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21 Jan 2011 20:34

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Music: Two dudes. Eight hours. One formulaic “Top 40” pop tune.

  • The dudes’ point? Any bastard can make a formulaic hit song with a little bit of knowledge of what they’re doing, and we let them do it. Dave Wallace and Dan Bennett (known as Transit) put together the kind of “Top 40”-like pop tune that would get played in the clubs. Well, that is, if they wanted their tunes to name-drop Jamie Lee Curtis for no particular reason. It took them so little time that they took a couple hours off to grab burgers and come back. The goodness starts at 6:05. The track can be ganked over here. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Jan 2011 21:01

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Biz, Music: Irony: 50 Cent makes penny stock move using influence alone

  • 29¢ increase in a penny stock that Fitty recommended on Twitter
  • 240% the increase in the value of HNHI, a firm that sells headphones
  • $50M the increase in the value of the stock based on Fitty’s tweets alone
  • $10M the amount 50 Cent  made off his 3.8 million followers source
  • » Yeah yeah, we know the irony: A guy named after pocket change just used his power to give a penny stock a boost. And the best part? It’s entirely possible the stock (currently at 39 cents) will reach 50 cents tomorrow. See, when 50 Cent sells out his name, he doesn’t sell it out to make a quick buck on advertising. He sells it out to make a quick buck. Period.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Jan 2011 23:23

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Music: Biggie Smalls shooting mystery gets fresh leads

Apparently, there are new leads in the unsolved shooting of The Notorious B.I.G, and the LAPD is ramping up its investigations. The case has been unsolved since 1997. Good luck, LAPD! source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Jan 2011 10:35

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Music: The Dave Matthews Band basically prints its own money on tour

  • 11.2
    million     the number of tickets the Dave Matthews Band sold between 2000 and 2009 – more than any other band on the freaking planet
  • $500
    million     the total revenues that DMB grossed from touring alone during that period; we need to get in the crappy music business, apparently source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Dec 2010 02:07

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Music: Pitchfork fulfills obvious Kanye West “best album of 2010” overture

  • But, somehow, West managed to transcend the preposterous talk show appearances, the too-good-to-be-true Twitter account, the live breakdowns, the Horus chain, the free-MP3 stunt(ing), the press blitz, the breakups, the make-ups, the dick pics, the furniture pornography, the Rosewood movement, the NO NEGATIVE BLOG VIEWING, the living paintings, the short film, and the rest of the lot. Through all that noise, we obsessed first and most deeply over the eye of the storm: the album.
  • Pitchfork writer Sean Fennessey • Revealing what’s been a straight-up given for the last month – Kanye West has Pitchfork’s top album of 2010. Considering it got a 10.0 from the site, it would have been a shocker if it wasn’t really. Past Kanye, perhaps the biggest surprise of the top twenty is Janelle Monae’s relatively low number twelve showing. The question is, who would’ve let her in the top ten? From Titus Andronicus to LCD Soundsystem to Deerhunter, the top ten overall is pretty solid, complete with James Blake’s numerous EP releases this year. Actually, we have a thought – Vampire Weekend’s “Contra” doesn’t belong there, thanks to this ad. Put Janelle Monae in its spot and give a girl with some awesome ideas her due, Pitchfork. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 6 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2010 21:11

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Music: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Mostly lame … wait, Tom Waits?!?

  • going in Neil Diamond (lame), Alice Cooper (cooler 40 years ago), Dr. John (ok, we guess), Darlene Love (who?) and Tom Waits (finally, a worthwhile pick!) will be headed to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
  • shut out Bon Jovi (probably for the best) anything disco or hip-hop related, Donovan (mello yellow), Laura Nyro (sigh), and a couple of random R&B acts nobody knows because everyone’s too young. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Dec 2010 11:03

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Music: Rolling Stone has John Lennon’s last print interview – in audio form

  • Earlier this year I was cleaning up to find some files in the recesses of my closet when I came across two cassette tapes marked ‘John Lennon, December 5th, 1980.’ It had been 30 years since I listened to them, and when I put them on this totally alive, uplifting voice started speaking on this magical strip of magnetic tape.
  • Rolling Stone writer Jonathan Cott • On rediscovering the audio tapes made from the interview he did with John Lennon – the last print interview he did before his death, one which was never fully transcribed as a result. Considering today is the 30th anniversary of the iconic Beatle’s murder, it only makes sense that Rolling Stone would pull it out today. Still though, it’s a pretty cool document of rock history. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

26 Nov 2010 20:53

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Music: Sigh: Willie Nelson arrested for plainly obvious reasons

  • To the arresting officers: Have you guys even heard any of Nelson’s music? Nelson is also known for this specific quote: “Marijuana is like sex. If I don’t do it every day, I get a headache.” So of course Willie had six ounces of pot. Let the man smoke it. Free Willie! (Oh wait.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Nov 2010 08:23

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Music: Shoot us now: Black Eyed Peas performing at next year’s Super Bowl

  • We can only hope that someone has a wardrobe malfunction. Not because we’re looking to see Fergie naked or anything (no interest, really), but because it might assure that another terrible modern pop act won’t follow in the wake of the Black Eyed Peas as the Super Bowl’s musical performer. (We even know the perfect spot, too.) After Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake (who admittedly aren’t guilty of any cardinal musical sins themselves) unintentionally went naked in 2004, it’s been an old fogey’s game, most recently with The Who getting out of the retirement home to perform. We’re not sure what we dislike more – old rock acts performing years after their irrelevancy, or newer pop acts that simply suck. Call us when you get the Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend, Super Bowl. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Nov 2010 23:54

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Music: Axel Rose’s disdain for Slash hits a new “Guitar Hero” high

  • How much does Axl Rose hate Slash? Enough that he filed a $20 million suit against the makers of “Guitar Hero III” because he felt they lied to him about Slash’s role in the game. Rose, who allowed Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” to be in the game, did so only on the assurance that his estranged former guitarist and his new band, Velvet Revolver, would have no role in the game. Instead, Slash is featured prominently during “Welcome to the Jungle,” and Velvet Revolver songs are in the game. Dude, is your beef with him really worth this? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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