New Music: Alla - "Love Lockdown" (Kanye West Cover)

Download: Alla - "Love Lockdown" (via)
Download: Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"
Download: Alla - "Tu Vida
Download: Alla - "Sigue Tu Corazon"


Chicago psych-pop trio Alla, who last year put out one of the most tremendously underrated albums with Es Tiempo, released a cover of Kanye West's "Love Lockdown," a track that might appear on their upcoming covers album, Digs. For comparison sake, I've put up both the original and the Alla version. What do you think? Additionally, I've added the title track of Alla's last record, for your enjoyment.

Buy Es Tiempo here.

Alla MySpace Page

Video: Flosstradamus - "Big Bills"

Flosstradamus - New Music - More Music Videos

Directed by Kevin Mcalester (the dude from Home Alone?), this is the video for Flosstradamus' first wholly original song, "Big Bills". Contrary to what you might think, this track skews surprisingly close to disco and synth-pop, as opposed to hip-hop. Speaking of Synth-pop, the duo put this one together with vocalist Caroline Polachek using the actual Postal Service, which is apt because this song sounds a lot like the band The Postal Service. Watch the vid at the top of the post.

Flosstradamus MySpace Page

New Maps and Atlases - "Banished Be Cavelier"

Boy, Maps and Atlases weren't kidding when they said that they'd post a demo soon were they? While the group is working on its first full-length record, they've posted a :30 second clip of a song called "Banished Be Cavalier". If you want to go the full monty, then you can sign up for their street team here. Otherwise, check out the :30 clip at the top of the post.

Maps and Atlases MySpace Page

Video: Andrew Bird - "Fitz and Dizzyspells" (Live on "Late Show With David Letterman")

Watching this clip of Andrew Bird performing "Fitz and Dizzyspells," of his brand spanking new Noble Beast record is pretty remarkable, and not because of the enthusiastic accolades that both David Letterman and Paul Shaffer shower Bird with. It's remarkable because Bird unleashes a fury of violin plucks while bobbing his head to and fro like a white Stevie Wonder. Not only that, but he's backed up by MPLS musicians Martin Dosh--he of the tremendously underrated Wolves and Wishes--and Jeremy Ylvisaker. But NOT ONLY THAT (capitalization courtesy of John Hodgman), there are horn amps from Chicago in the background. Not too shabby, any way you look at it.

Watch Andrew Bird's performance of "Fitz and Dizzyspells" at the top of the post.

Andrew Bird MySpace Page

Video: Vince P - "I Believe in Vince P."

Tours: Death Cab for Cutie

Download: Death Cab for Cutie - "Bend to Squares"
Download: Death Cab for Cutie - "Prove My Hypothesis"
Download: Ra Ra Riot - "Dying is Fine"

Taken directly from the DCfC MySpace Page

Saturday, March 7th @ Miami, FL - Langerado Music Festival
Tuesday, April 7th @ Upper Darby, PA/Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
Wednesday, April 8th @ Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
Thursday, April 9th @ Davidson, NC - John Belk Arena
Friday, April 10th @ Louisville, KY - The Louisville Palace
Saturday, April 11th @ Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre
Sunday, April 12th @ Tulsa, OK - The Brady Theater
Monday, April 13th @ Omaha, NE - Holland Center
Wednesday, April 15th @ St. Paul, MN - Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Friday, April 17th @ Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
Saturday, April 18th @ East Lansing, MI - Breslin Events Center
Sunday, April 19th @ Waukesha, WI - Van Male Fieldhouse
Friday, April 24th @ Spokane, WA - McCarthey Athletic Center
Saturday, April 25th @ Boise, ID - The Morrison Center
Monday, April 27th @ Sacramento, CA - Memorial Auditorium
Wednesday, April 29th @ San Diego, CA - RIMAC Arena
Friday, May 1st @ Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall
Saturday, May 2nd @ New Orleans, LA - Contemporary Arts Center
Monday, May 4th @ Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
Tuesday, May 5th @ Birmingham, AL - BJCC Concert Hall
Wednesday, May 6th @ Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre

More specific ticket information can be gathered here. Supporting Death Cab will be blog-pop band Ra Ra Riot.

Death Cab for Cutie MySpace Page

Maps and Atlases announce first full-length album

Taken directly from the newly established Maps and Atlases blog

We have been extremely busy the last few months working on what is going to be our first full length record. The songs are still pretty raw but we couldn't be more excited about them! The record is going to be pretty different from the EP's but we hope everyone will give it a chance.

The band says that they'll be doing demos for another month or so, and that they'll also be playing this Spring's South by Southwest conference.

Maps and Atlases MySpace Page