Mar/100
Lil Wayne to be carted off to the slammer
Lil Wayne to be carted off to the slammer
If I ever go to jail, I want to look at least this tough in my mugshot, too.
Okay, so it’s a bit of a cliche now: An emcee who raps about how tough and gangsta he is ends up being convicted for some semi-major offense that shows off exactly how true his lyrics are. Sort of. I mean, you can never really shake the feeling that these instances are just elaborate publicity stunts staged by Beverly Hills-dwelling glitterati who want to pretend that they’re still living paycheck-to-paycheck in the ghetto and eating Kraft Mac & Cheese and drinking Schlitz like the rest of us average schmoes.
But I digress. My point is, acclaimed artist Lil Wayne is expected to become the latest in a long string of rappers-turned-jailbirds starting tomorrow. The Big Easy-based emcee will be serving a one year sentence for criminal possession of a weapon in New York City, a metropolis known for its tough gun laws. It’s not known yet whether or not Tha Carter will be serving his sentence in a normal cell or some swanky minimum-security joint, but at least it ensures that he won’t be gracing the front page of celebrity trash websites for a while, right?
Right…?
Oct/090
Thursday Newsmix: Oasis dries up, plus new Animal Collective and more
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.
Sep/090
Monday Newsmix: Battle of the indie douches; plus Portishead and more
Monday Newsmix: Battle of the indie douches; plus Portishead and more
Don't you want to punch this guy, too?
When two relatively minor but abrasive personalities in the indie rock “community” duke it out, it seems that it’s always bound to generate at least a few rounds of whining and passive-aggressive jabs. So transpired the events of the past weekend, featuring emo-haired Wavves singer Nathan Williams in one corner and loudmouthed Black Lips bassist Jared Swilley in the other. This past Friday, after the two bands played separate shows in Brooklyn, the pair of musicians converged at Daddy’s bar in Williamsburg. Soon, the meeting became a confrontation, from which Jared walked away “bloody.” (Nathan was apparently unharmed.)
Now, the two parties involved have released conflicting stories as to what exactly happened. Nathan claims that Jared was “looking for a fight” and that the latter’s girlfriend was “spitting in the face of all [his] friends.” Jared claims that Nathan wasn’t involved (referring to him multiple times as [insert well-known slur for a homosexual person that I won't repeat here]), and that Wavves’ tour manager clobbered him over the head with a glass bottle.
Me? I don’t care what the truth is. All I want to know is when these two colossal jerkasses will shut the hell up and start acting like adults.
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After releasing last year’s critically acclaimed and universally beloved Third, Bristol trip-hop trio Portishead could have rested on their laurels for another ten years and let fans yearn for a follow-up. Thank Jebus they aren’t going to do so. NME reports that the band, consisting of singer Beth Gibbons and multi-instrumentalists Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley, are hard at work on new material – even though they aren’t signed to a record label.
According to the article, the band is currently “weighing up options” concerning how to release this new material – a strong hint that it won’t come in your typical album format. But, heck, it’s a new Portishead album – they could print it on friggin’ eight-track tapes for all I care and I’d still grab it day one, along with – I’d imagine – about a million other fans.
* * *
R.I.P. Lucy O’Donnell, the “girl with kaleidoscope eyes” who inspired The Beatles’ classic tune, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
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Industrial pioneers Throbbing Gristle have announced the release of “GRISTLEISM,” an industrial music generator that operates on two AA batteries. Looks like a neat little experiment, though I don’t know who would buy it.
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Stream Air’s latest album, Love 2, for free via the band’s website.
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Alt-rockers The Cranberries have announced their reunion tour, complete with dates.
Sep/090
Monday Newsmix: Jay-Z wins and Kanye fails
Monday Newsmix: Jay-Z wins and Kanye fails
Blah blah blah Beyonce blah blah blah...
Yes, I’m back (for really real this time!) The past few weeks have been hella busy, but believe me when I say that I’ve held you, my loyal readers, in the fondest corner of my heart while I’ve been away. (Yes, all three of you. And speaking of which, hi Mom!)
But anyway, let’s get to the news:
* * *
Yes, our good buddy ol’ pal Kanye was at it again over the weekend – and this time on national TV. At the start of yesterday’s MTV Video Music Awards show, as country starlet Taylor Swift began her acceptance speech, West hopped on stage, snagged the mic, and let loose a torrent of verbal diarrhea. The cause? Defending pop singer Beyonce, whom he felt had produced “one of the best videos of all time.” All the while, a timid and confused-looking Swift simply stood there. (One can only imagine what was going through her head at the time. Sadness? Shock? A desire to bludgeon Kanye over the head with that award statue?) Thankfully, West was removed from the show shortly after.
Things even worked out in a roundabout way. Later on in the show, none other than Beyonce herself let Swift finish her speech. Kanye also apologized for the incident, but all things considered, his words ring hollow, smacking of publicist pressure rather than genuine remorse. Just please become a gay fish or something already, Kanye. We’re tired of your crap.
* * *
In other hip-hop news, perennial news generator Jay-Z pulled a far more hilarious stunt recently. When wacko conservative “commentator” Glenn Beck appeared on Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor late last week, he gifted host Bill O’Reilly with a copy of the latter’s book, A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity. The catch? The book contained an inscription by none other than Jay, reading: “Peace Bill, JZ. Off That.” O’Reilly – a vocal opponent of “hip-hop culture,” AKA a racist – remained ignorant of the reference to a lyric in Jay’s recently-released The Blueprint 3: “This ain’t black verse white, my n*gga we off that.”
Billy Boy then proceeded to ignore the peace offering and launch into a tirade against Jay. Good show of maturity, ol’ chap.
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NEWSBITES
* * *
R.I.P. Jim Carroll, punk rocker and author of The Basketball Diaries.
Waiting for the next Massive Attack album? If so, don’t hold your breath: according to Rob “3D” Del Naja, the album is in a “state of flux,” and it may be a while before it’s released. The good news, however, is that they have 10 tracks ready to go, incorporating guest appearances from Damon Albarn and Guy Garvey (Elbow), among others. Hope this one’s worth the wait.
Pop duo Tegan and Sara have unveiled an October 27 release date for their next album, Sainthood.
Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas is set to release his solo album, Phrazes for the Young, on October 19.
Grab a new EP from Portugal. The Man for the low, low price of nothing (and a quick website registration.)
Aug/090
Wednesday Newsmix: Robert Plant kicks balls, Gaga bares all, and more
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.
* * *
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.)
* * *
…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.
* * *
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.
* * *
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: R.I.P. Mike Seeger; Bob Dylan; Radiohead and more
Weekend Newsmix: R.I.P. Mike Seeger; Bob Dylan; Radiohead and more
Now strumming a banjo up in the clouds...
Happy Monday, all! In case you’re wondering where the weekly Album Roundup has gone, I’ve officially moved it back to Tuesday. (Mondays here in the ShowClix offices are far too hectic for me to commit the time that I need to get those posts done on time.) But on the bright side, this means that you’re not waiting three days for news bites anymore!
But on that note, let’s see the major events that happened over the weekend…
* * *
Folk singer Mike Seeger, half-brother of Pete Seeger, passed away late last Friday of cancer. He was incredibly influential in the 1960s folk scene, even having been described by none other than Bob Dylan as one of his primary influences. R.I.P., dude.
* * *
Speaking of Bob Dylan, the influential genre-bending singer-songwriter announced that he’ll be releasing a Christmas album this year. The album, which will include many Yuletide standards, will feature David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, among others. And here I thought the Christmas album had officially died with Elvis?
* * *
Holding out hope for a new Radiohead LP in the next year or so? Well, I wouldn’t hold your breath. In a recent interview, frontman Thom Yorke stated that he hates the album format, and that we can expect the band’s new material to trickle in via a series of EPs instead. One thing’s for sure, though: Either way, people will buy the new releases like they were chocolate-plated gold.
* * *
Rapper Jay-Z has been in the news a lot recently, what with everyone hyping his upcoming album to hell and back. But over the weekend, the paparazzi captured him in a highly unusual situation: hanging out with none other than Oprah Winfrey. What could the duo be up to? I don’t know, but I really hope that it doesn’t involve Oprah singing on Jay’s upcoming record.
* * *
Chicago’s annual Lollapalooza music festival went off without a hitch… well, mostly. Friday afternoon, paramedics had to rush a man suffering cardiac arrest from the festival ground to a nearby hospital, where he died of cardiac arrest. Another soul lost to rock ‘n’ roll…
* * *
In other death-related news, it seems that the Kiwi musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords might be no more. Apparently there’s been talk of a new season, but nothing’s finalized yet: the project could literally die with a whimper. Too bad, too, as there’s precious few quality “musicomedy” acts out there right now. Where’s the next Spinal Tap when you need them?
* * *
Finally, anyone remember that Spider-Man musical that was supposed to be written by Bono and The Edge? Well, it’s been halted due to running out of funds. Good thing, too: this endeavor had “flop” written all over it. Now the boys in U2 can get back to doing what they always do: crafting good, quality, non-gimmicky mus- …oh, wait.
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Aug/091
Woman allegedly shot after asking for Method Man’s autograph
Woman allegedly shot after asking for Method Man’s autograph
Too bad Redman was always the chill one.
Will you be attending one of Method Man & Redman’s shows this summer? If so, you may want to think twice about asking the former for an autograph, as Meth has apparently taken to toting a pellet gun and shooting girls with it.
At least, that’s the claim of Mary Anderson, a patron of Meth & Red’s show at the House of Blues Houston this past November. According to her story, the Wu-Tang alumnus was signing autographs after the show outside the venue. When she approached Meth and asked him for a sig on her ticket stub, the rapper pulled his (pellet) piece and hit her in the torso. The weapon left no permanent damage, but Anderson did suffer scars on her chest and stomach.
In response, Anderson is suing Meth for assault and emotional distress. Though the defendant hasn’t been served yet, this seems like a pretty open-and-shut case in my book: Anderson couldn’t have been alone at the crime scene, so her counsel should have no trouble finding a witness or three to attest to the incident. That is to say, if she’s not just making the whole thing up.
On that note, please say it ain’t so, Meth. The last thing I want to think about when listening to this year’s excellent Blackout Vol. 2 is how one-half of the duo is a short-tempered SOB.
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Jul/090
The Get Up Kids apologize for creating the modern emo scene
The Get Up Kids apologize for creating the modern emo scene
Get up-ah, get on up.
Maybe I’m just getting old, but I find it harder and harder to believe that the popular bands from my youth have been around for so long. So it is, for example, with The Get Up Kids, the quintet of Kansas City indie-punks who jump-started the modern emo scene in the late ’90s. Now, of course, they’re no longer kids, but their legacy remains in the form of the saccharine-melodramatic emo genre. But did they intend to create such an annoying craze? Not so, says band founder Jim Suptic.
In an interview over at Drowned in Sound earlier this week, Suptic lamented the state of modern punk music and its association with the emo scene, calling it, “like glam rock now.” (Personally, I think the comparison is quite apt – punk as a rebellious form of music basically died right around when TGUK formed in 1995.) He also trash-talked both “emo kids” and the bands that TGUK helped to inspire, calling the former “just a sea of neon shirts to us” and the latter “[mostly] not very good.” The rest of the interview is well worth a read as well: it’s an object lesson in how to give constructive criticism regarding a scene that you yourself helped to foster.
No matter what way you feel, however, I certainly can’t disagree with the sentiment. The emo genre (and I mean real emo, and not pop-punk like Fall Out Boy that the media mistakenly labels as such) hasn’t produced a single listenable band outside of TGUK and maybe a couple of others, and the crowd at their concerts isn’t exactly the most mature. So on behalf of music fans everywhere, consider your apology accepted, Jimmy. Now get out there and punch an emo kid or two for good luck.
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