[Download] Aloe Blacc - "So Hard"

Here's a new one from Stones Throw artist Aloe Blacc off his upcoming album Good Things. This one is titled "So Hard" and you may have heard part of the song as it plays at the end of the "I Need A Dollar" video. Can't wait for this album to drop, once we get more details on its release we will let you guys know.

UPDATE: Taken down at the label's request. Womp! Womp!

[Download] Drake x Coldplay - "October's Very Cold" (Mashup Mixtape)

Happy Music Monday! Here's a fresh one to get you through the day.

Following in the tradition of Danger Mouse's iconic mashup The Grey Album, October's Very Cold is a remix album produced by Chi Duly (Nappy Roots, The Pack, Termanology). It features Drake, aka October's Very Own, over Coldplay samples (as well as Coldplay vocals over Drake instrumental samples on intro and outro). The first track released from this project a couple weeks ago has more than 10k downloads across the internet, and was posted on the biggest record pool in the world, DJ City. The Drake x Coldplay combination under the control of Chi Duly yields a smooth and seamless sound. This shit is great. - HipHopLeak

[Download] Drake x Coldplay - "October's Very Cold" (Mashup Mixtape)

[Watch] Big Boi - "General Patton" (Video)

World Star drops the premiere for the video to Big Boi's latest single "General Patton." Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty is set to be released on July 6, 2010.

[Sunday Pickup] Karen Elson - "Live At Third Man Records"

Sorry about the late night pickup but here's something you definitely will enjoy for the week. This week our pickup is coming from Jack White Wifey, Karen Elson and her recent record release show at Third Man Records. Elson played through most of her debut album The Ghost Who Walks as well as 2 bonus cuts, a cover of Jackson C. Frank's "Milk and Honey" and a cover of Donovan's "Season of The Witch." Check out the the performance below and make sure you also grab her incredible album The Ghost Who Walks in stores now! ORDER UP!

[Sunday Pickup] Karen Elson - "Live At Third Man Records"

[Review] Kings of Convenience @ Webster Hall 6/12/2010

Assumptions I had made about Kings of Convenience before arriving at Webster Hall last Saturday night:

#1- Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe would barely speak English

#2- they would be incredibly shy

#3- the audience would be mostly talk over the entire show.

You know what they say about what happens when you assume right? Yeah... 

First of all this precious Norwegian duo were very chatty. Not only were they chatty but they spoke in non-broken English (a feat that dare I say Sondre Lerche was unable to do the first few times I saw him live years ago). In between songs they were cracking jokes with the audience and telling stories of playing New York years before. I think my favorite joke of the night went something like this:"This show sold out three months in advance, that means you guys are incredibly organized." It's one thing to be as talented as they are, but to be as fast on their feet as they were in a language that wasn't their native tongue was pretty impressive to me.

Top make things even better, the "incredibly organized" crowd that came out to catch KoC were probably one of the quietest crowds I've experienced in awhile. When I say quiet I of course mean not being that douchebag in the middle of the crowd trying to chat loudly to his buddy next to him why "Stay Out Of Trouble" is the sickest jam he's ever heard. Granted, they do not typically attract that kind of crowd, but it's New York so I find myself expecting the worst and being pleasantly surprised when I'm mistaken. 

It's also important to note that Franklin For Short (the band who opened for them) worked out wonderfully as KoC's back up band during the songs that just wouldn't sound right without a full band. You can really get an idea of how talented they are by how easily they were able to play songs that weren't their own. I always find it amusing to watch two bands play together to see how well they play off each other and they were definitely a great fit for each other. 

[Review] Tobacco @ Glasslands Gallery 6/2/2010

Tobacco performed in front of a packed crowd at Glasslands Gallery the Tuesday night before last to celebrate his recent release Maniac Meat. With a little assistance from Maux Boyle of The Seven Fields of Aphelion, the two threw down some heavy beats that kept the crowd dancing till the very end. The stage at Glasslands was an excellent setting to enjoy some funky 8-bit bleeps and bloops, complete with what appeared to be big puffy clouds made of garbage bags on the back wall curving up above their heads. 

I was impressed with just how much Tobacco was able to manipulate the instruments he had in front of him. I've seen plenty of people rock omnichords and other various tools of the electronic trade, but never have I seen someone so easily manipulate sounds that it almost made me feel like a failure for not being able to pick up the craft so carelessly myself. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't make out what he was projecting into the clouds above him to accompany the music, but I was honestly so wrapped up watching him and Maux do what they do best that I didn't mind. 

You would be a fool to not catch Tobacco when he tours this fall. Seriously. Or for not picking up Maniac Meat. It's seriously such an addictive record it should almost be illegal. 

Check out my photos from the night here.

Tour dates and bottle rating after the jump!

Click to read more ...

[Watch] Sage Francis - "Best of Times" (Video)

Incredible video for an incredible song. Go pick up Sage's album Li(f)e in stores now.

[Listen] M.I.A. - "Space"

It's M.I.A. weekend! So far we got a new song titled Steppin' Up off of Maya's new album /\/\/\Y/\, then we get a remix of her single "XXXO" featuring Jay-Z and 7digital hooks up with the full tracklisting and snippets for each track. Now this video that leaked earlier this year makes more sense after listening to the snippets. If you haven't already heard this, check out the rough cut of Maya's "Space".