In the recent weeks, a small grouping of our favorite bands all quietly released new songs to the WWW. All of them fit the sound each respective band has carved out for themselves. Japandroids brings the moody teen-angst fuzz rock, The Radio Dept. go for their warm & soft melodic indie with a political twist, and The Drums do their minimal 50s/60s pop routine. We’re not complaining.

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DOWNLOAD: The Drums – When I Come Home

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DOWNLOAD: The Radio Dept. – The New Improved Hypocrisy

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DOWNLOAD: Japandroids – Heavenword Grand Prix

SPIN recently ran an interview with Handsome-favourite Kid Cudi. The article runs through some of the media coverage Cudi has received in the last year, his loyal fans and some new details of his come-up from Cleavland. Here’s an excerpt:

After leaving Cleveland in 2005, he moved in with his uncle, the accomplished jazz drummer Kalil Madi, in the South Bronx. He had $500, no job, and no friends. He worked at a couple of Manhattan clothing stores, before eventually sharing an apartment with Dot Da Genius in Brooklyn, and the two began developing the Kid Cudi sound: an atmospheric take on melodic rap, with a dollop of charming, off-key singing. In 2006, while Plain Pat was an A&R at Def Jam, a producer brought Cudi up to the office. They played music and Pat quietly nodded his head. No deal was consummated, but they kept in touch.

Read the whole article here.

Leading up to the slated November release of Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, here’s a few tracks off the G.O.O.D. Ass Mixtape.. They’re those great type of tracks that make you simply appreciate that the artist is making music and getting it out.

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DOWNLOAD: Kid Cudi – Mr. Rager

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DOWNLOAD: Kid Cudi + Kanye West – Wylin Cause I’m Young

Also, continue reading to check out an interview Kreemo put together with Cudi talking about Bape, Kanye, Jay-Z and taking chances in life.

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We recently came across this phenomenal pair of gloves from Rick Owens. They’re everything one would want in a pair of winter gloves – black, full of details, soft leather and they have grip for cold weather steering.

At this point, you’re probably sold on the acquisition. What really impressed us was their added functionality. The top of the index finger and thumb have been skipped so that you can use your iPhone without having to take them off during the colder months.

They’re available at Sydney’s.

Additional view ahead.

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This one is for all the DJs out there that need something a little more mainstream to get the dancefloor on their side.

Tronik Youth takes Arcade Fire‘s strongest song from The Suburbs and turns the whole thing up a notch by adding some bongos, drums, hand claps, and then loops it for all it’s worth. A simple yet effective edit that should appeal to home listeners as well as the dancers of the world.

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DOWNLOAD: Arcade Fire – We Used to Wait (Tronik Youth Patience Edit)

BONUS: The original is beautiful and after playing with their interactive music video for the song (http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/), I can’t hear it without imagining myself running around the streets I grew up on in Toronto.

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DOWNLOAD: Arcade Fire – We Used to Wait (via: whale in a cubicle)

Duluth Pack and Barneys New York have gotten together on this wool utility pack. The classic shape and function of Duluth Pack is combined with an excellent material and colour choice from Barneys New York. This is a great bag that comes with the peace of mind that only a heritage brand founded in the early 1800s can provide.

You can grab your this season at Barneys New York for $345.

We’re really feeling Major Lazer‘s latest remix of Cajmere’s “Percolator”. We could do with less “Major Lazer” plugs sprinkled throughout the mix, but it’s hard to deny the bubbly bounciness of the minimalistic african/island rhythms. This song is just as much about what is not there as what is. It’s kind of like DJ Mujava’s “Township Funk” in that way.

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DOWNLOAD: Cajmere – Percolator (Major Lazer Percumajor Remix)

BONUS: We also came across a great mix by Nick Catchdubs that uses the above remix as well as a multitude of other crowd pleasers. Tracklist after the jump

Nick Catchdubs – Round’n Round’n Round’n Round’n Round’n

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Complex Magazine published a recent interview with Lupe Fiasco. It’s a pretty heavy and telling interview. It sheds light on what he has been up to recently, and why an album hasn’t come out yet. Did you know he has two full albums recorded, which are sitting with his record label indefinitely?

Lupe Fiasco: To be 100% honest, if (Lasers) comes out, it comes out, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. It’s not going to affect me either way. That doesn’t mean I don’t like hip-hop, that don’t mean I don’t want to be a rapper. It just means that I know what everybody else doesn’t know about that album. I know the dark side of that album. Nobody else knows the story. It’s a dark, deep, twisted, nasty story that people lost their jobs for.

Read the full interview here.

You’re probably thinking something along the lines of, “How old is this song and why is Handsome posting this?”

Despite the original being over a year old, this Danger remix is actually brand new. Now as to why we are posting it… well… that’s because Danger is one of the most exciting electro producers today. Not content to simply churn out dancefloor hits, the masked Frenchman has yet again slowed the tempo down to create a distinctly Danger-esque atmosphere (similar to his Acid Wash remix we posted earlier this week).

It’s truly a testament to this man’s talent that he can take a rather dated song and make us enjoy it all over again. Hopefully you will too.

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DOWNLOAD: La Roux – In For The Kill (Danger Ocean Remix)

Until yesterday, I was on the fence when it came to fanship for Vampire Weekend. I had the albums, but never fully dived into them; hesitating through all the hype that surrounded the band. After catching their live set, it’s apparent that the hype is merited.

Respect was immediate as the band came out to a blaring intro of DJ Khaled’s All I Do Is Win. The band seemed bashful thanking the crowd’s applause with shy waves. After enthusing the crowd more with Holiday, front-man Ezra Koenig showed some mind-blowing vocal range busting out the chorus of White Sky.

The band did a great job through high energy tracks, amicable banter and a sharp dress-code of button-ups and tapered jeans.

Also awesome on the bill were Beach House. The duo had a couple of additional members for their live set. Dressed in all black, the band put on an intimate set that seemed more appropriate for a family room than The Amphitheater. Alex Scally choosing to play his electric guitar sitting down for majority of the show, set the tone for the relaxed artists accompanied by a crowd singing along.

Overall, the concert was solid and both bands exceeded our expectations. They’re hard work on stage now keeps us as fans. Here’s a few tracks from Beach House to enjoy and build your fanship.

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DOWNLOAD: Beach House – Zebra (Ring Trick Remix)

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DOWNLOAD: Beach House – Silver Soul

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DOWNLOAD: Beach House – Lover Of Mine