Ted's Song of the Week - 10/17/06

Bling (Confessions of a King)
The Killers
Sam's Town

Well, the Killers couldn't live up to the hype. Before Sam's Town dropped in stores, the group had been touting their latest musical effort as "one of the best albums in the past 20 years". However, the Las Vegas quartet fell far short of those expectations, but still managed to eke out one of the best albums of 2006, which isn't exactly a bad thing.

Sam's Town has been able to produce a solid first single in "When You Were Young" and with the second single "Bones" to be released shortly, the group will once again celebrate success on the synth-rock circuit.

After listening to the album a number of times, I've found that my favorite track would have to be "Bling (Confessions of a King)". With a brooding intro, the song slowly builds steam and releases a haymaker of intensity. Vocalist Brandon Flowers leads the charge on a track that clearly borrows a couple pages out of U2's playbook.

The Killers - Bling (Confessions of a King)

Paul McCartney To Trademark His Name

The headline says it all. Paul McCartney is in the process of making his name a legal trademark. You can read more details here.

Hawkins Blows $300,000 on Blow; Leaves The Darkness

After admitting that he has spent over a quarter of a million dollars on cocaine, lead singer for The Darkness, Justin Hawkins, has split from the band. The Darkness have immediate plans to look for a new front man. In the meantime, Hawkins will be entering rehab.

Read the rest of the story here.

10 Reasons You Shouldn't Go to Film School

Just in case you were thinking about investing thousands of dollars in a film school curriculum, DVGuru has ten reasons listed for why that may be a bad idea. Read the list here.

Ted's Song of the Week - 10/11/06

Live To Win
Paul Stanley
Live To Win

If you happened to catch the latest episode of South Park, entitled "Make Love, Not Warcraft," you would have heard the latest from KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley during the hilarious montage sequence of the show. "Live to Win" is a guitar-driven dervish of arena-rock that would make Megadeth proud. If you ever need a cheesy pump-up track for the next sporting event, this is the song for you.

This is only the second solo effort from Stanley, but it may as well be his last. "Live to Win" is a catchy track, but it also sounds a bit forced. The lyrics are laughable and elementary. I have to wonder if Stanley even took this seriously. In a nutshell, this track is so bad that it's awesome. This isn't the first time that Stanley has tread down this road of mediocre greatness. His work on KISS's Psycho Circus is a prime example of this.

All in all, Paul Stanley should retire while he still has some some rock credibility. Otherwise, he'll have to rely on South Park to promote his wares.

To see the song put to use in South Park, click here.

Paul Stanley - Live To Win

Wham! To Regroup

Fashion experts say the 80s are coming back, and as latest reports suggest, so is Wham! According to Soundgenerator, Andrew Ridgeley is reuniting with George Michael for a concert this Christmas. Ridgely's presence is nescessary in order to provide critical "oohs" and "aahs" for the background vocals.

To celebrate the comeback, I'm posting the video to Lonely Note contributor fave, 'Everything She Wants.' Maybe the George Michael hologram hair will make a reapperance as well??



Some people work for a living, some people work for fun, Girl I just work for yooouuuu!

Paris and Nicole Bury the Hatchet

North Korea may have tested its nuke today, but at least I can sleep a little easier knowing that Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie are friends again. As the picture above attests, the two were spotted together over the weekend.

Does this mean Nicole will be invited to duet on the new Paris album?

Leak of the Year?

Idolator claims to have a leak of the new Jay-Z song. Get it while it's hot here.

Caught On Tape: Robbie Williams - 'Rock DJ'

When Robbie Williams burst onto the American pop culture scene (ca.1999) with his hit single, 'Millenium,' he was already rich and famous in his British homeland. However, I was completely out of the loop and had no idea. So, I can distinctly remember watching the music video, and thinking, "Who is this weiner? And why is he pretending to be so wealthy and popular?"

Well, little did I know that he had cut his teeth in the early 90s brit-pop sensation, Take That - which could be taken as the UK's answer to New Kids on the Block. Remember the song 'Back for Good?' Well, while Take That never took off as much in the USA, their popularity overseas helped pave the way for Williams' extravagant solo endeavors. His first American success wasn't gained until the release of The Ego Has Landed, which had been produced as a compilation album.

In 2000, Williams followed up his success with a fresh album - aptly-titled, Sing When You're Winning. This album spawned the popular single, 'Rock DJ.' What helped propel 'Rock DJ' to fame was the shock value of its music video. Creative and a bit disgusting, the video portrays Williams singing to a group of his adoring fans. And throwing himself to them...literally. The video takes a slightly naughty twist from the get go, as Williams begins to perform a striptease to his song - throwing his clothes to the crowd as he goes. Before long, ol' Robbie is as naked as a jay bird, with only a little video editing to cover up necessary areas. But the video doesn't end there.

This darkly humorous video is clever in that it seems to pose a valid question: 'What more can an artist give once he's been stripped of his clothes?' If you haven't seen the video and are interested in finding out Robbie Williams' answer to that question, look no further. And, if you HAVE seen it before, well...another viewing surely won't hurt.




"What's a guy gotta do to get a little attention around here?!"

Gertie Fox - 'Modern Love'

The first 15 seconds of 'Modern Love' are confusing: you almost start to believe it is 1994 and that great riff you hear playing is in fact the new Dinosaur Jr. record. While Gertie Fox may be very accessible here in the present day, their music sounds strikingly familar to those of us who never knew a time before MTV, but who are old enough to remember when only drug dealers and stock brokers had cell phones.

You can find out more about this great band here, download the MP3 for 'Modern Love', or listen to the song below:

Gertie Fox - 'Modern Love'

Did Brandon Flowers Kill a Man?

Brandon Flowers may sing for a band named The Killers, but could he actually be a literal killer himself? Gigwise reports the "frontman has admitted that he once accidentally ran someone over while driving, but wasn't told what happened, causing him to fear he killed someone."

Read the details here.

Bossanova - 'Calvary'

Bossanova's latest, Hey Sugar, has been available for a good portion of 2006, but it wasn't until recently that the tasty nugget 'Calvary' was brought to my attention. The Vancouver outfit utilizes organs and keyboards to produce classic pop throughout the album, and such strategies are apparant here.

Below I've included a stream to 'Calvary', or you can download the actual MP3 here.

Bossanova - 'Calvary'

Tap It Out!

Have you ever come across a song that you absolutely loved at first listen, yet you didn't know the title, artist, and/or lyrics? Unless you have friends who can identify this mystery track through your off-key humming, it's fair to say that you're going to have to wait for another time to identify the song. Or do you?

There is an online program named Song Tapper that can identify your mystery track through the simple procedure of tapping the melody on the computer's spacebar. I spent a half-hour testing it out and found that it was right roughly 50% of the time, but those odds aren't too bad for rocking out the keyboard.

Song Tapper will usually produce ten guesses to what the song may be, so you can get a variety of interesting results. For instance, I typed in the melody to Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous Girl" and ended up getting that track plus Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back" and Slipknot's "Spit It Out".

To check out the site, click here.

Ted's Song of the Week - 10/03/06

Punkrocker
Teddybears
Soft Machine

If NYC hipsters Interpol were to take Ritalin, you might get a taste of what the Teddybears sound like. With a mixture of poppy effects, varied vocalists and throbbing beats, this Swedish group has found an excellent recipe for a quality album. It comes as somewhat of a surprise, being that the group was formerly part of the Norwegian black metal scene in the early 90's. I guess it goes to show that there's a pop-junkie in even the most hardcore of musicians.

"Punkrocker" is one my personal favorites on the album. It is an infectious song that will have one chanting along to the chorus in no time. As a special bonus, Iggy Pop guest-vocals on the track.

Fun Fact: Guitarist Joakim Åhlund also plays lead guitar for The Caesars, the group that gave us "Jerk It Out" (From those insufferable iPod commercials).

Teddybears - Punkrocker

21st Century Bluesman Paolo Nutini

Paolo Nutini has a name that sounds Italian, but he's entirely Scottish. He has jammed with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and he's known for his mellowed-out cover of the Lovin' Spoonful's 'Daydream.'

These Streets, Nutini's debut, dropped all the way back in July, but he's only now starting to get more attention here in the states. Below is track number one off that album, the bluesy 'Jenny Don't Be Hasty.'

Paolo Nutini - 'Jenny Don't Be Hasty'

New Damien Rice Track Listing

From Billboard:

Irish Singer/songwriter Damien Rice has set a Nov. 14 release date for his sophomore effort, "9." To be issued on Vector/Warner Brothers and Rice's own music imprint Heffa, the 10-track set is the follow-up to 2003's "O."

View the tracklisting for 9 here.

ObliqSound Remixes Vol. 2 Preview

From the official press release, initial details of the new ObliqSound remix album:

Independent New York/Hamburg based imprint ObliqSound teams upwith famed industrial designer Karim Rashid to re-envision the CD design for the2nd installment of label’s remix compilation series The ObliqSound Remixes Vol.2. The set features stand-out selections from the label’s eclectic roster ofartists (including Renovation Unlimited, Tama Waipara, Grand Pianoramax andGilfema - featuring emerging West-African guitarist/vocalist Lionel Loueke) brilliantly re-worked by a world class collection of contemporary musicinnovators such as Osunlade, Mark de Clive Lowe, Matthew Herbert, NuspiritHelsinki, Truby Trio, Atjazz and more. Due for release October 2006, the 12-track compendium also includes a bonus disc of the original recordings andbonus material.

Below, I've posted a stream to track #2. It is quite fetching. Additionally, you can download the actual MP3 here.

TONY DEVIVO - 'Percussion Suite (Osunlade Yoruba Peoples Remix)'

Beck's 'Movie Theme'

'Movie Theme' is from Beck's 10th album The Information. The entire disc is a spellbounding expedition into the uncharted territories of Beck's innermost psyche, but I find this track to be the most enchanting:

Beck - 'Movie Theme'

Damon Albarn to Release and Delete New Single October 30

From NME, quirky news about Damon Albarn's new album:

It will be released and deleted the same day Damon Albarn's new band The Good, The Bad And The Queen are set to release their debut single 'Herculean' on October 30.

The track will be available on CD and 7" and deleted on the day of release.

As previously reported by NME.COM, the artwork for the single has been created by the band's bassist - former Clash member Paul Simonon.

The group are set to play their first ever gig at London's Roundhouse on October 26 as part of the BBC's Electric Proms.

The show sold out in half-an-hour and was the fastest-selling show in the history of the venue.

In the Mix: An Interview with Bobby Martini

Mash-Up:
v. To take elements of two or more pre-existing pieces of music and combine them to make a new song.
n. A song comprised of elements of two or more pre-existing pieces of music.

This dictionary explanation of a mash-up is among the first things one will see upon visiting the website of British DJ Bobby Martini. The subheading stands as a reference point for any newcomer to this growing form of music. A successful 'mash' will combine two or more songs together in such a way that it will stand on its own, as a valid piece of music. It takes an astute ear to find songs that fit perfectly together, and mix them together so they sound like they were meant to be one song all along.

For years, DJs have been mixing alternative versions of songs, and would often seg live between tracks by fading, and mashing, two songs together. Now, mash-ups have proved themselves to be worthy of hearing on their own terms. DJ Danger Mouse brought public attention to mash-ups with his highly talked-about Grey Album - in which he mashed songs from Jay Z's Black Album with the Beatles' White Album. Today, Bobby Martini is one of many DJs specializing in mash-ups, and since I first came across his website earlier this summer, he has become one of my favorites. Martini even took a song that I'm not terribly fond of (Pussycat Dolls' "Buttons"), and mixed it with one of my favorite Madonna tracks ("Secret") to form one of the catchiest songs I've heard all year - which he appropriately titled "Secret Buttons."

Recently, Mr. Martini was nice enough to answer some questions that I had for him.

Bobby Martini - 'Lullabye In Your Eyes (The Cure vs Peter Gabriel)'



Tae: How long have you been doing mash-ups, and what influenced you to start?

Bobby: Strictly speaking I have only been doing proper mash-ups since May this year (2006) but I first started 'mixing' as it were back in the mid 80's. I was a huge fan of mega-mixes then and used to attempt quite a few using the basics (old cassette recorder, turntable etc.). Nothing ever came of it as most of my work was only ever heard by friends and family. Some of it did get played at local clubs but nothing to get excited about. I decided to start doing mashups because a mate of mine had pointed me in the direction of a mashup site he visited. I thought 'I can do that' - Got some software and just started doing what I have wanted to do for quite a few years now. I have had some really positive feedback so far so I guess I'll stick at it.

Tae: What is your favorite part about making music? Your favorite part of the mash-up process?

Bobby: There is no better feeling than when you put 2 different pieces together and they just gel immediately. Sometimes it can take ages before you find the right ingredients but when it does it's just awsome. A great example would be my mash of 'Lullaby In Your Eyes' (Cure vs Peter Gabriel). I took the Cure instrumental and just placed the Gabriel vocal on top. I knew I had something special straight away. You just get that 'right' mix and it's a great feeling.

Tae: How do you choose which songs to use? Is there a point when you know you want to mix two songs together?

Bobby: I don't have any set procedure so to speak. Quite often I will have a mash in mind that I think will work perfectly but in practice won't work at all. I also like to get ideas from friends and fans. Some of my best work has been ideas from other people. Like most mashup artists, what you mash depends on what is available. So often you know that a certain track will blend perfectly with another but you can't get an instrumental version of it or an acapella of another. I know there is software out there that can strip this and isolate that but I have yet to find anything that does a really great job . I like to try things that are a little bit different if possible. I'm working on something at the moment that will show this in no uncertain terms!

Tae: If you had one artist/group you had to use in every mix, who would you choose?

Bobby: Peter Gabriel - everytime. In fact some would say I have overdone him already, but tough! More to come from Pete I'm afraid. For me, personally, he is the greatest rock artist of all time - who continually delivers the goods everytime - bloody excellent live too!

Tae: What's next for you to remix?

Bobby: Without giving too much away... A Classic British Rock Act vs A Classic British Video Game... trust me, it's gonna be good.


I have no doubt that it WILL be good. Thanks again to Bobby for his time. Be sure to check out his website for more information, and to listen to his whole catalog of mash-ups! www.BobbyMartini.co.uk

Rumor Mill: Tori Amos = Deity?

Could it be Orpheus? Thamyris? Though I confess I'm no expert, I still feel that this recently discovered piece of antiquity would argue that Ms. Amos' music transcends the boundaries of space and time.

Tori Amos - Caught A Lite Sneeze

(Thank you Lonely Note devotee, Cal, for the contribution. Source?)

Jet - 'Kings Horses'

Happy Friday all! Here is a ballad from Jet's forthcoming Shine On. It's only a small taste of the new album; but still a tasty morsel.

Jet - 'Kings Horses'

Blossoming Artist Mike Borgia

We at the Lonely Note were recently made aware of Mike Borgia. I've included 'Let You Down,' and an excerpt from his press release lies below:

Mike Borgia is about to release his 4th album – Issues to Egos. Originally from New York City, Mike is living in Raleigh, NC but has plans of moving to Chicago in the near future. His music is smart, catchy, and well put together- definitely worth listening to. Taking inspiration from Chris Whitley and Jeff Buckley, but also early metal such as Metallica and Slayer, Mike's music is often compared with that of Death Cab for Cutie, Elvis Costello and of course, Jeff Buckley.

Playing music to pay for college, it was only a hobby then, but today believes strongly it is really what he was destined to do. Graduating with a perfect 4.0 and a degree in Business and Marketing, he felt he would be doing that instead of strumming his guitar and swooning the world with his lyrics. Fortunately for us, Mike realized he hated the whole suit and tie deal. "Being quite the non-conformist, I learned a lot about the 9-5 world and how vacuous it can be. I stopped listening to my parents and gave my life to music."

And thankfully for us he did. You can find out more about Mike by visiting his official website.

Mike Borgia - 'Let You Down'

Ted's Song of the Week - 9/19/06

Connection
Elastica
Elastica

For a short time in the mid-90's, the British group known as Elastica made a major splash on the alternative scene. Their eponymous debut album yielded popular singles like "Stutter" and "Connection," which led to popularity on both sides of the pond. Life was good for Elastica, as they became the hottest young group of their genre. It would seem that things could only go up after garnering a spot on the 1995 Lollapalooza tour.

Unfortunately, the glory was fleeting as this promising group failed to come up with a respectable follow-up. Their 2000 release of The Menace didn't provide the critical acclaim needed to stay afloat in the constantly-evolving world of music.

Despite their short stint at the top, Elastica was able to create a song that will constantly remain a favorite in my library. "Connection" clocks in at just under two and a half minutes, but the raw sass of this track more than makes up for it's brevity.

Elastica - Connection

Rolling Stone Interview With Lukas Rossi

Lukas Rossi is the latest winner of CBS' Rock Star: Supernova. He will now be the lead singer of the band that Jason Newsted, Gilby Clark, and Tommy Lee are also a member of.

You can read an interview with Rossi that was recently featured on Rollingstone.com here.

Scissor Sisters - 'Paul McCartney'

On the Scissor Sisters' debut, the band paid homage to Pink Floyd with their trippy cover of 'Comfortably Numb.' On Ta-Dah the band again honors another artist by naming track number nine after Sir Paul.

'Paul McCartney' is a funky, disco-revival tune whose musical content seems to have nothing to do with any of the Beatles' catalog, but one in which the lyrics reveal a possible infatuation with the pop icon. In the words of Jake Shears: "Is it the music that connects me to you?" Listen below to find out:


Scissor Sisters - 'Paul McCartney'


PS: While we're on the subject of The Beatles, here's another great song from another great Beatle---John Lennon's 'Instant Karma'---just because I feel like posting it ;)

John Lennon - 'Instant Karma'

What's in a Name?

Have you ever listened to your favorite band and wondered where they got their name? Some groups simply settled for whatever was within arm's reach, like Everclear, but others found a number of different ways to create a moniker that would ring through the venues. Whether it was pop culture (Veruca Salt) or insults (Garbage), these musicians have come across some bizarre inspirations to label their respective units.

For a great site on band names, click here.

Girl Sues Buckcherry, Alleges Coercion

In a lawsuit recently filed by a 16-year-old Jane Doe, the plaintiff alleges Buckcherry served her shots of alcohol and then lured her to a club where she was coerced into "making a pornographic video." The band had posted a notice on the teen-frequented Myspace for fans to attend the shoot, offering free food and alcohol.

Buckcherry's attorney Skip Miller has defended the band, claiming the girl forged her age on a release form, claiming to be 18. The plaintiff maintains she was never asked to provide her age.

In June, the plaintiff's mother had called Atlantic, Buckcherry's record label, in an attempt to halt the release of the lewd video her daughter was involved in. However, it was released anyway.

The lawsuit's main complaint is that the airing of the video caused the teen emotional distress.

Ted's Song of the Week - 9/12/06

There has always been a consistency problem with Ted's Song of the Week, but it never fails that I make up for it by throwing a bevy of music at the readers from time to time. On this occasion, I decided to use a theme to introduce the latest in my listening.

When I'm not busy doing my day job and/or listening to music, I watch a ton of movies. My tastes in film are similar to that of my music, which is to say diverse and weird at times. That being said, my latest songs of the week will focus on the soundtracks of some movies I have watched over the years. Some of the movies were great and some were only slightly alright, but the music that accompanied these films are solid gold in my collection. As always, enjoy!














Atomic
Sleeper
Trainspotting OST

First and foremost, Trainspotting ranks up there on my top ten list. Despite its disturbing subject material and colorful dialogue, the movie is a masterpiece of life on the other side of the tracks. A pre-Star Wars Ewan McGregor plays Renton, a drug-addled protagonist, who finds that kicking a heroin addiction is harder than it seems. Already sounds like something to watch with the family, doesn't it?

The Trainspotting soundtrack is already stellar with the contributions of icons like Lou Reed and Iggy Pop, but one of my favorite songs would have to be Sleeper's cover of the Blondie classic "Atomic." It comes on during one of my favorite scenes when Renton decides to pursue and seduce a mystery girl in the discotheque.

Sleeper - Atomic
















Maybe Tomorrow
Stereophonics
Crash OST

One of the best films of 2005 benefited from the second greatest closing song ever. Best closing song honors go to Orbital's "Halcyon + On + On" off of the campy video game film Mortal Kombat. However, "Maybe Tomorrow" does a fantastic job of summing up the spirit of this film with its optimistic attitude that things can get better.

"Maybe Tomorrow" has also been featured on the Wicker Park soundtrack, but since I haven't seen that film, I cannot honestly say if the song was utilized to its fullest potential. It probably doesn't matter, because the song is just that good.

Stereophonics - Maybe Tomorrow
















Talk Show Host
Radiohead
Romeo + Juliet OST

(sigh) Not one of my greatest choices in film-watching, but certainly not my worst. Baz Luhrmann does possess the unique talent of creating movies that are unlike any films being made in Hollywood. Moulin Rouge is a prime example of this observation.

Before Leo was launched into super-stardom with his performance in Titanic, he played the infatuated Romeo to Claire Danes' Juliet. While these starcrossed lovers battled the odds to be together, they were fortunate to have Radiohead contribute an excellent B-side to the soundtrack.

"Talk Show Host" is a slightly depressing track, but it was placed well within the film, as it serves to create a desolate mood when Romeo mopes around the boardwalk.

Radiohead - Talk Show Host

Kasabian's 'Shoot the Runner'

Wolfmother meets Jet, 'Shoot the Runner' is an athematic ditty contained on Kasabian's forthcoming Empire. Sounding very much like an Anglo bar jig, the lyrics are equally simple, but quite catchy all the same. The stream lies below:

Kasabian - 'Shoot the Runner'

Warped Super Mario Bros Picture

Here's a disturbing take of the cyberworld we all grew to love in the 80s:
(Click on the picture itself for a full size version)

Who knew that Mario and Luigi were so vicious?

A New Decemberists Track

Here is a track from the forthcoming The Crane Wife that is to be released by The Decemberists this October:

The Decemberists - 'When the War Came'

News from the Land of Deftones

Deftones have just announced the cover art for their upcoming 5th album, Saturday Night Wrist, due out on Halloween. The atmospheric art-metal band's first single is titled 'Hole in the Earth,' and is currently available for download on iTunes. The group recently finished filming a music video for the track, which is to be aired in the next couple weeks.

I always look forward to hearing new material from these guys, and can say that I am particularly fond of the faded, vinyl-style cover art this time around.

Can't wait til the end of October to hear the new material? Check out the official Deftones Media Player here.

The New Barbie: Gwen Stefani Dolls

It's what every Y2k kid will be yearning for this holiday season. No, it's not an iPod. And no, it's not a Playstation 3. It's dolls modeled after--you guessed it--ska/pop star Gwen Stefani! Stefani says of her new marketing ploy:

"I thought the dolls would be a good opportunity to capture some of the key looks from the album and the tour. The Harajuku girls and I wore such wicked costumes we had to share them with the world again."

Wicked indeed.

Radio Update

Today was spent updating our radio station, and we now have 30 new songs in the rotation. Check it out when you have the chance.

'Crocodile Hunter' Killed in Australia

Although this does not qualify as music news, it is indeed a sad story. 44 year old Steve Irwin, better known as The Crocodile Hunter, died today after being stung by a stingray. Irwin was filming a documentary in northeastern Australia when he was stung swimming over top of a stingray. The barb from the ray pierced his chest through his heart, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

From when he first came to fame in 1992, myself, along with many of you I'm sure, grew up watching his fearless antics and listening to his deep Australian accent. In a world sometimes full of pain and suffering, it was always comforting to know that somebody out there enjoyed life as much as he did. Much like the late painter Bob Ross (I'm a huge fan of his), he always brought a smile to my face when I would see him on tv. Although he would at times seem careless in his work, you always felt a sense of calm knowing he was in control. What you can't dispute was his love for animals and the outdoors. His name was synonomous with nature, and nature will sure miss his enthusiasm and love.

He died doing what he loved, and the world loved watching him do it. Rest in peace Crocodile Hunter. The world has lost a great man in Steve Irwin. Crikey.

Caught On Tape: Ray Parker Jr. - 'Ghostbusters'

The 1984 film, Ghostbusters, is recognized as one of the top box office comedies of the 80s, and its soundtrack features one of the most memorable themesongs of all time. Ask pretty much anyone about Ray Parker Jr.'s song, 'Ghostbusters', and you'll likely get a response of, "Who you gonna call?"

Parker's theme was a big hit on the charts, and his video received attention on the Mtv. But to a large extent, this video has since been forgotten. The music video, like the film itself, was directed by Ivan Reitman (Meatballs, Kindergarten Cop). Reitman's video features a number of celebrity cameos, who pop on screen at critical moments to mouth the name "Ghostbusters." Some of the easily recognizable faces are Chevy Chase and John Candy, but the roster also includes several celebs you never hear about anymore, and probably won't recognize if you were born post-1985.

Most of the set is filmed in darkness, illuminated by neon furniture and appliances. Ray Parker Jr.'s slick dance moves and eccentric facial expressions navigate the viewer through the haunted house as he stalks some poor young woman. I'm particularly fond of the parts where he slides out from under her bed and later chases her down the stairs singing "Yeah yeah yeah yeah!"

Really, some videos should speak for themselves. So, whether you loved the song or hated it, this video is one perfect slice of American pop-culture history.



"During the rectification of the Vuldronaii the Traveler came as a large and moving Torb. Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the Meketrex supplicants they chose a new form for him—that of a giant Sloar! Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Sloar that day, I can tell you." - Vinz Clortho, Keymaster of Gozer

Just some Revelations

Audioslave's newest album comes out next Tuesday, but that doesn't mean you have to wait until then to sample their newest creation.

Below I've included a stream to the title track off of Revelations. So far it's my favorite off the disc, although the entire album is pretty good.

However, you be the judge when the disc is released next week.

Audioslave - 'Revelations'

Labels to Offer Free Downloads?

Universal Music Group has announced that it will be licensing its digital catalog for free. So what's the catch? Users will have to listen to advertisements as the songs are downloading. I suppose I could live with that.

Read the full story here.

Ted's Song of the Week - 8/30/06

Red
Sister Soleil
Soularium

Every once in awhile, there are certain songs that somehow lodge themselves in my brain and make a permanent home there. More often than not, I never catch the name of the track or artist and am forced to suffer through the thought that I may never hear such music again. Therefore, on the occasion that I discover the true identity of the track, I hunt down a copy of it wherever possible. Believe it or not, you can't download everything.

Released in the late 90's, "Red" was a regional hit and found modest airplay on a radio station that my friends and I listened to often. The DJ's hyped up Sister Soleil to be the "next big thing", but this never came to be. This could be because the rest of the album was slightly mediocre. "Red" truly was the diamond in the rough on the album.

Long story short, after "Red" had long since disappeared from radio-play, I was left feeling slightly empty without the song in my collection. I spent almost five years tracking down a means to listen to it again. Of course, I wasn't losing sleep over it, but you know what I mean. I finally managed to find a copy of Soularium on Half.com for a reasonable price.

After hyping "Red" up this much, I imagine that one would think this song is one of the all-time greats. I'll have to stop you there, because you will be disapointed. However, the song is enjoyable and will remind many of bands like Garbage and Republica.

Sister Soleil - Red

In Another Meaningless Poll, Sgt Pepper Wins

There are so many music polls floating around, they start to not mean much of anything after awhile. In a latest survey of Britons conducted by BBC Radio 2, the nation's favorite album is The Beatles' Sgt Pepper.

That's not surprising, considering it is an incredible album. However, it did seem like only a few months ago that another group of Britons voted OK Computer as number one, and even a few months before that an even different group voted Oasis' Be Here Now as a favorite. But I digress.

The rest of the list can be seen here.

Acronym Song Title Mix

Mars Needs Guitars has a pretty cool selection of songs that utilize acronyms in their titles available for sample here. Check it out when you have the chance.

Beyonce #1 Around the Globe

Beyonce Knowles' number one smash 'Deja Vu' has taken on a whole new meaning as it reaches the top spot in many places around the world. Recently, the first single from B'Day has reached number one in Germany, Hong Kong and Japan, as well as in her home of the United States.

For those who haven't heard the song yet, it can be heard below. It's tasty:

Beyonce - 'Deja Vu'

Razorlight Shows Affected By Tom Chaplin's Drug Battle

Razorlight has been forced to postpone a few tour dates it had with Keane, due to Keane frontman Tom Chaplin's battle with drugs. Chaplin is now in rehab, meaning that Razorlight will have to reschedule shows planned for New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

(Razorlight and Keane have been touring together).

Bloc Party's New Album Heavier Than Last

Crossposted from MTVnews:

If Bloc Party were an actual block party, you might say they were broadening their guest list.

"This time around we've been more open-ended about our ideas, seeing them going in different ways," bassist Gordon Moakes

"It was about being quite conscious about saying, 'OK, we're known for those kinds of songs, but it's not necessary to keep doing them.' " — Bloc Party's Gordon Moakes said of the British dance rockers' second studio album (see "The Bloc Party CD Avalanche Continues — And A New LP Is Slated For '06"). "The first record was songs we'd been playing a certain way for a number of years. With this stuff, we've taken it heavier in places, more electronic in places, just wider-sounding."

Bloc Party have been writing new music since before their debut, Silent Alarm, even hit shelves, so the band entered the studio this summer with no shortage of confidence.

You can read the rest of the story here.

Caught On Tape: Ratt - 'Nobody Rides for Free'

After a lengthy absence, Caught On Tape returns with a vengeance! And to add to the intensity of this return, I have selected an intense video for your viewing pleasure. And when it comes to intense music videos, it doesn't get much better than Ratt's 1991 single, 'Nobody Rides for Free,' from the Point Break soundtrack.

Now, the video itself isn't especially original. Like most soundtrack singles, it features the band performing, and intermixes this with clips from the movie. However, the key difference between this video and all those others is that the movie is POINT BREAK and the band is RATT.

I was first introduced to this high-powered, surfer-cop action flick more than a dozen years ago, and have seen it numerous times in the years since. It's one of those movies that my father would sit and watch anytime he came across it on TV, no matter what point in the movie it was at. That's a statement I can't make about many movies.

Point Break is a tale of a cop who goes undercover as a surfer to catch a group of thrill-seeking bank robbers who dress up like ex-U.S. presidents. Patrick Swayze makes a standout appearance here, and Keanu Reeves fits his role to perfection. Swayze even did some of his own stunts for the movie's skydiving sequences. And as if all this wasn't enough to get your heart thumping, the soundtrack accentuates the excitement. Marking a time right before the decline of hair metal and the rise of grunge, Ratt's contribution to the soundtrack was exactly what any action audience could have asked for: a pumped-up rock anthem. With the high popularity of bands such as Guns n' Roses during this time, Ratt's loud-yet-catchy, 'Nobody Rides for Free' helped the movie stick in our hearts for years to come. Surf's up!

Google Music Trends

Google Labs, the playground of Google engineers, and the breeding ground for the company's new services, has launched a new program. Google Music Trends allows you to see the top songs and artists of the search engine's users. How does it work? From ZDNet:

Where does the data come from? Remember the new feature in Google Talk that lets users display what they are listening to in their status message? The new labs project proudly displays the text: "See what Google Talk users are listening to".

There is also a link that says "Participate in Music Trends" that doesn't have any content yet — but I'm guessing it will take you to a Google Talk download page eventually.

In a nutshell, it sounds like the data is compiled from Google Talk users who choose to share such information. What is the number one song as of this posting? 'Map of the Problematic' by Muse.

Joan Jett and Eagles of Death Metal to Tour

In an unlikely pair-up, it has been announced that Joan Jett and Eagles of Death Metal will be hitting the tour circuit together. Eagles of Death Metal will be opening up for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts beginning October 12 in Philadelphia, and will do so for 19 dates.

Jett and the Blackhearts will be performing in support of their latest release, Sinner, the group's first in 12 years.

Pete and Kate Not Getting Married

Just in case you had to know, the rumors purporting an impending marriage between Kate Moss and Pete Doherty are untrue. Paparazzi have caught pictures of Moss wearing what appears to be an engagement ring, however sources clarify that Kate has been wearing her "own ring." Although the singer of the Libertines/Baby Shambles and the supermodel split at the end of 2005, the two have been spotted together lately, spawning a slew of marriage rumors.

Austin City Limits Festival Announces Lineup

Some incredible bands are slated to perform the weekend of September 15 for the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Notables include The Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkley and Muse.

The full lineup can be found here.

Ted's Song of the Week - 8/08/06

A Forest
The Cure
Seventeen Seconds

When I was still a fledgling Cure listener, I had received a copy of their greatest hits. While this may be seen as cheating to any die-hard fan, it is the quickest way to discover whether a band is worth further listening. Before this time, I had already dismissed the group as the catalysts of goth-rock, with an occasional fruity radio-friendly single. I was already acquainted with such hits as "Just Like Heaven" and "The Lovecats", but there was a majority of the band's catalogue I still had yet to hear. Fortunately, "A Forest" was the single that changed my perspective on the Cure within a matter of minutes.

For anyone who only knows of the Cure's later hits, I definitely recommend taking a listen to one of the group's early music. It's a haunting track that really highlights the versatility that the group is capable of.

The Cure - A Forest

Watch Cobra Starship's Video

What's better than Snakes on a Plane? The Snakes on a Plane official music video by Cobra Starship. Not only is the tune just as catchy and cheesy as the movie title, but it features soundbites of Samuel L. Jackson going postal as well:

"That's ittt!! I've had it with these muthafuckin' snakes on this muthafuckin' plane!"

Christina Goes Back to Basics

Christina Aguilera has certainly come a long way since her debut in 1999. Back then this genie in a bottle's contemporaries included the likes of Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore, The Backstreet Boys, and *NSync. Now, seven years later, Britney is a stay-at-home mom married to a deadbeat, the Puratanical Jessica Simpson is divorced and struggling to revive a slipping career, Moore stumps for make-up companies, and the boy bands who once ruled the charts have all since disbanded. All were undeniably quite talented, but clearly Christina is the only one left that's viable...save for fellow Mickey Mouse Club member Justin Timberlake of course.

Aguilera's new album is entitled Back to Basics, and she ain't lying. The double disc set contains original songs that throw back to the golden age of soul and jazz. Upon a quick listen-over, the focus this time around seems to be less on flashy hooks and more on resonating vocal grooves.

Below lie two tracks from Back to Basics. The first one is the short, but aptly titled 'Intro,' and the other is a personal preference of mine known as 'Slow Down Baby,' a designation that appropriately represents the focused and maturing Aguilera.


Christina Aguilera - 'Intro'


Christina Aguilera - 'Slow Down Baby'

Boy George Ordered to Sweep the Streets

He'll tumble for ya alright. George O'Dowd, more commonly known as Boy George, has been ordered by a judge to sweep the streets of Manhattan for five days, as punishment for falsely reporting a break-in to his Little Italy flat.

At his sentencing, the 80s pop icon pleaded with the judge by weeping, "Do you really want to hurt me? Do you really want to make me cry?"...OK, not really, I made that part up. However, he DID respond with an equally wacky, yet disturbing phrasing of words: "I've always been a scrubber."

You can use your imagination on that one.

Ted's Song of the Week - 8/01/06

Sundown
Gordon Lightfoot
Sundown

I'll be the first to admit that I've listened to some terrible music over the span of my lifetime. Of course, these were the times when my parents could only shake their heads and slightly ignore it. They just had to conclude that I was going through phases. "That's not music. They're just making noise," they would comment. This was during my heavy metal phase. "It sounds like they're just talking over a beat," they would say. My rap phase. In a nutshell, my parents hate just about all modern-day rock and pop. Inexplicably, my father actually liked Sister Hazel's "All For You." I still have yet to figure that one out.

As I grow older, I'm beginning to see kind of where my parents were coming from. I still listen to bad music from time to time, but at least I balance it out with the quality kind my parents would approve of. We have since compromised on a number of artists that we can listen to on the occasional roadtrip/vacation. Of course, I've had to reach a bit further for said compromise, but with artists like Gordon Lightfoot in the neutral category, I don't mind so much.

Anyway, "Sundown" is the title track from Lightfoot's 1974 release. The track was a huge success by peaking high on Billboard's contemporary and country charts. Apparently, Lightfoot's then-girlfriend Cathy Smith was the inspiration for this popular single. Smith later became infamous for her involvement with comedian John Belushi's untimely death. Despite that depressing fact, "Sundown" is a great song from one of folk-country's best artists.

Gordon Lightfoot - Sundown