MP3: Stereolab – Miss Modular (Automator Mix)
MP3: Radiohead – Nude (Sparkletone Remix)

Leon Michels (pronounced Michaels) is the co-founder of Truth & Soul Records and front man for the El Michels Affair. A renowned saxophonist, Michels’ horn line on Menahan Street Band’s song “Make The Road By Walking” was lifted by Jay-Z for “Roc Boys,” the lead single from his Grammy-winning album American Gangster. Michels is also a talented producer, recording with Lee Fields, Amy Winehouse, Iggy Pop and Adele.

In 2005, Toyota’s Scion division asked El Michels Affair to accompany Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan for a promotional tour. Michels found that the group’s ‘cinematic soul’ sound was consistent with the moods of RZA’s soundscapes on the classic Wu-Tang releases. The tour was such as success that the band recorded two smash 7” singles featuring instrumental reinterpretations of the Wu-Tang classic songs “C.R.E.A.M.” and “Bring Da Ruckus.” Combined, the singles sold over 7,000 units worldwide. This success led to a contract with indie hip-hop label Fat Beats Records to record an entire album of Wu-Tang Clan interpolations entitled Enter The 37th Chamber.

LA Times story.

[Via – Scott Roxborough of Billboard.com]
“A Dutch entertainment industry group has demanded Swedish file-sharing site The Pirate Bay be shut down in the Netherlands and says Pirate Bay founders have been sent their court summons via Twitter and Facebook.

In April, a Swedish district court found the three, along with Carl Lundstrom, guilty of assisting copyright infringement and sentenced them to 1 year in prison and some $3.8 million in fines. The men are appealing. The Swedish court of appeals this week began deliberating on the defendants’ claim that the presiding judge in the district court was biased because he belonged to several anti-piracy groups. Lundstrom is not named in the Dutch suit. “ Continue reading article @ Billboard.com

Image – Christopher Wilson

Pre-sale tickets for Band of Horses HOB/Chicago Lollapalooza after show on Friday, August 7th are on sale right now (10:18am PST). Password is LAREDO.

MP3: Band Of Horses – Effigy (Live – Gothenburg 3/5/2008)

Download:
Band of Horses – Cease to Begin (iTunes)

White Denim

Deer Tick
Album: Daytrotter Session
Label: Partisan Records
MP3: Deer Tick – Straight Into A Storm

White Denim
Album: Fits (Out Now)
Label: Full Time Hobby UK
MP3: White Denim – Say What You Want

Lights
Album: Rites (Release Date – July 21st)
Label: Drag City
MP3: Lights – Heavy Drops

Melissa McClelland
Album: Victoria Day (Release Date – June 30th)
Label: Six Shooter Records
MP3: Melissa McClelland – Seasoned Lovers

John McCauley III

Related Posts:
Rollo & Grady Interview with James Petralli of White Denim (Click Here)
Rollo & Grady Interview with John McCauley III of Deer Tick (Click Here)

Here are a couple live tracks from Feist. Her cover of Bob Dylan’s Grammy Award-winning single “Someday Baby,” shows that she’s not just a mellow indie-pop singer. It’s a raw blues-rock number and it’s one of her best songs to date. She should strongly consider putting out a rock ‘n’ roll record. In related news, she joined Broken Social Scene for their June 18th set at the NXNE festival in Toronto.

MP3: Feist – Someday Baby (Bob Dylan Cover)
MP3: Feist – Nothin’ In The World Can Stop Me Worryin’ Bout That Girl (Kinks Cover)
MP3: Feist and Bon Iver – Train Song (Live – NPR 5.3.2009)

Download:
Feist – The Reminder (iTunes)
Feist – Let It Die (iTunes)

King Khan joined GZA on the stage for “Liquid Swords” and “4th Chamber” at the the NXNE Festival in Toronto.

Rollo & Grady Interview with King Khan (click here).