While all of you Radiohead fans are anxiously awaiting news of when their anticipated next album will be released, here's something to distract you until then.
Radiohead's drummer, Phil Selway, announced earlier this month that he was releasing a solo disc as a side project from Radiohead. If Thom can do it, so can he...The album is titled Familial, and will be released on August 31st.
Here's a first listen of the album's opener, "By Some Miracle." Selway is offering up a free download of the song on his web site as well, all you have to do is drop your e-mail address.
In case you were itching to hear the debut solo release from Big Boi, Andre 3000's right hand man from OutKast, your opportunity has come. His album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, is supposed to hit stores a week from today. To get the momentum going and give fans a taste, the entire album is streaming on Big Boi's Myspace page for today only!
The album features collaborations from none other than Andre 3000 for the song "Royal Flush," giving us a few minutes of the former days of Outkast glory. Big Boi also teams up with T.I., B.o.B, Gucci Mane, Yelawolf, Jamie Foxx, and gets his tightrope on again with Janelle Monae in "Be Still."
Loula Creates' hand painted leggings and hoisery are a vibrant way to spice up your summer wardrobe. Created by 23 year old Loula, each legging is custom made to order all the way from Scotland.
With each one hand painted, there is the guarantee that no two designs will be the same. There are a selection of different intricate designs and color styles on their website. All popping colors like turquoise, hot pink, red and mustard-orange. Check them out here.
If you think these leggings are cool, just wait until our feature on maSh in the upcoming issue of amfm!
Marina and the Diamonds is a little bit pop, a little bit new wave, with some indie and folk on the side. It's hard to stylize the Welsh singer, Marina Diamandis. She makes a video like "I Am Not a Robot," with the beautiful simplicity of Marina, the paint, the wind and the sparkling embellishments, and then here she comes with the bubblegum pop fun of her latest release "Oh No!" with a catchy and upbeat dance vibe.
After a successful release in the UK of her debut album, The Family Jewels, her album was later released in the States at the end of May. Thus far she has been critically accepted for her unique voice and new approach to pop music in a world of Katy Perrys and Ke$has.
If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area and want to get your sparkle on at a Marina and the Diamonds concert, you can catch her at an intimate acoustic performance at Popscene on July 8th.
More than amfm loves music, arts and fashion, amfm loves books! Which is why there was nothing but excitement when I saw an ad for Out of Print, a t-shirt company that is changing the way we look at literary classics, while helping spread literature to the world.
Out of Print is taking some of the most iconic books and their covers and putting them on t-shirts for book and fashion lovers everywhere. Out of Print teamed up with their partner Books for Africa, and for every t-shirt sold a percentage will be donated to a community in Africa.
The t-shirts are only $28, and "each shirt is treated to feel soft and worn like a well-read book," as they say in their mission statement.
Upbeat indie rock band, Passion Pit, is making the rounds doing cover after cover. First, they covered The Cranberries "Dreams" at a show a few weeks ago, and now have the version streaming on their Myspace page. Their Cranberries cover had that same optimistic feeling you get listening to "Moth's Wings."
Just recently the band put their stamp on the old Smashing Pumpkins favorite "Tonight, Tonight" for the Levi's Pioneer Sessions, which is a project Levi's is doing to revive classic music that artists these days are inspired by. Passion Pit chose to honor The Pumpkins.
The Smashing Pumpkins cover still has a melancholy feel to it, but is slightly different without Billy Corgan's croon and the soothing sadness of the violins and guitar. Still, it's a beautiful cover.
Katy Perry's fun and sun loving song "California Gurls" seems to be in the running as the summer smash, and I already can't bear to listen to it because the radio plays it so much. Passion Pit has taken the summer hit and put their spin on it, remixing it Passion Pit style. It is somewhat better, but it still doesn't guarantee a radio station change when the song comes on...
Saw this in the window of the Fe Gallery one day while window shopping in downtown Sacramento. There's an eerie-beauty behind the paintings of 53-year old Sacramento artist, Michael Bookout. Slightly reminiscent of some of Tim Burton's earlier work, there's also humor behind the darkness in his pieces, which is surely derived from his background in comics and literature.
Moneypenny, the electric girl-girl Chicago DJ Duo composed of DJ A-Cup and DJ Mother Hubbard, have been busy in the studio making some original tunes. As a token of their hard work they are offering up a free download of their newest single "Cool & The Gang" on their Myspace page.
These ladies know how to keep you moving, whether you're on a dance floor or not. Just watched a re-run of last episode of The City on MTV and noticed one of their songs "Say No" as background music in the scene leading up to Whitney's runway show! Very cool.
Keep an eye out for Moneypenny, they will no doubt be popping up again. One place that's for sure is in the next issue of amfm coming soon to a browser near you...
Here's something to look forward to...Radiohead was chatting up the BBC and there's talk of a possible LP in the near future. By near future it could mean in the next coming weeks, or in the next year. It all depends on the creative juices of Thom Yorke and Company.
Guitarist, Ed O'Brien, said in the interview that they are in the studio working on their 8th studio album and they are "at the finish line." So now all there is to do is anxiously await musical glory...stay tuned!
Melissa Plastic Dreams and Italian Architect Gaetano Pesce have teamed up to create one of the most innovative shoe designs to date. Melissa shoes, known for their fashionable and sustainable shoes, takes plastic to the next level.
The soon to come ankle boots are made from plastic circular discs, and can be molded into seven different shapes and styles. Not sure exactly how yet, hopefully the shoe comes with a manual...
For more info on Melissa Shoes, check out the web site, and stay tuned for a feature on Melissa in the amfm mag in July!
photo courtesy of http://www.madeinbrazil.typepad.com
This week a ton music surfaced, so here's a recap of what's been on amfm's radar.
There's finally a video for that song you've been hearing on the radio non-stop, B.o.B's "Airplanes" featuring Paramore's Hayley Williams, and Eminem. Sadly it's as though Marshall Mathers never picked up a pen because he is NOT featured in the video! Eminem is a crucial element of the song and his presence on the track is missed.
Here's another choreographed video from indie quartet OK Go. Their recent video for "End Love" off of their album "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky" debuted this week. This time the crew is decked out in monochrome American Apparel hoodie colors, doing a series of random acts. The video plays with depth and speed, and OK Go plays in the park. This is what happens when four guys accustomed to treadmills opt for terrain.
Here's a taste of what's to come from New York synth-driven band Blonde Redhead. They recently unveiled "Here Sometimes," and it is the first we have heard from the band since the release of their 2003 album, 23.
This is just a teaser for the official video for the Nelly Furtado/N.E.R.D collaboration for "Hot N' Fun." This is sure to be a summer smash. There hasn't been a lot of music from Nelly Furtado or Pharrell as much lately, so it's always nice when artists collaborate in between album downtime. The video is the epitome of hot and fun, they are partying in the desert, and Nelly Furtado is the sky. But why is Pharell's head dressed for the Alps?
Despite being arrested, Kid Cudi has been enjoying his grind. Playing Bonnaroo, prepping for a new album...Here's the latest track from Kid Cudi, "REVOFEV" from his upcoming sophomore album "Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. Who is Mr. Rager? Cudi does seem to have some rage issues...punching fans, breaking doors off of hinges...when it's fueled into the music it sounds great.
Dr. Martens have been called edgy. They have been called punk. Has cute has ever been one of their descriptions? It is now. Dr. Martens can also add fabulous and fifty to that list of descriptions as well.
In honor of their 50th Anniversary, the Dr. has been celebrating the legacy that the German boot has created since its inception into fashion and pop culture history. One of their ways of celebrating is their upcoming Sanrio X Dr. Martens line of Hello Kitty boots.
Hello Kitty's creator Sanrio just celebrated it's 35th Anniversary too so it's only fitting. This is a first look at the collection, which includes a Hello Kitty collage boot, and bow boots pictured above. There's more adorableness to come when the collection officially comes out in July.
Dr. Martens is also paying homage to the music culture, something which the boot has long been associated with. On their 50th Anniversary web site they're offering up free Mp3's and are featuring 10 tracks, 10 artists, and 10 videos of cult classic to represent the spirit of Dr. Martens.
Artists like The Noisettes, The Ravonettes,The Duke Spirit and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are featured in the videos and music to be released over the next couple of weeks.
Can't go to Bonnaroo this weekend? Yes you can! You can go right now...You can magically be transported into Bonnarooland from your bed, from your desk at work, from your iPhone while you're on public transportation...
Live out the Bonnaroo experience vicariously via your computer screen a la You Tube.You Tube is streaming tons of good music performances from the fest, and NPR is streaming live audio from the concerts as well. You won't have to worry about having to wipe the sweat dripping down your face from the intense Tennessee heat.
Today see sets from Neon Indian, The Temper Trap, Nas and Damien Marley, The National, Tori Amos, Spearhead, Tenacious D and more.
Saturday check out Norah Jones, The Dead Weather, Kings of Leon, LCD Soundsystem, Jay Z and more.
Sunday close it out with The Avett Brothers, Regina Spektor, Weezer, John Butler Trio, Dave Matthews band, and more.
M.I.A. is on a war path these days. The days of paper planes and sunshowers are out the window. After her controversial video for "Born Free," then the highly publicized spat between her and the New York Times editor, then came the anti-You Tube album cover.
Here's another installment from M.I.A. Yesterday her new song "Steppin Up" with Rusko was released on BBC. Her music as of late has been like an art experiment; it's very abstract. She stays true to her killer heavy beats and sound effects, singing, "I can smash a beat/said the track will make you run/ run run run run."
The track will make you run as your body just starts reacting to the music without your telling it to. She is definitely smashing it, in your face. M.I.A. has something to say!
Female street artists are pretty hard to come by, but the one who literally ambushed her way onto the scene is one of the most widely known female street artists, Swoon. amfm is swooning all over Swoon's Brooklyn creations.
She emerged onto the street scene in the late 90's, and has been taking it by storm since. She and a crew of art and music vagabonds once crashed the Venice Biennale with, a contemporary art festival that takes place in Venice, Italy every two years, with a performance art stint. She sailed in on boats made out of New York City garbage, which she had previously done in New York with her art collective the Miss Rockaway Armada.
What she is most widely known for are her life size wheatpaste prints and cut-outs that are adorning the walls and buildings of Brooklyn. The prints are of every day people doing everyday things, and images of faces and individuals packed with emotion. It's like the walls are living extended lives through her guerrilla art.
She started gaining recognition as an underground street artist, and was eventually noticed for her life like drawings and was offered a gallery gig. Since then she joined and founded a few art collectives, has traveled the world spreading her art, and has her very own book featuring some of her best work and her journey as an artist.
San Diego band and native, Wavves, otherwise known as Nathan Williams, and sometimes others, are a garage band who are now in the studio rocking a label with their lo-fi punk rock.
Wavves was signed to Green Label Sound, the Pepsi Inc. record label. Green for Mtn Dew...Note the shortening of Mountain at an attempt to make soda hip. Their slogan should be "Pepsi, so much more than soda." The label has housed Neon Indian, Chromeo, The Cool Kids, Matt and Kim and Flosstradamus, and more.
Wavves have just released the first single, "Post Acid," off of their first album that wasn't recorded behind Williams' parents' home. You can hear and download the song at Green Label Sound.
Jeffrey Campbell has created a shoe specifically to honor the late great Alexander McQueen. Understandably no one can come remotely close to the immaculate creations of McQueen. The TRIBUTE shoe alludes to the designer with the shape and design; however, where is that signature McQueen heel? If you thought McQueen's shoes looked hard to walk in, where does this one fall on the spectrum? How much do these shoes WEIGH?
Regardless, big ups to Campbell for honoring the Queen and creating this tribute in his honor. The TRIBUTE shoe is available for a short time only, and all proceeds will be donated to charity in honor of McQueen.
Electro-rock duo, Ratatat, released their album Lp4 today after taking wee bit of time off after Lp3 released in 2008.
Programmer extraordinaire Eric Mast, and guitarist, Mike Stroud, bring some sweet tunes on this disc. They've always been known for making semi- trippy songs power beats, one of amfm's favorites being "17 Years."
Wonder which songs from the new album will become new favorites...Will it be "Drugs" or "Party With Children"? Hmm...You can of course pick up Lp4 at iTunes, but you can check out the video below for their video "Mahalo" from the new album as well.
First came Madonna's cone bra, and now comes Lady Gaga's sword bra in her newest video for her single "Alejandro." Here comes another mini movie music video from Lady Gaga this time directed by Steven-Klein.
You gotta give it to Gaga, she somehow manages to transform herself for every video, from couture jailbird to leather toting nun. She sports a short new hairstyle, while underwear clad glistening men dance around her in circles sporting a similar do. Then there's the red leather nun robe and cross where her lady parts are.
So what exactly is an Alejandro? Aside from a popular name, Lady Gaga went on Larry King Live last week to discuss the premiere of the homoerotic video, where she described the song and video as "a celebration and admiration for gay love," because she envies it's bravery and courage.
A couple days ago Eminem's new single "Not Afraid" off of his upcoming release Recovery premiered on MTV.com. Recovery is set to be released in a couple of weeks on June 22nd. From the looks of things, Eminem is in full recovery, facing those demons, and raising the bar for all things Marshall.
No longer in the darkness of "Relapse," Em is trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The video begins with him standing at the edge of a ledge, and ends with him breaking through a wall. Metaphoric...
Hear Eminem sing in a rappic tone, check out the video below.
Channel your inner Rihanna with this Stolen Girlfriends Club indigo fringe dress from online boutique Pixie Market. This dress has fierce written all over it with its metallic fringe shoulder pads, and scoop back silhouette. The shoulder pads are removable in case you want to be fashion low-key, but why would you want to do that when your shoulders are the pad of the party?
It only seemed fitting to talk about Dee and Ricky's fashionable LEGO accessories, because in the next web issue of amfm there will be a whole feature on LEGO art. Just you wait...
Dee and Ricky have been known to create some of the coolest LEGO pieces for your wardrobe. LEGO rings, belts, bow ties, broaches, barrettes, and their signature heart pins as seen on Kanye West.
amfm has a picture in the last web issue of DJ Million Dollar Mano from Chicago rockin a Dee and Ricky cigarette pin in his beanie.
Bravo's got a reality show for everything, wives, chefs, fashion designers, interior designers with seven kids, so what was missing from the equation? Art! Their latest Project Runway-esque show is "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist," cause all great art is created on TV right?
It is a pretty cool opportunity and an interesting concept. Fourteen artists will compete in various challenges doing a wide range of media from paint, to sculpture, photography and industrial design. Their completed work will then be appraised in a gallery setting by prominent figures in the art world. The winner of the series will be rewarded with a solo show at a nationally recognized museum, and a cash prize.
There are some pretty big names backing this show, first, Sarah Jessica Parker's production company is producing it, along with the masterminds behind Top Chef and Project Runway. Jerry Saltz, New York Magazine art critic, Bill Powers, New York Gallery owner, and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, curator and owner of Salon94 Gallery are the judging panel. Art auctioneer Simon de Pury is the mentor, and China Chow hosts. The show premieres on Bravo on Wednesday, June 9th.
There's been a ton of talk lately about the Broken Bells, the side project of Dangermouse of Gnarls Barkley, and James Mercer of The Shins. They've just released a new video for their new song "The Ghost Inside" featuring Christina Hendricks the red head from Mad Men.
They've been posting stills, and talking about the rarity that Hendricks would actually be on board, and now the video is finally here, and there she is! The video premiered yesterday on YouTube and Vevo, and the Broken Bells have posted it as an opener to their web site.
The video is like a little short movie that takes you to Planet BB114, the Broken Bells' fictional planet, where fuel for a space ship costs literally an arm and a leg. If they play Broken Bells on this planet, amfm isn't complaining about the cost of fuel...
Asher Roth's newest single G.R.I.N.D (Get Ready It's A New Day) leaked earlier this week. Before you go searching for it, we have the music here, and Asher has been kind enough to post a download link on his blog. amfm just downloaded it, and boy is it good. It's a feel good track. Asher has chilled out, perhaps the college days are over?
Asher also announced on his blog he's taking video submissions based on his G.R.I.N.D. concept. He said this, "I'm shooting a video for "G.R.I.N.D." based around the thesis 'The Speed of Life.' I encourage all creative folk to shoot their OWN video for the song and submit it to arothmusic@gmail.com. Starting JUNE 21st we will be showcasing our top 5 favorite vids. Good luck and HAVE FUN!"
In case you haven't heard, the Chicago Duo, The Cool Kids have a new mixtape out. The mixtape titled "TackleBox," tackled the web on May 31st. Seems like everybody is offering up free downloads lately! amfm is loving all this free music. Hopefully you are too!
Here's a link to their web site where you can download the goods.
Nike Sportswear and The FADER are teaming up to create six different mixtapes from six different continents in honor of World Cup mania. Bringing the likes of music, art and culture together for an event celebrated around the world, they have created "Pitch Perfect."
Over the next few weeks they will release mixtapes that feature new music from artists in each continent that the games will be played in. They've already released the mixtapes for South America featuring brazilian DJ and producer Maga Bo, and Europe featuring UK DJ Sinden on the website. Each mixtape will also feature a different cover art design from artist Siggi Eggertsson.
So we've got North America, Asia, Australia and Africa coming up in the next couple of weeks with a big live concert event in Africa that they will stream online on June 16th.
Janelle Monae's got a new take on her recent release "Tightrope" featuring Big Boi. A remix of the song has surfaced, and is more hip-hop than soul with a guitar and a hip hop drum beat.
The song features Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B, and Monae even spits a verse on the track. "I can run with the fellas and rock a stage acapella" she says in the beginning of her frame.
Does anyone else thing Fiasco sounds a bit weird? Check out the remix below.
Open your ears if not your eyes...Whether you like the whole Twilight thing or not, the Eclipse Movie Soundtrack is streaming on the soundtrack web site. What can I say, the movie has good taste in music. You can listen to all of the tracks from the upcoming movie from artists like Metric, Muse, Florence + the Machine, Beck with Bat For Lashes, The Dead Weather, Band of Horses, Vampire Weekend, Sia, Cee-Lo and more.
Hey, it's new music right? Think of it as a mixtape from some of your favorite artists...The actual soundtrack (oops...mixtape!) comes out on June 8th.
If life were a comic book, what would it look like? Would the heroes be glossy, standing tall and ready for action? Not Anthony Lister's super heroes. His artwork explores the dark depths of heroism, reflecting the unglamorous aspects of life as we know it--the fallen heroes. Perhaps that is because when growing up he didn't exactly have many positive role models in the drug culture of his childhood in Australia.
He paints the world as he sees it, through his eyes, through his children's eyes, and through the eyes of the television, which he often states as one of his major influences. In Lister's world, super hero icons like Superman and Spiderman appear to be haggard, or strung out on the real world, having dealt with the harsh realities of life that come with super-herodom.
Television itself has a way of glamorizing and glossing pop culture, and Lister's paintings are a commentary on that notion. The way he juxtaposes and distorts the characters in his pieces allude to deeper themes, although he has often said there is no symbolism in his work. "I'm not triyng to change the world, I'm reacting to the world triyng to change me," he said in a video interview.
Lister's work has become a well known fixture in the underground low brow art movement of comic-like paintings and street art, another one of Lister's passions. His work has been exhibited in various places like London, New York and California.
Internet sensation Mike Posner, is making his mark on the music scene one step at a time. First YouTube, followed by the blogs, then radio, and now he's just released a video for his hit song "Cooler Than Me."His album will surface near the end of the summer, and in the meantime he's got lots of tour dates ahead of him.
The Hundred in the Hands are set to perform at the legendary indie venue and club San Francisco Popscene this Thursday presented by Filter Magazine. The show should be high energy and a dance good time. Anyone in the San Francisco area should definitely hit up this show, and if you can't you should bump this song.
Man this kid likes his trees! But it makes for good music...Wiz Khalifa and the Taylor Gang recently recorded this video in Hollywood, and whether you toke or not, this is a killer beat, and the guy's got a nice flow. He's been getting circulation on MTVU with his other hit "This Plane."
Heard this on the radio and thought I was listening to an old school station, but turns out its new old school. Mayer Hawthorne really knows how to throw it back. He's got the sounds of old soul music like Curtis Mayfield, Barry White and Smokey Robinson, who he notes as some of his influences. You look at him, and he opens his mouth, and you're definitely surprised in a good way.
The Do hails from Paris, France, and is composed of Dan Levy and Olivia Merilahti. The duo is a breath of fresh air. Their album "A Mouthful" was released in the States this past April. They have a quirky and fun style, and Olivia steals the scene every time.
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