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Subscribe to our Podcasts: Sophist Radio | Unoriginal Soundtracks | Shuffled

December 11, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks 77: Batman Arkham Origins

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Batman: Arkham Origins brings a medley of mediocre (and formidable) DC villains to Gotham to see who can get the most bones broken by Batman. It also inspires this Christmassy playlist of rock, rap, and soul.

December 05, 2013

Shuffled #53: All Metal (Live!)

Every other Wednesday either Matt or Alex C-Y share their love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as their tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

Heavy enough for ya? This week (or month as it has been awhile [surprise!]) we bring you a very special edition of the Shuffled podcast! Special for two reasons. First, it was the inaugural run of our first live broadcast of the show! And second, to ring in the occasion, we did an all metal playlist! There are some heavy licks to be found in this one (which is also extra long just for the occasion). So hit the jump and head bang into the show! \m/

December 01, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #76: Pinball FX

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Who likes pinball? I think it's absolutely wizard. Now enjoy this playlist of ska, doo-wop, and absolutely no predictable classic rock.

October 30, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #75: The Stanley Parable demo

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Welcome to Unoriginal Soundtracks. Please enjoy this podcast of reggae, surfer rock, and soul all about the Stanley Parable demo.

October 23, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #74: Words With Friends

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

You can't spell Words With Friends without "feds windrow shirt". And you can't spell Unoriginal Soundtracks without "agnostic dinosaur knurl". So enjoy this podcast of blues, rap, and rock about the popular Scrabble ripoff.

October 02, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #73: Viva Piñata


Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

The format shifts for this mini-series of songs about ecology simulator Viva Piñata. Throughout the next week, I'll update this post with bite-sized episodes featuring songs about candy and animals. Think of them as Revels -- you might spit out one, but you'll enjoy the rest.

September 27, 2013

Shuffled #52: Electro'd

Every other Wednesday either Matt or Alex C-Y share their love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as their tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

>>>>BEGIN TRANSMISSION<<<<

Attention all Shuffled citizens! Do NOT be alarmed! There is no need to panic! Repeat. There is no need to panic! We have assumed total control of this broadcast. Soon, after you have consumed these electronic minded tracks, you will be assimilated into the new robot order.  There is no need for resistance. All dissidents will be dealt with extreme prejudice. We offer only music. And complete servitude. More of the latter really. Click on to be assimilated.

September 19, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #72: Civilization 5 Brave New World

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

We're staying with strategy games this week, returning to Civilization 5 with its Brave New World expansion. This downloadable content introduces some new leaders and rules that inspire this playlist of metal, jazz, and folk.

September 05, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #71: Crusader Kings 2

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

If you can forgive its glitchy tutorial and throw yourself into its intimidating, complicated simulation of an intimidating and complicated time, Crusader Kings 2 is a dramatic empire-builder. It's the topic of today's thoroughly un-medieval podcast of rap, punk, and doo wop.

September 03, 2013

Shuffled #51: BESTFAVS of 2013 (so far)

Every other Wednesday either Matt or Alex C-Y share their love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as their tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

Hello? Is this thing still on? I guess it's been a while, huh?

Well no matter! If your still sticking around on this podcast, then thank you for supporting us! If this is your first time, then sit back, get comfortable, and welcome to Shuffled!

August 21, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #70: Gone Home

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Gone Home shows how powerful mise en scene can be in video games and uses it to tell a classic teenage love story. It is the seed for this playlist of riot grrrl, lady jazz, woman rock, and even some boy music.

July 24, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #69: Grand Theft Auto 5 trailer

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Cynical statement on the inevitability of sequels or an admission that I haven't played any new games recently? Decide while enjoying this playlist of punk, 60s pop, and dancehall all about the Grand Theft Auto 5 trailer.

July 10, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #68: Spec Ops The Line

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

With Spec Ops: The Line, Yager showed that even military shooters -- typically some of the least thought-provoking games -- can tell stories for grownups. Their Joseph Conrad-inspired game inspires this playlist of rap, country, and post punk.

June 26, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #67: Dirt 3

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

British developer Codemasters' successor to the Colin McRae series of rally games continues the tradition of solo drives along country roads. Those classic events and the newer buggy races and petrol-fueled gymnastics inspire this playlist of blues, hip hop, and rock.

June 15, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #66: Ticket To Ride

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

The German-style board game turned video game inspires a bifurcated playlist -- one part modern rock, spoken word, and IDM and one part rootsy blues, folk, and jazz. But every song is about trains, North America, or trains in North America.

May 29, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #65: Bioshock Infinite

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Earlier this year, Bioshock Infinite brought snappier action and preachier music to the city-exploring series. Its themes of [spoilers] rebirth, parallel worlds, and social injustice inspire this playlist of gospel, folk, and reggae.

May 18, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #64: Tomb Raider

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

The 2013 origin story of Britain's finest videogame hero hit hard. Lara Croft's bumps and bruises inspire this less hard-hitting playlist of rock, jazz, and doo-wop.

May 01, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #63: Portal 2

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

A year ago, They Might Be Giants, the Beastie Boys, William Shatner, and others came together for the Portal episode of Unoriginal Soundtracks. Now, they're back in this Portal 2-inspired playlist about brain damage, experiments, and space.

April 17, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #62: DJ Hero

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Unsurprisingly, the series of plastic-instrument games about turntablism inspires a playlist of hip hop. So enjoy this podcast of MCs rapping about two of their favourite things -- DJs and turntables.

April 03, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #61: Assassin's Creed 3

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Being British, my school didn't teach the American Revolution. I doubt Ubisoft told the story accurately in Assassin's Creed 3, but the subject matter does make for a great playlist of prog, jazz, and sea shanties.

March 20, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #60: SimCity

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

SimCity left the Maxis garage the week before last and is still getting stuck at every red light. Our podcast provider's servers are still running, though, to give you this folky playlist about taxation, transportation, and industrialisation.

March 18, 2013

Shuffled #50: Cover Me, Porkins!

Every other Wednesday either Matt or Alex C-Y share their love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as their tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

What makes a good cover song? People love a standard copy and paste job that stays as close to the original source as can be, while equally as many listeners love it when someone adds a bit of a twist to an old favorite. What ever you fancy, this here 50th edition of the Shuffled Podcast is full of cover songs ranging from very beloved  classics, to some more obscure cuts. Tuck in and enjoy!

March 06, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #59: Thirty Flights Of Loving

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Thirty Flights Of Loving pushes visual storytelling and subtlety further than any other game. It's the exact opposite of Unoriginal Soundtracks, and it inspires this playlist of jazz, grime, and educational rock for children.

March 04, 2013

Update: Daft Punk working on new album for 2013


Back in late January, rumors started to swirl that Daft Punk would be leaving their current record label, EMI, and sign on to Columbia with a new studio album. While the former still hasn't been verified, a very short fifteen second ad aired during Saturday Night Live on NBC this past week. Does this mean a fourth studio album by the electronic duo is upon us? Maybe a re-release of a past album with new tracks? A new tour date? What ever it may be, I think it's time to get this hype space-train a rolling! Read on for a glimpse at the ad.

February 27, 2013

New single from Zorch


From SPIN comes some good news for fans of crazy and eccentric sounds. Zorch, an Austin based psychedelic duo, just dropped a new single this week and have signed on to Los Angeles recording label Sargent House.

'We All Die Young' is the first single to drop from the bands upcoming debut album Zzoorrcchh, which is set for a summer release (though no solid date has been announced yet). The song has a very similar vibe to their early unsigned free single Cosmic Gloss/E.M.F. with some very uplifting lyrics despite the song's title. Sargent House is home to other alternative bands such as Hella, Tera Melos, Boris, and Fang Island, and I can't think of a better home for this up and coming duo. If you dig music that goes off the walls, then hit the jump to hear the new song.

February 23, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #58: Football Manager

Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

Video games are about aspirational fantasy and living new lives. And sometimes those lives are mundane things like an asteroid miner or a manager. The lives of football managers inspire this playlist of spoken word, soul, and punk.

February 19, 2013

Video: SoundStain by Aprons


Occasionally we get a few e-mails in the Cerebral Pop inbox that catch our eyes. In this case it is the new music video from the duo The Aprons. This dream pop team hails from Tel Aviv, and, according to their bandcamp profile, "met while escaping the great avalanche of 1805. Leaving their families of Siberian wolves behind, they embarked on their musical journey."

The music video comes off their debut album, SoundStain (which you can stream in full right here), and has some very solid production backing it up. The vibe of the video reminds me a lot of the movie Snow White and the Huntsman, but honestly, I prefer re-watching this haunted lullaby than the headache inducing mushroom trip of a fairytale retelling.  The video was directed by Liran Goldberg and took a team of 40 animators to create it. Watch the crystallized video after the jump.

February 14, 2013

Shuffled #49: Be My Bloody Valentine?

Every other Wednesday either Matt or Alex C-Y share their love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as their tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

Happy Valentine's Day, even though I'm a tad late! What? You mean to say I'm right on time? No no! I'm not referring to the actual lovers holiday (or Singles Awareness Day if you prefer). I'm talking about the first My Bloody Valentine album release in over two decades. Two weeks ago the band dropped the much anticipated album to a lot of buzz and fanfare that their new website couldn't even hold up to all the traffic.

In celebration of their new release, I put together a quick playlist of tracks that are all part of the shoegaze genre. Check it out after the jump!

February 06, 2013

Desaparecidos release new single and b-side, 'Anonymous' and 'The Left is Right'


Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes and solo-artist fame's rock outfit, Desaparecidos, are putting out two new songs in the form of a seven-inch single. 'Anonymous' -- an ode to the hacker group of the same name -- and 'The Left is Right' -- about the Occupy Movement -- should be available for pre-order on their webstore tomorrow.

This makes four-new songs from the recently-reunited band, following their last single release of MariKKKopa and Backsell. No announcement yet of a proper follow-up to their only full-length, 'Read Music/Speak Spanish, but surely they're building towards that. Right? RIGHT!?

You can listen to both new songs on Rolling Stone's site now, or hit the jump to check out their last two new songs.

Unoriginal Soundtracks #57: Burnout Paradise


Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

DJ Atomika here. I'm playing only the most apropos country, rock, and soul about the driverless vehicles that tear around the eerie ghost town of Paradise City.

February 05, 2013

News: Unreleased Jimi Hendrix music soon to be released


Just so you're caught up on upcoming releases, in exactly one month there will be new and unheard Jimi Hendrix material unleashed upon the music world. For the first time, this "lost" material of a proposed follow up to Electric Ladyland will be released as a posthumous album entitled People, Hell And Angels. While the album is still slated for a March 5th released date in the U.S., there is still no word on when the record will drop in the U.K. or internationally.

This will be the 12th studio album released since Jimi's death in 1970 at the age of 27, and the 4th release under a deal with Legacy Recordings. What is notable about this upcoming release is the supposed deviation from the music style Jimi practiced over his professional career. Those who have listened to the recording has said that he experimented with other sounds beyond his regular staple of guitar, bass, and percussion. People, Hell And Angles is said to use more horns, keyboards, and extra guitars in some of the tracks, and while it wouldn't be the first time he has used different instruments and sounds, any new Hendrix material is worth a listen.

Source - NME, Rolling Stones

February 03, 2013

News: Big D and the Kids Table take to Kickstarter to fund two new records


I've often cited Big D as one of the best ska bands around because of the diversity of their sound. So, what are they to do when they've almost splintered their fan base into two, people who prefer their more ska-punk albums and people who'd rather listen to the evolution of their "stroll" records? Well, make an album for both set of fans, of course!

Rather than try to get funding from a label for two very different sounding albums when they already had to call in favors to get their last album, The Damned, The Dumb, and the Delirious, put out, the bands put up a Kickstarter to try to fund the studio payments.

If you wanna donate, click over here, or hit the jump to listen to some examples of their two sounds.

News: Amoeba Music increases online presence by releasing digital versions of rare and out-of-print vinyl music


The music-lover's Mecca, Amoeba Music, have taken to the Internet with a new site launched in October, reportedly costing them $11 million. Now they've unveiled the "Vinyl Vaults" section of that site, which offers up some very rare and likely forgotten vinyl releases for sale digitally.

"What you see now is the lost-between-the-cracks, underappreciated, undervalued (music) from dead labels, (obscure) artists, stuff that we really stand behind. It's mostly in the rock genre, with a lot of jazz, a lot of blues, some country, some spoken word. There are some oddities for sure." says Owner Jim Henderson.

In a few cases they couldn't find any rights holders to the music, so they decided to put it up anyway and set any money from purchases aside in case someone comes along to claim it. It's a pretty bold decision, and one that would get any other young, upstart site in heaps of trouble, but it's obviously being done for the love of the music.

Start perusing their collection here. They claim 10-15 new releases daily, so there should be plenty to check out. Even if you don't recognize any of the artists (which is very likely) I found some good stuff using their genre categories and the 30-90 second clips available for every item.

Source: Variety

February 01, 2013

News: New video and single from How To Destroy Angels


Surprise! Trent Reznor has been busy! Okay, that shouldn't surprise anyone who's been following the frontman of Nine Inch Nails. Yesterday, the band released a new music video to promote their upcoming full length debut album, Welcome Oblivion.

The video is very dark but interesting take on a dystopian future civilization. Check out the song and video after the jump.

News: Iron & Wine to release new album in April


Iron & Wine announced yesterday that a fifth album has been in the works and will be released this coming April. The album will be called Ghost on Ghost and is produced by long time collaborator Brian Deck.

More information about the album and the first single to drop can be found after the jump.

January 31, 2013

News: The Strokes announce new album, slated for March



The Strokes are set to follow-up their 2011 album, Angles. Set to release on March 26th, Comedown Machine will be their fifth full-length. The official single, 'All The Time', will come out on February 19th, but until then you can get a taste of the album with the track, 'One Way Trigger'. Hit the jump to check it out.

January 29, 2013

Shuffled #48: 2012 in Review

Every other Wednesday either Matt or Alex C-Y share their love of music in an assortment of ways. Shuffled is a podcast whose format is as varied as their tastes in music, so hopefully you won't ever be bored and everyone can find something to enjoy.

"A big year in music" doesn't even begin to describe 2012. Whatever genre you find pleasing, nearly every facet of the music scene had something new to it. Like pop music? There was Kishi Bashi who road a summer pop wave off of SXSW and into Windows 8's heart, or were you more in mind of the Cult of Gangam Style? Did Killer Mike's political rap make your blood boil, or did you prefer the ghastly beats of The Gasslamp Killer?

There was so much to cover that I had to enlist the help of of Shuffled's other host, Alex Cronk-Young. This is by far the longest edition of the show in it's two years of running, and we don't plan on slowing down in 2013!!!*

*Ed. Note:  On schedule updates are another matter entirely.

January 27, 2013

Rumor: Daft Punk working on new album for 2013


While nothing concrete can be found at the moment, a few rumblings in the music community have said that Daft Punk will leave EMI and sign to Columbia soon. Somewhere in all of this, it has also been hinted that the band is working on a new album set for a 2013 release. None of this has been confirmed by either the band or the two record labels.

If the last rumor does turn out to be true, it will be the fourth studio release form the French electronic duo since their 2005 album, Human After All. While only having four studio releases under their belts might seem a little light, the band has put out quite a number of remix and compilation albums in the past (not to mention the best aspect of Tron Legacy). More information to follow if any of the parties involved make an official statement.

Source - Reddit, Zik-Zag

January 24, 2013

News: The Mars Volta break-up


Lead singer of The Mars Volta, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, has announced via Twitter that the band is no more. This is especially sad news for us here at Cerebral Pop as this site might never have existed if it wasn't for TMV. I met several of the other contributors (Josh, Luis, and Kyle) on a street team for the band. When that shut down we stayed in touch on our own forum, and as people slowly stopped visiting that we decided to make a blog together, which became Cerebral Pop.

I'd sort of grown away from Mars Volta in the last handful of years. Their two most recent albums never sunk into me like Deloused in the Comatorium, Frances the Mute, and The Bedlam in Goliath did. Still, I'd list them as one of my favorite bands to this day.

Hit the jump to listen to some of, what I consider to be, the best TMV songs. For old times sake.

January 23, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #56: Alan Wake's American Nightmare


Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

American Nightmare moved Alan Wake from Bright Falls to the desert, but kept him in that eerie shadow-America. Its thrice-repeated structure inspires three podcasts full of rock, blues, and folk.

News: Short Film based on Flying Lotus's album wins Sundance Jury Award


Yesterday the Sundance Film Festival announced the winners today for the Short Film category. Among the recipients was Kahlil Joseph's short film featuring music from 2012's Until the Quiet Comes by Flying Lotus. Of the 65 films nominated, the music video short was awarded the Special Jury Award.

The film explores and interprets themes of life and death of those living in the West Coast hood. The awards ceremony will be held on January, 26 at 7:00 p.m. MT. The event will be hosted by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, which can be streamed by going to www.sundance.org/festival. Congratulations to director Kahlil Joseph, Flying Lotus, and their crews on the award. You can watch the short film in its entirety after the jump, which if you haven't done yet, I highly recommend you do so.

January 22, 2013

Listen: Stream Tomahawk's entire new album Oddfellows


Tomahawk, the metal supergroup(?) formed from Mike Patton's (Mr. Bungle, Faith No More, Fantomas) twisted nightmares is about to release their fourth full-length, titled 'Oddfellows'. The album follows 2007's strange 'Anonymous', which was a collection of arrangements of long-passed down Native American chants and songs.

'Oddfellows' is a more traditional sequel to their debut, self-titled release, or 2003's 'Mit Gas' -- well, as "traditional" as the band can actually be. It's due out in a week, but Spin is streaming it for you right now. They've also got an interview with the band up, if you're interested in that sort of thing.

Hit the jump for the album's namesake single, or click here to hit up Spin's stream/interview.

January 21, 2013

News: The Postal Service making a return...of some kind [UPDATED]


[UPDATE: Billboard has confirmed the reunion will include three Coachella performances, a selection of currently unannounced other tour dates, and a deluxe reissue of their 2003 release, Give Up.]

Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie appears to be resurrecting his short-lived side project, The Postal Service. Not much is known about the extent of the band's return, other than something will be happening this year, as evidenced by the logo now adorning their website (pictured above).

Obviously, fans are hoping this means a new album, though, it could very well be a tour (or, as Spin speculates, a Coachella appearance). February 18th will mark a decade since the release of their first -- and only -- release, so I'm hoping they're planning more than just a Coachella performance. I think most fans will take whatever they can get, though, as many had given up on any sort of reunion at this point.

Source: Reddit, /r/Music

January 09, 2013

Unoriginal Soundtracks #55: Audiosurf


Every other Wednesday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Searching for relevant terms on Spotify is a great way to discover new music and uncover hidden gems. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

This is a podcast about a game about music using music about music. This episode about Audiosurf is full of sweet soul music, boogie music, and good music in general.