White Denim Release New Single, Perform At Lincoln Hall Tonight

Playlist: A Tribute to Jason Voohees

Friday the 13th is best known for being the day in which a goalie masked, supernatural, superhuman, zombie-like being in overalls stalks the woods with a machete to kill campers that fornicate on the campground where his mother died while killing camp counselors yearly to avenge the loss of her son who drowned in a lake. Whew, and I thought saying Shelly sells seashells by the seashore was hard. Anyway, in honor of Jason Voorhees and his mother, this week's edition of Playlist (formally Friday Playlist) features song titles that pretty much up your time in Camp Crystal Lake. The last song, however, is probably the last thing you hear when he finally catches you.

Company Flow At Metro Tonight; Interview With El-P

Black Sabbath, Red Hot Chili Peppers Headline Lollapalooza 2012

Playlist: El-P

Rapper/producer El-P has a new album, Cancer for Cure, in stores next month. Having already debuted "The Full Retard" and "Drones Over BKLYN," the album's cover art and tracklist were released today. In honor of his forthcoming album, today, we honor the works of El-P through his videos and performances. Cancer for Cure is in stores May 22 and features appearances from Killer Mike, Danny Brown, Nick Diamonds of Islands and more. In a completely related note, El-P has been performing with his old group, Company Flow, on and off over the last year in support of the reissue of Funcrusher Plus. On Friday, April 12, they will  perform their first ever show in Chicago on April 12 at Metro. Between these events and his collaboration with Killer Mike (R.A.P Music) also due next month, a moment to honor the forever, hard-working El-P is long overdue.

Jack White, Record Store Day Headline April New Releases

RECORD STORE DAY!!! That is all I really need to say about April's new releases. It is a filled with exclusive releases and is a celebration of music and the independent stores supporting our habit. As awesome as this day is, this, in no way, discredits the rest of the month which features new releases from Nicki Minaj, Jack White, Elvis Costello, Screaming Females, Peter Gabriel, Florence + the Machine, Brendan Benson and The Raveonettes. There are even reissues from Roxy Music and fIREHOSE to begin this month. With plenty of selections to choose from, here are just a few of them waiting for your ears this month.

The Post Punk Pop Sounds Of Big Science At Fireside Bowl Tonight

Playlist: Tenacious D

It feels like ages since there was a new Tenacious D album. The last time we heard from the "D" was on the soundtrack to their highly under-appreciated epic film, 2006's The Pick of Destiny (and the followup DVD, The Complete Masterworks 2). On May 15, the duo will release their long awaited third album, Rize of the Fenix which, if history has already proven, will rock your head and socks off while leaving you on the floor laughing. With a new album in stores soon and the debut of the video for "To Be the Best" this week, Friday Playlist honors the visual excellence of JB and KG.

Mae Whitman's Sampler (March 2012 Mixtape)

Side A

1. Get to Know You by Mayer Hawthorne

2. Call Me Beautiful by Cheyenne Marie Mize

3. Crush by Sleigh Bells

4. Sick of You by Gwar

5. Risingson by Massive Attack

Side B

1. Lay My Head Down by Band of Skulls

2. For What It's Worth by The Cardigans

3. I've Been Loving You by Otis Redding

4. Snake Oil Saleman by Rocco DeLuca

5. Why You Fall by Jenny Owen Youngs

Playlist: Luther Campbell Edition (NFSW)

It is Friday at Hightower and Jones (as it is in the Eastern Hemisphere as well) and it time to celebrate the weekend in style and with classic videos with a post called Friday Playlist showcasing the visual arts of an artist. This week, let us celebrate (or to any teenage, horny males reading...drool over) the classiest of works featuring producer/rapper/jiggling butt afficianado Luther Campbell and 2 Live Crew. Having discovered 2 Live Crew at an early age, I can safely say that I went through puberty earlier than expected and learned more butt shaking than I would ever learn in my adult life. To you, Luke, I celebrate this Friday in your name and with dreams of a version of Miami that I will probably never experience. Granted, this is nowhere as awesome (or sexy) as Kristen Bell Mondays but with this collection of videos, I am certain that it is raunchier.

XXL 2012 Freshman Danny Brown Rips Throughout Chicago On March 30

Spin and Pitchfork listed XXX as one of their top releases of 2011. XXL recently listed him as part of their 2012 Freshman Class. Fader even referred to him as hip hop's most unique rapper and a promising underdog. This is all simply to say that Danny Brown is the best underground hip hop phenomenon that you probably are not listening to...at this moment, anyway.

El-P Releases New Single From New Album

Outside of guest appearances, mixtapes, compilation tracks, production work and various Pitchfork appearances, El-P has been in the studio preparing (and recently finishing) his forthcoming third solo album, Cancer for Cure. Five years after his sophomore release, I'll Sleep When You're Dead, the Brooklyn rapper will release the album on May 22 on Fat Possum. Last year, El-P released "Drones Over Bklyn" as part of the 2011 Adult Swim Singles Program to serve as a teaser for the new album. Today, another single from the album was released entitled "The Full Retard" was released which you can download here.

Enjoy The March Weather With These New Releases

The Mars Volta. The Shins. Bruce Springsteen. Iron Maiden. Madonna. March is issuing some heavy hitters to your local record store this month. Along with these releases are new recordings from Rocco DeLuca, Soulfly, Every Time I Die, Andrew Bird and, if you are interested, there is also a Katy Perry reissue. There is something for everybody so get out there and buy yourself some new music.

Video Graveyard

There have been very few videos that have caused an equal combination of hysterical laughter, embarrassment and confusion. In fact, I can safely say that there is really only one video. "Muscles" by Diana Ross is, without a doubt, the video that makes me loathe and enjoy all there is about 80's music videos. This Michael Jackson (why Jacko, why?) penned hit features Ross dreaming about scantily clad men surrounding her, doing cartwheels on her arm and just existing as 80's eye candy. Somehow, she manages to fly over one guy's body while he features some suburban landscape on top of him. Combine this with the glow of soft lighting and you will find one of the cheesiest videos ever made to the point of calling it laughably atrocious (so...it's like "Physical" with more skin and less mustaches). While I enjoy the camp value of this video, it also makes me embarrassed to have been born in the 80's and early 80's at that. Something tells me that future generations will find this video and think that all men were ripped, all women were surrounded these same men and everything we did was surrounded by a soft, fuzzy glow and smeared in petroleum jelly. Wait, I think that is my life now as I am totally ripped, glowing and half naked on a bed with Diana Ross right now. Even with that joke, I feel embarrassed. "Muscles," you won yet another round.

Jumpers & Leapers (February 2012)

Side A
01. Jumpers by Sleater-Kinney
02. Jump Through the Hoops by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
03. Hop, Skip and Jump by Squeeze
04. Did She Jump or Was She Pushed by Richard and Linda Thompson
05. Jumping Around by The Rentals

Side B
01. Jump by Green Jelly
02. No Jumpers Cables by Aesop Rock
03. Leap of Faith by The Suicide Machines
04. Leap You Bar by John Frusciante

Three Years Of Pure Musical Lunacy

Believe it or not, it has been three years since I first spoke on the cinematic wonder known as Tougher Than Leather. In these last three years, I have presented you with odd mixes and thoughts on everything from on "Mambo No.5" to the cloning of S Club for one's own personal and disturbingly selfish needs. Also, in this time, there have been interviews, reviews and strange looks from Prince.

Fiona Apple Plans U.S. Tour

Recently, it was reported that a new release from Fiona Apple is set for this year and with the announcement of a small U.S. tour in March, I believe this is possible. Pitchfork reported that Apple will embark on a seven-date U.S. tour beginning with a set for Pitchfork's showcase during South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 15 and wrapping up on March 27 in Boston, MA. Listed below are the scheduled tour dates for the long-awaited return of Fiona Apple.

Obama 2012: The Soundtrack

In Case You Missed It: Saturday Night Live

Sleigh Bells appeared on Saturday Night Live this past Saturday to perform "Comeback Kid" and "End of the Line." The tracks come from the band's sophomore album, Reign of Terror (in stores this Tuesday). The musical greatness did not just end with Sleigh Bells. In one sketch, SNL humorously welcomed Jay-Z and Beyonce's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, with visits from Prince, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Taylor Swift, and Nicki Minaj stopping by to see the baby. In a scene stealing moment, Justin Timberlake appears as Justin Vernon of Bon Iver  which, alone, is worth watching the clip for.

Video Graveyard (NFSW Edition)

It's Wednesday and H & J knows exactly what "hump day" means. Okay, I actually have no clue what that means but a couple of fans of The Coathangers definitely understand the concept in this fan-made video for "Nestle in My Boobies." The song is one of many highlights from their self-titled debut but this video...this video is something else entirely. In summary, there is a lot of humping over background visuals of...well..yeah. I think I will just let you watch this from the privacy of your own home. Nonetheless, it is a video featuring air humping, dancing and some sexy, sexy melodica playing.