On August 30th, in a flash of light (and a hasty upload to Sound Cloud) the almighty Sufjan Stevens unleashed his first batch of new material in five years upon the world, and its name is All Delighted People. Technically an EP, the eight track release clocks in at about an hour play time, but then again he was never very good at being short-winded. Yup, it's epic, it's weird, and it's out now digitally on his label, Asthmatic Kitty.

Chief hit up The Late Late Show last night to play "Night and Day" off their recently released Modern Rituals. Let's go inside and check it out.

Just when I thought I was one of the very few to want to bow before Wild Nothing for his ingenious dream-pop debut Gemini (don't we all just want to coddle new artists and call them ours?), I was proven wrong. Bowery Ballroom was packed for Jack Tatum (the man behind the moniker) and his fellow band. Now I'd seen some really popular acts at said venue in the past, which got me thinking: Is Wild Nothing as "big" as them? Wait, how do we even measure music popularity these days? By the number of MySpace listens? By a song's placement in Gossip Girl?

Hello blog fans. I realize that many of you tech-savvy people may disagree with the new feature of popular link-sharing site Digg, but I have two words for you: come on!

Interpol's second video from their self titled album consists of a collection of interesting visuals. Here we see drummers and guitarists performing on canvas-like slates that resemble their surroundings (strange description, but you'll see what I mean), though most prominent are the various images of Paul Banks projected on sleek and slender female models. Not much else to take stock of here, so just have a look.

England's These New Puritans have a thing for the dramatic...especially on their latest album Hidden, and especially in this new video for "Hologram". The tune itself is an interesting flutter of plunky fits on the piano, skittering snare drum, woozy horns, and an eventual heart beat pulse aboard the toms. In the stylish, black and white video, a pair of pianists mimic the audible oddities, giving off a somewhat troubling vibe, and I'm not exactly sure why. Here they hunch over the keys, expressions aghast as singer Jack Barnett pleads for someone to shut the door.

Okay, let me just start by saying: THIS IS THE BEST MUSIC VIDEO EVER. Now that we got that out of the way, Miniature Tigers have outdone every music video ever with a Where's Waldo? themed one for "Bullfighter Jacket". One question: Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?

Prepare to be charmingly befuddled... the dynamic duo from Brooklyn are releasing another album of toe-tapping dance-pop. Today they released the first single, "Cameras", and it promises to expand on the band's original simple sound setup of drums and piano. The new single is packed full of percussive noises, synth eccentricities, and even a horn riff (they have been known to work with marching bands.

The queen of the keys put on a charming secret show for a few lucky fans, this you know. In case you missed it, you can watch the whole thing now! But we want to make it up to you even more in the form of a comprehensive Sara prize pack, including great Kaleidoscope Heart gear. All you need to do is watch the show, and leave a comment... it's as easy as a click and a few words.

Sara Bareilles thinks the world of her fans. In conversation with the Los Angeles based singer-songwriter, it's a topic that comes up early and often, with Bareilles recounting some of the sweet gestures she has been privy to over the years...from enthralling combinations of thousands of lighters and cell phones illuminating night time performance spaces, to the comments that trail through pages and pages of her recent webisode series about the making of her forthcoming album, Kaleidoscope Heart. Cracking smiles, giggling just a bit; it's clear her affection for them and the role they play in her life is genuine...which makes our latest concert release sort of perfect, actually.

Fresh off a high profile slot on the Lilith Fair, Bareilles recently breezed through NYC for a whirl of press opps in support of her sophomore album, Kaleidoscope Heart. Under the cozy red glow of Rockwood Music Hall's Stage 1, she was kind enough to give us some of her time as well...an appropriate setting in that the creative, nurturing hot spot on the Lower East Side was one of the first NYC venues to give her a shot. Guess that makes this an intimate, return to her roots.

Filling the room with a few lucky contest winners, Bareilles and her band strip things down just a bit, strolling through a short set of massive pop hits ("Love Song", "Gravity"), and those that are destined to become them ("King of Anything", "Uncharted"). It's all very fun and informal, not to mention extremely personal...a one on one (almost) encounter with one of today's most refreshing, pop stars.

Los Angeles Songwriter Sara Bareilles takes some time before an intimate performance at Rockwood Music Hall to discuss some of the exciting things going on in her life. Here, she touches on both the inspirations that fueled her new album, Kaleidoscope Heart, as well as tells us about some of her recent experiences on the Lilith Fair.

On the heels of the release of their new album Sugar, Dead Confederate premiered the video for the track "Run From the Gun" on Huffington Post.

Your weekly late-night TV watching schedule.

On their debut, Chief demonstrates that their rituals are a melting pot, obscuring the lines between influence and progress. Modern Rituals is packed with harmonic hooks and pretty orchestrations, and they almost all seem to straddle the line between radio friendly superficiality and subconsciously meditative jams.

Check out a brief list of initial official CMJ offerings for 2010.

Oh man, this new video is AMAZING. The Arcade Fire really went all out with the narrative flux of "We Used To Wait", morphing the Win Butler obsession with childhood to fit the mold of the audience's life. The video is an experience to say the least, utilizing Google maps to incorporate the home of your youth with visuals and even a "write a letter to yourself" function. Bust out the Kleenex!

The Emmy's (image above via). Kanye West dropped a new track for GOOD Friday (his promise to release a new track, his or otherwise, every Friday via Twitter), the entire music industry is on vacation, and big news about our favorite jailbird!

Remember that Fireflies song from a while ago? That guy Owl City aka Adam Young is back, this time using the moniker Sky Sailing (albeit this is an old project of his) with An Airplane Carried Me to Bed. Fireflies was catchy for a bit but then it just got overplayed and obnoxious. Expect more of that with Sky Sailing minus the blips, beeps, and bloops.

...keep reading...

Um, the world is a weird place. Old news: turning yourself into a diamond after you die. New hotness: turn yourself into A VINYL PRESSING OF YOUR FAVORITE SONG. Read on if you're feeling particularly morbid today.

In an attempt to completely take over the end of your week, Sufjan Stevens dropped another bomb this morning... the first track to surface from his forthcoming album Age Of Adz. Listen to (and download!) the dubby, five minute musing "I Walked" after the jump.

Matthew Modanile, guitarist of New Jersey's psych-pop four piece Real Estate and head honcho behind Ducktails, is an artist that experiments with all facets of sound. The two records under his belt, including last year's underrated Landscapes, show his undying interest in sounds that are polished and enthralling, but at times also rough-edged and indulgent. He's inspired, yet technical, allowing his well-versed techniques in all-things rock and Casio to keep his exploration of music boundless.

This week we've got one my favorite tapes so far, curated by Pan of the Brooklyn band Suckers. Bonus points for Serge Gainsbourg alone, but the whole thing is pretty magical! Enjoy. -joe puglisi

It's no wonder Lissie Maurus titled her debut album Catching A Tiger. The last year or so has probably felt something like taming a wild beast...making the impossible, possible. From Mississippi roots in Rock Island Illinois to the dry heat of the Californian desert-scape, Lissie's letting dusty Americana riffs, deep soulful vocals and sometimes surprisingly poppy tendencies lead her to the kind of places I doubt she thought much about when she first picked up a guitar. Right now, that means England...her home base over the last few months. In this exclusive interview with the budding young musician we also learn a little bit about some of the inspirations that fuel her heartfelt music, and the experiences that have rained upon her as a result.

I think Carrie Brownstein has lost it. It was bad enough when she and her Sleater Kinney band mates called it quits a few years back. Then the rocker turned writer took some time off from her post at Monitor Mix this past summer. Ok. Fine Carrie. Rocking is hard. Writing is hard. But now Brownstein can't even deal with the addictive fits of fuzzy pop punk The Thermals are pedaling these days...or maybe that's just what the band's new video for "I Don't Believe You" has lead me to suppose. Actually, yeah...

Guys, I know we have vowed to bring you new and interesting music. And I know as long as there is oxygen people will be superimposing classic rapz over various other tunes. Some of it can be mindblowing, I get it. And Jay Z is one of the most influential, prolific rappers of our generation, and probably of all time. But for the love of Pavement can we PLEASE stop using the same f*cking lyrics again and again? There are only so many incarnations of "99 Problems" I can handle before I strangle myself.

Remember when James Murphy said he wasn't going to record anymore LCD Soundsystem material? Yeah, he lied.

Ra Ra Riot is aiming for an epic expansion of soundscapes, at the expense of anything immediately reminiscent or familiar regarding the band's early work. What follows is an album full of confusing beauty and hollow hooks, lost in a maze of string riffs and looped arpeggios. Lead singer Wes Miles sounds more nuanced than ever before, and his voice is totally analogous to the over efforts of the band. The Orchard is an attempt to create a distinct style for the band, separating them from their already very stylized contemporaries. However, it feels like the effort backfires... The Orchard is highly static and lacks the certain climax/lull dynamic that usually makes specific moments memorable.

Seriously, can't we just drop it at this point? Yesterday the news broke: Vanity Fair has a spread on Ann Kirsten Kennis, composed of her somewhat dated work from the eighties. Her face adorned countless advertisements, including everything from Tequila ads to beauty products to cigarettes, and even a romance novel.

These days, Kennis lives in a gated community in Fairfield, CT, with her husband and two children, which sounds to me like she doesn't really need the 2 million (it's the principle?). Plus now people (journos) are paying her to tell them stuff! Isn't that enough in our world of double rainbow bedroom intruders? There are worse things than being the face of a commercially successful record. You could be known for this.

Come on. Since when did "Artist Development" switch from developing artists to developing seventeen-year old television actresses? Oh yeah, it's always been that way. That being said, this is not a terrible performance (it's actually mildly enjoyable!) and Taylor Momsen has pipes (if those are indeed her pipes we are hearing, and not an Ashley Simpson-bot.

Chillwave, sensation of Summer 2010. Who knows if the electro-lax of Washed Out and his contemporaries will survive another winter... but they are certainly trying.

Everyone act surprised: the recently touted All Delighted People EP was just an appetizer. The Sufjan camp confirmed this morning that Age of Adz, the next full length (and the first song-based since Illinois in 2005, is due on October 12 via Asthmatic Kitty.

Australian songwriter Kate Miller Heidke titled her most recent album Curiouser, and in this lighthearted segment of The Guest Apartment it's fairly evident why. Here, through candid bits of conversation and four exclusive performances, she and husband/accompanist Keir Nuttall investigate a variety of moods and emotions, giving their tunes a unique and theatric twist in the process. "Are you F*cking Kidding Me" touches on a certain social networking platform's ability to unexpectedly unearth buried emotions from the past, for example. "Politics In Space" points to Kate's possible disappointment with being born in the wrong era. And "CAught in the Crowd" provides an emotional high point, with the duo ruminating the remains of some childhood guilt. It's all a bit folksy, experimental, and frankly a lot of fun...though I suspect Kate's personal motivations are a bit more serious underneath the surface. It's evident she uses her songs to take stock of the issue's in her life, and something tells me she would like you to take a little something away from them as well. So have a look at our latest Guest Apartment Session. Perhaps it'll leave you feeling curiouser about your own life.

Wildbirds and Peacedrums are a husband and wife duo from Sweden who make experimental, often beautiful pop that is striking in its simplicity. Their new album, Rivers, is actually a compilation of sorts, consisting of two five song EPs which were previously released on limited pressings earlier this summer.

...keep reading...

Summer 2010 is just about over, and it seems like we've got plenty of tracks for bright skies and beach volleyball. But what about days when the cloud cover drops bucket after bucket of downpour? Certainly there must be some tunes from the last few months to accompany such an event? Well, today is the day. It's miserable in New York and I'm finding myself assembling a summer rainy day playlist, because that is what we do. After the jump, the top five it's miserable out, but it's summer so I have to be lazy about being sad" songs (of 2010).

The buzzy hip-hop duo from Philly took their live drum/MC combo to The Highline Ballroom last night, with a great selection of indie-friendly samples and a sh*t load of energy.

In love with the infectiously catchy chorus of "What A Drag"? So are we. That's why it pains us to part with this awesome prize package consisting of a signed 7-Inch "What A Drag", as well as a signed copy of the band's Golden EP. We bet you can't wait to get your bear hands all over it.*

Jose Gonzales (the bearded face of Junip, famous Swedish musician. etc.) is the subject of a new documentary hitting the circuit of European film festivals. Something tells me it won't be long before it leaps the pond. It's called The Extraordinary Ordinary Life Of Jose Gonzalez. Details after the jump.

For those of you who like your music slow, dark, and dubbed-out.

For those of you who stay up late at night wish you had some sort of interactive Google map with specific locations corresponding to famous rap lyrics, marked by gun emblems, YOU CAN REST EASY. I can't believe this exists.

Joanna Newsom -- you may know her from that triple album, Have One On Me, which she released earlier this year. After finishing a European tour in support of it, it looks like Newsom will return to the States for another tour which will take her from Arizona to New York City in the course of a month. Dates after the jump:

Another cut off Sir Lucious Leftfoot is making the late night rounds...featuring special guests, our bros from Lollapalooza, Atlanta hip-rock act Vonnegutt. Watch "Follow Us" from last night. Check out that hat!

In the tradition of Lady Antebellum and Natalie Merchant, dream-pop duo Beach House have released a new iTunes Session EP which features five reworked tracks from their discography as well as new song "White Moon".

Today marks the release of Ra Ra Riot's highly anticipated third album The Orchard. It's a late summer album worth savorying slowly, almost like it's slowly slipping away. This time around, Wes Miles' youthful melodies and the chamber pop concoctions that engulf them sound decidedly more lucid.

We're running out of things to celebrate this summer, so before Labor Day brings the final bout of blowout BBQs and parties, we'd better stock your stereo full of last-minute bangers. LexiconDon, a synth-based outlet from LA has just the thing; a funk-tastic remix of their already pretty funky track "Student Body".

A bombastic post-punk leaning outfit from Brooklyn, Bear Hands have spent the last several years with their hands carefully cradled around all the promise in the world. Weary to release too much too soon, the band have sculpted that potential to perfection, whittling off a series of slimmed down releases (singles, EPs, etc) like tasty delicatessens for savory consumption. This of course has made the live arena the best place to scope more robust sonic experiences, which is the beauty of our latest concert release.

Filmed when the band graced the stage at our 2010 SXSW Day Party, this performance from Bear Hands validates exactly why we've been keen on these boys for some time now. Here, the band saunter through a tight and taught set of new cuts, setting rugged guitar riffs, bottom dwelling bass lines, cycloning percussive rhythms, and Dylan Rau's husky vocals adrift in the heavy, hot, and humid Texas afternoon. It's a potent performance, and provides plenty of reasons to keep track of this Brooklyn band over the next few months. The other reason? Their long awaited debut album will finally be released this Fall via our friends at Cantora Records. - David Pitz

A long time ago, in a blog far away, I wrote about Margot and the Nuclear So and So's playing the Bowery Ballroom [LINK NOT FOUND, SORRY INTERNET FAIL]. I know it happened, because I have the "Broadripple Is Burning" 7-Inch to prove it (that doesn't prove anything). But Margot is back with a new record, and it is worth your time to check out the first track to surface, "New York City Hotel Blues".

Bear Hands give you the scoop on their debut LP, as well as provide insight into the perils of being in a band in this interview with the band from our SXSW extravaganza in Austin.

OK. What? In the third video from Congratulations, MGMT wanders through the desert with a weird camel bird, only to have it fall apart. This is the second pseudo-psychedelic band to tell a tale of a weirdo pet dying before the eyes of its owners. Do these guys have a chatroom or something?

Although Conan O'Brien is one the most beloved late-night personalities, his endeavors of late have been a little self-indulgent. His tour was largely a pat on the back, despite its suggestive tendency towards nostalgia and sticking it to the man. Now he has a spoken word single being released on Jack White's label? Come on! Honestly though, the single is pretty funny, and it's near impossible to resist Conan's best Vincent Price impression. People will definitely buy this. At the end of the day, he may joke about being jilted, but Conan is still on top of the world.

As a big fan of Phil Selway's regular gig, you might have heard of them, I decided to give his solo album a shot, despite a strong distaste for early tracks. News flash: it's actually pretty good! Head over to NPR to stream Familial in its entirety.

Can mixtapes make the rapper a star? DC mainstay Wale has a sharp-tongue, and his tapes have proven much better outlets for his witty reversals and astute observations. The introspective More About Nothing ruminates on his successes and failures in "the rap game", touching on his relationship with Interscope and their artists, his debut record Attention Deficit, and his desire to be more than just a footnote in the music world. Once again, he uses the Seinfeld mythology as a prism, and once again, it splinters his sentiments to a wide spectrum of emotions... for better or worse.

...keep reading...

A.A. Bondy is a man with many names. His double-initialed moniker looks good on an album cover, but doesn't roll off the tongue. I've read he also goes by Scott, though I forgot to ask where that name comes from; but he spared me the trouble of awkwardly sticking to pronouns, introducing himself as Auguste. I caught up with him at Newport Folk Festival, soon after he played an early afternoon set on the quad stage within the walls of Fort Adams.

Although it isn't much in the visual department, this wins several awards in our minds for amazing humor. Cee-Lo Green (best known as the voice of Gnarls Barkley) is prepping his first solo album in years (The Lady Killer). A few tracks have popped up, but this one really hits it. NSFW because of language, so headphones UP.

Somehow, in the midst of a bajillion dollars worth of touring, back surgery, and philanthropy... Bono, The Edge, and the other guys that less than 25% of people who claim to be U2 fans can name have nearly completed THREE ALBUMS worth of material.

Well, here it is. The news that makes the kids lose their freaking minds. As well they should, if they love seventeen minute songs. Sufjan Stevens once promised a 50 record project and gave up after one really, really good one, which is a great way to keep us hungry! Now the avant pop artist is back with a new EP and it echoes all the impeccable qualities that put him on the map; thematic weaves, expressive and expansive instrumentations, and Steven's charmingly unique voice.

"What's our policy on animated nudity?" It was a quizzical, internal inquiry that zipped around our offices last week when this video from New Brunswick NJ outfit Screaming Females' new video landed on our desks. A head scratcher, with spirited conversation that soon followed, today's post provides the obvious answer to the debate. We're totally for it, although we'll at least mention the possibility of planting a NSFW label on the screeching three piece's video for "I Don't Mind". Judge for yourself by taking a gander at the Mr. Pillis directed clip below.

Ted Leo recently went a lengthy rant about the ability of musicians to make money and "have it all" in their careers, ultimately admitting he was preparing for a career paradigm shift, referencing the "brilliance" of such artists as Green Day and the owners of the Beatles estate (read the whole thing here). The "big reveal" today was that he turned The Brutalist Bricks into a musical! Sort of! Read on!

The shores of Long Beach Island got a little more sarcastic as I took a break from Baeble to observe Cadillac tattoos, well-known cover bands, and severe amounts of tequila. Back in the wide world of music, things were still happening! Youtube bands are slowly creeping on the iTunes charts, an unfortunate happening happened during a live performance, and Ticketmaster has a blog?

The so called happy hormone provides the title that binds Mystery Jets' third album together...though trying to decipher the levels at which the band's general Serotonin is firing at depends on what you're ultimately listening for.

It's that time again. The summer's almost at an end. For most, that means it's back to the grind. But what does it mean for you?! Think about that. Meanwhile, we've got a new mixtape courtesy of The Dandy Warhols' Peter Holmstrom.

Holmstrom's got a solo project in the pipeline as well so, when you're finished with the mixtape, grab a free download of Holmstrom's "21 Days" below. "21 Days" comes from his new solo album, Pete International Airport, which drops September 21st on Custom Made Music. Enjoy!

Eternal Summers are a guy/girl duo from Virginia who make jangly garage-pop that is incredibly easy to like. Lead singer Nicole Yun has a clear, confident voice that aids the band in their mission to deliver hook after catchy hook on each track. It's great stuff.

My Friend Wallis is Crystal Dorval from Vancouver who, according to her Myspace, started making summery, beached-out music under the MFW name in the Winter of '08 in order to wile away the cold days of a Canadian winter. After releasing her first EP When The Blue Turned Yellow which you can download for free over at her Bandcamp page, she assembled a full band to make a new batch of music.

Klaxons, as you may recall, recorded their second album and then decided the noise to pop ratio was a little too skewed for their liking (or their record label's liking) so they gave it another shot. The new album, which drops August 23rd, is called Surfing The Void &mdash you may remember it from the awesome cover art. Looks like some songs from that first discarded batch are set to see the light of day, however, with a new EP of outtakes set for release.

Wyclef Jean, an entertainer known primarily for his work with seminal 90s hip-hop group The Fugees, his own solo material, and his involvement with his country of origin, Haiti, has been making news lately with the announcement that he plans to run for president of his still earthquake-ravaged motherland. Win Butler, lead singer of Arcade Fire, doesn't think that's such a good idea. Here's what he had to say:

The band name is a mouthful and a tad bit silly, but Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin prove on Let It Sway that they are not ridiculous, nor even slightly pretentious. In the past few years, they've carved out a corner in the indie-pop category and this third album, following 2008's Pershing and produced by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla, sees them really digging into the genre.

WITCH HOUSE. You may have heard of it. And after you heard of it, you probably still wondered what exactly it sounded like. Some have referred to it as "drag" or "dragstep". An anonymous Brooklyn Vegan commenter described the genre as "psych-tinged southern hip-hop". As you can see, the parameters of this new genre aren't so clear, but Dream Boat make something like it.

Fresh off an enthralling performance at Lollapalooza, Baeble recently pulled up a chair with Metric front-woman Emily Haines. Here, the ferociously talented singer discusses Metric's recent contributions to Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, revealing a flattering connection between the band and comic book artist/writer Bryan Lee O'Malley. Word is Haines and her band mates had a hand in inspiring the comic book series and film adaptation thereof, making their involvement apropos. Emily also touches on the wild ride Fantasies has had them on the last year and half, as well as provided some clues as to what the future might hold in store for the band.

P.O.S. might look like the obvious star of this sun blazing "Guest Apartment" session, but the Corona Park rug rats that spent the day rolling, grinding, and tumbling (yeah, we saw that...and we caught it on camera too.) about this multi-million dollar skating facility offer equal entertainment, not to mention a fitting backdrop for this performance that ensues. OK, so we're not in The Guest Apartment for this one, but that doesn't mean the genre tripping rapper from Minneapolis doesn't feel right at home here. In conversation P.O.S. - real name, Stefon Alexander - touches on his own love for skate culture, crediting it for introducing him as a young kid to the most important aspects of his life. Hip Hip, Punk Rock, Hardcore: all three have provided the vital soundtrack to millions of kids on decks over the years, so it's no surprise that P.O.S. does the same with his craft and his performance. In this, our latest segment of The Guest Apartment, we place you directly in the middle of the intersection of skate culture and the enthralling soundtrack that accompanies it. It's the sort of video that'll have you reaching for your headphones and your deck the moment you queue it up.

"For years and years, thought I was born to die alone" goes the opening line of Dent May's new single. May, who sounds like an American Jens Lekman, makes strummy, throwback pop music that toes the line between kitsch and sincerity. Also, it's super catchy.

Kate Miller Heidke is undoubtedly Australia's best cultural export since America discovered a khaki clad man who liked to wrestle crocodiles (RIP Steve). However, Kate's claim to fame is not an unbridled enthusiasm for scary reptiles, but rather a playful and insightful songwriting style that makes you aware that there are certain people in this world who will always be slightly cooler than yourself.

A beatific brother and sister duo hailing from Australia, this musical union among siblings had a somewhat overlooked debut when A Book Like This washed upon our shores a couple years back. Word is a follow-up titled Down the Way is having a smashing run on the charts back home, currently holding down the spot for Australia's best seller of the year.

Menomena have been one of the more creative mainstays in the indie rock circuit since their debut, I Am The Fun Blame Monster" dropped way back in the early aughts. I was first introduced to them through "The Pelican", the shouty, off-kilter single from their last album and so was a bit surprised to hear how tame Mines sounded at first. A lot of it, "TAOS" in particular, sounds relatively straightforward. Like blues-rock straightforward! But Mines, isn't the sound of Menomena being wildly innovative as I expected. Rather, it's the sound of a band who sounds truly comfortable and confident in a sound that they are slowly perfecting.

A few months back we explored the pop-up venue for The National at the "High Violet Annex" and I kept looking at this one girl who kept looking at me like I was crazy for looking at her (which is why I kept looking?). Later, when she emerged from the crowd and took the stage, I realized that she probably thought I was creepy because she is a well-known Brooklyn personality named Sharon Van Etten, who writes really charming rock tunes. Whoops! My point is, she was great, and she's got a new album coming out and were all pretty excited about it.

When we think about Baltimore, we tend to think "artsy collective", as in our past preoccupation with Wham City and Dan Deacon, and all those guys who paint buses and "do" art. But it's easy to forget that the city is also home to other types of music, like the gritty rock and roll of J Roddy Walston and the Business. Their live show has been described through metaphor as anywhere from catastrophic weather conditions to unfortunate damage to personal property. In short, they are the epitome of rock and roll.

Photography by Chris Gayomali. For more pictures from the photo, head HERE

On Saturday, it didn't take more than 10 seconds for someone on the water taxi making its way to Governors Island for Converse's free summer concert series—dubbed "Gone to Governors"—to crack a Titanic joke (as if a dude old enough to remember "Titanic" had never been out on open water before). And, as any free and potentially fun event in New York tends to an draw overcapacity crowds of overworked, underfunded borough dwellers, I was praying that the night's show—headlined by last summer's chillwave pioneers Neon Indian—wasn't going to be one of those nights.

If you didn't get enough of Holly Miranda's smoky, weathered, stunner of a voice and her beautiful, multi-layered music at Littlefield, don't worry &mdash you can enter now for a chance to win a signed copy of her new album The Magician's Private Library as well as a signed poster. More Holly Miranda, for you, for free. Sounds lucrative! All you have to do is share the show.

An air conditioning malfunction during our show with Holly Miranda (put on with Brooklyn Vegan and Littlefield) could be considered either a blessing or a curse. But this engagement of the sweaty, pseudo-delirious audience members, mixed with fans blowing the performer's hair in epic directions seems to suggest the former. Sure, it was a little steamy on site. But for the hundreds of people that showed up to experience the unique filming, it gave a determined sense of camaraderie. Holly summed it up nicely; "after this, we'll all take a nice cold shower... together."

Holly seems to know how to sum a few things up, thumbing through tunes both intense and inviting as our latest concert release video wears on, talking about life and friends amidst cries of enjoyment and love. A few guests circled in and out like spectres, some with horns, violins, or in one example, a slew of sleigh bells. Her band also rips through the set, soaked through by the end with a combination of working hard and playing harder in the Brooklyn heat.

In this, our latest concert release, don't let Holly's stature fool you. She has both a violently pretty face and a emotionally satiated voice, filled with texture. There is no shortage of rocking and wailing here, adding a warm electricity into the already humid air. This warmth, however, will be more than welcome when you fire up this video. - Joe Puglisi

The Magician's Private Library, the latest from Brooklyn based siren Holly Miranda has some compelling roots, and in this interview, Holly opens up about the origins of the title, the process behind the recording, and what she hopes you take away from it. - David Pitz

Oh Land emerges from cold, dark, mysterious Denmark with a playful and meticulous vocal-heavy dance-pop sound all her own. Born Nanna land Fabricius, she was a ballerina until a back injury threw off her plans, causing her to consider the musician route chosen by both of her parents, an opera singer and a composer.

Although their particular brand of rock 'n' roll might sound radio friendly, or&mdash to be more inline with the more modern (if ill-fitting) vocabulary we're used to 'round here&mdash "poppy," the Dandy Warhols are actually one of the more contentious, combustive American rock bands to grace the scene over the past 20 years. This is perhaps best indicated in the 2004 documentary DiG!, which paralleled the Dandies with psych-rockers The Brian Jonestown Massacre through the friendship of their lead singers, Courtney Taylor-Taylor and Anton Newcombe, respectively.

The release of Land of Talk's sophomore album Cloak and Cipher is drawing near, and they're teasing us with another single, "Quarry Hymns."

This month alt-rock orchestra Emanuel and the Fear are going all interdisciplinary, teaming up with visual artists for performances/parties two nights in a row in NYC.

The new Yeasayer video for "Madder Red" stars the lovely Kristen Bell opposite a rather unconventional pet. Let's just say after this video, there are things other than Sarah Marshall you'd like to be forgetting.

Brooklyn's Brad Oberhofer, who has opened for Twin Sister and Sondre Lerche and will later play with Bear in Heaven and at Pop Montreal in October, is slowly but surely making 2010 the year that fans and critics alike recognize his unusual artist moniker. Earlier in the year he self-released his EP o0O0o0O0o for free, resulting in its songs being spread from blog to blog like a rabid virus. His debut 7" will be released on the 24th, but before then he took his interweb tunes to Mercury Lounge's stage.

It's been a while since we've heard from Mice Parade. It's been 3 (three!) years since the release of their self-titled album. But they have a new album out in September AND a new track for your ears today.

Hip-hop powerhouse Kanye West held a private party at the Lower East Side cabaret club The Box for a jam session with John Legend earlier this week. There he debuted a new song acoustically, entitled "Mama's Boyfriend". Watch the clip after the jump.

Having just signed to Jagjaguwar, Brooklyn experimental pop artist Lia Ices is ready to make a splash. To celebrate the signing, JagJaguwar is offering her track "Grown Unknown" as a free download. And everyone loves free.

Dan Mangan's sophomore album released on Arts and Crafts, Nice, Nice, Very Nice is exactly that. It isn't a groundbreaking record by any means, but it stands tall on its own because of its refreshing creativity.

Syracuse's pop-punk outfit Honor Bright have been self-releasing records for a while, but with their recent Triple Crown debut Action! Drama! Suspense!, the band is poised to take over the scene. Guitarist Ryan Gilmore was kind enough to answer some of my questions about the new record.

Last night The Arcade Fire continued their path of destruction by playing The Daily Show. Drink every time Jon Stewart makes fun of how many of them there are.

This week, we've got a tape curated by Evan Winiker, the bass player of New Jersey rock band Steel Train. Their latest (and self-titled) record is out now..

Sunday we slept in, and didn't make it out to Grant Park until a little later than we wanted (but whatever, it was the home stretch). We entered through the north side of the park, where I noticed a familiar voice greeting festival goers. You might know her as Allison Hagendorf, the "voice of Fuse" (as she introduced herself in the prerecorded message playing over and over at the gate). Devotees will recall she used to host "The Green Room" on a little site called BAEBLEMUSIC. SERIOUSLY.

The majority of British artists that land on my iPod these days are either glittered out electro fanfare or stylized old-timey folk product, neither of which has ever been able to hold my attention beyond a single or two. Stornoway, at first glance, fits pretty well in the latter camp, with a pension for silly hats and too much tweed. But unlike its folkster comrades, Stornoway's new record Beachcomber's Windowsill will keep attention far beyond its catchy single, saddling up for the long haul armed with briny pop and tad bit more sincerity.

Joanna Newsom brought her beautiful tunes (or incredibly strange depending on your point of view) to Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night. With a barbershop quartet? It certainly shut everyone up pretty quick, that's for sure.

Forgiveness Rock Record is barely a few months old, but Drew and co. are making the most of their singles, especially the most recent one. Broken Social Scene has all sorts of "All To All" extra material. First they launched a remix series with the first track being cut by Sebastian Grainger. Then they posted up a fan-made video for the original, featuring a series of slo-mo slaps ending in, well, see for yourself.

Broken Bells have a spanking new interactive video for "October". But the interactivity extends in a new direction; users can create their own virtual space-exploration experience, using their mouse as a navigation tool. Hope you aren't too busy at work, because this is the ultimate time waster. We set our own comet path earlier today. Check out a tutorial below via Wired.

Thom Yorke played The Big Chill Festival in Eastnor, England last night. He announced his ninth song as "Giving Up The Ghost", and he also casually mentioned it's a new Radiohead song. WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU?

There is really no comprehensible way of expressing my feelings about this video, so I'm going to burn a car full of religious paraphernalia while singing Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" and wearing a dress. That might do it.

Saturday was a bit of a different flavor for us... the initial excitement of being in Chicago had worn off and it was up to the festival alone to propel us through the weekend. I was under the impression the combined weight of Gaga and Strokes would trump the rest of the weekend, and Friday would wind up being the most attended day (it was the only one that sold out initially). I was very, very wrong. By midday Saturday things were as packed and nuts as they had been the previous evening, and that was only the beginning of the afternoon. Lolla was in full swing.

Clinic: taking drugs to commission music videos to take drugs to. In this new video for "I'm Aware", the band takes the backseat to an array of colorful, psyched-out puppets who play instruments, have antlers, and live in a mountainous felt landscape.

At first I didn't understand the new video for Ratatat's new single "Drugs" which features a bunch of normal, generally middle-aged adults smiling and gesticulating for the camera. It all made me a little uncomfortable actually...but then I looked at the title of the song.

King of the Beach has been making the rounds since its digital release in June and most critical accounts of the album have been generally positive. As with the last Wavves album, however, the biggest critics don't seem to be the people who get paid to do it, but rather, the music-consuming public who tend to lob the same set of complaints at the band's brief discography: Nathan Williams can't sing, pop-punk suxxx, the only things he sings about are weed and the beach and, to top it off, Williams is a bratty rich kid.

The Suburbs debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard charts. I'm sure there is some grand statement to be made about this and mainstream music and whatever, but honestly I'm just really happy for them. We loved it.

No Age, arguably one of the most successful noise acts to emerge from The Smell scene in LA, are ready to release their third album Everything In Between. While the first two definitely floated in some sort of noise lingo, this new track seems to find the band in a little more focused territory (at least from a structure standpoint). Check it out and decide for yourself.

Here We Go Magic, the offbeat pop project fronted by Luke Temple (who ventured into our Guest Apartment a while ago), have a new album out and recently covered synth-extraordinaire Neon Indian's summer jam "Terminally Chill" from last year's critically-lauded Psychic Chasms. They've also got a full tour in the works with Dr. Dog. Magic everywhere!

In Billboard's weekly series, Mashup Mondays, famous artists tackle songs from other famous artists in their own signature style. This week, Baeble alum Sara Bareilles (who we caught at our secret summer shoot at Rockwood Music Hall) took a jazzy, doo-wop take on Beyonce's chart-topping hit "Single Ladies".

Menomena on late night TV certainly suggests we live in a very different time than the year these Portland indie-culture staples started (2000). Watch them play a cut off their new album Mines on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon from last night.

The expansive Grant Park, situated overlooking Lake Michigan, over a mile in length North to South, is the perfect home for a multi-day music festival hosting 240,000 people (80K a day!). The city of Chicago buzzed for three days as thousands of fans poured in from surrounding territories for the chance to see The Strokes (or Gaga), MGMT, Phoenix, Soundgarden, and hundreds of other acts play across eight stages. It didn't matter that the crowds swelled to ridiculous levels or that everyone was shirtless or sweating like sauna dwellers, or that it was loud and hot and full of awkward back tattoos. IT WAS THE BEST.

Last Thursday, just before the sun ducked below the horizon of our cities' skyline, we hosted a trio of musicians on our rooftop. School of Seven Bells, a band we've been biding our time to work with over the years, came to pay us a visit, playing four selections from their recently released album Disconnect From Desire. Tucked inside their set was "Windstorm"; the enthralling conclusion to that recorded collection, reaching the kind of lofty, atmospheric heights one would expect from a song of that title. On our rooftop, however it was something different, something unique: quiet and a bit restrained, sounding much more delicate in the band's acoustic approach.

Though they're a bit more accustomed to green fields, cool lakes, and the shaded cover of the North Woods, Minnesotan duo Peter Wolf Crier seem right at home busting out a hollow body and some minimum percussion amongst the traffic humming by on Houston and First Ave. Yes, I do recollect singer Peter Pisano letting a well timed "Holy Sh*t! slip out when witnessing the whizzing backdrop of our NYC "stage". But in this segment of The Guest Apartment, he and drummer Brian Moen were quickly at home in the urban, outdoor cafe setting for a performance/interview. Preparing three bluesy and soulful songs from the band's recently released, Jagjaguwar debut Inter-Be, the band interacted with passersby (with help from one adorable observer in particular), taking time to discuss the roots of their album and how it shaped their identity as musicians along the way.

My Morning Jacket is hard at work recording a new album in their hometown of Louisville, KY. Frontman Jim James recently told Rolling Stone that the album will likely be out "mid-next year - probably May."

I'm pretty tired. It's Monday. You're pretty tired. Here is a hilarious video to help us wake up with the power of laughter/disbelief. To quote our content manager, "It's even funnier without the sound." I can't decide which is worse.

We've got a great Monday contest for you all to enjoy... Lone Wolf is playing the Highline Ballroom in NYC and we've got a pair of tickets to give away. Also, to sweeten the deal, we've got an incredible bundle from Bella Union of music from a couple of their artists (and a little something extra): a copy of the Lone Wolf vinyl with CD inside, a Kissaway Trail CD and even a Wild Beasts CD (courtesy of Domino Records). All you need is an email. As an added bonus for entering, you can check out a brand new Lone Wolf video!

Applicants should live in the NYC metro area and have a US postal address. Tickets will be at the venue, and CD prize pack will be mailed.

Magic Kids's debut record drops on August 24th, and they're following the release with a week of free shows at record stores in the southeast U.S. Check out their magical, childlike track "Summer" which we posted earlier this summer, and dates below.

Weezer is putting out a new album soon, and it's going to be called Hurley. That up there is the cover art. Hahahahahahahaha what? I spend three days in Chicago and everyone loses their minds! There is only one adequate reaction to this nonsense:

Your weekly guide to late night music. If you have TiVo, this is the time to use it. A few days are looking super weak, but you can use your fancy modern technology to combat boredom errday. Take a look:

Sufjan Stevens is reappearing this fall, with a pretty extensive North American tour starting in October.

Lollapalooza (if you were following our tweets) really ate up most of the weekend's newsworthy happenings, and we'll be going over all of it as the week rolls on. You guys can thank the security line at O'Hare for the lack of blogs today, but we'll get the ball rolling ASAP.

Fauxbois's first album, Carry On feels homemade, for better or for worse. I vote better; the amateurish feeling comes out in different ways and genres rather than one shortcoming throughout, making it feel intentional. Opener "Dry Into Dust" features over-jammed instrumental passages with unpolished vocals that lean towards garagey, while the roughness of "Let It Fall Down" is more implicit of a solo folk musician with an acoustic guitar. Occasionally this combination gives the album an undecided, underconfident feel, but for the most part is a welcome reprieve from the typical lo-fi folk/rock album.

Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee formed The Vaselines in the late 80s in Glasgow and released a few singles and a single LP before splitting. Nirvana covered those singles which brought the Vaselines to a slightly wider audience but no one would blame you for not having heard of them. After almost two decades of solo work, however, the band is back together and set to release a new album in 2010.

The Dø, pronounced "dough" as in Do-Re-Mi, is a French-Finnish pop group making waves overseas. Their first album, A Mouthful, was released in 2008 and shot to #1 in France which is rare for a French band singing in English (in fact, they were the first of such to chart in the top spot). After listening to them, it's not entirely surprising.

Behind the moniker Baths, is a crafty and inventive Los Angeles-based musician named Will Wiesenfeld. He recently released his debut album Cerulean, an incredible collection of songs that pull off the artful balance of electronic beats and organic elements.

Guys, it's been quite a journey this past month (and change). We've filmed secret shows and album releases (sometimes both!), finding hidden gardens in the East Village, watching international stars grace our very own rooftop, and invading our customary haunts in the Lower East Side and Williamsburg. The past six weeks our catalogue has swelled with video from some of the most compelling artists we've ever had the privilege to work with. So today we're taking a look at our summer so far, feeling a wee bit reminiscent of our releases along the way, despite the fact that they're obviously still fresh and exhilarating. So here, we present to you: The Top Six Reasons Why We've Had The Best Six Weeks Ever.

This week I'm already in Chicago, and probably drunk, so I've prepared a sample platter of Lollapalooza acts for you all to munch on. Most of the picks are in favorite album of the year territory for 2010, which makes the weekend all the more exciting... not to mention a bunch of Baeble bands making appearances. It's going to be a fun weekend... follow @baeblemusic for the latest misadventures.

See you on Monday! -joe puglisi

The annihilating A Place to Bury Strangers new video for "I Lived My Life to Stand in the Shadow of Your Heart" is every bit as moody and intense as the music suggests (or, rather, strongly asserts). It's dark, hazy and, with the frequent bursts of colorful stage lights, strangely hypnotic.

I know we've been waxing poetic today about the Arcade Fire and their takedown of MSG last night, but this video was passed along to me and seemed too good to pass up on sharing with you all. Turns out they've always been epic (and always had outrageous outfits). Check out an Arcade Fire performance from 2003.

Dead Weather has invaded New York this week, and we're not talking about the ridiculously muggy rain limbo of the past few days. Jack White and Allison Mosshart nuked the audience at Prospect Park (metaphorically speaking) on Tuesday, and invaded the late night circuit. Check them out on Letterman last night.

In his new video for "Animal Arithmetic", Sigur Ros singer Jonsi's new single off his recent solo debut Go, almost everything is up close &mdash the drums, Jonsi, other Icelandic people. And, like the best moments in life, it all builds up to a colorful barrage of fireworks and confetti.

Beat Radio is the name of the self-labeled "American indie pop project" guided by singer-songwriter Brian Sendrowitz. It's a small project based in New York. I've been following BR on Twitter and I can't recall why... (UPDATE: I think they started following me and I followed back as per my own idea of twitetiquette). Anyways, it led me to their latest track which is a nice slice of pop fuzz that I think it worth sharing. It's totally free (as an HQ download) if you dig it.

The herds amassed earlier on Sunday; a disorganized mob of attendees stretching well into the parking lot had settled into lawn chairs long before the gates opened, and when admitted some ran at top speed, picnic blanket in hand, to secure a spot by the main stage.

Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius, produces music that nurtures a specific sort of ambiance, one that feels so intimate and personal that your ears become keen to the most minute inflections in his trembling voice and the most gentle taps of piano keys. Most of the songs on his beautifully tragic Matador-released debut Learning, are played over the kinds of simple piano arrangements that you might've learned in grade school&mdash cute, kitschy, straightforward&mdash but the lyrical content and stories behind them possess a mature depth totally incomprehensible to any 12-year-old.

Concerts like this get compared to religious epiphanies, but to be totally honest with you, it was something else. Hearing a crowded hall chanting the emphatically epic chorus of "Wake Up" felt huge and unforgettable. The band was insatiable in their movements, flailing with the music, jumping up and down like the kids they so often sing about. The kids we used to know, that kind of spirit that lays dormant inside all of us as we shuffle in the modern day to day (us pseudo-adults at least), could not be contained during this set.

For the last few years, LA's Ramona Gonzalez, who performs as Nite Jewel, has been crafting lo-fi 80s-inflected pop. The music has been described as "underwater disco" and "dusky karaoke-pop" (stereogum) among other things and she's got a new EP of the stuff out now. "Am I Real?" is the title track and features Gonzalez doing what she does best.

It isn't often that two stellar acts from different genres come together to perform, but it seems to be happening on Fallon more often than not, thanks to the prolonged residency of the house band, The Roots. So when Spoon showed up to Late Night, and ?uestlove and bassist Owen Biddle joined the band for a rendition of "Nobody Gets Me But You", it was like Christmas. SERIOUSLY. Check out the video:

L.A.-based rockers After Midnight Project have been around for over half a decade and with the release of Let's Build Something to Break, the band is primed to tackle this year's Warped Tour. Guitarist Christian Meadows was kind enough to answer some of my questions via email.

As many of you readers probably saw, we put on a secret Guest Apartment shoot with Sara Bareilles in New York City today, and we're sorry if you missed it! We've got some pictures and a consolation prize... an invitation to see the full shoot when it hits the site.

This Summer, Brassland Records will be releasing their first major vinyl pressing of The National's self titled first album, providing an opportunity for fans of Alligator, Boxer and High Violet to better understand the band's progression.

This feature, more or less, is about the way we listen to music now &mdash how it's changed, how it could continue to change, and how it's stayed the same. And who better to ask than the artists releasing things on these formats and engaging with the medium? Of course, if you've grown up in the last twenty years with CDs and mp3s as your primary means of music consumption, some of the technical and cultural talk about vinyl and tape can be a little daunting or confusing so I've also asked the artists in this feature to drop some knowledge on some releases on at least one of the two formats that they think are essential for you to hear.

A few days ago, we mentioned some choice tweets from everyone's favorite new twitterer (is this the word?) which included, among others, "classical music is tight yo" and "I specifically ordered persian rugs with cherub imagery!!! What do I have to do to get a simple persian rug with cherub imagery uuuuugh". Classics to say the least. Now, in record time, twitter users the world over have taken Ye's daily musings and matched them to highbrow New Yorker cartoons. Take a look at some of the best below.

Here's a new one from Skybox, four young guys from Chi-town who make some pretty upbeat pop. "In A Dream" is a little synthy, a little poppy. Got some guitars in there too. The song is about getting lost in a dream which wouldn't have sounded so bad before Inception came out. Dream limbo! Check it check it.

Remember kids, always go to the interview prepared. Especially when you're interviewing the infamous Black Flag, especially during a certain period in the eighties when it was fronted by one of the decades most notoriously outrageous members of the hardcore punk community. Otherwise, he will just decide to interview you instead, and make you look very silly. Video evidence after the jump.

The Portland Cello Project are making it a career out of conceiving beautiful, emotionally charged classical constructions (you might remember the video we captured with the band in Philadelphia). The dynamic ensemble's newest musical nugget to come wafting from their Pacific Northwest corner of the country is a tender instrumental endeavor, with an incredible new video accompanying every rhythmic pluck and rich pull of the horse hair.

Titled "Denmark", the Daniel Fickle directed video hits a timely note, depicting the brave tale of a tiny shrimp sprung into action by plumes of invading toxins in to his water world. A plan is formulated, a missing part is fetched, and all goes according to plan, until... It's also represents a stirring tribute to a friend of the band, fighting cancer in his/her own, disguised and dignified manner as well. - David Pitz

The Secret Sisters are Laura and Lydia Rogers, two not-so-secret sisters who specialize in old country harmonizing, and they're set to release their Jack White produced debut 45 which will feature a cover of Johnny Cash's "Big River" on one side and a cover of traditional folksong "The Wabash Cannonball" on the other.

Beach-punk outfit Wavves played a raucous, inebriated, sold-out show at the Bowery Ballroom last night, blasting through most of the tracks off the great new King of the Beach and choice songs from the last two records. A little more than halfway through the show, singer Nathan Williams remarked on the absence of newish song "Mickey Mouse" from the setlist, mentioning that Disney had issued him a cease-and-desist letter for having the song on his new record. He proceeded to put Walt Disney on blast for being a Nazi.

Chicago natives AM Taxi are making a splash in the music scene with a mix of old-school punk, world beat, and modern pop on their Virgin Records debut We Don't Stand A Chance. The band is currently on Warped Tour and I was able to catch up with Adam Krier (vocals/guitar) and Jason Schultejann (bass) for a quick chat.

The delicate, emotive electro-pop of Stars is really great in the live setting (as you well know), and we've got the Le Poisson Rouge set to prove it. But their records capture that aesthetic as well. Don't miss your opportunity to take a piece of The Five Ghosts home with you in the finest audio format we have to offer. We're giving away a singed copy of the new record on vinyl, plus a t-shirt and a Stars poster. All you need to do is set yourself on fire (just kidding!). Get out there and share.

George Wein's Folk Festival 50 drew the crowds to Newport, RI this weekend with an incredible lineup built from its usual mix of major current acts, nigh-legendary veterans, and pleasantly surprising up-and-comers. Despite the festival's shockingly civil, family-friendly nature, I emerged from the weekend feeling at least somewhat like a dirty hippie, with a sore neck from using a rock for a pillow and fairly sure my feet would never be clean again.

We always expect something special to resonate from an encounter with Stars, the veteran Montreal outfit lead by Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan. Specializing in an emotive and endearing slice of electro rock, the band lays claim to a sprawling, five album catalogue...each effort bringing with it the powerful potential to define a moment, freezing time and space, for better or for worse, so that the past can one day haunt and guide the listener in times of need.

Our latest brush with the band came under a vivid wash of color at always electric New York hotspot, Le Poisson Rouge earlier this Summer. In town to rally loyal devotees 'round their newest effort The Five Ghosts Stars presented the album track by track during their first of two sets (look for a best-of set on the site later this Fall). At the time, the enticing performance felt like an opportunistic look into the future, with the band working through a luscious batch of songs that would fall in the soon-to-be-released category. But remember what we were saying about the band's knack for following listeners around with their sentimental, sonic tendencies later on down the road?

The Five Ghosts is out now on Vagrant, and it's songs are now familiar. But if you were there, our latest concert release will bring with it a flood of memories of the night that was. If you weren't, experience it now, knowing full well it brings with it the awesome potential to haunt you for a long time to come. - David Pitz

Last night the Arcade Fire played "It's Such A Shame", a cover to honor the late great Jay Reatard. It may not be webcast quality, but a fan snagged a video of the song... it's a bit of a departure from the punk-y original, but retained the emotion and the energy (as far as we can tell).

Another album of breezy Swedish pop? Sure, why not? The new album by ceo, White Magic, is like a glass of watermelon lemonade. How bad could it be? This solo project by Eric Berglund of The Tough Alliance features orchestral samples, popping synth arpeggios, handclaps, acoustic guitars and melodies so shameless, they sound like they were left off the Grease soundtrack for being too cute.

On paper, Radio City Music Hall would appear to be an ideal venue in which to hear Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space, the undisputed classic album from Jason Pierce, aka Spiritualized, performed in it's entirety.

Broken Social Scene takes a literal approach to the "broken" portion of their name in their latest video. "Forced To Love" features a fragmented Drew and co. as digital projections in some sort of old mausoleum-ish house. At least, that's how I see it... check it out for yourself after the jump.

OK, I know it's 2010 and no one will ever be massively commercially successful again (except for Lady Gaga, Radiohead, U2, and the robots who will eventually replace each of the Rolling Stones). But Linkin Park think they have a formula for selling records, based mostly on the fact that they sold records back when "MP3" was just a Star Wars droid reference, and Bob Sagget was known more as a lovable single dad and less of that pervert from Entourage who plays himself. I guess what I'm trying to say is that times have changed, and so has Linkin Park, who plan to release something called "a record", their fourth attempt at having the music world mention them as anything but the butt of a joke/fodder for videogame trailers (true story). Let's listen.

Your weekly guide to late night music &mdash it's a wacky one, guys. Not a whole lot to tune in for, this week's mostly just tough dudes (Sylvester Stallone, Shaq, Samuel L. Jackson, Mickey Rourke...) and Will Ferrel (showing up five times), but I've got a few standout acts in mind to keep you amused.

If you are like me, and you like DC-based rapper Wale, and you love The Mixtape About Nothing, then tomorrow is going to be a very good day! More About Nothing, the next (and 100% FREE) mixtape from Wale hits the internet. We mentioned it last week, but I feel it is VERY IMPORTANT to remind you all of the serious drops happening tomorrow. Between this and Arcade Fire, I think my iTunes might implode tomorrow.

Do you live in the New York metro area? Do you love the tunes of Sara Bareilles? Would you like to attend an intimate shoot with a secret location? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you are in luck... Baeble is filming a secret shoot with Sara somewhere in New York City this week, and we're inviting a few lucky fans to join us. Check out the details below.

Since releasing their debut album Hold on Tight two years ago, they've sold nearly 500,000 songs, toured around the world non-stop, graced the cover of several magazines in the U.S. and overseas, and have received more than 28 million plays on MySpace. Who am I taking about? Why none other than Florida natives Hey Monday of course! As one of the few female-fronted bands on Warped Tour this year, I was lucky enough to speak with rhythm guitarist Alex Lipshaw.

People really need to stop freaking out about the Tron: Legacy soundtrack. Where is the real news? Oh yeah, in Newport! The Newport Folk Festival was fun, according to our sources. And in other news, Avey Tare (aka Dave Portner) of Animal Collective is releasing a solo album about crocodiles?

Is it a masterpiece because we really, really want it to be a masterpiece or is it really a masterpiece? The 'M' word gets thrown around an awful lot in the rock and roll world and frequently it has more to do with the moment than the music. Sometimes it happens right out of the box, like the 2008 Fleet Foxes debut. But more often than not, it's the third or fourth record for a band that's slowly been building momentum, gaining the approval of its elders, getting great press and finally breaking out, selling out stadiums and actually selling records. In the post-classic rock era, it's happened to The Clash, U2 and Radiohead in that order and really that's about it.

We were beyond excited when we received the news that Jimmy Eat World confirmed a release date for their highly anticipated new album, Invented. Mark your calenders, folks: September 28th is only a mere month or two away!