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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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