The year is barely half old, but that didn’t stop SPIN Magazine from coming up with their “Best 20 Albums of 2009 … So Far”.  It may be a little premature, but already includes new artists, Ida Maria and recently discovered Glasvegas, as well as artists we’ve been waiting to hear from again, Regina Spektor, Wilco, and more.  Check out the fancy slideshow accompanied with reviews over at SPIN.

Our friends over at Moderne are getting ready for the summer with the new Tyler Rose swimsuit line for 2009.  They kicked off their new line with a fashion show in San Diego, CA this past weekend.  With styles ranging from everything 80’s to the latest styles, will keep you looking hot poolside.  Their swimwear was last featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2009.   Don’t get caught with your clothes on, check out all your summer needs at Moderne.

Help save Paste Magazine and receive rare and exclusive music from over 100+ artists.  Paste Magazine has provided it’s readers with news on emerging bands and been in the forefront of independent music journalism.  Magazines have not been safe from the global recession and Paste has asked it’s readers for any possible donation they can muster.  Artists include The Decemberists, Neko Case, She & Him, Cowboy Junkies, Of Montreal, Indigo Girls, Jayhawks, String Cheese Incident, G. Love, Josh Rouse, The Hives, Matthew Sweet, The Avett Brothers, Joe Henry, John Roderick of The Long Winters, Over the Rhine, Bob Mould, Arrested Development, Brandi Carlile, John Doe, Josh Ritter, Marc Broussard and more.  If you ever wanted to be in the loop and up to date with the newest artists, keep Paste alive.

Danger Mouse along with Sparklehorse is releasing a new album, and it possibly could contain a blank CD.  Due to a dispute with EMI, the album will come as a blank, recordable CD-R and will be clearly labeled, “For legal reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.”  But fret not, that’s not all you will get.  Famed director David Lynch has compiled a book of his photographs that will be packaged with the album.  Dark Night features a collaboration of artists including James Mercer of The Shins, The Flaming Lips, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, Frank Black of the Pixies, Iggy Pop, Nina Persson of The Cardigans, Suzanne Vega, Vic Chesnutt, David Lynch, and Scott Spillane of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Gerbils.

The album is currently available over at NPR for streaming.  Here’s to hoping the album actually gets released so we can put the blank CD-R to use.

Watch art, music, and fashion combine at the 3rd annual Billabong Design for Humanity event.  On June 17th, at the Avalon/Bardot in Hollywood, this one night event will feature an art and auction show followed by a Billabong bikini show and finishing off with a performance by two live bands.  The headlining band yet to be announced will be opened by up and comers Iglu and Hartly.

The cause, Charity: Water, a non profit organization providing safe and clean drinking water to developing nations around the world.  Make a difference by participating in this one time event featuring live bands, art, and a fashion runway.

The latest exhibit at the Crewest Gallery offers  enthusiasts an alternate look into the world of recycled art.  CANceptual [v.3], under the mantra “Recycle your spray cans… make some art… save the Earth”,  offers a unique take on street art by making art out of aerosal spray cans itself.  This is the third installment of the series featuring new as well as established artists.  Artists include, DCYPHER, HASTE, Ruthie Pie, Shark Toof, Sherm, Skyler Gonzalez, SMEAR, Sophia Gasparian, Stacy White, TEEL ONE, Thomas J. Schaeffer (the Messenger), Travis Moore, Vanessa Hampton, Yuki, and many others.

Located in a trendy gallery row in historic downtown LA, Crewest Gallery offers exhibits for the non-conventional and displays a wide range of mediums from graffiti to digital art and paint to sculpture.  CANceptual [v.3] will be ongoing until May 31st.

Crewest Gallery
110 Winston St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Coachella has ended once again this year and here’s your chance to relive all those moments.  Even if you missed out on one the year’s biggest festivals and the best bands, you can see some of the highlights here.

Think YouTube for all things art.  ArtBabble.com makes its debut online serving videos to the public in the world of art.  Not getting lost among the latest YouTube stars, viral ads, and the thousands of other videos posted every day, ArtBabble gets it’s content from institutions including the New York Public Library, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.  Looking to be the “the destination for art content online”, the site also boasts high definition for a majority of it’s videos.  If you’re looking to experience more than just the latest funny online video, go check out ArtBabble.

Can’t make the SXSW festival this year?  No worries, songs from all the artists participating in this years festival is available for download off BitTorrent.  6GB of DRM free, RIAA safe mp3’s showcase this year’s lineup.  The SXSW festival will take place from March 18 to 22nd in Austin, Texas.  It’s not too late to check out the free music from all the past festivals either.  Thousands of free mp3’s for you iPod without RIAA keeping their eye on you.

In stranger than fiction news, The Roots has been slated to become the house band when Jimmy Fallon hits the air on March 2nd.  First, stated in an online video which was quickly taken off the air, ?uestlove remarked on his old age and their band’s desire to find a steady gig.  The announcement was further confirmed by Jimmy Fallon on his blog.  The band – most in their late 30s – are looking forward to living like “normal men,” as ?uestlove says.  Although not a complete announcement of retirement, The Roots, known for their extensive touring, will definitely be putting their road show on hiatus.