New Bishop Allen - “Oklahoma”

Although Bishop Allen’s third LP Grrr… (Mar 10th) coheres seamlessly as a cycle of 13 excellent songs, “Oklahoma” stands out as a particularly ace track thanks in part to Justin Rice’s lyrical references to my adopted state. (Easily the best inclusion of Lake Texoma in a song ever!) Although it’s too late to get it nominated as Oklahoma’s state rock song, “Oklahoma” is still my favorite OK song of the year!

MP3:
Bishop Allen - “Oklahoma”

Arctic Monkeys Debut Four New Songs; Cover Nick Cave

Last week at the Arctic Monkeys’ first show in over a year, the group debuted four new songs (”Dangerous Animals”, “Pretty Visitors”, “Go-Kart” and “Crying Lightning”) from their highly anticipated Josh Homme-produced third album to a packed New Zealand crowd. As a bonus, the A-Monks topped off their set with an encore cover of Nick Cave’s “Red Right Hand.”

MP3s:
Arctic Monkeys - “Crying Lightning” (Live @ Wellington Town Hall 1.13.09)
Arctic Monkeys - “Go-Kart” (Live @ Wellington Town Hall 1.13.09)
Arctic Monkeys - “Pretty Visitors” (Live @ Wellington Town Hall 1.13.09)
Arctic Monkeys - “Dangerous Animals” (Live @ Wellington Town Hall 1.13.09)
Arctic Monkeys - “Red Right Hand” (Live @ Wellington Town Hall 1.13.09)

DOWNLOAD FULL SHOW:
Arctic Monkeys Live @ Wellington Town Hall 1.13.09

New Kelly Clarkson - “My Life Would Suck Without You”

Seriously, hipsters - you can only listen to so much Animal Collective before even your ironic mustache starts to hate you. Thankfully, the first great pop single of 2009 has officially arrived in the form of Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You.” Like 2004’s “Since U Been Gone,” the first single from All I Ever Wanted is poised to please a wide range of music fans across the pop and rock spectrum. Welcome back, Kelly!

MP3:
Kelly Clarkson - “My Life Would Suck Without You”
[via MFR]

New Tunesday - 1.20.09

Every Tuesday (and even on Inauguration Days!), Hypeful teams up with Salad Days Music to pick and preview the week’s best new album releases. Bend an ear to this week’s choicest selections after the jump!

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New Decemberists - “The Rake’s Song”

Huzzah! The Decemberists have just released “The Rake’s Song” from the band’s forthcoming fifth full-length album, The Hazards Of Love. If this song is any indication, Colin Meloy’s fairy-tale rock opera might just be one of the best albums of the year. Enough with the words - get to downloading!!!

MP3:
The Decemberists - “The Rake’s Song”