My Friends Call Me Kelly For Short

Every once in a while, a film comes along that is so brilliant that its genius is never fully appreciated by the general public. From Justin To Kelly is far from that film. Instead, you get a film in the tradition of the Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello beach films but with a little more sexual undertones, two American Idol contestants and all the humor of a Carrot Top movie. In fact, I'd like to call this movie Bleach Blanket Oh No.

Go Away Pete Doherty!

Pete Doherty, I've never listened to your music nor do I care to. Based off of your need for publicity, I have to say that you seem like a massive douchebag. There I said what the public probably knows and are possibly thinking. Your latest maneuver for publicity was bringing cocaine into a courtroom. Either you are the most brazen person in the world or seriously stupid but whatever works for you is fine, I suppose.

The Specials' First US TV Appearance In 30 Years

There's no other way to phrase that besides throwing the words "awesome" and "hell yeah" after that said. Yes, the recently reformed 2-Tone legends will be making their first US televised in 30 years on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. That's right Jimmy Fallon continues to get some amazing musical guests especially those of the legendary variety (ex. Jawbox, Megadeth, Living Colour). This US appearance for The Specials is one of a few limited US appearances, for now, which include a couple of shows at Terminal 5 in New York and an appearance at Coachella. The Specials make their televised return on April 13 on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Check out clips from their return last year here and their first US televised appearance on Saturday Night Live from April 1980 after the jump.

Indie Ghetto

Every so often, you come across something online that amuses you. At the same time, it also impresses you and you can not stop watching it. Indie Ghetto is one of those things that just does it for me.

Elect The Dead Symphony Screening Dates

Last year, Serj Tankian, along with New Zealand's Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra performed a symphonic version of his 2008 release, Elect The Dead. Instead of just having an orchestra back up his songs, Tankian reworked his material for the use of orchestral instruments, alone, and titled the project Elect The Dead Symphony. This performance was captured for a CD/DVD release that will be availiable this March. Before that, Elect The Dead Symphony, will see a small theatrical release in February and early March. Screening dates and information on CD/DVD are posted after the jump.

New Faces, Familiar Feelings Vol. 2 (January 2010 Mixtape)

Side A
01 - "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by Cat Power (Rolling Stones)
02 - Let's Spend The Night Together" by David Bowie (Rolling Stones)
03 - "So Alive" by Black Light Burns (Love And Rockets)
04 - "Wish" by Dillinger Escape Plan (Nine Inch Nails)
05 - "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" by Neko Case (Sparks)
06 - "Back In N.Y.C." by Jeff Buckley (Genesis)
07 - "I Can See For Miles" by Petra Haden (The Who)
08 - "Mr. Crowley" by The Cardigans (Ozzy Osbourne)

Side B
09 - "Atlantic City" by Hank Williams III (Bruce Springsteen)
10 - "Cornflake Girl" by Jawbox (Tori Amos)
11 - "I Just Wanna Have Something To Do" by Garbage (Ramones)
12 - "Darling Nikki" - Foo Fighters (Prince And The Revolution)
13 - "Cold Blooded" by Ol' Dirty Bastard (Rick James)
14 - "Police Story" by Rollins Band feat. Ice-T (Black Flag)
15 - "Tippi-Toes" by Primus (The Meters)
16 - "The Goose" by Fishbone (Parliament)

Pick Of The Week: Transference by Spoon

In what is already the front-runner for deal of the year, Spoon's new album Transference (out today), can be downloaded from Amazon for $3.99. No, this is not a mistake. It is just a good album for a very affordable price.

Coachella: You Wonderful Concert, You

Never before have I ever wanted to travel to California for one weekend as bad as I do at this very moment. The 3-day lineup for the 2010 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival is, without a doubt, one of the best weekend concert lineups I have ever seen. It's as if someone raided the better half, more like third, of my music collection and put them in a show together. This is excellent.

A Week Of Loss

I haven't posted much lately but felt it would be irresponsible to move forward without acknowledging three losses to the musical community. Hightower And Jones wishes to send condolences to the family, friends and lives affected and influenced by Kate McGarrigle, Teddy Pendergrass and Jay Reatard. Their contributions to life and music will always be remembered and loved for years to come. Thank you for your time and art.

January: New Year...New Sounds!

Let us begin the new year with some new sounds and old classics that will hopefully stay in head all year long.

Nine Inch Nails Fans Offer Two New Nine Inch Nails DVDs

Last year, Trent Reznor released hundreds of gigabytes of concert footage taken from their 2008 tour, Lights In The Sky, for public usage. Due to legalities, the footage that would have been compiled for the next Nine Inch Nails was turned over to the fans. Footage in hand (or on computer) and months later, the fans have responded with Another Version Of The Truth: The Gift, a fan edited, downloadable DVD/Blu-ray compiled from three nights of the aforementioned tour. You can find out more on Another Version Of The Truth: The Gift and the various downloadable formats here. As the title of this post says, there is more  downloadable Nine Inch Nails available.

Hear Spoon's Transference

NPR is giving you a chance to listen to a stream of Spoon's forthcoming release, Transference, on their site. Transference is the followup to 2007's critically acclaimed, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and will be in stores Tuesday, January 19th. Listen to Transference at NPR.

In Case You Missed It: Nellie McKay Performing On Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Nellie McKay stopped by the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to perform "The Very Thought Of You" from her Doris Day tribute album, Normal As Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day. Check out the video after the jump.

One Hit Wonder Or One Hit Blunder

Today Subject: "Mambo No. 5" by Lou Bega


Oh, the summer of 1999. Carson Daly and Total Request Live (TRL) continued day after day to aim for coolness but continued missing the mark. Limp Bizkit dominated the charts with a song about cookies and where they could be placed called "Nookie." Most importantly, Lou Bega scored a Top 10 hit with his ode to good times and good women called "Mambo No. 5" (insert jazz hands here).

The Return Of The Rusty Caged Spoonman

If the last six years have proven anything, reunions are profitable for both artists (financially) and fans (visually and musically). Within these years, everyone from Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. to Digable Planets and A Tribe Called Quest have reunited with some resulting in new albums (Dinosaur Jr, Alice In Chains) while others have reunited for nostalgia and the promotion of catalog reissues (Pixies, The Jesus Lizard). While I'm all for the reunions (depending on my interest in the band the first time they existed), one reunion has me as excited as I am leery about their return. That band is Soundgarden.