Bandwidth’s Friday roundup of local and not-so-local music news.
Kendrick Lamar‘s new record To Pimp A Butterfly is out earlier than expected and blowing critics’ minds. [New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, New Yorker, MTV]
It’s also breaking Spotify records. [Fader]
Lamar: “I’m the closest thing to a preacher that they have.” [New York Times]
The battle over Pharrell Williams‘ and Robin Thicke‘s “Blurred Lines” isn’t ending anytime soon. [Billboard]
The Marvin Gaye family releases a statement about “Blurred Lines,” saying, “Like most artists, they could have licensed and secured the song for appropriate usage. This did not happen.” [Rolling Stone]
Streaming music sales topped CD sales for the first time this year. [New York Times]
Azealia Banks (briefly) opens up about an abusive relationship with an older man in her excellent new interview with Playboy. (She also posed nude, but anyway.) This link is SFW. [Playboy]
Georgetown alum Ameriie (formerly Amerie) reunites with big time local producer Rich Harrison on a new single, “Out Loud.” [Hypetrak]
This Tumblr just shows pictures of women with their music gear. [L.A. Weekly]
Viet Cong: “We now better understand the weight behind the words Viet Cong.” [Pitchfork]
Record Store Day defends itself against the latest trickle of criticism. [Vinyl Factory]
A$Ap Yams‘ cause of death determined. [New York Times]
Teen metal band and viral sensation Unlocking the Truth already appears to be wrestling with the music industry. [Billboard]
Local stars Visto and Pinky KillaCorn have a new radio-ready single, “What Hippie What.” [Washington City Paper]
The Brazilian bus magnate with a 5 million-strong vinyl collection plans to turn it into a digital archive. [BBC]
U Street Music Hall co-owner Will Eastman discusses leaving his Smithsonian job for a career in the music biz. [D.C. Music Download]
D.C.’s Beauty Pill, back with a new album, is doing another residency at Artisphere. [Washington City Paper]
These songs all pass a Bechdel test for music. [Pitchfork]
GoldLink delivers a solid Boiler Room set at PS1. [Pigeons and Planes]
Dissecting the style of Prinze George singer Naomi Almquist. [Noisey]
And here’s a new video from Prinze George. [Nylon]
This new video from The 1978ers takes them into the cosmos. [Nahright]
Silver Spring rock ‘n’ roll tavern Quarry House is closed after a fire. [Washington Post]
This is how D.C. represented at SXSW this year. [Washington City Paper, Washington Post]
Here’s a hint at Wale‘s new collaboration with Kanye West. [Fact]
And by Kanye West I mean Dr. West. [Hypetrak]
The same Dr. West that’s apparently hated by 60,000 rockists. [Spin]
Dave Grohl and Rise Against cover Grohl’s old band Scream. [Consequence of Sound]
Grohl is also suggesting a second season of Sonic Highways. [Billboard]
Farewell, online music retailer Insound. [Pitchfork]
Alleged killer Robert Durst: not a former member of Limp Bizkit. [Romenesko]
On Bandwidth: This week, Rare Essence became the first go-go band to play SXSW; we probe how indie artists are redefining DIY in 2015; D.C.’s Polyon premieres a heavy new single; we share an intriguing recording from Janel Leppin‘s Ensemble Volcanic Ash; WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi Show tackles accessibility at D.C. music venues; we drop some photos of Sylvan Esso‘s sold-out 9:30 Club gig; Maryland fuzz-rockers Old Indian just want to wail.