maroon 5 - wake up call (nc-17 video premiere)

maroon 5 - wake up call [link 2]
[when i talked to these boys about two months ago, they said they had big plans for this video (i think the word 'epic' was being thrown around). now that i've seen it, i guess 'epic' meant, killing actor jeremy sisto, throwing him off a bridge, putting ho-bags on yachts and looking studly in jail. BORING! normally director jonas akerlund makes amazing stuff, but this time it's a definite expensive miss. oh well... thanks to ali's blog for the video upload.]

album leak: mia - kala

fans of my blog know that m.i.a. is definitely one of my favorite acts around. with an arsenal of rhymes and insane beats, her 2005 debut album arular was easily the best that year. so when information came out that a new album was due for a late august release, it was enough to keep me giddy throughout the whole summer. imagine my total joy this morning when i woke up to find a copy of kala, a full month before it's street date!

recorded in india, japan and trinidad (with some US immigration issues in the process), m.i.a. once again collaborated with arular producers switch and diplo, but also threw in some sick tracks with timbaland.

the result is an adventurous collection that leaves the retro-electro of the last album behind and creates a diverse track list that incorperates hyper pop ("boyz"), some bollywood ("jimmy"), dark progressive beats ("bamboo banger") and sweet guests with a twist (like the wilcannia mob, a group of aboriginal street kids that offer up awesome rhymes in "mango pickle down river").

though the album isn't perfect, the eclectic influences of kala definitely makes this release a step up from whats out at the moment. the girl should be proud!

track listings
1. Bamboo Banga [link 2]
2. BirdFlu
3. Boyz
4. Jimmy [link 2]
5. Hussel (feat. Afrikan Boy)
6. Mango Pickle Down River (feat. the Wilcannia Mob)
7. 20 Dollar
8. World Town
9. The Turn
10. XR2
11. Paper Planes [link 2]
12. Come Around (feat. Timbaland)

welcome back: katie noonan (ex-lead singer of george)

katie noonan - time to begin (t-funk remix) [link 2]
katie noonan - choir girl [link 2] (tribute to cold chisel)

[about 7 years back, during a visit to sydney, australia, i discovered a young brisbane group by the name of george in which lead singer katie noonan drew me in instantly with her soft soulful voice. it turns out i wasn't the only one. their awesome debut album polyserena went platinum in 3 weeks and the group quickly became stars overnight. though their 2004 follow up album unity didn't fare as well, katie's voice still remained one of my all time favorites. so imagine my total surprise today when i discovered that katie has now gone solo and is on the verge of releasing her debut solo album skin in a month! with the single 'time to begin' as her first release, it looks like the album will be a mix of soulful jazzy tunes and some indie folk influences. personally, the girl can sing a phone book and i wouldn't mind!]


george - holiday
[this is the song that started it all for me. i still get goosebumps when i hear it!]


george - breathe in now
[the more popular single but still showcases the amazing vocals of the young katie]

the best 4 min 21 seconds you'll hear this week: sia - soon we'll be found

sia - soon we'll be found


this is just plain GORGEOUS! a gentle round of a tune that slowly evolves into an epic soulful plead (with lush strings and all!) if the rest of sia's upcoming album some people have real problems is like this one, then i think we have a contender for one of the best album of 2007!

new video sunday:magic numbers, caribou, tegan & sara, battles, architecture in helsinki, yeah yeah yeahs, chromeo, old crow medicine show, kevin drew

this is ALOT of videos for you to check out this quiet sunday (which is perfect so you'll have more time to listen)! since it's also the weekend, i'm going to keep the comments to a minimum, sorry about that and enjoy! (thanks to ifmv for some of these tips)


the magic numbers - undecided [link 2]
[taken off the upcoming undecided ep, it's nice to see lead singer angela gannon take center stage and decked out in gasp, makeup! the new ep also includes 4 new tracks for us fans to look forward to. waiting...]


caribou - melody day [link 2]
[there's something wonderfully retro and psychedelic about this dreamy song. taken off the upcoming album andorra, caribou is actually the alter ego of the smart and cute daniel v snaith. though he has a phd in mathematics, dr daniel chooses to live out his musical dreams by coming up with kick ass tunes like this one. um... is it just me or is the whole idea of a doctorate musician totally sexy? yes, i am shameless!]


tegan & sara - back in your head [link 2]
[the music blog world have been hyping out the canadian twins tegan and sara for the past month. to be honest, i've always been kind of 'eh' about these two girls only because i find their vocals to be a bit bland. but this catchy song (with the sweet piano hook) is just too cute to miss out on. if you like this, you'll probably find similar gems on their current album the con.]


battles - atlas [link 2]
[this song (and video) is a few months old, but after finally sitting myself down to listen to it, the track is HOT! ordered madness with a kicking rockabilly beat under unintelligible vocals (that sound like alvin and the chimpmunks) and you pretty much get the kind of chaotic genius that is this song. probably not to everyone's liking, but it sure made me bop the whole time! taken off the equally killer album mirrored.]


yeah yeah yeahs - 10 x 10 [link 2]
[yet another hot track off the is is ep. i have to say that this 5 track album has kind of rejuvenated my love for the trio and the fact that i'm going to see them in a week at the virgin festival is just a little bit too much at the moment!]


chromeo - tenderoni [link 2]
[did you know that 1/2 of this electronic duo is currently getting his phd at columbia university and teaches undergraduate french classes? if you are a student at columbia, go and stalk professor david macklovitch will ya? taken off the fabulous 80's disco influenced album fancy footwork.]


old crow medicine show - i hear them all [link 2]
[you might find it weird that a band like the old crow medicine show would even make my blip, but i have a soft spot for bands that evoke an old school country/bluegrass feel to their music. whenever i listen to them (yes i own their albums!) i just feel like i've been transported to another era and it just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. if you wanna get the same feeling, check out their album big iron world now.]


broken social scene presents kevin drew - backed out on the car [link 2]
[oh the wacky broken social scene posse! they've decided to release solo albums under the moniker of broken social scene presents. to start off the series, lead singer kevin drew releases his creation spirit if... which not only features contributions from bandmembers, but some surprises as well. check out this awesome live video shot after a dinosaur jr concert and features guest performers from Joules Scott Key of metric and even dinosaur jr's, J Mascis on guitars!]


architecture in helsinki - hold music [link 2]
[is it just me or does this song sound like them doing their best b-52's impression? taken off their kooky and not always working places like this album.]

train wreck or genuis leak: girls aloud - sexy no no no

girls aloud - sexy no no no [link 2]
[i can't quite understand my fascination with girls aloud. not only are they kind of ruff on the edges (pinup gal, cheryl tweedy went from bar brawling chick to a footballers wife), but weirdly untalented as a group (see their T4 live performance above). but something about their 'wrong-ness' keeps me coming back for more. case in point, their latest single once again utilises the seemingly 12 songs in one format (heck, the 1st verse doesn't clock in until 1 min. 10 seconds into the song!). and sadly i already know how to sing the song after 3 listens. beyond guilty pleasure, this is crack people, crack!]

b-side love: roisin murphy - modern timing / foolish

roisin murphy - modern timing
[link 2]

roisin murphy - foolish
[link 2]

[in conjunction with new album details of roisin murphy's upcoming album overpowered, a few b-sides emerged on the interweb. co-writing songs with the likes of Seiji, Andy Cato (Groove Armada), Jimmy Douglass, Ill Factor, Parrot & Dean and Richard X, the new album promises to be an ode to the dancefloor where, according to the press release, "pop meets dance and gives birth to a glitter-drenched masterpiece". if the tracks above are just b-sides, i can only imagine what the album sounds like!]

the tracklisting for 'Overpowered' is as follows:

1. Overpowered
2. You Know Me Better
3. Checkin' On Me
4. Let Me Know
5. Movie Star
6. Primitive
7. Footprints
8. Dear Miami
9. Cry Baby
10. Tell Everybody
11. Scarlet Ribbons

remix baby: bjork - innocence (simian mobile disco 12" remix)

bjork - innocence (simian mobile disco 12" remix) [link 2]

it's always a bit of an event when bjork releases a single for the masses. taken off her mixed bag album volta, the timbaland produced "innocence" is easily the most commercial track from this collection.

though bjork is still asking fans to submit stuff for the video, the single was released today with a chock full of hot remixes. and because i'm so nice, i've offered up the best of the batch.

if you want to hear more remixes, discover the whole shebang via itunes (though US fans will have to wait until the 31st)

innocence remix EP track listing:
one ___ mark stent radio edit
two ___ simian mobile disco twelve inch remix
three ___ alva noto unitxt remodel twelve inch remix
four ___ ghostigital untouchable innocence still amazes fearless remix

and while you're at it, go check out bjork live as she added a few more dates to her north american tour:
September 08...Toronto, ON: V Festival
September 11...Detroit, MI: Fox Theatre
September 14...Austin, TX : Austin City Limits Music Festival
September 17...Atlanta, GA: Fox Theatre
September 21...Montreal, BC: Jacques Cartier Pier
September 24...New York, NY: Madison Square Garden

video of the week: kanye west (feat Zach Galifianakis and Will Oldham) - can't tell me nothing

kanye west feat zach galifianakis and will oldham - (original video link)

can't tell me nothing [link 2]
[totally surreal, but i just love it! check out what happens when kanye's music gets translated via comedian zach galifianakis and folkster will oldham]

sia - buttons (world premiere)

sia - buttons [link 2]
[check out this brand spanking kinky video taken from sia's highly anticipated new album some people have real problems. after watching sia blow a bubble in a condom, why not spend some time and design the artwork for this album? asking all her fans to make something in less than a minute, your computer art submissions can be submitted here and then chosen personally by sia! go and make art kids!]

hype wongie: green day - the simpsons theme

only cause i'm watching a preview of the simpsons later today, i've been sucked into the hype that is the simpsons movie.

though i've long since stopped watching the animated series on tv, i got a pang of nostalgia when i stopped by one of the twelve 7-eleven kwik-e marts in LA last weekend.

then i heard this rocked out remake by green day and now i'm totally psyched to see the film! so with a can of buzz cola in hand, may i present to you:

green day - the simpsons theme [link 2]

need to experience more? why don't you visit a local kwik e mart in north america? click here to check out the exact address from the cities below:
Burbank, CA
Chicago, IL
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Lake Buena Vista, FL/Orlando, FL
Las Vegas, NV/Henderson, NV
Los Angeles, CA
New York City, NY
San Francisco, CA/Mountain View, CA
Seattle, WA
Vancouver, BC/Coquitlam, BC
Washington, DC/Bladensburg, MD

rihanna - please don't stop the music (video premiere)

rihanna - don't stop the music [link 2]
[FINALLY! the one song that stood out almost instantly when i listened to rihanna's album good girl gone bad has been released as a single. totally euro trashy and just shamelessly fun, this is definitely one of my favorite tracks of the year. as for the video (directed by rihanna herself), though she looks fabulous, her lack of dancing skills is even more painfullly obvious here (which is probably why 90% of the video is just rihanna looking sultry at the camera). yet another great dance tune lost in a crappy video! thanks to alis blog for the video tip]

songs we like: common feat lily allen - drivin' me wild

(thanks to rollingstone.com for the pic)
common feat lily allen - drivin me wild [link 2]
[it would take a smart man like kanye west to think up a collaboration between lily allen and rapper common. the ingenious meeting is just one of the many guest artists featured on common's latest album finding forever. besides lily, will.i.am, d'angelo, the late j dilla and kanye all make killer apperances. i've always had a soft spot for this handsome rapper and i can't wait to see him in the video for this!]

songs we like: kano feat kate nash - me and my mic

kano feat kate nash - me and my mic [link 2]
[kano (aka kane brett robinson) is a semi-pro british footballer who spun off into the uk rap scene back in 2004. though his debut album home sweet home sold a respectable number of copies, kano delved back into the underground scene honing his craft and only releasing mixtapes sold at gigs. in september, kano returns with a bang with his new album london town. featuring a slew of collaborations including craig david (see video below) and damon albarn (gorillaz/blur) we bring you the most likely 2nd single in which current uk IT girl kate nash does the vocal honors. personally, i love how she just kind of bops around during this live performance. oh kate!]


kano feat craig david - this is the girl (acoustic) [link 2]
[damn, that craig david sure did bulk up! personally, i think the studio version isn't as good as this acoustic version. isn't filtering a wonderful thing?]

new video friday: project jenny project jan, midlake, stephanie dosen, freak, shayne ward

project jenny project jan - 320 [link 2]
[we profiled this brooklyn duo awhile back and am pleased to present to you the video debut to their fun quirky track '320'!]


midlake - roscoe (cassettes won't listen remix) [link 2]
[i never knew a video was made for this song (shows you how not with it i am), but better late than never to offer up my continued love for the texan band midlake. it's also nice to see that they're finding serious love over in europe. so much so that this sweet remix by cassettes won't listen was commisioned for the single release. enjoy!]


stephanie dosen - only getting better [link 2]
[we tipped this gentle singer/songwriter a few weeks back and am very pleased to offer up her new single from the lovely lily from the spectre album. thanks to ifmv for the video tip]


freaks - the creeps (get on the dancefloor)(vandalism vocal mix) [link 2]
[actually i think the video version of this song doesn't work (which is why i supplied the full remix version) but any video with vampire-cheerleaders (with strangely long faces) attacking a security guard is worth a look don't you think?]

UNFORTUNATE VIDEO OF THE WEEK

shayne ward - if that's ok with you
[poor shayne ward. this cutie patootie british pop star is being mismanaged to make cheesy shameless videos (focusing on his non-existant six pack) and then do some weird ass pon the replay choreography. if he wasn't so darn cute, he'd be in the bargain bins by now.]

kt tunstall - hold on (video premiere)

kt tunstall - hold on [link 2]


kt tunstall - hold on (bbc, acoustic live at glastonbury)

[i have been bopping to this tune for the past two weeks after hearing a live leak from kt's performance at glastonbury, then itunes released it as a download single and now all i wish is that i had a car or a patio to blast this perfect summer ditty. apparently the song was inspired by bob marley and the dancehall/hip hop beats that were blasting from her neighbours homes (no wonder the video plays homage to those images and also proves how stereotypical 99% music videos are these days). taken off her upcoming sophomore studio album drastic fantastic (due for release in september) i am hooked! thanks to kevipod for the video tip]

welcome back: siouxsie sioux - into a swan

siouxsie sioux - into a swan
siouxsie and the banshees - peek a boo [link 2]
(just going down memory lane with one of my many favorites from her catalog. can you believe this is circa 1988?)

[xolondon and ifmv both hyped the return of siouxsie sioux a few days back and next thing i knew, a video popped up with the goth queen posing with mirror images of herself. unfortunately i'm kind of 'eh' about this comeback single (only cause i'm a massive fan of the 80's/early 90's stuff), but i'm definitely keeping an eye on her upcoming album mantarey due for release in september.]

update 7/20:
wanna hear more? check out some 1 minute clips from the upcoming album mantarey!

1. Into A Swan
2. About To Happen
3. Here Comes That Day
4. Loveless
5. If It Doesn't Kill You
6. One Mile Below
7. Drone Zone
8. Sea of Tranquility
9. They Follow You
10. Heaven and Alchemy

hear good music: nylon studios present iLo / forever thursday

my good friend sabina tipped me on this recording studio in sydney australia called nylon studios that not only represents a collective of in-house composers and artists that write jingles for tv ads, but also release their stuff commercially under different guises.

the end result is a talent pool that is wonderfully quirky creative AND understands the need to grab your attention within the first 30 seconds. not only that, but after listening to these songs in full, i am officially hooked and can't wait to hear what else this place will pump out!


iLo - sunkissin [link 2]
[composer ole chang wrote this lovely summery anthem for the telstra telecom group. i've been bopping along to this ditty all day long and personally, i think it should be released as a pop single!]


telstra ad



forever thursday feat melanie horsnell - how can it be [link 2]
[the first single release from nylon studios in which the jingle for jc penney was so popular, that they decided to release it properly under the guise of forever thursday. featuring singer/songwriter melanie horsnell on vocals, this song is just deliciously sweet!]


jcpenney ad

acoustic party: kate nash - foundations (acoustic version)

kate nash - foundations (acoustic version) [link 2]
[since it's my bday and i'm off to LA for a few days for work, i leave you a lovely acoustic version of one of my favorite songs of the year. i can't wait for kate to cross the pond and perform for us yanks already!]

live wongie: the knife (silent shout: an audiovisual experience)

back in april of 2006, the anonymous duo of the knife performed a rare live performance in gothenburg, sweden, in support of their wonderful (and now classic) album silent shout. the concert footage, directed by marius dybwad brandrud, also featured live visuals by andreas nilsson who offered up a brilliant video experience that detracted from the shy, mask wearing siblings.

this week, the re-released special edition of silent shout not only features the original album with their music videos, but this special concert AND the short film 'when i found the knife' (see the shorts below). it's like my birthday came a few days early! (thanks to mtv 2's subterreanean for the tip!)


the knife - heartbeat (live) [link 2]


the knife - silent shout (live) [link 2]


the knife - marble house (live) [link 2]


the knife - we share our mother's health (live) [link 2]


the knife - when i found the knife (dir: frau rabid)


the knife - when i found the knife again (dir: amy engles)

remix baby: m.i.a. - come around (dj ellesoc remix) / boyz (kimono kops remix)

m.i.a. - boyz (kimono kops remix) [link 2]
[thanks to palms out sounds for the mp3]

m.i.a. feat timbaland - come around (dj ellesoc remix) [link 2]
[of all the albums that i'm gagging to get my grubby hands on, m.i.a.'s sophomore album kala is the highest on my list. since the album by this sri lankan via london rapper isn't due for another month, imagine my total joy this morning when i discovered TWO new remixes were available on the interweb! personally, i'm feeling this timbaland remix more! turn it up kids! thanks to the m.i.a. blog and chris picks for the remix tip]

songs we like: glen hansard & marketa irglova - falling slowly

glen hansard & marketa irglova (once) - falling slowly [link 2]
[no surprise here (since i bring up the movie every few weeks), basically an official video was made for this song and i thought i'd post it. funnily enough, when i do listen to the soundtrack i fall instantly into my 'sigh' mode. it's so cheesy, but i can't help it.]

live performance: tom baxter (live @ the amadeus theatre)

british singer/songwriter (and major cutie patootie) tom baxter first made an impression with me a few years back with his debut album feathers and stone.

with an amazing voice that is at once superbly controlled and goosebump-ily soaring, comparisons to jeff buckley and nick drake during the beginning of his career were common. but these days, tom baxter seems to have come into his own.

earlier this year, tom left his record label and decided to independently release his latest album skybound. recorded live over an intense 5 day period, the emotionally dense album is only available on itunes until it's official release date in september.

but before you do anything, take a look at some clips from tom's benefit concert for the amadeus theatre late last year. performing with his new band and previewing tracks from the album skybound, you're gonna love these!

tom baxter - believe (live @ the amadeus)
[this song is just gorgeous. no wonder the comparisons to jeff buckley are frequent.]


tom baxter - miracle (live @ the amadeus) [link 2]
[this song is so ready to be a part of a soundtrack, or at least grey's anatomy.]


tom baxter - better (live @ the amadeus theatre) [link 2]
[this is tom's new single and theme to the upcoming simon pegg comedy run fatboy run. isn't it just swoonilicious!]


tom baxter - my declaration (live on jools holland) [link 2]
[check out this beautiful song that first introduced me to tom. taken from his debut album feather and stone, this is a wonderful performance as seen on later with jools holland.]

pop friday: hairspray, keyshia cole feat missy elliot and lil kim, katherine mcphee, david guetta and esmee denters

nothing like a high dose of POP to begin your weekend!


hairspray: zac efron - ladies choice [link 2]
hairspray - you can't stop the beat [link 2]
[i have to say that i was a little bit skeptical about watching hairspray: the musical on film, but the good news is that all the camp and cheekiness of the previous two productions really shine through in this remake of a remake. then there's the fact that there's something for everyone here. the teens can go swoon over zac efron and the adults can go giddy by watching christopher walken do the tango with ahem...john travolta. other personal favorites include michelle pfiffer singing about the days of being miss baltimore crabs and a big finale where john travola shimmy's like she's in nutmeg city limits. hey it's pop day, do i care how uncool you think i am?]

keyshia cole feat missy elliot and lil kim - let it go [link 2]
[any song that samples mtume's 'juicy' and big-up's the notorious b.i.g. is personally grounds to be an instant favorite. apparently keyshia wanted to work with missy so bad that she gave her a call in hopes she'd do anything with her. next thing you know, missy ropes in lil kim for the collaboration and boom, you not only do you get a summer jam, but the lead single off her sophomore album just like you (scheduled for a september 11th release!). don't you love how easy things come together?]

katherine mcphee - love story [link 2]
[this is the whitest knockoff of an amerie song/video on the planet! though i'm kind of 'eh' about it, i'm glad that katherine is getting the opportunity to do her thing... on the big screen! (she just got cast in an ensemble comedy starring anna faris) thanks to ali's blog for the two video tips!]


david guetta feat chris willis - love is gone (original album version) [link 2]
[taken from his 3rd album pop life, french dj/producer david guetta has officially crossed over into the pop charts with this latest release. the video (and radio release) has got all the bells and whistles of what's hot in dance pop today and i'm sure you'll be hearing this all summer long at some cheesy club joint near you. viva la france!]


esmee denters (w/special guest) - unwritten
[while youtube sensation esmee is putting on the finishing touches of her justin timberlake exec produced debut album, esmee posted yet another pop cover with a special guest star in tow.]

live wongie: courtney love @ hiro ballroom

there's nothing like a good ol free show to hype up your highly anticipated upcoming album nobody's daughter. well last night, courtney love rocked the hiro ballroom down with a late night showcase of new tunes mixed in with classics.

though courtney didn't hit anyone with a mic stand, she did offer up verbal gems like:
"SHUT UP! I can't hear my guitar!"
"Relax honey. I'm like Springsteen; I can go all night...so chill out."

i was going to line up with the other thousand rabid fans, but in the end, i chickened out and in retrospect should have just braved the crowds to see the rock diva do her thing.

[thanks to fresh bread for the photo]

luckily new friend, and possible future contributor (please! ;), michael a. grammar was there to report on the evening:

"In what was certainly her 1,982nd comeback (or was it 1,983rd?), Courtney Love showed the Misshapes crowd what she was all about at the Hiro Ballroom last night. Thankfully, not literally -- unlike previous shows, she was actually wearing panties. First, in a clingy, sleeveless dress that showed off freaklishly bony Nicole Richie arms, and later in a Marc Jacobs onesie that made her look like an extra from the "Moulin Rouge" Lady Marmalade video. Overall, she looked like a cross between Donnatella Versace and Amanda Lepore, with the mascara-drenched eyes of a zombie raccoon. Long story short: the Courtney we know and love was back in full force.

She opened with a new song called "Samanta," a hard-rocking cautionary tale so obviously meant to invoke Stevie Nicks that Courtney even started singing a few bars of "Rhiannon" a bit later. But Stevie was never hardcore enough to write a song called "Stand Up Motherfucker." Courtney practically ripped the girl pants off the Misshapes boys with that one, just three songs in to the set.

But the young fans who knew her from her late-90s makeover weren't disappointed, either -- she begrudgingly played "Malibu" ("I fuckin' hate playing that song") and, later, "Celebrity Skin" ("You have to wait for the chestnuts," she chided), and totally killed with two singles from "Live Through This." The closest anyone came to bumrushing the stage was during "Miss World," when a barricade of five security guards had to step in to keep the crowd at bay.

Anyone hoping to see Courtney bash someone in the head with her mic stand was sorely disappointed, but in terms of a return-to-form, this was as close as she could come. Between the mid-song cigarette breaks (too many to count), the repeated shoutings of "Shut up!" and "Fuck you!" (as well as one, "Shh! This song has dynamics"), it's good to know some things never change."

damn, now i wish i went!

here's one of the classics that she performed last night
hole - miss world [link 2]
[thanks to fabulous jason for the photo]


want more love?
courtney love with noel fielding (the mighty boosh)
at the backstage of her london performance at bush hall july 9th.

new music wednesday: spoon, napoleon, great northern, the thrills, mika & beth ditto, calvin harris

spoon - underdog [link 2]
[the 1st video from spoon's 6th album release ga ga ga ga ga. personally, this is one of my favorite albums of the summer and i'm so happy that these austin rockers are getting the widespread props that they so deserve.]


napoleon - cleopatra


napoleon - i love my baby (but if anyone touches her i'll kill them) [link 2]
[calling themselves a swedish soul band, this 11 piece posse is going to be making waves throughout the summer as the happy birds to beat. due for US release later in the year, i jump the queue and tip you guys on this fun lighthearted band now! big thanks to ifmv and #1 hits for an alien planet for the intro!]


great northern - home [link 2]
[who knew that LA could be home to this lush indie pop quartet? initially recorded on 4 tracks, the band went through various incarnations before ending up with a four piece that could generate this dreamy sound. if you like what you hear, check out their debut album trading twilight for daylight out now.]


the thrills - nothing changes around here [link 2]
[the 1st video taken off of their upcoming album teenager. though the irish quintet have claimed neil young and the beach boys as past influences, this single sounds more like prefab sprout with a bit of seaside morrissey thrown in (i just made that term up, you like?)]


mika & beth ditto - sweet dreams are made of this (live)
[after a week of talking about it to the press, mika and beth ditto (gossip) finally combine their talents for an unfortunately lame duet of the eurythmics classic. add to the fact that mika totally hogs the vocals, i'm not quite sure i'd want to hear another collaboration in the future.]


calvin harris - merrymaking at my place
[um... this is sound of crap! i don't really understand how he's managed to get any play in the uk, but hopefully it will just end there.]

best of 2007: fave acts so far (1/2 year report)

this has been an amazing music year so far with new stuff coming at me daily (much that i've shared back to you). but amoung the batch, a few acts have filtered through and kept on returning to my personal playlists.

since it feels like such a slow week, i figured now is probably the best time to re-introduce some of the artist highlights of 2007 from january to june (in no particular order):

[for friends and fans of wongie, you probably know the class of 2007 (so far) pretty well. but for the rest of you, hopefully you can discover some gems from the list below. also you may have noticed that wongie faves mika, amy winehouse, gossip and lily allen aren't here (since they were loved in 06, i kind of took them out of the lineup just cause i'm a stickler like that!)]

tracey thorn - raise the roof
siobhan donaghy - ghosts
just jack - i talk to much
loney, dear - saturday waits
peter bjorn & john - young folks
feist - my moon my man (boys noize remix)
rufus wainwright - sansoucci
rihanna - rehab
glen hansard & marketa irglova (ONCE the soundtrack) - falling slowly
lil mama - lip gloss (absorb the lip gloss mash up remix)
kate nash - foundations
mia - boyz
cherry ghost - 4am
sara bareilles - love song
a fine frenzy - almost lover
roisin murphy - overpowered

remix baby: lily allen - ldn (warbox remix)

[lily as amy winehouse on the friday night project]

lily allen - ldn (warbox remix) [link 2]
[ugh! this nyc heat is killing me, but somehow i'm working through my lethargic mood and offer up this remix gem that came into my inbox today. yes even when i'm dying, i offer you goodies!!!]

random but awesome: unk - walk it out (fosse video version)

unk - walk it out
[if all of these southside rap were set to fosse choreography, i think i'd love this music much more! pure genius! thanks again to perez hilton!]

new video saturday (last 2 for the day!): operator please, josh rouse

operator please - just a song about ping pong [link 2]
[female fronted rockabilly post punk band that's barely out of high school. yes, the kids from operator please are not only really young, but also hail from the gold coast of australia. also indie hype bible nme just claimed these tykes as one of the buzz acts of the month. of all people, thanks to perez hilton for the tip!]


josh rouse - hollywood bassplayer [link 2]
[i have to say that i'm not that impressed with josh's latest album country mouse, city house which is a real shame, cause i'm actually a fan of his work. much has to do with his new vocal affectation of trying to be dylan-esque and well, lazy vocals is just not my thing. but this 1st single is alright and any video that bashes madonna with a guitar is worth watching!]

music flash: watch live earth online now!

live earth on msn

[though most of your local channels are showing some version of live earth on tv, msn has every concert from every continent streaming live at the moment. if you love to channel flip, this would be the place to do it!]

new video saturday: dizzee rascal, blood red shoes, lethal bizzle, tiny dancers

dizzee rascal - old skool [link 2]
[those of you who already have the album maths and english will know that the original version is not called 'old skool' but really 'pussy'ole'. since it's an official single, the title and hook has been changed. since i'm a naughty bugger, you guys get the r-rated version!]


blood red shoes - it's getting boring by the sea [link 2]
[for a two piece, these guys make a crapload of yummy noise! made up of friends steven ansell (vocals and drums) and laura-mary carter (vocals and guitar), blood red shoes is named after an incident in which ginger rogers danced so hard while filming a scene that her white shoes became blood red ones. drama! hopefully these two won't play so hard that blood will be sprayed everywhere...that would be gross. oh, and the song is HOT!]


lethal bizzle - bizzle bizzle [link 2]
[i have to be honest, to me, lethal bizzle doesn't have the same cache as dizzee rascal. maybe cause dizzee comes across as a rapper with heavy alt leanings or the fact that they hyped him massively over the other uk mc's. but the end result is that i feel like everyone else is playing a bit of catch up. east london rapper lethal bizzle is doing the best job at the moment. this song is catchy, raw and naughty, my three fave reasons to enjoy music!]


tiny dancers - ashes and diamonds [link 2]
[so soon after my discovery of this band (like two days ago!), comes their follow up single that is a bit more mainstreamed rock ballad. i'm kind of 'eh' over this, but maybe it's because their previous song was so fun. speaking of which, the album free school milk is lovely! thanks to ifmv for the tip!]

songs we like: tiny dancers - hannah we know

tiny dancers - hannah we know [link 2]
tiny dancers - bonfire
[(this song is a bit old, but i've just discovered it!) any band that writes such fun catchy melodic songs from watching movies and dancing to disco during rehearsals deserves to be heard! surprisingly rooted in 60's beach boy harmonies with a bit of country rock thrown in, tiny dancers have a sound that manages to draw you in instantly. can't wait to check out the rest of their just released album free school milk!

gay gay gay: dana international - love boy

dana international - love boy
[you would think the world's 1st disco transexual diva would have hotter songs! after a two year break, dana international returns with this sub-doozy. oh well... i guess we'll have to wait for our homegrown version of paris hilton to go back into the studio to show how it's done.]

the leak: nicole scherzinger feat t.i. - whatever you like

nicole scherzinger feat t.i. - whatever you like [link 2]

[it was inevitable that the (only) singer from pussycat dolls finally release something! check out the 1st single off her anticipated debut album her name is nicole that was recorded over a two year period. the album features tracks produced by timbaland, will.i.am and rumored tracks by ne-yo, but hot producer polow da don (ciara) take the first single honors.]

a fine frenzy - almost lover (video premiere)

a fine frenzy - almost lover [link 2]
[just got the heads up that one of my favorite acts of the summer, a fine frenzy, has finally made a video for the heartbreaking ballad "almost lover" taken from her debut album one cell in the sea. not only that, but she's been added as part of the highly influential VH1 'you oughta know' list. i'll update with an embedded version when i find a copy, but for now, check out the video in quicktime, windows or ifilm format.]

free mp3: the similou - clouds

the similou - clouds [link 2]

[these 80's loving swedes made a major dent in the clubs last year with all this love, now they return with a new track that they are offering for FREE until friday. i know, it's wednesday... so get cracking!]

new video wenesday: rilo kiley, the cribs, yeah yeah yeahs, maps

rilo kiley - the moneymaker [link 2]
[it will be 3 years and 3 days when rilo kiley release their highly anticipated 4th album under the blacklight in mid august. of course, the gang have done loads of side projects including successful stints as jenny lewis and the watson twins and the elected. well, i guess the time apart has energized them because they return with a dirty groove 1st single called 'the moneymaker'. whether this is an indication of the rest of the album is anyone's guess, but i'm definitely curious. if you want to watch the complete 12 min piece (including all the actors they auditioned for the video), click here]


the cribs - moving pictures [link 2]
[just days after my belated discovery of this band, they release a follow up single to entertain me again. i love it!]


yeah yeah yeahs - rockers to swallow [link 2]
[the songs were written during their 2004 tour, but were such favorites of the band, they decided to package the 5 tracks into an EP and a live dvd of these performances (mostly done in the dark). yeah, i think it's wacky too!]


yeah yeah yeahs - isis [link 2]
[two videos were leaked out on the same day, here's the other one! thanks to ifmv for the tip]


maps - you don't know her name [link 2]
maps - it will find you
[multi-instrumentalist james chapman aka maps created his 11 track opus you can create in his bedroom. the result is an album that's wonderfully dense and wide in musical scope. i'm slowly warming up to this act and so should you!]

songs we like: groove armada feat mutya buena - song for mutya

groove armada feat mutya buena - song for mutya [link 2]
groove armada feat mutya buena - song for mutya (kissy sell out edit) [link 2]
[what an unfortunate shitteous video for one of the best songs of the summer! ignore the visuals and blast this on any soundsystem you have and just soak up the genius 80's groove! LOVE IT!]

remix baby: peter bjorn and john - youngest folks (diplo best version)

cutie patootie dj/remixer/producer diplo must just sit around and remix peter bjork & john just to relax. i've already heard two versions in the past month of 'young folks' and this is the latest one that i got. geez...can anyone say obsessive?

peter bjorn & john - youngest folks (diplo best version) [link 2]