My Poproks

The schedule was posted today for the 8th Annual Village Voice Siren Festival at Coney Island in Brooklyn (big ups to Brooklyn). Though this doesn’t really compare to last year’s line-up, I’m excited about my one and only festival outing of 2008 (poor people like free festivals). Helio Sequence and The Dodos have both released two of my favorite albums of their respective quarters (2008 Q2 list coming soon), and I’ve never seen Broken Social Scene or Malkmus live.

Also, kind of excited for the Ted Leo DJ set…

• After criticizing his home town’s music scene, Jack White wrote an ode to Detroit exclusively for the Detroit Free Press
• Reps for Kanye West told Rolling Stone that he is going to attend anger management. I wonder if this has something to do with squid brains?
• Madonna spoke out this weekend on the A-Rod thing, “I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex Rodriguez. I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study.”
• Bruce Springsteen will release a live EP for charity featuring performances from this year’s Magic Tour

Well I guess this is going to be awesome. According to the video comments on Youtube, there’s a track called “Walls” mixed into this video preview for Beck’s Modern Guilt, as well as clips of “Gamma Ray,” and what sounds like  may be a title track. This vid is pretty much exactly what I thought of when I heard “Gamma Ray.” Hard Day’s Night meets an acid trip (not that I’m assuming they didn’t do acid in that movie)?

The Danger Mouse produced album comes out next Tuesday (July 8).

So close to pulling off an entire weekend of performances, Winehouse punched a fan (twice) during the performance of “Rehab” at Glastonbury.

Amy Winehouse pulled off yet another amazing performance last night, despite her recent diagnosis with emphasyma. She performed “Rehab” and “Valerie” at the show in London to celebrate Nelson Mendela’s 90th Birthday.

There are reports that she showed up to the rehearsal on Monday night smoking cigarettes and carrying a bottle of vodka.

::Sigh::

While Devo should be flattered that they are apparently the complete embodiment of the genre of new wave, one could understand the frustration of the band about the above McDonald’s toy, which came out in the spring as part of an American Idol themed happy meal. Disco Dave, Country Clay, Rockin’ Riley, Soulful Selma, and New Wave Nigel were all part of the promotion. As you can tell by the signature Devo outfit, including a red dome hat and an orange jumpsuit, there’s no question who was the direct inspiration for the toy. Needless to say, Devo is suing McDonalds, as the red hat alone is copyrighted and trademarked by the band.

“Was DEVO ever contacted by McDonald’s, American Idol, or anyone else involved in making and distributing this toy wearing their trademark headgear? Of course not. Pioneers who got scalped….again.” - Clubdevo.com

You have absolutely got to hear the song that it plays. Too much…too much.

Damn, Radiohead love them some last minute announcements. Via their myspace blog last night, the band announced they they will release a live video set on iTunes…like yesterday, called “RADIOHEAD LIVE FROM THE BASEMENT.” “Captured in a day with direction by David Barnard and sound by Nigel Godrich,” goes the blog entry, “the videos represent the best recorded representation of Radiohead’s live performance to date.”

The performance was recorded at The Hospital studio in Covent Garden in London on the TV show From the Basement, and features tracks from both In Rainbows and the bonus disc.

Video tracklisting:

Bodysnatchers
House of Cards
Nude
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
15 Step
Reckoner
Go Slowly
Videotape
Bangers ‘n’ Mash
All I Need

I’m glad Kanye posted this, because I’ve seriously been wondering when this explanation was going to come along. There’s nothing like a good Kanye rant. For those of you who don’t know the back story, Kanye was set for 2:45 performance at Bonnaroo so it would be dark out for his set. This is the only way the elaborate light show would be at full blast. For reasons unknown to the crowd (or the press), Kanye didn’t come out until close to 5am when the sun was coming up. A strong backlash of hate graffiti and unfavorable reviews followed. Kanye’s “Untitled”:

I am sick of negative people who just sit around trying 2 plot my downfall… Why???? I understand if people don’t like me because I like me or if people think tight clothes look gay or people say I run my mouth to much, But this Bonnaroo thing is the worst insult I’ve ever had in my life. This is the most offended I’ve ever been… this is the maddest I ever will be. I’m typing so fucking hard I might break my fucking Mac book Air!!!!!!!! Call me any name you want…. arrogant, conceited, narcissistic, racist, metro, fag whatever you can think of…. BUT NEVER SAY I DIDN’T GIVE MY ALL! NEVER SAY I DIDN’T GIVE MY ALL! THIS SHOWS NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY TO BE GOOD AT SOMETHING THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THERE TO LIE ABOUT YOU AND BRING YOU DOWN! LIKE WAYNE SAYS PLEASE DON’T SHOOT ME DOWN CAUSE I’M FLYING! I’M FUCKING HURT BY THIS ONE. ALL I CARE ABOUT ARE THE FANS. JUST SAY THIS OUT LOUD IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE, “KANYE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT GIVING A GOOD PERFORMANCE.” CAN ANYONE HONESTLY SAY THAT ????????? HAS ANYONE EVEN TAKEN THE TIME TO AT LEAST DO THE MATH??? BONNAROO SHOULD HAVE RELEASED A STATEMENT IN MY DEFENSE BUT SINCE THEY HAVEN’T LET’S BREAK DOWN THE WALLS ON THIS TRUMAN SHOW AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY OCCURRED!!! FOR OVER A MONTH WE WENT BACK AND FORTH ON WETHER OR NOT WE COULD EVEN FIT MY STAGE AT THE FESTIVAL. ONE DAY THEY WOULD SAY YES… WE’D SEND THEM OUR SPECS THEN THEY THEY’D SAY OK… THEN THEY WOULD SEND SPECS BACK THAT DIDN’T FIT THE STAGE. WE WERE OBVIOUSLY DEALING WITH FUCKING IDIOTS WHO DIDN’T REALLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO REALLY PUT ON THIS SHOW PROPERLY. THEY TRIED 2 GIVE ME A TIME SLOT WERE IT WAS STILL LIGHT OUTSIDE … I HAVE A FUCKING LIGHT SHOW DUMB ASS, IT’S NOT CALLED GLOW IN THE DARK FOR NO REASON SQUID BRAINS! MY PEOPLE WORKED OUT A COMPROMISED STAGE PLOT AND A 3AM TIME SLOT AND I AGREED. FAST FOWARD TO THE DAY OF THE SHOW. MY PRODUCTION MANAGER TRIED TO LOAD IN FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE I WENT ON STAGE BUT THE FESTIVAL WOULDN’T ALLOW US TO DO ANYTHING UNTILL PEARL JAM LEFT THE STAGE. PEARL JAM ENDED ONE HOUR
LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AT THAT POINT WE’RE RACING AGAINST THE SUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AT 4:20AM DON COMES BACK 2 THE BUS AND TELLS ME, ” IT WOULD TAKE 45 MORE MINUTES TO PUT ALL YOUR PYRO IN!” I SAY I HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE . I HIT THE STAGE AND PEOPLE HAD BEEN THROWING SHIT ON THE STAGE AND HAD ACTUALLY HIT THE JANE SCREEN WITH, I GUESS BOTTLES OR SOMETHING AND HAD BROKEN MY FUCKING SCREEN. REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE A SHORTY AND WATER WOULD HIT THE TV?????? WHEN I GOT 2 “THROUGH THE WIRE” I STEPPED ON THE FRONT PART OF MY STAGE AND THERE WAS SO MUCH LIQUID ON THE STAGE I COULDN’T MOVE WITHOUT SLIPPING. I HAD TO ADJUST MY WHOLE PERFORMANCE STYLE BECAUSE OF IT. A FEW MORE SONGS IN AND THE SONG WAS ON IT’S WAY UP.. I CUT A FEW SONGS FROM THE SET BECAUSE I WANTED PEOPLE 2 EXPERIENCE STRONGER WHILE THERE WAS STILL SOME DARKNESS TO PERFORM IT IN. I’VE STRUGGLED WITH STRONGER FROM IT’S CONCEPTION. REMEMBER LAST SUMMER WHEN I CANCELED SOME TV APPEARANCES. IT WAS BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO PERFORM STRONGER IN THE DAYTIME. ANYONE WHO CAME TO THE GLOW TOUR CAN UNDERSTAND WHY I WANTED PEOPLE TO SEE IT PROPERLY. IT BROKE MY HEART THAT I COULDN’T GIVE THESE FANS STRONGER IN IT’S GREATEST FORM… BY THE TIME I GOT TO STRONGER IT WAS DAYTIME AND IT BROKE MY HEART. I’M SORRY TO EVERYONE THAT I DIDN’T HAVE THE ABILITY 2 GIVE THE PERFORMANCE I WANTED TO. I’M SORRY… SOMETIMES I GO 2, 3 DAYS W/O SLEEP WORKING ON MY PERFORMANCE… I HAVE TO ICE MY KNEES AFTER EVERY SHOW AND THEY HURT WHEN I WALK THROUGH THE AIRPORT… HAVING AN EXPENSIVE STAGE CUTS MY PAYDAY IN HALF… CALL ME WHAT YOU WANT BUT NEVER SAY I DIDN’T GIVE MY ALL!!!

• Lil Wayne cracked the million mark for first week sales, with the most album sales in the first week since 2005 (50 Cent’s The Massacre) - Got money!
• That Santogold, Pharrel, and Julian Casablancas song, “My Drive Thru,” is available for free download at the Converse website
• Weezer will release 3 sepatate singles for “Pork and Beans” in the UK, each featuring a different cover song. The covers include REM’s “Oddfellows Local 151″ and Psychedelic Furs’ ‘Love My Way’
• Santogold is joining Coldplay for 7 dates this summer on their Viva La Vida tour. I can just hear them now…

“If you love me, won’t you let me know,” sings Chris Martin on Coldplay’s new album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. Well, the album is, at the very least, a grower; and at the very best, the potential top selling album of the year in the entire universe. It would be the second top selling album for the band, as 2005’s X&Y sold something like 16 billion copies (two for every person on the planet, give or take a million). With that said, surely everyone that loves Coldplay is admitting it. Right?

No. Not at all.

There are very few bands that I would defend until I’m blue in the face. In fact, I could count them with my arms. There are very few musical opinions you could offer to me at this point in my life that would make me want to even engage in friendly conversation about it. I mostly consider it a waste of time, as I’ve learned that good music is a matter of opinion and everyone’s is going to be different. Besides, I’m always right and no one ever listens to me. Coldplay are one of those bands. I will reply to the comments on Stereogum and Brooklynvegan that call them the worst band ever, or Chris Martin the worst lyricist, or their fans musically retarded. I will give your snobby hipster bullshit comment a big ‘THUMBS DOWN’ and then I will log in under a different user name and do it again.

My favorite review of the record so far has been Pitchfork’s (isn’t it always?), which called it “bland,” while painfully admitting that more than one track was “spectacular.” Huh? Is it really that embarrassing for you to just admit you like the fucking thing? It went on to call the album their failed mid-career experiment saved only marginally by Brian Eno’s production (but still called him an “egghead”), anti-compared it to Kid A and Achtung Baby 67 times (not including all other mentions of either the words “Radiohead” or “U2″ - which were actually semi-complimentary), and took a stab at X&Y while it was at it, calling the “Fix You” lyrics “a gag-inducing bit of motivational flotsam that came off like self-parody.” Christ. The 6.5 rating is actually the highest they’ve ever given Coldplay by far.

I’d love to use Rolling Stone’s 3 1/2 star review as a defense, but since they’ve basically become as irrelevant as MTV in the music world, I don’t think it would really help my case. However, despite the fact that the review was overall favoring, they still aren’t convinced that Coldplay isn’t just trying to please everyone and sell a bunch of records (same with SPIN, who made it all the way to the last sentence before throwing in the same sentiment). Even NME’s 8/10 review was packed with condescending backhanded compliments - though they actually get my Record Review Quote of the Year with this mangled bunch of sentences: “See, they don’t have it in them to be Radiohead, making nice-but-vaguely-difficult records for 30-something £50 Men who want to feel ‘cutting edge’ while only buying one record a year, nor would we want them to. Because they are fantastic at what they do, ie sneaking alternative culture into the nation’s subconscious while pretending to be dinner party music.” Excellent.

You see, there comes a point in the career of successful bands when they sacrifice the critics and the bloggers and the wanna be critics/bloggers (such as myself) (myself excluded). This either happens because the music has been compromised for larger mass appeal, or because the band only cares about money. Never has there been a case of a band simultaneously making great music and being popular. Never has a record not automatically become crappy the moment it goes Platinum (in some cases, even Gold). Never has a band not called “Radiohead” sold out arena tours without a backlash of critic hatred. This is why Coldplay sucks. This is why Coldplay is the subject of gay jokes in Judd Apatow movies. This is why Pitchfork closes their eyes and takes a deep breath before they punch in a rating higher than 5 for what under any other circumstances would be hailed as the album of the year.

On Viva La Vida, Coldplay have broadened their palette considerably, throwing in tons of new instruments and styles into the mix while still making Grade A catchy as hell pop songs. Eno, as well as Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire), provide some of the best production a pop record has seen this century. Had this actually been an Arcade Fire record, well…it probably would have still been trashed (Neon Bible sucked, after all - see the whole “going gold” thing). And my point has been lost. What is my point? My point is that 90% of the people who dislike Coldplay with a fiery vengeance only do so because they think they should…that if you close your eyes and listen to the music objectively with no pre-judgments, you’d simply find great, undeniable, solid songs. You’d find a rock band that successfully takes elements of folk and indie and pop and create beautifully written music with perfectly complimenting melodies.

Sure, as far as chord progressions go, it’s simple music. Sure, Chris Martin named his daughter Apple and wears multi-colored tape on his fingers. Sure, they are the Self-Deprecation Interview Kings, humorously admitting that they are the 7th best band in the world. However, none of these facts back up the assessment that Coldplay sucks. Chris Martin admits in one article after another that his band is “bigger than they are good.” But is he humble? No. He’s cowed and sheepish. In a bad way.

It is actually fathomable that, once in a while, something is really popular because it is very good. It’s actually fathomable for a band to sell a million records because it’s a great record. It’s actually fathomable for a band to sell out tours around the world because they are a great band. Unfortunately, when these things happen, you will find a bunch of assholes tripping over themselves to be the first in line to say it’s a piece of shit, thereby making them better than the rest of humanity. They will stand up and theoretically slap you mid-sentence as soon as they are given an excuse. In this case, it happened two seconds after someone first turned to their friend at a Coldplay gig in London and said “they could be the next Radiohe..OWE!”

I’m going to say some things that may upset you now.

Coldplay are to the Aughts what U2 were to the 80’s; a universal and inspirational rock band that is as talented as they are popular. Even though Chris Martin is still a ways away from a Bono-like persona, he’s definitely the closest our generation will come to a wave of the white flag and a proclamation that “this is not a rebel song.” Chris will just say it a little more timidly, possible changing the word “rebel” to “yellow.” Yes, U2 had an army of harsh critics circa Joshua & Achtung, but I don’t remember them being the universal symbol for ‘pussy’ as Coldplay has oddly become. One could argue that Bono’s lyrics are even more decisively sappy than Martin’s, and that “With or Without You” is more likely to put you to sleep than any Coldplay song. One could argue. I’m not really sure if I am or not. I’ve been writing this for way too long, and would now like to apologize for the “yellow” joke.

What you need to do is go to the beach and watch the sun set to “Don’t Panic.” Don’t bring a book and don’t bring more assholes. Just sit there with your iPod or your CD player or your portable turntable and plug in your earphones and listen to it. Do that, and come back and tell me that Coldplay is ‘agreeable, safe, and forgettable.‘ Write a song better than “The Scientist,” and I’ll be the first in line to tell you that it’s a piece of shit. Replace Martin’s voice with Roger Waters’ and tell me that “Twisted Logic” isn’t good enough to be on Dark Side of the Moon (I’m totally not kidding). Lastly, listen to “Strawberry Swing” and tell me that it’s a ‘failed attempt’ at anything. Even Pitchfork couldn’t do it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion; but as I mentioned earlier, I’m always right. Do yourself (and me, apparently) a huge favor and JUST…ADMIT…YOU LIKE IT. At the very least, admit that your enraged animosity is really just a biased front to mask your apathy. Admit that if it were a little bit less shameful, you’d kinda like a couple of songs on Rush of Blood. Kinda.

I’d also like to add that anyone who concludes that “Fix You” is a a ‘gag-inducing bit of motivational flotsam’ could possibly have no soul.

The End. :)

Apparently it is Coldplay month(s) here at My Poproks. Some amusing news made it’s way onto NME this morning regarding a Brooklyn indie band accusing Coldplay of stealing their song to create the latest iTunes hit, “Viva La Vida.” The band claims via this video that Chris Martin came to see them at CMJ in October, and seemed “too into” their set.

I’m sure your myspace page will get a lot of hits, but I’ve never heard a more shameless attempt to cash in on the success of someone else. While the song does share some vague similarities in style, it is a basic melody over  a basic pop song. These things will happen. NME also quoted a spokesman for Coldplay, stating that “Viva La Vida” was written and demoed in March of ‘07. Good luck boys.

Now this on the other hand, I can understand.

• Kanye West did the Glow in the Dark thing at Bonnaroo while the sun was rising, pushing his already ridiculous time slot from 2:45am to 4:45am! Even I don’t get that one, ‘Ye.
• R. Kelly was acquitted of all 14 counts of child pornography charges, and the jury spoke out on their decision process; “the girl on the tape looked too ‘developed’ to be a minor.” Love it.
• Pitchfork posted some awesome pictures from Bonnaroo’s Thursday and Friday sets, including My Morning Jacket, Raconteurs, M.I.A., and err, Metallica.
  

Beck revealed the details for his Danger Mouse produced upcoming album, Modern Guilt. The record gets a July 8 release in the US and July 7 in the UK and Europe. See the full tracklisting below, and check out “Chemtrails” on Beck.com if you haven’t already (hover on the boombox in the corner).

Tracklisting:
1. Orphans
2. Gamma Ray
3. Chemtrails
4. Modern Guilt
5. Youthless
6. Walls (ft. Cat Power)
7. Replica
8. Soul of a Man
9. Profanity Prayers
10. Volcano

The Faint are setting out on a North American tour in support of their upcoming 5th album, Fasciinatiion (with 4 i’s), which will be out August 5th on the bands new label, blank.wav. The press release calls the record “the best album in the band’s career, a record that is the purest culmination of The Faint’s brilliant musical instincts, ideas and aesthetic, with each member contributing equally to its creation.” Very excited is me. Full tracklisting & tour dates below:

Fasciinatiion Tracklisting:
1) Get Seduced
2) The Geeks Were Right
3) Machine in the Ghost
4) Fulcrum and Lever
5) Psycho
6) Mirror Error
7) I Treat You Wrong
8) Forever Growing Centipedes
9) Fish in a Womb
10) A Battle Hymn for Children

Dates:
July 27 Des Moines , IA - People’s Court
July 28 Sioux Falls, SD - Ramkota Annex
July 29 Denver , CO - Ogden Theatre
July 30 Salt Lake City , UT - In The Venue
July 31 Boise , ID - Knitting Factory
August 1 Vancouver , BC - Commodore Ballroom
August 2 Seattle, WA - The Showbox
August 3 Portland , OR - Crystal Ballroom
August 4 San Francisco , CA - The Fillmore
August 5 San Francisco , CA - The Grand Ballroom
August 7 Los Angeles , CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
August 8 Los Angeles , CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
August 9 San Diego , CA - SOMA
August 11 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
August 12 Dallas, TX - Palladium Ballroom
August 14 Atlanta , GA - Variety Playhouse
August 15 Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
August 16 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
August 17 Philadelphia , PA - Trocadero
August 18 New York City , NY - Terminal 5
August 20 Worcester, MA - The Palladium
August 21 Toronto , ONT - Opera House
August 22 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
August 23 Omaha , NE - Sokol Auditorium

There are really no words to describe this. New Kids on the Block are back together. It’s just too weird. I just…can’t. The last 15 seconds of this may be the best 15 seconds of any music video ever. Well, other than the first 15 seconds of this one.

Am I 8 years old? What’s happening?

It’s been nearly two weeks since I’ve mentioned the word “Radiohead” on this blog, and I realize that that is not OK. The band performed the new song, “Super Collider” on the Dublin stop of their European leg yesterday (June 6) for the first time ever. Thanks to My W.A.S.T.E. Central friend, InRadioBows.com.

Artist: Los Halos
Track: “Dagger Bones”
Album: For Ramona

Check it people: I just downloaded an MP3 off of Amazon for the first time, and created an imeem My Poproks account so I could post about this song. It came into my Pandora “My Indie, etc.” station yesterday, and I not-so-immediately posted about it (but I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t been busy at work).

Los Halos, a one man band by the name of Eli Wegner on Seattle’s Loveless Records, sings and plays all instruments on his 3 releases, including his 2002 debut, For Ramona. This track, “Dagger Bones,” is a 6 minute indie rock orgasm; with lovely guitars, quiet vocals, simple lyrics, and some casio keyboards (one can only hope).

I absolutely love every second of this. It doesn’t seem as if Eli is still releasing records under the name Los Halos.

Listen: “Dagger Bones” by Los Halos

• To celebrate the upcoming Joy Division documentary, Microsoft will release 500 limited edition Joy Division Zunes
• Brooklyn Vegan put together a Free NYC Show calender for the summer that is compatible with Google calender, and it’s better than sex
• MTV reports that Weezer will be jamming with fans on their upcoming Hootenanny Tour to support The Red Album
• NME reports that Joan Jett claims that she has never heard Britney Spears’ cover of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”…I thought it was funny

I’m officially disturbed.

Kurt Cobain is certainly in high demand: After his likeness was snatched by Dr. Martens, utilized by Converse, and his effects auctioned via Christie’s, an unidentified burglar has upped the ante, stealing the rocker’s remains from widow Courtney Love’s Los Angeles home.

According to an NME.com report (via News of the World), an unidentified robber entered Love’s Hollywood home and snatched clothing, jewelry, and Cobain’s ashes, which were kept in a “pink teddy bear-shaped bag along with a lock of his hair.”

“I can’t believe anyone would take Kurt’s ashes from me,” said Love. “I find it disgusting and right now I’m suicidal. If I don’t get them back I don’t know what I’ll do.”

Following Cobain’s 1994 death, portions of his ashes were spread near his Washington State home and at a New York Buddhist temple. The remaining ashes’ whereabouts were previously unknown by the public at large, and now, following the heist, are again lost to obscurity.

“They were all I had left of my husband,” Love told the Brit paper. “I used to take them everywhere with me just so I could feel Kurt was still with me. Now it feels like I have lost him all over again.”

I didn’t actually see this performance live, as I haven’t watched MTV Movie Awards…well, ever. I sure am happy that I can watch this now, though. Coldplay are not even going to pretend to tone anything down ever again. This is a 10 on energy and theatrics. At one point there are so many rose pedals falling from the ceiling that I think Chris almost gets a bunch in his mouth.

<3