While all of my friends and usual NYC blog buddies are busy getting sun poisoning, heat stroke and hanging about in Austin, Texas, my pasty ass is still sitting right here in New York, jealous and ginger-y. I’m moping. Then, just a moment ago when I started to feel sorry for myself and began complaining aloud (ask my wife, I am the KING of Complaining), I noticed a hidden gem in my mailbox. So, I actually get to bring you news today: HOORAY!!!!

Uncles [MySpace] are from my neck of the woods (read: they didn’t move to Williamsburg, Bushwick or any hip area in Brooklyn for the sake of saying they live there. They live in Woodside, Queens!) and once I saw that, I knew that this was a match made in Heaven. While I might not be “a nice young lady with journalistic aspirations and big blue eyes” like they requested on their MySpace page, I do know when I like someone’s sound and as a result, I really like Uncles.

Their debut album, due April 22, is called Replacing Words with Other Words and we’ve got two gnarly tracks for you to dig into: “Settler’s Song” and “Where Does It Sleep”, both of which sound equally like Country Western forefathers (Hank Williams, Merle Haggard) hopped into bed with some of my favorite ’90s indie rock bands (The Pixies, Pavements, etc).

Check out more Uncles “after the jump” …read full article…

Yeah, I think I prefer Pomplamoose’s version of “Telephone” to the original by Lady Gaga and Beyonce. It’s all the creative cuts of their VideoSong, frankly and there is a general sweetness to it their style. Check out more Pomplamoose videos at http://www.pomplamoosemusic/

One thing that you will never find the staff at RE discriminating against: sweet, sweet laser-pop. In the last year, Boston’s Mystery Roar [MySpace] has popped onto our radar twice and it is only fitting that today, we manage to put something out there as I was desperately in the mood for a “pick-me-up”. The band has “managed to perfect a brand of elaborate, deep-space disco that’s already convinced The Boston Herald and The Phoenix to call the synth-laden laser-pop troupe “the number one band to watch in 2010!”

You’ll hear exactly what they mean (and what I am digging) on their upcoming self-titled EP, out on Dopamine Records April 13th. In the mean time check out more “after the jump” …read full article…

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti [MySpace] might be my current favorite band name (right up there with the always awesome Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin), and the band are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut at 4AD. In the mean time, the band are set to release a 7″ and digital single for “Round and Round” on April 26th.

Get a taste of what the band have to offer “after the jump” …read full article…

Do you like free music? Hell yeah you do, otherwise you’d be standing in line with money in your hand, paying for it like a sucker. (Note: I still buy lots of music. Especially vinyl. I am just goofing around here. Go with it) MASTERBEAT.com (yes, I said that again and yes, they are a new online music superstore) is celebrating their launch by offering up 10 free tracks for download at http://www.masterbeat.com/free!

Check out the playlist and get more info, “after the jump” …read full article…

Yay, a super great new video from She & Him. I needed more Zooey in my life, that’s for sure. I do have a thing for her, you know.

Lil Wayne, is a genius, we think. I think most people really agree and despite how disappointing many of us found his latest album, Rebirth, Weezy has our support as he is supposed to be stepping into prison today. As a sign of that support for our fave MC (plus Eminem/Slim Shady, who, let’s face it, needs some RE love), we’re going to post the video for the song that got us the most “hype” when Rebirth was announced: “Drop the World”.

Anyway, the track is great, the vid’s intense so puh-leaze check it out “after the jump” …read full article…

This week on Dirty Laundry, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Robert Levon Been, who took some time to hang down at the ‘mat before heading out on tour in support of BRMC’s new album: Beat The Devil’s Tattoo, which is out now. He talks about the band, growing up the son of a famous musician and the new album, so it’s pretty rad.

Grab the track “after the jump” …read full article…

Great clip for a ridiculously hypnotic track. Plastic Beach hits shelves next week.

Frenchkiss darlings The Antlers released a second music video from their 2009 breakout album Hospice on Friday. The video is for one of the album’s biggest track, “Bear,” shot in the bleak and snowy forest of… um… Bear Mountain, features beautiful cinematography and fantastical imagery, offering a perfect visual complement to the song’s moving lyrics. Rife with metaphors, despite the video’s initial dreariness, “Bear” maintains some of the same themes of hope that we saw in the bands’ video for “Two.”

Check out tour dates and more “after the jump” …read full article…

The old adage “I don’t want to be famous because…” pretty much applies here. Someone decided to grab Ke$ha’s middle school talent show in which she COVERS Radiohead. Yikes, not a nice move on that person’s part, but still sort of cool to hear that:

1) She can sing…a bit.
2) She is just following what’s popular and, right now, rap-pop/party-party/girl-pop b.s. is the music of the day.

Go Ke$ha. Make a dollar while you can before the major label model implodes and there are no big paydays left for anyone there.

And if you get a chance, work this cover into your set. It’s ballsy.

Sunset Rubdown [MySpace] just debuted the great new video for “Dragon’s Lair” at Pitchfork TV today. They could have debuted it here, but they weren’t sure if giving an exclusive to us would make sense. (That’s totally not true at all…I’m just talking shiiizzzzz.)

Either way, this clip = mind-bottling. Yeah, I went there.

Check it out. Above. Duh.

Dragonslayer is out now on Jagjaguwar.

Check out another track from the album “after the jump” …read full article…

?uestlove from the Roots sat down to discuss the importance and influence of Fela Kuti when he first discovered Fela Kuti’s music and the impact of his music on both his personal life as well as Fela’s impact on music and culture, showcasing works by Mos Def, Macy Grey, D’Angelo, X-Clan, and Leaders of the New School.

Over the next several months, Knitting Factory Records will be re-releasing Fela’s entire catalogue. The “Chop ‘N Quench” batch, containing 6 CDs (9 albums total) from 1964-1974, is available digitally and physically now.

Get a free track and check out more “after the jump” …read full article…

Yesterday marked the debut of Passion Pit’s official video for “Little Secrets” directed by Timothy Saccenti. The band is on tour this spring in the U.S. We’ve really liked their previous videos ["To Kingdom Come"] so check this one out, fo’ sho’.

More tourdates, etc. “after the jump” …read full article…

Holy gentle Jesus, this video is too funny. You know what? I was not at all surprised that Vampire Weekend, one of the “most buzzed about bands of the last half decade” (copyright: me!), might actually hang out with a Jonas Brother, RZA and Jake Gyllenhaal. Not at all. Well, they all made an appearance in the latest video from VW, “Giving Up The Gun”, and it’s a pretty great clip if I have to be honest, if not for the fact that there is a humor deeply ingrained in the piece. It can be overt at times, but there’s just a dry, subtle humor there.

Still I am shocked that VW like badminton enough to feature it prominently in a video. (Nice work, SMS. It was tennis. They were playing tennis. Seriously, wear your glasses in the morning, k?) They still seem like such a polo sort of crowd, despite their love of afro-centric beats and flavors.

Check out the clip “after the jump” …read full article…

With their new album, Kairos, on the way, White Hinterland have emerged with new, danceable music for fans to enjoy, which might come out of left field to those fans who loved their previous material (Phylactery Factory Review). The move, no matter how dramatic a change, was calculated and shows what Casey Dienel and Shawn Creeden do best: innovate.

The latest track is their awesome track “No Logic,” and while the band is preparing for an extensive tour of the US this Spring, we’re sure that many of you will find something to love and embrace about the band once again.

Kairos is out March 9 (March 8 in the UK) via Dead Oceans

Check out the track and more “after the jump” …read full article…

On this week’s edition of “Dirty Laundry”, Har Mar Superstar (aka Sean Tillman) bares all. What he doesn’t do, however, is shed any layers of clothing, despite the fact that he’s IN A LAUNDROMAT. What better place to get butt-nekkid, right? They’ve got some autographed copies of his latest release, Dark Touches, so head over and check that out as well.

[mp3] Har Mar Superstar – “Tall Boy”

“Jónsi” [Official] might be more well known for his day job as guitarist and vocalist for the critical darlings, Sigur Ros, but there is no denying that he has an ear for rad music. With the band on hiatus while other members focus on families and babies, etc., Jonsi has a red hot solo career that needs to be focused on. I say, “good for him”.

His solo album (Go) was announced this past December and is sure to carry forth all and carries a April 5th worldwide street date on both Parlophone and XL Recordings.

Gorgeous video for another great song. Enjoy it “after the jump” …read full article…

Super Swede, El Perro Del Mar, is embarking on a co-headlining tour next week with fellow Swede hottie, Taken By Trees. El Perro Del Mar’s latest album, Love Is Not Pop, was released in 2009 via The Control Group and is pretty awesome. If you get a chance to check them out live, you definitely should.

Check out the full tour dates and more “after the jump” …read full article…

Danish group Under Byen [MySpace] has released a brand new video, directed by visual artist Sidse Carstens, for the title track off their forthcoming album, Alt Er Tabt, out April 6 on Paper Bag Records. It’s amazing, frankly, portraying a woman losing her crap (which is how I feel when I am left alone in my own kitchen at home). I have no idea what I am doing.

Ha.

Check out the track as well “after the jump” …read full article…