Frank Wu
Kanye West and Jay-Z Announce Tour Dates
In preparation for the release of Watch The Throne, Kanye West and Jay-Z have announced that the two have formed a duo called The Throne and will be embarking on a massive North American tour together this fall.
Kanye and Jay-Z also announced that Watch the Throne will be released on iTunes on August 8th. The album will then be available on other physical and digital retailers on August 12th.
The tracklisting and full tour dates are available below. You can listen to “Otis” here.
Childish Gambino Premieres New Song at Comic Con
Donald Glover / Childish Gambino appeared at San Diego’s Comic Con this weekend to promote his show Community, but the actor/rapper also managed to play a show on Friday night, tearing up the House of Blues and premiering a brand new song. Apologizing for his recent disappearance online and lack of tweets, Gambino announced to the energized audience that he has been busy working on new material before launching into the song, our first taste of the new album. While most of the beat is hard to make out, Gambino’s clever punchlines are clear enough to be made out: “Man, why does every black actor have to rap some? I dunno, all I know is I’m the best one.”
Check out the video after the break. Childish Gamino’s new album will be out in September.
Listen: Gold Leaves – “Cruel/Kind” and “The Ornament”
Seattle-based singer-songwriter Grant Olsen, best-known as half of the folk duo Arthur & Yu, is making his return not with the second Arthur & Yu record, but with a new project called Gold Leaves. His debut release The Ornament has been four years in the making, accompanying Olsen through a wide range of new experiences: marriage, traveling through Central and South America, birth, and death. Linking up with producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist Jason Quever of Papercuts, Olsen created a collection of intimate, heart-warming tracks, blending Americana with ’60s pop influences. You can listen to two songs, “Cruel/Kind” and “The Ornament”, below. The album will be out on August 16 via Hardly Art (tracklisting after the break).
MP3: Gold Leaves – “Cruel/Kind”
MP3: Gold Leaves – “The Ornament”
[Via Stereogum]
The Maine Cover Angus & Julia Stone
I’m a huge fan of Angus & Julia Stone. If you were around for our 2010 year-end list, you’d know that their 2010 release, Down The Way, topped my album of the year list and that the brother-and-sister duo were kind enough to grant us a streamof “Draw Your Swords” from the album.
So when I stumbled upon this cover of the Stones’ “Big Jet Plane”, performed byThe Maine, I was a bit skeptical. However, the band manages to pull off an impressive rendition of the song, complete with harmonies and birds chirping in the background. You can watch John, Kennedy, and Jared of The Maine perform “Big Jet Plane” below.
Listen + Watch: Hoodie Allen – “The Chase Is On”
Hoodie Allen does not disappoint his fans. With a year’s worth of experience under his belt since releasing Pep Rally, Hoodie’s back and better than ever. He just released a brand new track (and the corresponding music video!) entitled “The Chase Is On”, which serves as the first single from Leap Year. “The Chase Is On” has the same sound and vibe we’ve grown to love, but Hoodie’s lyricism and deliver have certainly improved, with the rapper employing a sing-song flow over a synth-driven beat.
“Pulling a Lil B,” Hoodie gave us a free download of the song, but also posted it on iTunes. You can support him by purchasing the song here. Leap Year will be out on July 26.
Listen: Y Luv – “All Night” (Original and ZHU Remix)
Indie pop/rock meets house in this brand new remix of Y Luv‘s earworm single “All Night”. For the rework, the Los Angeles band decided to team up with producer DJ Zhu, blending their energetic rock/pop sound with Zhu’s dance stylings. It’s an interesting take on the original track, which was slower and features a booming sing-along chorus. Think The Killers meets Neon Trees. You can listen to or download both the remix and the original track below.
MP3: Y Luv – “All Night”
MP3: Y Luv – “All Night (ZHU Remix)”
Y Luv’s newest EP How Chill Can You Let Go was released April 20, 2011. You can download the rest of the EP here for free.
Listen: Kanye West & Jay-Z – “Otis”
Since “H.A.M.” is now only a bonus track on Kanye West and Jay-Z and’sWatch The Throne, our first official taste of the new album is “Otis”. The song just made its debut, thanks to Hot 97′s Funkmaster Flex. Featuring a sample of Otis Redding‘s “Try a Little Tenderness”, “Otis” features the two rap superstars dropping one-liner after one-liner over a soulful Kanye beat. Wild.
MP3: Kanye West & Jay-Z – “Otis”
Watch the Throne will be released online on August 1st and physically on August 5th. Check out the tracklisting after the break.
Listen: TV On The Radio – “Caffeinated Consciousness (Das Racist Remix)”
Who saw this one coming? Heems and Victor of the rap group Das Racist were invited by Interscope to remix TV On The Radio‘s “Caffeinated Consciousness”, collaborating with producer patrickWhat. The remix features a slowed-down version of “Caffeinated Consciousness” and a few rap verses from Das Racist. “Pitchfork dot com… I don’t even read that,” rhymes Victor. Stream the remix below.
Das Racist’s first proper release, Relax, will be released September 13, 2011 via Greedhead (Himanshu’s own record label). You can preorder from Insound here. The album features production from Diplo, El-P, Vampire Weekend‘s Rostam Batmanglij, and Yeasayer‘s Anand Wilder.
Video: Foster The People – “Helena Beat”
Los Angeles based indie pop band Foster The People have had a pretty busy summer so far, first releasing the hit single “Pumped Up Kicks”. They have now released a music video for their newest single, “Helena Beat”, the quick-paced, psychedelic opener to Torches. The Ace Norton-directed video, which depicts an alternate reality where children with guns capture the band and wreak havoc with fire and electrical shocks. Kids, please don’t try this at home.
Check out the video after the break.
Monday Mixer #19 [Sing Along Songs]
The Monday Mixer makes it second appearance here at Lost In The Sound! Each week, a group of music bloggers gather together and create a playlist for the world to enjoy. The theme this week was “Sing Along Songs,” resulting in a fantastic collection of anthems that will hopefully get you singing along, even if you aren’t the most talented singer in the world. It’s okay… just sing as if no one’s watching.
Ian @ 1146 Miles
Bon Iver – “Your Love (The Outfield Cover)”
Music by Bon Iver ≠ sing along… but music by The Outfield does, so sing along with Justin Vernon. I have extra love of this cover because of the outro.
Ben @ The Metropolitan Jolt
Martin Solveig & Dragonette – “Hello”
When I listen to Martin Solveig and Dragonette’s “Hello” I still can hear the 80,000 others from EDC Las Vegas screaming along, too. This tracks combines a nice 80s vibe with some heavier electronic sounds to create quite the jam.
Daniel @ Music On My Radar
Emarosa – “Just Another Marionette”
I have a terrible singing voice, but at least I can admit it. The song that I love to sing along the most to would have to be “Just Another Marionette” by Emarosa. I don’t care what anyone says about Jonny Craig and his laptop situation. All I know is that he has a beautiful voice and that, I don’t think you can deny (even if you are not a fan of him). Of the few bands that Jonny is a part of, Emarosa showcases his talent more than any other (excluding his solo career of course) and that is why I picked Emarosa. I have to admit though, that this week’s theme was a toughy for me for some reason.
Cory @ Silence Nogood
Lissie – “Pursuit of Happiness (Kid Cudi Cover) (Live)”
I try not to sing along to too many songs… I tend to annoy other listeners, but Lissie’s cover of “Pursuit of Happiness” has always inspired the singer in me. It’s also one of my favorite covers – she really puts something into Cudi’s original that’s completely here own and pulls it off well <3 Lissie.
Marcus @ A Pocket Full of Seeds
Bedouin Soundclash – “When The Night Feels My Song”
A song for those that want to sing like no one is listening. Try and remember to sing this one in the shower, wait for the chorus then choose which vocal harmony you want and make it loud. Or alternatively stick this on in a car packed with 5 people and 4 festival tickets and turn it up so loudly that you cant hear yourself singing and everyone’s happy.
Kevin @ Lost In The Sound
Titus Andronicus – “Theme From ‘Cheers'”
“Theme from ‘Cheers'” is a song about making mistakes and then analyzing these faults. Despite the depressing message of this song, it’s still incredibly fun to sing and chant along to, much like other songs from the bands discography.
Marc @ Umstrum
Friendly Fires – “Paris”
“One day we’re gonna live in Paris, I promise, I’m on it…” See I couldn’t help but sing along! It works every time…
Frank @ Lost In The Sound
fun. – “All The Pretty Girls”
Something about this song just makes me want to get up and sing along at the top of my lungs. I’m not sure if it’s Nate Ruess’s distinctive voice or the fact that fun. do indie pop and do it extremely well, but I can’t listen to this song without feeling the need to sing. Fun from a band called fun. Who would have thought?
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