted me to Bradford Cox's updates on the Deerhunter blog, including a new virtual 7" that features a pretty, but perversely dark, little pop ditty called "Holiday." The real news, though, is Bradford's response to a kid who apparently raided his Mediafire folder (which Bradford mistakenly left unprotected) and leaked the demos from Atlas Sound's upcoming Logos LP, as well as Deerhunter's Weird Era Cont., which was the "surprise" that Cox hinted would be included with the physical release of Microcastle. Oh, and there were apparently some childhood photos of Bradford in there too. Ouch. The Weezy-quoting Cox has some choice words for the offender(s), which he drops in a pair of uncomfortable and intensely personal blog posts. Lost in all this, of course, is the fact that "Holiday," although fucked up and a little scary, is actually a really good song:

mp3:
atlas sound :: holiday

UPDATE: In a post titled "Logos (R.I.P.) 2007-2008" that has since been removed, Bradford posted a link to download Logos and basically says he's going to scrap the album altogether: "Fuck this shit. I can just make another album. It's not finished and now it never will be."

beach house on black cab sessions

A beautiful new Black Cab Session, in which B-more's Beach House plays a stark acoustic version of Devotion standout "Heart of Chambers; no further description required:



(this new player they're using might take a minute to load, but it's well worth it)

oddities

I already mentioned this thing briefly about a month ago, but Ariel Pink's weird-as-all-hell rarities compilation ODDITTIES SODOMIES VOL. 1 is available now here on black/pink vinyl. Or, for a little more $, you can order straight from Ariel, and get a one-of-a-kind handmade cover like the one pictured above, crafted by Geneva Jacuzzi. While the compilation -- made up mostly of demos and outtakes, with a few unreleased jams mixed in -- probably isn't an ideal starting point for non-fans, I personally can't get enough of this guy's haunting and often unexpectedly affecting experiments in lo-fi AM pop.

mp3:
ariel pink :: suicide notes

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Here are a couple more of those custom covers...view them all here.

new cool kids mp3 :: pennies

In which Detroit native Chuck Inglish devotes nearly an entire verse to '89-90 Bad Boys metaphors. I had that shirt too, dude:

mp3:
the cool kids :: pennies

(zshare link via nah right)

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related:

The Cool Kids are playing a FREE show next week at Dallas' Granada Theater, along with Flosstradamus, Ricky Blaze, and TX's own the Party. Click the flyer to RSVP:

contest: hot chip x threadless

hot chip x threadless

The dudes at Threadless recently held a contest to design a glow-in-the-dark Hot Chip t-shirt (with the theme being "Made In The Dark," of course) and that skull-and-fairy-emblazoned joint you see up there was the winner. Our friends at Cornerstone hooked us up with one (and some other stuff) to give away. Unfortunately, it's widely known that I'm the worst in the world at contest ideas, so how about you just leave your favorite current Olympian in the comments, and I'll pick one winner based on a set of as-yet-undetermined criteria. Winner gets one t-shirt, a copy of Hot Chip's rare Normal 7", and a $50 Threadless gift certificate.

mp3:
hot chip :: made in the dark

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In related news, today's the last day to enter the Threadless Loves Democracy design challenge. Winner gets 2500 bucks and a grip of other stuff. Go here to enter.

mp3: el guincho :: palmitos park

alegranza

If you were one of the 100 or so lucky enough to catch El Guincho's debut U.S. performance at gorilla vs. booze during SXSW '08, then you know the kid's live show is a one-man technicolor tropical baile beach-party. However, it's been tough to track down an actual copy of his record, complete with that glorious cover art, until now: Mr. Díaz-Reixa is set to re-release his BNM'd Alegranza LP on XL/Young Turks on October 7. Here's the record's sunny first single, all remastered and possibly somewhat de-sampled:

mp3:
el guincho :: palmitos park

pre-order Alegranza here

harlem

"When kids are jumping on the bed playing tennis rackets like guitars. We are the music that is playing in their brains."--Harlem, on Harlem


harlem likes turtles (photo)

It's been a minute since I felt compelled to talk about a new Austin band, but I'm really digging what I've heard from Harlem and their limited debut LP, free drugs;-). These dudes bust some super infectious, instantly endearing throwback garage-pop in the vein of the Black Lips, Strange Boys, and other assorted In The Red bands, but their own description of their sound (see above) couldn't be more perfect. The duo starts their U.S. tour tonight in Austin (Denton house party tomorrow night!), so go see 'em and grab a copy of their record before that thing sells out and ends up going for some absurd $$ on ebay.

mp3:
harlem :: south of france

(mp3 via austin sound)

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unrelated:


michael k. williams in the road

Some rad new stills from the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's The Road surfaced here last week. As a huge fan of the book, I was a lot skeptical that the film would succeed in capturing McCarthy's impossibly bleak post-apocalyptic imagery, but based on these new shots, looks like they might've nailed it.

the walkmen announce dallas + austin dates

The Walkmen just posted up a bunch of new tour dates on their website, including October dates the Pontiac Garage @ House of Blues (ugh) in Dallas and the Parish in Austin. Their new record officially comes out next week, but you can still get it now for a $5 donation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and this little guy. You & Me really is one of the best records of the year, so you should do that.

mp3:
the walkmen :: the new year

shame is on your side

terror bird (art)

That awesomely terrifying image up there is the cover art for the recently-released debut white vinyl 7" single from Vancouver's Terror Bird. Our friends at Summer Lovers Unlimited call the band's sound "dreamy, honey-voiced indie pop reminiscent of Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins, Martika, and anyone else you dudes ever had a crush on." Martika, people. Based on that, and this (the 7" title-track), I'm sold:

mp3:
terror bird :: shame is on your side

new kanye west video :: "champion"

Is it just me, or have this year's Olympics been the most compelling Summer Games since like '92? So many epic moments so far, and we're only a few days in. Even Kanye puppet is way into it:



(official video for Kanye's "Champion," directed by neon)

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In other Yeezy news, Nah Right has the mp3 of the album version of "Jockin' Jay-Z," the new Kanye-produced joint that y'all loved/hated. The Oasis diss is slightly more effective/funnier here than in the live version.

21st union

arch m's moontan (art)

Over the last few nights I've become increasingly enthralled by the moving, "sun-drenched, battle-scarred lo-fi pop" of Londoner Arch M. Not suprisingly, some of the best UK blogs are already up on this kid, mostly on the strength of his limited-edition EP cassette (available here as a free download), and this stunning/shimmering jam, which plays out like the theme to an all-too-short ethereal dream sequence:

mp3:
arch m :: 21st union

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I believe "21st union" is slated to appear on arch m's upcoming record, moontan. Here's one from the free EP, as seen first on NBGL:

mp3:
arch m :: cat grave

sirius blog radio :: august 11

Our weekly GvsB Sirius radio show airs today at noon + midnight EST on Left of Center. New stuff this week from the Streets, Fight Bite, Department of Eagles, Girls, Esau Mwamwaya, and more. You can listen right here, for free. Full playlist for this week + some mp3s after the jump...

gorilla vs. bear sirius blog radio :: august 11

1. Department of Eagles :: No One Does It Like You
2. Richard Swift :: Lady Luck
3. Lykke Li :: Little Bit (Loving Hand remix)
4. Music Go Music :: Reach Out
5. Girls :: Morning Light
6. Girls :: God Damned
7. Burial :: Archangel
8. Ras G :: Jus there
9. J Dilla :: Nothing Like This
10. The Streets :: The Escapist
11. Flosstradamus :: Overnight Star
12. Kid Sister :: Let Me Bang (xxxchange remix)
13. Esau Mwamwaya, Santogold, M.I.A., and Radioclit :: Get It Up
14. Esau Mwamwaya :: Kamphopo
15. Oh No :: Heavy
16. The Walkmen :: Four Provinces
17. The Walkmen :: In the New Year
18. Grizzly Bear :: Colorado
19. Gang Gang Dance :: House Jam (xxxchange remix)
20. Odessa :: Polar Intrusion
21. The Knife :: Bird
22. Erykah Badu :: The Healer
23. Kid Cudi :: Day N Nite
24. Lil Wayne :: Dr. Carter
25. Fight Bite :: Swissex Lover
26. Karl Blau :: Mockingbird Diet
27. Panda Bear :: Good Girl/Carrots (edit)

planet health

Brooklyn's Chairlift opens up for Ariel Pink's "Thanks Mom I'm Dead" tour tonight in Denton. I don't know much about these guys, but I've been listening to the shit out of this song lately:



Here's another slightly less perfect song, originally found at the always prescient 20jfg. Chairlift's record comes out in November, but you can download it now on eMusic.

mp3:
chairlift :: evident utensil

get it up

esau mwamwaya [photo]

A couple weeks ago, we told you about "Get it Up," Radioclit's contribution to Diplo + Santogold's Top Ranking mixtape, featuring M.I.A. (who is definitely not a terrorist). Today the kids from Sweden's Oh Baby I Like It Raw hooked up this new version of the jam, featuring one of my favorite new artists of '08, Malawi's amazing Esau Mwamwaya. By blessing the track with his presence, Esau effectively makes it about 14x better than the original. Can't wait for this dude's record, because up to this point, everything he's touched is golden:

mp3:
esau mwamwaya, M.I.A., santogold, + radioclit :: get it up

previously:

mp3:
esau mwamwaya :: kamphopo

new lykke li :: "little bit (loving hand remix)"

Everyone already loves Lykke Li's irresistable "Little Bit," and here it gets reworked into a silky nine-and-a-half-minute early-A.M. club jam by Loving Hand (aka DFA's Tim Goldsworthy), complete with his signature synths and blissfully fluid horns. So tight:

mp3:
lykke li :: little bit (loving hand remix)

jocking jay-z

Jay-Z premiered a new Kanye West-produced joint from his upcoming Blueprint 3 at Yeezy's show last night in NYC. Jay's apparently still mad at the Oasis dudes. Kanye's blog has the high-quality footage:

ground trouble jaw

Our friends at Secretly Canadian sent over a link to download Richard Swift's new Ground Trouble Jaw EP for free. Swift is about to embark on two short West Coast mini-tours in support of the Walkmen and Stereolab, so now'd be as good a time as any to get familiar. Swift says the EP consists of "2 soul jams, 1 funny doo-wop song," and "2 synth/pop/?," and while it's all well worth the free, the "soul jams" are definitely where it's at. Assuming these are the two jams he was talking about:

mp3:
richard swift :: would you
richard swift :: lady luck

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elsewhere:



I don't know anything about this collaboration between Benoit Pioulard + Praveen Sharma, but based on this first song to emerge from the record -- and the fact that I loved Pioulard's last effort -- I should probably look into it:

mp3:
praveen & benoit :: embers

previously from Pioulard:

mp3:
benoit pioulard :: palimend

Beach House announce new single :: "used to be"

Beach House is set to release their first 7" single on October 21, featuring a new song called "Used To Be," and a demo version of one of the very first songs the duo ever recorded. According to the band:

"Recorded over the summer of 2008 after many exhaustive months of touring, "Used To Be" contemplates the spiritual and physical effects of life on the everchanging road, love and getting older..."

"Used to Be" will be out October 21 on Carpark, backed by a 4-track demo of "Apple Orchard," one of the best songs from their self-titled debut. The 7" cover art features that lovely Polaroid pictured above (click for larger image).

mp3:
beach house :: master of none
beach house :: gila

new Girls video :: "god damned"

Here's a new short film for the first song I heard from Girls back in March. Beautifully shot in the band's hometown of San Francisco, and directed by Heidi Petty and playplayplay (watch the hi-res version here):

new Music Go Music :: "reach out"

We've already declared our love for the mysterious Music Go Music and their apparent penchant for extremely dramatic disco/prom-pop sagas that could have easily fit right in on the Xanadu soundtrack (which is to say, they're awesome). Their Reach Out 12" finds the band expanding their sound to include what Secretly Canadian calls "Logan's Run ambience to proto-metal riffing to disco-gallop to TV detective funk and back again..." Here's the epic title track from the new 12", which came out yesterday on SC.

mp3:
music go music :: reach out

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previously:

mp3:
music go music :: light of love

lollapalooza 2008 in polaroids :: part II

spank rock


wayne coyne // flaming lips


grizzly bear


kele // bloc party


spank rock


duffy


broken social scene


jeff tweedy // wilco


ed // grizzly bear


girl talk


amanda blank // spank rock


kevin drew // broken social scene


chris bear // grizzly bear


chromeo




lovefoxxx // css


kid sis


thom + phil // radiohead


grizzly bear



kid sister


lohan / ronson

burial = will bevan + new 12" coming soon

burial

Just saw this via a myspace "friend update" (I knew those things weren't completely worthless). Kind of weak that the British tabloids were so obsessed with the kid's identity, but I think a lot of people knew it was Will Bevan anyway thanks to that dude in Hot Chip, so I'm sure it's not a big deal to him. The real news here is this:

"...theres going to be a 12" maybe in the next few weeks too with 4 tunes. hope u like it, i'll try put a tune up later..."

mp3:
burial :: ghost hardware

lollapalooza 2008 in polaroids: part I

cee-lo green // gnarls


grizzly bear


the black keys




spank rock


kid sister


cole // the black lips




lovefoxxx // CSS


broken social scene


lindsay lohan + sam ronson


dan // grizzly bear


perry farrell


broken social scene


the go! team


kid sister

new No Age video :: "keechie"

I always thought No Age's dreamy ambient jam "Keechie" would work great as the score to one of those obligatory slow-motion montage scenes in indie films where nothing really happens, as a way to sort of create some instant poignancy. This clip -- made up of "supplemental material" from the "Eraser" video shoot -- confirms that. The Director's Bureau recommends watching this "in tandem with the original clip."



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elsewhere:


g_riz z ly be_a r

Ed Droste blogs about the surreal experience that was his band's first show on the Radiohead tour.

gorilla vs. bear sirius blog radio :: august 4

Our weekly GvsB Sirius radio show airs today at noon + midnight EST on Left of Center. New stuff this week from the Walkmen, Fight Bite, Vivian Girls, and more. You can listen right here, for free. Full playlist for this week + some mp3s after the jump...

Gorilla vs. Bear Sirius Blog Radio :: July 7

1. The Walkmen :: On the Water
2. White Denim :: Sitting
3. Girls :: Morning Light
4. J. Tillman :: Seven States Across
5. The Shivers :: Beauty
6. Karl Blau :: Stream of Ganders
7. Fight Bite :: Swissex Lover
8. Fight Bite :: Widow's Peak
9. Stereolab :: People Do It All the Time
10. The Walkmen :: Donde Esta La Playa
11. The Zombies :: Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)
12. Love :: Maybe The People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark and Hilldale
13. Madvillain :: Light of the Past
14. Erykah Badu :: The Healer
15. Them Two :: Am I A Good Man
16. Vivian Girls :: Tell the World
17. White Denim :: Shake Shake Shake
18. The Dirtbombs :: Livin' For the City
19. Lil Wayne :: Lollipop (chopped & screwed by DJ Young Redd)
20. Mos Def :: Ms. Fat Booty
21. Pete Rock & CL Smooth :: T.R.O.Y.
22. Clipse :: Hello New World
23. Notorious B.I.G. :: Who Shot Ya?
24. Ol' Dirty Bastard :: Cracker Jack
25. Music Go Music :: Light of Love
26. Langley Schools Music Project :: Rhiannon
27. Paavoharju :: Kevatrumpu
28. Tripping Daisy :: Waited a Light Year
29. J Dilla :: Last Donut of the Night

new White Denim video :: "shake shake shake"

Here's the brand new, appropriately filthy clip for White Denim's next UK single, "Shake Shake Shake." Directed by Tom Haines and starring a ragtag crew of South London junkyard-dwellers, the clip does a stellar job of capturing the dirty party vibe of the song. Also, the destructive little pyromaniac mullet kid is a badass:



mp3:
white denim :: shake shake shake

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lollapalooza:

We're still enjoying the amazing weather here in Chicago, and we'll have a bunch of photos from the fest on Monday (in the meantime, check out Stereogum's excellent coverage). Highlights for us so far, with one day left to go: four new songs(!) from Grizzly Bear, Spank Rock's cartoonishly raunchy bump-n-grind session with Amanda Blank, a drunken early afternoon romp from the Black Lips, and an inspired performance by Broken Social Scene (sans Feist, but Amy Millan more than made up for her absence). And of course, Radiohead's set -- complete with perfectly timed, apparently completely coincidental fireworks -- was an unforgettable event for the roughly 100K people in attendance. Plagenhoef makes some valid points in his assessment of the show, but still, it was Radiohead at dusk with the Chicago skyline as their backdrop, so it was pretty amazing. One lowlight: the scene got more than a little out of control during Rage Against the Machine, and Zach DeLaRocha spent a good part of their stop-and-start set literally begging kids not to crush each other. On another Rage-related note, we also caught Tom Morello leading the Cubs faithful in a rousing rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley this afternoon. Finally, Lindsay Lohan and Slash.

new vivian girls :: "where do you run to"

One of our favorite new bands of the year, Vivian Girls, are set to reissue their fantastic self-titled LP in October on In The Red.

Here's the first official mp3 from that joint:

mp3:
Vivian Girls :: Where Do You Run To

A month-long tour of the northeast and the midwest commences today. Make sure to holler at your girls if they trek through your stomping grounds.

grizzly bear :: "mother and child reunion" (paul simon cover)

I've been pretty obsessed with everything Grizzly Bear lately, motivated in part by the new song they debuted on Letterman last week, and by the fact that I'll see them perform in less than 24 hours in Chicago's Grant Park. In additon to playing Yellow House and the two new songs on repeat, I keep returning to this heartrending Paul Simon cover that the band performed live at a Simon tribute in NYC a short while back. Thanks to the kids on ateaseweb for the heads up:

mp3:
grizzly bear :: mother and child reunion (live, paul simon cover)