Download: Kissy Sell Out does a mixtape for the new issue of Mixmag

Kissy Sell Out, who just so happens to be one of the special guests at next Friday night's "Girls & Boys" party here in New York City, has been tapped by the good fellows and ladies of Mixmag for a mix CD for their December issue. Of course, he said yes and so coming November 19--the day before the DJ for Radio 1 hits Gotham City--the issue will see release and the mixtape will come with. It's Christmastime for the issue, but don't think too hard on whether Kissy gets all festive or not. He does, however, include one of our favorite newish tracks, the Dub Pistols' "I'm In Love" edit from Foamo.

(mp3)    Kissy Sell Out - Mixmag Dec 09 mixtape preview

(mp3)    Dub Pistols - I'm In Love (Foamo remix)

Godspeed!

Download: Duck Sauce compile a mixtape for Mixmag

The newest issue of Mixmag (out September 17 with Annie Mac on the cover) comes with a new mixtape from Armand Van Helden and A-Trak, better known together as Duck Sauce, the flame-hot duo from Fool's Gold whose tracks "aNYthing" and "You're Nasty" have become standards on the dancefloor/headphone game in the last few months. The mixtape comes in anticipation of the duo's first-ever EP, out in October. Here's a rad, three-track snippet of the mix.

Tracklist:

01 His Majesty Andre - Spades
02 Mr. Oizo - Gay Dentist (JFK edit)
03 Armand Van Helden & DJ Sneak - Psychic Bounty Killaz

(mp3)    Duck Sauce - Mixmag minimix

Godspeed!

News: Afghan Raiders talk to 944 Magazine

(photo by Al Powers)

Las Vegas, NV-based don't-call-them-DJs-ever electronic duo Afghan Raiders (yes, they take their name from a line in Amelie) sat down with 944 Magazine and talked some smack about books, arty films, pinball and the merits of David Cross's comedy.  Dig on the article here.

(mp3)    Afghan Raiders - Future Thinkers

Godspeed!

PAPER counts down the 25 hottest songbirds

With headings like "Flower Child", "Kicking It Old School" and "Thinking Outside The Box", PAPER gives the ladies of indie a once over and decides who's hottest.  Our faves from the list include Lykke Li, Yelle, Sabina from Brazilian Girls and the lovely Zooey Deschanel.  Read the whole article here.

(mp3)    Lykke Li - Hanging High

Godspeed!

The Black Keys tell Rolling Stone what they've been listening to

(photo by James Carney)

Check out what Pat and Dan have been listening to recently, including Houseguest (from the group's hometwon of Akron) and Jessica Lee Mayfield.  Read the whole article here.

(mp3)    The Black Keys - All You Ever Wanted

Godspeed!

New York magazine counts down the top 10 albums made by actors

(photo collage by New York magazine)

Okay, so maybe they only got through 3 of them and, well, the inclusion of She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M.Ward) with the likes of, say, Milla Jovovich and Minnie Driver and Keanu Reeves is a bit off-putting, but at least they're not too snarky about all of it.  Also, no 30-Odd Foot of Grunts?  Plus, the reader comments offering their own suggestions = awesome.  Read more here.

(mp3)    She & Him - You Really Got A Hold On Me (Smokey Robinson cover)

Godspeed!

New York looks at the war between the record labels and the file-sharing obsessed culture

You can read the whole article here, but we don't think you need to.  Here's the meat and potatoes of it, concisely copied-and-pasted for you by us.  So, New York, am I going to get a cease-and-desist for that?

Last winter, before OiNK was shut down, I chatted with its leader Alan Ellis, who also argued that file-sharing is a net positive for the music industry. “I can see that a site like this doesn’t do much for sales for the massive artists,” he conceded. “But, really, they don’t need the money anyway. Whereas the smaller artists who are getting no exposure—I can’t even find music from artists I listen to online, let alone shops—get so much more on the Internet.” In an interview with the Telegraph after his arrest, he maintained his innocence. “I don’t sell music to people,” he pointed out. “I just direct them to it.”

Record labels would certainly disagree with Spitler and Ellis, who see little moral difference between those who sell music for a living and those who share it online. But it’s clear that even those whose careers depend on plugging leaks participate in spreading them. They just can’t help themselves. One label employee estimated that 90 percent of his friends in the industry download unauthorized music (which, it should be stated, is less controversial than uploading, but collaboration nonetheless). I spoke to a label owner who has liquidated almost half his CD collection. “I’ve downloaded music, yes,” he says. “It’s like masturbation—technology is at a point where you can’t prevent people from doing something they can easily do. That’s demanding too much of human nature.”

Ben Lebovitz, another OiNK enthusiast and former record-label partner, concurs. “The music industry has to change,” he says. “I might spend a dollar on a used copy of R.E.M.’s Murmur,” he said before OiNK’s demise, “but then again, why do that when I can get it off OiNK for free?”

(mp3)    The Smiths - I Won't Share You, from the Strangeways, Here We Come LP

Godspeed!

News: Billboard names Reba McEntire "Woman of the Year"

Proving once and for all that the culture of me is not chock up the wazoo with elitist indie rock bullshit-slingers, we're going to go ahead and reprint one of the funnier (if not least important) news bits we came across today.  This story is like watching a children's beauty pageant.  You know it exists, but you'd rather not associate yourself with it.

Billboard magazine has picked Reba McEntire for its first "Woman of the Year" award. The magazine says the award coincides with its second annual Women in Music issue, which will be published in early October.

Billboard Group editorial director Tamara Conniff says the country star was chosen for the honor because of her wide success in music, television, movies and publishing.

"Reba is an inspiration to women everywhere and we are delighted to be presenting her with this award," Conniff said.

McEntire, 53, has a new album of duets coming out next week that pairs her with artists such as Justin Timberlake, Don Henley, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Chesney, Carole King and Faith Hill.

"I am thrilled to be selected as Woman of the Year by Billboard," McEntire said in a statement. "Although my career has taken me to TV, film and Broadway, music is and always will be my first love. I am touched to be embraced in such a warm way."

Reba can next be seen having a total love-fest with Kelly Clarkson and Justin Timberlake, performing a few songs from her upcoming record, Reba Duets, on The Oprah Winfrey Show (of course) September 19.

Godspeed!

News: XLR8R Mag counts down their Top 25 indie labels

Here's the list:

01. ANTI-/EPITAPH
02. ASTRALWERKS
03. BUZZIN'FLY
04. CADENZA
05. COMPOSTB LACK
06. DIRTYBIRD
07. DOMINO
08. FABRIC
09. HYDRA HEAD
10. INSTITUBES
11. KING STREET SOUNDS
12. KOMPAKT
13. LIGHT IN THE ATTIC
14. PAPER BAG
15. PLANET MU
16. ROOM 40
17. SMC RECORDINGS
18. THE SOCIAL REGISTRY
19. SOLID GROOVE
20. STAUBGOLD
21. STONES THROW
22. TRU THOUGHTS
23. VP RECORDS
24. VICE
25. XL RECORDINGS

You can download the magazine to see the write-up for each label right over here.

Godspeed!

RADAR almost does something right

Ed. Note:    Just look at the pictures.  The article's shite.

Capitol Gritty [RADAR]

(mp3)    Minor Threat - Salad Days, from the Complete Discography LP

Godspeed!