It’s been a slow couple of months for interesting new music from established acts, be they indie or mainstream. Other than Kanye and Jay-Z’s epic collaboration on “Watch the Throne,” we haven’t heard much from the usual suspects.

But that’s not to say times are tough! Plenty of great music is streaming and downloadable right now, both from up-and-coming indie acts and locals. Here are my picks for the week.

Thundercat made himself known to indie audiences when he guested on Flying Lotus’ excellent “Cosmogramma” last year. FlyLo reciprocated by producing his debut LP, “The Golden Age of Apocalypse.” Stream it over at Hype Machine.  

Tulsa and Enid have combined to give us Good Morning Grizzly, a pretty, pop-rock project that put this first big track up for download. It’s called “Stars and Satellites,” and you can snag it at the band's Bandcamp page.

Hazy, Swedish, mix ’n’ mash duo jj have a new track up for download at Gorilla Vs. Bear. The lengthily named “You Don’t Know How Much It Would Hurt Me If You Said You Were in Love with Me,” it’s certainly creepier and sexier than anything they’ve previously recorded.

GVB is also streaming this new track from Twin Sister, who recorded one of the best songs we heard last year in “All Around and Away We Go.” Give ’em both a listen.

Okie Chase Kerby (The City Lives) is getting back into the pop-rock game with Defining Times. Their debut EP was up for free download earlier in the week, but now it’ll set you back $5. I call that money well-spent.

Peter Bjorn and John stopped by KEXP’s studios in Seattle to play a couple of tracks off their latest record, “Gimme Some.” Watch “Breaker, Breaker” (complete with cowbell!) below.



Ho, boy. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Much like the sneak peek at the single they set loose a little early a few weeks ago, New York dance-punk gods The Rapture streamed an in-studio listening party for their new album, “In the Grace of Your Love.” You might recall me blowing my top over “How Deep Is Your Love” a few weeks ago. This stream has amplified my anticipation for the album a dozenfold.



Oklahoma City rapper and good guy Jabee put out a remix to the track “Beautiful Day” off his “Lucky Me” mixtape. Give ’er the ol’ download and listen.

Also, Stephen Malkmus recently played a set of his new material at Amoeba Music in Hollywood. There, he also announced the winner of his blowjob contest. I promise it’s not as gross as you think.  



About a week ago, we heard a titillating tweet from James Blake promising a mysterious Bon Iver collab. It is now here and it is glorious.

Easily one of my favorite songs from the current Stephen Malkmus album was the youthful, fed-up shouter “Tune Grief,” which gets the Pitchfork TV treatment today. There’s something really perfect about the graffiti-blasted rooftop and sunset, which matches Malkmus’s nonsense-spewing and teenaged attitude.

Also, I really want that super-cool Silver Jews hat that he’s rocking. Don’t forget to scroll through for a couple more tracks from this session, including “Forever 28” and “Senators.”

While OK Go have never been especially notable for the quirky pop-rock music it records, the painstaking amount of care that goes into their music videos is unassailable. Seriously, if Pavement had invested that much thought and energy into anything, Stephen Malkmus would have recorded 35 platinum records and currently be serving his fifth consecutive term as the governor of California right now.

But, yeah, a condensed version of this video ran during the fourth quarter of last night’s great celebration of American media. It’s so awesome as to demand a few proper watches in full, just to take it all in. The video’s YouTube page insists that the Chevy Sonic was outfitted with pneumatic arms; singer Damian Kulash took stunt driving lessons; the band sang in actual time while driving the car; and that the whole thing required four months to properly put together. Sweet lord.

Take note, musicians: If you’re going to shoot a commercial for a car manufacturer, then shoot the best damn commercial you can:



Also, below’s the halftime show for those who either missed it, or just want to watch Madonna indulge her newly reclaimed pop-idol status again.

Highlights: Cee Lo dresses like a monk, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. (who flips the bird to the 152 million NBC-viewing folks watching at home) grab their pom-poms for the Material Girl’s new single, “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” and it appears that the Roman Coliseum’s daycare let out early as LMFAO jump in for a dance routine set to the melody from their “Party Rock Anthem” single: