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The Pitch: Duncan Vizla (Mads Mikkelsen), known in hitman circles as The Black Kaiser, is a weary contract killer nearing retirement. When he’s not off on jobs, he tries to live a quiet life in a cabin in Montana, in between friendly exchanges with his waifish neighbor Camille (Vanessa Hudgens). There’s just one problem with his upcoming retirement — flamboyant mob boss Blut (a simpering, over-the-top Matt Lucas) would rather kill his assassins once they hit retirement than pay out their exorbitant pensions. With a team of Blut’s own assassins on his way to disrupt his attempts at a normal late life, Duncan finds himself capping off his career in the bloodiest way possible. 3edgy5me: Remember The Boondock Saints? Polar does, and it really hopes your opinion on it (and your worldview) hasn’t changed in the twenty years since that film was released. From the opening minutes, Polar quickly makes its target audience of horny 14-year-old incels known, with Johnny Knoxville (in a “special guest appearance”) staring at the ass of his soon-to-be-killer Sindy (Ruby O. Fee), before being shot in the head while she goes down on him. This kind of tittering, juvenile humor is Polar‘s stock in trade, and it doesn’t let up for nearly two hours. If you’ve ever been privy to the confrontational, unsubtle perversions of an Uwe Boll movie, Polar might feel a little familiar. Scenes in which Blut’s team of assassins empty clips into a morbidly obese man in America, complete with bullets going through large soda cups and bags of cheese curls, wouldn’t feel out of place in Postal or Rampage, Jayson Rothwell’s screenplay burning with barely concealed contempt for everyone save for stoic dudes with eyepatches and mad fight skills. If lines like “I said I’d never fuck anyone older than my dad” count as a gut-buster for some, Polar might be the film for them. Director Jonas Åkerlund comes from a long, illustrious line of music videos, from Madonna’s “Ray of Light” to The Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up”, but his hyper-stylized proclivities are especially miscalibrated here. The original graphic novel on which it was based was a minimalist affair, with a Sin City black-and-white-and-red-all-over aesthetic that keeps its hitman antics restrained. That’s not at all the case here; Åkerlund, presumably working with peanuts on Canadian soundstages, soaks Polar in ugly washes of purple, yellow, and red, making the whole thing look and feel like a cheap amalgam of John Wick and Suicide Squad. It’s garish and overclocked in all the wrong ways, dumb characters cloaked in dumb costumes doing dumb things under dumb lighting. As for the action, Polar‘s visibly meager budget harms its ability to thrill even on that base level. Action scenes are infrequent and all-too-brief, the tension sucked out of them by Duncan’s seeming invincibility; at one point, he shrugs off days of bloody torture to go on what Beatrix Kiddo would call a “roaring rampage of revenge”. Oh, and deadmau5 ostensibly provided the score for Polar, though you wouldn’t know it. Until the climax of the film, the score is barely noticeable — if it’s even present at all. It’s a Mads, Mads, Mads, Mads World: Smack dab in the middle of the gleeful, eye-rolling chaos of Polar‘s cartoon world is star/producer Mads Mikkelsen, but even he can’t save the tediously confrontational slog on display here. Mads has long made a career out of playing smoldering, violent stoics, but as Duncan, he just seems sleepy and bored. Even in his (multiple) acrobatic sex scenes, the actor can’t seem to muster more than a half-lidded stare. It’s not that his effort would have saved this film, since so much of its two-hour runtime is spent away from him and with its circus of annoying supporting characters, but it might have helped. Hudgens is especially misused here. Is her character supposed to be a teenager? A particularly naive twentysomething? Their dynamic feels ripped straight out of The Professional, but it feels bizarre coming from a thirty-year-old actress who seems to be playing a tween. She’s a mere sounding board for Duncan’s attempts to live a normal human life, until she’s kidnapped and becomes a damsel in distress. Even after a bloody, overlong climax in which Duncan fights to get her back, Polar wastes another fifteen excruciating minutes on an entirely unearned twist involving her relationship with Duncan — by then, though, the audience will already be begging for the sweet release of the credits. The Verdict: One had hoped we’d put movies like Polar behind us as a culture — cheap, uninspired action flicks that substitute fat jokes and gratuitous, craftless violence for a personality. Every second grates and confuses in equal measure, with nary a thrill of inventive, exciting action filmmaking to break up the monotony. Of the cast, only Lucas and Richard Dreyfuss (wasted in a sparky little one-scene exchange with Mikkelsen) feel like they’re having any fun. Polar has too little value for anyone over the age of 17, and even then, you could just watch John Wick again. Where’s It Playing? Netflix, starting on January 25th. Trailer: Source

In September last year, Diplo shocked fans announcing that the final Major Lazer album would be dropped in 2019. The ramifications of such a statement obviously produced more questions than answers – Would the group fully disband or just stop releasing music? Would there be a farewell tour à la Swedish House Mafia? When was it coming out? Who would be featured on it? Well, it’s 2019 now and we don’t know much more than we did in September. But at the very least, Major Lazer isn’t about to let the hype die down. The album is following in the very successful footsteps of the group’s first three albums: Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do, Free The Universe, and Peace Is The Mission. Peace Is The Mission was expected to be the A-side to an album rumored to be called Music Is The Weapon, but that rumor was scrapped in early 2018 after some bogus information was fed to Genius. The real title of the fourth Major Lazer album remains a mystery, as well as the tracklist or release date. All we can do now is wait and see what they have in store. In the meantime, listen to their latest Major Lazer Essentials here. I know u guys are ready for this album #ML4 pic.twitter.com/HhsHYrroGO — MAJOR LAZER (@MAJORLAZER) January 23, 2019 Photo via Rukes.com This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Major Lazer Tease Their Fourth And Final Album Source

Former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way released the first issue of his graphic novel series The Umbrella Academy back in 2007. There’s been two further installments since, with a fourth currently in production. Concurrent with the latest volume, The Umbrella Academy is launching as a ten-episode TV series on Netflix next month, and today we get a new trailer featuring music from Way that reunites him with his old bandmate, MCR guitarist Ray Toro. Way and Toro reunion comes in the form of a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s 1966 single “A Hazy Shade of Winter”, which was notably repopularized by The Bangles in 1987. Way amps up the song’s rollicking energy into something a bit more volatile, pushing it out with cinematic choral harmonies and a blistering guitar riff courtesy of Toro that appropriately soundtracks the apocalyptic urgency of the series. Listen to the full version of the “Hazy Shade of Winter” cover below. The Umbrella Academy follows six estranged super-powered friends reuniting with eight days to prevent the end of the world. The show will make it’s Netflix premiere on February 15th. Check out the trailer: Way has recently been increasingly active on the music front, sharing a new song each of the last three months. Previous releases have included originals “Baby You’re A Haunted House”, “Getting Down The Germs”, and “Dasher”. Source

Jason Moody, bassist in the metal band Seize the Vatican, was killed in an apparent attack in Bangor, Maine, with police finding his the 40-year-old’s body on a sidewalk on November 11th. Five days later, authorities arrested 29-year-old Donald Gallek, who is accused of brutally assaulting Moody and leaving him for dead. Now, a newly released affidavit suggests that the attack was unintentionally captured on Facebook video. According to the Bangor Daily News, newly released documents reveal that Gallek, who is described as a transient, was at Moody’s home when he got into an argument with his girlfriend. Moody had then asked Gallek to leave, walking him to a nearby apartment where he thought Gallek could spend the night, but no one was home. They then left that apartment and began walking on the street again. At that time, Gallek apparently unintentionally started a video chat via Facebook with an unidentified female acquaintance, who initially couldn’t see anything but believes she heard something to the effect of Gallek being punched by Moody, and Gallek saying, “What the fuck? You just hit me!” She then said she was able to see the video, at which time she saw Gallek turn and punch Moody, knocking him to the ground, and then slamming his head to the pavement several times while choking him. According to the Washington Post, after the attack, Gallek apparently called Moody’s girlfriend and told her that he left Moody on the ground and was “going to go to prison for 15 to 20 years.” Gallek pleaded not guilty on Tuesday (January 22nd) to charges of depraved indifference murder and intentional or knowing murder. He faces life in prison. Moody’s metal band, Seize the Vatican, released an EP in 2013 and a full-length album, Advent of Annihilation, in 2017. Their record-release show could be seen below. Metallica’s Top 5 Songs Tour Preview: Bring Me the Tool’s Top 5 Music Videos Favorite Setlist.fm Music Moments in Behemoth's Top 5 Songs Source

Julia Jacklin made a killer first impression with her debut album, 2016’s Don’t Let the Kids Win, a collection of clever yet open-hearted folk-rock strummers. She’s following up that record next month with a new one called Crushing, which was led by the singles “Body” and “Head Alone”. Today Jacklin serves up another taste off her forthcoming sophomore LP, the propulsive “Pressure to Party”, which comes alongside a charmingly homespun visual. Co-directed by Jacklin and her running collaborator Nick Mckk, the video is shot in the same house used for the songwriter’s breakout single “Pool Party”. The one-take clip features all of Jacklin’s siblings together in the same room for the first time in four years, as well as cameos from Body Type, one of her favorite bands. Altogether they capture an inviting familial energy that marks Jacklin’s growth since her previous visit to that house. Watch below. Speaking about the song itself, Jacklin said, “When you come out of a relationship, there’s so much pressure to act a certain way. First it’s like, ‘Oh, you’ve gotta take some time for yourself…’ but then if you take too much time it’s, ‘You’ve gotta get back out there!’ That song is just my three-minute scream, saying I’m going to do what I need to do, when I need to do it.” Crushing was produced by Burke Reid and recorded at The Grove Studios in Jacklin’s native Australia, and is out on February 22nd via Polyvinyl. Find the album artwork and tracklist ahead. Crushing Artwork: Crushing Tracklist: 01. Body 02. Head Alone 03. Pressure To Party 04. Don’t Know How To Keep Loving You 05. When The Family Flies In 06. Convention 07. Good Guy 08. You Were Right 09. Turn Me Down 10. Comfort Jacklin has a massive tour schedule already mapped out for 2019 that includes appearances at Georgia’s Shaky Knees Festival and Oregon’s Pickathon Music Festival. Find her full itinerary below. Julia Jacklin 2019 Tour Dates: 02/27 – Christchurch, NZ @ Blue Smoke 02/28 – Dunedin, NZ @ Captain Cook 03/01 – Auckland, NZ @ Hollywood Cinema 03/02 – Wellington, NZ @ San Fran 03/05 – Wollongong, AU @ UOW Unibar 03/06 – Canberra, AU @ ANU 03/09 – Brisbane, AU @ Triffid 03/10 – Adelaide, AU @ WOMADelaide 03/12 – Hobart, AU @ Spiegeltent 03/14 – Melbourne ,AU @ Forum Theatre 03/15 – Sydney, AU @ Metro Theatre 03/16 – Newcastle, AU @ Cambridge Hotel 03/26 – Brighton, UK @ Haunt 03/27 – Bristol, UK @ Fleece 03/28 – Birmingham, UK @ Castle & Falcon 03/29 – Manchester, UK @ Yes 03/30 – Dublin, IE @ Whelans 04/02 – Glasgow, UK @ Stereo 04/03 – Leeds, UK @ Belgrave Music Hall 04/04 – London, UK @ Electric Brixton 04/05 – Paris, FR @ Les Etoiles 04/08 – Brussels, BE @ AB Club 04/09 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso-Noord 04/10 – Cologne, DE @ Blue Shell 04/11 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Sky Bar 04/12 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega 04/15 – Berlin, DE @ Privatclub 04/16 – Munich, DE @ Milla 04/17 – Zurich, CH @ Bogen F 04/24 – New York, NY @ The Bowery Ballroom # 04/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s # 04/26 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott # 04/27 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB # 04/28 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern # 04/30 – Washington, DC @ DC9 # 05/01 – Richmond, VA @ The Camel # 05/02 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle Back Room # 05/04 – Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Festival 05/06 – Nashville, TN @ Third Man Records # 05/08 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern # 05/09 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry # 05/10 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge # 05/11 – Kansas City, MO @ recordBar # 05/13 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge # 05/14 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge # 05/17 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret # 05/18 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern # 05/19 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios # 05/21 – San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall # 05/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom # 06/03 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada 06/04 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda (Indoors) # 06/05 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs) # 06/06 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa # 08/03-08/04 – Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon Music Festival # = w/ Black Belt Eagle Scout Source

Through all the strikes and gutters, ups and downs, The Big Lebowski has remained one of the most iconic cult classics of the last two decades. Standing as one of his most beloved characters, Jeff Bridges’ The Dude always abides… and soon, he’ll return. The Academy Award-winning actor teased the resurrection of The Dude in a tweeted video Thursday afternoon. Scored by Bob Dylan’s “The Man in Me” (natch), the clip opens on a familiar pair of jellies stepping to avoid a shattered plate of food, with what appears to be someone passed out in the background. As the camera pans up, we get a glimpse of that instantly recognizable sweater before Bridges gives a chuckle and walks off screen. At the end of the video, a tumbleweed blows across a Los Angeles street to reveal the date “2.3.19” — Super Bowl Sunday. In the tweet’s caption, Bridges wrote, “Can’t be living in the past, man. Stay tuned.” Check it out: Can’t be living in the past, man. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/zL2CLYhGAM — Jeff Bridges (@TheJeffBridges) January 24, 2019 What exactly this little snippet is teasing is unknown (that’s why it’s called a tease), and while this may just be like, my opinion, man, but odds are it’s a Super Bowl commercial. Companies have taken to teasing their Big Game ads like they’re actually major releases, like last year’s Tourism Australia ad that was made to look like a Crocodile Dundee sequel starring Danny McBride. With the amount of money advertisers are willing to throw at these minute-long sales pitches, it wouldn’t be the most surprising thing to find someone had shelled out millions for the the rights to His Dudeness. Then again, Bridges has spoken in the past about wanting to do a Lebowski sequel, and John Turturro spinoff as Jesus Quintana, Going Places, is expected this year. Perhaps this tease is related to that project? We’ll find out on February 3rd. This also isn’t the first time Bridges has returned to The Dude. When John Goodman received his Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2017, Bridges embodied the character once again to “eulogize” his fellow actor with Walter’s speech from Lebowski. Source

Mark your calendars! Above & Beyond have started to tease a return to the Gorge Amphitheater this July. The Gorge served as a stunning backdrop to the group’s #ABGT250 event in September 2017. Fans across the world flocked towards Washington State for ABGT250, and back by popular demand, the group will return for a special event. While July is too soon for a “Group Therapy” show, the group will certainly delight when they announce additional details. We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available. The post Above & Beyond Tease Return To The Gorge appeared first on EDM Maniac. Source

This past weekend, a group of unheralded legends joined forces at a pub in London for a rare live performance. On January 20th, five former members of Iron Maiden — guitarists Terry Wapram, Dave Sullivan, and Terry Rance, as well as original vocalist Paul Mario Day and drummer Doug Sampson — appeared onstage together at England’s Cart & Horses, the bar where the band made its debut back in 1976. If you don’t recognize their names, don’t beat yourself up too much. None of the men lasted very long in the band’s early days, with only Sampson surviving long enough (from 1977 to 1979) to appear on Maiden’s first release, the 1979 demo EP The Soundhouse Tapes. The rest were sacked or walked away from the project before they could appear on any of the studio releases. As you’ll see from the video footage below, the men, backed up by members of Wapram’s current band Buffalo Fish, tear through a bunch of early Maiden tunes, including “Wrathchild,” “Prowler,” and, naturally, “Iron Maiden.” This appearance comes on the heels of a recent photo that popped up online in December showing Day, Sullivan, and Rance hanging out with Steve Harris, the only founding member of Iron Maiden to still be in the band today. It was, according to Day, the first time they’d all spent time together since 1976. Absent from this reunion was the original drummer Ron “Rebel” Matthews. While there’s no telling if the original Maiden members will continue to perform together, the current iteration of the band have a busy year ahead with their upcoming “Legacy of the Beast” tour. The North American run kicks off on July 18th at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, and wraps up in late September with two dates at the Sports Palace in Mexico City. You can secure tickets here. Metallica’s Top 5 Songs Tour Preview: Bring Me the Tool’s Top 5 Music Videos Favorite Setlist.fm Music Moments in Behemoth's Top 5 Songs Source

Florence and the Machine debuted a previously unheard song called “Moderation” earlier this month during the Australian leg of their High As Hope tour. That rousing number has now officially been released as a single and comes backed with a second new track, “Haunted House”. As previously mentioned, “Moderation” is an epic, James Ford-produced listen in the same vein as the UK outfit’s 2011 album, Ceremonials. Its accompaniment, “Haunted House”, though, is a more tender treat. Along with skeletal piano arrangements, it sees Florence Welch singing about her “haunted house” heart, mourning over the “things in there that scream and shout.” Indeed, it’s spooky and sad. (Read: The 100 Greatest Tours of All Time) Take a listen to both songs below. Florence and the Machine’s tour is currently making its way through Australia and New Zealand. Following a European spring stint, they’re expected to hit the summer festival circuit with dates already scheduled at Governors Ball in New York, Sziget in Budapest, and London’s British Summer Time. Find their full tour itinerary here. “Moderation”/”Haunted House” Single Artwork: Source

Prior to Thanksgiving, The Spice Girls announced a stadium tour for this coming summer. Of course, Victoria Beckham, a.k.a. Posh Spice, won’t be around to brood, but that lack of doom and gloom should make the dates even sunnier. Though, what would really add some pep to your step would be seeing them with both Academy Award winner Emma Stone and all three sisters in HAIM. Yeah, that’d be pretty great. For one person it will be a reality. The newly minted gang of four have partnered up Omazing to raise money for a bunch of charities by offering their fans a chance to win a gig of a lifetime. One lucky winner will be flown out to London, where they’ll stay in a four-star hotel, ride to the Spice Girls show with Emma Stone and HAIM, and then head backstage to meet the Spice Girls. To drum up hype, Stone, Danielle, Alana, and Este have put together a pretty hilarious promotional video, which finds the stars recreating the iconic video to The Spice Girls’ “Stop” on what appears to be the Warner Bros. studio lot. Whoa, maybe Stone can go around the corner and visit the coffee shop her La La Land character used to work at. All joking aside, it’s a fun bit. Watch below and enter the contest here. Source

Released tomorrow via Wakaan is the six-track remix EP based around PEEKABOO & G-REX’s ‘Babatunde.’ Out of the selection of edits, we have a suitably powerful reworking of the tune from none other than LUZCID to premiere. Originally from Texas and about to embark on a mammoth ‘Rott N Roll’ tour for the next couple of months, LUZCID pours in a deep, rolling beat and scattered reverb to reimagine ‘Babatunde.’ Fizzing with his trademark creativity, this remix isn’t to be missed. Check it out below, and remember to hit pre-save on the EP here. This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Your EDM Premiere: PEEKABOO & G-REX – Babatunde (LUZCID Remix) Source

Kurt Wagner’s Lambchop is set to return in two months with a new record, This (is what I wanted to tell you). The “disarming but intimate confessional” is a collaborative effort with Matt McCaughan, known for his percussions work with Hiss Golden Messenger and Bon Iver. Lead single “The December-ish You” certainly demonstrated how McCaughan’s time with Justin Vernon has influenced Lambchop’s sound, and new track “Everything for You” continues the trend. AutoTune reverb drenches Wagner’s vocals to dreamy effect, dizzying yet pleasing. While his singing of “The picture does appear/ But something interferes” feels like something off 22, A Million, the instrumentation is firmly Lambchop. Piano notes dance free of the jazzy percussion, like a lonely player seeking solace in the back of an empty club. Added all together, it’s something quite soft and subtly sad, even as the beat strolls with a bit of pep. Take a listen below via the “Everything for You” video, a trippy visual directed by Jonny Sanders. Lambchop will support the eight-track This (is what I wanted to tell you) with a spring European tour. The record is out March 22nd via Merge. Source

Cat Power closed out 2018 by supporting one of the year’s best albums, Wanderer, on a run of headlining tour dates. Now, she’s mapped out additional shows for the new year, this time joining Mumford & Sons as their opening act. (Read: Mumford and Sons’ Delta: A Track by Track Breakdown) Mumfords are playing behind their latest effort, Delta. Already one of our most anticipated treks of 2019, the addition of Cat Power to the bill only ups the excitement. Cat Power also has a smattering of headlining gigs sprinkled throughout the tour, so check out her full itinerary below. You can get tickets here. Cat Power 2019 Tour Dates: 02/09 – Parkville, AU @ Melbourne Zoo 02/10 – Parkville, AU @ Melbourne Zoo 02/11 – Sydney, AU @ Enmore Theater 02/14 – Perth, AU @ Chevron Gardens 02/27 – Providence, RI @ Dunkin’ Donuts Center * 02/28 – Hartford, CT @ XL Center * 03/01 – Portland, ME @ State Theater 03/02 – Albany, NY @ Time Union Center * 03/04 – Montreal, QB @ Bell Centre * 03/05 – Ottowa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre * 03/07 – London, ON @ London Music Hall 03/08 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center * 03/09 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena * 03/11 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena * 03/12 – Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena * 03/13 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s 03/14 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena * 03/16 – Charlottesville, VA @ John Paul Jones Arena * 03/17 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena * 03/18 – Charleston, SC @ North Charleston Coliseum * 03/20 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena * 03/21 – Chattanooga, TN @ Tivoli Theater 03/22 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena * 03/23 – Birmingham, AL @ BJCC * 03/25 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Field House * 03/27 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena * 03/29 – Chicago, IL @ United Center * 03/30 – Madison, WI @ Kohl Center * 03/31 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum * 04/01 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Varsity Theater 07/16 – Lorrach, DE @ Burghof Lorrach GmbH * = w/ Mumford & Sons Source

Future dropped his newest opus, THE WIZRD, last week. On Thursday, he repped the album with a daytime TV performance on Ellen. The Atlanta rapper unfurled the single “Crushed Up” while ballerinas danced all around him. The stage was made to look like a magical snow scene, and Future himself was dressed head to toe in powdery white. (Read: Future Becomes Whole on The WIZRD) Watch the replay below. Earlier in the month, Future also performed “Crushed Up” on Colbert. He has described THE WIZRD, which features Travis Scott and Young Thug, as his “greatest album of all time.” G-Eazy 2018 Tour Sizzle Reel Travis Scott's Top 5 Videos Food References in Drake’s Music Ms. Lauryn Hill Tour Sizzle Migos’ Top Songs Source

Download | Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public | RSS | Follow via Facebook Our podcast series, The Opus, continues its journey into The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Electric Ladyland. From Easy Rider to Forrest Gump and Wayne’s World to Woodstock, the legacy of Jimi Hendrix has certainly been aided by the eternal power of cinema. Host Ernest Wilkins is joined by musician and actor Mykele Deville, Daily Grindhouse editor Mike Vanderbilt, and Consequence of Sound Editor-in-Chief Michael Roffman to trace back the lineage of the legend on celluloid. However, that lineage is parallel to a long standing relationship with pop music and film, one that may have been exacerbated by the late axeman himself. To find out, the four step out to enjoy a 30,000 foot view and discuss the larger cultural impact of music in film and how Hendrix’s music itself is interwoven into American culture through iconic movie moments. The Opus is a co-production of the Consequence Podcast Network and Sony. For more Hendrix, check out Electric Ladyland – 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, a new box set featuring previously unreleased demos, alternate takes, and a live bootleg. Pick up a copy here or stream the original album in full below. Source

The Grammys, music’s dumbest night… wherein unlikely bedfellows are forced to team up for one-off live collaborations. Over the years, it’s led to such absurd pairings as Linkin Park with Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters with deadmau5, and Jonas Brothers with Stevie Wonder. This year, we get to witness the spectacle that is Post Malone with… Red Hot Chili Peppers. The beerbongs and bentleys MC will join forces with the veteran rock band for a special performance during the 61st Grammy Awards, which takes place February 10th. Post Malone’s presence makes sense; he is, after all, up for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Performance, and Best Pop Solo Performances. Chili Peppers, meanwhile, are neither nominated for anything, nor promoting a new release. However, having previously teamed up with Bruno Mars for a Super Bowl Halftime performance, they seem to be gluttons for such punishment. Other acts confirmed to take the stage at this year’s Grammys include Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monáe, Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile, and Cardi B, among others. At least this time around, we won’t have to hear LL Cool J utter the phrase “A Very Special Grammys Moment!” over and over again. (He still, however, shows up nightly in my nightmares.) Instead, Alicia Keys has been tapped to host this year’s gala. Source

Looking for an epic VIP party trip at an absolute steal of a price? Bet you aren’t thinking there’s a way to crack the Las Vegas code, but you’d be wrong. Summer Splash Las Vegas is now back for its epic 12th season — enjoy 5 nights of no lines, no covers and no worries while partying at Vegas’ premiere clubs and pools with an amazing crowd of like-minded partiers from all over. Anyone thinking this is too good to be true clearly hasn’t experienced Summer Splash yet. It’s a wild ride around the greatest clubs and party pools in the world such as Encore Beach Club, XS, Hakkasan, Wet Republic, Marquee Dayclub, the soon-soon-to-be-announced Super Pool and Club at the new Palms, and more. Every single Summer Splash show sells out, creating hours-long lines that extend around the block for non-Summer Splash guests. Thanks to their close relationships and partnerships with the very best pools and clubs, Summer Splash Las Vegas gets attendees awesome perks like their own private complimentary guaranteed VIP expedited entrance, leaving more time to enjoy both the insane venues and world class artists. Expect to see Marshmello, The Chainsmokers, Diplo, Martin Garrix, Major Lazer, Kaskade, Kygo, Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, Zedd, DJ Snake, Alesso, Dillon Francis and more, along with some of the biggest hip hop performers in the world! With 4 different weeks to choose from, and with all nights of your accommodations included at the newly renovated billion dollar Palms Casino & Resort, plus complimentary VIP entry to the 10 amazing events, Summer Splash is the perfect summertime vacation. With their Discounted Early Bird pricing, it’s the steal of the summer, as well. The SSLV VIP experience starts at only just $349 per person for the full five-night package which includes 10 VIP events and only $319 per person for a 4 night package which includes 9 VIP events – all with payment plans available. But you must place your $99 deposit by February 15th to get these Discounted Early Bird rates – the absolute lowest of the year. Get ready for 5 amazing days and nights, 10 incredible performances, amazing surprises, and a whole lot of next-level partying. A seamless experience that is unrivaled, Summer Splash Las Vegas again becomes the epicenter of the nightlife and daylife VIP party scene for four weeks in Las Vegas this summer: Week 1 | July 24-29 Week 2 | July 31-August 5 Week 3 | August 7-12 Week 4 | August 14-19 Hurry and reserve your VIP Package to Summer Splash Las Vegas before Discounted Early Bird prices go up after February 15th! Start planning your unforgettable summer experience now! This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Experience Las Vegas Like Never Before With Summer Splash’s Wild Getaway Source

The Lowdown: Future might not be the most versatile rapper ever, but when combing through the work of similar artists and comparing what they create to what the Atlanta rapper has done over the years, his work ethic and prolificacy shine through. From mixtapes to joint albums, movie soundtracks, multiple hit singles, and studio albums, Future has been on a release spree. With his consistently croaky vocals, he has taken his fans through several different personas: Future the Astronaut, Future Hendrix, Super Future, Fire Marshal Future, and Pluto. His latest, The WIZRD, is a combo of all these personas intended to form one fully realized representation of the artist. The Good: Hendrix’s discography is filled with unapologetically braggadocios lyrics about his wild lifestyle. While topics like drugs, sex, money, and fame have become cliché in hip-hop, they sound intriguing when Future raps about them. It’s hard to imagine he keeps a straight face when spitting lines like: “I got so many white bitches, Ku Klux Klan” (“F&N”), “I got a white and a black girl/ They look like an Oreo” (“Call the Coroner”), and “Penthouse got a living room with a garage in it” (“Krazy but True”). Since this album is meant as an embodiment of Future’s entire discography, it only makes sense that he shows a lot of flexibility. He delivers a lot more on The WIZRD than the obvious switch from rapping to singing and juxtaposition of uptempo vibes and down-tempo tunes. On the gangster song “F&N”, he drops a mind-blowing switch in his flow and continues to drop more bars without allowing listeners to recover from the shock. Ad libs in hip-hop have become so predictable, especially using words like “ice,” “skrt,” and “AP”. Although it might not seem like a big deal when an artist drops an unexpected ad lib to a line, it takes rap fans by surprise. On “Overdose”, Future creates something unique with the ad lib “Uh huh” and spices up the track with it. I won’t spoiler it here. The Bad: This album represents a piece of everything Future has made before. Although he’s good at making hit songs, his catalog is also filled with songs that elicit no reaction — songs that are neither here nor there, and this album caught a bit of that weed. There’s nothing to be missed if songs like “Sick to the Models”, “Goin Dummi”, and “Faceshot” are skipped. The Verdict: If there’s anyone who for some reason hasn’t listened to Future until now, The WIZRD is the perfect project for them to begin their adventure into the rapper’s multicolored discography. There is a little bit of everything on this project: the darkness from his past, his struggles (“Temptations”), his petty nature (“Never Stops”), his boastful nature (“Overdose”), and his passion for his career (“Krazy but True”). A 20-track album is a lot. But with The WIZRD, one can barely feel it because of the smooth flow from track to track. Even the few misses don’t disrupt the rhythm of the project. This makes it sound like an audio story book with hard-hitting rap melodies and different chapters. Future the Wizard’s seventh LP is a self-referential and self-evaluating one. Indeed, The Wizard is the real future. Essential Tracks: “Krazy but True”, “Crushed Up”, and “F&N” Source

Troye Sivan seems to have mastered the art of the collaboration. His joint song with Charli XCX, “1999”, was named one of the best of 2018, and his Jónsi joint for Boy Erased, “Revelation”, was on the shortlist for Best Original Song at the 91st Academy Awards. For his latest team-up, Sivan hits the studio with fellow pop singer Lauv. The two combine talents on “i’m so tired…”, a reflective, sobering listen which Sivan describes as “a heartbreak song about an inescapable person.” According to both musicians, the creation of the track was something of pure luck. “We ended up creating an accidental duet,” Sivan notes. “When we wrote ‘i’m so tired…’ he just sounded too good singing it, so I think it was just natural to do the record together,” adds Lauv, who’s previously worked with Ed Sheeran, and DJ Snake, and Julia Michaels. Hear it for yourself below. Sivan and Lauv will perform the track on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on February 6th. Sivan’s 2018 record, Bloom, landed on our Top 50 Albums of the Year list. Source

Michael Stipe moves in mysterious ways. One week, he might be lamenting a dead cat with The National, another he might be hanging out with Thom Yorke at his own art show, and in between, he could spend his nights jamming alongside Patti Smith, you just never know. The latest move by the R.E.M. frontman is an emotional, albeit intriguing one. As Rolling Stone reports, he’s re-teamed with Rain Phoenix, the sister of the late River Phoenix, for a new song called “Time is the Killer”, which will appear on a Double A-side single titled, Time Gone. Due out Valentine’s Day (February 14th) via Kro Records/Launch Left, the single will be coupled with two unreleased songs from River’s former outfit Aleka’s Attic, of which Rain was also a member. The songs are titled, “Where I’d Gone and “Scales and Fishnails”, and both were mixed by Rain way, way back in the late ’90s. “It’s so hard to believe he’s been gone for 25 years,” Rain says in a press release. “It really made me think about the construct of time, how we create it to make sense of things, and how especially with grief, it never really snaps to a grid. That said, a quarter of a century has a definite weight to it and I felt compelled and guided to share River the musician, with the world.” Although River will forever be known for his short run of incredible performances, particularly in 1986’s Stand By Me and 1991’s My Own Private Idaho, the late actor’s real passion was music. In fact, as he told E! back in 1988, the Phoenix family had originally moved out to California so that Rain and River could “become recording artists.” The two would busk in the streets of Los Angeles, and it wasn’t until River made a name for himself on screen that he was able to move the needle on his music. While filming A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, River met Island Records’ Chris Blackwell and secured a two-year development deal with the label. Not wanting to be a solo artist, Phoenix formed Aleka’s Attic in 1987 with his sister. Although they sold tapes between 1989 and 1990, featuring songs like “Goldmine”, “Too Many Colors”, “Across The Way”, and “Blue Period”, the band never released a proper album, prompting Island to eventually opt out of the deal. Despite attempts to record an album independently, Aleka’s Attic would disband in 1992, and River would go on to form Blacksmith, who turned heads when they performed for Bill Clinton and Al Gore presidential campaign in Gainesville, Florida around October 1992. Following his death in 1993, his music remained in limbo. In 1997, however, Stipe came to the rescue and purchased the rights to Aleka’s Attic, which have been with Rain ever since. It was around that time that the two first collaborated on the title track to Todd Solondz’s harrowing black comedy-drama, Happiness. “It was so close to home for me,” Rain told Rolling Stone of reuniting with Stipe on “Time is the Killer”, “it was difficult, but I got up the courage and asked. Stipe asked to hear the song. He loved it. He said yes. I am still in shock. His voice is magic.” The song marks Rain’s true debut as a solo artist. “For me, it’s about impermanence,” Rain said of the track, “our futile attempts at avoiding it and the bittersweet outcome of everything changing all the time,” she explained. “I like to hear what other people think about what it means.” Rain has also released a trailer for the single, which features childhood footage of she and her brother, along with scenes of River performing live. The clip is soundtracked by “Scales & Fishnails”. Watch below. Source

This year marks King Crimson’s 50th anniversary, and the legendary prog-rock outfit intends to celebrate by embarking on a 50-date world tour. Today, they’ve unveiled dates for a North American leg set to begin in late August. The itinerary includes shows in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Get your tickets here. Additionally, King Crimson will tour Europe and South America in the coming months. See the full schedule below. King Crimson’s touring lineup consists of guitarist Robert Fripp and longtime associates Tony Levin (bass, Chapman Stick) and Mel Collins (saxophone) alongside singer/guitarist Jakko Jakszyk and four (!) drummers, Bill Rieflin, Gavin Harrison, Pat Mastelotto and Jeremy Stacey. Stacey and Rieflin also double as keyboardists. In addition to the tour, King Crimson plan to mark their 50th anniversary with reissues of their back catalog, a new documentary, commemorative merchandise, and even a new edition of Sid Smith’s out-of-print biography on the band. You can get more details here. King Crimson 2019 Tour Dates: 06/10 – Leipzig, DE @ Haus Auensee 06/12 – Frankfurt, DE @ Jahrhunderthalle 06/13 – Frankfurt, DE @ Jahrhunderthalle 06/15 – Stuttgart, DE @ Liederhalle 06/16 – Stuttgart, DE @ Liederhalle 06/18 – London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall 06/19 – London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall 06/20 – London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall 06/22 – Nijmegen, NL @ De Vereeniging 06/23 – Nijmegen, NL @ De Vereeniging 06/26 – Warsaw, PL @ Teatr Roma 06/27 – Warsaw, PL @ Teatr Roma 06/29 – Berlin, DE @ Zitadelle 07/04 – Basel, CH @ Romisches Theater Augusta Ruarica 07/08 – Verona, IT @ Arena Di Verona 07/10 – Torino, IT @ Stupinigi Sonic Park 07/12 – Cataluna, ES @ Doctor Music Festival 07/13 – Cataluna, ES @ Doctor Music Festival 07/14 – Cataluna, ES @ Doctor Music Festival 07/18 – Perugia, IT @ Arena Santa Giuliana 08/23 – Mexico City, MX @ Teatro Metropolitan 08/24 – Mexico City, MX @ Teatro Metropolitan 08/27 – Guadalajara, MX @ Teatro Diana 08/29 – Mexico City, MX @ Teatro Metropolitan 09/03 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre 09/05 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater 09/06 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater 09/08 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre 09/10 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University 09/12 – Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre 09/14 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage 09/17 – Montreal, QC @ St Denis Theatre 09/19 – Boston, MA @ Wang Theater 09/21 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall 09/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met 09/25 – Cleveland, OH @ Hard Rock Rocksino 09/27 – Nashville, TN @ The Ryman 09/29 – Atlanta, GA @ The Cobb Center 10/06 – Rio de Janeiro, BR @ Rock in Rio Source

In the lead-up to her own new album, Grimes has linked up with collaborators across an assortment of genres. She dabbled in K-pop on the Loona cut “Love4eva”; channeled industrial on “The Medicine Does Not Control Me” with Mindless Self Indulgence’s Jimmy Urine; and danced with the R&B queen herself Janelle Monáe’s on “PYNK”. Today, Grimes lets a bit of her inner metalhead run free on “Nihilist Blues”, a joint track with English rockers Bring Me the Horizon. The track whiplashes a fierce energy from the get-go, but its thrashing aggression actually, somehow works, and for both acts in question. For Grimes, her futuristic take on pop is intensified, and it’s like watching her partake in a mosh pit gone mad. As for BMTH, the song is another step in their evolution toward a more dance/pop sphere, something the one-time metalcore band has been inching toward for some time now. (Read: The 10 Most Anticipated Pop Albums of 2019) Take a listen below. “Nihilist Blues” will appear on BMTH’s new album, amo, which arrives tomorrow. In November, Grimes released “We Appreciate Power”, the first preview of her upcoming fifth album. Her last album, Art Angels, came out way back in 2015. Aside from music, Grimes has been wrapped up in romantic and legal drama with Elon Musk; she was recently subpoenaed as part of a class action lawsuit against the Tesla co-founder over his infamous “$420 a share” tweet. Source

Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers surprised fans on Wednesday night with a new collaborative album as Better Oblivion Community Center. To promote the release, the duo took the stage on Late Show with Stephen Colbert to perform their song “Dylan Thomas”. The spirited performance also showcased the project’s unique concept with a highly stylized presentation. Faded and crackling effects gave the whole thing the feel of a promotional VHS tape for a real life Better Oblivion Community Center, a help center for the modern individual in need of emotional cleansing. There were picture-in-picture shots and a quick cutaway to a “shocked” Bridgers and Oberst sitting in the crowd. During the ripping guitar solo, service offerings like “Assisted Self-Care” and “Chosen Family Therapy” flashed across the screen. There was even a phone number — (785) 433-5534 — which when called plays a message advertising all the Community Center has to offer while also teasing an upcoming North American and European tour for the band. Oh, also, Bridgers’ hair is purple now, so there’s that. Watch the replay below. Joining Oberst and Bridgers for the performance were Yeah Yeah Yeahs’s Nick Zinner and Autolux’s Carla Azar, who both contributed to the album. Speaking of which, you can stream Better Oblivion Community Center in full here. Source

The Avett Brothers have mapped out an extensive US tour stretching from early March through the end of September. The 38-date jaunt consists of headlining shows alongside Lake Street Dive, Trampled By Turtles, and Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real, as well as festival appearances at Bonnaroo and KAABOO Texas. Take a look at the full schedule below. Tickets are available here. The Avett Brothers 2019 Tour Dates: 03/07 – St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre 03/09 – Tampa, FL @ Gasparilla Music Festival 03/10 – Tallahassee, FL @ Donald L. Tucker Civic Center 03/12 – Mobile, FL @ Saenger Theatre 03/14 – Houston, TX @ Revention Music Center 03/15 – New Orleans, LA @ The Fillmore 03/16 – New Orleans, LA @ The Fillmore 04/19-21 – Atlanta, GA @ Sweetwater 420 Festival 04/20 – Brandon, MS @ Brandon Amphitheater 04/28 – Wilkesboro, NC @ MerleFest 05/10 – New Braunfels, TX @ Whitewater Amphitheater $ 05/11 – New Braunfels, TX @ Whitewater Amphitheater # 05/12 – Arlington, TX @ KAABOO Texas 05/14 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center 05/16 – Moorhead, MN @ Bluestem Amphitheater 05/17 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinewood Bowl Theater 05/18 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP 05/23 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap 05/24 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap 05/25 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap 06/09 – Richmond, VA @ Virginia Credit Union Live 06/14 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival 07/03 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Providence Amphitheater * 07/09 – West Valley City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre * 07/12 – St. Louis, MO @ The Fabulous Fox 07/13 – St. Louis, MO @ The Fabulous Fox 08/10 – Quincy, WA @ The Gorge ^ 08/11 – Salem, OR @ LB Day Amp * 08/13 – Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheater * 08/16 – Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre * 08/17 – Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre * 08/18 – Paso Robles, CA @ Vina Robles Amphitheatre * 08/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre * 08/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre * 08/23 – San Diego, CA @ San Diego Civic Theatre * 08/24 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl * 09/20 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island ^ 09/21 – Welch, MN @ Treasure Island Resort & Casino ^ $ = w/ Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real # = w/ Trombone Shorty * = w/ Lake Street Dive ^ = w/ Lake Street Dive & Trampled by Turtles The Avett Brothers recently released two new songs, “Roses and Sacrifice” and “Trouble Letting Go”, in anticipation of new music in 2019. Listen to both below. Source

This spring, Vampire Weekend will return with their long-awaited fourth album. The band has now revealed the album’s titled — Father of the Bride — and unveiled the first two songs. Take a listen to “Harmony Hall” and “2021” below. “Harmony Hall” features contributions from former Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij as well as Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth and guitarist Greg Leisz. “2021” features vocals from Jenny Lewis and samples Japanese music icon Haruomi Hosono. According to a press release, the album’s title, Father of the Bride, “is something frontman Ezra Koenig chose years back, well before recent significant developments in his life. In typical VW fashion, the title has multiple layers of meaning, expressing the band’s signature paradox: creating songs that easily find a home on any playlist—or car radio, TV show, film soundtrack, airport PA, etc.— but reveal their complexities upon closer listening.” Father of the Bride, the follow-up to 2013’s Modern Vampires of the City, is a double album consisting of 18 tracks. The veteran indie rockers are planning to slowly roll out the LP by releasing at least six new songs over the next three months. According to Koenig, the next two FOTB songs to come are abbreviated “s” and “bb”. Update: Check out the album’s artwork below. Courtney Barnett's Top Lyrics Florence and the Machine's Top Tour Preview: Thom Yorke and Weezer and Pixies Reflect on Tour Update: Wolf Alice Brings Source