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

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Video: N.E.R.D. - "Hypnotize U"



Note to Pharell: when people say that rockstars have masses of a gaggle of fine women laying around their house, I don't think they mean it literally.

Nothing is out Nov. 9 and, trust me, it's worth snagging up.



MySpace: N.E.R.D.

Video: Underoath - "In Division"



The visuals for Underoath's lead single off Ø (Disambiguation) are standard enough. Spencer and co. thrash out in a house that is burnt out/flooded in a way only possible in a metal video. Two things that standout: the track's massive brutality and Spencer's killer dreads.



MySpace: Underoath

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



Never been a huge fan of either of Jamie Foxx's careers. This thundering bump-and-grind joint is another story. Foxx lets his smooth coo echo through before bringing in some bashing drums in for the hook. Drizzy hops in for a verse, which never does any harm in my book.

Body hits shelves Dec. 14.

MySpace: Jamie Foxx