Video of the Day: "Always Right Behind You" by The Zutons

This is their brand new single and the first single from their upcoming third album You Can Do Anything. These guys have always been among my favorite bands, this is a tad poppier than how I like them, but I has alot of their signature sound intact



UPDATE (7/13/08): Hey, looks like Universal isn't the only one who's playing the "disable embedding" game. But it's also Sony Music, who own 49% of Deltasonic Records, the label that The Zutons are signed to. So that means they own enough of it to block videos by it's artists. Here's the link to the official video.

Ramblings: The Days Just Get Odder

• This is pretty strange, after my copy of that free Coldplay song landed in my Gmail inbox, my spam folder is now showing a lot more spam for baby products and pregnant women's clothing. I take it that Google Ads thinks that the only people who listen to Coldplay are pregnant women, but I bet that's their key demographic.
• Once again, a large inflatable pig got lose from Roger Waters. That first time was of course during the album cover shot for Pink Floyd's 1977 album Animals, but this pig was one that flew away from Waters during the end of the first half of his solo set at Coachella on April 27. Coachella promoters were offering a $10,000 reward and four tickets to the festivals for life, and according to The Hollywood Reporter the pig was found by a woman in La Quinta, CA who: 1. Isn't a Floyd fan despite the fact she found the pig while jogging in a Pink Floyd T-Shirt and 2. Proclaims she isn't "part of [the Coachella] crowd" and wouldn't like the tickets.
  
• Also Grand Theft Auto IV was released yesterday and that all the radio station music has been announced. Among the alternative rock songs on the soundtrack: "1979" by Smashing Pumpkins, "Raging in the Plague Age" by Les Savy Fav, "Get Innocuous" by LCD Soundsystem, "Right Brigade" by Bad Brains. Initial reports of "Teddy Picker" by Arctic Monkeys being included have been proved false.
  

Ramblings: Pang!

• The lineup for this year's Glastonbury Festival lineup was leaked yesterday. Among the acts playing the three day festival include Vampire Weekend, Kate Nash, MGMT, Biffy Clyro, Leonard Cohen, The Verve, Hot Chip, The Raconteurs, We Are Scientists and The Brian Jonestown Massacre
• In a case of hilarious irony, Metallica announced that they would like to release some of their new material online. This actually came from the mouth of drummer Lars Ulrich in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, which is ironic because his whining was what almost singlehandedly killed Napster, the first major file-sharing network.
• Oh also Coldplay is releasing their new single "Violet Hill" for free online, but only this week. Now most of you people think hipsters hate Coldplay because - in the words of Chuck Klosterman in Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs - "they're a mediocre photocopy of Travis, who are in turn a mediocre photocopy of Radiohead" (actually, I'm a fan of Travis, but I totally agree with what he said). Actually Coldplay do have their good moments, and you'll have to be the judge if "Violet Hill" is one of them. This link here is only good for this week and this week alone but i'm SURE you'll be able to find 3,000 copies of the song floating around the blogosphere anyway after that.

Video of the Day: "We Are Rockstars" by Does It Offend You, Yeah?

I'm beginning to warm up to these guys. They sound like a mix between Hadouken!, PartyShank and Hot Chip - all bands I like. They're an electro-rock band from Reading, England and this is the video for their third single "We Are Rockstars", taken from the album You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into.

Ramblings: Press Select

• The Last Shadow Puppets, the side project of Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys and his friend Miles Kane formerly of the Little Flames (and currently the guitarist for The Rascals) have the #1 album in the UK with The Age of the Understatement. Last week the title track and first single from the album hit #9
• It also looks like either next week or this week that "Pork and Beans" the new single by Weezer, will take over the #1 spot on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and unseat the current champion "Rise Above This" by Seether, which has been at the top spot for only one week so far. "Handlebars" by newcomers Flobots - a Denver-based alternative rock/hip-hop six piece is also a competitor for the spot, with a projected jump from #9 to #3.
• Last night there was a special on TV Guide Channel about the Jump the Shark philosophy of TV (because TV Guide BOUGHT the damn site last year). It was amusing and covered all the bases. I liked it.
  

Late Night This Week: Week of 4/27/08

Once agian, I'll be listing who TV Guide lists as who'll be on what late night show as of 2:00PM April 23, 2008 of the week beginning with that date. Guests are subject to change.

4/28/08
Kimmel: "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson, actress Julie Bowen, Back Door Slam perform (REPEAT)
Letterman: actress Gwyneth Paltrow, comedian Richard Lewis, The Roots with Chrisette Michelle perform
Ferguson: actor Ewan McGregor, Morrissey performs
Leno: actress Helen Hunt, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, Duffy performs
Conan: actress Marisa Tomei, actor Anthony Andersen, Santogold performs
Daly: TBA

4/29/08
Kimmel: the seventh contestant eliminated from "Dancing with the Stars", Cinematic Orchestra perform
Letterman: actor Robert Downey Jr., Alicia Keys performs
Ferguson: comedian Kathy Griffin, actress Emily Deschanel, Morrissey performs
Leno: television show host "Dr." Phil McGraw, Natasha Bedingfield performs
Conan: comedian Jeff Garlin, The Kills perform
Daly: comedian Chelsea Handler, Serj Tankian perform

4/30/08
Kimmel: actress Angie Harmon, chef Adam Perry Lang, Def Leppard perform
Letterman: actor Matthew Broderick, reality show participant Heidi Montag, Josh Groban performs
Ferguson: actor Jeff Bridges, actress Valerie Edmond, Grand Archives perform
Leno: wife of presidential candidate Cindy McCain, actor Ed Helms, Augustana perform
Conan: chef Gordon Ramsay, Feist performs
Daly: TBA

5/1/08
Kimmel: media mogul Sean Combs, actor John Cho, Stone Temple Pilots perform
Letterman: actor John Goodman, television show host Bear Grylls, Robyn performs
Ferguson: actress Sigourney Weaver, actor Eric Mabius, She & Him perform
Leno: actress Cameron Diaz, actor Terrence Howard, Avril Lavigne performs
Conan: Was (Not Was) perform
Daly: comedian Maronzio Vance, actress Jenny McCarthy, Does It Offend You, Yeah? perform

5/2/08
Kimmel: actor Terrence Howard, Estelle performs
Letterman: actor Patric Dempsey, actress Isabella Rossellini, Nick Lowe performs
Ferguson: actress Helen Hunt, actor Kal Penn
Leno: actress Sally Feild, wrestler-turned-politician-turned author Jesse Ventura, Sleepercar perform
Conan: actor Matthew Broderick, actress Michelle Monaghan, aspiring inventor Brian Turner
Daly: actress Leelee Sobieski, Ben Lee performs (REPEAT)

5/3/08
SNL: Guest host: actor Jonah Hill. Musical guest: Mariah Carey (REPEAT)

Actual Blogging Alert

It's been a long while since i've done actual blogging on this blog, not pop culture reporting or video posting.
Anyway, I seriously think the Pepsi machine in my College's atrium hates me. It never ever vends for me. Or it gets it wrong. When I press A9, I should get a Diet Pepsi, not a Mountain Dew. And the change machine is even worse. It does not recognize the new $10 bills.
I also never see Tombstone Pizza anymore. I grabbed one when I saw one at Stop & Shop the other day. Is Kraft phasing it out? It was always a great frozen pizza.
I've also noticed the decline of the once plentiful AOL free trial discs. You only see them at Wal-Marts - but only rarely. The fact that they were so heavily produced made them collectible. Like Pogs. AOL Discs are Pogs.
Apparently MTV is still playing videos. Good ones too. I swore I just saw the video for "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend. On MTV. Probably the one hour they actually play music videos. That's why you never see the tagline "MTV: Music Television" anymore. Because it isn't music television. I bet alot of kids now have no clue what MTV is an acronym for
Well that's it for now. Can't think of anything else. Brain hurt. Peace.

Video of the Day: "Divine Thing" by The Soup Dragons

These guys were far and away one of the best bands of the post-Madchester, pre-Britpop era of British Alternative music. This was their biggest American hit, "Divine Thing" which hit #35 and was their sole Top 40 appearance on this side of the pond. Official video provided by Yahoo! Video and Polygram

Concerning the Gas Prices

Gas is getting close to $4. $4. In-fucking-sane. Absolutely in-fucking-sane. At the local Stop & Shop gas station it's currently $3.60 for Regular plain old unleaded. I mean remember when it wasn't unaffordable? No? neither do I. Sigh.

Video of the Day: "House of Cards" by Radiohead (Pre-Taped for Late Night with Conan O'Brien)

A couple nights ago, Conan O'Brien did not have a musical guest in the studio. Instead, a pretaped performance of Radiohead performing "House of Cards" exclusively for Conan (who had Radiohead has his very first musical guest in 1993) was shown, this is the performance. Enjoy

Ramblings: Pianos That Crash To The Ground

• Terry Hall has confirmed that the legendary British ska band The Specials will reform for some tour dates and possibly "some recording" according to an interview with BBC Radio 6.
• Apparently there was an NME Awards USA on the 23rd, but they didn't get as much American press as even the actual 2008 NME Shockwave Awards in Britian. All you need to know is that Vampire Weekend won Best New Artist and Best Breakthrough Band, MGMT won Best Breakthrough Track (for "Time to Pretend'), Canada's Arcade Fire won Best International Band, Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys won Best International Album and "Golden Skans" by Klaxons won Best International Track. The rest of the winners can be read here.
• Also it's been reported that when Conan O'Brien takes over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno next year, Jimmy Fallon will be taking over Conan's show. Now all we need to do is tell NBC that Jimmy Fallon is not funny.
• Omigod, we've become a pop culture link farm. Slowly but surely this blog is jumping the shark. Sigh.

Arctic Monkeys confirm third album in 2009

NME has confirmed that Arctic Monkeys will start work on a third full length album due sometime in 2009. Qouting an interview the band's singer Alex Turner did with BBC Radio 6, "We had tunes that we'd already been playing on tour so we recorded them. That’s six [songs]". Turner's current sideproject, The Last Shadow Puppets have had surprising success with their first single "The Age of the Understatement" hitting the Top 10 in Britain. Also the Arctic Monkeys single "Teddy Picker" has been confirmed to appear in the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV.

Video of the Day: "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here" by She & Him with Yo La Tengo (Live on Conan)

I've been waiting for the television debut of She & Him for quite some time and they did it in style, performing "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" backed up by indie veterans Yo La Tengo on Conan on Tuesday night. Here it is.

Free Music: Nine Inch Nails Release New Free Song

The Nine Inch Nails have released a brand new single called "Discipline" for free on their website. It is availible free from this website. Share and enjoy.

Video of the Day: "Standing Outside A Phone Booth With Money In My Hand" by Primitive Radio Gods

This group was quite possibly one of the most satisfying one hit wonders of all time, this song was a gigantic top 10 hit back in 1996 - back when a rock song could actually achieve something like that.

Ramblings: Another Planet

• The Automatic are working on the follow up to their 2006 debut Not Accepted Anywhere. The album is tenatively titled This is a Fix (though it's awful likely that's gonna be the title) and the first single will be "Steve McQueen", which the band has been playing live since before the departure of keyboardist Alex Pennie last year.
• I also have a quick question. I've been noticing on SiteMeter that people are sending links to this website through email (because SiteMeter let's you do things like that. Don't worry, I can't read the mail, i'm just informed we've been linked to through that). My question is: Are actual people sending these or are spambots sending them? Becuase if it's the latter I have no knowledge of it, and higly discourage the practice. If it's the former I have no problem with it. Gladly share us with your friends as long as no spam is attached.
• The nominations for the Ivor Novello Awards - the prestigous award for British songwriting - have been announced. Aside from the much publicized nomination of Amy Winehouse. Other notable nominations abound. Paul Epworth and Kate Nash were nominated for best Contemporary song for Nash's "Foundations", while Jamie Reynolds, James Righton and Simon Taylor-Davies where nominated in the same award for "Golden Skans" by their band Klaxons. The Kaiser Chiefs are nominated for "Ruby" in the field of Most Performed Song and Radiohead's In Rainbows is nominated for the Album Award.

A Big Week for Weezer

According to Billboard.com, Weezer's new single "Pork and Beans" is slated to hit #19 on this week's Modern Rock Tracks chart. What makes this amazing is that KROQ only world premiered the song on April 15th. The song has the best opening since Foo Fighters' "The Pretender" debuted at #16 in August (that song in fact is still hanging around the Top 20 of the Modern Rock Tracks chart). Also the band has revealed the cover for their sixth album which like their first and third is self titled. Like those releases the album features the band standing in front of a monocolor background. This time it's red, hence The Red Album. The album is scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008, with the physical single for "Pork and Beans" hitting stores on April 24 (that's this Thursday).

Video of the Day: "Time is Running Out" by Muse (Live at Wembley)

Muse are one of my favorite bands, a mix between Radiohead and Pink Floyd (not a very good description, but trust me it's there). This is "Time is Running Out" from their 2005 album Absolution from a show at Wembley Stadium in 2007 that appears on their live album/DVD H.A.A.R.P..

Chart News from Across the Pond

Several major alternative rock songs have had a major week on the UK Singles Chart. "Time to Pretend" by MGMT debuted this week at #35 after a few months of hanging around just outside the top 40, while "The Age of the Understatement" by Last Shadow Puppets moves from #24 to #9. "I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend to Dance with You" by Black Kids slips from #11 to #20. The Kooks, whose single "Always Where I Need To Be" slides from #7 to #9, have something to celebrate as their second album Konk debuted this week at #1 on the UK Album Chart. "Breaking Standing" by ¡Forward, Russia! hit #2 on the UK Indie Chart this week.

Late Night This Week: Week of 4/20/08

It's that time of the week again where we list who will be on the late night shows this week. Remember these are subject to change and are taken from information from TVGuide.com and TV.com as of 9:45AM on Sunday, April 20, 2008. This week is filled with performances by IPUS favorites like She & Him, Tokyo Police Club, Vampire Weekend, Radiohead, Tegan and Sara and The Swell Season. She & Him's performance on Conan on Tuesday night will be their first ever performance on television and Radiohead's performance on Conan on Wednesday will be a special pre-taped performance of "House of Cards".

4/21/08
Kimmel: "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson, actress Julie Bowen, Back Door Slam perform (REPEAT)
Letterman: actor Billy Crystal, tennis player Maria Sharapova
Ferguson: actress Kate Beckinsale, author Ken Tucker
Leno: zoologist Dave Salmoni, actor Norm MacDonald, Ashlee Simpson performs
Conan: celebrity chef Rachael Ray, actor John Cho, Grizzly Bear perform
Daly: actress Daryl Hannah

4/22/08
Kimmel: actor Brad Garrett, Paul Thorn performs
Letterman: actor Helen Hunt, radio personality Mike "Mad Dog" Russo, Kathleen Edwards performs
Ferguson: actor Laurence Fishburne, actress Rashida Jones, comedian Joe Devito
Leno: actress Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, actor Jason Segel, Goldfrapp perform
Conan: actor Andy Richter, She & Him perform
Daly: actor Jack McBrayer

4/23/08
Kimmel: actor Eric Dane, actor Bill Hader, Vampire Weekend perform
Letterman: actress/writer Tina Fey, actor Russell Brand, Tokyo Police Club perform
Ferguson: actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, actor Jonny Lee Miller
Leno: actor Patrick Dempsey, actor Ed Begley Jr., Tegan and Sara perform
Conan: journalist Peter Greenberg, actor Seth Green, Radiohead perform
Daly: former baseball player Jose Canseco

4/24/08
Kimmel: actor David Spade, actress Jean Smart, Ashlee Simpson performs
Letterman: former football player Brett Favre, Estelle performs
Ferguson: writer Ben Stein, actress Alicia Witt, comedian Andrew Norelli
Leno: California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, actress Marilu Henner, Old 97's perform
Conan: actress Amy Poehler
Daly: TBA

4/25/08
Kimmel: actor Neil Patrick Harris, actress Marilu Henner, The Swell Season (Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová) perform
Letterman: late night host Craig Ferguson, NPR host Ira Glass, The Black Crowes perform
Ferguson: actor Jason Segel, author Connie Schulz
Leno: actor Hugh Laurie, author Doug Fine
Conan: actress/writer Tina Fey, actor Fred Willard, Say Anything perform
Daly: TBA

4/26/08
SNL: Guest Host: actor Christopher Walken, Musical Guest: Panic at the Disco (REPEAT)

Video of the Day: "This Is Fake DIY" by bis

Let's take a trip back to 1996. This is one of the most underrated bands in the annals of indie pop, the Scottish twee pop trio bis (no, not the Japanese visual kei group also called BIS). Underrated because they were shoved so deeply down our throats most people weren't able to appreciate how good they were. This is from their 1996 EP Bis vs. the DIY Corps.

The Supermegainsane 4/20 Post Being Transmitted Directly from the Epicenter of Indieland

Well today is none other than the mythical day known as 4/20, the holiday a "certain" subculture. The story of 420 as it has been collected is that it was used as a codeword between friends at San Rafeal High School in San Rafeal, CA back in 1971 to meet at the statue of Louis Pastuer at the school's front every 4:20PM to smoke dope. Ironically this same school was used as the setting of the video for "Sister Christian" by Night Ranger. This has since become the day to smoke pot. Of course I don't smoke pot. But hey, if that's your bag, I have nothing against you.

Two members leave The Pipettes

According to a message on the MySpace page for the twee pop trio The Pipettes, it has been announced that founding members Rebecca "RiotBecki" Stephens and Rose Dougal have left the group. Gwenno Saunders, the lone remaining Pipette from the recording of 2006's We Are The Pipettes will be joined by two new girls about which little is known aside from the fact one is Gwenno's sister.

It should be noted that IPUS favorites Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong is the band lead by Joe Lean (aka Joe Van Moyland), the former drummer for the Pipettes' backing band The Cassette and whose guitarist is Rose Dougal's brother Thomas Dougal

Record Store Day Today

Today is Record Store Day, which means that in independent record stores all throughout the country will have special performances, give aways and all kinds of awesomeness. My local record store, Music Box, is a participating store, which means that anyone who I know that's reading this should get their ass down there. Now.

Weezer. New Single. Listen. Now.

Having not released an album since 2005's Make Believe (and the pop radio juggernaut that was "Beverly Hills", a song that not even the dedicated Weezer fanatic like myself can listen to ever again because pop and rock radio played it to death. Well now the boys of Weezer have a new album out this summer called - like their first and third albums - Weezer. This one will be nicknamed "The Red Album" (like how the 1994 record was Blue and the 2000 one Green). The new single "Pork & Beans" has already hit #40 on Mediabase's Alternative Chart which is pretty amazing as the song was only released to radio two days ago. Is it good? Well, judge for yourself. The whole damn thing up is for stream (well, for now anyway. I'm also pretty sure there's a full mp3 floating around somewhere on the interweb right as I type this) at Weezer's official webpage. Listen here.

Video of the Day: "Always Where I Need To Be" by The Kooks

This is the video for the first single from The Kooks' second album Konk. It's called "Always Where I Need To Be". Yes, it's very good.

Ramblings: Here Comes the Science

• I actually think this is the first time i've ever done two Ramblings in one day, but there's always a first for everything.
• Walk it Off, the second album by indie rockers Tapes 'n Tapes debuted at #1 of Billboard's Heatseekers Album Chart this week.
• Morgan Spurlock, the guy behind the real awesome Oscar-nominated documentary Super Size Me has a new film out tomorrow called Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?. I've seen bits and parts of it - mostly from interviews he did with CNN and G4TV - and it looks to be just as good as Super Size Me.

Ramblings: Stuff and Things

• The title for this summer's new X-Files movie has been announced as X-Files: I Want to Believe. Which of course references the poster on the wall in Mulder's office. This'll be the first new X-Files production since the last episode aired six years ago
• Beloved film company New Line Cinema has been folded into Time Warner. The last film by the legendary distributor of both independent and mainstream films will be the upcoming Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. The company will continue as a Time Warner brand, basically just a logo to slap onto films. The company released such films as The Evil Dead, the Austin Powers films (a fourth due this year will be tackled by another Time Warner subsidiary instead), Wedding Crashers, Snakes on a Plane, Pink Flamingos, the Lord of the Rings films, Pan's Labyrinth and Be Kind Rewind
• Clifford Davies, former drummer for the Ted Nugent Band, died of an apparent suicide in his Atlanta home on Sunday. He was 59
  

Video of the Day: "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You" by Black Kids

This band has now reached obsessive buzz band status for most people. They're out of Jacksonville, Florida and have just scored a #11 hit in the UK with this song.

Pushing Daisies a success in the UK, but they'll skip the second episode

It's come to our attention that Pushing Daisies, the best new show this year has made its debut on the UK's ITV. It had the highest ratings for a premiere of an American TV series since Friends. Seriously. However, the second episode (that one about the flower-powered car) won't be seen across the pond, and they'll be skipping to the third episode of the cult dark comedy created by Dead Like Me creator Bryan Fuller. They had it at an eight week slot, and because of the writers' strike, the first season of the show was nine episodes and the second episode according to TimesOnline was the "only one that had no real affect on the storyline". The missing episode may be screened at a later date. But it's a great thing that this excellent, funny and interesting show is so popular in the UK. For all those British viewers, you'll like the season finale. Its very...interesting to say the least.

Video of the Day: "DVNO" by Justice

This is the video for the new single from the French electronica duo's 2007 debut album entitled † but is also known as Cross for those of us whose computers don't recognize symbols. It features the vocals of Mehdi Pinson, the singer for the French band Scenario Rock.

Disney animator Ollie Johnston, dead at 95

Ollie Johnston, the last living of Disney's Nine Old Men animators has died at 95. He was the co-author of the legendary 1981 animation book The Illusion of Life with fellow Nine Old Men animator Frank Thomas, who passed away in 2004.

Ramblings: Already In

• Apparently Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty is once again in trouble. After a spat of driving offenses and drug charges he's been charged with breaking probation and sentenced to 14 weeks in prison.
  
• Electronic Arts has purchased all remaining shares of Take Two Interactive, the publishers of the Grand Theft Auto games which are developed by Rockstar Games which was bought by Take Two in 2005. Take Two also owns 2K Games who created the popular title BioShock, Firaxis which is the company of PC gaming genius Sid Meier (who created Civilazation) and sports game publisher Visual Concepts.
• Another bizarre merger is the one in the planning stage between Circuit City and Blockbuster, but i'll let CNN explain that one.
  

American buzz band Black Kids gate crash the UK Singles Chart

"I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You", the debut single by Jacksonville, Florida electropopsters Black Kids (left) debuted at #11 on the UK Singles Chart. The song didn't impress me on first listen, but it's a grower. I see big things in this fivesome's future. Another debut this week was "The Age of the Understatement", the first single from the Last Shadow Puppets, the side project of Arctic Monkeys lead singer/guitarist Alex Turner and former Little Flames guitarist Miles Kane (now with The Rascals). That song hit #24, a great showing if you count out the fact that the Monkeys' chart streak is so impressive that that's the lowest debut for a song featuring Mr. Turner.

Late Night This Week: Week of 4/13/07

I enjoy doing these little listings. Is my little blog the only place where people can find these all together in a non-ad filled, Flash-free environment? I doubt it, but it's become our most popular feature. Remember, guest are subject to change.

Monday 4/14
Kimmel: actress Naomi Watts, tennis pro James Blake, Cobra Starship perform (REPEAT)
Letterman: actor Al Pacino, baseball player David Wright
Ferguson: director John Waters, actress Tricia Helfer, Daniel Lanois performs
Leno: actor Mark Harmon, Ray J performs
Conan: actor John Cusack, television show host James Lipton, Spoon performs (REPEAT)
Daly: television personality Audrinia Patridge, Morrissey performs

Tuesday 4/15
Kimmel: actress America Ferrera
Letterman: actor Kelsey Grammar, actress Kristin Bell, Rogue Wave perform
Ferguson: actress Julie Andrews, actor David Krumholtz
Leno: actor Brad Garrett, comedian "Stuttering John" Melendez, Ingrid Michaelson performs
Conan: actor Josh Hartnett, actor Jack McBrayer, Brother Ali performs (REPEAT)
Daly: comedian Freddy Lockhart, football player Chad Johnson, Tristan Prettyman performs

Wednesday: 4/16
Kimmel: actress Minnie Driver, actor Milo Ventimiglia, Danity Kane perform
Letterman: actress Uma Thurman, radio show host Ira Glass, The Gossip perform
Ferguson: actor Jackie Chan, actress Cobie Smulders, Bell X1 perform
Leno: former basketball player Charles Barkley, Young @ Heart Chorus perform
Conan: comedian Dane Cook, actress Emily Mortimer, guitarist Slash (REPEAT)
Daly: comedian Steve-O, Joshua Radin performs (REPEAT)

Thursday: 4/17
Kimmel: actor Dax Shepard, former Minnesota governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura, comedian John Mulaney
Letterman: actress Kelly Ripa, climate change expert John P. Holdren, The Black Keys perform
Ferguson: actress Alyssa Milano, actor Henry Winkler, Jason Aldean performs
Leno: actor Ewan McGregor, actors John Cho and Kal Penn, Seether perform
Conan: television show host Matt Lauer, actor Ryan Reynolds, Simple Plan perform (REPEAT)
Daly: comedians Zach Kregger and Trevor Moore, Sheryl Crow performs (REPEAT)

Friday: 4/18
Kimmel: TBA
Letterman: comedian Amy Poehler, actor Jason Segel
Ferguson: actress Kristen Bell, actor Oliver Hudson, Morrissey performs
Leno: actor Jonah Hill, football player Jason Taylor, Flogging Molly perform
Conan: comedian Martin Short, basketball player Ray Allen, The Kooks perform (REPEAT)
Daly: blogger Perez Hilton, fishermen Sig and Edgar Hansen, Katy Perry performs (REPEAT)

Saturday: 4/19
SNL: guest host - actress Amy Adams, musical guest - Vampire Weekend (REPEAT)

Bonus Video of the Day: "Gila" by Beach House

This video just premiered on Pitchfork.TV this weekend. The weird thing about Beach House is they've seemed to make a video for almost every song on Devotion except for the actual single. Well, the they finally have. He's the video for "Gila", one of my favorite tracks so far in this still pretty young year.

Video of the Day: "I Will Possess Your Heart" by Death Cab for Cutie

Here it is in it's 8 1/2 minute glory, the first single from Death Cab for Cutie's upcoming record Narrow Stairs. It's called "I Will Possess Your Heart". There's a radio edit of this song, but I can't find it anywhere and the video uses the album version. Still, this song really kicks ass.

Ramblings: Big Blue Constellation

• According to NME, Brazillian electropopsters CSS announced that bassist Ira Trevisan has left the band (on good terms). The band's drummer Adriano Cidra will take over bass duties.
• Ziff Davis Media has announced that Dan "Shoe" Hsu will step down as editor-in-chief for the long-running Electronic Gaming Monthly video game magazine after 11 years at that post. It is unknown if his departure is connected to Ziff Davis' recent filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection.
• Hey, speaking of Chapter 11, Linens n' Things is expected to file for Chapter 11 some time next week. Mostly because virtually no one goes into their stores and the fact that Bed Bath & Beyond are kicking their asssssss....
  
• Just wanted to mention that the sketch comedy show That Mitchell and Webb Look is one of the very best shows on TV. It has my recommendation. It's on at 9:20PM every Friday on BBC America.
  

Video of the Day: "Nude" by Radiohead

So, with all the controversy around the fact that Radiohead gatecrashed the Top 40 this week, people really haven't paid attention to how gorgeous a song "Nude" is. Here's the video for that song, from their Scotch Mist New Year's eve video.

Ramnlings: Freezer Burn

• To continue a bit about Radiohead's surprise gate crash of the US Top 40 with "Nude". Rich Bradley, agrees with me that this is a good thing - that a great band finally is rid of the stamp of "one hit wonder" - but the fact that Billboard counted the "stems" for the remixes toward its chart posisition is a tad fishy. I'm kinda surprised it took something like that to get Radiohead finally back into the Billboard Hot 100. But they certainly deserve it
• Hey guess who's getting back together? Jane's Addiction. Yes, again. For the NME Awards. Oh boy. I can hardly wait.
• Stanley Kamel, who plays Dr. Kroger, the psychiatrist on the USA Network series Monk died on April 8 of a heart attack. He was 65.
• If anyone didn't notice, 30 Rock, The Office and Scrubs finally returned yesterday. Yes, i'm happy
• And not only that, but Doctor Who will return to American airwaves a week from today on Sci Fi Channel. Awesome.

Green Day confirm they are Foxboro Hot Tubs. In other news, The sky is blue and George Washington is on the $1 bill

In an email to MTV earlier today, the multi-platinum punk band Green Day confirm what most fans already had figured out long ago: they are Foxboro Hot Tubs, the 60's garage rock inspired band that burst onto alternative radio in December with the single "Mother Mary" through the sole possibility they were Green Day. The Hot Tubs have more in common with the 60's garage bands like The Kingsmen, The Troggs, The Sonics, The Stooges and The Electric Prunes then they do with Green Day's influences.

Dr Pepper promises free soda if Guns n' Roses issue Chinese Democracy this year

According to Reuters, Cadbury Schwepps is promising a free can of Dr Pepper to everyone in America if Guns n' Roses issues they're infinitely awaited Chinese Democracy within the calendar year of 2008. The AV Club reports that Axl Roses has delivered the masters to his record company, Geffen Records and they're currently in negotiation on money and rights. But I wouldn't hold my breath. I will gladly take the free can of Dr Pepper considering i drink gallons of it a week (ask my friends. They'll tell I drink very little else). Also will it be a can like Reuters says or a 12oz. bottle? I'd really like to know.

Radiohead a one-hit wonder in America no more

For the longest time (well, 1993 at least) on of Radiohead's strangest paradoxes in America is that they were a critically loved band with several #1 albums and a good dozen or so hits on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, but only one Top 40 single in the Billboard Hot 100 - 1993's "Creep", the song that hit #34 and became the anthem that they tried and succeeded to shake off. This has come to an end. Their new single "Nude" has hit #37 this week on the Billboard Hot 100 and - like the White Stripes' fluke #26 entry with "Icky Thump" last year - with no pop radio airplay whatsoever. Good job, Radiohead.

However, Idolator thinks its chart placement has something to do with the fact that the five different remix portions (vocals, bass, drums, guitar, effects) were included in the tally. On the UK Singles chart, as we'd previously reported, the song hit #21 and excluded the remixes for a pretty impressive showing (the UK charts are far more tolerant of alternative rock)

"Optimistic" may be added to Radiohead Best Of album's US Track Listing

As we had previously reported, EMI will release Radiohead: The Best of on June 2. I had previously stated my semi-disapointment over the lack of "Optimistic", an album track from Kid A that hit #10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2000. However, CMJ reports that the album's US tracklisting might just feature the song. So far, it is the only regional variation on the two disc retrospective.

Lollapalooza Lineup Announced; Radiohead, Wilco among Headliners

The lineup for this year's Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago has been announced. The festival was originally an annual alternative rock tour that ran from 1991 to 1997. It was revived in 2003, but after 2004's cancellation, it has become an annual festival (beginning in 2005). The headliners this year are Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, The Raconteurs and Wilco. Other acts on the bill include Love and Rockets, Bloc Party, The National, Battles, Duffy, Gnarls Barkley, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Rogue Wave, MGMT, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Tally Hall, Blues Traveler and Manchester Orchestra. The festival will be at Chicago's Grant Park and run from August 1 to August 3.

Concerning SiteMeter Statistics

Ever since February 24, 2008, i've had an account on SiteMeter to tell me the statistics of this blog: how many people are on a day, how they got to the blog and what city/country they're in. According to SiteMeter 2,244 people were on this blog as of 10:24AM April 9, 2008 (including 1,500 visitors before I joined). To me its so awesome that people from exotic places like Germany, Finland and Australia are aware of this blog through Google Blog Search or links from forums or sites I have an account like last.fm, Wikipedia, Facebook and YouTube along with forums like Digital Dream Door and WrongPlanet. Not only that, but some people are randomly emailing each other stories from this blog. Heck, I was looking up there and an Ellen Muth fan forum has posted the recent story about the Dead Like Me movie (Muth is the actress who plays the character of George Lass on that wonderful but short lived show). Other stories with high links include the news of Gary Gygax's death (I didn't know "Gary Gygax fails Fortitude Save" would be a high search query, considering i'm a 2E player and am more used to "Save vs. Death roll" than "fails Fortitude save"), the news of the Lupe Fiasco/Vampire Weekend show at Brown University, and our various videos of the day (our two most watched are "Lonely Buoy" by Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong and "Heart of Chambers" by Beach House). Remember, random blog searchers, If you like what you read, please make it a habit of becoming a regular reader. Thank you for your time.

Ramblings: Time Capture Imperfect

• The 2008 Juno Awards - Canada's version of the Grammys - were announced on Sunday, with Feist taking home Artist of the Year. The Nova Scotia native took home four other awards that night including Songwriter of the Year, Album of the Year (for The Reminder), Pop Album of the Year (for The Reminder) and Single of the Year (for "1234") . Arcade Fire lost Group of the Year to Toronto based Country rock group Blue Rodeo who despite forming some 24 years ago are unheard of here in the States. Arcade Fire did win Alternative Album of the Year for Neon Bible. Tokyo Police Club lost their only nomination of the night, Video of the Year (for "Cheer it On") to another song by Blue Rodeo.
• The inductees for the 2008 Basketball Hall of Fame have been announced. Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon are the two biggest names on the list of players inducted, with coach Pat Riley and broadcaster Dick Vitale also get the nod. The induction ceremony will be held in September. Of course the biggest name still not in the Hall is Michael Jordan. Because of Jordan's ill-fated return to basketball with the Washington Wizards from 2001-2003, he won't be eligible until next year.
  
• The Simpsons has officially been cancelled...in Venezuela. Deemed "innapropriate for children" the show was removed and replaced with....Baywatch: Hawaii. No, really.
  

Video of the Day: "Declaration of War" by Hadouken

Their debut full length isn't even out yet and Leeds, England-based Hadouken! already have plans for its second single. While the first single from the record (and the bands fourth overall) "Get Smashed Gate Crash" dropped on March 17th, the band has announced that the record's second single "Declaration of War" will appear in stores on April 28th. This is the video for that song.

Ramblings: Post #200

• Hey! it's our 200th post!
  *tumbleweed blows past*
  OK, so it's not like it's as important as Post #100, but still #200's a nice acheivement. Anyway, back to business
• "Nude", the second single from Radiohead's seventh album In Rainbows debuted at #21 on the UK Singles Chart, improving on the chart peak of the album's first single "Jigsaw Falling into Place" (which hit #30)
• Also with first-week physical sales added into its total this week, "Always Where I Need To Be" the first single from The Kooks' sophomore release Konk hit #3 on the same chart, the highest position the band has gotten yet.
  
• But everything isn't as peachy as the charts would make the island nation across the pond look as according to BBC (and brought to my attention by FARK), the UK has banned samurai swords (except those in the possession of antique sword collectors and swords over 100 years old, who don't have to worry). You could face seven years in prison for importing a samurai sword to the UK. Apparently they were the "it" weapon for mooks to attack people with for years.
  

Late Night This Week: Week of 4/6/08

Late Night This Week Installment V

GUESTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

4/7/08
Kimmel: TBA (REPEAT)
Letterman: actress Natalie Portman, Kenna performs with special guests The Neptunes (REPEAT)
Ferguson: comedian Bob Saget, actress Jennifer Esposito, Bell X1 perform
Leno: actor Thomas Hayden Church, fishermen Sig and Edgar Hansen, Jimmy Eat World perform
Conan: comedian Steve Harvey, Hot Chip perform
Daly: blogger Perez Hilton

4/8/08
Kimmel: actor Thomas Hayden Church, Phantom Planet perform
Letterman: actor Sylvester Stallone, motorcycle builders Paul Teutul, Sr. and Paul Teutul, Jr., The Mars Volta perform (REPEAT)
Ferguson: actress Anne Heche, former NFL player Deion Sanders, comedian Clinton Jackson
Leno: actor Dennis Quaid, comedian Russell Brand, P.O.D. perform
Conan: TBA
Daly: fishermen Sig and Edgar Hansen, Katy Perry performs

4/9/08
Kimmel: actor Tom Arnold, singer Bret Michaels, comedians Aziz Ansari, Rob Heubel and Paul Scheer
Letterman: comedian Will Ferrell, Michael McDonald performs (REPEAT)
Ferguson: actress Roseanne Barr, actress Kaley Cuoco, Counting Crows perform
Leno: actress Ellen Page, talk show hosts Donnie and Marie Osmond, Angie Stone performs
Conan: Tapes 'n Tapes perform
Daly: food critic Andy Zimmern

4/10/08
Kimmel: actress Nicollette Sheridan, NBA player Chris Paul, Switches perform
Letterman: comedian Jim Carrey, Paula Abdul performs (REPEAT)
Ferguson: actress Alyson Hannigan, actor/writer Todd Allen, Del tha Funkee Homosapien (performs)
Leno: actor Keanu Reeves, actress Chelsea Handler, The Redwalls perform
Conan: actress Sarah Jessica Parker, comedian Eddie Izzard, They Might Be Giants perform
Daly: actress Leelee Sobieski, Ben Harper performs

4/11/08
Kimmel: actress Christina Applegate, Leona Lewis performs
Letterman: comedian Steve Martin, hand puppeteer Raymond Crowe (REPEAT)
Ferguson: actress Britanny Snow
Leno: actor William Shatner, actess Tricia Helfer
Conan: actor Oliver Hudson, AA Bondy performs
Daly: TBA

4/12/08
SNL: Host: actor Ashton Kutcher, musical guest: Gnarls Barkley

Concerning the Events of 14 Years Ago Yesterday

Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of one Kurt Donald Cobain, the reluctant spokesman for Generation X, kickass guitarist, Shonen Knife fan and fellow southpaw. Of course all that's approximate. He most likely died on April 5, 1994 ending not only his band, but his wife's sanity and robbed his daughter of her father, but in turn inadvertently gave us The Foo Fighters and Krist Novosellic's amazing work in Washington State politics. Seeing as I was four when Kurt died, I wasn't really knowledgeable of the band until I was at least 9 or 10. And yes, it was with a viewing of the Samuel Bayer-directed clip for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (a song that was so overrated and overshadowed the rest of their catalog has in turn somewhat masked how damned important it was, even if "Drain You" was alot better) on VH1 I believe. And "All Apologies" is now one year sadder.

Charlton Heston has just died

It was only announced a half an hour ago by the Associated Press: Oscar winner Charlton Heston died tonight around 11:30PM EST at the age of 84 in his Beverly Hills home. It is unknown of what. Heston is best known for such films as 1959's Ben-Hur (for which he won an Oscar), 1951's The Ten Commandments, 1969's The Planet of the Apes, 1973's Soylent Green, 1993's Tombstone, 1994's True Lies, 1998's Armageddon and 2001's Town & Country. In recent years he was known for being president of the NRA from 1998 to 2003.

Dead Like Me gets second chance at life

Four years after Showtime canceled cult Bryan Fuller's dark comedy Dead Like Me, it seems that the show will follow in the steps of Futurama with a direct-to-DVD film that picks up two years after the last episode was recently finished. It doesn't look like Fuller will be involved - his current show Pushing Daisies (which like Dead Like Me is a macabre dark comedy) is successful enough to be picked up for a second season (thank goodness), but main cast members Ellen Muth, Callum Blue and Jasmine Guy, along with supporting cast members Britt McKillip, Cynthia Stevenson, Christine Willes and Crystal Dahl are returning for this movie. Laura Harris' part of Daisy Adair was recast - interestingly Sarah Wynter who played the sister to Harris' character in 24 - was cast in the part, and Mandy Patinkin will not return (but the action of suddenly disappearing fits the cold persona of his character). One of the show's best writers John Masius wrote the script. It seems that if this DVD does will the show may be picked up again - possibly by Sci-Fi Channel who own the syndication rights.

Ramblings: Apparently, Yes

• I've been getting into Sudoku, finally. I know i'm several years late to the party, but my local cable provider (Cox) just added a few puzzles to digital cable (Sudoku, Reversi and a Sega Swirl-esque game called Paintball) and Sudoku is now yet another way for me to kill time.
• WBRU's first (Summer) Concert Series show is this Wednesday. Death Cab for Cutie will play at the Providence Piers with Dresden Dolls singer/pianist Amanda Palmer opening the show.
• The Office, 30 Rock and Scrubs are all returning next Thursday, but last Thursday's rerun of The Office was a somber one, dedicated to the memory of Nathan Alden Robertson, a 15-year old kid who became an internet sensation last month for his dead-on performance of The Office theme on piano, which was uploaded to YouTube only weeks before his death. He died in February of complications from the flu.
  

Video of the Day "Tessellate" by Tokyo Police Club

This isn't a "bonus" video of the day, but kind of a "second video of the day" (yeah, the same thing huh?) but this was just put up yesterday and I didn't know of its existence until nine minutes ago. Its the first video from Tokyo Police Club's upcoming album Elephant Shell due April 22 on Saddle Creek. Its a song called "Tessellate" and its just as great as one thinks it would be.

Video of the Day: "Lonely Bouy" by Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong

This is the video for the debut single by Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong, an execptional little band out of Britian. They're one of the best new bands of the year.

EMI reveals "Radiohead: The Best of" tracklisting

EMI has announced the tracklisting for the two disc greatest hits album of Radiohead, who left the label in 2006. The album - which was released with Radiohead's knowledge (not much they could do as EMI does own the rights to all their recordings up to Hail to the Theif) but without their help or consent. The album will feature all their singles and big hits - the only glaring ommision is "Optimistic", an album track from Kid A that hit the Modern Rock Tracks Top 10 in 2000. The second disc will feature the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack inclusion "Talk Show Host" and "True Love Waits" from their I Might Be Wrong Live EP. The tracklisting is as follows:
Disc 1
1. Just
2. Paranoid Android
3. Karma Police
4. Creep
5. No Surprises
6. High and Dry
7. My Iron Lung
8. There There
9. Lucky
10. Fake Plastic Trees
11. Idioteque
12. 2+2=5
13. The Bends
14. Pyramid Song
15. Street Spirit (Fade Out)
16. Everything In Its Right Place

Disc 2
1. Airbag
2. I Might Be Wrong
3. Go To Sleep
4. Let Down
5. Planet Telex
6. Exit Music (for a Film)
7. The National Anthem
8. Knives Out
9. Talk Show Host
10. You
11. Anyone Can Play Guitar
12. How to Disappear Completely
13. True Love Waits

Ramblings: The Ever-Knowing Miscellany

• Indie rockers Tokyo Police Club scored their first Billboard chart hit this week as "Tessellate", the first single from their upcoming full-length debut Elephant Shell hit #63 on Billboard's Canadian Hot 100.
• Weezer have announced that their new album will be - like their 1995 debut and 2000 third album - entitled Weezer. Like those records, this one will be referred to by the monocolor background the band members will be standing behind, The Red Album. The album will be produced by Rick Rubin.
• Klaus Dinger - co-founding drummer for German electronica pioneers Kraftwerk and a founding member of fellow Kraut-rock legends Neu! - died on March 20 of an apparent heart attack. Announcement of his death came only yesterday. He was 61.
  

Scott Weiland leaves Velvet Revolver (act like you're supposed to care)

Scott Weiland has officially left Velvet Revolver, and the band is now guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKeagan, drummer Matt Sorum (all former GnR and Sorum formerly with the Cult) and guitarist Dave Kushner (formerly with Suicidal Tencendies and Danzig)

Video of the Day: "Century" by The Long Blondes

Hey, look what's finally appeared after months of wait! Its the first video from the Long Blondes' second album "Couples" (with quotes around the title like David Bowie's "Heroes" album). Its called "Century". The song itself has been floating around the net since January.


Century

aprilfoolspost

yeah i still have very little to talk about.
I was thinking, y'know i'll lower that 99.97% Rick Roll-free rating down a whole ten points by linking to one like every other web page is today (GameFAQs, YouTube) but I decided against it. When CNN starts picking up on an internet meme its officially old.