Artist Spotlight: Exitmusic

You may not know the name Aleksa Palladino. You may not even know the name Angela Darmody, Palladino’s lady-loving character on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. But you may be familiar with Palladino’s otherworldly good looks.

Song Spotlight: Lykke Li x Gold Panda

Everyone, freak out. At least that’s what I did at 6AM when I saw the tweets trickle in about Gold Panda‘s remix of “Sadness is a Blessing” by Lykke Li.

via pretty much amazing

I clicked, I listened, I fawned. And now, I’m here to break my unintentional Autostraddle hiatus to share it with you.

Lykke Li – Sadness Is A Blessing (Gold Panda Remix) by Pretty Much Amazing

Gold Panda is a talented British producer whose debut album, Lucky Shiner, topped my listen of Favorite Albums of 2010. Add his organic, mellow dance touch to Swedish indie-singer Lykke Li’s ironically upbeat downer from her new album, Wounded Rhymes, and the result is one of my favorite remixes of 2011.

OPEN THREAD: Favorite Albums of 2010

These aren’t the best albums of the 2010, but they’re by far my favorite, which means you can’t argue against the validity of their inclusion on this list. Let us know which albums you had on repeat this year in the comments!

Gold Panda

· Lucky Shiner ·

It’s not easy for an electronic album to nab the top spot for favorite album, but U.K. producer Gold Panda takes the prize. Lucky Shiner is a perfect example of how electronic music can transcend the club and invade bedroom stereos. If you have any preconceptions about this genre, Gold Panda might shatter them.

Standout Tracks: You · Same Dream China

Jenny & Johnny

· I’m Having Fun Now ·

Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley may have brought a legion of fans to her new project with boyfriend Jonathan Rice, but I’m Having Fun Now stands up on its own two feet. The album’s 11 tracks are chock full of sing-along harmonies, so prepare yourself to beg your friends/girlfriend to sing with you. It’s pop candy for your ears.

Standout Tracks: Just Like Zeus · Straight Edge of the Blade

The National

· High Violet ·

Mumbly, obscure lyrics and moody compelling melodies — the National’s High Violet is brilliant from start to finish. I can’t put it any better than NPR’s Stephen Thompson: “[High Violet] locates the sweet spot between majesty and mopery, catharsis and wallowing, soaring grace and wounded confessionals.”

Standout Tracks: Bloodbuzz Ohio · Lemonworld

Robyn

· Body Talk ·

Swedish pop star Robyn experienced a resurgence in 2010 with Body Talk, her three-part album. It was her first release in five years. Robyn called the  move “selfish,” but her fans might think of it differently. Body Talk Pt. 1, 2 and 3 offered insights into the pop star’s production process with two versions — both a stripped down version and dance rendition — of “Hang With Me” and “Indestructible.” Sure, Robyn could’ve edited down her three albums into one, but I’m not complaining.

Standout Tracks: Dancing on my Own · Hang With Me · Indestructible

Josh Ritter

· So Runs The World Away ·

When it comes to spinning a yarn, few do it better than Josh Ritter. Take “The Curse,” which tells the tragic love story of an archeologist and the mummy she unearths. So Runs the World Away is Ritter’s sixth studio album, and he just keeps getting better.

Standout Tracks: Folk Bloodbath · The Curse

Sufjan Stevens

· The Age of Adz ·

I’ve never understood all the fuss about Sufjan Stevens. Sure, he was prolific (despite abandoning his states project), but his sound was a little too delicate for me. In The Age of Adz though, Stevens pairs his wispy voice with beefed up production and the result is a must-listen record.

Standout Tracks: Too Much · Vesuvius

Crystal Castles

· Crystal Castles (II) ·

“Fainting Spells,” the opening track of Crystal Castle’s Crystal Castles II, may or may not have given me nightmares, but I continued on and discovered a noisy album that I love. Alice Glass’ strained vocals over Ethan Kath’s experimental beats are some powerful sh*t, so try this out if you need a dose of dance music with a splash of head-banging.

Standout Tracks: Baptism · Empathy

Jonsi

· Go ·

Jon (Jonsi) Thor Birgisson is the front man for Sigur Ros, the Icelandic band known for its huge, lush arrangements. On Jonsi’s debut solo album Go, he takes that aesthetic and shrinks it down to the size of a pop song.

Standout Tracks: Go Do · Animal Arithmetic

Laura Veirs

· July Flame ·

Laura Veirs, the bespectacled singer-songwriter from Portland, is a little nerdy and a lot of adorable. July Flame is her seventh record, and her finger-picked guitar and lyrical sincerity make for a winning combination. Folk music lovers, give this one a listen.

Standout Tracks: July Flame · Carol Kaye

Laura Marling

· I Speak Because I Can ·

This summer, I obsessed about Laura Marling’s indie-folk love triangle but there’s more to her than her boyfriends. At only 20 years old, Marling sings with the wisdom of someone twice her age. And with her sophomore album I Speak Because I Can, she exhibits more confidence than the meek singer-songwriter that burst onto the London anti-folk scene just three years ago.

Standout Tracks: Blackberry Stone · Rambling Man

More Best of 2010:

+ NPR Music’s Best Music of 2010
+ Rough Trade’s Albums of the Year
+ Spinner’s 30 Best Albums of 2010
+ Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of 2010

CMJ 2010 Artist Spotlight: Gold Panda

U.K. producer Gold Panda makes songs, not beats. He made a name for himself remixing songs from the likes of Bloc Party, The Field, and others. And now, he’s released a debut album, the stunningly beautiful Lucky Shiner.

Lucky Shiner is an emotional record, and its sounds are organic. Gold Panda says he wrote it after “touring, mixing, moving houses and splitting with a girlfriend.” A flurry of bells kicks off “Same Dream China,” one of the album’s standout tracks. And “You,” a versatile song that can both force a smile or a welling of tears, masterfully samples sped-up vocals. If you detect Asian influences, you’d be correct. Gold Panda is a lover of Japanese culture and studied at School of Oriental and Asian Studies (SOAS) in London.

Gold Panda’s Lucky Shiner has already nabbed itself a spot as one of my favorite records of the year. If given a chance, I bet it’ll find its way to some of your year end lists, too.

You can listen to “You” — and the rest of Lucky Shiner — below, or you can buy it at The Ghostly Store.

Gold Panda will be playing several shows as part of his 2010 CMJ Music Marathon circuit, so New Yorkers, take notice.

10/18 AOL Spinner show (streamed live at 8:30PM EST) – invite only
10/21 Pitchfork Showcase, 9:00pm, 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn
10/ 22 Webster Hall w/Fourtet show 7.00pm, Webster Hall, 156 Ludlow St
10/23 Fixed party , TBC (evening show) 70 N 6th Street, Brklyn
10/23 Urban Outfitters (daytime event, TBC 12-6) Soho Store, 575 Broadway, NYC

CMJ 2010 Artist Spotlight: Bikini

Nostalgic for electro-pop bands of the ’80s? Check out Bikini. I first discovered the New York-based duo back in 2008 when I stumbled upon “Tonight” while scrounging around the blogosphere for songs to play on my college radio show. But despite love from Pitchfork, BBC1, and others, the band has released no new material since then. Concerning The Number 7 and Your Love is their only record, and their MySpace page is a tease with just one song streaming. Fortunately, it’s a good one.

If you thought you were sick of Feist’s “1234,” think again. Bikini’s cover reinvents the song with robotic vocals and authentically ’80s synth. Listen below:

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Bikini is playing three shows in New York as part of this year’s CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival:

Oct. 19, 1:30PM – The Music Slut CMJ Party @ Pianos
Oct. 20, 8:30PM – Lefse Records / I Guess I’m Floating CMJ @ The Delancey
Oct. 23, 12:30AM – Windish Agency CMJ Showcase @ Santos

They’ve also got an EP scheduled for November 2010 release, so be sure not to miss them. As you might’ve guessed, Bikini doesn’t play a lot of dates.

Heard It On TV: CAKE and Apple

Earlier this month, Apple unveiled several new and updated products — among them, the new fancy iPod Nano with touchscreen. I like Apple as much as the next gadget-obsessed girl, but I lovvvvve CAKE. And so, despite already owning three iPods (don’t ask — it just happened that way), the new Nano commercial featuring CAKE’s “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” stole my heart. Watch it below.

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I don’t have much to say about the new Nano, aside for acknowledging it doubles as an incredibly sleek but impractical wristwatch, so I’ll take this opportunity to turn the attention to CAKE.

The Sacramento-based band is one of my favorites. I love the baritone sing-speak vocals, lightly distorted guitar, funky bass, unexpectedly prominent trumpet solos, and the country music flavors. Yet most know CAKE for its radio singles, like “The Distance,” “Never There,” “Short Skirt/Long Jacket,” which don’t really combine all of the above. While these are great songs, they neither capture what I love most about CAKE nor depth of their discography.

If I could, Autostraddlers, I would make you all a mix CD of my favorite CAKE songs. But because there are just too many of you, I will settle for a top 10 list and hope that you listen.

My Top 10 Favorite Songs By CAKE

1. “Mexico” from Prolonging The Magic

2. “Stickshifts and Safety Belts” from Fashion Nugget

3. “Sheep Go To Heaven” from Prolonging The Magic

4. “Italian Leather Sofa” from  Fashion Nugget

5. “Pentagram” from Motorcade of Generosity

6. “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town” from B-Sides and Rarities

7. “Jolene” from Motorcade of Generosity

8. “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” from Fashion Nugget

9. “Satan Is My Motor” from Prolonging The Magic

10. “You Turn The Screws” from Prolonging The Magic

Did I leave out anyone’s favorites? Are there any CAKE-lovers or haters among us? Let us know in the comments!

Phasefest: Come See Homogay Bands In Our Nation’s Capital

Do you like queer events and music, AND do you happen to live in the DC metropolitan area? If you leapt into the air and screamed “YES,” then check out this event featuring MEN (featuring JD Samson of Le Tigre), Hunter Valentine, and more!

Phasefest, DC’s Queer Music Festival, has something for everyone  — from eletro-pop bands and singer-songwriters to producer/MCs. Also, lots and lots of lesbians, transmen, transwomen, gays, and presumably, even straight people! Check out the details below: (more…)

Heard It On TV: The Temper Trap and Diet Coke

Diet Coke has recently revved up the rotation for its mesmerizing commercial, featuring The Temper Trap‘s “Sweet Disposition.” Normally, I ignore all things Diet-related (I’m one of those people that would rather drink no soda at all than putrid Diet), but this one had me yearning for a more fabulous life. Beautiful people! Public art! Pediatric nurses! Red carpet premieres! The commercial debuted during this year’s Academy Awards, so the Hollywood imagery makes sense. And the slogan?

Stay Extraordinary.

I’m typically unimpressed by marketing, but let’s just take a second to appreciate what “Stay Extraodinary” means.

1. You are already extraordinary.

2. Diet Coke doesn’t want you to change; you are perfect, and it loves the way you are.

Am I too flattered by Diet Coke? (Yes, probably.) But just go ahead and watch it for yourself:

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The song, “Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap, ain’t too shabby either. You might recall hearing it in (500) Days of Summer, the refreshingly real love story story about love starring Joseph Gordon Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. The Temper Trap is a four-piece now hailing from London, but they’re originally from Melbourne, Australia. They released Conditions, their full-length debut, in 2009, and toured extensively in support of the album. The promotion paid off. The band is no stranger to lending its music to television — Temper Trap’s music was also used in a Chrysler commercial and in shows like Chuck and 90210.  The often falsetto voice is courtesy of lead singer Dougy Mandagi, one of the few Indonesian frontmen in mainstream rock today. And Lorenzo Sillitto provides the clean, anthemic U2-inspired guitar.

What do you think of The Temper Trap? Who’s craving a Diet Coke right now? (Not me.) Let us know in the comments.

On Loving ‘F**k You’ By Cee-Lo

Last Thursday, Cee-Lo Green (one half of Gnarls Barkley) debuted “F**k You” from his upcoming album, The Lady Killer (out this October). The vid has since racked up over 2.5 million views, and even 50 Cent has taken notice. Just four days after “F**k You” went viral, the rapper released a 30-second freestyle rap for the song, and Cee-Lo has chimed in with approval. So what is it about “F**k You” that has attracted so much attention? (Watch the vid below, but you may have to sign in to YouTube to view.)

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Despite no TV or radio promotion, “F**k You” has become a hit song. There are a lot of elements that make it irresistible, from the simple piano-driven bass line to Cee-lo’s soulful “ooh’s.” The use of profanity might initially be dismissed as a mere attention grabber, but I argue that it’s much more than that. Personally, I can’t recall a song that uses “fuck you” in such a joyful way.  Regardless of the fact that it’s a jab at a past lover, I am tempted to sing it out with Cee-Lo-inspired enthusiasm: “Fuck you! Fuck you!” Sorrowful or angry lyrics paired with upbeat instrumentation is nothing new in music (ahem, see the blues), but there’s something special going on in this case and I think it’s more than the novelty of profanity.

Max Read at Gawker says “F**k You” should NOT be the song of the summer. Fair enough, Mr. Read. After all, it’s the end of August and it’s hardly fair to hand that title over to such a latecomer. His argument, however, goes further and attacks the very strengths of “F**k You.”

“It’s easy; it’s peppy; it’s toe-tapping; it features a singalong, slightly naughty chorus. This song is, essentially, written to soundtrack a Shrek trailer. And the question is: Do you want to be responsible for that, internet? Do you really want to make viral a song so corny, so obvious, so desperate to be liked..?”

My answer is “yes.” I take full responsibility and surrender to “F**k You,” because there is no reason to resist something peppy and toe-tapping just for the sake of resisting. Who’s with me? Let know your thoughts in the comments section.

Heard It On TV: AT&T and Nick Drake

This AT&T commercial advertising 97% coverage of all Americans rings a bell for two reasons: first, Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s “The Gates” 2005 installation at Central Park in New York City and second, Nick Drake. (more…)

M.I.A. Gets Messy, Ted Leo Gets Tired and The Best Videos Get Animated

TED LEO NOT RETIRING:

Louisville’s Velocity announced this week that indie-rock veteran Ted Leo (of Ted Leo and The Pharmacists) had decided to hang up the Epiphone and retire. Those reports have turned out to be false (whew). Leo’s quote were taken out of context, but the sentiment of his words still rings true. He said, “By next year, there’s no way I’m going to be able to be on tour like I have been these last few years.” He’s talking about making a living, people, and as many of us know, it’s a tough thing to accomplish no matter what your profession.

That’s why another quote from Ted Leo in the Village Voice about some fans who had the nerve to ask him for a pirated copy of his upcoming album, is awesome. He said:

“I find it absolutely ridiculous that someone would approach the artist and say to them, ‘Hey where can I . . . ?’ ” he says. “You know, it’s available everywhere. It’s 10 fucking dollars. You know how much people spend on beer and stupid shoes and American Apparel clothes every week? Ten dollars—it’s 10 goddamn dollars. Dock yourself two beers this week, and you’ve got our album.”

Amen, Ted Leo. Amen.

M.I.A. ON LETTERMAN:

I sort of can’t deal with M.I.A.‘s new record MAYA, but this performance on The Late Show With David Letterman made “Born Free” just a little bit more fun in my book. When assaulted with 8 or so dopplegangers and a live band, I’m into it. Some critics have been gentle in their reviews of M.I.A.’s third release but others have been less tolerant. Pitchfork’s Matthew Perpetua rates it a mere 4.4, calling it a “shambling mess.” For the most part, I’m inclined to agree. (more…)

Heard It On TV: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Ford

Remember that one time I wrote about that Honda commercial and Miriam Makeba? Well, I’m picking back up where I left off, this time with Ford.

Ford’s newest model for 2011 is called the Fiesta, so naturally, its commercial had to convey some fiesta-like vibes. Since taking up a 2-wheeled life, I’m more of an ex-car junkie but this car caught my eye thanks to parachutes, urban acrobats, umbrella-wielding unicyclists, and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros‘ “Janglin’ ” as music. Take a look-see:

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Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros is a 10-piece pop-folk band from Los Angeles formed in 2007 by Alex Ebert of Ima Robot following an existential crisis of sorts. “Edward Sharpe” is a fictional character Ebert created who came down to Earth to save mankind and heal. Sound familiar? That part doesn’t really matter, at least to me. The music is just pure fun and if you haven’t heard of the band before, now’s the time.

Hear the full studio version of “Janglin’ ” at YouTube, see a full Tiny Desk Concert by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros at NPR Music, see some photos Laneia took at Bonnaroo, or just watch my favorite, “Home,” below. I don’t think I’ve ever felt such affection for 10 hairy, potentially smelly hippies than when I watched this video for the first time.

More Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros on TV (thanks to Mike for the links):
“Home” on Microsoft Kin commercial
“Home” on Cyrus Trailer

Music Fix: Laura Marling’s Love Triangle, The Ethics of Altered Zones

GREAT SONGS FROM A BRITISH LOVE TRIANGLE

Back in April, Laura Marling released her second album, I Speak Because I Can [buy it on itunes] I was really excited, wrote about it in a few Audiostraddle Weekly’s and then… I just didn’t listen to it. I finally gave it a spin this past weekend and despite it being 4 months old, I’m writing about it now.

First, allow me to shed light on the Laura Marling-Noah & The Whale–Mumford & Sons love triangle that you may or may not be aware of. Young Laura Marling dated Charlie Fink, lead singer of Noah & The Whale back in 2007-2008. (Watch this adorable Black Cab Sessions performance with just the two of them.) When their schedules allowed, Marling sang and performed with Noah & the Whale while they served as her backing band. Fink even produced Marling’s first album. But in 2008, after each released their respective debuts (Marling’s Alas I Cannot Swim and Noah & The Whale’s Peaceful, The World Lay Me Down), Marling and Fink embarked on their respective tours. Her new backing band was – can you guess? – Mumford & Sons, led by Marcus Mumford. Shortly after, Marling started dating Mumford, thereby breaking poor Charlie Fink’s heart.

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Audiostraddle Weekly: Tegan & Sara & Muppets, Oh My!

TEGAN & SARA, MUPPET-STYLE:

Our favorite singing lesbian twins Tegan & Sara recently appeared on the CBC’s kids show Mamma Yamma and did a special acoustic performance of “Alligator” (thanks to Intern Daphne for the tip!). With some slight lyrical adjustments, it’s now kid-friendly and about a million times more fun than The Wiggles. Enjoy “Alligator” (now actually about alligators — crying alligators?) from their performance on the CBC below:

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Audiostraddle Weekly: Katy Perry Annoys Us, Eminem Doesn’t Care About Your Homogayness

WEEZER’S UNOFFICIAL WORD CUP SONG:

The World Cup leaves behind a legacy of not-so-great official songs (a recent all-time low point being Toni Braxton and Il Divo‘s 2006 song, “The Time Of Our Lives”), so Weezer thought they’d try their hand at improving the landscape. Rivers Cuomo and the gang released “Represent” just a few days ago, along with a soccer montage video companion. It might not be the best soccer song out there (or really… a soccer song at all), but Weezer fans rejoice: new material! Watch the video for “Relentless” below and hear more great soccer songs from around the world at NPR Music.

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NEW VID FROM KATY PERRY:

Countless songs have been written about California girls: The Beach Boys‘ sunny classic and The Magnetic Fields deceptively upbeat jab of a song are among my favorites. Now, Katy Perry has joined the club with “California Gurls” featuring Snoop Dogg. In a new video for the song, she struts through a life-sized Candy Land, lies naked on a cotton candy cloud, and shoots whipped cream from her nipples. Visually, it’s stunning. Candy, candy everywhere! But I’m not too impressed with the song nor Katy Perry’s overall “thing.”

What do you think of Katy Perry’s new vid? Let us know in the comments and watch it below:

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Bonnaroo 2010 Spotlight: The xx

Many of you have probably heard of The xx, the moody, young London three-piece (formerly four-piece). But perhaps — like me — you ignored them. There’s a lot of music floating around and even if it’s your job (whoops), it’s damn tough to keep up with kids.

I finally gave The xx a thorough listen when they released a video for their single “Islands.” After hearing it, I realized that the media fuss (Pitchfork, NPR Music, NME, etc.) was well-deserved.

I’m a sucker for raw vocals, and guitarist Romy Madley Croft and bassist Jamie Oliver exploit my weakness with their breathy, tag-teamed vocals. Further winning me over are their minimalist instrumentation: clean guitar, prominent bass, and simple electronic drums courtesy of Jamie Smith. The xx allow plenty of space in their music. They seem to call upon listeners to hone in on even the single pluck of a bass note or guitar riff.

Check out videos for “Islands” and “Crystallized” from The xx’s 2009 debut, xx. And catch the band at Bonnaroo.

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Buy The xx’s album on Amazon.

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Audiostraddle Weekly: Metric, Belle & Sebastian, Star Wars Cantina 2.0

NEW VIDEO FROM METRIC:

Metric’s 2009 album Fantasies is a gift that just keeps on giving. First “Help, I’m Alive,” then “Gimme Sympathy,” “Gold Gun Girls,” “Sick Muse,” and now “Stadium Love.” That’s five singles from a single album — basically, a feat only N’Sync can accomplish. Watch below for some great shots of Metric frontwoman Emily Haines and also some gnarly zebra vs. lion footage.

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LADY GAGA’S NEW VIDEO:

Did you miss our feelings about Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” video? Check out our precap and recap.

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS:

NME is On the road with Marina & The Diamonds!: “Do you want to see my bedroom?” Marina Diamandis purrs, a wicked curl in her luminous pink lips. “You know you want to…”

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Audiostraddle Weekly: Video Premieres Galore & Free MixTapes

ARCADE FIRE DEBUTS NEW SONGS

Arcade Fire debuted two new songs from their upcoming record, The Suburbs, which comes out this August. “Month of May” and “Suburbs” have now leaked all over the internet, but you can hear the official debut versions at NPR Music. Following Funeral and Neon Bible, Arcade Fire have a lot to live up to. What do you think of the new songs? Let us know in the comments!

NEW SONG FROM M.I.A.

Last Tuesday, The New York Times published an unflattering feature on M.I.A. by journalist Lynn Hirschberg and M.I.A. has responded accordingly. She posted Hirschberg’s cell phone number on Twitter and put up sound clips of the original interview on her blog to expose the apparent liberties Hirschberg took in her piece. Or as M.I.A. calls it, “the truff” (that’s “truth,” people).

While she was cleaning up her reputation, M.I.A. decided to post a new song, too. It’s called “I’m A Singer” and continues with her hard-hitting political themes. Lesson learned? Don’t mess with M.I.A.

MIX TAPE FROM MAJOR LAZER AND LA ROUX

DJ/producer duo Major Lazer has teamed up with English electropop duo La Roux for a mix tape, which they have released as a free download at Mad Decent. It’s good summer fun with collaborations Gucci Mane, Drake, and more! You can download Lazerproof at the Mad Decent website by entering your name, email address, and zip code.

NEW SONG FROM KANYE WEST

A new song from Kanye West leaked on Friday. It’s called “Power,” and it’s the first we’ve heard from the rapper/producer in a while. “Power” samples “21st Century Schizoid Man” from prog rockers King Crimson. The song includes some jabs at Saturday Night Live for making fun of his Taylor Swift debacle and addresses his reported drinking problem. You can read more about Kanye’s new song at Billboard.com and hear “Power” on YouTube.

JANELLE MONAE

Billboard sat down for a Q&A with Janelle Monae about “the inspiration for her unique personal style, the futuristic concepts behind “Archandroid” and previous album “Metropolis,” and the importance of both recording and live performance.” Also Jezebel thinks her new album should have a lot more hype around it. (more…)

Audiostraddle Weekly: Dianna Agron Directs Oxfam Video, Glambert Tour Dates, Walking on Sunshine

25 YEARS OF “WALKING ON SUNSHINE”:

25 years ago this week, Katrina and The Waves debuted the classic pop song “Walking On Sunshine.” EMI has cruelly disabled embedding for this wonderful song, but do yourselves a favor and listen to “Walking On Sunshine” on YouTube. I put it on when anything good happens to me (that’s at least 2-3 times per year, zing!) and let the smiles overtake me. When you’re done listening to Katrina and The Waves on repeat, you can also read a little history of “Walking On Sunshine” at NPR.

SUMMER TOURS

U2 and Christina Aguilera have postponed their upcoming summer tours, according to The Awl. Bono had back surgery which is a good reason to cancel, but I’m confused about Aquilera’s postponement until 2011 because she “needed more time to rehearse”.

In better news, Adam Lambert is going on tour with his former Idol peer from Season 8 Allison Iraheta (she’s really awesome/good) and here are the dates!

Adam Lambert “Glam Nation” Tour Dates

June 4: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (The FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts)
June 5: Sayreville, N.J. (Starland Ballroom)
June 8: Toledo, Ohio (Omni)
June 10: Council Bluffs, Ia. (Harrah’s Ballroom)
June 11: Manhomen, Minn. (Mystic Lake Casino Hotel)
June 14: Columbus, Ohio (LC Pavillion)
June 15: Milwaukee, Wis. (Riverside Theater)
June 17: Hammond, Ind. (The Venue at Horseshoe Casino)
June 18: Royal Oak, Mich. (Royal Oak Theater)
June 19: West Toronto, Ontario (Molson Amphitheatre)
June 22: New York, N.Y. (Nokia Theatre)
June 24: Mashantucket, Conn. (MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods)
June 26: Atlantic City, N.J. (Borgata Spa & Resort – Event Center)
July 15: Kansas City, Mo. (Midland Theatre)
July 27: Costa Mesa, Calif. (OC Fair – Pacific Amphitheatre)
July 28: Costa Mesa, Calif. (OC Fair – Pacific Amphitheatre)
Aug. 13: Bethlehem, Pa. (Musikfest)
Sept. 18: St. Petersburg, Fla. (Tropicana Field)

RATATAT’S LP4:

If you liked last week‘s video for Ratatat‘s “Party With Children,” you’ll want to check out their upcoming album, LP4. It comes out on June 8, but you can listen to it now in its entirety at NPR Music.

MUST-SEE TV

NY Magazine says you should watch tonight’s episode of Inside the Actors Studio which will feature Sean “P. Diddy” Combs because could be “the most self-congratulatory hour of television we’ve ever seen that does not involve James Cameron at an awards show”. See a clip from the episode.

HOW TO BE A ROCK STAR

Rihanna makes a pretty hot version of Slash in her new music video for ‘Rockstar 101‘. Also Travis Barker makes a cameo, of course.

NEW VID FROM THAO NGUYEN AND QUINN FROM GLEE:

This past week, Oxfam premiered a new video for “Body” by Thao with the Get Down Stay Down. It’s directed by her friend Dianna Agron aka Quinn from Glee. The first three minutes include the two discussing how their collaboration came to be and of course, how to help Oxfam combat poverty caused by climate change, but the music video eventually follows. Thao is currently on tour with out musician Mirah. Check out their tour dates and listen to Thao’s music at Thao’s official MySpace.

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WOMEN IN MUSIC:

Helienne Lindvall of the Guardian UK posted an interesting article about why there are so few women producers and sound engineers in music on the Guardian’s Music Blog. A few weeks ago, she also posted an article about the gender gap in music. Food for thought for anyone thinking there’s no progress to be made.

NEW TRACK FROM THE ROOTS:

Pitchfork debuted a new track from The Roots featuring supergroup Monsters of Folk (Bright Eyes‘ Conor Oberst, My Morning Jacket‘s Jim James, M. Ward, and Mike Mogis). The song, called “Dear God 2.0,” is a cover of Monsters of Folk “Dear God.” The Roots’ new album, How I Got Over, comes out June 22 and will feature collaborations with Joanna Newsom, members of Dirty Projectors, John Legend, and more. Listen to The Roots’ “Dear God 2.0” at Pitchfork.

FULL BONNAROO SCHEDULE UNVEILED:

The full Bonnaroo schedule has been posted. Matt from You Ain’t No Picasso points out some puzzling conflicts: The Black Keys vs. The Flaming Lips and The Avett Brothers vs. Mumford and Sons. Any Autostraddlers heading to Tennessee this year? Let us know who you’re seeing! See the full Bonnaroo schedule at the Bonnaroo website.

NEW ALBUM FROM STONE TEMPLE PILOTS:

Stone Temple Pilots fans should be excited. Their self-titled album, nine years in the making, is finally set to be released tomorrow, May 26.  If you can’t wait, you can hear the entire Stone Temple Pilots album in advance at Billboard.com.

THE MUSIC OF LOST:

LOST geeks, if you’re wondering how the fantastic scores take shape, there’s a great video from 2007 of composer Michael Giacchino explaining his process. It’s surreal to hear the creepy sounds apart from LOST scenes. Watch the video below:

Audiostraddle Weekly: Newness From Bloc Party, Janelle Monae, Ratatat, Kylie Minogue

No musicians are coming out this week (at least, not on the cover of a magazine), so in lieu of Lady Sovereign or Chely Wright revealing their homosexuality to us, you’ll just have to settle for some awesome new music from the likes of Mark Ronson, Ratatat, and Kele from Bloc Party as well as some news from Janelle Monae and other faves. On to the fix!

MARK RONSON’S NEW VIDEO

Last week, Stereogum premiered a video for “Circuit Breaker,” a new track from Mark Ronson‘s upcoming September release, Record Collection. “Circuit Breaker” features 8-bit animation a la The Legend of Zelda and accompanies equally 8-bit sound. No word on what to expect for the rest of the album, but we do know it will feature all original tunes with guest appearances by Santigold, Scissor Sisters, MNDR, Q-Tip, Rose Eleanor Dougall, Spank Rock, and Miike Snow.

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