Set times. Dates. Contracts. These are all things that are just written down for Axl Rose to ignore. Over the weekend, Axl brought his group of alien Guns N' Roses to Reading and Leeds, to play the U.K. festivals. Both nights, the band was kicked off stage eary for starting their set one hour too late. I love this guy. He just doesn't give two fucking chickens as to what happens. And the best part about it is, he really doesn't have to. People will sit there and wait for just one riff from Appetite For Destruction to come zinging out of the speakers. If they could somehow inhale that album's debauchery and danger, they would. Axl Rose is still my hero. And he should be yours, too. Get in the ring, mofos! [NYM]
Here's an amazing piano instrumental cover of The Pixies' track "Where Is My Mind" by French pianist Maxence Cyrin. He pulls off some other amazing covers of electronic based pop music on his site. Do check him. Beautifully haunting and moving. [Maxence Cyrin]
We got paid today. Laid last night. It's the simple things, kids. Today's Throwback Classic is the happiest song ever written, Katrina and the Waves, "Walking On Sunshine." Time to geel good!
MGMT's latest album is a much more subdued affair than their debut, which sprang them into the national spotlight with its brightly colored electro pop. The video posted above, for their track "Congratulations," is rather somber. And the strange, dying alien walking with them through the dessert looks like he walked off the set of The Dark Chrystal.
We've been noticing a lot of mash-ups on the webernets again lately. This combo of two American outlaws, Johnny Cash and Eazy-E, is rather inspired. DJ Topcat, who is responsible for other quality remix work, loops up "Folsom Prison Blues," pops a hip-hop beat on top, and gives Eazy the mic for the first verse.
Johnny Cash & Eazy-E - "Folsom Prison Blues (DJ Topcat Remix)" [Download]
(Right click the download link and choose "save target as.")
Michael Been, the lead singer and guitarist for '80s band The Call, passed away this weekend at the age of 60. He was currently on tour with his son's band, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, working as a sound engineer. From the A.V. Club:
During its 1980-2000 run, The Call recorded 10 albums and scored several hits, beginning with 1983’s “The Walls Came Down” from Modern Romans. The group’s self-titled debut scored an early fan in Peter Gabriel, who called it “the future of American music” and invited the band to open his 1982 Shock The Monkey Tour. Other high-profile champions of The Call included Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr, The Band’s Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson, and even Bono, all of whom guest-starred on Call albums. Bono sang backing vocals on The Call’s only No. 1 hit, “Let The Day Begin,” which was later revived as Al Gore’s campaign song in 2000. [A.V. Club]
We are licking our lips in anticipation of Gnarls Barkley and Goody Mob crooner Cee-Lo's new full length, The Ladykiller. An earlier track that got leaked, "Georgia," has been playing all summer long in our car. This new track, "Fuck You," is just as catchy and toe tapping. But with plenty of animosity boiling under the surface for the ex in your life. (We know you're reading. This track goes out to you.)
Glasser operates under a slick formula that makes her music so interesting and compelling. She places a large emphasis on the percussion for each song while also allowing for her strongest aspect – her ethereal and smooth voice – to shine. There are touches of Kate Bush and contemporaries such as Bat for Lashes, but “Home” sounds like the first step on defining her aesthetic, and it’s one that I am a fan of.
Glasser's full length LP, Ring, is out September 28th on True Panther Records.
The orchestral pop of Ra Ra Riot is addictive ear candy. Good luck getting this new track, "Boy," out of your head and off your playlist. It sounds especially good in the summer. [MTV]
Earlier today, we told you that Tila Tequila had bottles and rocks thrown at her for a performance she put on at the "Gathering of the Juggalos." Former MTV jester Tom Green put together a mini-documentary of this white trash fest. Also, before even getting there, he marries Tila Tequila. [NYM]
Bring in the clowns! According to CNN: "Reality TV star Tila Tequila suffered facial cuts when she was pelted with rocks and bottles while performing at a music festival in Illinois early Saturday." That festival was the "Gathering of the Juggalos," a mix of bad music, wrestling, and general stupidity organized by The Insane Clown Posse. In a life filled with low points, Tila Tequila continues to add vertical on her climb to the top of Shit Mountain. Imagine: Thousands of people who pay money to see talentless grown men in face paint rap think you're terrible. It's enough to almost make you feel sorry for this bobble headed fame whore. Almost! [CNN]
Well, here's another track popping up from Mark Ronson's upcoming album, Record Collection, which has a drop date of September 29th. Blast from the not so distant past Spank Rock and Kyle Falconer make guest appearance on this joint, "Bike Song." It's extra breezy.
For my money, the indie pop sister duo Tegan & Sara have some of the catchiest hooks in the game right now. They blast out three minutes of infectious ear candy in a lot of their songs. Between pop radio, which caters to the gals, and FM rock stations, which is a total dude thing, they haven't been able to score any mainstream airtime. And it's too bad more people don't hear the sisters Quinn, because they would totally fall for their choruses. Their latest single and video, "Northshore," isn't the best from the group's most recent album, Sainthood, but it's a two minute firecracker, for sure. Arcade Fire what?
New York City's Times Square used to be the home to urban junk: drugs, prostitutes, pimps, and seedy merchandise. Today, it's a tremendous blinking light of Americana: Pop culture epherma and the mass produced brands made of sugar, plastic, and pixels. Pop Tarts just opened a brand new 3,200 square foot shrine to itself in the epicenter of New York City tourism. You'll be able to sample pop-tart sushi. (Yuck?) While there are obvious reasons to deride our junk culture, it's hard not to be fascinated by the brands and innovations that sprung from our imagination. Check out this article highlighting some of our most important inventors of junk.
Let Us Now Praise the Great Men of Junk Food [NYT]
Lady Gaga leaps--mostly naked--into the crowd at the first day of Lollapalooza in Chicago. You can read and see more pictures of the festivities at Billboard. [Billboard]
OK, this isn't really a song. I get that. But it's Friday. And I want to stare at Eva Mendes. Do you have a problem with that? Staring at Eva Mendes in a lace nighty? I didn't think so. This is from the lame looking Will Ferrell cop parody The Other Guys. [Funny or Die]
After decades of celebrities saving everyone else, Eminem suggests we look at the self-destruction the entertainment industry does to their employees. Where can I donate? If we can save just one celebrity from overdosing or heading to the pokey this year, we will have made a difference. From Vibe:
"It’s crazy because at one point we were very close, and she was a really good person. It’s crazy when you see things not just with her but just all these things that are happening in Hollywood, with people in music, with people in acting. Famous people. Famous people are overdosing at alarming rates and — that almost sounded like a commercial. Wow. But they are. And it's one of those things, man, where you're famous, doctors will kiss your ass because they love the celebrity. 'Oh, I can call up Eminem and get him on the phone right now. Oh, hi Marshall, how are you doing? Do you need that [prescription]?' There are doctors that will give you certain things just because of who you are." [Vibe]
The question remains: Is there anything autotune can't make better? Check out the original news clip of this project queen's star making turn on the Internet last week. In decades of trying, I could not come up with a better name for this gentleman than the one he was given, Antoine Dodson. He's now trying to cash in with a clothing line. This is like a Chapelle Show skit come to life.
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