Oct/090
Thursday Newsmix: Oasis dries up, plus new Animal Collective and more
We're so British, we invented the Jaffa Cake.
After Noel Gallagher left the band over a month ago, the fate of Britpop superstars Oasis has been, for the most part, up in the air. Today, in an interview with The Times UK, estranged brother Liam Gallagher laid all rumors and speculation to rest: Oasis is no more.
In that interview, Liam spelled out the fate of the band in no uncertain terms: “Oasis is no longer. I think we all know that. So that’s done.” Instead, the younger Gallagher will be entering into the fashion business with a new line of clothing, with any further projects involving the remaining band members to be decided. Meanwhile, Noel is most likely going it solo, though details on any such venture are slim to nil at the moment.
While the demise of such a prolific band does tug a bit at my heartstrings – Definitely Maybe and (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? having been, for better or worse, a major part of the soundtrack to my teenage years – the band has been mostly retreading well-worn ground for the past decade. The time was well past due to call it quits.
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My admiration for Animal Collective’s January release, Merriweather Post Pavillion, should be no secret by now. Hipster echo-chamber aside, MPP is a dynamic, exciting album packed to the brim not only with good musical ideas, but also a sense of melody and accessibility that the band’s earlier material lacked. So when the announcement of another album – slated for this year, too – comes out of nowhere, you must excuse me if I’m a little, er, excited.
Okay, that’s an understatement. This is going to be effing awesome.
The new album, to be titled Fall Be Kind, is slated to be released December 8 on Domino Records. We don’t really have any more info as of yet, but be sure to stay tuned as this exciting story develops.
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Are you the owner of some treasured piece of autographed Joy Division memorabilia? If so, you may want to check that certificate of authenticity. Ex-Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook has admitted to forging the signature of the late Ian Curtis on various JD-related items, thus calling into question the value (both monetary and otherwise) of pretty much every such piece. I think I just heard Curtis roll over in his grave.
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The Beastie Boys‘ Adam “MCA” Yausch is apparently really into Eastern medicine. After having been diagnosed with cancer, Yausch stated in an update released via Rolling Stone, he traveled to Tibet on a retreat, converted (temporarily) to veganism, and attended a seminar by the Dalai Lama. Whatever helps him feel better, I suppose.
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So it looks like Radiohead might be cutting a new album after all. Jeez, make your mind up already, will you guys?
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After initially snubbing an offer to have the band immortalized in a Rock Band game, arena-rockers U2 have stated that they would “definitely… like to be” involved with such a project. Too bad it won’t be nearly as good as The Beatles’ iteration.
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In other music-game news, view the entire tracklist for the upcoming DJ Hero video game here.
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Preview The Flaming Lips’ upcoming album, Embryonic, over at NPR.
Oct/090
Monday Newsmix: Glenn Beck and Muse; plus Method Man and more
I want YOU!! ...to subscribe to MY conspiracy theories.
I’m of the opinion that conservative/libertarian “commentator” Glenn Beck is one of the craziest political voices in the United States, between his religion-based warmongering, thinly-veiled racism, and general tin-foil-hattery. But at least he likes Muse – albeit for the wrong reasons (he erroneously associates the band with libertarianism).
Oh, and he’s also a dirty rotten liar. But we already knew that.
Recently, on his Fox News show, Beck claimed that a spokesperson for Muse insisted that he stop plugging the group on his show. Only, that never happened, according to a representative for Beck’s company. He was just joking. Right.
Regrettably, Muse declined to comment on the situation, thereby ensuring that this story doesn’t go much further than it already has. Otherwise, people might actually realize that Beck and his ilk are “fair and balanced” only because they jury-rigged the scale.
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Wu-Tang member Method Man, along with brother-in-arms Redman, released what’s thus far my favorite hip-hop album of the year back in May. But apparently not enough people bought it, as Meth needed to, uh, supplement his income with unpaid tax money.
This morning, Meth turned himself in for evading over $32,000 in taxes – and that’s not including the attorneys’ fees or punitive damages that any self-respecting judge will saddle the famed emcee with. If convicted – and it looks like he will be, due to the whole “turning himself in” thing – he could face up to four years in the slammer as well.
Any chance of a jailbird-recorded Blackout 3, Methy ol’ pal?
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NPR reports that a collaboration is in the works between David Byrne and Norman Cook, otherwise known as Fatboy Slim. The duo’s planned album, to be entitled Here Lies Love, will be based upon the life of former Filipino First Lady Imelda Marcos, and will feature over 20 guest vocalists, including Cyndi Lauper, Santigold, and Tori friggin’ Amos. Hell. Yes.
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In completely silly news, reggae artist Major Mackerel claims that some guy in New York City slashed him up with a two-foot-long sword. A strange story – and even stranger if it somehow turns out to be true.
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View the tracklisting for the Foo Fighters’ upcoming Greatest Hits album here. Not a bad list, though woefully lacking in tracks from their excellent debut album.
Aug/091
Thursday Newsmix: Giant robot Michael Jackson; Music Industry on death watch; and more
Jackson super hyper mega Thriller missile powers activate ha ha!
Michael Jackson was undoubtedly a giant of the pop genre – he didn’t earn the title “King of Pop” in a vacuum, after all. But what if Jacko were actually a giant – as in, a fifty foot tall one? It may sound like something out of some bad Internet science-fiction fanfic (or maybe an episode of Metalocalypse), but at one time Jackson’s fashion designer, Andre Van Pier, in collaboration with a couple of partners-in-crime, had planned to build a gigantic robotic hotel that would roam across the Nevada desert shooting “laser-beam-looking lights” from its eyes. The entire thing was intended as an elaborate advertisement for Jacko’s 50-show Las vegas residency. Over-the-top? Sure, but you have to admit that it would’ve been cool as hell.
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In industry news, The New York Times has officially predicted the death of the music industry in as little as a decade’s time. In a column by op-ed writer Charles Blow (warning: requires registration), the paper proclaimed that the record labels “could be decimated before Madonna’s 60th birthday.” Ah, how I love good news. Well, except for the Madonna tidbit, anyway; hard to believe that she’ll be a sexagenarian in so little time. But times change, I suppose, and as I’ve been saying all along, it’s high time that the industry adapted to the new market… or just perished.
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Ryan Adams is a really talented dude. In addition to making some sweet music with Whiskeytown and The Cardinals, he’s also a published fiction writer and – surprisingly – a painter. In fact, he’s so good at that last one that the folks behind the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York have named him their official artist-in-residence. His exhibit of paintings and collages will debut at that gallery on September 23, so if you’re in the area, definitely pay them a visit. Either way, it seems that all Ryan needs to do to become a true renaissance man is star in a movie or three and maybe invent something.
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Finally, in reunion news today, news leaked that garage-rockers The Libertines are to reform at some point in the foreseeable future – possibly without vocalist/guitarist Carl Barat. In an interview, Barat’s former partner-in-crime Pete Doherty had this to say about the feud between the two musicians: “I wouldn’t really want to [reform without Barat], but you’ve got to pay the bills.” Hey, whatever you’ve got to do to survive in this recession, right? (And besides, Doherty was always the more talented of the two.) Keep checking back for further news on this impending reunion event.
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Aug/090
Wednesday Newsmix: Robert Plant kicks balls, Gaga bares all, and more
Please kick the football. I passed it to the goalkeep.
When former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant isn’t busy making low-key folk music with Alison Krauss, he’s apparently watching football. (No, I don’t mean American football, you uncultured dunderhead.) So much so, in fact, that yesterday the football club Wolverhampton Wanderers – with whom Plant has been involved for all of his adult life – have made him their official Vice President. In a press release concerning his new status, Plant stated that he was, “flattered, but [also] embarrassed,” due to feeling that others might be more deserving of the honor. Nice to see that one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll singers of all time can maintain an air of humility.
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How much do you really want to see of pop star Lady Gaga? If you’ve been following certain rumors considering her private parts, the answer may be, “not much,” but this may change your mind. Gaga, a noted LGBT activist and self-described bisexual, is slated to pose sans clothing in the forthcoming issue of Out Magazine. (NOTE: Link may not be work-safe.) And according to reports, at least one of the pictures shows, yes, definitive proof that the rumors are not true. Hopefully this will finally put such speculation to rest (excepting, of course, a few obligatory conspiracy nuts who will cry, “Airbrushing!”, but nothing will ever sate them anyway.)
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…and speaking of seeing too much of someone, pop-punks Fall Out Boy are in the news again. Only this time, it’s none other than a Prince doing the calling out! Well, okay – the Prince Regent of Sealand, a “country” consisting of an abandoned British sea fort several miles off the coast of England. But anyway, His Royal Highness Prince Regent Michael (yes, he apparently wants to be called that) has officially accepted Fall Out Boy’s offer to play a comeback show aboard the sea fort. You can read the entire message (sent from the Royal Illustrious Prince Regent’s iPhone) in the link – he seems pretty cool. Either way, I’d definitely go just to say that I set foot in Sealand.
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Shifting gears to our daily dose of Jacko news, the late pop singer is slated to be buried August 29 in a cemetary outside of Los Angeles. The ceremony, which will take place on what would have been Jackson’s 51st birthday, will be private, consisting of only his family and close friends. I’m guessing that his burial place will become a pilgrimage destination a la Elvis’ grave in Memphis, whcih makes me wonder what the gravestone will look like. Hopefully I’ll see for myself someday.
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Anyone else fondly remember The Squirrel Nut Zippers? After achieving unlikely success with their breakout ragtime/swing-influenced radio singles, “Hell” and “Put A Lid On It,” in the mid ’90s, the seven-piece band (who at one time included singer-songwriter Andrew Bird among their ranks) survived several years and four more albums until calling it quits in 2001. Now, in about two months, the newly-reformed group will release their first new album in almost a decade. The album (which doesn’t have a title yet) will have “a little more of a Southern roots approach” than SNZ’s previous work, according to vocalist/guitarist Jim Mathus. Sounds pretty cool to me. This one’s definitely on my radar.
Aug/090
Weekend Newsmix: Nobody knows Bob Dylan, Ludacris loves big butts, and more
I feel I'm knockin' on a Jersey home's dooooooor.
How often do songs translate so well into reality? This past Friday, legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan stumbled like a rolling stone into the yard of a New Jersey home during a rainstorm. The house’s occupants, disturbed by the “eccentric-looking old man” on their front lawn, called the police, who hauled Dylan away. The kicker? The officer jostling Bobby D around didn’t recognize him at first – even when he claimed to be who he really was.
I guess that’s how it feels to be a complete unknown, eh?
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Speaking of complete unknowns, Ludacris is on the lookout for a big one. And I mean that very, very literally. In a Craigslist ad for his latest music video, the Georgian emcee sought two women: One with “a great body… very curvy, and a little top-heavy.” The other? “Must be extremely plus size and able to play an acting role of an intimidating woman.” And to add insult to injury, the attractive one will get paid more. Way to enforce those stereotypes, Ludacris ol’ boy.
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And now, for something completely different: A man with two faces. Or at least, that’s how you might describe The Edge, who, in almost three decades as guitarist for arena-rockers U2, has cavorted around the world for various social-justice projects. After being called out by none other than David Byrne for touring with an excessively elaborate – and environmentally unfriendly – stage setup, The Edge responded, in short: “Everybody else is doing it, so why can’t we?” Yup, keep that good PR coming, guys.
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Been wondering what Ben Folds has been up to lately? Well, wonder no longer. Apparently the quirktastic singer-songwriter has been holed up in the studio with British writer Nick Hornby, author of High Fidelity and About a Boy, among other novels. Hornby, apparently a big fan of Folds’, has written all of the lyrics to Folds’ next album, to be released nest year. We don’t know much more than that yet, but at the very least, we can guarantee that both will be keeping their regular “dark humor” quotients.
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With the advent of Youtube and Myspace, it’s relatively easy to grab a bit of Internet fame for producing an inventive remix. But for the next month, The Crystal Method will offer you the chance to make it even easier. From now until September 15, the LA-based electro duo are offering you – yes, you over there with that yard-sale synth and copy of Pro Tools – a chance to remix their latest single, “Come Back Clean.” The best submission will net a microKorg XL synth, a tour of the band’s studio, and some free promotion (including getting your track streamed on the duo’s Myspace.) So get crackin’!
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Aug/090
Wednesday Newsmix: Kanye’s escapades, Pete Wentz on nude pics, Alice & Elton, and more
Real men wear pink sweatshirts.
To start off with today, here’s the buzz on everybody’s favorite loudmouthed emcee. (Well, at the very least he must be somebody’s favorite, somewhere. Maybe.) Buzz on the ‘net is that Kanye’s girlfriend, former model and exotic dancer Amber Rose, may be carrying his child. Okay, perhaps that’s a bit of a stretch, but gossip website MediaTakeOut.com is reporting that Rose suddenly gave up alcohol and cigarettes – a hefty burden for a woman who must be attenting the most happening parties in the biz. So is there a good reason? I don’t know, but God help any child raised by that couple.
Oh, and in other news, Kanye and director Spike Jonze recently collaborated on a bizarre short film entitled, “We Were Once a Fairytale.” In case you’re interested, the film is set for release on September 8 via iTunes. In the meantime, you can read a brief summary of the film here. It sounds, err, interesting. I think.
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In other musician-celeb news, Fall Out Boy frontman Pete Wentz spoke up yesterday on MTV News in response to two recent scandals involving leaked nude photographs. In the interview, Wentz – who dealt with his own such scandal in 2006 – had this to say to High School Musical actress Vanessa Hudgens and Twilight star Ashley Greene: “Don’t sit out there and make a big deal. Let it go away.”
Pretty sound advice if you ask me; the more one harps on an issue like that, the more the tabloids and gossip outlets will bark up your front door. But I think he missed one crucial piece of advice: No matter who you are, just don’t take nude photos in the first place!
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Ever since Alice in Chains announced their reunion – minus, of course, the late Layne Staley – the Internet has been abuzz about how the seminal grunge band were just trying to make a quick buck off of their former glory. And if anything confirms it, it’s this: none other than Sir Elton John will appear on the reformed group’s upcoming album.
Now, I love Elton’s (early, less poppy) material as much as the next guy, but let’s be honest here: AiC pre-Layne would never collaborate with him, and I can’t see the result being anything more than a bunch of post-grunge cheese. Why can’t we just leave AiC, and the bittersweet memories thereof, buried with Layne?
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Are you one of the many Morrissey fans out there salivating over the two 7″ singles boxsets recently announced by EMI for a fall release? Well, you may want to rethink your purchase, as the man himself has released a statement telling people not to buy them. Apparently Morrissey had no hand in the production of the boxsets, and furthermore, he won’t be receiving a dime from their sales. it’s a pretty awful situation, and – in this blogger’s humble opinion – just one more reason why the major labels need to die out, and fast.
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Speaking of dying out, in a move that came as a surprise to exactly no one, British alt-rockers The Verve announced earlier today that they have parted ways – for the third time. After a falling-out with vocalist Rich Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe and bassist Simon Jones have formed a new band, known as The Black Ships. No word on what the other bandmates are doing yet, but I hope it’s something good.
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In the daily “reunion rumor” news, it seems that bassist Gary Mounfield (aka Mani), formerly of The Stone Roses, has released a statement asking the feuding members of that pioneering alt-rock band to “kiss and make up.” It probably won’t result in any actual reunion, but it’s fun to think about, eh?
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Aug/092
Kanye West is not the King of Pop. Really.
There's been too little Kanye in this here blog recently, so here you go. Enjoy.
…or so he claimed in a recent blog post.
Statements released mere days after the late Michael Jackson’s death quoted the hip-hop superstar as saying, among other things: “First there was Elvis, then there was Michael, now in the 21st century it’s Kanye’s time to rule.” In that post, however, Kanye denied those claims, stating that, “any random person can type something on the Internet and then the world believes it.”A true statement, to be sure.
In fact – and this may come as a shocker to many of you – I’m inclined to side with Mr. West on this one. The only source for the quote comes from a backwater news website called Scrape TV, which looks like it was designed circa-1999 with nary an update since. And while Scrape’s editor-in-chief has since stood by the truth of the quotes, this still strikes me as a huge grab for website hits. Heck, I feel bad even linking to the site. Not only is it terribly designed, but it’s also littered with poorly-placed ads.
So, end result: I dislike deceptive journalism practices much more than I dislike Kanye’s blathering. So when forced to take sides, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Everyone who reads this should boycott Scrape TV in the future, up to and including any erroneous quotes.
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Aug/090
Dave Grohl earns side project and side street
Is that Jesus? No; just the devil from The Pick of Destiny.
Former Nirvana drummer and current Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is apparently a busy guy. When he’s not recording our touring with his main band, recent articles reveal, he’s trapising with other rock stars and getting alleyways named after him.
Yesterday, word leaked that Grohl plans to form a supergroup of sorts with none other than Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and former Kyuss (and current Queens of the Stone Age) guitarist Josh Homme. None of the members have yet to reveal any details, but with both Homme and Grohl as capable vocalists, this power trio can only be destined for big things. Well, maybe – my opinion of most supergroups has never been very high. But as always, I’ll give ‘em the benefit of the doubt.
Anyway, aside from playing alongside an original member of Zeppelin, Grohl received another honor yesterday: His hometown of Warren, Ohio rechristened an alleyway in his name. So if you’re traveling through the area, be sure to stop in Dave Grohl Alley and marvel at the, uh, majesty of… oh god, I can’t go on. But hey, I’ll bet you’d give an arm and a leg to be immortalized in a street name too – even if it were just an alleyway. Right?
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Jun/090
They STOLES it from us! My… my p-precioussssss!!
As if famed record producer and convicted murderer Phil Spector weren’t weird-looking enough with his wig on, apparently he looks even more bizarre without. Now I’m thinking that he murdered Lana Clarkson because she accidentally discovered the One Ring.
But then I wonder: Who would the other characters be? The boys from Starsailor as the hobbits? A bearded Sir Paul McCartney as Gandalf? Yoko Ono as Galadriel? (Oh god I hope not.)
I guess we may never know, since he’s gonna be behind bars for quite a while. But then, even Smeagol escaped the fortress of Barad-Dur…
May/090
The Dirty Projectors announce limited-edition release… on cassette
If you thought that the trend of bands releasing limited-edition vinyl pressings was esoteric, well, what about an even stranger medium? It may sound like a joke, but for their latest album, Brooklyn-based experimental band Dirty Projectors have decided to supplement the audiophile-savvy black circles with some little, rectangular tapes.
In addition to digital and CD releases, the group’s fifth proper album, Bitte Orca, will see release in small numbers on compact cassette come June 9th. Compact cassettes rose to prominence in the 1970s and lasted well into the ’90s as a popular form of recorded music, before being fully supplanted by CDs around the turn of the millennium. They’re generally disliked by music fans, however, for their low sound quality and the fact that the players require almost as much maintenance as a turntable. So God knows what prompted the band to pull a stunt like this, but maybe a few nostalgia-heads will get a kick out of it.
Again, Bitte Orca will release June 9 on indie label Domino (home of fellow sonic innovators Animal Collective, Ulrich Schnauss, and The Notwist, among others). The band also has a series of American tour dates scheduled for May and June, many as the opener for TV on the Radio.