Unknowingly, for the rest of the night I had subscribed to a different electronic-music subculture that has traded its neon for leather and glowsticks for holding up the horns in the air. I felt as if I’d been welcomed into a strange family whose members will wrap their arm around a complete stranger to jump with them non-stop for two hours. And hell, I liked it. To the unknowing observer, the crowd at London’s O2 Brixton Academy may have been attending some sort of strange religious gathering, a good deal of the audience sporting home-made cross shirts or even cross tattoos. Sometimes they didn’t even clap during a break, instead they opted to cross their arms in the air.

However, saying I’d walked into some weird religious ceremony wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate. It seemed the crowd had been waiting to see Justice long enough to warrant considering the audience were waiting for their messiah to return. When a melody would kick in on any of the tracks, the audience turned crunchy electronic sounds into chants and wails as if they were in some strange industrial choir.

Barring my cultural-anthropologist approach to identifying how homogenous and dedicated this crowd was, let’s move onto music. Listen, I know some people didn’t like Audio, Video, Disco, me included. And I know it’s not justification to say a live-show validates an album, but at least this live show gives the album some context. It became apparent that Justice may have built the album around a combination of different influences but also built it around the idea of meshing the new music with the heavier sounds from Cross. The “Imperial March”-stomp of “Genesis” opened the show, and its sister song “Horsepower” blended perfectly with it. The screechy prog guitars over the booming orchestration blended, as it would continue to for the rest of the night. In fact, the only song that didn’t get the treatment of being combined with another was “Audio Video Disco” which closed the set in all its untouched glory.

Also, if the rumors of Justice not actually live-DJing their set are still floating around the internet, let’s dispel those. Not only did the two members seem completely engaged in fiddling with knobs, MPC’s, and other things I can’t name, but they even had breaks where they’d play pianos or synthesizers. However, I was a tad disappointed by the lack of pressing play and smoking a cigarette exhibited by Gaspard and Xavier.

As expected, the lighting rig was great. Simple when it needed to be just the cross, and seizure inducing balls-to-the-wall strobe sessions during powerhouses like “Phantom Pt. 2.” And, LED ridden Marshall-Stacks? Awesome.

All in all, great crowd, great production, and one of the greatest and most original live electronic acts around made for a very sensory overloading and engaging two-hour set. I’d always been under the impression that Justice were the DJ’s for the indie kids (other than Daft Punk); however, if groups of 6000+ people keep seeing them nightly at their shows, hopefully that’ll change.

Primavera Sound returns to Barcelona, Spain from May 30th to June 3rd. Acts like The Cure, Björk, Jeff Mangum, Wilco, Justice, Death Cab For Cutie, Franz Ferdinand, Spiritualized, The Afghan Whigs, The xx, Mazzy Star, Yo La Tengo, Beach House, ASAP Rocky, araabMUZIK, and Neon Indian have already been announced.

Today, the festival revealed the rest of its 2012 bill and new highlights include Refused, Rufus Wainwright, Beirut, Chavez, The Pop Group, Atlas Sound, Laura Marling, Sharon Van Etten, The Rapture, Wavves, Danny Brown, Black Lips, Lee Ranaldo, Hype Williams, Kings of Convenience, Archers of Loaf, Dirty Three, The Wedding Present (performing Seamonsters) Girls, Real Estate, The War on Drugs, Saint Etienne, Richard Hawley, Iceage, Japandroids, Thee Oh Sees, Death Grips, Trash Talk, Bleached, Friends, Dirty Beaches, Lower Dens, The Field, Field Music, and Obits. In addition, Big Star’s Jody Stephens, R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, and others will come together for a special performance of Big Star’s Third. Check out our Festival Outlook to see the complete lineup.

Festival tickets are now on sale for 180 € (+ booking fee), however, the price will increase to 190 € beginning February 4th. Visit the festival’s website for complete ticketing information.

As previously reported, the organizers of Primavera Sound are also launching a sister festival in Porto, Portugal called Optimus Primavera Sound. Acts include Björk, Jeff Mangum, Death Cab For Cutie, Spiritualized, Explosions in the Sky, The Afghan Whigs, The xx, The Walkmen, and more. Check out our Festival Outlook for additional info.

This week’s annunciation of the Academy Award nominees has me in an award-giving mood. I don’t claim our weekly Top Tens are an award, per se, but these tracks did beat out a bunch of others from a week that was stacked with good mp3s, and that’s gotta be worth something. When Arctic Monkeys covering Katy B doesn’t make the final cut, you know you’ve got some pretty good candidates. Maybe it was by that same rationale that the academy didn’t grace My Week With Marilyn with a Best Picture nod. But some part of me doubts that War Horse has any place on that list. Has the world gone mad? Is anyone listening? Anyway, the awards go to…

- Winston Robbins
Senior Staff Writer 

Buried Beds – “Children of the Sea”

On the heels of their just-released short film Small Stories, Philadelphia chamber-poppers Buried Beds offer up ”Children of the Sea”, one of several live recordings on the Small Stories EP that accompanies the DVD. A gorgeous, rollicking introduction to the group’s nimble instrumentation and gorgeous harmonies, it’s a promising first listen to the group’s upcoming third LP. Expect big things from Buried Beds, who’ve previously shared the stage with The Head and the Heart and Dr. Dog. -WR

Cold War Kids – “There Is A War” (Leonard Cohen cover)

In anticipation of Leonard Cohen’s twelfth studio album, Old Ideas, Cults, Greg Dulli and numerous others have or are putting out covers of their favorite songs from the singer-songwriter. Tack the Cold War Kids onto that list with this stellar, surprisingly funky rework of the New Skin for the Old Ceremony deep cut ”There Is A War”. -WR

First Aid Kit feat. Conor Oberst – “King of the World”

If an album comes out and contains a track that we hadn’t heard prior to its release, does that track still maintain eligibility for Top Ten status?  Yes it does! Some of the best tracks of all time are located in the dark, dusty corners of albums. This little ditty comes off First Aid Kit’s Lion’s Roar, which dropped earlier this week. The final track is an upbeat piece with a cameo from Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst that comes out of left field in the best way possible. -WR

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Grouper – “Demona” (Dead Moon cover)

With “Demona”, Liz Harris, aka Grouper, gets a head start at beating her 2011 tally of two LPs, an EP and a handful of randomly released songs. Treated with the typically exorbitant levels of reverb that have become synonymous with Grouper, the ghosted track is apparently a cover of Portland punk-rockers Dead Moon’s “Demona“, though I bet the band would have a hard time telling. Breathtaking all the same, though. -MC

Justice – “On’n'On” (Rick Rubin remix)

Justice’s fairly underrated sophomore album Audio, Video, Disco was packed with hard-hitting club moments, but “On’n'On” was not one of them. The French duo has decided to release the single with four remixes done by Tiga, Erol Alkan, Video Village, and Rick Rubin. The last listed is the one that tickled our fancy, with the Beastie Boy producer turning “On’n'On” from a slow, dull march to a full on banger worthy of your soundsystem. The single is out Jan. 30th. -WR

Miike Snow feat. Lykke Li – “Black Tin Box”

I’ve never been to Sweden, but whatever’s in the water there seems to endow one with the gift of pop genius (see: Robyn, Max Martin, ABBA, The Knife/Fever Ray, The Tallest Man On Earth etc.). One of the nation’s brightest stars as of late, the lovely Lykke Li, teams up for with another indie pop trio Miike Snow to keep the legacy with this, the brilliant third single off of the latter’s soon-to-be-released LP. Happy to You, Miike Snow’s second full-length, will be released March 27th on Downtown/Universal. -MC

PO PO – “Final Fight”

Hat tip to Stereogum on sniffing out PO PO, some of the most promising noise/psych rock I’ve heard in a long time. The Philly-based duo is set to release their debut LP, Dope Boy Magick, later this year via Diplo’s Mad Decent imprint – a strong indication of the quality of the music. “Final Fight” is a noisy, drum driven machine that rocks as hard as it trips, and really, isn’t that what psych-rock should be all about? –MC

PO PO – “Final Fight”

SBTRKT – “Atomic Peace”

Once again, the rules of eligibility are called into question for our mp3 column. If a track was conceived in 2009, but never released until earlier this week, should it still be eligible? My ethics are saying yes. Or maybe it’s my ears. SBTRKT dazzles yet again as “Atomic Peace” pumps in and out with a rhythm that sticks to your ribs. Even in 2009, he was carving out his unique sound that you hear today.  -WR

Trust – “Sulk”

Fresh off her success behind the kit for Austra, Maya Postepski will release her debut LP as Trust with Robert Alfons next month. “Sulk”, the last song on the album is a four minute sprawl of moody synths and a hammering, dancefloor-ready backbeat. TRST is due out February 28th on Arts & Crafts. -MC

Young Magic – “Night In The Ocean”

Dream pop seems to be trending at the moment. The vast numbers of up and coming artists with a Dream Pop sensibility are enough to make one’s head spin, but this is a band that ventures to play with genre crossovers. Young Magic’s “Night In The Ocean” has all the familiar otherworldly beats and chords of your standard Shoegaze, but it’s not until the vocals set in that you get a glimpse at why Young Magic is so special. With Beck in slow motion-like intonation and a sweeping chorus of “It’s just another night in the ocean”, Young Magic prove again why they deserve another moment of our attention. -MC

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Rick Rubin’s name can often be found printed next to the word “Producer” on albums for Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, and Weezer. His latest venture, however, sees him take on the role of remixer. Rubin has reworked Justice’s new single “On’n'On”, and the end result appears as a b-side on the January 30th digital release. You can also stream the remix below (via Stereogum).

Erol Alkan, Tiga, and Video Village also made remixes and those tracks appear alongside Rubin’s. And it all comes wrapped (*digitally*) in that NSFW artwork.

Grab your best spacesuit, ’cause Justice‘s video for “On’n'On”, the latest single from last year’s Audio, Video, Disco, is a brain-melting trip around the Galaxy Justice. With direction by Alexandre Courtes, this intergalactic road trip features shots of naked woman (and by naked we mean exposed internal organs), multi-colored clouds of smoke and light, asteroid belts of massive skulls, a man with slightly more than 1,000 faces, and a giant sword with clearly peaceful intentions. Strap in and prepare for blast-off.

On January 17th, The Rapture will release a three-track EP featuring remixes of their single “Sail Away” by Cut Copy, Aeroplane, and Cosmic Kids. Right now, you can stream all three tracks below.

The Cut Copy remix is a particularly mesmerizing example of musical schizophrenia. At some eight minutes long, the synth powerhouse is comprised of various sonic bits and pieces, like the faint rumbles of disco bass, random, quirky electro noises, shreds of some mutated congo beat, and even a dash of classical piano. It’s a trip through dance music’s history, right there in your headphones.

The Sail Away EP is out January 17th via DFA. The band’s latest LP, In The Grace Of Your Love, is available now.

Along with the EP, The Rapture have announced a pair of dates with Justice around the two acts’ respective sets at this year’s Coachella Music Festival. Check out the itinerary below.

The Rapture 2012 Tour Dates:
01/18 – Bogotoa, CO @ Armando Records
01/19 – Bogota, CO @ Armando Records
01/21 – San Jose, CR @ Giralda
01/24 – Santiago, CL @ Industria Cultural
01/25 – Sao Paulo, BR @ Cine Joia
01/27 – Rio de Janeiro, BR @ Ciroco Voador
01/28 – Porto Alegre, BR @ Atlantida Beach
01/30 – Buenos Aires, AR @ Groove
02/27 – Osaka, JP @ Umeda Akaso
02/28 – Tokyo, JP @ Duo Music Exchange
03/03 – Brisbane, AU @ Future Music Festival
03/04 – Perth, AU @ Future Music Festival
03/10 – Sydney, AU @ Future Music Festival
03/11 – Melbourne, AU @ Future Music Festival
03/12 – Adelaide, AU @ Future Music Festival
04/13 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music Festival
04/17 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater *
04/19 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Cosmopolitan *
04/20 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music Festival
04/25 – Lyon, FR @ Transbordeur
04/26 – Paris, FR @ Olympia
04/27 – Toulouse, FR @ Bikini
04/28 – Bourges, FR @ Les Printemps de Bourges
04/29 – Dijon, FR @ Vapeur
05/01 – Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy
05/02 – London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
05/05 – Groningen, NL @ Liberation Festival
05/06 – Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli
05/08 – Dusseldorf, DE @ Zakk
05/09 – Frankfurt, DE @ Cocoon Club
05/10 – Berlin, DE @ Lido
05/11 – Brussels, BE @ Les Nuits Botaniques
05/12 – Laval, FR @ 3 Elephants Festival

* = w/ Justice

Other notables include St. Vincent, Arctic Monkeys, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, Justice, Mazzy Star, M83, Explosions in the Sky, Childish Gambino, Flying Lotus, Destroyer, Cat Power, Madness, SBTRKT, Beirut, Amon Tobin, DJ Shadow, fIREHOSE, Miike Snow, The Rapture, M. Ward, Jimmy Cliff with Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong, The Horrors, Buzzcocks, James, EMA, Girls, tUnE-yArDs, and more.

The lineup also packs Wild Flag, ASAP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, Neon Indian, Santigold, Modeselektor, The Big Pink, Wu Lyf, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Head and the Heart, Laura Marling, Company Flow, AraabMUZIK, Kaskade, Le Butcherettes, Real Estate, Wild Beasts, La Roux, Thundercat, Azealia Banks, Kasabian, Goyte, Manchester Orchestra, Black Lips, Atari Teenage Riot, and more. Check out the full lineup below or at our Festival Outlook.

Update: Tickets go on sale Friday, January 13th at 10:00 AM PT. According to Pop & Hiss, three-day passes are $285, three-day with shuttle are $335, and VIP are $665.

Other notable acts include Skrilex, Duck Sauce, 2manydjs, Groove Armada (DJ Set), Flux Pavilion, Carl Cox, Armin Van Buuren, Kaskade, Bassnectar, Chase and Status, The Bloody Beetroots, A-Trak, Laidback Luke, Little Dragon, Neon Indian, SBTRKT, Flying Lotus, Miike Snow, and Pretty Lights.

Also on the bill are Fedde Le Grand, Knife Party, Steve Aoki, Magnetic Man, Zeds Dead, Porter Robinson, Sven Vath, Sander Van Doorn, Borgore, Doctor P, Metronomy, Jack Beats, 12th Planet, Skream! + Benga, Steve Lawler, Joris Voorn, Katy B, and more. Check out the entire first phase, broken down by day, in poster form below. And stay tuned to our Festival Outlook for additional lineup news and updates.

Three-day and VIP passes, priced at $299.95 and $599.95, respectively, are now on sale. Visit the festival’s website for complete ticketing info.

Justice have scheduled a U.S. spring tour behind their recently released sophomore LP, Audio, Video, Disco. The leg commences with a pair of shows in New York City on March 16th and 17th and wraps up in Vancouver on April 26th. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 2nd via Ticketmaster/LiveNation.

Below, you can find Justice’s entire tour schedule, which also includes dates in Australia, Japan, and Europe throughout much of early 2012. Further down you’ll find the duo’s video for the album’s title track.

Justice 2011-2012 Tour Dates:
12/31 – Adelaide, AU @ Summadayze *
01/01 – Sydney, AU @ Field Day
01/02 – Gold Coast, AU @ Field Day
01/03 – Perth, AU @ Summadayze
01/06 – Melbourne, AU @ Festival Hall
01/10 – Osaka, KP @ Hatch
01/11 – Tokyo, JP @ Zepp
01/12 – Tokyo, JP @ Zepp
01/27 – Clermont, FR @ La Cooperative de Mai
01/28 – Toulouse, FR @ Le Bikini
01/31 – Lille, FR @ Aeronef
02/01 – Nantes, FR @ Stereolux
02/02 – Caen, FR @ Le Cargo
02/04 – Paris, FR @ Olympia
02/09 – Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy
02/10 – Brixton, UK @ O2 Academy
02/11 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy
02/12 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy
02/13 – Manchester, UK @ Academy
02/22 – Berlin, DE @ ColumbiaHalle
02/24 – Munich, DE @ Kesselhaus
02/25 – Zurich, CH @ DigitalMaag
02/27 – Luxembourg @ Rockhal
02/28 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
03/01 – Copenhagen, DK @ Falkoner
03/02 – Stockholm, SE @ Annexet
03/03 - Gothenburg, SE @ Tradgar’n
03/05 – Brussels, BE @ AB
03/16 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
03/17 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
03/19 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
03/20 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
03/21 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/22 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
04/17 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
04/19 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Pool, The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
04/24 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
04/25 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
04/26 – Vancouver, BC @ Forum
06/22-24 – Scheeßel & Neuhausen ob Eck, DE @ Hurricane & Southside Festivals
06/28 – Werchter, BE @ Rock Werchter

* = DJ Set

“Audio, Video, Disco”:

Here’s something to compliment the yams: Lupe Fiasco has finally dropped his long-in-the-works mixtape, Friend Of The People. The effort was first announced back in December 2009 for an Xmas release, but was shelved when Fiasco decided to go climb Mount Kilimanjaro with Jessica Biel. However, the rapper has now resurrected the project to serve as a temporarily stopgap as he gears up for his next LP, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album. 

In addition to its inexplicable artwork (see above), the 12-track effort includes some big-name samples, with Fiasco working in M83′s “Midnight City”, Ellie Goulding’s “Lights”, and The Glitch Mob’s “Bad Wings”. He also samples Justice on two separates occasions, including “On’n'On” in what has to be the best track title of 2011: ”WWJD He’d Prolly LOL Like WTF!!!”.

Grab your copy of the mixtape here. Below, we have a stream of the M83-sampling “The End Of The World” as well as the tracklist.

“The End Of The World”:

Friend Of The People Tracklist:
01. Introduction (Nero ’2808′)
02. Lupe Back (Nero ‘Doomsday’)
03. Friend of the People (feat. Dosage) (Sebastian ‘Jack Wire’)
04. Double Burger with Cheese (Justice ‘Ohio’)
05. Joaquin Phoenix (feat. Lil Ronnie)
06. WWJD He’d Prolly LOL Like WTF!!! (Justice ‘On’n'On’)
07. Lightwork (Ellie Goulding & Bassnectar ‘Lights’ remix)
08. Life, Death & Love From San Francisco (John Coltrane ‘Love Supreme’)
09. SLR
10. SNDCLsH In Vegas (Kaskade & Skrillex ‘Lick It’)
11. Super Cold (The Glitch Mob ‘Bad Wings’)
12. The End Of The World (M83 ‘Midnight City’)

Audio, Video, Disco is a different beast entirely. Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay (Justice) toured extensively and took their precious time (to the tune of four years) in the studio for this go around. It was a much more practiced, focused pair than the hungry up and comers that entered the studio back in 2007. The result? Justice have successfully crafted a no-nonsense dance album that incorporates an aesthetic seen far too infrequently in the genre: fluidity.

In a genre that lives and dies by ultra one-off hits, a truly “great” dance album is sometimes difficult to come by. An album with a mega hit and one or two more decent songs is all that is required of artists in the world of dance music. But from the beginning Justice have been far from the average.

We’ll get it out of the way – there is no “D.A.N.C.E.” on this album. But as it turns out, that’s what makes it more cohesive than its predecessor. Whether it’s the harrowing, guitar-laden “Canon”, the dance floor bound “Civilzation”, or the simplistic baby-maker “Ohio”, this entire album is fraught with moments that will have you dancing around like a pants-less Tom Cruise in Risky Business.

It maintains a high octane pace for the majority of the album, largely due to the guitar-heavy sampling, their homage to late ’70s arena rock. “Parade”, while the obvious runt of the litter, may very well be a riff stolen from Queen guitarist Brian May’s personal collection. The intro to “Horsepower” could have easily been the intro to any Styx song circa 1975. The sounds are uncanny. And, as luck would have it, vintage arena rock and modern electronic are a winning combination. It’s quite a new look for Justice, but it’s one that fits like a glove. Their sense of grandeur has never been quite at home in the dingy dance club setting, and while this album won’t get them inside arenas, it certainly has the gargantuan sound that would sonically fill Madison Square Garden.

The album takes a noticeable dip six tracks in that’s hard to overlook. “On‘n’On” is a slight deviation from the album’s focus, and while it’s a pleasant listen, it’s the gateway drug to mediocrity. Immediately following on the tracklist is “Brianvision”, a slow, repetitious guitar-driven inclusion that pales in comparison to the others that surround it. “Brianvision” eventually turns to the aforementioned “Parade”, which feels like a very dismal take on “We Will Rock You”.

Fortunately, the album leaps out of the doldrums and regains success with the infectious chorus of “Newlands”, one of the best tracks here. Augé and de Rosnay then take the record in the way that most Justice fans should be familiar with: a massive closer. The title track “Audio, Video, Disco” bids the listeners farewell with a lavish sendoff filled to capacity with equal parts charm and precision.

And though the album is not without its share of flaws, Audio, Video, Disco provides just enough evidence to hint that Justice may be the dance act to eventually lead this generation. There is no mega hit here; surely nothing that will eclipse “D.A.N.C.E.”, but that’s why it works. They’ve crafted a cohesive sophomore effort in a world that doesn’t require cohesion, setting them apart from their many, many peers. That’s admirable.

Essential Tracks: “Civilization”, “Ohio”, and “Newlands”

Starting today, fans everywhere can stream Justice’s sophomore LP, Audio, Video, Disco, in full. Over 11 Euro-fried electronic tracks, those TPS reports and/or bland cup of coffee can become something else entirely – a wildly refreshing dance party. Catch it below now (via NME) and put on those dancing shoes. That is, if they match your khaki slacks and autumn skirts.

Audio, Video, Disco hits stores October 25th via Ed Banger.

Over the weekend, The Creators Project took over a six block strip in Dumbo, Brooklyn, turning an old tobacco factory and an underpass of the Manhattan Bridge into performance areas, where Florence and the Machine, Justice (in DJ set form), Company Flow, Atlas Sound, ASAP Rocky, and more provided a non-stop barrage of sound.

The event also featured two days of art exhibitions, curated by household names like Spiritualized, Animal Collective, Black Dice, and even David Bowie; film screenings; and the premiere of Karen O.’s Stop the Virgens opera. Below, you can find photos of all this and more, courtesy of CoS photographer Nate Slevin.

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Here we are, concluding yet another long week in the chapter of each of our lives. It’s been tough. We lost Steve Jobs, the Yankees choked [ed. not everyone views this as "tough"], and Ashton and Demi are getting divorced. One might want to see what the bottom of a bottle of Jack looks like after a week like this, but I urge you not to do that. Take a little nip if you must, but let our mp3s this week be a helping hand out of the maudlin haze and back up into the saddle, so you’ll be ready to face another long week in the endless succession of long weeks that will make up our long lives.

-Winston Robbins
Senior Staff Writer

Black Taxi – “Tightrope”

This song has has taken up residence on my portable music player, not just because it’s a solid track but because this extended summer we’re having in Chicago needs a themesong. “Tightrope” works nicely in this more poppy garage re-revival track. -JL

Bon Iver – “With God On Our Side”

Don’t forget that everyone covers Bob Dylan because he wrote good songs. And don’t forget  Bon Iver/Justin Vernon has a whole fakebook full of covers at the ready. This song makes too much sense. -JL

Bon Iver – “With God On Our Side” (Bob Dylan cover)

Boris – “Spoon”

The fecundity of Boris tunes this year alone is noteworthy, not to mention that their forthcoming album titled fucking obviously New Album is their third release in 2011, but also their fifteenth of their career. Hearing these Japanese stalwarts play around with pop, noise, drone, and metal has been one of the delights of my year, and  their “extreme pop” here continues the trend. -WR

Boris – “Spoon”

Common – “Blue Sky”

Known for his uplifting, conscientious rhymes, Chicago MC/actor Common takes his work in the exosphere with the ELO-sampling, No I.D.-produced single, “Blue Sky”. The bragadocious nature of hip-hop is given a slice of humble pie thanks to Common’s pious street poetry and a truly elated beat. What’s that they say about the sky being the limit? -CC

Daughter – “Home”

A few weeks back, we dropped a new Daughter track, and it went over pretty well. We’re confident this one will do the same -WR

Justice – “Audio, Video, Disco” Preview

This one’s sort of just like a 4-minute mash-up/straight punch to the face. It’s not technically an mp3 but rather a bunch of samples from the real mp3s of one of this year’s most anticipated albums, Audio, Video, Disco. A gift from the gods. -WR

Memory Tapes – “Slaughtered”

This track begins in some blessed-out head shop, travels to the world of a dark 80s dance club, does a bunch of coke, and then becomes a funky commentary on the 80s dance club era all during its 23-minute lifespan. That’s what we in the “biz” like to call a “Corey Feldman”. “Corey Feldman” away, everyone. -WR

Memory Tapes – Slaughtered

Kendrick Lamar – “Cloud 10″ (Produced by Nosaj Thing)

I’ve said it since I first stumbled upon Nosaj Thing’s music: Nosaj Thing needs to produce some major hip-hop beats. And here we are. He did a beat on Busdriver and Nocando’s Flash Bang Grenada, and now he’s got a cut with hip-hop quick riser Kendrick Lamar. -WR

Lana Del Ray – “Video Games” (Jamie Woon Remix)

Jamie Woon just gave us another reason to fawn over Lana Del Ray. Like we needed more reasons. -WR

Polinski – “Tangents”

Awww, Daft Punk and Explosions in the Sky had a kid! The actual beat is mixed so low that the track feels like more of a space-gaze extra-planetary trip in a slipstream than a French banger, but I like the curious subtleties and the not-so-obvious genre mashups. Polinski is filling a heretofore empty interstellar dance hall/trance pod in my heart. -JL

Justice’s long-awaited sophomore album, Audio, Video, Disco, arrives October 24th via Ed Banger Records. Here’s what it sounds like as a condensed, four-minute medley:

Perfect for anyone that’s part of the ADHD generation, amirite? However, folks looking for full-length listens can hear previously unveiled album cuts “Civilization”, “Helix”, and the title track by clicking on their respective links. The titles of the album’s other seven tracks are underneath.

Audio, Video, Disco Tracklist:
01. Horsepower
02. Civilization
03. Ohio
04. Canon (Interlude)
05. Canon
06. On’n’on
07. Brianvision
08. Parade
09. Newlands
10. Helix
11. Audio, Video, Disco
12. Planisphère (iTunes bonus)

The old saying goes that the third time’s the charm, but what if the previous two instances were actually pretty good? Such is the case for the track “Helix”, the third cut to appear from French electro duo Justice‘s upcoming album Audio, Video, Disco. Following “Civilization” and the title track, “Helix”, which previously dropped in snippet form, is another wonderfully rock-steady cut from the group’s highly-anticipated sophomore LP. Check out out below via 107.7 The End.

Audio, Video, Disco arrives in stores on October 25th via Ed Banger Records.

Fall means at least two things to me: football and listening to music at a different temperature. Walking outside first thing in the morning and hearing Zola Jesus when it’s 57 degrees out is entirely different than when it’s a milky 93 degrees. (Sorry, southern California. Ya’ll got blackouts and heat waves now?). Where warm weather lifts the burden of a song, cold weather adds gravity to it. Summer songs are trickling off now, and whilst I enjoy that fiscal freedom where there’s no heat or air conditioning bills, I’m beginning to dust off those droning, foreboding bummer jams to keep me company for the winter ahead. Summery pop sounds especially frivolous against the fall breeze; everything is more serious. Even these intros, apparently.

-Jeremy D. Larson
Content Director 

Kathleen Edwards – “Wapusk” (Feat. Bon Iver)

I’ve been sitting in a newly repainted room for the past couple hours, and the paint fumes may or may not be having a direct effect on why I’m so into this mp3 at this particular moment. But even before the fumes set in, I knew this was a track I’d be including. Full transparency: I only listened to this track because it said Bon Iver on it, and now I’m totally ashamed. I should have been a little more focused on Kathleen Edwards, who will take your heart and crush it to pieces, only to put it all back together again, leaving you one very happy individual. Reportedly, Edwards recorded this in Vernon’s studio on his nylon-stringed guitar, and just like that the song was born. To clarify, Vernon does appear on the track, providing some backing vocals, but he acted mostly as a producer. At any rate, check it out. You’ll be glad you did. -WR

Justice – “Audio, Video, Disco”

It’s going to be a hallmark year in the de Rosnay and Augé households this fall. Not only are they going to follow up their masterpiece of a debut, †, with Audio, Video, Disco, they’re doing it cryptically and systematically, which makes it more fun for everyone involved. After dropping bits and pieces of their first single, “Civilization”, we started receiving word that another was on the way. A live unveiling of “Audio, Video, Disco” began hitting YouTube a week or so back, and now we have the actual studio, followed by one of my favorite music videos this year. It may not be as in-your-face, get-out-of-your-chair-and-dance invoking as “D.A.N.C.E.” was, but it’s teeming with energy and will have no problem winning crowds over across the world as Justice continue to plot their domination. -WR

Los Campesinos! – “By Your Hand”

Everybody, now! “By your hand is the only end I foresee.” Can’t help but fall top over tail for this track; there’s something about resigned fate coupled with indie twee shout choruses that makes me feel like I’m finally understood. -JL

Los Campesinos! – “By Your Hand”

M83 – “Intro” (Feat. Zola Jesus)

For those who haven’t yet heard M83’s blazing album opener with vocals compliments of Zola Jesus, it will blow you away. For those who have, let’s all take a second and just admire what a triumphant introduction this is into the journey that is Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. -WR

Modeselektor – “Shipwreck” (Feat. Thom Yorke), “This” (Feat. Thom Yorke), “Pretentious Friends” (Feat. Busdriver)

Well, you see, I was just gonna include German electronic duo Modeselektor’s collaboration with L.A. emcee Busdriver, but then Thom Yorke took over the internet, as he is prone to doing. So this is a three-for-one deal. Not only do you get to hear both tracks that feature Thom Yorke from Modeselektor’s forthcoming effort, but you can also get your rap fill. Now everybody say, “Thank you, Modeselektor.” I don’t want to say which I like best just yet, but “Shipwrecked” is going to blow your mind. -WR

“Shipwreck (Feat. Thom Yorke)”

“This (Feat. Thom Yorke)”

“Pretentious Friends (Feat. Busdriver)”

Robin Pecknold – “I Let You”

For those of you who aren’t totally Fleet Fox-ed out, we’ve got another cut for you. No word on whether it’s just a solo track that belongs to Robin Pecknold or if we should log this away as a future Fleet Foxes release. Regardless, it’s here. Courtesy of 107.7, stream the track below. It’s a slow, haunting, acoustic track that deals with the usual subject matter: longing, some unnamed characters, and a whole lot of descriptive scenery. -WR

Psychic Ills – “Hazed Dream”

I had a phaser pedal once, and its egregious use on this track is the only real way to use the effect — a smokey backdrop for a lolling psych dream. A slight dream, though, like those pre-somnia lucid ones that don’t quite get away from you. Lead singer of the NYC-based group Tres Warren chose to describe the feeling of the new album as such: “Getting back to something. Feeling a feeling. Shaking out the NY brain boil. Movin’ away from some old bad vibes, by creating some new good ones. Dreaming out the bad. Takin’ it easy on ourselves, and those around us.” There room on that vibe train for one more? -JL

PUJOL – “Mayday”

The sarcastic snarl of Daniel Pujol matches the syncs right up with the pile of bluesy trash that backs him. It truly is filthy, beastly, and brief, and it could underscore any number of montages from fraternal reveries in the back of a pickup truck. But “This song,” Pujol says, “is about my friend Richard Houston attaining maximum grooviness by harnessing different viewpoints to gain a clearer perspective aside from feigning teenage omniscience.” I remember that first joint, too. -JL

WU LYF – “Go Tell Fire (reprise)”

One of my favorite albums of the year gets an alternate ending and some commentary:  ”This cut was always meant to end Go Tell Fire to the Mountain, trail in after “heavy pop” fades. But we couldn’t figure it right; took 10 months of perspective to conclude, Elle rearranged and recorded it last night…” Listen here -JL

Zola Jesus – “Seekir”

The second track from Zola Jesus’s forthcoming album on Sacred Bones — who, as you may notice from Sacred Bone’s previous entry on this list, currently have the most aesthetically pleasing cover layout for a record label around — pairs mood and rhythm in a dark corridor with Nika Roza Danilova’s round voice filling every corner. It’s eerie the way the synths behind the beat sound like they’re playing a totally different ball game, the way pop music should be. -JL

Right above is the artwork for Justice’s new album, Audio, Video, Disco. My nightmares of having to find the keystroke for † continue.

Audio, Video, Disco arrives October 25th via Ed Banger Records. The French electro duo is also releasing a digitial EP based around the album’s title track on September 26th. It will feature a b-side called “Helix” along with remixes from Para One and Mickey Moonlight.

The recently unveiled video for the album’s title track is available for your viewing below.

Have you ever seen Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope? Apparently Justice has. In their new video for “Audio, Video, Disco”, the titular track off their forthcoming sophomore LP, the French dance rockers trick the viewer into thinking its one long shot. It’s very ’80s and, for some reason, also brings to mind the video for Michael Jackson’s “Leave Me Alone”. But if Hitchcock and Jacko don’t do it for you, then perhaps you like Labrador puppies? There’s one in this. Pretty cute, too.

Don’t forget: Audio, Video, Disco hits stores October 25th via Ed Banger Records.

The world of music blogging is a 24/7 job, even on a holiday weekend. Don’t believe us? Just check out what went down in the last 72 hours. Pearl Jam held the greatest birthday party ever, Madonna announced a new album, Wilco released more tour dates, and the Langerado Music Festival scrapped its 2011 plans. And that’s just scratching the surface; your complete post-Labor Day recap is posted below.

News

– Wilco announced a new batch of U.S. tour dates.

– Madonna plans to release a new album in Spring 2002.

– Check out the new single from Justice: “Audio, Video, Disco”.

– Watch Feist perform five new songs from her new album Metals.

– Langerado Music Festival’s planned comeback has been canceled.

– Iconic post-punk outfit New Order is reuniting sans bassist Peter Hook.

– Hear another new song from Noel Gallagher’s solo album: “AKA… What A Life!”.

– Stream new albums from St. Vincent, Neon Indian, Laura Marling, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and A.A. Bondy. Just click the respective link.

– Tokyo Police Club completed their ‘Ten Days, Ten Covers, Ten Years’ project. Hear them cover LCD Soundsystem, M83, Queens of the Stone Age, and more.

Features

– Michael Roffman and Jeremy D. Larson were in attendance for Pearl Jam’s 20th anniversary music festival. Read their recap here, and watch video highlights from day one and day two. Spoiler: Temple of the Dog reunited twice, Julian Casablancas joined Queens of the Stone Age for “Sick Sick Sick”, and Josh Homme returned the favor for “New York City Cops”.

– Continuing with the Peal Jam theme, Len Comaratta dusted off Pearl Jam’s debut LP, Ten.

– Our staff did the impossible and narrowed down a list of Lil Wayne’s 25 most WTF lyrics.

– Here are your top 10 videos of the week. And here are your top 10 mp3s of the week. You’re welcome.

– Austin Trunick reviewed Wild Flag’s CoS Top Star-earning self-titled debut, while Dan Caffrey critiqued The Rapture’s latest, In the Grace of Your Love.

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After this past Wednesday’s tapas-sized sample of new Justice material, hungry fans one and all can quell their appetite with the full version of the electronic duo’s new single, “Audio, Video, Disco”. Give it a spin below.

Those in need of seconds can check out the first single, “Civilization”. The main course goes down October 25th when Justice’s highly-anticipated sophomore LP, Audio, Video, Disco, hits stores via Ed Banger Records.

Okay, so it’s not much, but 107.7 The End has two snippets off Justice’s highly anticipated sophomore LP, Audio, Video, Disco, due out October 25th (via Ed Banger Records). One is 15 seconds of the titular track, the other is 50 highly danceable seconds of “Helix”. Do what you will with them. Ten bucks says someone samples it by nightfall.

Need more? There’s always the current single, “Civilization”. Also, the radio station has a nice track-by-track breakdown of the forthcoming LP. That should keep you busy.

“Audio, Video, Disco”

“Helix”

On October 25th, French electro duo Justice will return with their long overdue sophomore LP, Audio, Video, Disco, on Ed Banger Records. You stream the album’s lead single, “Civilization”, below, and check out the title track here.

Speaking with Pitchfork, Justice’s Xavier de Rosnay said the album was recorded over the span of 18 months in a flat in north Paris. Diamond Nights’ Morgan Phalen, Vincenzi Vendetta of Midnight Juggernauts, and UK singer Ali Love all contributed to the effort, and track titles include “Parade”, “Ohio”, and “Cannon”.

The end result is said to more “rock-oriented” than their 2007 break-out †. de Rosnay also said that while the record sounds a “bit band-y” and was recorded with instruments, the duo plans to keep the “electronic aesthetic” on any eventual tour. “We are not good enough instrumentalists, and the fact that we don’t perform all of this live keeps it on the good side.”

de Rosnay also mentioned that Justice plans to keep their † imagery, but “in a different environment and a different way. We don’t want to give it up yet.” So your old concert t-shirts are safe for now.

Justice – “Civilization”

Following “Civilization”, “Audio, Video, Disco” is our second taste from Justice’s long-awaited sophomore LP, due out this fall via Ed Banger Records. As Pitchfork points out, Ed Banger honcho Busy P debuted the track during a set at this weekend’s HARD Summer music festival in Los Angeles. Check out a decent quality video above.

Greetings readers and viewers! Wow, it’s good to be back at (the hypothetical) Cluster 1 headquarters. As Media Specialist, sometimes it is required to go to the source and create some of that media ourselves. After a journey to Sasquatch! with our staff, I have returned from shooting videos to finding and posting them here for your viewing pleasure. So, it’s good to be back, but make sure you check out all our footage from Sasquatch! as well.

Without further adieu…here’s what’s new.

Premieres:

W-H-I-T-E – “Liquid Skull” – If you think the song title is cool, wait until you hear it and see the video; soothing overtones while old-school CGI plays of a body floating over the landscape (think Toonami’s Reboot).

Original Series:

No Cover Episode 1: Start Me Up – Our new “dramedy” series starring the Bay Area’s Trevor Marcotte and Kevin Waldvogel depicts the story of Randy and Marshall, two music obsessed buddies with a low budget, but a big appreciation of rocking. Watch as the two try to get their band lifted off the ground….if they don’t kill each other first.

No Cover Episode 2: My Band – In this week’s episode, Randy decks out the garage and plots out the band’s strategy to reaching the top, but Marshall seems to have other plans.

Animation:

MUTO – In this wall-painted animation, you combine wonky photography with insanely trippy animation, as this painting slowly takes over the city streets.

Pixels – 8-bit video game characters invade New York. I’ve always wanted to see what a game of Pacman would look like in Manhattan.

Documentary:

Free Beats – 48 hours after Obama won the election, this guy went out and shared his beats with the world, only to get a plethora of interesting MCs, poets, musicians and children to get up and take the mic. Specialist’s Note: This video is amazing…..do watch.

Interviews:

As chronic festival junkies,we’re always heading out into the festival market to see what’s new. Two weeks ago, our team journeyed down to Alabama’s Hangout Festival, and here’s who we spoke to:

Girl Talk – The king (or queen) of mash-ups discusses why a DJ won’t open for him, the artists he’d like to see in mash-ups, and what the future holds.

Portugal. The Man – The band talks about non-stop touring, their new album, and idea of a vacation.

Dead Confederate – Hardy Morris chats about the logistics of playing a beach festival and their new album.

Widespread Panic – The jam legends get deep in discussing the finer differences between festival and headlining sets, as well as the development of music in Athens, GA.

Music Videos:

Justice – “Civilization” – Buffalo stampede through humanity’s ancient monuments.

Boxer Rebellion – “The Runner” – One whole day compressed into four minutes; watch as some girls come home from a party and experience the aftermath.

Colourmusic – “Beard” – Zoomed in to a near-microscopic level

The Get Up Kids – “Regent’s Court” – A young boy imagines what it’s like to kick it with Mikhail Gorbachev, and as a result, has an awesome day in his mind.

Chad VanGaalen – “Peace on the Rise” – Remember when Beavis eats peyote in Do America? Mix that with the concept of space exploration and blue flames, then you will know what you are in for with “Peace on the Rise”.

Jump into the Gospel – “Humvee Mansion” -Music synced up with an old-school animated version of The Pied Piper. It actually looks like the animation is singing along with the track at points.

Short Films:

Carrot vs. Ninja – A man sets out into the desert to find his opponent. Whether he is the carrot or the ninja is beyond me.

Link to the Future – It’s Link (from Zelda) and Doc (from Back to the Future)….this is our youth compiled into one awesome fan film.

Don’t Forget…

– Want a constant stream of musical goodness? Check out our Channel, featuring over 30 music videos, several short films, and other nifty clips, all crammed together in one non-stop barrage of visual and aural stimulation.

- Social networking is a way of life, so follow us at @cluster1tv and on Facebook

Justice first released “Civilization” in Adidas commerical form in March, but now we get the song’s proper visuals courtesy of its official video. The clip, which is available for viewing above, is pretty straight forward: the world’s most noteworthy architecture, placed within what appears to be a Truman Show-esque buble, begins falling apart, all while wild buffalo run around. If this thing came out last week, there’d be plenty of Rapture jokes included. So thank god it didn’t.

Justice’s second LP is due this fall.

So, it’s out. The third entry in The Big Four – that is, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits – is here for our reading pleasure. Some of you have already raced to Facebook, the comments section here, the Lolla board, or your wilted notebook resting on your nightstand to gripe, complain, and tear it apart. That’s only natural of any raging internet fanatic – we’ve been there, you can tell. But, as with anything that tugs at the emotional heartstrings, you need to take some time out, smother yourself in ice cubes, and/or go through a pack of Camel Lights. Just relax. Then, take a look at it again.

As usual, it’s a pretty solid lineup. ::avoids the rotten tomatoes:: No, no, no. Be fair, be fair. Look at it closely: There’s an impressive undercard to flirt with, a sparkly group of headliners that won’t disappoint (regardless if they’re repeats or unsurprising), and the expansion to Perry’s Stage can only add to the already drunken, dreamy weekend for many a festivalgoer. Just a quick scan through the lineup hints at a thrifty three-day extravaganza. It’s hard to believe with so many hot mid-day acts (i.e. The Mountain Goats, Lykke Li, Explosions in the Sky) and a series of highly requested reunions (e.g. Big Audio Dynamite, The Cars, Death From Above 1979) that anyone would be bored or wandering around sad. Plus, and here’s something everyone seems to be forgetting, you’re still in one of the best goddamn cities in the world – the gem next to the lake. Yeah.

Still, there are things left to be said…

-Michael Roffman
President/Editor-in-Chief

Best Gets:

Coldplay

“You know how I know you’re gay?” Expect to hear that quote all weekend in Grant Park. But, despite your unoriginal friends, Coldplay happens to be one of the biggest acts in the world today, and for C3, this is a huge get. Hello! They’re playing Glastonbury? Fuji Rock? Rock in Rio? Ever heard of those? For Chris Martin & Co. to touchdown in Grant Park, it’s a landmark headliner for the always expanding festival. Plus, it’s the only North American gig to date, and in typical Lolla fashion, the British quartet will be just ahead of a new album  – their fifth, in fact, which is currently penciled in for a late autumn release. New material? Perhaps, but even if they don’t perform some, you’ll probably be the first souls to catch ‘em before the endless sweeping tours ensue. Mark our words now, this will be another Coachella reissue next year. -Michael Roffman

Deftones

Deftones’ appearance on Lollapalooza’s 2011 bill could also be put in the “Biggest Surprises” category of this post, but their presence is a lot less shocking than The Cars AND Big Audio Dynamite. After all, the acclaimed metal heads are fresh off an appearance at Lollapalooza Chile and you had to figure there’d be at least some cross over. Still, props on the pull: The spot marks Deftones’ only major North American festival appearance of 2011 — which is a rarity these days. -Alex Young

A Perfect Circle

With their chilly shoulders turned away from Coachella and Bonnaroo, APC’s spot at Lolla is a rather exclusive opportunity to see their show. Unless you caught Maynard James Keenan at their brief residencies out west in 2010, you’re in need to hear one of the best voices in hard rock. And while the often detached Keenan may not be the best host for a festival party, APC and their fans will be loud and proud in Chicago. Who knows, maybe they worked up “Bohemian Rhapsody” over the winter. -Jeremy Larson

The Cars

Two words: Ric Ocasek. Since reuniting with his brethren – a.k.a. The Cars – the anticipation has been sizzling like hotcakes in an Atlanta diner on an August morning. What? Never mind. With a new album in tow, next month’s Move Like This, it’s safe to say this is a legit reunion and one to really get behind. Sure, they’re coming to Chicago next month, but seeing them outside in the summer air, amidst a festival setting, and three months out on touring is so much better. Outside of the nostalgic factor, this is an hour that will no doubt please anyone – especially for lovers wishing to embrace during “Drive”. Two orders of timeless pop-rock? Over here, sir. -Michael Roffman

Modeselektor

The German electronic duo is one of those unique acts you’d typically associate with Coachella. A personal favorite of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, the group has been one of the genre’s more popular forces over the last decade and boasts collaborative records with Yorke, UK rockers Maxïmo Park, and German hip hop outfit Puppetmastaz. Modeselektor also teamed up with fellow German DJ Sascha Ring (Apparat) to form Moderat and their 2009 self-titled effort was released to universal acclaim. -Alex Young

Biggest Surprises:

Patrick Stump

Um, what?

Big Audio Dynamite AND The Cars

To the Reagan adolescence, this one’s for you. There’s little to argue here: Mick Jones and Rick Ocasek in Grant Park. C3 hit two birds with one stone – or, rather four birds with one stone, actually – by nailing not only a legacy and reunion act, but two legacy/reunion acts. Quadruple the effort. Admittedly, most of you probably don’t listen to Big Audio Dynamite every day, every week, or even every month, but it’s a unique grab and one that looked impressive on Coachella’s line-up earlier this year. It still shines here, some three to four months later. As for The Cars, that’s just impressive booking – especially, as we mentioned, they’re performing in Chicago next month. KO! -Michael Roffman

The Mountain Goats

With a critically-acclaimed new effort and given their cult-like status, The Mountain Goats seem more primed for the likes of Pitchfork Music Festival – especially for this year. That’s why it’s almost jarring to see them on Lollapalooza’s lineup. In a way, it sort of negates the whole Pitchfork then Lolla routine that seems to occur with indie darlings year after year. Then again, these California natives aren’t new to the scene at all, so in a way, perhaps it’s Lolla’s way of saying, “Okay, we should have had this working relationship years ago.” Judging from their recent Chicago stint, this should be a great late afternoon set. -Michael Roffman

Death From Above 1979

There’s gonna be a riot. Hardy-har-har. These truly crazy Canucks have a passion for creating chaos, and if there was anything to be learned from either set at SXSW or Coachella, it’s that Death From Above 1979 needs a lot of room. Similar to The Mountain Goats, this was another act that was all but destined for Pitchfork Music Festival, but P4K must have been satiated with one reunion act (i.e. Dismemberment Plan) to try and squeeze these boys in. All the better. As intimate of a place Union Park may be, it’s unlikely they’d support this much energy – well, that’s a tad of an overstatement. For now, though, it makes a slightly reliable argument. Regardless, Lollapalooza snagged something wild here. A festival repeat, sure, but we’ll take seconds, thirds, or fourths of DFA1979 any day. -Michael Roffman

Cults

Last year before Pavement performed at Pitchfork Music Festival, Drag City dude Rian Murphy hyper-sarcastically called P4k Fest “the minor leagues for Lollapalooza.” Ironically, it’s kind of true — Lollapalooza has a continued history of drafting bands that P4k Fest had just one year previous (this year’s picks being Titus Andronicus and Best Coast). But like LeBron James before them, Cults turned pro right out of school. Can they hack it up against some seasoned vets? Probably so. Expect to see them on a side stage in the afternoon just winning over thousands of new fans. -Jeremy Larson

Biggest Misses:

Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie is the most confusing omission of ‘em all just because they seemed all but a shoe-in. Case in point: a new album, summer tour dates with the Foo Fighters, and an intimate Chicago show scheduled for May. Hell, they just announced a late summer tour and there’s not a Chi-city date to be found. Maybe they’re playing North Coast, but c’mon Perry! At least bring us Zooey! -Alex Young

The Cure

It’s a little gluttonous to complain about the lack of ’80s icons, what with Ric Ocasek and Mick Jones involved, but when rumors surfaced that Robert Smith and his gothic wagoners might saddle on up to Grant Park, there was a little spark in the soul that quickly turned nuclear. Similar to past gets like Lou Reed or Depeche Mode, this grab would have no doubt added some luster to the lineup. Plus, with that ridiculous Sean Penn film coming out, everyone’s nostalgia will be running rampant. Really, who wouldn’t want to wear all black and eye liner in 90+ degree weather? Duh. -Michael Roffman

Justice

“Justice! Non!” Lolla didn’t pick up Daft Punk, and ignored France’s second banana electronic duo as well. Justice purportedly have a new album in the works, and closing out Perry’s stage would seem to be a great spot for these guys, or even as a headliner. In Justice’s stead we have festival mainstays Girl Talk and Deadmau5, whom many of us have experienced before. Not that Girl Talk closing Perry’s larger stage won’t be a party to remember, nor will Deadmau5′s headlining spot not be a huge spectacle, but Justice would have added an alluring spice to the electronic lineup at Lolla. “Quel dommage!” -Jeremy Larson

Queens of the Stone Age

They hammered through a set at SXSW back in March, they’re hitting up the late-night circuitry, and they’re performing across the nation. So, why haven’t they been booked for a U.S. festival yet? They might only have a reissue to plug, and there’s probably plenty of recording to be had for their next studio outing, but would a one hour performance kill them? Not likely. Most die-hard fanatics probably caught them on tour already this year, but for the rest of us, Queens of the Stone Age would have looked nice next to The Kills on our schedules. Very nice. Oh well. -Michael Roffman

Surfer Blood

…And sometimes you don’t get drafted at all. This is kind of disappointing, in that Surfer Blood toured their asses off last year and grew from out of the beachy lo-fi fields of the last couple years into somewhat of a mainstream success, due in no small part to their touring tenacity. Why are they absent here? They played to a supremely packed crowd at Pitchfork Music Festival last year, the jabronies love ‘em, the indies love ‘em, the chicks love ‘em. Who knows? Maybe the kids need a break. -Jeremy Larson

Get to know:

Ellie Goulding

She’s gorgeous. She’s discovering more and more poppy sensibilities. She’s amassing dozens of fans each week. We’ve all heard folks digress on how they saw Gaga or Katy Perry at the smaller stages of yesteryear…well, here’s another prospective starlet. For this year, she’ll no doubt perform on a smaller stage, but years later? Probably not. Catch her now before she’s gone. It’s okay if you go alone and you don’t tell your friends about it, too. Just lose the mustache. You don’t want to be that creepy guy. -Michael Roffman

Jay Electronica

Few things validate an up and coming rapper more than being taken under the wing by one Sean Carter. (Just ask Kanye West.) The 34-year-old Jay Electronica recently signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label and is readying his long-awaited full-length debut. Plus, with Nas being a past collaborator, there’s a possibility that the New Orleans-based rapper may have a few surprises in store when he takes the stage at Perry’s Place. -Alex Young

Fences

Chris Mansfield knows about the importance of being earnest. He leads Fences heart first with a shaky voice and a sturdy band, producing some of the most wonderfully honest songs. Live, the band turns it up and stretches it out, adding just a tinge of psych rock to the mix which, when washed over you out the PA, tugs at all those pesky feelings you work so hard to forget about. Stop by midday and they’ll beguile the hell out of you. -Jeremy Larson

Ximena Sariñana

Ximena Sariñana may be a relative unknown in the stages, but in her native Mexico, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter is a full-blown superstar. Her 2008 debut Mediocre earned two Latin Grammy nominations and she spent 2009 touring Europe with Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group. Now, Sariñana is gearing up for a summer full of festival appearances plus the August 2nd release of her self-titled sophomore LP. -Alex Young

Young the Giant

Early last year, our own Phillip Roffman called this California quintet “a bottle rocket ready to explode.” Since then, they’ve done just that. From supporting Minus the Bear to appearing at Billboard’s SXSW Party to nabbing slots at half a dozen music festivals across the country, suffice it to say, this band’s growing at a rapid pace. Their late 2010 eponymous debut isn’t exactly a sparkling critical darling, but it’s brought the band quite a fanbase. Needless to say, if you’re strolling by and they’re playing, you might want to check them out and come to a conclusion – that is, if you can wade through the tides of fans surrounding the stage. -Michael Roffman

Among the non-South by Southwest news during the week of South by Southwest was the reveal of Justice‘s new single “Civilization”. The only catch was that it came compliments of a series of Adidas commercials which were then pieced together to form an audio stream. Now, however, thanks to our pals at 107.7 The End, a high-quality rip of the French duo’s single is available for streaming below.

“Civilization” is the lead single off Justice’s long-awaited sophomore LP, which is expected to be released sometime this year.

Still remember M.I.A.’s “Illy Girl” video or Kanye’s vid for “All of the Lights”? If you saw them, chances are the images are still burned into the deepest recesses of your brain. Well, French electro-head SebastiAn recently dropped the NSFW video for new single “Total”,  and the dude may take the title for most seizure inducing video produced over the last 12 months. If you plan to watch the video below, please secure the room of small children and authority figures.

“Total” is the title track off SebastiAn’s forthcoming 22-track debut full-length. The album features M.I.A., which may help explain the video madness, Mayer Hawthorne, and Justice’s Gaspard Augé, who mans the electronic harpsichord on “Tetra”. The release also arrives with one of the most bizarre covers in recent history, a perfectly edited photo of SebastiAn kissing himself.

Total arrives May 30th via Ed Banger/Because/Big Beat/Atlantic. The album’s next single “Embody” will be available April 5th, but the video, as well as the tracklist, can be viewed below.

“Total”

“Embody”

(Both videos courtesy of Exclaim.ca) 

Total Tracklist:
01. Hudson River
02. Love in Motion (feat. Mayer Hawthorne)
03. Tough Games
04. Embody
05. Ross Ross Ross
06. Fried
07. Kindercut
08. Water Games
09. Total
10. Jackwire
11. C.T.F.O (feat. M.I.A)
12. Cartoon
13. Arabest
14. Prime
15. Mean Games
16. Tetra (feat. Justice’s Gaspard Augé)
17. Motor
18. Night
19. Yes
20. Bird Game
21. Doggg
22. Frustra

– R.I.P. Nate Dogg

– Faithless are no more.

– The Darkness are back.

– Lil Wayne gave Tha Carter IV a release date.

– Foo Fighters will soon play a garage near you.

– Wyclef Jean was shot during a trip to his native Haiti.

– Justice debuted their first piece of new music since 2007 with the help of Katy Perry.

– “Chillin’”, a track rumored to be off Dr. Dre‘s Detox featuring Swizz Beatz, hit the web.

– Klaxons canceled their upcoming U.S. tour — which included an appearance at Coachella.

– Amidst Odd Future’s takeover of SXSW 2011, Tyler, the Creator detailed his new solo album.

– Gorillaz’ genius Damon Albarn will be writing and starring in a new musical entitled Doctor Dee.

– Speaking of Damon Albarn, Björk is releasing an iPad-created album entitled Biophilia. Even better, the songs will be apps.

– Thom Yorke news: Radiohead’s frontman is collaborating with everyone from UK electroheads to underground rappers.

– Death From Above 1979, Cut Copy, Wiz Khalifa, Bassnectar, and Yeasayer will be among the acts joining the Disco Biscuits for Camp Bisco 10.

– Jack White’s Third Man Records has signed guitar sensation Seasick Steve to a one-record deal. The two-song Third Man blue series single will be released soon.

– Girl Talk, Lupe Fiasco, Crystal Castles, Ra Ra Riot and more are confirmed to join The Strokes at this year’s Sweetlife Festival, set to take May 1st at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD.