Playlist

Our April Playlist is Here! Take a Look at Our 28-Song List of Random Musical Musings For The Month!

Playlist

Here are our 27 random musical musings for the month. Listen and Enjoy!

Playlist

Head on over to Spotify to listen to our February Playlist of 27 random musical musings. Enjoy!

Quick News

via GIPHY

Speaking to NME, Strokes guitarist Nick Valensi said that the band will are "alive and well and living in New York City" and working on new music that they hope to release next year.

On the same note, Strokes bassist Nikolai Fraiture has confirmed the line-up of his new band, Summer Moon. The band features him singing and slappin' the bass, mon, as well as Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction) on drums, Camila Grey (Uh Huh Her) on keys / vocals, and Noah Harmon (The Airborne Toxic Event) on guitar. The band will release their debut album later this year.

If you want to see something cool, head on over to Jack White's website for an interactive timeline of his illustrious career that he has released.

Dave Grohl's mother, Virginia Hanlon Grohl, will be releasing a book where she speaks to other famous musical parents like those of Dr. Dre, Amy Winehouse, Michael Stipe, Mike D., and Haim. The book From Cradle to Stage: Stories From the Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars, will be out next April. Dave also pens the forward to the book.

Playlist

August's 26-song playlist of random musical musings is here. Take a listen on Spotify!

QUICK SPINS

 

Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly

Two days after the 20^th anniversary of Tupac’s Me Against the World, Kendrick Lamar surprise released his sophomore album a week ahead of schedule and if anyone ever doubted that the Compton rapper could be the second coming of Pac, all doubts are officially pushed aside. Beautiful, raw, honest, intense, To Pimp A Butterfly is a modern poet putting social commentary and storylines over beats provided by the likes of Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Terrace Martin, Pharrell, Dr. Dre, among others. Clocking in at 80 minutes, which is long for any record, especially by today’s standards, Lamar lets his feelings about celebrity, love, the hood, and black culture out with a vengeance. Combining hip-hop, funk, jazz, psychedelica, and rock, Lamar defies the sophomore slump and proves he will not be pigeonholed. With lyrics about Trayvon Martin to Michael Jackson to Nelson Mandela, as well as his “interview” with Tupac, this record is a lyrical document of our times by a one-man verbal wrecking ball.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds – Chasing Yesterday

Another sophomore album that refuses to be pigeonholed comes from the former Oasis axeman and songwriter, Noel Gallagher. Chasing Yesterday is Gallagher coming into his own and putting his past behind him, while the only yesterday he may be chasing is selling out massive stadiums around the world, he goes for that sound but on a different level. Chasing Yesterday is a bit more eccentric and intimate that his 2012 solo debut. Fusing jazz and rock, Gallagher goes for something new and it works.

FINAL GRADE: A

Twin Shadow – Eclipse

For his third album, George Lewis Jr. aka Twin Shadow goes from being the male version of Robyn to his own dance leader and new wave leader. Eclipse is a record about coming into your own and Shadow does that with enough tracks that will make you click repeat over and over again.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Ghostpoet – Shedding Skin

Using late night tales and the sounds of the London underground scene, Ghostpoet returns even more mysterious and romantic on his third album, Shedding Skin. A surreal, beautiful and very modern British album from one of the UK’s best exports.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Sufjan Stevens – Carrie and Lowell

Sufjan Stevens has built a very successful career being a musical unicorn who clearly gives zero fucks about what you think of him and his style. He is a funky storyteller from Detroit that breaks all musical rules and boundaries while doing it all on his own. Carrie and Lowell is his love letter to his parents and after a five year wait for fans, he returns to his indie-folk roots to go back to basics.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Incubus – Trust Fall EP

The mighty alternative rockers return with a new EP, which is actually the first part of their new record, the second part arrives later this year to make a complete record. After the epic disaster of their last album, 2011’s If Not Now, When? the Calabasas band go back to their boundary pushing roots and combine more electronic hooks and guitar than they have in recent past. This is a step for the future of the band that is headed in the right direction.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Flash Bastard – WILD

This Canadian band describes themselves as glam punk and glitter rock, but Flash Bastard are so much more than that. They are probably the most fun you will have listening to any record released in 2015 thus far. WILD is their latest offering and the title lives up to the name. Now, if only this band can tour with The Darkness and Steel Panther, all would be alright in the world.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Lieutenant - If I Kill This Thing We’re All Going to Eat for a Week

Foo Fighters bassist Nate Mendel ventures into the solo world for the very first time under the name Lieutenant. Mendel is usually the quiet one in Foo’s but this time he busts out into his own. Bringing along former Sunny Day Real Estate bandmates for the ride, he shows off his hidden songwriting skills and shows why, aside from Dave Grohl, he has been the only constant member of Foo Fighters, which after hearing this record, could be because he is the backbone to any musical act he is apart of.

FINAL GRADE: B

Cannibal Ox – The Blade of the Ronin

14 years after their terrific debut, Cannibal Ox return with their sophomore album, The Blade of the Ronin. The Bronx duo stay along similar ideas from The Cold Vein but are missing out on the flawless El-P production that record had.

FINAL GRADE: B

James Bay – The Chaos and the Calm

After a series of solid EP’s, English singer / songwriter James Bay finally arrives in album form with The Chaos and the Calm. Combining the best tracks from his EP’s as well as new songs, the man with the tall hat shows why he is one the best young songwriters today with his tender and touching side.

FINAL GRADE: B

Airborne Toxic Event – Dope Machines

Four records in and California’s Airborne Toxic Event are still making solid records. Dope Machines hears the band depart from the orchestral rock sound they were known for and hears them venture into more electronic stadium-style hooks and with enough power that will get any crowd chanting along. Just hear the single “Wrong,” and you will know we were right about this review.

FINAL GRADE: B

Atari Teenage Riot – Reset

The digital hardcore OG’s return with their fifth album and their second since their reunion and bring forth the filth, fury, and social commentary that only they can. Reset is the soundtrack to the internet lead by the Wikileaks generation.

FINAL GRADE: B

Reptar – Lurid Glow

The fantastic Athens, Georgia, indie rockers take the spirit of the Athens bands before them – REM, B-52’s, Of Montreal, and bring their own blend of silly creativity on their sophomore album. Now that the weather is getting better, this is a record to play while hanging in a park or driving around with friends.

FINAL GRADE: B

Hot Rod Circuit – Sorry About Tomorrow

The emo titans of the early 2000’s are back and pick up where they left off. Sorry About Tomorrow will surely please old fans who have been waiting for new music from this band since their hiatus in 2008.

FINAL GRADE: B

Marika Hackman – We Slept At Last

Since 2012, we have been following the career of English singer / songwriter Marika Hackman and after three years of waiting, we get her beautiful debut. The young and talented songstress plays a minimal style that lets the listener focus on her lyrics rather than her voice or the production around her.

FINAL GRADE: B

Modest Mouse – Strangers to Ourselves

It has been eight years since Modest Mouse released a new album and in that time so much has happened. Some members left, including Johnny Marr, various ideas were tossed around like high profile producers and collaborations like Big Boi. But in the end, the band returned with a record that captures their disjointed eight years away perfectly. Strangers to Ourselves is far from the best work they have done but in many cases, also, is not the worst. It does feel a bit all over the place and chaotic in sonic style and feels more along the idea of “Hey, let’s just get this out and work on the next record.” While they have been away for so long, they weren’t forgotten and this could just be an appatizer to hold fans over for something else.

FINAL GRADE: B-  

Ratking – 700 Fill

The New York City hip-hop collective stormed onto the scene last year with So It Goes, now, they follow their acclaimed debut with a surprise mixtape. 700 Fill still contains that raw, raucous, and rambunctious rap that we have loved about the group but with minimal production and just letting the lyrics do the talking.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Of Montreal – Aureate Gloom

The freakishly fabulous Of Montreal return with their 15^th album and the band keeps it as strange and as weird as ever.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Ringo Starr – Postcards from Paradise

Ringo is back with album No. 18 and it is exactly what you guessed it would be and sound like.

FINAL GRADE: D

The Airborne Toxic Event on Letterman

Watch The Airborne Toxic Event perform "Wrong" on Letterman!

Quick News

Sad news to report, A$AP Crew producer A$AP Yams passed away over the weekend. Yams was 26. No cause of death has been determined or announced. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and bandmates.

Chris Cornell took to social media over the weekend to announce that he is back in the studio working on his new solo album.

PJ Harvey has officially begun her "live" recording of her new album. Fans in London can watch Harvey record her new record right before their eyes. The album is due at the end of the year.

Toro Y Moi will release his new album, What For? in April.

Killer Mike has written an amazing op-ed for Okayplayer in honor of Martin Luther King Day. Take a look and read the very poignant piece HERE.

In 2011, following the release of his solo debut, Noel Gallagher was supposed to release a record with Amorphous Androgynous, yet, the record never saw the light of day and Gallagher now confirms to NME that it never will. He said, "Initially when they delivered it they managed to pull off the trick of recording the quietest CD of all time. When I got it I couldn't hear it and was like, 'Is it broke?' But for all the great ideas on it… I was in the middle of a tour, that last album had blown up, the mixes weren't right. And by the time I got back off tour I was just like, 'I'm not fucking putting out another record, I can't be arsed'. I was frazzled and had glandular fever. I was fucked."

Carl Barat has confirmed via Twitter that he is en route to Thailand to begin work on the new Libertines record with the rest of the band. The band are recording in Thailand as Pete Doherty finishes rehab in the country.

Madonna will release her new album, Rebel Heart, in March but due to an early iTunes release that digital version currently appears on Apple's music store to purchase. Therefore the tracklisting to the Material Girl's latest has been revealed, take a look:
01. Living For Love
02. Devil Pray
03. Ghosttown
04. Unapologetic Bitch
05. Illuminati
06. Bitch I’m Madonna (feat. Nicki Minaj)
07. Hold Tight
08. Joan Of Arc
09. Iconic (feat. Chance The Rapper & Mike Tyson)
10. HeartBreakCity
11. Body Shop
12. Holy Water
13. Inside Out
14. Wash All Over Me
15. Best Night
16. Veni Vidi Vici (feat. Nas)
17. S.E.X.
18. Messiah
19. Rebel Heart

Airborne Toxic Event released the cover to their upcoming album, Dope Machines, take a look:

The cover to Bjork's upcoming LP, Vulnicura, has already been released. Take a look, below. That record arrives in March.

Quick News

Anti-Flag will release their new album, American Spring, this spring.

After nearly 25 years together, numerous times on hiatus, countless hits and massive records, not to mention a stint with Jimmy Page, The Black Crowes are calling it quits for good. In a statement, guitarist Rich Robinson said, "It is with great disappointment and regret that after having the privilege of writing and performing the music of the Black Crowes over the last 24 years, I find myself in the position of saying that the band has broken up."

A Tupac Shakur exhibit will open at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles ahead of this year's Grammy Awards in February. The exhibit will showcase memorabilia and a history of the iconic rapper.

Airborne Toxic Event will release their fourth album, Dope Machines, next month. Take a look at the tracklisting, below:

Marvel comics has honored Run The Jewels with their own comic book covers and designs influenced by the duo's album artwork. Take a look at the covers below:

Albums Coming in 2015

A new year means new albums and we take a look at the first quarter of releases of 2015 and give a rundown of albums to keep an eye out for this year. 

 

January:

Belle & Sebastian – Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance

Sleater Kinney – No Cities to Love

Joey Bada$$ - B4.DA.$$

Derek Grant – Breakdown

Until The Ribbon Breaks – A Lesson Unlearnt

Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo & Youth

The Decemberists – What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Marilyn Manson – The Pale Emperor

Mark Ronson – Uptown Special

Jamie Cullum – Interlude

February

Chromatics – Dear Tommy

Ghostface Killah & BadBadNotGood – Sour Soul 

Gang of Four – What Happens Next?

Screaming Females – Rose Mountain

Big Noble – First Light

The Church – Further / Deeper

Dan Deacon – Gliss Riffer

The Wombats – Glitterbug

Kate Pierson – Guitars and Microphones

Bob Dylan – Shadows in the Night 

March

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Chasing Yesterday

Cold War Kids – Hold My Home

Testament

Ringo Starr

Carl Barat & The Jackels

Modest Mouse – Strangers to Ourselves

Hot Rod Circuit – Sorry About Tomorrow

Of Montreal – Aureat Gloom

James Bay – Chaos and the Calm 

Madonna – Rebel Heart

April

Faith No More

Twin Shadow – Eclipse

Axell /\ Ingrosso

Marina & the Diamonds – Froot

Other Artists Supposedly Releasing Albums in 2015:

Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams

U2 – Songs of Experience 

Giorgio Mororder – 74 is the New 24

Adele - 24

Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon III

Action Bronson – Mr. Wonderful

Clipse – As God As My Witness

Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele 2: Blue & Cream

Ghostface Killah & MF DOOM – DOOMStarks

Raekwon – FILA

Q-Tip – The Last Zulu

Living Colour – Shade

Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 3

Muse

The Cribs

Airborne Toxic Event

Jake Bugg

The Jesus & Mary Chain

Guns N Roses

King Diamond

Culture Club

Death Cab For Cutie

The Cure

Brandon Flowers

Lorde

The Black Keys

Daughter

Black Sabbath

Nas

David Gilmour

The Vaccines

Against Me!

Foals

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

Mumford & Sons

Rainer Maria

Incubus

Prodigy

The xx

Jamie xx

Tool

Slayer

Deftones

Dr. Dre

Bjork

Bad Religion

Emelie Sande

Fleetwood Mac

King Diamond

Metallica

No Doubt

Motorhead

The Libertines

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Soundgarden

Maxwell

Garbage

Social Distortion

Sparta

Strung Out

Unlocking the Truth

James Blake

Refused

Frank Turner

Radiohead

Robyn

Joanna Newsom

Justice

Paul McCartney Tribute Album Announced

This November, Sir Paul McCartney's friends and colleagues will pay tribute to the icon with The Art of McCartney, a massive tribute record that spans his entire career from The Beatles to Wings to his solo material.

Take a look at the cover, above, the insane tracklisting, below, as well as trailer for the record and a performance of The Cure doing "Hello, Goodbye," with Macca's son, James.

01 Billy Joel – “Maybe I’m Amazed
02 Bob Dylan – “Things We Said Today”
03 Heart – “Band On The Run”
04 Steve Miller – “Junior’s Farm”
05 Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) – “The Long and Winding Road”
06 Harry Connick, Jr. – “My Love”
07 Brian Wilson – “Wanderlust”
08 Corrine Bailey Rae – “Bluebird”
09 Willie Nelson – “Yesterday”
10 Jeff Lynne – “Junk”
11 Barry Gibb – “When I’m 64″
12 Jamie Cullum – “Every Night”
13 KISS – “Venus And Mars / Rock Show”
14 Paul Rodgers – “Let Me Roll It”
15 Roger Daltrey – “Helter Skelter”
16 Def Leppard – “Helen Wheels
17 The Cure – “Hello Goodbye” (Feat. James McCartney)
18 Billy Joel – “Live And Let Die”
19 Chrissie Hynde – “Let It Be”
20 Robin Zander & Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick – “Jet”
21 Joe Elliott – “Hi Hi Hi”
22 Heart – “Letting Go”
23 Steve Miller – “Hey Jude”
24 Owl City – “Listen To What The Man Said”
25 Perry Farrell – “Got To Get You Into My Life”
26 Dion – “Drive My Car”
27 Allen Toussaint – “Lady Madonna”
28 Dr. John – “Let ‘Em In”
29 Smokey Robinson – “So Bad”
30 Airborne Toxic Event – “No More Lonely Nights”
31 Alice Cooper – “Eleanor Rigby”
32 Toots Hibbert with Sly & Robbie – “Come And Get It”
33 B. B. King – “On The Way”
34 Sammy Hagar – “Birthday”

Playlist

Take a look at March's 28 song playlist and listen / get / share it on Spotify!

Airborne Toxic Event on Kimmel

 Watch Airborne Toxic Event perform "Hell and Back" on Kimmel!

Playlist

 Take a look at January's 26-song playlist and hear / subscribe to it on our Spotify channel!

Playlist

 Take a look at October's 27-song playlist and enjoy it on Spotify!

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros on Conan

Watch Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros perform "Better Days" with a little help from Anna of The Airborne Toxic Event on Conan!

QUICK SPINS

Harry Fraud – Scion AV Presents High Tide EP

Rising hip-hop producer Harry Fraud releases his debut EP for Scion motors and brings together friends like Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt, Smoke Dza, Riff Raff, French Montana to showcase why his beats and work is so in demand. Fraud, who has produced for a majority of those artists listed already is ready to become the next Pharell or Kanye were in their days as producers, High Tide is affirmation to that.
FINAL GRADE: A- 

Ghost BC – Infestissumam

The Swedish heavy metal band make their major label debut and take their theatrics and Catholic Church obsession to the masses. Infestissumam, which translates from Latin to the biggest threat to the antichrist, plays just as it sounds. The band, who dress like skeleton priests, popes, and cardinals, Ghost BC takes religious imagery to a whole new level. 

FINAL GRADE: A- 

Major Lazer – Free The Universe

The party starting favorites return with their latest record and after many delays, Major Lazer finally get a chance to Free the Universe. With help from Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, Dirty Projectors' Amber Coffman, Tyga, Flux Pavilion, Bruno Mars, Wyclef Jean, Shaggy, Major Lazer take their party a step further.

FINAL GRADE: B+

The Thermals – Desperate Ground

The Portland indie rockers return with their Saddle Creek debut and take their political and religious imagery and mix it with a post cold-wave sound that is enough to make you want more.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Bombino – Nomad 

Tuareg guitarist, singer, and songwriter Omara “Bombino” Moctar releases his Dan Auerbach produced new album and has officially become the hardest rocking African from the Sahara. Bombino takes classic American riffs and brings his African influences together for a hell of a ride.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Kid Cudi – Indicud

Stoner rapper Kid Cudi returns with what could be his best album to date, the much anticipated Indicud. Cudi takes his songs into a darker and much more psychedelic territory and hears him releasing some of his best rhymes. With special guests Haim, Father John Misty, King Chip, Kendrick Lamar, Too Short, RZA, ASAP Rocky, and even Michael Bolton, Cudi combines everything that has influenced him in a very slick and cool album.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Bell X1 – Chop Chop

The Irish rockers return with their mix of folk, electronica, and rock and bring forth another record of great Irish storytelling and music. With longtime National collaborators, Peter Katis and Thomas Bartlett aka Doveman, Bell X1 add new flavor to their recipe.

FINAL GRADE: B

Snoop Lion – Reincarnated

The reggae debut from Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion hears everyone’s favorite stoner rapper taking a deep look into Rastafarian culture. What was originally intended to just be the soundtrack of the documentary of the same name that followed Doggs transformation into Lion became a full on original record with help from Major Lazer on production. Would the legend of Bob Marley be proud? One will argue yes, but others may see it differently. Yet, whatever the case, Lion knows how to have fun and has no problem hiding it, even in a alter ego.

FINAL GRADE: B

Ms Mr – Secondhand Rapture

The New York City duo of Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow release their debut and take the sounds of hyper electronica and fuse it with ethereal ambient sounds to give the world Secondhand Rapture. This anticipated debut does not disappoint and as the season changes into summer, it could be any hipster or bohemian soundtrack in the sun.

FINAL GRADE: B

Savages – Silence Yourself

The British buzz band release their much anticipated debut and while a band in a day and age where everyone wants to know every damn thing about anyone choose to remain enigmatic and under the radar, it makes their appeal seem that much more greater. Savages have created a solid cold-wave / post-punk debut that will keep critics intrigued and have fans begging to know and want more.

FINAL GRADE: B 

Junip 

The Swedish psychedelic electronic folk outfit return with their second record and bring fantastic storytelling and interesting music together. This is a record for anyone looking for a lazy Sunday with a glass of red.

FINAL GRADE: B

The Postelles - …And It Shook Me

Slick New York City surf rockers The Postelles comeback and bring a whole new sound and dynamic to their music. Going for a much more subtle summertime vibe, The Postelles still remain to stick to their roots but add a whole new level of pop and musical qualities to their catchy compositions.  The band refuse to be klumped into the sophomore slump category and shake things up a bit.

FINAL GRAE: B

Devendra Banhart – Mala

The New York folk singer returns with eighth album and instead of trying to be the weirdest and strangest hipster in any room, Banhart finally finds his most confident sound and instead of trying to be so odd, he becomes very honest. 

FINAL GRADE: B-

Airborne Toxic Event – Such Hot Blood

The LA art rockers return with their third record and while musically, they stay in the same stride as they have done in their past, singer and lyricist Mikel Jollett brings some of his best work to date with his remarkable storytelling over song. Such Hot Blood will please current fans and will help gain a whole new audience.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Iron and Wine – Ghost on Ghost

The South Carolina folk star brings his own brand of jazz and pop to alter his sound in all the right ways. While his storytelling is no different than what he has done in the past, the music and production on Ghost on Ghost is sure to make us curious to how he will progress next.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Skinny Puppy – Weapon

The industrial legends return with their 15^th album and prove why after nearly 30 years together they are just as powerful now as they were when they first started. Weapon hears Skinny Puppy altering things just a bit on the production end but still bringing you bone crunching and brutally intense heavy sounds.

FINAL GRADE: B- 

Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City

The preppy New York City rockers return with another joyful and poppy surf rock / summertime inspired record. While instead of paying homage to Cape Cod or traveling the world, Vampire Weekend take a look at living in the Big Apple, but regardless of what they are talking about, the album hears them progress in style, however, their progress is redundant throughout the album. 

FINAL GRADE: C+

Airborne Toxic Event on Kimmel

Watch Airborne Toxic Event perform "The Storm," and "The Secret" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Airborne Toxic Event Perform "Changing" at Coachella

 Watch Airborne Toxic Event perform their track "Changing" Sunday at Coachella.

Airborne Toxic Event Cover & Tracklisting

On April 30, The Airborne Toxic Event will release their third album, Such Hot Blood. Take a look at the album cover and the tracklisting below:

1. The Secret 
2. Timeless 
3. What's in a Name? 
4. The Storm
5. Safe
6. Bride & Groom
7. True Love
8. This is London
9. The Fifth Day 
10. Elizabeth

In 2011 we interviewed singer Mikel Jollet about the bands second record, you can listen to that interview HERE.

In 2009 we interviewed the band about their rising acclaim and buzz worthy status, take a look at that interview HERE.