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Oh shit. Now that’s what I’m talking about. Much happier with the Gossip’s video remake of “Listen Up” than I was with the original a year ago.

Note: this version is directed by Whitey McConnaughy who also did the videos for The Thermals’ “Pillar of Salt” and Panther’s “You Don’t Want Your Nails Done”… two other videos we loved.

Murray Hill is a God.

I am not liking the over produced vocals in this version of “Listen Up.” Wtf. All the soul is gone. Crap. If this is the direction the Gossip is headed then I will cry lots.

Beth Ditto bares all for NME (more…)

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Bang Gang - Light Sound Dance Teaser

AHHH!!! The Bang Gang is gettin ready to put out their gigantic mixtape at the end of July. I know you’ve all seen the teaser video, but we managed to get our dirty little fingers on a 10 minute audio minimegamix teaser….and i do mean TEASER. I felt like i was eating in a restaurant and the waiter kept taking my dessert after only one bite…I WASN’T DONE WITH THAT YET! damn, after this i’m totally down for a gang bang…i mean Bang Gang.

…so go buy that shit b/c it’s totally worth it. The Bang Gang is touring at the end of August/beginning of Sept in probably every major city you can think of (and a few not-so-major, if youre lucky).

all the Bang Gang gang (more…)

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In a year of young prayers and reversed Icelandic gurgles, our ears might've sharpened: On initial listens Strawberry Jam's lyrics are easier to parse than past Animal Collective chirps, chants, and librettos. The syllables on the quartet's eighth album (seven studio, one live) are even less stuttered than those on the lovely pop-cycle, Feels. (Of course, befitting a psychedelic swirl, storylines remain suitably jumbled.) Overlapping nicely with its title, much of the narrative's food focused: broccoli, peaches, warm cereal, mildewed rice (yum!), and eating with good friends/girlfriends. Not entirely gormandized, child-scaring fireworks/mountains, magic, Al Green, a dinosaur wing, and the past also spin through the gurgling vocal rounds…

Still no sign of Bulby! But this skeezed-out second-take on QOTSA's first Vulgaris single comes packing its own digital delights, including a thrashing, hypercolored take on the dancing iPod silhouettes and a lost little girl with a thing for flicking off the cam and baring her assets. Obviously not intended for MTV USA! We scanned the YouTube comments for elucidation, and we came up with "This one is the official German video." Doubtful, but for your enjoyment, here's "Krank, Krank, Krank."

Compare to the original sickness.

Here’s a little late Friday treat for your ears… no secret that Datarock is a favorite around these parts. Their debut Datarock Datarock is finally seeing a Stateside release this June 12th thanks to Nettwerk. Everybody we know thinks they’re rad so hopefully they’ll gain more heat here with the masses.

Here’s a little unreleased Datarock action. Barely a song, “New Rave Anthem” feels more like an incomplete thought. But eh, certainly a treat for fans since you won’t find it on Datarock Datarock.

Datarock - “New Rave Anthem” (mp3)

“Fa Fa Fa” is still my favorite song ever:

And if you don’t know you can steam Datarock’s entire album over at their VIRB.

Catch them on tour if you can. One of the best live bands in the world. Tourdates (more…)

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"How does it sound out there?" Matt Berninger asked after kicking off last night's sold-out Bowery show with a one-two "Start A War"/"Brainy" Boxer combo. A female voice shouted, "Bring up the vocal a little!" After a few laughs, bassist/guitarist Aaron Dessner sighed back, "That's what they all say."

It's true, though; everybody wants to hear what this band is saying, and thanks to Alligator's slow-burn and Boxer's knockout broody cool, everyone wants to pledge their allegiance to the National. If it sounds like they're enjoying their time in the spotlight, well, they are. And if it sounds like they're comfy in their onstage role as critically-adored rock stars, well, almost. Though this was night four of a sold-out five-night run at Bowery (wow), Berninger seemingly took a few songs to embrace the effect his boozy baritone was having on the Ballroom. With "Secret Meeting" (and the crazy applause that welcomed it), Matt put the nail-biting (literally) behind and started basking -- to the point that, late in the set, he pulled out a trick he picked up from Win Butler and hurled himself twenty people deep into the Bowery floor. They are learning to be rock stars after all! And we've got the MTV clips to prove it.

The show was awesome (drawing from Alligator and Boxer, how could it not be?), and the crowd was there solely to love 'em up. The National still like to lurk in dim lights and shadows (when they're not playing on MTV, that is), so the pics are few -- but all the more reason for you to see 'em on their tour, which kicks off Saturday after wrapping up their Bowery residency tonight. And feel free to shout out requests, even if you don't know their stuff. "Play a new song!" one dude yelled after a stunning "Slow Show."

"That was a new song," Matt smiled. "But thanks for asking."

On this day in 1967, the Beatles released the record that would top every "Greatest Albums Ever" list by major mags, in perpetuity (or at least as long as a Baby Boomer is editor-in-chief). And that's cool -- its greatness is undeniable -- but we're guessing most of you spin Revolver or trek down Abbey Road twice as often as you salute the Sgt.. You'll find celebratory articles everywhere, with expositions on Peppers' impact on recording techniques, songwriting, fashion, etc. -- but don't you forget to tune in to BBC Radio 2 tomorrow from 4:30-6:30 GMT for that Sgt. Peppers Lonely "All Star" Jam, with covers by Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers, James Morrison, The Fratellis, and Razorlight!

Sorry, did we say "don't you forget"? Obviously we don't mean that. Happy 40th, Sgt. Pepper. You deserve better. But still you look marvelous.

We track Lily Allen's every move so you don't have to! Our grime knowledge ain't what it used to be, but the Dizzee 'n' Lily duet on Rascal's forthcoming Maths & English is rather awesome. Lil's sing-song hook and chatter back + Dizz's verses = fun summer jam. Have a listen at (Music Is My) Occupation.

Can't deny the ubiquitous fusing of the culinary arts and chordal progressions these days. Fresh off of dining with Man Man and learning how to make Grizzly Bear pecan pie, we point you to our friends at Dinner With The Band, who are ready to roll out their internet television cooking-with-musicians show. Early eps will help you learn how to make bagels and lox with El-P and paella with Pela. And of course there's music, too, like this take of the previously unreleased Pela tune "Philadelphia"...

Head here for El-P doing "Smithereens," and here for "Lost To The Lonesome" (aka Veronica Mars's favorite Pela tune).

Dig the "paella with Pela" thing 'cause it's sorta punny, and god knows we eat up those hot puns. So what band/dish do you want to see on Dinner With The Band? Fiona Apple pie? Archers Of Meat Loaf? Fleetwood Mac & Cheese? (We're not going for the realistic here, obviously). Frog Eyes? (Delicious, by the way.)

When C. Love had Linda Perry and Billy Corgan join her at a benefit show in LA last year to try out two new tunes ("Sunset Marquis" and "PCH"), we were surprised at how not shitty it all sounded. Even her cover of Mac staple "Rhiannon" hit it on the surgically enhanced nose. Those of you in LA already know that Linda Perry's set at the House Of Blues tonight will feature lots of Love, so for those that can't make it, here's Linda and Love rehearsing "Pacific Coast Highway" for the benefit of some professional videographers in prep for the Blues. Digging the country-tinged Stevie Nicks bit, Courtney. Sucks the vid fades out at the hook, but you'll get a feel for where she's headed.

Take the jump for still shots from the session and Court's thoughts on Corgan and Linda's contributions to her new record.