Five Reasons Why The 120 Minutes Relaunch Does Not Work For Me

The last few days brought forth two noteworthy events for MTV. The first one being that the network turned 30-years-old on Monday. Sure, many thought it would fade away but it expanded like Mark Goodman's hair and became a major force for entertainment and pop culture as well as helping to launch several notable and several forgettable careers regardless of charisma, talent and musical ability (ex. Mike Judge and Madonna vs. The Situation and Jimmy Ray). Congratulations to MTV and all the network has accomplished in its 30 year career despite dropping music videos and, mostly, music altogether in favor of the horribly stereotyped and idiotic reality shows that have plagued the network for the last six years (The Hard Times of R.J. Berger is an anomaly there...a humorous and pleasant anomaly).

Laurel and Lana (July 2011)

Side A
01. Passenger by Deftones
02. Subzero Fun by Autolux
03. Crash 17 (X-Rated Car) by Girls Against Boys
04. Car Crash by Tricky
05. Enjoy by Björk


Side B
01. Self-Obsessed and Sexxee by Sonic Youth
02. 9 Fingers on You by Shudder To Think
03. Out of the Blue by Roxy Music
04. Do You Believe by The Cardigans
05. Taste the Pain by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Amy Winehouse (1983-2011)

British singer Amy Winehouse passed away this morning in her North London home at the age of 27 which you can read more on here. Winehouse was a critically acclaimed, award winning performer who, sadly, was known for her legal and personal troubles as much as she was known for her rising musical career. In June, she attempted a 12-date European tour that was cancelled after a disappointing opening date performance. This past Wednesday, Winehouse performed in what is now her last public performance as she made made a surprise appearance at the iTunes Festival. Despite being a source for constant tabloid fodder, the truth is that Winehouse was a very talented artist who could have and should have gone much further than she and her short career did. Definitely, she was a talent lost too soon. For the handful of people who probably read this blog (and not to sound too preachy), if you know someone suffering from substance abuse, do what you can to help them and here are links to directories of treatment centers throughout the U.S. and Europe. Definitely get yourself and your loved ones the help needed and deserved.

Check The Rhimes And Conflicts Of A Tribe Called Quest

In the early to mid 90's, A Tribe Called Quest were one of the top hip hop acts around. Appearances on The Arsenio Hall Show, a spot on Lollapalooza 1994 and three solid, critically acclaimed albums brought the group into the mainstream consciousness while issues with leadership and record labels would cause the group to disband before the end of the decade. Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest is a documentary on the influential group and explores these subjects as well as shows why even today, the idea of a reunion blurs the line between being the best and worst thing that could happen to their legacy.

Cibo Matto (Lincoln Hall - July 14, 2011)

It is hard to believe that it has been a decade since Cibo Matto were last around and longer than that since their last album, 1999's Stereotype A, was released. During the year they were active, however, they created a sound as futuristic as it was current and as funky as it was laid-back. As fans filled Lincoln Hall's floor and balcony on Thursday night, they were reminded of the sounds that helped make New York seem like an alternative heaven in the 90's and received a taste of what the Japanese-American duo have been working on since returning.

Free Downloads From Sub Pop, Touch And Go, Kill Rock Stars, Adult Swim And Pitchfork

You have to love free music. One, it is free which is enough reason alone and two, it provides you with an opportunity to hear some new artists as well as artists that you like releasing great songs. These free releases from Pitchfork and eMusic in support of this weekend's Pitchfork Music Festival and labels such Sub Pop, Kill Rock Stars, Touch and Go, Barsuk and plenty more via Amazon. The compilations feature music from TV on the Radio, Kylesa, The Jesus Lizard, Phantogram and Marnie Stern. Finally, Adult Swim's Singles Program is back and the cartoon block is offering 10 new singles featuring Mastodon, Best Coast, How to Dress Well and more with a new song issued each week. So go forth, download these free compilations and hear some great music.

OFF! Release New Video And Plan European Tour

Punk supergroup OFF! is in town this weekend to perform at the Pitchfork Music Festival as well as a post-Pitchfork headlining set at Reggie's Rock Club. In August, the band will spend the month touring Europe with The Bronx and Fucked Up performing on selected dates. In addition to this, the band has released a video for "Full of Shit" which was filmed at their record release party last fall. Catch the band at the Pitchfork Music Festival this Saturday (4:45 on the Blue Stage) and/or at Reggie's Rock Club this Sunday night (tickets available here). The video and tour dates are posted below and for more videos on OFF!, watch Noisey's segment on the band from which the aforementioned video is an outtake from.

Rilo Kiley Officially Disbands

After months of speculation, talks of a hiatus and a couple of years of solo albums, Rilo Kiley has officially disbanded. The band's guitarist/vocalist Blake Sennett recently addressed the band's future in his interview with Spinner. Regarding the band, Sennett offered this comment:

Tori Amos & Lomography Team Up For Photography Competition And Limited Edition Camera

Tori Amos has a new album, Night of Hunters, on the way and the ensuing tour to promote it. In addition to this, Amos has joined up with Lomography for a brand new limited edition camera in her name as well as a very interesting competition for her fans and amateur photographers.

Cool Off The Summer Heat With These July Releases

Simply put, July is littered with some impressive new releases featuring albums from Incubus, Sepultura, Alkaline Trio, Little Dragon and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta and Fiery Furnaces' Eleanor Friedberger are issuing their debut albums. The second commercial release from Odd Future, a remastered version of Mellowhype's sophomore album, Blackendwhite, will arrive in stores and a pair of albums from Megadeth and R.E.M. will celebrate their 25th anniversaries will special edition reissues. Who needs pools when you can stay inside with air conditioning and these albums.

White Denim (Schubas - June 30, 2011)

With the fury of a freight train, White Denim began their Thursday night set at Schubas and ended a little over an hour later in a sound of grooved feedback before thanking the sold out crowd. It is their combination of prog, funk and hard rock with a hint of Southern boogie that make the band such a compelling listen in album form. Live, however, the songs exist in a different form. They are the heavier, extended variations filled with impressive, awe-inspiring performances.

Final Screaming Trees Recordings To See Official Release

It has been 15 years since Screaming Trees released their brilliant swan song, Dust, and 11 years since their last performance. In between, those four years, the band went into the studio to record a new album that was never completed. On August 2, former Screaming Trees (and Mad Season) drummer Barrett Martin will release the band's final sessions titled Last Word: The Final Recordings on his label, Sunyata. The recordings featuring  Martin producing and Jack Endino (Nirvana, Mudhoney) mixing along with guest appearances from R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and the band's then touring guitarist, Josh Homme of Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age fame.

The Unheard Music/Los Angeles Double Feature For X's Fall Tour

X, on record, is one of the greatest punk bands to come out of the late 70's/early 80's Los Angeles punk scene. Their first four albums, especially, have a certain magic to them from the instrumentation to vocal harmonies to the fact that a decade earlier, The Doors represented the L.A. in such a magical, hazy way that it seemed like the band's keyboardist, Ray Manzarek, was passing the city's musical representation torch by producing X's dirtier, desperate vision of the city for their first four albums. X, in concert, was and still are an amazing force aided by great songs and a solid musicianship. In fact, I considered walking away from guitar after watching Billy Zoom, with his trademark silver jacket and Gretsch Silverjet guitar, perform a mere 10 feet away from me because he is still is just as impressive now as he was 30 years ago.

Flesh For Fantasy (June 2011)

Side One Piece and Trunks
01. Skin O' My Teeth by Megadeth
02. Skin by Oingo Boingo
03. New Skin by Incubus
04. Skinned by Blind Melon
05. Under Your Skin by Luscious Jackson
06. Skin by Nikka Costa


Side Two Piece and a Speedo
01. Shed the Skin by Onesidezero
02. Skinless Friend by Skankin' Pickle
03. Shfting Skin by On
04. Skin Divers by Duran Duran
05. Skin Receiver by Melissa Auf der Maur
06. Doll Skin by Toadies

White Denim Bring Critically Acclaimed Sound To Schubas

If you find yourself in Chicago on June 30, then your time should be spent at Schubas checking out White Denim. The Austin, TX quartet's sound of a well distributed mix of garage, southern rock, psychedelia and prog have been impressing audiences in corner of the U.S. and their recent full-length, D, has received more than favorable mentions from various music outlets. Rolling Stone (yes, that Rolling Stone) awarded the album four stars and was recently listed as an editor's pick while online music bible, All Music Guide labeled it as a four and a half star "masterpiece."

My Morning Jacket - Circuital

Three years ago, My Morning Jacket released Evil Urges, an album meant to capture the loose feel of their live performances that ended up confusing a few critics despite it being no more experimental than their previous album, 2006's Z, was to the album before it, 2003's It Still Moves. While not as funky (or, in some cases, erotic) as its predecessor, the quintet's newest release, Circuital, returns the band to their roots, as so many critics have felt the need to mention and, in turn, feels more like the true musical follow-up to Z while containing the energy of Evil Urges. Then again, for a band that is known for their experimental sound and the songs that follow suit, what exactly constitutes their roots?

Video Graveyard

Musicians are clearly the spokespeople for any business from restaurant chains (MC Hammer for Kentucky Fried Chicken) to filing taxes (Vanilla Ice for TurboTax). Why not? People love music and, furthermore, they buy products so it is a winning combination. The downside to this is that, usuallly, the ads are extremely cheesy and do very little to help the artist's reputation (see MC Hammer ads circa 1991-93 for any and all examples). In this case,it increases my love for a band and makes me hungry. This is an ad for an Atlanta restaurant, Elmyr, featuring Mastodon guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds that parodies pharmaceutical ads and is as spot on of a parody as one would need to be. The only thing missing is Hinds riding a motorcycle but still there is golf, yoga, fishing and the guitarist eating a deliciously huge burrito. Hands down, this commercial makes me love Mastodon even more than I already do which is close to impossible. Now if only I had a burrito in my hand.

Gold Cobra's Artwork Makes My Eyes Bleed.

It Is Never Too June For New Releases

Yeah...that is now the worst pun/joke ever made on this blog. This month provides a wide variety of new releases from the likes of Black Lips, The Coathangers, Hail Mary Mallon (Aesop Rock and Rob Sonic), The Black Dahlia Murder, Bad Meets Evil (Eminem and Royce 5'9"), Neil Young and, best of all, Weird Al Yankovic. Weird Al Yankovic!!! With so many options, it is impossible not to find yourself singing or rapping along to any of these recordings. If you are interested in any of these albums, click on the link and purchase them. Remember, whatever you choose to listen to, play it loud.

Pick Of The Week: Ozzy Osbourne Reissues

It has been awhile since I last offered a pick of the week post but this pick is far too excellent to pass up. In a week, highlighted by new albums from Black Lips and My Morning Jacket as well as a stateside release of Kate Bush's newest release, it a reissued pair of early 80's headbanging classics that truly shine this week. No matter which reissued variation you buy, the separate albums or the box set, the 2011 editions of Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman are worthy additions to your collection..