Tuesday, June 30, 2009

One Hit Wonder Or One Hit Blunder

Today's Subject: "The Rain" by Oran "Juice" Jones


This is how people nicknamed "Juice" handle their women. They don't allegedly kill them, they write R&B/Pop songs about them and bust them for their infidelity at the end through stalking, hot chocolate and telling them that they're "cold busted."

Wilco (The Reviews) Part 9

Today, Hightower and Jones concludes their look at Wilco with...



Wilco (The Album) keeps things simple as they revisit the past and look at the present while dueting with Feist...and no this isn't a greatest hits with new songs.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Backboard Breaking And Mic Checks With Shaq

The most interesting NBA trade this week found LeBron James a new teammate to achieve his hoop dreams with in Shaquille O'Neal. This is big news for Cleveland and, quite possibly, the best lineup they've had in nearly 20 years. Not only does James and company lose the conference finals but they are rewarded with the greatest center/rapper in NBA history.

Michael Jackson (1958–2009)


We've all made jokes and laughed at the misfortunes of Michael Jackson in recent times but this isn't a time to laugh. This is truly a sad day for music.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Interview: The Coathangers


Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting The Coathangers for a discussion of all things Coathangers from their beginning to their recordings, their new album, Scramble, and all things in between. Let it be known that the interview took place on a hot Saturday evening after a Puerto Rican Pride Parade and it was noisy outside. Thanks to the band for being generous enough to hang out and brave the heat and noise and for being really cool people overall. Also, thank you to Bekah at Suicide Squeeze and their tour manager, Emily, for granting the interview.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Seriously...This Needs An Explanation

Taylor Swift and T-Pain. One uses autotune and sings over all the current R&B and Rap hits and the other one is T-Pain. I'm not sure how this union happened but I'm placing the blame on Jay-Z for rapping with Linkin Park. Hova, this is your fault, you heartless, heartless man.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Busting Makes Me Feel Good

That line can be taken down many dirty paths.

In honor of the new Ghostbusters video game in stores this week, let us take a look back at the two lead singles/theme songs for each film. Starting with the Huey Lewis-inspired ("cough" ripoff" "cough") theme from the first film by Ray Parker Jr. followed by the Bobby Brown classic, "On Our Own" from Ghostbusters II. While some people hold the Ray Parker Jr theme from the first film in high regards with the Ghostbuster dance, celebrities saying "Ghostbusters" and, of course, Ray Parker Jr., personally, it's all about the Gumby fade, singing billboards and early 90's fashion to me. Decide amongst yourselves.

Buy This!!!


Monuments And Melodies by Incubus

A greatest hits compilation of Incubus with two new songs as bookends. You really can't go wrong with these 15 tracks chronicling the Make Yourself-era to the present date. As a fan of their older material, there is a bit of a let down not to see any material from their first three albums especially from S.C.I.E.N.C.E. but given that the band found more success in the years after that album, it makes sense not to include it.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Video Graveyard

This isn't a old video nor is it a dead video. After seeing it the other morning, I wish it were both. Ladies and gentlemen, here's "Blame It" by Jamie Foxx.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Faith Plenty More...Please!

The title is horrible but these videos taken from their headining appearance at Download Festival are anything but horrible. It is pro shot and Faith No More's second performance in 10 years. If you didn't believe there was a God before, this might change your mind.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Wilco (The Reviews) Part 6

Every Friday until June 26th, Hightower and Jones will review an album from Wilco's catalog to celebrate Wilco's seventh studio release, Wilco (The Album) (in stores June 30th). With all formalities out of the way, let continue with...


Wilco's sixth studio album steps away from experiments and and returns the band to roots minus the heavy Country stylings of that period.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

MIA: Cody ChesnuTT

There are many mysteries in our modern world. Some of which include: Why is Seth McFarlane allowed to make new shows? Better yet, why hasn't R. Kelly continued Trapped In The Closet (Does he really have more chapters or will he throw something together and hope fans like it much like The Phantom Menace)? More than any of these questions is the one question that needs a definitive answer. Where's Cody ChesnuTT and where is his followup to The Headphone Masterpiece?

Saturday, June 6, 2009

The Beatles Beat All Music Games

E3 2009 is over and Harmonix brought their "A" game to the convention with The Beatles: Rock Band. From what I've heard, the best word to describe it is "wow."

I'm not a huge Beatles fan but slowly over time I've grown to enjoy certain songs and have recently found myself listening to "The White Album" and appreciating it (I've even taken a chance to learn "Rocky Raccoon"). So the fact that I'm excited about this game is still unusual but I can honestly say that I am.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Wilco (The Reviews) Part 5

Every Friday until June 26th, Hightower and Jones will review an album from Wilco's catalog to celebrate Wilco's seventh studio release, Wilco (The Album) (in stores June 30th). With all formalities out of the way, let continue with...


Wilco's fifth album continues where Yankee Hotel Foxtrot left off without the help of Jay Bennett and brings them a Grammy. Not bad for an album where two songs account for 25 minutes of the running time.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Eulogies And Apologies (June Mixtape)



Side A
1. The Eternal by Joy Division
2. Sunday by Sonic Youth
3. We'll Never Sleep (God Knows We'll Try) by Rilo Kiley
4. The Part You Throw Away by Tom Waits
5. Sunday Afternoon by Rachael Yamagata
6. Deep Water by Portishead
7. Heroin by The Velvet Underground

Side B
1. Jesus by The Velvet Underground
2. Weeping Wall by David Bowie
3. Give Up by Sebadoh
4. On Again, Off Again by Sean Lennon
5. Scatterbrain (As Dead As Leaves) by Radiohead
6. Threads by Portishead
7. Torn Curtain by Television
8. Take Care by Big Star