New Music: Gossip's entire "Music For Men" now streaming

Go here to listen to The Gossip's new album in its entirety:

http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/1

It's alright. I felt like "Heavy Cross" is the only truly kinetic song on the whole album, at least on the first listen. Beth and Co haven't completely lost their charm yet, but I feel like I'll never think about this album again after their next album is released.

"Heavy Cross" video. Pretty cool.

New Music: More Killers

The first studio track from the new Killers' album is finally out in the open. Unfortunately, all that's out at this second is a lo-fi copy, but it gives you a good idea of what the song's like. The live videos of "Spaceman" were intriguing, but far from their best work, but this new song reminds of "Hot Fuss"'s best moments. It's HF's hi-fi, synthy, bombast with "Sam's Town"'s ambitious scope and sweep, but without ST's borderline pretentiousness. It's a best of both worlds compromise, even if the drums scream "electro dance song" just a little too loudly. The song's got a huge heart though to make up for however ridiculous it might be.

New Music: Jack White and Alicia Keys' James Bond song

The much-hyped Jack White and Alicia Keys duet finally made it to the internet today. It's not quite what I expected... Jack White tried to take his messy, rambling, experimental, White Stripes style, then replaced his usual set of instruments for the traditional James-Bond-theme-song orchestra, threw Alicia's vocals over the top of it, and this acid trip of a song is the result. It has brilliant moments, weighed down by the completely aimless randomness of what surrounds those moments. Somebody will make an amazing cover or remix of this song one day.



I'll say this much, though-- it blows Chris Cornell's "Casino Royale" theme song out of the water.

Music Videos: New Rachel Yamagata

Rachel Yamagata's long-awaited (for four years) second album is finally coming out in a few weeks, and now we have a first single. It's called "Elephants", and it doesn't quite fit in on "Happenstance", but it's unmistakably Yamagata's work. It's much more serious and doesn't focus on the giant hooks the way that "Happenstance"'s best songs did, but she's got enough talent to take herself this seriously, so it works. Here's hoping the rest of the album is as good.

New Music: Jenny Lewis' "Next Messiah"

Today, Jenny Lewis released the latest video in her sorta hilarious Youtube series in which Ben Gibbard keeps half-stalking her and bribing her with balloons to hear songs from her upcoming new record. This video keeps the Ben-related skit to a minimum, and jumps straight into another "Acid Tongue" song called "The Next Messiah". "Messiah" is completely different from AT's title track, this one being more soulful and upbeat and playful. It's a huge step-up from "Acid Tongue"'s somewhat disappointing and unfinished-sounding studio version, but still miles behind the phenomenal live version of "Acid Tongue". Enclosed: "Next Messiah", followed by the awesome live "Acid Tongue", followed by more Ben Gibbard's balloons.

New Music: The Verve

It's finally here. The Verve's long-awaited new album showed up yesterday, and it was worth the wait. The whole album is an enjoyable listen, but "Valium Skies", "Love Is Noise", and "Noise Epic" bring you right back to "Urban Hymns"-era greatness.

Live Music: New Killers

The new Killers single has surfaced in the form of a ton of live videos. It's called "Spaceman", and it sounds like it could be good in the right studio. Brandon always had great ideas and sounded fantastic in the studio (at least on Hot Fuss), but the bottom line is that his voice doesn't hold up well live AT ALL. But the song sounds like it's got a lot of potential behind it, so there's still hope for their new album "Day and Age".

New Music: Ra Ra Riot

After being completely let down by the new Dandy Warhols album, I was lifted back up by a new album that could end up being one of my favorite records of the year: Ra Ra Riot's debut "The Rhumb Line". They're in the indie vein of Broken Social Scene and Rilo Kiley, but with more strings. It's gorgeous work, and they deserve all the indie hype that Vampire Weekend scooped up a few months ago.

Live New Music: Jenny Lewis's "Acid Tongue"

I'm already in love with this song and I've only heard the live version. It's called "Acid Tongue", and it's fucking gorgeous. You can call 888-717-2243 to hear the studio version, which I plan on doing as soon as I submit this post.

New Music: The Faint

The best release of the week that you probably have heard nothing about: The Faint, whose new album "Fasciinatiion", is quirktastic all the way through. Check out "The Geeks Were Right" for instant dance rock goodness.

New Music: Nas

Nas' new album is out, and was released with no title, to the surprise of no one. The title controversy, at this stage in his career, felt like a desperate ploy for attention and publicity, and it worked, since this is the most people have talked about him in years. His stunt gave me low expectations for the album (after all, if it was any good he wouldn't have to pull shit like this to get people to talk about it), but I was really surprised by how good it actually turned out.

Lyrically, he's as solid as ever. He's at his best when he's doing just solid poetry and not trying to write hooks, which why he falls apart during "Breathe" and "Make the World Go Round" (which features a WTF appearance of Chris Brown). The usual complaint about Nas remains valid: his beats are fucking useless. His beats are usually a couple bars long and looped endlessly through the track with no fills or variation. The real highlights are tracks like "Queens Get the Money" and "Project Roach", tracks that are all about the words and don't give a shit about pop hooks.

New Music: Beck's "Modern Guilt"

Beck is back, and this time he's good! Beck's work has had it's ups and downs through the last decade, but "Modern Guilt" is definitely one of his ups. It's sonically cool and pretty well written, and gives you plenty to enjoy after multiple listens. Although the last Gnarls Barkley album stalled commercially, Danger Mouse is rising to the top faster than ever; "Modern Guilt" is the latest of the many buzz-loaded albums that he's produced this year.

Music Videos: Crazy-Ass New Bloc Party Vid

Oh, Bloc Party. Why can't you ever live up to "Silent Alarm"'s greatness? They've been shockingly uneven ever since they were done with their first album, and the trend continues with their new song, "Mercury". The song is loaded with good ideas, and its devotion to being different is impressive, but in the end, the actual studio version sounds like a shitty remix of a potentially good song. Hopefully it gets workshopped before showing up on an album.

But that's just me. The song, and the video, have been extremely polarizing, so you're just going to have to judge for yourself.

New Music: Ding Dong the Motherfucking Witch Is Dead

Liz Phair's got a new song, and it's a little difficult to tell how good it is. You see, the only version of the song we have so far is a live performance from her "Exile" anniversary tour, and live? She's a little tone-deaf sometimes. It's a bitter, bitter song about the douchebag that ran the record label that she just escaped from, and it sounds like it could be really, really, good in a setting where she's a little more on-key. Seriously, there are some very upsetting high notes in this song that need to be worked on, but in general, it's her getting back to what she does best: genuine emotions (she really hates this fucker)and no radio-pop bullshit.



By the way, I like this song more and more every time I hear it. "Ding Dong, his crooked soul, hang yourself on ROCK AND ROLL!"

New Music: Verve comeback single

The Verve, believe it or not, are coming back, and their new single popped up today. It's not officially released until August, but it's on their Myspace page now. It's really, really nice. It sounds like a Verve song without falling back on "Urban Hymns"'s sound. It grows on you more and more every time you hear it.

New Music: Wolf Parade

People are too busy with the arguably shitty new Coldplay album to notice that an awesome little band called Wolf Parade released a new album. It's a short but dense 9-track album that manages be very different and indie but still mostly accessible (except for a few spots towards the end). The clear standout is "Call It a Ritual", which hit the internet a few weeks ago.

New Music: My Morning Jacket

Wow. "Evil Urges" came out today and I'm not sure where to start talking about it. The first thing you need to know is that it's really uneven. Tracks range from riveting to horrifying. There's at least some good ideas in there, even if they go horribly horribly wrong. Standouts, for better or for worse: "Remnants" and "I'm Amazed" are fantastic; the title track and "Highly Suspicious" upset and disturb me on a very deep level, and not in a good way. Have they lost their minds? Probably. But in some places on the album, it's not a bad thing.

New Music: The Pharell-Casablancas-Santogold collaboration

IT'S HERE! Julian Casablancas, Pharell, and Santogold came together to make a song for a new Converse All-Stars campaign, and the result worked out brilliantly. "My Drive Thru" does a shockingly good job at being to fit in on both a Strokes album and a Santogold album, and will most likely remain my favorite pop song of the summer.

New Music: Weezer

New Weezer is out! "Because why not?" seems to be Rivers' motto as he skydives into this new set of songs. It's one of the most ambitious albums of the last few months, and it pays off well. It's instantly accessible, but you appreciate it more every time you hear it again.

Music Videos: New Alanis

I knew relationship drama would be the best thing to ever happen to Alanis Morisette. Artistically, anyway. The video for her new single, "Underneath", hit the internet today, and it's the coolest thing she's done in a while. The melody is nice and the lyrics settle in better each time you listen to it. It won't evoke the same response that "Jagged Little Pill" did, but this seriously might be the most interesting work she's done since then.