Zhu: Moves Like Ms Jackson (Outcast Cover)

The mysterious, cryptic, and elusive Zhu has just broken onto the music scene, and I hope we hear a lot more of him. Dark, catchy, and varied, I could get used to this. And with a focus solely on the music, as evidenced in his statement regarding his anonymity, 

“Many are wondering why I chose to release my music anonymously. I am my own ghostwriter. As a society, we become more attached to the creator than to the creation. Music is faceless. My music is for a new generation—one in which people appreciate art for its intrinsic value—Generation WHY."

we can expect a focus solely on epic music making. Enjoy! 

LP: Into The Wild

If anyone has mastered the art of the crooning indie beginning, the soulful whistle, all building towards an emotionally charged breakdown, then it is LP and her wonderful song 'Into The Wild'. Seriously one of the most powerful voices I've heard in a long while, and armed with a raucously fun music video complete with ukulele strumming LP tagging along on a heist and love story, this song's a winner. Enjoy! 

Three Seconds A Day Part Two: Mississippi Isabel

Making a living record of my life was such fun last time, that here we are again with another two months worth of miraculous moments from each day. It's been beautiful, it's been hard, but more than anything it's been made worthwhile by all of you who have touched my life. Enjoy and be sure to support King Charles for his wonderful song 'Mississippi Isabel' which adds such energy and music to my journey. Much love and I wish you many amazing adventures! 

I've gotten to explore Joshua Tree, play frisbee in Santa Monica, soak in Santa Rosa, enjoy fine art at the Getty Museum, camp in Big Bear, and spend time on campus with a group of amazing people. Thank you all so much for making every moment worth treasuring. 

Call Me Señor: Stay "Disco Barbados Remix" (Remixing Rihanna Likes it's Nobody's Business)

Robert Magdaleno may be a closet hipster in denial, but boy does he find some fantastic music! This remix/cover of Rihanna's 'Stay' is a summer jam bursting with fun, effervescence, and danceability. Funky synths, fantastic vocals, and a vibe that screams "Why the hell have I not been listening to THIS version the whole time" abound in every second of this too-brief track! Enjoy

Karen O & Ezra Koenig: The Moon Song (Most Amazing Love Song From 'Her')

Sometimes a love song comes along that just floors you.

Just makes you sit back and really think about what love is, about every second of laughter and tears and intimacy and heartache. You consider the distances love traverses, the bonds it creates, and the fact that to love and be loved is a gift. There are no rules and no expectations and that realm of endless possibilities is the most exhilarating and terrifying space a heart can occupy. Love endures, love fades, but more than that, love keeps us alive and exploring, and no matter the pain or happiness that comes of it, it is enough I think that we are able to taste this magical substance however fleetingly, and feel inside ourselves what I imagine is a ripple of starlight, the tides of infinity. 

OK Miles, show us the music and get on with it you sap! Really though, 'The Moon Song' is awesome and beautiful and intimate and meaningful and has been on repeat in the quad with all of us sobbing softly into our homework about its unmatched sincerity and poignancy. Both versions, both Karen O and Ezra Koenig's duet version, or Scarlett Johansson's heartbreakingly simple and ethereal version are to die...no to live and love endlessly for. Enjoy, and may you find your own bright moon. 

This duet version is unbelievable and needs to be about 3 hours longer.

Blood Cultures: Indian Summer (Indie Magic)

The little band that took the internet by storm (but a nice, tranquil storm that didn't get too out of proportion) is just too good not to share. 'Indian Summer' has such a surreal mixture of weird shimmering background sounds reminiscent of Yeasayer, great vocals, and a bouncing and catchy beat worthy of infinite summer playlists. Buy this song right now and jam out forever-after! 

The synth's on 'Mercury Child' may be even more unreal than 'Indian Summer'. Maybe it's in their blood? Maybe part of their culture? Who knows, but whatever it is, I love it.

Big Gigantic: The Night Is Young (Free Album!) (Instrumental Livetronica)

Everyone's favorite Colorado instrumental livetronica, hip-hop and jazz musical group Big Gigantic have just given out their 8 song album "The Night Is Young' FOR FREE on NoiseTrade, and there is no reason on this good earth for you to pass it up. Filled to bursting with soul, funk, dub, and a huge energy that one could describe as both "big" and "gigantic", this album slaps. 

Sexy saxophones, warped vocals, and a guaranteed good time are in store the whole album, and you don't want to miss out! Download at this link, and feel free to leave them a tip through NoiseTrade's absolutely stellar service. Also be sure to hop on NoiseTrade's email list for bucketloads of legal, artist endorsed free music! Enjoy! 'Touch The Sky' is pure intensity. 

'Let's Go' is undoubtedly my favorite song of theirs, and this unreal tour highlight video just makes everything melt away and the music takes you. Way too sick! 

Band Of Horses: An Amazing Acoustic Show at Immanuel Presbyterian Church

This picture of Band Of Horses merrily having a great time at last nights concert perfectly captures the atmosphere of this intimate and special show. Having seen Band Of Horses at Coachella, it was markedly different to see them playing an acoustic session at the base of the towering steeple of the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in L.A. with a (somewhat) quiet crowd (this is L.A., where the hipsters have 10 layers of clothing and an incessant need to mill aimlessly in the aisles through the entire opening band and pretty much any time after that) rather than in front of thousands of screaming festival-goers. 

This concert was the most human show I have seen. Ben Bridwell, the angelic-voiced frontman started the show by performing 'St. Augustine' solo, then each subsequent song he brought out another member of the band and they just jammmmmmmmed. The picture above is the third song 'Neighbor', where Ben kept jokingly playing incorrect notes and they all were just laughing and smiling together as they sang. It was beautiful. One of the highlights for me was the very personally emotional song 'Detlef Schrempf', in which they switched from their piano to the church organ and serenaded us all with unbelievable loveliness. I can't thank my incredible sister Hannah enough for inviting me to join her and see such a moving show. The concert ended with a fantastic and rousing version of 'The General Specific", in which the whole church stood and clapped and danced along, having what is likely the most religious experience most of the hipsters had ever had. Gosh I love live music. Enjoy! :) 

If you want something off-the-wall-amazing-that-will-change-your-life...this is it. "Eyes can't look at you anyyyy other way". 

Smeagol/Gollum (James Walters): Mad World (Hilarious Cover)

We've all heard Smeagol (actually the YouTube sensation James Walters) sing Taylor Swifts 'Trouble', and absolutely loved hearing him screech out "Precious, Precious, Precious" like only a poor wretched singer living at the roots of the Misty Mountains can. Well, apparently Smeagol can lead the Hobbits into Mordor, sing T-Swift, AND cover Tears For Fears song 'Mad World'. Super good and hilariously done, this is a classic to place amidst all your other Middle Earth themed tunes! Enjoy! 

If you've been living in a dark cave surviving off a diet of cold fish and the occasional goblin who wanders too close, then here is the Taylor Swift cover. Too funny. Click here. 

Vance Joy: Riptide + Chill Remix

I am infinitely sorry I didn't share this earlier when 'Riptide' was the free iTunes download a few weeks ago, because this song is fantastic! Vance Joy is an utter joy to listen to, and paired with this wildly bizarre but charmingly funny music video, it's going to make your week! Indie happiness that you can't resist! 

If you're looking for a gorgeous and relaxed remix, complete with absabloominglutely perfect whistling, then look no further than this FREE download from Flic Flak! Enjoy! 

Eve Ensler: One Billion Rising (Shaking the Earth Through Dance To End Violence Against Women and Girls)

One in three women will be raped or beaten in their lifetime. 

That is one billion women. 

Imagine instead one billion women releasing their stories, 

dancing, 

and speaking out about justice. 

In 2013 one billion men and women rose and danced to end violence against women and girls.

This year on February 14th (this friday) one billion will rise again, harnessing their imagination and power for justice. 

Rise, release, and dance! 

I had the pleasure last week of attending a talk by Eve Ensler author of the Vagina Monologues (an amazing play empowering women) and founder of the One Billion Rising For Justice movement. Her energy was crackling and electric, and you could just feel the amazing power of one billion souls rallied behind her and inspiring her. She spoke passionately about her own experience with sexual abuse, her amazing travels around the globe, and about mobilizing the world behind a movement far too long in the making. 

Her impossible vision of one billion people rising came to fruition last year, and there is no reason we can't make justice ring all the louder this V-day. Risings have taken place on every continent (except Antarctica) and the short film 'One Billion Rising' premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year. Please, please, get involved, or at least get informed, and hey, everyone loves to dance!

This video is amazingly powerful. Don't be intimidated by the 9 minute run-time, every second is worth it, and if you're not tearing up multiple times, feeling inspired, and feeling ridiculously pumped by the end, you better watch it again. The editing is incredible, the message brilliant, and the cause unforgettable! Rise, release, and dance this February 14th, and find a rising event near you at http://www.onebillionrising.org/events/#!/0/0/1/ Enjoy! 

If you really want to take the shortcut to justice and don't have time for the longer version (make time though), I GUESS you can also watch the really intense and hard to watch at points One Billion Rising Short Film, which boasts great music, and I promise, does get happier about 1:30 in. The power of dance really is awe-inspiring. 

Big Sean feat. Ellie Goulding: You Don't Know (Gazzo Remix) (EDM)

Gazzo has quite the impressive SoundCloud, remixing giants from Coldplay to Snow Patrol, and lots of more poppy people in between. His addictive progressive house, electro house, and his perhaps self dubbed 'Bangerville' all are so listenable! Who knew Big Sean and Ellie Goulding could sound so good together, and boy does Gazzo elevate this track to the next level! You don't know how much you're going to love this song...so find out! Enjoy, this is some wild EDM!

Throw some Coldplay on afterwards and be similarly blown away!

The Colourist: Fix This + New Album Announced

The ever amazing The Colourist have just released the stunningly original and gorgeously made video for 'Fix This', which chronicles a love story unraveling like the yarn from which it is made. Really beautiful! They have also announced that their debut feature length album will be released March 23rd, which is pretty much the most exciting thing I've heard since the fact that the Super Bowl was finally over. I can't wait to hear more from this amazing band, it is sure to surprise, delight, and inspire! Enjoy and be ready to pre-order starting February 11th! 

U2: Invisible (RED Fundraiser To Fight AIDS)

U2 just never quit being awesome do they? 

In their latest act of unparalleled charity and unparalleled musical talent, U2 has partnered with Bank Of America to donate $1 to (RED)--one of the biggest organizations working to bring about an AIDS free generation--for every time you download U2's new song 'Invisible'. Oh right, and to make it even easier for all of lazy, cheap assholes, the song is completely free. 

That's right. By clicking two buttons you get an amazing new song by U2 and help aid the organization that:

Raised over $240 million to date through the sale of (RED) products from iconic companies - like Apple and Starbucks – and from (RED) events. And 100% of that money goes to work on the ground.  

Because of the progress made in the fight against AIDS, the world is now on the cusp of an incredible possibility – the virtual elimination of HIV transmission from moms to their babies by 2015. Every day 700 babies are born with HIV. Yet with access to antiretroviral treatment, we can prevent the transmission of the virus from moms to babies. Without it, 50% of babies will die before their second birthday.

So it's really your choice...do you want free great music with a sweet cause? Just click here to get your free download, but hurry, Bank Of America is only donating if you download today! If that link doesn't work, you can click one whole extra time to get it here: https://red.bankofamerica.com/#fbid=IEEuYp7uocm

Or find it on the main iTunes store page. 

The song is beautiful, the cause is beautiful, there's no reason not to do it. Don't be invisible!