Friday, April 18, 2003

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..............I had a bunch of stories all selected to post today and then my Internet Explorer crashed I don't feel like going back and finding them all again. I will just take this time to send a get well message to Luther Vandross, who had a stroke.

Also, this:
An Off The Top Of My Head List Of 25 Artists Who Could Easily Take The Place Of Nelly And/Or Master P On VH-1's 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Artists

01. EPMD
02. Kool Keith
03. Cold Crush Brothers
04. Prince Paul/Stetsasonic
05. Digital Underground
06. Redman
07. X-Clan
08. Jurassic 5
09. Dialated Peoples
10. Slick Rick
11. Doug E. Fresh
12. House of Pain/Everlast
13. Pharcyde
14. Del The Funkee Homosapien
15. Geto Boys
16. Too $hort
17. Schoolly D
18. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
19. The Fat Boys
20. JJ Fad
21. Big Pun
22. Pete Rock & CL Smooth
23. 2 Live Crew
24. The Coup
25. Roxanne Shante'

Fo' real. Nelly *might* deserve to be on the list, but putting Master P. above any of the artists I listed here is a travesty.

Peace out, dawgs. Audi 5000, G. See ya' on Monday.

posted by Randy on 11:38 AM | permanent link to this entry

Thursday, April 17, 2003

• Use Say Yes To Find Out What Song You Just Heard On The Radio
  Apparently, this is enabled on bunches of cell phones, but for non cell phone folks like me it is also available on the web. Want to know what you hear on the radio just now? Or maybe it was a few hours ago? Go to Say Yes, indicate waht station you heard the song on and at what time and voila! there's the name of the song you heard and a link to buy the CD.
  
  
• MUSIC CHOICE ANNOUNCES CUSTOM MUSIC SERVICE FOR DIGITAL CABLE HOMES
  Music Choice will give digital cable subscribers the ability to construct custom music channels by having customers pick music genres and sub genres they are most interested in. You can pick three mian genres and go nuts on the subgenres from there. There are building the service on the back of Video on Deamnd technology, which is kinda cool-- lety someome else do all the heavy lifting and then use the technology for something else entirely.
  
  
• Iron Maiden, Dio, Motorhead Line Up Summer Tour.
  My god. If only there were a time machine to transport myself at the age of 14 to the present so I could enjoy this concert in it's fullest. Seriously, that woulda been the shiznit back in the day. Today, I 'd pay to see Motorhead, but I can't say the same for the other two.
  
  
• Fiona Apple at Work on New Album
  It's been four years since When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole Thing 'Fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and if You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where to Land and if You Fall It Won't Matter, 'Cuz You'll Know That You're Right. In this day and age, that's a long time outta the spotlight. I'm very curious as to how it will do.
  
  
• Monica Revises Leaked LP With Help From Missy Elliott
  After her forthcoming All Eyez On Me was leaked and bootlegged, Monica hit the studio with Missy Elliott to come up with some new hotness for when the album finally does officially does drop on June 2. Interestingly enough, the album's title track won't be included in the final cut becuase it now doesn't fit in with the rest of the new version of the album. You can pre-order Monica's All Eyez On Me by clicking here.
  
  
• TNN Gets Spiked
  You know, maybe it is just me-- but I kinda miss The Nashville Network. Two years ago, they tried to reach out to more viewers by becoming The National Network and cutting down on the bumpkin talk shows, Farm Aid broadcasts and "Dukes of Hazard" reruns. Starting on June 16, TNN will become known as Spike and will aim for an all-male audience. *Sigh* Where's a country boy supposed to go for entertainment these days?
  
  
• 'Today' Show Starts Summer Concert Series
  Remember when Prince came on dressed exactly like Bryant Gumble? Now that was comedy. Here's this year's line-up:
  
  April 18: Fleetwood Mac
  May 02: Jewel
  May 09: Mariah Carey
  June 06: Train
  June 10: Beyonce Knowles
  June 13: Annie Lennox
  July 18: Ashanti
  Aug. 01: Shania Twain
  Aug. 08: LL Cool J
  Aug. 22: Amy Grant
  Sept. 19: Alan Jackson
  Sept. 26: Michelle Branch
  Oct. 02: Sting
  Oct. 03: R.E.M.
  

posted by Randy on 12:21 PM | permanent link to this entry

Wednesday, April 16, 2003

• Once Upon A Classic: The New Film Canon
  The above linked article speculates that the following are fast becoming part of a new canon for the next generation of film buffs-- i.e. those who do not worship at the altar of the classics, the 70's director-as-auteur school or seemingly anything from the 80s. Call it the post-genx film canon:
  
  01. "Pulp Fiction".
  02. "The Godfather"
  03. "Fight Club"
  04. "Run Lola Run"
  05. "Amelie"
  06. "12 Monkeys" and ""Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
  07. "The Big Lebowski"
  08. "Memento"
  09. "Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia"
  10. "The Matrix"
  
  Also-- "Requiem for a Dream," "Moulin Rouge," ""Happiness," "Dancer in the Dark," "The Celebration"and "Office Space."
  
  Personally, I wouldn't put "Amelie" on that list at all and would swap out "Moulin Rouge" for "William Shakespear's Romeo & Juliet. Someone on The Well suggested "Welcome To The Dollhouse" in lieu of "Happiness," which I can see-- but it is so hard to chose from.
  
  I admit, I was kind of surprised that the author of the article and the people he interviewed didn't mention "The Sixth Sense", "The Usual Suspects", "Se7en" and "Being John Malckovich".
  
  
• Bronfman linked to Universal Music bid
  Vivendi Universal SA vice-chairman Edgar Bronfman Jr.has reportedly joined forces Universal Music CEO Doug Morris, Island Def Jam's Lyor Cohen and Interscope’s Jimmy Iovine to bid $5-billion (U.S.) for Vivendi Universal's music assets. Jezzum crow, I can't wait until Vivendi sells Universal Music so someone can hurry up and write a book about their efforts to sell it. Will it be management? Will it be Apple (according to this report, probably not.)> Microsoft? Billionaire oilman Marvin Davis? The suspense is killing me.
  
  
• Madonna Thwarts Web Music Services (L.A. Times registration required)
  Who would've though you'd see the day when The Rocktober.com Blog scoops The Los Angeles Times? They got a fuller story out of it, though. Apparently, Madonna is willing to sell her music through legitimate online music services, but only if people by the whole album, not just the singles they want. I believe Too $hort has a word for this kind of behavior. Oh yes, here it is-- beeeyyyoootttch! Pre-order Madonna's American Life by clicking here.
  
  
• Jo Dee Messina Pens Song Inspired By War
  "Heaven Was Needing A Hero." It doesn't change the fact that I still think imperalism is terrible, ill-thought out policy but *sniff sniff*, okay, it got to me. But I'm a sap. Click here to hear "Heaven Was Needing A Hero"-- youll need Flash installed to hear it and see the acompanying slide show of widows crying at grave sites. No matter where you stand on the war, you'll have to agree it is touching. And about a million times better than that Beastie Boys atrocity. No plans currently to put it on an album, but you can pre-order Jo Dee Messina's Greatest Hits (due in stores May 20) by clicking here.
  
  
• Music Library Fights for Brass Bands
  Very interesting piece about The Chatfield Brass Band Music Lending Library, a lending library of sheet music for 19th and 20th century brass bands. I love preservation efforts like this.
  
  
• Rocker Melissa Etheridge, Partner to Wed
  Congrats, you crazy kids! Ethridge will marry actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, a woman 13 yearshewr junior! Scandal! Oh wait-- I'm married to someone 10 years older than me. I take it back.
  
  
• Dame Dash Plans Roc Army Tour Without Jay-Z
  
  Coming this May and June to a half full theatre near you.:
  Cam'ronand The Diplomats
  Memphis Bleek
  M.O.P.
  Beanie Sigel
  Freeway
  The State Property crew
  
  
  
• Middle East's latest export Arab-oriented music gains a substantial following in U.S.
  Pretty interesting article about how Middle Eastern music is slowly sqirming it's way into American pop and club music-- but the article comes up short becuase it doesn't give love to the Coldcut's "Seven Minutes of Maddness" remix of Eric B. & Rakim's "Paid In Full.". Still, worth reading.
  
  
• Your glow stick could land you in jail
  Excellent post mortem in Salon about Congress passing The RAVE Act and the effects it will have on culture. My pic for first big casaulty: Burning Man.
  

posted by Randy on 2:51 PM | permanent link to this entry

Tuesday, April 15, 2003

• Evanescence Ignites Controversy With New Interview; Wind-Up Records Issues Recall of Product
  When I read their interview in this week's Entertainment Weekly where they basically disavowed their Christian rock roots, I knew this was gonna happen. Well, not exactly this-- their record label recalling all their albums from christian outlets is pretty extrodinary. i figured they'd just be banned by the retailers. Anyway, you don't need 'em-- you can get your Evanescence right here, if you so desire.
  
  
• Nelson Drafts Famous Pals for July 4 Picnic
  The Line Up For Willie Nelson's Annual 4th of July Picnic the Two River Canyon Amphitheater in Spicewood, Texas:
  
  July 4:
  Willie Nelson
  The Dead
  Pat Green
  
  July 5:
  Willie Nelson
  Neil Young & Crazy Horse
  Billy Bob Thorton
  
  More acts T.B.A. on both dates. Get your tix right here. Between this and the two Bonaroofestivals, it is a good year to be a stinky hippie. But wait there's more good news for boomers and tie-dye freaks...
  
  Dead, Dylan Go On The Road Again
  July 20-Aug. 10. The above linked report also says that that Joan Osborne will be singing back-up for The Dead, I suppose playing the part of the dreaded Donna Godchaux (at least that's what the Deadheads I know tell me).
  
  The Dead and Bob Dylan last hit the road together in 1987 on a co-headlining stadium tour. The event spawned the 1989 live album Dylan & the Dead. That tour's stops at in Oakland and Anaheim, Calif., comprise the recently issued The Dead's "View From the Vault IV" DVD set
  
  
• Aretha To 'Sing Her History' On Final Tour
  Read the fine print-- this will allegedly be her last tour, but she still plans to play one off dates in the future. Still, you should see Aretha Franklin blow the roof off the dump once before you (or she) dies. She's also working on a new album.
  
  
• Method Man To Appear In Upcoming Episodes Of 'Boston Public' And 'The Wire'
  Screw "Boston Public." "The Wire" is where the action is at. And Method Man is gonna be on it for the second season? Word up. Perhaps as a new love interest for Omar? A boy can dream.
  
  
• Faith Hill Locks In 'Stepford Wives' Role
  Of course. This makes total sense. She's in talks to play Charmaine Wimperis-- the part played in the original by the one and only Tina Lousie of "Gilligan's Island". In fact, from now on I herby declare that all Faith Hill-esqe country-pop is to forevermore be called "Stepford Country."
  
  
• Madonna Tells Off Sneaky-Pete Downloaders
  "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" That's all you hear when you download a copy of "American Life" from Kazaa. Either that or a loop of her rapping "I'm drinking a soy latte/I get a double shot-eh/It goes right through my body/And you know I'm satisfied." Pre-order American Life by clicking here, unless you prefer the sweraing and/or the rapping loop. It hits stores on April 22.
  
  
• Liam Lynch's "United States of Whatever"
  Hand me my late pass. I just heard it yesterday. Love it. But I'll be sick of it in a few days, I'm sure. How awesome is it that it originally appeared on The Sifl & Oly Show?That show was way ahead of it's time. Sock puppets are timeless, I guess. Click here to get yerself a copy of Liam Lynch's Fake Songs.
  
  
• How To Organize Your Record Collection
  I don't think I could ever do anything but alphabetically, but the above linked article as some pretty interesting suggestions.
  

posted by Randy on 1:12 PM | permanent link to this entry

Monday, April 14, 2003

• Apple Said to Discuss a Music Deal, but Not Too Seriously (NY Times registratiopn required)
  Just like I said on Friday-- it seems like a good idea but the music business is just too crazy for an outsider to get involved with on such a huge level. On the other hand, The New York Post is reporting that Microsoft is also kicking the tires of Universal Music. The worlds largest software company owning the world's largest conglamorate of record labels? Would that stand up to anti-trust issues? We are living in very interesting times. The Vivendi Universal board is set to meet on April 29 to discuss all of its options in selling off its entertainment assets.
  
  
• Radiohead, Beasties To Headline Field Day
  After weeks and weeks of rumors, it can now be finally confirmed. June 7 & 8 at Enterprise Park in Calverton, Long Island, about 70 miles east of Manhattan: The Field Day Music Festival. It's like Woodstock for the emo-hipster crowd, or an East Coast Cochella Festival (which is just 11 days away!).
  
  June 7:
  Radiohead
  Beck
  Underworld
  Spiritualized
  Thievery Corporation
  Beth Orton
  Dashboard Confessional
  Interpol
  Liz Phair
  Tortoise
  Thursday
  The Raveonettes
  Ben Lee
  My Morning Jacket
  Gemma Hayes
  22-20s
  
  June 8:
  Beastie Boys
  Sigur Ros
  The Roots
  Blur
  The Streets
  Elliott Smith
  N*E*R*D*
  Peanut Butter Wolf
  Blackalicous
  Le Tigre
  The Music
  The Polyphonic Spree
  Luna
  The Sea And Cake
  Particle
  Ours
  Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players
  
  Field Day tickets go on sale on Friday, April 18th at 10:00am through Ticketmaster
  
  
• Radio 'raps' Saddam Hussein
  A radio station thought to be backed by the CIA has been broadcasting a gangsta rap-style parody of Saddam Hussein to Iraq. The song features a Hussein imitator rapping and singing over the groove to Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise." Click the above link for the lyrics, but not expect any mind-bending lyrical poweress.
  
  
• Independents' Day: What record industry slump? Independent labels say business has never been better
  Excellent article proving once again that it's possible to make a living in the music biz if you give people a fair shake, keep expenses down and keep your expectations in check. Also-- keep it indie. That seems to help.
  
  
• A definitive oral history: Revealing The White Stripes
  Interesting piece from The Detroit Free Press, accumulating a bunch of quotes from folks who knew, hung out and/or worked with The White Stripes before they were The Next Big Thing-- or I guess right now they are The Current Big Thing. I grew up in the Detroit area and seeing this piece kind of cracks me up. Not unlike most major metropolitan newspapers, The Freep barely acknowledges the local music scene until someone makes it big, and then you can't stop reading about that one guy/group who made it out and all the folks they left behind.
  
  
• Beck To Tour With Dashboard Confessional
  If Beck is gonna play a lot of Sea Change material and Dashboard Confessional is the opening act, I'd watch the suicide rates in cities the tour travels to. On the other hand, maybe the group catharisis will help the auidence members heal what ails them.
  
  
• Ex-Oak Ridge Boys Bass Singer Fox Dies
  Noel Fox, a bass singer with The Oak Ridge Boys from 1968 until 1972 who went on to great success in the behind the scenes part of the music biz, died Thursday at the age of 63. He died after a surgery which was preceeded by a series of strokes. If you're not a fan of The Oak Ridge Boys (he wasn't a member of the group for any of their hits and none of the albums he was on are in print), you'll want to note Fox as the man who signed Steve Earle to a publishing deal and made the introductions to the folks at MCA who eventually signed him.
  
  
• 'Lord of the Rings,' 'Spider-Man' Lead Nominees For MTV Movie Awards
  Nothing too shocking in the nominees for the MTV Movie Awards but they have shown great taste in doing what The Academny Awards will probably be doing in a few years: giving "virtual" characters a catagory of their own. (Okay, maybe not a few years-- but eventually):
  
  Best Virtual Performance:
  -Yoda- "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones"
  -Kangaroo Jack - "Kangaroo Jack"
  -Gollum- "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"
  -Dobby- "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"
  -Scooby-Doo- "Scooby-Doo"
  

posted by Randy on 1:20 PM | permanent link to this entry