Maps for Lashes

BBC Radio 1's Colin Murray hosted a two-hour Mercury Prize nominee special last night. Here are Maps, Bat for Lashes, and Fionn Regan collaborating on a cover of Primal Scream's "Higher Than the Sun," from their 1992 Mercury Prize winning album, "Screamadelica."

Mathangi Arulpragasam

M.I.A. - KALA
With production by Diplo, Switch, Blaqstarr and Timbaland, and also a much wider scope of style, M.I.A.'s second album easily outdoes her first. She covers the neo-disco number "Jimmy" from the '80s Bollywood film "Disco Dancer," showing us that she can really sing if she wants to. She turns the mic over to the children on "Mango Pickle Down River," which features guest vocals by the Wilcannia Mob, an Aboriginal kids' hip-hop group. And, on "Paper Planes," this week's featured track and quickly becoming a fan favorite, she samples the Clash and uses machine guns for percussion, yay! Take a trip with M.I.A.'s Paper Planes, then buy the CD for $11.99 or if you prefer get the super cool vinyl for $15.99 and for a limited time get a FREE M.I.A. bandana with purchase of the CD or record while supplies last.

Tivoed forever...

The two things that have been saved on my Tivo "now playing" list the longest are and episode of Family Guy called "The Thin White Line" (since December 15, 2005) and this, which I watch over and over. Aren't you glad you don't live with me?



P.S. Note to Damien- No, this does not mean we can delete it off the Tivo now.

I heart Richard D. James...

..because...


..and also...


..more than meets the ear...

New sounds from yet another talented Mancunian.

BOLA - KROUNGRINE
After about three years, Bola have returned with their fourth full-length album of densely layered, elegant electronica. Like labelmates Boards of Canada, Bola's Darrell Fitton has a certain knack for making electronic music sound organic and emotional. "Kroungrine" showcases a real skill for composition, as opposed to the sterile, repetitive beats and loops that are often the refuge of the electronic artist without any real ideas.

Listen to the standout track Halyloola, then pick up a copy of the disc for your own music library for just $14.99.

Daydream Deluxe

ENTER TO WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED SONIC YOUTH CD
The recent deluxe double-CD reissue of the classic DAYDREAM NATION earned itself a rare 10.0 from Pitchfork. The second disc contains live versions of all the album's tracks, and four cover songs, three of which were taken from now hard-to-find tribute albums: "Within You Without You" (The Beatles), "Computer Age" (Neil Young), and "Electricity" (Captain Beefheart). There's also a version of Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick," with demented vocals from Kim, taken from a split 7".
So, if for some reason you haven't already purchased your own copy of this masterpiece, or even if you have, now's your chance to win yourself an autographed copy. Send an email to deana@alternativemusic.com and please include SONIC YOUTH in the subject line. The winner will be chosen and contacted on September 5th.

Weird Science

Here's the video for the latest single from Maps' Mercury Prize nominated "We Can Create."



Says James, "The video is rather weird - I just hope people don't think I'm the mad scientist! - but at least it's memorable. I'm not going to any more danceathons, that's for sure."

A Massive collection of Rarities from the Deadverse of Dalek

DALEK - DEADVERSE MASSIVE Vol. 1 (DALEK RARITIES 1999-2006)
Is it rap? Is it shoegaze? Is it industrial? Is it IDM? Is it metal? Do you love it? Do you hate it?
I suppose the short answer to all those questions is yes. Yes it is, yes it is, yes it is, yes it is, yes it is, yes i do, and yes I do.
I love the music that Dalek makes so much, I can almost overlook the vocals. One reason I still like these guys so much is that they totally know that people feel this way about them - and they just don't care. They do what they do, and you can take it or leave it. DEADVERSE MASSIVE is a great collection of non-album tracks and remixes, and includes a number of the dark, dreamy instrumentals that I find the most enjoyable element of their work. Listen to his track and get your own copy of the Deadverse Massive Volume One CD for a mere $12.99

The Night Time is the Right Time for Chemicals!

Chemical Brothers - We Are the Night
The Chemical Brothers have always done a great job of summing up whatever is going on around them in the world of music. "We Are the Night" continues this tradition, bringing the best bits of the current landscape of electronica, dance, and the spawning habits of salmon together as one cohesive piece of work. Seriously, "The Salmon Dance," with guest vocals by Fatlip, is probably the funniest song released in 2007. Other guests who show up on "We Are the Night" include Willy Mason, Klaxons, Ali Love, and Midlake.
This week's featured track, "A Modern Midnight Conversation," borrows some dreamy vocals from Barbara & Ernie's 1972 psychedelic folk song "Listen To Your Heart," and adds a little cowbell (which can never be the wrong thing to do). Get "We are the Night" on CD for $14.99 or as an ultra cool 2 record set for $18.99

The men from UNKLE

UNKLE - WAR STORIES

James Lavelle was pretty much doomed when making this album- doomed by the expectations of his critics (Pitchfork- 4.5, Allmusic 3/5). Pitchfork's Ryan Dombal goes so far as to suggest that Lavelle must have been turned down by the guest artists he really wanted, instead resorting to a cast of "has-beens and never-will-bes" including "second (third?) tier Brtitish garage rockers Duke Spirit." Well, Ryan, I've never heard of you either. That's right, UNKLE has made a rock album. No wikky-wikky, wah-wah-wah. Hey, I've got an idea- if you love DJ Shadow so much, why not go listen to him? In the meantime, I'll be over here, enjoying a band that at least isn't afraid to go out on a limb and try something different.

This perfect example features guitar by Queens Of the Stone Age's Josh Homme, and also contains a tiny sample from "Low," my favorite Bowie album. Dig this track? We have two versions of the CD available. There is a standard CD for $12.99 or the super heavy duty collectable deluxe box set version for $21.99.