This week, New York’s Ghost Beach gave us a perfect summer synth jam, while Swedish duo Icona Pop dropped an infectious, euphoric club banger that’s sure to be stuck in your head for days. Emil and Friends took a stab at Neon Indian’s “Polish Girl”, and Passion Pit released the first single off their sophomore album, due out this July. Finally, Animal Collective mixed African rhythms with chaotic vocals to form the blissful “Honeycomb.”

5. STREAM: Ghost Beach – “Miracle”

(more…)

Pitchfork: The upcoming Jimi Hendrix biopic starring Andre 3000 will not have the good graces of the folks over at Experience Hendrix LLC.

NME: Freddie Mercury to make live appearance with Queen not as a hologram, but as an “optical illusion”.

Hypebot: Spotify announces plans to launch a musical dating service.

HuffPo: After a song with The Flaming Lips, Ke$ha announces a duet with Iggy Pop.

A.V. Club: The Beastie Boys are being sued for copyright infringement only a few days after the death of Adam “MCA” Yauch.

(more…)

This week, Australian house producer Light Year gave us a slowed down, scaled back groove, and Tom Vek released a shimmering, very danceable track that’s sure to be on heavy rotation this summer. Regular award winners Metric proved they haven’t lost an ounce of energy since their 2003 debut, and Southern California’s TV Girl provided a Motown-indie pop crossover that’s as smooth as it is dreamy.  Finally, RAC released their first original track, featuring Penguin Prison’s Chris Glover.

5. STREAM: Light Year – “Moderation”

(more…)

Spin: After 10 years, R&B legend D’Angelo will perform at the New Orleans Essence Festival on July 6.

Rolling Stone: Michael Jackson’s likeness will appear on Pepsi cans. Cue “King of Pop” jokes…

Hypebot: Kimbra wins the 2011 International Songwriting Competition.

Billboard: Jack White gets his first ever No. 1 album on the Billboard Chart with Blunderbuss.

CoS: Mick Jagger will host and perform on SNL on May 19.

(more…)

NME: Sad news for a sadder band: despite rumors circulating on the Internet, The Smiths have no plans of getting back together.

dF: Our good friends over at dubFrequency are throwing another epic pool party. If you’re in the LA area, be sure to RSVP.

Spin: Southeast Asians protest Lady Gaga as she starts her world tour in South Korea today.

Rolling Stone: Tupac’s album sales jump 571 percent after his holo-performance at Coachella.

Hypebot: Spotify is going to launch a “Pandora-like” radio service.

Pitchfork: Fleet Foxes’ Rob Pecknold is writing the score to his brother’s existential LOLcat movie.

A.V. Club: The Killers’ saxophonist found dead of apparent suicide.

Pop & Hiss: Chris Brown is starting a line of collectible toys and art sculptures.

Stereogum: Check out a Azealia Banks’ remix of LDR’s “Blue Jeans”.

STREM: “Blue Jeans” (Smims&Belle Remix feat. Azealia Banks)

For most 17 year olds, getting asked to Senior Prom is about as big as accomplishments get.  Not so for Nicos Gun drummer Harry Zelnik – still in high school, he won a Grammy for his production work with Ludacris. Thankfully for us, he didn’t stop there.  Combining New Wave guitar riffs, funky bass grooves, and infectious synth lines, Zelnik and the rest of Philly’s Nicos Gun have made a name for themselves by fusing multiple genres and turning that into a non-stop dance party of a live show. You can catch them on Friday night at the ATG’s Water Street Warehouse showcase with Penguin Prison and Lightwaves.

Doors open at 9PM, and you can find tickets HERE.

STREAM: Nicos Gun – “Dirty Girl”

STREAM: Nicos Gun – “Control”

STREAM: Nicos Gun – “Tangerine Express”

It’s been a solid week for new music from some great bands. Brooklyn’s Here We Go Magic provide the perfect summer jam about second-guessing, while Thundercat made sure not to skimp on the synth. Lightwaves dropped an awesome remix of ATG Record’s own Queen of Hearts, and Hot Chip stayed true to their signature disco funk/punk sound. Rounding things out, The Walkmen dare you not to tap your foot to the first single from their new album out this summer.

STREAM: Here We Go Magic – “How Do I Know”

(more…)

NYT: Levon Helm, lead singer and drummer for the Band, died at age 71 on Thursday.

Spin: The FCC has filed a report with the Supreme Court to revive the 2004 Janet Jackson “Nipplegate” incident at the Super Bowl. Just when you thought that was over for good…

Pitchfork: Vampire Weekend’s Chris Baio is releasing a solo EP, due out May 21.

Rolling Stone: After a performance that blew up the Internet, Dr. Dre confirms a possible tour with the Tupac hologram.

(more…)

Alex Winston hails all the way from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.  After a handful of EPs, Alex worked alongside production wizards and All Things Gold alum The Knocks on her debut album, which was met with critical acclaim. Though she’s classically trained in opera, she’s covered music greats from Chuck Berry to The Rolling Stones, and her songs have been remixed by the likes of Beach Fossils and RAC. Tomorrow night you can catch her as she makes her second stop in DC, alongside local outfit Long Walks on the Beach.

Grab a free download of her stellar Sister Wife EP here, and buy tickets for her show at U Street Music Hall HERE. Doors open at 7PM.

STREAM: Alex Winston – “Velvet Elvis”

STREAM: Alex Winston – “Everlasting Light”

This week, Japandroids give us another look at their upcoming album and Michigan quartet Stepdad unleash their signature brand of psych-pop. Kishi Bashi keeps things upbeat, while Hundred Visions bring the funk. Rounding out the week, Feist reminds us that she can still write a mean ballad.

5. STREAM: Japandroids – “Jack the Ripper”

(more…)