Awesome Music
MGMT: Little Dark Age
(Flashing lights) “Forgiving who you are for what you stand to gain. Just know that if you hide, it doesn’t go away.” MGMT went full goth both in their new single and in its music video. It’s not groundbreaking, but man is it catchy.
Wu-Tang: The Saga Continues
(PG-13: Language) “They criticizing the lyrics, guess everybody’s a critic, look: I push the limit while rappers is pushing gimmicks. I use it to push my pen and then add it to the premise hook.” Wu-Tang. New album. ‘Nuff said.
Puddles: Where Is My Mind?
Puddles Pity Party is back with another flawless cover, this time taking on one of our favorite songs of all time, the Pixies’ 1988 classic Where Is My Mind?, in a fantastic arrangement by Storm Large and The Balls.
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of Disks)
The Floppotron plays a song which feels like it was tailor-made to be performed on old floppy and hard disk drives – Eurythmics’ 1981 classic Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). The synth sounds just work perfectly on the computer hardware, and who are we to disagree?
The Number of the Bossa Nova Beast
What did I see? Could I believe… that what I saw that night was real and not just fantasy? Musician and remixer Andy Rehfeldt presents an brilliant and easygoing version of Iron Maiden’s devilish track set to a smooth bossa nova beat.
Halloween: Reznor + Ross Edition
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross recorded a fantastic tribute to John Carpenter’s theme from Halloween, adding their own haunting style, while preserving the synth sound that made it a classic. From the upcoming John Carpenter’s ‘Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998.
My Hero: 30’s Style Cover
PMJ’s Scott Bradlee and Chloe Feoranzo perform a wonderful cover version of Foo Fighters 1997 classic My Hero. For every 1,000 plays through 10/14/17, they’ll donate $10 to the UMC Foundation, who provided Level 1 trauma care during the recent tragedy in Las Vegas.
Paramore: Tiny Desk Concert
Paramore rocked the charts as smartasses who were mad at everyone and at their own feelings. Now pushing 30, the band projects a more optimistic and empathetic mindset. They dropped by NPR Music to perform songs from their latest album, After Laughter.
Take On Me Unplugged
Norwegian band a-Ha performs a dialed-down and emotional acoustic version of their 1985 pop hit Take on Me, giving the song a new and deeper meaning than ever before. From the upcoming album and video MTV Unplugged Summer Solstice.
The Academic: Bear Claws Live Loop
Alternative band The Academic used the slight delay in Facebook Live’s video streaming to record and remix their song Bear Claws on the spot. By showing their stream on a screen while they were streaming, they were able to play along with their past selves.
Chronixx: Tiny Desk Concert
Twenty-four-year-old Jamar “Chronixx” McNaughton has been steadily rising up the music scene with his classic and smooth brand of reggae. Watch him perform Skankin’ Sweet, Majesty and Spanish Town Rockin’ from his new album Chronology.
DJ Cummerbund: Houston & Sons
(PG-13: Lyrics) We’re not sure how he managed to pull it off this time – but mashup master DJ Cummerbund managed to combine Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance with Somebody with Mumford and Sons’ Little Lion Man, and a dash of Kesha’s TiK ToK so the party don’t stop.
Angels in Heaven
Wind down that long day of yours by hitting the refresh button in your head and listening to this bluesy gospel tune from Ashville-based artists Chris Rodrigues and Abby the Spoon Lady, jamming right on her porch. (Thanks Rob!)
Puddles: Under Pressure/Let It Go
Like many of us, Puddles Pity Party has the occasional bad day. The sad clown with the golden voice works out his stress with a little pie, some cupcakes, and a impassioned cover smoosh-up of Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure, and Let It Go from Disney’s Frozen.
Steve Martin: Tiny Desk Concert
Actor, comedian, writer, and musician Steve Martin is joined by the talented members of the Steep Canyon Rangers for a captivating four-song set of country and bluegrass melodies in NPR’s amazing and personal concert venue. The tracks are all from The Long Awaited Album.
Tom Petty (1950-2017)
It’s been a rough week, and the loss of one of rock and roll’s greatest makes us even sadder. Let us celebrate the life and talent of Tom Petty through some of his many hit songs, then say farewell with his cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, accompanied by Prince.
Feel Good Inc. 3-Neck Cover
Musician Luca Stricagnoli turns in an amazing cover version of Gorillaz’ hit track Feel Good, Inc. on his unusual, but amazing triple-neck Serracini guit-bass, somehow playing the track’s entire melody and rhythm section with just his two hands.
Bill Wurtz: Outside
“They touched me in an interesting way. And now I’m pregnant. With aliens.” Bill Wurtz sings about running away from the wind, being abducted and arresting crime. How we wish our Internet provider used his songs as on hold music.
Star Trek A Capella Medley
The Warp Zone celebrates Star Trek: Discovery with a fun medley of themes from The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise. Though we really wanted to hear the lyric “It’s been a long road, getting from there to here…“
Losing My Religion: Bluegrass Edition
Musician “The Little Strummer Boy” and vocalist pal Kurt Grunsky performed a great cover version of R.E.M.’s 1991 hit Losing My Religion with a twangy country/bluegrass vibe. We always pictured this song with being played on the banjo for some reason.
Josie and the Pussycats OST LP
The 2001 Archie spinoff film Josie and the Pussycats was too smart for its time (and for how it was promoted). But the band’s catchy original songs are some of the better fruits of the mostly regrettable pop punk era. Now you can get them on vinyl thanks to Mondo.
Gillespie & Hendricks: Mouth Music
An absolutely incredible bit of archive footage of the late, great Dizzy Gillespie and Jon Hendricks performing at Lincoln Center back in 1980, using only their mouths, noses, hands, and a Jew’s harp to bring a tune to life.