ICYMI:

Just in time for the iTunes Festival segment of SXSW this weekend, headliner Coldplay has released new music for their upcoming album via YouTube. Ghost Stories, the follow-up to 2011's Mylo Xyloto, is set to premier May 19th and the first two singles barely push the envelope die-hard Coldplay fans come to love from albums past. Newest track "Magic" is a bit too pop-infused, nearly butchering Chris Martin's signature croon with lyrics so basic we pray they weren't influenced by Gwyneth Paltrow. "Midnight" is echo-y and reminiscent of Bon Iver, drifting from their typical guitar/drum driven sound. With these two tracks Ghost Stories may have Parachutes fans hoping it's all a dark fable, with mild EDM a figment of Coldplay's imagination.

What do you think? Should fans of pre-Mylo Zyloto Coldplay be afraid of their change?

ICYMI:

theguardian.com

Swedish singer Lykke Li reveals the title of her upcoming, dream-pop album I Never Learn via YouTube. The trailer hued and slightly faded, shows a displaced Li clad in all white pensive on a hilltop overlooking a distant city. It's disheartening and stark with dying flowers and tears shed over lost love, a low banter (an unnamed single) soundtracking the clip. Li told NME, "It's always about me and the guilt and the shame and the hurt and the pride and the confusion of being a woman." The singer also mentioned that this is the last installment in the trilogy of her past three albums. I Never Learn is set to drop May 6th.

ICYMI:

The Californian alternative group The Neighbourhood recently hit 100k followers on Twitter and as a reward to their fans the artwork for their upcoming album #000000 & #FFFFFF was released. 

source: thenbhd.tumblr.com

Back in April 2013 the hip-hop influenced rockers put out their debut LP I Love You, with their hit singles "Sweater Weather" and "Afraid". Then sadly, last week The Neighbourhood announced that drummer and co-founder Bryan Sammis would be leaving the band for personal reason, and that the break off wasn't harmful to the band's future:

We wanted to let you all know that The Neighbourhood & Bryan “Olivver” Sammis are parting ways. We’ll miss playing music together but wish him the best on his musical journey ahead. We see all the good (via social networks) that the band and the individual members bring into people’s lives. We hope this doesn’t change any of that for you guys.
We thank you guys for all the support you’ve given us.”

Love, the nbhd (via The Neighbourhood's blog)

 The band has posted dates for a short headlining tour with supporting acts Kitten and Born Casual.

ICYMI:

Congratulations to Alexander Ebert, commonly known from folk group Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, on his Golden Globe win for Best Original Score tonight!

Survival themed and dialogue-absent film All Is Lost stars a shipwrecked, unnamed sailor (Robert Redford) abandoned somewhere in the Indian Ocean. Eleven beautifully crafted compositions tell the sailor's story of desolate isolation and a fearsome fight for survival. Alex uses every instrument to its peaks to create idiosyncratic pieces of such depth and passion that no other composer would be likely of with this picture.

All Is Lost is scheduled for DVD release in February.

Check out the full score here:

ICYMI:

Yeah, it's official. Coachella has announced their 2014 lineup and it is...epic!

Top 40 Most Awesome Albums of 2013

Happy New Year!!!! Do you miss 2013 yet? Get yourself hyped up for the mind-blowing music of 2014 with our picks of some of 2013's finest albums.

40. Daughter//If You Leave

39. Yeah Yeah Yeahs//Mosquito

38. Justice//Access All Arenas

37. Starfucker//Miracle Mile

36. The Civil Wars//The Civil Wars

35. Hellogoodbye//Everything Is Debatable

34. Cage the Elephant//Melophobia

33. Fall Out Boy//Save Rock and Roll

32. The Naked and Famous//In Rolling Waves

31. Bastille//Bad Blood

30. Janelle Monae//The Electric Lady

29. Daft Punk//Random Access Memories

28. Cut Copy//Free Your Mind

27. St. Lucia//When the Night

26. Lord Huron//Lonesome Dreams

25. Chance the Rapper//Acid Rap

24. Various Artists//Music from Baz Lurhmann's Film: The Great Gatsby

23. Arcade Fire//Reflektor

22. Lorde//Pure Heroine

21. Phoenix//Bankrupt!

20. The Neighbourhood//I Love You

19. Sky Ferreira//Night Time, My Time

18. Charli XCX//True Romance

17. Washed Out//Paracosm

16. James Blake//Overgrown

15. J. Cole//Born Sinner

14. On an On//Give In

13. Earl Sweatshirt//Doris

12. CHVRCHES//The Bones of What You Believe

11. HAIM//Days Are Gone

10. A$AP Rocky//LONG. LIVE. A$AP (Deluxe Edition)

9. Disclosure//Settle

8. Foals//Holy Fire

7. Local Natives//Hummingbird

6. Kanye West//Yeezus

5. Childish Gambino//because the internet

4. Portugal. The Man//Evil Friends

3. Arctic Monkeys//AM

2. The National//Trouble Will Find Me

1. Vampire Weekend//Modern Vampires of the City

Check It:

In April this year Fall Out Boy released their highly anticipated fifth album Save Rock and Roll. Tracks featured hip-hop artist Big Sean, pop singer Foxes, music legend Sir Elton John, and Courtney Love. Earlier in the year the group came out with their debut video for their hit single "My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark". This started the Youngblood Chronicles, a story told via music videos from all of the tracks on Save. So be prepared for a bit of crazy and Fall Out Boy horror. We break down the most recent eight parts to Youngblood Chronicles.

My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark: Part I

This was Fall Out Boy's first music video in nearly 7 years, so when the video aired in February fans were shocked to see that the members were barely in it at all and in their place was a scornful 2 Chainz, burning the groups' past albums. We were left to assume that the symbolism behind the purge was meant to address the exploitation and forces causing Fall Out Boy's imminent change. For years they have been the chameleons of rock and roll, always altering their sound. Would Save Rock and Roll be yet another shedding of the FOB genre skin? Villainous 2 Chainz helps usher in a new era with the group tied up and being led to their death. Let the Youngblood Chronicles begin.

The Phoenix: Part II

Rewind a bit from the events that took place in Part I, and we find Fall Out Boy looming over a mysterious, content-glowing suitcase. However, whatever the case contains places the whole band in danger, at the hands of some gorgeously clad, supermodel-esque kidnappers. What's Fall Out Boy without a few crazy groupies?

Young Volcanos: Part III

So the Boys have been caught and now they're being treated to a "last supper" with a seven deadly sins twist. We don't see this ending well for the group at all. 

Alone Together: Part IV

Tied up and separated, the Boys are being tortured and held against their will, still by their supermodel groupies. There is a higher voice or (voices) controlling their fate as we learn by the end. Was that Big Sean attempting an escape from the asylum-like prison those girls created?

The Mighty Fall: Part V

Yup, confirmed. Big Sean and Fall Out Boy escape from the crazy bitches in black. They don't get very far before they're encountered by yet another threat and this one is smaller...if you've never wanted kids or just aren't a fan of them--behold your worst nightmares fulfilled.

Just One Yesterday: Part VI

Foxes teaches us a few very valuable life lessons in "Just One Yesterday":

1. Always pic up bloodied and beaten rock stars, alone and in the middle of nowhere.
2. Be prepared: come stocked with a trunk full of water jugs.
3. Trust strangers to take the wheel if needed.
4. Sweet travel tunes are a necessity during long trips.

Where Did the Party Go: Part VII

What in the hell is up with Patrick Stump and why does this video remind me of a terribly made horror flick? The guys all split up, and we all know what goes down when that happens...Zombies or some form of psychotic ward attendants and patients roam the halls and I think it's safe for us to say that FOB have completely lost their minds. Are they hallucinating or is what they're seeing a strange and horrific reality? I feel like this is what it feels like to have serious sleep deprivation. Take note, night owls.

Death Valley: Part VIII

If Satan is Tommy Lee and hell is anything like this, then sign us up. Finally, the case is coming to a close, but it also looks like the shit is going to hit the fan simultaneously. Hopefully we find out who gave those kids all those weapons, why coral snakes like rock and roll, and if Sir Elton John will make an appearance. Don't worry, there are three more videos left in the Youngblood Chronicles. Fall Out Boy, don't keep us waiting too long. 

ICYMI:

According to  Rolling Stone, Ceelo Green and producer/DJ Danger Mouse are going to reprise Gnarls Barkley in 2014.

The group's album, St. Elsewhere, took the 2007 for Best Alternative Music Album. St. Elsewhere featured the worldwide hit "Crazy," which went double platinum in the U.S.  In 2008 Gnarls Barkley released The Odd Couple--less popular than its predecessor, but still acclaiming high reviews from Pitchfork and NME.

During the seven year hiatus, Ceelo and the other members of 90's hip hop group Goodie Mob attempted a reunion tour and a new album Age Against the Machine. He also got a role as a judge on The Voice then left briefly to promote the Goodie Mob album, then returned back to his slot.  He also had a run in with the law when he was accused of sexual harassment via party drug "Molly" this past October.

Overall it's been a pretty "crazy" ride for Ceelo this year. All we can hope for is another head-bopping album from Gnarls late 2014/early2015 and less of him in the news for date rape.

ICYMI:

Earlier in November the famed summer festival kickoff Sasquatch! announced that due to the 90-second ticket sales sell out last year, they will be expanding the fest over two weekends. No, not back-to-back weekends, but an entirely separate line-up nearly two months after the first. Camping in the Gorge during May and July? Might be pricey and risky, but if Sasquatch!'s success is anything like last year, then sign us up.