N.W.A. Compilation N.W.A. And Their Family Tree To See Release in September; I Wish I Was Invited to the Family Reunion

By Kid Midnight on

Although it's pretty obvious who N.W.A. influenced with their ground-breaking, super fucking cool album Straight Outta Compton, Capitol/Priority plan on giving us an audio reminder that collects a couple of the "family heirlooms." On September 30 (near my birthday, hint hint), N.W.A. And Their Family Tree will be released on CD and digitally. The collection brings together a few of N.W.A.'s signature tracks, as well as a couple "joints" that continued in the style of such modern gems as "Fuck Tha Police" and "Straight Outta Compton" (suspiciously missing are key tracks from Dr. Dre's The Chronic, as well as the Death Row output of 2Pac and Snoop Doggy Dogg -- so this is by no means comprehensive).

In addition to the compilation, VH1 is set to premiere N.W.A.: The World's Most Dangerous Group, a 90-minute documentary to air October 3. It features new interviews with Ice Cube, DJ Yella, Eazy-E's widow Tomica Woods-Wright, former manager Jerry Heller, Ice-T, journalist Cheo Coker, and director John Singleton. Beyond the interviews, it also features rarely seen photos and footage from the group's early days.

Almost single-handedly creating what would become known as Gangsta Rap, N.W.A. took the blueprint of old-skool hip-hop and tempered it with their harsh "Ghetto CNN" rhymes and unrelenting, funkdafied beats. "The World's Most Dangerous Group" also added to the lexicon of hip-hop imagery, replacing the b-boys and graffiti-covered subway trains with hardcore Gz and hydraulic modified low-riders, so that when you hit the switch, of course, you could make the ass drop.

N.W.A And Their Family Tree tracklist:

1. "Straight Outta Compton" - N.W.A
2. "Boyz-N-The Hood" - N.W.A featuring Eazy-E
3. "Dopeman" - N.W.A
4. "Fuck Tha Police" - N.W.A
5. "We Want Eazy" - Eazy-E
6. "Express Yourself" - N.W.A
7. "It Was A Good Day" - Ice Cube
8. "V.S.O.P." - Above The Law
9. "You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" - Yo-Yo featuring Ice Cube
10. "Foe Life" - Mack 10
11. "It's Funky Enough" - The D.O.C

12. "Final Frontier" - MC Ren
13. "Regulate" - Warren G. "& Nate Dogg
14. "Bow Down" - Westside Connection
15. "Bitch Please - Snoop Dogg featuring Xzibit
16. "Gangstas Make The World Go ?Round" - Westside Connection
17. "Lay Low - Snoop Dogg featuring Master P, Nate Dogg, Butch Cassidy & The Eastsidaz
18. "We Be Puttin' It Down" - Bad Azz featuring Snoop Dogg

FCC Publishes Order Against Comcast

By on Sep 11 2008

- FCC order against Comcast
- Electronic Frontier Foundation story

Warner Music Wins $33 Million From Karaoke Maker Over Licensing, Invests it in New Metallica Record, Loses It Again

By Nobodaddy on Sep 11 2008

It seems the major labels will give just about anyone the shake-down these days, as their tightened belts (and assholes, and earholes, and...) make it harder and harder for their top men to keep affording all those Faberge egg omelets or whatever they eat in those tall-ass towers. Case in point: the crumbling major Warner Music Group Corp. recently won $33 million in a lawsuit that accused Leadsinger Corp., a maker of karaoke machines, of loading at least 220 songs into its players without obtaining the proper music licenses from Warner first. Shucks, and all Leadsinger wanted to do was make us happy.

Warner Music asked for default judgment after Leadsinger representatives apparently failed to appear at a final pre-trial hearing or to file any more documents with the court, which is apparently, um, pretty necessary if you plan on legally defending yourself in any way. As a result, Warner was granted $150,000 in statutory damages for each of the songs, and Leadsinger is barred from selling machines that contain any unlicensed Warner Music songs (duh), according to an August 27 order filed by U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips in a Los Angeles federal court.

Leadsinger currently sells karaoke machines through its website, as well as through retailers including Wal-Mart and Target. Probably right next to all the Warner CDs. No word on what Warner plans on doing with its hefty little payoff, but seeing as how it's probably a bit behind on the rent these days, it'll probably need to... aw heck, Faberge egg omelets all around!

Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band Add Tourdates; There’s Nothing Funny About That Because There’s Nothing Funny About Conor Oberst

By Nobodaddy on Sep 11 2008

With his latest “solo album” (god knows what all those Bright Eyes records were, then) Conor Oberst perpetuating the myth of the gas-guzzling, trouble-ditching, ramblin’ man in search for meaning and purpose on the open desert road; our 28-year-old folk rock hero can’t stop rambin’ now! With a whole mess of bold statements to make good on (“There’s nothin’ that the road cannot heal,” he sings on one of his latest Dylan-channelers), Oberst has no choice but to press-on down the line. With any luck, he’ll be touring on a motorcycle.

Currently in Europe with his Mystic Valley Band in tow (that’s an awful lot of sidecars), the famously troubled troubadour has just announced an additional run of U.S. dates this fall that will kick off in Honolulu in October and take him all the way through to late November in New Orleans, which should be more than enough time for him to heal his achin’ soul . . . uh . . . from, from you know . . . all that money and fame and rock n’ roll fun he’s been saddled with all these years. Oh, and he’d better not be stopping at any bed n’ breakfasts along the way, damn it! Cuz his cred is really on the line here, don’t you think?

Let's go to the map:

* Jenny Lewis

% M. Ward

Chunklet Magazine Celebrating 15 Years of “Chafing America’s Ass” with Shindig that Includes Deerhunter and Mastodon, Releasing Issue #20… 2 ½ Years After Issue #19

By Mario Speedwagon on Sep 10 2008

Chunklet Magazine is throwing down this October for their 15th anniversary and soon-to-be-issued Chunk 20. The 15th Anniversary Shindig Extravaganza Events are to be held October 10 and 11 at the fabulous 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia. The first event, on Friday the 10th, will feature comedian Brent Weinback and Deerhunter with special guests Twin Tigers (Athens, GA) and Gentlemen Jesse and His Men (Atlanta, GA). The second night will pair Brian Posehn with Atlanta’s Mastodon with special guest LA’s It’s Casual. Mr. Owings sure does know how to put on a shindig, that’s for sure.

The 20th issue of Chunklet will feature interviews from Paul F. Tomkins, Zach Galifianakis, Jon Glaser, and Subliminal (Sublime?) Frequencies. There are also features on Whirly Ball with Arcade Fire, The Shins, Black Lips, Deerhunter, and loads of others, including the usual stuff you find in an issue of Chunklet. Also check out the recently released Henry Owings’ Rock Bible – an insider's guide to living the rock ‘n’ roll dream. Funny, there is nothing in there about being a Tiny Mix Tapes news writer.

For more info on Chunklet, Chunklet Issue #20, and Chunklet Presents: Henry Owings’ “Rock Bible,” head over to the official Chunklet website. For ticket information about the Chunklet 15th Anniversary rock/funny shows, check out the 40 Watt website.

Eagles of Death Metal and A Few Shitty Bands Contribute to Denny’s Rockstar Menu, Recipe for Moons Over My Sammy Hagar Remains Fatal

By Mike McHugh on Sep 10 2008

It’s 3 AM and you are at Denny’s. You are not happy about it. You wanted to go to the delectable (and much cheaper) diner just 10 more measly minutes down the highway. But noooo, your sober ride objected, and now here you are at Denny’s, sharing Grand Slams with clove cigarette-sucking middle-school kids and the unemployable. You’ve nearly given up hope on humanity, but one burning question keeps you from cashing in your chips right then and there: What would Taking Back Sunday order if they were here?

Well, that would be the “Taking Back Bacon Burger Fries,” of course! Unfortunately, that isn’t a joke. In one of the least appetizing instances of corporate crossover promotion ever, Denny’s, in association with Dr. Pepper, presents the Rockstar Menu, now available at all Denny’s locations between 10 PM and 5 AM. Are you in the mood for Plain White Ts’ unsurprisingly dull, overpriced milkshake? No? Perhaps The All-American Rejects’ stellar contribution of gravy covered stoner slop is more your style? Whether it’s the cholesterol or the shame, you’re guaranteed to leave sick to your stomach!

Besides those stupid musicians, Electric Boots from Eagles of Death Metal leant a hand in his own heart-shaped concoction, but not even a death metal eagle can save my stomach from the inevitable indigestion this sordid marketing scheme brings.

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