MGMT’s song Time to Pretend was the single of the week on iTunes a while back. I got it and paid it no mind. But then I saw the video for the song and heard it again. Its really catchy although did not much care for the video. MGMT strikes me as one of those “lets try and be and dress as strange as we can” kind of bands. Which generally I dislike a great deal, but I really like this one! Their debut album Oracular Spectacular is quite something, lots of songs remind me of other bands but I am unable to pinpoint exactly which ones. But all in all it is a great album from a strange band, so give them a listen!

Electric Feel – MGMT

Not being an oppressed African American male I may have nothing in common with stick.man and M-1. But their somewhat signature blend of socially and politically charged hip-hop is what makes 2000’s “Lets Get Free” one of my top five hip-hop albums of all time. There is something about artists who use listeners attention to educate them about worldly issues and current events that I find wonderful. There is a lot to be said for a good album in this genre that does not rely heavily on bitches and bling and gun sound effects to move units. So even though the content of this album really has nothing to do with Me and My life I really admire what they are doing and I wish them continued success. Keep bringing messages to the masses!

Be Healthy – Dead Prez

Not supposed to be announced until Monday but The Chicago Sun-Times have supposedly confirmed this through industry sources:

“Art-rock giants Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, the reunited Rage Against the Machine, Jack White’s side project the Raconteurs and hometown heroes Wilco and Kanye West will headline the main stages on Aug. 1-3.

Quite a few of the other acts — including many of the most promising — have earlier performed at Chicago’s two independently produced music festivals, Pitchfork and Intonation. These include Bloc Party, Cat Power, Stephen Malkmus, Girl Talk, Kid Sister, Office, the Cool Kids, Battles, the Go! Team, Jamie Lidell and Grizzly Bear.”

Three day passes are available now for $190 and then are for sale at a regular price of $205.

[Link]

Ok, kind of near me.

Apr 18 – Admiral Theatre – Bremerton, Washington
Apr 19 – McDonald Theatre – Eugene, Oregon
Apr 21 – Humboldt State University – Van Duzer Theatre – SOLD OUT Arcata, California
Apr 22 – UC Davis – Freeborn Hall – Davis, California
Apr 23 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, California
Apr 24 – The Joint / Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas, Nevada
Apr 26 – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Indio, California
May 9 – Providence Piers Providence, Rhode Island
May 10 – WFNX Show – Bank of America Pavilion Boston, Massachusetts
May 24 – Les Schwab Amphitheater Bend, Oregon
May 25 – Sasquatch Music Festival @ The Gorge Quincy, Washington
May 26 – Thanksgiving Point Lehi, Utah
May 28 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, Colorado
Jun 2 – Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jun 3 – Millenium Park Pritzker Pavilion Chicago, Illinois
Jun 6 – Jacques Cartier Pier Montreal, Quebec
Jun 7 – Toronto Olympic Island Toronto, Ontario
Jun 9 – Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia, Maryland
Jun 10 – McCarren Park Pool Brooklyn, New York
Jun 12 – Mann Center for Performing Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jun 13 – Plain Dealer Pavilion Cleveland, Ohio
Jun 14 – The Lawn at White River State Indianapolis, Indiana
Jun 15 – Bonnaroo Manchester, Tennessee
Jun 17 – Nokia Theatre Grand Prairie, Texas
Jun 19 – Mesa Amphitheatre Mesa, Arizona
Jun 21 – Greek Theatre Berkeley Berkeley, California
Jul 27 – Pemberton Festival Pemberton, BC
Aug 9 – Summer Sonic Festival Tokyo
Aug 10 – Summer Sonic Festival Osaka

I always wondered, without listening to it, why Why? Would cover a sad excuse for a song like Wig Master by Xiu Xiu.
Today I finally built up the courage and listened to it.
From rags to riches has this song become.
Holy guac. It’s like the princess diaries when she is buttugly and then she gets Miss. Goodlookin’. And yes I just referred to the princess diaries when describing a Xiu Xiu song and I don’t think Jamie Stewart would have it any other way.

Wig Master – Why?

iTunes

Which is why I purchased this album immediately.
Bracken is a Leeds based musician whose music sounds like an episode of Maury where edIT and Brian Eno are fighting over their possible child but Why? and Swan Lake think they are the parents.

Fight Or Flight – Bracken

iTunes

“No, the long-in-the-works new Wolf Parade album isn’t called Terrible. That would actually be a pretty cool album title. The new Wolf Parade album title is:

Kissing the Beehive”

I’m skeptical of what the album is going to sound like but I’ve waited what? 2 years? 3 years? For a new album. I’ll take what I can get.

[Link]

I first downloaded this album due to its really high rating on Pitchfork. Upon my first listen I was not at all a fan, it was too weird for me. Not to mention that some songs are reminiscent of Love Inc. which is never a good thing. But when I put it on today while cleaning my room and making lunch it was a completely different story. I like i quite a bit, it remains weird but it sounds great in the background!

Iris – Hercules and Love Affair

and I have been, to be honest.

How on earth do you describe cLOUDDEAD?
Doseone says ‘just call it hiphop’ so I will.
Sounds pretty much like white rappers who sound white (who I would normally hate).
But weird samples (good weird, not mf doom weird) and hot beats make Ethan something something.

The Keen Teen Skip – cLOUDDEAD

iTunes