[Watch] The xx - "Angels" (Studio Q Session)

With one song, The xx have brought an unrelenting wave of excitement in their direction. After dropping "Angels", the first cut from the band's upcoming sophomore LP Coexist, The xx were welcomed back into the limelight with open arms, and for good reason. The song is a spine-tingling, atmospheric cut, with echoing percussion, emotion-heavy vocals and rhythmic guitar riffs coming together in a beautiful soundscape. While visiting Toronto, the UK outfit stopped by Studio Q to perform "Angels", and they once again prove they can mesmerize no matter the setting. Check out the replay above.

Coexist is out on September 11th via Young Turks.

[Listen] Giraffage - "Money"

Last we heard from San Francisco producer Giraffage, he dropped his track "Feels" almost two months ago. Now, he's offered up a new cut titled "Money", which will appear on his forthcoming EP. This song is a bit of a departure from the usual Giraffage feel and sound, with a barrage of glitchy trap sounds kicking it around the 1:25 mark. The floor rattling arrangement sees the producer utilizing some fantastic techniques, with lightning-quick percussion, deep bass lines, and chopped and rearranged vocal samples coming together in an amazing way.

"Money" is a great change of pace from Giraffage's usual style, but doesn't stray too far from what he does best, and it's always good to see artists exploring new techniques. Even though his upcoming EP is set to drop in August, the aniticipation is already overwhelming. Stream the cut below.

[Watch] Rick Ross - "Hold Me Back" (Official Video)

Rick Ross has offered up the video for "Hold Me Back" which features on the forthcoming God Forgives, I Don't. The monochrome video was filmed in New Orleans and has apparently been banned by the Network BET although I can't really see why and the director Taj also doesn't understand why? See what you think of it all up at the top.

[Watch] ScHoolboy Q - "There He Go" (Official Video)

ScHoolboy Q offers up the visual for his single "There He Go" which features on his album Habits & Contradictions which dropped at the start of the year. It features the man himself hanging out with his daughter going about his daily business. Check it out at the top.

[Listen] Animal Collective - "Today's Supernatural"

We get to enjoy the first single from Animal Collective's forthcoming album, Centipede Hz, with "Today's Supernatural". It was premiered on Animal Collective radio yesterday and you can hear in now below. The band are to host a show every Sunday night between July 29th and August 19th so be sure to look out for it on the band’s website on a weekly basis.

Centipede Hz is set for release on the 3rd of September (4th in the US) via Domino.

[Sunday Pickup] Watch The Black Keys Perform Live at Emo's, Austin in 2003 (Full Set)

Today The Black Keys are one of the biggest bands on the planet and they sell out arenas on a daily basis, and rightly so. They've toured relentlessly for a decade and recorded seven studio albums. The last two of which launched them into the stratosphere of rock royalty. Brothers and El Camino both made our top of the year lists in 2010 and 2011 respectively. I personally began my love affair with the band in 2009 on a hot summer's day, one of those days where there's absolutely no wind and the heat just sits there waiting to pounce leaving you practically immobile for the effort it takes. I was on Last.FM browsing through recommendations and I saw this two-piece from Ohio appear. I click through to the page and hit play and my mind was immediately blown. The raw sound pumping through the speakers in my sweaty little bedroom would change my musical outlook for the months to come. 

I immediately set my sights on gaining their entire back-catalogue. At the time I lived in a pretty nice converted house in the top floor apartment in which I had a skylight that you could climb up out of and onto the flat roof of the building. I remember listening to The Big Come Up repeatedly for the next week or so, "The Breaks" became and early leader in my favourite tracks from the band and remains that way to this day. As I delved deeper into the catalogue I found myself listening to very little else but the band for a good three months. 

I'd go on to fall in love with Magic Potion which still gets heavy play from me on a bi-weekly basis but earlier this week when browsing the net, the video you can watch at the top caught my eye. An entire set from Dan and Patrick performing at Emo's in Austin, Texas back in 2003, half a year after they'd released Thick Freakness and I was once again taken back to that sweaty, hot summer up on my roof in 2009. This band will forever take me back to that summer and the mind-set I had back then and that's why I love them. That's why I love music. It holds sentimental value and can instantly transport you back to a place you've been.

Check out the performance at the top of the page which was filmed as part of Jumper Productions "Texas Bootleg" Concert Series. You can check out the set-list below but prepare for some fuzzy guitar goodness from The Black Keys when you hit play. Turn it up LOUD. Annoy your neighbours, it's Sunday, they won't mind.

Set List:
Hard Row, Thickfreakness, Busted, Them Eyes, Breaks, Set You Free, Do The Rump, I'll Be Your Man, Have Love Will Travel, No Trust, No Fun.
Encore:
Everywhere I Go & Heavy Soul.

[Watch] Deftones Debut "Roller Derby" Live

Yesterday we got to hear a live version of "Rosemary", a brand new track from Deftones that was debuted at an intimate private show for Warner Bros. Records. Last night the band played a longer set, 20 songs to be precise, at the Troubadour in Hollywood. During the huge set, Chino and co played a back catalogue spanning show and once again played "Rosemary" which you can see after the jump. As well as that though they debuted another new track titled "Roller Derby" and boy does it wake you up on a Sunday morning. We expect that both these tracks will appear on the forthcoming release that's due out later this year. Hat tip once again to Antiquiet for the heads up.

[Listen] Divine Fits - "I Was Born in a Laundromat"

I think I may be one of a few excited for Spoon/Wolf Parade/Handsome Furs/New Bomb Turks supergroup Divine Fits upcoming album only for Spoon's Britt Daniel's contribution of the album.  Although the Dan Boeckner vocal single "My Love Is Real" was cool, the B-Side "I Was Born in a Laundromat" should excite Spoon fans like myself until the band's next release. But until then the bands upcoming debut album A Thing Called the Divine Fits, will still be something to look forward to when it drops August 28th. Check out both the B-side as well as the single below and another track from the upcoming album titled "Would That Not Be Nice" courtesy of the band's Soundcloud page.