For anyone who heard the new M.I.A. track Born Free and saw the video (below) and thought it a harbinger for the direction her music was about to take, listen to this. Her new(er?) single XXXO could not stray any further from Born Free and I am more than pleasantly surprised. I’m certain that there is some reasoning behind Born Free being introduced before XXXO as if the order had been reversed, we would certainly be inundated with people crying foul over the new radio friendly club sounds of XXXO. This is exactly what M.I.A. does best and I couldn’t be any happier with it, so here you have it. The Born Free video and the XXXO single here in one place.

M.I.A. – XXXO

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Do I even need to tell you that The Morning Benders are from Berkeley? They’re doing a tour of the America with a few stops in Canada including Montreal on April 15th at Sala Rossa. Tickets are 12$ + tax. The video below if for a song from their new album Big Echo called Excuses.

The Morning Benders – Excuses

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Click for The Morning Benders Tour Dates (more…)

Just a heads up that Gonzales will be performing this Saturday in Montreal at Excentris. For those who were at his last show at La Tulipe, it’s not a surprise that he’s playing a movie theater. For those who need a glimpse of the theatrics of a Gonzales show, check this ridiculous video of Feist and Gonzales doing a rap at Trash in London.

Get tickets here.

I Come to Shanghai is a bay area band that has been many years in the making. Their debut self titled album was finally released a few weeks ago and by now I’ve spent a great deal of time listening to it. Although the band consists of just two members, Sam and Robert, it has a full sound that showcases the eclectic musical abilities of the band. Nearly all of the songs feature vocal harmonies at just the right moments – something that these days can be easily overdone. They also show a commitment to experimentation that never gets in the way of catchy songwriting and humorous but smart lyrics.

You can download the full album on their website on a pay what you want basis. The entire album as great as these two songs, so please do. If that doesn’t convince you, check out the video for the song “Your Lazy Eye” below.

I Come to Shanghai – Pass the Time (zshare)

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I Come to Shanghai – Do We Have to Rise Again (zshare)

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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.

As someone who is also graduating into what might be the worst economic times in the last little while, I enjoyed this. It’s a cover that a college grad/rapper called Nyle made with a 2,000$ grant from the government and some of his fellow graduates. It’s got some hopeful lyrics about making it as a university grad in a horrible economy and some pretty great production.

Nyle – Let the Beat Build [Lil Wayne Cover] (zshare)

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No mp3 this time, just an video for Kid Cudi’s Day n Nite produced by So Me. You’ll probably recognized the animation style from Justice’s D.A.N.C.E. video.

I’m just a little late on this new Bombay Bicycle Club single but too make it up I’ve got this gem of a video to accompany it. The song isn’t much of a departure from what you’ve known and hopefully liked about Bombay Bicycle Club in the past. I actually think that’s a good thing, there’s nothing wrong with a consistent and predictable indie rock band.

The video below is directed by Ben Newman who met the band while working for the BBC. This marks his music video directorial debut and I actually liked it quite a bit. A simple chase scene with some color changing socks and a panda costume, what else do you need?

Bombay Bicycle Club – Evening Morning (zshare)

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I have an overwhelming feeling that I may be more than a little late on finding out about Passion Pit. Even the BBC has called them the sound of 2009. I’m not quite sure how the BBC fits into the U.K. mainstream media as far as music goes but I think it’s safe to say you may already know about them. In fact, one of my friends saw a poster for their album Chunk of Change on his way to the grocery store.

Nevertheless, it’s music worth posting, so here are a few of the standout songs from the album and a goofy video.

Passion Pit – Sleepyhead (zshare)

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Passion Pit – Smile Upon Me (zshare)

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Chi city wizard Lupe Fiasco has dropped an all new version of the hit Paris, Tokyo from his latest album The Cool. It features none other than Pharrell, Q Tip and Sarah Green. You may know Pharrell from The Neptunes and N.E.R.D. and if you don’t you should. The video for the original Paris, Tokyo is here too, the concept has Lupe Fiasco dressed up in all sorts of gentlemanly attire. So get a passport and check the track out.
Lupe Fiasco – Paris, Tokyo [Feat. Pharrel, Q Tip, Sarah Green] (zshare) (mp3)