Prince - "Creep" [Live At Cochella]

I remember reading about Prince performing a cover of Radiohead's first hit, but nothing can describe the satisfaction of actually hearing it. It's once again a testament to the brilliance of the artist - talented and humble (in the idea that he's playing such a powerful rendition of a song that's not his own), probably the two best traits to have go hand in hand. Although it would have been nice to hear him tackle the emotional climax of the original version's bridge, Prince's soulful interpretation of the lyrics (slightly modified to fit his own style), is nothing short of amazing.

Charlotte Gainsbourg - "Time Of The Assassins" Video

For those who haven't checked it out yet, this the new surrealist video from Charlotte Gainsbourg's Beck-produced album, IRM. "Time Of The Assassins" is one of the many great tracks from the album, showcasing the dreamier side of its multi-facets.

Jay Bennett's Death : One Year Later

A year ago today, former Wilco member Jay Bennett was found dead in his home, the victim of an accidental overdose on muscle relaxers. The loss to the music world was great, not only in that it lost one of the most gifted musicians of this generation, but also in that it was the unfortunate end to a music career that was already considerably curbed because of his firing from the band that made him at least somewhat famous. I wish I could say I've enjoyed his post-Wilco solo work, or his band Titanic Love Affair, but unfortunately his output since his departure has always fallen under the mark - a Q without a U, much in the same way most of Wilco's work has suffered without their former multi-instrumentalist (A Ghost Is Born aside). A part of me always held out hope that Bennett and Jeff Tweedy would reconcile their differences and collaborate again but instead, Bennett's abrupt end has left a void like an unfinished book, a wrong that never will be made right. His death is one of the most regrettable losses I have come to know and it will continue to pain me every time I think of what could have been.

Just a thought

When I was a teenager, I was very reluctant to give new artists a shot. I had spent most of my childhood building a foundation in 90's alternative rock as it was happening, and had become drastically disillusioned with the idea of "current" music - a direct effect from the influx of horrendous artists that emerged between 98-01. I would like to go on record as saying that this period was one of the worst ever in terms of mainstream music. With alternative rock acts becoming old hat, the scene defaulted back into pop - really bad pop. Boy bands, nu metal, rap rock, dinosaur rock acts returning to great success. When indie started getting back in style again with the "garage revival", I really wasn't interested anymore. My tastes had moved into the past, building up my classic rock and post punk collections. I really didn't wake up and smell the coffee until about 2006, when a legion of new artists like Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs had already released their milestone records (for the record. I was into some new bands such as The White Stripes, but I could have been much more active in the music scene).

In recent years, I've been making up for lost time, and am much more immersed in current music. This being said, there are some artists I feel like I just don't need in my life. The Black Keys for instance. They're a good band. I listened to their new album, Brothers, the other day and it was very enjoyable. I just don't feel like this is something I'm going to be going back to years from now. Another example is Band Of Horses who I just watched on Letterman a few minutes ago. A good tune, sort of catchy - completely unnecessary to have to hear again. It's a shame, because when I see people responding positively to an artist, I kind of always want to be in on it, but ultimately I only have so much room in my brain. I keep a watchful ear on everything out there and am always interested in new sounds. A group like Band Of Horses though I feel won't stand the test of time. I feel their legacy will be viewed like the way we look at a band like Tripping Daisy now - clever, but pretty much disposable.

LCD Soundsystem - "Drunk Girls"

I haven't picked up This Is Happening yet, but this video is keeping me busy in the meantime. A total one take freakout, "Dunk Girls" will be a tough act to beat for Sacotn's video of the year (although there's seven more months for everyone out there to start trying).