News

Stack-Attack vs. The Unabomber

Matt Kiebus :: Friday, February 19th, 2010 7:15 pm

There are a lot of people in the United States that hate the IRS. However there are not many people that would kamikaze a Cessna into a building because of it. Joseph Andrew Stack took out his frustration with the internal revenue service on Thursday with a letter (normal) and two rebellious infernos (not that normal). The Austin, TX police department has classified Stack’s suicidal plane crash as a criminal attack, as apposed to a terrorist attack. Austin’s Chief of Police, Art Acevedo, stated, “I consider this a criminal attack by a lone individual.”

Just because he isn’t a part of a terrorist group like al-Qaeda doesn’t mean he isn’t a terrorist. According to the Oxford English Dictionary a terrorist is “a person who uses violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims.” Sorry to disagree with the Austin Police Department but this defiantly appears to be an act of domestic terrorism. MORE »

Sky Blu of LMFAO on Mitt Romney: “Boom! Get Off of Me”

Amy Laviero :: Friday, February 19th, 2010 4:40 pm

While departing from the Vancouver Winter Olympics with his wife on Monday, Mitt Romney allegedly fell victim to the physical threats of a fellow passenger. The Globe and Mail, a Canadian paper that first reported the story, claims the man seated in front of Romney’s wife became “physically violent” after Romney asked him to lift his seat for takeoff.

In an odd turn of events Sky Blu, one half of the idiot “party-rock” band LMFAO, is the alleged attacker and has released a video where he admits to having no idea who Mitt Romney is in the first place. MORE »

Tiger Woods Apologizes for Sexcapades

Matt Kiebus :: Friday, February 19th, 2010 2:30 pm

As expected Mr. Woods gave his tear-filled and predictable apology to the American public at 11 a.m. today. In his fifteen minute speech he confessed that he banged every waitress, flight attendant, and pornstar he could get his paws on. Since Thanksgiving the world’s most famous golfer has managed to be front-page news without touching a golf club. His indiscretions have gone a long way to alter his image as the flawless fist-pumping wonder of the links. From a public interest standpoint it was fascinating to hear Tiger say how his fame and power got to his head. Woods has been idealized his entire career, which makes his admission that temptation and fame got to his head a little surprising. MORE »

Animal Collective Tickets for the Guggenheim: Going, Going Gone

Shannon Hassett :: Friday, February 19th, 2010 1:50 pm

Well I hate to break it to you, but your hopes and dreams of assimilating into the collective will have to be put on hold for one more day. The $25/$35 tickets were gone within twenty five minutes of their 10am sale date this morning, and the outrageous Craigslist inflation has already begun. The sellout was officially confirmed by the Guggenheim’s twitter feed, so you can now rule out that possible website malfunction you were banking on or whatever. Damn that Panda!

Animal Collective Set to Take Over Guggenheim and “The Inside of Your Brain”

Amy Laviero :: Friday, February 19th, 2010 12:30 pm

Animal Collective and Danny Perez, who directed their videos for “Who Could Win a Rabbit” and “Summertime Clothes,” as well as their art-film, ODDSAC, will unveil their latest collaboration, Transverse Temporal Gyrus, a one night exhibit that will transform the Gugg into a “kinetic, psychedelic” installation using a culmination of original video and music, props, and a costumed Animal Collective, in an attempt to invoke all the wonder and mystery of the jungle. Right on. MORE »

Thurston Moore Blogs; New Book and LP for Fall

Shannon Hassett :: Friday, February 19th, 2010 12:15 pm

Last week, we posted about one of the merits of the recent music blogocide: the birth of Thurston Moore’s “Flowers & Cream“. In a move that proves he may be cognisant of his role in the resuscitation of the blogosphere, Moore took a brief hiatus and then delivered some serious news via his site. Not only will he and Kim be recording a trio album with one Yoko Ono this year (blindfolded!), but in a masterful lack of cushioning, Moore noted, “new solo LP/new book this fall.” An hour before that, a poem was posted under the subject heading “found this poem i wrote as a 16 year old in 1974.” Yes, the poem is intrinsically cooler than anything we’re ever going to put out, and it’s not half bad in terms of talent either (which at 16 means a journal page with more than “fuck my parents” scrawled in ire across the top) — basically, Thurston Moore has never and will never do anything not worthy of a look, so here’s to a sonic resurgence this fall.

Bright Eyes and Neva Dinova Make Comeback Hand in Hand

Shannon Hassett :: Thursday, February 18th, 2010 4:40 pm

Hey kids, remember your Saddle Creek phase? Or maybe just that time you saw some girl ask Conor to blow coke off her tit backstage at Webster Hall? Well we can all breathe a little easier, because the 2004 Bright Eyes/Neva Dinova collaborative effort, One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels, is up for reissue. What’s more, the two bands have rejoined to create four new tracks for the release, clips for all of which can now be found here. The album hits stores March 23rd, a precursor to what Bright Eyes fans hope will be some upcoming new material of the band’s own. For a March 9th preorder, head on over to Saddle Creek.

Music Video: Bobby Birdman “You’d Be Surprised”

Isaac Lekach :: Thursday, February 18th, 2010 4:30 pm

Los Angeles’ laptop wizard Bobby Birdman recently released his highly enjoyable new record New Moods on Fryk Beat records. His press release says the album will “Change your world.” We’d never make Zach Braff-like promises, but we do think it’s pretty freakin’ good. Click here to watch his new video for “You’d Be Surprised,” which stars current touring mates YACHT. For a complete list of tour dates please visit the jump!

Duke Duper Headed Back to Court

Shannon Hassett :: Thursday, February 18th, 2010 4:10 pm

I’m not sure how it is that for the past four years, or at least since first learning of the Duke lacrosse scandal, I have continued to think that the accuser’s name was Crystal Magnum, one of the legitimately greatest natural born names ever given, exotic dancer or no. Well unfortunately for my own amusement, Crystal is back in the news, and her last name isn’t Magnum — it’s Mangum, and she was arrested on an almost impressive number of charges. After the police arrived at Mangum’s home (reportedly receiving a domestic disturbance call from one of the three children inside the house), Mangum began to assault her boyfriend, threatening to stab him and then setting fire to the pile of his clothes that she had thrown in the bathtub (yes, this is all in the presence of the cops). She then gave the officers a false name and age, deciding to throw identity theft onto a list of charges that also include attempted first-degree murder, five counts of arson, assault and battery, three counts of misdemeanor child abuse, injury to personal property and resisting arrest. Mangum is the author of the 2008 memoir “Last Dance for Grace.”

Black Belles Music Video Unveiled

Shannon Hassett :: Thursday, February 18th, 2010 3:00 pm

Yesterday marked the premiere of Jack White’s latest directorial effort, emerging in the form of the music video for the Black Belles’ “What Can I Do?” The video is the follow-up to White’s directing debut for the Dead Weather’s “I Cut Like a Buffalo” and will be the first of such work he has done for a band he is not also a part of (a number that seems to grow smaller by the day). Not straying far from home, however, the Belles owe their discovery to White, who quickly signed them to his Third Man Records after becoming acquainted with the all-female quartet. Check out the charmingly eerie video here.

The Fall Announce New Album

Colm McAuliffe :: Thursday, February 18th, 2010 2:45 pm

Ah…The Fall. Mark E.Smith is unquestionably a living legend. In fact, the one time I met him, I had been rather naively expecting him to rant and rave incoherently at my presence and knee me in the balls. Instead I was astounded and almost disappointed at the man’s politeness and charm as he referred to me as a ‘gentleman’. Nevertheless, Manchester’s finest are about to release their 274th album “Your Future Is Our Clutter” on April 26th. The nine-song LP will be made available digitally and on a double album. Click through for the full tracklisting and typically tremendously garbled song titles.
MORE »

Austin Plane Crash Pilot’s Insane Manifesto (and Former Band)

Colm McAuliffe :: Thursday, February 18th, 2010 2:15 pm

Less than one month away from the opening of the SXSW festival in Austin, will the news that a pilot intentionally crashed his plane into the office building which houses the Internal Revenue Service affect this year’s lig-fest? As of today, at least one person has not been accounted for with two others being taken to hospital. Rumors that the act may have been an intentional one by the pilot have yet to be confirmed - but the man responsible is one Joseph Andrew Stack, who had a manifesto and was apparently keyboardist in this band.

Tila Tequila Album Prepares to Implode

Shannon Hassett :: Thursday, February 18th, 2010 1:50 pm

The photo to the left is the actual image sent in Tila’s big album announcement, proving the star’s success will continue to rely on her ability to pigeonhole herself. Everyone loves a good downfall; the triumphant comeback — but it seems a new archetype has been ushered in as of late: the meta dumbass. There is no way to summarize Tila’s career as anything but the conscious exploitation of her own unworth as a person. After a stagnant reign at bottom feeder, the release of an actual EP, titled Welcome to the Darkside (what else?), might finally prove the necessary catalyst for Tequila’s nosedive into obscurity. “I Love My DJ,” the first track to be unveiled, seems to provide in its title the hopeful confirmation of such a feat.

GWAR’s 25th Slay-a-bration Continues at Bonnaroo

Shannon Hassett :: Thursday, February 18th, 2010 1:05 pm

In a press release today transmitted by Oderus Urungus, I was informed that GWAR will be closing out the main stage on Saturday night (June 12th) at this year’s Bonnaroo. The show comes as part of a two-year-long (yep) celebration of the band’s 25th Anniversary, the theme of which has officially been declared “Lust in Space.” Mr. Urungus also noted that he is “looking forward to nostri-raping the entire Dave Matthews Band,” as well as reasserting the band’s mission (while here on Earth): “Our ruthless extermination of all life shall be continued after we have driven the forces of Cardinal Syn (who is an asshole) back into the inky abyss! And as we slay, we celebrate 25 years of debauchery, depravity and entertainment with the world’s foremost authority on all of the above - fucking GWAR!” The band’s European dates after the jump, as well as a preview of what to expect at Bonnaroo (besides a bloodbathed shit-show, obviously). MORE »

Q&A with Seabear

Elissa Suh :: Thursday, February 18th, 2010 12:00 pm

Hailing from Iceland, Seabear isn’t just another failed imitation of the more famous bands from the not-so-icy nation. In 2007 the band released the full length album The Ghost That Carried Us Away, containing songs with a dream-like simplicity, agreeable with the majority of listeners. AND the songs are in English. Seabear frontman Sindri Mar Sigfusson took some time to talk about his comparisons to Beck, Gossip Girl, and of course the new album.