_Vampire Weekend – White Sky

Vampire Weekend is spotlighted in the “Already Famous” spread in Vogue magazine – who would’ve knew that they would be posing with Sasha Pivovarova!

Yesterday Vampire Weekend announced on their Twitter that they put their new song “White Sky” for stream on their Myspace so of course I had to check it out.

As you might have known they teased us and performed this song earlier this year on Jimmy Fallon. I still have an mp3 rip of the video because I thought it was THAT good. Now they’re teasing us yet once again by streaming the studio mp3 of it on their myspace before it’s on sale – and you know we had to share it.

Vampire Weekend – “White Sky”Stream

_Washed Out – Belong (Music Video)

The music video to “Belong” by Washed Out is a perfect example of watching 80′s workout videos while on an acid trip.

_Lara Stone Covers LOVE Magazine

A naked, airbrushed Lara Stone covers the 3rd issue of my favorite British fashion magazine, LOVE. I wouldn’t say that this is NSFW because her nipples are airbrushed and covered…

Anyways, I’m glad that she shows a strong pose on this magazine unlike the zombie looking models on covers (even though I love them).

_Jónsi – Boy Lilikoi

For more than 10 years, Sigur Ros has been blowing us away in the quietest way possible: with pianos and a weird, made-up language. Slow, meandering songs were the goal, taking you on a ethereal journey of your own choosing.

So when frontman Jónsi Birgisson announced earlier this year that he would release a solo album in 2010, everyone paused (after asking if Sigur Ros was breaking up) and began to wonder what kind of path Birgisson would walk us down. The answer? An English one.

The first song from Birgisson’s upcoming album “Go” was released earlier this month and, yes, it’s in English. Jarring at first, eventually the lyrics take a backseat to a flurry of flutes, strings, and cymbals, combining flawlessly with Birgisson’s falsetto. The song is faster than most Sigur Ros songs, and the instrumentation is not unlike Sufjan Stevens: at first it seems cluttered, but by the end you realize why it’s all there.

“Go” is produced by Peter Katis (who was at the helm of both “Alligator” and “Boxer” for The National), so expect more orchestral pieces like “Bot Lilikoi” when the album is released on XL March 22.

Jónsi – “Boy Lilikoi”

_Evolution of the Hipster, 2000-2009

Paste magazine has photographed and basically tracked down the hipster trends of the decade. It’s pretty funny but I think that the 2009 description wasn’t nearly as accurate. What do you think?

Go here to see the full spread!

_Martin Margiela To Retire

For the past months there have been rumors that the avant-garde Antwerp designer Martin Margiela will leave his fashion house Maison Martin Margiela and retire. Turns out the rumors are true, as Enzo Rosso confirmed just a couple of days ago. Margiela has only been working for 2 decades under his name, and he has worked with Rei Kawakubo from Commes Des Garcons and Jean Paul Gaultier before releasing his first collection in 1989.

His team of 25 people will continue to work under the direction of Giovanni Pungetti who has worked with Margiela for 19 years, which is basically most of Martin’s career.

His 2010 collection wasn’t really that good, but why quit now? He’s only 52 years old so there is still room for a few more collections. Hopefully his team and Giovanni will raise the bar!

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_Harlem – Friendly Ghost

Chris Barth tackles “Lo-Fi” in a little article called “Three Trends in Modern Music and Why They Suck” in the brand new Vinyl and Vodka Magazine. Barth claims that if you can’t convey the emotional tones of a song without mudding the sound, then it is not merit-worthy art. This is where Mr. Barth and I differ. If used effectively, and not like a gimmick, “Lo-Fi” can be a means of expressing a certain tone or mood of a song. Many of Velvet Underground’s gems would never be the same if they were recorded in pristine quality. With that being said, a certain Austin, Texas trio has a new examples of this.

Harlem’s fresh offering from their upcoming album Hippies, is an energetic lo-fi surf rock that emulates their critically acclaimed live shows. The jittery guitars and slick bassline provides a backbone that would appeal to hipsters, hippies, and mainstream folk alike.

Hippies is out 4/6 via Matador Records

Harlem – “Friendly Ghost”

_2010 Coachella Dates Announced

I’m starting to get excited even though I’m not going (I want to go!) Who is planning to go?

More information on tickets and parking here

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