Listen to These Covers: Friendly Fires + Washed Out + Ryan Adams + Robyn

My favourite British trio, Friendly Fires, recorded a cover of Lady Gaga's summer anthem “Edge of Glory” for BBC Radio 1. They don't necessarily fill out the track like Gaga does, but they do a great job in making it sound more like a Friendly Fires song. Watch them perform it below.

Chillwave top dog, Washed Out, recently recorded a cover of Chris Issak's sexy slow jam, “Wicked Game.” He updated it with a slight synthy twist and some female backup vocals. I find it almost as addictive as the original.

Washed Out: "Wicked Game" (Chris Isaak Original)


Next up: Ryan Adams' cover of Vampire Weekend's “A-Punk.” This one I found particularly interesting, not only because the original is one of my favourite songs (also my ringtone, so I hear it numerous times a day), but mostly because I never thought I would come across a cover of it by alternative crooner Ryan Adams. It's sweet and he completely makes it his own. He also covered “Mansard Roof” and “Oxford Comma.”



Robyn, everyone's beloved Swedish electropop sensation, stopped by the Radio 1 Live Lounge to perform her latest single “Call Your Girlfriend,” as well as a cover of Coldplay's most recent radioplay, “Every Tear Drop Is A Waterfall.” It's a downtempo good time that sounds like a Robyn song, listen below!

Robyn: "Every Tear Drop Is A Waterfall" (Coldplay Original)

R.I.P Amy Whinehouse

Word of Amy Whinehouse's death has spread like wildfire. If you don't already know, the British soul singer was found dead in her Camden Square apartment in London yesterday at about 4 p.m. The exact cause of death is still unknown, however, it was general knowledge that she had been struggling with drug and alcohol addiction for many years. NME is currently reporting that an      ecstasy overdose is to blame.

She had recently cancelled a comeback tour after a disastrous performance in Belgrade, Serbia on June 18, where, according to Spin, she starred silently at her mic through a couple songs, mumbled lyrics and was loudly booed by fans. This does not sound like someone who has conquered her demons, but rather someone who is continuing on a downward spiral.

Knowing she had such an addiction, why weren't more steps taken to keep her bad habits from taking her life? Clearly her stints in and out of rehab were not doing their job in promoting a healthier form of living. I understand she was an addict, but she was not a lost cause. It's sad to see someone with so much talent, someone who could have went on to make more great music, die so young.

Like other great musicians such as Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, Winehouse died at the age of 27.

Download New M83, “Midnight City”

French electronic act M83 have returned with new “sax-y” track “Midnight City.” The synth-heavy number features Anthony Gonzalez's willowy vocals and roaring percussion, as well as a worthy saxophone outro. It's simply gorgeous. I may be completely biased as a longtime fan, but the song really is beautiful. A new album, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming is slated for release this coming October. Download the track via soundcloud below.

Midnight City by M83

Watch New Beastie Boys Action Figure Music Video + "Watch The Throne" Details

The Beastie Boys are back with another must-see music video! The New York rap trio teamed up with director Spike Jonze to create The Continuingly Ill Adventures of the Beastie Boys to accompany the track “Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win” featuring guest vocals by Santigold. The clip is ridiculous, yet hilarious and overly entertaining. It follows action figure replicas of the Beasties and Santi as they are ambushed at a live concert by an “Anti-Beastie Boys” military attack. A chase then ensues through the snow, then the ocean... and well you just got to see it for yourself. Watch the full length version of the clip below!

Finally, we have some details about Jay-Z and Kanye West's highly anticipated collaborative record, Watch The Throne. According to Billboard.com, the album will be available for download August 1 and dropped in stores on August 5. It was also announced that LMFAO, La Roux, Kid Cudi, Seal and Mr. Hudson as well as Beyoncé and Frank Ocean will lend their vocals on the album, while The Neptunes, RZA, Q-Tip, Swizz Beatz, Lex Luger, No I.D were reported to have worked on the tracks. Sounds interesting and left me with a sense of relief. The colloboration may be just as epic as their making it out to be...

Listen to New Red Hot Chili Peppers + Washed Out

It's been five years since we have heard anything new from California's Red Hot Chili Peppers. However, their hiatus has come to an end, and on August 30, they will drop their 10th record I'm With You. The first single off said album is “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie,” a funky alternative number that features new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, John Frusciante's official replacement. After a few listens, I can hear the track's poppy appeal, but I don't feel completely satisfied. After five years, I was hoping for something that sounded a little more like their Californication days. Maybe it's because I'm still slightly confused/disturbed with their choice to include “Hump de Bump” on 2006's Stadium Arcadium. Yet, at the end of the day, cowbell makes everything better. More cowbell!

Red Hot Chili Peppers: "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie"

In other news, I've been hearing such good things about chillwave solo act Washed Out. So I looked it up for myself and can confirm that all the positive acclaim is true. Since 2009, Georgia's Ernest Greene has been recording music in his self-created bedroom studio and recently teamed up with producer Ben Allen (the man behind Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion). The two crafted Washed Out's dreamy debut Within And Without which may very well be the sexiest record of the year. I'm loving “Amor Fati” and “You And I.” Listen below!

Washed Out: "You And I"


Washed Out: "Amor Fati"

Listen to New CSS, “Hits Me Like A Rock”

Happy Saturday! Celebrate this gorgeous sunny day with the first single off CSS's upcoming album, La Liberación, out August 29. “Hits Me Like A Rock” is a synthy good time featuring Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie. Listen below!

CSS: "Hits Me Like A Rock" 

Listen to New Mumford & Sons, “Home”

If you are a fan of indie folk Brits Mumford & Sons and have been dying for new material, you'll enjoy the clip below. Marcus Mumford and company have been playing one of their new songs during some of their gigs as of late and have recorded a live version of it at KBCO, a radio station based in Colorado. The track, tentatively-titled “Home,” is a romantic serenade to a lover far away. It comprises the band's signature sound; delicate guitar and banjo tied around Marcus Mumford's sincerely sung vocals. Listen below.

 

Madge in the Studio + Jay-Z & Kanye's “Watch The Throne”

Madonna, pop's ultimate diva, is back in the studio working on her 12^th album, according to a tweet by her manager Guy Oseary. Details about her return are minimal, but it's been rumoured that A-Trak and David Guetta will be featured on the record. With these collaborations, it could mean that it would have more of an electronic/house vibe, which is a relief, because her stint in urban pop with 2008's Hard Candy was a little awkward.

The collaborative record by hip hop giants Jay-Z and Kanye West has been hyped about for some time, but details surrounding the album have been kept hush-hush. However there is now some speculation that Watch the Throne will be released on August 2 according to the receipts of pre-orders made by fans this week. Even the track-listing is a mystery. It's been said that the album will feature songs produced by Swizz Beatz, No ID and Lex Luger and guest vocals by Bruno Mars and Beyoncé. I'm enjoying the regal-looking cover art. Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci was hired to design it, probably Kanye's doing. I'm a little anxious to hear the sound of this record, but if “H.A.M” is any indication, my excitement will be short-lived.

Check It Out: Austra

New music alert: If you haven't already heard of Austra, become acquainted with them as soon as humanly possible. The Toronto-based trio, comprised of frontwoman/vocalist/songwriter Katie Stelmanis, drummer Maya Postepski and bassist Dorian Wolf, are responsible for the gothy, shimmery electro-pop that has drilled its way into my head. Their dark and danceable beats, partnered with Stelmanis' astounding, head-turning vibrato (she once pursued a career in opera) are simply amazing and certainly worth looking into. Their debut album, Feel It Break, is out now! Visit their MySpace for a free download of “Beat And The Pulse,” which you can listen to below.

Austra: "Beat And The Pulse" 

JT Buys MySpace + Chris Brown Remixes “Marvin's Room”

It was announced yesterday that former N*Sync curly-haired crooner, Justin Timberlake bought MySpace for $35 million. He and advertising agency Specific Media plan to refocus the website on entertainment and want "a place where fans can go to interact with their favorite entertainers, listen to music, watch videos, share and discover cool stuff." Read more about it here. Perhaps his role in The Social Network influenced him to buy the social network (HA!).

There have been tons of people remixing Drake's brooding track “Marvin's Room.” Chris Brown is one of the latest to join the pack. What he did however was take on the perspective of the man the girl is currently with. Interesting spin on the song, even though all he's really doing is throwing it in Drake's face that said girl is better off with him. Original is still better. Listen below.

Chris Brown: "Marvin's Room"

And for those of you living in The Great White North (which actually isn't white and covered in snow because it's summer!): HAPPY CANADA DAY! Enjoy the sunshine, the fireworks and party hard!