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R&B and Soul

SXSW begins!

Today is the first day of South by Southwest 2008! And while many people who aren't in Austin could care less, music lovers and industry folks consider this event the real "March madness." A projected 1,600 bands will be in and out of Austin over the next four days, which will create a seemingly endless wall of sound which begins around noon each day and ends after last call. Yeah, sure it's a lot of fun but if long lines and Mardi Gras-size crowds aren't your thing, you can experience the bands of SXSW … Read more

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, '100 Days, 100 Nights': Free MP3 of the Day

She shares a hometown (Augusta, Georgia) with no less than the Godfather of Soul, and there's a whole bucket of James Brown-style soul sauce in this Brooklyn songstress's bold numbers. A dynamic backing outfit drops deeply funky horns 'n' bass, and Jones's belting growl takes it all to town.

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Animal Collective vs. Stevie Wonder

Getting legal clearance for samples and covers can be a real problem. For samples, if the copyright owner of the sampled song discovers you've used it without permission, they can sue to receive a portion of the proceeds--even if the sample's unrecognizable. Even getting permission doesn't always save you, as the Beastie Boys discovered. An article in a recent issue of SSA explores the issue in detail and concurs with Beck's assessement in 2005 that the legal issues with sampling will basically kill the practice in mainstream commercial music.

Covers generally require permission from the publisher, … Read more

Blind Boys of Alabama, "Free at Last": Free MP3 of the Day

Everyone's favorite sightless Southerners continue their remarkable late-career run with "Down in New Orleans," a record that comes by NoLa love (a common theme these days) honestly and authentically. Helped by Allen Toussaint and local luminaries, the guys offer ideally seasoned gospel harmonies.

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Thriller turns 25

Just when you though it was safe to walk around the graveyard at night, Michael Jackson's Thriller is back to remind us that's not such a good idea. It's about time we reflect on MJ's music (not his personal life) and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the biggest selling album of all time. Legacy Recordings just reissued the CD with shiny new packaging, a bonus DVD, and previously unreleased tracks, such as remixes by and/or with Kanye West, Will.i.am, Fergie, and Akon.

And to add to the big event, Michaeljackson.com is presenting &… Read more

New single: Gnarls Barkley 'Run'

Drum roll, please. America's most intriguing and addictive collaborations to emerge in the last 2 years is back. And, just when we thought we had finally got rid of the song "Crazy" from the brain, now we got "Run" to worry about. The track sounds straight out of the swingin' 60s -- bearing the same kind of excitement as early James Brown or like the peak song in a great musical. Theatrical as it may be, it's still contemporary (yet addicting) thanks to Cee-lo's hefty soul shouts and Danger Mouse forward thinking production style.

Gnarls Barkley new album suitably entitled, The Odd Couple is set for release in April. Check out the new single "Run" plus the classics and mind tripping videos that made this odd couple so hip and love able. … Read more

Crossfade TV: Best of 2007

Later this week we'll post a brand-new Crossfade TV episode, featuring three artists who are already making a big splash in 2008. In the meantime, and before '07 fades entirely into memory, have a look at our end-of-the-season video special highlighting faves from last year's crop, including Spoon, LCD Soundsystem, Kanye West, and Richard Hawley.

Washington Post says it 'incorrectly' reported RIAA story

The Washington Post has backed off a story that erroneously accused the recording industry of trying to criminalize ripping CDs to a computer.

The Post issued a correction Saturday, more than a week after the paper triggered a wave of media coverage by claiming that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) was trying to outlaw the very common practice of copying music from a CD onto a computer or iPod.

"A Dec. 30 Style and Arts column incorrectly said that the recording industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer … Read more