Hmmm...Another Reason To Despise Weezer?

Yes there is actually a Weezer Snuggie and as funny as that may be it is truly an insight into the bands seemingly new direction. Now let me think about this...new record label (Epitaph), new album (Hurley) so soon after the last one (the stinky Raditude)...and now a new clothing line at the store...Hurley? A lot of people wondered, I mean I wondered, why on earth would Weezer seemingly name their new album after the character from lost? However just the other day in an interview, Brian Bell stated that the clothing company Hurley, which is owned by none other than Nike, had paid for the albums production and that they did a photo shoot for the clothing for the store. Wow. Then came the retraction on Weezer's website in which he completely made himself sound like a fucking idiot and said that none of what he was quoted as saying was true. Well which is it Brian? Sketchy. Basically Weezer has sold themselves out to a clothing store who put up the money for their album in exchange for advertising of a new clothing line. Not that it hasn't been done before, because it has, but just be honest about it. I was already turning my back on these guys but this really solidifies the feelings I have been having for sometime now. Hello Weezer, welcome to irrelevance!

Here is a link to the Rolling Stone article discussing Weezer's latest follies:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/194700

Fistful Of Mercy Live Acoustic Session

Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur and Dhani Harrison (George's Son), all got together this past February to play some music together in a studio. They had three days booked in a Los Angeles studio and none of them actually knew what to expect since they had no songs to record. What came out of it was a new band (Fistful Of Mercy) and 9 acoustic songs for an album called 'As I Call You Down' which they will be performing when the three hit the road in October. At first listen they have a very Crosby, Stills and Nash vibe that is dearly missing in todays music scene...sure there are a lot of singer songwriter artists out there but there isn't a band really doing it at this time. So watch and listen to their new song, 'Restore Me', above and form an opinion for yourself.

Rolling Stone Names The Top Ten Beatles Songs

Only ten? Well actually it's just a preview for Rolling Stones special addition issue in which they count down the 100 greatest Beatles songs. Wow, 100 songs, that's a lot. It just goes to show how prolific these guys were in the short amount of time that they were actually together. In the issue there are excerpts of John and Paul talking about their favorite songs which is really cool. The one unfortunate thing is that Rolling Stone is re-using a photo for the cover of the mag that they used last year on an issue that talked about the break-up of the Beatles. How could they do that? Don't they know wacko's like me would remember that? What about all the people who collect the issues, that's got to be sucky for them. Oh well. Here's the link to the article online....

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/194557

Carlos Santana's Tribute To Great Guitar Rock On Covers Album

It must be the end of the summer if I am writing about this because the music news business is really slow. However there is no questioning Santana's talent or his endurance in the music industry, but after his last major success, 1999's Supernatural, I kind of pushed him aside as someone checking in to get paid. That's fine of course and after his long and storied career he deserved some real money for all his efforts. It wasn't my bag baby, the music I mean. Now I love the Santana albums from the 60's and 70's, that's some real old fashioned rock and roll and certainly deserves a listen every so often, so there is a part of me that is interested in what he is doing now. What that is is a covers tribute album to great guitar rock songs, so my interest was piqued. Then I heard some of the artists he was partnering with and it intrigued me even more...so here's a rundown of the songs and who is guesting:

Guitar Heaven tracklisting:
1. "Whole Lotta Love" featuring Chris Cornell (Led Zeppelin)
2. "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'" featuring Scott Weiland (The Rolling Stones)
3. "Sunshine of Your Love" featuring Rob Thomas (Cream)
4. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" featuring india.arie and Yo-Yo Ma (The Beatles)
5. "Dance the Night Away" featuring Pat Monahan (Van Halen)
6. "Back In Black" featuring Nas and Janelle Monáe (AC/DC)
7. "Riders on the Storm" featuring Chester Bennington and Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
8. "Smoke On the Water" featuring Jacoby Shaddix (Deep Purple)
9. "Photograph" featuring Chris Daughtry (Def Leppard)
10. "Bang a Gong" featuring Gavin Rossdale (T. Rex)
11. "Little Wing" featuring Joe Cocker (Jimi Hendrix)
12. "I Ain't Superstitious" featuring Jonny Lang (Howlin' Wolf, Jeff Beck Group)
13. "Fortunate Son" featuring Scott Stapp (Credence Clearwater Revival)*
14. "Under the Bridge" featuring Andy Vargas (Red Hot Chili Peppers)*
* Deluxe edition only
 
Now that is some music I can get into, I mean NAS and Janelle Monae for AC/DC's Back in Black? The album is due out on September 21st and I will most certainly be picking it up.

Albums I Am Looking Forward To This Fall

This is just a quick list of records that I am looking forward to this fall:

Interpol/Interpol 9/7

The Walkmen/Lisbon 9/14

Of Montreal/False Priest 9/14

Kings Of Leon/Come Around Sundown 10/19

Certainly there will be some other interesting releases, but I will gladly accept those as surprises.

Wyclef Jean Will Not Be A Candidate For Haiti's Next Presidency

Some people are just not meant to do certain things and some can't because they are just not allowed. Wyclef Jean will not be on the list of approved candidates running for the presidency of Haiti come election time due to legal requirements. The main issue is that he is not a resident of the country even if he does own a house and has a personal stake in a television station there. Welcome to politics Mr. Jean. The real reason he will not be on the ballot is that the actual politicians fear that he just might win because there is a clear sign amongst the young and the poor of Haiti that they would undoubtedly support him. Recently Wyclef had been in hiding due to several death threats, no doubt in response to his desire to run, but a sign that things in the country are turning violent. Many are predicting that things will get worse once the announcement is made that Wyclef will not be on the ballot. In my opinion I think he should make some sort of statement in the hopes of diminishing the violence that is sure to errupt as well as dedicating himself to continuing to be an ambassador of the country, that is where his true talent lies, besides the fact that it may be a lot safer for him in the long run.

Revisiting The Classics: Beavis And Butthead Set To Return

Back in the day MTV actually used to play videos, a lot of videos, and for most of us that is what we liked. However (unfortunately) MTV decided that ratings were way more important and now gear most of their content towards teenagers. Sorry it's true. So when we want to see videos we have to go to YouTube or Vevo or wherever else they have videos. I used to like leaving on my TV to see what video would play next, kind of like a radio station. Of course that format got a little tiresome so changes had to be made. During the 90's MTV started to infuse some programming, one of those shows being the infamous Beavis and Butthead, in which cartoon characters spent time watching video's and got themselves into the usual high jinx as cartoons often do. Often times the videos that they showed got extremely popular and even helped some bands careers...ie see Rob Zombie (it's a fact). So when I heard the other day that MTV was resurrecting the show it brought back a lot of memories, one of those memories being when B & B talked about Radiohead's first big hit 'Creep.' Please watch and learn.