New Music Spotlight #118: Miike Snow

Miike Snow (pronounced Mike) is a trio of dance producers - 2 from Sweden, 1 from NYC – that got together to make their own album. The two Swedes, Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, were behind Britney Spears’ 2004 hit “Toxic.” They’ve also worked with Kylie Minogue, Madonna and several other dance artists. The song is gaining traction at Alternative radio, and I wanted to see what you thought of it.

Generally, the response was pretty “meh.” No one really said they hated the song, and only one texter said they really liked it, with everyone else sitting somewhere in the middle.

If you missed the Spotlight, you can hear “Animal” on the band’s MySpace page. Catch up with them on Facebook and Twitter.

What do you think of the song?

Dead By Sunrise Reveal Album Artwork

Dead By Sunrise, the side project of Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, has revealed the artwork to their forthcoming album Out of Ashes, due this fall.

Hit the jump to check it out.

Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong – Not A Baseball Fan

Billie Joe Armstrong, lead singer of monster rock band Green Day, sang “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” at Wrigley Field in Chicago on the 12th. He clearly doesn’t know the song as he had to read the lyrics and didn’t really know the melody.

Check out his blazing performance after the jump.

New Music Spotlight #117: Moby

For his 9th album, Moby took to heart a message he heard from David Lynch – that creativity for its own sake is a beautiful, wonderful thing – and created an album for himself, rather for the sales charts. The result is Wait For Me, featuring today’s Spotlight, “Pale Horses” with vocals from Moby’s friend Amelia Zirin Brown.

Response to this song, a breezy tune with nary a hook in sight, was surprisingly good. Nathan called in and said it wasn’t necessarily his style, but it was refreshing to hear something original. One texter said “Love it! Play it, play it, play it!” While another said, “this is Moby’s best in a while.” Jill, however, said the song is “too weird for me.”

Check out the video for the song after the jump.

New Music Spotlight #116: Dolores O’Riordan

Dolores O’Riordan was the angelic voice of the Cranberries, one of the 90s biggest female-fronted rock bands. She’s done some solo work before, and she’s back with her forthcoming album No Baggage, due out August 25th. First single “The Journey” is today’s Spotlight.

Generally speaking, the feedback was positive. Quinn “thought it was awesome” and said we should play it more often, and that he was going to download it. Angie said she has a love-hate thing with Dolores, and that this is in the love column. Travis said it was “way good.”

If you missed the Spotlight today, you can hear the new song from Dolores on her MySpace page. Catch up with her on Facebook and her official website.

What do you think of the song?

Concerts: 2009

The last couple years, I’ve kept a running list of the concerts I’ve attended, and 2009 will be no different. So I start a list of my 2009 concerts. As before, the list will be updated as concerts are attended.

1. Jan 17: David Archuleta at Stanfield Artist Lounge, Park City, UT
2. Jan 20: O.A.R. w/ Eric Hutchinson at The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT
3. Jan 21: Bouncing Souls, X-Dance at Elevate, SLC, UT
4. Jan 23: Lenka at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
5. Jan 24: Adele w/ James Morrison at Murray Theatre, Murray, UT
6. Feb 10: Katy Perry w/ The Daylights at In The Venue, SLC, UT
7. Feb 13: P.O.S. w/ Mictlan, Sims at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
8. Feb 21: The Submarines, the Morning Benders at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
9. Feb 28: MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice at McKay Events Center, Orem, UT
10. Mar 18: Thriving Ivory at Murray Theater, Murray, UT
11. Mar 31: Blue October at the Depot, SLC, UT
12. Apr 1: Ten Out of Tenn feat. Erin McCarley and more at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
13. Apr 2: Pelican w/ Eagle Twin, Tombs, Bird Eater at Club Vegas, SLC, UT
14. Apr 8: Lily Allen at In The Venue, SLC, UT
15. Apr 9: The Ting Tings at In The Venue, SLC, UT
16. Apr 17-19: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Field, Indio, CA
17. Apr 22: Carolina Liar at Gallivan Center, SLC, UT
18. Apr 28: Serena Ryder at Avalon Theater, SLC, UT
19. May 1: Lenka at Avalon Theater, SLC, UT
20. May 12: Anya Marina (opening for The Virgins) at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
21. May 12: Keane at Kingsbury Hall, SLC, UT
22. May 17: Flight of the Conchords at Abravanel Hall, SLC, UT
23. May 21: Dirtyheads w/ Pilot Speed at Upper Deck, Scottsdale, AZ
24. Jun 25: White Rabbits at Urban Lounge, SLC, UT
25. Jul 13: Death Cab For Cutie w/ Andrew Bird, Red Butte Gardens, SLC, UT

Lily Allen Wishes She Was “22″

Lily Allen, one the paparazzo’s favorite targets, has a new video for her single “22″ where the singer bemoans the loss of her youth and ponders why she’s still doing the club scene thing. It’s a great song, one of my faves from her latest album It’s Not Me, It’s You.

Watch the HD video with two sides of Lily after the jump.

New Music Spotlight #115: David Gray

David Gray has sold more than 12 million albums world-wide and has Ireland’s best selling album of all time in 1998’s White Ladder. Now he’s back with a new album, Draw The Line, due out September 22nd. The first single from the new effort is “Fugitive,” which starts with the line “Is the answer none of the above/Crouched in a hole/Like a mud-streaked fugitive.” A line that Gray himself says was inspired by Saddam Hussein’s final hiding place.

Catch up with David Gray on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and his official website.

What do you think of the song?

Alice In Chains Release New Video

At the end of June, Alice In Chains, with new singer William DuVall, released “A Looking In View”. Now they have a video for the song, too. And in true AIC fashion, it doesn’t really make any sense, let alone go along with the song. However, that didn’t stop their other videos from being awesome. And it doesn’t really stop this one, either.

Hit the jump to check it out.

I Just Bought My Ticket

I’m going to see Brüno today, and I’m very excited about it.

If you haven’t seen the previews for Sacha Baron Cohen’s followup to Borat, just check ‘em out below. The first is approved for all audiences. Hit the jump for the preview your little cousin shouldn’t see.