Okay radio-land folks, there is this little thing called a Princeton “thesis” and it has been driving me crazy-busy. I’m locked up painting all day and trying to make sure I know what “music” is. So I resolve to finish my thesis and be a good blogger for the rest of the year. No reviews today, but a whole bunch of radical links, legal downloads, and music news that will blow your mind (after the jump).

• Muxtapes are the new craze. It is mixtapes you can send to anyone, and anyone can see, its mixtapes 2.0. And I’m so feeling the *idea* of it. I loved WPRB’s mixtape exchange a few years ago I helped orchestrate, and feel we should do something similar again! I’m unsure about the legality of this, though Stereogum seems to believe it will be fine, as do others…. so use at your own risk. Though if curious, definitely check it out soon, as muxtape’s days and it’s enthusiasts may be few as it blows up all over the internet (and therefore the questionable-legal radar). [muxtape.com]
• To throw it back a little bit, Bjork upset Chinese nationals a while ago with her song “Declare Independence” (which seems half emotionally motivated but also very reminiscent of Iceland’s struggle with Denmark). However, at the end of the song she screamed into it TIBET TIBET after the chorus saying to declare independence… [Oh, Bjork.]
• This THEN lead to one of the funniest combinations of my fathers and my music tastes ever (perhaps the only one??). Bjork’s musical outcry upset the Chinese government, and especially with the upcoming Olympics performances they wanted to make sure nothing like this would happen again. Harry Connick Jr. was the next big international import to play a concert in China- they demanded his set list and he gave them an old list. When he tried to play other songs they objected, leading him to ditch his backing band and play an acoustic/piano set by himself of all the old hits. My dad was pleased to hear this news as he likes “the old stuff,” I was unpleased because what is with musical censorship over someone else’s outburst?? [Harry Connick Jr. bites the bullet]
• [Almost] Best New Video:Which leads me to the most relevant and interesting news, Bjork just made an unbelievable looking music video with Encyclopedia Pictura. It is for Wanderlust, which is a song that has grown and ungrown on me many times. But I feel the music really solidifies the danger and freedom she presents through her words- further proving that she has an unbelievable artistic vision you can’t not be blown away by. It’s a little slow when you watch it in non-3d, (though I can’t wait to see those water waves in 3d!!) but still visually unbelievable. How do I SEE THIS?!?!?!However, there is a really nice high quality video on their site [here] [NY Times article/making the video feature here]
• Oh yeah, and there is a great new Bjork cover album out with tons of your favorite bands…. [Review! Hype! Go!]
• Radiohead had a remix contest, and one of my favorite new bands is winning!!! Woohoo. It is pretty awesome that they can rock out with a sort of dance-beat hidden underneath all of that rock and still hold onto some kind of pop-aesthetic with these remixes. [Holy F*** remixes Radiohead, check out the MIA remix too]
• That unbelievable Phillipine sensation coming out of their public prison system (you undoubtedly saw the Thriller coordinated dance…. I hope I hope!) Anyway, their most recent attempt is SOULJA BOY. Those who are “in the know” some of us at WPRB love Soulja Boy. So [enjoy!]
• Speaking of some crazy hip hop. Lil Wayne has a more than special place in my heart. But certainly not in the sack. He is doing condom ads, and despite the ambiguous message about homosexual sex, I sort of couldn’t not laugh. And thinking about being Lil Wayne in this picture, I would also hope this strange modern cowboy would wrap it up too. The distinctly modern ad even sports a red AIDS ribbon. [Strapped 4 Life]
• Paper Planes, the Holy F remix is pretty great, but this Sri Lankan takes MIA’s beats and makes his own song, and it is distinctly the catchiest thing I’ve heard in a few weeks. [Paper Planes/Tengazako]
• Legal Download: The Dodo’s blew my mind away last night with a high energy performance and one of the most attractive moustache’s I’ve ever seen. They were #5 on WPRB last week, and here Stereogum has a sneak peek of already new material. Horrrayy! [Ashley]
• Since I am being really Iceland heavy- Sigur Ros’s Icelandic tour documentary, Heima was on the Youtube main page in its hour and a half entirety for like a week, now it looks like it is not there…. It was some Youtube/Sigur Ros partnership, but I guess it was only for a little while so it made you want to buy the big box set dvd…. I wanted to watch it and bookmarked it for my WPRB blog but it says the video is now set to “private.” If anyone finds the link to this send it to us!!!
• Best New Video: My favorite video music blog and my favorite recent album release. Woohooo!! The folks over at La Blogotheque were not convinced by Yeasayer’s music (shocking I know, on the other hand I can’t wait to see them live) but left their “Take away concert” completely in love with Yeasayer after what appears to be a cosmic and unbelievable rendition of 2080 and much hippie group singing, bottle breaking, and love. [The second video is the key here.]
• I was revisiting one of my favorite Youtube videos with a friend [deaf porformance group does the most beautiful coordinated dance you will ever see] and someone said “oh wait, MIA totally ripped that off.” Deliberate or not, her music video tried to make this delicate style of dance into some trippy ethno-popculture. I’m not sure if I dig it, it came out last summer, but felt the need to share the original video anyway. [Check out MIA's "Jimmy" video here.]
• Legal Downloads: RCRDLBL seems to be causing a commotion week after week and getting better and better music. (Congrats!!) So you don’t have to sift through all of it, here are the highlights you shouldnt miss. [Not just one, or two... but THREE new Constantines songs off their upcoming album "Kensington Heights"...] [White Denim blew my eardrums out a few months ago and I'm still recovering, hear this!] [Master What? Oh, MSTRKRFT.... yes yes yes!!] [I'm seeing the Dirty Projector's tomorrow and will review it on tuesday, but here is a new song for everyone!] [And oh, some new Ladytron for good measure]
• The Chicago Sun-Times leaked the Lollapalooza headliners. [Oh Jim DeRogatis aren't you special?]
• The Tribeca Film Festival has films… and music apparently. Who will be playing? Regina Specktor, Sondre Leche, The Hold Steady… and some guy from Nickel Creek? [Among others....]
• Retro throwback: Junior Senior “Can I get get get”- most feel good music video ever. I forgot how much I was addicted to them and their ridiculous music videos a few years ago… and was recently e-mailed this sweet video to me by a new friend. Color me smitten. Check out JD from Le Tigre and Peaches on roller skates!! [Can I get get get to know know know know you better baby?]
• Oh and last but not least: Grizzly Bear is opening for Radiohead this summer?! Woah. I hope some frat kids getting trashed know what they are in for. But congrats to a band that couldn’t be more worthy of some mainstream buzz from a tried and true band. [Yeah yeah Pitchfork broke this story...]

Hey all- it is that magical time of week again where I will post a series of (mostly) music related links. This week we delve into my Sleater Kinney obsession, Blenders, the Bush family and more! (Oh boy!) Our website is tragically still down, but have no fear- you can check out our MP3 stream through iTunes radio (click on radio, then alternative) and the blog will still be up with a whole link page of distractions. Links after the jump….

Broadcasting some radio love your way!

• So first things first, some NJ-related love. Sufjan Stevens may have for all intensive purposes ditched the 50 state projects (otherwise he will be making music until he is in his grave). But he is still interested in the idea of place, and has decided to make a tribute to the NJ Turnpike. ["It is so perfect and efficient."-SS]
• Erich Weiss, one of Philly’s best up-and-coming filmmakers is debuting a film that is getting a ton of buzz at SXSW. He has made films for the likes of Philly hip hoppers Spank Rock and the iconic rockers, the Buzzcocks. But this time Weiss turns his camera-eye on the life of Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins, one of the most prominent early tattoo artists. The documentary follows the political and social roots of American tattoo culture through his life into a contemporary look as his legacy lives on through his iconic designs. The trailor is really worth a peak. [Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry]
• Ever wondered what it would mean to paint in 3D? This is totally un-music related, but given that graffiti is a huge part of historical hip hop culture I think that this link is perfectly appropriate. Crazy Germans are working on ways to make 3d graffiti. [The future is upon us]
• LEGAL DOWNLOADS: Man it was a good week over at RCRD LBL. I realize some of you probably don’t compulsively consume new music like I do. So here are four unbelievable highlights. ONE- African jazz folk, from an artist named Birigwa, whose album he made while studying at the New England Conservatory for jazz decades ago. It is receiving a warranted reissue this month on Porter Records. TWO- I don’t know if I would call it “erotic art-rap” but this femme hip hop artist, Bunny Rabbit recently signed to VOODOO EROS (Coco Rosie and co. record label/scene project) and is rocking my world. THREE- Bix! I saw him in Iceland this summer, he is a producer and teams up with friend Jonsi (and his iconic voice) from famed ambient pop group Sigur Ros to bring you this glitchy trippy track. FOUR- I can’t tell if this song by the Death Set is too hip or what, it has a sampled intro, Matt and Kim-like dancable pop beats and fuzzy vocals. But I keep listening to it, so you decide!
  
• PAVEMENT IS TALKING ABOUT GETTING BACK TOGETHER. BY 2009. [!!!!!!!!!]
• No Age rules, and has a new album in the works with Sub Pop. Pitchfork interviewed them and they dish about veganism, Fear Factor, and the press…. ["That's only because I don't have cable and my antenna gets channel 13 really well and that's what "Fear Factor'"s on. I've grown to like it."]
• Guess what music Jenna Bush listens to? I can’t tell if this is pure evil contaminating good music tastes, or maybe evil does not spawn evil and there is some good to the Bush name. Or perhaps the Arcade Fire are the biggest thing to ever happen to Canada besides bacon. [The National are so patriotic. Hah.. hah.. hah...]
• Rilo Kiley watching the Paris Hilton sex tape. This is old to the web, but new to me and amazing. [Paris who?]
• I love Kimya Dawson. I love the Moldy Peaches maybe even more. And I am so glad she has found her niche in pop culture through the movie Juno. I am, really. Even if she was the best kept secret of the Pacific Northwest for so long. However, I never ever ever expected to hear Babara Walters sing along to a Kimya Dawson song. The beginning of this Ellen Page interview is totally forgettable, fast forward to the sing along at the end and laugh away at Barbara Walters misty eyes as Ellen croons Kimya to her. [Walters makes even Ellen Page seem like an estrogen-sob-story-outburst waiting to happen.]
• LEGAL DOWNLOAD: We could all use some feel good music on these rainy days. So here is one of the happiest poppy twee bands I know, The Boy Least Likely To. Releasing their first single off their upcoming album for free online. YES [I Box Up All the Butterflies]
• BEST NEW VIDEO: Ed Banger records couldn’t be more rad, and while everything they touch turns to gold, I think the real artist behind the madness is their art director, So Me. The music video for D.A.N.C.E. was iconic and topped the year round-ups for best music video be it Pitchfork lists or Stereogum’s Gummy Awards. The new video for DVNO dropped this week, and it is honestly unbelievable. The whole this is animated by So Me and is retro-video animation-tastic. Plus I see tons of references to some great video games and early film credits. The song isn’t my favorite, but So Me has my ultimate praise. The French just do it right these days. [DVNO FOUR CAPITAL LETTERS]
• Speaking of French, those pseudo-native speaking neighbors to the north in Montreal just announced the Montreal International Music Initiative Winners. The prizes are substantial but not huge, but some of these guys I hadn’t heard of and are pretty damn good. [Thanks Montreal!]
• I’ve always dug on the Black Dice, and up until now was unaware that co-founder Bjorn Copeland was a visual artist as well as accomplished musician. Finding out this information, and being a painter myself I am more obsessed than ever. Thanks Matthew and check out his rad art [here].
• “Now a few of my 27 grandchildren suggested that I buy this thing called Guitar Hero Three. But it doesn’t play the Beach Boys, so I’m going to BLEND IT. Unfortunately it doesn’t fit in a blender, so first I am going to do a Pete Townsend on it.” Thanks Russell. [WILL IT BLEND? ...I'm sorry everyone I just passed along the ultimate distraction.]
• RETRO-THROWBACK: Maybe the best music video ever. [What's the scenario?]
• SLEATER KINNEY: (doesn’t exist anymore, but that won’t kill my obsession.) Carrie Brownstein, possibly one of the most accomplished female guitar players of all time, in my humble opinion, writes a great blog for NPR. With quotes like
  this: “You know, my hesitation to fully embrace Vampire Weekend might stem from the fact that if you take preppy yacht rock too far, you end up back at Jimmy Buffet” who can go wrong?? This week she responded to the Maxim review scandal (in my post last week) with her own “educated guesses.” [Rating: $800]
• SLEATER KINNEY: Okay her blog is really the best thing ever and because many of you are probably unfamiliar with it, here is a really great video she also made for NPR for the eventual launch of their video blog. She is just too cute. [Ipod upgrade: Carrie Shuffle!]
• OH WAIT, MORE SLEATER KINNEY: … Alright alright one more I promise…. In case you didn’t understand that I actually may be Sleater Kinney’s biggest fan…. Carrie has been a busy lady and made the cutest video with Fred Armisen of SNL fame for Corin (also ex-SK) and her new baby. Thunderants is a new brief video/comedy side project of the two of them which is amazing… Though somehow you have to have a really good attitude to make a comedy clip congratulating your ex-girlfriend and ex-bandmate in the “perfect song”to her new baby with her husband. [But in the end, it was the perfect song.]

Stay tuned next week for more links (and if there is anything of serious note/serious distraction material that I missed, do post it in the comments!!)

-Kelsey Flapjacks Johnson

Hey all of you cool cats, WPRB is making its every effort to enter the 21st century, and this blog will hopefully be a great way for us to keep in touch with you (listeners and fellow djs alike) to let you know upcoming shows, reviews of shows we’ve seen, reviews of records we’re spinning, and other music and programming related news. WPRB had an incredibly exciting year in 2007 as we became community-supported radio, and thanks to help from many of you the station is in better shape than ever before. So this should be a great outlet for us to open communication to the community like never before in 2008. We try to keep you guys savvy to events going on in the area with programming on air like our awesome concert calendar, (if you haven’t checked it out the whole list before, go to wprb.com for the entire concert calendar listing!) but this blog should allow us more extensively to talk about all of the fantastic tunes out there. Check back frequently and there should always be new stuff posted! We have an awesome cast of writers from our station board who will be posting regularly, and hopefully some other guest characters and syndicated posts from the blogs of some of your favorite djs.

Every week I’ll be posting a list of rad music related links, legal downloads, and other stuff we find on the web and are digging at WPRB, so we are going to kick things off with the best of the interweb this week! More after the jump….

• RETRO THROWBACK: In the totally unrelated category, check out this rad but simple design site, put on your favorite song, and play away. If only we could go back to the internet in 1998. [Yellowtail]
• LEGAL DOWNLOAD: I’ve really been enjoying this online-only release, from the great Asa Breed‘s sessions on RCRD LBL. Matthew Dear recorded this beautiful and perhaps overlooked song “Don’t go this way.” It builds with some pretty sweet beats/synth-jangly jams by keeping his beautiful moaning vocals and keyboards sustaining short quick notes that makes a really unique sound. Since RCRD LBL posted this the song has been getting ton’s of good press in the blogosphere. It’s rough and basic considering some of his more lush recordings; but when Matthew Dear even just plays around he makes pretty awesome songs. [Don't go this way]
• LEGAL DOWNLOAD: And speaking of great free songs, the last Tokyo Police Club Smith EP was getting some heavy rotation over here at WPRB. They’ve been signed to indie-darling-label Saddle Creek, and Stereogum has a sneak peak off the new album that will be hitting the streets 4/22. [In a cave]
• Following the awesome Marina Gasolina EP, Marina, Bonde do Role’s lead MC and album namesake, QUIT. So in the news this week, Brazilian group and Philadelphia-scene-Diplo-spawn quickly found not just one but two new band members. And they’re taking their new lineup and funky favela-electro to MTV Brazil with a reality television show to recruit new MCs. I’m skeptical, but then again why should I care? I don’t know when I’ll ever find myself watching MTV Brazil. [Da me mas gasolina]
• RIP. Polaroid announced earlier this week that they are going to stop making film! This is immensely sad. To mourn this cultural relic, enjoy these one-of-a-kind shots from the Black Lips live. [Polaroid rock out]
• Pitchfork made me turn my head, when I realized they were right in questioning why a bunch of hipster orchestral Canadians (the much hyped up Arcade Fire) are doing benefit shows for Barack Obama. [Canadians 4 Obama]
• BEST NEW VIDEO: And here is a great new music video from Beachhouse and a brand new song from Grizzly Bear all in one post! [Heart of Chambers]
• Tomorrow is one of the best days in extended Radioland. WFMU, one of our favorite other independent stations around these parts is hosting their 50th annual (wowsas!) membership drive. And as if that isn’t crazy enough, since 1996 Yo La Tengo has been coming on the air and performing every karaoke singer’s ultimate fantasy, a radio show to “Murder the Classics” and cover whatever they feel like and whatever you request when you pledge. So tune in at 2pm tomorrow with Gaylord Fields and Bob Brainen and Yo La Tengo, donate to a fellow great station, and support your independent radio! Check it online and get more info about their drive!
• In the most exciting news, Animal Collective announced a new EP on Domino! Mark your calendars and attack your local record stores, 5/6. [Water Curses EP]
• In sad news, the Elliot Smith memorial was vandalized. [Again!]
• And in the most controversial news of the week, who writes music reviews without listening to the album? And why is Maxim magazine writing music reviews anyway? (WPRB will try to avoid “educated guesses” about our music reviews!) [Black Crowes "medicore" even without record]
• Oh wait, and then they “guessed” AGAIN [Nas also "medicore".]
• Lastly, the music consuming community at large was informed this week that Steve Jobs owns our ears and wallets; Walmart still owns family-friendly country music. [$$$$]

So that about wraps up our first week in links! Stay posted for more original material and WPRB-curated links and guides to upcoming shows. Regular posts will start Monday. And make sure you don’t miss out on Yo La Tengo tomorrow at 2pm on WFMU, its like nothing you’ve ever heard! (… And as if I didn’t have to tell you, keep those radio dials to 103.3 FM or your iTunes radio to WPRB!)