Building on their organization’s constantly evolving tastes, NYC’s Central Park SummerStage will play host to a performance by Boys Noize , Drop the Lime , and Canyons early next month. It’s a bit of a switch for the 23-year-old festival, whose other upcoming guests include the likes of Bettye Lavette, Budos Band, M. Ward, and Mike Watt, and we love that their adventurous booking policies always keep them way ahead of the curve. The free Boyz Noise/Drop the Lime show happens August 8.

pictured Boys Noize

One of Detroit’s finest MCs, Guilty Simpson, has teamed up once again with Madlib for a full-length on Stones Throw under the OJ Simpson moniker. With Simpson’s gruff baritone flowing over Madlib’s dark and chunky carnival beats on “Coroner’s Music,” the album’s title track and first single promises some real hip-hop, echoing J Dilla’s productions with shades of DJ Premier coming through. In the current climate, where rappers are often mere accessories, this duo has crafted a sound that glows with attitude and loyalty to hip-hop’s roots.

Coroner’s Music drops this fall on Stones Throw.

pictured Guilty Simpson

You already know that Why?‘s new album Eskimo Snow, due for release in September. Hell, you better have already downloaded “The Blackest Purse,” too. But did you know that the Oakland threesome is tuning up for a U.S. tour as well? Check the dates below.

09/24 Cincinnati, OH Northside Tavern *
09/26 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge / Wordless Music Series +
10/01 Cambridge, MA Middle East #%
10/02 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church #%
10/03 Pittsburgh, PA Assembly Room, William Pitt Union free show #%
10/04 Ann Arbor, MI The Blind Pig #%
10/05 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge #%
10/06 Madison, WI UW Madison Terrace #%
10/07 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock #%
10/09 Denver, CO Bluebird #%
10/10 Salt Lake City, UT In the Venue #%
10/13 Annacortes, WA Department of Safety &$
10/14 Seattle, WA The Vera Project &$
10/15 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom &$
10/17 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall *%$
10/20 Los Angeles, CA Echoplex *%
10/23 Phoenix, AZ Modified Arts *%
10/24 Tucson, AZ Club Congress *%
10/26 Denton, TX Hailey’s *%
10/28 Birmingham, AL Bottletree *%
10/29 Asheville, NC Grey Eagle *%
10/30 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle *%
10/31 Atlanta, GA Lenny’s %^@
11/02 Orlando, FL The Social %!
11/03 Gainesville, FL Common Grounds %!
11/04 Tallahassee, FL Club Downunder %!
11/06 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon %~
11/07 Houston, TX Walter’s on Washington %~
11/08 Austin, TX Fun Fun Fun Fest
11/10 Lawrence, KS Jackpot Music Hall %~
11/11 St. Louis, MO Firebird %~
11/13 Bloomington, IN Rhino’s Youth Center ~

* = w/ Serengeti and Polyphonic
# = w/ Dark Dark Dark
% = w/ AU
& = w/ No Kids
$ = w/ Mount Eerie
^ = w/ Jemina Pearl
@ = w/ Islands
! = w/ James Husband
~ = w/ The Moore Brothers
+ = w/ Owen Weaver with Flexible Music

After what feels like a decade, Gonzales‘ acclaimed Solo Piano is finally getting a North American release via Toronto indie Arts & Crafts, after sitting in Euro-distro purgatory since 2004. Solo Piano: The Deluxe Edition includes Gonzales’ titular instrumental piano album as well as a bonus DVD, which features the From Major to Minor, a documentary about the singer/songwriter/rapper/producer/bon vivant, and other special extras. The double-disc set is expected in stores September 22. To coincide with the release, Gonzales (a.k.a. Jason Beck) will be performing a few shows around the U.S. and his native Canada. Check out one of his rare appearances below.

Sep 23 2009Henry Fonda Theatre Los Angeles, California
Sep 25 2009 Joe’s Pub NYC, New York
Sep 26 2009 eXcentris Montreal, Quebec
Sep 30 2009Mod Club Toronto, Ontario

photo Ramon Palacios Pelletier

Today, musical juggernaut Ghostly International released a unique application for the iPhone and iPod Touch called Ghostly Discovery . The application works as a sort of mood-reading jukebox containing Ghostly’s and Spectral Sound’s vast catalogs, allowing users to construct parameters for what they want to listen to based on their emotional state, desired tempo, and digital/organic preference. After setting these parameters, the application generates a unique playlist for the user, with the options of reading artist bios and purchasing MP3s available. Ghostly Discovery is downloadable for free at the iTunes Store.