Soundwagon - A mini VW bus that plays your records!

Soundwagon
The world's smallest, cutest portable record player! Someone get me one for X-mas.

See it in action: Soundwagon bus in action

Labels: video

Radiohead CD sales ploy?, DCFC guitarist album confiscated, Human Tetris (video), Jane Child - Don't Wanna Fall In Love (video), more

EDIT 10/25: Sorry, been extremely busy of late in the cardiac intensive care unit. Perhaps a bit of revisionism on my part is in order. I think bands do need to get paid and it's certainly better to facilitate a direct-to-fan distribution method rather than filter things through the big labels. While the name-your-price model may not be the industry-toppling revolution we thought it might be (at least at the time being), it is a good start in that direction. And for that, Radiohead certainly deserves to be commended. In light of my reconsideration of things, not to mention the fact that 'In Rainbows' is a fantastic album, I certainly plan on supporting Radiohead when their CD does become available.


• Say it ain't so: Radiohead MP3 release a tactic to lift CD sales
  After riding the wave of free publicity from their supposed new music sales model revolution, this comes out. Well, I'm glad I paid $0 for it now.
  
  
  
• Death Cab for Cutie guitarist's album confiscated by Homeland Security
  I feel safer already. Above is a hidden cam photo from the anal cavity search. J/k.
  
  
• Human Tetris
  Humans assuming funny shapes and urine-colored water...this Japanese game show is out of control hilarious. It won't be long before Fox or Spike TV picks this up.
  
  
• Jane Child - Don't Wanna Fall in Love (video)
  Say what you will about her scary hair in the video, this song rocks and bridges an awkward gap between the 80s and 90s. Whatever happened to her?
  
  
• Ethan Winer - A Cello Rondo (video)
  Impressive video and even more amazing song. It's composed entirely of 37 cello parts!
  
  
• Mashed-up ad jingles (video)
  Be very afraid. This is a cacophony of commercial jingles that are already burned into your brain, spliced until they become a droning swell that will cause your head to explode.
  
  
• The Pedal-to-the-Metal, Totally Illegal, Cross-Country Sprint for Glory
  New York to LA in 31 hours and 4 minutes. This guy is nuts.
  
  
• This guy claims to have invented the :-) smiley that is so ubiquitous today. While this claim might seem as dubious asa Al Gore's internet invention claim, here's the supposed BBS archival proof
  
  
• Star Wars TV series?
  Sounds like a bad idea.

Labels: humor, indie rock, video

Juno movie trailer (Arrested Development mini-reunion), Wu-Tang Clan - The Heart Gently Weeps (MP3), Blog Action Day, New Hype Machine

• Juno Trailer (video)
  What new movie features Jason Bateman and Michael Cera? The Arrested Development movie? Nope (I wish). But perhaps the next best thing. Hot off the heels of the hilarious "Superbad", Michael Cera is in a supporting role as awkward love interest (is there any other role for him?) opposite cute but capable lead Ellen Page. The early buzz is that it's this year's "Little Miss Sunshine".
  
  
• Wu-Tang Clan - The Heart Gently Weeps (MP3)
  Wu-Tang meets George Harrison. It works better than you might think. And no, your Zyprexa is not tapering off...someone is whispering "loud dot com" in the background.
  
  
  
• Ok, I'm a bit late to the game. Just doing my little part to promote Blog Action Day and increase awareness about the environment. Refer to their resources here to find out how you can help.
  
  
• The new hype machine is almost up. Seems like a cheap ploy to get on the digg front page. The counter needs to get to 10,000. However, it's rigged! Hit reload and see what I mean; the number jumps around. Give me my damn MP3 search engine already!
  
  
• What rating does Pitchfork give Radiohead's In Rainbows?
  _ . _ It's up to you. Clever. It's actually 9.3 if you go through their clever JavaScript shenanigans.
  
  
  
• Vatican TV claims that this is Pope John Paul II waving from beyond the grave. I find it really creepy. I prefer sightings in toast and water stains.

Labels: hip-hop, humor, movie, mp3

T.I. pinched, Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (interactive music video), Wes Anderson - Hotel Chevalier (video), No Country for Old Men (video)

• T.I. arrested on federal gun charges
  Got sold out by his bodyguard.
  
  
• Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (interactive music video)
  It has an austere Night of the Hunter feel about it. Somewhere between cool and pointless.
  
  
• Wes Anderson’s Hotel Chevalier (video)
  Prequel Short for "The Darjeeling Limited" is available on iTunes. I find it rather underwhelming, but Natalie Portman does bare some skin.
  
  
• No Country for Old Men
  I'm pretty excited about about this new Coen brothers' movie. It features a great cast (Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson) and has strong early buzz; some are saying it's better than Miller's Crossing and Fargo.

Labels: hip-hop, indie rock, movie

Sigur Ros in the Worst Interview Ever, Jay -Z - Blue Magic (video), The Office convention, more

• Sigur Ros in the Worst Interview Ever (video)
  Sigur Ros tanks big time on this NPR interview. Are they really this inarticulate? Is it the language barrier? Ennui? Yikes.
  
  
• Jay-Z - Blue Magic (video)
  From the American Gangster soundtrack. The song features Pharrell and the beat has his fingerprints all over it. Not sure if I'm feelin' the song yet, but the video is nice though.
  
  
• "The Office" convention in Scranton, PA
  As much as I love "The Office", this is still not a good enough reason to go to Scranton, unless I can meet Pam and Angela.
  
  
• McCainBlogette
  Megan McCain on the campaign trail. Hot or not?
  
  
• Polyvore
  Fashion meets Web 2.0. For the ladies.

Labels: hip-hop, humor, indie rock, video

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead Record Labels, Radiohead - Recokner (MP3)

Reckoner
Can't you take it with you
Disavow the pleasure

You were not to blame for
Bittersweet distractors
Dare not speak his name
Did I cater (dedicated?) to all your
All your needs?

Because we separate
it ripples our reflections
Because we separate
it ripples our reflections

Reckoner
Did I cater (dedicated?) to all you
All your needs?



Radiohead - Reckoner (MP3)

While digital has been the way to go from the get-go for many aspiring indie artists, Radiohead started the trend of big name acts to embrace this distribution model. Fans, critics, and labels alike were incredulous, wondering if this was some crazy stunt or if indeed this was possibly a new revolution in music taking effect. While it remains to be seen whether the pay-what-you-feel-like business model is a sustainable one, with pricey collector sets and ticket sales then becoming the primary revenue generators, other artists are enthusiastically joining the mix, including Nine Inch Nails, Oasis, Jamiroquai, and now Madonna.

Judging from the early buzz, this model is here to stay: 1.2 million sold already. If the average price paid works out to $.50-$1.00, that's still a tidy sum. Thank you, Radiohead, for setting the bar high and delivering your best album since 'Kid A'.

Here are the actual album covers for your iPod or other organizational needs:

Labels: indie rock, mp3

D.C.'s finest: Wale (MP3s)

Wale - Nike Boots

Wale - W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.
Sound familiar? Wale freestyles over the Justice hit.

Wale - 100 Miles & Running
Wale's third mixtape.

Amy Winehouse - Rehab remix feat. Wale

Lily Allen - Smile remix feat. Wale

Wale - Good Girl (Cousin Cole remix)

Wale - Big Spender (freestyle feat. Jay-Z and Freeway)

D.C. was known for being the murder capital for many years, not for hip-hop. Even though I'm originally from D.C., I find it difficult to name a prominent DC-area rapper. (Ummm, DJ Kool? Yeah). Despite the recent emergence of regional rap stars like Lil' Wayne in NO, T.I. in ATL, and the Swishahouse label in H-Town, the rise of Wale was not necessarily inevitable. But hard work and luck pays off. He got early exposure via WKYS and the Source magazine, fashioning a brand of hip-hop infused with regional go-go flava. Buzz from The Fader, XXL magazine, and collaborations with Mark Ronson have certainly helped him gain some deserved recognition.

Wale's myspace

Labels: hip-hop, mp3