Steve LampirisIf you were lucky enough to have attended Pearl Jam’s show in L.A. on October 6, then you know that Temple of the Dog reunited for one song, “Hunger Strike,” when Chris Cornell joined the band onstage. It marks the first time in six years that all the members have shared a stage. The footage isn’t pro-shot but is definitely worth checking out. If that weren’t enough, PJ’s very next song (and last of the…
New Vampire Weekend Single, “Horchata”
Everyone’s favorite afro-pop indie band (ahem, this generation’s Talking Heads) has debuted their new single on their official website. You can stream it or you can download it just by supplying an email address. The song isn’t any real departure from their eponymous debut, and, in fact, would fit rather well towards the end of it. The track’s bouncy nature, however, displays the band in a more forward-thinking manner, embracing the Remain In Light influences…
Boostalk: Greatest rapper alive
I do believe that I’ve found the greatest debut single by any artist in the history of time. He goes by the name Boostalk, which is so awesome that suggesting it means nothing is irrelevant (I’m not counting Bradley Nowell’s personal meaning). It’s part of this new post-logic movement that my generation started. Anyhow, the ‘Stalk has the flow of a rapper many years beyond the talent displayed here. Seriously, he can spit words that…
Finally, an RS List that’s reasonable
As far back as I can remember, I have never agreed with more than 5% of a Rolling Stone list. Be it the 100 Greatest Guitarists where they got number one right…probably, while the top 20 is rather questionable: Jack White, Kurt Cobain, and Johnny Ramone? Really? The 100 Greatest Singers is also rather off. John Lennon ahead of Marvin Gaye? Freddie Mercury below Paul McCartney? Once again, though, their no. 1 is a good…
The Black Dahlia Murder: ‘Deflorate’
Album name: Deflorate Artist name: The Black Dahlia Murder Genre: Melodic death metal Released: September 15 2009 Label: Metal Blade ZME Rating: 9/10 Website: myspace.com/blackdahliamurder Deflorate: Past the flowering state; having shed its pollen. It’s important to note that word – important because The Black Dahlia Murder has after only four albums ascended to extreme metal’s throne. But keep in mind one thing: BDM isn’t a band in the band qua bandsense of the…
This isn’t news
Ugh, I hate this rampant compulsion that’s been eating at my brain since early Monday morning stemming from this ridiculous situation involving Kanye West, but there’s a burning question that’s been bothering me ever since this “story” broke. And it’s simply this: Why is this news? It’s an absurdly simple question to ask but an important one. I mean, this is Kanye we’re talking about: The man who appeared on the cover of RS as…
Slate.com declares Pearl Jam “sellouts”
Once again, Slate.com reminds us of just how bizarrely back-asswards their writers’ arguments can be. This time, Slate writer Jonah (ugh, of course his name is Jonah) Weiner has published a piece in which he (attempts to) systematically lay out the case for Pearl Jam having sold out. First, the article claims that PJ is “proudly out of step” and has always been for the following reasons: 1.) They stopped making music videos in the…
I Get Wet: More Important than You Realize
I’ve given entirely too much thought to the following issue, something that will become abundantly clear as you read this. It seems that while most publications want to name the best of the decade, few – if any – of them want to address a matter of equal (if not more) importance: the album that most defines the decade. Thus the genesis behind this column. Andrew W.K.’s I Get Wet is that defining album. Not…
RIAA: Suing You Since 2003
So I was giving a cursory glance over the latest news on Rolling Stone’s website and I came across yet another example of why everyone hates the RIAA over these lawsuits. Now, I could use this space to simply shit all over the rather fascist policies of this organization but that’s been done and probably better than I could this morning. Anyhow, when I read the story, two things stood out and more than likely…
Nickelback is a talented band, trust me
Even as I include the following qualification to this piece, it’ll still probably be misinterpreted. Nickelback is a terrible band, OK. I get it. They’re the band everyone points to when discussing all that’s wrong with modern music, specifically rock. Yes, Chad sounds like the bastard child of a rather violent hate-fuck orgy including Eddie Vedder, Scott Weiland and Scott Stapp. Yes, none of the band members are particularly talented musicians, save former drummer Ryan…