Shit Going On In The World

A Flaming Lip for Your Thoughts

Gray Hurlburt :: Monday, February 8th, 2010 5:05 pm

Perhaps, because it preserves a facile link with the forebears of the genre, we tend to assume that rock music is an organic art form—one that lives and grows outside the walls of formal institutions. Of course, that’s only a falsity. People like to romanticize the musicians that they love. Popular jabber makes it out to be as though Kevin Shields or Jack White walked out of the desert one day with a new sound for the world. Well, they didn’t study to college for their craft, but they did study. Even still, many other musicians got schooled in music, like the famous Wesleyan contingency in Billysberg, with a classical focus. But, how about going to college for a BA in rock music? Could studying subject dependent on lifestyle pay off in a classroom setting, and, more importantly, would it be heresy? Flaming Lips guitarist Steven Drozd thinks not. He’s gone ahead and, with the bands Manager Scott Booker, opened The Academy of Contemporary Music at The University of Central Oklahoma. He’s teaching a masters class there. MORE »

Gmail Goes Social Fashionably Late

Shannon Hassett :: Monday, February 8th, 2010 4:25 pm

The Wall Street Journal of all places, a paper not normally known for its fun loving audience, announced earlier today that Google will be adding a social feature to Gmail. Held sacred among email providers for its organizational capabilities, cutesy background theme options and chatting service accessible in the corposphere (and conveniently made to look like regular email), news of a social networking device from fan favorite Google has caused quite a stir. While details are still at a minimum, the new feature will likely combine user updates from Google’s sister sites — YouTube and Picassa — with personal status updates, an option currently available through standard GChat that would most likely see a significant upgrade. GChat has long been considered AIM for grownups (yes, that’s AOL Instant Messenger), and the latest announcement positions Google to similarly school Facebook. Imagine a newsfeed minus all those people you hated in high school, or in other words, social networking sans the spam (just like Gmail!). Let’s all breathe a collective sigh of relief — except for China, of course.

Census Super Bowl Commercial Latest Strike in Unique Culture War

Andrew Belonsky :: Monday, February 8th, 2010 3:30 pm

By now we’ve all seen or at least heard about last night’s Super Bowl commercials, which have grown larger than the game itself. They’ve also become a televised battleground for America’s ongoing culture wars, some more obvious than others. Even before the big game, gums were flapping about Focus on the Family’s pro-life plug with Tim Tebow, and the double-standard CBS played when it refused to air the advert for gay dating site, Mancrunch. But then there was another, less-hyped battle happening on the airwaves last night, and it’s been going on far longer than any abortion brawl. It’s also uniquely American: the Census War.

Fiction Lovers: A Kindle, an iPad and a Hard Place

Shannon Hassett :: Monday, February 8th, 2010 3:15 pm

It’s a confusing time to be a book, and maybe even more so a reader. Digital or hard copy? Kindle or iPad? Moral opposition to digitalization of literature, or admission of defeat and support of (now) underdog Kindle? Is Kindle playing the underdog card unjustly? The answers offer no sigh of relief, posing questions that simply delve deeper into the the world of digital books and leave paper bound backers with nowhere to turn but the one place from which they hoped to hide. MORE »

Superbowl Commercials Sponsored by Other Commericals?

Johnny Sanford :: Monday, February 8th, 2010 1:30 pm

So anyone that is familiar with the “charming” commercials that cost upwards of a $3,000,000 for 30 seconds of airtime on the Superbowl knows that a hell of a lot of energy goes into a small period of time.
But what about the “great” commercials of the past? Shouldn’t we be able to see them again, like old friends trapped like ghosts of our past? Lucky for you, advertisers are willing to pay good money so that you can see your favorite old Superbowl commercials.
Finally, someone has heard my wish! MORE »

“The Who” Wins the Superbowl?

Johnny Sanford :: Monday, February 8th, 2010 1:00 pm

When the organizers of the Superbowl give you a call, you can’t really say no. Last night, The Who took the stage at Halftime for a medley of their past hits to entertain the masses. It’s fun to see them rockin’ out in their golden years, Daltry can still wail and the windmill still works for Townshend. Fortunately for America, there was no nip-slip this year. Check out their performance after the jump. MORE »

Jon Stewart Gives Bill O’ Reilly A Verbal Beating on “The Factor”

Johnny Sanford :: Monday, February 8th, 2010 12:30 pm

For anyone who likes to keep tabs on the culture war that is brewing like a proverbial pot of tea, there was a fierce battle that occurred this past week when Jon Stewart headed down to “The Factor” to face off with Bill O’ Reilly. The debate consisted of this: Jon Stewart would do about three jokes and then hit O’ Reilly with unequivocal logic, then O’ Reilly would come back with loud, guttural shouts and the insane idea to run for President with Stewart as his VP. Luckily, O’ Reilly has a great editing team so it looked as if he won some of debate. But luckily, we have some unedited footage to take a look at. To see for yourself, make the jump! MORE »

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Double Up and Remaster

Shannon Hassett :: Monday, February 8th, 2010 11:20 am

Following the success of the rerelease and remixing of their first four albums, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds will now do the same for their later work, issuing 5.1 surround sound ready versions of Tender Prey, The Good Son and Henry’s Dream (the bands 5th, 6th and 7th albums respectively). They will each be released as separate deluxe double-disc collectors editions, available on March 30th and featuring a ton of extras (bonus acoustic versions, live tracks, video tracks and unreleased material). It’s a good time to be a bad seed.

Music Video: St. Vincent “Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood”

Isaac Lekach :: Monday, February 8th, 2010 9:00 am

The comedy duo known as ThunderAnt star in St. Vincent’s new video for “Laughing With A Mouth Of Blood.” ThunderAnt is Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney and SNL’s Fred Armisen. Watch them creep Ms. Annie Clark here and watch their other bits here.

Galactic Funks Up a Full Terminal 5

Zach Custer :: Saturday, February 6th, 2010 2:30 pm

Galactic, as usual, was on point last night. But it was their guest from the Rebirth Brass Band, Corey Henry, who stole the show. MORE »

‘Small Wonder’ is Soooo Gay!

Danielle Johnsen :: Friday, February 5th, 2010 9:19 pm

If you are reading this, chances are you watched at least one episode of the American 80’s treasure “Small Wonder”, a low budget syndicated sitcom based around the Lawsons and the odd little robot girl, V.I.C.I. who lives with the family and is treated like an actual child. Only in the 80’s folks, only in the 80’s. The show has just been released on DVD (out on February 16th) and culture vulture Rich from FourFour took one for the team and watched all NINE hours of the program!!! MORE »

Boogie Down with a Soul-Train Documentary this Saturday

Amy Laviero :: Friday, February 5th, 2010 5:50 pm

If there has been a Soul-Train shaped hole in your heart since the show’s conclusion in 2006, you will be able to fill it this Saturday, February 6th, at 9:30pm (EST). To celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary, VH1 Rock Docs is presenting a 90-minute documentary on the history of the show narrated by Terrance Howard, and will feature commentary by artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to Snoop Dogg.

Even if you were never a fan of the show, or if it’s before your time, I think it’s a safe bet that the footage will offer a hilarious time-capsule to the days when huge Afros and ridiculously long hair, polyester ruffles and corduroy bell-bottoms were all the rage. Plus there are bound to be some great performances and a few smooth moves as well.

20 Years of Yo-Lahnnnn-Da

Shannon Hassett :: Friday, February 5th, 2010 5:30 pm

It almost sounds too good to be true, but Yolanda Vega, everyone’s favorite lotto announcer, majored in economics (with minors in accounting and communications, no less). It should come as no surprise, then, that someone so well suited for such a career is celebrating 20 years on the job (to the day!). Decidedly the only person to ever make a steady living off the New York Lotto, her trademark ‘Yo-LAHNNNN-Dah’ sign-off has become a household staple (at least in the little slice of heaven that is the Tri-state). Here’s a little treat for your ears, and here’s to 20 more years of the Vega.

Google & NSA vs. Chinese Hackers

Adam Kearney :: Friday, February 5th, 2010 5:30 pm

Chinese hackers ripped into Google’s systems big time last month, and the Internet search giant is now looking to the NSA for help. Breaches in cybersecurity allowed the hackers to steal Google source code, as well as information contained in the Gmail accounts of prominent, Chinese Human Rights activists. The following investigation revealed that over 30 technology, defense, energy, and financial coporations were targeted in the attack, which siphoned off intellectual property to an outside server. MORE »

Avi Buffalo Tours With Rogue Wave, Japandroids

Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, February 5th, 2010 5:15 pm

Avi Buffalo’s first single, “What’s In It For?,” is such a pretty little melodic thing! Their debut album comes out on Sub Pop on April 27th, but you can catch them on tour on the first of March with Rogue Wave until the 17th, then at SXSW, and then with Japandroids until April 23rd. Go check them out if you like young artists who give you hope for the musical future.