OFF WEEK

Hey guys, I apologize but I will be taking this week off due to the passing of a family member. I hope to return next week in full force, in the meantime I appreciate your understanding. Enjoy the classics!

Aziz Ansari yo.

MP3: Aziz Ansari - Kanye West vs. Darwish

I leave you this weekend with something different: I like comedy (when it's actually funny of course) and I was lucky enough to get an advance of the cd and dvd of Aziz Ansari's new special "Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening" (no vinyl advance, bummer I know) which premieres on Comedy Central this Sunday and hits stores on Tuesday. I like Aziz and was pretty excited for this and it totally delivers. It's mostly quick jokes about CVS or Craigslist or whatever which everyone can dig on but there are a couple of stories too like the mp3 I included today. Judge for yourself, but this blog is down. Watch this on Sunday and if you dig, go pick a copy up on Tuesday. Fuck yeah!

RIP Jay Reatard

MP3: Jay Reatard - Blood Visions

Sad news yesterday with the shocking passing of Jay Reatard. Never saw him live unfortunately but I always enjoyed most of his records, with the last one finally starting to grow on me. When he was on, he was fucking on and he will be soundtracking the best parties for years to come. Rock on.

New Dum Dum Girls: Jail La La

MP3: Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La

You crazy today Sub Pop: here is the re-recorded album version of the great "Jail La La" from the Dum Dum Girls' upcoming "I Will Be" lp, coming out March 30th (with the LP on Hozac). That sweet 7 inch single like artwork above there is actually the cover for a sweet 7 inch single. Nuts right? That comes out February 16th with non album b-side "Play With Fire". Sounds dangerous. Party time.

Have One On Me

(click for full size)

Drag City posted this on their website. If it's a new Joanna Newsom album or art or whatever, that's cool but mainly that is a fucking bad ass comic strip.

PUNKS GROW UP

MP3: Mattias Alkberg - Jag bara tänkte, liksom, att

I'm a bit late in getting the new Mattias Alkberg record, but that could well be a result of his other band's stellar record that was really nary a month or so prior to this effort. Anyway, here is a great track from it, as well as link to him performing it on PSL.

http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2009/11/23/musik-med-mattias-alkberg/

Dirty Projectors Free Virtual 7 Inch

MP3: Dirty Projectors - Ascending Melody

Dirty Projectors have released a 7 inch for 2 songs from the Bitte Orca sessions, originally to appear on a single that never ended up pressed after all (though it leaked like crazy). These song now exist in a limited physical form, which can be purchased here or you can download it from the widget below. Good shit, as to be expected.

Dance your life away to the drum fills

MP3: Kite - Cannonballs

After a stellar debut EP, Kite has returned with another set of electro-pop goodness. Unabashedly danceable and bright, they deliver the message that you're never alone, no matter how isolated you feel in the world around you. Unlike most artists though—they do it well.

Japandroids live from Bikini Island

Japandroids did not disappoint last night on Jimmy Fallon. Seriously, this band is too fucking rad.

New Quasi: Repulsion

MP3: Quasi - Repulsion

Hey guys, sorry for the extended absence. I meant to return from my holiday yesterday, but New England snowed me in and it was not meant to be. Oh well! We're back and ready to kick 2010 into high gear.

Helping to do so is a new Quasi ripper from their new "American Gong", out Feb 23rd on Kill Rock Stars with artwork up yonder. The new lady member sounds pretty great and they sound pretty fresh. I fucking love me some Quasi though, so judge for yourself.

Besides: Hello Saferide

photo captured by Sandra Löv

MP3: Hello Saferide - I Fold

Let's have a killer weekend. Here is a b-side from last year's really great "More Modern Short Stories From..." by Hello Saferide. It totally wouldn't have fit on that record, clearly, but it's still completely awesome as it's own thing. This one showed up in October on Razzia's "There's A Razzia Going On Volume 2".

Take it easy everyone. See you Monday, I'm sure we'll be posting a best of at some point so watch out.

Quail Lungs Operation

MP3: Quail Lungs - Dumb Dadadum

Stereogum dropped this joint last night and I just gave 'er a listen. I like it! Quail Lungs is pretty DIY Americana which I miss and still holds weight I think. Why did we give up on this so soon? I think Quail Lungs will bring it back. PPM is putting this out and I guess PPM and Quail Lungs are homies since schooling and it's way different from the rest of their catalogue but that's great and awesome and we should support this!

The Dum Dadadum b/w You Can't Believe in Anything 7 inch comes out next month. 500 copies/all radical.

New Scout Niblett: The Calcination of Scout Niblett

MP3: Scout Niblett - The Calcination of Scout Niblett

More from Drag City today! Come January 19th, 2010, there will be a new Scout Niblett record! It's called "The Calcination of Scout Niblett". That's the album cover above and the title track is available for download. Spoiler: it fucking rules!

Bonny Billy & The Picket Line

MP3: Bonny Billy & The Picket Line - The Glory Goes/Wolf Among Wolves

Just released yesterday, "Funtown Comedown" is a bluegrass look at the grand catalogue of Will Oldham with 2 covers thrown in to boot. He totally pulls this off and the whole thing is a blast to listen to. Today's mp3 gives you a double shot peek of what you're in for as it starts as a song from "Lie Down In the Light" and segways into a song from my #1 album of the decade "Master and Everyone".

New Moon Duo: Stumbling 22nd St.

MP3: Moon Duo - Stumbling 22nd St.

The Moon Duo stuff has been pretty rad so far and this peek at the upcoming "Escape" lp coming in February 2010 from Woodsist is shown them to be even more radical. It's pretty obvious that it's going to rule.

Montymontymontymontymonty

MP3: Monty - En Till Himmel (featuring Lorentz)

This is the new Monty (nee Montt Mardié på Svensk for those who don't know) single. David Pagmar's songcraft has improved immensely over the past few years, and this is another step forward, but more in the direction of straight-forward pop. I cannot wait to hear this album, which is out in February via the mighty Hybris.

BLAKROC

MP3: Blakroc - Stay Off The Fuckin' Flowers (featuring Raekwon)

The concept of Blakroc was enough to rope me in: The Black Keys play live hip hop/bluesy psychedelia beats over verses by some of the best rappers alive and the more I listen to this LP, the more I dig it. Here is an mp3 from it featuring the great Raekwon and below are some Youtubes of the dudes and friends killing it on late night television.

N I T E F U N K

MP3: Nite Funk - Am I Gonna Make It

Dam Funk + Nite Jewel = Nite Funk = RADICAL. Don't miss this hit.

BIRTHDAY SONGS/FUCK YEAH: Karp

MP3: Karp - Bacon Industry

Karp is the greatest ever probably. This is afternoon snow music when you're just over it/afternoon birthday music when you're having a good time. Get Karp "Self Titled LP" asap and you'd feel like it was your very own birthday today too.

BIRTHDAY SONGS: Roy Orbison

MP3: Roy Orbison - In Dreams

What a goofy fucking album cover. It'll fool you, but inside that sleeve is a fucking legend. They don't make em like Roy Orbison these days: no one sings anymore. Singing used to be cool. Bummer, but singing and I will always be together in dreams.