Thursday Bears: Shahs cover Modern Lovers

The Modern Lovers' single "Pablo Picasso" off the band's landmark 1976 post-punk eponymous debut was more of an off-kilter diatribe what is it and was to be an asshole, and how Picasso probably wasn't one. Minneapolis native's Shahs cover it not so much a cover but a spurning, looping, rhythmic variation of the original.

The song, featured on the group's John Cale based GUTS EP, was released October 3.

Shahs - Pablo Picasso - MP3

Wednesday Bears: Flaming Lips bring "Planets" to Conan

A day before the scheduled release of The Flaming Lips upcoming 12th studio album, Embryonic, the Oklahoma legends brought their alternative psyche waves to the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien stage to perform the abrasively noisy and adventurous "Watching the Planets."

Considering the Tonight Show is still in it's, well, embryonic stage, seeing a show so invigorating and energetic can be considered nothing more than a delightful change of pace, especially for those who decide to trudge right through The Jay Leno Show before. Much appreciated.

The Flaming Lips - Watching the Planets (Live on Conan)

Tuesday Bears: Grizzly Bear and Victoria Legrand on Conan

Last night Grizzly Bear pretty much completed the late night cycle, hitting the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien stage alongside Beach House member Victoria Grand to perform Veckatimest standout "Two Weeks."

So far, every performance from this group has been near to or just dead on, like when they premiered "Two Weeks" over a year ago on the Late Show with David Letterman stage and last May's performance of the song on Later... With Jools Holland.

In other Grizzly news, the band also released the deluxe edition of Veckatimest that includes seven extra live sessions. Get it, or don't.

Grizzly Bear (ft. Victoria Grand) - Two Weeks (Live on Conan)

Monday Bears: New Moon soundtrack is good, self-confliction

Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series is unmistakably the most popular fad (hopefully) coming out of teenage female (or for that matter all female) culture these days. The books and movies are harrowingly stupid and vapid, which some how makes complete sense to why teenagers are obsessing over it. We all know this and we all know I'm not one to ever write about Twilight, but the soundtrack for the upcoming sequel New Moon is, well, good.

The film features original works ranging from Grizzly Bear to Thom Yorke to Muse, confusing me and other music fans dearly. While it is exciting to hear new music from the likes of Yorke, only hearing through means of terribly constructing and culturally flattening films like New Moon seems like the worst way. Still, for those who value the music for what it is and not what it is attached to, ignoring new work from these artists may be worse than actually seeing the film. Maybe.

The Summit Entertainment produced New Moon is set for release November 20 with the soundtrack scheduled for release next Tuesday, October 20. And if you're wondering if the music will catch on with the kids. Yes, it will. Sigh.

Death Cab for Cutie - Meet Me on the Equinox - MP3

Thom Yorke - Hearing Damage - MP3

Grizzly Bear - Slow Life - MP3

MP3's Courtesy of Pop Tarts Suck Toasted