Author: Faronheit Page 102 of 192

We’ve hit another Tuesday, where I’m once again pleased to bring you a quick rundown of artists with brand new music coming out this week. The hope is to either inform you about what’s out there, but also to maybe even remind you if one of your favorite artists is putting out something new and you simply forgot about it. So without further ado, here’s your list for this week: A Perfect Circle, Andrew Bird, Beady Eye, Blood Orange, CFCF, Daytona, Emerald Web, The Entrance Band, Ghost B.C., Jake Bugg, John Zorn, Kurt Vile, Magik Markers, Mick Turner, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer, Nils Frahm, Polar Bear Club, Reggie and the Full Effect, and The Suburbs. There’s a couple of really strong records in this stack for this week, so please make some purchases via your favorite digital or physical retailer! Now let’s get to today’s Pick Your Poison, where you can discover even more hot new music. Some key tracks you’ll want to give attention to today come from Chevy Heston, David Bronson, Kurt Vile, M+A, Maria Taylor, Ratking, Saint Motel and The Soon-Another. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream new songs from Empress Of, The Notwist, Painted Palms, ScHoolboy Q, Temples and THEE SILVER MT ZION.

AAA Battery – Jenna

Chevy Heston – Slaves.

David Bronson – Animals

Drake – Too Much (Budo Remix)

The Head – Leave Me

Kurt Vile – Feel My Pain

M+A – B Song

Maria Taylor – This Is It

Ratking ft. Eric Copeland – Gauchos

Saint Motel – Ace in the Hole

Say Yes Dog – Around My Neck

The Soon-Another – Like You Like

Step Echo – Under the Mistletoe

Unlike Pluto – Phoe

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This Saturday is set to be a busy one throughout the city of Chicago. The main event happens in the early evening with the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, which is really a huge parade down Michigan Avenue as they light up all the trees that line the street. At the end of it all there’s fireworks over the Chicago River. The event brings out so many people it’s extremely difficult to walk down the sidewalk as everyone is camped out trying to spot Mickey Mouse or Santa as they ride past. I’ve never gone to it for pleasure, but had to go for work once and it was a nightmare of epic proportions. If you’ve got a family with small children though, I can understand the appeal. I’m not in that situation, so understandably it’s not my thing. Anyways, for the 18+ adults out there who are looking to have a bit of fun this Saturday night, lights parade or not, allow me to suggest heading over to Metro for a show with Cults, Mood Rings and SACCO. If you’ve yet to hear Cults’ new album Static, it’s a sugary sweet slice of indie pop with a bit of a dark side to it. More atmospheric and less instantly addictive than the band’s self-titled debut, the new album expands their sound in interesting ways that fans might not expect. Indeed, the album has been somewhat polarizing in critical assessments, but whatever reservations are held certainly don’t carry over to Cults’ live show. I’ve seen them perform 3 times over the last couple years, and each time they’ve been progressively better and more engaging than the time before. Watch Cults perform their song “High Road” for Baeble Music to get an idea of how their live show is. Of course Cults aren’t the only reason to pick up a ticket for the show. Atlanta band Mood Rings unleashed their debut full-length album VPI Harmony over the summer to a bit of acclaim. Their synth-infused dream pop sound often feels like a cross between Deerhunter and My Bloody Valentine in their least noisy states, though there are other elements in play that really help make the band a sonic enigma in the best sort of way. They’ve moved away from the lo-fi elements of their 2011 EP, and the shift to a more polished sound has done them wonders. You can still stream VPI Harmony in full over at Spin. They’re the sort of band that you want to show up early and see, because they’ve got big things ahead of them. As for SACCO, there’s very little I can tell you. They don’t have an album out yet, but if you want to hear a couple of songs from them, Bandcamp is your friend. They’ve got a sort of psychedelic, jangly pop vibe to them that does a nice job fitting in with the other two bands on the bill, so they might be somebody you’ll want to look into as well. All that said, the show starts at 9 on Saturday night, tickets are $21 and can be purchased in advance here. If you’re in Chicago and don’t have plans for the evening, come on out, it should be a great time! Also a great time is today’s Pick Your Poison. There’s some great tracks today from Bowerbirds, Dead Waves, De Lux, Ian Fisher & The Present, Little SUns, Powers and Total Slacker. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Alan Watts, Erol Alkan, Katy B, Neneh Cherry and Vertical Scratchers.

55Billion – SuperBrain

Abstraxion – Rising

Bowerbirds – Seven Wonders

The Chelsea Kills – You Said It Yourself

Dead Waves – Over Me

De Lux – Better at Making Time

Filip Filipi – Mandolins Cry

Ian Fisher & The Present – Regret (ft. Phia)

Ilas – September Memory

Little Suns – WDPGWTGA

POWERS – Gimme Some

Snowflake – Black Stars

Total Slacker – Keep the Ships at Bay

Voyeur – String

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It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for another weekly dip into the pool of music news, interviews and videos that I like to call This Week In Music! Yes, in addition to the normal Pick Your Poison mp3s and Soundcloud streams, I like to toss out links to a bunch of other music-related content that I’ve found interesting or worthwhile over the course of the week. I encourage you to check some, if not all of these things out, particularly if you’re looking to waste some time. There’s plenty to see, read and hear:

Watch Win Butler of Arcade Fire perform “Reflektor” with a mariachi band

Music Video: A$AP Rocky – Phoenix

Watch Darkside perform a 36-minute set for Boiler Room

Music Video: David Bowie – Love Is Lost (James Murphy Remix) [NSFW]

Music Video: Delorean – Unhold (ft. Caroline Polachek)

Music Video: Julianna Barwick – The Harbinger

Music Video: Shearwater – I Luv the Valley OH! (Xiu Xiu cover)

Music Video: Phoenix – Chloroform

Music Video: Blood Orange – Time Will Tell

Music Video: Lily Allen – Hard Out Here

Once you’re done with that set of distractions, let me offer up another set via some song downloads and streams. Don’t miss tracks from Elim Bolt, Howe Gelb, Long Long Showers, Shy Boys, Smile and Tough Age. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream cuts from Against Me!, Angel Olsen, Billie Joe Armstrong & Norah Jones, Happy Diving and Joanna Gruesome (covering Galaxie 500.

Elim Bolt – Dingy

Fancy Werewolves – Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover)

Howe Gelb – Unforgivable

Kaleida – Think

Long Long Showers – Loud and Loveable

One Finger Riot – Lifted Off

Orchestra of Spheres – 2,000,000 Years

Paradise – Stars Shine Bright (Woman’s Hour Remix)

Qiet – The Indie Song

Shy Boys – Keeps Me On My Toes

Smile – Still Waiting For My Man

Tev’n – Rose Petal

Tough Age – Sea of White

Vieux Farka Toure – Maiga (Afriquoi Remix)

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Death Grips are a strange “band” (if you can call them that). While they’ve put out one incredible record known as The Money Store and a nearly-as-good follow-up with NO LOVE DEEP WEB, just about everything they’ve done since then has been intended to agitate, provoke and confront. Well, I suppose if you listen to their music you’d get that impression too. Their sound can best be described as punk rap, taking the violent barking of punk rock vocalists and translating it into hip hop with fiery and explosive backing tracks. It’s an inventive enough combo to have earned the boys a major label record deal, which they promptly destroyed on their own accord by releasing NO LOVE DEEP WEB online for free. The reason why they did it was supposedly because Epic Records wanted to hold the album for release in early 2013, while the guys had promised fans it’d be out before the end of 2012. In other words, they circumvented the system in an effort to get their music into their fans’ hands as quickly and painlessly as possible. That seemed nice, even if it resulted in a fight with their label and eventually getting dropped. Now operating as their own independent faction on a label they started themselves, Death Grips booked a number of shows in the spring and late summer of 2013 as they also claimed to be working on new material for a soundtrack to a film they would write, direct and star in. While the spring performances went off without a hitch, things began to go awry in early August, when the band failed to show up for their pre-Lollapalooza set at Bottom Lounge. A drum kit was set up, a Gmail screenshot of a suicide note was projected onto a screen behind the stage, and Death Grips music played over the speakers as fans waited for the band to come out and actually play it live. When they didn’t show up and venue management found out band members never even got on a plane to fly to Chicago, there was a small riot and all of the on-stage equipment was destroyed. The Lollapalooza appearance scheduled for the following day was also cancelled. Eventually more shows and the entire fall tour was scrapped, save for a set at FYF in Los Angeles which surprised many because it actually happened. After keeping a close eye on Death Grips and all their antics over the last couple of years, it’s starting to wear on me. I think the music they make is different and innovative, and I don’t even mind their antagonistic approach towards record labels and music distribution in general. But when you screw your fans over and make them waste their time and money by coming out to a show that you had no intention of showing up for, that seems very mean-spirited to me. Your fan base is responsible for your livelihood, and if you insult them there won’t be any left to listen to anything you’d like to put out. Still, I suppose it can be hard to resist free, and when Death Grips released a surprise new album this afternoon called Government Plates I jumped at the chance to download it. If you’re intrigued and would like to download the whole thing for free yourself, here’s a link where you can do exactly that. You can also stream the entire record on Soundcloud. I haven’t had the chance to listen to it yet, but I’ve watched a couple of the new videos they uploaded to their YouTube channel, and it’s pretty much the same thing and sound they’ve been exploring since Day 1. It’s definitely not for everybody, so approach with extreme caution. If you don’t like what Death Grips have to offer, maybe something from Pick Your Poison will strike your fancy. Don’t miss tracks from Blac Hollywood, The Chelsea Kills, The Landing, Mark Kozelek, Rue Royale, Shocking Pinks, Sweet Soubrette and Trails and Ways (covering Frank Ocean). In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Guerilla Toss, M83, Solids and Xeno & Oaklander.

Autistic Youth – Not For Me
Autistic Youth – Couriers of Kings

Blac Hollywood – Audrina Rose

The Chelsea Kills – Germany

Dove and Gun – Let Go of the Future

The Landing – Anxieties

Mark Kozelek – I Know

The New Royales – Drugs in My Pocket (The Monks cover)

Otonana Trio – Chonmage King

Put Together – Dream

Rue Royale – Shouldn’t Have Closed My Eyes

Sam Clayton – Lumberjack

Shocking Pinks – Not Gambling

Sweet Soubrette – Rock Paper Scissors

Trails and Ways – Lost (Frank Ocean cover)

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We’ve hit another Tuesday, where I’m once again pleased to bring you a quick rundown of artists with brand new music coming out this week. The hope is to either inform you about what’s out there, but also to maybe even remind you if one of your favorite artists is putting out something new and you simply forgot about it. So without further ado, here’s your list for this week: Adrian Utley, The Beatles, Cate Le Bon, Chase and Status, Chris Garneau, Daedelus, David Lynch, Doug Benson, ERAAS, Erasure, Graph Rabbit, Grizzly Bear, Heidecker and Wood, Hollow Sunshine, The Hunt, ILLLS, Jensen Sportag, Josephine Foster, Keane, The Killers, Kiln, Lady Gaga, Los Campesinos!, Mark Pritchard, Mason Jennings, Matt Pryor, Nat Baldwin, Phish, Rhys Chatham, State Faults, Tindersticks, Troum, Vex Ruffin, Weekend Nachos, Wooden Shjips and Yeasayer. There’s a couple of really strong records in this stack for this week, so please make some purchases via your favorite digital or physical retailer! Now let’s get to today’s Pick Your Poison, where you can discover even more hot new music. Some key tracks you’ll want to give attention to today come from Aaron Cohen, Barnaby, Crushed Stars, Frog Eyes, Jack Name and Old Monk. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream new songs from Doc Daneeka, Heatsick, Marissa Nadler, The Minx and Raum.

Aaron Cohen – True

Barnaby – Bored

Crushed Stars – Flowerbomb

Formes – Inside I’ve Flown

Frog Eyes – I Won’t Dime

Ghost Beach – Miracle (DallasK Remix)

H A R T E B E E S T – death.

Jack Name – Pure Terror

Jensen Sportag – Rain Code (Fennesz Remix)

Jesse Koolhaas – Fly By

Kurt Von Stetten – Those That Know

Old Monk – Volcanic Prisons

One Unique Signal – The Under Side

What Model Citizens – Felony Heights

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It’s my sincere hope that you’ve been paying close attention to the band Cut Copy these last several years. If you like dance music, in particular the kind that’s laced with psychedelia and references to the past, they’re simply the sort of artist you can’t pass up. I’ve never known them to write anything less than impressive, catchy as all hell beat-driven anthems with a good dose of spaced-out electro-pop for good measure. Their new record Free Your Mind was unleashed about a week ago, and it continues the band’s trend of mining from history. This time the target appears to be both the hippie love fest that was the late ’60s and the neon glow of the coked-up ’80s club scene. The results are decidedly more mixed than their previous efforts, however if you take a step back from close analysis and just go with the flow, the flaws magically disappear and you’re left with another collection of really fun songs. In the live setting those issues are even less prevalent, mostly because that’s the area where the band truly excels, and people are there with one mission in mind: to dance their asses off. Cut Copy are currently in the middle of an international tour in support of the new album, and they’ll be in Chicago this Thursday night at the Riviera for an 18+ show. Tickets are a modest $27.50, and you can purchase them in advance here. Having seen the band a few times before, I can tell you this isn’t something you want to miss should you be available to go. If you’re not from Chicago, or simply feel like Cut Copy isn’t up your alley, let me help you out with today’s Pick Your Poison. There’s some strong tracks in this set from Andrew St. James, Bass Science, Foolish Atoms, Fossil Collective (covering The Flaming Lips), The Harmed Brothers, A Million Billion Dying Suns and Suddenly Sunshine. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream new songs from Art Decade, Cassie, Diane Coffee, Emily Jane White, Juliette Commagere and Metronomy.

Andrew St. James – Visions

Bass Science – Swerve

Bodhi – No More (Charles Murdoch Remix)

Cancellieri – Storyteller

Foolish Atoms – How to Remains Solid Under a Sky of Gas

Fossil Collective – Do You Realize? (The Flaming Lips cover)

The Harmed Brothers – Better Days

Heaven – Colors in the Whites of Your Eyes (Computer Magic Remix)

Little Racer – Vanessa

Michael Persall – Waves

A Million Billion Dying Suns – Plush

Ryan VanDordrecht – Great American Life

Suddenly Sunshine – The Farm

Terminal Gods – The Wheels of Love

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It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for another weekly dip into the pool of music news, interviews and videos that I like to call This Week In Music! Yes, in addition to the normal Pick Your Poison mp3s and Soundcloud streams, I like to toss out links to a bunch of other music-related content that I’ve found interesting or worthwhile over the course of the week. I encourage you to check some, if not all of these things out, particularly if you’re looking to waste some time. There’s plenty to see, read and hear:

YouTube Audio Stream: Autre Ne Veut + Fennesz – Alive

A kitchen table once owned by former Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis’ is up for auction

Read Annie Clark’s (St. Vincent) smart & funny “review” of the new Arcade Fire album

Watch Washed Out perform the song “Paracosm” and talk about the new album

Music Video: These New Puritans – V (Island Song)

Watch The National perform “Sea of Love” on “Later…With Jools Holland

Music Video: Destroyer – Bye Bye

YouTube Audio Stream: Andrew Bird – Pulaski at Night

Music Video: CHVRCHES – Lies

Watch Arcade Fire perform Devo’s “Uncontrollable Urge” live in concert

Once you’re done with that set of distractions, let me offer up another set via some song downloads and streams. Don’t miss tracks from Ballerina Black, The Black and White Years, BNLX, Message to Bears, The Pharmacy, Tei Shi, Van Anders and Vikesh Kapoor. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream cuts from Bombay Bicycle Club, A Lily, The National and Sonny & the Sunsets.

Ballerina Black – Sauves Grey

The Black and White Years – Little One

BNLX – Opposites Attract

Close, Soft – Black & Blonde

Dan Bodan – Hunger Games (Great Skin Remix)

Ivan de Ru – Barbarians

Message to Bears – Moonlight

The Pharmacy – Ripped Weeds

Punks Jump Up – Fairlight (Club Mix)

Sabi – Love Sounds

Tei Shi – Nature vs Nurture

Van Anders – Out All Night

Vikesh Kapoor – Bottom of the Ladder

What Model Citizens – Too Late

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The middle of the week is the time I usually like to start thinking about the future – specifically the weekend and what show or shows I’m going to go and see. It doesn’t always work out – particularly if there aren’t any bands I like coming through town or I’ve got lots of other things going on – but in the fall I try to catch a concert at least once a week, even if it falls on a weekday. Which brings me to this upcoming weekend in Chicago. On Sunday night, the Sleigh Bells and Doldrums tour rolls through town for a show at Metro. First and foremost, if you’ve never seen Sleigh Bells perform live, they’re one of the best and most exciting acts on stage today. I’ve seen them three times now, and each has been a highly memorable and super fun experience. Actually, watch this clip of the band performing “Crown on the Ground” at SXSW 2012, which is a show I witnessed from up against the barricade. I haven’t been able to spot myself in the video, but I also didn’t bother pausing it to try and find out for sure. The point is, if you’re going to see Sleigh Bells live, be prepared for something high energy and loud. Unfortunately the band’s latest record Bitter Rivals is by far their weakest, and I’m sure a majority of their show these days is devoted to helping promote that album. Still, even with the so-so material I promise you that this band is worth the price of admission alone. That you get Doldrums opening up the evening is a really great bonus. If you’re not familiar with Doldrums, it’s the project of Canadian Airick Woodhead. After releasing a couple of EPs over the last few years, he finally put out his debut full length Lesser Evil in early 2013. The critics loved it, as did I, with an art-damaged DIY electro-based sound that’s drawn comparisons from Grimes (who’s a close friend) to Animal Collective. It’s very glitchy, often weird, but beat dominant and surprisingly catchy. Stream the full album on Soundcloud. Considering the lack of guitars, Doldrums might seem a little bit of an odd fit to be touring with the very guitar-heavy Sleigh Bells, but there’s enough white noise compositions between the two of them to make the pairing feel more apt than you might expect. I’ve never seen Doldrums perform live, but I’ve heard great things to the point where it’s worth showing up on time to experience it. Things kick off on Sunday at 9pm, the show is 18+, and tickets are $26. From what I understand, it’s really, really close to selling out, so buy your tickets in advance here. Now let’s get to today’s Pick Your Poison. Key tracks you’ll want to pay attention to today come from Ben Fuller, Delay Trees, Dovetail, Laurel, SWF and Weather Music. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from CYMBALS, Hospitality, Juan Wauters, No Joy, Say Lou Lou and Snowbird (Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymonde).

Angela Perley and the Howlin’ Moons – Hurricane

Ben Fuller – Love Song for the People

Delay Trees – Perfect Heartache

DJ Scene & Jayceeoh – Damn

Dovetail – Big City

d.smithsucks – Fuck and Run (Liz Phair cover)

Grigori – Immune

Laurel – Fire Breather

Pet – Talk to You (Jack Tennis Remix)

Say Yes Dog – A Friend

SWF – Warrior

Tei Shi – Nevermind the End

Tic Tic Boom! – These Motions (Tapioca and the Flea Remix)

Weather Music – Incredible

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We’ve hit another Tuesday, where I’m once again pleased to bring you a quick rundown of artists with brand new music coming out this week. The hope is to either inform you about what’s out there, but also to maybe even remind you if one of your favorite artists is putting out something new and you simply forgot about it. So without further ado, here’s your list for this week: Bob Dylan, Cut Copy, Damon, David Bowie, Drag the River, Ducktails, Howe Gelb, Kronos Quartet with Bryce Dessner, M.I.A., Mat Zo, Midlake and The New York Dolls. There’s a couple of really strong records in this stack for this week, so please make some purchases via your favorite digital or physical retailer! Now let’s get to today’s Pick Your Poison, where you can discover even more hot new music. Some key tracks you’ll want to give attention to today come from The Aikiu (ft. JD Samson), Brother Dege, Cameron McGill, The Delay in the Universal Loop, Kinetics and Take Berlin. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Audion (aka Matthew Dear), Broken Bells (aka James Mercer of The Shins + Danger Mouse), Jeremy Jay, Lyla Foy, Morgan Delt and Raekwon’s remix of Lorde’s Royals.

The 1975 – Girls (The Knocks Remix)

The Aikiu ft. JD Samson – Win

Brother Dege – The Darker Side of Me

Calliope Musicals – The Adventurers

Cameron McGill – Canyonlands

Congo Sanchez – Vibrations (ft. Ini Kimoze)

The Delay in the Universal Loop – Flumen

HeadShy – Coma

Iggy Azalea – Work (Stubbs Remix)

Kinetics – Empty Lanes

Kristin Hoffman – Let Go (Rise of Troy Remix)

Take Berlin – Vermona

Victory – Soothing Me So

Wolf Catcher – Lost

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Did anyone watch the first ever YouTube Music Awards on Sunday afternoon? In case you missed them, you can watch the entire 1:20 show by going here. The awards show took place at Pier 36 in New York, and was hosted by Jason Schwartzman and Reggie Watts. There were performances from Arcade Fire, M.I.A., Lady Gaga, Tyler, the Creator with Earl Sweatshirt, Eminem and Avicii, among others. Sounds like a good show and a good time, right? Well, in my opinion it was unlike any other music awards show I’ve ever seen. There were some positives and some negatives, but for the most part the whole thing was an exercise in oddity and occasional stupidity. There was a distinct aim for the insanity and unpredictability of some of MTV’s early VMA efforts, but all too often producers forgot the one essential component to really making it work – it has to be entertaining. Having the hosts announce the winner of an award by having them dig through multiple cakes to find it might have seemed like a creative idea in theory, but the execution was messy. Similarly, there wasn’t much to root for in the case of nominees, unless you’re a serious YouTube devotee and watch everything that goes even remotely viral. Girls’ Generation won “Video of the Year,” and I’ve never even heard of them. Granted, their sound isn’t right up my alley, but I wondered how many people who actively listen to pop radio know who they are. Similarly, Lindsey Stirling and Penatonix won “Response of the Year” for their video cover of an Imagine Dragons song. Um, okay? For me, the highlights were the performances. Arcade Fire’s “live music video” for their song “Afterlife” featured some stellar dancing from actress Greta Gerwig. Similarly, M.I.A.’s live video for “Come Walk With Me” was better than most of her new album. There was a video with a script written by Lena Dunham and directed by Spike Jonze and Chris Milk which featured music by Avicii and acting from Michael Shannon, Vanessa Hudgens and more. That had a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style ending to it, which was wholly engaging and fun. Then Win Butler from Arcade Fire had to have his own Kanye West/Taylor Swift moment by interrupting an acceptance speech. Those were some of the things the YouTube Music Awards did right. So there’s definitely room for improvement if they decide to try it again next year, which is 50-50 since not a lot of people watched the live broadcast online. What did you think? Let me know in the comments. Meanwhile, there’s a Monday edition of Pick Your Poison to get to. Let me recommend tracks today from Evan & the Brave, The Golden Furs, No Coda, Nyteowl, Wooden Peak and Xela Zaid. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Dum Dum Girls, Emily Jane White (ft. Marissa Nadler), The Naked and Famous, Superchunk (covering Misfits) and Worriers.

Dark Bells – Want (Nudes Remix)

Evan & the Brave – Rescuer

The Golden Furs – Run Back

Malka – Mirame

Mumblr – Ape

Nathaniel Rateliff – Nothing to Show For

No Coda – Numbers

Nyteowl – Get In It

PolyEmory – HydraFauna (Blood Diamonds Remix)

Run DMT ft. Betty Black – Starlight (Kodak to Graph Remix)

Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger! – Broken

Wooden Peak – Polar

Xela Zaid – Soft Sleep

You Win Again Gravity – Written Off As Fiction

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It’s Thursday (and Halloween!), which means it’s time for another weekly dip into the pool of music news, interviews and videos that I like to call This Week In Music! Yes, in addition to the normal Pick Your Poison mp3s and Soundcloud streams, I like to toss out links to a bunch of other music-related content that I’ve found interesting or worthwhile over the course of the week. I encourage you to check some, if not all of these things out, particularly if you’re looking to waste some time. There’s plenty to see, read and hear:

Watch Odd Future (including Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt) in a short Halloween-related film “The Ghost of the Hotel”

Music Video: A$AP Rocky – Angels

Read Laurie Anderson’s obituary of her husband, Lou Reed

Music Video: MGMT – Alien Days

Watch “Little Duck,” a short film by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem

James Blake has won the 2013 Barclaycard Mercury Prize

Watch Julianna Barwick perform new song “Ash Day” with the help of some kids in Iceland

Music Video: Best Coast – I Don’t Know How

Watch Broken Bells’ short film “After the Disco,” starring Kate Mara and Anton Yelchin

Music Video: Savages – Marshall Dear

Once you’re done with that set of distractions, let me offer up another set via some spooooky song downloads and streams. Don’t miss tracks from The Appleseed Collective, The Fratellis, Killing Fields of Ontario, My Darling Fury, perth and Stanton Warriors. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream cuts from Grizzly Bear, Katy B, LIZ, Magic Trick, Mutual Benefit and Painted Palms.

The Appleseed Collective – The Inability to Feel

The Aquaducks – This Far

Fast Romantics – Friends

The Fratellis – Halloween Blues

The Julie Ruin – Right Home (YACHT Remix)

Killing Fields of Ontario – Nothing to Be Frightened Of

Manicanparty – Bow Through My Heart

My Darling Fury – Blots in the Margins

Parkington Sisters – In the Pines

perth – Greasy Moon

Slick Shoota – F Dat (ft. Purple)

Smokey Robotic – Lady’s Scream

Stanton Warriors – Twilight

Until the Ribbon Breaks – 2025 (Alfi Remix)

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What are you up to next Wednesday, November 6th? If you’re in Chicago and want to see a great psychedelic rock show, I strongly encourage you to come out to the Empty Bottle for Secret Colours, Elephant Stone and The Besnard Lakes. Almost one year ago, Chicago’s own Secret Colours also played a show with Montreal’s Elephant Stone at Beat Kitchen, and the results were nothing short of mindblowing. The difference between then and now? Well, Secret Colours released their second album Peach this past summer, taking their psychedelic sound to a whole new level that eclipses their previous work. Stream that entire record if you don’t believe me. Elephant Stone has been plenty busy in 2013 too, and unleashed their self-titled second record upon an unsuspecting public this past February, and touring almost nonstop to support it. In case you’re not familiar, the band is led by bassist/sitarist Rishi Dhir, and their sound has been compared to the Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Black Angels, both of which Dhir has been a member of (officially or unofficially) at one time or another. Perhaps the best way to get introduced to Elephant Stone though is through this free compilation they’ve put together via Noisetrade. Give that a try and then tell me you’re still not on board with the band. I won’t believe you. In part because the Montreal music scene is so supportive of one another (shout out to Arcade Fire), Elephant Stone actually cancelled/changed some of their tour dates this fall in order to spend more time on the road with their friends The Besnard Lakes, who also put out an album this past spring called Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO. That’s a heady title, but The Besnard Lakes are a heady band. Their previous records The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse and The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night are downright heroic pieces of carefully orchestrated and epic psych-rock, which has earned them more praise and a greater spotlight than you might expect. The main duo of Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas have proven truly masterful in their craft, and as their new record shows, they aren’t afraid to take some risks either. While things have gotten a little more subdued and a little less commercially viable, the spirit of their past efforts stays true. Check out the videos for their tracks “Colour Yr Lights In” and “People of the Sticks” to get a good idea of what the band has been up to these days. All that said, all three bands are going to destroy the Bottle next Wednesday, and you should be there. It’s a 21+ show, starts at 9, and tickets are $12 in advance. Buy them here. Now then, onto today’s Pick Your Poison business. Don’t miss tracks from Chad Kichula, CUSCINO, Mount Pressmore, Psapp, Way Yes and Weathered. After the jump, the Soundcloud section has audio streams of songs from Beachwood Sparks, Vex Ruffin, and White Fence, as well as Matthew Dear’s remix of Jagwar Ma, and Twin Shadow’s remix of SKATERS.

Chad Kichula – Me This Time

CUSCINO – Walking in the Garden

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros – Life Is Hard (Teen Daze Remix)

Lady – Good Lovin’ (HyGrade Remix)

A Million Billion Dying Suns – Strawberry Letter 23 (Shuggie Otis cover)

Mount Pressmore – Dry Land

Phuture Doom – Doom Terror Corps

Ocean Liner – Swan Song

Psapp – Everything Belongs to the Sun

This Silent Forest – Root to the Seed

Thomas Azier – Ghostcity (Pyramid Remix)

Unlike Pluto – Plutonian MoonBrain

Way Yes – Holy Drop

Weathered – Coast

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We’ve hit another Tuesday, where I’m once again pleased to bring you a quick rundown of artists with brand new music coming out this week. The hope is to either inform you about what’s out there, but also to maybe even remind you if one of your favorite artists is putting out something new and you simply forgot about it. So without further ado, here’s your list for this week: 65DaysofStatic, Arcade Fire, Audacity, Autechre, Bad Religion, Bardo Pond, Body Parts, Botany, Boy and Bear, Brad Laner, The Chills, Chris Forsyth, The Devil Makes Three, Diane Coffee, DJ Rashad, Dovetail, Far-Out Fangtooth, Giant Squid, Hellogoodbye, Jonwayne, Juana Molina, Kid606, Los Lobos, Maria Taylor, Meanest Man Contest, Minor Alps, Miracle, Monster Rally, Moonface, Mount Kimbie, The Necks, New Alchemy, Painted Caves, Protest the Hero, Purling Hiss, Rickolus, Roy Harper, Russian Circles, Son Lux, The Sounds, This Will Destroy You, Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger!, Twin Peaks, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Upset, White Denim, Widowspeak, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, Yuna and Zodiac. There’s a couple of really strong records in this stack for this week, so please make some purchases via your favorite digital or physical retailer! Now let’s get to today’s Pick Your Poison, where you can discover even more hot new music. Some key tracks you’ll want to give attention to today come from Ayer, The Bixby Knolls, Coastguard, Gem Club, Radstewart, Son of Stan, Tara Jane O’Neil and Yeah Saint Paul. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream new songs from Fyfe, Sebastien Tellier, Sufjan Stevens, Vaadat Charigrim and Xiu Xiu.

Ayer – Circle Down

The Bixby Knolls – Runnin’ and Runnin’

Coastguard – Beach 3 (Ocean Blue)

The Dead Heads – Power Tripping

Drake – Come Thru (James Blake Version)

Gem Club – Polly

I’m In You – Tinnitus

Loves It – The Angels Sing

Mumblr – Puke

Radstewart – Arabesque Bedouin

Son of Stan – Noxeema

Tara Jane O’Neil – Wordless in Words

Torgny – Grønn Extra (Melkeveien Remix)

Yeah Saint Paul – Rendezvous

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There’s something about the way that Beck fits into my life that is strange. He’s never the sort of artist I jump to and can immediately pinpoint as one of my all-time favorites, yet a careful look at my music listening habits point to a liking of his music to the point of near obsession. Whenever I put my music player on shuffle, I may skip over a bunch of songs that don’t strike my fancy, yet inevitably play any Beck song that comes up from start to finish. I can’t tell you the last time I listened to one of his albums from start to finish (it’s been at least a couple years), and I’m hesitant to tell you which Beck album is my favorite, since the answer technically changes based on my mood at that particular moment. Sure, Odelay is the go-to response, but the non-stop party vibe of Midnite Vultures can grab me far more than most people, and Sea Change is perfect for those introspective days. Speaking of Sea Change, there’s been rumors floating around (more than a few perpetuated by Beck himself) that a new album has been in the works for awhile that’s largely acoustic and a “spiritual cousin” to that 2002 record. Yet the couple of singles he’s released so far this year in the form of “I Won’t Be Long,” “Defriended” and “Gimme” all sound a lot like the more electronic-based work he’s done on albums like Modern Guilt and The Information. Of course they were only singles, and were intended to be standalone tracks that simply didn’t work thematically with everything else Beck’s been working on recently. Well, the good news is that the long-awaited “acoustic” album now has a title, a label and a ballpark release date. Beck has signed to Capitol Records, which will release Morning Phase in February. Exactly what date in February remains to be determined, along with a final tracklisting and other pieces of information. But at least we now know SOMETHING, and can start building the excitement towards likely disappointment. Considering how beloved Sea Change is, it’s going to be tough to try and recapture that magic, though the fact that Beck is working with most of the same people he did back in 2002, it could well be easier to recapture than you might think. So now we wait. Hopefully we’ll have our first taste of a song from the album before the end of the year. In the meantime, maybe enjoy today’s edition of Pick Your Poison. There’s some strong tracks today from Callow, Carl Kruger, Fairchild, Gentlemen Hall (covering Kendrick Lamar), Jeremiah Jae, Midnite on Pearl Beach, Setting SUn and Yellow6. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream songs from Disclosure, Eminem, Mogwai and Weekender.

Callow – Philosophy

Carl Kruger – Venalize the Bold

Dundee – Still Breathe

Fairchild – Figure It Out

Gentlemen Hall – Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe (Kendrick Lamar cover)

Jeremiah Jae – Fun

Keep Shelly in Athens – Oostende (Postiljonen Remix)

Lo Fine – All We Need Is Hell

Midnite on Pearl Beach – Deep in Your Bones

Setting Sun – Selfish Love

Sincerely, Grizzly – Us; Or Optimism

Surecut Kids – Toke Dat (ft. MC Kitch)

Yell For Help – Love Will Keep Us Together

Yellow6 – 5.2

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It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for another weekly dip into the pool of music news, interviews and videos that I like to call This Week In Music! Yes, in addition to the normal Pick Your Poison mp3s and Soundcloud streams, I like to toss out links to a bunch of other music-related content that I’ve found interesting or worthwhile over the course of the week. I encourage you to check some, if not all of these things out, particularly if you’re looking to waste some time. There’s plenty to see, read and hear:

Stream Arcade Fire’s album Reflektor in full

Stream Cut Copy’s new album Free Your Mind in full

Music Video: Paul McCartney – Queenie Eye (guest appearances from Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and more)

Daft Punk is selling a deluxe box set of Random Access Memories for $275

Music Video: Arctic Monkeys – One for the Road

Watch Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold and Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen perform Pearl Jam’s “Corduroy” on “Fallon”

Music Video: Symmetry – The Hunt

Watch TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe give teen girls advice for Rookie Mag

Check out the full list of Record Store Day: Black Friday exclusives

YouTube Audio Stream: M.I.A. – Y.A.L.A.

Once you’re done with that set of distractions, let me offer up another set via some song downloads and streams. Don’t miss tracks from Adrian Krygowski, The Black Watch, Fort Frances (covering Sufjan Stevens), Kallisti, Ki: Theory and TOTEM. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream tracks from Billie Joe Armstrong (of Green Day) with Norah Jones, Cut Copy, CYMBALS, Four Tet and White Lung.

Adrian Krygowski – Roam

A$AP Rocky, Kosha Dillz and Matisyahu – Freestylin 101

The Black Watch – I Don’t Feel the Same

Fort Frances – Chicago (Sufjan Stevens cover)

Haim – My Song 5 (Budo Remix)

High Rule – Portmanteau

Japanther & Cheeky Blakk – Donut Shop Bounce

Kallisti – Michael Douglas

Ki: Theory – Open Wound

Memory9 – The Dodecahedron

Ryle – Facedown

Scott Barkan – Flightless Bird

Sundays – World We Own

TOTEM – Sophomor(on)ic

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