New Music: Eminem "3 A.M"

Eminem's next single, 3 A.M, leaked last week and I figured we should all give a listen and discuss. Em is one of those "love him or hate him" artists, there usually isn't an in-between where he's concerned. Personally, I love him. He is one of the most talented lyricists of our time, whether you want to admit it or not. Not many rappers have the ability to make Jay-Z seem inconsequential on his own song (look up Renegade - Jay-Z & Eminem if you don't believe me.

When I hear people complain about him, it's usually one of two arguments: He offensive (most rappers are unfortunately, but lets move on) or his voice is annoying (but at least he's not using a vocoder pretending to be Roger Troutman on every song). Slim Shady has this innate ability to paint a picture and take you on a journey that, no matter the topic (or how violent), its a ride you're willing to take and happy that you did at the conclusion.

3 A.M. is his latest ode to violence. Like 97 Bonnie & Clyde from the Slim Shady LP & Kim from the Marshall Mathers LP, this song ends in someone getting killed; a few someones actually. The only difference is this time he isn't quite sure how the bodies quite got there. Oh Slim, you're so Shady.

Check it out.

New Video: Little Boots "New in Town"

Little Boots (né Victoria Hesketh) released her debut video for the excellent track, "New in Town". I love this video. I mean, what other video includes cracked-out hobos, race wars, and horndogs at make out point --all dancing to fun, perfectly timed choreography?
Little Boots - New In Town

Seriously, I see this track+video combo as the catalyst to Boots getting the much deserved recognition for her awesomeness, not to mention cementing her as an Artist to Watch for 2009 --separate from the blogosphere (ya know, irl in real life). The song is ridiculously catchy and the video is simple enough to be accessible, but quirky enough to stand out.

For further proof of Little Boots' awesomeness, check out her DIY YouTube videos.

RT Picks: Cam'ron "I Hate My Job," Luke Bryan "All My Friends Say," Asher Roth "I Love College," and Ashley Arrison "Losing You."

Cam'ron - "I Hate My Job"
from Crime Pays, out May 12th
Back with a good ole piano riff a la "Hey Ma", and sans beef with 50 Cent, Cam'ron complains about the bullshit of the 9-to-5 working world: traffic, short lunch break, wages. Call me a slacker or blame it on the nice weather, but Cam's message is really resonating with me.
[Handpicked by Ghostface Millah]



Luke Bryan - "All My Friends Say"
from I'll Stay Me
So I clearly still have Nashville on the brain -- here's an upbeat ditty. I'd almost call it pop-frat country from the utterly charming Luke Bryan. There's heartbreak, cheating, an infectious chorus and, oh yeah, drinking references. What's not to like about this song? Give it a listen, I'll be in the corner shootin' doubles waitin' on ya.
[Handpicked by Jayvee]

All My Friends Say - Luke Bryan


Ashley Arrison - "Losing You"
from Talking Circles
Two reasons: I'm obsessed with this song and needed to balance out the happy go-luckiness of my previous pick. Be sure to check out Ashley Arrison's Talking Circles EP and her blog for randomness.
[Handpicked by Jayvee]



Asher Roth - "I Love College"
I'm ashamed to say that the song I find myself listening to the most now is "I Love College" by Asher Roth. It's a dumb song, but catchy as hell and considering I'm in the biggest college town in existence, pretty accurate as it pertains to my current life.
[Handpicked by Mike]

I Love College - Asher Roth

New Video: Green Day "Know Your Enemy"

Earlier this week we brought you the second track, "Lights Out," off of Green Day's hotly anticipated 21st Century Breakdown, today we bring you the video for the first single "Know Your Enemy."

Director Mathew Cullen takes a minimalist approach to "Know Your Enemy" - a straight performance video set against an urban backdrop as the boys of Green Day hammer their way through the track. There are no over the top special effects or green-screen tricks. The only "props" featured are surveillance cameras and helicopter search lights, which meshes well with Billy Joe's constant paranoia, though noticeably absent are the Joe's trademark head ticks from earlier years. (He seems more confident in his paranoia role, doesn't he?) The video concludes with some pyrotechnics - it is a rock video after all - as Joe shouts "Rally up the demons of your soul" - then Cullen cuts to a pretty cool perspective shot of Joe so be sure to stick around for it.

I'd imagine reception to this video will be mixed - people will want more from it, but for me, it was just enough. The song is about empowerment and seeing Green Day front and center not hiding behind any tricks conveys that message.

Green Day - New Music - More Music Videos

Me Verse You to release album

Unsigned band from St. Louis not shy about future plans

They predicted it, now it’s a matter of whether or not the confident words will come to fruition.

The St. Louis-based Me Verse You is looking for a label impressed enough by their work to give them a contract. But being unsigned hasn’t slowed down their plans to soon hit the big stage.

Me Verse You is set to release its new album April 27 and interviews aren’t even needed to know what the quintet has in mind for its future. Aptly named, the first single from the album is titled Radio, and as the band states in the song’s chorus, “…the next time you hear from me might be on the radio.”

Me Verse You straddles the line between pop punk/rock and an aggressive progressive mentality heard from many Victory Records bands.

Victory might actually be a good fit for the guys from the Show-Me state. After all, St. Louis isn’t too far from the label’s Chicago offices, and the sound somewhat mirrors that of Victory bands that have seen quite a bit of success.

Radio is a truly radio-friendly song and one that, with the right push, is capable of having at the very least, moderate success as soon as this year. Whether or not you are a fan of the style of music or their demeanor, Me Verse You has that “I think I’ve heard this before but I’m looking for a catchy summer song to listen to and a refreshing new band/voice might not be that bad for at least a few months” sound.

With the rapid turnover in bands on the main stage and the rate at which the trend setters choose to move from genre to genre, it wouldn’t be surprising if these guys only last a year or so. On the other hand, they have enough talent and a genuine sound worthy of building a solid fan base that will carry them past the initial honeymoon period that might draw national attention.

*Unfortunately, Me Verse You is unsigned and no tracks or samples could be found other than what is on the band’s Myspace page.

New Video: Matt & Kim Show Stripping "Lessons Learned"

Adorable Brooklyn duo Matt & Kim's new video for "Lessons Learned", off their sophomore album, Grand. Is the lesson that a band must reveal everything to stave off the sophomore slump, or make an ass out of yourself by showing off your ass in Times Square?

Just for fun, here's an awesome remix of "Yea Yeah" by Flosstradamus.

New Music: Royksopp featuring Robyn "The Girl and the Robot"

Hey electronica fans - or really anyone into awesome music, we have something for you. Röyksopp, an electronic music duo based in Bergen, Norway (for those unaware) have teamed up with Robyn (hottest Swedish import!) for their next single "The Girl and the Robot."

The track is featured on their new album Junior which was recently released back in March. The physical album is pretty hard to come by here in the States, but thanks to the power of the internets (aka iTunes and Amazon) you can purchase it online.

We're not one to jump on bandwagons (much...) but the guys at Pitchfork are already declaring the track as a contender for "Single of the Year." I mean, how can you hate this slightly demented and chilling love song? You can't. Well, at least I can't especially with lines like "Don't deny me, call me back/I'm so alone."

You can check out a live performance of "The Girl and the Robot" below - yes, there's a "surprise" performance from Robyn. Enjoy kids! Also, stay tuned, I'm sure they'll be a boatload of remixes surfacing in the very near future.

New Music: Conor Oberst "Nikorette"

Singer-songwriter Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band will release a new album, Outer South, on May 5th. The album will include the track "Nikorette," which Oberst and the band performed last November on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

Oberst is best known for his work in Bright Eyes, but he's lent his talents to numerous other bands since then. His newest project is with the Mystic Valley Band, which also features Taylor Hollingsworth, Nik Freitas, Macey Taylor, Nathaniel Walcott and Jason Boesel.

Thanks to the fine folks at RCRD LBL, you can now download "Nikorette" for free when you register for the site. If you're into indie music scene, then RCRD LBL is for you! It's the brain-child of Peter Rojas, a network of online record labels and blogs serving up fresh new music news and, more importanlty, free Mp3 downloads.

New Music: Green Day "Lights Out"

Green Day is ramping up for their first studio album in five years with the release of 21st Century Breakdown in May. According to the UK's Guardian, the album "picks up broadly where its predecessor [American Idiot] left off -- attempting to make sense of what it means to be angry and alive amid the figurative and literal wreckage left behind by Dubya's presidency."

Just yesterday, the band posted U.S. tour dates on their official website. Today, a new track, "Lights Out" has surfaced. It's safe to say "Lights Out" comes out swinging in true Green Day fashion with an old-school formula that fans from the Kerplunk days will find familiar (repetitive guitar chords, lightening fast beat paired with Tre Cool hammering away at the drum kit).

The band's 1994 release Dookie still holds a special place in my heart, but I truthfully, I've yet to hear an entire Green Day album that hasn't energized me. From the reviews that are slowly trickling out, sounds like 21st Century Breakdown will have the same effect. Check out the track below -- what do you think? Also, the premiere of Green Day's first single, "Know Your Enemy," will air exclusively on April 24th via MTV properties.

Lights Out - Green Day

Music intensifies playoff fever

Everyone knows that there is a clear link between music and sports, and the way the two impact each other isn’t news to anyone. But there is a certain playoff fever buzzing around the Midwest, in the Chicago area and Illinois in general. Being the only contributing member of the RoundTable based in the Midwest, I thought I’d share a couple of songs that are being played frequently on Chicago sports radio and likely will be until the respective playoff runs are over.

The first isn’t anything new. Shipping up to Boston has been played out so often that some people might be getting tired of it. If you are a Dropkick Murphys fan, though, it might never get old. The Chicago Bulls are surprisingly up 1-0 in their series against the defending champs, and whenever Boston is involved, it seems to be the default song.

The second song being hyped in the Second City has also been recently played on Amstel Light commercials. The Chicago Blackhawks adopted Chelsea Dagger as their “victory” song and it is played after every win…also played, it seems, whenever the Blackhawks are even mentioned on the radio. It’s a catchy song – one that will probably get old quickly, but not as long as the Blackhawks re winning.

What are some of your favorite sports-related songs? They can be songs teams have adopted as their own or songs that are played in certain situations at sports venues.

Skinner releases 3rd Streets track on Twitter; promises to release three more next week

The Streets' Mike Skinner promised he would release three new tracks this week on his Twitter and he did. The third and final track, "David Hassles", probably sounds the most like his previous work out of the three, but that doesn't make it boring or tired.


Apparently Skinner liked this so much he wants to release three more songs next week:
Stay tuned... And be sure to check out the other tracks posted here and here.

Now Streaming: Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band

After the critically lauded and fan favorites, Dub Side of the Moon and Radiodread, the Easy Star All Stars are back with a song-for-song reggae version of what is arguably The Beatles' greatest album. After all Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band symbolized the shift in their production and evolution of their craft, so it's nice to see ESAS pay homage. And who can complain when it's done so well?
Enjoy!

Chrisette Michele has an Epiphany

This week I attended the taping of Chrisette Michelle's SoulStage for Vh1 Soul. Chrisette is interesting to watch, I like to think of her as a walking oxymoron. Out walks this cute, doe-eyed beauty exuding innocence and youthful goofiness. Then she opens her mouth and her voice makes you stand up and take notice. Her vocal range and mastery of her instrument speak to a talent well beyond her years. On her debut album, I Am, she sang about studying "Ms Billie, Ms Ella, Ms Sarah Vaughn and Ms Natalie Cole". This time around she can add one more name to her list. Ladies and gentleman the spirit of Phyllis Hyman is alive and well in Ms Chrisette Michelle.

On May 5, she releases her sophomore release “Epiphany”, executive produced by Ne-Yo. I was a little surprised by that but in all honesty Ne-Yo is a great R&B songwriter and vocal producer so the teaming makes perfect sense. He was able to bring out the subtleties in her voice that her performances sometimes lack, making her a little less over-the-top when necessary.

The first song she sang was her new single, also titled Epiphany. It is a stirring soulful slow-mid tempo about realizing a relationship is over and deciding to move on. What I like about SoulStage is it’s a lot like Storytellers, in that the artists tell little anecdotes about their songs. It could be what they were doing or thinking when they wrote or recorded a given song or what a song means to them. In this case Chrisette had an "oh snap!" moment, told Ne-Yo about it and this song was born. Her epiphany.

The next song came to her in a dream the night before; Blame It On Me is the obligatory power ballad every songstress needs. Check that off the list. At this point things got funny. The show was stopped so her hair and make up team could apply touch ups. We (the audience) just waited patiently as the three experts handled business.

Back to the show.

What You Do is a catchy mid tempo. Nothing special about the song but she performed well and it will probably be a single. Though personally I think it should just be album filler. Following this song, she shouted out to LA Reid, the head of her label, for supporting her vision and allowing her to "do her own thing", or at least letting her think she could (wink wink). Well played LA, well played. Next she did a few hits from “I Am”. If I Had My Way (love this song) was done with a jazzy flair and old soul feel. This is where she truly gave in to the Phyllis Hyman spirit. And although she missed my favorite note coming out of the bridge, she more than made up for it with an Ella Fitzgerald inspired scat to end the song. This led into the Grammy award winning Be Ok. This song had a false start so between takes and touch ups, Mr. Reid himself popped up for a hug and hello. Take 2 was amazing and featured more scatting during the bridge. She truly understands how to meld R&B with Jazz and is amazing to watch and listen to when she gives in to those moments.

... Another makeup touchup (sigh)

The next song is the one I was waiting for; a song that I could fall in love with instantly. All I Ever Think About Is You is ironically a song she didn't want to record in the first place but is now her favorite on the album. The story here is, LA called her as she was getting off a plane and convinced her that this was a song she had to record. So much for doing your own thing. But thankfully, she changed her mind because this song is crazy.

More touchups and now we're up to six hair and makeup handlers (insert exasperation here).

Her surprise song was Superwoman, made famous by Karen White (L.A.'s ex-wife). While vocally she did well, I was a bit disappointed with this one. Why? Well because she was reading the lyrics off a piece of paper on the floor, yes Chrisette, we all caught you looking, and yet still managed to get the lyrics wrong. Dude, this song was HUGE, you should remember the lyrics by heart. I know I do.

All in all she gave a great show and I was excited to hear more. So on my Chrisette high, the following day I searched the internet for the recordings hoping to hear the finished tracks. I only found a few and I must say they weren't what I thought they would be. Yes, a couple of them were still good, but are they good enough? I wasn't totally convinced and I couldn't understand what happened. Then it hit me. Chrisette is a true performer. Put her on stage and she will give you want you want, Power, emotion and fire. You will feel every word and every note like she is singing to you and you alone. This coupled with the fact that she never seems to sing a song the same way twice, makes her a must-see if she's ever in your area. Hell, I once saw her sing the alphabet and got chills from that. No joke, the frickin' alphabet. They never sang it like that Sesame Street. Now this is awesome when you’re at a show but unfortunately it sets a standard that most recordings can't live up to. The same thing happens with Leela James, Erykah Badu and sometimes Jill Scott. All of whom I love but real talk, the shows can be better than the product. Note to self, get album first and only go to shows after hearing the material.

So I'm officially starting over, I'll get the album on the 5th and try to see her at BB Kings on the 28th. Clearly I'm still a fan. Give me a vocalist over a studio artist any day. A talent this big is too hard to ignore.

Epiphany Sampler

Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson to sing "Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!" (?)

According to PopCrunch, Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson are looking to star in a new "Laverne & Shirley" type show. I, for one, applaud the idea.

For starters, television is a much smaller medium compared to film. That means you will feel much less second-hand embarrassment for Jessica Simpson's acting. Think of it like a more tolerable Major Movie Star (er, now Private Valentine).

Anyway, there is a void of female buddy comedy on TV right now. And just imagine the two of them, living together, or just being friends and doing stuff. Sure, it'll be ridiculous and probably not very funny, but it'll be on TV. So you can change the channel whenever you want.

I will still be watching.

Releaseomania! Phoenix's "Lisztomania" video; Mike Skinner leaks 2nd Streets track via Twitter

I love this band and I like this video. The shooting style reminds me of Tokyo Police Club's video for "Your English is Good." Look out for the cameo of the blimp from the Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix cover art. The album drops May 25th. If you haven't heard it yet, stream it in full here.

-----------------------

In other new media news, The Streets' Mike Skinner makes good on his word to release three songs via his Twitter after visiting a pub earlier in the day and posting an artistic photo of a pint glass. The song starts off like any epic Streets track from A Grand Don't Come For Free with blaring punctuated horns, but then it dissolves into a relaxed 70s throwback beat with sped up background vocals, a la Kanye West's early chipmunk production. All in all, something new from Skinner and I like it.

New Music: The Streets' "I Love My Phone"

Mike Skinner leaked a new Streets track via his Twitter. True to his tragicomic ways, Skinner regales his iPhone's capabilities yet questions his dependence on it.

Get the track for yrself at Gorilla vs. Bear.

RT Reviews: Ashley Arrison's "Talking Circles" EP

Aside from being a music junkie, I also happen to be an info junkie. When I get hooked on an artist I have to know everything about them - not necessarily from a biographical standpoint (though it helps), rather insight into their process, what inspired them to pen songs, or even incidents that fueled them. Thankfully, there's this little invention call the internets that feeds my need for knowledge, well, except for when it comes to Ashley Arrison, minimal info available on her music, career, nothing!

Truthfully, I'm not even sure how I "discovered" Ashley's music as I clicked through many sites while tooling around the web last night. Somehow I stumbled upon her Myspace page and was welcomed by a beautifully haunting voice singing "I said hello, I think I'm broken/And though I was only jokin'/It took me by surprise when you agreed." Um, yeah as you can imagine, I've had this track "You're Gone" on loop for about an hour. The song looks at a relationship in retrospect, being thankful for the time had, but coming to grips with the reality of this person moving on. There's also a pretty amazing element of placing this person on a pedestal while you watched yourself slowly sink below them. There's no bitterness, just appreciation of the experience. Can we say brilliant?!

It doesn't end there. There's a kiss-off song "Last of My Goodbyes" with semi-stalkerish tendencies and disdain filled lyrics that even Fiona Apple would approve of. The album version starts with Ashley backed by only a piano, which slowly builds to include her full band, but it's her acoustic rendition with Aben Eubanks that blows me away. Especially when paired with her brutally honest words "I've finally face it/I can't shame you like before/I can't blame you anymore/So I won't ask if you're alone/If you're in love/And I won't make you say it's all your fault...This is the last of my goodbyes."

If either of those songs haven't enticed you enough to check out the rest of Ashley Arrison's Talking Circles EP, I'm not sure what else will. You can watch more footage of Ashley on her official YouTube channel -- her album is available through iTunes or by clicking below.

New Bat for Lashes? You Bet Yr Asses!

Care of the one and only Stereogum, here's a haunting cover of a somber Kings of Leon jam like only Bat for Lashes could do. Truth be told, this is my favorite KoL track. And yes, I will admit to liking them. ThereIsaidit.


And just for fun here's the official video for "Daniel", the first single off of Two Suns which dropped last Tuesday. It's not as accessible as the creepy clip that made her famous, but it was still interesting enough to hold my attention. So, that's saying something. Besides, I want that hoodie.


And here's my favorite track (so far) from Two Suns, which leaked way back. Although I think this is superior to "Daniel" --I would guess that Natasha Khan chose not to make this the first single to further avoid the Bjork comparisons.

Video: St. Vincent - "Actor Out of Work"

The more-than-adorable Annie Clark just released her latest single and video for "Actor Out of Work", under her St. Vincent moniker. Shot in what is probably the weirdest setting for an audition (or not-so private therapy sesh?). Though the warehouse is sparse, the music fills the song with a driving percussive beat, fuzzy guitar-crunching hook and crescendo-ing background chorus vocals. As a contributor to several Sufjan Stevens albums, it would seem Ms. Clark is cut from the same multi-layered cloth, so to speak.

RT Picks: Peaches "Talk to Me," Just Jack "Live Your Life," and Keri Hilson "Since You've Been Gone"

Peaches - "Talk to Me" (produced by SoulWax)
from I Feel Cream, out May 5th
Now with toned down subject matter! Just when I thought her sexploitation schtick was getting tiresome, Peaches works with some of the best beat-makers around to craft a gothic new wave masterpiece about the importance of communication in a relationship. The lyrics are simple, but weren't they always? And frankly, who cares? This song is awesome. If you're worried she's lost some of that edge check out the just released hair-obsessed video.
[handpicked by Opaul]

Talk To Me - Peaches

Just Jack - "Live Your Life" (TI/Rihanna Cover)
from Radio 1 Established 1967
Haters better recognize, well, kinda. To celebrate Radio One's 40th anniversary, they asked 40 of the today's biggest acts to cover 40 tracks from each of its history. So what do you get when you strip down one of last year's biggest urban sing-along anthems? A pretty odd cover that manages to work. Let's face it, the strength of the track had nothing to do with TI's rap, it's all about Rihanna's robotic sample - Just Jack delivers for the most part.
[handpicked by Jayvee]

Just Jack - Live Your Life (Li -

Bonus Track!!
Keri Hilson - "Since You've Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson Cover)
Clearly I'm on a cover kick. We just gave you a pop group covering an urban track, so it's only natural we flip it back on ya. My first introduction to Keri Hilson was during the intermission of Justin Timberlake's FSLS tour. She pre-recorded a video performance of Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone," another gem of a pop song covered by everyone from Ted Leo to Robyn to The Gossip. What makes Keri's version stand out is the R&B flair she gives it. The beat is pretty generic Timbaland fare, yet it works.
[handpicked by Jayvee]

New music: Ex-Van Halen, Satriani promote upcoming tour, debut release

Supergroup featuring members of Van Halen, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Joe Satriani ready to promote debut release

Super bands are formed just about every day, or so it seems. But it has been quite some time since a collection of talented musicians have come together like this.

After playing together for nearly a year, Chickenfoot are set to release their first full length album on June 9 and have already packaged together a European tour with plans to soon hit U.S. soil (U.S. dates have not yet been released).

So far, the band has proved to be just as silly and carefree as its name suggests. But with the talent encompassed in the supergroup, once the amps are plugged in and the soundboard switched on, it’s all business.

The blues rock sound is a perfect refresher and a far cry from what modern rock has become. And with Sammy Hagar belting out the vocals, Michael Anthony playing bass, and Chad Smith on drums, it’s not surprising the sound that the group produces. But the final piece of the quartet is what likely puts Chickenfoot over the edge in terms of talent and creativity. Joe Satriani adds what no other guitarist could, and possibly will help this band go further than it otherwise would.

Satriani began playing guitar the same day Jimi Hendrix died and has since done nothing but light flames to every stage he’s graced.

Chickenfoot’s debut album boasts 11 tracks with three already being streamed on the band’s Myspace page.

The music is reminiscent of the 70s or 80s rock style you might expect from this group, and it goes a step beyond the music in showing their collective ages and creativity with the album cover.

Remember those cool “hyper-color” heat sensitive shirts? Chickenfoot used the same technology on their debut album cover.

If you are looking for a carefree group excited about playing music (they don’t need the money, they’ve already made theirs), Chickenfoot are definitely worth giving a shot. Check out the two songs below and click on the video above for a preview of the band.

New Music: 311 "Hey You"

It's been quite a few years since the guys of 311 soaked in mainstream success. The band's rise to fame started in Omaha, Nebraska, where a young Nick Hexum and crew introduced local bars to their alternative rock style paired with hip-hop and reggae.

But it wasn't until 1995 when 311 catapulted to stardom with their single "Down" followed by "All Mixed Up." Their sound connected with the musical tastes of the youth and became a mainstay on MTV along with bands like No Doubt and Sublime who helped bring forth a reggae/ska/rock movement to the public. But mainstream success proved fleeting as pop music with the likes of Britney Spears and boybands re-emerged in the late 90's.

Relegated to a more underground status, 311 steadily released out music and toured relentlessly. Since then, they enjoyed moderate radio success from time to time with singles like "Come Original," "Amber," and their cover of The Cure's classic "Love Song" in 2004.

With the past behind them, 311 is ready to rock your speakers again with Uplifter, their first studio record in three years, produced by the legendary Bob Rock. As the title suggests, 311 is bringing back their trademark blend of rock and reggae. According to the band's site, Uplifter's deluxe edition will include a special DVD documentary, "The Road to 311 Day," which will include interviews backstage footage and live performances.

You can purchase the album on June 2nd, but in the meantime, The Round Table has the lead single "Hey You" for you to Listen Here (pulled down). In true 311 form, "Hey You," starts off with a pretty heavy intro that slinks it's way into a groovin' reggae beat as Nick Hexum's voice leads in. S.A. Martinez, 311's co-front man, shares singing duties with Hexum as the chorus begins then takes over the next verse. His silky-smooth voice has always been more suited for the totally reggaed out portions of 311's tracks - a nice counter to Hexum's edgier rock tone.

Also, check out some oldies, but goodies from the boys of 311 below.

**Update - MP3 was pulled down -- you can purchase it on 4/14 -- so go buy it!**

Down - 311

All Mixed Up - 311

Love Song - 311

Forget Chris Cornell, Sondre Lerche Mocks Twitter

Now that Twitter is all the rage - being covered by mainstream news outlets from print to broadcast, it's only natural that the celebs get in on the action and alert us to 24/7 updates of "what they're doing right now." That's right all the cool kids learned how to "tweet" as Lindsey Lohan and Samantha Ronson have a very public lovers quarrel, digital music G-d Trent Reznor trashes on Chris Cornell - who then responds via Washington Post (can you be more old school?!), while Demi Moore prevents a suicide.

Then there are some artists out there who are aware of the Twitter trend and refuse to jump on the bandwagon, such as Sondre Lerche. The talented Norwegian born singer-songwriter enjoys a pretty underground, cult following of avid fans who are quick to rush out to his last minute gigs, but don't need to be updated on every nanosecond of his life. Well, I'm sure there are some out there who do -- which is why Sondre is quick with a punchline.

Sondre via Facebook:
Yup, Sondre's a musical genius, he's got an incredible voice, killer style, and a sense of humor. What else could you ask for? Check out some tracks below -- get ready to fall in love with this man.

Say It All - Sondre Lerche And The Faces Down

Modern Nature - Sondre Lerche

My Hands Are Shaking - Sondre Lerche

Two Way Monologue - Sondre Lerche

New Music: Flo Rida Featuring Nelly Furtado "Jump"

Sad to say, I just made my first $1.29 purchase on iTunes and it was for a Flo Rida track, "Jump" to be exact. Now, before I lose anymore credibility, let me just say that I made the sacrifice to support my girl Nelly Furtado.

I mean, these impulse purchases happen when you're a major Nelly Furtado fan (think pre-Loose days) and when you factor in that she's been completely M.I.A. (not the rapper...). So, I pulled the trigger and I'm completely disappointed, which is not really surprising. Flo Rida does nada for me -- in fact, he's part of the group of current mainstream chart toppers that I'd like to see go away quickly.

It's a typical Flo Rida song complete with a dizzying, non-sensical rap over a club banging beat while Nelly recites a brainwashing chorus of "When I say jump/you say how high/I ain't never seen seen nobody--ady get so high." Ugh - it's atrocious, sounds like she's totally phoning it in too. Again, thank you Timbaland for ruining an talented songwriter in Ms. Furtado and minimize her to a mere sex object/hook singer.

Check the track out below -- curious to hear your thoughts on the collabo - or lack thereof.

New Music: No Doubt's "Stand and Deliver"

No Doubt has posted a newly recorded track "Stand and Deliver." It's a cover of the 80's hit by new wave punk group Adam and the Ants. The folks at Beacon Street site, a No Doubt fansite, were kind enough to stream the song for fans to enjoy -- be sure to check it out before it gets pulled.

Cover aside, it's quintessential No Doubt sound - circa early 90's that I've come to love, which is pretty exciting. I'm still interested in hearing what new music they come up with - will they still be relevant? Can they bring back sort of a new wave of ska inspired songs to a younger crowd that missed the go-around? All yet to be seen.

New Video: Eminem "We Made You"

Shady's back -- back again -- Shady's back -- tell a friend. Well, maybe don't tell a friend just yet considering this craptastic first single (and video) "We Made You," that the once beloved menacing emcee has put forth from the anticipated (not anymore?) release of Relapse on May 19th.

Eminem opted to go the route of mocking our celeb obsessed culture, but truthfully, he's just re-hashing what's been done before - namely by him, but more notably and better executed as of late by Pink with "Stupid Girls." The rapper not only takes aim at celebs, but name drops relentlessly, to the point where I'm wondering if Jimmy Iovine gave him an additional $1K for every celeb mentioned. I'm not against taking shots at celebs -- but I expected something more creative from Eminem as he made a name for himself not just through his rhyming abilities, but by being able to tell a dynamic story.

Perhaps I'm being too harsh - I'd imagine this is part of his typical write a "catchy" track to get people chattering then blow their minds approach, but when is the last time Em's wowed the crowd? I'd argue he hasn't put anything of substance out since The Marshall Mathers LP, though The Eminem Show had some decent tracks. The main problem is that he has no flow - it's a hodgepodge of nothingness, which is alarming -- the only standout point, the hook - which is exactly what radio looks for.

Eminem's managed to sell more that 75 million albums worldwide - but a lot has changed in the industry - guess we'll see what Relapse has to offer come May 19th.

iTunes Price Hike, Ticketmaster Investigated: What Say You?

Well, the wait is over - the Apple iTunes price hike - ehem - "variable pricing" is now in effect.
Although the date for higher was not publicly announced, LA Times tipped readers off that Apple would boost the price of many hit singles and select classic tracks starting today - so when consumers logged into iTunes this morning they were treated to a surprise.

The new pricing structure will include price points of 69 cents, 99 cents, and $1.29, based on wholesale costs set by the labels.
In other words, the more popular tracks including current chart toppers like Lady Gaga and Flo Rida will set you back $1.29 per song.

You may recall, Apple originally promised DRM-free downloads as part of this new pricing structure -- meaning the buyer would be allowed to make unlimited copies and play the songs on any device -- but in true squeeze-the-consumer form -- this feature is currently not available.

It will be interesting to see how the variable-pricing strategy pays off. Obviously, there are proponents of both arguments. However , when you factor the current state of the economy, this might not be the best time to jack up the cost of music. The flipside, if a higher price point will make consumers think twice about purchasing the crap that is Lady Gaga and Flo Rida, then I'm all for it.

In other music industry news, according to Digital Music News, there's an investigation intensifying around Ticketmaster. New York Senator Chuck Schumer has recently proposed a new anti-scapling measure aimed at ticketbrokers - namely Ticketmaster and TicketsNow.

A proposed new federal law would curb ticket brokers like the glorified scalpers who froze fans out of a string of high-profile concerts by Bruce Springsteen and other shows by forcing Ticketmaster to wait 2 days before allowing any tickets to appear on TicketsNow. Senator Schumer told the Daily News, "the bottom line is we need to create a fair system where fans get first crack at good seats at a reasonable price." Schumer is also apparently a highly-vocal opponent of the impending merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

The Round Table wants to know -- will iTunes new price structure deter you from purchasing music? Do you think illegal downloading will skyrocket again? As for Schumer's fight against Ticketmaster - what took so long?

RT Picks: Left Alone "Sad Story," Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears "Gunpowder," and Sublime ft Gwen Stefani "Saw Red"

Hey Rudie, get your fix here.

Left Alone - "Sad Story"
from Left Alone
I really tried hard to find another option for my Pick of the Week, but the truth is, this song is a perfect follow up to last week's N.E.R.D. release. Despite all of the joking about the return of ska and that whole scene, the music keeps popping up everywhere. The California-based Left Alone will officially release its self-titled and third album on Hellcat Records, April 7th. In true form, Sad Story sounds upbeat but discusses the pitfall and unfortunate incidents happening in the band's hometown. Even if you aren't a fan of Left Alone, Hellcat Records or ska in general, it's hard to deny the idea that gets you in the mood for nice weather. And besides, it's so catchy and repetitive that you'll be singing or humming along all day. try to forget it. I dare you. It's definitely been stuck in my head all day.
[handpicked by AP]

Sad Story - Left Alone


Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - "Gunpowder"
from Tell'em What Your Name is
More funk than ska, but "Gunpowder" still features a killer horn section, which is one of the staples of ska music and purely infectious. I was impressed with Black Joe Lewis and the boys when I caught them perform in NYC last week -- so much so that this track has been in heavy rotation. It's the perfect pick me up for this rainy morning in NYC.
[handpicked by Jayvee]

Gunpowder - Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

BONUS PICK
Sublime featuring Gwen Stefani - "Saw Red"
From the vault! What did we do before Youtube? Well, clearly we missed out on watching killer collabos like this one between a then-unknown Gwen Stefani of No Doubt and the life-cut-too-short Bradley Nowell of Sublime from 1994. I actually own a bootleg of this concert on cassette tape, yes cassette tape, so to actually see the footage from the show just blows my mind. Enjoy it kids!
[handpicked by Jayvee]

Now Playing: Phoenix's New Album (!!) Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Stumbled upon these tracks (read: scoured interwebz relentlessly) from the forthcoming Phoenix album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which doesn't come out until May 25th.

First listen makes me think they're evolving masterfully: the synth-y electro-lite vibes from 2004's Alphabetical are added back in after the slight departure of 2006's It's Never Been Like That, but the lightning fast Strokes-esque guitars from that album remain.

Enjoy!

Video: Cursive's "From The Hips"

Kasher and co's new video for their latest single, "From The Hips", is a bit strange. It's a quaint, if meandering, and at times corny take on dating, true love and possibly even polyamory --though the thesis is that we all have one person out there who's perfect for us. Oh, and that person might be the ex of one of our exes (?)

Black Joe Lewis & The Honey Bears at Bowery Ballroom in NYC

Last night, Trop and I had the opportunity to check out Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, a primal blues, soul, and funk band hailing from Austin, Texas. Before taking the stage, we chatted with lead-singer Joe Lewis, a soft-spoken gentleman who waxed poetic about life in Austin and how he could never get used to living in the big city - like New York.

But, when Joe took to the stage he transformed into a full-fledged showman -- reminiscent of likes of James Brown, Little Richard, and Sly Stone. He's a soul-shouter, with the ability to ignite the audience at the drop of a hat while his backing band, The Honeybears, complete with horn section, had the crowd dancing wildly. Their lyrics are gritty, at times blatantly misogynistic, but in such an exaggerated way that they come off as entertaining -- such as the show-stopping "Bitch, I Love You," a tune that would clearly make Ike Turner proud.

If you're looking for something fresh to check out - I highly recommend seeing Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears in action. Their debut album, Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is, is currently available for purchase.

Check out clips of "Sugar Foot" and "Big Booty Woman:"

Sugar Foot:


Big Booty Woman:




[photo credit: cambria harkey via Black Joe Lewis myspace]