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(02/23/10 3:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>So it's been awhile since the last time I posted some links; I figured
it's time for another roundup. Last week was pretty hectic so I'm
bringing you some early ones this week. Some odd, entertaining bits
today so let's just get to it.
ROUND 'EM UP
NBC announced the guest lineup for Leno's return to the Tonight Show. A
bunch of A-listers and Olympic athletes... Remains to be seen if they
can salvage the Tonight Show from everything that happened. (Let's hope
not.) [TV Guide]
The other Belushi is getting older, so he's heading to a most logical
destination: CBS. And, get ready for this bomb, he's starring in a
legal drama. Two jaw-droppers right there. [TV Guide]
The cast of 'Glee' is visiting the White House to perform at the White
House Easter Egg Roll. I don't know what that is, but apparently
Michelle Obama invited them. The only thing more awesome would be if
they had said, "Sorry, but no thanks." [EW]
SNL is closing in on getting Betty White to host, bringing the number
of successful Facebook groups with an arbitrary number of people
demanding something happen to one. Looks like it might not be Ms. White
though, take a look. [EW]
The latest hip-hop album to be delayed 1,149 times, the Method
Man/Ghostface/Raekwon album really is going to be released next month
according to Pitchfork. We're still waiting on a real "re-Wu-nion" but
this should be plenty for now. [Pitchfork]
And now the trainwrecks. Ahh yes. Lindsay Lohan confesses in an
interview that cocaine and other habits almost killed her. You might
not even think this is news, but it's always fun to marvel how far
she's come from 'The Parent Trap' isn't it? [Huffington Post]
Last but not least, the Oregon football team appears to just be
completely derailed. Racism, DUI's, theft, assault, domestic violence
are just a few as the list of offenses continues to grow. Where can I
call Chip Kelly to babysit my kids someday? Gooooooooo Ducks!! [Deadspin]
Well that's all for today folks. Keep it real, but not too real. Look
at what happened to Heidi Montag when things got too real- whoaa.
(02/17/10 11:29pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There is nothing worse than being on the wrong end of a social faux pas. There are small rules, codes of conduct even, for almost every realm of reality, from bus rides to eloquent dinners.It should come as no surprise that Facebook has developed its own form of etiquette for its users. Status updates, photos, poking: Any activity comes with strings attached and must be considered in the context of everyone watching.Thus everything you do on Facebook cultivates your persona. Choices and conduct on Facebook have consequences just like the real world. If anything else, this is truer for Facebook, where a friend request can grant someone pseudo-omniscience with nothing more than the click of a mouse.Unfortunately, many people fail to grasp this concept. Or perhaps they simply don’t care. Regardless of the reasoning, it seems a little bit reckless for a person with hundreds of friends to air their dirty relationship laundry in their status. This is the real world equivalent of stating your name and then shouting your problems to crowds of people — and this would be socially unacceptable.Point is, people should plan their Facebook interactions as carefully as those on a day-to-day, real-life basis. The impression you give people on Facebook can and will affect their opinion of you in real life, especially if they don’t yet know you.This isn’t to say Facebook shouldn’t be fun, but it is supposed to represent who you are. So unless you are the kind of person who likes to share their problems with hundreds of people they may or may not be very close to, think about what you’re doing.On that note, here are some important Facebook tools to monitor:Relationship statuses are huge. They are one of the more seldom-used features on Facebook and those relationships are damn near sacred. No relationship is taken seriously without being “Facebook Official.”So respect the relationship. Putting single on your page means you are definitely single, make sure your joke relationships are obviously a joke, and most importantly, DO NOT break it off without consulting the other person first.One thing no one likes is a cryptic, mysterious status update that sound more like an emo fortune cookie than anything remotely intriguing. In fact, more often than not, it annoys everyone who reads it and makes you seem pathetic.“Everyone has pretty much the same problems,” said senior Adam Adamo. “Just suck it up and deal with it like the rest of us.”The most rampant problem on Facebook is random friending. Under no conditions is it allowable to add someone as a friend you do not know. The not-so-subtle reason of simply wanting to see his or her entire profile is a little creepy.And last, use the “poke” feature carefully. Easily the most awkward means of interaction on Facebook, the poke can be used to mock, flirt or totally weird people out if used inappropriately. So it might be just a better idea to avoid it entirely, but if you must, proceed with caution.Again, remember who is watching. Remember it’s more than just you and your friends on Facebook and think about the rest of us, including potential employers. Please. No one wants to have to “hide” you.
(02/17/10 6:29pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack’s newest effort, “Heligoland,” marks their first studio album in seven years. While “Heligoland” isn’t the duo’s most revolutionary effort, it is also not a disappointment.The first track is one of the best. “Pray For Rain,” featuring Tunde Adibempe from TV On The Radio, progresses slowly, bordering on silence when the dark piano and speed drums of the foreground relent. Adibempe moves the song before he rewards us with a rocking falsetto pinnacle.“Heligoland” is a little bit of a detour; for a genre that is all about layers, the album shows that more is not always better. Much of it is stripped down, relying on vocal homogenization with the barren electronica that sometimes bleeds into monotony.Manipulation through peaks and valleys is also oddly absent for the most part. The beats and the integration sometimes stay too flat in favor of movement.This just emphasizes what could be called the biggest problem with “Heligoland”: Too many of the tracks are more forgettable than they are poor.
(02/10/10 11:01pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Valentine’s Day. To some, the holiday spells roses, chocolate and being with the person you care about the most. To many others it reeks of consumerism and pseudo-affection — an isolated date that arbitrarily emphasizes love more than any other day of the year.But why? Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a celebration of love, the apex of human emotion. In theory, that should be something to celebrate.The anti-Valentine’s Day sentiment is widespread. Go to CafePress online and you can find literally thousands of products advocating an absence of love rather than an abundance of it.American Greetings even has a small line of cards devoted to anti-Valentine’s Day. While the proportion is small, the cards were introduced in 2007 and still have purchasers.“Some of our consumer research just revealed a suddenly more cynical look at the holiday,” said American Greetings Senior Communication Specialist Frank Cirillo. “People thought they could use some humor about it.”It’s the holiday’s concept that is inherently polarizing for many. Ilyssa Hoffman, a sophomore, said being single doesn’t bother her, but she can see why it might bother others.“It’s a holiday celebrating relationships or people being together,” she said. “What is that supposed to tell all the people who don’t have someone else like that?”Hoffman is single for the first time in a long time this year; she spent her last three Valentine’s Days with her old boyfriend. Despite that, she said she has never been a fan of the holiday.Many others dislike the pedestal Valentine's Day is put on.“I look forward to it and intend to celebrate,” sophomore Alex Gordon said. “But I don’t think one day should be more special than any other when you’re with someone.”Celebrities have talked about their disdain for the holiday, too. Ashton Kutcher and Carrie Underwood have gone on record as thinking the holiday is a waste of time.But whether it’s simply a trend or a lasting school of thought, these days the holiday of love is sure experiencing a lot of hate.
(02/10/10 5:53pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Mixtapes are, and always have been, Lil Wayne’s calling card. No one stakes their claim on a beat like him and most of the time Wayne’s versions are an improvement from the original.“Rebirth” was supposed to have a similar premise: Weezy F. taking on rock music and making it his own in an attempt to go from eating rappers to eating rockers.Unfortunately, this time Wayne’s ambition has failed to match the result. “Rebirth” is a misguided effort that resonates more as a careless hobby than a legitimate crossover attempt.Part of what makes rap music so good is the artist’s flow, but this is not the case with rock music. So when Wayne tries to take lyrical content straight from hip-hop and lay it down in a rock song, it doesn’t translate well. Without that rapid pacing, the lyrics have time to marinate and in turn, don’t work.The album’s leadoff track “American Star” is the mindless garbage that calls the seriousness of the album into question. Aside from the hypocritical lyrics, Wayne summons his guitar midway through the song by crying “Bridge!” and cracking off one of the worst guitar solos you will ever hear.The so-called rock beats that he auto-tunes over are equally atrocious. Each sounds like it was handpicked to sound excruciatingly out of date and corny. “On Fire” might as well be a television theme song from the ’80s.Conceptually, Wayne proves to be completely inept in terms of rock. His messages and stories lack any kind of commonality and most of the time make very little sense. “Drop The World,” which features the mixed-up Eminem, is a terrifying look at fame from two people who have struggled to deal with it in their own ways in the past.It’s unfortunate that before his prison stay, Lil Wayne chose to leave the public with “Rebirth” and not something closer to home, or hell, just something better. Hopefully by the time he is released he’ll get back to doing what he does best and put down the guitar.
(02/09/10 8:28pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>So the Super Bowl came and went, leaving us with a great game and a terrible series of commercials, just IMHO. But hey, beggars can't be choosers right? So now we have the conclusions of TV and basketball seasons to look forward to and hopefully they'll be as good as the end of the NFL was. Lots of good bits today since it's been awhile since our last roundup, so let's get you what you want to read:ROUND 'EM UPSo now we're talking Howard Stern as an 'Idol' judge. Finally the people at Fox are discussing someone interesting. The jury is still out on Ellen but that was never a pick that personally made me more interested in the show. However, just reading Stern's comments on the reports about him potentially joining just make me pumped at the prospect. [E!]In other news of awesomeness, Warner Bros. is asking Christopher Nolan about rebooting the Superman franchise. Now there's something that needs a reboot and Nolan would be just the man to do it. He saved Batman from the deepest depths of franchise hell, so seeing him take over what has proven to be a difficult series would be quite intriguing. [io9]Now for some less interesting movie news. A '24' movie script is reportedly in the works. Great. Who is excited about this again? [TV Guide](I feel like my transitions are just flowing so well today, more bad TV news--)The ultimate floundering TV show looks to have finally drowned: the 'Heroes' season finale barely drew a higher viewership than the almost last 'Jay Leno Show.' How this show became so epically bad, I'm not sure. Frankly I'm close to convincing myself that it was never actually good at all and somehow a lucrative amount of people talked themselves into liking one season of it. [io9]According to Entertainment Weekly, the best and worst of the Super Bowl commercials. (Although for my money, nothing beat the Doritos commercial with the tranq dart.) [EW]In case you missed this one from the weekend because you were too excited to see Carrie Underwood sing the national anthem, 'Avatar''s reign at the top of the box office has ended. It was knocked off by 'Dear John.' At least it wasn't some lame predictable romance that was just one in a long line of manufactured stories by the same dude. Oh wait... [THR]If there's one thing that girls eat up more than Nicolas Sparks movies, it's Taylor Lautner. Better known as the dude with the abs who may or may not date Taylor Swift. Anyway, he's signed on to play Stretch Armstrong, the popular Hasbro toy from our childhood. This is awesome right? [THR]Now for a couple interesting tidbits...Ed O'Bannon continues to press on in his lawsuit versus the NCAA concerning the usage of college athletes' likenesses in video games and promotions. If this succeeds, it would change the face of how the NCAA does business forever. [Deadspin]Male birth control pills using, wait for it, marijuana! Let's take a look at what Mary Jane has been up to lately shall we? Take a look at the technical jargon of it and it's actually pretty funny/interesting. [Popular Science]Last but not least, BONNAROO LINEUP! 'Roo is doing things a little bit differently this year, announcing artists a few minutes apart and makng it difficult for anyone to concentrate on anything waiting for the next announcement. Your thoughts on the lineup here: [Festival Crashers]That's it for today folks. Keep it real, but not too real. You might turn into Betty White while playing pickup football with your friends.
(02/08/10 11:11pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In his State of the State address, Gov. Mitch Daniels expressed his desire to make Indiana the capital of the green automobile industry.With the $6 million grant awarded to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development from the U.S. Department of Labor, that dream became more of a reality.The grant, part of a competitive nationwide program created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will help train Hoosier auto workers in the transition to a greener economy, especially in the production of electric cars. The Department of Labor awarded 34 grants total, ranging from $2 million to $6 million.“It’s going to help the transition in different green areas like advanced manufacturing, construction and engineering,” said Workforce Development communications director Marc Lotter.Though the details of how the grant would be used are yet to be determined, Lotter said the grant would update workers’ current skill sets.“The key is that it will provide resources for on-the-job training, which gives the skills to compete within the marketplace,” he said.The grant will fund Indiana’s Green Energy Technology Instruction and Training with the interesting acronym of I GET IT. The program will affect more than 2,100 unemployed Hoosiers and others experiencing difficulties finding work. It will also help establish an Advanced Energy Training Center that will aid the transition to a greener economy.Lotter also said the grant helps build the state’s reputation within the industry, as do the plants established in the state by companies such as Norwegian electric car manufacturer Think and battery supplier EnerDel.Think announced in November they had chosen Indiana as its new production site.“The state of Indiana was simply very proactive in their attempts to lure Think from the governor’s office to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation,” Think spokesperson Brendan Prebo said.Prebo said these two companies will speed up the state’s green energy movement.“Those are two pieces that Indiana can really build on as a leader in the electric vehicle industry,” he said.This is the second green energy grant the state has received. In November the state received a similar $4 million grant, which Lotter said was used to study what skills the auto worker of tomorrow would need in transitioning to green energy production. He said the second grant will train the workers to apply the skills learned from the first grant. “Indiana has the ability to become the capital of the green automobile market and we want to make that happen,” Lotter said.
(02/04/10 11:25pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>What's up everybody? It's Thursday again and I'm still trying to get in the habit of posting these link summaries on a regular basis. So bear with me, but they'll keep coming as best as I can. WEEKEND printed today so if you haven't seen it, pick up a copy as soon as you're done reading this. Without further ado:ROUND 'EM UPSo much for Zac Efron. It appears Sony is turning to the relatively unknown Logan Lerman to play Peter Parker in Marc Webb's 'Spidey' reboot. You may know him from such things as the upcoming 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians,' 'Gamer' or the WB series 'Jack and Bobby.' Or you might not. [Hitfix]On a more somber note, the coroner report on Brittany Murphy's death has been revealed. It is said that she died of pneumonia and prescription drugs. Details within the read. [TV Guide]So Conan to Fox might not be as open-and-closed as many think. Rupert Murdoch said today the Irishman won't be joining the network unless they're "confident of making a profit." We'll see how this goes, but he might just be covering all his bases here. [TV by the Numbers]Another crazy-haired audacious host is in the news today: Howard Stern. His XM contract is up this year and there hasn't been a lot of talk thus far as to where he will go. His last deal was lucrative but who listens to satellite radio, honestly? [THR]Are you sick of the FreeCreditReport.com guys? Apparently some other people are too. A Wisconsin woman is suing the company for allegedly false claims made in their commercials. Stunner, something that's supposedly free but has a catch? Someone didn't, or can't, read the fine print. [Huffington Post]Here's a scary one: GQ's big-time story on how hazardous cell phone usage might really be to you and your brain. I guess there is a connection between Paris Hilton's idiocy and the fact that everytime you see her she's on the phone. But seriously it's quite a read. [GQ]Donovan McNabb and TO are friends again. Now only if he can get back on Ray Lewis' good side. [Deadspin]Viagra for everybody! (No, seriously, everybody.) [io9]That's it for today folks. Keep it real, but not too real. Brad Pitt's beard might eat you.
(02/03/10 11:53pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Twenty years from now, when NBC has somehow ruined the winter Olympics simply because that’s what it does and when the International Olympic Committee is looking for a breath of fresh air, both should look no further than Basinball. Basinball features two opposing teams equipped with ice skates, helmets and pads skating around a large basin-style arena, with banked walls covered in ice. In the center of the arena is a rotating circular set of bars which players can grab onto and launch themselves about the sides of the playing area. High above these bars is a hanging hoop which represents the object of the game: to put a ball through it in order to score points. Sure, this game sounds pretty ambitious, maybe it even sounds a little bit like the apocalyptic “Rollerball” to you cynics. But don’t fear; Basinball has a limited contact rule and doesn’t have motorcycles flying about the course. However, snowmobiles were considered.Each team has eight players that carry scoops, little baskets with handles that are the only things allowed to carry the ball. The scoops must also be used to throw the ball, with three different point totals being awarded. The totals depend on whether the player is at the bottom, middle or highest points of the embankment and are three, two and one respectively.The game is played in two 25-minute halves and is decided by five minute overtimes if necessary.So what makes a great Basinball player? Certainly the ability to skate is important, but self-awareness is also paramount: 15 other players are flying around the basin in various directions with eight of them trying to take the ball from the handling player and put it through the hoop.The best Basinball players possess a keen sense of awareness and more finesse than aggression. Since contact is limited, stealing the ball requires that players be more clever and timely than brutal and overpowering. Strategy for scoring the ball becomes all the more important.The game was designed to create this type of voluntary chaos that values a person’s ability to be quick, keen and conscious; keeping your wits is as important as keeping the ball.So strap on those ice skates, freeze over a skating bowl and play some Basinball. Just watch out for the people flying around. And the missed shot that’s about to land on your head.
(02/03/10 5:15pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In a day and age when some people say modern country is growing stale
and shy, Lady Antebellum emerges as simply more of the same.So rejoice, country haters, and take solace in the twangy, shallow monotony.Lady Antebellum’s sophomore album, “Need You Now” wisely begins with its title track and unravels a little bit more as it progresses. “Need You Now,” which is also the lead single, is a refreshingly genuine duet with a wonderfully harmonized vocal contrast and honest lyrics that aren’t completely hokey.After that, each track seems to digress in terms of creativity and originality. None of the material is new or interesting and the group fails to recreate the sound from the single.The dynamic between Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley is nullified by boring production and retreaded arrangements. The single might make Antebellum some money, but the rest of the album is nothing remarkable; don’t be surprised if this is labeled a sophomore slump for the group.
(02/02/10 1:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Hello again people who actually look at these things-- It's Monday, but by the time this is going up, Monday is almost over so that's reason to rejoice. Anyway, it's been awhile since the last post and there has been an entire weekend between! So much new stuff has happened... "Avatar" is number one at the box office, Taylor Swift pulled off a controversial upset at an awards show, and Zac Efron might be going back to HS. Okay so I guess those are all confusing examples, but who are we kidding? You read this for the links if you read it at all.ROUND 'EM UP"Avatar" is becoming an empire. It topped the box office for the seventh consecutive weekend yesterday and has now made over $2 billion. It's only a matter of time before people painted blue storm the White House and begin demanding for their trees back. [THR]The Grammys had their biggest audience in the last six years, thanks I'm sure to the incredible performances put forth by people not called the Black Eyed Peas. [New York Times]I feel like I should be typing the letters NBC right now, right? CBS finds itself in some warm water that is ready to be thrown into a boil. Some of the commercials they have decided to run, or not to run, have stirred up a little bit of controversy. [Auto Straddle]Hulu where art thou? Well in the Mac World at least. [EW]We do know where Tila Tequila is, for better or worse. But thankfully it will not be on Twitter anymore. Apparently that couldn't land her a TV show so she quit because it was too hard. Not really, but maybe it's possible. [E!]Zac Efron in "High School Musical 4: Spiderman Origins." I'm kidding, but Sony did say this Spidey reboot will begin in those awkward adolescent hallways... Could we have another surprise on our hands? [io9]That's it for today folks. Keep it real, but not too real. Some things are better left to the imagination, like Lady Gaga's gender.
(01/28/10 9:46pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Hey everybody-- it's Thursday so WEEKEND ran today. Check out our issue centered around 'Lost' and just do me a favor, if you particularly like any of these links just stand up and start clapping. I was watching the SOTU last night and I think this could really catch on.ROUND 'EM UPJD Salinger, the author of the classic novel, "Catcher in the Rye," passed away today at the age of 91. No doubt a great author who gave high schools reading material for years! No word yet on this generation's writer who will pen the book that everyone will have to read between the ages of 15-18. [USA Today]So its name sounds like a tampon. So what? Here are 10 more reasons you shouldn't be scrambling to buy the iPad. [Wired]This one is priceless: the transcript from Leno's appearance on Oprah reads that he was "devastated" to lose "The Tonight Show." Why he didn't say something five years ago, I have no idea. Probably just because he's too shy; I mean we all know how Jay hates the spotlight. [TV Guide]On a related note, some much more bearable news that also has a considerably smaller chin and better hair. According to last week's Nielsen ratings, Conan has pulled ahead of Letterman in the season-to-date rating for that timeslot. Too bad NBC doesn't have more popular personalities to backstab. [The Wrap]I have a fever, and the only prescription is more TMZ. Just when you thought this enterprise of gossip couldn't get any more intrusive, they're unveiling a new sports site. Allegedly it's not as "tabloid-y" as expected. We'll see how that goes. [Deadspin]McG is back on his grind, this time rebooting "La Femme Nikita" in the sci-fi scene. "Supernatural" and "Chuck" are two of the best shows on television right now so let's hope that he can have the same success here. [io9]Now here is a story. David Spade and TBS have reportedly reached an agreement that will bring an animated "Joe Dirt" series to the network. Now if that's not what I want my kid growing up on, then I do not know what is. [THR]Testicle for sale! (Left one only, please) [Huffington Post]And a great, great website. Especially for epic fails-- someone forward it to NBC. [NOOOOOOOOO]That's it for today folks. Keep it real, but not too real. You'll never get out alive.
(01/27/10 11:58pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Though the critically acclaimed “Crazy Heart” is still in limited release in theaters, the soundtrack allows audiences a look at an impressive score.Composed by T-Bone Burnett, the original score utilizes an old school country sound strongly influenced by rambling blues and a truly western feel. It’s a testament to how timeless this real country music is and a demonstration of how accessible it can be.Jeff Bridges sings more than either of his co-stars Colin Farrell or Robert Duvall and with such authenticity that it makes one wonder why he never considered a career in country music prior to “Crazy Heart.” His vocal versatility from track to track keeps the album from bleeding together and sounds remarkably experienced.However, the track receiving the most acclaim – and really, the best on the album – is the finale “The Weary Kind” with Ryan Bingham. This haunting melody is the movie’s theme song and rightfully so. It has the rare effect of being both chilling and delightful; it closes the album quite perfectly.
(01/26/10 8:00pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Welcome to what we hope will become a daily occurrence here on the WEEKEND site, a link roundup of all the most important, life-changing information that you may have glazed over reading about some State of the Union address or something. We hope to gather all of these relevant news bits and give them to you right here for you to take or leave. We’re going to keep trying either way.Glenn Beck is allegedly the second most popular personality on television these days. He is also allegedly getting under Bill O’Reilly’s skin. One of these sounds much more ridiculous that the other, care to guess which? [Huffington Post]YES! MORE CRIME SHOWS! CBS’ latest might just star Forest Whitaker in a ‘Criminal Minds’ spinoff. [THR]A contract standoff with the ‘Jersey Shore’ cast? Really? MTV, can it be that difficult? [Live Feed]‘American Idol’ contestant kicked out of the top 24? For something that really isn’t even his fault, I agree with ‘Rolling Stone;’ this is pretty severe. But rules are rules I suppose. [Rolling Stone]Midwest Music Festivals FTL: Rothbury ’10 cancelled. This is pretty unfortunate after landing a couple good lineups the last couple years—it makes the anticipation for the Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza lineups oh so much more intense. [Rolling Stone]And last but certainly not least, for all you dreamers out there, it is expected that Apple will announce big plans for its tablet tomorrow. There are pics here… and they look pretty damn impressive. [Huffington Post]
(01/20/10 6:49pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ringo Starr has brought us his 16th studio album in “Y Not,” appropriately named for an album that gives you very few reasons to listen other than, “Why Not?”While the guest list on the album is impressive – Paul McCartney, Joss Stone, Ben Harper – the quality of the album is mediocre. Granted, Ringo has never been particularly audacious, but “Y Not” is ridden with unremarkable, grudging melodies and monotonous vocals guaranteed to make anyone who is not a diehard Beatles fan catatonic with boredom.The album is exactly what one might expect from Ringo: a moderately creative effort that tends to lean on its guests and whose overwhelmingly optimistic lyrics drop as many names as cliches. In some cases it succeeds; “Walk With You,” featuring McCartney, is a nicely composed track that is at least listenable. The rest of the album falls short of anything beyond average music that would garner all the attention of a light pole were it not written by a former Beatle.
(01/13/10 11:44pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If 2009 was the year that auto-tune destroyed pop music, let’s hope 2010 is the year that pop music destroys auto-tune. Although wonderful, that’s probably not likely, but here are some predictions about what we will see.Joaquin Phoenix will release his hip-hop album and it’s better than “Rebirth.” OK, so this is cheating a little since the album is technically not out yet – though many have heard the leak from Lil Wayne’s rock brainchild. Although it does evoke fond memories of ’80s rock music, the remaining feelings of the album are entirely negative and almost painful. Phoenix’s alleged faux-insane hip-hop career will hopefully come to fruition and surprise many.There will continue to be new(ish) marketing strategies for album releases. We’ve seen this already from some bands like Radiohead and their viral release of “In Rainbows.” But the single release is no longer the default within alternative genres. Many bands are utilizing lower quality MP3s, promotional leaks, and exclusive viral marketing to attract loyal fans and slowly get others excited for new material.There will be a changing-of-the-guard in hip-hop. Since we won’t be hearing much from Lil Wayne, T.I., or (probably) Kanye West in 2010, the door is open for younger acts like Drake or Kid Cudi to supplant the giants who have held up the industry for most of the last decade. The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Blink-182 will re-emerge in the alternative scene. Both bands have releases planned for 2010 and I think you can expect impressive efforts from both. Blink’s tour has been quite successful and the Peppers’ Flea has been touring with Thom Yorke, whose influence is reportedly evident on the new album.Two quick thoughts:Chris Brown’s music career will be dead, thanks to bone-headed, tasteless release dates and Jay Sean. Vampire Weekend and Wolfmother will become part of the “Twilight” insanity thanks to brainless Twi-hards who will misinterpret the names.And here’s to hoping 2010 is Black Eyed Peas-free!
(12/10/09 5:25pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The single experienced a resurgence during the aughts thanks to the constantly decreasing attention spans of the general public. Pop singles dominated the radio and were easily available individually thanks to iTunes. These are 15 singles that have gone on to become almost synonymous with the band that created them, songs that were crazy popular and had a huge impact on the artists’ careers. Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady" (2000) – One of the most self-congratulating pieces in recent memory, "The Real Slim Shady" bore Eminem as less of the contrived Slim Shady he had been and more like Eminem as a person, hence the name of the song and the LP containing it. It indeed Eminem at his finest, controversial but candid, slamming fellow celebs with such ease it was mildly disgusting. Daft Punk, "One More Time" (2000) – One of the decade’s best celebration songs, Daft Punk’s jangly muffled loop caught fire and became perhaps their most accessible work. The song is no more complex that the concept: listen to music, dance, celebrate, feel free. I don’t know if there’s anyone who can’t buy into that. Coldplay, "Yellow" (2000) – Forget what they are now and try to remember Coldplay in the context of “Yellow.” “Look at the stars / look how they shine for you...”? Really? How could any girl alive not fall in love with Chris Martin’s soft utterance of this sappy yet sometimes eccentric poetry? Though they’ve really evolved since then, “Yellow” gave Coldplay the platform to do so. Kylie Minouge, "Can't Get You Out My Head" (2001) – Catchy, smooth, seductive, coy – all are great adjectives when attempting to convey the appeal of "Can’t Get You Out Of My Head." The song is ridden with sexual appeal that emphasizes the more subtle aspects of human sexuality and desire that are usually dormant inside people. Kylie didn’t unleash hers per say, but the material made the song inherently relatable and the beat made it ridiculously likeable. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Maps" (2003) – On an album full of raw garage punk and forceful lyricism, a heartfelt reflection about lead singer Karen O’s love life was somewhat unexpected. Though slightly misleading to their sound, it was easily the band’s most well known song. The reluctantly desperate words and heavy guitar gave the song a tough love feel, allowing it to sound more genuine, and quite frankly, become one of the best love songs of our generation. Green Day, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (2004) – Green Day’s American Idiot album pissed off a lot of fans, but it had a lot of hits and none was bigger or better than "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." With a ravenous guitar sound and awesomely quotable lyrics, "Boulevard" became 21st century Green Day. The Killers, "Somebody Told Me" (2004) – Before "Somebody Told Me," we hadn’t heard anything like it in awhile. The song’s synthetic sound and fervent tempo made it bankable in almost any setting, while frontman Brendan Flower’s lyrics are as audacious as his voice. It was influential too; Somebody Told Me probably turned more mainstream kids into indie rockers than any other this decade. Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone" (2004) – This was the song that introduced us to the tenacious girl rocker version of Kelly Clarkson we all love. Soft chorus, scream sing verse; since "Since U Been Gone" there have been countless copies of this style. So to her credit, this song could have easily been terrible, see Pink, 2008, but Kelly was able to pull off the pop punk rock thing flawlessly and won a Grammy to boot. Franz Ferdinand, "Take Me Out" (2004) – An indie rock anthem for the 21st century, Franz Ferdinand’s "Take Me Out" was quirky enough to charm much of the mainstream audience but bizarre and rambling enough to polarize the rest. Whether you loved or hated the song, that churning guitar/drum combination, manic feeling and wonderfully stupid music video embedded take me out in everyone’s head, probably for longer than many wanted. Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy" (2006) – "Crazy" was kind of crazy in it’s own way: an ambiguous message lined with hints of urban romanticism atop a funky soul beat. While critics and inquiring minds weren’t sure quite to make of the song, the public latched on and played the shit out of "Crazy." The song is well respected too; it has been remixed or covered countless times by countless artists since its release. Rihanna, "Umbrella" (2007) – Anything Jay-Z gives his seal of approval is going to be worth a listen, but who could have expected that? “Little Miss Sunshine” Rihanna announced her arrival on the pop scene with this worldwide number one. From Jay’s introduction to her hypnotic incantation on the chorus, Umbrella was the perfect pop song and it took the world by storm, pun somewhat intended. OneRepublic featuring Timbaland, "Apologize" (2007) – It’s important to mention the featuring Timbaland part of the song, because without Timbaland, this song probably doesn’t take off. Though he hardly did anything explicit on the track, his influence is evident in this emo song well disguised as a ballad with recognizable piano at first and heavy drums throughout. MIA, "Paper Planes" (2007) – This was the song that forced the average radio listener to recognize the existence of MIA, one of the decade’s finest artists. Aided by the publicity it received as the theme song for "Pineapple Express," "Paper Planes"’ random noises and funky pop beat helped it spawn way too many remixes and made it easily the biggest success of MIA’s career. Lady Gaga, "Just Dance" (2008) – Since "Just Dance," we’ve witnessed the fruition of the Gage empire, but back then she was just another artist who was a little odd. A simple message consisting of two words and some noises helped everyone forget their troubles if they just listened to those four minutes. But after that no one would forget Lady Gaga. The Lonely Island featuring T-Pain, "I'm On A Boat" (2009) – I can’t believe I’m saying this, but “I’m On A Boat” might be one of the most underrated crossover hits of the decade. The Dudes use the ubiquitous T-Pain, glorified normalcy and a big sound to put the comedy genre in the consciousness of people everywhere. Weird Al has always been good, but he was never as widely heard as "I’m On A Boat" was. Then again, he was never on a muthafuckin’ boat either.
(12/09/09 11:31pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Like every era, the ’00s introduced us to many new artists, some very good and some very bad. But for every Justin Bieber we had to listen to, we also were lucky enough to get a Justin Timberlake solo effort to redeem the image of our musical generation. I thought there were several artists who seriously separated themselves into another level in terms of importance and influence, and their music will define the aughts. Thom Yorke of Radiohead: Although they had an enormous influence on ’90s culture, Radiohead arguably reached a higher level of prominence this decade, and frontman Thom Yorke was the catalyst for it all. Yorke and company had already mastered the use of electronic instruments early in the ’00s before many bands had considered how to utilize them. Always one step ahead on both the musical and commercial front, Yorke established Radiohead as music’s true trendsetters. Kanye West: Love him or hate him – and I love him – Kanye West was a big deal this decade for reasons other than making Taylor Swift cry. Today, his influence permeates virtually all aspects of pop culture. He started the decade as the wunderkind producer behind Jay-Z’s “Blueprint” and later exploded onto the scene with “College Dropout” before he dominated with three No. 1 albums. Jack White of the White Stripes, Raconteurs: Though he shies from the public, Jack White’s raw garage rock was anything but shy. While not unpolished, White had mastered the art of stripping down his music and combining it with kooky lyrics to create a distinct, brash sound. His enigmatic personality and tendency to deviate from the norm while still being accessible helped make him one of the decade’s best. M.I.A.: Another multifaceted artist, M.I.A. makes the list because of this and her global popularity. One of the first artists whose influence touched all parts of the world, M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” set the U.S. ablaze in the summer of 2008 and was later sampled heavily. Her well-disguised lyrics and dance/folk/hip-hop style give her sound an eclectic but fun feel and are what will help her music hold up over time.Sometimes controversial but always creative, these are the artists will be able to hold up the legacy of the aughts.
(12/07/09 7:38pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Bravery’s newest album, “Stir the Blood,” could be more accurately titled. “Curl the Blood” for the emotions it evokes in the listener.“Blood” is much like the band’s self-titled first album, with lead singer Sam Endicott’s wail protruding from an electronic post-punk sound. The content of “Blood” is supposedly darker and angrier than previous endeavors, but the lyrics conveying those feelings fall flat.The themes and words seem misplaced and artificial, as if the writer was doing something different simply for the sake of doing it. They don’t feel like they have a sense of continuity and come across as meaningless.Another issue with the album is a lack of diversity. The album’s feel might be consistent but it is not creative. The constantly swift tempo makes the songs blend together and allow none of them to make an impression.“Blood” just doesn’t cut it as a complete work and is a disappointment after the creative success of “The Sun and the Moon.”
(12/07/09 6:40pm)
BoD: WEEKEND celebrates pop music's last 10 years.