Kanye West’s “Yeezus” Leaks, He Frantically Streams it on Youtube

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Kanye West did everything he could to keep his new album Yeezus from leaking early. MStarz News even wrote an article at just 11am describing the security and stating that it won’t be leaked, whoops:

“Though the record is only four days away from coming out, it shows no signs of leaking. According to Buzzfeed, West and co. have figured out a formula for keeping a hot record under wraps until release day.
West was purposefully discrete when recording Yeezus, opting for small studios in hotel rooms to keep everyone not involved in making the record out of the process. West also avoided storing his work on laptops, instead opting for password-protected external hard drives in locked briefcases.
Songs in production were never sent between West’s camp online. This is a famously insecure way to transfer works-in-progress, as West learned during the making of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
Post-production, West kept his album from being mastered until just this week, in order to keep it to himself for as long as possible.
After this process, CDs will be kept in a secure plant and shipped to large chains, where the sealed boxes are under constant video surveillance.”

Nine minutes later it leaked and exploded across the Internet, causing Kanye to quickly put it up on his youtube channel. So who leaked this thing? Someone in the studio where it was mastered, or someone driving the trucks or in the warehouse? I bet they are getting grilled! Guests on the album include Daft Punk, Frank Ocean, and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. Absent is the rumored Skrillex, boy oh boy, maybe that song was under super secret security. Oh who am I kidding, I’d probably love that collaboration, he drops “Alexander Wang” in his lyrics, pretty much all it takes for me!

Stream the new Yeezus album here

Finishing touches by the great Rick Rubin, who’s net worth I just found out is $400 Million. Mega props for being so successful while staying true to yourself and looking like birds live in your beard.

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My All Time Favorite Austin Musicians Have a New Single!

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Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears are my favorite Austin-based band, as well as one of my favorite bands ever. With a full horn section and the best scream in the business, Black Joe can tear the roof off a venue. My husband pretty much only likes Talking Heads and the Grateful Dead, and even he never misses their shows, it’s like going to the funkiest church built. He has a new album coming out and just dropped the first single, and it’s quite a departure from the old sound. Like a punk rock James Brown, he commands the stage while giving his fantastic band time to shine, and I can’t WAIT to hear the new album. Bummer there are no Denver dates on this tour. Maybe next year!

New single “Electric Slave”

And for comparison, Black Joe’s former sound that is still there at his live shows (and also a ridiculously catchy song): Sugarfoot

Ben Lee writes a fantastic album on Ayahuasca

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I remember the first time I ever heard of Ben Lee. It was a blurb in Sassy magazine about how the Beastie Boys signed his young teenage self to Grand Royal. I wore his tapes out in high school, then moved on to different music and forgot about him save for dating Claire Danes and impregnating Ione Skye (wonder if Ad-Rock is ok to his cheese being with different macaroni). Anyway, I got an email about his new album “Ayahuasca: Welcome to the Work” and was immediately intrigued. Ever since the Psychedelic Convention was held in our Oakland hotel and eavesdropping on so many people discussing this spiritual experience, I’ve researched about it a lot. His album is gorgeous, not only inspired from the drug, but with themes revolved around awakening and self healing (I know, I sound disgustingly new age). This doesn’t even sound like Ben Lee’s previous work, it’s like a symphony with occasional Elliott Smith leanings. Watch the trailer for the album, he’s incredibly smart: Ayahuasca Trailer

Ten Songs I Like Right Now

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First off, did you know one of the drummers for March Fourth Marching Band hand makes leather hats that are amazing? Bring an extra $90 to their next show if you are a hat lover, I wish I had!

Now that summer is here my musical tastes get a little more light and dancey, it’s just too hot for sludge. Here is a list of the songs I like this week (all song titles in blue are links to the music):

1. Stare at the Sun – Eleanor Friedberger. Last week I posted the stream of her new album. I adore her voice and this song makes me want to hit the park.

2. Dumb Disco Ideas – Holy Ghost!. Light pretty dance electronic.

3. Demon Dance – Surfer Blood. Great sounding chill band with the occasional Weezer-like melody.

4. Warm Spell – Sinkane. Session Musician who has worked with Yeasayer and others, Sudanese influences, breezy good stuff. Loving the drums.

5. Faces – Jonathan Rado. Guitarist of Foxygen already has a solo album, and with help from White Denim’s guitarist, it sounds fantastic. A little Albert Hammond, Jr. action.

6. Orchards – Wampire. Love this Portland psych band, and I adore the monster in the video. These guys are touring right now, don’t miss them.

7. Oblivion – Waxahatchee. Fantastic cover of the Grimes song, with more garage sound. Love this so much.

8. She’s On Fire – King Tuff. Ever since Garage Swim came out, I’ve been listening to this song on repeat. Wish it had an extended version, I love the video game sounds at the end.

9. Dog That Bit You – The Baptist Generals. Sub Pop band releases new album after ten years, I really dig their sound, reminds me of a modern Tom Petty with a weird voice.

10. Captain Brain – Bill Baird. Not quite a new song, but one of my all time faves. When I listen to it in the car I tend to drive too fast.

Eleanor Friedberger of Fiery Furnaces New Album Stream

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Listen to Eleanor Friedberger‘s new album streaming free today at NPR. The sister half of artsy weird band Fiery Furnaces brings her distinct vocals and quirks to this new album. This is a smart album with great songs, interested to see her live solo, when I saw a Fiery Furnaces show, her and her brother bickered onstage. She’s pretty darn cool.

Stream the new album here: Eleanor Friedberger on NPR First Listen

Lovelife – edgy Synth pop at Gothic on May 30th!

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Lovelife is bringing their heavily 80’s influenced synth pop to the Gothic this Thursday, May 30th, sure to be a great high energy dance party. This Brooklyn by UK duo fits right in with the nu-R&B/electro dance pop wave that’s getting gaining steam right now. I know, these genres are getting so particular, but it’s great for organization. They just traveled around the country playing with Capital Cities, who have this big hit right now (when I saw them play this at the Perez Hilton SXSW party this year, many guys inexplicably took their shirts off): Safe and Sound

Listen to the new Lovelife single here: Dying to Start Again

Watch Lovelife video here: Your New Beloved

Nelly Furtado Video “Parking Lot”

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Since almost every band that’s good these days is from Canada, I wondered what my favorite Canadian songbird, Nelly Furtado was up to. Selling not enough copies of her latest album, that’s what. Not sure why, this new single is catchy, poppy and I love the video. I also like mimicking her singing (what IS that??). Music industry, you are so fickle. Nelly’s got looks, talent, beats, and satin baseball jackets, is this not enough for you?? My best guess is M.I.A. came out stronger, and now Nelly sounds like a copycat even though she’s been doing this sound for forever. Regardless, she sold one more album today!

Nelly Furtado “Parking Lot” video

Portugal. The Man New Album Review

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The highly anticipated Portugal. The Man release “Evil Friends” comes out June 4th, and I was given a chance to listen to it today. For fans of the expiremental Portland band already, you are going to love it, it’s a new sound that doesn’t stray too far from the old, and I see them gaining a lot of new fans with this album due to the more easily accessible radio-friendly nature of the songs. There isn’t a skippable track here, each has their own catchy melody and lyrics that tell so many bittersweet stories, and they could each standalone as a strong single courtesy of the amazing production by Danger Mouse. They had recorded most of the tracks at Sonic Ranch Studios in El Paso, but scrapped all but two and began working with Danger Mouse on an almost clean slate.

The album starts off great with the synth heavy “Plastic Soldiers”, and I love the lyrics of “Creep in a T-Shirt” about being a loser, they go nicely with the driving beat and twinkling keys. “Evil Friends”, the title track, has a taste of garage punk, while “Sea of Air” is a delicate acoustic ditty that soars as more layers of instruments are brought in. By the time they got to the hand-claps, I was smitten. “Holy Roller (Hallelujah)” is a stand out track with strong lyrics and background choruses singing “ooohs” and “aaahs”, and they even dabble in hip hop with the track “Hip-Hop Kids”, and it works! They’ve got a major tour kicking off May 20th at Irving Plaza, and will be hitting up Denver opening for the Avett Brothers at Red Rocks. If you haven’t seen them live, they are even better and louder in person, songs get stretched out and rocked out, and the new material is so awesome, I can’t wait to hear it live! Don’t miss that Red Rocks show!

Link to Video of Evil Friends

Link to tour dates

Link to pre-order Limited Edition Super Pack

Fork and Spoon Records Release Some Stuff You Should Hear

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When looking for new music, I often check out the other bands that are on the same label. I liked the sound of Coma Cinema, so I asked Fork and Spoon Records what else they had. They sent the new split single 7″ by bands Pandercakes and Pussy Wizard. Both bands have a seemingly happy sound but with a darker edge throughout the more you listen, and I’m really excited now to hear the rest of their roster.

Pandercakes starts the single with a layered song that contains male and female vocals (I think I heard some birds singing) all while a drum pattern keeps a steady danceable beat, even during the keys solo. Very interesting, intellectual pop, but with some punk rock attitude, I want to hear more of what they have. Pussy Wizard, aka Jordan Blackmon who plays guitar in Toro Y Moi finishes the single with “Dunno (Translucent Blue)”, a song that has a great lofi fuzz sound, world weary lyrics, and melodies that remind me of Elliott Smith. That name is going to deter some people, but it shouldn’t. The idea came from him flying on a cat.

Listen to it and buy it here: Pandercakes/Pussy Wizard