Ghostface, Method Man, and Raekwon Form Like Voltron for Joint LP; Also Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II Finally Dropping Next Month, New Ghostface LP Later This Year, Method Man Allegedly Shot Fan with a Pellet Gun
By Mike McHugh on Aug 19 2009
When The Wu-Tang Clan's fifth record 8 Diagrams (TMT Review dropped in December of 2007, the Killa Beez found its greatest critic lodged within its own chambers. Apparently Raekwon felt RZA had ignored the input of the rest of the Clan in favor of his own overarching vision, a sentiment that is certainly not new among the Wu. As a counter to the Abbot, Rae announced plans for a new album called Shaolin Vs. The Wu-Tang, essentially a brand new Wu-Tang joint without the RZA’s involvement.
While the beef between Chef and the Razor eventually waned, talk about Shaolin vs. The Wu-Tang did not, though the fundamental concept went through the ringer a couple times. The idea shifted from Wu-minus-RZA to Wu-minus-RZA-behind-the-boards-but-not-on-the-mic, only to shift again when Method Man showed interest in throwing RZA a couple production bones but still relying primarily on outside input beat-wise. Just like beefing with the RZA, tossing half-baked ideas about side projects to the media is a regular Clan occurrence, but it looks like things have finally been fleshed out for good thanks to indiedom’s favorite Killa Bee, Ghostface Killah. What began as Shaolin vs. The Wu-Tang is now an as-yet untitled collaboration between Ghostface, Raekwon, and Method Man. Ghostface says that each MC will contribute four “phat and tight” tunes with an expected release around the end of this year or the beginning of next.
But there is much Wu to enjoy before then. Ghost’s next LP, The Wizard of Poetry, is expected to drop sometime later this year, and after years of waiting, Raekwon’s hugely anticipated Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II is finally slated for release on September 8. Sure, the sequel to Rae’s classic 1995 record has been delayed time and time again, but let’s do our best to believe in him this time around. And hey, at least he isn’t shooting fans at random with a pellet gun like certain M-E-T-H-O-D man. While no further details of the incident, which occurred last fall, are available at this time, it’s still a weird enough story to at least mention. I guess with ODB gone, Wu-Tang has to split all the crazy bullshit between the eight of them.
Smashing Pumpkins Select New Drummer Due to “X-Factor,” New Drummer Hopes Billy Corgan Is As Nice as The A&R Men Say He Is
By Kid Midnight on Aug 19 2009
After a grueling selection process, The Smashing Pumpkins (a.k.a. Bill Corgan) has finally found a new drummer to undermine, harass, and ultimately fire. Corgan, who artistically peaked in the mid 1990s and who is humorously peaking right now, began an open audition program in March. After wading through the overwhelming amount of 1,000 entries, Corgan finally selected 19-year-old Mike Byrne.
A statement from Corgan, posted on the band’s website, explains the reasons for why the relatively unknown drummer was chosen:
We counted over 1,000 submissions, and what made Mike stand out was he just seemed to have that 'X Factor' that all the great drummers have, a stunning blend of power, speed, and grace. I'm excited to work with him moving forward -- he truly deserves this opportunity. I believe in my heart he will push me to be a better musician.
Byrne will make his live debut at a series of Billy Corgan solo club shows on the following dates. God help him
08.26.09 - Visalia, CA – Tazzaria
08.27.09 - Santa Barbara, CA – Muddy Waters
08.28.09 - Long Beach, CA – Open
08.29.09 - Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s Place
08.30.09 - San Diego, CA – Che Café
08.31.09 - Los Angeles, CA – Hotel Cafe
MySpace to Buy iLike for $20 Million Dollars, Still Can’t Stop Skeezy Spam
By Kat Gardiner on Aug 19 2009
In a move that's likely to solidify MySpace's lead in the online music community, the online social network will be acquiring iLike for around $20 million dollars, sources say. Facebook, MySpace's less lecherous but creepier younger sibling, is likely to have some air let out of its sails, as it has now officially lost its music baby.
iLike hosts nearly 10 million Facebook users each month and, along with Last.fm, was MySpace Music's biggest competitor.
Pygmalion Music Festival Announces Lineup; Meanwhile, the Rain in Spain Stays Mainly in the Plain
By Annapocalypse on Aug 19 2009
Does it make me a dork that the first thing I think of when I hear the word “Pygmalion” is the musical, My Fair Lady? On second thought, don’t answer that. Instead, check out the Pygmalion Music Festival, going down September 16-19 in Champaign-Urbana, IL. Passes are $60 and can be purchased directly here. More information is also available on the Pygmalion blog.
And, of course, don’t forget about that lineup:
Iron & Wine, Lucero, RJD2, Ra Ra Riot, Wavves, Low, The Books, Headlights, The Antlers, Autolux, YACHT, Japandroids, Margot and The Nuclear So & So’s, Maps & Atlases, Owen, Maserati, The Hood Internet, BLK JKS, My Brightest Diamond, The 1900s, Starfucker, The Life & Times, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, Bob Nanna, William Fitzsimmons, Skream, Gazelle, Denison Witmer, Company of Thieves, Joe Pug, Pomegranates, Decibully, Jookabox, Brooke Waggoner, The Horse’s Ha, So Many Dynamos, Alpha Mile, DJ Belly, Brighton, MA, Butterfly Assassins, Cameron McGill, Common Loon, DJ CZO, The Daredevil Christopher Wright, Drew Danburry, The Duke of Uke, Early Day Miners, Elsinore, Empires, Final Pygmalion Effect, Ganglians, Gentleman Auction House, Girls Next Door, Golden Quality, Good Night And Good Morning, Hathaways, TheHorns of Happiness, JigGsaw, The Jips, Kilroy, et al, DJ Kosmo, Liesel Booth, Light Pollution, Liz Janes, Lonely Trailer, DJ Lucknow, Lymbyc System, Marmoset, Mason Proper, Matt Wagemann, Mazes, DJ Mertz, Mordechai in the Mirror, My Dear Alan Andrews, Neoga Blacksmith, New Ruins, Now Now Every Children, The Number One Sons, Oceans Ohtis, On Again Off Again, Pamela Machala, Phantogram, Princeton, Post Historic, Ryan Gross, Santa, Scurvine, Solid Gold, So Long Forgotten, Stan McConnell, SteelEater, Sunset Stallion, Tina Sparkle, Take Care, Tracey and Tricia, Tyson & the Friction, Village, World’s First Flying Machine, You & Yourn, Zach May and the Maps.
The Fiery Furnaces to Use Their August Shows as a Propaganda Tool for America’s Socialist President, His Socialist Policies, and His Socialist Health Care Plans (If I Say Socialist Enough, Then It Must Be True!)
By Brom on Aug 18 2009
Everyone who loves America, loves liberty and justice, loves freedom, fraternity, and crippling health care costs knows Obamacare will be one of the greatest disasters to ever befall this country. The Civil Rights Act and Bruce Springsteen don’t even come close to matching the travesty that will be Barack Obama’s health care reform.
The Fiery Furnaces, the decidedly un-American indie rock group who recently put out their new album I'm Going Away (TMT Review) on Thrill Jockey, will be using their upcoming August shows to try to convince thousands that America needs health care reform. They state:
“Let’s make sure the world knows that all of us true grandmother-loving, pro-American, ‘young people’ haven’t given up our political involvement.”
No! What America needs is for Socialist liberals (like The Fiery Furnaces and their ilk) to find the nearest fiery furnace and throw themselves into it (see what I did there)!
Forthcoming Health Care Reform Rallies (cauldron-wielding Republicans encouraged to attend):
08.18.09 - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theater *
08.19.09 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge *
08.20.09 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse *
08.21.09 - Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree *
08.22.09 - Tampa, FL - Orpheum
08.23.09 - Orlando, FL - The Social *
08.25.09 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle *
08.26.09 - Charlottesville, VA - Fry's Spring Beach Club *
* White Rabbits
