The highly anticipated reggae dubstep album from dj’s Diplo and Switch is finally upon us. Although it’s tempting to treat it as a sequel to diplo’s Top Ranking Santigold collab album from last summer, Major Lazer is it’s own thing. There are a few tracks, like Lazer theme, which are clearly the work of Diplo. Highlights include a baby who is born with autotune for his voice.

Major Lazer - Lazer theme [feat. Future Trouble] (zshare)

Saturday evening was well spent here at the office (my apartment), in the company of some friends including the Montreal band The Pop Winds. Beer was graciously provided for free by our friends at Carlsberg and we quickly dispatched 54 bottles worth of the Danish brew.

If these photo’s of the party leave you wanting so much more, The Pop Winds are playing a show this friday (June 26) at Theatre St. Catherine (264 Ste. Catherine E.) with Brave Radar, The Silly Kissers and Reversing Falls. Show starts at 8 I believe. Not only will I be there but if you print off one of the pictures below, their saxophone player will sign it personally.

The Pop Winds - So far down (zshare)

Last week Mos Def released a new album called The Ecstatic which features collabs with black star alum Talib Kweli as well as Slick Rick himself. On my first few listens I was pleased to see that Mos Def is still having fun being himself. If you didn’t already know he’ll be playing Montreal for the Jazz festival on July 10th at Théâtre Maisonneuve. He`s playing with hip hop influenced jazz pianist Robert Glasper and you can get tickets here.

Mos Def - History [Feat. Talib Kweli] (zshare)

Mos Def - Auditorium [Feat. Slick Rick] (zshare)

Last evening Phoenix played a sold out crowd at La Tulipe in Montreal. The set was extremely tight and their on stage sound matched the fullness of the album almost verbatim. Thankfully they had a few extended jams as well to make it worth seeing live. They seem to be using session drummers still but it worked fine. I took this video of the band performing the song 1901 from the new album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.

Phoenix - Lasso (zshare)

Believe it or not, Veckatimest was the first Grizzly Bear album I’ve imported into my itunes, not because I didn’t listen to Friend, but because somebody gave it to me on vinyl first and I stuck to it. The newest ablum Veckatimest has been out for a few weeks now and the general consensus seems to be that all that time between the albums was well spent.

Grizzly Bear - Fine For Now (zshare)

First post in quite a while - I’ve been off doing more lucrative journalism. But I’m back and so is Animal Collective with an album called Merriweather Post Pavilion. I might get a hard time for this but I’ve never been the hugest fan of the band. I liked them, but just barely. This album (out for a few months now) seems like quite a departure from what they were all about on strawberry jam and preceding albums. It highlights less the experimental and adds more melody and consistent rhythms. So even if you didn’t like them before, check this out. If you did hopefully you still like it (pitchfork has stayed BFF with them and gave this album a 9.6) Check back for Grizzly Bear in a few days.

Animal Collective - My Girls (zshare)

This week is probably going to be sparse on posts. I’m in LA for my very first E3 and so far it’s been great. I’ll keep you the site posted on any music related activities that go on. So far Jay Z and Eminem have done a set for the DJ hero franchise and DJ Z Trip.

Our last mashup of Nina Simone and Kanye West was very well received, climbing as high as #2 on the hypemachine. So here’s another for your consideration. It’s a mashup using the instrumental track Let’s Ride from Gonzales’ Soft Power album and the vocals from Jay Z’s allure. I think the feel of both songs go well together, let me know what y’all think (be kind).

Jay Z vs. Gonzales - Let’s Ride Allure (zshare)

If you can’t wait until Diplo and Switch to drop Major Lazer for your summer dubstep fun and games, check this out. Houston based Squincy Jones has releaed a dubstep mix using 8 bit Nintendo loops and hip hop samples. And it’s called Nintendub.

via awwready

Tacklist:

* Mario Ds Screwed Intro
* Rogue State - Lions Paw (Metroid - Kraid’s Hide Edit)
* Babylon System - Dancing Shoes (Draped Out Edit)
* Walsh & Kromestarr - Panik Room (3 Kings Edit)
* Marlow - Road Kill (Goonies Edit)
* Benga - Zombie Jig (Wizards & Warriors Kryptonite Edit)
* Rusko - Hornz Cru (Diet Kryptonite Edit)
* Loefah - Disko Rekah (Goonies Pop Trunk Edit)
* Unsolved Mysteries Theme
* Chimpo - Lockoff (Freaky Girl Edit)
* Nastee Boi - Bangorz (Knuck if you Buck Edit)
* Mike Lennon - When Science Fails (Hektagon Remix) (Shorty Swing Edit)
* Babylon System - Loaded
* DJ Unk - Beatn Down Yo Block
* Woogie - End Dub
* Rustie - Response
* DZ - Just Rolling
* Rustie - Jagz The Smack (Zelda Edit)
* Gerard McMann - Cry Little Sister
* Kode 9 - 9 Samurai
* Kode 9 - 9 Samurai (Quarta 330 Remix)

Squincy Jones - Nintendub (zshare)

From Ustream:

Beginning at 23:30 on Saturday May 16th and through 4:00 Monday May 18th, Gonzales will attempt to break the Guiness World Record for longest concert by a solo artist. The previous record is 26 hours and 12 minutes and was performed by Prasanna Gudi (India) at the Mallikarjun Mansoor Kala Bhavan public auditorium, Dharwad, Karnataka, India from 28 to 29 December 2008.

Gonzales explains his motivation: “I will do this to push my muscial and physical stamina. I believe music is part art, part athletics and this 27-hour concert will demonstrate both aspects.”

Gonzales has been consulting with the Guiness Book of Record to ensure a smooth attempt and an Official Guinness Judge will adjudicate the event on site. Repertoire will touch on recognizable songs from all eras and styles of music, in new and surprising arrangements. There will be no repetition of material during the attempt. As Gonzales himself says “I will break the record without sounding like a broken record”.

The record attempt takes place at the theatre of notable French film director Claude Lelouch and his daughter Salome, Theatre Ciné 13 at 1 avenue Junot in Paris. The attempt in its entirety will be streamed live on www.Arte.fr and look out for a documentary of the event in the future.