AUSTRALIA HERE I COME!!

I have just 12 more days until my big adventure down under - I'm FREAKING OUT! I have even been getting familiar with the Australian music scene in hopes I get a taste of it when I'm there. And so far I'm liking what Oz has to offer in regards to music. Empire Of The Sun is my latest obsession, and their song "Walking On A Dream" is FAN-EFFING-TASTIC!

YOU MUST listen to this song!!



EMPIRE OF THE SUN TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
WALKING ON A DREAM ON ASTRALWERKS ON APRIL 21, 2009

"World domination quite literally awaits" - NME

Empire Of The Sun - an electro- psychedelic project led by Luke Steele, the enigmatic wunderkind behind Australia's The Sleepy Jackson and Pnau's Nick Littlemore, will release their debut album Walking On A Dream on April 21, 2009 on Astralwerks.

Exotic, lavish, larger-than-life, Empire Of The Sun brings together these two unlikely collaborators from Australian pop. Their friendship which Luke describes as "this fireball of electricity", eventually resulted in Walking On A Dream - a bold, visionary and brilliant album, which manages to sound exhilaratingly contemporary, audaciously forward-looking, yet also curiously archaic all at once. From Nick and Luke's collective unconscious arose a rare marriage of rock and electronica, immediacy and depth, futurism and tradition, hi-tech production and creative spontaneity, pop melody and the cinematic.

Walking On A Dream album and debut single of same name have both already achieved Top 10 status in the band's native Australia and are well on the way to Platinum. Empire Of The Sun has been widely tipped as one of the acts to watch in 2009 by BBC radio and the UK press. They have also received over 5.5 million hits on Myspace for the "Walking On A Dream" video and track and over 1.2 million YouTube views for "Walking On A Dream" video. You can check out the video which was filmed in Shanghai here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zmM2RwlxGt0

"Song of the year and it's still only January... "Walking on a Dream" has staked it's claim to that accolade for 2009, setting the bar extremely high for future songs to come..."- Clash

"Ladies and gentlemen we already have a contender for 2009 album of the year"- Guardian

"Already being talked up as one of the albums of the year…" Evening Standard

"4 Stars" - Q

http://www.myspace.com/empireofthesunsound OR http://www.walkingonadream.com/

TOP OF THE CHARTS

The Lonely Island’s INCREDIBAD is the first comedy album to dominate the iTunes album chart in iTunes History! Pick up your copy today!

http://tinyurl.com/INCREDIBADiTunesBuyLink

MATISYAHU’S LIGHT TO BE RELEASED APRIL 21 ON EPIC RECORDS

GRAMMY-NOMINATED ARTIST’S FIRST FULL LENGTH IN THREE YEARS PRODUCED BY DAVID KAHNE AND FEATURING STEPHEN MCGREGOR, SLY & ROBBIE, MEMBERS OF FISHBONE AND MORE

Grammy-nominated artist Matisyahu will release a new full-length album, Light on April 21 (Epic Records). On the heels of a sold-out, critically acclaimed national tour in support of the new Shattered EP, as well as the 3rd annual Festival of Light concerts in New York City, Matisyahu continues the creative momentum with his most adventurous and personal record to date. Further tour dates will be announced shortly.

Produced by David Kahne (Paul McCartney, Regina Spektor, Sublime), Light was recorded and mixed in Jamaica, New York, Los Angeles and Virginia. Several guest artists contribute to the record: son of legendary reggae artist Freddie McGregor and among Jamaica’s youngest and most innovative producers Stephen McGregor (co-producer, keyboards, drum-programming, “Smash Lies,” “Motivate” and “Struggla”—Remix), ground-breaking Jamaican reggae rhythm section Sly & Robbie (drums and bass, “Two Child One Drop,” “Temple,” “I Will Be Light” and “7 Beggars”), noted production team Eric Krasno & Adam Deitch of Fyre Dept. (co-producers and live instruments, “Struggla”) and Fish and Norwood Fisher (drums and bass, “We Will Walk” and “So Hi So Lo”) of the L.A. alt-punk-ska band Fishbone.

Also contributing to Light are Jamaican nyabinghi drummers Delroy Williams as Putus Roots, Samuel Count Ossie “Time” Williams and Nambo Robinson (“Escape” and “Temple”) and experimental turntablist Ooah from the Glitch Mob (co-producer, co-writer, drum programming on “Temple” and “Two Child One Drop”), among others. Long-time Matisyahu collaborator Aaron Dugan plays guitar on most of the record as well.

Matisyahu emerged in 2004 with his debut album Shake Off the Dust…Rise. With the release of Live at Stubb’s (2005), which reached #1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, and Youth (2006), which debuted at #4 on Billboard’s Top 200 and reached #1 on the Reggae Albums chart, Matisyahu gained considerable critical acclaim. Both albums subsequently went Gold and Youth was nominated for a Grammy for Best Reggae Album

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH!

Unfortch I have to attend Jury Duty today in Downtown LA, so I don't have much of a chance to blog. First, I wanna wish everyone a Happy Friday the 13th - get out and see the Friday the 13th movie tonight!! Also, Happy Valentines Day tomorrow! I will be drowning my sorrows with lots of wine!! HVD to ME!

Being that it's Valentines Day on Saturday - The Lonely Pants have created an amazing way to tell someone that they make you “Jizz In Your Pants.” TLP are the peeps from SNL that bring you those crazy amazing digital shorts.

Below is the link to send a personalized V-Day message and the video for “Jizz In My Pants." Send your love the very best!

http://www.incredibad.com/valentine/

PLAY PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2009 WITH SNOW PATROL - TODAY!!

Platinum-selling artists Snow Patrol will be on Xbox LIVE® February 13 to play members in Pro Evolution Soccer 2009.

If you're an Xbox LIVE Gold member, and you want a chance to play with Snow Patrol, send a friend request to the Gamertag "Snow Patrol GWF" and be online half an hour before (10:00 a.m. EST/ 7:00 a.m. PST/ 3:00 p.m. in UK) the Game with Fame session starts on Friday, February 13, 10:30 a.m. EST.

Snow Patrol's fifth album, A Hundred Million Suns, released in October of 2008 and was recorded both at the famous Hansa Studio in Berlin and at the Grouse Lodge Studio in Ireland. Hit songs on the album include "Take Back the City" and "Crack the Shutters." The band consists of Gary Lightbody (vocals), Johnny Quinn (drums), Nathan Connolly (guitar), Paul Wilson (bass), and Tom Simpson (keyboard).

If you get a chance to play with Snow Patrol, Xbox wants to hear about it! Send an e-mail to xlmail@microsoft.com with the subject: "GWF - Snow Patrol." Be sure to include your Gamertag and hometown.


Who: Snow Patrol
Date: Friday, February 13, 2009
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. EST (3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the UK)
Game: Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
Gamertag: Snow Patrol GWF (*note spaces)
Link: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2009/0213-snowpatrol.htm

WORLD PREMIERE VIDEO - SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS

In School of Seven Bells’ music, a human element lurks behind a veil of technology and noise; Toby Holbrooks’ video for the Brooklyn trio’s “Half Asleep” follows suit, depicting real-life twin vocalists Alejandra and Claudia Deheza as earthbound beauties, while complicating their image through sped-up film, gauzy overlays, and brightly colored, weather-like disturbances. The clip conjures a sad, surreal feeling that sticks with you long after the images fade.

“The first thing that popped into our heads was the word ‘lush’,” says director Halbrooks of brainstorming for the video for “Half Asleep.” Indeed, “Half Asleep” – the first single from School of Seven Bells’ full-length debut Alpinisms, out now on Ghostly International – is a perfectly woozy take on dream-pop, a haze of melting guitars and electronic vapor trails pinned to the Dehezas’ interlocking harmonies.

Come this Tuesday, 2/17, Ghostly International will release School of Seven Bells' "Iamundernodisguise" as 7" vinyl and digital download. A sinister electronic calypso marked by ping-ponging percussion and one of the Deheza sisters' slinkier melodies, "Iamundernodisguise" teases out School of Seven Bells' darker side within the parameters of a concise, catchy pop song.

IN CASE YOU MISSED EM...

Heartless Bastard's performing "Out At Sea" on the Late Show with David Letterman. This is their national television debut. The new album, The Mountain, is in stores now.

KCRW AT SXSW

Jason Bentley hosts his first live Morning Becomes Eclectic remote broadcast and

SXSW showcase as KCRW Music Director

KCRW (89.9 FM and KCRW.com) returns to Austin this year with new Music Director Jason Bentley, who will host a live broadcast of Morning Becomes Eclectic onThursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20 with special live performances to be announced at a later date.

KCRW’s Music Director and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic Jason Bentley says: “I’m excited to be taking MBE on the road again this year. You never know who might pop into the show those two days in Austin!”

KCRW’S OFFICIAL SXSW SHOWCASE feat IDA MARIA, SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS

Bentley has selected a stellar line up of bands he has been supporting this year. Join us for what is sure to be a good time…

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 AT BUFFALO BILLIARDS

IDA MARIA

SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS

PORT O’BRIEN

ANGUS AND JULIA STONE (Appearing March 9 on MBE)

OTHER LIVES

BOAT PEOPLE

LIVE MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC BROADCASTS / EVENT COVERAGE AT KCRW.COM

KCRW will be broadcasting Morning Becomes Eclectic live from 11am to 2pm (CST) at Tequila Mockingbird studios with band performances on March 19 and 20. Last year, Nic Harcourt hosted Duffy’s debut performance on U.S. radio. The songstress just picked up a Grammy for “Best Pop Vocal Album.”

KCRW DJ Anne Litt will be doing live interviews from Austin for her weekend music shows.

We will be webcasting these SXSW in-studio sessions on KCRW.com. A dedicated SXSW page will also include exclusive interviews, performance videos, photos and more from the festival.

RADIO SPONSOR FOR FILTER MAGAZINE’S REVENGE of CEDAR STREET

KCRW is the official radio partner for the 7^th annual Revenge of Cedar Street daytime showcases on March 19, 20, and 21 from noon to 6pm at the Cedar Street Courtyard on 4^th Street. The event is open to all badge holders. Confirmed acts include Razorlight, NASA, Wild Light, Other Lives, Rye Rye, Hockey, Black Gold and more.

60 MINUTES WITH COLDPLAY

Grammy night was a big night for Coldplay, not only did they win a few Grammys, but 60 Minutes scored an outstanding interview with the band. According to Chris, they don't do a lot of interviews, so it's a treat to get an inside look behind the band.

It's really a fantastic interview - check it out!

THE TODAY SHOW WITH LILY ALLEN

In case you missed her... Lily stopped by the Today Show to perform her song "The Fear" and spoke briefly with Matt Lauer.