My Poproks RateItAll
Dude, how good is Robin Thicke? I once said something along the lines of “as good as Songs in the Key of Life” when referring to his sophomore album, The Evolution of Robin Thicke. I did. And I’d say it again. I just did. Anyway, this new track sort of makes me feel better for saying that (twice). Everything about this song is so Stevie. So good. Thicke’s got some moves, too.
Something Else is tentatively due September 9 on Interscope.
Artist: Santogold & Diplo
Track: “Guns of Brooklyn (Doc and Jon Hill Dub)”
Album: Top Ranking
If you really like the pants you’re wearing right now, do not listen to this new track off of Santogold and Diplo’s new mixtape, Top Ranking (you know, cause you will piss yourself). “Guns Of Brooklyn (Doc and Jon Hill Dub)” is, obviously, a cover of the Clash classic “Guns of Brixton.” The mixtape, on Mad Decent, is available at Turntable Lab For $12. Fader posted up a free download of the track, here. Goodies!
Download: “Guns Of Brooklyn (Doc and Jon Hill Dub)” by Santogold & Diplo
Following the release of their new album, End Titles…Stories for Film, U.N.K.L.E. are now offering a free download of their new version of the X Files theme. The theme will be featured in The X Files: I Want to Believe (out July 25) during the end credits, but is not on the new album. You can stream it, here. Download link below. Basically, it’s awesome. Not that I am very, very excited for this movie…cause only dorks like X Files.
I’m way ahead of you, Scully.
Download: “02 X Files” by U.N.K.L.E.
Top 10 things I would do if I were as cool as Pharrell Williams: #1 - start a really badass band and record really badass albums and make really badass videos and wear really badass clothes and just be an all-around BAD ASS.
Anyway, the new N.E.R.D. video for “Spaz,” the second single off of Seeing Sounds (an album that poproks, a lot), is above.
Sigh.
Eh, R.E.M. have always been pretty good at the video thing, even when they were making mediocre mid-career sleepers (”Bad Day,” anyone? I actually really like this song anyways). Can’t go wrong with animation and political statements right now.
Nas announced a North American Tour today to coincide with the release of his “untitled” album, and will also be bringing along Talib Kweli, Green Lantern and Jay Electronica.
Tell ‘em Nas made you do it.
July 22, 2008 - Montréal, QC @ Metropolis
July 24, 2008 - S. Burlington, VT@ Higher Ground
July 25, 2008 - New Haven, CT Toad’s Place Metropolis
July 26, 2008-Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center
July 27, 2008- Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 29, 2008- Charlotte, NC @ Amo’s South End
July 30, 2008- Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
July 31, 2008- Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
Aug 1, 2008- New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
Aug 2, 2008- West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheater
Aug 3, 2008- Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Aug 8, 2008- Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
Aug 9, 2008- Devore, CA @ Glen Helen Pavilion
Aug 10, 2008- San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
Aug 16, 2008- Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Aug 22, 2008- Park City, UT @ Harry O’s
Aug 23, 2008 - Englewood, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Aug 24, 2008 - Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
Aug 25, 2008 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Aug 26, 2008 - Austin, TX @ Stubbs Ampitheatre
Aug 28, 2008 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
Aug 29, 2008 - Detroit, MI @ Chene Park
Aug 30, 2008 - Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club
Aug 31, 2008 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Sep 1, 2008 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Sep 3, 2008 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
Sep 4, 2008 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Sep 5, 2008- Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
U.N.K.L.E. End Titles…Stories for Film
Despite rumors (and a formal announcement) that U.N.K.L.E. was splitting ways (really, only Richard File was leaving the band), they’re releasing their fourth album. Four tracks are available for free download: Here, here, here, and here.
David Banner The Greatest Story Ever Told
The mega hip hop producer’s 5th album, features appearances by Lil Wayne, Akon, Snoop Dogg, UGK, and Chris Brown.
The Hold Steady Stay Positive
Super pop rock that’s so oddly recognizable, so catchy, so effin’ good, that it’s hard for pretty much anyone not to love it. The band’s follow-up to their 2006 breakthrough has been released to rave reviews by everyone, with reason.
Nas Nas
Dirty Nas keeps us all on our toes, to say the very least. “Hero” is one of my favorite tracks of the year, and no matter what the CD called, he’s unbeatable ya’ll.
Check out a complete list of releases for tomorrow at Newmusictipsheet.com and Largehearted Boy.
So, here is that Radiohead video that did not use any cameras or lights for filming. The video, if I understand this correctly, was “captured” using laser technologies that record the relative size and shape of things, and then that data is put together with computer visualizations of what the lasers captured. If you don’t understand that (I mean, I don’t understand what I just said), try this ‘making of.’ Only another contribution by the most innovative and interesting pop band in the entire world (ever).
Oh, and the song is not so bad either.
Radiohead. Man, oh man.
More Modern Guilt for you. Cause who doesn’t have guilt now-a-days?
Beck tour dates below…(first leg only, we hope. Where are the New York dates?!)
August 21 - Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
August 22 - San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival
August 24 - Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphiteater
August 30 - Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot Festival
September 19 - San Diego, CA @ Street Scene Festival
September 20 - Hollywood, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
September 22 - Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theater
September 23 - Albuquerque, NM @ Kiva Auditorium
September 25 - El Paso, TX @ Abraham Chavez Theatre
September 27 - Austin, TX @ Zilker Park, Austin City Limits Festival
September 29 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
September 30 - Minneapolis, MN @ Wilkins Auditorium
October 2 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
October 3 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
In keeping up with my quarter year list for Q1, I present my official quarter year list for Q2 (April - June). You’ll notice Maths + English on this list, as I’ve stated that I am officially counting this as a 2008 release (came out digitally in ‘07, as well as officially in the UK). You may also notice Coldplay’s #2 spot (deal with it), and as hard as it was to leave off The Black Keys release, these titles just stood out to me a bit more in the past couple of months.
1. Portishead Third
2. Coldplay Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
3. Lil Wayne Tha Carter III
4. Sigur Ros Meo Suo i Eyrum Vio Spilum Endalaust
5. Santogold Santogold
6. Duffy Rockferry
7. N.E.R.D. Seeing Sounds
8. The Cool Kids The Bake Sale
9. Dizzee Rascal Maths + English
10. Jim Noir Jim Noir
Beck Modern Guilt
This week’s Albumoftheweek…
Saul Williams The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust
Physical release on Fader of Saul’s 2007 digital only release, produced by NIN’s Trent Reznor. This album is complete madness of the best kind.
Ratatat LP3
The third album by this Brooklyn duo following 2006’s Classics. The first single “Shiller” was also released as a limited edition 7″ vinyl.
Albert Hammond Jr. Como Te Llama?
Follow up to the Strokes guitarist’s solo debut Yours to Keep, the first single and video for “GfC” for two thumbs up from My Poproks, if you’re interested.
Check out a complete list of releases for tomorrow at Newmusictipsheet.com and Largehearted Boy.
The schedule was posted today for the 8th Annual Village Voice Siren Festival at Coney Island in Brooklyn (big ups to Brooklyn). Though this doesn’t really compare to last year’s line-up, I’m excited about my one and only festival outing of 2008 (poor people like free festivals). Helio Sequence and The Dodos have both released two of my favorite albums of their respective quarters (2008 Q2 list coming soon), and I’ve never seen Broken Social Scene or Malkmus live.
Also, kind of excited for the Ted Leo DJ set…
Jeez, Louise, Beck is awesome. I’m having trouble picking a favorite track on this album…
Might have to go with this one.
8.5
I think a universal law should be voted into place that states that every album can only be 10 tracks in length. With the latest offerings from artists like Coldplay and Radiohead releasing 10 track albums that overwhelmingly outshine their respective predecessors, it’s time to entertain the possibility that in this iPod age, solid, compact albums may be a great compromise that will actually work in everyone’s favor (even Tha Carter III starts to lose me midway through “Playing With Fire).” That wasn’t true…the Carter III thing. Actually, 20 track albums don’t really bother me at all.
With that said, Beck’s 8th album, Modern Guilt is practically perfect in every way. The songs are good enough to stand on their own, but are also part of a cohesive hole that flows in a way few albums manage to do. After the 33:60 is up, it leaves you satisfied, yet consciously aware of the fact that it was short; Short and sweet.
Beck Barkley? Danger Beck? This plays more like a collaboration than it does a Beck album, but I have no complaints. Danger Mouse’s production is immediately recognizable, as a drum and bass line that is very similar to The Odd Couple’s opener kicks off the album. Highlights like “Chemtrails” and “Volcano” play like a musical acid trip, while more upbeat tracks like “Gamma Ray” and “Youthless” combine electronica and 60’s pop in a way that is indescribably good (hence, why I did not describe it).
Beck’s done his acoustic folk record, his hip hop record, his Prince record, and now his psychedelic rock record. He’s also somehow done it without ever coming off like a Jack of All Trades dabbling into genres. Beck has proven once again that he can pick any style out of a hat and create an entire album of amazing material.
Some very pretty scenes happening in the new Verve video for “Love is Noise,” the band’s first single off their long-awaited forth album called Forth, (a la Portishead’s long-awaited third album called Third), due August 18 on EMI. I still might have to give this song a 6-7/10 rating, but as I said, any Ashcroft is good Ashcroft.
Albert Hammond Jr.’s 2nd solo album, ¿Cómo Te Llama?, came out yesterday on Black Seal. The first single and video for “GfC” above might be higher on my list than any track on his last album, and the video is one of my favorites of the year so far. Not sure if he is the Top Stroke over Julian Casablancas (I’d actually say that Fabrizio Moretti has them both beat, what with the awesome name the dating Drew Barrymore).
Despite the very believable rumors that Kanye West was going to attend anger management, Kanye has again used his blog to refute rumors (much like he did about his 5am set at Bonnaroo and his Angel self portrait - which I think has been removed). Below is the post Kanye wrote today in response to the latest rumor.
Now the media is saying I’m going to anger management something or ‘nother. I have never had any conversations about anger management. If anything, I need anger enhancement!! lol! I get off the plane in Hawaii today and the world is saying my management team said blah blah blah… SIIIIIIGGGHHHH! I told the media you can’t make up lies about me because I have a media outlet myself. Oh and sidebar I don’t know if everyone has realized this yet but I don’t do interviews if there’s anything I wanna say I’ll say right here on my own blog.
Check this out…I took a quote from my rant and used it as my headline.. just like a real media outlet would… hahaha
I think this song just grew on me a little more…
The Converse ad video for that Pharrell, Santogold, Casablancas collab, “My Drive Thru” - I kinda thought this song was pretty awesome before the awesome video made it even awesomer. Who cares if this is for a commercial? Really.
