Guardian Music — As anyone who witnessed those YouTube clips of Joaquin Phoenix launching his hip-hop career can attest, white people rapping is a field fraught with pitfalls. Largely, this is because hip-hop is so tied up with African-American identity. Even when do... more info

Stereogum — They're also St. Petersburg, Florida kids Kyle Wyss and Orhan Chettri, who meld together syrupy psychedelic pop abstractions as Blind Man's Colour. The band name, however awkward, is fitting enough: These colors evoked don't match naturally occurring... more info

Stereogum — When posting about WAVVES, aka the one-man project of 22-year-old San Diego-based Nathan Williams, in The Outsiders, I made the caveat that "he seems like he's ready to explode from the starter gate" via two new records -- one upcoming on De Stijl Fa... more info

Popdose — Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009, Domino) purchase this CD (Amazon) The optical illusion cover for Animal Collective’s latest and eighth release, Merriweather Post Pavilion, is more than something fun to look at while under the ... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — Ratatat @ Terminal 5 in September (more by Leia Jospe) Evan Mast, or E*vax, is an electronic music artist. He and his brother E*rock run the Audio Dregs record label. His first album, Parking Lot Music, was released on 04... more info

The Lipster — The clever Animal Collective men have used some proper sick artwork for their new album Merriweather Post Pavilion. And by "sick" we do not mean "wow, amazing" (what do you think we watch, Channel U? Oh). It is making us feel like we want to be sick.... more info

All About Jazz — The 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will take place June 11-14 at The Farm in Manchester, TN featuring: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Phish Beastie Boys Nine Inch Nails David Bryne Wilco Al Green Snoop Dogg Elvis Costell... more info

JamBase — First Album: Dave Portner (Avey Tare) / Animal Collective This is very strange, I would have never brought this up before... but I remember buying a Tiffany single when I was younger, and the song was "It Could Have Been." It was a real emotional... more info

NME — Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, TV on the Radio, Wilco, Al Green, David Byrne, Snoop Dogg, Animal Collective, The Mars Volta and MGMT are among the acts announced to play Bonnaroo this year. more info

NME — Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, TV on the Radio, Wilco, Al Green, David Byrne, Snoop Dogg, Animal Collective, The Mars Volta and MGMT are among the acts announced to play Bonnaroo this year. more info