If there are three things I've learned about [people who are attracted to men], it's that they love a) dudes who play guitar, b) dudes who pull off the perfectly-loosened tie and rolled-up sleeves look, and c) dudes who are Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Behold: I bring you all three, in this video from a Sundance event last night. Please watch, swoon, and most importantly, share with all your friends.
Ben Folds Five, pioneers of the abortion anthem, soundtrack to the countless bedroom weepings, first-pot-smokings and virginity-losings of 90s suburban teenagers not cool enough to be into punk or hip hop, just announced they're reuniting for a new album. How old is Ben Folds now, 58? HEEE is old and he's aging slowly....
A round of applause, please, for Abner and Harper Willis, two heartbreakingly earnest brothers from Maine, who have done more to help the economy than anyone we know by spending $109,000 at a variety of American businesses, all in a quest to become indie rock stars. "The School of Rock is expensive," they warn their readers. "Then again, class can be a lot of fun, and some of the homework is pretty cool."
Hating Lana Del Rey is now the internet's favorite past time. It culminated today when LDR burn book Hipster Runoff accused the plumped-lipped singer of stealing her song "Video Games" from some old Greek ditty whose name we can't even spell. He cites his source as unnamed "indie music message boards" which I thank Jesus every morning I have no idea how to find.
Etta James, the great singer, died today in California of complications from leukemia. She was 72. Over the six decades of her career, James won six Grammys and was inducted into the Rock n Roll hall of fame, survived a heroin addiction and a variety of health problems, and sold millions of records. In 2009, the Obamas danced to "At Last" — sung by Beyoncé, who played James in Cadillac Records — at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. Above, her "I'd Rather Go Blind," recorded in 1968.
The whole "who would you rather have a beer with" method of president selection is, we know, so stupid — who cares how fun or cool the president is? — but, come on, imagine Mitt Romney on stage at the Apollo (Obama was there for a fundraiser), trying to pull off an Al Green line. Actually, just try to imagine Mitt Romney on stage at the Apollo, period. Right?
It's pretty well-known that hardcore has been awful basically ever since Earth Crisis jocks started ruining shows in the early 90s. But out of Australia comes its savior: eight-year-old Juliet, who loves slam-dancing, half-time breakdowns, and her dog Robert, and hates hypocrisy, frat boys, and the smell of her pet fish. Talk about "youth crew," am I right? "Youth crew"? Right? [via @Alex_Ogle]
The Grammy Awards hasn't had a host in seven years, so it only makes sense that when they decided to choose a host this year they get someone who was last relevant in the music industry seven years ago. LL Cool J, star of seminal UPN comedy In the House has been chosen to host. The last host was Queen Latifah, so I guess the trend is once great rappers who now do crappy TV shows and movies? LL is expected to stand on stage for four hours repeatedly licking his lips and occasionally lifting his shirt to show off his abs. Why not just let Billy Crystal host every award ceremony ever, including the AVN?
Hello. Let's get right to the point: someday you will die. Maybe you'll sacrifice yourself to save a bus full of nuns, or die bringing food to starving children in a war zone, or pass away at the age of 90, surrounded by an enormous, loving family and all your Nobel prizes. More likely, though, you will get unceremoniously creamed by a fire truck because you couldn't hear its sirens over "How Will I Know":
Here's a mash-up of some of the songs that have incorporated MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech either by referencing Dr. King's iconic words or by sampling the speech itself.
Usually, when we post videos of the New York City subway, it's because people a) committed assault, b) said horrible things or c) engaged in gross activity. But not today! Today, we post a video of the subway because a guy with bongos and a lady with a ukulele, who had apparently never met before taking the same train, performed a sweet song together for the assembled passengers. Only in New York!..... is a video of two people being nice instead of beating the shit out of each other considered newsworthy. [Jessica Latshaw via Reddit]
Boy, 2011: there sure was a lot of music, wasn't there? A lot of good music, even! But probably not even you, Cool Internet Guy, who heard all the cool and good music, have listened to all of it. It's okay! Here are ten great music things from this year that you should have heard—and for some reason didn't.
A number of credible music outlets — NME, Spin, and Stereogum, to name a few — are passing along a supposed long-lost Radiohead track called "Putting Ketchup in the Fridge" that has recently surfaced online. As with so many too-good-to-be-true Radiohead rumors these days, it's probably fake. [Updated below.]
Remember Matisyahu, the Hasidic rapper? Or, I guess, reggae singer? You know, the guy with the big beard? Had that one song? Kinda big on the jam-band circuit for a minute in the mid-2000s? Got it yet? Well, he shaved his beard today and posted a photo on Twitter. And then he posted this to his website:
Christmas is around the corner! Have you caught the Christmas spirit yet? No? Yeah, me neither. It's okay, though: we've collected the our favorite weird, gory, depressing and otherwise deeply creepy Christmas carols for your listening, um, enjoyment.
