The Beatles Enter the Digital Age Through A Video Game
By Mr P on 10-30-2008
According to Wired's blog, MTV, Apple Corps, and Harmonix (developers of Rock Band) confirmed rumors today of an exclusive videogame based on the music of The Beatles. But it won't be part of the Rock Band series, as most people initially assumed. The game will still base its platform on a similar one to Rock Band, but will instead be designed as an interactive, "experiential journey" through The Beatles' musical career. Does that mean there'll be a plastic Maharishi included as a peripheral? Fucking hope so! No title or release date has been set, but they aim to have the game ready for the holiday season of 2009.
While The Beatles have thus far refused to digitize their music, it's surprising that their first major foray into the digital world is through a videogame. Wait, no it's not: ROCK BAND HAS EARNED GLOBAL REVENUES OF OVER $600 MILLION AND ROCK BAND 2 SOLD 363,000 COPIES ITS FIRST TWO WEEKS. HARMONIX IS OWNED BY MTV, AND MTV IS OWNED BY VIACOM, WHICH EARNED $13.423 BILLION IN 2007.
Beatles for Sale, indeed!
Punk Memorabilia Goes On Auction Block at Christie’s in NYC in First Historic Punk Memorabilia Auction; Kid Midnight Places $300 Bid On Sid Vicious’ Last Hypodermic Needle, Plans on Getting Real High
By Kid Midnight on 10-30-2008
As reported by The Associated Press, Christie's in New York City will be hosting an auction titled Pop Culture: Punk/Rock, with the primary focus of getting even more money from the Punk Brand. With the music, lifestyle, and fashion already bought, sold, marketed, and distilled, why not start cashing in on useless relics of a bygone era? Personally, I love the idea of a “Punk Auction”; it’s a great chance for all those stodgy squares to get their minds blown by an anti-authoritarian youth culture. Yeah!
Some of the 300 items going on sale: a flier for one of The Clash’s first shows, publicity photos signed by The Sex Pistols, a rare poster for a 1976 Ramones show in London (which, as we all know, everyone involved in British Punk, ever, attended), a copy of the first press release for The Sex Pistols (!), and a press packet from 1966 wherein a young David Jones made it known that, from that point on, he would only respond to the name David Bowie.
The auction also features records, press materials, promotional junk, and photos for other “punk” bands, like Nirvana, The Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, The Ramones, David Bowie, New Kids on the Block*, Blondie, The Cure, and The Smiths. Most of the stuff is expected to earn anywhere from $300 to $6,000 apiece. That’s a small price to pay for “real life rock ‘n’ roll history,” though, right? Why not just own the records? Why not just listen to the music? Why do we value junk so much? Is anyone listening?
Christie's “pop culture chief” Simeon Lipman had this to say about the whole farce: “Ten years ago, punk memorabilia probably wouldn't be something we'd be auctioning here. But now, people of a certain age have a certain ability to splurge on this material." In other words: If people have money to spend, we’ll make something seem valuable, outlandishly valuable.
The auction is scheduled for November 24.
* Kidding
Attention Lily Allen Lovers! Lily Has A Message For You: It’s Not Me, It’s You.
By Annapocalypse on 10-30-2008
Oh, bloody hell! Lily Allen, everyone’s favorite Jager-swilling British songstress and "Queen of MySpace," is back with a follow-up to her 2007 debut, Alright, Still. Its title? It’s Not Me, It’s You. How subtle, Lily! Recorded at Eagle Rock Studios in LA with producer Greg Kurstin of The Bird and the Bee, the album is due for release February 10 on Capitol Records.
According to Rolling Stone (via the press release), “Highlights include ‘Everyone's at It,’ a synth-pop song about prescription drugs that features Allen on xylophone; ‘He Wasn't There,’ which matches emotional lyrics about her absent father to a jazz groove; and ‘Not Fair,’ a saucy country song about an inadequate lover.” Xylophones + saucy country = Lily Allen?! I guess we’ll find out for sure on February 10.
It’s Not Me, It’s You tracklisting:
Wu-Tang Confirms Upcoming Tour; No, I Don’t Know if Ghostface Is Part of It – Chill Out
By J.E. Williams on 10-30-2008
Up from the 36 Chambers, The Wu-Tang Clan are planning to hit the road on a coast to coast U.S. tour in support of their most recent album, 2007’s 8 Diagrams (TMT Review). The hip-hop legends from Shaolin, better known as Staten Island, are starting their run in Portland November 29 and won’t be quitting until they get to Atlanta in 2009. The only lingering question now is whether or not all eight members will show up to the shows (though, I'd count these dudes out).
The tour is not only coming in support of their last LP, but also to help back a DVD the group released in early October, Live at Montreux 2007, which features the Tang performing at last year’s Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. On top of all that, the clan has recently approved a documentary set to air on BET on November 13 and subsequently be released on November 18 (TMT News). The documentary, Wu: The Story of The Wu-Tang Clan, will feature interviews and archival footage of each of the Clan’s members. Be sure to catch the group and the DVDs if you're not already completely broke.
Wu-Tang Clan tourdates:
Marnie Stern Adds More Dates with Gang Gang Dance, Spins
By Mr P on 10-29-2008
Look at the silhouette of Marnie Stern spinning below. Is she spinning clockwise or counter-clockwise?
If you think Stern is spinning clockwise, then you use your right side of the brain more, which tends to be associated with feelings, imagination, symbols, philosophy/religion, fantasy, and creativity.
If you think Stern is spinning counter-clockwise, then your brain is more attuned to logic, language, reality, practicality, math, and science.
If you like Stern's new album, This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That (TMT Review), then you'll want to catch her and Gang Gang Dance (TMT Review) on their newly expanded tour, where she'll spin for you in person:
$ Gang Gang Dance
