Arcade Fire Live At Madison Square Garden, NYC 8/5/10: Rococo

Absolutely great video of Arcade Fire in concert in New York City from last week and for those of us unlucky enough to have not been there Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame filmed the whole show and it's available to watch on YouTube! Here is just a smidge of the concert for you to watch at home. Rococo!

Weezer Announce New Record Out 9/14, Do We Even Care???

That's the Lego version of Weezer in the picture and a good representation of what the band has become over the last couple of years, a plastic shell of themselves. They have really turned the corner of cheese as I like to say, especially the last record they released, Raditude, which is an incredible piece of crap and I am being nice. It's so disappointing, they used to be so cool but at this point I just think they should go away. So when I heard the news that they had signed with a new label, Epitaph, and were planning on releasing a new record, Hurley, on September 14th, I don't think it would surprise anyone if I asked myself...'Do I even care anymore?' I am just not sure. Their last four albums have been a steady decent into oblivion ending of course with the aforementioned piece of crap Raditude. So am I just supposed to ignore all of that and believe what Rivers Cuomo says about the new record? That it has a lot more raw rock energy on it? I don't think so. This new record is just a ruse. It's just too soon for them to put out a record of any substance but they are doing whatever they can to wash out the bad taste in everyones mouth by putting out some new music so quickly. Historically in the music industry this simply doesn't work. Great records or great music takes time to produce, especially these days with all the distractions and nothing in Weezer's current history would suggest a triumphant return to form. However being the person that I am, which is very forgiving, I will certainly take some time to listen to the record when it comes out and give these guys another chance. But, and it's a big but, if it's anything similar to the last four records they have released, I can honestly say that I will no longer have any interest in this band...period.

Beach Boys Threaten To Sue Katy Perry

Look you can't use someone else's published words or lyrics for your own without getting permission. It's pretty simple and yet it continues to go on and on in the music industry. In KP's new song California Gurls, Snoop Dog utters the line...'I wish they all could be California Girls,' using the exact lyrics from the 1965 Beach Boys tune of the same name. You can't do that my friends and someone in your record company should know that because that's what they are there for. They simply just ignored the fact that they needed to pay for those rights and sorry Katy you need to be a bit more responsible for the music you produce, just ask Vanilla Ice.

Kings Of Leon Announce New Record Out 10/19

In a bit of a surprising announcement Kings Of Leon will be releasing their 5th studio album, Come Around Sundown, on October 19th, a little sooner than I first thought. I had heard that they were playing the new material on their current tour which has come so quickly after their whirlwind success over the last year and a half, but I certainly understand the bands need to move on to new material. Of course I am looking forward to it because I have liked KOL right from the very beginning and have enjoyed their musical growth. Here's to hoping that the new music is as great as their previous stuff.

Arcade Fire's 'The Suburbs' Is So Good It's Ridiculous!

I know I am completely biased about Arcade Fire but I don't think there has been a finer record released this year so far and I don't think there will be either. Exquisite. Heartfelt. Sorrowful. Beautiful. Poignant. I could most certainly go on describing the album with pointedly chosen words but really it must be experienced. Now if you haven't been lucky enough to listen and appreciate the music of Arcade Fire now is the time to pounce much like a leopard to it's prey, you must feed. This is how I feel about a lot of my music, it's just as important to me as food and that is my paradox, I must eat to survive (not cheeseburgers) and listen to music to live. Right now only one other group holds more power over me than Arcade Fire and that is Radiohead, very high praise indeed for the group from Montreal since Radiohead have been a part of my life for more than 15 years. There's just something about what Arcade Fire is doing, where they fit in...or do they? There is so much music these days, while really good, that sounds so similar that you might in fact confuse many of the bands you are listening too, a very common occurrence in the history of music. However there are those select few that no matter what happens they always stand out. Their music is up just a bit higher on the pedestal and it stays there to be remembered. And this is where Arcade Fire reside now that they have released their third album. Prior to that, two albums was clearly not enough to judge so highly but it was pretty close. So far several songs really stand out to me, not to say that there is a bad song in the bunch because there isn't. The opener 'The Suburbs' is a fantastic way to begin with the equally great 'Ready To Start' following at number two. 'Rococo' the number three track has a haunting beginning...aw forget it, every song is freakin' great, I could be here all day. Just go out and pick this up....I repeat get off your lazy ass, step away from the computer, go to the store and remember what it feels like to buy a new album. P.S. I ain't burning a copy for no one, you are on your own.

Interpols New Video For 'Lights': A Little Weird

...But I like it, of course...

Radiohead Lend There Song 'Videotape' To Help Aid Unicef

Radiohead have donated the use of their song 'Videotape' to help the Unicef initiative 'Put It Right,' which aims to provide children everywhere with clean water, health care, schooling and protection from exploitation. Here is the video in which the initiative is promoted. Good cause, good song.