I could use somebody like you

I have super exciting news that I have to tell you, but you have to get through this mega long post to know it. Unless you're just a cheater who doesn't like to play fun games & scrolls down to the bottom.

If you're just as in love with Patrick Wolf as I am, then you'll find this mini-documentary extremely endearing. It has footage of a live show & of him playing piano & just being all cute. He says he quit piano lessons after two weeks because he hated practicing scales. I hear you Pat. I hear you. Watch! [Source]
Oh & at the source you'll find lots more P. Wolf goodies like pictures & such.

Apparently the military has been using the music of bands like Nine Inch Nails for torture and interrogation tactics. I just wonder how can people take something that's supposed to be beautiful and someone's form of creative expression, and turn it into something that can be so hurtful and damaging. I guess there's two sides to it though. Trent Reznor called the practice "demeaning and enraging" but this dude Steve Benton from Drowning Pool (never heard of 'em) said "I take it as an honor to think that perhaps our song could be used to quell another 9/11 attack." Read more. [Source]

Okay so here's a prime example of what music should be used for. A Crayola commersh! Dan Deacon has repeatedly refused other requests to use his music, but when asked by Crayola, he said it's, "something that promotes a company that creates a product that encourages people (children) to make art and to use their minds to create." Well what do you know, I like that. The song they sampled was "Pink Batman." So good! [Source]


So WHAT THE CRAP PFORK. WHAT THE CRAP. YOU NAMED FLEET FOXES THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR? I have a problem with that. But no one cares. But you're gonna hear what I think anyways. I'll admit it, Vampire Weekend has just gotten as much hype as Fleet Foxes & yes, they too are overrated. But apparently it's so much cooler to rate Fleet Foxes higher because they're a band that not everyone will like. That's just my opinion. Whatevz. Oh yeah & they named Lil Wayne's "A Milli" the 14th track of the year. Srsly guys??? Srsly?? Click to see 50 Best Albums or 100 Best Tracks.

Lily Allen covered Britney Spears' "Womanizer." It's alright I guess. I think it's a song where Lily Allen's laid back & melodic voice doesn't work. I mean I like it, but it kind of needs that umfff. You know what I'm saying? Like that pushy quality. Listen to the song. [Source]

Now for the biggest news ever... I saved the best for last.... GUESS WHO'S GOING TO SEE GIRL TALK &&&&&&&&& CUT COPY IN MARCH???? YES, ME. THIS LITTLE OLD BLOGGER. I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED. When I found out Girl Talk was coming here, I about had a panic attack of joy.

Shake appeal feel so high & low

Ughhh... school starts on Monday. Last year of high school, but nonetheless, school. 

Well to cheer myself and whoever else might be subjected to the same horror on Monday, there's a download available of a new Los Camp

esinos song! It's like a weird mesh of normal Los Campesinos with a twiddling violin in the background and then BAM! Hardcore scissor snipping guitar riffs going all over your ear. Try it out for yourself. [Source]

Kings of Leon whines about not being able to play new material because it'll be leaked on the Internet. Wah-wah. Whatevs KOL, you still have a large fan base & it'll even grow because you'll have more exposure. [Source]

Nine Inch Nails is going on tour! & opposite of KOL, NIN's Trent Reznor actually encourages you to steal from the music industry. Tru fax. Check out the tour dates right here. (They're coming to Florida!) 

Okay, so WTF:

Why is this anime chick on the new Weezer single? That's all I really have to say about that.

The battle is on! Between Team Jack White/Alicia Keys & Team Amy Winehouse. Apparently the job of creating a new James Bond theme went to Winehouse, but the producers dropped it & went to White Keys (haha) instead. Winehouse is now threatening to release her version on the same day because it would be a "bigger hit." We shall see! [Source]

Castles & dodgeways & monsters & highways

BE YOUR OWN PET ARE BREAKING UP? Omgz. Maybe they didn't play at Warped Tour bc they were planning on just wrapping things up? More info at Stereogum. 

So my brother was reading Cokemachineglow about the Pitchfork Festival & pointed out this hilarious excerpt:

To wit: The biggest cabal of photographers I found myself smooshed against was during Boris’ set, but the photographers were taking as many pictures of the fans as they were of the band. A photo of Boris won’t make the Reader, but a photo of All The Indie Rock Kids Flipping Out At Their Little Festival may. I swear, it could’ve been heat-stroke, but I think I saw a couple of photographers taking pictures of the other photographers, an action so meta it threatens to break my dick off.

Hahaha. The whole thing is actually entertaining, but lengthy. It's a good read. Oh & by the way, Boris is a Japanese experimental band. 

Concerning a different festival, Lollapalooza is happening AS I TYPE. How excitingggg to not be there. Stereogum has some pictures. Click to see Thom Yorke's wonky eye or the boys from the Bloc. 

Apparently, NME has seen it fit to compile a list of 25 bands that are making "America Cool Again."  So get out your winter wardrobe & see what is "cool" for America. The only thing I care about about this list, is that Girl Talk is #23 & not #2.  Actually, one other thing caught my attention. The list reminded me that Kings of Leon still existed. I haven't really heard about them in a while but a visit to their site proved otherwise. They have a free d/l available if you click here!

ALSO, it seems NME is content with quantity & not quality. They like followed the same format & mediocre writing for these two articles. One about how Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" (Nine Inch Nails) felt like "someone kissing your girlfriend" to Trent Reznor. Also, Conor Oberst talks about his solo album & Mexico. [Source 1, Source 2]

Wow, that's a lot of news for one day. I'll leave you with the choice of watching the official video to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" or a cover version. I only recommend watching the official one if you like Coldplay/if you want a close up of Chris Martin's green eyes/enjoy spastic twitching type movements to go along with your music. No one will know if you click.

I fly like paper get high like planes

I know I didn't post a new muxtape on Sunday. MY B. With AP exams this week, I'm super busy but one will be up on this Sunday, pinky promise. 

Sigur Ros tantalizes us with mysterious incoherent bits of videos for their new album. Look hurrrr. Visit Pfork for their expanded tour dates.

After we've all had a little taste of "Pork and Beans" Weezer has decided that us, fans, need a bigger bite. They've decided to move up the release date for the Red Album. Yarrr. (News via Pfork)

Reviews are up for Death Cab's Narrow Stairs & Nine Inch Nails' The Slip. 

Also, listen to the new Cure single. It's pretty magical! Click to experience. My bruhhh is excited to see them in June. He acquired 5th row seats. I know not how. 

Champion of missed opportunities

Remember this "innovation smackdown" I mentioned a while ago between NIN & Radiohead? Well it looks like NIN is trying to one-up Radiohead & is offering their new album for freee right here. Sounds all too familiar huh?

Anyways, speaking of Radiohead, I might be going to see them tomorrow night. Hopefully it works out in my favor.

Crosses & crushes, crashes & hassles

You know that 10 page paper I mentioned yesterday on music piracy? Well it just so happens the two main bands I used to prove my point were Radiohead & Nine Inch Nails & coincidentally, a visit to ONTD, had an article about those exact bands! It's basically about which is the trail blazer that has traveled the furthest in the music industry where record labels are obsolete. Read it here & vote; who do you think is the winner? (I personally voted for them each 5 times). 

Oh & also while you're on Wired, check out this article on beating up emos that'll be sure to bring the lolz!

For the kid with the will to funk

ATTN: Radiohead has announced a video-making contest! They're asking for an animated video of anyone of their songs off of In Rainbows & you don't even need to be video-tech savvy. But apparently they're not the only ones; Nine Inch Nails has also declared a similar, fan-based project. Get more info for Radiohead at Wired & Aniboom & visit NIN.com for the d/l on their video. 

Also, speaking of NIN, they recently released a four disc set of just instrumentalist songs. I always enjoy the softer & soothing side of Trent Reznor, so Ghosts was a big thumbs up from me. The cover art for each of the 36 songs was pretty sweet too. 

Okay so what is up with American Idol having the contestants do Beatles' covers TWO weeks in a row?????? I don't even watch the show except for last night when my mom screamed from the other room that she had found me a boyfriend & I ran to see David Archuleta. But yeah, once is more than enough, & twice is unforgivable. If the judges are going to be tough on the contestants, they shouldn't choose The Beatles to cover, because you can't imitate or improve on GENIUS. That was kind of like my issue with Across the Universe. Maybe nice in theory & Jim Sturgess is nice to look at, but the movie didn't cut it with me at all. It seemed like the producer/director tried to base the movie & each scene of a song, making for a very choppy plot line. But I'm getting off topic. While it was nice to hear Jason Castro sing in French, even Simon admitted that it was kind of a bad idea to do The Beatles for a second time. I agree, Simon, I agree.