Considering his recent 180 on the grandiose undertaking of writing an album for each of the 50 states, it might have been alarming to hear Sufjan Stevens declare his new album would conclude with a 25-minute marathon track, boasting no less than six distinct “acts.”  And given the avant-ness of his mixed-media tribute to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, a song of this length leaves a lot of room to go awry.  But in the way that only he can, Sufjan blows the doors off this bitch.  Continue Reading

The Brooklyn rap duo + hypeman, Das Racist, have been slowly turning heads since they released their faux classic single “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell” in 2008.  At first listen the track reeks of flash-in-the-pan greatness, made possible by the wonders of the internet (and possible a great hypeman?).  However, the group has been steadily making headway, and in March of this year they dropped the Shut Up, Dude mixtape with production help from Diplo, Dame Grease, and Boi-1da. Continue Reading

Besides being the English language’s most neatly packaged and widely embraced method for expressing one’s dissatisfaction with another, “Fuck You” is the title of Cee-Lo Green’s newest single from the forthcoming album, The Lady Killer.  It’s a tale of, for lack of a better term, “heartbreakin’, golddiggin’ bitches” abandoning real love in the name of dolla dolla billz, y’all. Continue Reading

“Boy” has been “handpicked” as the debut single from The Orchard, Ra Ra Riot’s sophomore album, and the video recently crash-landed on the internet courtesy of label Barsuk Records.  A mere sixteen-count in and there’s no question why it is “the chosen one.”  The bubbling bass line immediately demands reciprocal head nodding.  If you’re not sure what this looks like, just watch the bassist, yo! Continue Reading

Nobody has ever accused Yeasayer of being too normal.  With the release of the video for “Madder Red” they’ve assured themselves of at least another year of anti-mainstream street cred.  Equal parts weird and disgusting, the video stars “cute-as-a-button” Kristen Bell fawning over her beloved, but ailing pet, which resembles a goiter with a mangled baby leg projecting from it. Continue Reading

From the opening countdown of “Un, deux, twois,” this dance track grabs your attention and slaps you with its white glove.  The only problem with this duel is that YOU are on the short end of three “bangs” that will leave you dead like disco.  And as if Mark Ronson and his infectious beats + production aren’t enough to worry about, it turns out his “Business Intl” includes the likes of Q-Tip.  One, Two, Oh My God! Continue Reading

In years past we have been encouraged to “shake it” in numerous ways.  In 2003’s “Hey Ya,” Andre 3000 suggested “like a Polaroid picture.” Then in early ’04 the Ying Yang Twins recommended “like a salt shaker.”  Well according to the grimier half of Outkast, 2010 is the year of the tambourine. Continue Reading