Ra Ra Riot on Altered Fridays

When news broke that Ra Ra Riot was releasing a new album this year, Tyler immediately started itching for it. The band's debut, The Rhumb Line, was a standout in 2008. And their visit to WTMD resulted in a great version of "Dying Is Fine," which appeared on Live From WTMD, Vol. 3 (available with a $65 pledge).


Tune in to Altered Fridays at 4 p.m. Friday as Tyler welcomes lead singer Wes Miles and cellist Alexandra Lawn to discuss the new album, The Orchard, and deliver some acoustic versions of new songs.  

Altered Freebies: Smashing Pumpkins; Les Savy Fav; Junip Rope

What's better than music? Free music. Producer Nick Jackson has scoured the Interwebs to bring you the best free downloads featured on this week's Altered Fridays, 4-7 p.m.

The Smashing Pumpkins: Freak
Billy Corgan returns with a patch of hired Pumpkins. "Freak" marries the swirling guitars of the Siamese Dream era with a modern-rock sheen.



Les Savy Fav: Let's Get Out of Here
This Brooklyn band wants to get to know you better on this track from their upcoming album, Root for Ruin.



Junip: Rope and Summit EP
Most bands offer no incentive to signing up for thieir mailing list, but acoustic industrial outfit Junip is giving away an EP. That's worth filling out a form, right?

Altered Freebies: J. Roddy Walston; Grouplove; Wolf Parade

What's better than music?  Free music. Producer Nick Jackson has scoured the Interwebs to bring you the best free downloads featured on this week's Altered Fridays, 4-7 p.m. 

(And if you haven't already, be sure to pick up of Montreal's new single, "Coquet Coquette.")

• J. Roddy Walston and the Business, "Brave Man's Death"

Baltimore's own J. Roddy Walston makes the major label leap with the mind blowing Don’t Break the Needle. They bring the rawk on "Brave Man's Death," which is available as a free download when you share your email address in the bottom right corner of his web site. (Try not to be hypnotized by the monsters of rock collage in the background.)

J. Roddy Walston and the Business celebrate their Baltimore Release Show at The Ottobar on Saturday, July 31st.

• Grouplove, "Colours"

Musicians from London, New York and Los Angeles meet on the island of Crete and decide to form a band. It's either the premise for a new reality show or the start of an exciting musical journey. You decide.

• Wolf Parade, "Ghost Pressure"

The Quebec rockers return with a strong track off of Expo 86. 

Tyler Books Tokyo Police Club

Fresh from last week's sold-out show with Passion Pit at Rams Head Live, Tokyo Police Club's singer-bassist Dave Monks and keyboardist Graham Wright sit in with Tyler for an interview and in-studio performance at 4 p.m. Friday.

The Canadian indie band garnered a ton of critical acclaim in 2006 on the strength of their intriguing EP A Lesson in Crime, and landed gigs at high-profile national festivals. This week Tokyo Police Club released its sophomore album, Champ, featuring "Breakneck Speed" and "Wait Up (Boots of Danger)."

Kick off your weekend with the band's exclusive, stripped-down set on Altered Fridays.