How many hipster artists can you fit on one track? It’s a question that LA based duo N.A.S.A. seemed hell bent on answering while putting together their 2009 release The Spirit of Apollo. With the album on shelves there are now visuals to match the tunes in the form of the music video for the track “Whachadoin?” which, true to form, features M.I.A., Spank Rock, Santigold and Nick Zinner. The video pulls viewers through the screen of a BlackBerry and down an electro rabbit hole into a world that Dr. Seuss may even find strange. The cast of characters encountered along the way range from candy raver go-go girls to dancing neon cell phones, with the main role filled by a man who looks stuck somewhere between a Daft Punk robot and Power Ranger. It’s a trip to say the least and all of it through a BlackBerry? Who thought being corporate could be so fun.
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If you have a few minutes at your computer and want a some nice tunes to accompany your blog reading, or online banking or exotic bird trafficking, take a stroll on over to Kristina Train’s 
It has been five long years since Kings of Convenience’s last album (Riot On An Empty Street), and while we’ve been quelled somewhat by frontman Erlend Øye’s side project, (The Whitest Boy Alive), there’s a definitely thrill about the Norwegian pop outfit’s return. Their new album, Declaration of Dependence, is out October 20 and is being touted by the group as “the most rhythmical pop record ever that features no percussion or drums.” There might be some issues with what is being defined as “percussion,” but we can address that later. Øye says that “when we started out we were afraid of sounding like other artists,” Erlend says. “But now we feel pretty much alone.”
The return of Grace Jones to LA was more than just a performance, it was an event. The Jamaican songstress’ first major gig this side of the US in 20 years, she packed in the crowds at the Hollywood Bowl and put on a show
The Golden Filter have spun hey into heady disco gold on several tracks and remixes released over the last year or so. They take a more downtempo, space age approach to disco revivalism than some of their peers. In fact, on their remixes of Cut Copy’s “Far Away,” Little Boots’ “New In Town,” and their own “Favourite Things” (featured on the Kitsuné Maison 7 comp), they sound like they’ve dropped some tabs before standing under a strobelight. We love it! In the last year the pair of Stephan and Penelope (no, we don’t do last names here, thank you) have evolved considerably from their first single, “Solid Gold,” and each new release is a little disco dusted treasure. Their DJ set tonight at Avalon in Hollywood for Control won’t disappoint. Free the Robots and the Casual Touch are also on the bill.Get acquainted with their work below, and send an email to ‘ear @ soundbleed.com’ to win a pair of passes to the gig.
