Tonight in Seattle:  

Cool Kids

"08/09" from XL promises stellar year in releases

From M.I.A's "Kala" to Radiohead's "In Rainbows" and every musical tidbit in between, XL Recordings has released a cavalcade of music in the last year or so. Obviously, they're real darn excited over at XL, because they've put out a compilation, "08/09", of tracks they've been tinkering with and some they are prepping for release later this year.

Highlights include the oft-overplayed (hello KEXP) Peter Gabriel/Hot Chip collab, who render Vampire Weekend's "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" into a much more enjoyable form than it's original, and the surprising soulfulness of the Raconteurs "Many Shades of Black" with Adele at the vocal helm. Damon Albarn's new endeavour with Jamie Hewlett, Monkey, also has a track on this comp. "Heavenly Peach Banquet" is surprisingly delicate and enchanting, like an emotionally stable Coco Rosie or a more youthful, playful Air.

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Latest comment by: Nicolas: "Fantastic. New Damon Albarn! AND it's based around my most favorite story ever."

M.I.A. and Cool Kids photo essay

Photos by Kyle Johnson

at Showbox Sodo

A sold out SODO crowd experienced all that is the amazing live M.I.A production.

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Latest comment by: imaginary dana: "Kyle, these photos are incredible!"