Easy Way Out : Gotye

And here I was thinking having to watch Gotye take a seat on the porcelain throne was the as undignified as it was going to get.

Here's the very latest from that Belgian/Australian wonder Gotye. It's the music video for "Easy Way Out" and it's pretty interesting to say the least. If you think you have issues getting out of bed and making it through the day, well, just be glad nothing gets set on fire.

Andrew Bird on NoiseTrade

At Grimey's in Nashville, 2008

If you're not familiar the Noisetrade.com, you should fix that. In fact, TMI can help introduce you. NoiseTrade is "Fair Trade Music." Artists can put their material on offer and you can download it for free, or you can drop a little something in the tip jar.

This week, Andrew Bird is on NoiseTrade with a few tracks from his forthcoming album, Break it Yourself.

Track Listing:

01 : Eyeone
02 : The Crown Salesman
03 : So Much Wine
04 : After Dinner Jam

The Shins Release "Simple Song" Video

As we slide toward March 20 and the release of the Shins new album Port of Morrow, expect an spike in all things Shins related. First up, there's a new video out for "Simple Song," featuring James Mercer as a not-so-dearly-departed dad. You can check it out above, or hop on over to iTunes and download it for free. 

You'll also probably get to hear "Simple Song" when the Shins play Saturday Night Live on March 10. Jonah Hill is slated to host. 

The Crown Salesman : Andrew Bird

Here's one for you this fine Friday. It's a new song from Andrew Bird, called "The Crown Salesman." It's a bit of a slow burn, and honestly there's no big payoff, but the guitar distortion is pretty interesting in back of Bird's violin. Guess we're trying new things.

Break it Yourself comes out March 6.

Bonnaroo 2012 Lineup Announced

What, you can't read this? Click me!

It's usually worth noting when the (real) Bonnaroo lineup gets announced. This year it looks pretty strong, including THE BEACH BOYS, Radiohead, The Avett Brothers, Foster the People, The Roots, Punch Brothers, Fitz and the Tantrums and Dawes, to name a few (and if I were to make a list of acts I wanted to see).

Anyway, there's that. Oh, and I have no idea who this John Anderson fellow from ESPN is, but he did the video announcement and it's pretty funny. Check it out.

Pentatonix Covers Gotye

It's only a matter of time before Glee gets their angsty little hands on this, but until then, you can add another entry to growing list of Gotye covers. Pentatonix, an a capela group from NBC's the Sing Off, release their take on the Aussie's infectious "Somebody That I Used to Know."

Better than the original? That'll probably never happen, but it is worth a quick listen. If you were curious how five voices and one guitar could tackle a song with so many strange sounds, subtract the guitar. The kids do alright.

The only way I can explain this rash of covers is that the song itself has a certain quality that makes you want to dive inside it– and what better way to drench yourself in a song you love than by learning to play/sing it–  and it covers a sentiment that's familiar to many.

Whatever the case, I hope you like Gotye, because this guy's nowhere near peaking in the U.S.

This Week: Music on TV

It's been a pretty exceptional week for music on the TV. Here are a few of the highlights in case you've been spending your nights apart from the idiot box.

Dawes guest spot on NBC's "Parenthood"

Parenthood may have been one of the last shows you might think of when considering cool, taste-making soundtracks, but over the course of its run, the show has featured songs by The Avett Brothers, The Head and the Heart, and Josh Ritter to name a few. Last night, LA band Dawes made an appearance on the show as themselves.

Alabama Shakes play Conan
With debut album Boys and Girls on the way April 10, we can't wait to hear more from the Shakes. Until then, here's the video of their performance of "Hold On," plus a second song, "I Ain't the Same."

Austin City Limits airs Wilco performance
Popeye (see post below) was nowhere in sight, but Jeff Tweedy & Co. held it down pretty well. Check out the episode, which featured eleven songs from various albums. No doubt Olive Oyl was in the front row.

Watch Wilco on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

Popeye Should Beat Up Jeff Tweedy

In the weirdest collaboration since Jack White teamed up with Insane Clown Posse, this week we saw the release of a new Wilco video for "Dawned on Me" featuring none other than Popeye the Sailor. (Well, blow me down Olive Oyl!)

Apparently there's some mad cross connection with the band and the old cartoon, as Huffington Post noted Wilco's been in a comic strip (I know... there's a weekly Popeye comic strip. Who knew?) and the two share a website (www.wilcospinach.com).

As we join our heros, Jeff Tweedy, Bluto and Popeye are all competing for the love of the beauteous Olive Oyl. Expect appearances from Whimpy and Swee' Pea.

My childhood hasn't decided what to do with this video. Decide for yourself.

Watch Gotye on Jimmy Kimmel Live

When a friend first tipped me off to Australian artist Gotye a few months back, I didn't know he was on the brink of breaking through in America. Apparently he was, and I learned this steadily through December by catching his tunes playing in a favorite restaurant of mine, seeing his picture featured on Lighting 100's homepage, and now by watching his American television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Gotye (né Wally De Backer) didn't just make a little studio appearance, he had a gigantic stage and a (newly, I'm guessing) devoted crowd.

Check out Gotye and Kimbra singing "Somebody That I Used to Know."