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Listen: PORTALS Summer Mixtape 2012

PORTALS, a music community that produces a “Monthly Mixtape Series” have teamed up with Chill Mega Chill Records to produce a summer mixtape created through submissions from their community in limited edition cassette form. It is available both in cassette and mp3 form from both PORTALS’ and Chill Mega Chill’s bandcamps (here and here, respectively).

PORTALS “is a refuge for emerging talent, for the young artist who may have no other place to be heard, for music that is better than its ability to seem cool.” The mixtape is full of phenomenal indie, lo-fi, and experimental artists thus, this mixtape is a perfect accompany for a relaxed, ‘chill mega chill’ Summer. Stream it below.

Giveaway: Sir Elton John’s New Memoir Love Is The Cure

Over the past five decades, Sir Elton John has inspired and entertained millions with his songs and performances, selling over 250 million records worldwide. He’s received countless Grammy Awards, knighthood from the Queen of England, been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and to this day, still owns the record for the best-selling single in Billboard history with “Candle In The Wind 1997”. Today marks the start of a new chapter in the celebrated artist’s career with his new memoir Love Is The Cure‘s publishing through Little, Brown and Company. In it, Elton discusses very personal details about his life and his struggles with fame, drugs, and most importantly, his ongoing quest to fight AIDS.

Today, I’m also very glad to announce a special giveaway between Lost In The Sound and Little, Brown and Company. To support Elton and his organization, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, we are giving away three copies of the new book to readers from either the US or Canada (sorry, no PO boxes!).

We’ll be doing a random drawing in two weeks (July 31, 2012) to decide on three winners who will receive one copy each. How do you enter?

  1. Like us on Facebook for one entry.
  2. Follow us on Twitter for one entry. You can enter the contest twice by liking us on Facebook AND following us on Twitter.
  3. THEN send an email to giveaway@lostinthesound.com with a link to your Facebook or Twitter so that we can match you. If you do not want to enter using Facebook or Twitter, you can simply email giveaway@lostinthesound.com and you will be given one entry.
  4. On July 31, three winners will be emailed to obtain mailing information. Winners must be in the US or Canada and cannot have a PO box.

You can read more about the book below via press release.

For the first time ever Elton John tells his own intensely personal story. Filled with exclusive details about his relationships with famous friends like Elizabeth Taylor, Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana, LOVE IS THE CURE (Little, Brown and Company/July 17, 2012/ISBN: ) is a truly revelatory look at one of the world’s most beloved singers and songwriters.   LOVE IS THE CURE is a deeply personal account of his life during the era of AIDS and an inspiring look at what we must do to bring the epidemic to an end.

In the 1980s, Elton John saw friend after friend, loved one after loved one, perish needlessly from AIDS. In the midst of the plague he befriended Ryan White, a young Indiana boy ostracized by his town and his school because of the HIV infection he had contracted from a blood transfusion. Ryan’s inspiring life and devastating death led Elton to two realizations: His own life was a mess. And he had to do something to help stop the AIDS crisis.

Since then, Elton has dedicated himself to overcoming the stigma of AIDS and finding a cure. For the past 20 years he has done this through the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised and donated $275 million to-date to fighting the disease worldwide. With powerful conviction and emotional force, Elton conveys the personal toll AIDS has taken on his life, and his infinite determination to stop its spread.

Elton John says, “This is a disease that must be cured not by a miraculous vaccine, but by changing hearts and minds, and through a collective effort to break down social barriers and to build bridges of compassion. Why are we not doing more? This is a question I have thought deeply about, and wish to answer-and help to change-by writing this book.”  Sir Elton John’s first book is a deeply personal account of his life during the era of AIDS and an inspiring look at what we must do to bring the epidemic to an end.

The sale of Love Is the Cure will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), founded in 1992, has raised $275 million to fight the AIDS epidemic and help those affected by it. EJAF has supported hundreds of projects focusing on marginalized, stigmatized, and at-risk populations in 55 countries. EJAF is one of the largest AIDS grant-making organizations in the world, and the largest in the UK.

Listen: The xx – “Angels”

On September 11th, the xx will release their second studio album Coexist through Young Turks featuring eleven brand new tracks. On lead single “Angels”, which will be the opener to the new album, the Londoners channel their indie contemporaries Beach House for a beautiful and blissful three minutes. Producer Jamie xx has mentioned that the new album would be a bit more dance-oriented and with roots in club music, but “Angels” is missing out on that sound and instead (and perhaps more approriately), the song is dreamy and angelic. Judge for yourself below.

Coexist Tracklisting:
01 Angels
02 Chained
03 Fiction
04 Try
05 Reunion
06 Sunset
07 Missing
08 Tides
09 Unfold
10 Swept Away
11 Our Song

Listen: Dispatch – “Circles Around The Sun”

Dispatch frontman Chad Urmston took to the band’s Facebook page to explain the story behind “Circles Around The Sun”, the band’s first single from their upcoming album of the same name. Circles Around The Sun, out August 21st, will be Dispatch’s first official studio album in over twelve years. Below, you can listen to the song and read Chad’s explanation.

“‘Circles Around The Sun’ is the legend of our friend Larry Perry, who passed away this past year. In the early 1960s the space race had captured America. Looking to outdo the Soviets without putting their necks on the line, NASA, in an unprecedented, controversial move, took a very disabled young man away from his family to ready him for space flight. Both the USSR and USA had sent dogs and chimps into space, but the USA wanted more. Larry cannot walk or speak but was in perfect health and, more importantly, in the eyes of the government, expendable. Unbeknownst to them, from a very young age, Larry had always been an adrenaline junkie and the scientists and government officials were actually fulfilling the biggest adventure he could ever dream – to be launched into space. To everyone’s surprise, Larry returns from space triumphant and smiling.” – Chad

Stream: Passion Pit – Gossamer

It’s been a long wait for Passion Pit fans everywhere for the indie outfit’s follow-up to 2009’s Manners. Today, NPR’s First Listen gives us a full stream of Gossamer, which you can listen to below. You can probably imagine how difficult it is to top their breakthrough debut record, but somehow, the group manages to do so by being a little more reflective, a little less circumspect in their songwriting, and a whole lot more daring. Gossamer will see its official release on July 24th and if you preorder the record  on iTunes now, you’ll receive bonus material that won’t be available anywhere else.

PREORDER PASSION PIT’S GOSSAMER ON iTUNES

Listen: Kendrick Lamar – “Swimming Pools (Drank)”

Can’t really complain when it comes to new music from Kendrick Lamar. To build up some more hype for his soon-to-be-released classic (fingers-crossed), good kid, m.A.A.d. city out on October 2nd, Kendrick let loose about his alcoholic past on some T-Minus crafted string and bass. As usual, the track is mixed by Ali from Top Dawg.

Video: Blur – “Under The Westway”

Damon Albarn-fronted Blur are back with two new songs for the 2012 Summer Olympics, despite the fact that Albarn has repeatedly hinted that he won’t be making any new music with the band. The pair of songs, “Under The Westway” and “The Puritan”, will be released as a single on August 6th. Today, we get the official video of “Under The Westway”, which features footage of the band recording the song in the studio. Watch below.

Listen: John Legend – “Tonight (Remix) (feat. Pusha T)”

The week is just about over and once again, the GOOD Music family celebrates Friday by gracing our ears with a new track. Hungry as always, Pusha T deals another hearty serving of dope (pun intended there)  and hops on fellow GOOD Music artist John Legend‘s single “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”. The original was already a great listen and with an additional verse from Pusha, things only get better. Hard to argue with that.

GOOD Music’s collaboration album Cruel Summer will hit the streets August 7th.

MP3: Sharebeast or Mediafire

Listen: Frank Ocean – “Sweet Life”

Frank Ocean drops a new song today, just days after posting an extremely poetic clarification about his sexuality. The new track “Sweet Life” was co-written by Pharrell and will appear on Frank’s studio debut Channel Orange, out July 17th via Island/Def Jam. This is the first thing he has posted on his Tumblr since coming out two days ago. Listen and download the soulful new track from the talented Odd Future member below.

Video: Mac Miller – “America (feat. Casey Veggies & Joey Bada$$)”

Mac Miller, Casey Veggies, and 17-year-old rap prodigy Joey Bada$$ linked up in New York City to shoot the music video for “America”, a standout from Mac’s latest mixtape Macadelic. Directed by Mike Waxx and Mike Carson of illRoots, the visuals feature the three rappers dropping their bars as the world around them becomes cartoon-like and animated via some crazy editing. Plenty of American flags and Illuminati references to go around here, so sit back and enjoy.