Talking Heads - "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)"

I've been looking for this video for years. It's gonna be a good year.

Joker - "Back in the days"

I'm not a huge grime fan, but Buggsy absolutely destroys this track. Jokers full length album debut out on 4AD right now.

KAMP! - "CAIRO"

Slo-mo disco heat! I'm very excited to hear what a full album from these guys will bring in the new year.

Michael Franks - "Monkey See, Monkey Do"

Yacht funk Mondays.

Jamaica running - "The pool"

Go ahead and Dance Yrself Clean to this one.

DJ Ayres - "Flashing Lights"

Great song / video from one of the best working DJ's today.

The Equals - "Softly, Softly"

Very Family Stone.

Ned Doheny - "Get It Up For Love"

Yacht funk Mondays are here.

ASAP Rocky - "Trilla"

The beat on this song is an absolute menace.

TIMBUKTU - "ALLT GRÖNT"

And we're back.

Mayer Hawthorne - "A Long Time"

Mayer Hawthorne takes us down memory lane with his video "A Long Time," by featuring Highland Park's Channel 68, "The New Dance Show," hosted by R.J. Watkins. "The New Dance Show" was young Mayer Hawthorne's after school favorite.

Chromeo - "When The Night Falls"

Another ridiculous outing from Dave 1 and P Thugg.

The Death Set - "Can You Seen Straight?"

Death set! Death set! Death set!

Toddla T - "Watch Me Dance" ft. Roots Manuva

Heavy 80's Bowie influence here and I approve!

The Border Surrender - "If You Pass Me By"

Good video, great song.

The Forms (Feat. Matt Berninger) - "Fire to the Ground"

I always thought Minetta Lane would make for a great video shoot location.

Gardens & Villa - "Black Hills"

Video for "Black Hills" by Gardens & Villa from their self titled album on Secretly Canadian.

Blood Orange - "Sutphin Boulevard"

Here is a video for Blood Orange's amazing new track Sutphin Boulevard.

It will be the first single from the forthcoming album "Coastal Grooves" to be released on Domino Records. Looking forward to this one...

Cults - "Go Outside"

The Cults self titled debut album is becoming one of my favorite summer 2011' listens.

Tom Vek - "Aroused"

Tom Vek's Leisure Seizure is turning out to be one of the best albums of the year.

Benoit & Sergio - "Around the world"

Sick ass half time remix of Daft Punks classic "Around the world".

Ghostfunk

Producer Max Tannone pairs Wu-Tang member Ghostface Killah, with vintage African funk, high-life, and psychedelic rock music.

Tannone has been blending hiphop artists with dub music, and with other artists like Radiohead for a few years now. This is by far his best effort to date.

Some blends are more successful then others, but this is definitely the free album of the summer.

Highly recommended.

Si*Sé - "Goes On"

Amazing new video for the first single off of perennial New York favorite Si*Sé's new E.P. "Gold".

Bag Raiders - "Not Over"

The Bag Raiders have been dropping quality singles for almost 2 years now. Here is the video for "Not Over" off of their self titled debut album. I love to see smaller electronic lables putting this kind of cash behind their artists.

Metronomy - "The Bay"

Official video to "The Bay" the new single by Metronomy. The single's official release is on July 4. Off Metronomy's acclaimed third album The English Riviera.

DAYS by Steve Powers

Inspiration.

Vondelpark - "Camels"

Lovely mid tempo jam from Vondelpark. Perfect for zoning out on a dreamy summer night.

Breakbot - "Fantasy" (Jacques Renault remix)

This song just won't stop! Love the vintage Sesame Street footage.

Memory Tapes - "Yes I Know"

Video for the first single from the forthcoming album PLAYER PIANO out July 4 in Europe.

Manchester Orchestra - "Simple Math"

Amazing new video for Manchester Orchestra's "Simple Math". Definite candidate for video of the year.

L'Xtrmst Zen - "ZiggyZa ZiggyZi"

More tracks should be built around accordion loops.

Breakbot - "Fantasy" feat. Ruckazoid

Hot nouveau disco summer jump off. Songs like this prove that MJ will never really die.

The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

New trailer for the fourth coming Michael Rapaport produced documentary on A Tribe Called Quest. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Get excited.

Swedish House Mafia - "Save The World"

Summer anthem style new SHM track AND dogs saving the world. What's not to love about this video?

Is Tropical – “The Greeks”

This exactly how kids play everyday, minus the meth lab and C4...

Justice - "Civilization"

Official video for Justice's new song "Civilization". I know a lot of people hate these guys but this track is kind of fucking epic.

KZA - "Le Troublant Acid"

KZA brings the perfect slo-mo disco heat for this warm spell we're having in NY right now.



Bonus points for the expertly flipped sample from this semi obscure French tune.

Hooray For Earth - "True Loves"

I wouldn't be surprised to see these guys on MTV later in the year. Massive sound / great production values for an indie band.

The Coathangers - "Hurricane"

Shades of Bikini Kill in this track... Suicide Squeeze has some nice releases coming out this year. Definitely a label to watch for.

Blood Orange - "Dinner"

Is it possible to be in love with a song?

Rubblebucket – “Silly Fathers”

Rubblebucket’s eight members play trumpet, trombone, and saxophone alongside the standard bass / drums / keyboard / guitar. The (now) Brooklyn-based band love tricky arrangements, whistle solos, and disco guitar leads. The video was shot on a Super 8mm camera by director Alexis Boling. I think that the sunny band parade around Brooklyn captures the band’s vibe pretty well.

Via Stereo Gum.

Casually Sunshine - "Consequences of the Kill"

DJ CAM - "Swim"

Absolutely beautiful video from DJ CAM. This is a long way from his mad blunted jazz days...

Mayer Hawthorne - "Impressions" EP

Mayer Hawthorne has released the "Impressions" EP. A free set of his favorite cover songs downloadable here. His explanations of how it all came together are below.

Via Stones Throw

1. Work To Do
This one features my live band, The County: Quentin Joseph on drums, Topher Mohr on guitar, Quincy McCrary on piano, and Joe Abrams on bass. It was recorded live in a radio station studio somewhere during our Winter 2010 US tour. The tapes recently surfaced, but nobody can remember exactly where we were. The song is originally by The Isley Brothers, and that's the only version I was familiar with until we started playing it in our live shows and people would come up to us and say "hey, loved your cover of Average White Band!".

2. Don't Turn The Lights On
My favorite track from Chromeo's latest LP. On the surface it's an electro-funk, dance floor filler, but underneath is a brilliant love ballad with lyrics that reminded me of something from Tyrone Davis. Dave1 (of Chromeo) told me the song is about a guy who falls in love with a ghost, so I wanted my version to have an eerie, ghostly feel to it. Quincy McCrary played the creepy piano solo at the end.

3. You've Got The Makings Of A Lover
Textbook Northern Soul from a little known Dallas, Texas group called The Festivals. I was digging for records in NY with my homey DJ Kurse, and the shopkeeper played the 45 in the store. Both of us immediately ran up to the counter and said "yo! what is THAT?!". The original version was recorded in the late 60s, and the mix isn't very good. I wanted a version that I could bump. Quentin Joseph played the drums and we recorded them at Sam Beaubien's studio in Detroit. That's Sam playing the trumpet as well.

4. Fantasy Girl
This song was written and composed by an amazing man from Pasadena named Steve Salazar. He was born with a heart condition and passed away at the young age of 27. Before he died he recorded one incredible album of demos in the mid-70s with a band called Shorty's Portion. Peanut Butter Wolf found a copy of the album and I loved it so much that he gave it to me (thanks Wolf!). The vinyl had a handwritten note tucked in the sleeve that was addressed to anyone who could help the band with management, a record deal, radio airplay, etc. I'd estimate there were less than 300 copies pressed. That's my Dad playing pedal steel guitar and Topher Mohr shredding the guitar solo on my version.

5. Little Person
Jon Brion is not from this planet. He penned this song for the soundtrack to Charlie Kaufman's film "Synecdoche, NY". I didn't get the film at all, but I really got the soundtrack. The original has only female vocal and piano, but I always heard a larger arrangement. Hubert Alexander played some of the piano and I did everything else.

6. Mr. Blue Sky
This one also features my band, The County, and was recorded live, in one take, in a tiny makeshift tent, at a festival in Dour, Belgium.

Lilla Sällskapet - "Genova"

New video from new Swedish outfit Lilla Sällskapet. Have I mentioned that Sweden is on fire?

Superchunk - "Crossed Wires"

You gotta love Superchunk.

Commotion - "The Hundred in the Hands"

Only Son - “Stamp Your Name On It”

New video for the third single from the excellent sophomore album by Only Son. I see you Jackie D!

Gentlemen Drivers - "Valdor"

Tom Vek - "A Chore"

After a brilliant debut album followed by a 6 year absence Tom Vek is back! Vek's new album Leisure Seizure is due to be released on June 6, 2011.

Aloe Blacc - "Loving You Is Killing Me"

Another classic slice of modern soul from Aloe Blacc and the good people at Stones Throw.

Telekinesis - "Please Ask for Help"

Proper video for Telekinesis "Please Ask for Help".

Def Sound - "(A)Gain"

Nice little pre-summer jam from Def Sound.

TEENAGE

The 2008 Arthur Russell documentary Wild Combination was excellent so I was excited to hear that the director, Matt Wolf had a new film in production.

It's called Teenage and is based on the book Teenage: The Creation of Youth 1845-1945 by Jon Savage.

A blog in conjunction with the movie making process is posting images, audio, and film clips of youth culture.

When Spike Jones was working on Where the Wild Things Are, his team blogged all the source material and research as they went along. Very cool stuff.

Familjen - Det var jag (This is Head version)

Telekinesis - Please Ask for Help (Live on KEXP)

Telekinesis released their 2nd proper full length studio album on Merge last month. I suspect this will be their year to blow up, and they deserve it. Get familiar.

Beastie Boys - "Make Some Noise"

Earlier this month we got a preview of Fight For Your Right Revisited, Beastie Boys’ short film directed by MCA and starting pretty much everyone from FunnyOrDie. When the entire 30 min. explicit version premieres we’ll post it up. In the meantime prep yourself with the new music video (via MTV) for “Make Some Noise,” culled from the full length Fight.

Via. Stereogum

The Cool Kids - "Bundle Up"

“Bundle Up” is a music video about making music videos, complete with pretentious directors, weirdo cinematographers, and a band that thinks they’re making art when clearly they are not.

Scala & Kolacny Brothers – "Raintears"

Scala & Kolacny Brothers are responsible for the cover of Radiohead's “Creep” that soundtracked the trailer for The Social Network. This is one of their original songs.

Francis and the Lights - "For Days"

Everything about this track is so right. Think Phil Collins meets The Time. Francis and the Lights will be making their first US television appearance on The Jimmy Kimmel show tonight.

Colourmusic - "You For Leaving Me"

Colourmusic released their second full length album "My ______ Is Pink" on Memphis Industries last month. Its a great blend of slower atmospheric songs and giant growling monsters like You For Leaving Me. Recommended.

Jamie Woon - "Lady Luck"

“Lady Luck” is the first single from London singer/songwriter Jamie Woon’s debut album mirrorwriting.

Bronski Beat - "Smalltown Boy"

Jimmy Somerville and Bronski Beat performing 'Smalltown Boy' on BBC's 'Oxford Road Show, originally broadcast 9 March 1984.

Dogboarding!

Bonus Sunday double dog post.

FLASHGUNS – "Passions Of A Different Kind"

A great new band to look out for this year.

tUnE-yArDs – "Bizness"

Architecture In Helsinki - "Contact High"

New heat from the Australian wiz kids.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Heart in Your Heartbreak

New single from a great up and coming Brooklyn indie act. Their debut full length drops today.

Living Sisters - How Are You Doing?

The New Pornographers - Moves

The best, and only great song from the Pornographers new album.

PS I Love You – Get Over

Femme En Fourrure - Bronco

This has got to be the video of the year so far.

The Shoes - Stay The Same

Alex Clare - Too Close

Maroon 5 meets dubstep?