Blender Takes on the Big Issues for November; Obama and McCain List Their Top 10 Songs, But Who Fucking Cares?
By mattborda on 08-14-2008
In a move seemingly intended to further alienate the young people of the United States with taste and intellect, Blender magazine has decided to get to the deepest root of what matters in the current race for the U.S. throne.
No, they didn’t ask Obama why his campaign says he “had the judgment and courage to speak out against going to war” in 2002 while he continued to vote for measures that gave billions of dollars to “ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Nope, didn’t ask McCain to elaborate on the “policies” he apparently intends to use like a sprinkling of magical money-dust to bring about “a stronger economy, a stronger dollar and greater purchasing power for oil, gas and food” or if he sees how desperate he looks with his campaign’s transparent attempt to paint Obama as an aloof international celebrity.
Because who needs to talk about that stuff anyway?
Instead, Blender took this opportunity to speak with our potential future leaders to find out what everybody is dying to know. They called ’em up and asked “YOOO warm-daddy, whasson yo ‘Pod?” The resulting feature is a list of each candidate’s 10 favorite songs. (This, of course, coming after the editor-in-chief rejected the original pitch of having Dane Cook interview the candidates about whether they prefer J-Lo’s ass or Jessica Alba’s boobs.)
McCain’s top tunes includes a little country, a little rock ‘n’ roll, and 20% ABBA. Here we find a good serving of cheery songs about how fantastic everything is, from “Good Vibrations” to “What A Wonderful World” to “Sweet Caroline.” His absolute OMG fav though is “Dancing Queen.” Obama’s list has some songs about how fucked up everything is: “Gimme Shelter,” “What’s Going On,” U2’s “City of Blinding Lights,” – and a couple messages of hope -- Kanye’s “Touch the Sky” and will.i.am’s “Yes We Can.” Some completely surprising and unexpected choices here.
You can see the full list at NPR.com, but I suggest you don’t because it doesn’t fucking matter.
Jenny Lewis Announces Tourdates, Needs To Pick Some New Openers
By Annapocalypse on 08-14-2008
I don’t know what the deal is with the entire past and present Saddle Creek roster (TMT News), but it seems like once they pick a few opening bands for a tour, those bands stay their openers for all of eternity. The same can be said for Jenny Lewis who has probably toured with Whispertown2000, like, five million times already. We get it, Jenny, they live in Los Angeles and you probably all hang out together a lot, but please take my opinion into consideration here: they’re not really that good of a band. If you’re going to repeat opening acts, at least bring your boyfriend Jonathan Rice on tour again -- he’s much easier on the eyes.
Lewis’ new album, Acid Tongue, is due for release this September.
% Whispertown2000, Jonathan Wilson
$ Conor Oberst
Hold Steady Add Three Winter Dates with Counting Crows, Every Music Site Forced to Write a Whole New Story About It Even Though Their Fall Tour Was Recently Reported
By Nobodaddy on 08-14-2008
Man, if Adam Duritz thought that he had a long December that one year, he ain’t seen nothing yet. Because when you’ve got Craig Finn and the bear-battered boys from The Hold Steady as your backstage roommates and bus buddies the week before Christmas, I’m guessing there’s not going to be much in the way of sleeping.
As previously reported (TMT News), The Hold Steady will woozily embark upon one hell of a fall tour of the U.S. and Europe following the success of their latest barroom-evangelical smash, Stay Positive (TMT Review). But after drinking Europe dry for a few months, America’s new favorite band will pair up with America’s old favorite band, Counting Crows, for a few shiny, new dates, which should make both Duritz’ lyrics and Finn’s voice sound pretty weak when compared side by side. So if they do this right, audience members won’t really be a fan of either band by the time they leave the theater. Merry Christmas, rock fans.
Nerd Glasses and Dreadlocks Tour ’08:
* Counting Crows
CMJ TMT Announces Initial Lineup for This Year’s CMJ Music Marathon
By Mango Starr on 08-14-2008
From an article on CMJ by Tim Gunatilaka, with some editing:
CMJ TMT is thrilled slap-happy to announce proclaim the first initial round square of performers playing CMJ's] [Music Marathon 2008. This year's highlights performers include: A Place To Bury Strangers, Beach House, Broken Social Scene, Cool Kids, Crystal Castles, Del McCoury Band, Deerhoof Deerhunter (not for real), Donavon Frankenreiter, Gang Gang Dance, Jay Reatard, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Lykke Li, Minus The Bear Pedro the Lion (jk), Roisin Murphy, The Dears, They Might Be Giants and Yo Majesty. Be sure to hit strike the Marathon Artists page for a full complete list of acts peeps.
CMJ TMT is also proud boobs!! to report announce that this year's daytime program of panels will include thought-provoking "things that may you go hmmmm..." topics like Essential Resources For Independent Labels, Internationally Licensing The Future, Artist Managers: The New Labels?, A New Media Fat-Trimming Session, and Bands As Brands. Rounding Squaring out the daytime programming schedule are Marathon's annual yearly College Day and the first ever College Radio Mixer. For more additional information shit, visit the Panels and College Day pages.
These announcements The stuff that I just said in the last two paragraphs about CMJ's Music Marathon Fest 2008 arrive just five days before the final badge discounts of the summer end. Fans who order badges by August 19 pay only $415 ($245 for students douchebags).
