Prince Covers Radiohead And The Beatles At Coachella April 27, 2008

Prince took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival shortly after 11:00 P.M. Saturday, announcing to the crowd of thousands:

“Coachella, I am here.”

After announcing his (obvious) location, Prince was joined on stage by Morris Day for some “Jungle Love.” (Ed here: Oh-wee-oh-wee-oh – sorry, I couldn’t resist!)

Prince later surprised fans by covering Radiohead’s “Creep” and The Beatles‘ “Come Together.”

I can’t seem to find The Beatles’ cover on YouTube yet, but Prince definitely impressed with his Radiohead cover. In the above video clip, you can even hear someone in the crowd saying “Wow!” at the beginning of his performance.

Wow, indeed.

Mixtape Tuesday: Betty’s First Quarter Faves, Part Two April 22, 2008

Here is the second installment of my First Quarter Faves. A few things to note: 1) The first and last songs on this list are dripping with the 80s (in the best possible way), 2) If you like Sigur Ros you will probably like the Ólafur Arnalds song, 3) Say what you will about ‘Does it offend you yeah?’ (a 2.3, Shitfork? Really?), but Dawn of the Dead is a really fucking awesome song, and 4) The artwork above is by the enormously talented Matt W. Moore and you can see more of his work and purchase awesome stuff here, and, 5) Songs marked with ** are highly recommended.

11. Gentle Touch - Once You Used to (myspace)

12. Lykke Li - I’m Good, I’m Gone (myspace)

13. Sian Alice Group - Sleep (myspace) **

14. Sleepmakeswaves - One Day You Will Teach Me to Let Go of My Fears (myspace)

15. Olga Kouklaki - Getalife (myspace)

16. The Delano Orchestra - Lucky Star (myspace) **

17. Justice of the Unicorns - Jesus Had a Sweet Girlfriend (myspace)

18. Taken By Cars - The Blackout (myspace)

19. Ólafur Arnalds - Fok (myspace) **

20. Does it offend you yeah? - Dawn of the Dead (myspace) **

New Lykke Li Video: I’m Good, I’m Gone April 16, 2008

Best female pop album of the year confirmed. Lykke Li rocks my world.

Mixtape Tuesday - Betty’s First Quarter Faves April 15, 2008

Just like Rob in High Fidelity, I have become obsessive about lists. I nurture my Favorite Albums of 2008 list just as I would a precious houseplant or a child. I thought you might enjoy a sampler of my favorite songs on my top 10 albums. I’ll probably also do another one soon with my favorites in the 11-20 range because it’s not that the albums taking those slots don’t have amazing songs, it’s just that they aren’t quite as consistent as the top ten. Anyway - enjoy!

1. Ladyhawk - Night You’re Beautiful (from the album Shots)

2. The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead (from the album Keep Your Eyes Ahead)

3. Liam Finn - Second Chance ( from the album I’ll Be Lightning)

4. Have a Nice Life - Hunter (from the album Deathconsciousness)

5. Baltic Fleet - Castellon Theme (from the album Baltic Fleet)

6. Spiritualized - Baby I’m Just A Fool (from the album Songs in A&E)

7. The LK - Yellow Ribbons (from the album Vs the Snow)

8. Pete and the Pirates - Come on Feet (from the album Little Death)

9. The Raveonettes - Aly, Walk With Me (from the album Lust Lust Lust)

10. Why? - The Hollows (from the album Alopecia)

 DOWNLOAD FULL MIX

Milo & Otis + Sigur Rós = Awesome

Mixtape Tuesday Is Back - No Joke! April 1, 2008

Happy April Fools! I think I speak for the both of us when I say - we suck. We suck and we know it. But March failed so hard this year. If it didn’t suck for you, I’d be willing to bet it sucked for someone you know. So today begins a new month and to celebrate I bring you a new a mix full of warm and fuzzy songs. I could have been a tool and made this a fake mix filled with Sir Mix-a-Lot or some shit, but I like you more than that, so rest assured that the songs below are real. Really awesome, might I add.

Arms - Kids Aflame (myspace)

Gentle Touch - Once You Used To (myspace)

The Limes - Left Hand Cycles (myspace)

Esser - I Love You (myspace)

A Faulty Chromosome - This Is Far From A Belle Epoque (download their full album for free from their myspace)

DOWNLOAD FULL MIX

‘Under The Umbrella Tree’ March 13, 2008

“Wonder why The Klaxons looked so out of it trying to mime alongside Rihanna at the Brits? They’d dropped some acid before the show. Respect.” - PopBitch

Iggy Pop & The Stooges Underwhelm Madonna At The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame March 11, 2008

Iggy Pop & The Stooges performed two Madonna songs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony last night: “Ray of Light” and “Burning Up.”

As much as I love Iggy and his fierce shirtlessness, I found his rendition of “Ray of Light” to be rather weaksauce. I did, however, get chills when he gave his slick “Like A Virgin” speech at the end.

The Vines Are Releasing A ‘Best Of’ Album, I Remember Those Guys… March 10, 2008

Do you remember the year 2002? I do, I do, I do! As much as I hate to admit it now, I was working in the Jewelry Department of a Wal-Mart Supercenter back then. Em-barr-ass-ing. Even so, I still fancied myself a music snob. I was the first and only teen at my high school who owned Is This It and I took pride in that (as it was the only thing for me to take pride in back then).

One night/early morning in 2002, I was watching MTV at 3AM when I saw the music video for The Vines‘ “Get Free.” The next day when I went into work, I decided to buy The Vines’ Highly Evolved CD (remember, it’s 2002 — people still paid for music back then). I listened to the disc over and over for about a month (it was a pretty good album) and, just like Kelly Osbourne, I took a strong liking to front man Craig Nicholls. But come 2003, I had forgotten all about The Vines and their stoned, dreamy front man.

The band (apparently) went on without my support though.  The Vines have released two albums since Highly Evolved (where was I!?) and in May they’ll have their very own ‘Best Of’ compilation disc.  Fancy, fancy.  Also, memories.

Remixes, Edits, and Mashups - Oh My! March 7, 2008

So I’m sitting here at work just waiting until I can leave and go hop on a plane for my fun-filled weekend in New York City. Aside from wasting time putting together my Favorite Albums Of All Time list, I’ve also been putting together a really fucking awesome short list of songs to aid you in your partying this weekend. Make Betty proud.

M.I.A. - Paper Planes (DFA Remix)

Fat Joe, Lil’ Wayne, Hot Butter - Make It Rain Popcorn (Johnatron Edit)

Them Jeans - Oh Mandy/Throw Some D’s mashup

(NOTE: The streaming player is screwy with this track. So right-click it into a new tab to check it out. Sorry!)

(Thanks Beats™, Disco Workout, and Said the Gramophone)