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CONTEST: Diplo Prize Pack

One lucky winner will receive two tickets for his upcoming Philly gig (November 14th @ Starlight Ballroom). He or she will also be the recipient of a limited edition Mad Decent hardshell case (designed by J. Chabot for a 15" MacBook).

E-mail us for a chance to snag both prizes!

A victor will be randomly chosen on 11/1.

View all dates on Diplo's fall trek here.

Visit Diplo on MySpace.

MP3: Radiohead - Reckoner (Diplo Mix)

8 Questions With: Tally Hall

Following Friday's rousing set at Rehab, the Michigan based quintet dropped by The Rugby Store, where Jen got a chance to chat with Ross F. (percussionist) about a variety of topics.

1. What have you learned from being in the business?

Also, can you offer any advice to bands starting out?

It's really easy to get lost if you're caught up in too much of the "business" of everything. However, it's important to consider that of course, and to do everything you can to be active in promoting yourself and your music. The toughest part seems to be that the nature of the industry is such that things are always changing around, and the right move to make one month may be the wrong one the next. At that point, you need to just trust in the music you're making, and do what you really want to do. And if you succeed in that, the rest should fall into place.

2. How important is it for a band to come & play conferences like CMJ & SXSW?

Any opportunity to join in with your peers and perform, watch shows, converse, etc. it always a good. And there's no denying the fact that there are fun times to be had as well.

3. You were invited to play Lollapalooza this year which must have been amazing.

What is it like playing a festival that large?

It was certainly different than any other festivals we had played before. I was most impressed with how well coordinated everything was, and how well the festival was run in general. And of course it offered the opportunity to play for thousands of people who were all there because they wanted to spend their entire day enjoying music. I personally had a blast, got to talk to some artists that have been huge inspirations!

4. You recently made the move from Ann Arbor to New York. How are you finding it?

So far it has quickly become a very comfortable and exciting place to live and work on music. We found a great practice space that we enjoy spending time in and enjoy writing in, and what more could you ask for while embarking on your next album.

5. I've heard that you're currently writing your 2nd album. How is that going?

So far so good. I am confident that we will have a proud collection of songs to present.

6. Rugby likes to highlight different social action causes.

Do you have any special interest in a certain charity or cause?

It being almost election time, I should say I am always supportive of any organizations, bipartisan or otherwise, that move people to vote. It's tough sometimes when the electoral college system makes your vote seem meaningless, but everyone really should be making their voice heard. Our entire system of government is based on that fundamental principal, and we can't let laziness or apathy towards politics take anything away from that.

7. Tell me about your colors (each member has a different trademark tie which they wear at all gigs and in all press shots), how did that come about? Do you think it is important for a band to have a specific look?

The colors came up as a way to set ourselves apart from all of the other bands playing around campus. The idea of doing a little branding can go a long way in making your presence known. I don't necessarily think it's important that bands have a specific look, but something that people can refer to and say: "oh, it's the band that does this this this, or wears that". It can really help how well they remember you.

8. What was the highlight of CMJ 2008 for you?

For me it's really been the fact that so many of our friends our in town, be it bands or otherwise. It's nice that there was a reason for everyone to come in town the same weekend and play music together.

Visit Tally Hall on MySpace.

MP3: Tally Hall - Good Day

CMJ 2008: Matt's Best Of Day 5

Sharon Van Etten (MySpace/MP3)
The Muggabears (MySpace/MP3)
PWRFL Power (MySpace/MP3)
Hayes Peebles (MySpace/MP3)
The Depreciation Guild (MySpace/MP3)

CMJ 2008: Matt's Best Of Day 4

School Of Seven Bells (MySpace/MP3)
Tally Hall (MySpace/MP3)
The Seabellies (MySpace)
The Noisettes (MySpace/MP3)

ATJ's CMJ 2008 Unofficial Showcase: NEW VENUE!

Tomorrow's impending T storms have caused us to relocate to... MARKET HOTEL (1142 Myrtle Avenue)!

The fabulous bill includes:

Fight Bite
High Places
The Homosexuals
Women
Bearsuit
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
Passion Pit
The Ruby Suns
Crystal Stilts

The party begins at NOON (and ends at SEVEN).

We can't wait to close out CMJ '08 with y'all!

*THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED!*

MP3: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead

CMJ 2008: Matt's Best Of Day 3 (Part 2)

Shad (MySpace/MP3)
White Lies (MySpace/MP3)
Wye Oak (MySpace/MP3)
Sharon Van Etten (MySpace/MP3)
Sebastien Grainger (MySpace/MP3)

CMJ 2008: Matt's Best Of Day 3 (Part 1)

Bearsuit (MySpace)
Japanese Motors (MySpace/MP3)
Friendly Fires (MySpace/MP3)
Bridges & Powerlines (MySpace/MP3)
Phosphorescent (MySpace/MP3)

CMJ 2008 Day 2: Matt's Discoveries

Motel Motel (MySpace)
The Muslims (MySpace/MP3)
Starfucker (MySpace/MP3)
The Depreciation Guild (MySpace/MP3)
The Beets (MySpace)

The Gay Blades Record Daytrotter Session

Their recent set featured:

O Shot
Dog Day Afternoon
Mean Muses
Puppy Mills Presents

Download each & every track here.

Visit The Gay Blades on MySpace.

MP3: The Gay Blades - Plastic Jesus

Keane Visits Jools Holland

Enjoy last night's wonderful take on 'The Lovers Are Losing' in the clip below.


MP3: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know

The NY Times Reviews The Music Slut's CMJ 2008 Showcase

Other blog curated parties discussed include:

-Pop Tarts Suck Toasted
-Brooklyn Vegan
-Stereogum

Read the full feature here.

MP3: Pattern Is Movement - Right Away

Nous Non Plus Announces New LP

Brace yourself for Menagerie!

The set will see daylight on February 3rd.

It'll include a fabulous Unicorns cover (at bottom).

Official cover art to your right.

Visit Nous Non Plus on MySpace.

MP3: Nous Non Plus - Fantome Dur

CMJ 2008 Day 2: Matt's Old Faves

The Lisps (MySpace/MP3)
Drink Up Buttercup (MySpace/MP3)
Unicycle Loves You (MySpace/MP3)
Chairlift (MySpace/MP3)
That Fleeting World (MySpace)

Lykke Li @ Bowery (CMJ): Look For The Swing

Absolutely magnetic! Fave TMS track of the evening: 'Breaking It Up'. Photos below.













MP3: Lykke Li - I'm Good I'm Gone (Metronomy Mix)

Bloc Party Visits Jools Holland

Enjoy last night's glorious take on 'Mercury' in the clip below. MP3 at bottom.


MP3: Bloc Party - I Still Remember (Remix)

Gentleman Auction House Records WOXY Lounge Session

Monday's set featured:

You And Me, Madly...
Call It Casual
I Sleep In A Bed Of Scissor Arms
The Book Of Matches
We Used To Dream About Bridges

Learn more about GAH here.

MP3: Gentleman Auction House - Live On WOXY

The Verve Debuts New Video

Enjoy 'Rather Be' below. Download a classic Verve selection at bottom of post.


MP3: The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony

Friendly Fires @ Bowery (CMJ): Twist & Shout

Another phenomenal set from UK based trio. Visit Friendly Fires on MySpace. Photos below.









MP3: Friendly Fires - Jump In The Pool

The Music Slut's CMJ 2008 Showcase: Upstairs Pictorial

PWRFL Power, Lissy Trullie, Said The Whale, Emmy The Great, Shackeltons & Holy Moly.











MP3: PWRFL Power - It's Okay

The Music Slut's CMJ 2008 Showcase: Downstairs Pictorial

Chairlift, Bryan Scary, Pattern Is Movement, Au, Rumspringa & A Brief Smile.











MP3: Chairlift - Make Your Mind Up (Live On WOXY)

8 Questions With: Andy Rourke

It's not every day that you get to chat with a former Smith. Last night, I had the opportunity to speak with the bassist extraordinaire about past, current & future projects...

1. Welcome back to NYC. Are you excited for CMJ?

Well, I'm very tired. I just got off of a transcontinental flight and I have a busy week. Busy in the good sense. I have 3 or 4 DJ gigs over the next 5 days. However, I'm excited to see Friendly Fires, supposedly they are pretty awesome.

2. Can you tell me a little bit more about Freebass and if an LP will ever see daylight? I'm itching to hear the collaboration between Peter Hook, Mani & you.

Oh god yes! We're making headway. Initially, we couldn't find a vocalist. Now, we have Tim Burgess on one track. We're attempting to pin down Liam Gallagher. That's a work in progress. We're also working with Ian Brown. We've got 8 songs in the bag, so hopefully the album will be out next year. At the very least, a single. I can't believe it's taken 3 or 4 years already. It's almost to the point of embarrassment. I've done interview after interview and we haven't shared anything yet. People actually think that it doesn't exist! It does. It's difficult to match each other's schedules. But, as I said, we're making headway.

3. When watching your recent documentary, Inside The Smiths, it's quite clear that you and former Smiths drummer, Mike Joyce, are still very close. How has your friendship stayed in tact through the last twenty seven years?

Back when we started, I knew Johnny quite well. I knew Morrissey. I didn't know Mike, but as we were on tour, Morrrissey kept to himself & Johnny was with wife. Consequently, Mike & me began sharing hotel rooms together. We got to know each other and became close friends. At the moment, Mike's with a great new band called Autokat comprised of youngsters. By comparison, me & Mike are a couple of oldies!

4. If you were to select your favorite Smiths tracks, what would you choose?

I'm proud of all of them. I guess I'd pick 'Rubber Ring', 'The Headmaster Ritual' & 'How Soon Is Now?'. When I consider the back catalog, I must say that we were quite prolific. We were perfectionists about what we did. Not a single song was banged out lightly.

5. You recently toured with Ian Brown. How'd that go?

It was great. I met him at a friend's 40th birthday party. He was in full Clockwork Orange gear & it scared the shit outta me. Though he quickly turned out to be good buddy.

6. You ended your DJ stint on XFM Manchester a few months back. Why so?

I did it for about a year. I enjoyed playing the music. As for as the talking, when the red light would come on, I would freak out. I needed a few bottles of wine to get through each program. It was a good experience but I prefer doing it live. Mike Joyce has a show called 'Revolution'. He will sit there and talk for ten minutes! Amazing.

7. You've worked alongside a bevy of musical artists. Have any of these collaborators been particularly challenging or demanding? Also, who's been easy?

Chrissie Hynde gets bad press but when I worked with her she was fantastic & passionate. She is a beautiful person. I had great fun working with Morrissey. Sinead O'Connor is often portrayed as a crazy banshee, but she was great, as well.

8. Lastly, do you have any further cancer benefit gigs lined up?

Oh yes, that's an ongoing thing. There's one in Scotland next month. There will be another show in March of next year. I plan on doing these on a regular basis for quite some time.

Visit Andy Rourke on MySpace.

MP3: The Smiths - The Headmaster Ritual [alt link]

CONTEST: Limited Edition Decemberists Poster

A truly fabulous collector's item!

'Sea Lined Paper' is featured within The Insound 20.

Enter to win it here!

A victor will be randomly chosen & announced on 10/28.

Visit The Decemberists on MySpace.

MP3: The Decemberists - Billy Liar

Nas Unleashes Obama PSA

Enjoy the 75 second video below. Download a Nas selection at bottom of post.


MP3: Nas - Purple

Ben Kweller Debuts New Tune In Denver

Enjoy last week's performance of 'Gypsy Rose' below. BK MP3 at bottom of post.


MP3: Ben Kweller - Lollipop