Kula Shaker...Live

Yeah, it's been a rather tumultuous day in the markets. So let's get a little psychedelic and forget about it, shall we? Here's Kula Shaker doing a beautifully fleshed-out live rendition of "Shower Your Love," my favorite track off of Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts back in 1999. Check it out.

New David Cook

If you haven't heard, American Idol David Cook has released his new single,"Light On." Cook apparently co-wrote it with Chris Cornell and one of the dudes from Hinder. It's not outstanding, with some pretty screamy vocals (thanks, Chris Cornell!) by David Cook - but the verses and choruses are solid, and they'll stick in your head well enough. But that bridge is one hot mess - Ugh!!! You can stream/download the track over at Berg Loves Pizza here. Anyway, here's a video of David performing his trademark acoustic cover version of Lionel Richie's "Hello" live.

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STRINGFELLOW: You can watch full episodes of Airwolf over on Hulu here! It’s worth it for the opening credits alone…

I SCREAM: So PETA wants Ben & Jerry’s to start using breast milk for ice cream production to reduce the suffering of our bovine friends. I smell some new flavor opportunities! Fudge Nipple, anyone?

AXL: So, let’s say the new GnR album actually does drop this year. If it does (and you still want it), you’re gonna be buying it at Walmart

Wilco Wants You To Vote!

Wilco wants you to vote in the election – and they’re willing to give you some free music if you agree to. (But hey, you were going to vote anyway, right?) So go here and pledge to vote, and they’ll give you an mp3 of their live cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” performed with Fleet Foxes. Check out those beautiful harmonies.

Matthew Ryan Daytrotter Sessions

Matthew Ryan has been busy these days recording little live sessions at local studios. Which is very cool. Go check out the four tracks he and the band recorded in the Daytrotter Sessions here. Session track listing: “Misunderstood,” “American Dirt,” “Jane, I Still Feel The Same,” “They Were Wrong”

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NEW AAR: One of my favorite bands, All-American Rejects, have got a new album dropping in November, and you can stream their first single, “Gives You Hell,” at their myspace here – I’m kinda underwhelmed

BEAT: The 25 best covers of The Beatles’ “Yesterday”

RS: What would the fall season be without the Rolling Stone fall music preview?

Mugison/Bellman Barker @ DC9 Tuesday

Get a taste of something a little different tomorrow night as Mugison (above) howls in from Iceland to join your indie-pop friends Bellman Barker for a night of rock at DC9 Tuesday, 9/23. And check out this new demo from BB below…

MP3: Murr Murr - Mugison
MP3: Last Name (demo) – Bellman Barker

New Bond Theme

The Jack White/Alicia Keys collaborative theme “Another Way To Die” for the new Bond flick Quantum of Solace has made its way to the internets – you can stream it on Jack White’s label site here, or download it various places, like I Guess I’m Floating, here – it’s pretty Icky, even without Meg, and it seems kind of odd for a Bond theme. But hey, pretty much none of the recent Bond themes have been extremely noteworthy.

New AC/DC Video

It's Friday kids. Go ride AC/DC's new "Rock N Roll Train" video...

A Case of the Fridays

It’s a bit early in the season, but we kick things off this week with “Xmas Party,” by Jennifer O’Connor. It’s a nice little biting piece of indie folk-rock, along the lines of Kathleen Edwards. If you like what you hear, she’ll be at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA Sunday, September 21st.

MP3: Xmas Song – Jennifer O’Connor

And now we flip to something that sounds a bit different, with Takka Takka’s “Silence.” If quiet haunting electronica w/ hypnotic drum beats and hushed vocals is your thing, then give it a listen. Takka Takka (above) will be playing at the Black Cat Thursday, September 25th.

MP3: Silence - Takka Takka

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CHOW DOWN: Do these 9 Restaurants Designed To Ruin Your Appetite make you hungry? They’re definitely interesting, to say the least.

SAD STORY: What would you do if you were going to lose your hearing in 30 days? This is an incredibly touching story

ENTERTAIN US: Nirvana’s former manager’s got a new book, and you can check out a tasty excerpt here

R.I.P. Rick Wright

Pink Floyd’s underrated keyboardist and sometimes backup vocalist/harmonist died today of cancer. Though Roger Waters’ lyrics and David Gilmour’s guitar did most of the talking for PF, Wright’s layers of atmospheric keyboards were essential, providing the melodic and soothing backdrop for what became “the Pink Floyd sound.” Here he is on tour with David Gilmour performing the “Wearing the Inside Out” from Pink Floyd’s last studio album, The Division Bell. And check him out here on “Comfortably Numb,” handling Roger Waters’ part on that same tour w/ Gilmour.

MP3: The Great Gig In The Sky – Pink Floyd
MP3: Us And Them – Pink Floyd

A Fey Palin

I didn't get to watch SNL this weekend, so I missed Tina Fey's dead-on Palin...but now we can catch it here.

A Case of the Fridays

Is it getting darker out sooner or is it just me? Anyway, we kick off this week with “Wreck” by The Bittersweets (above). It’s catchy alt-country that’ll stick in your head, thanks to the sweet breathy rasp of lead vocalist Hannah Prater and some tight harmony accents by her male counterpart. If you like what you hear, they’ll be at IOTA in Arlington on Tuesday, September 16th.

MP3: Wreck – The Bittersweets

One of my favorite bands, James, is finally doing a US tour (in support of their new CD, Hey Ma), and they’re actually going to be playing a date in Washington DC at the 9:30 Club Thursday September 18th. And here’s their bouncy dance track “Afro Lover” off of Millionaires – Tim Booth’s familiar soaring vocals are their, but there’s a slight change of arrangement from the “Laid” guitar-based arrangements that most people are used to hearing.

MP3: Afro Lover - James

Adam Richman Video

Hopefully singer/songwriter Adam Richman, formerly of DC, now of NYC, is working on a new album. Turns out I never caught this animated/live action video that he made for "The Loneliness Song" from awhile ago. Interesting...

More Cowbell!

Got a song that you want to add more cowbell and Christopher Walken samples to? There's finally an application that lets you do it. Check it out the story over at boingboing.net here.

A Little Country

I’m really digging a couple of country tracks at the moment. Carrie Rodriguez’s (above) fragile alt-country “Rag Doll” is beautiful, starting off with a sparse arrangement that emphasizes her delicate vocals and the inevitable tragedy of the lyrics. And it keeps getting better as the warm instrumental goodness is gradually layered on.

And the second song is some sugary pop country by Sarah Marince. She may just be a teenager, but she’s got vocals to burn on her version of the current Jimmy Wayne Top Ten hit. Yeah, she had to change a few pronouns around, but that hooky chorus is just irresistible.

MP3: Rag Doll – Carrie Rodriguez
MP3: Do You Believe Me Now – Sarah Marince

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HERO: You can order customized action figures and pez dispensers here – how dope is that!!!!! (thanks, Pete)

BURNED: It was good to have Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles back, with last night’s intense and excellent episode - and it featured a pretty ominous version of "Samson & Delilah" to kick things off by Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson (listen here)

ROLLING TIME: Have trouble waking up? These alarm clocks won’t be snoozed – they come after you! (thanks, CC)

The Black Kids

I included included The Black Kids' "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend" on my most recent monthly mix, and I've been enjoying its bouncy 80s flavored giddiness. With those lead vocals that sound like Robert Smith after he downed a bunch of anti-depressants and uppers, that screaming girlie chorus, and those pulsing keyboards, it's rather irresistible.

New Joshua Radin

Perhaps you first heard hushed-voiced singer-songwriter Joshua Radin's acoustic ballads back in the day on Scrubs like I did, with his track “Winter.” He’s done pretty well since then, releasing a critically-acclaimed album and touring a bunch. And now he’s about to release his follow-up album, Simple Times, which will be dropping on 9/9 digitally and 9/30 in stores (gotta love technology!).

MP3: I’d Rather Be With You – Joshua Radin

Jukebox The Ghost - Live Sessions

DC’s indie-piano-poppers Jukebox The Ghost were on tour in Chicago to play a gig at Schuba’s a few days ago, and they stopped off and recorded a HearYa Live Session afterwards. Check out the havoc they wrought - all 5 excellent-sounding tracks are over at HearYa here. And yeah, they even covered Ace of Base.

MP3: Hold It In (live from HearYa sessions) – Jukebox The Ghost

It’s Tricky…at the 9:30 Club

UK hip-hop artist Tricky will be doing a late show at the 9:30 Club this Saturday, September 6th. He’s got a diverse range of styles in his sound, from trip-hop and electronica to techno and pop. His new album, Knowle West Boy, is slated to be released in the US on September 9th. Check out the first single below…

MP3: Council Estate - Tricky

Photo Credit

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Marah 2008 @ Balenya Ð Body from Paul Murff on Vimeo.

MARAH: Dave Bielanko, the lead singer of Marah (above), has posted an update about the Serge-less recording sessions going on down in Nashville - quite interesting!

ANGER: Rollingstone reviews Metallica's newest album, Death Magnetic...and gives it 4/5 stars

DISTRICT: DC locals Jukebox the Ghost are featured in an in-studio session over on Hear Ya - check it out here

My Dear Disco @ The Red & The Black 9/4

My Dear Disco from Ann Arbor will be rolling into town Thursday, September 4th to play a show at The Red & The Black. They combine high-energy disco-flavored dance beats that should get you out of your chair with vocals with lyrics that should make you listen. They sound a bit like Under the Influence of Giants fronted by an ethereal-voiced female. And it sounds pretty cool.

MP3: White Lies – My Dear Disco

The Voice Rests

Don LaFontaine, "that voice" of oh-so-many movie trailers, passed away Monday. Here's a very interesting little video about him.