[Listen] Odesza Release Single "My Friends Never Die" from New EP

Seattle duo Odesza absolutely won me over earlier this summer at Sasquatch!. Their debut album Summer's Gone is an inescapable stream of bright production and captivating rhythms, exemplifying why these guys should be listened to. That doesn't change with "My Friends Never Die," the new single from their upcoming EP of the same name. If anything, the song is bigger and better than everything that came before it.

"My Friends Never Die" explodes with turbulent synths, a whirlwind of hip-hop drum beats and chopped-up vocal samples. It simply grabs hold of your collar and never lets go. Give it a try below.

My Friends Never Die EP is out on September 17th. Odesza is also on tour starting next week. Check out their dates with Pretty Lights and Michael Menert after the jump.

Odesza 2013 Tour Dates:

Sat. Sept. 7 - Portland, OR @ Branx (MusicfestNW)

Sat. Sept. 21 - Oakdale, CA @ Symbiosis Gathering

Sat. Sept. 28 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos (Decibel Festival)

Mon. Sept. 30 - Orlando, FL @ The Social *

Tue. Oct. 1 - Miami, FI @ The Stage *

Wed. Oct. 2 - Tampa, FL @ Crowbar *

Thu. Oct. 3 - Atlanta, GA @ The Basement *

Fri. Oct. 4 - Knoxville, TN @ NV Nightclub *

Sat. Oct. 5 - Charleston, SC @ The Pour House *

Tue. Oct. 8 - Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall *

Wed. Oct. 9 - Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern *

Thu. Oct. 10 - Richmond, VA @ Canal Club *

Fri. Oct. 11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl *

Sat. Oct. 12 - Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East *

Sun. Oct. 13 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground *

Wed. Oct. 16 - Grand Rapids, MI @ The Stache *

Thu. Oct. 17 - Chicago, IL @ Park West *

Fri. Oct. 18 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon *

Sat. Oct. 19 - Milwaukee, WI @ Miramar Theatre *

Sun. Oct. 20 - Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre *

Wed. Oct. 23 - Bozeman, MT @ Zebra Cocktail Lounge *

Wed. Nov. 20 - Missoula, MT @ Adams Center #

Thu. Nov. 21 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory #

Wed. Nov. 27 - Reno, NV @ Silver State Pavilion #

* w/ Michael Menert

 # w/ Pretty Lights

[Listen] The 1975 - "The 1975"

With just a week to go until The 1975 release their stunning self-titled debut album, they've offered up the opening track to that LP. Taking it's title from the band's name, the slow building, subtle track is what you might call the perfect introduction to the LP which features everything from pop bangers, disco beats to tracks which would fit right in on the Drive soundtrack. It's like the band created soundtrack to a brilliant movie that only they have seen yet we can hear the scenes unfolding as the record progresses. Anyway, you'll be able to hear the whole thing from September 2nd when it's released via Dirty Hit. For now though enjoy the tease below.

[Watch] Check Out Kanye West, Justin Timberlake and Daft Punk at the VMAs

NOTE: As with much of MTV's content, most of the videos below are only available to watch in the United States.

The MTV Video Music Awards took place in Brooklyn last night, with highlights and missteps fueling a ton of Twitter banter. One of the best moments from the event had to be Kanye West's performance of "Blood on the Leaves." The chilling, live rendition was lit solely by Steve McQueen's famous photograph "Lynching Tree," a haunting visual to pair with the Yeezus track. Watch it below.

Justin Timberlake also took to the stage during the VMAs, dishing out a medley of hit singles—this included "Take Back the Night," "SexyBack," "My Love," "Cry Me A River" and "Señorita." He was then joined on stage by his former ‘N Sync mates, a reunion moment few thought would ever happen. Justin, J.C. Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick performed "Girlfriend" and "Bye Bye Bye" before Justin closed solo with "Suit & Tie" and "Mirrors."

The much publicized Daft Punk VMA tease didn't end with a performance as we had hoped, but rather with a simple presenting appearance. Joined by Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, the robotic duo presented the award for Best Female Video (if you were interested, Taylor Swift won). Not exactly worth bailing out on Stephen Colbert, was it?

On the other hand, making their appearance worth it was a preview of the duo's new video for "Lose Yourself To Dance." Serving as the latest single off Random Access Memories, the song's visual treatment is similar that of "Get Lucky" albeit much more shiny. Check it out below.

[Watch] Check Out Ryan Hemsworth's 60-Minute Boiler Room Set

Boiler Room has an incredible knack for setting up ridiculous DJ lineups at locations around the world. For Pitchfork Music Festival 2013 last month they curated an official afterparty, boasting talent like Ryan Hemsworth, Nicolas Jaar, Jacques Greene, Todd Edwards and DJ collective Teklife. Below, succumb to the 60-minutes of dizzying wonder that is Hemsworth's set, either in audio or video form. As well, you can check out Greene's set here.

[News] Albert Hammond Jr. Details New EP

The Strokes' guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. appeared on Har Mar Superstar's podcast last month, where he let slip that he has a new solo EP in the works. He didn't say much more than that, but all the details are here now thanks to the ever-helpful press release. The EP is titled AHJ and is due out on October 8th.

AHJ was produced and recorded at Hammond's own studios in Manhattan and upstate New York with the help of longtime producer Gus Oberg. Hammond spoke on the album's influences, saying:

Once you play music for a living, you’re always thinking about stuff. Conversations with friends and things you hear in movies – things come up and become lyrics. Hearing other people's songs becomes like competition – you hear something and mentally you want to beat it. Life in general is pretty inspiring."

No word yet on whether or not we will hear a single before the EP is released, but keep your eyes peeled.

AHJ Tracklist:
01.  Cooker Ship
02.  Strange Tidings
03.  Carnal Cruise
04.  Rude Customer
05.  St. Justice

[Listen] Stream and Download the First 11 Minutes of Darkside's Newly Announced Album

Chances are you've heard the name Darkside—the collaborative name of Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington—in recent months. Hopefully it's 'cause you heard the duo's amazing remixing of Daft Punk's Random Access Memories (take a mandatory detour here if you haven't). Now, once you've thoroughly immersed yourself in their remixes, Jaar and Harrington have more in store; they are back with an album of their own, original creation.

The first 11 minutes of the unnamed album are now online. The duo have offered up a stream—listen below—as well as a free download. Head to Other People to download the 11-minute piece, but hurry up and do it now as it will only be available to non-members of the website after one week.

UPDATE: The song is titled, according to the YouTube video below, "Golden Arrow."

[Listen] Holy Ghost! Share New Single "Okay"

Holy Ghost! have shared the opening track from their upcoming sophomore album Dynamics. The album isn't out till September 10th but for now we can bask in the glitchy synthpop number "Okay," a song "about being in a situation – in this case a relationship – that feels like a B-Movie." It glides along with distorted basslines and an array of drum machine effects, building layers of synthesizers that echo a retro '80s style. This is some quality synthpop, people.

Dynamics Tracklist:
01. Okay
02. Dumb Disco Ideas
03. Changing of the Guard
04. Dance a Little Closer
05. It Must Be the Weather
06. 1 for Edgar
07. I Wanna Be Your Hand
08. Bridge and Tunnel
09. Don’t Look Down
10. In the Red
11. Cheap Shots

[Listen] RAC Brings Kele Okereke and MNDR in for "Let Go

Leave it to RAC to deliver an incredibly infectious pop song perfectly fit for the summer. Even though the summer months are soon to be over, that doesn't matter. His new single "Let Go" will be on repeat for months to come. Featuring vocals from both MNDR and Bloc Party's Kele Okereke, the song is just so damn catchy with its groovy bassline and upbeat chorus.

Things are sounding good for RAC's upcoming Don't Talk To EP—it's out on October 1st. Check out "Let Go" below.