[Download] Ryan Adams - "I Want To Know What Love Is" (Foreigner Cover)

Ryan Adams' new album is a throwback to the eighties and while I may have only been born in 1989, I grew up listening to my Dad's record collection from that era, and you know what, I like it. Sure, it's cheesy at times, and maybe even predictable, but it just sounds good to me. Maybe I'm looking at it with rose-tinted fondness, but Ryan's new self-titled album is equally brilliant and given it was released in 2014, maybe my kids will grow up and reach for it in my collection when they're growing up and the cycle of the 80s will begin again.

With his new album's sound in mind, he's offered up a true piece of memorabilia by covering "I Want To Know What Love Is" recently for NPR's World Cafe. Originally released in '84 by Foreigner, the result presented to us is a beautiful, stripped back version approaching nearly 7 minutes that remains smooth, emotional and damn right brilliant from start to finish. Whenever you may have been born, however old you may be, enjoy the download of the track below via Stereogum.

[Watch] Chromeo - "Old 45s" (Official Video)

I love that Chromeo took a track that almost didn't make the record, realized how much of a fan favorite it was, and turned it into one of the most fun videos I have seen in awhile. I will spare you any spoilers, but man oh man did I not see the ending coming at all. Pretttyyy funny stuff. Excellent cameo. Nice work, fellas! 

Also ladies you're welcome in advance because I spared you the time and effort to create a .GIF of Dave 1 shaking his booty at the jukebox:

Yepppp. This is a thing that I did. You go have fun with that on Tumblr now. 

[Watch] Mayer Hawthorne - "Crime" (Official Video)

Of all the tracks on Where Does This Door Go?, I think "Crime" is by far my favorite. I think it's because I always end up daydreaming about partying with Mayer Hawthorne by the end of it. Or maybe it's the, "a little weed, a little red wine" part.....?

ANYWAY. Mayer Hawthorne has unveiled his video for "Crime" wherein he goes to great lengths to party it up on presumably appears to be a posh all white party on an undisclosed island . Interestingly enough, it was directed by Rashida Jones. If you have that in mind while watching the video you can see her sense of humor in little bits and pieces throughout the video, so that's pretty cool. Here explanation of the video is as follows:

The video is a parody of ridiculously exclusive parties which are made nearly impossible to get to but tout themselves as ‘the party of the year.’ I liked the idea of the video starting as a sexy getting-ready video and devolving into a messy, very unsexy, unexpected trek. And the final realization is that YOU are the real party! I'm just starting to realize that about myself (which is why I stay home most nights). I am a HUGE fan of Mayer, Kendrick and of the song "Crime" and it was an honor to work with Mayer.

Also helloooo there product placement! I didn't catch which Samsung phone that was, but someone was definitely rocking a Gear 2 at the party. I guess people who dare to wear all white outside and drink red wine would be silly enough to get themselves get on board with the Samsung Galaxy / Gear 2 train? 

[Watch] Electric Youth - "Runaway" (Official Video)

Appropriately timed with their latest album, Innerworld, dropping today, fall in love with Toronto-based synth duo Electric Youth's video for their single, "Runaway". I'll admit, I had a moment where I felt like a worried mother watching this couple making out while riding around on a moped, but it really fits nicely with the songs subject matter, so I'll allow it. I love how this video celebrates imperfections in love, humans, etc. in a really beautiful way. Also Beirut (where the video was shot) looks like a place I wil have to visit one day. 

If you haven't purchased/streamed/whatever Innerworld yet, you should probably get on that...now. 

The duo will be hitting the road in North American starting in November so you have plenty of time to memorize the album and perfect your dance moves. 

Electric Youth North American Fall Tour:
11/03 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
11/04 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
11/06 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
11/07 - Victoria, BC @ Victoria Event Centre
11/08 - Vancouver, BC @ Imperial
11/12 - New York, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
11/13 - Washington D.C. @ Black Cat
11/14 - Philadelphia, PA @ District N9NE
11/15 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
11/18 - Toronto, ON @ Hoxton

[Listen] Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr - "James Dean"

Earlier today Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr unveiled a new track titled "James Dean". From the looks of their recent tweets, the song is merely a one off and not a kickoff single for a new album. A bit of a bummer in that regards, but this song will more than hold you over if you've been itching for new music from them. 

Have a listen to "James Dean" below. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr On Tour

10/17 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA *
10/18 - Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, B.C. *
10/19 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR *
10/22 - The FIllmore - San Francisco, CA *
10/23 - Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA *
10/24 - The Regent Theatre - Los Angeles, CA *
10/25 - Orpheum Theater - Flagstaff, AZ *
10/27 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT *
10/28 - Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO *
11/7 - Scoot Inn - Austin, TX † 
11/8 - Trees - Dallas, TX † 
11/9 - Fitzgerald's Upstairs - Houston, TX † 
11/11 - Terminal West @ King Plow Arts Center - Atlanta, GA † 
11/13 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY † 
11/14 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC † 
11/15 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY † 
11/16 - The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA † 
11/19 - The A&R Music Bar - Columbus, OH † 
11/20 - 20th Century Theatre - Cincinnati, OH † 
11/21 - Metro - Chicago, IL † 
11/22 - The Crofoot Ballroom - Detroit, MI
11/23 - The Crofoot Ballroom - Detroit, MI

Support from:
* Miniature Tigars & Madi Diaz
† Mini Mansions

[Download] Too Many Ts - "Butter Rug"

This might be a bold statement, but these days when it comes to hip hop (specifically anything of the underground/indie persuasion) I really think UK > US. #SorryNotSorry. Need convincing? Please consider exhibit A: the lastest track from London hip-hop duo Too Many Ts, "Butter Rug". The song features Abdominal, Jester Jacobs, Kathika Rabbit, Lazy Habits & Parallax and was produced by Uncle Bad Touch. I think the main reason I'm drawn to this track is because it's very nostalgic of the glory days of hip-hop. Loving the old school vibe it gives off. 

In less than two weeks you'll be able to hear more from the gruesome twosome in the form of their forthcoming EP, Running Wild, which will be available as a free download on October 9th over on their website. 

The duo will be hitting the road to promote their release (as they should) starting on October 1st in Machester and ending in London on November 14th at Birthdays. They're also playing a show in London on the day their EP drops. Info for that show in the flyer below. 

[Contest] Win A Pair Of Tickets To See Monarchy in Los Angeles or San Francisco!

The SKOA family has been long time supporters of electro-duo Monarchy pretty much since the site began. From the moment we heard their 2010 self-titled debut we knew we had found something remarkable and have been obsessing over every last scintillating synthy screech ever since. We're happy to report that to celebrate the recent release of their latest EP, Almost Human, the duo have set their sights on the states to grace us with their presence and we want to make sure you have absolutely no excuse to not check them out! (Unless you're in NYC like Kibbe and Sprout are, but we digress.)

ANYWAY

If you live in the Los Angeles or San Francisco area and love Monarchy, keep reading! 

We have two pairs of tickets to give away to see Monarchy LIVE in Los Angeles or San Francisco! To enter for a chance to win, simply leave a comment on this post with your favorite Monarchy song! Have your entry in no later than Thursday, September 18th, 2014 at 2pm PDT.

Winners will be able to choose from one of three two (the one on 9/21 is free!) shows: 

9/18/14 - Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA

9/19/14 - Popscene Club at Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA 

9/21/14 - Folsom Street - San Francisco, CA 

While you anxiously await to see if you've won tickets to either of the shows, you can make sure you have all the lyrics to their Almost Human EP memorized by having a listen below.

Good luck! 

[Listen] Mapaga - Realia EP (Full EP Stream)

I hate how easy it is to lose track of an artist you were really excited about unless you like, put a weekly reminder in your calendar to go stalk their website, etc. James Yuill is one of those people that unfortunately fell off my radar after the release of his album Turning Water Into Air back in 2007. (Sheezus that's a long time ago!) Anyway, from a quick skim around the internet it appears I have a bit of catching up to do in order to be fully back up to speed on the London folktronica mastermind. Fortuantely, I get to live in the now with the release of his side project Mapaga's EP Realia, which dropped earlier today. Being the wonderful chap that he is, James has offered a stream of the full EP so you can try before you buy. While his solo work (or at least what I have heard in the past) accurately fits within the "folktronica" genre that has been brilliantly applied to him, this is much darker, glitchier stuff than I've heard from him before. Lots of basstastic wobbly awesomeness and all of that. Really glad to see that he's developed so much further than when I first laid ears on him. 

Have a listen to Mapaga's Realia EP below. Once you've found you can't live without it, be a love and go grab it on iTunes, mkay? Now if you'll excuse me, I believe I have some catching up to do.