Awesome Music

NPR is streaming Beck’s latest album Morning Phase. If you like Sea Change – or sad bastard music in general – then you’ll be happy to know that Morning Phase is equally melancholic. You can also stream the album on iTunes Radio.

Jimmy Fallon rounds up the ol’ Ragtime Gals on his new late night show to cover R. Kelly’s undying club staple, Ignition (Remix). We think it’s cool and all, but the audience is way too pumped up for this – pumped up for thiiiis! – ahem. Sorry.

The spiritual successor to the legendary TR-808, the TR-8 Rhythm Performer combines the distinct sound of the TR-808 and TR-909 with a ton of new features for the modern musician. Part of Roland’s new AIRA series.

Pomplamoose used foamboard, a projector and a video editor to mix live video with prerecorded clips to make a meta-music video for their mashup of Pharrell Williams’ Happy and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky and Lose Yourself to Dance.

An improved version of the ATH-M50, one of the best pro-level yet affordable headphones. The ATH-M50x retains the sound of its predecessor but adds more comfortable ear cups and three detachable cables. Sound tests here.

(PG-13 Language) Mac Lethal spits another tongue-twistingly fast rap, incorporating every letter of the alphabet – in alphabetical order – as his subject matter. Sure, some of the phrases make no sense, but his speed is still amazing.

(NSFW: Language) The imagery in director Rex Arrow’s video may seem contrary to Mac Miller’s dope rap, but listen to the lyrics, and it’s perfect. “Walking on a tight rope, underneath a microscope. But close up, we all just molecules and isotopes.”

A sweet chill out track from the talented Seattle duo Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight aka Odesza, featuring Madelyn Grant. Sun Models is the debut single from their upcoming album that will be released this year.

(NSFW: Language) An icy smooth jazz hip hop track. Up and coming rapper Duckwrth paints the sights and sounds of Los Angeles’ Crenshaw Boulevard in …Travel, the debut single from his free album Taxfree V.1, out now.

Karen O, Spike Jonze and KK Barrett dropped by KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic to perform The Moon Song from Her. Karen and Spike co-wrote the song, which is nominated for Best Original Song at the 2014 Oscars.

The music video for Kong, a single from Close to the Glass, the upcoming album by German rock band The Notwist. The band is known for hopping across genres, and this time around it seems like they’re going for a bright pop sound.

This tiny pair of devices are much more than just headphones. Dash streams music via Bluetooth, but it’s also a music player by itself with 4GB of storage. It’s also a fitness tracker and a Bluetooth headset.

NightBus shot two different versions of its pop music video for When the Night Time Comes, and using a special player, you can selectively play parts of each video at the same time. Wiggle the slider and wear headphones for optimum effect.

(NSFW) An underground street racing league filled with badass vehicles turns ugly (and a bit weird). The animated music video for RipTide’s In the Middle of the Nite was made by Stefan Glerum and Crooked Line. Buy prints of the stills here.

Another awesome arrangement by Scott Bradlee features vocalist Miche Braden performing a version of Guns N’ Roses rock classic Sweet Child O’ Mine in a style befitting a sultry night in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

“There’s something sacred going on, and I can understand it.” Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon talks about his love for his hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and how it shapes him and his music. A nice interview by Red Wing Shoes.

For their Valentine’s Day video, CDZA recorded this medley of tracks about men who have to say farewell to the ones they loved. Voiced by Forest VanDyke, in an arrangement by Jae Lee. They didn’t need to bleep it so much. We can handle it.

A minimalist portable wireless speaker. Its aluminum frame, plastic body and textile grill are finished in monochrome. It works with Bluetooth, DLNA, AirPlay, Wi-Fi and ad-hoc wireless. It also has 3.5mm and optical inputs. Pricing TBD.

“It said quarter to five, but it was quarter to ass…” Dan Harmon bent over for Community fans and released the full version of Ben Folds’ sexy Ass Crack Bandit song from the hilarious third episode of the current season. Lyrics here.

Streams music directly via Wi-Fi to speakers with a 3.5mm, RCA or optical input. Streams from Pandora or the songs saved on your iOS or Android device, with more services soon. Multiple Beeps can be networked for whole home audio.

While Nicolo Paganini’s compositions were largely played on string instruments, Nicola-Frank Vachon figured out a way to play each and every note of this concerto using only his goofy facial expressions. (Thanks OrionFyre!)

This substantial sound system has two 25mm tweeters, two 2″ mid-ranges and two 5.25″ woofers, each with a 50w amp. Streams via Bluetooth, DLNA and AirPlay. Has 3.5mm, RCA and optical inputs and two USB charging ports.

Pacemaker is a DJ app for the iPad designed to be easy to use. It lets you mix your iTunes songs, and it can access tracks in Spotify as well. By our estimate that gives you around 5.3 bajillion song combinations.