KCRW TOP 50 FOR WEEK OF 03/29/2010
1 BROKEN BELLS == Broken Bells >> [Sony]
2 GORILLAZ == Plastic Beach >> [Virgin]
3 BONOBO == Black Sands >> [Ninja Tune]
4 SHE & HIM == Volume 2 >> [Merge]
5 ROGUE WAVE == Permalight >> [Brushfire]
6 XX == Xx >> [Xl]
7 LOCAL NATIVES == Gorilla Manor >> [Frenchkiss]
8 SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA == Rising Sun >> [Strut Records]
9 GROOVE ARMADA == Black Light >> [Om]
10 LOW ANTHEM == Oh My God Charlie Darwin >> [Nonesuch]
11 GONJASUFI == Sufi & A Killer >> [Warp]
12 CODEINE VELVET CLUB == …

It is no secret to anyone at KCRW – or anyone who knows me – that I’m a huge fan of the Local Natives. I saw them at the Silverlake Lounge over a year ago and, before I knew it, they were a huge success. They toured overseas, got signed in the UK, and are now on the road nonstop behind their debut U.S. release “Gorilla Manor.” Half of the record was written at a home they dubbed Gorilla Manor – “where a bunch of animals were trying to be …

Rosanne Cash’s new EP, “Motherless Children,”will include a live version of “Sea of Heartbreak” recorded in KCRW’s studios during Morning Becomes Eclectic. The Hal David and Paul Hampton classic has been recorded by many, including her father Johnny Cash. Rosanne’s version, which features Bruce Springsteen on the record, was nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award for “Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.”
As a young woman, Rosanne told her father she wanted to play country music and he put together a list of 100 essential songs for her to listen to. …

KCRW DJ Aaron Byrd:
I just call him The Man, but his momma calls him José James, so I guess you should too. He was born in Minneapolis, lived in New York for a while and now resides in London. Since his arrival on the international scene in 2008, vocalist James has consistently dazzled critics and audiences alike with his rich baritone voice and his deft combination of soul, hip-hop and jazz.

Some people call him the voice of our generation. Others describe him as the one who will rescue jazz from …

The next event in the First Fridays series at the Natural History Museum features a night of soul and funk by two fantastic local bands. Check out Breakestra and Fitz and the Tantrums this Friday, April 2. Also, if you’re curious about the peculiar patterns of Southern California’s mountains, valleys, and coastlines, you can hear about how they were formed — one earthquake at a time — during a pre-show discussion at 6:30pm.
If you can’t make it in person, you can watch the performances live via webcast on KCRW.com …

French electronica duo Air have been touring behind their new album “Love 2″ and returned to Morning Becomes Eclectic following a sold out show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. They performed older favorites like “Sexy Boy” as well as new material like “Do the Joy” and “Missing the Light of the Day.”
Enjoy the full performance here
RR

When Sigur Rós frontman Jón Thor Birgisson embarked on putting together “Go,” his first solo album, he envisioned a record that would provide a home for some of the songs he’d written over the years that were never quite right for the band.  Jónsi originally imagined it would be a quiet, acoustic album but the final collection of songs is anything but.   It’s a surprisingly celebratory record.  Jónsi’s trademark vocals still drive the compositions, creating a familiar cinematic feel, but new themes bubble up throughout the music as he …

Upcoming Live Performances on MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC with host JASON BENTLEY
Monday, March 29, The French duo Air return to KCRW studios after a highly anticipated evening at Walt Disney Concert Hall to perform songs from their latest release “Love 2″ on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.
Wednesday, March 31, Silverlake’s Local Natives have caught the ears of many KCRW deejays with their catchy harmonies and muscular arrangements. They’ll join Morning Becomes Eclectic in the 11 o’clock hour for a live session before heading out to Coachella.
Thursday, April 1, Field …

Floria Sigismondi conquered the world of music videos (Sigur Ros, White Stripes) before writing and directing her first feature film, “The Runaways.” In her Guest DJ set, she shares the “raw power” of her club-hopping youth, the song that introduced her to her husband, as well as a track that was a video director’s dream – a “clean palette” for her creativity.
The way she describes her creative process – and how music influences it – is fascinating. Definitely worth a listen. It’s only 10 minutes long and available streaming, for …