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For the first time ever, a James Bond theme will be a duet - Alicia Keys and the White Stripes' Jack White have recorded Another Way To Die, a White song that will be the theme to the upcoming 007 flick Quantum of Solace, due in November. Given the fiercely independent nature of the artists involved, it's not surprising that the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Keys wasn't very happy with production ideas, as well as the song itself. Still, the hubbub could have been louder if the theme spot had, as initially rumored, gone to a different artist - Amy Winehouse.

Huge Popular Band The Killers will release their third album in November. No exact release date, no track listing, no album title; just the sneaking suspicion that Brandon Flowers will sing as if someone stuck his big toe into an electrical socket.

Noted potheads Cheech and Chong are reforming for a US tour more than twenty years after they acrimoniously split, according to the BBC. Being a BBC article, the word "pothead" is in quotes. The tour is surprising considering that Cheech Marin swore off the Cheech and Chong ouvre after becoming somewhat of a legitimate actor on somewhat legitimate shows such as Nash Bridges.

Links:

Dueling Over Bond Duet [Chicago Sun-Times]

The Killers To Release Third Album This November [GIGWISE]

Comic Duo Cheech and Chong Reform [BBC]

Tagged as: Film , Music

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Lego Rock

Posted on July 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM

Everyone likes albums. And everyone likes Legos. Which is why this thing is genius: twenty album covers recreated in Lego! Someone has time, and cute ideas, on their hands. Via Earfarm.

Some fans are more rabid than others, though some fans are rabidly sensitive. Take the Kylie Minogue fan who was found in the Aussie singer's dressing room at a London arena gig crying into one of her wigs. Kylie, being Kylie, refused to call the police.

Amy Winehouse has been discharged from the hospital! And, by the way, Amy Winehouse checked into the hospital twelve hours before she left the hospital. This was all due to a seizure brought on by her attempts to get clean. Winehouse was wrapped in a red blanket and pushed to her vehicle in a wheelchair by her dad. So kids, as a reminder: drugs are very, very bad.

Finally, we would be remiss if we didn't mention one of the most exciting album releases in months (maybe years?): the first album by David Byrne and Brian Eno in 27 years is finished and will be out in August. Whoa. Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. Prepare yourself by listening to some Eno-produced Talking Heads (Fear of Music, Remain In Light), or by reading about (and then listening to) the previous Byrne/Eno record: the amazing My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts. Read all about the new album on David Byrne's blog.

Links:

Twenty Album Covers Recreated In Lego [The Toy Zone]

Shock! Fan Found in Kylie Minogue's Dressing Room [Now UK]

Amy Winehouse Discharged From Hospital [People]

Almost Everything [David Byrne Journal]

Tagged as: Music

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Monday Morning Lawsuits and Sh*t-Talkin'

Posted on July 28, 2008 at 09:26 AM

But first... politics and pop! Will Chicago's own Barack Obama make an appearance this weekend at Chicago's own Lollapalooza introducing Chicago's own Kanye West? If Kanye goes on before 430am, he just might! Also, Obama loves Chicago's own Wilco (photo via Harp).

It's very complicated, but ex-Smashing Pumpkins James Iha and Darcy Wretzky are suing Virgin America for signing an exclusive ringtones deal with head Pumpkin (and cruel uncle-figure to Frances Bean Cobain) Billy Corgan without their involvement. Were ringtones around when they were in the band? Hard to recall, but nice to see them in the news again.

Speaking of suits, Lil Wayne is being sued by Abkco Music, noted music publishers, over the use of the Rolling Stones' Play With Fire in Lil Wayne's Playing With Fire. The rapper should look out - a similar situation happened ten years ago with the Verve's Bittersweet Symphony. They took the main violin line from Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham's orchestral version of the Stones classic The Last Time. Oldham sued, won and the Verve never made a penny off of their biggest hit.

Um, Britney Spears' mother ran over and killed a twelve year-old boy in 1975? As with all matters Spears, bizarre and morbid.

And finally, in fun, sh*t-talking news, Idolator interviews Nick Diamonds of Islands and then he disses Vampire Weekend. Meow, etc.

Links:

Obama to Rock Lollapalooza? [Eurweb]

Ex-Pumpkins Sue for Tomorrow [Yahoo]

Rapper Lil Wayne Sued For Stones Copyright Breach [Reuters]

Britney Spears' Mum Killed 12 Year-old Boy [NME]

Nick Diamonds Figures Out The Secret Meaning of Vampire Weekend's Name [Idolator]

Tagged as: Music

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Taco Bell vs. 50 Cent in the World Series of 99 Cent Menus

Posted on July 24, 2008 at 11:12 AM

It seems like it would be obvious not to upset a man who has been shot nine times, but apparently Taco Bell just isn't that smart. The fast food chain has incurred a lawsuit from 50 Cent as a result of a recent campaign in which they asked Fiddy to change his name to 70 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent. You see, those names would correspond with their menu prices. Get it? Haha. But Curtis Jackson did not find it so funny. He's suing them for using his name without permission. He claims his fans think he has sold out. His fans might think he was just hungry. It might be the trial of the century. But it probably won't be.

Courtney Love still in the news - now's she's getting sued! By some accounting firm, regarding profits from the sale of Nirvana songs. Not as exciting as her MySpace rants.

And one final word (at least from us) on the whole John Lydon/Kele Okereke mess. Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, who was at the show performing with Neon Neon, has backed up Kele's claims. OK, that is all on this matter.

Links:

Rapper 50 Cent Says Taco Bell Stole His Endorsement [Reuters]

Firm Sues Courtney Love Over Nirvana Catalog Sale [AP]

Neon Neon Confirms Kele's Story [MTV UK]

Tagged as: Music

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Is This the Story of Johnny Rotten?

Posted on July 23, 2008 at 07:43 AM

The whole Bloc Party/John Lydon racist brouhaha/physical fight thing is still in the news, thanks to the former Johnny Rotten's denial that he uttered racist remarks to Kele Okereke. In fact, he claims that Kele and other musicians were just jealous that Lydon was popular enough to warrant a four hour autograph session. Which explains why Lydon would start a fight and use some pretty ugly language. Lydon's a legend, but he's also bitter, and was always temperamental. A lame 'race' story like this feels like it belongs in the 80s, or before then... not now.

Amy Winehouse's husband Blake Fielder-Civil has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for a 2006 brawl, which means that Amy will probably start doing some seriously crazy things right about now.

Former Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg has released his new album as one mp3 file for 49 cents.

Links:

Sex Pistols Star Denies Racist Abuse Allegations [Telegraph UK]

Winehouse Husband Sentenced to 27 Months [SFGate]

Paul Westerberg Sells New Album For $0.49! [Pitchfork]

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Great Moments in Awesomeness

Posted on July 22, 2008 at 04:02 PM

For your online viewing pleasures, two recent performances from Internet: the amazing Rush on The Colbert Report (their first American TV appearance in over thirty years) and also the wonderful Leslie Fiest on Sesame Street singing her lil' ditty 1, 2, 3, 4.

So the lyrics are changed. Now the song is completely about counting to 4, whereas previously, the song was about a wistfully recalled love, and counting to 4.

And here is Rush in all of their humble glory, being interviewed by Steven Colbert, and then performing their 1981 tune Tom Sawyer. They know changes aren't permanent... BUT CHANGE IS!

Tagged as: Music

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Country Boo-down

Posted on July 22, 2008 at 11:58 AM

To Jessica Simpson, who was booed in her first country concert this past weekend in Wisconsin, one can only point out that Tony Romo also gets booed... on a regular basis. So things can only get better... right? And check out the above photo... girl is made for country.

Is this the death of blog hype, the death of the Pitchfork love for Black Kids, the death of Black Kids' career, the beginning of the end of relevance for Pitchfork, or none of the above, or all of the above? Probably not, definitely so, probably not, possibly so...

There have been myriad articles this summer on rising gas prices and their effects on your humble touring rock band. Here is another one, which includes the spicy revelation that the Warped Tour peeps have begun handing out $500 gas vouchers each day to different bands in the hopes that they won't bolt the pump line and take their rock home.

Over at Madonna Tour Rehearsals, dancers and tour managers are getting fired, Madonna's in a bad mood, and her fit but aging body may not be up for it. In case you care.

Links:

Jessica Simpson Gets Booed At First Country Concert [The Dish Rag]

Black Kids - Partie Traumatic [Pitchfork]

Gas Prices Have Rock Tours Reelin' [LA Times]

Madonna in Meltdown [The Sun]

Tagged as: Celebs , Music

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He Could Be Black He Could Be White - He Could Be Wrong, He Could Be Wrong

Posted on July 21, 2008 at 08:53 AM

Bizarre and pretty disgusting news from Barcelona: Bloc Party's Kele Okereke, who is black, was subject to a racial verbal attack from John Lydon, and then a physical attack from Lydon's crew. The altercation began with Okereke asking Lydon a question regarding Lydon's post Sex Pistols band Public Image Ltd. Lydon grew upset, and suggested that Okereke had a 'black attitude.' Later, Lydon's crew attacked Okereke, an altercation witnessed by over fifty people, including members of Foals and Kaiser Chiefs, members of whom stepped in to fend off Lydon's crew.

According to the Guardian, Lydon has not commented on the matter, though Okereke released a statement, noting "I am disappointed that someone I held with such high regard turns out to be such a bigot."

Not As Disgusting:

If you've ever gone to Courtney Love's MySpace then you know that she is an endlessly fascinating "blogger." And as Stereogum notes, she's been especially prolific lately. The latest missives include a fascinating serial which involves Ryan Adams and his (alleged!) use of her AMEX to buy crap at Guitar Center. Oh and also using $858,000 to fund the recording of his album Rock n' Roll. Money, of course, that could have gone to Frances Bean, and perhaps her upcoming Sweet 16 party that Billy Corgan can't attend.

If you've seen Rushmore or The Royal Tennenbaums (sorry, missed Darjeeling Limited) then you know that director Wes Anderson likes having Good Music in his movies. No surprise, then, that former Pulp mainman Jarvis Cocker has been writing songs for Anderson's upcoming adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Links:

John Lydon Accused of Racist Attack on Kele Okereke [The Guardian]

Courtney Love: Ryan Adams Stole k From Frances Bean - Where's the Beef? [Stereogum]

Jarvis Cocker Writes Songs For New Wes Anderson Film [NME]

Tagged as: Music

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Substance, Aural Abuse

Posted on July 17, 2008 at 12:41 PM

Bnl_gordon

Who knew that behind the Kraft dinner, the goofy raps and the squeaky clean image the Barenaked Ladies were actual rock stars! The good news comes from upstate New York, where lead warbler Steven Page was arrested and charged with cocaine possession. And that's not all, he was with two chicks! The band's official site says that Page plans to fight the charges, but we all know that you have to do that when dealing with The Man; it doesn't change the fact that Barenaked Ladies are now as welcome in the party pantheon as stalwarts Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Pete Doherty! Barenaked Ladies haven't been this appealing since their yellow tape era.

Also Declining Politely:

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has entered rehab once again! Given the theme to this post, that's news.

Don Henley, John Mellencamp and Tony freakin' Bennett joined rehab veteran Billy Joel onstage last night for the first of his two Shea Stadium shows. Given the impending destruction of Shea, plus Christie Brinkley's divorce news, plus his battles with addiction, Joel is bizarrely swimming amidst the zeitgeist.

Links:

Barenaked Ladies Singer to fight Cocaine Charge [Reuters]

Rolling Stones Guitarist Ronnie Wood Enters Rehab [Boston.com]

Billy Joel Gives Shea Its Own Last Waltz [New York Times]

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Shaxl's Revenge?

Posted on July 15, 2008 at 11:45 AM

Rock Band 2, the follow-up to Rock Band, released the track list for the soon-to-be-released game yesterday, and it's a doozie: Bikini Kill? Mastodon? Lush? Rush? Wow. Pretty eclectic; definitely some music nerds in the licensing department at Rock Band. The tune getting all the press, however? Something called Shackler's Revenge, a track from the perennially upcoming Guns n' Roses joint Chinese Democracy. That's right - it took a video game to pry a new song out of Axl Rose's hard drive. And here's the analysis of this paradigm shift from the latte-sippers at the New York Times.

And here is the Top 5 list of the greatest tracks on Rock Band 2, according to us:

5. The Replacements - Alex Chilton
4. Grateful Dead - Alabama Getaway
3. Sonic Youth - Teenage Riot
2. Talking Heads - Psycho Killer
1. Rush - The Trees (!!!!!!!!!)

Also High Scoring:

Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan is apparently close to Frances Bean Cobain. Frances is turning 16 soon, which of course means a Sweet 16 party. Billy can't make it. Frances cried. Courtney's pissed.

And not very musical, but surely pop-cultural: Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman have split up. We're the Aristocrats!

Links:

Rock Band 2 Setlist includes new Guns n' Roses, Bob Dylan [Entertainment Weekly]

Courtney Love and Billy Corgan in Spt Over Frances Bean's Sweet 16 [Prefix]

Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman end 5-year romance [Reuters]

Tagged as: Music

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Don't Piss Off the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Merch People

Posted on July 14, 2008 at 08:55 AM

If you've recently noticed irreparable harm done to the Red Hot Chili Peppers... you're not seeing things! A small clothing company in Florida is being sued for $11 million by the not-so-small clothing company that handles logo management and merchandise for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The reason? One jacket that was made as a favor. The not-so-small company claim "irreparable" harm was done to the poor, poor Red Hot Chili Peppers. In the past, the fuseblog has called repeatedly for RHCP to hang up their socks. We, with more vigor than ever, repeat this request.

More, More, More:

Albert Hammond, Jr., the curly-haired Stroke, notes grimly that said Strokes must make an album in 2009 or else people will they they have broken up. Of course, they could just quietly break up and we wouldn't have to go through the effort of thinking they're still around.

Breaking... Contrary to previous reports, David Lee Roth did NOT nearly die due to exposure to nuts. And in a statement, Roth said,"I had no allergic reaction to nuts. I love nuts. Me and nuts go together like Siegfried and Roy. I mean, I don’t love nuts in a gay way, just in a totally masculine, 110% hetero way. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go change into my sparkly green leotards." It should surprise no one that he actually, seriously said this.

Links:

Florida Man Sued for Infringing on Red Hot Chili Peppers Logo [Rolling Stone]

Albert Hammond, Jr: 'New Strokes Album for 2009' [NME]

David Lee Roth Swears He Likes Nuts [Metal Sucks]

Tagged as: Music

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Despite All Their Rage, It's Pathetic

Posted on July 10, 2008 at 07:29 AM

Tons of reunions going on, if you hadn't noticed. In a (music) world where there are a million bands, streaming and downloading across a million outlets, who stands out? Not many. 'Name' bands, as they say. Hence this lil' piece on Chicago rockers Smashing Pumpkins and their lil' 20th Anniversary tour, which is scheduled to run in August, and then later in the year. The first Anniversary show takes place on August 9th at the Horseshoe Casino (rock n' roll!) in Hammond, Indiana. As the band's website helpfully notes, Hammond (and its casino) is "closer to Chicago than the Pumpkins have been since their final show on December 2nd of 2000." Woo hoo! While we are watching Corgan and maybe Jimmy Chamberlain and some other dudes or chicks play the Best Of Smashing Pumpkins, we can all reflect on how, at that moment, that casino is as close to Chicago as the Pumpkins have been to Chicago since... since when? Oh right... since their final show on December 2nd of 2000! Who says rock n' roll is dead?

The World Is A Vampire (Do do do doo, doo dooo):

Haven't seen too much hubbub about this on Internet so it's hard to tell just how true this is, but, um, apparently David Lee Roth almost died... and in Ontario? Dude has an allergic reaction to nuts, apparently, and had a serious reaction after an exposure. According to this article, it all went down in "Oakland, Ontario," which must be biggish Toronto suburb Oakville, right? Who knows, especially when you're reading an article on a San Francisco website about David Lee Roth almost dying on a Canadian highway from an allergic reaction to nuts. Nuts.

If there was ever any doubt that indie rock is self-reflexive and ultimately follows a Hornby-an path of raiding the personal pop culture past to travel back to childhood, and to bring childhood into the present, then that doubt is erased with the freakin' indie rock coloring book.

Flavor Flav reveals when he lost his virginity. It's younger than you think. Younger. Seriously, younger than that. Um, it's pretty young.

Links:

Smashing Pumpkins Reveal First Details of Anniversary Shows [NME]

Roth Suffers Near-Fatal Reaction [SF Gate]

Sufjan, LCD, Newsom, Feist, BSS Inspire Coloring Book [Pitchfork]

Flavor Flav Claims To Have Lost His Virginity at Age... [Prefix]

Tagged as: Music

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Winehouse Butt-Pinched, Punch Drunk

Posted on July 9, 2008 at 09:55 AM

In the news over the weekend, yet more groping-induced fisticuffs from Amy Winehouse! According to the NME, Winehouse clocked a dude - three times - in a Camden, London pub after she thought he had pinched her behind. Additionally, she called the guy a wanker. Unfortunately for the poor chap involved, he seems to have had nothing to do with the pinching, if it indeed really occurred. But there are worse things than being punched by Amy Winehouse, currently the world's most famous pugilist. Especially while having a pint in a nice pub. And despite all of the talk of Winehouse's state of mind, and her drug use, and her antics, and her rowdiness, it's worth remembering just how fantastic a singer she is. If he can get through all of this, an amazing career could lay ahead.

Also Punchy:

Legendary Seattle label Sub Pop has turned 20, and Billboard has a list of the Top 20 Sub Pop Moments. Mudhoney? Check. Nirvana? Check. White Stripes on the Sub Pop singles club? Wow, actually. Sub Pop's career-long company policy of releasing tons of stuff and seeing what sticks seems to have worked. BTW, Nirvana's Bleach was made for 600 bucks. And Sub Pop didn't even pay for that. Nice "investment."

And speaking of classic punk labels, D.C. label Dischord's 90s faves Shudder To Think are reuniting for a full scale tour. Over the years, frontman Craig Wedren has become something of an elder statesman of pop culture - releasing excellent records and writing themes for television, including the one for The State. Seeing him with Shudder To Think is a rare opportunity to catch kick butt art rock live. Do it.

Finally, NYC/Cincinnati rockers The National have designed a t-shirt marrying their song Mr. November with an image of a certain Democratic cadidate for President. All proceeds go straight to ~~Mr. November~~ Mr. Obama.

Links:

Amy Winehouse 'Beats' Man in Pub [NME]

Top 20 Sub Pop Moments [Billboard]

Shudder To Think Reunites for Fall Dates [Billboard]

The National [www.americanmary.com]

Tagged as: Celebs , Music

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Teenage Mutant Washed Up Pop Stars

Posted on July 8, 2008 at 07:02 AM

Madonna just can't get herself out of the news, though her recent doings seem far more Britney caliber than typical Madonna-classy: witness her recent tabloid (non-) escapades with Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, and now news that, well, Britney Spears may have a part in Madonna's upcoming tour. The tour is being called Sticky and Sweet, so naturally Spears came to mind. According to Access Hollywood (says MSNBC), Spears will have some sort of pre-videotaped role in the whole Sticky shebang, though the parameters of said involvement are yet to be revealed. Last time these two were together, it was to gracelessly suck face on MTV a few years back. Since the Kiss of Death, Madonna has seen her cultural stock slip, while Britney has (deep breath) walked into a public restroom barefoot, driven a car with her kids on her lap, divorced her husband, had her kids taken from her, shaved her head and delivered a train wreck of a "performance" in pretty much her only public stage appearance since. So no reason for Madonna and Brit NOT to get back together.

Sticky, Not Sweet:

The new-look Ear Farm counts down The Most Embarrassing Uses Of Hip-Hop in Marketing, 1985-92. Included in the list are Vanilla Ice and also the 1985 Chicago Bears' Super Bowl Shuffle, a track which should also be on a list of embarrassing NFL moments, not to mention shuffle genre examples.

Former President Bill Clinton will be one of the first four guests on the new Elvis Costello talk show premiering this winter. The show is called Spectacle, and the Clinton episode will feature discussion of how music shaped Bill's early political aspirations as well as his White House tenure. Music meaning sex, drugs and rock n' roll, that is.

And finally, an excerpt from Courageous Dream's Concern, Jack White's poem for Detroit, released this week to the Detroit Free Press. Following White's move from the Motor City to Nashville a few years back, word was that he was down on Detroit and its peeps. Not so, says White, and here are the stanzas to prove it. It may not be Leaves of Grass, but there is something Whitman-esque in its attempted grandeur and projection of working class majesty onto the locales of the city. Pretty well done, Jack White. A verse or two:

Detroit, you hold what one's been seeking,
Holding off the coward-armies weakling,
Always rising from the ashes
not returning to the earth.

I so love your heart that burns
That in your people's body yearns
To perpetuate,
and permeate,
the lonely dream that does encapsulate,
Your spirit, that God insulates,
With courageous dream's concern.

Links:

Britney, Madonna to Appear Together... Sort of... [MSNBC]

Countdown: The Most Embarrassing Uses Of Hip-Hop In Marketing, 1985-92 [Ear Farm]

Bill Clinton on Tap for Elvis Costello Talk Show [Reuters]

Read Jack White's Poem For Detroit [Detroit Free Press]

Tagged as: Britney Spears , Celebs , Music

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Lily, Lindsay, Miley, Morrison and Madonna

Posted on July 7, 2008 at 11:53 AM

Pitchfork points non-gossip rag-reading hipsters to the OK! Magazine website, which spotlights the rumor that beloved UK pop icon Lily Allen has collabo'd with US drunkard Lindsay Lohan on a track slated for Allen's second LP. It makes sense: Lily's album is being produced by Mick Ronson; LiLo (as OK! calls her) has been seen frenching with Mick's sister Samantha... why not make some sweet, sweet ~~love~~ music together? The gossip rag reports that Lindsay laid (heh) vocals down in LA for a track called Wherever You Go. They also refer to Lindsay as the "Herbie star."

And in other news, etc:

Miley Cyrus, fresh off of pissing off parents across this uptight land, made amends by playing the Fourth of July in Provo, Utah. Naturally, she gave a shout-out to our troops and then, rather grimly, noted that God has "a plan" and that she "is stoked." Stoked, probably, because so far God's plan involves her playing to an easy crowd on the Fourth while troops halfway around the world battle in the sand. They're not stoked. Nope. Not stoked at all.

Madonna is not taking advantage of Alex Rodriguez, according to Madonna. She also claims to not be divorcing Guy Ritchie and that she has no say in A-Rod's "spiritual path." Giver Madonna's longtime interest in latino dudes, she must have an interest in SOMETHING A-Rod.

Every few years, the rumors regarding Doors singer Jim Morrison's possible faked death resurface, usually thanks to Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek bringing it up. And he has done it again, as it is the week of Morrison's supposed death. Manzarek told the Daily Mail of the day a year before Morrison's death, on which Morrison showed Manzarek a brochure of the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean, and mused aloud of the possibility of disappearing to such a place. Sadly, Morrison's death/disappearance indirectly led to An American Prayer.

Links:

Miley Cyrus Gives U.S. Troops a Shout-Out [E! Online]

Rumor Mill: LiLo and Lily Duet? [OK! Magazine]

Madonna: 'Not Planning On Getting A Divorce' [People]

Riding Through the Storm: Doors' Keyboard Player Ray Manzarek Muses On Life After Jim Morrison [Daily Mail]

Tagged as: Celebs , Music

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Bands Break Up! A-Rod Break Up!

Posted on July 3, 2008 at 10:35 AM

The holiday weekend is here, which seems as good a time as any to discuss the tantalizing idea of bands breaking up when they were new, and on top. The Guardian discusses this today in their blog, noting that the Sex Pistols and the La's, two UK bands who released classic albums and were forever mythologized in the absence of followup releases. The piece also speculates on the even greater standing Guns n' Roses would command if they'd hung it up after Appetite. Overall, it's an agreeable position (the difference in quality between the first and second Stone Roses albums support this), but one can't help wondering how a second La's album would have sounded. And Use Your Illusion II just plain rocks.

Also Waving That Flag:

The gravestone of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis has been stolen. Pretty ghastly, and definitely lame. Just hang up a poster of Closer like everybody else, idiot.

The whole Madonna thing is getting more and more interesting. Not only are rumors swirling that she has been hitting the showers with New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez, but now it's being said that A-Rod's soon-to-be ex-wife Cynthia has flown to Paris to shack up with Lenny Kravitz, who is now back in the news for the first time since... um... hmmm...

Portfolio.com breaks down the estimated total worth of Led Zeppelin's lengthy classic Stairway To Heaven. Publishing royalties: $12 million. Master recording: $550 million. Potential earnings: $20 million. Total estimated value: over $580 million!

Links:

Why More Bands Should Split Sooner [The Guardian]

Ian Curtis Memorial Stone Stolen [BBC]

Report: A-Rod's Wife in Paris with Kravitz [UPI]

Stairway To Heaven's Revenues [Portfolio.com]

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We Don't Enjoy Themselves

Posted on July 1, 2008 at 10:57 AM

If you thought the world had been permanently, happily, relieved of Phish and future Phish activities, you may want to brace yourself - the Vermont foursome may be getting back together. Booo, oops, we mean Yay! Three of the four members have hinted and winked and implied that they could be soon again be working together. Considering that none have found much commercial success outside of Phish, and that even mainman Trey has trouble finding his footing, a Phish reunion would surprise no one. What follows is the completely scientific First Annual Fuseblog Jam Band Ratings:

Grateful Dead - The original and best. Through a combination of chops, rearing and exploration, the Dead managed to become the quintessential American rock band, fusing jazz, psychedelia, blues, R&B and rock into a unique sound ready-made for live improvisation. Unequaled. Sadly, they now all hate each other and it's difficult to keep track of who dislikes who(m). It's clear though, that it'll be several Dark Star's worth of time before Phil Lesh and Bob Weir share an incense stick. A+

Phish - Technically brilliant, able to write catchy melodies but never able to transcend their utter lack of soul. Attractive to college students, and that's about it. C-

Dave Matthews Band - Less a jam band than a pop band. Decent songwriting, excellent playing, completely unmemorable unless you are smitten with the songs. B-

Widespread Panic - Apparently nice guys who have been around awhile. Never heard the music. Incomplete

moe. - Never heard the music. Been around awhile. Incomplete

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe - Jam band fans often get into funk after their initial jam band baptism. Karl Denson gigs provide hornal satisfaction. True fans then go home and listen to James Brown and, if they're really nerdy, the J.B.'s box set. B

Umphrey's McGee - Points given for the Fripp and Zappa inspiration, points taken for the ridiculous name. C+

That's all the jamming we can take for today. Moving on:

If you'd like to hear an awesome cover song or two, you could do worse than Doveman's track by track cover of the Footloose soundtrack. It's hushed, pretty and amazing.

Links:

Trey Anastasio Hints at Phish Reunion [Rolling Stone]

Phish Reunion? Mike Gordon Is Optimistic [Rolling Stone]

Phish.com: A Letter from Page [phish.com]

Doveman - Footloose [dovemanmusic.com]

Tagged as: Music

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