[TGIF] Have A Bootyful Weekend!

[MP3] Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls
[MP3] Alanis Morisette - My Humps
[MP3] Ariel Pink - The Bottom
[MP3] Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back
[MP3] Bright Eyes - At The Bottom Of Everything (Live)
[MP3] Sabbo - Booty Bounce
[MP3] Spinal Tap - Big Bottom

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[MP3] The Very Best: "Julia" + "Rain Dance" (Feat. M.I.A.)

The spectacular combination of Malawi-born Esau Mwamwaya and British DJ duo Radioclit that created last year's mostly entertaining The Very Best mixtape (download here) has until now been working around the clock on their highly anticipated debut. As was indicated in The Very Best, Esau and Radioclit are... The Very Best (there must have been an easier way to make that point) and said debut, The Warm Heart Of Africa, is just around the corner.

You may have already heard the title track, which features a very castrado Ezra Koenig (of Vampire Weekend fame), and you may have loved it like the majority of the blogosphere. But that's only a small flutter of flavor compared to the actual album (which, as expected, has leaked in full). Take, for example, the album's veritable and literal centerpiece "Julia" »

Update: Label requested the songs be taken down, links now go to Hype Machine. As a consolation, check out this remix of "Warm Heart Of Africa" »

[MP3] The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa (Theophilus London Remix)
[MP3] The Very Best - Julia (Link goes to Hype Machine)

I was hoping for an afro-electro-pop Beatles cover (it's not) but either way this song blew my proverbial doors off. Way off. Down the GD street. If there's any song to hit me with the same instantly stunning impact of "Paper Planes" consider "Julia" the prime contender. Just wait for a hip-hop remix to send this one straight to the clubs.

Another track of note for its singlehandedly star-studded guest line-up of M.I.A. (who seems to be everywhere these days, who knew?) is "Rain Dance." Not the best but a must-have for M.I.A. fanatics (i.e. all of us):

[MP3] The Very Best - Rain Dance (Link goes to Hype Machine)

We'll have a Reel Time Review of this one for sure, keep your eyes peeled!

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<-- The Very Best -->
Label Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Buy The Very Best

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Thursdays and Covers

[MP3] Imogen Heap - Rolling and Tumbling (feat. Jeff Beck)

I've been on a serious Imogen Heap binge lately, properly preparing my ears for the release of her next LP Ellipse. Her voice is smooth as can be, not to mention her classically educated ears provide for some serious, original orchestration. Aside from having more talent than she knows what to with, Heap has also done her fair share of covers. One of favorites is a rendition of "Rolling and Tumbling" that features legedary guitar God Jeff Beck. It's always good to hear collaborations requiring some genre jumping!

[MP3] Run Toto Run - Sleepyhead

A video appeared in my inbox a month or so ago claiming to deliver a great Passion Pit cover. I did go on to watch the video and thought it was a twee rendition, well done considering how synth-drenched the original version was. Of course, covering "Sleepyhead" is a sure-fire way to draw attention to your band and it's doing just that for Run Toto Run. We'll see if they have anything else worth hearing underneath the covers.

[MP3] Spanish Prisoners - Still Ill

Finally, some cover love for the recently IGIF discovered Spanish Prisoners. I'm still soaking in the sounds of their new EP Los Angeles Guitar Dream which we recently featured as a (free!) download on last week's mpFree. Their male/female vocal duet and rich guitar reverb do justice in covering The Smiths "Still Ill" - a suitable choice considering the influence audible within their original works.

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[MP3] new Dodos: "Longform"

This is a nice surprise: a handful of nine new songs comprising Dodos' Time To Die, the follow up to their 2007 debut Visiter, just hit the net yesterday. Dodos were always a band that I had labeled as somewhat of an anomaly for actually finding success while seemingly very obviously ripping off the sounds of countless of their predecessors and contemporaries. A bastardized, popified Animal Collective+Shins toned down to be the perfect music for mini-van driving young soccer MILFs who still want to stay somewhat "current" in the music scene. Phew, thankfully that was a hasty assessment of an otherwise immensely entertaining band.

[MP3] Dodos - Longform (Song removed per label request, links to HypeM stream!)

After a quick listen, "Longform" was one of the only songs on Time To Die that gives the impression that Dodos have matured, that shows even a tiny bit of growth. As many good songs as graced Visiter, they were all pretty much the same song in the same style, something I thought might have bitten Dodos in the ass eventually. I really hope that hasn't happened here-- "Longform" is a good song, for sure, but let's hope it's not the only standout.

Dodos' sophomore release Time To Die drops September 15th on Frenchkiss Records.

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<-- The Dodos -->
Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Preorder Time To Die

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[Video] Andrew Bird: "Oh No" (Live on Conan)

Supporting his 2009 album Noble Beast, Andrew Bird ventured onto Conan last night with his golden phonographs and bandmates for a live rendition of "Oh No". I love when he starts songs out with violin loops and the guitar strapped backwards behind him, looking like some sort of musical ninja ready to attack. Of course, the only attacking Bird does is that of an aural nature as he croons and whistles through the catchy "Oh No". I remember reading in an interview with Bird that he considers himself a professional whistler as much as he does a musician - it sure sounded like it last night. His live performances are so appealing and Conan seemed geniuinely impressed, perhaps more-so by the fact that lanky Andrew Bird didn't look like the typical musician midget standing next to his 6'4" frame during Tuesday's broadcast.

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[Stream] The Dead Weather's Horehound LP

I sometimes wonder the type of legacy Jack White will leave behind after he departs from his mortal body for musical heaven. Member of a fantastic duo, iconic guitarist, leader of two side-projects, solid actor - he's always on an upward climb with no climax in sight. His latest side project conjuring up hoots and hollers from fans/pressheads alike, The Dead Weather, are set to release their much anticipated debut Horehounds next week. Of course, you can keep said anticipation building for next week when you can (maybe) get it through White's new music subscription service or just stream it for free right now.

[STREAM] The Dead Weather - Horehound LP

Horehound released July 14^th via Warner Bros.

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<-- The Dead Weather -->
Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Preorder Horehound

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[MP3] Happy Family: "Cups"

I think I may have just found my favorite song of the month. Wait, no, considering I've already spun it around 19 times I might as well whip out my cojones and call this a early contender for kick-back jam of the summer.

[MP3] Happy Family - Cups

The perfect summer jam should, among other things, irk you into the following states of being:

(1) You should be able to sleep in and feel constantly "refreshed" no matter how messed up you got the night before.

(2) You should feel that every second of your life for those three spectacular months is "beach-worthy."

(3) You should, at the end of it all, look back with a proud, fuzzy nostalgia of memories that have been elegantly reduced to a warm translucent haze of images and sounds that you can't...quite...put your finger on.

"Cups" sounds like the twisted, protrusive consonance of a summer carnival-- what you'd hear if you condensed the carousel music, the colorful laughter of its shady gameshow participants, the grinding gears of the ferris wheel and the cotton candy machine, all into one two-minute chunk of noise. The helium headrush, the roller coaster ride, the dips and tumbles and twirls. I imagine it's a lot like what this guy was experiencing before the tasing.

You can listen to a lot more Happy Family goodness at his MySpace page and his Muxtape. As always, we'll keep you posted when more of the good stuff comes rolling in.

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[MP3] Grizzly Bear + Lil Wayne Mashup: "2 Weeks Til Prom"

This was probably inevitable, and although it's entirely cringe-worthy on the surface (and, likely, once you hear it) for some reason I just can't stop listening to it. Thanks to @gorillavsbear for the MP3.

[MP3] Grizzly Bear + Lil Wayne - 2 Weeks Til Prom

You know, a whole album of this wouldn't be bad. Just sayin'...

Update: Apparently there is a full EP for Veckaflyest produced by The Soundmen. Download it here. Thanks to ScottD for the tip.

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[MP3] new Yim Yames: "Long, Long, Long" (Beatles Cover)

I found out two amazing things today at the same time, which is like a double orgasm for the part of the brain that processes finding out about awesome shit. First, Yim Yames (aka Jim James from My Morning Jacket) has a solo record "coming soon" according to his website. Second, he's also releasing an EP of George Harrison covers on August 4th called Tribute To (which also happens to be available as a high-quality digital download from his website today for just $6).

As pleased as I am that he's chosen to cover George Harrison in the first place, his decision to launch the EP with "Long, Long, Long" is the gooey center of this cerebral-cortex-melting experience. Listen for yourself:

[MP3] Yim Yames - Long, Long, Long (Beatles Cover)

Perfectly played, although even Jim James' voice in all its reverbed glory can't surmount the original. I'll have more thoughts in a Reel Time Review shortly.

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<-- Yim Yames -->
Official Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Buy Tribute To

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[MP3] Sin Fang Bous: "We Belong"

Sindri Sigfússon, the main music-man behind the wildly-popular-in-Iceland-and-beyond Seabear, reportedly recorded Sin Fang Bous's debut album Clangour all by himself--all the while working tirelessly on Seabear's upcoming album. While the two musical acts share a bit more with each other than just the lead member, to be sure, what Sin Fang Bous offers is a bit more on the eclectic, ethereal, electronic side.

Utilizing what seems like hundreds of sounds (some found, some created), Sindri has created an album of almost infinite fascination. Let's just say it'll take more than one listen. Pretend you just threw your happy meal in a blender. Regardless of the taste, it'll take you a while to identify the complex layer of flavors and textures. Or maybe I'm giving happy meals too much credit. Either way, I'm sure you'll love this tune:

[MP3] Sin Fang Bous - We Belong

Clangour is actually more a product of 2008's album cycle than 2009's, but there's nothing wrong with discovering an overlooked gem now and then. Not convinced? Have another listen:

[MP3] Sin Fang Bous - A Fire To Sleep In

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<-- Sin Fang Bous -->
Label Site | MySpace | More MP3s | Buy Clangour

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