The Last Post Of The Year

...and here we are at the end of another year. Instead of saying what my favorite album was (Beach House's Teen Dream) or favorite song (LCD Soundsystem's "Drunk Girls") or even the pop artist I loathed the most (Katy Perry is awarded this for "California Gurls" alone), I want to take a moment to talk about some of the highlights of the year that was 2010.

Tonight: Major Lazer & Pretty Lights At Congress Theater

Win $5000 From Duran Duran And Genero TV

In the 80's, Duran Duran were music video visionaries at a time when the format, as more than a one-off promo, was still in its infancy. Outside of Devo and Michael Jackson, there were very few artists creating a uniquely stylistic visual element to go along with their exceptional musical output. Now is your chance to be their next Russell Mulcahy and direct one of nine tracks from their latest album. 

Celebrate The New Year With Free Gorillaz and Klaxons Releases

Just in time for the holiday season, Gorillaz and Klaxons have given the gift of new music. Last weekend, the two groups released two brand new and unreleased recordings online. Best of all, not is it new music for you, both recordings are free to check out.

Happy Holidays!

Hightower and Jones wants wish each of you a happy holiday season. Remember to drink and party responsibly as you never who will film you singing Justin Bieber songs at karaoke...when there is no karaoke or microphones around. Be safe, be responsible and keep listening to great music for the holidays.

Big Boi And The Black Keys Equal Greatest Mix Ever!

Step aside, Jay-Z and the Beatles, Jay-Z and Radiohead and, well, any and all mixes involving Jay-Z (as most of them do) as there is a new mix that completely outshines your fusions. Wick-It the Instigator has taken two of the best albums of 2010 and came up with The Brothers of Chico Dusty. This mix combining Big Boi's Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty and the Black Keys' Brothers adds to the already impressive sounds of each album and further proves why both albums have ended on many best of lists for 2010. With a mix this great, the two questions I have left are will we, now, get a mix between LCD Soundsytem's This is Happening and Janelle Monae's The ArchAndroid and why are you still reading this?

Give A Little Bit (December Mixtape)

Side Jingle Bells

01. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) by Parliament

02. Gimmie My Radio by The Donnas

03. This Gift by Mudhoney

04. I Hope I Didn't Just Give Away The Ending by New Radicals

05. Give The Drummer Some by Ultramagnetic MC's

06. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) by Abba

07. Parting Gift by Fiona Apple

Side Deck The Halls

01. I Can Only Give You Everything by MC5

02. Return The Gift by Gang Of Four

03. Give It Up by Fishbone

04. Give Me Someone I Can Trust by Voodoo Glow Skulls

05. Give Me A Chance by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

06. Give Me Your Eyes by The Cardigans

07. Give A Little Love by Rilo Kiley

A Pair Of Sweet Scion A/V Releases

The fine folks at Scion A/V have done it again with a pair of awesome releases from Nobunny/Jacuzzi Boys and Magrudergrind.

Mogwai's "How to Be a Werewolf"

As expected, Mogwai's leadoff single to 2011's highly anticipated Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will is nothing short of epic and cinematic. It is fitting that such a track accompanies a video for a documentary on James Bowthorpe, a cyclist who in 2009 beat the Guinness record for cycling around the world by almost 20 days. The video is as epic as Bowthorpe's achievement and the song accompanying it, which was edited by the band in order to fit the footage. Check out the video for "How to Be a Werewolf" and a tracklist for Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will below.

Segel and Black Rock Out Crosby and Bowie Style

Hands down, one of the strangest collaborations in music history has always been Bing Crosby and David Bowie combining their vocal talents for the seasonal favorite, "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth." As strange as it sounded on paper, it turned out to be a holiday classic. Thirty-plus years later, actors/musicians Jason Segel and Jack Black have provided a bit of rock to the number and keep the song just as enjoyable.

Cheyenne Marie Mize

Louisville, KY's Cheyenne Marie Mize has crafted one of the most beautiful debut albums in recent memory with Before Lately. The album is as simple as it is elegant and as charming as it is haunting. Supporting the album's beauty is her gifted instrumentation and performance and her delicate and sweet vocals. All of these things make for a compelling listen and addition to your collection.

Season's Greetings From Your Stereo

Even with the year winding down, there are new releases from Redman, Daft Punk and Ghostface Killah. Michael Jackson delivers his final recording just The Damned Things release their debut album. The selections may be small around this time of year but that does not mean you can not make big noise on your stereo with these selections.

Welcome Back, System Of A Down

                                                                                    (armeniapedia.org)

It is about time! System of a Down has officially announced their return in 2011 with a series of European appearances and this message on their website:

Hello All,

We are excited to announce that System will be playing some dates together in 2011.

We also want to thank you for your loyalty and support, not only to System Of A Down, but to all of our solo efforts as well. We have no master plan of sorts - we are playing these shows simply because we want to play together again as a band and for you, our amazing fans.

The list of dates and on-sale information for these shows is below.

We look forward to seeing all of you!

Peace,

System Of A Down

Loads Of Deftones Goodness

The single for Deftones' "You've Seen the Butcher" is out and the best part about it, besides the great song that makes the single, is the Midnight Airport Version of the single. This version features Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno and Far guitarist Shaun Lopez providing a hauntingly beautiful, stripped down take on the track. It is the perfect compliment to an already great song. You can check out the track below and purchase it here to add to your collection or, if you have not already, use it to start your Deftones collection.

Last Chance To Catch Doomtree's Wings & Teeth Tour

                                                            (photo credit: Bo Hakala)

Critically acclaimed Minneapolis hip hop collective Doomtree are nearing the end of their first ever collective tour, Wings & Teeth. The remaining dates include stops in Canada and the Midwest which are leading up to the group's annual Blowout performance in Minneapolis. With tickets still on sale and only six dates left, you would be hard pressed to find another hip hop collective offering you so much talent and creativity for next to nothing. Check out the remaining tour dates and a few videos below.

Gang of Four Offers Free EP, New Album and Tour

                                                                                (photo by Mike Gullic)

In January, Gang of Four will release Content, their first album of new material in 15 years. Until then, the band and British newspaper, The Guardian, have teamed up to release a free, three-song EP featuring new material, a remix and reworking of a classic. Members Jon King and Andy Gill provided commentary on the EP's tracks which can be found here. In addition to the EP and forthcoming album, Gang of Four are planning a small North American tour in February. Download the EP and check out the tour dates below.

$3 Amazon MP3 Credit Deal

In the Kitchen (November Mixtape)

Side Turkey
01. Bananas and Blow by Ween
02. Know Your Onion! by The Shins
03. Joe's Turkey by Fatlip
04. Fruitcake by Cake Like
05. Sweet Sweet Pie by Pop Will Eat Itself
06. Birthday Cake by Cibo Matto

Side Dressing
07. Rotten Apple by Alice In Chains
08. Cinnamon Girl by Replicants
09. Cheeseburger by Gang of Four
10. Candy and a Currant Bun by The Mars Volta
11. Morphine and Chocolate by 4 Non Blondes
12. Beef Boloney by Fear
13. The Bumble Bee Tuna Song by Mephiskapheles

Freedom Isn't Free But These Downloads Are!

Mini Mansions' Daytrotter sessions! Free albums from Girl Talk and A Sunny Day in Glasgow! Samplers from Adult Swim, Victory, Mexican Summer and Stones Throw! Also, a couple of releases fron Cassettes Won't Listen with one being a side project and the other fusing Animal Collective and Cannibal Ox (how I missed this, I do not know). This is a nice varied selection of free downloads for you to choose from. Download, enjoy and play loudly.

Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen Whip Their Hair

On last night's edition of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Fallon brought back his hilariously spot-on impression of Neil Young. In previous sketches, Young tackled TV theme songs and bizarre American Idol moments (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, "Pants on the Ground") but this time the song of parody was Willow Smith's annoyingly popular single, "Whip My Hair." Adding to the humor was the night's hour-long guest, Bruce Springsteen, complete with a fake beard, on vocals and guitar. Check out Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen take on "Whip My Hair" after the jump

Deal Of The Day: Jenny and Johnny for $3.99

What? You do not own this album yet? Then, just skip to the continue button and then to the Amazon link attached to this piece because today is your lucky day.

Band of Horses Premieres 70's Biker Themed Clip For "Dilly"

Bikers! Shootouts! Awesome dance moves! Clearly, this could only be the video for Band of Horses' "Dilly". The clip for the Infinite Arms track debuted on IMDb today and features all of the aforementioned things with a 70's film look to it.

Prodigy Remixes 99 Problems

To state that I am not a big fan of Jay-Z would be the biggest understatement ever made. All the same, there are a handful of Jay-Z songs that I genuinely enjoy and "99 Problems" is at the top of that list. There is just something about the lyrics of the song that makes it such a great song as proven by the remixes of the track as well Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park tackling the song during their brief mash-up release with Jay-Z (Collision Course). Thanks to Prodigy's Liam Howlett, one more remix can be added to the lot. Check the Prodigy mastermind's awesome take of the Jay-Z/Rick Rubin collaborative classic.

Ain't No Party Like An S Clone Party

Cloning? S Club? A movie featuring both? Not since Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park has there been a compelling movie about global domination, doppelgangers and advances in technology using pop stars. Well, technically, there still had not been until Simon Fuller decided that the world needed an S Club movie in which the pop group is cloned into popbots. Yeah, I said that.

The Electrobilly Sounds Of Bosco Delrey

Without a doubt, there are plenty of unique artists out there but few of them, if any, successfully fuse rockabilly with electronics better than Bosco Delrey. His sound is as influenced by Jerry Lee Lewis and garage rock as it is by the sounds heard in classic science fiction films and hip hop all while utilizing a vintage, lo-fi production quality on the recordings. This combination provides one of the most unique and creative sounds around and worth your time to check out. After the jump, check out a couple of videos of Delrey in concert as well as list of the remaining concert dates he has opening for Magic Kids.

Free Downloads And Streaming Albums...FREE!

Whether it is streaming or downloadable, a single or an album, there are plenty of chances to hear new music from a vast assortment of artists. Best of all, it is free to check out with some links also giving you a chance to purchase what you have just heard as well. Enjoy these downloads and streams from k-os, Jenny Owen Youngs, Rubblebucket, Remy Zero, Scion A/V, Tristan Allen, Cheyenne Marie Mize, Janelle Monae, Puro Instinct and a stream of the debut album from Warpaint after the jump.

Filter (Cubby Bear - November 6, 2010)

Filter has made quite the comeback thanks to the critical success of their current album, The Trouble with Angels. As Saturday night's performance at Cubby Bear proved, the band and its current lineup were definitely at the top of their game as they bulldozed through selections from their catalog. Equally as impressive as their set was the opening performance from Sacramento's Middle Class Rut. Both bands helped heat up an otherwise chilly night in Wrigleyville.

Magestik Legend's Fan-Made Video For Scream

If you follow this blog or have read any of my comments posted on Hey! Look Behind You! or From Midnight, With Love, my love of horror films has been well documented. With that said, the fan-made video Magestik Legend's "Scream" is a pretty awesome due to the editing and collage of classic horror films which works perfectly with the instrumental track of the song and its sinister keyboards, snares and handclaps. On top of that Magestik Legend completely rips the track apart with equally awesome delivery.

Rubblebucket + PVC Pipes and Fabric = Video Awesomeness

Hands down, this is one of the coolest videos I have ever seen for a song so undeniably catchy. From the horns to the rhythm section to the synths, Brooklyn eight-piece Rubblebucket have created a truly original sound and song in "Came Out of a Lady." Check out the equally awesome video for the single which was created by the band's drummer, Dave Cole, and frontwoman, Kalmia Traver, after the jump and catch the band on tour as well.

November Means Turkey, Pumpkin Pie & New Releases

This month's offering feature a wide selection of new releases from Elvis Costello, N.E.R.D., Cradle of Filth, Matt & Kim, Cee-Lo Green, The Greenhornes and Kanye West among others and Christmas albums from Mariah Carey and Annie Lennox. Best of all, you can revisit classic albums from Weezer, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Wings, Marvin Gaye and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers via special edition reissues. Whatever you choose, play it loud and enjoy.

Mayer Hawthorne and the County (Subterranean - October 27, 2010)

From the moment Mayer Hawthorne and the County stepped on the stage, the tightly packed floor of Subterranean transformed into something else, a dancehall where people came together to the 60's soul and doo-wop revivalist sounds coming from the stage. It was a moment in which youth and fun truly took over and was further aided by the County's matching prep school/prom performance attire as well Hawthorne's own attire of a three piece suit and glasses. This moment in time, however, was too brief.

Video Graveyard (Halloween Edition)

Yes, indeed, this is a very special edition of Video Graveyard featuring a video that truly scared me as a kid and still creeps me out as an adult. That video is Herbie Hancock's "Rockit," also known as the other musical performance clip that scared me that was not the "Time Warp" party scene in Rocky Horror Picture Show. Mind you, I was between three and six when I encountered both yet was enamored by the Evil Dead 2 ads in the paper when I was seven because was poster for it looked so cool.

Anyway, I am getting off point and want to go on record to say that this is, hands down, the scariest video I have ever watched. There are freaky robot legs walking around a living room, a weird pterodactyl looking robot and scary mannequins moving about. Yikes! Several years ago, my ex teased me about still being scared of the video despite having a love for robots and wanting a robot best friend when I was a kid. I then showed her this video and she understood my genuine fear of what happens when Herbie Hancock goes hip hop and uses vocoders. The song, however, still rocks.

Free Show Tonight: Free Moral Agents

Looking for an awesome way to jump start your weekend? Free Moral Agents (featuring Isiah "Ikey" Owens of The Mars Volta) will performing at Beauty Bar tonight at 10 p.m. The awesome part to this, well besides the music, is that the show is free with and RSVP to chicagoRSVP@thebeautybar.com, otherwise it's only five bucks. Great, experimental music, free concert with RSVP, a night out...really, is there a better way to start the weekend. I think not.

k-os (Lincoln Hall - October 23, 2010)

The last time I saw Toronto emcee Kevin Brereton aka k-os was opening for Gym Class Heroes at House of Blues in 2007. That night, he, along with fellow opener P.O.S., managed to put on a show that far outshone the headliner's set. With that said, his headlining spot at the more intimate Lincoln Hall on Saturday night was nothing short of incredible. His 90-minute set along with opening performances from Astronautalis and Shad help put together one magical night loaded with memorable grooves and talented rhyming.

Auf Wiedersehen, Walkman

Sony Walkman, welcome to the land of other retired forms of entertainment such as 8-tracks, Betamax cassettes, mini-discs and the more recently departed HD-DVD. Thirty years after your existence, you have now been relieved off a duty no one even knew you were still performing. Granted, I knew cassettes were still being manufactured, perhaps as retro and/or kitsch collector items (to which I have no problem with and was tempted to buy the new Of Montreal and Local H releases on) but was unaware that Sony even still made the Walkman.

Video Graveyard

The song is excellent and the video is neither old nor bad. It, however, is long and confusing so that should count for something. Kanye West's 34-minute video for "Runaway" is either a look at a bloated, excessive exercise in music video making, a infomercial for West's new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (due Nov. 22) or one of the most brilliant things I have ever watched. I am not sure which one it is but the answer lies somewhere within those three things. The video is, or so I think, a metaphor for the last couple of years of West's life from the events leading up to 808's and Heartbreak to the embarrassing Taylor Swift VMA moment last year and its backlash. If not, West just out-lynched David Lynch and released some bizarre video with a bird woman screeching at turkeys, a three-minute ballerina solo, a marching band parade with Michael Jackson's head, a dinner party, fire, samples of his new album and atrocious acting. On that note, here is the 34-minute, uncensored clip to "Runaway" as well as the edited video if you would rather just get to the song.

Pepper/Brother Ali (Metro - October 21, 2010)

As I waited for the opening act, I chatted with two young ladies about Pepper as I was unfamiliar with their music. To this, they offered me the following notes: "It's like Blink-182 but with a nurse lady and better," stated Katrina and "If you're having a bad day, listen to Pepper and it'll lift your spirits and you'll feel better," chimed Kaitlyn. In a roundabout way, that comment best describes Thursday's concert. It was an assortment of musical genres designed for people looking to have a good time and enjoy live music. 

Jennifer Corvino Will Have Her Revenge (October Mixtape)

Side A: Phenomena
01. Dead Man's Party by Oingo Boingo
02. Not of This World by Danzig
03. Bad Dream by Tricky
04. I Seen a Man Die by Scarface
05. Screaming Skull by Sonic Youth
06. Ghost Town (12" Version) by The Specials

Side B: Creepers
01. The World's Most Famous Undertaker by Skeleton Key
02. Pet Sematary by Ramones
03. Little Ghost by The White Stripes
04. Spooky by The Grays
05. Dracula's Wedding by Outkast feat. Kelis
06. Zombie by Nellie McKay

Filter Gives North America No Love

In support of the excellent The Trouble with Angels, Filter begins their No Love Tour in Dallas tonight. Tour dates are listed after the jump and if you have not had a chance to pick up their new album, you owe it to yourself because it does not disappoint in the least. 

Hear Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Reissues

Two more Jon Spencer Blues Explosion reissues are due in stores this week. Tuesday (October 19) sees the re-releases of JSBX's 1994 masterpiece, Orange, now with the Experimental Remixes EP and bonus tracks added on as well as 1998's Acme, now with Acme Plus included (previously known as Xtra Acme USA in the states). Spinner is streaming both albums this week which you can check out here. Tracklists and videos can be found after the jump.

Michael Larsen a.k.a. Eyedea (1981-2010)

Michael Larsen, better known as Eyedea, passed away yesterday at the age of 28. The cause of the MC's untimely passing is unknown. Eyedea's mother, Kathy Averil, has set up a Facebook memorial page to honor her son where you can share your thoughts as well as offer donations to the MC's family. As part of Eyedea & Abilities, the duo released By the Throat last Summer.

My Morning Jacket Webcast

My Morning Jacket performed a live webcast for Live on Letterman last night in addition to appearing on Late Show with David Letterman to promote their upcoming five night residency at Terminal 5. Check out both videos after the jump and read Jim James' Live on Letterman interview here.

Atmosphere (Congress Theater - October 7, 2010)

"This is as close to church as some of us get," said Slug, MC for Minneapolis hip hop group Atmosphere as he addressed the packed audience at Congress Theater on Thursday night. If that was close to church, then the audience members were more than honored to be its congregation. On the last date of the To All My Friends tour, each of the performers treated the show more like a celebration of their sounds and hip hop instead of the end of a month-long tour.

Gorillaz' Concert On Late Show With David Letterman

Gorillaz stopped by Late Show with David Letterman to promote their North American tour with N.E.R.D and Little Dragon. In addition to this visit, Gorillaz performed a 45-minute concert for the audience. The performance  was filmed by the Letterman crew and, needless to say, it rocks. Check out the performance after the jump.

Sounds of the Weekend

The weekend is here and there are plenty of exciting opportunities to check out music throughout the city from Ok Go to Riot Fest 2010 to a couple of free shows. So, after reading this, get out there and get your musical fix.

There Is Nothing Headbanging About This Ball

Dear MTV,

Oh, how I thought you gave up the facade of playing videos the moment Spencer Pratt debuted his creepy flesh -colored beard or relegated your rejected remnants and skeletons to MTV2. This is what I thought until I stumbled across the decayed shell of what they consider to be Headbanger's Ball. MTV, like Hollywood, you continue to urinate all over our childhood dreams and loves. Shame on you.

Kate Nash & Peggy Sue North American Tour Dates

(photo from katenash.co.uk)

Kate Nash is set to begin a new North American tour is support of her sophomore release, My Best Friend is You, this October. Accompanying UK songstress on her trek will be fellow UK folk-pop trio, Peggy Sue, who have one of the best albums of the year out currently in Fossils and Other Phantoms. Catch them in a city nearest you beginning late October.

Free Downloads! Did I Mention Free...Yeah, I Did!

Who does not like awesomeness that comes along with the word "free"? What is better is when an artist wants you to hear their art and offer it to you free of charge. That is what I have here, ladies and gentlemen, a batch of free releases from the likes of Imani Coppola, Psalm One, Jojo, Charles Hamilton and Metallica. Also, there are plenty of samplers to choose from.

Atari Teenage Riot (Bottom Lounge - October 1, 2010)

Ladies and gentlemen, you may once again start the riot. After a 10 year absence, Atari Teenage Riot has returned to do what they do best: make noise and rally listening ears against political injustice, although not necessarily in that order. As Friday night's performance proved, 10 years away and a new lineup have done very little to soften Alec Empire and company's sonic and visual assault.

October's Frightful And Delightful New Releases

While October is the month for all things ghoulish and macabre, it is also a very interesting month filled with new releases (The Corin Tucker Band, Tricky, KT Tunstall, Finger Eleven Kylesa), reissues (Crowbar, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Morrissey) and classics from the vault (Bob Dylan, Liz Phair...well, the Girlysound portion of the double disc). In addition to all of these albums, there are several music games coming out from the debuts of Def Jam: Rapstar and Power Gig: The Rise of the SixString to the highly anticipated sequels of DJ Hero and Rock Band. Whatever you buy this month, be sure to play it loud at your Halloween party.

Fun Things To Do This Weekend

Blogger's Note: This was meant to be posted yesterday but due to time constraints, it was not posted. It, however, has been updated to include events for today and tomorrow.

Looking for some exciting ways to spend your money this weekend. Here are a few ideas that will entertain your musical spirit as well as well as a couple of non-musical selections.

The Return Of Pinkerton

Although it was widely regarded as a commercial and critical flop upon its initial release, Pinkerton has been fondly remembered, in recent years, as two things: one of the foundations for the modern emo sound and the last great/memorable album featuring frontman Rivers Cuomo's openly honest and brilliantly catchy songwriting. I prefer to think of it as one of the best albums of the 90's and, well, to a degree, the latter thing I said earlier (Weezer ("The Green Album") is pretty catchy and the last cohesive Weezer album in my mind). Fourteen years later, Pinkerton is finally getting the respect it always deserved with a special edition, double-disc, 26-track collection featuring the album, b-sides and 16 unreleased tracks from live and studio sessions. The collection is due November 2 and if, for some reason, you do not own this or think "Beverly Hills" is the greatest song ever, you owe it to yourself to purchase this for your ears, heart and music collection. A tracklist can be found after the jump.

In Case You Missed It: Primus on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Primus stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote their Oddity Faire Tour as well as to perform Frizzle Fry's "Pudding Time" and Sailing the Seas of Cheese's "Tommy the Cat." Check out the videos after the jump.

Interview: Slug of Atmosphere

Since the mid-90's, Minneapolis has risen to the top of the hip hop underground. One of the biggest acts leading the way has been Atmosphere. With the combination of Ant's creative and ever-evolving production techniques and Slug's emotional narratives of his journeys and abilities to craft compelling stories into rhymes, Atmosphere has continued impress fans and critics with each release. It was with great honor that I was able to speak with Slug about the group's current tour (To All My Friends), their current double EP collection (To All My Friends, Blood Makes the Blade Holy) and their upcoming show in Chicago. If you haven't yet, definitely, pick up the new EP collection and see Atmosphere in a town nearest you. This interview took place on September 23, 2010. Thanks to Clayton at Biz 3 for setting everything up.