Another week, and another slew of free and joyously legal music to listen to on the internet. This time, we take in new albums from Kate Bush, Moby (no, wait, it’s actually quite good), and Friendly Fires, as well as the new Chad VanGaalen record and a tardily streaming album from Manchester Orchestra. If you like free music –- and, let’s face it, who doesn’t? –- then this is a fine old way to start your Monday morning.

Read More »

1. In case you’re the kind of Mad Men fan who cares for such details, Don Draper’s bachelor pad — 104 Waverly Place, Apartment 3B, just off Washington Square Park — does not in fact exist. There, we saved you the ridicule of NYU students. [via Vulture]
2. Watch the music video for Björk‘s “The Comet Song,” which appears in Moomins And The Comet Chase, a 3-D Finnish kid’s film that stars animated trolls. [via Stereogum]
3. Jimmy Fallon wants to use your tweet to introduce one of 15 Emmy Awards presenters. [via SF Gate]
4. Britney Spears is wearing a wedding dress on the latest cover of Pop Magazine thanks to the brilliant art direction of Takashi Murakami. [via ONTD]
5. The Frank Miller-directed Gucci perfume ad is now online, and it features Chris Evans, Evan Rachel Wood, and a Depeche Mode cover by Friendly Fires. [via The Beat]

Bonus link: Debunking roadie myths

This week, we globe-trot to Italy and France and lend an ear to genre-bending new material from acts big (of Montreal) and small (Wild Nothing). We also have Passion Pit covering the Smashing Pumpkins, Mates of State covering Belle & Sebastian, and six more songs you really need to hear. Don’t forget to Right Click + Save As after the cut.

Read More »

There have been enough Valentine’s Day-themed mixes to overwhelm lately, so rest assured, this isn’t another one — though there are a few love songs to satisfy your fix. This week brings updates from singers who were off doing their own thing (Kate Nash, Yes Giantess) and fresh faces that deserve the light of day (Baby Monster, First Aid Kit). So without further ado, prepare to click ctrl + left click and “save as.” And as always, leave a comment to let us know what you think.

Read More »

The concept behind Peter Gabriel’s forthcoming album Scratch My Back is simple: The artist records his favorite tracks by everyone from David Bowie to Radiohead to The Magnetic Fields, and the musicians he has selected complete the song swap by covering a selection from Gabriel’s extensive songbook.

The list we’ve assembled here was inspired by a different kind of reciprocity — that is, of indie rockers showing appreciation for their own kind. So far, only one of these tributes has been mutual but that isn’t to say that we shouldn’t keep our fingers crossed for more. After the jump, check out ten indie acts covering 10 other indie acts’ singles. We think you’ll agree that imitation is the highest form of flattery.

Read More »

Jane's Addiction, photo credit: Dave Mead

Total bedlam with a good soundtrack, that’s Lollapalooza. The last time I was in Chicago’s Grant Park with this many people — estimates show 200,000 bought tickets — we’d all just voted out a malevolent Washington administration that was past its expiration date. This time the masses and I were there to see as many different bands as humanly possible during a three-day free-for-all. People may not have been crying tears of joy, but spirits were definitely high. It would be nice to think that the world is a gentler place now than it was last November, but it’s not exactly true. Instead, the Midwest’s main music festival just seemed to prove that we’re pretty good at ignoring hard times. As Perry Farrell himself said, Lollapalooza is recession proof. Read More »