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…

Who knew that Kratos had a softer side? Well, thanks to G4TV’s X-Play, now we do.

The God of War belts Robin Thicke’s song “Sex Therapy” and, well, he moved this ginger. Not to my soul, though. You all know that we don’t have those. God of War III is in stores now.

Read more: X-Play’s God of War Music Video

When The Lonely Island’s Incredibad first came out, I rocked the eff out of it. The charmingly hilarious look at rock and hip hop through their twisted eyes made me laugh and generally laugh my ass off and their humor was something I thought music was sorely missing. Everything I listened too had gotten far too serious and, well, it sucked. Lonely Island have made an art out of funny, though.

Incredibad is also a really competent blending of the group’s comedic talents and passion for the music; Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone (the three main members of the group and life-long pals who, evidently, simultaneously lost their virginity to an alien [listen to Incredibad for details]) really slammed a few out of the part with the album, and this song was among them.

With a guest vocal provided by Julian Casablancas (from The Strokes), Andy makes me never want to eat boiled goose or go to an old folks home ever, ever again. Still, it’s my favorite song on the album.

Check out the hilarious ass video “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…

Last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The National gave the audience a super cool preview of their new material. The song they chose was “Terrible Love”, a great little song that reminds me of “Fake Empire” without the acapella-epic chorus.

Yes, I made up a word.

May 11th is the release day for High Violet and, as we have said before, visit http://www.highviolet.com for more album info and tour dates.

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

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…

?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…

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…

The uber-sexified likes of NYC’s own The Phenomenal Handclap Band [MySpace] recently debuted a great new video for “Baby” with the good peeps over at Stereogum. The clip was “likened to a Dario Argento film”, and is a super saturated and atmospherically depressed clip from Steven Agnew, the genius behind The Futurehead’s “Walking Backwards” video.

The band’s self-titled album is out now on Friendly Fire Recordings.

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

It’s now 2010, the beginning of a new decade. Have you stopped to wonder what the next ten years will look like for music and the music industry? What will be the dominant musical trend? What will the industry look like in ten years?

Our sort-of-awesome, sort-of-Chuck Klosterman ripping off writer Tom Williams has. However, unlike you, dear readers, he is doing something to find the answers. Next month Tom and two companions will embark on a two week long road trip across America and Mexico, where they will speak with bands large and small, venue owners, record store clerks, label managers, and music fans of all time, seeking to understand the nature of music and the music industry to come.

Upon his return, Tom will write a book, to be entitled Sound Through Sight: A Road Trip, about his travels, the people he speaks with, and the insights he discovers; think Klosterman’s Killing Yourself To Live meets Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy In America. His travel companions will also be producing a book of photography from the trip, as well as a short documentary.

Tom is seeking to raise $1,400 before he leaves in three weeks via the site Kickstarter. To read more about his project, to purchase an advance copy of his book, or to see other cool ways you can help support the project, check out his project on Kickstarter.

If you’re in the NYC area, Tom is also throwing a concert Friday night to help raise money for the project. Event details can be found on Facebook.

The concert will be a the Newsonic Loft, an incredible loft space in South Williamsburg, on 2/19/10. Admission is $7, there will be cheap drinks available at the bar, and you can also BYOB.

Tentative Schedule:

9pm: Doors

9:30: Dynasty Electric – NYC – Recently signed to Damon Dash’s Blu Rock label.

10:00: mynameisjohnmichael – New Orleans – “One of the Top 5 Bands at CMJ 2009″ – http://bit.ly/mnijmCMJ

11:00: Common Prayer – Kingston, NY – The fantastic new project from Jason Russo, of Hopewell and the Mercury Rev

12:00: TBA (but they’ll be damn good, we promise!)

Click to Download and Share the Event Poster

“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…

After discovering the band on the FIFA 08 soundtrack, I was glad to hear that The Hours [MySpace] are finally releasing material on this side of the Atlantic. The band’s tune (“Ali in the Jungle”) was the most hypnotically likeable track among those that EA selected for their flagship footie game. The band made its avidly awaited stateside debut on January 26 with the release of Ali In The Jungle, a four-song digital EP available now on iTunes.

“Inspired by the historic 1974 world heavyweight bout between then-reigning champion George Foreman and former title-holder Muhammad Ali, “Ali In The Jungle” is a hard-hitting and hook-packed paean to the human spirit with an unforgettable litany of powerhouse triumph in the chorus.”

They even shot a gorgeous new clip for the song, featuring all sorts of steam punk and vaudevillian stop motion animation. Seriously cool, so check it out “after the jump” …read full article…

While he has spent time in New York and Los Angeles, to record the self-titled debut from The Greatcoats [MySpace], David Tenczar, songwriter and frontman, returned to his Austin roots to finish the record. The album will be released on March 9th and he’ll be banding together with his usual cadre of musicians for promotional dates and, hopefully, a tour.

To quote the band, you’ll definitely find that “the music of The Greatcoats is, at heart, music that reminds you of better times.” It’s retro-rock (think The Beatles, Supergrass or Wilco) but the band is fresh and honest with the insatiable hooks of veteran pop masters like Simon and Garfunkel (especially on “Slow Me Down”).

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

With the release of his solo album, Manchester Orchestra guitarist Robert McDowell has created another solid buzz not only for his day job, but for his new gig as well. Gobotron [MySpace], the solo project whose names appears to be a mashup of 80s cult cartoon faves “GoBots” and “Voltron”, released the debut, On Your Mark, Get Set… on January 19 via Favorite Gentlemen Recordings after a premiere with our friends at Absolute Punk, where you can stream the album in its entirety.

Check out “Never Turn Around” “after the jump” …read full article…

It’s been an “LA-themed” couple of days here at RE, and even though I am off in FL on a novel-writing/research trip, we’re going to talk about Chasing Kings [MySpace], an indie quartet who pride themselves on their sonically diverse tunes and hummable melodies. It’s some really beautiful stuff that we think you’re going to like, but, then again, I wouldn’t share it with you otherwise. That’s my deal.

Chasing Kings recently announced that they will be performing at Austin’s South by Southwest music festival in the “Howdy Texas” showcase on March 16th. They were also offered a spot in the prestigious Levi’s/Fader showcase, with the dates to be announced shortly.

Music and more “after the jump” …read full article…