New Kid Cudi Video Features MGMT & Ratatat

Listen.  Kid Cudi and MGMT are both A-Okay in my book. But the most significant inclusion here, is the marvel-inducing riffs of Ratatat. It's been a little while, no doubt, but Ratatat's trademark sound is back.  Listen for it Kid Cudi's fun new video 'Pursuit of Happiness':

New Yeasayer Video

Yeasayer is back with a brand new video. In this one, we're given a small glimpse of the future, in which turntables and guitars seem to have been replaced by cheesy, illuminating crystals and there's some ominous shape-shifting fellow who shows up to the dance party that reminds us of Critters 2 (anyone? anyone?) Check out Yeasayer's video for O.N.E.


"O.N.E." by Yeasayer from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.

New Gorillaz Video

Today the Gorillaz released a new video for their single 'Stylo'. While previous videos have been entirely animated, this Gorillaz track is live-action with more realistic CG characters. Oh, and there's also an interesting cameo...

Check out the video on YouTube .

Tiger's Pandering Apology Playlist

If you're like millions of other golf fans... Americans... Or even if you just have an address somewhere on this planet... Tiger Woods had something to say to you last Friday. He wanted you to know that he made a mistake and most importantly? He was 'sorry'. A little piece of every last one of us died the day we found out that an immensely rich and famous pro athlete had been cavorting with attractive cocktail waitresses.

So for all that pain and suffering you certainly endured... for all that weight you lost after those sleepless nights... for those golf lessons you were inspired to buy for your uncoordinated kid... Tiger just wanted us to know... 'he's sorry.'

We'll leave the pandering to Tiger. We're not really here to play the holier-than-thou game or stir up the blood in the media shark pool. Actually, we're just here to stalk Tiger's children on their way to school. Or maybe follow his mom to a Jenny Craig meeting...

We kid, we kid... we actually just want to listen to some good music, and we'll use the rise and fall of a sports icon as our opportunistic springboard.

(Check out Tiger's playlist after the jump)

Kanye's 'Coldest Winter' Gets a Remix and a Video

We're getting pretty far removed from Kanye's 808's and Heartbreaks album to have a new video from it. But, Kanye's 'Coldest Winter' gets all dolled up for the occasion. Sporting a wedding dress, gratuitous slow-motion cleavage shots, and some haunting Reapers in a Sleepy Hollow-like foggy forrest.

Check out "Coldest Winter (Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam)":

Which Band Are You Here To See?

When you walk into a music club, and the guy at the door asks which band are you here to see? What should you say? Did you know that you're answer can actually affect how much money the respective bands take home that night?

A discussion has been brewing of late within the local DC music scene, kicked off last week by local hip-hop artist Head-Roc's rant on the practice of door-polling at music venues.

Washington City Paper ran a follow up piece on the matter even more recently titled "Sins of Admission: Why It's a Problem When a Club Asks, 'Who Are You Here To See?'"

Is this an unfair way to determine a band's payment? Is it a cop out for music venues to defer marketing responsibility to desperate musicians? Does it create an unfair bias against out-of-town bands?

Or is this a fair practice that benefits hard-working and talented musicians? What do you think?

VAMPIRE WEEKEND DEBUTS VIDEO FOR 'GIVING UP THE GUN'

Vampire Weekend's bizarre new video features a lot of tennis and some guest appearances by the likes of Rza and Jake Gyllenhaal. Without further ado, check out Vampire Weekend's video for 'Giving up the Gun':

CARIBOU HAS NEW VIDEO FOR 'ODESSA'

A couple weeks back Caribou released their first single from their upcoming album. The single is called 'Odessa' and today got it's own music video that starts out with a woman walking with a bloodied face. Check it out:

DOWNLOAD NEW BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE TRACK

It's been a little while since we had an official album from Broken Social Scene. We've seen members spin off to do solo work (um... Feist, anyone?) and had a handful of 'Broken Social Scenes Presents:' albums. But, not since 2005 has the band released a real Broken Social Scene album. The band's freshest won't come out until May 4th, but they've put up one song on their website that's free to download just to let us know they mean business. It's called 'Sick World'.

This time around, BSS has slimmed to a mere 6 members but most of the old cast is slated to make guest appearances as the likes of Feist, Metric, Do Make Say Think, Sea and Cake, Pavement and Tortoise lend their talents to the track list.

NEW PASSION PIT VIDEO FOR 'LITTLE SECRETS'

Manners is straight-up loaded to the gills with an engaging, experimental mix of poppy electronic tracks. From 'Moth's Wings' to 'Sleepyhead' to 'The Reeling'... Passion Pit have proven real hit-makers.  This time around, Passion Pit gives us a video for yet another can't-miss hit: 'Little Secrets'

Check their latest video for 'Little Secrets' over at MTV.

TEGAN & SARA DROP NEW VIDEO FOR 'ALLIGATOR'

Tegan and Sara's Sainthood came at us in late 2009. Today the twins released the official video for (my favorite track on the album) 'Alligator':


Tegan and Sara - Alligator [Official Music Video] from NicoleIsMyName on Vimeo.

PLAYLIST: SO-I-SETTLED-FOR-YOU VALENTINE'S

For some of you, Valentine's Day is a wondrous time to spend with your most beloved. It can be a time of reflection or re-dedication, to have and to cherish that important person in your life as long as you possibly can.

For others, the big V-Day can be a devastating reminder of your own loneliness. Who wants to see so many other couples happy, when you can't find that shared comfort with someone yourself??

Well, this mix isn't for either of the above. This special Valentine's Day playlist is for the vast majority of you who are in relationships but probably shouldn't be. You know what I'm talking about... at least your friends know what I'm talking about when they talk about your dullard boyfriend behind your back.

This is for that certain someone who you once slept with and then started dating and now lingers in your one-bedroom apartment as a constant reminder of your shallowness and low self-esteem. This is for that ex who you keep calling at 2 in the morning because you're afraid of sleeping alone. If you see nothing but a reflection of the lie that you call a relationship every time you stare into your partner's eyes? Yes! Yes! Yes! This is the playlist for you.

'Doesn't she realize this cold, falling rain is an

obvious metaphor for our depreciating relationship?'

(Check out our So-I-Settled-For-You Valentine's Day Playlist after the jump)

The Antlers' Video for 'Bear'

Not only did The Antlers' moody masterpiece Hospice make our Top 25 Albums review of 2009. Their song 'Bear' also cracked our Top Ten Songs of 2009. Today, the band released a music video for 'Bear'.

What do you think?

PLAYLIST: SNOW-DAY, FEB 10

Here in DC (and across many parts of the country) we've been on the ass end of a winter blizzard pound-fest. This past weekend's snow-tally (between 2 and 3 feet!) topped all previous records for the DC Metro area and prompted virtually everything in the area to shut down for multiple days. If that wasn't enough? Just as DC started to pick itself back up from the snowy ground... Wednesday brought even more snow. It's still falling as I type this, but it seems as though we may be in store for another 20 inches.

What's this have to do with music? Obvious. Music- like fireplaces and Baileys- is crucial to snow days. The best way to avoid cabin fever is with a cuddle-buddy, a handle of booze and some snowy-day tunes. Click 'Read More' below to take a listen to our 12-track snow-day playlist.

Weekly Round-Up: New Music Feb 10

Record amounts of winter snow weren't all that descended upon us this past week. I've given up on shoveling, so it's time to cozy up with some cocoa and headphones. Click 'Read More' to see what music the internets have heated up to cure our February blues after the jump.

SPOON RELEASES VIDEO FOR 'WRITTEN IN REVERSE"

It's only been a few weeks since Spoon released their latest album Transference, but it feels like a millennium has past without any treat of visual accompaniment.  Well, this morning, Pitchfork has the Spoon to sate your sweet tooth- a studio-session comprised video for 'Written in Reverse'.

TOP 125 SONGS OF 2009: MASTER LIST

If you'd rather just see them all in one place? Here is the master list for our Top 125 songs of '09. No slow-loading MP3 embeds or cluttering opinions on this one. This is your one-stop shop.

(Check out the complete List after the Jump)

TOP SONGS OF 2009: 10-1

Here's the Top Ten. It's so late you probably don't even care, let alone remember any of these bands anymore (The Yeah Yeah Yeah's are so six months ago!) Better late than never.  Perhaps you missed some of these in 2009, or maybe now is a good time to revisit. Here's our Top Ten songs of 2010...

(Click 'READ MORE' below to see our TOP TEN)

TOP SONGS OF 2009: 25-11

I told myself I had to finish by the end of January. Well... I didn't miss the self-imposed deadline by much. In retrospect, 125 songs was a burly task to plunge into (the biggest pain is finding MP3 embeds now that I'm having difficulty with LaLa.com). Chalk it up to a learning experience though. Maybe next time I'll only do a Top 50 and be done. But enough with the negativity, because we're finally into the top 25. I tried to space out artists who appeared more than once on the list, but there is one exception- a single artist who garnered two spots in the top 25. Any guesses? (uh- below is a hint.)

(Click 'READ MORE' below to check out our 25-11)

TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2009

Without spending too much time on this, I wanted to lay down, in no particular order, my favorite/most-listened to 25 albums of the 2009 season.  You may have been following our countdown of the Top Songs of 2009, but here we get a chance to recognize more than just stand-out tracks.  Listed below aren't just the best 30-second samples on iTunes, we give you 25 albums that play as a cohesive unit.

(Click 'READ MORE' below to check 'em out)

Surfer Blood Release First Video

Building their momentum at the end of 2009, like a wave crashing into the beach, was Surfer Blood.  With Astro Coast the Floridian band gives mouth-to-mouth to the shark-ravaged genre of Surf Rock. This isn't your father's Beach Boys though. This album is a modern update with some seriously rich guitar work and a deep queue of original tracks.

(Click READ MORE to check out the band's first video)

BEST SONGS OF 2009: 50 - 26

The Top 50 of 2009 is here!  You can catch up by checking out our lists for 125-101 , 100-76 and 75-51 . We've been having some issues embedding LaLa.com MP3s on the site (perhaps in relation to Apple's buyout of the company?), which is why you'll see a variety of players embedded below. Otherwise, we shall plunge right into 50-26 after the jump.

(Click below to see our Top 50)

BROKEN BELLS VIDEO FOR THE HIGH ROAD

What does DJ Dangermouse do when he's not mashing Jay-Z and the Beatles together?  How does he spend his time when he's not laying down beats for Cee-Lo's raspy-crooning in Gnarls Barkley?  This time around, Dangermouse joins musical forces with The Shins frontman James Mercer to form Broken Bells and both entities bring the best of their talents to the project.

We can expect the full-length album March 9th, but until then enjoy the bizarre video in which Mercer and Dangermouse wander down a dark highway with flashlights and vague strangeness ensues:

The High Road

Broken Bells | MySpace Music Videos

ZEUS RELEASES FIRST MUSIC VIDEO

Zeus is certainly a name you'll be hearing in 2010.  Not just because he's a Greek God... in fact, the God of Gods, but because they're an indie-rock band whose debut album gets released in February of this year.

As is always fun, we can play the Six-Degrees-Of-Broken-Social-Scene game, and connect band members Mike O'Brien and Carlin Nicholson to BSS's Jason Collett.  The two did back-up vocals for the singer's solo stuff.  Now, they've formed a band of their own, and Zeus is a really fun, light-hearted rock outfit.

The video also does the band great service.  Director Adam Makarenko lends some incredible stop-motion visuals to the band's song, 'Marching Through Your Head':

NEW YEAH YEAH YEAHS VIDEO - SKELETONS

We were pretty partial to the YYY's last video 'Heads will Roll' which prominently features a seemingly Michael Jackson-inspired dancing werewolf.   Not to mention, it's an incredible song.  Today, the Yeah Yeah Yeah's continued to push all the right buttons as they revealed a video for another favorite: their latest single, 'Skeletons'.

Check out the black and white video for 'Skeletons':

IN REVIEW: SPOON - TRANSFERENCE

On January 19th, Spoon released their latest album.  Be it intended or not, Transference seems the fitting name for Spoon’s recording.  Their follow-up to Ga Ga Ga is a cohesive unit of 11-tracks that exposes all the nuts and bolts of the process.  Spoon assembles all the simple, raw elements of the record and then leaves the hood up for you to admire their handiwork.

(Read More about Spoon's new album after the jump)

IN CONCERT: FREELANCE WHALES

The Freelance Whales have only begun selling out shows as headliners this week.  Last night they played at The Black Cat in DC to a capacity crowd on the same night that local favorites Thievery Corporation played The 9:30 Club a few blocks away and We Are Scientists were playing just upstairs.

(Read more on the Brooklyn band's performance after the jump)

N.A.S.A. VIDEO FOR 'O PATA'

N.A.S.A. dropped Spirit of Apollo on the world in 2009, an album filled with guest stars that spanned genres and generations.  The sound was fresh too- 17 tracks worth of independent hip-hop that embraces everything from world beats to 70's funk.

(Check out more about N.A.S.A. including the NEW VIDEO after the jump)

Music Video: The XX - VCR

We've already gotten videos for 'Crystalised' and 'Basic Space'.  Today The Xx released a video for 'VCR'- a beautifully shot, black & white video that features young love, pyromantic behavior and some sort of little, furry animal looking oh-so-adorable in a sink.

Check out the video courtesy Pitchfork :

NEW COLD WAR KIDS VIDEO

Things are heating up for the Cold War Kids.  Teaming up with the release of their new EP Behave Yourself, the LBC's soulful-punk act just dropped a new video for their song 'Audience'.  This is great cause for excitement as the track rekindles some fantastic vibes from their first album Robbers and Cowards.

Check out 'Audience':

NEW GORILLAZ TRACK

Who is ready for some new Gorillaz?

Today the internet provided us with this little treat.  A brand new track from the Gorillaz called 'Stylo' that features Mos Def and Bobby Womack.  It sounds like the group has a lot more in store for us in the near future.  We'll have our collective ears to the ground.  Until then you can check out 'Stylo' over here (courtesy of the Couch Sessions.)

BEST SONGS OF 2009: 75 - 51

We've already taken a look at 125-101 and 100-76 .  Now we're getting to the good stuff.  But not THAT good... we still haven't cracked into the top 50.  We're almost to the Best 50 Songs of 2000, but before we uncork that bottle, let's roll through 75 - 51.

(Click READ MORE below to check out Songs 75 - 51!)

The Very Best Debut New Video Featuring Ezra Koenig

The Very Best hold claim to one of our very best songs of 2009.  With a little help from Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig (no stranger to afro-beat music), Very Best's very best track on their recent album is unquestionably 'Warm Heart of Africa'.  Today, they released a music video that features Ezra Koenig doing his best white-boy-dance alongside Esau Mwamwaya and has a lot of fun with a green-screen.

Check it out:

Dirty Projectors Release New Single

This week the Dirty Projectors put out a pair of singles- more of a companion to their 2009 release Bitte Orca than as any preparation for an upcoming album.  This has been a common occurrence of late as the mere concept of 'album' has changed and begun to erode in the digital age.  Having fun with the very idea of releasing a physical album, the Dirty Projectors called this a digital 7" release.

(Click below to read more on their mini-release after the jump!)

'Alice in Wonderland' Soundtrack

It strikes me as odd that the recent movie 'New Moon'- mindless, teeny-bopper, drivel- featured music from many obscure and notably independent artists.  How is a movie aimed at the masses and- more specifically teenage girls- able to nominate the likes of Grizzly Bear, Bon Iver or Thom Yorke to score their film?

This week, the answer became so utterly transparent.

The star-studded soundtracks of 'New Moon' and 'Alice in Wonderland' were obviously switched.  This week, details were announced for the Johnny Depp-starring 3-D film's soundtrack.  And Tim Burton, who has directed cult-hits like 'Edward Scissorhands' and 'Pee-Wee's Big Adventure', has seemingly misplaced the real soundtrack of his upcoming film with the playlist of a 14-year-old girl.

Or, maybe he's grown completely out of touch...

(Check out the soundtrack details after the jump.)

Jay Reatard Dead at Age 29

Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., better known as Jay Reatard, was found dead in his bed at his Memphis home at 3:30 AM.  While the cause of death has not yet been released, friends noted that the singer had recently complained of flu-like symptoms.

Jay Reatard's single, 'It Ain't Gonna Save Me'':

BEST SONGS OF 2009: 100 - 76

The countdown towards Best Song of 2009 continues!  Today, we'll be taking a look at Songs 100 down to 76.  If you haven't yet seen our write-up for songs 125-101 you can start the countdown from the top by clicking here...

(Otherwise, click READ MORE below to see songs 100-76 after the jump.)

Tour Announcements: Spoon, Passion Pit

What a day for exciting tour announcements!   Both Spoon and Passion Pit will be working their way across North America this March and April.

(Click below to READ MORE tour details after the jump.)

BEST SONGS OF 2009: 125-101

100 songs just wasn't enough.  Essentially, the 25 songs listed below are the spill-over resulting from my indecisiveness.  The TOP 100 songs of 2009 are coming, but until then, we offer a small sampling of some tracks that just missed the year-end cut.

(Click Below for Songs 125-101 of The Best Songs of 2009:)

NEW VIDEO: ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - BROTHER SPORT

Animal Collective had a big year in 2009 with the release of their acclaimed masterpiece 'Merriweather Post Pavilion'.  While we've already seen an equally tripped-out video for 'My Girls', the Baltimore-based trio now hits us with a video for 'Brother Sport' that features farm animals and dancing, masked children, dressed to look like Cave-People.

We couldn't be more excited.  'Brother Sport' is a song that figures heavily in our upcoming 'Best of 2009' list.  Enjoy the video:

Tour Announcements: Of Montreal, Fanfarlo

Led by frontman Kevin Barnes, the indie-collective Of Montreal is actually an American band that calls Athens, GA home.  The off-the-wall, self-deprecating and ever-changing sound of Of Montreal will be hitting the road this January, kicking off their small, eastern US tour January 25th at Ram's Head in Baltimore.

Check out 'Oslo in the Summertime' from their 2005 album The Sunlandic Twins here:

Oslo in the Summertime - Of Mo...

And if you live in the northeast, you can check out the eccentric band live:

Jan 25 - Baltimore, MD - Ram's Head
Jan 26 - New York, NY - TBA
Jan 27 - Boston, MA - Paradise
Jan 28 - Washingon, DC - 9:30 Club
Jan 29 - Norfolk, VA - Norva
Jan 30 - Richmond, VA - The National
Feb 04 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt

Don't live East of the Mississippi?  No worries, Fanfarlo has you covered.  The London-based indie-rock outfit who've turned some heads with their 2009 debut Reservoirs, have set up an American tour up the west coast.

It's hard not to make The Arcade Fire comparisons as you listen to 'I'm a Pilot:

I'm A Pilot - Fanfarlo

West-coasters can check them out this February:

Feb 20 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
Feb 22 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
Feb 23 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
Feb 24 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
Feb 25 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
Feb 27 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
Feb 28 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge

Worst Artist/Album/Song of 2009

In the spirit of the year-end ritual of 'Best of' lists, I decided to flip the convention of annual kudos on it's head.  Today, rather than celebrate 2009's brightest, (Don't worry, the Best of 2009 is in the works... I know it's getting late, but it's a bear of a piece) let's take a look at the piss-poor.  There are no need for lists.  Today, we recognize THE VERY WORST-OF-THE-WORST.  2009's most atrocious, pungent, pile of...

(READ MORE after the jump:)

The Scanners Release New Video

London-based, dark wave act, The Scanners came to the scene with their 2006 debut, Violence is Golden.  Their long-awaited second release, Submarine, is due February, 16, 2010 from their Dim Mak label.   Their first single 'Salvation' is a beautiful, haunting melody that marches forward with thunderous contention.

Check out 'Salvation'.

Review: Vampire Weekend - Contra

Vampire Weekend’s second album, Contra, comes as one of 2010’s most anticipated releases and only misses a few notes on the harpsichord.  The band hardly departs from their noted Reggae and Afro-Beat 'roots' (um, ya know... from growing up on the streets of suburban New England or from enduring the rough and tumble bedlam of Ivy League dorm-life) as Contra successfully continues the quartet’s unique style of academic-rock fused with world rhythms in a way that is more mature, layered and complex than their original, genre-defining release.  Yet, the band remains true to their initial mission statement: to create music you hadn’t already heard a thousand times- or even once- before.

(Vampire Weekend's new album Contra review after the jump.  Click below to READ MORE.)

Rymdreglage's 8-Bit Trip

Probably the coolest thing you'll see this week.  This is a self-made music video for the Swedish electronic-band Rymdreglage.

This thing is brimming with more than 1,500 hours of Nintendo-inspired Lego stop-motion and filled with an equal dose of nostalgia for any child of the 80's.

"8-Bit Trip":

The Temper Trap Release New Video, 'Fader'

Australian rockers, The Temper Trap, released a music video on Monday for their newest single, 'Fader'.  Most people might recognize them from their hit 'Sweet Disposition' which not only appears in multiple commercials but also in the soundtrack to 2009's indie-comedy '(500) Days of Summer'.

Check out 'Fader':

New RJD2 Album To Feature Kenna

Kenna's an artist I've been closely following since the 2003 emergence of his slightly off-centered pop album, New Sacred Cow.  Always a critical success, the Ethiopian-born singer has never enjoyed the break-out commercial success he richly deserves. 

 (Read more on Kenna's career as it builds up to his upcoming collaboration with RJD2 after the jump):

RJD2's Newest Video Is Like A Bull In A China Shop

RJD2's The Colossus is dropping soon.  The Philadelphia-based DJ's fourth album is set for release on January 19th.  Today pitchfork released a video, featuring a down-on-his-luck bull to kick it all off.

"Let There Be Horns"

Michael Cera Takes Drugs From A Guy He Don't Know

The Islands released their latest album, Vapours, in late September, 2009. Yet it may take a few extra months, spanning into 2010 before The Islands really see the album take off virally. That's where Michael Cera comes in. Today they released the official video for 'No You Don't' in which a bewildered Michael Cera takes some bum drugs and has a misadventure in a parking lot. We hope Michael Cera's involvement brings some new fans to The Islands' deserving table. More so, we hope the anti-drug message really hits home for the kids.

Check out Michael Cera in The Islands' 'No You Don't':