Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Video: Kanye West - "Devil In a New Dress" (Unofficial)



Shouts to weworemasks for drawing attention to this user-created video for one of my favorites off MBDTF. David's tip #79: Always keep your prized belongings in a secret hiding place or else a Kim Kardashian look-a-like will pillage you.

DEVIL from yonie.ethiopian.love on Vimeo.



MySpace: Kanye West

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Blocks - "Hideaway"



Blocks, the new project of Dan Nigro (ex-As Tall As Lions vocalist), dropped a new track filled with digital trickles and a familiar falsetto. Yessah.

Stream: Blocks - "Hideaway"

Video: Travis Barker - "Forever" (Remix feat. Drake, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Eminem)



Apparently this is as old as hell, but watching Travis Barker throw down over Drake's breakout single will never get too tiring. Feeeeeelin' that all black drumset too.



Download: Travis Barker - "Forever" (Remix feat. Drake, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, and Eminem)

Video: Lupe Fiasco - "The Show Goes On"



Think it really takes Lu 4:17 to make it from the dressing room to the stage? Either way, kinda wasted an opportunity on this video, but nothing can take away from how good of a song it is.

Lasers out March 8, ya'll.



MySpace: Lupe Fiasco

Sherri Dupree - "Heartless" (Kanye West cover)



Sherri Dupree/Bemis a.k.a. singer/guitarist for Eisley and bride of Say Anything's Max Bemis lent her willowy vocals to a haunting take on Yeezy's "Heartless". When she sings "I did some things, but that's the old me", you think she means Jesse Lacey and Chad Gilbert?

Boom, roasted.

Download: Sherri Dupree - "Heartless" (Kanye West cover)

MySpace: Eisley

Video: Steel Train - "You and I Undercover" (Live on Fearless Music)



Rousing rendition of a song that found it's way onto my list for best songs of 2010. Think Steel Train will do the same on the year-end record list? All signs points toward "Yes".



MySpace: Steel Train

Friday, December 24, 2010

Top 25 Songs of 2010



On the eve before Christmas....there was a dope ass list of the best songs of 2010. The end.

If anyone wants to teach me how to turn this into a zip file, I'll gladly make it available for your greedy little hands.

Hope everyone has a safe, fun, and merry Christmas/Holidaze!

Top 25 Songs of 2010


1. Cee Lo Green- "Fuck You"
2. Circa Survive - "Get Out"
3. Kanye West - "All Of The Lights" (feat. Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Fergie, The-Dream, Ryan Leslie, Elton John, Charlie Wilson, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Tony Williams & Elly Jackson)
4. Local Natives - "Who Knows, Who Cares"
5. Broken Bells - "The High Road"
6. Envy on the Coast - "Southern Comfort"
7. The Black Keys - "Next Girl"
8. Mark Ronson - "Bang, Bang, Bang" (feat. MNDR and Q-Tip)
9. The Gaslight Anthem - The Diamond Street Church Choir"
10. Lil' Wayne - "Right Above It" (feat. Drake)
11. Kings of Leon - "Back Down South"
12. "LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean"
13. Kanye West - "Monster" (feat. Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver, Rick Ross, and Jay-Z)
14. Wavves - "Green Eyes"
15. The Roots - The Fire (feat. John Legend)
16. Ryan Adams - "Happy Birthday"
17. Drake - "Up All Night" (feat. Nicki Minaj)
18. Steel Train - "You and I Undercover"
19. Butch Walker - "She Likes Hairbands"
20. Yeasayer - "O.N.E"
21. Vampire Weekend - "Giving Up the Gun"
22. Gorillaz - "Stylo" (feat. Bobby Womack)
23. Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream"
24. RJD2 - "Games You Can Win" (feat. Kenna)
25. B.o.B. - "Airplanes" (feat. Hayley Williams)

Video: North Korea - "Master Plan B"



Here's our first taste of North Korea (a.k.a. Ryan and Brain from Envy on the Coast + Bill Rymer of Dillinger Escape Plan) and it involves them getting their Glassjaw on in more ways than one.

North Korea - Master Plan B (DOGMA) from DOGMA on Vimeo.

Video: The Dear Hunter - "White #2"



I'm gonna be honest...I thought Casey Crescenzo's whole EP concept series dedicated to all the colors in the spectrum was never really gonna happen. Now we have to official tracks and confirmation that a 40-song package will be available in May 2011.

Shut me up, right?



MySpace: The Dear Hunter

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Talib Kweli - "How You Love Me" (feat. Blaq Toven)



Talib Kweli sounds poised for a comeback and this new one off Gutter Rainbows only confirms that vibe, but what's with all these MCs getting bitten by the love bug anyways?

Download: Talib Kweli - "How You Love Me" (feat. Blaq Toven)

MySpace: Talib Kweli

Video: Beach House - "10 Mile Stereo" (Live on Conan)



Beach House bring their dreamy sounds, complete with Victoria LeGrande sumptuous vocals, to Conan's stage with the aid of some glowing pyramids. Teen Dream will definitely make an appearance in my year-end list. Top 10? Guess you'll have to wait and see...



MySpace: Beach House

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Wale - "Lets Chill" (feat. Lloyd)



New cut from Ralph Folarin in which he tries to...um..."chill" with a certain lady. Lloyd hops on the hook to make things properly lovey-dovey.

Download: Wale - "Lets Chill" (feat. Lloyd)

MySpace: Wale

Bright Eyes - "Shell Games"



So much for retiring the Bright Eyes moniker, eh Conor? In truth, I'm glad he didn't or else we wouldn't have gotten to hear this 80s-tastic jam.

Peoples Key is out February 15th and is set to feature a more "modern" and "rocking" sound. Innnnnnnnteresting.



MySpace: Bright Eyes

Video: Manchester Orchestra - "Simple Math" (acoustic)



Given that this is an acoustic rendition, there is little to no chance this sounds anything like the album version will. That being said, I hear some bits of "Stairway to Heaven" in the melody. I also hear a fair share of awesome.

This will show up on their forthcoming LP that is due out in March (news to me)...2011 is already looking dope.



MySpace: Manchester Orchestra

Monday, December 20, 2010

Video: The Lonely Island - "I Just Had Sex" (feat. Akon)



The Lonely Island show off their visuals for "I Just Had Sex" a.k.a. "I'm On a Boat 2.0". Replace "boats" with "sex" and T-Pain with Akon and you're about on it.

That being said, these dudes are still hilarious and the addition of Jessica Alba and Blake Lively to the mix always makes things better.



MySpace: The Lonely Island

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Ghostface Killah - "In Tha Park" (feat. Black Thought)



Ghostface and Black Though team up to get angry on a classic track propelled by an epic Prince Paul sample. The higher the volume, the better it sounds.

Apollo Kids drops Dec. 21.

Download: Ghostface Killah - "In Tha Park" (feat. Black Thought)

MySpace: Ghostface Killah

Iron & Wine - "Try By The River"



Sam Beam lets loose on a breezy, laid-back jam that sounds strangely similar to something James Taylor would've written mid-methadone addiction. Yes, that was suppose to be a compliment.

Comes of Kiss Each Other Clean, due out Jan. 25.

Download: Iron & Wine - "Tree By The River"

MySpace: Iron & Wine

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Kanye West - "Christmas in Harlem" (feat. Cam'ron, Vado, Jim Jones, CyHi Da Prynce, Pusha T, Big Sean, Teyana Taylor & Musiq Soulchild)



Mr. West delivers a Christmas sermon in the form of another epic G.O.O.D. Friday track. He enlists the help of Cam'ron, Vado, Teyana Taylor, Jim Jones and Musiq Soulchild and some other G.O.O.D. regulars (Big Sean, CyHi Da Prince, Pusha T) to tell the tale of Baby Yeezus in the snowy Harlem street.


MySpace: Kanye West

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Beach House - "I Do Not Care For the Winter Sun"



Tis' that time of year for crackling fires and chestnuts roasting over said blaze. Aptly-named Beach House pay their respects with a holiday tune that opens with sleigh bells before sliding into bending notes, warming piano, and their traditionally hazy vocals.

Rumors tell that the duo promise to re-release the song with subsequent revisions and new cameos, but I'll just settle for a new album. Christmas miracle?

Download: Beach House - "I Do Not Care For the Winter Sun"

MySpace: Beach House

Talib Kweli - "Start It Up" (freestyle)



There's very few ways better to start up a track than have Mr. Kweli bless it with a freestyle...Talib does what he does on Lloyd Banks' dope "Start It Up", although I don't know what the hell that pseudo-hook is.

Gutter Rainbows, featuring Sean Price, Jean Grae, and 88-Keys, is out Jan 25.

Download: Talib Kweli - "Start It Up" (freestyle)

MySpace: Talib Kweli

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Lil' Wayne - "6'7'" (feat. Cory Gunz)



First taste of the reformed Lil' Wayne and one word comes to mind: "hungry". Dude sounds eager as hell over a low-end beat that'll blow you out your ride, while Cory Gunz does what he can to stand as tall as the 6-foot, 7-foot Mr. Carter.

Tha Carter IV is expected out in February 2011.

Download: Lil' Wayne - "6'7'" (feat. Cory Gunz)

MySpace: Lil' Wayne

Video: Blu - "Seasons"



The unstoppable duo of Blu and Exile bundle up and hit the snowy streets to give all us listeners the dopest of holiday gifts. Can't get enough of this...more new muzik plz?



MySpace: Blu

Video: Dustin Kensrue - "Mesa, AZ" (Bad Books cover)



Dustin Kensrue of Thrice fame takes on the KDev-led Bad Books track "Mesa, AZ" to excellent results on a stop for the Where's the Band? tour with Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids), Chris Conley (Saves The Day) and Anthony Raneri (Bayside). But, c'mon, what did you expect?




MySpace: Dustin Kensrue

Video: Jamie Foxx - "Fall For Your Type" (feat. Drake)



I've been digging this song hard of late, but the only thing hot in the is video is the leading lady. Got DAMN.



MySpace: Jamie Foxx

Skyzoo - "Speakers on Blast" (Remix feat. Lloyd Banks and Maino)



The one and only S-K-Y-Z-00 gives the bass-rattling favorite off Live From The Tapedeck a facelift and lets Lloyd Banks and Maino get at it too. Sharing is caring.

Download: Skyzoo - "Speakers on Blast" (Remix feat. Lloyd Banks and Maino)

MySpace: Skyzoo

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Wiz Khalfia - "Real Estate"



Only reason for the lateness on this is because I've been listening to it too much to actually find time for a post. Huge beat, so-so rhymes, classic Wiz.

Download: Wiz Khalifa - "Real Estate"

MySpace: Wiz Khalifa

Thursday, December 9, 2010

J. Cole - "Leave Me Alone" (feat. Kevin Cossom)



Mr. Cole originally dropped this as "Untitled" back in July, but added a catchy melody from Kevin Cossom and now we have "Leave Me Alone". Works for me.

MySpace: J. Cole

Raekwon - "Butter Knives"



The Chef's back on his Wu-Tang shit for his follow-up to Only Built for Cuban Linx II. Heard of lyrical wordsmiths? Try lyrical swordsman.

Download: Raekwon - "Butter Knives"

MySpace: Raekwon

Video: Kings of Leon - "Pyro"



One of my favorite cuts off Come Around Sundown gets video treatment. KOL nonchalantly play a dingy bar where all the innocents get a dues ex machina. Good heavens...literally.

Love this whole album, expect it high up on my year-end list. Don't know why all the old school fans have to hate...



MySpace: Kings of Leon

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Circa Survive - "Stare Like You'll Stay"



Us Circa fanatics get a early taste of their Appendages EP (due out Nov. 30) with this sugary number. More straight-forward and poppy than the guys usually lend themselves, but my bias intact, it's still fucking awesome.

While you're at it check out their fourth tour sequence video. Note: No, your computer is not lagging, it's just some seriously awesome stop motion footage.

Download: Circa Survive - "Stare Like You'll Stay"

MySpace: Circa Survive

Kanye West and Jay-Z - "That's My Bitch" (feat. La Roux)



First track off the Kanye/Jay-Z collab project Watch the Throne features Q-Tip on the boards and La Roux's Elly Jackson on the hook. With this level of legendary in the booth, you wonder whether the project title is a warning or a reminder.

Download: Kanye West and Jay-Z - "That's My Bitch" (feat. La Roux)

MySpace: Kanye West

Ryan Adams - "Destroyers"



The ever-prolific Ryan Adams announced a new project entitled Cardinals III/IV which will feature 60 unreleased tunes dating back to 2007's Easy Tiger. This cut comes off and features Mr. Mandy Moore doing what he does best: singing about long nights, the nighttime, and the night morphing into a coyote over a killer steel guitar line.

Download: Ryan Adams - "Destroyer"

T.I. - "Welcome to the World" (feat. Kanye West and Kid Cudi)



Yeezy and Cudi welcomed everyone to heartbreak on 808s and Heartbreak. This time they've teamed up with T.I.P. for another greeting...too bad this one isn't much lighter.

No Mercy drops Dec. 7.


MySpace: T.I.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Video: Arcade Fire - "The Suburbs"



Spike Jonze takes his second crack at an Arcade Fire song after uniting with them for Where The Wild Things Are. This 5-minute segment for the title-track of The Suburbs is a pretty literal translation, but is also part of a larger Spike Jonze jaunt entitled Scenes From the Suburbs. Guess that explains why the ending doesn't quite make sense. Either way, consider me intrigued.

Also about time I give The Suburbs another go 'round.



MySpace: Arcade Fire

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Saves the Day - "Let It All Go" (acoustic)



Chris Conley delivers his special brand of bleak poetry over a stomping drumbeat and some standard acoustic strumming. Pretty much what you've come to expect from him nowadays...nothing wrong it it, but fuck do I miss their Through Being Cool days.


Download: Saves the Day - "Let It All Go" (acoustic)

MySpace: Saves the Day

Kevin Devine - "Walls" (Tom Petty cover)



KDev dusts off an oft-overlooked Tom Petty classic from the 1996's She's the One soundtrack. It's a fitting cover for Mr. Devine, Conor Oberst did this song right himself before, as the native New Yorker even breaks out a good ole' Southern twang here and there.

Download: Kevin Devine - "Walls" (Tom Petty cover)

Myspace: Kevin Devine

Video: B.o.B - "Beastmode"



B.o.B. ditches his guitar and busts out a ferocious flow over a bass-rattling instrumental all in celebration of his new mixtape No Genre, due out December 7th.



MySpace: B.o.B

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Lupe Fiasco - "Never Forget You" (feat. John Legend)



Lu shows a softer side while Mr. Legend blesses the song with a ethereal hook and some delicate work on the ivories. Totally feeling this, but it'll still be hard to top "The Show Goes On"...still getting daily spins 'round here.


MySpace: Lupe Fiasco

Video: Band of Horses - "Dilly"



I never even knew IMDB hosted music videos...either way, this joint off Infinite Arms is a perfect one for the site. An homage to the counter-culture biker films of the 70s, this Phillip Andelman-directed piece follows a bunch of line-dancing riders who have are all packing a nasty pair of finger guns. Bloody results ensue.

Watch: Band of Horses - "Dilly"

MySpace: Band of Horses

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Mixtape: J. Cole - Friday Night Lights



Forget the average movie and lame ass TV show...J. Cole does right by the Friday Night Lights moniker. Figured we'd have Cole World by now but this hotly anticipated follow up to The Warm-Up will have to do for now. It's so-so on the beats, solid on the guests (see: Wale, Drake), and out-of-bounds on the bars. Pick it up for yourself below and listen to Mr. Cole do it one time for the city and two times for you.




Download: J. Cole - Friday Night Lights

MySpace: J. Cole

Taking Back Sunday - "Best Place to Be a Mom"



Funny how Taking Back Sunday is suddenly relevant again to me now that they have John Nolan and Shaun Cooper back in tow. Here's the first taste of the family reunion and, not only have they got the band back together, but they got their punch back too. The chorus leaves something to desire, but that Tell All Your Friends-era bass line is enough to get your hips wiggling like it's 2003.

Download: Taking Back Sunday - "Best Place to Be a Mom"

MySpace: Taking Back Sunday

Video: B.o.B. - "Don't Let Me Fall"



This was just about the perfect time for B.o.B. to drop this on all of us. He's gone from humble blog-phenom beginnings to top of the charts ("Nothing On You"/"Airplanes") and "Don't Let Me Fall", aside from being one of the best cuts off Adventures of Bobby Ray, is a good look at the past, present,and future for the title character. His world's gotten turn sideways with all the hype (get it?) and he's just trying to enjoy the ride without getting too carried away. Simple message, but he does it well. Hard to hate on Mr. Ray...well, except for that annoying ass "Magic" Adidas commercial.

Mixtape coming from him in December so be on the up-and-up for it.




MySpace: B.o.B.

Video: Passion Pit - "Moth's Wings" (acoustic)



"Passion Pit" and "higher and higher and higher" are two phrases I haven't heard in awhile. Thankfully, the guys decided to dust off the best track off Manners (IMO) and gave it a tender acoustic makeover. I'd take the bombastic drums of the album version nine times out of 10 but this is still more than worth a listen.



MySpace: Passion Pit

Kanye West - "Chain Heavy" (feat. Consequence and Talib Kweli)



Q-Tip jumps behind the boards to lay down an eerie, extraterrestrial beat for 'Ye, Cons, and Mr. Kweli to get all philosophical on. Deep shit...something's weighing on Mr. West that's heavier than that Jesus/Horus/etc piece.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is due out November 22nd.

Download: Kanye West - "Chain Heavy" (feat. Consequence and Talib Kweli)

Myspace: Kanye West

Video: Lykke Li - "Get Some" (official video)



Lykke Li may be the only girl who'll be your prostitute while dabbling in the occult. The Swedish songstress gets extra provocative in this creepy video, but the vibe definitely matches the song's voodoo, tribal nature. She's not half-bad to look at either...




Download: Lykke Li - "Get Some"

MySpace: Lykke Li

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Wale - "Aston Martin Music"



Remember when I said this: "Still think it'll be hard to touch the way Drizzy killed this joint." I was wrong.

Leave it to Wale...

Download: Wale - "Aston Martin Music"

MySpace: Wale

Video: Kevin Devine - "You Wouldn't Have to Ask" (acoustic)



KDev gives Bad Books lead single some one-on-one time. I always thought you could tell this was more of his song (see: "Mesa, Az") than Andy Hull's. Not too mention he proves whistling isn't just for The Black Keys anymore...



MySpace: Bad Books

Trey Songz - Aston Martin Music



Trey Songz drills his effortless runs over Teflon Don's instrumental. He even spits some bars that are strange, but impressive nonetheless. Still think it'll be hard to touch the way Drizzy killed this joint but....

Download: Trey Songz - Aston Martin Music

MySpace: Trey Songz

Video: Big Sean - "Too Fake" (feat. Chiddy Bang)



Big Sean and Chiddy Bang takeover a rooftop and get sky high. Literally. Love these visuals, feeling both their bars/styles, and didn't realize how much I dig that Hockey sample until riiiiiiight now.

Big Sean - Too Fake (Ft. Chiddy Bang) from illRoots.com on Vimeo.



MySpace: Big Sean