FILTER

Who Killed Sgt Pepper?

Once again Anton Newcombe and his prolific, ever changing music project that is the Brian Jonestown Massacre have posted a link to stream their upcoming record Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?. I've been listening all morning and the music is nothing short of brilliant. The record will be available for your personal collection 1/1/10, if WKSP? dropped a day sooner it would easily take the number 1 spot for my Top 10 Album Picks for 2009.

I highly recommend taking the time to check out each track (you have to click each one to listen) and watch the videos for the full experience. 

See if you can catch The Joy Division tribute in track 6 "This Is The One Thing We Did Not Want To Have Happen"

Click HERE to listen to Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?

Jam Of The Day

Since Indie 103 went under, the state of the LA radio scene has been pretty dismal. Thanks to KCRW in the morning and 93.5 KDAY in the afternoon, I'm not completely reliant on the played-out CDs in my car.

On my drive home from work yesterday, KDAY dropped this bomb of a jam on me. Enjoy your trip to the 80's. This is the sole release from M.A.R.R.S. and quite the tune.

Little Dragon

I don't know too much about the Swedish band, Little Dragon, but I do know that I love their new release Machine Dreams. Hopefully, a US label finds a home for them in the States so their music is more accessible and touring will be a-plenty. 

Check out the official video for "Runabout"

Unfortunately there isn't an official video for my favorite track "My Step" but you can still listen here:

Michael and Michael are Back!

All fans of The State and Stella rejoice! Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter are back with a new Comedy Central show titled Michael and Michael Have Issues. I'm so excited I can't contain myself. Now, if only MTV would release The State on DVD and relieve us all of our VHS copies...

Michael & Michael Have Issues	Premieres Wed, July 15, 10:30pm / 9:30c
Preview - Greg the Intern
www.comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

The Feed 100 Bag

I'm proud to say that I have cut out supermarkets from my weekly grocery shopping. It's been months since I've ventured to the corporate food markets but this weekend I made a point to make my way to Whole Foods to purchase The Feed 100 Bag. It's is a large canvas bag that is a step up from the usual potato sac you see people carrying at the farmer's markets. Made from 100% cotton and sustainable burlap, I use the tote as my everyday bag. But the big plus to this bag? For the price of $25, The Feed 100 Bag will provide 100 nutritious school meals for hungry children through the UN World Food Program! Support the cause and buy one for yourself or gift them to people.

For more information, Click Here

Top 5 Dance Tracks for the First Half of 2009

In light of our Top 5 Albums for the First Half of 2009 lists, I've put together my "Top 5 Dance Tracks for the First Half of 2009". It was a very close call between the #1 and #2 spot, but here it goes:

1. The Rough Half (Don't Stop) - House of House
    *** The vinyl for this record is coveted and thus near impossible to find as an MP3. Keep vinyl alive. This record is a timeless classic. Listen on their MySpace

2. The Deep End - Curses (Holy Ghost! Day School Dub Remix) - Click to listen and read more

3. One Day - The Juan Maclean - Click to watch the video

4. Kingdom Of Rust - Doves (Still Going remix) - Oliver Spencer is not only one half of Still Going, but also one half of our number one spot House of House! Click to listen to the track.

5. Lisztomania - Phoenix (Classixx Version) - Listen and Download

An honorary mention to all the Black Cock reissues released this year on 180 gram vinyl. It's about time. To listen to the Love Hotel EP Love is Everything - Click Here

Curses

New York's Drop The Lime, best known for his breakcore sets with the Trouble and Bass Crew, has recently dropped a side project under the moniker Curses.

Holy Ghost got his hands on the stems and took the record to a deeper level making it a four on the floor groover. "The Deep End" (remixed by Holy Ghost) is a huge track and one of the sexiest records to hit in 2009. Not since Whatever We Want Records released C.O.M.B.I.'s remix of Boney M.'s "Ma Baker" has a track been so ear catching for me.

To Listen to "The Deep End" (remixed by Holy Ghost) CLICK HERE

To Listen to "Ma Bakes" by C.O.M.B.I. CLICK HERE

***Please note, these tracks should be experienced through headphones or played loudly on your speakers. They're dance anthems!

To become friends with Curses on MySpace CLICK HERE

Why Twitter?

Beats and Bangers: Top 5 Under The Radar Australian Artists

Australia has become a hot spot for music and some of these under the radar artists are creating some really hip sounds. Here are my picks for the Top 5 Australian Artists to watch:

1. Empire Of The Sun - I've been addicted to this band since mid 2008 and jumped out of my skin when I heard the release will finally hit the States in a few months.

2. Sneaky Sound System - Man, this band just looks cool. The track "I Love It" has been in heavy rotation in my collection lately.

3. Canyons -  I was originally turned onto this DJ/Producer duo when I heard their track "Apples & Pears", which is a balearic-disco gem. "City Light's is a beautiful minimalist yet psychedelic track.

4. ELKE - This unsigned gem creates beautifully groovy tunes.

5.Twist Oliver Twist - "Mediocrity Rules", enough said.

Beats and Bangers: R&B Infiltrates the Indie Scene

Back in 2007, when R. Kelly released his album "Double Up", I began to recognize a shift in the tastes of my industry friends; I was consistently hearing praises for the record and how it was the most genius project to grace our ears in ages. From what I had heard of the record, I was not particularly dazzled , to which I received the response "but the production quality is what it's all about". Whether it was my dis-taste for the personal antics of the artist or the music in general, I just couldn't get on board.

The debate continued for a long while between myself and Alex Rose of indie-math band Minus The Bear. The next artist of praise: T- Pain. I couldn't fully wrap my head around this new phenomena, the indie scenes full embrace of mainstream r&b/rap. Don't get me wrong, I do love my hip hop and a good beat, but I just couldn't understand the output I often hear signing about Bling, Bitches, Booties and Patron on ice.

Once again I was told to listen to the production.

So it's 2009, and the trend is still going strong. Alex Rose and Erin Tate of Minus The Bear fame have taken their love for this genre and turned it into their own interpretation with their new project One:Fifteen and I must say, I am definitely feeling it.

To get further input on their project and their love for this music, here is One : Fifteen commenting on the topic:

BAB: Can I get a little background info on One : Fifteen?
O:F: One : Fifteen is the product of our growing obsession with R&B and modern vocal production. We're roommates and insomniacs so we had to come up with a project to fill the time

BAB: Who do you pull inspiration from?
O:F: We Pull Inspiration from everywhere/ R7B artists old and new, hip hop, 80's music, rock 'n' roll etc.

BAB: You're in indie band, a highly praised indie band, what's your draw to R&B?
O:F: Our taste in music is so eclectic that it would be a shame to be confine to one particular genre. We wanted to expand out musical boundaries and try something new. Turns out, it's a lot of fun

To listen to the new tracks, Click on the links below and let us know what you think!

My impression: I'm a fan. I think Rose and Tate executed the project well. The beats are catchy and the vocals sound great. It's a stretch for their usual fans but I commend them for the undertaking as well as the result.

One : Fifteen "Yo Style"

One : Fifteen "Saturday" featuring P.O.S.

One : Fifteen "Time 4 Love" featuring Amy Blaschke

To find One : Fifteen on myspace Click Here