For an Independence Day weekend anthem, you have two choices: be American, or be not American. If you are in Canada or the UK, or you are not American that’s ok. You can listen to the Crystal Castles remix of “Death” by White Lies. It was just Canada Day, after all, and we know how the commonwealth likes to stick together.
If you are in or of America however, you can listen to the Knight School version of The Drums‘ “Let’s Go Surfing,” which positively teems with summer beachy Americana sunshine. Featuring a harmonized interpolation of “Down Down Baby” the original doesn’t have, Beach Boysish vocals, and – hey, is that a whistle! It’s as if Bestsy Ross made that flag in Brooklyn and put it on an mp3.
From looking at the photos here, it certainly seems like the Americans are having more fun, but we’re not judging. Both tracks are currently free on RCRDLBL. Happy weekend!
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We’ve been following the doings of Culprit, the new label and monthly party series from Droog. Over the past five months they’ve hosted their friends like Jamie Jones and our legends like John Tejada (yeah, we’re calling him a legend). They have now released an EP as Culprit One, containing their own work (available on 
On a particular early summer day, Damian Lazarus is trying to borrow a friend’s car to take the driving test for his California license. He’s been living in LA for less than a year but his insurance company has cut him off until he sorts out a US license. “Finding someone who has a properly insured car with no cracked mirrors isn’t easy in this town.”
We’re not sure if this is all legal and stuff, but Morgan Page wants your Michael Jackson bootlegs, remixes, and other dance-able, DJ-able Jacks tracks. After dropping the (now 7 year old) Layo & Bushwacka remix of Billie Jean this weekend, Page is clearly in the mood. So rarely are the world’s musical proclivities as in line as they are now, that at the very least, this is a fun way to share the collective Michael memories. As Page is the master remixer, there’s no telling in what kind of meta-project these might end up. If you want to contribute, you can upload to Page’s 
It feels like La Roux has really blown up out of nowhere. The first singles “Quicksand” and “Bulletproof” have become instant dance-floor hits, supported by an almost cult-like online blog following and comparisons to other artists the likes of Little Boots and The Golden Filter; all of this while generating a frenzy over a full-length stateside release. While those two tracks may be catchy, the self-titled debut from the English “synth-duo” of Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid is really based more on hype than anything else.
Amy Millan, best known perhaps from her band Stars, releases her second solo album, Masters of the Burial this September through Arts & Crafts. Recorded in the Ontario countryside with Stars, Broken Social Scene and Sarah Harmer producer Martin Davis Kinack, the album is the result of work with Millan’s extensive list of musical friends. There is virtually nothing online or in the ether from this forthcoming collection, but if you’re in Toronto, you can check out a free show with Millan and Gentleman Reg at the Harbourfront Centre on July 25.
The full line-up and schedule for Denver’s Mile High Music Festival on July 18th and 19th has been released, and let’s just say the emphasis should be on the event title’s second word. Tool (performing for the first time in two years) and Denver’s own The Fray headline one day each while Widespread Panic will share top billing on both days of the. Other summer festival mainstays Ben Harper, DeVotchKa, and Guster pepper the line-up along with Incubus, India.Arie, Matisyahu, Jet, and hometown heroes 3Oh!3. Single and two day passes are still available. Full line-up below. Set times, directions and tickets are on at 
As KCRW’s oddly named World Festival continued on Sunday night at the Bowl, Adele and Janelle Monae got schooled in the art of being a legend by the incomparable Chaka Khan. A last minute replacement for the apparently ailing Etta James, Khan easily flexed her still radiant vocal muscle, putting her multi-octave range on display throughout a set that included many of her hits. Opening with “I Feel For You” there was something for everyone as the crowd alternately sang along and even jumped to their feet for closer “I’m Every Woman.” While Khan’s performance not only reminded everyone of how many familiar songs she has recorded over her nearly four decades-long career, it also showed her junior divas how to come prepared and command a crowd. 
It took no time for Diddy to churn out the craptastic collabothon that is “Better On The Other Side,” the MJ-tribute track that features Game, Chris Brown, Boyz II Men, and (probably for gospel gravitas) Marion Winans. Diddy’s spoken word “you were the one who made us realize we could moonwalk,” implies metaphor, but doesn’t really get into it. With other insightful lyrics like “I’m Michael Jackson, you’re Michael Jackson, we all Michael Jackson,” there’s nothing to be gained from this other than perhaps the redemption of Chris Brown, whose chorus, which contains the song’s title, is the best thing about the track. It’s certainly not the name dropping of DJ Skee. Not very tasteful. According to 
