It seems like every time an artist from Austin gets fanfare/blog love, they split for Brooklyn. And never look back. Case in point: Alan Palomo, aka Neon Indian, whose new as-yet-untitled album drops this fall. And while I have nothing against Brooklyn, I would like to see Austin’s finest stay and represent their homestead, where they created the peak of their brilliance. Even the next tour, while boasting dates for Dallas and Houston, curiously leaves out ATX….what gives?
Palomo didn’t stay in BK for his recording session, however, as is shown in the new teaser video Heart:Attack, filmed where Neon Indian wrote and recorded the new material….Helsinki.
Peep the new Beyonce track (via Fader), produced by Major Lazer’s Diplo, if you dare. It just uses an old Lazer beat, throws in some terrible Lil Jon yells, and passes over what most great Beyonce tracks have…..melody. Hopefully this isn’t a taste of things to come from Miss Fierce.
Even though I’m currently in California visiting my sis (the reason why the blog has been lamer than usual, in all honesty), I will not be trekking out to Indio for the sold-out Coachella. Which means I’m probably like you. But never fear; like most major festivals, the fest has selected performances for their live webcast over on YouTube. So even if you can’t rock out to Ratatat in the sweltering Cali sun amongst thousands of like-minded, dehydrated, sunscreened hippies, you CAN watch it from the comfort of your own air-conditioned home with a beer in your hand. Ah, modern times.
My Morning Jacket are back with Circuital, out May 31 on the Dave Matthews-helmed ATO Records. And from the sound of the new title track released today, they’re back to their old jamming tricks. Not that that’s a bad thing – the song sounds like it could be a solid album cut from Z. Grab it for your iTunes library below – use the e-mail addy you send all your porn to.
I know I posted about Star Slinger yesterday, and I think my average is like twice a week practically, but screw it, I love the guy. And if you don’t you’re in the wrong place. The UK beatmaker posted his new Fabric Mix, available for download on his Soundcloud. Check it below.
Arctic Monkeys haven’t necessarily released a “bad” album thus far, though the last two certainly weren’t on par with the energy revealed on Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. And with an album title like Suck It and See, I’m not holding my breath for anything revolutionary on the upcoming fourth effort from the group, especially since the lead single, “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” (listen below), is pretty standard Monkeys fare. The album drops June 6th; this single will be available tonight at midnight digitally, and as a 7-inch for Record Store Day. The track gets a proper physical release May 30.
It took a year longer, but if the old-skool flava of “Make Some Noise” is any indication, it sounds like Hot Sauce Committee Part 2, out May 3, is gonna be worth the wait. Â The single itself is out April 12th, with a decidedly less-awesome Passion Pit remix as the B-side. Â But the coolest part of all this is probably the short film coming soon, where a star-studded cast play young-and-old Beasties dueling each other. Â Check the red band trailer out below and STAY FRESH.
Before her trek to Austin for SXSW, Miss Unique dropped a new, banging mixtape. While not as sharp as last year’s Domination Mixtape, this collection is still willing and able to give you fits of booty shaking. Check it, available for free download from Dominique Young Unique’s Soundcloud.
I don’t usually post about current news so much, I figure that’s what Twitter and Google News are for, and there are plenty of blogs/zines out there keeping us all abreast of what’s going on. But on this Valentine’s Day, things are shaping up to be an exciting spring in the world of music, and I figure I would try to sort it out a bit.
First of all, the Grammys were last night, and Arcade Fire won Album of the Year, the coveted top prize in music awards, or so they say. While so-called “music experts” are scratching their heads as to why Eminem didn’t take home the prize, as was predicted, I believe Village Voice acted as the megaphone for the rest of us, you know, people that actually listen to music. Others, meanwhile, are trying to figure out who the hell Arcade Fire is, and saying hilarious nonsense in the process.
