What have we been listening too? Well lets see...

ASAP Rocky's new mix-tape just broke the illustrious' Pitchfork's Album Reviews and it walked away with a simple score, 8.2. Pitchfork also labeled it "Best New Music". After listening to this mixtape, it is official. This mixtape is amazing! Clams Casino's beats are perfect and the timing and lyrics are phenomenal. That being said, this might just be the beginning of the end for this "new on the scene" lyricist. It just seems that rappers that have a strong showing with their mixtapes are usually prone to releasing a less than stellar official release. I say usually because that isn't always the case (i.e. Tyler the Creator's Goblin). If Rocky's mixtape gets a more official release (i.e. Mellowhype's Blackened White), then we might see something really take off. I would like to think that with the right label behind him ASAP Rocky could really show out, to the levels of Wiz Khalifa. I guess that isn't saying much. Swag. Anyway, take this link to DatPiff to download the mixtape.

ASAP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP

Atlas Sound is Bradford Cox's group. Cox is the lead singer of hipster-cherished group Deerhoof. We here at earbuds are pretty happy to have found an early track from Atlas Sound that we use in our intro and outro on the podcast. Anyway, Atlas Sound is really blowing up. With mentions all over the web, the new album is doing stellar. This write-up may be a little late, but I think it is worth it. You can find the new song Te Amo, by Atlas Sound on our playlist. You can listen to that playlist by clicking the play button at the bottom of the page. If you don't see the play button, then I guess you suck. Have fun leading a mediocre lifestyle. 

Atlas Sound

Also, Happy Veterans Day! Now, sit down and be annoyed by some horrible songs that commemorate our fighting forces. Love those guys, but these songs are so terrible. 

3 Doors Down - Citizen Soldier (If you are in America and you saw a movie in 2008 - 2009 then you are most likely annoyed by even hearing the opening guitar)

Kid Rock - Warrior (This too over-saturated movie going audiences)

Drowning Pool - Let The Bodies Hit The Floor (its national metal day ((11-11-11)) and this is like a commemorative song of the military now right?)

Godsmack - I Stand Alone (Another metal one, I guess this is metal. This is all just really annoying right?)

So veterans rock and this music is junk, we can do better America!

OK now! For the last bit here I would like to plug my top tracks of 2011 play list on spotify, here. So here is the link. 

Best tracks of 2011

Later 

S!D

A little late... a few tracks (don't judge me!)

 This week has been insane, I have been run ragged, I am emotionally and financially drained. This week has been an asshole. I have however had a few hours to myself this week to watch horror movies and listen to music (two of my favorite past times). In those few hours I dedicated my time to listening to new stuff. This is what I have been loving for the past few days.

M83 - Midnight City

This track is amazing and I have been obsessing over it for the past week. M83 is an amazing electronic heavy Nu-Wave/Indie Pop group that is right up there with bands like Empire of the Sun or Passion Pit. This music video is yet another venture into that medium that works. I am saying it man, if one of the music channels can get their shit together, music videos might have a repeat run with success. This video showcases kids with powers. Its fun as hell to watch. I suggest you do. Very clean and crisp too.

 Rustie - Ultra Thizz

You Tube says that this album is best listened to when taking MDMA (Ecstasy). The beats are clean and the song is just plain fun. Give it a listen and try not to move your head. Its impossible. This is again another electronic kick that really delivers one in the kisser. If you are in search of something really cool, Czech out this album. I wasn't disappointed. 

Lou Reed/Metallica - The View

Lou Reed's voice is not very well accompanied by the gritty corporate metal gods, Metallica. Most tracks on the album feel like holdovers from Death Magnetic. Reed sounds completely separate, like he is just sitting next to you spouting off poetry. Its really bizarre and hard to follow. Go ahead and listen to this, but don't say I didn't warn you. Go to http://www.loureedmetallica.com/listen-to-lulu.php to hear the full album, if you want to. It might be one of the only times that Metallica lets you hear their music without bitching about you paying for it. Fuck Lars. The View is the most popular track on the album. I would have listened to the entire album to give you my favorite track, but i couldn't make it past track 3. 

King Khan - I Got Love
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/reviews/tracks/12644-i-got-love/

So I heard this little ditty by King Khan today and I am thoroughly impressed. I fell in love with his group King Khan & The Shrines at Coachella last year. He had one of the best shows of the festival. This song reminds me of Land of the Freak. I really dig that track and this one as well. Give it a listen and tell me what you think.

S!D

Track Review! -- Lana Del Rey "Kinda Outta Luck"

Lana Del Rey "Kinda Outta Luck"    This song serves as an adequate mission statement for the type of retro-pop diva aesthetic Lana Del Rey and her label are trying to cultivate. The intro begins with a lonely guitar plucking in dusty sepia tones that summon the same early 70's pulp feel of a Quentin Tarantino movie while Del Rey lazily laments along to before a rush of popcorn drums enthusiastically race to the sonic forefront and announce the song proper. Lana immediately switches gears and bounces along with the simple, but effective 1-2-3-4 step bassline singing "Femme Fatale/ Always on the run/ Diamonds on my wrist/ Whiskey on my tongue" with an air of knowing sweetness and don't-give-a-fuck confidence that you can almost smell a mixture of vanilla perfume and whiskey vapor coming out of the speakers.

     The chorus brings in a cadence of hand-claps as Ms. Rey begins an ocsillating sing-song voice that coolly rubber bands up and down as she playfully asks if it's, "wrong wrong THAT I think it's KINDA fun WHEN I hit you IN THE back OF THE head WITH A gun". She comes off like a female sociopath version of Ferris Bueller who always gets what she wants but you still can't help but think she totally deserves to get away with all of it.

     Lana Del Rey has been getting a lot of attention based on just a few songs which is a weird consequence of our modern "gimme gimme gimme" attitude towards music and right now she hasn't produced another track as unabashedly pop as "Kinda Outta Luck", and seems to be leaning towards a more moody fair based on the few other .mp3's I've heard. Hopefully I'm not getting excited over a fluke of a song and in-spite of her growing visibility, and the artistic pressure that brings, Lana Del Rey remembers to take a day off and just have some fun every once in a while.

Bueller?

...the week that R.E.M. broke up (a few tracks)

Last week was a pretty crazy week. R.E.M. broke up before I had a chance to see them live! How unfair is that! Lets count on them getting back together in a couple years for one last shot.

Thrice - Yellow Belly
This throwback to 2003 sounds like it was modeled after a song on a video game soundtrack, a selection in the Madden series perhaps.  Thrice is past their prime in my eyes, this sort of screaming/alt-easy-metal had it moment in the sun and they are just releasing some hold-over tracks. Something has to be working though, this album is pulling a 94 on Metacritic. It does sound cleaner than their previous songs. Its like they are just now getting the production that they could of done with years back. Check out the song and twitter about it or something.
Thrice - Yellow Belly

tUnE-yArDs - Gangsta
This is exactly what I needed this week, some creativity on a track! This highly experimental and fun track has me grooving while I am sitting here enjoying a carne-asada burrito. I love everything about this highly catchy and infectious track. The bizarre beats and often off time samples are just what intrigued me into catching this track. If you like Animal Collective you will like this better. Forget those guys, listen to tUnE-yArDs.
tUnE-yArDs - Gangsta

Mastodon - Curl of the Burl
Wow! This is Mastodon doing their best Queens of the Stone Age impression and it is so much better than anything off of Crack the Skye. That album just seemed so forced to me. This feels like an actual follow up to Blood Mountain. This is a great song to get your metal fix out too. I would suggest playing this song at maximum level with safe distances around your dome for heavy metal meat-head head banging. GET IT!!!
Mastodon - Curl of the Burl

R.E.M. - What's the Frequency Kenneth?
OK, OK so I can't start a music blog that reflects on the previous week and leave out the biggest story in music. Its just that, R.E.M. broke up a couple of days ago and it is already starting to become old news. Everyone is tired of hearing about the "break-up", "retirement", "hiatus", what have you. This is my favorite R.E.M. song, I am not sad or happy about whatever happened to them. I am sure Michael Stipe will still preform and the others have bands. This won't be the last we have heard of R.E.M. For now enjoy What's the Frequency Kenneth?
R.E.M. - What's The Frequency, Kenneth?