SUNDAY MIXTAPE

The National - Fake Empire
The National's Boxer is a grower, a slow-burner or whatever phrase that tells you that your'e gonna have to persevere with this one. Yeah, it sucks to hear it now, but slowly, after repeated listenings, gem's fall from the album like apples from tree's. Fake Empire is the opener, and a good way for those not familiar with Matt Berningers thraty growl to introduce themselves to the band.
Simian Mobile Disco - I believe
One time indie journeymen Simian, have parlayed an amatuer interest in upbeat electro into one of the party starters of the year. While not the nu-rave saviour it was purported to be, it deserves to be heralded under its own merits and not weighed down with 'second coming of Daft Punk' comparisons. Fun, flirtatious, yet still a little dangerous, you can get yourself dirty and still respect yourself for the rest of the working week.

SUNDAY MIXTAPE

Humanity is linked extricably, there's no denying it. So, with that in mind, the tracks on the mixtape this week are linked, six degrees of Kevin Bacon-like, one way or another.
Justice hits the boards harder than Ben Wallace on this remix of Daft Punk's Hmuan after all, beefing up the sound.

Daft Punk - Human after all (Justice Remix)

Speaking of Daft Punk, the Robot Rockers are sampled by Kanye West in his new single Stronger (sampling 'Harder, Faster, Better, Stronger'). Apparently, the duo are to appear in the Hype Williams directed video for the track.

Kanye - Stronger

Here is the 'alleged' cover for his new Graduation day album.

M.I.A. has been buzzing around the net for the last few months, drumming up blog boy anticipation for her new record with tracks such as 'Bird Flu' and 'Hit that'. Now we have her new single, and I'm amped. Can't wait to purchas the new lp.

M.I.A. - Boyz

New soul artist Kevin Michael. This afroed young man certainly has a smooth flow, and this track is also laced by that SP dunker Lupe Fiasco. Sweet.

Kevin Michael feat. Lupe Fiasco - We all want the same thing

Knocked Up.... Superbad

Sounds like a title of a fetish porn video, but it's actually two new movies from Judd Apatow, the man behind The 40 Year Old Virgin. Knocked Up is the most similar to 'Virgin', with Grey's Anatomy's Katherine Heigl and Apatow regular Seth Rogen taking up the leads. Superbad stars Arrested Developments Michael Cera as a high school geek struggling through his senior year (think American Pie but with guys that actually look like high school kids). Can't do justice to the trailers by saying more, so here they are.

David Blaine the Time Travelling Street Magician/Demon

If you've seen Blaine in action, you know what the setup is. I know him only from the recent NBA promo's he's been doing and that stupid suspended in a box trick. These guys are hilarious though...

Will Ferrell Meets 'The Landlord'

Will Ferrell, a swearing baby... what more do I need to say...

SUNDAY MIXTAPE

It's been a minute since Kanyeezy blessed us with his last album, and since then he's been touring with U2 and interupting MTV award presentations, Zoolander style
Anyway, he's been in the studio, and finally released his new single and video. Without further ado...
Kanye West - Cant tell me Nothin'

Lindstrom recent album 'It;s a Feedelity affair' showcased a full lp of the exquisite dance music he's been producing over the last few years. This however, is not on the album, but is worth him putting on the next
Lindstrom - Lets Practice
It's about that time of the year - the time when Pharrell Williams blows our minds with another one of his sparse, bust your shit open beats. The recipient of his minimalist magic this time is Twista, who eats up this speedy beat and still leaqves enough room for Pharell to drop a rare hot verse in between. Enjoy.

MENOMENA

Okay, so I just made up this post so I could include these two awesome tour posters for the band, but it does give me an excuse to post some of their awesome music and explain why you should purchase their upcoming album 'Friend or Foe'.

Here's the MP3's, courtesy of Pitchfork

Menomena - Muscle N Flo

Menomena - Wet and Rusting

Elliott Smith, Audrey Hepburn share the same movie Spotlight
Posted May 25th 2007 2:30PM by Jessica Robertson
Filed under: Video, Song, Pop Culture

Summer is beckoning and what's a scorching, humid three-month stretch without a solid blockbuster movie? Probably about the same as said movie without a defining song.

To that end, AOL recently name-checked Elliott Smith's 'Miss Misery,' the Shins' 'New Slang' and the Pixies' 'Where Is My Mind' -- from the flicks 'Good Will Hunting' 'Garden State' and 'Fight Club,' respectively -- on their Top 77 Most Unforgettable Movie Songs.

Other notable, well, notables: Audrey Hepburn's 'Moon River' from 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'; the Jesus and Mary Chain's 'Just Like Honey' from 'Lost in Translation'; and Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode' from 'Back to the Future.'

Read the rest of the list to see which tunes made the cut, including a helluva no-brainer at No. 1.

Kids: Stay in School... and away from those BreakDancers

I don't care what anyone says, this is the funniest thing I've seen today...

New York I Love You (when I'm visiting)

Here's a humorous videoclip for LCD Soundsystem's rousing album closer 'New York I Love You'. It captures the song quite well, even if the obvious filthy floors and big apple references are all there. C'mon, it can't just be me that thinks it's funny that dude has to pay the busker to use his own toilet, can it?

BD over AK-47

Baron Davis and his Golden State Warriors may be out of the play-off's, but BD left us with something that won't be forgotten for a while. Now, I haven't seen BD dunk off two feet for near on 3 years, and he does it when? The heart of the NBA playoffs, and on who? Utah shot-blocking freak Andrei Kirilenko. Kirilenko would win this battle most nights, but on this night he had no chance.

SUNDAY MIXTAPE

Kanye's favourite muse, Common, has a new album on the way, and the commercially viable yet still astethically pleasing sincle is out now. It called "The People'
Common feat. Dwele - The People
Justice has a cute new single out. I remember blogging when 'Phantom' came out that I wasn't sick of Justice just yet. I can see myself getting sick of this song, but for now I'm going to enjoy it before it gets sucked into commercial radio and blasted out of every women's clothing store at your local mall.
Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
Spank Rock toured the country earlier this year, and by that stage I was already in love with their DC Club/Miami Bass inspired hoe-downs. Now they have teamed with Justice for a re-working of their awesome album track Thunderous Bumps. The result - Awesome?
Justice vs Spank Rock - Thunderous Bumps (back from Japan Edit)
Justice vs Spank Rock - Thunderous Bumps (back from Japan Edit #2)
This is some new Hot Chip, which can only be found on their installment of the acclaimed DJ-Kicks series (of which the Erlend Oye compilation is still the best).
Hot Chip - My Piano

SUNDAY MIXTAPE

The first track is by Sage Francis. The weird, nuanced Rhode Island-based MC burns his references, punchlines and cold truths through a batch of X-acto-sharp beats, focusing his strong opinions, sense of imagery and lyrical abstraction inward.
Sage Francis - Got up in the morning
Elliott Smith has a new album out now. It's the second posthumous release for Smith, and judging by the high quality of the songs, probably his last. "Thirteen" used to be one of Smith's live favourites and his affection for the song can be heard on this simple recording : Big Star's brilliant song became one of his most moving pieces.
Elliott Smith - Thirteen
Jamie T has been making ripples with his ragg inspired lad rock all the way from the UK.
Jamie T - Sheila
Full disclosure: Before tucking into A-Trak's latest release, I might have grumpily muttered something about how another mixtape of cleverly juxtaposed indie and hip-hop mashups sounded a little bit like my personal idea of hell. So give the Montreal native credit: Not only is Dirty South Dance completely enjoyable, it's also proof that maybe the form itself isn't played out, just bogged down by an internet's worth of shitty bedroom DJs and their artless mixes. Really, there's lots to like about Dirty South Dance-- "Call That Girl Margherita"'s pairing of Margueritas' eponymous Italo romp with Pitbull's "Bojangles" is bound to evoke at least a smile-- but our vote goes to "Get on My Pony", which melds New Young Pony Club's frigid "The Get Go" with Trillville's rowdy "Neva Eva". Turns out the former's icy motorik thing is a perfect backdrop for Lil Jon and Co. The Interpol/Lil Scrappy tour rumors start here... (Pitchfork)
A-Trak - Get on my Pony

Bangkok Hilton

I usually try to avoid Paris Hilton commentary like the plague ( or one of the various STD's Paris carrying at the moment), but I couldn't go past this humorous take on the rash of jokey Paris t-shirts that have suddenly flooded the market. Busted Tee's has a lot to answer for.

The Hater - What your Jokey Paris Hilton T-Shirt says about you

HUMAN GIANT 'Net Gain'

I'll be honest with ya. If I wrote about these guys without reading the following interview first, I would have mentioned quite a bit about how they created there buzz through YouTube and various other Net outlets,but that's only half the story. AV Club got to the bottom of this so-far success story and found out how three stand-ups ended up with their own MTV Sketch show.

Interview - Human Giant

Human Giant - Illusionators (YouTube)

Human Giant - Camping Weekend (YouTube)