Regardless of beliefs, over 80% of the US agrees that the political climate in Washington blows. Stephen Malkmus and his Jicks are back with a new album. Check out his take on our politicians. The song includes the line “what the Senator wants is a blowjob”, and that’s just part of his message. Contributed by Bruce Rave
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – SenatorStephen Malkmus (Official)
Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST
Mariachi El Bronx is a side project of the LA punk buzz band The Bronx. This is the song that they nailed on Jay Leno last Thursday night. It’s a long way from punk but you can feel some of that same energy. Listen to it and/or watch it below. Contributed by Bruce Rave
Mariachi El Bronx – 48 RosesMariachi El Bronx (Official)
Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST
Laid back is how we like our Fridays. Take Beady Eye’s cover of “Blue Moon” for example. Liam’s croon is gentle as ever, with the band almost framed in a world that John Lennon could have had for “Free As A Bird”. Not to make the cliche but rather to point out how even Lennon must have been inspired by the standard ballad made famous by both of John and Liam’s (and everyone’s) mentor ‘The King’. Either way, this cover is mint.
Beady Eye – Blue MoonBeady Eye 
(Official) (Facebook)
Rating 8.5
Just because we heard this and had to ask the entire blogosphere what the fuck this is. What the fuck is this? Besides a trip. We quote the band, “have a nice dance with Satan”.
Unicorn Slut: (Soundcloud )
Unicorn Slut – Hunting The Blacke ToadeRating: ?
If you’re an Oasis fan, make that if you’re a music fan, then you have waited for this. You’ve likely contemplated at some point, ‘what would Noel Gallagher do if he weren’t in Oasis?’ (of course, your worse fear being that it would just sound like Oasis).
A few days ago Noel released a choral and strings version of a track that we had first heard of from a soundcheck in Brazil in 2009. Clearly the song has gone places. Noel has completed 2 studio LP’s which are seeming less like a Le Noise approach in favor of something more George Martin, more Burt Bacharach, more cinematic, more “The Importance of Being Idle”. Not that we’re complaining, “The Death Of You And Me” is epic and High Flying Birds is sure to be nothing short.
Noel Gallagher – The Death of You and MeNoel Gallagher (Official) (Facebook) (Noel’s 50 Funniest Quotes)
Rating 8.5
R.I.P. Amy
Amy Winehouse – Love Is a Losing Game (Live)
The Horrors’ “Skying” album just debuted at a lofty #5 on the UK album charts. It drops in the US on August 9. It feels like their “Still Life” single (posted on B3Sci long ago) has a chance to blow up pretty well for these guys. The album has been streaming on various sites, and the uptempo “I Can See Through You” nails it for me. Contributed by Bruce Rave
The Horrors – I Can See Through YouThe Horrors (Official) (Twitter)
Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST
Think You Have Skills? Producer and artist Nu:klea is throwing a competition for emcees, singers and instrumentalists all over the world. It’s really simple. Just download this beat, spit/sing/wobble all over it, and then upload it into his dropbox by 31st July. Winners will be chosen by Nu:klea and a panel of judges including us!
All the infor and rules are at Nu:klea’s site here. Group entries are allowed. The top 5 will feature on the champions podcast so this is a competition and a collaboration. How often do you get an opportunity to compete and collaborate with artists from around the world? Download the beat and go in!
Nu:klea‘s Battle of the Beats (Official) (Twitter)
Nu:klea Music Prize Beat 1
People are hot for this next Kooks album, and I’m really liking the first official single “Junk of the Heart”. It’s pure pop with a huge hook. Singer Luke Pritchard says “I Wanna Make You Happy”, and this tune will do exactly that for pop fans. Contributed by Bruce Rave
The Kooks – Junk of the HeartThe Kooks (Official) (Facebook) (Myspace)
Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST
As promised here’s an exclusive look at the video that a select number of our lucky readers (you guys!) put together + Sir Richard Branson! Presenting the 2011 Virgin Mobile FreeFest line up:
We’re psyched!
Interested? Here’s some more info on the festival:
• Virgin Mobile FreeFest will be held late this summer at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD.
• FreeFest has always been about giving back. In 2009, the festival started as a way lighten things up in the face of a rough economy while drawing more attention to The RE*Generation, the company’s platform to address youth homelessness.
• In the past two years, the Festival has raised nearly $300,000 and generated more than 55,000 hours of volunteer time.
• Since Virgin Mobile picks up the cost of tickets, they ask that everyone donate $10 or their time to volunteer for RE*Generation. People who volunteer at the Festival are “FreeIPs” and automatically receive a ticket, a hard to come by commodity as tickets normally “free-out” quickly.
Check out VML here to learn more about FreeFest and RE*Generation
Consider this review a work in progress, for information is scant on “I Will Never Love Another”, the only Motown A-side from FIVE SMOOTH STONES, released in 1969. I think they were a Philly gospel group – I wouldn’t be surprised if this had been written several years before – it recalls a more innocent time, before the irreparable political realities of The Sixties had done their damage. So many of the lost singles could be inserted into the OBG master Rolodex without radio listeners blinking twice. In the ministry, The Five Smooth Stones are faith, obedience, service, prayer, and the holy ghost! The B-side, Love Unto Me, is more standard pop despite the title’s more spiritual syntax. Contributed by Christopher Gedos
Five Smooth Stones – I Will Never Love AnotherFive Smooth Stones: (Purchase)
RATING: 9.1
This is in the trailer for the film “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”. What a cool idea for them to cover this Zeppelin song, and what makes it even better is that it sounds just how you’d expect it to. Enjoy, and at 1:39 you just might have the time to put it on twice. Contributed by Bruce Rave
Trent Reznor with Karen O – The Immigrant SongInfo on the movie: (Official)
Catch Bruce on Moheak Radio Fridays 1-3pm PST
