Formed in 2002, The Mae Shi are an LA-based experimental pop/rock band from California. Terrorbird, their 59-minute-long debut EP, was a hyper ADD-afflicted hip-hop concept album about monsters and the Old Testament. Having already released four albums and other interesting “projects” (like a documentary and a 2004 mix tape that collected their favorite 1200 songs in under 80 minutes), The Mae Shi are getting ready to release a fifth(!) album that is certain to be crammed full of their trademark “busted electronics, spazzier-than-fuck drums, crazy-ass boogie guitar, distorted caveman bass and throat-destroying vocals”. Details about their new album are still unclear as there is no official release date or title (it may be called either 7XX7 or PWND). However, the released track “Run To Your Grave” is unbelievably catchy and makes The Mae Shi a definite band to watch.

MP3: The Mae Shi - “Run To Your Grave”

Not sure why I am just now hearing about this, but it seems MTV has cleared all of those back-to-back Road Rules/Real World episodes from its schedule and are allowing the very funny guys from Human Giant to host MTV (and MTV2) LIVE for 24 Hours Straight starting today! Their show is really funny and it looks like they’ve got some great guests lined up for their 24-hour gig. I just saw Albert Hammond Jr. perform and it looks like they’ve also got Ted Leo, The National, Tapes ‘n Tapes, and lots of other rad musicians.

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Although I personally didn’t think “Spider-Man 3″ improved on the previous two films, it looks and sounds like Spidey did make some strides in the soundtrack department. While the first Web-Slinger film unleashed that inescapable (believe me, I tried) Nickleback song in 2002, the soundtrack to the latest flick is packed with some surprising goodness.

In particular, I have been digging the new Rogue Wave track, “Sightlines”. It’s the kind of shimmering pop that deserves to echo through many summer night mixtapes. When coupled with “Eyes” (from their Publish My Love EP) it shows that when this band creates a vision-themed song, it’s almost guaranteed to be lovely and halcyon.

MP3: Rogue Wave - Sightlines
MP3: Rogue Wave - Eyes

It’s been almost seven years since Billy Corgan dismantled his band The Smashing Pumpkins after losing the good fight against the Britneys (others would blame internal fighting, drug use, and diminishing sales for the break-up). Zeitgeist, released on July 10, is The Smashing Pumpkins’ official sixth album and marks the reunion of Billy with only one his band’s original members - drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.

Deaf Indie Elephants has a radio rip of “Tarantula” from Zeitgeist for your listening pleasure. (I would post it, but I’m a new blogger and don’t want to get thrown in jail with those other kids the Pumpkins recently had arrested.)

In related self-promotion, Stereogum has been giving me some serious love for some Zeitgeist photoshopping I did. I’m flattered to be included in any of their awesome blogging content!

The Beastie Boys’ new “post-punk all instrumental” album, The Mix-Up, is still over a month away from dropping. However, there’s a new track (”The Rat Cage”) and new video (”Off The Grid”) to get everyone ready for the June 26 release. Ch-ch-ch-check it out.

MP3: Beastie Boys - “The Rat Cage”