MS MR on Fallon

Watch MS MR on Fallon!

Yoko Ono & Flaming Lips on Letterman

 Watch Yoko Ono backed by her son, Sean Lennon and The Flaming Lips on Letterman!

Goodie Mob on Conan

Watch Goodie Mob perform "Amy" on Conan!

Live Review - The Flaming Lips / Tame Impala @ Terminal 5

It was a co-headlining bill that may seem obtuse at first, rising Australian buzz band, Tame Impala on the same level as psychedelic indie legends, The Flaming Lips, but the match-up worked just right. It was a night of music that dazzled the ears, stunned the eyes, and left all senses senseless by the time it was over. On a sonic assault on all audience members in attendance to Manhattan's Terminal 5, the co-headlining venture of The Flaming Lips and Tame Impala may be one of the best tours this season.

The night opened with music royalty as Sean Lennon's band, The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger supported the first of this bills two sold-out nights at the venue. While Lennon the latest incarnation of Lennon's new band sounded like they have been playing together for years were only on their fourth gig together. The band's sound is a cross between classic rock, prog, and early psychedelica, which by the time they covered a Syd Barret song, it fit in perfectly. While the band had songs that were hit-or-miss, it was fascinating watching Lennon play, with his long hair and cowboy hat, he looked like the spitting image of his late father during his "Strawberry Fields"-era look.

Around 9 p.m., it was time for Tame Impala to take the stage. While the band only have two albums to their name, it was last years release, Lonerism that made them critical darlings around the world and showcased their chops that could allow for them to share a bill with The Lips. Playing in front of a white screen that projected trippy and groovy images that were in synch to the beat the band were creating, it was a showcase that would mentally prepare the crowd for what was to come from the other band on the bill. The bands sound was so solid and tight that it is no wonder they have become critical favorites but while singer Kevin Parker's vocals seemed to be lost in the mix of the music his band was creating, it was the only downside to an impressive set that featured jam sessions, extended drum and guitar solos and thumping bass lines that had you checking your chest to make sure you were not going into cardiac arrest.

After Tame Impala's 75-minute set, there was a near 45-minute break between sets so that the stage crew for The Flaming Lips could set up for the bands mind blowing and often times brain melting stage show.  While the crew members were dressed in lab coats, it added to the affect that The Flaming Lips have conveyed with their live shows over the years, which is, everyone is apart of the show, including the audience. Taking the stage just minutes shy of 11 p.m., singer Wayne Coyne, who was dressed as a medieval knight crossed with a spaceman (it simply is the only way to describe what the costume looked like), took to his microphone stand, which was made of giant metal balls split it half that looked like a crater from outer space. While the crowd went nuts to see them finally on stage and ready to perform, an unknown person told the fictional tale of The Flaming Lips in Spanish to the crowd. While many were left puzzled, the band looked like it was just another day in the office and it was time for the weirdness to start. Opening with "Look...The Sun Is Rising" off this years release, The Terror, the stage show was immediately unlike anything I have ever witnessed before. With enough lights that could light up an small village and a giant projector screen that had rope lights connected to it that would wrap around the set to all ascend to Coyne's mic perch, it was a production that after one song in hand enough power and vibrancy that it didn't matter anyone had to be at work in the next few hours, we all wanted this to go all night. As Coyne threw glitter into the first front rows and massive amounts of confetti and smoke from dry-ice machines filled the venue, it looked like a New Year's Eve party rather than a concert, but this is The Flaming Lips, if they didn't make a mess and didn't make every part of your body tingle in some strange way, there would be no point in seeing them. While most of the setlist featured songs off The Terror and 2009's Embryonic, it was a short but sweet 11 song set that sent everyone to a galaxy far, far away. While the show may take away attention from what the band are doing musically, it does however, work seamlessly into the production and glitz. It has to be said that The Flaming Lips as musicians are very talented men who have some of the most creative minds in music. With a stage show and amount of perfect production as The Flaming Lips have, it is a wonder why they are not on Broadway every single night, if this traveling sci-fi circus would settle down, it would be something you would want to witness as much as you could.

Rising Artist - London Grammar

English universities must have something in the water that seems to produce great bands. Radiohead, Coldplay, Queen, Pulp, Pink Floyd, and so many more got their start at English institutions for higher learning, but another name to add to that list is London Grammar. The band formed in 2009 while attending University of Nottingham and craft a pop sound unlike anyone else. A trio that features guitars, keyboards and vocals, London Grammar find a way to craft so much by using so little. Singer Hannah Reid has instant 'It' girl written all over her and a vocal talent that will have the hairs on the back of every audience members neck stand up. The band, who just released their long awaited debut, If You Wait, where close to being nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize but while the achievement may have come short, they are still turning heads and making a name for themselves as they hit the U.S. this month for their first North American tour.

Underrated Classic - Kings of Leon "Because of the Times"

Before their public meltdown, before they were on the cover of nearly every magazine, before they were one of the biggest American rock bands to hit the global stage, before they were married to models, and right before their sex was on fire, Kings of Leon were a critical darling band that had a cult following in the U.S., a massive following in England and in 2007 released one of the best albums of their career. The Nashville band of brothers (and a cousins) third album, Because of the Times came with little fan fare. The album arrived in a year that was filled with heavy hitters from Arcade Fire, Kanye West, Radiohead, The National, Arctic Monkeys, Feist, MIA, The Shins, Rihanna, Modest Mouse, and came early in the year where by the time the critics who loved them were making their top 10 lists, seemed to forget about the album, even though the album was hailed by the same critics. The band at this point had a following that included Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, and many other icons that were championing their sound and proclaiming them to be the next big thing, but were failing to catch onto rock radio and the big American stages. The band still had their long hair, beards, mustaches and gravely, inarticulate lead singer Caleb Followill, but the album seemed to go on deaf ears to fans and critics. Now, six years after the fact, the band have released their solid sixth album, Mechanical Bull and the album that people seem to forget, Because of the Times, is all of a sudden everyones favorite Kings of Leon album. It is a record that heard them shed their "Southern" roots and pick up more of a darker, sexier tone to their songs but also seemed mysterious. They had singles like "On Call" and "Chamer" but were far from sing-a-long jams that they had crafted before like "Taper Jean Girl," "The Bucket," "Four Kicks" and "Molly's Chambers." Now, all these years later, it is the record they needed to make in order to get to the position where they are at now -- one of the world's biggest bands.

Blood Orange Cover & Tracklisting

On November 18, Blood Orange will release his new album Cupid Deluxe. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

1. Chamakay
2. You’re Not Good Enough
3. Uncle Ace
4. No Right Thing
5. It Is What It Is
6. Chosen
7. Clipped On
8. Always Let You Down
9. On The Line
10. High Street
11. Time Will Tell

Quick News

After keeping his new album's release as a secret, Four Tet's Beautiful Rewind will arrive on October 15.

The Dead Weather have confirmed they are working on new material and should have an album out by early next year.

Temper Trap guitarist Lorezno Sillitto has left the band to persue other projects. He was with the Australian band since their incarnation eight years ago.

Massachusetts hardcore punks A Wilhelm Scream will release their new album Partycrasher in November.

Pussy Riot's Nadezhda Tolokonnikova has ended her nine day long hunger strike after she was placed in a hospital. However, the activist vowed to restart the strike it if she is not moved to another prison according to a statement from her husband.

The metal White Stripes are coming! Max and Iggor Cavalera from Sepultura and Cavalera Conspiracy are teaming up with LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy to craft a brand new project featuring just the two of them as musicians and Murphy as a producer. According to The Guardian, Iggor said, "James Murphy approached me with the record idea, but eventually suggested some others. To start with, he wants only the two of us in the studio, like a metal version of the White Stripes. He also wants nothing but the two of us on stage. He basically asked me to get rid of the rest of the band. Cavalera Conspiracy has four members and two records. Murphy asked us to start from scratch as a duo. According to him, 'this will come to be the heaviest record of our careers'. He promised me that."

Movie of the Month - Win Win

It is very rare that a film comes together so perfectly as Win Win. A film that not only resonated with most of America during the finical crisis, but was also entertaining, heartfelt, and touching. The 2011 dramedy directed by Thomas McCarthy (The Station Agent) showcases a middle-aged father and wresting coach who is trying to make ends meat for his family at his failing New Jersey law firm. The lawyer, Mike (Paul Giamatti) tries to turn things around when a client with dementia and is ordered to be taken under the care of a guardian, while the client has no recollection of family, Mike steps in and makes up a story so he can get the $1,500 a month stipend that will help solve some of his financial problems at home. Unexpectedly, the clients teenage grandson from out of town arrives and tracks down Mike and wants to live with the man who was allegedly taking care of his grandfather. Low and behold, the teen turns out to be a hell of wrestler that can also save Mike's struggling squad. Win Win is a film about a man who is just trying to provide during hard times and with a phenomenal cast featuring Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Canavale, Jeffery Tambour, Burt Young and Alex Sheiffer. It is win win all around.

James Blake on Jools

Watch James Blake perform "Retrograde" on Jools!