Wye Oak believes, hon

I came across this term recently in an interview on the AV Club website with Jenn Wasner & Andy Stack from Wye Oak. They used it to describe the local indie scene in the Baltimore area. Was it just a bit of humor on their part or is there actually something more happening in the back alleys of B-more, hon?

There's always a catchy term to describe the era of a band or area music. We all remember the craze (although few of us probably reading this right now lived it) of Beatle-Mania. And T.Rextacy or Bolan-mania. Then when certain areas of the world had their scenes. New York going through two major ones with the 60's Andy Warhol/Velvet Underground art scene.....and later on with a newer art rock scene created by bands such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Moldy Peaches, and TV On The Radio.

One of Baltimore's breakout acts, Spank
Rock

And let's not forget one of the best in Madchester.....Happy Mondays, Joy Division/New Order, and the birth of rave culture on that side of the sea anyway. It even got its own movie in the form of "24 Hour Party People". Most cities and states have a nice vibrant scene in them; Chicago, New York, California, London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, etc. so why not Baltimore?

Apparently the scene is already happening around us. Bands such as Wye Oak and Beach House are pulling in some nice record label deals, and others are amassing a huge popularity including Spank Rock and Dan Deacon, the latter who tours constantly and even played Coachella in California this year (one of the biggest festivals in the US). And now with this month's Rolling Stone announcing the best scene of 2008 as Baltimore, we might find ourselves in the big leagues.

The "scene" Baltimore is often known for is not
of the musical variety

If only we could stop dragging ourselves down; there's not enough hometown support. It seems everyone who lives in Baltimore always has something negative to say about it, myself has been included on that as well. And while it may have our problems with crime, homelessness, traffic, taxes, dirty political figures, crooked cops, overcrowdedness, & drugs, we have a very vibrant art, music, dining, club scene. And besides, there are worse places; least we're not in Detroit.

No offense intended to people who may live in, planning to live in, or have lived in Detroit. But you have to admit it sucks, right?

- StEvO

PS: To see all the haters/supporters of the "Baltimorgasm" scene, check out Rolling Stone's comment thread.

MP3: Wye Oak - Warning

MP3: Spank Rock - What It Look Like

If you are my age you were mesmerized. If you are younger than I am, you have this man to thank for any "cool" videos you've ever seen:



This video from 1987 (I was 6!) still holds the record for the most VMA's ever won: 9. Little known fact: the stop-animation in this video was created by Nick Park of Wallace and Gromit fame. Park also worked on Pee-Wee's Playhouse. That factoid may be significant to those who remember Pee-Wee as a Saturday morning icon rather than a sexual deviant... or an intern on Murphy Brown.

**Wanna share a favorite music video? Find it on YouTube, send us the link here, and we'll feature it in the next Music Video Time Machine.**

You know you watch it. No one claims that they do, but American Idol is one of the highest rated, most watched television shows of all-time. Oh, ok… you just watch the auditions. That is what the people will admit to watching. Fact is: most people watch it. The statistics don’t lie! If your friends say that they don’t watch American Idol, statically, they are liars. I’m not afraid to admit that I watch it. With that being said, on to my rant…

Undeniably, this year’s American Idol contestants are hands-down the most talented group of individuals that have ever been on the show. So far in my opinion, America has gotten it wrong twice – Michael Johns and Carly Smithson shouldn’t have been voted off so early, but that’s just me talking. Either way, the people who have left and the people that remain are more gifted than in any previous season. My question is: why do they have to pick such crap music to choose from this year?

Simon (who I love – I want to have his ignorant British babies) always uses certain phrases such as: “cruise ship”, “in your bedroom”, “your mom made you do it” to describe “cheesy performances” and I get what he’s saying. He also hates when people, who are competing for a major-label contract sound “karaoke.” The biggest way to avoid being “cheesy” or sounding “karaoke” is to avoid singing songs that would give people that impression. The judges like to use the word “karaoke” to describe covers of songs from artists that can’t be covered. Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion are a few that fit that category.

Keep in mind the keywords “cheesy” and “karaoke.” Also keep in mind that these contestants have a select choice of songs to select every week. To get to my point: this year’s theme weeks are really not good for the contestants or the fans of the show. Think about this logically: who is watching and who is voting. How in the eff did Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, Andrew Lloyd Webber or Neil Diamond help out any of those people competing for a record deal? The above artist’s works were all theme weeks this year and I don’t think the artist selection could have been worst! I’m assuming that these artist were pre-selected, but still: Dolly: who cares, Maria: the judges have been begging people not to do her songs for years, Andrew Lloyd Webber: huh?. And Neil Diamond: talk about cheesy! David Cook can usually pull off whatever is handed to him, but he’s an exception to the rule:



I’ve always assumed that the American Idol audience demographic consisted mainly of young girls and a hand full of senior citizens. I suppose statically I’m wrong, but I believe that those two groups of people are the ones that but the albums. I did work in a music store for 8 years… I sold a ton of Constantine Margoulis’ metal band “Prey For the Soul of Betty” CDs to 12 year olds and elderly women. I suppose that’s beside the point. What I’m trying to say is that the theme weeks this year suck. If Mariah Carey is “uncoverable” and Neil Diamond is “cheesy” why were they selected to have theme weeks? I know they all have something new to promote – that makes sense for them. But how do cheesy karaoke songs promote American Idol or the contestants? Let these artists who have a lot to prove chose their own songs. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want a guy who sounds like Jason Maraz (Jason Castro) sing a song from “Cats”, nor do I want to hear a Carly Simon sound-a-like (Brooke White) sing Mariah Carey. If I’m right about this, let me know. If you disagree, you’re most likely wrong, but I’d like to hear your opinion anyway.

- Krissy

We thought we'd take a sec just to let you know that Blendetta is here, being awesome, for you. This is your blog to post whatever you'd like about music, tv, movies, games, or anything else in the pop culture universe. So, it's about time you start taking advantage of us, right? You don't even need to register -- just click here to send your reviews, lists, rants, or blatant self-promotion for whatever it is that you do. Can't think of anything to write about? Then get in on our latest feature...

Music Video Time Machine: You know that video? That one you haven't seen in forever? That one you're certainly not going to see on MTV, since they're probably showing a marathon of The Hills right now? Well, whether it's from two years ago or ten, chances are pretty good somebody put it up on YouTube, and we'd like to see it on Blendetta too. So, go find us a killer clip, write a sentence or two about why it's so rad, and send it to us here. It's so easy, it's cooler than kittens.

BT and his sweet highlights

When the techno explosion of the late 90s/early 2000s is called to mind, that brief period when DJs were so gonna be the next big rock stars, you tend to think of the usual suspects – Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Crystal Method, etc. There was that "Where’s Your Head At" song. But due to the magic of iTunes shuffle, I was reminded of another little forgotten gem with BT's "Never Gonna Come Back Down." The single featuring Soul Coughing's M. Doughty on vocals was taken from his 2000 release, Movement In Still Life – which was actually a very good record, and with its liberal use of guest rappers beat the current electrorap trend by a mile (think MSTRKRFT’s "Bounce" eight years before that was the cool thing to do).

Though hardly anyone outside the electronic community remembers it nearly 10 years later, “Never Gonna Come Back Down” did have a moment in the sun on alterna-rock radio. It even had a video – one of those awesome clips that really could only have been made during this time period. A Hackers-esque theme, warehouse rave atmosphere and Windows media player visuals -- what more could you want from a techno vid circa 2000? Let’s take a trip back through the magic of YouTube.

- Amirah



**Wanna share a favorite music video? Find it on YouTube, send us the link here, and we'll feature it in the next Music Video Time Machine.**

I'm Chevy Chase & You're Not

Saturday Night Live has featured many bright up-and-coming comedians and actors / actresses since it’s inception in 1975. Some very famous celebrities, Chevy Chase with his one season for example, were only on the show for a short time. Others, like Darrell Hammond who is now working on his 13th year, stay there for what seems to be an eternity. There has also been a revolving team of writers - from Al Franken to Conan O’Brien. Some years and some casts are definitely better than others, and we all have our favorites. My favorite time ranges from the Phil Hartman era through the Will Ferrell era personally.

Will Ferrell w/ Infamous Cowbell

The thing with SNL is – there has to be a perfect mixture of talented actors / actresses and talented writers. We’ve all seen funny skits that weren’t so funny because the actors themselves aren’t funny. We’ve all also witnessed hilarious actors / actresses doing the best that they can with what has been given to them by the writers. The general consensus is that the show hasn’t been funny since Will Ferrell left. I hate to cause a commotion, but I have to strongly disagree with that. Sure, I’ll admit that there have been some rough patches since his departure, but I can’t say that the show is bad. Please allow me to explain.

In the years directly proceeding Will Ferrell’s departure the talented players were: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Cheri Oteri, and especially Mya Rudolph. Please don’t think that I’m a femi-nazi, but seriously – SNL isn’t known for showcasing or even capitalizing on its female talent. To me, funny is funny and these women are hilarious! Although they had seniority on the show, the majority of the sketches went to men who weren’t as funny. I don’t use the word sexist casually, but Lorne Michaels, seriously? He is one to take advantage of the talent of his casts… but when all of the talent happened to be women, he didn’t. Makes me wonder…

Gilda Radner

Since the post-Ferrell-madness there have been a lot of changes. Let’s forget about all of the time between then and now - when things could have been better. Right now, like today – I see the makings for one of those brilliant casts of SNL history. The current cast of season 33: Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen, Darrell Hammond, Seth Meyers, Amy Poelher, Casey Wilson, Kenan Thompson, and especially Kristen Wiig – have the potential to breathe live back into what people call a dying show. Each of these players have a place on the cast. Every one of them

Kristen Wiig, So...

bring something to the show. Kristen Wiig stands out to me the most. She is what I like to call “old school SNL funny”. She is (please don’t hate me for saying this!) as funny, if not funnier than Gilda Radner – the most talented female comedian to have ever graced the 8H stage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The “Target Lady” and “Penelope” may not be “Roseanne Roseannadanna'” or “Baba Wawa”, but Kristen’s skits are just as comical as Gilda’s ever were.

In summary, to bring my rant to an end: give SNL a fresh watch. If you are a fan of sketch comedy and have stopped watching Saturday Night Live, you are totally missing out. I’m not asking you to stay home on a Saturday night – we all have DVRs and Tivos now. Record a couple of week’s worth of episodes and watch with them with an open mind. I have a feeling that you won’t be disappointed.

- Krissy

PS - Would have provided video if the writer's strike wouldn't have forebode it. I searched and search for recent SNL clips, but the "Hey Jude Korean Baby" was the only video that kept appearing. Although you've already seen it, this is the best recent SNL clip I knew I could find:

10) King of New York – Good movie. I like Christopher Walken.

9) Snatch – Some of Brad Pitt’s finer work. Couldn’t really understand a word he said, but it was still a good performance.

The real Serpico and Pacino as Serpico

8) Serpico – If you’re thinking this one doesn’t fit the category you’re wrong. Wearing a badge doesn’t stop you from being a criminal. This is a great movie, especially because Frank Serpico’s story is a true one.

7) Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – Dangerous criminals + stupid criminals may be a recipe for disaster, but it makes for a good movie.

6) Pulp Fiction - All-star cast and a plot with lots of twists and turns. I’ve seen this dozens of times and I can still find little things that I’ve never noticed before.

5) The Untouchables – Kevin Costner and Sean Connery are awesome in this movie. It’s a great depiction of the mafia during the mafias hay-day - back when everyone owned a Tommy gun.

4) Donnie Brasco – Most movies where an undercover agent infiltrates the mob is full of suspense – this one takes the cake. Its funny with this film how you start to feel bad for the “bad guy” and begin to dislike the “good guy”.

3) Casino – Very brutal movie that shows how organized crime expanded from New York and Chicago to Las Vegas. Love everything about the movie except the part that takes place in the corn field – I don’t think I’ve watched that entire scene with my eyes open, ever.

2) The Departed – In my opinion, this is a modern classic. It’s one of those movies where the good guys are bad, the bad guys are good, and as for everyone in between, you really don’t know where they stand. It’s a shame that Scorsese had to wait so long for an Oscar, but I think he definitely deserved it for this movie.

1) Goodfellas – Hands down my favorite organized crime movie of all time. I think it’s just about perfect. It has an excellent cast and tells an excellent story, from beginning to end. You really get to know and like the characters, especially since you are first introduced to them when they are children. Plus, any movie that can make Layla feel so creepy gets a lot of cred in my book:



Honorable Mentions: Once Upon a Time in America, Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead, State of Grace, Eight Heads in a Duffel Bag, Made, Blow, Scarface… oh, and those Godfather. I’m only mentioning the Godfather movies because without them, the movies on my list may have never been made. I just don’t love the Godfather movies like everyone else does. I’ll probably wake up in the morning with a picture of a horse head in my inbox for saying that, but I’m just being honest.

Comments are welcome!

- Krissy

ODB realizes that Kelis probably still does have his money.

Most would probably agree that Kelis is best known for being the girl whose milkshake is, in fact, better than yours. But with her greatest hits collection recently released in the UK, it seems a good time to reminisce about Kelis’ earlier work. You see, long before she was bringin all the boys to the yard, the R&B stylist was providing the refrain for Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Got Your Money.” Many got their first look at the future star in the song’s video, a blaxploitation-laced classic of pimp decadence.

Warning: NSFW


And while we’re on the subject, it’s well worth noting that “Got Your Money” has made a recent reappearance with a cover by Say Anything on the Punk Goes Crunk compilation. This one gives Dynamite Hack’s version of “Boyz in the Hood” a good run for its money in the competition for best awkward white boy rap cover. You always knew the late great king of Shimmy Shimmy Ya had some off the wall lyrics, but you never knew how great it could be til somebody enunciated them.

MP3: Say Anything - Got Your Money


- Amirah

I just spent the past two hours scouring the internet for an album to download. Not because I’m too cheap to buy it, not because I don’t care about supporting the artist – because the album hasn’t actually been released yet. And the fact that my time spent searching certain sites that may or may not contain the words “rapid” and “share” has thus far yielded no results is not making me a happy girl. Seriously, how dare they keep this album under such tight lock and key that I can’t even find it a week before it hits stores? Who do these people think they are?

Let’s rewind for a minute. All the way back to 1995. October 3, 1995, to be exact. I was sitting in social studies class, supposedly learning about the Civil War, but actually counting down the hours until I could get the hell out of school for the day. Because you better believe I had already made 100% certain that my mom could give me a ride to the local record store to pick up the just released “What’s the Story Morning Glory.” Cause like-oh-my-god-Oasis-is-totally-the-best-band-ever!!! A huge fan of the band’s previous album, this then 14-year-old budding Britpop enthusiast was being driven crazy with anticipation; I’d had the date of the new album’s release circled in my school calendar for weeks. There may have even been a few hearts drawn around it.

It’s a feeling that I miss. Whenever there’s talk of the evils of file sharing, seldom brought up is the fact that easy access to leaked albums has destroyed the concept of looking forward to anything. There’s almost no such thing as “release dates” anymore – there’s just whatever date somebody puts it up on the internet. It’s not something that I expect will go away, nor do I think anyone should step in to try to control such things. It's just one of those things that you accept because, well, times change. Personally, I am well aware that my behavior will remain the same – if I know an album I want is readily available online prior to its actual release, I’m going to go find it. But sometimes I’m nostalgic for the time when that wasn’t an option, when you actually had to count down the days until you could hear your new favorite CD.

So, anyway, let me get back to searching for that album. Somebody’s probably got it up somewhere. But you know what? I kinda hope I don’t find it.

- Amirah

...and may have gotten away with it.

I for one am a long time Nintendo fan. Like many, I can vividly remember my days as a youth spent mashing buttons on the old cabbage green-screened Game Boy, and like very few, I actually remember playing a Virtual Boy.

Gone are the wonderful days of my and Nintendo’s youth. And with the release of Super Smash Bros Brawl last month, I can only imagine what journey the company will take me on next. Until I actually sat down and thought about it.

Super Smash Bros Brawl is an amazing addition to the Smash franchise (just a trilogy for now but even Lucas said that about Star Wars…). Depth is abundant with this release, as I can spend just as much time playing anonymous foes from across the country as I can designing and testing my own level. And the plethora of match/item/rule combo’s are more then enough to keep the entertainment fresh for hours on end.

But the one thing I, and many other gamers alike, have been the most excited for, is exactly where Nintendo let us down. The online play.

Sure it’s all well and good that I can at the press of a button play some backwoods small town kid who has never even seen anything beyond his trailer and local Wal-Mart, but the pain in the ass-ness of the “Friends List” and the inability to create a match and invite your friends on your own is a big disappointment. I am quite far from a game programmer, but I’m sure it’s not that hard to create a system that displays the various match rooms, and who’s playing in them, and whatever other information the online player may deem necessary. EA can seem to pull it off pretty easily without sacrifice to the depth and playability of their games, why can’t such a gaming Mecca like Nintendo?

Not only would a match room based system be easier to navigate and see who you’re playing against, it would also alleviate the constant “server trouble” that Nintendo and it’s fans experience when everyone and their Grandmother attempt to get online. I liken this whole experience to a Big Mac meal at McDonalds.

We ordered a #1, but Nintendo forgot to give us our fries, didn’t put cheese on the burger, and gave us Diet Coke when we clearly ordered Coke.


Thomas K. Hooker

From November 1999 to November 2007 I worked for a Baltimore based chain of independent music stores. I started as seasonal help in ’99 making a mere $5.25 / hour when I was just 18. From there I quickly moved on to Key Holder, Asst. Manager, Store Manager, and Manager in Charge of Training. I worked in all 11 locations: doing inventory, re-merchandising, and general cleanup. My point is: I know the ins and the outs of running and working in an indie music store. Here are the stereotypes that I hate that were associated with my previous job:

10. I smoke pot like, uh, all the time. Not that I think it makes a difference to you if I do or don’t, but it did to me – under some circumstances… like with the police. Try calling the cops when someone steals a bunch of shit from your store and have them take you seriously… and not harass you. You can accuse me of a lot of things and you’d probably be right. But for the record, I don’t smoke pot.

9. High Fidelity is the Best Movie - EVER. Guess what? I’ve seen it a couple of times. I hated it, and I’m sorry. Although completely inaccurate I did like Empire Records. I would have had that little thieving bastard from that movie arrested (if the cops even came when I called them) – I wouldn’t have hired him.

8. People think that you just hang out and listen to music all day. I wish that were true but its not. There is actually a LOT of hard work involved in working in and managing a music store. The general public (and their heathen offspring) likes to fuck up your store – especially on the first of the month. It takes a lot of effort to maintain order in a store that is supposed to be kept in alphabetical order! It’s very hard to convey this realism to applicants – they also think that we just hang out and listen to music. If they are totally into My Chemical Romance, but can’t spell their name, they still believe that they are prime candidates for employment.

7. I Bet you’ve never even heard of Buffalo Springfield! Guess

Buffalo who?

what? I have. I might be a young white girl, but I know what I know. I also knew that when people asked for “that the bullet hits the bone song” they are asking for Golden Earring – Twilight Zone. It’s not called “when the bullet hits the bone”, but it’s the song they were asking about. And when people asked for “that heaven sent you song” by Marvin Gaye, I knew it was Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell - Your Precious Love, even though I’m not old and I'm white. If you ask me a question about your favorite song, you obviously have no clue what you are asking about: let me at least try to prove to you what I know. These are also the people who used to tease about “I bet you’ve never even seen a real 33 & 1/3 record before!” when there are 30,000 of them in the store.

6. So what kind of discount do I get? Ok. If you charged me $5.00 for a $12.00 pizza or removed all of my late fees for a video I hadn’t returned on time, thank you, but that’s on you. Indie store or not, we never operated on a barter system. I never jeopardized my job for cheap food or movie rentals.

5. How much are those backstage passes?! We used to see tickets through Tickbastard. When we first started selling them, TB set up their machines that looked to be made in 1982. If those machines had the ability to print laminated backstage passes for events, it would have been a technological achievement for its time – 1982. I also probably would’ve know how to print them.

4. A quarter! Elton John is SO much better than the Beatles! When purchasing pre-owned music, there is a standard set price. It’s all about supply and demand. Although you might think that a scratched Elton John – Love Songs CD is priceless, it isn’t. I used to explain “high dollar” CDs as something that will always sell, i.e. the Beatles. I guess to some (non-Beatles fans or crack heads with Elton John CDs) that example didn’t work so much.

3. I saw on da innernet it came out on Thursdey! (Baltimore dialect) - Know what? It didn’t. First of all, 99% of CDs are released on Tuesday. Second of all, the Internet often lies. And if you were to have told me that Best Buy had it (which unless it was an exclusive, they didn’t) I would’ve said “Well, why didn’t you buy it there?”.

2. So you’re telling me they don’t make that on cassette!? Nope. They don’t. I bought my first CD player when… well my first CD was Green Day – Dookie. I was late to the party. With MP3s, DVD-Audio and Super Audio, its surprising that CDs haven’t gone way of the 8 track, and you still think they make cassettes (pronounced cass-its, as it often was)? I guess you would be, if you’re still asking for them.

This is crap!

1. Can I return the White Album? I didn’t like it. Maybe I’d understand this coming from a child. Thing is, it came from 40+ year old people. Return / exchange policies had to be tightened due to burning. Our exchange policy was printed on the receipt. Unless you were a “club member” it meant: you could exchange for the same item if your purchase was defective. Sometimes I knew people were getting over on us, but if they stated a good enough case, we had to oblige. Don’t tell me, the stupid young girl that you didn’t already know what was on a CD such as the White Album. And I can honestly say, most of these return-obsessed customers were doctors, lawyers, and politicians – people with money. Shame on you for giving hard working people a hard time because you are too cheap to spend money for music. If you'd rather steal it, do it online like everyone else does - don't steal it from indie store struggling to survive.

That’s my story and that’s my list. Feel free to comment, especially if you’ve endured the same stereotypes as I have.

- Krissy

Correction: After a good nights sleep, I realize that this list seemed to move from stereotypes associated with working at a music store to stereotypes associated with the customers that shop there. It ended up being more of a rant than anything else. Either way, it felt good to put all of this in writing.

If you love or even like video games or horror movies, and absolutely hate every pile of Uwe Boll shite to come down from his self proclaimed almighty hand, please click on this link.

http://www.petitiononline.com/RRH53888/petition.html

Uwe Boll

From FEARnet's interview with Uwe Boll:

FN: Are you aware that there is a petition online, signed by 18,000 people, requesting that you stop making movies?

UB: Yeah, I know that. 18,000 is not enough to convince me.

FN: How many would it take?

UB: One million. Now we have a new goal.

FN: Hear that, haters? A challenge!


Keep in mind this is a man who has given us such golden quotes as:
"I'm not a fucking retard like Michael Bay or other people running around in the business or Eli Roth making the same shitty movies over and over again," says Boll. "If you really look at my movies you will see my real genius you know, and if you go on May 23 on Postal you will see that I deliver a movie what nobody else delivered in the last 10 years, what is way better as all that social critic George Clooney bullshit what you get every fucking weekend."*

and:
"You have to really wake up and you have to see me what I am," he says. "I am the only genius in the whole fucking business. Goodbye."*

What's wrong with Michael Bay's films? Sure no one likes them all, but you can say that of any film maker. Hell, I love Kubrick and still hated Eyes Wide Shut. Can you say Michael Bay half asses it and does a shitty job? No. Does he actually research his subject matter and try to deliver what the fans of the content want? Yes. Transformers is one of the best examples ever of successfully making a film version of any comic, cartoon, super hero, or video game. It included all those details that you look for as a fan of a particular subject. Does Uwe Boll use storylines that have nothing to do with the source material? Yes. Is there very little content even referencing the source material? Yes. WTF?

And don't give me that major production house/money/backing/advertising crap. Uwe's movies sell themselves based on the fact that they are already popular games, and so there is a built in market of those who loved the game. Money and backing don't make or break a film either, huge productions have had horrible results while some small budget films (Desperado, anyone?) have had huge success.

In fact, Uwe Boll, you do make the same shitty movie over and over again, and I dread hearing your name when I hear of a new movie that would have potential if it didn't have your asshattery all over it.


*Thank you Ozymand for finding these quotes.

- Kali

Everyone knows of the superstitious belief of a "sophomore slump" in the music industry. A brand new budding artist gets all their good stuff out into the world and then....bam they got nothing left. But the record company doesn't settle for that answer and neither will the contract you have with them. So the artist tends to release an album of, for lack of a better word, shit. Some bands almost instinctively know not to release a second album (what did happen to Dogs Die In Hot Cars?). The "sophomore slump" can kill a lot of people in the music biz....but not all. In fact after a browse through my music collection, I have found a few bands whose second album surpasses their debuts in the music world. Now most of this list may be based on opinion so I know I'll receive some crap for some of my choices (see below) but it stands to say that some people actually write better music when given a second chance.

Ash "1977"
An absolute leap in songwriting between this album and their debut "Trailer". "Kung Fu" is a perfect song to make the jump from earlier songs like "Hulk Hogan Bubble Bath" and "Jack Names The Planets" yet still encourage more listeners with a song like "Girl From Mars".

Belle and Sebastian "If You're Feeling Sinister"
The first choice I may get crap for from the fans of "Tigermilk". Don't get me wrong, the first album is good but "If You're Feeling Sinister" is great.



Cake "Fashion Nugget"
A very worthy album that launched Cake into the huge mesh of big 90's artists unlike his first album which spawned one single on all the college/indie radio stations and quickly forgotten once Cake went "the distance".

Chromeo "Fancy Footwork"
Another group who had a good first album but I really sank into this group when they FINALLY released their second album. Some things are worth the wait though especially when you're gonna release music videos with Dave on the side of a pizza van and parodies of Dire Straits.

The Dandy Warhols "Come Down"
This album is as "cool as Kim Deal". Besides their first album is as weird as their last one.

The Faint "Blank-Wave Arcade"
After their emo-esque debut "Media", this album was a refreshing break from the rest of Saddle Creek's humdrum Bright Eyes' wannabes. But we would still have to wait for "Danse Macabre" for perfection.

Foo Fighters "The Colour and The Shape"
This album has a very strange love/hate relationship for me. I was never a big Foo Fighters fan, but they seemed a natural progression from Nirvana. "Everlong" was a wonderful masterpiece but "My Hero" agitated me to the very core of my being. I think "Monkey Wrench" throws me over to the positive side of this album while the first album seems very weak in comparison.



Goldfrapp "Black Cherry"
Another choice that might damage my rep with the die-hard Goldfrapp fans who drool all over "Felt Mountain" as a masterpiece. I admit it's a great album....to fall asleep to, but give me the glammed out Goldfrapp anyday. "Strict Machine", "Twist", "Train".....this was the start of a beautiful relationship. Then she breaks your heart with her newest one trying to revitalize the "Felt Mountain" days.

Hot Chip "The Warning"
A definite improvement over their debut album with singles abound.

Hot Hot Heat "Make Up The Breakdown"
You mean they had another album before this one? Yeah and they would also like to forget their screaming hardcore days of "Scenes One Through Thirteen".

IMA Robot "Monument To The Masses"
I'm just a sucker for this band. The infectious first single "Creeps Me Out" to the ballad-esque "Lovers In Captivity". This album really pulled their sound together while their debut was a little rough around the edges.

Jimmy Eat World "Clarity"
Look out everybody! He's pulling out an emo band! But I have to give my respect to an album that changed my whole view of music from the crap that's force fed down your throat to a wide world of acts that actually have talent, passion, and creativity. This album was a masterpiece in my life and always will be.



Just Jack "Overtones"
I love alot of these British rap acts but Just Jack pulled this album together with more of a pop sound, and it worked very well.

The Knife "Deep Cuts"
A vast improvement over their unusual debut, making an interesting electronic album but still being able to liberally use steel drums.

Ladytron "Light & Magic"
Another electronica act breaking through with one single ("Seventeen") but their are many more hidden gems on this disc.

Nirvana "Nevermind"
You're probably thinking, "ah this list writer is now showing his true colors....he works for Spin, doesn't he?" Nope, I am not a sellout. This is just a better album and very well constructed compared to "Bleach". Yes, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" has been drug through the mud and this launched them into the mainstream world that corrupts and all the other BS. But still, a true masterpiece of music. (I actually tend to like "In Utero" better though, shhh.)

Radiohead "The Bends"
After hearing "Creep" for the thousandth time, "The Bends" was refreshing collection of hits to be had. From rockers like "Just" to the chill of "Street Spirit", everything on this album takes the cake.

Rilo Kiley "The Execution Of All Things"
Their lyrics and music just create an intense atmosphere that was lacking on their first disc, must have been that Omaha experience.

William Shatner "Has Been"
Listen to it and you will understand.

Smashing Pumpkins "Siamese Dream"
Ah, back when they were the Smashing Pumpkins and not Billy Corgon & Jimmy Chamberlin and others who were never in the band in the first place but we'll still call it a reunion. A simple rock masterpiece and soundtrack to most of our 90's lives. Of course "Gish" wasn't bad either.

The White Stripes "DeStijl"
They move from the obscure blues garage sound with lots of cover songs to a definite sound as their own. And they just keep rising from there.



So that's my list. Feel free to bash, add to, or comment in anyway you feel like expressing yourself. And remember not all sophomore album are good but Bloc Party for some reason keeps selling albums.

~StEvO

HEY I CAN'T MEET U HERE 2MARO
SAY GOODBYE DON'T FOLLOW
MISERY SO HOLLOW

Lists. I love lists. They work for me. They work for all of us. So, Blendetta.com wants our lists - our "opinions" if

Layne Staley

you will. I've got lots of those. I am a very opinionated person who works hard to appear as someone who is not. When I saw an invite to compose lists for publication, I was so excited. I thought, how easy ---> just put my opinions in numerical order. My first thought was 90's music. I loved the music in the 90's - almost all of it (except the pop and indie stuff - I've never liked that). My thoughts were racing non-stop about the opportunity to put MY list together of the music I liked from the decade I loved. But then I complicated things. I had to pull out all of my cds, and I mean all of them, to confirm release dates of some of the cds I wasn't sure about. Then, I put them in four different categories ---- for sures, probablies, maybes's and no haps. It wasn't as easy as I thought - I have a lot of cds - most of them from the 90's! After that, I had difficulty sorting out which ones really belonged in the maybe pile vs. the probably pile. Things got outta control and somehow I ended up driving around roughly 900 miles over a three-day period, listening and re-listening to cds to make sure I gave them all due consideration. I spent about $413 in gas, but, I've got my list together. Here goes:

Now remember, love it or hate it - it's my list. After reading this, go make your own:

10. Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie....
9. Third Eye Blind - S/T
8. STP - Core (Japanese Import w/Acoustic version of Plush)
7. Counting crows - August and Everything After
6. Snoop - Doggystyle
5. Nirvana - Nevermind
4. Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
3. Pearl Jam - 10
2. Nirvana - In Utero (tied with Nirvana Unplugged - which prompts my next list)
1. Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies



Honorable Mention must go to Counting Crows for This Desert Life, Soundgarden for Down on the Upside and Bush for 16 Stone. So, agree or disagree, you know it's good! Any other 90's people out there? Let's see your list. Or, have you not been enlightened to the 90's music yet because you think that Taking Back Gayday, I mean Sunday, is like classic rock? Maybe you think that King Diamond or (god forbid) Ratt is the greatest recording artist of all time!! Whatever. Anyway, put yourself out there. Let's see what you've got. Just don't spend three days driving around listening to music to come up with your list! Gas is too expensive right now. Ok - my rant is over. Now go pull out some 90's grunge, give it a fresh listen and enjoy. And remember, with the lights out, it's less dangerous!

Comments - feedback? Haters welcomed. Thanks for reading.

Kitty Travagline

It takes a lot to get us excited; perhaps a riveting article in the latest edition of Pipe & Slipper monthly, a flash of a lady's garter on the bus on the way to our weekly meeting of the Camden Philatelic Association, or perhaps the gentle, sensual, undulating curve of a sine wave. Never let it be said that we don't know how to party, but what really gets us going is some raucous, fuzzed up guitar invective as ably demonstrated by post-punk noiseniks A Place To Bury Strangers. Stars of this year's SXSW festival, A Place To Bury Strangers are starting to create a splash, the ripples of which will be felt across the various strata of the music industry over the coming months. Make no mistake about it, this band will be BIG. Squalls of feedback, hypnotic bass lines and rigid, mechanized drum machine rhythms courtesy of a real, live drummer collide as one orgasmic whole, the resultant musical potpourri smelling like a potent combination of Jesus & Mary Chain, Kasabian, Sisters Of Mercy, Primal Scream, Sonic Youth and Killing Joke; these guys have it all.Blasting out of NYC at what feels like a million miles an hour, A Place To Bury Strangers were formed from the ashes of neurotic shoegazers Skywave and feature vocalist/guitarist Oliver Ackermann, the charmingly monikered Jono Mofo on bass and Jay Space on drums, and seem hell-bent on kicking out some of the most inventive noise this side of Muse.

The self-titled debut album is out now in the U.S. whilst their first single, the supermassive blackhole of double A sided single 'To Fix The Gash In Your Head/Ocean' is out in the U.K. on May 5th, so consider yourselves duly warned. It seems only right that we leave the last words to one of New York's finest, an anonymous NYPD Officer; "…Let them play one more song before we shut the place down. This band is sick."

Check 'em out at www.aplacetoburystrangers.com.

- gileZ Moorhouse

Check out the video for I Know I'll See You:

It's a scene that appears in nearly every movie featuring a record store. You know, the one where an employee puts on some music, thereby causing a spontaneous dance party to break loose. As a former record store employee of many a year, I saw this phenomenon occur in real life exactly one time. The track that caused the impromptu dance epidemic? 33Hz's "Chemical Reaction." This was when I knew this band had something...More at RSJ-->

Like 33hz? Like this article? Link to it:

Copy & paste:

<a href="http://www.blendetta.com/2008/04/new-at-rsj-33hz.html"><img src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg260/blendetta/33hzbanner.jpg" alt="http://www.blendetta.com/2008/04/new-at-rsj-33hz.html" width="468" height="60">

This is a list of my favorite cover songs. I'm not saying that they are the most famous or the most brilliantly covered songs of all time - they are just the ones that I like the best. So in no particular order they are:

Al Green - I Want to Hold Your Hand ( originally by The Beatles )
Johnny Cash – Hurt ( originally by NIN )
U2 – Everlasting Love ( originally by Robert Knight )
Donell Jones – Knocks Me Off My Feet ( originally by Stevie Wonder )
Rufus Wainwright – Across the Universe ( originally by TheBeatles )
The Fugees - Killing Me Softly ( originally by Roberta Flack )
Black Crowes – Hard to Handle ( originally by Otis Redding )
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You ( originally by Dolly Parton )
Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah ( originally by Leonard Cohen )
Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks ( originally by Kansas Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie )

Go a head - agree with me or agree to disagree - you're comments are welcomed!

- Krissy

Talk about things that make you feel old. The other day, it was brought to my attention that Late Night with Conan O’Brien has been on the air for 15 years. Seriously, 15 years. It’s hard to believe that the host, who has long since become a household name, originally debuted his talk show in 1993 to very little fanfare and general disinterest.

Trying to even figure out what time Conan was on back in those days was something of a guessing game, as the 12:30 post Tonight Show slot was more of a loose guideline than a definitive airtime. Depending upon what part of the country you lived in, Late Night was on anywhere from 12:30 to 3:00am, and often changed week to week according to the whims of local affiliates.



While this was an obvious setback to the success of the fledgling show, it was also a creative boost – some of the greatest bizarro comedy bits ever to make it to network television appeared in these early years. This was the kind of stuff you could only get away with when your program was being shown in timeslots usually reserved for infomercials and re-runs of Cops.

Undeniably, the comedy was hit or miss, but that’s what made it fascinating. You never knew what you were gonna get with Conan, but it was probably something you weren’t going to see anywhere else. These were the glory days of PimpBot 5000, a robotic pimp who spouted lines like, “All the bitches think I’m pretty, bought my face at Circuit City,” as well as the masturbating bear, which was, well, exactly what it sounds like it would be.

Clive Clemmons Inappropriate Responses to Everyday Life, an oddball parody of the type of network found in the outer recesses of satellite TV was another wacky gem, and though apparently no one in the world remembers this, I will forever assert that Conan O’Brien was the first person to broadcast the term “crunk,” first used in a skit about the need to invent new curse words.



While some of the original characters, like Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, endured when the show gained popularity, others (Wherefore art thou Robot on the Toilet?) disappeared into the comedic ether. But I will always have a fondness for the early days of Conan and the envelope-pushing sketches that in many ways paved the absurdist comedy road that shows like The Colbert Report would travel years later. There may only have been a handful of people watching, but those who were up at 2:00am in 1994 saw some truly great stuff. Viva la PimpBot!

- Amirah

We would like for you to post lists pertaining to pop-culture, music, movies, television or video games on our site. Ok, it’s not a huge announcement. It’s not like as big as when the “Old Folks” announced their reunion tour, but at least this announcement doesn’t suck. I know, it’s not like having a website full of random lists is a new concept, but lists are fun, so we’re doing it anyways. Here are some reasons as to why we want to do this in descending order:

5) People make mental lists of things. People like to share lists on the interweb.
4) People have short attention spans. Lists are easy to read and comprehend.
3) Everyone ’s VH1 list shows (you know you do!). This will be like that. Only difference is: you have to read it.
2) As previously mentioned, lists are fun.
1) People have short attention spans. Lists are easy to make.

Your lists can be about anything pop-culture related. We want your opinions to be heard, even if you don’t want to write an “opinion piece” about a particular subject. We also want to encourage people to comment on your opinions, because that’s what they like to do. Your lists, for example, could be about:

- Your favorite video games.
- Favorite musicians with one-word names (i.e. Madonna, Prince, Bono, etc).
- Best movies featuring Mathew Lillard.
- Stupidest You Tube videos to appear on a real television show.
- Reasons why “sophomore” albums of new bands are absolute crap.

Your topic can be very specific or completely broad – it’s up to you. Make sure to send these lists to blendetta@verizon.net. You know you want to.

The new season of Dr. Who started today and is shaping up to be every bit as good as the last 3 seasons.

The Doctor & Donna

You will have to wait a bit before Sci-fi and BBC America start running it, but you won't be disappointed.

The Doctor returns with Donna as his new companion, you may remember her from "The Bride" Christmas Special. Much like the Bad Wolf, Torchwood, and Saxon storylines, they start in on the big picture plotline from the very first episode. I will not include any spoilers, but fans of the newer series will be excited to find out what's going on.

- Kali

Picture this... the year is 1988, at any elementary or middle school USA. Girls fashions included big hair, stone washed jeans, slouch socks, and anything NKOTB

NKOTB 1988

related. New Kid's merchandise was like crack-cocaine for little girls in the 80's. They couldn't get enough of it! They didn't care how much it cost, they just had to have it. NKOTB made a TON of $$$ peddling junk with their faces on it to little, impressionable girls. For these girls, sporting NKOTB apparel was as normal as watching cartoons on a Saturday morning - it's just what you did. As for their music, we all know it sucked. I think, or I should say thought, that once these girls grew up and realized how talentless NKOTB were, they dropped them like the bad habit that they were. That's probably why when they went out of style, it happened hard and fast. If you were still listening to NKOTB like a week after they weren't cool any more, other kids just knew that you were a total loser. I'm well aware of the fact that everything old becomes new again, especially with music. Cheesy pop tunes from the 80's are "back in". Thing is with the New Kids, they fell so fast and so hard it is unimaginable to think that they could ever make a comeback.


Skip forward 20 years to present day. All of those little girls are grown up now. They have careers, husbands and kids of their own. Instead of cartoons, they watch the news and programs like the TODAY show in the mornings. Well, at least thats what I was watching on Friday morning. To my surprise, the New Kids were on to announce their reunion. I was in disbelief! The announcement itself wasn't shocking - it was how it was received by the audience. The entire plaza was filled with grown-ass women with cameras, standing in the rain, screaming so loud that you could barely make out what NKOTB were saying:



Seriously people? WTF is going on here? How on earth do these guys still have any fans? I have lots of questions about this. It makes me wonder. Instead of school desks covered with giant stand up buttons of young 80's bubblegum pop guys, will we be seeing offices and cubicles plastered with photos of 40 year old has-beens, 20+ years out of their prime? I know that the state of our nation isn't great when it comes to what people find to be entertaining... but an NKOTB reunion? Maybe if they had a reality show I could understand the hype. Most of the viewers would be watching just to have a laugh. This isn't that. People are actually excited by the thought of new NKOTB music and tour. Personally their excitement makes me want to vomit in my mouth. Thank you for allowing me to rant.

NKOTB 2008, yikes.

- Krissy

Comments are welcomed!

It's become a common story: indie band goes relatively unnoticed in the US, so they head to the UK where they gain 'can't walk down the street unnoticed' popularity. With the current British focus on synthy dance bands, it was just a matter of time before US versions started making the trip across the pond.

Which is where New York-based keytar 'n drums outfit Shy Child comes in. In the States, the duo consisting of Nate Smith and Pete Cafarella are probably best known for their time in DC dance punk band Supersystem. Overseas, Shy Child has been wowing the festivals, but with the US release of Noise Won't Stop scheduled for May 5, they hope to shoot a synth-fueled injection direct to the heart of the American music scene...more at RSJ -->

It struck me the other month; stood in a field surrounded by identi-kit kidz wearing matching Marilyn Manson shirts and My Chemical Romance hoodies...These bands are making a killing off of the blind devotion of these legions of lost youth, creating an army of the sartorially generic, each one, ironically, squealing to be taken seriously as a unique and credible entity. You're not. You've been led astray, blindsided by your unquestioning sycophancy of these musical demi-Gods.

Brand fascism is one of the most pernicious evils of contemporary society and we help perpetuate the myth that certain bands and labels equate to being cool. Do companies not spend thousands, nay millions, of $$$s advertising their wares in magazines, on television, at the movies, at sports events and polluting all available space with their logos, slogans and advertising rhetoric, assuring us that we need them to become achievers, to become socially acceptable.

I ask why then do we, as potential walking billboards, pay for the right to privilege and promote bands by emblazoning their logos across our chests; an emphatic statement of allegiance and intent, a public advocacy of any given band's musical output? We are the ultimate in corpo-real estate. Wake up! Smell the $$$s. There's good money to be made by turning around to bands and merchandising companies and saying "No! This is not acceptable." If they want us to stroll around like cattle with a giant Golden Arch branded onto our collective asses then they can damn well pay for the favor. And best of all its win/win all around; we get a bit more change in our pockets AND the industry gets to kit out the scene and become cool by default. The bigger issue however is how much would they have to pay before we're all content to wear Hannah Montana shirts about town and not feel dirty about the fact...

- gileZ Moorhouse

Those of you who enjoy watching UFC or mixed martial arts in general can stop reading this right now. Sorry, but I’m not writing this for you. You probably already know everything I’m going to say. Right now, I want to talk to everyone who has either never seen UFC or is pretty sure it’s not for them.

Listen, I used to be one of you. I had some marginal knowledge of mixed martial arts, mostly because Ken Shamrock was in WWE for a minute, back when it used to be WWF. But beyond that, it just didn’t seem like something I could get into. I always had a thing for pro wrestling, but that’s got characters and storylines, not to mention cool high flying moves and people hitting each other with chairs. MMA always struck me as random dudes I’d never heard of having fights with no backstory, most of which involved a lot of rolling around on the ground. Sure, I’d heard there was a good knockout here or there, but I really couldn’t imagine watching a three hour pay per view on the off chance that somebody might get punched in the face really hard.

Then came one fateful Saturday when I was bored and flipping channels. I stumbled onto Spike TV, which was showing a marathon of a program called The Ultimate Fighter. This turned out to be a reality show where guys that want to be in UFC all live and train together. They are divided into two opposing teams, and at the end of each episode one guy from each team fights another, with the loser going home, UFC dreams crushed. I started watching because there was nothing else on. I was still watching five hours later because it was the greatest thing I’d ever seen.

Suddenly, these weren’t just random dudes fighting – these were individual people with personalities that I could love or hate. These were people who had real issues with each other -- issues that they planned to solve through fighting. There was all sorts of drama in the house, and all sorts of crying when people lost...and when they won...and, well, there was a lot of crying, come to think of it. Regardless, this was the program that humanized MMA for me. This was the program that made me care.

And somewhere along the way, after watching all the training and fights, I came to legitimately appreciate MMA as a sport. I started to understand the finer points of what was previously just “rolling around” and found that I could even enjoy fights with guys that I didn’t know anything about, simply because I started to love the sport itself.

With the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter beginning on April 2, I’ve long since become one of those people that watches every UFC pay per view. There’s no question where I’ll be on Wednesday at 10:00pm. I’d just like to invite everyone who believes they couldn’t possibly enjoy UFC to be there with me. Check it out because it’s a great show. I bet you’ll still be there in six weeks because it’s a great sport.

- Amirah


Check out this clip from the first season of Ultimate Fighter featuring one of this year's coaches, Forrest Griffin:

Radiohead has always been a very innovative band. They have consistently embraced new technology when it comes to making and promoting their music. Unlike a lot of major label artists, Radiohead respects and appreciates the online music community. Remember when they shocked the industry by allowing fans to set their own prices for their album? Well what they are doing now isn’t that, but its still very cutting edge.

Five ‘stems’ of their new track Nude are available for download from iTunes. The ‘stems’, which are components of the song, include: bass, voice, guitar, strings/fx and drums. You get to mix them however you’d like and may even include your own beats and instrumentation. If you buy them before April 8th, you will be given an access code to a GarageBand file to do your mixing. But since the ‘stems’ are in iTunes Plus (DRM-less) format, you can use other music software if you so chose. Once you have your mix complete, you can upload it to Radioheadremix.com where it will be listened to and voted on by the public. They are even offering widgets allowing people to vote on your mix from your personal website. Radiohead will be listening to the best of the mixes, and select mixes will be made available on iTunes later this year.

In this time of modern technology, just about everything is interactive. I think that its awesome that Radiohead, again, unlike most major label artists, has picked up on this. This remix project could be a great opportunity for up and coming DJs and musicians to be heard by a world audience. And for someone like me who lacks even a trace of musical ability yet loves listening to music, Radioheadremix.com will be a nice place to hear something new.

- Krissy

Check out Radiohead on iTunes