The New Limb

 OC-bred indie pop darlings, The New Limb, are kicking off the New Year right with a brand new single. Entitled "Blood Lust," the track's message couldn't be further from its title. The quintet--now based in L.A.-- premiered the song on PureVolume earlier today and vocalist Joey Chavez explained to the publication that "This is a song about having an intense lust for goodness--like if James Dean had done what Mother Theresa did instead of acting, it would have been cool and sexy as well as beautiful."

But though the track's title is deceiving, the description is dead-on. Beginning with soaring synths and dreamy guitar riffs, Chavez's airy vocals float effortlessly atop the instrumentation as he and keyboardist/vocalist Lauren Salamone harmonize in beautiful falsetto, "It's in our blood, it's how you carry each and everyone in your arms," creating a smooth, sexy soundscape. The single comes as a celebratory offering in conjunction with a short, West Coast tour that the group kicks off tomorrow at Los Globos with Steelwells, Rumour and The Union Line before winding its way up to the Pacific Northwest and snaking back down California.

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​While MTV was dropping Jersey Shore's Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi from a ridiculous ball on New Year's Eve, musical provocateur M.I.A. ended 2010 by subversively releasing an audacious and free mixtape titled ViCKi LEEKX. Making good on a promise to her fans, the rapper/singer unleashed the 36-minute piece of audio fury online to those who entered a valid e-mail address on the mixtape's website. Inspired by Wikileaks--the nonprofit media organization that has published embassy cables and war diaries much to the disdain of government officials, bankers and others caught up in the wikipanic--ViCKi LEEKX opens with the salvo, "We choose the right format; we leak the information to the public. And we defend ourselves against inevitable legal and political attacks."
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ziggymarley.com

​Following the 2009 release of his children's album "Family Time," reggae musician Ziggy Marley is making music "wild and free" these days. A new series of singles randomly composed by the singer-guitarist are being released on his website as mp3 downloads with absolutely no cost to interested fans.

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Chad Sengstock/OC Weekly

​Snoop Dogg can't be too sad about losing a cause near and dear to his heart; even if Prop. 19 didn't pass, he still has the release of his eleventh studio album, Doggumentary Music, to look forward to.

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What's up with Young the Giant, you ask? The band formerly known as the Jakes are performing at the Detroit Bar three Wednesdays this August. That would be August 4, 11 and 18, with The New Limb, Melanoid, The Steelwells and more.

They're also offering up the song, "My Body," for free. Download it now by sharing it on Twitter and Facebook, or subscribing via email!
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www.myspace.com/sweatergirls

The Sweater Girls will perform live at LBMA tonight

​LA Record's Chris Ziegler is deejaying the Long Beach Museum of Art's After Dark series tonight, and he made an art mix that you can download here. There are some gems in there--Mission of Burma's "Max Ernst," about the Dadaist purveyor (and cleverly incorporates the movement in its lyrics); there's Modern Lovers' "Girlfriend" (hey, love is more important than art?); and rarities such as the Embarrassment's "Hip And Well Read."

There will also be live music from post-rock improvisationalists Tiger Tank Euphoria, lo-fi popsters Sweater Girls, and Miniature Houses.

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Music blog Wild Tonic has given OC its fair share of love; there are regular posts on the New Limb, Steelwells the Growlers and more. Today, it posted a mix tape of "its most-played tracks from June."

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