The latest cover (most covered song of the year, by far) of GOTYE’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” comes from FUN. and Hayley Williams of PARAMORE. It was recorded for BBC Radio and the audio can be heard below. From the information we’ve found online, Williams contributed her parts via Skype and was not actually in the studio with the rest of the band.

For free streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com

The 5th annual Record Store Day is tomorrow, and we’re excited about it. There’s nothing better than supporting independent record stores while getting your hands on new vinyl. In honor of the holiday, we put together a list of 10 RSD exclusives that we’re especially excited about. What’s on your top 10 list?

1. THE RECEIVING END OF SIRENS - Songs/2003 7”
These two songs are from an early version of the band, including their original vocalist. This is the first time these tracks will be made available and is limited to only 500 copies.  

2. MASTODON/FEIST - Feistodon 7” Split
Probably the strangest combination on RSD. Feist covers Mastodon’s “Black Tongue,” and Mastodon covers Feist’s “Commotion.” 

3. ANBERLIN - Never Take Friendships Personal 12” AND Blueprints for the Black Market 2x12”
This is the first time that either of these albums will be available on vinyl. For those looking to complete their Anberlin record collections, these are must-haves.

4. REFUSED - The Shape of Punk to Come 2x12”
If you don’t already have this album, you should. This influential album is still relevant 14 years after its original release. This version includes a poster and, from what we’ve heard, a copy of their DVD, Refused is F*cking Dead.  

5. FUN. - The Ghost That You Are to Me 10” Die-Cut (Gear Shaped)
This band is quickly blowing up and this record will be a crucial addition to your collection. If nothing else, the actual record is gear-shaped. I’m a sucker for cool things like that. (see also: Neon Trees’ heart-shaped 7”) 

6. MINUS THE BEAR - Your Private Sky 7”
While we (im)patiently await Minus the Bear’s next full-length album, this 7” provides two unreleased B-sides from their last great record, OMNI. 

7. THE FLAMING LIPS - The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends 2x12”
This band is known for having unique releases. A limited amount of these will contain the blood from the collaborating artists. How’s that for unique? That limited version is not as likely to make it to your hands, but at the very least it contains music with guests including Bon Iver, Nick Cave, Yoko Ono, Ke$ha and more. 

8. THE BRONX/MARIACHI EL BRONX - Live Split 12”
Whether you like hardcore punk or mariachi music, this is the record for you. Both versions of The/El Bronx are incredible performers, and this live split will have no trouble proving it. 

9. ††† - Option/Telepathy 7”
Get to know Crosses, the new project from Deftones’ Chino Moreno, and Far’s Shaun Lopez and Chuck Doom. Also, if you’re in the Los Angeles area on Saturday, catch the group’s DJ set at Amoeba Music at 3 p.m.

10. JACK WHITE - Sixteen Saltines on LIQUID VINYL
Here’s the good news: This version of “Sixteen Saltines” is on a record that is filled with blue liquid. It looks amazing and would be an incredible addition to your vinyl collection. Here’s the bad news: Not only will this record cost $100 (fair, given this new/original concept/technology), but it will only be available at the Third Man Records shop in Nashville, TN.If any readers will be in the area on Saturday, please pick one up for us.

For free streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com 

The lineup for this year’s Outside Lands Festival is announced and can be found below. The event will be held August 10-12 in San Francisco. Buy tickets here on Thursday.

For free streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com

Stevie Wonder, Metallica, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Jack White, Foo Fighters, Beck, Skrillex, Sigur Ros, Justice, Norah Jones, Dispatch, The Kills, Regina Spektor, Passion Pit, Andrew Bird, Grandaddy, Big Boi, Bloc Party, Explosions In The Sky, Franz Ferdinand, Mstrkrft, Rebelution, Die Antwoord, Fitz and The Tantrums, Portugal. The Man, Amadou & Mariam, Wolfgang Gartner, Fun., Dr. Dog, The Walkmen, Washed Out, City and Colour, Two Gallants, Of Monsters and Men, Mimosa, Alabama Shakes, Reggie Watts, Trampled By Turtles, Tame Impala, Jovanotti, The Be Good Tanyas, Geographer 
Sharon Van Etten, Yacht, Sean Hayes, Bomba Estereo, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Big Gigantic, Thee Oh Sees, Wallpaper, Tennis, Zola Jesus, White Denim, Allen Stone, The M Machine, Michael Kiwanuka, Tanlines, Father John Misty, Electric Guest, Caveman, Yellow Ostrich, Papa, Honey Island Swamp Band, Animal Kingdom

Rumor has it that the Lollapalooza lineup leaked early and can be found below. This year’s festival will take place in Chicago from August 3 to 5. The official lineup announcement will be made on April 11.

For free streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com

Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Black Keys

Black Sabbath

Jack White

Florence + The Machine

At the Drive-In

Avicii

The Shins

Justice

Passion Pit

Sigur Ros

The Weeknd

M83

Miike Snow

The Afghan Whigs

Bloc Party

Franz Ferdinand

Frank Ocean

J. Cole

Childish Gambino

Delta Spirit

Metric

The Temper Trap

Wale

Die Antwoord

Dawes

tUnE-yArDs

The Head & The Heart

The Big Pink

Twin Shadow

The Tallest Man on Earth

Toro y Moi

Dr Dog

Of Monsters and Men

Gary Clark Jr

Alabama Shakes

The Gaslight Anthem

Amadou & Mariam

Band of Skulls

SBTRKT

Tame Impala

The Walkmen

JJ Grey & Motro

FUN.

Neon Indian

Dum Dum Girls

Washed Out

Aloe Blacc

Trumpled by Turtles

Bear in Heaven

Blind Pilot

Chairlift

The Black Angels

Yellow Ostrich

GIVERS

Polica

Bombay Bicicle Club

Sharon Van Etten

White Rabbits

Doomtree

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

The Devil Makes Three

Oberhofer

The War on Drugs

Michael Kiwanuka

O Rappa

Bowerbirds

Orchard Lounge

Mona

The Growlers

Hey Rosetta!

JEFF the Brotherhood

Anamanaguchi

First Aid Kit

PIDLAR

Way

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound

Milo Greene

Los Jaivas

Kopecky Family Band

The Jezabels

LP

Yuna

Walk Of the Earth

Animal Kingdom

Dev

The Sheepdogs

The Dunwells

DJ Mel

Empires

Dry the River

Helena

Haley Reinhart

Imaginary Cities

Overdoz

Ambassadors

DJ Zebo

Chacello Warhol

Laura Warshauer

Red Oblivion

Bassnectar

Kaskade

Calvin Harris

NERO

Santigold

Knife Party

Zeds Dead

Big Gigantic

Skream & Benga

Little Dragon

Porter Robinson

Sub Focus

Madeon

Zedd

Paper-Diamond

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinossaurs

Star Slinger

DJ Nihal

The White Panda

SALVA

Kid Color

Last night, FUN. played their popular single, “We Are Young,” on Conan. Footage from the performance can be found below. Fun.’s new album, Some Nights, is available now.

For free streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com

Some highly buzzed-about artists are releasing new music today. What do you think of the newest records of the week? See our list below.

For free streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com 

FUN. - Some Nights (buy)

NO TRIGGER - Tycoon (buy)

SLEIGH BELLS - Reign of Terror (buy)

CURSIVE - I Am Gemini (buy)

THE MENZINGERS - On the Impossible Past (buy)

CHEAP GIRLS - Giant Orange (buy)

I’ve been following Nate Ruess’ career since THE FORMAT blew me away with Interventions and Lullabies in 2003. From one project to the next fans have experienced changes in sound and band members, and in a way, grew up alongside him. Any real consistency came from the witty, honest, sometimes brash lyrical style. This time around Ruess pushed his voice to points of urgency I’ve certainly never heard before, at least not on this scale (though “Be Calm” may be close). Some Nights is much more electronic and sonically diverse than Aim and Ignite was so it may take a minute for some to digest, but stick with it. One listen is all it takes.

The theatrical “Some Nights Intro” is something very few bands could successfully orchestrate. It leads nicely into “Some Nights”, which just about everyone should be able to relate to on some level. Its theme is universal without falling into cliche territory. New found hip hop influences surface throughout the album, but can be heard most readily in tracks such as “All Alone” and “Carry On”.

“It Gets Better” is what my father would call the “red headed step child” of the album. It’s the most electronic song of their entire catalogue, and on its own would feel out of place. While the chorus can get repetitive, it’s also interesting enough to keep you from hitting the skip button. It will never be a single, but its place in the track list keeps the album fresh and diverse. “One Foot” is a near perfect song. It’s the type you’ll need to listen to for yourself to truly understand, but the call and response style moments are worth mentioning. It shows that, despite the catchiness and snappy lyrics, this album is an intimate look into Ruess’ life.

If you weren’t convinced yet that Ruess and multi-instrumentalists Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost were artists, then “Stars” is all you’ll need to hear. It’s almost seven minutes of colorful moments (sometimes bordering on lush) that make you pause and ask, “did they really just make that work?” The “bar lights and pretty girls” reference will bring a smile to those listening carefully.

As a whole, Some Nights is one of the most detail oriented albums I’ve heard. The production is fantastic. The use of vocoder is used effectively as an effect, not a crutch. I can’t say there’s many other bands who could pull off a project quite like this. These guys deserve all of the success this benchmark album will hopefully grant them. Stream it here: http://www.ournameisfun.com/

RIYL: An RIYL is unnecessary for this album. If you claim to like music, you should listen to this album.

Written by: Alisha Kirby

For free streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com 

FUN. will be releasing their new album, Some Nights, on February 21. If you’re feeling impatient though, the entire record is streaming online now. Listen to it below.

For free streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com

Fun. - Some Nights by Fueled By Ramen

There’s always a sort of musical dry spell that happens during the beginning of every new year, where next to nothing is released, and I end up getting ample time to just rediscover things in my music library. This time around I started to notice how many albums either didn’t get the love they deserved at all, or were “critically acclaimed” while being pushed under the rug by listeners. I’ve picked an album for each year from 2001-2010 that I’m recommending you get into before the onslaught of everything great that’s coming out in 2012.

2006: The Format - Dog Problems

The Format has a bit of a cult following. There’s fans of every breath these guys take, and then there’s those who only know about Fun. - the band that formed after The Format broke up - because they recently had a song on Glee. I find this unacceptable, and that’s why this album is on the list. This band should be the poster child of witty, sometimes snarky lyrics, and musical growth that comes in leaps and bounds. Nothing I write will bring this album justice, but my only goal is to get you to listen to them for yourself. If you enjoy poetry, humor, and intricate instruments tied seamlessly together, then keep reading.

The instantly addictive “She Doesn’t Get It” boasts not only a knack for clever social commentary, but also an impressive Duran Duran reference. “Oceans” and “The Compromise” have some of the best choruses (though they’re all spectacular), and tracks like “Snails” and “Inches and Failing” are engaging, heartfelt numbers. Still, the best track is easily the title track. “Dog Problems” is the perfect song that winds in and out of different tones and moods through varying instruments, and a chorus-less format. In fact, Dog Problems as an album is a near perfect creation, and there’s nothing else that can really be said, as it speaks for itself.

RIYL: Fun., awesome music

2007: Dropout Year - Best Friends for Never EP

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Dropout Year, and I like to think that it boils down to the fact that when they write a song, it’s obvious that it’s straight from the heart. No gimmicks - just solid tunes, plain and simple. When the result is gut wrenching one liners like “as we tried to say goodbye, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room/but then again, it was just me and you” (“A Coming of Age Story”), you can’t go wrong. Not to mention that by this time their songwriting had changed tones from angry and bitter (though some of it is still present) to forgiving.

“Confetti” is a new spin on the cliche story of people spreading rumors in high school, and is written in a way that you don’t get bored listening to the same old story. Then enter one of the better acoustic love song of sorts, “Biggest Fan”, with it’s swelling strings, massive build up, and tear jerking lyrics. It’s the kind of combination you really can’t go wrong with. “Best Friends for Never” is the angriest track on the EP, and has an older Dropout Year feel. Between the hook and the half uplifting, half bitter lyrics, this is arguably the best song on the EP, and it makes you want to just keep hitting repeat.

RIYL: Hometown Anthem, Yellowcard, I Call Fives

Written by: Alisha Kirby

For free streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com

Fun. will be releasing their next album, Some Nights, on February 21. Preorders in both physical and digital editions are now available online here. 

Listen to one of Fun.’s new tracks, “We Are Young, ft. Janelle Monae,” below.

For free streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com