I’ve been dying to see Neil Diamond play for like 6 years now. I don’t know when I became a fan of his music, but it happened and it happened strong. He’s got about 16 albums out, and so it can be somewhat cumbersome to comb through those albums for the best stuff. I put out book called The Pocket DJ which has the best of his songs in there. Or you could download the iTunes Essentials. They’re pretty fucking amazing songs and I cry every time I hear “Red Red Wine.” I like to refer to him as the Jewish Elvis. Read more »
What happens when the Jam’s frontman Paul Weller collaborates with Noel Gallagher from Oasis? I have a seizure from excitement! You can hear the track, “Echoes Round the Sun”, on Stereogum. Weller is releasing 22 Dreams 6/24 on Yep Roc — it’s a two-disc, 21-track, 70-minute album(s) with guests like: Graham Coxon, Ocean Colour Scene’s Steve Cradock, Little Barrie, ex-Stone Roses guitarist Aziz Ibrahim, and Oasis’ Gem Archer and Noel Gallagher. I am about to pull out all my old Melody Maker magazines and blow a load. That’s entertainment?
I guess the collaboration Linkin Park did with Jay-Z a few years back went well since the band is teaming up with another hip hop genius: Busta Rhymes. Hoo-ha. Check out the two collaborate in a video for “We Made It”. I liked LP’s first album (weird, right?), but this video is whackjuice. Too over the top.
Like I said, the world is turning into my brain circa 1998, so naturally, Morrissey performed “Irish Blood, English Heart” on the Craig Ferguson show. I have a tea cup that Moz drank out of that Marc Spitz stole for me when he interviewed the Mozfather in 2003. I drink out of it almost daily. Anyway… Moz was wearing an American Idol shirt while performing, which is kinda genius and sort of makes me want to buy one myself now. You can see a video of this here. Oh, and can we talk about last night’s Idol? I had been waiting for like the ENTIRE SEASON, if not my entire life, for it to be Neil Diamond night on AI, and it was an abomination!!!!! First off, the songs were rushed beyond belief. The song choices were all horrible for each contestant (really, Archuleta should not have sun “Sweet Caroline”), and the two most Neil-worthy contestants — minus my sweetie Jason Castro — were kicked off (carly and michael)!!!!!! Neil should shoot them all. Also, I left a voice mail for my book editors to send the contestants my latest book called the Pocket Karaoke because I pay such strong attention to the Neil chapter. It was my favorite to write. I doubt sent the books because the performances wouldn’t have sucked so bad if they did.
Absolutepunk.net has the tourdates for Modest Mouse and REM. I bet you Michael Stipe is like “OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGG I’M TOURING WITH JOHNNY MARR!!!!”
Mark your calendars for May 3 because that’s the official date when Radiohead becomes music for the VH1 crowd. But that’s OK because VH1 is airing a show called Radiohead_In Rainbows_From the Basement. You can watch a teaser for it featuring “Reckoner” here:
Oh God do I love Thom Yorke. SEE!!!! 1998!!!!!! ALL OVER AGAIN BECAUSE EVIDENTLY MY BRAIN IS NOW DICTATING POP CULTURE AND IT DECIDED TO PULL FROM THE BEST FUCKING MUSICAL PERIOD.
Plan your Bamboozle with set times. This doesn’t come from my brain circa 1998 except for the fact that I met Bryan from Saves the Day when I was 18 at some party. But he’s not even in the band anymore and hasn’t been for almost 10 years. But I am in the album art for Through Being Cool. Find me. The pizza scene. I hadn’t even heard the band before, thank God they’re pretty god.
OMGOMGOMGOGMOGMOGMOGMGOMG
NEIL DIAMOND IS TOURING IN THE STATES WITH TWO SHOWS AT MSG IN AUGUST!!!!! GOMGOMGOMGOMGOGMOG CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS. Someone buy me these tickets!!!!
Panic At the Disco are on the Honda Civic tour and you can win some hideous car celebrating the tour here. If it doesnt come with Brendan, i’m not interested.
Win tickets to see Cartel in NYC and a copy of The Pocket Karaoke (signed by me and Will from Cartel), by entering THIS CONTEST.
NOFX is taking Fuse all around the world for their new show “Backstage Pass” which premiers tonight at 10pm. More details here.
What to expect on tonight’s American Idol, where Mariah Carey is the theme. WHEN IS THE NEIL DIAMOND EPISODE? THAT’S THE ONLY ONE I CARE ABOUT!
HOLY MOSES! The Lollapalooza line-up has finally been announced. I am having a hard time picking out the names of those I’m most excited to see, which is obviously an amazing thing. But here goes a shot: Radiohead, Rage Aganst the Machine, Wilco, Nine Inch Nails, the Ting Tings, InnerPartySystem, CSS, Brand New, Duffy, the Postelles, MGMT, Nicole Atkins & The Sea, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Uffie, and many, many, many more. Who wants to house us in Chicago?
Neil Diamond previews songs from his new album on Amazon.com
It’s hard not to fucking love Haley from Paramore. She’s 10 years our junior and we still want to be her! Over at Buzznet, they have fan coverage of Bamboozle left including a recap about our favorite lil redhead joining New Found Glory on stage. Really, we’d just like to see her on stage with Cyndi Lauper, but what can you do?
In honor of Billie Holiday’s birthday, TheFrisky The Frisky compiled a playlist of some of the best covers of songs either written by or famously performed by her.
