Week 06: Feb 12- Feb 19, 2013

+ Happenings in Jack Whiteville: Owner of Third Man Records and being a clear vinyl connoisseur JW was named Record Store Day Ambassador for 2013. The superhuman, White, has also partnered with Nashvilles Belcourt Theatre for a monthly film series called 'Light and Sound Machine'.

+Gaslight Anthems 'Every Word Handwritten'  is a 15 minute short that is ultimately based on the lifespan of a record and the effect it can have on generations. Interesting? We'll see.

+ Rilo Kiley is releasing a special album this year, 'RKives'. The album is said to feature past B-sides, demos, and other gems unheard by the public. This week RK released a somewhat sweet and dreamy "Let Me Back In"

+ Prince releases a new track 'That Girl Thang'. The track strays from the flamboyant singers usual style, being acoustic. He does however stay true to his signature high, androgynous vocals.

+ A project requiring the use of 170 musicians, Beck has completed his rendition of David Bowie's 'Sound and Vision'. The finished product is BEYOND awesome. Extremely well done. It is my current favorite thing. If I do anything for you, reader, let it be me showing you this video. Click on the link! Don't be shy.

+ Tame Impala made their TV debut back in 2011 on Fallon and return to the set this week. The Aussie outfit is so unfazed and so wonderful; Elephant.

+ So, Michael Jacksons son, Prince, becomes a celebrity journalist on Entertainment Tonight? Irony, I think so.

+ Phoenix debut 'Entertainment' which will appear on their album set to be released April 23rd titled Bankrupt. The band has also released the album art work. Think, peaches.

+ VIDEOS: Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake release video for 'Suit and Tie' and the world continues to talk about and love 'Mirrors'. Suit and Tie is as classy as JT's new persona. So happy to have JT back. Passion Pit cast a crazy/beautiful Sophia Bush in their latest music video for 'Carried Away'. Lana Del Rey keeps up her diva, sultry songstress character in 'Burning Desire'. Yeah Yeah Yeahs give teaser to new track 'Always' that will appear on their album 'Mosquito'. Canada's west coast wonders, Yukon Blonde, release their video for 'Guns'.

+ Word on the street is that Black Sabbath is hanging up their regular heavy metal style for a blues album on their LP set to be released this year.

+ JUNO Awards nominees are announced!! And The Sheepdogs are up for a slew of awards. I was also happy to see that Yukon Blonde was nominated as well as Grimes and Bahamas! For the Americans reading this.. it's the Grammys in Canada for Canada and with much less sparkle.

+ The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival line-up has been announced!!! Today Weird Al helped in announcing the line-up in a Bonnaroo Lineup Announcement Megathon. Which just made the fest blow all other festivals out of the water in getting fans hyped up. **

**stay tuned for 'Road to 'Roo 2013' and 'A Peek into 'Roo '13' posts on the blog.

Week 04: Jan 29- Feb 5, 2013

+ K-Os' new album, Black on Blonde, dropped this past week. It's experimental, lengthy, and great. The Canadian rapper also has set dates for his Canada tour.

 + Macklemores hipsteresque rap song, Thrift Shop, is a Billboard chart topper! No surprises here. The song is clever and inventive. Not to mention beyond catchy. Could it be this years Call Me, Maybe? Maybe. This is fuck-ing awe-some.

+ Iron & Wine plans to release a new album, Ghost on Ghost, in April. Sam Beam seems to be all business as usual. The first single from Ghost on Ghost was released this week called 'Lovers Revolution'. It's jazzy in its big band style. A meritorious taste of what is to come.

+ Beck is in the works of creating a cover of David Bowie's 'Sound and Vision'. The cover will be created using 170 musicians. Beck is diving into the project and taking it on as his own. The quirky artist admits to probably never being able to work with this many artists at one time again, and is trying to cherish it to produce something inventive, while remaining authentic to Ziggy Stardust.

 + Jim James (of My Morning Jacket) performs on Fallon the night before his latest album debut; Regions of Light and Sound of God. The album, which dropped today, staying true to his indie folk sound dabbles in sounds of soul, and some chamber pop while experimenting with varying space rock sounds. Rad.

 + Fall Out Boy is back from their nearly 4 year hiatus. But, does anyone over the age of sixteen care? Patrick Stump should continue working solo. Soul Punk, Stumps 2011 solo effort was actually really good. Pete Wentz should stick to posting pictures of his junk online and being Ms. Simpsons baby daddy.

+ Vampire Weekend are doing big things this year, and I can't wait to experience them all. Their new album, titled 'Modern Vampires of the City' is set to be released May 7th. They have also signed on for countless North American shows.

+ The Sasquatch music festival lineup was released today. Headliners include The Lumineers, Mumford and Sons, The Postal Service.. the list goes. A fantastic lineup, trumping Coachella. Also, Atlanta has a new music festival called Shaky Knees Festival. It boasts an outstanding cast to start them off; Lumineers, Band of Horses, Jim James, Gary Clark Jr... I got butterflies looking at both set lists.

+ Super Bowl: Beyonce "killed" it. She was good. And more importantly, she didn't lip sync! Plus, who else was thrilled with Destinys Child? They could have sang a bit more though, really. I'm pretty sure Beyonce shut down the internet on Sunday night. Her performance overshadowed some pretty great performers that weekend. Including, Alicia Keys singing the national anthem, Gary Clark Jr., Stevie Wonder, and Justin Timberlake played the pre Super Bowl. Which you know was spectacular. Timberlake also played two new songs in big band style. Oh and, have we found the best use for Psy in America? Selling pistachios. Of course...

Week 01: Jan 7- 13, 2013

+ After a ten year lacuna David Bowie is back. On his 66th birthday Ziggy Stardust made the announcement - via new song with music video - that he is indeed still creating music. But how good is it, really? Should Ziggy head back to his hiatus? 

+ Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney let us know in November that they were hoping to release their follow up to El Camino early 2013. Working ferociously, The Black Keys have set a tentative release date for March. The Black Keys are still in the process of getting their unofficial cohort, Danger Mouse, to join them again on this next leg of their journey. 

+ fun. release a new song for the Girls soundtrack ; Sight of the Sun. The song is exactly what you would expect from the group. Does this mean a follow up to Some Nights sooner rather than later?

+ Black Sabbath have announced a new album. Drop date should be sometime in June. 

+ Yeah Yeah Yeah give a preview to new material. Watch Suck You Blood: here. Karen O is as weird, and awesome as ever. 

+ Documentary anticipation: Kurt Cobain doc approved by Courtney Love. Spin says "said to be this generations 'The Wall'". Also, a Ginger Baker documentary is in the works. I wonder who will make appearances in both. Fingers crossed for Clapton for Baker, and RHCP for Cobain. 

+ Pop alert: Destiny's Child has released a new song; Nuclear. And, Justin Timberlake says he is ready to make music again. JT allegedly has 20 songs ready to be worked on. Can't wait. 

+ Geddy Lee is said to have a guest appearance on a Robin Sparkles episode of How I Met Your Mother. (Feb)

+ Not only will Major Lazer be released their album Free the Universe in February, but they have also announced a world tour. This album is said (by Diplo) to be more diverse. Challenging social mores, and the physical world. 

+ Chart toppers: Despite not even releasing an album in 2012, Adele has the highest record sales of 2012. Mumford and Sons and Les Miserables soundtrack have officially (and finally) passed Taylor Swift's Red. About damn time.

+ Jack White joins Conan O'Brien on 'Serious Jibber-Jabber'. The duo chat about music, upholstery, and why babies might not make good band mates. Phenomenal talk. 

+ On March 5th we will finally get to hear the never before released tracks from Jimi Hendrix experimental years apart from the Experience. People, Hell and Angels promises Hendrix musical work with various jazz musicians.