Via (previously)

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Good interview with Cursive’s Tim Kasher over at the A.V. Club. He talks about his band’s sporadic output, living in a constant state of suspended adolescence, and not being able to listen to some of his own songs. I’ve always found Kasher an enigmatic songwriter. My first impression of him was as sort of a [...]

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I want to give her a pass for this abomination, but I just can’t. Can I?

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Who knew Damon Albarn’s voice would lend itself so well to slow-burning hip-hop beats and flashy turntablisms? He’s more than proved himself in that context thanks to Gorillaz’ unexpected worldwide success, and now DJ Scratch has tapped Albarn’s distinctive croon for his second solo record. He’s in esteemed (give or take) company, as Kanye West, [...]

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Prince’s take on the Tommy James and the Shondells classic “Crimson and Clover” is kind of watery and distant. It seems to drag a bit, even on the rocking parts. And the video is a new-age hippie’s wet dream. Sadly, this version doesn’t touch Joan Jett’s killer cover from 1981’s I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll. [...]

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I had never made the correlation between the Talking Heads song “The Overload” and Joy Division, but I’m Waking Up To… has an intriguing post about the history of that closing track off Talking Heads’ seminal Remain in Light LP from 1980. None of the members of the Talking Heads had ever heard Joy Division’s [...]

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Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl has signed a deal with Universal Republic Records, and her debut solo album will be released this fall. This is the first leaked track, entitled “Birthday”, which is a collaboration with Awesome New Republic. Meester’s voice certainly works in this sugary pop context, but the song is slightly edgier than [...]

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The Guardian chats with Blur guitarist Graham Coxon about his forthcoming solo record, The Spinning Top. He also acknowledges some of the awkwardness Blur is having at rehearsals, as the guys have trouble “looking each other in the eye” as they run through 80 old songs. Graham can be difficult in an interview setting, but [...]

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Depeche Mode shut down Hollywood Boulevard last night to perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Over 12,000 people showed up for the 45 minute set, featuring the band’s new single, “Wrong”, as well as a handful of classics, including “Personal Jesus” off the band’s breakthrough 1990 album, Violator. Pretty impressive commotion, but Depeche Mode fans are [...]

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There’s got to be a new Zach Braff vehicle to transport this to the masses.

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If you haven’t already checked out the new “Online Music Chart”, it’s worth a look. We Are Hunted

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Fortunate Teens Party With Morrissey by Derek Erdman via The Awl

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The last single released by Blur. Released in 2003. Has it really been that long?
(via Coudal)

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(via twitter)

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(maybe I was wrong?)

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(via MusicSlut)

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Word of a possible new Pixies album is spreading. The PR firm, Artists In Residence, had a splash page up yesterday, which announced that pre-orders will be taken for something called Minotaur by the Pixies beginning June 15th. This is a reputable firm, so it’s likely that this is legit. Whether this is a full-length [...]

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So, I wasn’t able to hit up my locally participating record store the moment it opened for Record Store Day. This was evidently a mistake. By the time I rolled up, there was one shitty little display with a handful of records left. The good stuff had long been snatched up. Ugh. I checked eBay [...]

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I hadn’t given too much thought to why Conor Oberst has been releasing records under his own name, as opposed to using the Bright Eyes brand, because I didn’t think his 2008 solo debut for Merge differed all that greatly from the last Bright Eyes record, Cassadaga. It’s only natural to feel stifled by something [...]

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