Nas & Damian Marley at First Ave tonight -"Be Worried"-mp3

Nas -"It Ain't Hard To Tell"-mp3
Nas & Damian Marley -EPK
Nas -"Be Worried"-mp3

Wu-Tang ft RZA -"NYC Crack"-mp3

The almighty Wu-Tang's RZA goes solo on "NYC Crack" off Wu' Wu-Tang Chamber Music out today. shouts to Ear, Eye,Nose candy & NR.

Wu-Tang ft RZA -"NYC Crack"-mp3
Raekwon ft. Ghostface & Crooked I -"Yes Sir"
Raekwon -"Wu Tang Still Rhyming"-mp3

Dirty Projectors -"Stillness Is The Move" -video

Brooklyn's art-deco Dirty Projectors video for "Stillness Is The Move", directed by Matthew Lesserner. glook youaintnopicasso

Dirty Projectors -Stillness Is The Move"-mp3

Pase Rock at 7th St Entry

Pase Rock ft Santogold & Spankrock -"Lindsay Lohan’s Revenge(Pink Is Punk Remix)"-mp3

Erykah Badu & The Roots -"I Wanna Be Where You Are (Michael Jackson)"-mp3"

Erykah Badu and The Roots collab for couple Michael Jackson covers "I Wanna Be Where You Are" and "Billie Jean" with Questlove on the mic. Original version of "I Wanna Be Where You Are" on Jackson's solo 1972's debut Got To There. seen at gvb & okp.

Erykah Badu & The Roots -"I Wanna Be Where You Are"-mp3
Erykah Badu & The Roots -"Billie Jean"-mp3

Mars Volta - "Since We've Been Wrong"- video

AM radio lovers Mars Volta new video "Since We've Been Wrong" for the second track from their surprisingly accessible new record Octahedron. glook p & p

Mars Volta -"Since We've Been Wrong"-mp3

Digitata - Art Work Pays ep review

Digitata – Art Work Pays (Totally Gross National Product)

The Minneapolis arty-electro trio Digitata quickly became beloved due to its dark electronic experiments and the amazing, passionate and soaring vocals of Maggie Morrison with muti-instrumentalist Ryan Olson and Drew Christopherson. After a hiatus of sorts, Morrison joined Grant Cutler and started a new downbeat project Lookbook, which also became toast of the town.

Digitata got together for 4 days and came out with Art Work Pays, 9 new tracks that make up the follow-up to their 2006' s II Daggers. Art Work Pays was recorded this spring at the home of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Like Brooklyn's Dirty Projectors without the layered vocals, Digitata are quirky and synth heavy with futuristic programming full of laptop tricks and emotionally captivating vocals.

On the opening track, the brooding “Over Me”, Morrison sings against loops,hand claps, and snappy drums: ”The distance is mine, to cover in time...it's over me”. “Art Work Pays” is a delicate lullaby, producing swirling noises of a drug induced haze. Meanwhile, the stylish, sexy yearning of “Weak Teeth” is a strong contender for college radio.

The urgency of both “Leave It Alone” and “Killer Be Killed” keeps the records' uptempo energy. “Saw Dust City” named after the studio where they recorded could be a Santogold b-side. The instrumental “podcast (the song)” sounds like later day Massive Attack. “Take Your Money” is a quirky almost Minneapolis-funk inspired slice of electro, complete with bleeps and tweaks. The album closes with the uptempo jaunt “Mbaby” which echoes Yeah Yeah Yeahs Karen O.'s prettier, softer tracks of It's Blitz!, the poppy track is also haunting with a 4AD, post-goth feel, though not as dark.

Digitata's marriage of beats and loops are in harmony with the emotionally charged vocals of siren Morrison whose voice is bittersweet and simultaneously joyful. Art Work Pays deliver theme music for art school dropouts who succeed at making great art.

Sawdust City
Digitata and Marijuana Death Squad
First Amendment Arts
Sat. Jun. 27th
Minneapolis

Digitata -"Weak Teeth"-mp3

Wu-Tang ft. Raekwon, Cormega & Sean Price -"Radiant Jewels"-mp3

Keeping it grimey, another track off Wu-Tang's new record with early 90's MC's and The Revelations soul band from Brooklyn. Wu-Tang Chamber Music, out Jun. 30th. RZA, GZA & Raekwon all make appearances at this years Rock The Bells. shout out 2DB.

Wu-Tang ft. Raekwon, Cormega & Sean Price -"Radiant Jewels"-mp3

Michael Jackson -RIP

Michael Jackson, The KING OF ROCK RIP!

Michael Jackson,James Brown,and Prince on stage -"James Brown jam session"-video
Michael Jackson -"Don't Stop Til You Get Enough"-video
The Game,others -"Better On the Other Side Tribute to MJ"-mp3
Michael Jackson Remembered! -Huffington Post-Slideshow
Michael Jackson -"Never Can Say Goodbye (K-Salaam & Beatnick remix)"-mp3

Bat for Lashes performs "Daniel" (live on Jimmy Kimmel Live)-video

Bat For Lashes perform "Daniel" off Two Suns on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Bat For Lashes just released Pearl Dream ep with live tracks & remixes including Dave Sitek of TVOTR remix of "Sleep Alone" shouts to box of boom.

Bat For Lashes
Aug. 7th
The Varsity
Minneapolis

Bat For Lashes -"Sleep Alone (909s In DarkTimes Mix-Dave Sitek remix)"-mp3

The Roots-"How I Got Over "- video (live on Jimmy Fallon)

Philadelphia's The Roots debut new track, the James Brown-inspired "How I Got Over" last night on The Jimmy Fallon Show. New song is the lead single off of their 11th album, How I Got Over, out Oct.20th. glook potholesinmyblog.

The Roots
July 2nd
First Ave
Minneapolis

The Roots -"How I Got Over It (live)"-mp3

K'Naan - "T.I.A. (Afrikan Boy remix)"-mp3

M.I.A. buddy Afrikan Boy jumps on K'Naan's "T.I.A (This Is Africa)", off Troubadour. K'Nann will be on the Rock The Bells tour as well as dates with Nas & Damian Marley, Matisyahu, Jason Marz and some solo headlining dates including a Minneapolis return on July 8th at The Fineline.

K'Naan
with
Muja Messiah
Manifest
July 8th
Fineline
Minneapolis

K'Naan -"T.I.A. (Afirkan Boy remix)"-mp3
Muja Messiah ft. Manifest -"Paper Planes (M.I.A.)"-mp3

Spiral Stairs - "Maltese Terrie"-mp3

Sonic Youth, Mos Def, Polvo are all back, craving more late 90's throwbacks, check out former Pavement co-founder Scott Kannberg aka Spiral Stairs, who recorded a few records as Preston School Of Industry. Now armed with a new band handle, Spiral Stairs and a new record The Real Feel, Oct. 20 via Matador. With contributions from Broken Social Scenester Kevin Drew and mixed by the Posies' Jon Auer.

Spiral Stairs -"Maltese Terrie"-mp3

Wu-Tang ft. Ghostface Killa, RZA & Havoc -"Evil Deeds"-mp3

The first track that I'm feelin "Evil Deeds" with Ghostface Killa, RZA & Mobb Deeps' havoc off Wu-Tang's new Wu-Tang Chamber Music a collection of new material starring Wu-Tang and friends from the 90's with The Revelations live band, executive-produced by RZA, dropping next week June 30th. glook NR.

Wu-Tang ft. Ghostface, RZA & Havoc -"Evil Deeds"-mp3
Raekwon -"Breeze Over"-mp3

Still Life Still -"Pastel"-mp3

New surprise from Cananda, East York,Ontario's latest Still Life Still , around for awhile with various names and band members, known for their riotous house parties, judging by the music of their ep Pastel shows the kids got talent. On "Pastel" a shimmering, riding in the warm air,late-night strummer, produced by Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene) gives an idea why their signed with Canada's premier indie Arts & Crafts who just released their ep Pastel. Their full-length Girls Come Too, will be available August 25, 2009. shout out Come Pick Me Up.

Still Life Still -"Pastel"-mp3

Nas -"Film"-mp3

New from Nas Escobar, who teams with a 17 yrs old rookie, Chicago's C-Sick on "Film", the winner of RedBull's Big Tune 2008 contest. Nas will be hittin' the road this summer for select dates on the Rock The Bells tour and some side dates with Damian "Junior Gong" Marley whom he collabs with for an entire album Distant Relatives, slated for July. via SS & 2db.

Nas & Damian Marley
Jun. 30th
First Ave.

Nas & Damian "Jr Gong" Marley -Afro Beat(snippet)-mp3
Nas -"Film"-mp3

The Clipse ft. Kanye West -"Kinda Like A Big Deal" -video

Yup, The Clipse are "Kinda Like A Big Deal".

The Clipse -"Kinda Like A Big Deal"-mp3

Polvo -"Beggars Bowl" -mp3

The return of post-gazers, North Carolina's legendary Polvo mark their comeback with In Prism due Sept. 8th on Merge. It's been awhile since their classics 1992's Cor-Crane Secret,1995's Today's Active Lifestyles, and to a lesser degree 1996's Exploded Drawing yet their arty-math rock is still in fine form. Like Slint, Polvo textured layers of noise makes perfect for gallery shows. Shouts to Stereogum.

The tracklist:
01 "Right The Relation"
02 "D.C. Trails"
03 "Beggar's Bowl"
04 "City Birds"
05 "Lucia"
06 "Dream Residue/Work"
07 "The Pedlar"
08 "A Thousand Waves"

Polvo -"Beggars Bowl"-mp3

An Interview with Thunderheist by Above The Fold

The homies at Above The Fold interview the Toronto/Montreal riot starters Thunderheist.

Thunderheist -"Nothing 2 Step 2 (Idiotproof Remix)"-mp3

Beck -"Sunday Morning (Velvet Undergorund cover)"-mp3

Beck has started the Beck Record Club with some of his "celebrity" friends, they'll pick a classic album, spend one day recording a cover of the entire thing, and then post it on the internet, one song at a time. Here's the first jump from Velvet Undergrounds' The Velvet Underground & Nico. via WeAllWantSomeone.

Beck -"Sunday Morning (Velvet Underground cover)"-mp3

Wale -Back to the Feature- mixtape

DC's flyest Wale, who's long-anticapted,much hyped and cameo-heavy new mixtape with producer 9th Wonder (Little Brother) and mixed by Nick Catchdubs Back To The Feature is here, shout out elitaste

download: Wale -Back to the Feature- mixtape

Bloc Party -"One More Chance" -mp3

Bloc Party gets a little house piano and a nice thumping grooves, with echoes of New Orders' Technique on new single, "One More Chance", which is out Aug.10th on Wichita, sweet. glookin weallwantsomeone and NotManyExperts.

Bloc Party -"One More Chance(Radio-rip)"-mp3

One For The Team does Europe

Minneapolis most happy indie kids One For The Team spreads the addictive chorus and vocal harmonies of their new ep Build A Garden on a European tour. With lots of blog love the future looks bright.

07.01 - Bielefeld, German - Kanal 21
07.02 - Berlin, Germany - Beakers
07.02 - Berlin, Germany - Duncker Club
07.03 - Teplice, Czech Republic - Jazz Club
07.04 - Tangermünde, Germany - In The Zone Music Festival
07.05 - Hamburg, Germany - Astra Stube
07.06 - Chemnitz, Germany - Subway To Peter
07.07 - Stuttgart, Germany - Zwolfzehn
07.08 - Loerrach, Germany - Altes Wasserwerk
07.09 - Freiburg, Germany - El.Pi
07.10 - Vienna, Austria - Flex
07.11 - Klagenfurt, Austria - Kwardrat
07.12 - Radolfzell, Germany - ‘S Bokle
07.13 - Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France - the Stunt Area
07.14 - Aachen, Germany - HQ
07.15 - Oberhausen, Germany - Druckluft
07.16 - Mullingar, Ireland - Mullingar
07.17 - Dublin, Ireland - Whelan’s Live

One For The Team -"Best Supporting Actress"-mp3

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- "Heads Will Roll (Passion Pit remix)" -mp3

Passion Pit remixes Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Heads Will Roll". YYYs Its Blitz! reviewed at Culture Bully. shout out T+T

Yeah Yeah Yeahs -"Heads Will Roll(Passion Pit remix)"-mp3

Red Pens - "Street Issue"-mp3

Minneapolis Red Pens, Howard Hamilton III (Busy Signals/Saucer) and painter/drummer Laura F. Bennet are yet another fantastic duo (Handsome Furs,The Kills,The Ravonettes) that rocks. Their art-noise does have melody with it's raw, stripped down fuzzy odes to My Bloody Valentine and Jesus & Mary Chain. City Pages has a profile Red Pens don't run dry on Reasons. They celebrate the release of their debut Reasons this weekend at 7th Street.

Red Pens
with Sharp Teeth
The Vignettes
Total Babe
Sat. Jun 20th
7th Street Entry
Minneapolis


Red Pens -"Street Issue"-mp3

Wale - "Rain, Sleet, Snow" -mp3

New from hip-hop wonderkid Wale, a unreleased track intended for Nike’s 25th Anniversary Tape. Wale new mixtape Back to the Feature drops tomro. peace to 2db & NR.

Wale -"Rain, Sleet, Snow"-mp3
Wale ft. Lady Gaga -"Chillin(Benzi & Willy Joy Remix)"-mp3

Kid Cudi - "Excuse My Mood"-mp3

Mr. Tight Jeans, Kid Cudi rides over The Clipse banger "Kinda Of Big Deal". Nothing really amazing here. He'll be touring all summer with Asher Roth and other bright colored tight jean rockers.

Kid Cudi -"Excuse My Mood"-mp3

Radiohead -"I Promise (live)"-mp3

A rare Radiohead track, "I Promise" captured live during 1996 tour. Heavy rumours and speculation that they are working on follow-up to In Rainbows, hopefully this year. glook Faronheit & ATF.

Radiohead -"I Promise(live)"-mp3
Radiohead -"Reckoner(Flying Lotus remix)"-mp3
Radiohead -"Everything in its Right Place(Gigamesh remix)"-mp3

Bjork -"Declare Independence (live)"-video

Bjork's new live video for "Declare Independence" from Voltaic box set. via P4k.TV

Bjork -"Nattura (Switch Remix)"-mp3

Solid Gold -"Bible Thumper" -mp3

Minneapolis' newly crowned hipsters Solid Gold release the new UK 7" single "Bible Thumper" (June 29). They'll be reading for the European release of last years breakout Bodies Of Water. SG play The Walker Art Center and 89.3 The Current's Rock the Garden this weekend. Shout out RCRD LBL.

The Decemberist
Calexico
Yeasayer
Solid Gold
Walker Art Center
Sat. Jun 20th

Solid Gold -"Bible_Thumper"-mp3
Soild Gold -"Who You Gonna Run To?"-mp3

Sonic Youth - "Scared Trickster" -video

The first video from Sonic Youth's new The Eternal, out now.

Sonic Youth
July 21st
First Ave.
Minneapolis

Iran Rocks The Casbah

The Iranian public erupts with outrage over the results of their recent re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, it seems that western media was begging for an upset by so-called reformer,the man who started the nuclear program in Iran, Mir Hossein Mousavi.



The Guardian -Riots erupt in Tehran over 'stolen' election
BBC News -Ahmadinejad defiant on 'free' Iran poll
Huffington Post -Clinton: We Hope Iran Vote Shows "Genuine Will And Desire" Of The People
The Daily Beast -How Hipsters Are Pitted Against Their Devout Parents

Public Enemy -"Fight The Power"-mp3

PJ Harvey & John Parrish "Black Hearted Love" on Letterman

Polly Jean Harvey & John Parrish perform "Black Hearted Love" off A Woman A Man Walked By.

PJ Harvey & John Parrish
Minnesota Zoo’s Weesner Amphitheater
Apple Valley, MN
Sat. June 13th

Smile Smile opens for Metric , "Sad Song"-mp3

Smile Smile the Dallas,TX duo of Ryan Hamilton and Jencey Hirunrusme, who scored an opening slot on trendy globetrotters Metric current tour, their charming mod-folk strumming has echoes of Galaxie 500 and make perfect for a late night come down, off their debut Blues Rose.

Metric
with
Sebastien Grainger
Smile Smile
First Ave
Sat. Jun. 13th
Minneapolis

Smile Smile -”Sad Song”-mp3
Metric -"Help I'm Alive (Acoustic)"-mp3
Sebastien Grainger -"American Names"-mp3

Grand Puba ft Lord Jamar -"I See Dead People"-mp3

Former members of legendary "conscious rap" group Brand Nubian link up on Grand Puba's re-entry and it's like 1994. Dropping jewels that may rattle your nerves, the cover art alone says this ain't the "daisy-age rap" of Native Tounge comrads De la Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, more Public Enemy and KMD. With guest spots from Busta Rhymes, Lord Jamar, Sadat X and dead prez with prodcution from Q-Tip & Large Professor, Retroactive, out June 23rd on Babygrande.

Grand Puba ft. Lord Jamar -”I See Dead People”-mp3

Gang Gang Dance -"First Communion (TV On The Radio mix)"mp3

Brooklyns' TV On The Radio had Brooklyns Gang Gang Dance remix "Stork & Owl" on their remix ep Read Science, now they return the favor and remix GGD's "First Communion" off "First Communion" 12", originally from last years Saint Dymphna. via Stereogum

Gang Gang Dance -"First Communion(TV On The Radio mix)"-mp3

The Clipse -"I'm Good"-mp3

From indies' favorite coke slingers sorry Raekwon, Virginia bad-boys Clipse latest track "I'm Good" from Til The Casket Drops. It's produced by and features Pharrell, it's a radio joint with R&B crooning but don't let that stop ya, it's cool, it doesn't bang like "Kinda Of A Big Deal". glookin NR

The Clipse -"I'm Good"-mp3
The Clipse ft. Kanye West -"Kinda Of A Big Deal"-mp3

Anti-Pop Consortium - "Capricorn One"-mp3

Anti-Pop Consortium perhaps the first post-hip-hop group, determined to defy all the rules with their bleep,blips and rapid fire delivery have reunited and recorded their fourth album Fluorescent Black, slated for release October 13th on Big Dada Recordings

Anti-Pop Consortium -"Capricorn One"-mp3

P.O.S. -"Goodbye" -video

P.O.S. releases another dope video,his third from Never Better.

The Ravonetts -"Last Chance (demo)"-mp3

The sexy duo The Ravonettes , offer something new, their demos for next record via twitter, the first track the slow-burner "Last Chance". Singer Sune Rose Wagner describes track as "how drug addiction interferes with love".

The Ravonetts -"Last Chance(demo)"-mp3

BLK JKS - "Molataldi"-mp3

South African indie artist and Fader cover boys BLK JKS release the first track "Molataldi" from their full length debut After Robots Sept. 8th on Secretly Canadian.

BLK JKS -"Molataldi"-mp3

Dirty Projectors - "Remade Horizon"-mp3

Coming off high profile contributions to the amazing Dark Was The Night compilation and projects with David Byrne and Bjork have increased expectations for Brooklyn's Dirty Projectors the latest arty electronic-vocals with multi-harmonies driven combo, off their contender the Bitte Orca, this is addictive as fuck. shout out MFR.

Dirty Projectors -"Remade Horizon"-mp3

Sonic Youth - "Antenna" live

Sonic Youth performs "Antenna" off The Eternal for Pitchfork.TV

Animal Collective -"Daily Routine (PhaseOne remix)"-mp3

Phase One remixes Animal Collective "Daily Routine". via Mad Decent

Animal Collective -"Daily Routine (PhaseOne remix)"-mp3

Jay-Z - "D.O.A .(Death Of Autotune)"-mp3

"This is Sinatra at the Opera, bring a blonde" King Hov is back with a NO ID & Kanye West produced "D.O.A.", the first track off Jiggas Blueprint 3 he had to come back...cuz these new rappers "ya jeans too tight"..."I know we facin a recession, but the music y'all makin gonna make it the great depression."

Jay-Z -"D.O.A.(Death Of Autotune)"-mp3

Maria Isa 's Street Politics release show at First Ave

Maria Isa's the Twin Cities reggaeton, hip-hop stylist celebrates her sophomore record Street Politics, with her band and an all-star lineup. Sonically she travels throughout hip-hop, Salsa, reggaeton, R&B and Afro-Latin flavors to create a lane of her own, representing her Puerto Rician heritage b-boy/b-girl aesthetics finds her internationally ambitious and ambiguous having more in common with artist like K'naan, M.I.A. & Mos Def than typical rap artist. Star Tribune has a nice feature Maria Isa: Growing up Sota-Rico.

Maria Isa Big Band
with
Muja Messiah,I-Self Devine
Dance Band, Mayda
Kill The Vultures,St Paul Slim
First Ave
Fri June 5th

Maria Isa -"Caramelo"-mp3

Mos Def ft. Slick Rick -"Auditorium"-mp3

It's true, the backpacker's god Mos Def gets back in the music game with the post-backpacker release of The Ecstatic, scheduled for June 9th, is leaking like a faucet, so the actual date is up in the air. glook Slash.

Mos Def ft. Slick Rick -"Auditorium"-mp3

Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover Sonic Youth "Diamond Sea"-mp3

The new disco action of Yeah Yeah Yeahs Its Blitz! may have thrown loyal fans for a loop, not to worry here's a little nugget, an acoustic version Sonic Youth's "Diamond Sea". seen at boxofboom.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs -"Diamond Sea (Sonic Youth cover)"-mp3

TV On The Radio -"Make Love All Night Long"-mp3

A cool b-side from TV On The Radio's "Dancing Choose" single
via selective-service

TV On The Radio -"Make Love All Night Long"-mp3

Raekwon -"Olympus" + Ghostface Killa "Forever Dirty" -mp3

Another track from Wu-Tangs coke king Raekwon "Olympus" produced by Wu-affilate True Master, not sure where this came from, since it not on either of the The Chef's two recent mixtapes The Chefs' Blood on the Chef's Apron & Staten Go Hard vol.1. Raekwon's official comeback album,the highly anticipated Only Built For Cuban Linx II, Slated for Aug 11th., also new Ghostface Killa, "Forever" where he gets his R&B on. via Nah Right

Raekwon -"Olympus"-mp3
Ghostface Killa -"Forever Dirty"-mp3

Sonic Youth -"What We Know"

"I'm in a state of shock, I'm creeping up and down your block" NYC's Sonic Youth, the grandparents in the indie game, return in glorious fashion with The Eternal June 9th. glook MFR.

Sonic Youth -"Trickster"-mp3
Sonic Youth -"What We Know"-mp3
(removed by request)

Wale ft Lady Gaga “Chillin'” - video + "Family Affair"-mp3

The debut video off the upcoming Attention Deficit from hip-hip's most arrogant artist not named Kanye, Wale featuring the hip version of Britney Spears, no M.I.A. ,shout outs to Rap Radar & NR.

Wale -"Family Affair"-mp3
Kid Cudi ft.Wale -"Look Up In Da The Stars"-mp3

Scion new DJ series with Klever,Kill The Noise & Rob Wonder

Free show,rsvp at Scion Metro Mpls

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- "Heads Will Roll" -live at First Ave-video