Blog: The Needle Drop

The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die is a Willimantic, CT band with indie rock and emo tendencies. We're premiering a new track of theirs right here titled "Beverly Watt," which is set to be released on a new four-way split that Topshelf and Run For Cover are putting out, which will also feature new cuts from Code Orange Kids, Tigers Jaw, and Self Defense Family. Pre-order here or here . "Beverly Watt" doesn't reinvent the emo wheel, but it is a nicely written, multi-phased track loaded with [...]

Download: Big K.R.I.T. - King Remembered In Time After the release of " R.E.M. ," I was pretty psyched to hear that Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. was gonna be releasing a new mixtape this year, King Remembered In Time . Well, the thing is finally out and downloadable via the link above. Enjoy! Check a review for K.R.I.T.'s commercial debut, Live From The Underground below:

Though Bring Me The Horizon comes off as being more ambitious than your average metalcore act out there today, too many of their songs are still bogged down in average riffing and melodramatic lyrics that are really too vague for the listener to draw any specific emotional connections. WATCH THE REVIEW

The experimental hip hop outfit Young Fathers drops a ballad that features some quiet bars and some soulful vocals via the track "I Heard." The song is set for release on the group's next album, TAPE TWO , which is looking at a June 11th release on Anticon. Enjoy!

• Young Fathers - "I Heard"

Makthaverskan II by makthaverskan Sweden's Makthaverskan embraces the tenants of jangle and noise pop on this new collection of tracks, II . While the band's punk roots still remain on many tracks here-especially "Distance"-they show up in subtler ways: light distortion, fast tempos, and frontwoman Maja Milner's sharp, abrasive voice. The songs are as catchy as they are energetic. Don't expect nothing but sugar on this thing, though. Milner's lyrics put some pretty dirty laundry on display. Just try not to wince at the bitterness that comes through on a track like [...]

A handful of tracks from South African music producer Sibot. He's pretty versatile, effectively pumping out tracks that are equally influenced by wonky, hip hop, and dubstep-style bangers. The final track feels pretty Daft Punk-esque as well. Enjoy!

• Sibot - Magnet Jam

Danish punk, post-punk, and noise rock act Iceage releases a session performance of one of my favorite tracks from their latest album, You're Nothing . Morals" is one of the most ballad-like tracks on the album, and it's the beautiful piano chords and steady march of the beat that help make it so. This session performance of the track is both fierce and passionate, and brings a little more intensity than the album version, I think. Check a review of You're Nothing below:

The Flaming Lips drop a lyric video for the eerie "Try To Explain," which is one of the many spacey and synthetic tracks off the group's latest album, The Terror . The album drops officially next week. Enjoy! Check a review for the Heady Fwends compilation the band dropped last year right here:

Cro Magnox by Ceephax Ceephax takes a break from his typical acid techno-tinged song production style to create a collection of electronic pieces that sound a bit more epic, cinematic. Numerous cuts of Cro Magnox sound as if they could serve as the perfect soundtrack to a b-movie produced in the 80s-preferably some kind of action, sci-fi hybrid. Even funkier tracks like "Natural Specturm" have a beautifully eerie quality to them. It's nice to know that this guy can produce danceable tracks as well as stuff that's a little more cerebral. Enjoy!

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On James Blake's latest album, the various sides to his musical personality blend together into a pretty uniform set of tracks that combine detailed electronica, chorus-based songwriting, piano, and Blake's sharp voice. WATCH THE REVIEW

Lapalux drops what I'm assuming is a spare track from his recent full-length effort, Nostalchic . It's an interesting track that works in multiple phases. Structurally, it definitely throws a few twists and turns at the listener, which is maybe why it didn't make it onto the LP. Who knows? Either way, Lapalux delivers heavenly vocals set against weird, warped, wonky-style beats and synths. Enjoy! Check a review for Nostalchic here:

• Lapalux - Moveoutofmyway (ft ShadowBox)

Queens of the Stone Age finally drop a track from their forthcoming LP, ...Like Clockwork , and I have to say I'm pretty surprised. The intro of the track actually had me expecting something Mars Volta-esque, but once the verse kicks in, Josh Homme and company kick into gear with a blazing blend of hard rock and alternative rock backed with plenty of melodic guitar leads. Enjoy, and look for ...Like Clockwork on June 4th.

N V N V N V LP by DREAMDECAY Meaty, out-of-control noise rock from the band DREAMDECAY. They're a Seattle band, and this little collection of tracks features track that are both vicious and dismal. Tracks like "CEILING FAN" definitely display some dark, post-punk tendencies while "NVUN" is absolutely destructive as a followup to the release's wandering opener. See if you can squeeze some enjoyment out of this.

Moodie Black by Moodie Black Some grimy, experimental hip hop from this new, self-titled Moodie Black EP, which you can stream via the widget above. The EP is a recent released on the New Haven-based record label Fake Four Inc., which is the home to some pretty creative minds in underground hip hop. Moodie Black, unquestionably, lives up to the label's reputation with noisy, fuzzed out beats that dish out one rough texture after another. The verses and vocal delivery accurately fit the dismal, eerie picture the instrumentals paint, too-even though there are times [...]

Stream: TNGHT - "Acrylics" The infamous banger-producer electronic music duo known as TNGHT has dropped a new track titled "Acrylics," which you can stream via the link above. It's got a pretty nice build that features a pleasant music box melody backed with bright synths. The drop, however, isn't one of their best. While it is loud and heavy, the wailing synth line seems a bit obvious in a world of post-"Harlem Shake" hype. Still, it makes the final ascent of the track no less epic. I'm diggin' it, and I hope you do [...]

• TNGHT - ACRYLICS (OFFICIAL)

On the Knife's latest full-length, the Swedish electronic music duo goes absolutely insane with a 98 minute album that features a ton of long, linear art pop tracks that overload the senses and challenge expectations. WATCH THE REVIEW

A spare, unreleased track from Milo surfaces on YouTube via this channel , and the image would imply that it's a leftover from Milos new EP, Things That Happen At Day . While the song isn't Milo's most impressive lyrical feat, the wind chime beat is incredibly spacey, relaxing, and serene. Enjoy! Check a review for Milo's new EPs below:

The National takes on an odd time signature, but plays it off smooth on this dramatic new single, "Demons," which is set for release via 4AD on May 20th. Enjoy!

The good people at NPR Music have the new Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge album streaming for all to hear. Nice! Give a listen, enjoy! Check a review of Ghostface's Apollo Kids below: