Oct/090
Monday Newsmix: ODB’s son snags a single; plus The Strokes and more
Monday Newsmix: ODB’s son snags a single; plus The Strokes and more
Like father, like son?
It’s so hard to believe that it’s been five years since the untimely death of Wu-Tang member Ol’ Dirty Bastard. (But then, I tend to say that about a lot of things – maybe I’m just getting old, eh?) In fact, it’s been so long since then that now ODB’s own son is ready to take up his father’s mantle.
Barson Jones, AKA Boy Jones, will release his first single before the end of the year, according to reliable sources. The 21-year-old son of ODB, whose real name is Russell Jones, first appeared on stage at age 9 with his father, so he’s had a lot of time to hone his skills. Here’s hoping that the single lives up to its namesake.
Also, the linked article drops another interesting tidbit: ODB’s final posthumous album, A Son Unique, may be seeing a release before the end of the year. A fitting album name, all things considered, isn’t it?
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In other new album news, The Strokes are officially back in the studio. The five-piece indie group have been working on solo projects since the release of their 2006 album, First Impressions of Earth, but now they’ve collected once again to write and cut their long-awaited fourth album.
According to reports, the group have nearly finished writing the album, and frontman Julian Casablancas has compared the new songs to Thin Lizzy, as odd as that sounds. It’s good to hear that the band is taking their time, I suppose, but that description leaves me with a bit of apprehension. Here’s hoping that they can pull it off.
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I guess being behind bars doesn’t bar one from receiving accolades. Rapper T.I., whom you may know from his collaboration with Rihanna on the single “Live Your Life,” received two B.E.T. Hip-Hop Awards this past weekend while serving a year’s prison sentence for possessing illegal weapons. Hey, it is a pretty catchy single…
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So it looks like the new Animal Collective album is actually a five-track, half-hour-long EP. According to the description, it seems like it’ll be a bit harsher than the “springy, summery” Merriweather Post Pavillion. Okay, it’s not a new album, but it IS more AnCo. I’m certainly not complaining.
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As if you needed any further reason to avoid the next Good Charlotte record (other than the fact that it’s another Good Charlotte record), it looks like Pink will perform in some fashion on a song. Blech.
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See the track list for the upcoming Lego Rock Band video game here. Not a bad list, though I want to throttle the guy who thought that Vampire Weekend would be fun to play.
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.
Oct/092
Video: The Dead Weather – “I Cut Like a Buffalo”
Video: The Dead Weather – “I Cut Like a Buffalo”Some really creepy stuff from Jack White’s latest band today. Many of the scenes give off that strange, surreal Inland Empire vibe.
Oct/090
Monday Newsmix: Glenn Beck and Muse; plus Method Man and more
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.