Miami’s Ultra Music Festival has revealed the second phase of its 2012 lineup. Set for March 23-25th at Bayfront Park, this year’s festival already promised Kraftwerk, New Order, Justice, Tiësto, Fatboy Slim, Avicii, David Guetta, M83, Flux Pavilion, Kaskade, Bassnectar, Chase and Status, SBTRKT, and Flying Lotus, among others.

Topping phase two are Richie Hawtin, Benny Benassi, Wolfgang Gartner, DJ Shadow, Erick Morillo, ATB, Martin Solveig, Gossip, Gui Boratto, Switch, and a DJ set by Pendulum.

Other notable additions include Joachim Garraud, Madeon, Digitalism (DJ set), Plump DJs, Treasure Fingers, Azari & III (DJ Set), Annie Mac, Dubfire, Felix Cartal, Loco Dice, Proxxy & Lantern, Sinden, Nervo, Paper Diamond, Maya Jane Coles, Nadastrom, and Tensnake.

Check out Ultra Music Festival’s entire confirmed bill at Festival Outlook. A third and final lineup phase is still to come.

Tickets to the festival are sold out.

Photo by Debi Del Grande

It’s been nine months since Santigold unleashed her Karen O-aided single “Go”. Since then, we’ve haven’t heard much more about the Philadelphia native’s upcoming sophomore album, though her name has shown up on tracklists for The Lonely Island, Spank Rock, and Amadou & Miram, as well as on Coachella’s 2012 bill.

Last week, however, Santigold revealed to V magazine that her new album will be called Master of My Make-Believe and will feature contributions from Major Lazer’s Switch, TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner, and songwriter/producer Greg Kurstin. Last night, she gave a further preview when she debuted several new songs during a concert at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg, as Stereogum and Tastes Like Caramel point out. Below, you can watch live footage of her performing tracks called “Disparate Youth”, “God From the Machine”, and “Big Mouth”.

There’s still no release date for Master of My Make-Believe, so stay tuned. Fans in Brooklyn can see her again tonight when she takes to Music Hall for another soldout show.

“Disparate Youth”:

“God From the Machine”:

“Big Mouth”:

It’s been a long year. Scratch that, it’s been a veeerrrry long year. From social revolutions to the end of our occupation of Iraq, from the death of celebrities and dictators to a man who sneezes bullets and the mystery of planking, the world experienced a slew of emotions and all sorts of cultural and political upheaval in 2011. And that’s not even counting the plethora of music news that had the blogosphere abuzz this year.

So, as the question begs, what comes next? Well, 2012. If you were to believe certain factions, it’ll be the end of days. A more likely scenario, though, is that it will be another busy year, with people to meet, triumphs to celebrate, disasters to mourn, and a whole other set of memories to file away as we march perpetually onward toward the Great Unknown. A dreary prospect for sure, one that almost makes the impending Apocalypse sound warm and fuzzy. However, there is temporary respite in the form of New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Eve is that magic night where one year is all but over. It’s the chance to stop worrying for a moment. It’s an opportunity to celebrate surviving the last 364. It’s the start of a whole new scheme or design for the upcoming 365. Rather than chugging cheap champagne and letting off fireworks, NYE should be commemorated with the one thing that makes any year bearable: music.

As we have for every other major celebratory occasion, CoS has your back with our handy-dandy New Year’s Eve 2011 Concert Guide. From the beaches of Miami to life in the City of Angels, and everywhere between, our guide has everything you’ll need to know to see your favorite bands live. Whether you’re planning to rock out with Patti Smith at New York’s Bowery Ballroom, get freaky with The Flaming Lips and Yoko Ono in Oklahoma City, or hit up BOTH of Kaskade’s NYE shows (in two different state mind you), our guide is the only New Year’s Eve accessory you need (save for maybe a noisemaker). Plus, if you’re not one to brave the weather and the sea of drunks, we’ll tell you what you should be watching on the old boob tube. The point is, if it’s happening on NYE, it’s in this guide. Your only concern will be how to get home and/or where to pass out at the end of the night.

If we’ve missed any gathering or shindig, please let us know in the comments below. Call this a cliché bit of writing, but we’d like to leave you with some parting words from the immortal Benjamin Franklin to guide you into what lies ahead: “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.”

See ya in 2012.

-Chris Coplan
News Editor

New York City

– AarabMUZIK, Balam Acab: 285 Kent

– Assembly of Dust: Mercury Lounge

– Avicii: Pier 34

– The Bad Plus: The Village Vanguard

– Charles Bradley, The Budos Band: Music Hall of Williamsburg

– Chuck Berry: B.B. King Blues Club

– Dark Star Orchestra: Wellmont Theatre (Montclair, NJ)

– Deadmau5: Pier 36

– Deer Tick, J. Roddy Watson and the Business, Dead Confederate: Brooklyn Bowl

– Fitz and the Tantrums: The Gramercy Theatre

– Gogol Bordello: Terminal 5

– Gov’t Mule: Beacon Theatre

– Infected Mushroom: Best Buy Theater

– The Knocks: Gansevoort Park Avenue

– Laidback Luke: Pacha

– Lee Fields & The Expressions: The Bell House

– Los Lobos: City Winery

– Matt and Kim, Super Mash Bros., Body Language: Hammerstein Ballroom

– Neru: Webster Hall

– The New Deal: B.B. King Blues Club

– New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men: Roseland Ballroom

– Nick Catchdubs: Loreley

– Nosaj Thing: Glasslands

– O’Death: Spike Hill

– Patti Smith: Bowery Ballroom

– Phish: Madison Square Garden

– Steve Lawler: District 36

– Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Maxwells (Hoboken, NJ)

Chicago

– Alkaline Trio: Metro

– Big Gigantic: Riviera Theatre

– Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears: Double Door

– Cage the Elephant, Sleeper Agent: Aragon Ballroom

– Cave: The Hideout

– Disco Biscuits, Future Rock: Auditorium Theatre

– The Hood Internet: Lincoln Hall

– Keys N Krates: Chicago Urban Art Society

– Local H: Bottom Lounge

– Murder By Death: Subterranean

– Old 97s: Intercontinental Hotel Grand Ballroom

– Rusko, Sinden, Switch: Congress Theater

– The Spits: Cobra Lounge

Los Angeles

– The Aggrolites: Alex’s Bar

– Benny Benassi, Paul Van Dyk, Kaskade, Dada Life: Anaheim Convention Center (White Wonderland)

– DJ Quik: Key Club

– Duck Sauce, Diplo, Chromeo, Felix da Housecat, The Bloody Beetroots, LA Riots: Oak Canyon Park (Together As One)

– The Henry Clay People, Races: The Satellite

– Give Up the Ghost: Ukrainian Culture Center

– Jenny and Johnny, Cults: The Standard Hollywood

– John Digweed: The Avalon

– Junkie XL: Detroit Bar

– L.A. Guns: Whisky A Go Go

– Lupe Fiasco: Hollywood & Highland Center

– Musiq Soulchild: House of Blues

– Wanda Jackson, Best Coast, Dan Sartain: Club Nokia

San Francisco

– The Fresh & Onlys, Thee Oh Sees: Brick and Mortar Music Hall

– Furthur: Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

– Kreayshawn: The Regency Ballroom

– The Limousines: Rickshaw Stop

– Maceo Parker: Yoshi’s

– Santigold, Amon Tobin Islam Live, Beats Antique, Claude Von Stroke,: Concourse Exhibition Center (Sea of Dreams)

– Primus: Great American Music Hall

– The Slip: Cafe du Nord

– Sonny & The Sunsets: Amnesia

– Talib Kweli: Sloane Squared

– Tedeschi Trucks Band, The New Mastersounds: The Warfield

– Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue: The Fillmore

– X: Slim’s

– Yeasayer (DJ Set): W Hotel

– DJ Z-Trip: Fort Mason Center

London

– The 2 Bears: XOYO

– Adam Beyer: Fabric

– Ferry Corsten: Brixton Academy

– Gabby Young and Other Animals: Royal Festival Hall

– Gary Numan: All Star Lanes

– Gross Magic: The Victoria

– Joker, Brekage, Roska, Plastician, Sigma: Electric Brixon

– Kasabian, Chase & Status, Zane Lowe: The O2

– Toddla T: The Nest

– The Wedding Present: Dingwalls

Elsewhere

Aspen

– Jane’s Addiction: Belly Up

Athens (Georgia)

– MartyParty, Dubconscious: New Earth Music Hall

– of Montreal: Go Bar

– Reptar: Georgia Theatre

Atlanta

– Against Me!, Fake Problems, Franz Nicolay: The Masquerade

– Cake: Fox Theatre

– JJ Grey & Mofro: Variety Playhouse

– Kylesa: The Earl

– Naughty By Nature, Ed Kowalczyk: Hyatt Regency

– Perpetual Groove: Center Stage

– STS9: The Tabernacle

– Zac Brown Band: Philips Arena

Atlantic City

– Brand New: House of Blues

Austin

– Big Freedia: The Mohawk

– The Black Angels, Wooden Shjips, Ume: Emo’s East

– Bob Schneider, Quiet Company: Paramount Theatre

– Designer Drugs: Austin Music Hall

– Gary Clark Jr.: Antone’s

– Groupo Fantasma: Beauty Bar

– Hayes Carll: La Zona Rosa

– Penguin Prison: American Legion Hall

– Russian Circles: Red 7

– White Denim, Royal Bangs: The Empire Space

– Willie Nelson: Moody Theater

Australia

– Arctic Monkeys, Crystal Castles, Dan Deacon, The Naked and Famous: The Falls Festival (Lorne)

– Fleet Foxes, Beirut, CSS, CANT, Unknown Mortal Orchestra: The Falls Festival (Marion Bay)

Baltimore

– Carbon Leaf: Hyatt Regency

– SOJA: Baltimore Soundstage

Boston

– David Wax Museum: Lizard Lounge (Cambridge, MA)

– Lucero: Paradise

– New York Dolls: New England Conservatory

Charlotte (North Carolina)

– Widespread Panic: Time Warner Cable Arena

Dallas

– Girl Talk, Ghostland Observatory, MSTRKRFT, Neon Indian, Pendulum (DJ Set): Lights All Night

– The Polyphonic Spree, Centro-matic: House of Blues

– Quinton and Miss Pussycat: Zubar

Denver

– Flux Pavilion, Doctor P: Colorado Convention Center

– Gauntlet Hair, Pictureplane: The Larmier Lounge

– Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad: Cervantes’ Other Side

– Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Orgone: Cervatnes Ballroom

– Ladytron (DJ Set): City Hall

– Pretty Lights: 1stBANK Center (Broomfield, CO)

– Railroad Earth: Ogden Theatre

– Truckasauras: The Summit

– Ween: The Fillmore

Detroit

– The Detroit Cobras: Magic Stick

– Greensky Bluegrass, The Macpodz: Majestic Theatre

– Maze featuring Frankie Beverly: Masonic Temple

Greenville (South Carolina)

– The Avett Brothers: Bi-Lo Center

Houston

– Blue October: House of Blues

– Christopher Lawrence: Stereo Live

– Young Jeezy: Reliant Arena

Lake Tahoe

– Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Thievery Corporation, The Glitch Mob, Childish Cambino, A-Trak, Theophilus London, YACHT: Snowglobe Music Festival

Las Vegas

– Chris Brown: Pure Nightclub

– Guns N’ Roses, Sebastian Bach: The Joint

– John Legend: Pearl Concert Theater

– Kaskade: Marquee

– NOFX, Lagwagon: House of Blues

– Paul Oakenfold: Rain

– Steve Angello: XS Nightclub

– Stevie Wonder: Cosmopolitan

Louisville (Kentucky)

– The Pass: Butchertown Pub Studios

Miami

– The Heavy Pets: Tobacco Road

– Spam All-Stars: The Catalina Hotel

Minneapolis

– Dawes: Varsity Theater

– EOTO: Skyway Theater

Milwaukee

– Skrillex, Dillon Francis: The Rave

Nashville

– Bassnectar: Bridgestone Arena

– Moon Taxi, Apache Relay: Exit/In

New Orleans

– Big Sam’s Funky Nation: The Joy Theater

– Black Lips: One Eyed Jacks

– Dr. John: House of Blues

– Funky Meters: Tipitina’s French Quarter

– Galactic, Anders Osborne: Tipitina’s Uptown

— Rebirth Brass Band: Howlin’ Wolf

Northampton (Massachusetts)

– Josh Ritter: Calvin Theater

– Rubblebucket: Pearl Street Nightclub

Oklahoma City

– The Flaming Lips, Yoko Ono: Brickstown Events Center

Orlando

– Trivium, Sevendust, Black Tide: House of Blues

– Slightly Stoopid, The Expendables: Hard Rock Live

Ottawa

– Electric Six: Mavericks

Philadelphia

– Clutch: Trocadero

– Eternal Summers, Bleeding Rainbow: Level Room

– Good Old War, River City Extension: Theatre of Living Arts

– Lotus: Festival Pier

– Man Man (DJ Set), Dr. Dog (DJ Set), Sun Airway (DJ Set): Johnny Brenda’s

– Smoking Popes: North Star Bar

Phoenix

– Meat Puppets: Clubhouse Music Venue

Portland (Maine)

– moe.: State Theatre

Portland (Oregon)

– Leftover Salmon: Roseland Theater

– Nurses, Radiation City: Mississippi Studios

– Pierced Arrows: Ash Street Saloon

– Red Fang: Star Theater

– Reverend Horton Heat, Supersuckers: The Crystal Ballroom

– Talkdemonic: Misson Theater

San Diego

– Fedde Le Grand, Porter Robinson, Hardwell, Bart B More: Valley View Casino Center (OMFG! NYE)

– Kinky: 4th & B

Seattle

– Mustard Pimp: King Cat Theatre

– Starfucker, Champagne Champagne: The Crocodile

St. Louis (Missouri):

– Cowboy Mouth: Old Rock House

– Devon Allman’s Honeytribe: Blueberry Hill

– Excision: Koken Art Factory

– Umphrey’s McGee: The Pageant

Toronto

– Elliot Brood: Lee’s Palace

– Kyuss! Lives: Cherry Cola’s Rock N’ Rolla Cabaret & Lounge

– The Sadies: Horseshoe Tavern

– Steve Aoki, Thomas Gold: Kool Haus

Vancouver

– Tiësto: Pacific Coliseum

Washington, DC

– Animal Collective (DJ Set), Le Tigre (DJ Set), ANR (DJ Set): 1800 L Street NW (BYT NYE)

– Drive-By Truckers, Booker T, Alabama Shakes: 9:30 Club

– Gucci Mane: Love Night Club

– Morgan Page: Fur Nightclub

– Painted Face: Rock and Roll Hotel

On TV

– Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (ABC): Lady Gaga, Florence and the Machine, Blink-182, Nicki Minaj

– New Year’s Eve with Carson Daily (NBC): Drake, The Roots, Cee-Lo Green

– NYE in NYC (MTV): J. Cole

– Coldplay New Year’s Eve: An Austin City Limits Special (PBS)

Update: The streams have been removed, but Diplo promises an official preview next Monday.

It may not be perfect, but Turntable.fm is already starting to yield some magical musical goodies. Case in point: Diplo dropped by the social DJing site’s VIPFest room on Monday evening and shared three new tracks created for the Major Lazer moniker. The cuts, “Ml Bugle No 3rd T2″, “ML II Mystic Bubble T2 3rd”, and an untitled number, are streaming right now over at the blog of 107.7 The End. No word yet on if these will end up on Major Lazer’s sophomore LP, so stay tuned for more as it’s announced.

Despite the simplistic title, it does actually have meaning beyond this being her fourth solo LP. “We all have special numbers in our lives, and 4 is that for me,” she told Billboard. “It’s the day I was born. My mother’s birthday, and a lot of my friends’ birthdays, are on the fourth; April 4 is my wedding date.”

While there’s no word yet on a definitive release date (though it could be as early as June), the album’s rumored list of collaborators and producers is already reason enough to be excited. Along with production from Switch on the album’s lead single, the rumor mill was recently abuzz with talk of Sleigh Bells’ Derek E. Miller making a guest spot. Other rumored songwriters/producers include Jim Jonsin, Ne-Yo, The-Dream, and Frank Ocean (the OFWGKTA member, who wrote on his blog, “[Beyoncé's] singing my songs. If time were to stop right now, the past couple weeks would be near the top of the highlight reel for my short time on earth.”)

Beyoncé has also been getting in touch with the work of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, who inspired the singer-actress to open up creatively. “I recorded more than 60 songs: everything I ever wanted to try, I just did it. I started off being inspired by Fela Kuti,” Beyonce told Billboard. “I actually worked with the band from “Fela!” [the hit Broadway musical based on his life] for a couple of days…what I learned most from Fela was artistic freedom: he just felt the spirit.” Other sources of inspiration include Adele, Earth, Wind & Fire, Teena Marie, Florence and the Machine, and DeBarge

Meanwhile, Beyoncé will release the video for “Run the World (Girls)” on Friday at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Moral of the story? There’s no time to give her hubby a haircut.

Earlier this year, producers extraordinaire Diplo and Switch (the brains behind Major Lazer) teased fans by revealing that they had been trying to get the pop goddess of Planet Earth, Mrs. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, to work with lo-fi wunderkinds Sleigh Bells. While the fruits of that union have yet to be determined, Mrs. Carter did get some sonic love from Diplo and Switch with the track “Girls (Who Run the World)”, off her as-yet-untitled new album. The song, which samples Major Lazer’s “Pon De Floor”, is a dropkick to the males of the world with a beat we can all get down to. Check out the track (tag-free) right now below (courtesy of The Uptown Lounge).

Beyonce’s next LP is set to drop in June; as always, stay tuned for more info as it’s announced.

The artist formerly known as Santogold is ready to follow up her 2008 breakout debut. Over at Jay-Z’s newly launched Life + Times website, in between Hov’s interview with Gwyneth Paltrow and an Ichiro Suzuki biography, you can stream a new track entitiled “Go”, which features the vocals of Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O and the production work of Q-Tip and Switch. There’s also an interview with the 34-year-old Philadelphia native in which she explains that the song has a dual meaning. “On one hand it’s a challenge, beckoning any would-be usurpers to come show and prove. On the other, it’s a call to myself to rise to the occasion.”

There’s no word on when Santigold’s new album will see light, so stay tuned for more details.

2k10 was not a year to remember for M.I.A., so you can understand why she’s wasting no time in kicking 2k11 off on the right foot. As promised, Miss Maya has delivered a New Year’s Eve mixtape, titled Vicki Leekx, and you can grab the 19-track effort as a free download right here. Production credits include Switch, Rusko, Blaqstarr, and ex-BF Diplo. R.I.P. truffle-gate.

Vicki Leekx Tracklist:
01. The World
02. Bamboo Go
03. Illy Girl
04. Super Tight
05. Let Me Hump You
06. WWW/Meds/Feds
07. Steppin’/Up
08. Go At It
09. Vicki Intermission
10. Gen-N-E-Y
11. Bad Girls
12. Dutch Dutch
13. Marsha/Britney
14. Tamil Beat Munchi
15. Listen Up
16. Mudersounds Munchi
17. Overdrive
18. You My Love (feat. Rosaly)
19. Get Around

Major Lazer is the bass-heavy brainchild of DJs Diplo and Switch. In June of 2009, they released their debut album, Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do, to generally favorable reviews and huge community fanfare. With breakout performances at Coachella and HARD LA, they’ve become the dance act to see in 2010.

For those who listened to Guns, there won’t be very many surprises on this EP. The EP itself only contains two new songs, and three remixes that are hit and miss. On paper, this EP looks extremely solid, with collaborations from massive names M.I.A. and Thom Yorke, among others. But when it comes to this one, I would advise you to use your ears more than you use yoru eyes.

Of the two new tracks, the one that features M.I.A. is much the inferior (she really just can’t win these days). Her track is a snare-happy dub track that focuses a little too much on her chorus, which is a highly monotonous. Surprisingly, the best new track is the one without M.I.A. on it. The second of the new tracks, “Good Enuff” is a catchy little ditty that is more authentic reggae than it is dub. It’s without question the best track on the EP, new or remix. Its infectious hooks and danceable beats will have you tapping your toes in no time.

The remix situation is uncannily similar to the new track situation. Just because Thom Yorke remixed it doesn’t mean that it’s the best remix. And this is coming from a man who worships the very ground Mr. Yorke walks on.

The first remix is of Guns sleeper track “Bruk Out”. The original is a solid song, but unfortunately is easily overlooked by bigger, more fascinating songs. This remix is the final push to the summit that makes this track a standout. With a sped up tempo and synth insanity, this one is truly better than the original, which is not a thing that happens often when it comes to remixes. The next remix done by K.L.A.M. is exactly what you’d expect from a remix. Very little variation, and where it does deviate, it does so in the wrong places. The reason “Can’t Stop Now” was a great track was because of the jaunting downbeat of the reggae and the impossible to dislike vocal melody. Essentially this song took one of the standouts from Major Lazer’s debut and turned it into drivel.

Now, let’s talk turkey. And by turkey I mean Thom Yorke. The Radiohead mastermind is known for his thin, floating treble when it comes to his solo work. Conversely, Major Lazer’s “Jump Up” is known for its substantial use of bass beats. I wish I could tell you that Thom’s style of remix is the jelly to “Jump Up”’s peanut butter, but it’s not. It’s more like the tomato sauce to “Jump Up”’s peanut butter; which is to say, the two do not mix well. I love Thom Yorke, and I really enjoy Major Lazer, but I don’t think they were a match made in heaven.

Nonetheless, this is an EP worth listening to simply for the new track “Good Enuff” and the much improved “Bruk Out”. On the whole, however? This EP isn’t worth your dollar, so I’d suggest you just playlist.com this one, or purchase the single tracks. It’s an interesting take on an awesome dance act’s debut album, but one that falls flat on its face literally three out of five times.

Come July 20th, we’ll receive a guest-heavy five-track EP entitled Lazers Never Die that will contain 4fourcompletely new songs, and a remix of Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do track “Jump Up” by none other than Thom Yorke. M.I.A. will also make an appearance on the first track called “Sound of Sirens”.

If there’s anything we’ve learned from this eccentric DJ project besides the proper way to dry hump, it is that we can never predict their next move. What this EP means, only time will tell. Another album, an expanded tour, who knows? We will certainly keep you posted. See the complete track list (via The Music Slut) after the jump.

Lazers Never Die EP Tracklist:
01. Sound Of Siren (feat. M.I.A. & Busy Signal)
02. Good Enough (feat. Collie Buddz & Lindi Ortega]
03. Bruk Out (Buraka Som Sistema Mix)
04. Can’t Stop Now (K.L.A.M. Mix Feat. Miss Banks)
05. Jump Up (Thom Yorke Mix)

As Rap-Up.com reports (via TFB), the folks behind HARD hired a blimp to fly over Jay-Z’s Friday night set at Coachella to advertise M.I.A.’s upcoming performances in Los Angeles and New York. The blimp also flashed the message “New Album 6.29.10”. Though an official announcement has not yet been made, we can probably conclude the obvious and assume the message is a reference to her upcoming, yet-to-be titled third LP and its now June 29th release date. Update: It’s official.

As previously reported, M.I.A. worked with producers Diplo, Rusko, Switch, Blaqstarr, and Sleigh Bells’ Derek Miller on the album. Beyond all the aforementioned, we don’t know much more.

M.I.A. 2010 Tour Dates:
07/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Cornfields of Los Angeles State Historic Park
07/24 – New York, NY @ Governors Island
08/01 – London, UK @ Underage Festival
08/05-08 – Herefordshire, UK @ The Big Chill
08/10-14 – Oslo, NO @ Oya Festival

Major Lazer, who’s the result of a collaboration between DJs/producers Diplo and Switch, released its debut, Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do, last year. Yorke’s remix of the track “Jump Up” is just one of the five tracks on the Lazers Never Die EP. Other tracks include the M.I.A. and Busy Signal collabo entitled “Sound of Siren” (which you can below) plus remixes of “Can’t Stop Now” and “Bruk Out” plus appearances by Ms. Banks, Collie Buddz, and Lindi Ortega. No official release date has been set, but expect it to drop sometime in April.

You can catch the Major on tour with Rusko this March.

Lazers Never Die Tracklist:
01 Sound of Siren [ft. M.I.A. and Busy Signal]
02 Good Enough [ft. Collie Buddz and Lindi Ortega]
03 Can’t Stop Now (Kicks Like a Mule Remix) [ft. Ms. Banks]
04 Bruk Out (Buraka Som Sistema Mix)
05 Jump Up (Thom Yorke Remix)

Major Lazer 2010 Tour Dates:
03/27 – Miami, FL @ Ultra Music Festival *
03/28 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade *
03/30 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle *
03/31 – Baltimore, MD @ Bourbon St. *
04/02 – Philadelphia, Pa @ Starlight Ballroom *
04/03 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 *
04/04 – Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East *
04/06 – Columbus, OH @ BoMa *
04/07 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues *
04/08 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue *
04/09 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore *
04/10 – Chicago, IL @ Metro *
04/11 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *
04/13 – Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom *
04/15 – Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory *
04/16 – San Francisco, CA @ The Mezzanine *
04/17 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music Festival

* = w/ Rusko

Of course, the project is actually the brainchild of masterminds Diplo and Switcth. Their debut, Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do, took a mish-mash of of everything from standard dance fare to reggaeton, hip-hop, and Andy Milonakis comedy and presented a highly palatable dance album. The supporting tour kicks off on March 27th at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, FL, winds its way across both east and west and ends with a bang at Coachella. What a nice little bookend, fellas. Rusko will open for the tour — for those not in the know, the “human bass tornado, and current reigning champ of the dubstep scene” recently signed to Diplo’s Mad Decent label and produced M.I.A.’s new song “Space Odyssey”.  What a pedigree.

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

Major Lazer 2010 Tour Dates:
03/27 – Miami, FL @ Ultra Music Festival *
03/28 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade *
03/30 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle *
03/31 – Baltimore, MD @ Bourbon St. *
04/02 – Philadelphia, Pa @ Starlight Ballroom *
04/03 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 *
04/04 – Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East *
04/06 – Columbus, OH @ BoMa *
04/07 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues *
04/08 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue *
04/09 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore *
04/10 – Chicago, IL @ Metro *
04/11 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *
04/13 – Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom *
04/15 – Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory *
04/16 – San Francisco, CA @ The Mezzanine *
04/17 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music Festival

* = w/ Rusko

In support of their debut full-length, Diplo and Switch will embark on a rather eclectic North American tour beginning in June. We say eclectic because of the 11 North American dates, four are part of Bacardi B-Live and one, the August 7th date at Chicago’s Congress Theater, looks to be a Lollapalooza aftershow. Then, there’s the October 31st show at The Forum in Los Angeles, aka HARD Haunted Mansion.

Talk about covering your bases.

Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do hits record shelves on June 16th via Downtown/Mad Decent.

Major Lazer 2009 Tour Dates:
06/13 – New York, NY @ SOBs
06/18 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues *
06/19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *
06/20 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
06/24 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
06/25 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
06/26 – San Francisco, CA @ The Grand Ballroom
06/27 – Los Angeles, CA @ LA Memorial Coliseum
07/05 – Roskilde, DK @ Roskilde Festival
07/10 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s *
07/11 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues *
08/07 – Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater
08/31 – London, UK @ Carnival
09/05 – Stradbally, IE @ Electric Picnic
09/12 – Isle of Wight, UK @ Bestival
10/31 – Inglewood, CA @ The Forum (HARD Haunted Mansion)

* = Bacardi B-Live Tour

Not so fast. That’s if you take much stock in the duo’s description on the project:

Major Lazer is a Jamaican commando who lost his arm in the secret Zombie War of 1984. The US military rescued him and repurposed experimental lazers as prosthetic limbs. Since then Major Lazer has been a hired renegade soldier for a rogue government operating in secrecy underneath the watch of M5 and the CIA. His cover is that of a dancehall night club owner from Trinidad and he enlisted the help of long-time allies and uber-producers, Diplo and Switch, to produce his first LP. His true mission is to protect the world from the dark forces of evil that live just under the surface of a civilized society. He fights vampires and various monsters, parties hard, and has a rocket powered skateboard.

As part of a plan to subdue the forces of evil with a batch of futuristic dancehall bangers, the three encamped at Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica to record the Major Lazer record. The product of this collaboration is Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do.

Told you so. Rather than even try to begin to comprehend what is written above, let me just present you with the detals.

Due out June 16th, Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do will consist of 13 guest heavy tracks, featuring a sound that “draws from the rich dancehall tradition of Jamaica, the futuristic dance-floor-killing aesthetic of Diplo and Switch, and contributions from some of the biggest names in dancehall today” – I guess this is where the Jamaican commando thing comes into play?

In support of the release, the duo will take part in this year’s Bacardi B-Live summer tour, which kicks off next month and also features the likes of MSTRKRFT, DJ A-Trak, Major Lazer, Tiga, Steve Porter, DJ Z-Trip, Matt & Kim, Q-Tip, and album contributor Santgold. No word on whether the vampires and rocket powered skateboard will be tagging along.

Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do Tracklist:
01. Hold The Line (feat. Mr. Lex & Santogold)
02. When You Hear The Bassline (feat. Ms. Thing)
03. Can’t Stop Now (feat. Mr. Vegas & Jovi Rockwell)
04. Lazer Theme (feat. Future Trouble)
05. Anything Goes (feat. Turbulence)
06. Cash Flow (feat. Jah Dan)
07. Mary Jane (feat. Mr. Evil & Mapei)
08. Bruk Out (feat. T.O.K. & Ms. Thing)
09. What U Like (feat. Amanda Blank & Einstein)
10. Keep It Goin’ Louder (feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze)
11. Pon De Floor (feat. VYBZ Kartel)
12. Baby (feat. Prince Zimboo)
13. Jump Up (feat. Leftside & Supahype)