Thursday, September 29, 2011

Movie Review: Drive


It's been awhile since I've posted a movie review on here because, well, it's been awhile since I've seen a movie that has actually compelled me to put words down. Drive, the newest film noir about a stunt driver-turned-getaway driver, has left me with no choice.

Set between the neon lights of Hollywood and the dark shadows of L.A., Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn adds an almost comic book-stark contrast between the glitzy home of the stars and the gritty underworld of crime. He also gives the film an 80s/Miami Vice vibe, splashing the credits with pink and pumping up the synth-heavy soundtrack to accentuate each emotionally thrilling moment before ultimately shattering violence.

While the spot-on cinematography and surreal plot deserve a ton of credit, the way the cast animates the characters is the true masterpiece. Ron Perlman is solid in his usual tough cookie role as wannabe gangster Nino and Bryan Cranston plays the Driver's constantly SOL mechanic mentor Shannon with a perfect weight.

The usually comical Albert Brooks forays into villainy, posing as the slimy and sinister Bernie Rose. It's would seem hard to take Brooks seriously in the role, but the way he reserves his brutality to small, cold doses is perfectly placed. 

Carey Mulligan, meanwhile, plays Irene, the Driver's neighbor and love interest, with equal parts mousey, wide-eyed naivitey and unwavering strength. Pay attention to a particular scene in an apartment elevator where her mere facial reactions speak louder than any line could have.

Now for the real scene stealer: Ryan Gosling. He's received a wealth of praise for his past roles, but this might be the performance that totally sets him apart. Playing the unnamed protagonist (usually referred to as "The Driver" or "Kid"), Gosling limits himself to only speaking where absolutely neccesary. His expressions, glares, and clenched fists, however, unleash all the smoldering passion, toughness, and grit that lie beneath his silent exterior.

The Driver builds himself into a routine lifestyle, getting cozy with Irene and her young son Benicio. That is, until Irene's husband Standard comes home, a job goes wrong, and The Driver looks to take care of things his own uniquely violent way. It all spirals to a bloody climax and, while I don't want to give anything away, the movie ends right where it begins: in the driver's seat.

I don't like throwing the word masterpiece around too much, but this film might be an appropriate time to bust it out. Exuding a vibe of a more dreamy, but less quirky Pulp Fiction, it's already clear that people will be examining, studying, and replicating Drive's style for years to come.

Grade: 9.4/10

Mixtape: Green Street - Endless Summer


Green Street. Endless Summer. What else do you need to know? Be sure to tweet Soupa and A-Live a thousand congratulations.

Download: Green Street - Endless Summer

MySpace: Green Street

Video: MGMT - "Lucifer Sam" (Pink Floyd Cover) (Live on Fallon)



Jimmy Fallon's Pink Floyd tribute keeps on rollin' with the boys from MGMT taking on Piper at the Gates of Dawn's "Lucifer Sam". Antics include dry ice, bubbles, rubber yellow coveralls, a lobster, and somebody playing a reel-to-reel recorder.



MySpace: MGMT

Wale - "Lotus Flower Bomb" (feat. Miguel)


Wale enlists the help of Miguel Jontel to turn in a bonafide slow jam that'll appear on his upcoming LP. It's continuing to sound like Wale is leaving his bullshit raps for MMG posse cuts and saving his substantial stuff for his own proper releases, while I continue to get excited for what he's got in store.

Ambition drops 11.1.11. #ambition.

Download: Wale - "Lotus Flower Bomb" (feat. Miguel)

MySpace: Wale

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Stream: Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire


Ryan Adams is nothing if not prolific. When you're recording as often as he does, however, you're going to get some clunkers. Thankfully, Adams has stepped back and taken his time with his 13th studio LP Ashes & Fire, opting for a more simplistic and stripped down approach than heard in the heavier rock leanings of 2008's Cardinology. Having Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, frequent collaborator/Grammy-winning artist Norah Jones, and wife Mandy Moore pitching in doesn't hurt either.

I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up near Heartbreak and Gold territory when everything's said and done. But don't take my word for it. Head over to NPR and give the entire album a couple listens before your inevitable decision to buy it on Oct. 11th.

Stream: Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

MySpace: Ryan Adams

Pusha T - "Don't Fuck With Me"


Pusha takes on Drizzy's "Dreams Money Can Buy" instrumental, feeding us with a steady diet of bars about coke, designer clothes, and a pair of the new Back to the Future-themed Nikes. Might've taken a shot or two in there also. Yugh.

Download: Pusha T - "Don't Fuck With Me"

MySpace: Pusha T

Video: The Shins - "Breathe"/ Foo Fighters - "In the Flesh" (feat. Roger Waters) (Pink Floyd Covers Live on Fallon)


My week's been fucking crazy and I totally blanked on the fact that Jimmy Fallon has been asking his musical guests to do Pink Floyd tributes all week. Let me get everyone caught up. Hit the link below to catch The Shins taking on "Breathe" (off Dark Side of the Moon) and the Foo Fighters inviting Roger Waters to join them on "In The Flesh" (off The Wall).




Tyga - "Still Got It" (feat. Drake)


Tyga dusts off Drake b-side "Still Got It"; recycles the hook and beefs up the beat; and presents a radio-friendly single for Careless World: Rise of the Last King (damn does that sound like the title of one of those corny computer RPGs). This will undoubtedly be a hit. I do have to give Mr. Stevenson credit for brushed up his mic skills, though.

Carelees World: Rise of the Last King drops Nov. 18th.

Download: Tyga - "Still Got It" (feat. Drake)

MySpace: Tyga

Video: Death Cab for Cutie - "Stay Young, Go Dancing"


Ben Gibbard, looking as Americana as ever, takes us through what might be one of the most literal song-to-video translations of all time. OF ALL TIME.

Giving Codes and Keys a solid listen is still on my to-do list. Getting on that ASAP.

 

MySpace: Death Cab for Cutie

Monday, September 26, 2011

B.o.B - "Strange Clouds" (feat. Lil' Wayne)


Bobby Ray and Weezy F. Baby team up on a new single that sounds like it was probably written for Wiz Khalifa/Curren$y/Mac Miller. Gotta admit that I like this lyrically-driven B.o.B way more than the guitar-toting pop star. And you know Wayne is almost always good for a solid guest spot.


Hear: B.o.B - "Strange Clouds" (feat. Lil' Wayne)

MySpace: B.o.B

Mixtape: Kevin Devine - Nevermind


Kevin Devine celebrates the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's masterpiece Nevermind the only way he knows how: morphing into a naked baby and swimming in a pool. But for real, the idea to re-record the entire album is one of the more ambitious, passionate, and straight-up awesome tributes anyone has done recently.

Don't forget to scoop up KDev's recently released Between the Concrete and the Clouds. And a huge LOL and shouts to weworemasks for the amazing photoshopped album cover.

Download: Kevin Devine - Nevermind

MySpace: Kevin Devine

Video: J. Cole - "Daddy's Little Girl"


In this video for a bonus track off his upcoming LP, J. Cole both shares a cautionary tale of an innocent young dancer turned stripper. While not on the level of "Work Out" or "Can't Get Enough" in terms of catchiness, this one's definitely got a more substantial message and a better video than it's two predecessors.


Cole World: The Sideline Story is out tomorrow. CAN'T WAIT.

EDIT: Here's Jermaine's cover spread for Complex and a full album stream. Yezzir!



MySpace: J. Cole

Video: Coldplay - "Everybody Hurts" (R.E.M Cover) (Live)



Classy tribute from Chris Martin and the boys of Coldplay to another great band.

RIP R.E.M.



MySpace: Coldplay

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Mixtape: Jazz Cartier - Losing Elizabeth



I've already introduced you to Jazz Cartier--the immensely talented 17-year-old MC from Connecticut via Toronto. From the first time I listened to "Gold. & Girls.", it was plenty easy for me to see the kid was unlike most others. Since, I've anxiously awaited his debut mixtape Losing Elizabeth and, thankfully, it's finally arrived.

Tip of my cap goes to the guys at weworemasks, who were the first to share Jazz with me. They also had a chance to chat with him briefly over Gmail and this is some info on the record they dug up:

Losing Elizabeth is a catalog of a time that involved the break up of his first love (cliched, but it’s molded a certain way here), coupled with the fact that he missed his hometown while off at boarding school, wanting to make things work out for himself. Toronto and Houston have had a huge impact on him as well, and with the release of this album, he hopes that people just want to get to know him better through his music, if anything at all. He made personal progress with himself on the record and coming around on his situations helped him land on Losing Elizabeth.

And he said himself, he’s not wanting to “hype it up himself,” and he wants the music to speak for itself.

In other words: get at it now and tell all your friends I knew Jazz when.

Download: Jazz Cartier - Losing Elizabeth

MySpace: Jazz Cartier

Green Street - "Runaways" (feat. Sunny Jones)



The boys in Green Street have been hard at work on their upcoming Endless Summer mixtape. Now we get our first taste of what's to come off it. In no way am I knocking any of their old material, but there's a polish--a noticeably leap in both the lyrical and production department--that was slightly lacking before. Plus it's always great to hear Soupa and A-Live getting philosophical, talking like their ambitions are as infinite as they're wishing everyone's favorite season could be.

Endless Summer will be up as a free downloading on Sept. 28th. Check back here for that, ya heard?

Hear: Green Street - "Runaways" (feat. Sunny Jones)

MySpace: Green Street

Stream: La Dispute - Wildlife



La Dispute's much anticipated follow-up to 2008's Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair will hit stores in just under two weeks, but for those of you who can't contain the excitement, here's a sneak peek for you. From the couple songs we've heard so far, it's sure to be a Stone Cold stunna. Sure the album has already leaked, but be a good music citizen and hit the stream if you don't feel like shelling out the dollaz.

Stream: La Dispute - Wildlife

MySpace: La Dispute

Video: Mastodon - "Curl of the Burl"



Mastodon will release The Hunter, their fifth studio album and first non-concept album since 2002's Remission, next Tuesday. In preparation, they also dropped this trippy as fuck video for "Curl of the Burl", which follows a drug-riddled, hillbilly version of Walter White as he morphs into a lumberjack and throws a tree at the sun. Repercussions follow: most notably the appearance of four busty blondes who strip our anti-hero into a tree and burn him to woodchips.

C'mon. It's Mastodon. What else would you expect?



MySpace: Mastodon

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Video: The-Dream - "Long Gone"



The-Dream, who has decided to go his real name more as of late, actually decided to throw down a video off his excellent 1977 mixtape. It's nothing too spectacular, but the roses at the beginning definitely get back at the red vibe this song gives off (synthesia, ya'll). And who can argue with that curvy of a leading lady?

If you haven't already, hit it here to cop 1977 for free.



MySpace: The-Dream

fun. - "We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae)



All of you checking this out for the Janelle Monae feature are going to be pretty disappointed, as the extraterrestrial R&B diva only makes a brief appearance in the outro. If you came for the clanking of piano keys; a bombastic drumbeat; and the smooth vocal stylings of Nate Reuss, then, well, you won't be disappointed.

fun.'s newest LP is due out in early 2012.



MySpace: fun.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Video: The Horrible Crowes - "Behold the Hurricane"



Before I've even gotten to give Elsie a proper listen, Brian Fallon and Ian Perkins drop off the LP's first official video for "Behold the Hurricane". Brian already described the project's music as "nighttime music," but takes the notion to a whole new level in this cinematic video where our protagonist literally wrestles with his demons. Weird shit, but I totally dig.

Elsie is out now, get at it ya'll.



MySpace: The Horrible Crowes

La Dispute - "Edward Benz, 27 Times"



La Dispute let go of another Wildlife jam---the serpentine "Edward Benz, 27 Times". This one sees the band enter hypnotically, before descending into a spiral of shape-shifting between John Frusciante-esque melodic riffing and gut-punches of hammering heaviness. Might end up listening to this 27 times. Sorry. Had to.

Wildlife is out Oct. 4th.



MySpace: La Dispute

Monday, September 19, 2011

Stream: Thrice - Major/Minor



Thrice's newest studio album Major/Minor hits stores tomorrow, so it's time for a celebration bitches. Hit the link below to catch a full stream of the record. If that's not enough for you, Dustin Kensrue and Teppei Teranishi sat down and talked to Nic Harcourt about the band's musical and lyrical evolution on his At: Guitar Center podcast and perform "Yellow" and "Anthology" acoustically.

You know I got you. Give this sucker a listen, I'm doing the same.

Stream: Thrice - Major/Minor

MySpace: Thrice

Video: The Dangerous Summer - "Work in Progress"



Watch as The Dangerous Summer and their respective shadows thunder through an out-of-sync version of "Work in Progress". Maybe the video's editor took the title too literally.

Still can't take away from how the awesome heaviness of this song, nor the greatness of War Paint.



MySpace: The Dangerous Summer

Video: J. Cole - "Can't Get Enough" (feat. Trey Songz)



I always felt like this song's instrumental had a Latin influence, but judging from the video, Jermaine was shooting for a Caribbean vibe. Class jam either way.

Cole World: A Sideline Story drops next week ya'll.



MySpace: J. Cole

Video: Ryan Adams - "Let It Ride" (Live in Studio)



Aside from the fact that this song appeared on Cold Roses as opposed to his upcoming Ashes & Rain, it's pretty identical to every other video from Ryan Adam's recent in-studio acoustic performances. Black Sabbath shirt, that old school mic, and a heaping dose of melancholy. You know the drill.



MySpace: Ryan Adams

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Video: Taylor Swift - "That's What You Get" (feat. Hayley Williams) (Live in Concert)



Hayley Williams joined BFFL T-Swift on stage at her show in Nashville to perform "That's What You Get" to roughly a million screaming 16-year-old girls. It's really funny to see Taylor Swift rock out, but both ladies sound pretty incredible vocally. Hate on it if you will, but I can't fake--I love this song.



MySpace: Paramore

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Video: Ryan Adams - "Dirty Rain" (Live in Studio)



Ryan Adams is still rocking his Black Sabbath shirt and laying down the most beautifully somber country songs. This makes four songs off Ashes & Fire we've already heard. What are the odds we get them all before the record drops on Oct. 11? I'm putting my odds at 65%.

Watch: Ryan Adams - "Dirty Rain" (Live in Studio)

MySpace: Ryan Adams

Video: Eastbound & Down - Season 3 (Teaser)



Kenny Powers is gearing up to hit Myrtle Beach and looks like he's going to be as raunchy and racous as ever when he does. The show's plot is getting more and more non-existent, but it's hard not to admit that the show is funny as fuck.

Eastbound & Down: Season 3 begins in January.

Watch: Eastbound & Down - Season 3 (Teaser)

Video: Neon Indian - "Polish Girl"



Neon Indian's cyber synthfest of a single "Polish Girl" gets an equally Tron-esque sci-fi video. Kudos to Alan Paloma for rocking out on that headless Steinberger that looks more like a Guitar Hero controller than an actual instrument.

Era Extraña is out now. Cop it dummies.



MySpace: Neon Indian

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

J. Cole - "Mr. Nice Watch" (feat. Jay-Z)



Cole World on some Sideline Story shit. And this was exactly what I was looking for. Jermaine has put together solid production on everything we've heard up until this point, but this is the experimental edge I was looking for him to take. Plus, who can complain with a Jay spot? Put them Rollys in the air.

Cole World: The Sideline Story rocks the hip-hop world on Sept. 27th.

Download: J.Cole - Mr. Nice Watch (feat. Jay-Z)

MySpace: J. Cole

Coheed and Cambria - "Deranged"



CoCa debuted a groovy new song that will show up on a soundtrack to the upcoming Batman video game Arkham City. While I think IGN's decision to dub the band "gods of prog" is a bit of a leap, this song is definitely a huge improvement from the massively disappointing Year of the Black Rainbow.

Here's Claudio's two cents on the composition:

"I write in a very conceptual format with the stories that surround Coheed and Cambria, but Batman has a much larger, defined history and rules that go along with it. My goal was to find universal themes from Batman's existing history to help give the lyrics legs and dimension so that the song could live within that world."

Arkham City: The Album!
drops Oct. 4th, while the game itself comes out Oct. 18th.

Hear: Coheed and Cambria - "Deranged"

MySpace: Coheed and Cambria

Video: Jarrod Gorbel - "Miserable Without You" (feat. Nicole Atkins)



Jarrod Gorbel sets his plucking, sweet-and-sour love song to cutesy animation playing out a story of heartbreak, New York, and California. Although his stuff hasn't gotten a ton of spins around these parts lately, I'll always dig it. And a special waddup to the middle finger cloud. You my favorite.



MySpace: Jarrod Gorbel

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Video: Wale - The Making of Ambition Part III



I must've missed out on Parts I and II, but this is some real shit. Wale opens up on his new favorite buzzword that also happens to be the name of his upcoming LP, evoking the name of Pac and making some very valid points while at it. There is no doubt that Wale has immense talent and has shown numerous flashes of greatness, but it's work ethic that has defined many of the top rappers in the game right now. (i.e. Kanye West, Jay-Z, Nas) Nice to see he's got that kind of dedication in him too.

Ambition drops Nov. 1st. Expect big things.



MySpace: Wale

Video: Kevin Devine - "Off-Screen"

on

The fine folks over at Rolling Stone have the honor of exclusively introducing the video for KDev's excellent new single "Off-Screen". The concept of a one-eyed ginger puppet right out of a 90s Nickelodeon cartoon going on some acid-spiked spirit quest is an out there one, but here's how Kevin explained his and fellow directors Diana Schoenbrun, and Andy Cahill's vision:

"The 'Off-Screen' video came together in my mind when I first saw Diana Schoenbrun's Beasties exhibit at a cafe near my apartment in Brooklyn. I imagined something kind of hand-spun, analog, hallucinogenic, a creeping stop-motion sort of aesthetic."

Between the Concrete and the Clouds dropped today. Head over to Amazon to grab a copy for $3.99.



MySpace: Kevin Devine

Monday, September 12, 2011

Drake - "Club Paradise"/"Free Spirit" (feat. Rick Ross)



Drizzy let get go of two new Take Care cuts this weekend, the introspective "Club Paradise" and the Teflon Don-propelled "Free Spirit". Nothing wrong with the latter track's fun loving vibe, but when Mr. Graham slows it down and deliberate sans features like he does in the former, he can get into rarefied air.

Take Care is slated to drop on Oct. 24th. Infinitely more hyped for it now, if that was even possible.

Download: Drake - "Club Paradise"/ Drake - "Free Spirit" (feat. Rick Ross)

MySpace: Drake

Coldplay - "Paradise"



I still dig "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" despite all the cheesy arena-rock Coldplay pumped into it, but this is more of the sound I'm looking for from these guys. Mixing delicate string work, opportunely placed handclaps, and a pummeling dubstep beat behind a completely controlled Chris Martin is a recipe for success.

Mylo Xyloto is out Oct. 24. Hit it here for the official tracklisting.



MySpace: Coldplay

Cee-Lo Green - " You Promised Me Love"



I had the pleasure of catching Cee-Lo Green and his incredibly hot all-female backing band at Virginfest this weekend. Little did I know he was sitting on a new cut that hit the interwebz earlier today. Not as retro as his The Ladykiller material, but a nice mix of smooth and spazzy that reminds us how Mr. Green can still keep us on our toes.

Download: Cee-Lo Green - "You Promised Me Love"

MySpace: Cee-Lo Green

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Anthony Green - "Violent Waves"



Beautiful Things is right. Anthony trots out what is presumably new solo material by serenading young James Fox with a soaring acoustic rendition. Not sure his baby is old enough to be hearing a song filled with such weighty lyrics, but the kid looks pretty angelic. Think he'll get on just fine.

Also, Anthony made an apperance on a recent episode of L.A. Ink where he gets a tattoo for his son and explains the emotional rollercoaster he and his wife went through before he was born. Watch that here.



MySpace: Anthony Green

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Video: Band of Horses - "Infinite Arms" (Live on Conan)



Words cannot describe how pissed I was when I found out Kings of Leon canceled their summer tour before they got to the D.C. area because of sickness/intra-band squabble. On top of that, missing opener Band of Horses was collateral damage. The alt-country boys took to Conan's stage to rectify the situation delivering a bombastic rendition of the title-track off Infinite Arms. Job well done.

Made a happy ending for myself too as I'm leaving to catch Virginfest 2011 (Black Keys, Cee-Lo Green, Deadmau5, Big Sean) in a few minutes. Say that makes up for it too.



MySpace: Band of Horses

The Weeknd - "Birthday Suit"



The Weeknd will tidy up what apparently was a trilogy of mixtapes--so far composed of House of Balloons and Thursday--with Echoes of Silence. Here's the twinkly lead single off it entitled "Birthday Suit" in which Abel Tesfaye gets his Trey Songz on.

Echoes of Silence is due out later this fall. Hit it here to check out the artwork, tracklisting, and some other goods.

Download: The Weeknd - "Birthday Suit"

Friday, September 9, 2011

Video: Jack's Mannequin - People and Things (Trailer)



I think Absolutepunk.net CEO Jason Tate described this video best: "The spoken parts make up for the awkward video parts." Yup. Been spinning Jack's Mannequin's back catalog like crazy the past week though, so I can fake like I'm not anxiously awaiting this release.

People and Things drops Oct. 4th.



MySpace: Jack's Mannequin

La Dispute - "The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit"



After inundating us with shit-quality live videos, the boys in La Dispute finally let go something of studio quality. More of that feel-good metal, jazz, post-rock, hardcore stylings. Can't wait to hear what they have in store.

Wildlife is out Oct. 4th.

Hear: La Dispute - "The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit"

MySpace: La Dispute

Video: The Knux - "Run" (feat. Kid Cudi)



The brothers Knux introduce us to a pretty blonde who takes us through a day in the life of a model who can't keep her clothes on. It's pretty much what you'd expect her to do too. More importantly, this is one of the best songs I've heard from Krispy and Joey. Definitely one of the grooviest. And more proof that a restrained and carefully-placed Cudder can still be clutch.

The Eraser drops Sept. 27th.



MySpace: The Knux

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Four Year Strong - "Falling on You"



Four Year Strong pushed back the release date of their forthcoming In Some Way, Shape, or Form in order to include this song and I, for the life of me, can't figure it out why. Might be one of the least memorable songs these guys have written. But hot damn, do they know how to pen a catchy hook.

In Some Way, Shape, or Form will drop Nov. 8th.



MySpace: Four Year Strong

Read: Green Street - XXL The Break Presents



I introduce you all to my friend Elijah (a.k.a. Soupa) and his boy A-Live's Green Street project a bit ago. Ya'll already know they've toured with Wiz and Lu, practice a thoughtful and abstract form of hip hop in the vein of A Tribe Called Quest, etc. But know you can know a few more things about them after the dudes landed a feature in XXL.

I have a ton of respect for these guys for doing it. I'll throw up one of their new(er) videos below, but do yourself a favor and keep eyes and ears open for Green Street in the near, near future.



Read: XXL The Break Presents: Green Street

MySpace: Green Street

Video: Saves the Day "Deranged & Desperate"



Remember these guys? Saves the Day is officially back on Sept. 13th when they drop Daybreak; the final part of a broad trilogy that begun with Sound the Alarm and Under the Boards. Many people love these guys, Chris Conley particularly, for their ability to juxtapose upbeat music with morbid lyrics. Chris does it again in this one as he physically draws and presents cute young kids with pictures covered in depressing images and messages.

Gotta admit that this song rocks. Too much to hope Daybreak will come closer to Stay What You Are than any of their last three?



MySpace: Saves the Day

Video: The Horrible Crowes - "Sugar"/"Teenage Dream" (Katy Perry Cover) (Live in Studio)



Despite drawing most of his influences from classic rock bands, Brian Fallon hasn't shied away from displaying his fondness for modern pop music. We've already caught him re-doing Kelly Clarkson's "I Do Not Hook Up" and now he's trying his hand at one of KPurry's smash singles. The quality on this blows, so lets keep are fingers crossed for a CDQ version at some point.

Oh, don't forget to check out their performance of "Sugar" from their debut disc Elsie--out now--while you're at it.

Watch: The Horrible Crowes - "Sugar"/"Teenage Dream" (Katy Perry Cover) (Live in Studio)

MySpace: The Horrible Crowes

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Video: Ryan Adams - "Ashes & Rain" (Live in Studio)



Ryan Adams and his ironic metal t-shirts took to the studio to provide the masses with video footage of the title-track off his upcoming Ashes & Rain. While "Lucky Now" showcased more traditional folk stylings, this yelp-filled country number has a bit more bite. This is shaping up to be one of his best records yet, methinks.

Ashes & Rain
hits stores on Oct. 11th.

Watch: Ryan Adams - "Ashes & Rain" (Live in Studio)

MySpace: Ryan Adams

Thrice - "Blinded"



Thrice is generously streaming a new song on their SoundCloud page everyday until Major/Minor drops on Sept. 20th. Today's offering is chalked full of machine gun drumming and effects-laden guitar work to excellent end results. Yezzir.

Hear: Thrice - "Blinded"

MySpace: Thrice

Wavves - "Nodding Off" (feat. Best Coast)



Nathan Williams and his merry band of laid back surf-rockers are dropping a fuck load of new music on us these days. This one comes off the band's upcoming Life Sux EP, which is slated to drop on Sept. 20th, and features backup vocals from Best Coast frontwoman/William's girlfriend Bethany Cosentino. Are they the world's cutest stoner couple or what?



MySpace: Wavves