Chairlift - Bruises, the iPod nano commercial song; Metric - Help, I'm Alive; Love Is All - Wishing Well; Hello Seahorse! - Won't Say Anything (MP3s)I can't make up for months of blogger's block with one post, but here's a start...
Chairlift - Bruises
This is the catchy song from that iPod nano commercial. The album is decent, but "Bruises" and "Evident Utensil" are clearly the standouts.
In other good news: New Metric: Metric - Help, I'm Alive!
Scroll down. Hopefully the sendspace link is still active.
Love Is All - Wishing Well
 O M G
I guess the late Tupac was wrong. A lot has changed since then. Although I didn't get a ticket for the main Grant Park event, I enjoyed the moment just the same. Tens of thousands gathered watching on a Jumbotron nearby, sharing in an historic moment that the world has been awaiting for eight long years. Perhaps we can (yes we can) overcome the politics of fear and divisiveness and the  My Bloody Valentine
My Bloody Ears! From the light, ethereal intro of "I Only Said" to "When You Sleep" all the way to the seizure-inducing, tympanic membrane-shattering 30 minute "You Made Me Realize" finale, My Bloody Valentine completely rocked the Aragon Ballroom and uptown Chicago, likely causing some sensorineural hearing loss among those in the mesmerized crowd who opted not to use earplugs. But hell, if  Savoir Adore - We Talk Like Machines (MP3)
Savoir Adore
If you're a fan of Broken Social Scene or Los Campesinos!, you owe it to yourself to check out Savoir Adore. With labelmates MGMT, they're yet another Brooklyn band hoping to energize the scene. "We Talk Like Machines" sounds like a more melodic and shoegazy/dream pop version of Broken Social Scene's "Looks Just Like The Sun".
Savoir Adore - We Talk Like Machines
The other  Natasha Bedingfield vs. Chicane - Bruised Water (MP3)
Natasha Bedingfield vs. Chicane - Bruised Water (MP3 removed by request)
Pop (Natasha Bedingfield's "I Bruise Easily") meets classic Balearic house (Chicane's "Saltwater"). Easily the best mash-up of the year. Promo just released in the UK on Modena, Chicane's new independent label.  Top 50 TV Shows of All Time, Alibi Tom - Fire (MP3), Soundamus, Hot Chip - One Pure Thought (video)Empire: Top 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time
Worst...top 50 list...ever.
My Top 20 in no particular order would be: Arrested Development, Twin Peaks, Futurama, Law and Order (not on their f*ckin' list!), The Simpsons, Scrubs, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Chappelle's Show, Sex and the City, The Office, The Wire, 24, South Park, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, The  Annie - I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me (video), Mystery Jets (videos), The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name (videos), more
Annie - I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me (video)
Annie is back and looking amazing in her new vid, "I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me", the first single off her forthcoming LP, tentatively titled 'Don't Stop', due out in late summer.
Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down (video)
OMG, what a hilarious 80s flashback video. Nice Flock Of Seagulls hair!
Mystery Jets - Young Love (video)
I don't think  Coldplay - Violet Hill (MP3), CSS - Rat Is Dead (Rage)(MP3), The Radio Dept. - Freddie and the Trojan Horse (MP3), more Coldplay - Violet Hill (click and sign up to download)
"If you love me, won't you let me know?"
The first single from their forthcoming LP, 'Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends', is available on their website. Well, I suppose I've ignored Coldplay since 'X&Y' (or actually since their 2nd LP), but this song is reason to pay attention again. The expansive guitar and exaggerated dynamics  Bento lunches as album covers, My Brightest Diamond (MP3), Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone (video)
Bento box lunches decorated as album art
Forget Food Network. These are the coolest culinary creations you'll see all year. Link above goes to a Japanese blog dedicated to these bento box creations. Translation of some of these in the ensuing link: [via]
My Brightest Diamond - Inside A Boy
Shara Worden has a wonderful voice. She's been compared to Kate Bush, which is only a bit of a  Kings Have Long Arms - Big Umbrella feat. Candie Payne (MP3 and video), The Roots - Birthday Girl (video)
Kings Have Long Arms - Big Umbrella feat. Candie Payne (MP3) | mirror
Kings Have Long Arms - Big Umbrella feat. Candie Payne (video)
What a great vocal contribution from Candie Payne. This is the perfect lazy, happy summer song. If you enjoyed 'I Wish I Could Have Loved You', her 2007 LP, I would definitely check this out.
The Roots - Birthday Girl feat. Patrick Stump (video)
Definitely  Wolf Parade - Call It A Ritual (MP3), Mystery Jets (MP3), Orouni (MP3), I Love Math (MP3), Video Blitz: M83, Portishead, AC, Lupe, Usher, Robyn Wolf Parade - Call It A Ritual (MP3) | mirror
Yeah, I'm late to the party. Here is some yummy new Wolf Parade to whet your appetite in the unlikely event you have not heard it yet. Gratuitously lifted from here.
Mystery Jets - Young Love (MP3) | mirror
Perfect song for summer frolicking in the fields chasing after your love... if that's your thing. I am digging most of the new Mystery  Download YouTube Videos as MP4 Videos, Sopranos Deaths (video), Simpsons Couch Intros (video), more Download YouTube Videos as MP4 Videos
I didn't know that you can now download YouTube videos as MP4 videos, which allows for much improved quality over the standard FLV video file format. Use the bookmarklet below (drag it to your bookmarks or favorites); then, when you are on a YouTube page, use it, and you will see a download link appear under the video description area. Be sure to save as a  Lollapalooza lineup, Hot Chip - One Pure Thought (video), Black Kids live on Later with Jools Holland (video), Pitchfork TV The Lollapalooza lineup:
Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Wilco, The Raconteurs, Louis XIV, Love and Rockets, Gnarls Barkley, Bloc Party, The Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, Lupe Fiasco, Flogging Molly, Mark Ronson, Cat Power, The National, G. Love & Special Sauce, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Explosions in the Sky, Brand New, Gogol Bordello, Stephen Malkmus &  El Madmo - GGW (MP3): Norah Jones' Secretive Side Project
El Madmo - GGW (MP3)
El Madmo derives its name from each band member: El (bassist/singer aka Handsome Band's Daru Oda), Maddie (guitarist/singer aka Norah Jones, yeah that Norah Jones), and Mo (drummer aka Handsome Band's Andrew Borger). The songs are a playful mix of indie rock, alt-country, pop, and punk. This will be right up your alley if you like Zooey Deschanel's recent collab with M.  Akon Calls T-Pain (video), Bjork - Wanderlust (video), Mike Gravel Covers Helter Skelter (video), more
Akon Calls T-Pain (video)
Butternut reduction. The best animated viral video of the year so far.
Bjork - Wanderlust (video)
Easily the best music video of the year. An imaginative and otherworldly adventure. It's certainly in Bjork's top five all time (and she has some damn good music videos).
Mike Gravel Covers Helter Skelter (video)
From a collaboration between rx (remember Bush's "  President Bush booed (video), Black Kids New Video, Adele - Cold Shoulder (video), GQ Interviews Keith Richards President Bush booed at 2008 Nationals home opener (video)
The boobirds were out in full force in DC for the Nationals home opener at their new ballpark as President Bush threw out the opening pitch.
Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You (video)
This video features the as yet unreleased album version of their song, "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to  Muxtape, Peter Moren - Social Competence (MP3), Shearwater - Rooks (MP3) Mo's Muxtape
What is Muxtape? It's a way to upload a mixtape and share it with anyone, anywhere. It's simple to use, has a clean layout, supports mouse or keyboard control, and streams high-quality audio. However, the functionality is quite limited. You can only play, stop, or change tracks and you can't seek within a track. Hopefully, they will add this feature, genre tags, and RSS in the  Lil Wayne - Lollipop (video), Lupe Fiasco feat. Nikki Jean - Hip-Hop Saved My Life (video) Lil Wayne - Lollipop (video)
Can't escape the auto-tune madness. Introducing T-Wayne.
Lupe Fiasco feat. Nikki Jean - Hip-Hop Saved My Life (video)
This is an great video that gives me a new appreciation for the song. It's sorta like a 4 minute abridged version of Hustle and Flow.
For your amusement: random comments extracted from MetaFilter and YouTube for side-by-side comparison.  Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake - 4 Minutes (MP3)
Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake - 4 Minutes on hype machine or here if it's still available. (Note: I did not upload these. Just sharing the love.)
This is the first single off her eleventh (and last) studio album with Warner, 'Hard Candy'. It features Justin Timberlake and is produced by Timberland. Yes, it's pretty predictable, but you know it's going to be an irresistible mega-hit on  Buraka Som Sistema (videos), Justice - DVNO (video), The Helio Sequence (video), I Am Legend alternate ending (video) Buraka Som Sistema feat. M.I.A. - Sound of Kuduro
Awesome song and video from Buraka Som Sistema, with help from M.I.A. I have no idea what Sabrosa is spitting, but she sure sounds angry doing it.
Buraka Som Sistema - Yah!
Bonus Buraka Som Sistema vid.
Justice - DVNO (video)
If you like the D.A.N.C.E. video, you'll definitely dig this one as well.
The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes  Ashley Alexandra Dupre - What We Want (MP3)
Ashley Alexandra Dupre - What We Want (MP3) | mirror
Ashley Alexandra Dupre's Music Store
Poor Kristen, aka Ashley Alexandra Dupre. If you believe there's no such thing as bad publicity, then this is your big break. But allow me to impart some candid career advice: Don't quit your night job.  Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes (video), Biggie Hendrix Experience (mashup album), La Pequeña Amy Winehouse (video), more Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes (video)
Strange video. It's a surreal mix of Skittles colors, horror, and lots of paint.
DJ Doc Rok - Biggie Hendrix Experience
Another mash-up album. Decent concept, but it's not only Hendrix tracks that are mashed. Nothing too revolutionary, but it's still worth a listen. I prefer the MIA vs. Chamillionaire and Luda mash on his myspace.
La Pequeña Amy  NIN - Ghosts, Gnarls Barkley causes seizures
NIN - Ghosts
I still haven't downloaded the first nine tracks of 'Ghosts' because I haven't been able to get into the site. Server issues aside, it appears to be another proof in principle of the viability of the Radiohead distribution model, at least for mega-bands and mega-artists. They've made at least $750,000 in just 2 days due to sales of special edition versions.
Gnarls Barkley Video  Gnarls Barkley - Run (video), Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew (video), TSA Gangstaz (video), Tilly & the Wall (video), The Kooks (video), more
Gnarls Barkley - Run (video)
Hot new video for Gnarls Barkley's excellent new single, "Run". The trippy part starting at around 2:15 is amazing.
Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew - Lucky Ones (video)
Recipe for a good time: 600 shots and Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene.
TSA Gangstaz (video)
OMG. If you hate airports, this will be right up your alley. Hilarious stuff. It is NSFW  The Velvet Underground - I'm Not A Young Man Anymore (MP3)
The Velvet Underground - I'm Not A Young Man Anymore (MP3) | mirror (MP3)
If you couldn't tell from the title of my blog or other obvious hints, I'm a huge fan of The Velvet Underground. Imagine my surprise when I encountered this apparently new quality bootleg LP (entitled 'Live at the Gymnasium') featuring a previously unreleased VU song. The name of the song is "I'm Not A Young Man 
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