New Zealand Dub

Here's a track from everyone's favorite New Zealanders, The Flight of The Conchords. Their forthcoming album, "I Told You I Was Freaky", will be released by Sub Pop on October 20th. Pre-order is available through Amazon HERE. Everyone seemed to be pretty down on last season's episodes of FOTC, but HBO's recent re-runs prove to me, that it's worth a second viewing. Additionally, if I hear any more people complain about how "last season was not nearly as funny as the first season", I'm gonna have to track you down and leave poop on your doorstep. Too many people fail to consider the fact that the first season is comprised of a lot of songs they'd been working on for years, while the second season material was done in less time, in a progression. Great, now I'm talking like a Star Wars nerd.

"You Don't Have To Be a Prostitute" by Flight Of The Conchords

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Visit the FOTC iTunes store HERE.


Additionally, for those in Los Angeles, celebrating the long holiday weekend, I will be HERE on Saturday. Check out all the great bands at The Fuck Yeah Fest. I hope it's a great, safe event. So far, my biggest gripe is what seems to be several ploys to sell tickets on the quick, for slumping sales by the organizers. VIP tickets have been selling for cheaper than those of us who bought our tickets early. We have been given the 'option' of upgrading to VIP status for $45 a ticket, in addition to what already was paid, which hardly makes sense, because those same VIP tickets were selling for $21 a piece the other day. Dear Fuck Yeah Fest organizers, were there no Asians or Jews available to do the math for you guys? Do not fret, the organizers stated that everyone who bought tickets early would receive a 'special gift' for doing so. My guess is long beer lines and mysteriously aromatic port-a-johns.

Also taking place on the long weekend, I will be at Little Radio's Septembercamp. Performances by The Henry Clay People, Soko, and The Monolators this Sunday. More info can be found on Little Radio's site HERE.

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

White Water, White Bloom

(Sea Wolf's pack leader, Alex Brown Church)

For a while, one could play Boggle with the number of bands with "Wolf" in their names. Sea Wolf took it a step further by having a song with the word "wolf" in it's song title, as seen HERE, which featured Brian & Joe from the Silversun Pickups in the video.

"White Water, White Bloom" is set to be released on September 22nd, by the wonderful Dangerbird Records. You can pre-order it HERE. The album is credited to have been written solely by frontman Alex Brown Church. For those of you old enough to remember, he was in a 90's indie band called Irving.

Give a listen to the lush production and catchy chorus of "Wicked Blood", below.

"Wicked Blood" by Sea Wolf

Download via YSI or MediaFire

Visit the iTunes store for Sea Wolf HERE.

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

Yah Mo Grizzly Bear

What a week Grizzly Bear has had. First Jay-Z and Beyonce are outed for their love of Grizzly Bear, then the release of a triumphant B-Side to their 7"/iTunes single for "While You Wait For The Others". Actual vinyl can be purchased from their site HERE. Check out "While You Wait For The Others" featuring Michael McDonald below. Something tells me Paul Rudd's character in '40 Year Old Virgin' could probably dig this on the store rotation.

"While You Wait For The Others" by Grizzly Bear (featuring Michael McDonald)

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Visit the Grizzly Bear iTunes store HERE.

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

Indie Rock Enthusiast

If you haven't seen the videos, or read the news, Jay-Z loves him some Grizzly Bear. Sean Carter was seen in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon with Beyonce, taking in a Grizzly Bear show. His thoughts on the future of Indie Rock can be read at Pitchfork HERE. Luke Steele of Sleepy Jackson/Empire of The Sun fame does guest on the album's opening track of "Blueprint 3".

There's been a lot of banter on the internet about the state of "Blueprint 3". While yes, I agree there are a few songs that leave a little to be desired (mainly "Hate"), one cannot deny the longevity and prolificness of Jay-Z's career. His longstanding relevance since 1996's "Reasonable Doubt" is to be commended. The fact that the large majority of his body of work stands the test of time is a testament to his legacy.

Check out my favorite track off "Blueprint 3", Jay's ode to New York featuring Alicia Keys. "Blueprint 3" is set for release on September 11th. Pre-order through Amazon available HERE.

"Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z

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Visit the Jay-Z iTunes store HERE.

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

Seeplymouth

(Volcano Choir modeling Snuggies?)

I like side projects. I really do. The notion that a collection of music lives on a different plane of where an artist's "primary" band's creativity exists, has always fascinated me. Portastatic, The Postal Service, all of The Wolf Parade sides...it shows the music and risk to try new things is just seeping out of people sometimes.

That leads me to Volcano Choir. It features Justin Vernon from Bon Iver, and members of Collections of Colonies of Bees. "Unmap", due out on September 22nd, is a collection of hauntingly gorgeous songs, that taps into electronic technology and sensibilities, in a subtle manner. "Unmap" is a visceral experience, that feels like you're witnessing an actual shaman perform a ritual to tame a fiery volcano.

Check out "Seeplymouth" below. You can pre-order "Unmap" from Insound here. Visit the official MySpace page HERE.

"Seeplymouth" by Volcano Choir

Download via YSI or zShare

Visit the Bon Iver iTunes store HERE.

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

Karen O & The Kids and some Gossip

Here's a track from the forthcoming "Where The Wild Things Are" film. Check out "All Is Love" by Karen O & The Kids. The Spike Jonze film will be released on October 16th. I guess you can always tap your ex-gf for a soundtrack need? You can see the latest trailer for the film HERE. It's gonna take me some getting used to hearing James Galdolfini as one of the voices.



"All Is Love" By Karen O & The Kids

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Also, here's a track from the lastest Gossip record, titled "Music For Men". The song is called "2012". "Music For Men" will be released on October 6th. You can preorder the album HERE. I think the Gossip are pretty underrated in the grand scheme of things. "Music For Men" is a pretty great collection of songs, and should garner some year end honors, before 2009 is done.

"2012" by The Gossip

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The Gossip music is available on iTunes.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs music is available on iTunes.


CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.

Gold Panda

Here's a track from Gold Panda. Fans of Boards of Canada, Girls Are Short, and Prefuse 73 would probably get a kick out of this UK electronic act. Visit Gold Panda's MySpace page HERE. Gold Panda is currently supporting European dates with HEALTH and Simian Mobile Disco respectively. Give a listen to "I Suppose I Should Say Thanks or Some Shit" below.

"I Suppose I Should Say Thanks or Some Shit" by Gold Panda

Download via YSI or zShare


Gold Panda music is available on iTunes.

CLICK HERE for front page and full list of track postings.


Upcoming L.A. Shows of Interest

August 26th - Deerhunter @ Center For The Arts in Eagle Rock
August 26th - The Fruitbats @ Spaceland
August 27th - Matt & Kim, Amanda Blank @ The El Rey
August 27th - Conor Oberst & The Mysitc Valley Band @ The Echo
August 28th - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists @ The Echo
August 29th - The Warlocks @ Spaceland
August 31st - Black Joe Lewis & The Honey Bears @ The Troubadour