Music news, reviews, albums, concerts, and downloads | The Music Mix

Tags: Hip-Hop/Rap, Iggy Azalea, Ladies, Music Videos, New Stuff, Things That Are Sexy

Australian rapper Iggy Azalea has been on the come-up for a while now, thanks to a series of blog -baiting videos and the heavy support of label boss T.I. (and also picking up a modeling contract along the way).

The march toward the release of her official debut album The New Classic continues with the video for “Work,” which finds Azalea invoking Thelma & Louise, rapping in front of a tractor trailer, and, like she does, wearing a full run of frame-grab-worthy outfits (rarely have a pair of spandex palm trees worked so hard to preserve a lady’s decency).

Watch it below:

Mar 13 2013 10:00 AM ET

Spacehog return with 'Wish You Well': Hear it here - EXCLUSIVE

Tags: An EW Exclusive!, Attack of the '90s, Downloads and Streams, Glam Rock, Indie Rock, New Stuff, Spacehog, Things That Are British

Image Credit: Lee Clower

Back in 1995, Spacehog—four dudes from England who formed a band in New York City—landed on the rock moonscape with “In the Meantime,” one of the greatest alt-rock singularities of the post-Cobain radio universe.

Bathed in glammy goodness and sleek ’70s swagger, “In the Meantime” set the tone for Spacehog’s debut album, Resident Alien, which contained much more of the same. Along with the band’s sophomore release The Chinese Album, Spacehog crafted one of the most underrated discographies of the end of the last century.

They haven’t made an album since 2001′s The Hogyssey, and after a long hiatus and a handful of side projects, the group has returned with their fourth album As It Is On Earth, which will be released on April 16. In reuniting with producer Bryce Goggin (who helmed their ’90s output), the band has recreated the same kind of star-kissed energy that they brought on their debut.

Listen to “Wish You Well” exclusively below, and do your own judging:

Mar 12 2013 10:00 AM ET

Watch the 'Just a Ride' video from U.K. rockers the Virginmarys -- EXCLUSIVE

Tags: An EW Exclusive!, Indie Rock, Music Videos, New Stuff, Rock, The Virginmarys, Things That Are British

Image Credit: Ray Lego

Thanks to their debut album King of Conflict and its propulsive single “Just a Ride,” British alt act the Virginmarys found their way onto Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. Now the band has an official video for “Just a Ride”– and you can watch it exclusively here.

The buzzy trio (guitarist/vocalist Ally Dickaty, drummer Danny Dolan and bassist/vocalist Matt Rose) trade in the kind of unadulterated, shouty, hard-edged guitar rock that has become increasingly rare these these days. The clip is a similarly uncomplicated, consisting largely of the guys and their gear making a whole lot of noise.

Bu it’s exactly that back-to-basics approach that’s whipped up excitement for their SXSW debut tomorrow. Check out their ”Just a Ride” video below:

Mar 11 2013 01:19 PM ET

Mumford & Sons split four ways for 'Whispers in the Dark' video: Watch it here!

Tags: Indie Rock, Mumford & Sons, Music Videos, New Stuff, Rock, Things That Are British

When people think of Mumford & Sons as a throwback act, they mean that they use instrumentation and an aesthetic that dates back to the roots of American folk, country, and bluegrass. But when it comes to music videos, they are similarly old-school, in the sense that they really seem to be trying to make the sort of clips one of the biggest-selling rock bands in the country is supposed to make.

For their last video, they went the auteur route and handed over the direction and acting reigns to Luther star Idris Elba. For their new video for “Whispers in the Dark,” director Jim Canty (who has also worked with Mika and Mark Ronson) split the screen into four quadrants and gave each band member his own on-his-way-to-the-show narrative. In essence, it forces you to watch the clip four times to truly follow everything (though really, you probably only have to watch it three times — in his story line, Marcus Mumford simply gets on a motorcycle and rides to the gig).

Check it out below. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 11 2013 11:19 AM ET

Azealia Banks premieres 'Yung Rapunxel': Hear it here

Tags: Azealia Banks, Hip-Hop/Rap, New Stuff

What is a Yung Rapunxel anyway? As Azealia Banks explains on her Twitter, it’s the name of a “mad scientist” and the title to her latest single to drop online.

The “212″ provocateur has finally taken a break from her various beefs to premiere the lead single from her upcoming debut album, Broke With Expensive Taste, theoretically due sometime this summer. And, well, the Lil Internet-produced track is a doozy. Banks’ spitfire raps are delivered in a low register over a busy background of punishing beats and chaotic screams. “Jumanji” this ain’t.

Give Azealia Banks’ “Yung Rapunxel” a listen below:

Mar 8 2013 12:00 PM ET

Odd Future's 'Loiter Squad' returns to Adult Swim: Watch an EXCLUSIVE clip!

Tags: An EW Exclusive!, Comedy, Hip-Hop/Rap, Loiter Squad, New Stuff, Odd Future, Television, Things That Are Awesome, Tyler the Creator, TV

Image Credit: Andy Sheppard/Redferns

A few weeks ago, Odd Future centerpiece Tyler the Creator announced the release date of his new album Wolf and dropped the first single and video in “Domo 23.”

That clip looked a whole lot like a sequence from the collective’s manic sketch comedy project Loiter Squad, which also happens to be returning this Sunday, March 10, at Midnight on Adult Swim. Last season sat somewhere between The Kids in the Hall and Jackass, and based on the exclusive clip below, the second go-round will be a ratcheted-up version of the same.

Check out the soon-to-be-beloved new character “Catchphrase Jones” below.

Mar 8 2013 10:00 AM ET

Watch a special live video of Marina and the Diamonds' 'How to Be a Heartbreaker' -- EXCLUSIVE

Tags: An EW Exclusive!, Glee, Marina and the Diamonds, New Stuff, Television, Things That Are Welsh, TV

Image Credit: Caspar Balslev

The Welsh songstress Marina and the Diamonds has been an official Big Deal back in the UK for a while, but now it’s time for the rest of us to catch up.

Marina’s most recent album, Electra Heart, debuted at No. 1 in back in Britain — and her opening gig for Coldplay’s American tour and quirky-pop singles like “How to Be a Heartbreaker” have helped propel her to cult status Stateside.

But her upcoming Glee-ification could be exactly the thing that brings her a wider American audience. “Heartbreaker” will be getting the official Ryan Murphy stamp of approval on the upcoming March 14th episode of Glee (Lea Michele will be singing it, if you were wondering), and Marina will follow that up with her Lonely Hearts Club tour of America.

To celebrate, the singer has released an exclusive preview of the tour, and you can watch it exclusively here. (Sorry kids, Speedo’d dudes showering in slo-mo not included.)

The clip also serves as a preview of her upcoming Heartcore documentary, which will offer fans an inside look at Marina’s Electra Heart journey and the Lonely Hearts Club tour. Plus, conveniently, the clip also shows Marina taking the stage at the revered venue Emo’s in Austin — the very town where SXSW will go down next week. Synergy!

Check out Marina’s exclusive new ”How to Be a Heartbreaker” clip below:

Mar 7 2013 07:37 PM ET

New Beach House video featuring Ray Wise -- Watch it here

by Lindsey Bahr

Tags: Beach House, Bloom, Eric Wareheim, Music Videos, New Stuff, Ray Wise, Things That Are Awesome, Wishes

Eric Wareheim (of Tim and Eric), is responsible for executing the trippy pep rally for Beach House’s ‘Wishes’ music video. Off of their 2012 album Bloom, the video stars the always delightful Ray Wise (Leland Palmer from Twin Peaks, also, Robin Scherbatsky Sr. from How I Met Your Mother). It is bizarre and completely captivating.

As far as the collaboration, it’s not as random as you might think. Wareheim has been a fan of Beach House for a while, and he also directs music videos occasionally, including one for HEALTH’s “We are Water” and a few Major Lazer videos. And Wise has appeared on a few episodes of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, and then again in Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie. Wareheim also tweeted this, Thursday, to announce the debut.

I proudly present the premiere of my new @beaccchhoussse video beachhousebaltimore.com My fav band & fav actor. Thx. twitter.com/ericwareheim/s…

— eric wareheim (@ericwareheim) March 7, 2013

In the video, Wise saunters out on a football field to lip sync ’Wishes’ to a captive crowd, while cheerleaders and performers dance and grind around him. He’s wearing a sateen jacket and pants with the school’s stallion mascot embroidered on the back, like a deranged knock-off of Ryan Gosling’s Drive jacket.

There is too much awesome in this music video. Check it out below.

Mar 7 2013 01:47 PM ET

She and Him drops new single 'Never Wanted Your Love': Hear it here

Tags: Indie, M. Ward, New Stuff, She & Him, Zooey Deschanel

Sorry, guys, Zooey Deschanel isn’t talking to you anymore. But she will sing to you!

She & Him, Deschanel’s musical project with M. Ward, has released the first single from their upcoming album Volume 3. The song’s called “Never Wanted Your Love,” but don’t let lyrics like “I’m not talking to you anymore/Making my bed so I can lie there forever” fool you — the music itself is full of sun and pep, like a(n even) more wistful Best Coast.

Give the song a listen below:

Mar 7 2013 11:55 AM ET

Miley Cyrus shows up in rap video with Lil Kim, hires Britney Spears' manager, may or may not be leaving Twitter