Monthly Archives: January 2012

Listen: Azealia Banks – “NEEDSUMLUV”

20-year old Harlem native Azealia Banks, who released the fantastic “212” last year, has returned again with a new song titled “NEEDSUMLUV” via her Twitter. The song features Banks singing over a beat by producer Machinedrum titled “SXLND”, and, in her own words, is about “being a guy’s other girl. It’s about knowing that ur number #2, but still sticking around in hopes of becoming #1.” The two previously collaborated on another song titled “Grand Scam (Lyrical Exercise)” back in November.

Listen: Sleigh Bells – “Comeback Kid”

Check out the a new single from Sleigh Bells titled “Comeback Kid” (which was also the title of the most recent episode of Parks and Recreation). The band, who released their critically acclaimed debut album, Treats, in 2010, will also be touring in February to support their new album. Reign of Terror is set to be released February 21st, and you can preorder the album on iTunes to receive an immediate download of “Comeback Kid”.  Click read more to check out the dates.


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Kendrick Lamar Announces ‘Good Kid in a Mad City’

Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar just announced to The Source that his new album is near completion. The album will be titled Good Kid in a Mad City. Kendrick stated that “it’s just going to have its own entity and its own space”, meaning that it will not be a sequel to Section.80, which was released last year to extremely good reviews by critics and was also our number 4 album of 2011. You should definitely check it out if you haven’t heard it yet. Section.80 was in between a mixtape and an album because it was released online, but Kendrick Lamar stated the new release would be his first proper debut album. Watch Kendrick’s interview with The Source below. Below that is also an interview with Drake‘s frequent producer/best friend, 40, where he talks about Kendrick Lamar’s involvement on Take Care.

Interview: Listener

Dan Smith and Chris Nelson are Listener, a talk-music band where Dan does the talking and Chris plays the music. The first time I stumbled upon their music, I was quite confused to what was actually happening. Once I discovered that Dan talking was in fact the music I was greatly intrigued.

Listener is something that will be forever unique and a refreshing take on the power of music in society. The enchanting words of Dan Smith can be soul crushing through both the depth of the lyrics and the passion in his voice. Whether it’s through the soft melody of “Wooden Heart” or the heavy guitar and presence of a trumpet in “These Hands Weren’t Meant For Us”, Listener crafts their music beautifully. Be sure to check out their website, along with my favorite song by them “You have never lived because you have never died”.

First, could you state your name(s) and your band name?

Listener: Dan Smith & Chris Nelson… the band is called Listener.

Is there any meaning behind your band name?

Listener: It’s a word that we all can share in, I guess. Continue reading →

Listen: The Magnetic Fields – “Andrew In Drag”

Stephin Meritt and The Magnetic Fields will make their return to Merge Records with their tenth LP, Love At The Bottom Of The Sea, on March 6th. After concluding their “no-synth” album trilogy (i, Distortion, and Realism) in 2010, The Magnetic Fields have promised that their new album will return to their familiar synth and acoustic roots, as well as keeping every song on the album under three minutes long. You can listen to the new single, “Andrew In Drag”, below.

Love At The Bottom Of The Sea Tracklist:
01 “Your Girlfriend’s Face”
02 “Andrew In Drag”
03 “God Wants Us To Wait”
04 “Born For Love”
05 “I’d Go Anywhere With Hugh”
06 “Infatuation (With Your Gyration)”
07 “The Only Boy In Town”
08 “The Machine In Your Hand”
09 “Goin’ Back To The Country”
10 “I’ve Run Away To Join The Fairies”
11 “The Horrible Party”
12 “My Husband’s Pied-a-Terre”
13 “I Don’t Like Your Tone”
14 “Quick!”
15 “All She Cares About Is Mariachi”