[Watch] Beirut - "The Rip Tide" (Official Video)

Beirut have unveiled the video for the title track of last year's release, The Rip Tide. The video was directed by Houmam Abdallah and starts off a little on the slow side, but if you can stick around to about 2:46 you see everything change around the beautiful but desolate setting. From that point to the very end of the video you are nothing short of mesmerized.

The band recently added more dates to their already lengthy tour. You can have a look to see if they're playing near you below.

Beirut tour dates:
6/22 Full Hit Of Summer Festival - Arena Vienna, AT
6/23 Southside Neuhausen - ob Eck, DE
6/24 Hurricane - Sheessel, DE
6/26 Hove Festival - Arendal, NO
6/27 Train - Aarhus, DK
6/29 Rock Werchter - Werchter, BE
6/30 Open Source Festival - Dusseldorf, DE
7/13 Quebec City Intl Summer Festival - Quebec City, QC
7/16 Metropolis Theatre - Montreal, QC
7/17 Metropolis Theatre - Montreal, QC
7/19 The Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
7/21 The Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
7/23 The Burton Cummings Theatre - Winnipeg, MB
7/25 Edmonton Event Centre - Edmonton, AB
7/26 Calgary Folk Music Festival -- Calgary, AB
7/28 Orpheum Theatre -- Vancouver, BC
8/28 House of Blues Boston - Boston, MA 
8/29 Rumsey Playfield - New York, NY
9/01-9/02 FYF Festival - Los Angeles, CA
9/03 Fox Theater - Oakland CA 
9/05 Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA
9/06 McDonald Theatre - Eugene OR 
9/07 MusicfestNW - Portland, OR 
9/11 Barrlowlands - Glasgow, UK
9/12 Academy - Leeds UK
9/14 Hammersmith HMV Apollo - London, UK
9/15 We Love Green Festival - Paris, FR
9/16 Leffinge Lauren - Leffinge, BE
9/18 TonHalle - Munich, DE
9/19 Columbiahalle - Berlin, DE
9/21 Turkcell Kurcesme - Area Istanbul, TR
11/11 Harvest Festival - Werribbe Park, Melbourne, AU
11/17 Harvest Festival - Parramatta Park, Sydney AU
11/18 Harvest Festival - Botanical Gardens, Brisbane, AU

[Listen] James Blake Releases Two Songs Under the Moniker Harmonimix

While many might not appreciate the ecclectic and often strange stylings of James Blake, you can't help but praise the man for his undeniable drive and consistent hard work. After an incredible year last year which saw the release of his debut LP, as well as two fantastic EPs, Blake is back and releasing new content under the moniker Harmonimix.

Under this new alias, Blake is once again experimenting in the realm of hip-hop, and he will be releasing a new single through R&S Records. The single, which will see release in September, will include two songs, the first being a-side "Confidence Boost," a reimagining of the Trim song, and the second being a Blake and Trim track titled "On The Road." You can listen to both songs after the jump (via FactMag).

[Watch] Metric Perform "Youth Without Youth" and "Breathing Underwater" on Kimmel

On last night's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Canadian indie rock outfit Metric stopped by to perform two tracks off of their brand new fifth LP Synthetica, which was released just last week. During the show, the band performed both "Youth Without Youth," the album's lead single, and "Breathing Underwater." Check out the replays after the jump.

[Watch] The Shins - "No Way Down" (Official Video)

After the creative and visual wonder that was The Shins' music video for "The Rifle's Spiral," the band has opted for a more straightforward approach to their latest video. The accompanying visuals for "No Way Down," from their latest LP Port of Morrow, The Shins do the usual stand-in-a-room-and-play-the-song type of video. Although it's pretty lackluster in a creative means, the band does sound very good when playing live and raw. Watch it above.

[Listen & Download] Stars - "The Theory Of Relativity"

To celebrate the announcement of Stars' sixth full-length album, The North, which is slated for a September 4th release on ATO Records, the band is offering a free download of their single, "The Theory of Relativity" in exchange for your email address. If you need some convincing first, you can have a listen to a stream of the track below. Once you find yourself in love with the song head over to their official website to download the song.

[SKOA Presents] Top Artists of 2012 So Far... Part 1

As we mentioned earlier in the week, this Sunday BBC 6 Music and The Hype Machine will join forces to announce their top 25 artists of the year so far in the 2012 Music Blog Zeitgeist. In build up to the show we thought we'd cast out opinions on artists we think have been influential so far this year and there's a lot to choose from. We won't go ahead and list an expansive list of artists 'cos that's what "End of Year" lists are for. Over the coming days we'll give a few honourable mentions and a top 3 of who, as a blog we all have love for and feel have shaped our listening in 2012. Whether it's an album we can't get enough of thus making us all doughy eyed for said creator or the shear work ethic of an artist, if we love it they most likely made this is it. Make the jump to see our first few honourable mentions.

Check back later and tomorrow to see our top picks.

Death Grips

Early in the year the news broke that Death Grips were setting up to release not one but two albums in 2012 after signing to Epic Records. The first of which was titled The Money Store and followed up the well received album Exmilitary from the previous year. The energy and combination of live band and electronic beats intertwining with Stefan Burnett rip roaring vocal delivery are a real treat. The wall of noise hits you like a brick to the face and you can't help but go back for seconds. With this being the first of two releases from the band this year we can't help but be excited for what else they're going to have us listening to by the end of the year. Check out the video for "The Fever (Aye Aye)" below.

Killer Mike

Following up his 2011 album PL3DGE, Killer Mike released his ridiculously good album R.A.P. Music in May. The album was a collaboration between Mike and Brooklyn's El-P who handled production. The album is a beast, seriously. Pardon the pun there but opening track "Big Beast" not only showcases Mike's wordplay but T.I., Bun B and Trouble all shine too. The album from front to back is a push pull of creation between El-P and Mike.. There's not a wasted second or filler on here. If the beats don't draw you in the lyrics and flow will. The end result is a well oiled machine sounds just as good on the hundredth play, if not better, than the first. Mike is currently touring the states with El-P and he's sure to continue dominating your web feed for quite some time to come. Check out the epic video for "Big Beast" below.

Breton

After a string of solid EPs and remixes, London five-piece Breton took the plunge with Fat Cat Records and released their debut full-length Other People's Problems. The album is a solidly executed first effort that encompasses a wide range of emotional responses and sounds, ranging from more upbeat tracks like "Oxides", "Ghost Note", and "Interference" to spine tingling songs like "2 Years" or "The Commission". You can clearly hear the progression that the band has mad from their EPs to this full length, which makes it all the more clear that the only direction that Breton can head from this direction is up. Additionally, the visual/live element to what they have brought to the table adds even more depth to the music, which dare I say may be the best way to experience the band for first timers. For now, have a listen to "Interference".

To get involved in the discussion head on over to the official Facebook page and @SKoABlog and use the hashtag #Blog6Music.

[Watch] Baio - "Sunburn Modern" (Video)

Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio released his solo EP titled Sunburn last month and dropped a video for the lead track, "Sunburn Modern" yesterday for the world to see. The video follows around a blonde mannequin as she wanders around various parts of Brooklyn before stopping for a sunbathe in the park. They did such a good job with this video that after awhile you mostly forget that she's supposed to be "not real".

You can grab Baio's EP over on iTunes.

[Listen] Yeasayer - "Longevity"

Following up the surprise release of a track called "Henrietta" last month Yeasayer are keeping the momentum, they've announced a new album Fragrant World and a tour to support it. So what's next? Track two from the album that's what. Titled "Longevity" the band have released it with a video accompaniment that you can "take drugs too". Their words not mine!

Fragrant World drops on August 21st via Secretly Canadian.