FYI...Zach Galifianakis + Piano = Funnier Than Most SNL Monologues

If you like this you should check out his DVD Zach Galifianakis: Live at the Purple Onion. It's delightful the way the piano fills the between-joke pauses.

THE BREAKDOWN: Blakroc - Blakroc

Blakroc (and Blakroc) might be the coolest blending of sounds in some time, and maybe the best 'white people' meets hip hop project of all time (sorry Aerosmith and Run DMC, sorry Fred Durst and Method Man). One of the great things is how authentic it feels: Dan Auerbach throws down rippin' Black Keys beats and the Wu-Tang Clan (etc.) respond with some their richest and rawest of verses. There's no compromise, only oddly harmonious collaboration.

Mos Def eases in with a tightrope walker's confidence ("On the Vista"), letting y'all know that this about talent meets talent. But it's hard to top Raekwon's "Stay Off the Fuckin' Flowers," who kicks his cocaine adventures over a Woodstock jam--an alternative take on history where the civil rights movement happened thirty years earlier and people were ready for him by the 1970's. I mean, how can you argue with urban non-sequiturs like "Green pea soup/Corrine coup/In the front/With twelve rickshaws ready to front"). Jim Jones, Q-Tip, and RZA come along for the party as well, tossing in their own quality efforts.

This slick little disc isn't perfect, but it's an exciting glimpse into non-cringeworthy rap-rock potential to come. I'll be waiting for Part II.

Blakroc

IN THE NEWS...Apple v. Amazon & the MP3 Daily Deal

Although many of Amazon's MP3 Daily Deals are fairly bland (the "special" for today is Daughtry's Leave This Town for "only" $3.99), I still check the site on a regular basis with the hope of another Frightened Rabbit It's Frightening for only $1.99 just a couple months after its release.

That said, Apple and the iTunes Digital Music Domination Machine are none too happy about it, especially as its grown in popularity and included more pre-release specials. All in all, an interesting behind-the-scenes look into the digital music industry. See the full story: here.

THE iTUNES TOP 100 & THE END OF THE WORLD: Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart (ft. Ludacris)

Well, Europe, I hope you're happy.

We've let you have your gaudy techno. You've let us have our vapid hip hop. It's been a pleasant arrangement.

But now look what you've done with our radio pop: Taio Cruz's "Break Your Heart" is the sound of an R&B crooner singing to a packed discotheque in Amsterdam (I can practically hear the Dutch girls screaming 'Dao Crooz we luhv yoo!' over the "Sandstorm"-lite chorus). Ludracris shows up all deer-in-headlights, confused to be spitting over such thumping arrangements for such bad-dancing fans, but ably finding some stability in his quality second verse.

I thought this might happen when I heard David Guetta's "Sexy Chick (ft. Akon)" (She's nothing like a girl you've ever seen before/Nothing you can compare to your neighborhood whore"), but that was more like a one-off collaboration. This feels more like a trend (auto-tune, anyone?)

I'm just nervous for where this might lead. Will I ever hear a rap song on the radio again? Ludacris?

Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz

THE BREAKDOWN: Atlas Sound - Logos

I'll admit, I hold Atlas Sound to higher standards than the average ambient electronica project. 2008's Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel was a revelation, a cohesively surreal sonic experimentation equal parts human and space. Logos, while generally consistent and nearly excellent, is destined to be remembered as Let the Blind's less ambitious cousin.

The absolute standout, both in terms of innovation and quality, is the Noah Lennox-assisted "Walkabout." The melding of the Animal Collective's recent joyous uptick and Atlas Sound's mood setting temperance is an irresistible blending of styles. Other repeat listens belong to the steady "Criminals" and the patient "Quick Canal" (which features Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab).

One of the problems is that "Walkabout" is just too damn fun. Parallel openers "The Light that Failed" and "An Orchid," while not exceptional, set a dark and mysterious tone soon extinguished by its exuberance. The second half of the album then has to work pretty hard to recapture the mood. Thankfully, the talent of Atlas Sound shines through to make Logos memorable, if not legendary.

Logos - Atlas Sound

WORTH A LISTEN: Bear in Heaven - You Do You

This late release from 2009 is both dark and unquestionably compelling. If you were making any sort of movie that had to do with rainy, streetlit cityscapes you'd be a fool to let this one go.

FYI...OK Go Make Cool Videos

This is pretty sweet, wanton destruction and all. Nothing like a studio full of junk and a lot of time to spend. Cheers to music videos!