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New: Childish Gambino – “Break (AOTL)”

Childish Gambino, also known as Donald Glover, dropped a new track today entitled “Break (AOTL)”, flipping Kanye West‘s “All Of The Lights”. The newest song will be included in Donald’s upcoming project IAMDONALD. Gambino’s signature flow, witty punchlines, and an interesting acoustic twist on the song make this track a must-listen.

Listen or download below.

Monday Mixer #7 [Springtime]

This week, we are very excited to present Week 7 of the Monday Mixer playlists, a collaborative playlist created each Monday by some of your favorite music blogs. The theme for this week’s playlist is “Springtime.”

Photo: Angela Wu

You can check out the full playlist below.

Owen @ Wine and Bowties

Ghostland Observatory – “Midnight Voyage”
I’ve definitely been feeling the barefoot, springtime vibe so I was pretty juiced to find out this weeks theme. Anyways… the band is Ghostland Observatory. They get down. Front man Aaron Behrens makes me forget bell bottoms aren’t cool. I’m imagining the setting for this song to be at a barbeque after everyone’s eaten and the sun is almost down… buzzed… then this song comes on and everyone realizes it’s time to dance. Hard. That would be awesome.

Confusion @ Pigeons and Planes

The Shins – “Chutes Too Narrow”
I put this Shins song on a spring break mix years ago and now it always reminds me of driving to the beach with the windows down in a car full of friends.

Ben @ The Metropolitan Jolt

The Knife – “Pass This On”
I have always loved this tropical track from The Knife. Its utilization makes it unlike any other songs from the group. And I guess it’s really a bit more summery than spring time, but I think it still applies. Made to be enjoyed in warm weather.

Levi @ Lost In The Sound

Blue Öyster Cult – “Then Came the Last Days of May”
I hold a special place for Blue Öyster Cult. I think that they’re one of the most underappreciated bands of their era, and this song is a good demonstration of their utility outside of their singles. A laid-back, somber song, it’s music strongly evokes the cool desert imagery. Perhaps an inversion of the typical rebirth feelings of spring, the setting and feeling make it worthy of a spring playlist.

Marc @ Umstrum

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson – “Relator”
Whenever I hear this song, no matter whether it’s hot or cold outside, I feel like spring has arrived. I don’t know if it’s the summery guitar chords, the bouncy rhythm or the soft vocals but it just feels like the temperature rises a few degrees every time I play it. Give it a try! Play the song and close your eyes. Can’t you see yourself driving a car across the country with your windows open and the sun hitting hard on the windowshield? It always works…

Chris @ Daily Beatz

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – “Up From Below”
Springtime is one of my favorite times of the year. Mostly because it means the end of another long and brutal winner and the start of a few months of fantastic weather and good times before it all goes downhill again. “Up From Below”, one of my favorite Eddie Sharpe tunes, seems to capture this emotion pretty well, both lyrically and with its undeniably bright and upbeat music.

Mikayla @ LOOSE L!PS

The Virgins – “Rich Girls (Le Castle Vania Remix)”
An oldie but a goodie, Le Castle Vania’s remix of The Virgins “Rich Girls” is my ultimate spring song. With its stomping beat, criminally funky bassline, vocal oohs (which are my musical Achilles heel), and mock-guitar whines, it is THE staple piece in every ‘sunny day’ playlist I’ve created in the past year and a half. Just try to listen to it without grooving. Now take it to your car, roll your windows down, and start cruising. Just trust me on this one.

Frank @ Lost In The Sound

Steel Train – “Bullet”
One of 2010’s biggest surprises for me was New Jersey indie rock band Steel Train’s third studio album. “Bullet” is the opening track, which pretty much encapsulates what the entire album is about: non-stop fun. Highlighting frontman Jack Antonoff’s easily distinguishable voice, the crescendoing chorus is perfect for a sunny day.

The Lonely Island’s Back

The Lonely Island (comedy group who released viral hits such as “Jizz In My Pants” and “Like A Boss”), have announced a follow-up to their debut album, Incredibad. The new album, Turtleneck & Chain, is planning for a release on May 10. Guest artists include Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and many others. They have also released a new single and music video for the song “We’re Back”. Check out the video below.

 

Stream the New Panda Bear Album

The wait is over! You can now stream Panda Bear‘s highly anticipated new album, Tomboy, over at NPR. Also on the site is a short interview NPR did with Panda regarding the album. Tomboy will be released April 12th via Paw Tracks.

Sound Off: LCD Soundsystem’s Final Show

Thanks to Pitchfork Media, everyone can take part in James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem‘s final show at a sold out Madison Square Garden, which is currently going on right now. Join the (no doubt) millions of people around the world that are tuning in on the Pitchfork website.

We’ve provided access to the stream below as well and we encourage you to leave some comments and thoughts about the performance as the show progresses. “Where are your friends tonight?” Probably enjoying the show.

 

Stephen Colbert Sings Friday

For Friday, April Fool’s Day, Stephen Colbert made an appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and performed an epic cover of Rebecca Black‘s “Friday” with The Roots. A lot of things happen in the video, but I don’t want to reveal too much about it, so check it out below.

Download the Xaphoon Jones Mixtape Vol. 2

Xaphoon Jones, the producer half of Chiddy Bang, just released his second mixtape filled with sixteen new tracks. This man is one of the hottest and most unique producers on the scene right now, chopping and screwing beats for Chiddy to rap over. You can download the Xaphoon Jones Mixtape Vol. 2 below, courtesy of illRoots.

Download:
From illRoots
From Mediafire
From Hulkshare

Manchester Orchestra Premiere “April Fools” On April Fools Day

Manchester Orchestra premiered a new song on April Fools Day that is appropriately titled “April Fools”. The new track, which is from their forthcoming third studio album Simple Math, can be heard on the Red Bull website. On April 5th, you will be able to pre-order the new album on iTunes.

Simple Math will be available everywhere on May 10, 2011 via Columbia Records/Favorite Gentlemen Recordings. Check out the band’s tour dates below.

Manchester Orchestra 2011 Tour Dates:
April 29, 2011 — Memphis, TN — Tom Lee Park #
April 30, 2011 — Due West, SC — Erksine College #
May 2, 2011 — Kansas City, MO — The Beaumont Club ##
May 3, 2011 — St. Louis, MO — The Pageant ##
May 4, 2011 — Chicago, IL — Metro ##
May 6, 2011 — Cleveland, OH — Beachland Ballroom ##
May 7, 2011 — Rochester, NY — Water Street Music Hall ##
May 8, 2011 — Baltimore, MD — Rams Head Live*
May 10, 2011 — Boston, MA — House Of Blues *
May 11, 2011 — New York, NY — Terminal 5 *
May 13, 2011 — Providence, RI — Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel ###
May 14, 2011 — Philadelphia, PA — Theatre of the Living Arts ###
May 16, 2011 — Toronto, ON — The Mod Club ###
May 17, 2011 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore *
May 18, 2011 — Columbus, OH — The LC Pavilion *
May 20, 2011 — Columbia, SC — Jillian’s *
May 23, 2011 — Orlando, FL — House Of Blues *
May 24, 2011 — Tampa, FL — The Ritz *
May 25, 2011 — Atlanta, GA — The Tabernacle *
May 27, 2011 — Houston, TX — Verizon Wireless Theatre **
May 28, 2011 — Austin, TX — Stubbs **
May 29, 2011 — Dallas, TX — The Palladium **
May 31, 2011 — Phoenix, AZ — The Marquee **
June 1, 2011 — San Diego, CA — Soma **
June 2, 2011 — Los Angeles, CA — The Music Box #
June 7, 2011 — Eugene, OR — McDonald Theatre **
June 8, 2011 — Portland, OR — Crystal Ballroom **
June 9, 2011 — Seattle, WA — The Showbox SODO **
June 11, 2011 — Salt Lake City, UT — Club Sound #
June 12, 2011 — Denver, CO — Summit Music Hall#

* with Cage The Elephant, O’Brother, and TBA opener(s)
** with Cage The Elephant, Sleeper Agent, and TBA opener(s)
# with TBA opener(s)
## with An Horse and Harrison Hudson
### with An Horse, Harrison Hudson, and O’Brother

The Great Valley Alt Press Contest

The Great Valley have partnered with magazine Alt Press for a chance to win an iPod Nano (with a copy of their new album Ruthless), a vintage bear t-shirt, and an autographed Ruthless promo poster. To enter the contest, visit here.

You can also watch our recent acoustic session with the band here.

New: Kid Cudi – “Capcom”

The latest Kid Cudi track, entitled “Capcom”, is a nod to the Cleveland rapper’s videogame love, featuring a wild beat that is no doubt inspired by gaming soundtracks everywhere. Cudi goes all out, declaring his intention to take on the world in the chorus. According to Cudi, the song was recorded early last year for a Street Fighter game. It’s safe to say that this song will not appear on his upcoming summer mixtape A Man Named Scott or his rock album Wizard. Check out the song, as well as Cudi’s thoughts about it below.

“The song in which the world has titled “capcom” was done early last year for a project chad hugo and kenna were working on for a Street Fighter game and they reached out and asked me to be a part of it. This was a demo reference and i never really got to rework my verses or see the project through. Its old and isnt of my discography. I have a new jam im releasing soon and it will be current freshness. Stay tuned.”