Around the Blogs Mix 2/2:Super Bowl Edition

1). "Cherry Tulips" - Headlights
Criminally, I often ignore Polyvinyl releases that aren't Of Montreal. Shame on me. This is a lovely song that has earned countless repeats and turned me on to a band whose catalog I need to explore thoroughly. Visit Headlights' website for more info.

2). "It’s All In My Head" - Niels Nielsen
Yet another reason why you should be reading Swedes Please which continues to turn me on to new stuff I wouldn't find anywhere else.

3). "Pale Bride" - The Von Bondies
Hey! The Von Bondies are back. Their new record - Love, Hate and Then There's You drops this Tuesday, while the band has a long list of tour dates and SXSW appearances lined up.

4). "The Renaissance" (remix f/ Raekwon, Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne) - Q-Tip
Were I to redo my best of 2008 albums list, it would most certainly include Q-Tip's The Renaissance - a phenomenal record with ever track's a gem and you actually want to listen beginning-to-end. Passion of the Weiss has this hot remix of the album's title cut. (BTW: you should follow Q-Tip on Twitter).

5). "I Want Some More" - Dan Auerbach
I just made plans to go see the Black Keys at Oakland's newly renovated Fox Theater in a few months. Dan Auerbach - who represents 1/2 of the duo - just dropped his own solo record, and what I've heard sounds pretty solid. Download two tracks over at The OCMD.

6). "Made in the Dark" - Hot Chip featuring Robert Wyatt
Hippies Are Dead says, "The New Hot Chip EP Is Very Good." That's good enough for me.

7). "Lost in the Light" - The Heavenly States
The fine folks at Stranger Dance just posted a phenomenal mix of Bay Area music. Frankly you should just go over there and download it right away. Amongst the fine tracks is this one from The Heavenly States. It's not hard to figure out why this is one of the most buzzed-about bands in the Bay.

8). "Back From the Slums" - Raekwon f/ Method Man and Ghostface Killah
Let's kick back to Passion of the Weiss once more who calls this leaked track from All Built 4 Cuban Linx 2, "the first real contender for rap song of the young year."

9). "Collapsing At Your Doorstep," Air France
I did not know a thing about Air France (not to be confused with Air France) until I heard this song on the radio and it immediately caught my attention. Download it at Chickens Don't Clap, while I pick up a copy of their EP, No Way Down.

10). "Universal Mind Control," Common
I passed on Common's Universal Mind Control due to the so-so reviews and lack of Kanye beats. I have been hearing this title track on Bagel Radio lately and I have to say, it is pretty sick. Download the mp3 over at The World Forgot.

Around the Blogs Mix 1/26:Inauguration Edition

1). "First Time High" (Reconstructionist Remix of "An Eluardian Instance") - Of Montreal
Jon Brion takes one of the better songs from Of Montreal's Skeletal Lamping and makes it, well, better. Brio doesn't change much - more some handy rearranging which makes it more of a great stand-alone song.

2). "Till min syster" - Love Lindblom
I try to stay tuned in to new sounds coming from Scandinavia, and Swedesplease (the source of this gem) is making that a good deal easier.

3). "Know" - Nick Drake
I've now learned this is the track featured in the new Revolutionary Road trailer. I saw the film over the weekend and found it disappointing on the visual side, but the acting (Leo, too) and the script were superb. Download "Know" at Stranger Dance.

4). "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (Part One)" - (Minipop)
Minipop performed this great Flaming Lips cover during a recent Daytrotter session. [Via Web In Front]

5). "Daylight" - Matt and Kim
I kind of missed the boat on Matt and Kim the last time around, so I am going to try and get on now - starting with this single, which you can download at Music Ramen.

6). "Guess Who, Batman" - Lily Allen
Lily Allen waves goodbye to George W. Bush with two lovely words ("fuck you") repeated over and over again. Download it at Pretty Much Amazing.

7).“No You Girls" (Dominik Grötz Remix) - Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand's third album drops this week, and while you anticipate its arrival, chew on this remix over at one of my favorite music blogs, We Like it Indie.

8). "The Government" - Saul Williams
Singer/rapper/slam poet Saul Williams dropped this politically-drenched track last week on inauguration day. Download it at The Tape, who also have news on other new music from Williams.

9). "Unstoppable" (remix) - Santogold featuring Lil Wayne and Drake
Hot remixes of Santogold tracks keep falling from the sky. Now you can download this one at RCRDLBL. It sports Lil Wayne using auto tune (no surprise there), plus Weezy's latest signing - Drake - who some of our readers may know as Jimmy from Degrassi: The Next Generation.

10). "Prom Queen," Lil Wayne
While we're on the subject of Lil Wayne, dude cannot keep his music from leaking. "Prom Queen" is the first single from his forthcoming, Rebirth. Due in April, Rebirth showcases the rock sound he's been working on because he don't just wear that guitar as a fashion statement. Cop "Prom Queen" via Cukture Bully.

Around the Blogs Mix 1/20

1. "Sex on Fire" (live) - Kings of Leon
Nothing like a live version of my favorite song from 2008 being performed for an enthusiastic crowd that knows all the words. Available at Anyone's Guess (along with some other great Kings of Leon live tracks.

2. "People Got a Lotta Nerve" - Neko Case
For every blog post about this song, $5 is being donated to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. A great song and a worthy cause.

3. "Blood Bank" - Bon Iver
I kind of missed out on the whole Bon Iver thing in 2008, but I really like what I've heard from the Blood Bank EP, out today. Download the title track at RCRDLBL.

4. Everyday - Vetiver
Sub Pop - aka the New York Yankees of record labels - have added more offense to their roster in the form of San Francisco freak folkies Vetiver. Their Sub Pop debut - Tight Knit is out February 17.

5. "Can You Tell" - Ra Ra Riot
Listening to my brother's radio show this past weekend, I heard this song for the first time and it really stuck out to me. Download it over at Music Under Fire's Top 20 Songs of 2008.

6. "Nothing To Worry About" - Peter Bjorn and John
Peter Bjorn and John drop a new track and who gets to premiere it - why, Kanye West of course. I really dig PB&J and this song is pretty dope, though I agree with Music Ramen who says, "The intro/chorus of kids singing sounds SO similar to Justice’s 'D.A.N.C.E.'" Download it at Kanye's blog.

7. "Shove It" (remix) - Santogold featuring Three 6 Mafia and Project Pat
Santogold dropped a hot record in 2008, and is riding right on into 2009. You can hear here with Jay-Z on "Brooklyn Go Hard" from Notorious and on this remix, which you can download at Notes From a Different Kitchen.

8. "Red Magic" - The Game featuring Lil Wayne
I've been listening to the Game's L.A.X. a little bit, and I was kind of bummed this song was not on the album. The only place I've been able to find this song is on the unauthorized Lil Wayne mixtape, Da Drought is Over 6, which you can download at Get Right Music.

9. "Mykonos" - Fleet Foxes
Proof that indie music is moving further into mainstream culture - Fleet Foxes were on Saturday Night Live performing "Mykonos" from the Sun Giant EP. Download the original at Stranger Dance.

10. "Circus" (Diplo Remix) - Britney Spears
Just saw this, and I haven't heard it but I imagine it's got to be hot. Download it at our friends We Like It Indie.