Dark Day

I am starting a new job tomorrow (Monday), so I probably won't be able to post anything until the evening. Just wanted to let you know!

Slow Music, plus Dylan Gets Jazzy, Steely Dan Jazzier, Motley Crue for Razzie?, Flaming Lips Get P-Funky, America Es Hermosa

• Anyone ever say, "It's like a mix of R.E.M. and King Crimson, with a little bit of Ministry?" Well, this really is.
• Bob Dylan will open the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. And Buckwheat Zydeco will be opening the Minneapolis Jewish Voice of His Generation Festival.
• Steely Dan are taking it to the streets with Michael McDonald.
• The story of Motley Crue is coming to the big screen. The good news is that Larry Charles of Masked and Anonymous fame will direct it. There is no bad news.
• The Flaming Lips are getting P-Funky.
• Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.
  

Whatever Happened to the Getting Stoned Brothers? (ep. 1)

There was a band that I saw in college called the Getting Stoned Brothers. They were a big influence on my life musically, but they just sort of disappeared. I wanted to share their story and a little bit of their music with you, so I put together a little podcast that you can listen to by clicking the play arrow on that little white box under my profile. (I get kind of passionate about the subject, so forgive me if I talked a little too much.) If you click "menu," you can here some other things I've done. I plan to do more about the Getting Stoned Brothers in the future. I'm actually hoping to track them down for an interview.

Friday Videos: Nico, Patti Smith, Blondie, Breeders, Cocteau Twins, Pretenders, Tracey Ullman

This Nico performance with Lou Reed and John Cale is not of the best sound quality, but I think you'll still enjoy it. Plus it fits with today's theme (which I assume you can guess). The Patti Smith video reminds me how great Gilda Radner was. The Blondie video brings up my old question: When will it be okay to sing about email? The Breeders video is just perfection. Cocteau Twins make me long for a long time ago (but I still can't bring myself to buy one of their CDs in a store because it seems like girls' music). If there's a better song that "Kid," I've never heard it. And even though I don't feel the same way about her now as I did then, Tracey Ullman's version of this song is heartbreakingly wonderful. Enjoy!

• Patti Smith: "Gloria" (live)
• Blondie: "Hanging on the Telephone"
• The Breeders: "Safari"
• Cocteau Twins: "Carolyn's Fingers"
• Pretenders: "Kid"
• Tracey Ullman: "They Don't Know"
  

Neil Young Clickable, plus CMCC v. RIAA-IPFI, Spanish Star-Spangled Banner, Tom Verlaine, Allman Bros. and Cheap Trick Sue Sony, ABBA Taxes

• The New York Times says that Neil Young's "Living With War" is "worth a click." Which is all it costs, by the way.
• CMCC PO'ed about RIAA-IPFI.
• Here's what idiots are mad about now: A Spanish-language version of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
• Tom Verlaine speaks to Rolling Stone about his two new albums. Apparently, they include jams and spare, improvisatory compositions featuring serpentine guitar licks.
• "The Allman Brothers and Cheap Trick have recently lodged class-action proceedings against Sony BMG, claiming that their digital royalties are simply too small." I like to think that two bands close every meeting about the suit with a jam session.
• If you owe the Swedish government 87 million crowns, you better pay up. Even if you did write "The Winner Takes It All."
  

Wire Reissues, plus Rap Fought the Law, George Thorogood, Jesus and Mary Chain Reissue, Debbie Harry Loves Lil' Kim, Circuit Bending

• Still Overt after all these years. Wire are re-releasing some of their old stuff but without any "inappropriate" bonus tracks.
• Ever notice how excited people get about rappers' legal troubles? I wonder what it is about rappers that is different from other artists.
• Back to the bone: George Thorogood has a new album coming out.
• Rhino has set a July 11 release date for reissues of the first five Jesus & Mary Chain studio albums. It comes with a free bottle of Robitussin DM.
• Debbie Harry has written a song about Lil' Kim and it's on her myspace blog. If only she had a myspace blog in 1979! (Warning! If you click on her picture it's NSFW.)
• The new D&D: circuit bending.
  

How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Music While Making the Bomb

I was hanging out at Vintage Projects learning how to make my own folk-style guitar but it seemed like it would be a lot of work. So I flipped over to an article about how music can help us win World War II. Good thing the Germans didn't get the iPod first!

New York Times Stabs PCH With Its Steely Knives

The New York Times went just a tad overboard with the headline for an article about the crumbling Pacific Coast Highway. They decided on "Highway of Heavenly Views Turns Commute Into Hell." "Hell" is just a bit extreme I'd say. I would have gone with "No More Life in the Fast Lane to Hotel California Where It Is Now More True Than Ever That You Can Check Out Any Time You Like but You Can Never Leave." Then I would have added a dual-guitar solo.

Live R.E.M. - Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars)

Before he was winning awards for feeding people, Michael Stipe was just making people dance. This is from a TV show called Livewire.

Dylan Double Dutch, plus Lemonheads Reform, RBI Neil Young, Stipe Feeds People, Texans Not That Interested in Bono

• The best thing to do to Bob Dylan's music? Jump rope.
• The Lemonheads have reunited. I'm glad because their dissolution always left a sour taste in my mouth.
• Fox News has the lyrics to Neil Young's "Let's Impeach the President." There's more stuff about baseball than you would imagine.
• Michael Stipe got an award for helping the hungry. Funny, he always looks like he could use a sandwich himself.
• Tickets are still available to see Bono talk in Dallas about AIDS and poverty. Imagine that.
  

Alice Cooper for Rent, plus Meat Puppets, Chuck D. Mobile Phones, 50 Cent Phights Obesity, Record Labels Are Greedy and Dumb, TMQ Returns to ESPN

• Chill, my landlord: One afternoon with Alice Cooper worth a year of rent.
• About time, for Crissakes: Meat Puppets are reuniting.
• The revolution will be mobilized: Chuck D. has launched his own brand of mobile phones.
• That's with an "F": 50 Cent is a "spokes-rapper and judge for a nationwide cooking competition aimed at preventing childhood obesity by improving high school students' eating habits." (Why do they have to say "spokes-rapper"? They don't say "spokes-rocker.")
• The record labels hate you and don't want you to buy their products.
• Hey, look who's back! Not to put to fine a point on it, but he's my favorite football columnist and everyone's least favorite movie-industry critic.
  

Bad News: "Bohemian Rhapsody"

Bad News was made up of some of the guys from The Young Ones (I think Nigel Planer, Rik Mayall, and Adrian Edmonson are all in the group), and their cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody" is just about the greatest thing you'll ever see. Plus, there's some interview footage where they discuss their "rubbish contract."

Chuck Berry and John Lennon: "Johnny B. Goode"

This is from the Mike Douglass Show in 1972. As you may remember, "Johnny" is the most Advanced name to use in a rock song. Also, I appreciate Yoko's percussion work, the sax, and is that Carmine Appice on the drums? From what I understand, there will be some footage of Berry and Lennon on the Hail! Hail Rock'n'Roll DVD. I wonder if this it is.

iPod Guilt

When I was at Best Week Ever, I wrote something about Netflix Guilt (read all about it, but come back). But I never got around to writing about another similar phenomenon that afflicts the iPod user: iPod Guilt.

Here's what I mean: You've made a great playlist that includes all your favorite music for, say, jogging. But you realize over time that there are some bands that you are always skipping. Usually, it's a band that you know you are supposed to love (in my case, Minor Threat, Outkast, and Talking Heads), and what makes it worse is that you never skip stuff that is a little embarrassing (for me, "What It Takes" by Aerosmith or "You Can't Stop Rock and Roll" by Twisted Sister). For some reason, though, you can't bring yourself to take those skipping bands off the playlist because you supposedly love them so much. It's a very distressing and Overt situation.

Well, I've made a decision that if I skip a song three times in a row, I'm taking it off my Nano. So goodbye "Alceste, Act I, Divinites Du Styx" by Maria Callas, hello "Let's Work Together" by Canned Heat!

What about you? Which of your favorite bands do you skip? Or am I the only one?

Birth of Ambient Music, plus Mick Jagger Sitcom, Mel Gibson and Leonard Cohen, Peter Bogdanovich and Tom Petty, Dictator Musical, Willie Nelson

• There is an article about Brian Eno and the birth of ambient music here. Any Scientologist would have approved.
  
• There is an in-depth look at the "Mick Jagger sitcom" at the New York Times. He's no Jeff Goldblum, I can tell you that.
• The passion of the Cohen: Leonard Cohen is the subject of the Mel Gibson-produced Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man, which will come out June 21.
• Peter Bogdanovich will film the upcoming Tom Petty tour. He will also wear funny-looking glasses and an ascot.
• The Asian Dub Foundation has written an opera about Muammar Gadafy (or however you choose to spell it), which debuts in September. Break out the ski jackets!
• Willie Nelson is being honored by the EPA for his support of biodiesel. See, some ideas you get when you're stoned actually work out.
  

Bastards of Young : The Replacements live 1986 (Soundcheck)

Soundcheck live at Maxwell's Hoboken NJ 2/4/86.

Neil Young Blogs and Streams, Slayer, Alice in Chains, I'm No Robot, High Fidelity Coming to Broadway, Pete Seeger: Give Me That Countryside

• This link's for you: Neil Young is ready to blog.
• They said it couldn't be done: Slayer is going to go "faster, heavier and more brutal" on their new album.
  
• Staley mates: Alice in Chains are reuniting for a tour. Isn't Paul Rodgers busy?
• You can prove that this blog isn't written by robots. But how do you know the detector wasn't made by robots?
• High Fidelity is coming to Broadway. What top five list will this make?
• Pete Seeger is no Zsa Zsa Gabor. I like Eva better anyway.
  

Velvet Underground Documentary (Captain Beefheart, Too)

Rolling Stone has the story:

"The Velvet Underground and Captain Beefheart will be the subject of two upcoming documentaries due April 25th as part of the Under Review: An Independent Critical Analysis series.... The Velvet Underground DVD will include interviews with founding band members Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker, as well as legendary pop artist Andy Warhol. The Beefheart release will chronicle the influential musician's history with vintage footage, live performances and interviews with most of the Magic Band musicians."

I don't think I have to tell you that it doesn't get any more Overt than Captain Beefheart.

U2besday: U2 Videos, on YouTube, on Tuesdays

I've been talking a lot about the Overt and the Advanced recently, and I thought since it's U2besday I might use a video of them in 1979 when they were Overt (above) and their best attmept at Advancement (they aren't truly Advanced because there is still some irony in their act), the video below.

Rush DVD, Dio and Iommi Together, Plexiglass Moog (the Horror), Bossa Disney Nova, Metal Doc, Mr. Show Bands

• Rush is preparing to release Replay x3featuring 1982's Exit. . .Stage Left, 1985's Grace Under Pressure, and 1991's A Show of Hands. With all these DVD releases, I don't understand how the music industry could possibly be hurting. I wonder if they're lying.
• Ronnie James Dio has gotten together with Tommy Iommi in secret to write a song for an upcoming Black Sabbath box set. Now I know the industry is lying.
• Ever wanted to see an old Moog in plexiglass and learn all about the synths used in Apocalypse Now? Today is the best day of your life.
  
• Boing Boing is in love with Bossa Disney Nova, a "Japanese CD of legendary Brazilian bossa nova artists performing groovy, loose interpretations of Disney classics." This gives me the opportunity to rave about the horn part in "Bossa Nova Baby." I like it.
• Eggheads meet heavy metal in Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, which takes an "anthropological look at the genre by exploring its links with violence, sexuality and religion." They better talk about "Balls to the Walls."
• Here's a nice collection of the best fake bands from Mr. Show. Y'all are brutalizing me.
  

Web Safe for Work, Say No to John Lennon Seance, CSNY, Buzzcocks, Lordy Lordi, Moody Nudie

• Don't be depressed: You can't be fired for wasting time on the Internet.
• Crap fest: The John Lennon seance is tonight. Don't watch it.
• No jest: CSNY are hitting the road.
• Pete Best: the Buzzcocks have gotten themselves a new drummer.
• Finland's blessed: But they're worried about their latest export, Lordi.
• She's undressed: nude girl plus theremin and Vox Jaguar. (Thanks to Music Thing.)

The Top Ten Reggae Songs of All Time

Many years ago, I told Britt Bergman, the cofounder of the Advanced Theory, that I didn't like reggae. (Read why the Advanced love reggae, in the Advanced Genius Theory.) All the songs just sounded the same to me, and I just couldn't get into it. But Britt sat me down and played some of the best reggae in his collection (the Pixies, the Police, Zeppelin), and I was converted on the spot. In fact, ever since then I have loved reggae more than anyone I know. So I thought it might be helpful to you if you don't really get into reggae to see my list of the top ten reggae songs of all time to get you started:

• "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney. Really great reggae.
• "Walking on the Moon" by the Police. Fantastic reggae.
• "Mr. Grieves" by the Pixie. A little harder edged than I usually like, but really good reggae.
• "Spirit of Radio" by Rush. Reggae with a Simon and Garfunkel flavor.
• "D'yer Maker" by Led Zeppelin. There isn't any better reggae.
• "The Tide Is High" by Blondie. They make my all-time rap list too.
• "Police and Thieves" by the Clash. Awesome reggae except for the first part.
• "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by GN'R. They do a live version where Axl says, "How about a little reggae?" A little? Try a lot.
  
• "The Harder They Come" by Willie Nelson. Actually anything from the Countryman album belongs on this list.
  
• "I Against I" by Bad Brains. This is what I like to call "Roots Reggae."

Weird Al's TV Debut on "The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder"

It's a gloomy day out there, so I thought this might cheer us up a bit.

Lou Reed Wild About Same-Sex Marriage

Lou Reed spoke out for the rights of same-sex couples to marry, literally! Here's the scoop:

"A live recording of the one-night-only benefit concert WEDrock, held in New York City on April 28, 2004, will be released on CD by Centaur Entertainment on May 2, 2006. The album features a star-studded line-up of musicians and entertainers all lending support in favor of equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.
...
"Included in the WEDrock live recording are the wildly and wonderful acerbic Sandra Bernhard, the side-splitting, funny-lady herself Margaret Cho, the talented, glam-sensation John Cameron Mitchell, the powerful indie rock sounds of Le Tigre and Sleater-Kinney, Bob Mould of Husker Du and Sugar, and the Tony Award winning actor Alan Cumming. The legendary Lou Reed also makes a guest appearance, delivering a spoken-word version of his classic hit 'Walk On The Wild Side.'"

I wasn't aware that there was a non-spoken-word version of that song, but good for him anyway.

Mick Jagger Won't Budge for Bush, LL Cool J, Lego My Ministry, Laurence Juber, J.S. Bach the Fraud, Snoop the Novelist, John Malkovich for Pirelli

• George W. Bush couldn't get the hotel room he wanted in Vienna because Mick Jagger already had it. Rough justice for the sweet neocon!
• LL Cool J has urged his fans to be financially responsible adding that "The biggest misconception probably comes from the hip-hop community itself ... that the money lasts forever." Yes, but that community has also advised that the more money you have, the more problems you have, so it haven't been entirely irresponsible.
• The White Stripes don't have nothing on Ministry...when it comes to Lego videos. (Thanks Ektopia)
  
• Former member of Wings Laurence Juber will perform at "Each One Believing," an exhibit of snapshots chronicling Paul McCartney's 2002 and 2003 world tour. But Juber will be way, way down in the mix.
• Johann Sebastian Bach: A fraud?
• Snoop Dogg is hard at work on his novel, which will allow him to show his female fans "another side." I wonder if it will be one of those steamy, romantic novels, full of unrestrained passion. You know, a Broadus ripper.
• Finally, watch John Malkovich exorcise Naomi Campbell for Pirelli! It's exactly as awesome as it sounds.
  

Blogger was having issues all day, but it seems as though they are resolved.

U2 Plays "The Fool" in 1978

Very young, very poor quality, and out of synch, but fun nonetheless. I've got some other good stuff coming on Tuesday, otherwise known as U2besday!

Advanced Podcast: Mister Weird

A long time ago, I wrote a song celebrating the Overt person inside me, "Mister Weird." Now that I have the technology to record and broadcast it, I thought I'd share it with you. You can hear it by clicking play on that little white box under my profile (if you click "menu," you can choose one of the other podcasts I've done), or just go to my Garageband.com site.

Robert Smigel's Conspiracy Theory Rock

Conspiracy Theory Rock

Watch Video
There is an article about Robert Smigel in the New York Times, which mentions his cartoon, "Conspiracy Theory Rock." It is one of the most brilliant things he ever did, which is saying a lot. It hasn't been re-aired since it first appeared on SNL, but it's amazing that it made it on the network in the first place. (The video can stall, so downloading it might be your best option or go here.)

Elvis Presley's Performance Guitars

I've gotten somewhat geary these days I know, but I thought you might be interested in this site that has all of the performance guitars of Elvis Presley. I've always envied the D-28 with tooled-leather cover, but I never knew that it was tooled leather. Thanks to the site, now I know not only about the leather but that "it has a 40 1/2" total length, a 20" body length, 15 5/8" body width and a 4 7/8" body depth. It features a solid Mahogany neck, 20 fret Ebony fingerboard with a 25.4" scale length, solid Spruce top, Rosewood back and sides, Ebony bridge, White Boltaron endpiece and binding, White/Black top and back inlay. "

Don't worry, there's lots of cool pics too. (Thanks to Guitar Blog.)

Bruce Springsteen: They Call Me the Seeger

There is a review of Bruce Springsteen's new album, The Seeger Sessions, at Slate. Here's some of it:

"The new Bruce Springsteen album is his best in a more than a decade. It's also the first for which he hasn't composed a single song. These two phenomena, sorry to say, are not unrelated....the truth is, since Tunnel of Love (1991), Springsteen's writing has gone flat. His two most recent albums have been particularly painful. The Rising (2002), Springsteen's vaunted 'response to Sept. 11,' made an almighty rock 'n' roll noise, but the lyrics found him straining for significance amid an explosion of abstract nouns: 'faith,' 'hope,' 'blood,' 'fire,' etc. Then came last year's Devils & Dust, a folk-flecked album whose songs suggested that the Boss had taken the praise of the tweedy set too much to heart."
...
"There's reason to believe that Springsteen is suffering from a nasty case of writer's block. When The Rising came out four years ago, it was his first new album since 1995, and Devils & Dust was largely composed of material he'd written years before. In other words, in the last decade-plus, he's recorded only a couple dozen new songs, a paltry number for even a notoriously slow worker like Springsteen. The current release, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, a collection of folk standards associated with Pete Seeger, seems like the classic move of a blocked singer-songwriter....But when I put The Seeger Sessions in the CD player, I heard a welcome sound: a racket. "
------------
I don't know enough about Springsteen to say confidently whether it is his Advancement that disappoints the writer (who says that Nebraska might be the Boss' finest songwriting moment), but I suspect that Springsteen could probably explain why Devils & Dust was the greatest thing he ever did and that even if he were to record a disco album it would be twice as good as Nebraska.

The Bowie Theory, plus Roger Waters, Doors Downloads, Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris, Secret Machines, When HD-DVD Comes to Town

• Why are concerts so expensive? Blame David Bowie.
• Cue John Cafferty: Roger Waters will tour North America this fall and will be performing "Dark Side of the Moon" in its entirety.
  
• The Doors are going to make more than a dozen concerts available for download on their website. They aren't saying on how many Ray is filling in for Jim.
• Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris are teaming up for an album and tour. I'd like to see her in sweatbands.
• Hear David Bowie interview Secret Machines on a podcast. Oh great, now podcasts are going to get expensive.
  
• You're prayers have been answered: Rattle&Hum is coming out on HD-DVD.
  

What Is Overt?

I put together a little slide show to show you what it means to be Overt, which is the opposite of Advanced.

Frank Black on the Henry Rollins Show

There is video of Frank Black's performance on The Henry Rollins Show here!

Friday Videos, Beat Club Edition: Donovan, James Gang, Motorhead, Deep Purple, Bee Gees, Sparks, Nilsson, the Kinks

All the videos today come from the legendary Beat Club. Let's start with "Atlantis," which is one of the absolute great tributes to lost civilizations of all time. After you've recovered, enjoy the following:

• "Walk Away" James Gang (with a great introduction)
• "Ace of Spades" Motorhead (what else?)
• "Highway Star" Deep Purple (one of my favorite solos)
• "New York Mining Disaster 1941" Bee Gees (change of pace)
• "This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us" Sparks (just slightly Overt!)
• "Everybody's Talkin'" Harry Nilsson (poor Ratso)
• "Muswell Hillbillies" the Kinks (you might want to skip the intros, but you might not)

Frank Black Times Two, plus Ray Davies the Punk, Rich Brits, Tom Petty and the NBA, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cinnamon Girls, Robots That Swim Far

• Frank Black liked playing with his friends on the Honeycomb record so much that he made another double album, adding Al Kooper and Levon Helm to the mix. Jealous? I am.
• Ray Davies got punk'd by his own daughter.
• Apparently, my not having heard of you does not preclude you from the list of richest entertainers in the UK under 30. Maybe even you are on it! Better check to make sure.
• Tom Petty will debut two songs from his upcoming album as part of the NBA playoff telecast this Saturday. I hear Lebron absolutely loves the Traveling Wilburys.
• They've called off a production of Jesus Christ Superstar that was to be performed in a Nazi concentration camp in Poland. I'm glad to know that someone out there has even dumber ideas than I have.
• Ever wanted to hear an album of women artists covering Neil Young? Rejoice.
• Finally, how far can your robot swim?
  

Roxy Music: "Do the Strand"

The band is rockin' pretty hard in this one. Plus, Bryan Ferry looks like Wayne Newton and Brian Eno is so fabulous I can hardly stand it. Wouldn't it be amazing if he went glam again? That would make him a second-stage Advanced Weirdo (he was Overt, became Advanced, then switched back to Overt--which is actually even more Advanced than just being plain Advanced).

Tune in tomorrow to see Friday Videos, the Beat Club Edition!

Sammy Hagar on the Radio, David Lee Roth off, plus Ian McKellen on Wicked Wikipedia, Ozzy Does Dylan, Guitars for Peace, Psychedelic Fish

• Sammy Hagar will be hosting a "party-minded radio show" called "Sammy's Cabo Wabo Happy Hour" that will feature Michael Anthony. Meanwhile...
• ...David Lee Roth's radio show is reportedly going to be canceled. Now can we please, please, please have the Van Halen reunion?
• Sir Ian McKellen has launched a "scathing attack" on Wikipedia because he's mad about his profile there. Not according to Wikipedia, he's not.
• Mountain's Leslie West says that Ozzy Osbourne will appear on an "electrified take" on Bob Dylan classics. That project sounds like it's for the Byrds.
• Cesar Lopez makes weapons into guitars (right). I think the instruments are supposed to promote peace, plus you can put your weed in them.
• You can stop licking that frog. Now there's a better way.
  

Gear Up for Lou Reed

I've just been enjoying myself (while listening to the 25-minute-version of "Sister Ray") at the Lou Reed Guitar Archive. There's lots of good stuff there, but my favorite is the gear page where they tell you just what guitars, amps, strings, etc. he and his bands were using for all the different eras. It's kind of amazing, even though I'm not such a big gear guy.

The Definitive Final Countdown

I'm not exactly on the ground floor with this one, but this performance of "The Final Countdown" is too amazing not to put up here. The keyboards are flawless. The drummer is amazing. The solos are blistering. And the singer is not even close to being off key. If you haven't seen it, I think you'll love it. If you have seen it, why not watch it again for the first time? (Thanks to Music Thing)

Live Velvet Underground: "Sister Ray" (25-Minute Version)

Love "Sister Ray" but think it is way too short? Just go here to enjoy a live 25-minute version from their show at the Boston Tea Party on December 12, 1968. There is a picture of an amplifier that you click to hear the song. Enjoy!

Tiny E: The Littlest Elvis Impersonator

I hope the crackdown on Elvis impersonators won't affect this guy. He's awesome!

Mick Jagger on ABC, plus Sam Shepard and Wim Wenders, Pixies Oral History, Blag Dahlia, Elvis Impersonator Crackdown, Beatles Musical

• Mick Jagger is reportedly in negotiations with ABC to star in a comedy pilot. I wish they'd make a TV version of Freejack instead.
• Want to find Sam Shepard and Wim Wenders? Just go to a Lou Reed concert.
• Look for Fool The World: the oral history of a band called Pixies on the bookshelves of your favorite bookstore. That title is a little Overt ("a band called Pixies," as if people hadn't heard of them enough to just say "the Pixies"), but the book sounds interesting.
• Enjoy a conversation with Blag Dahlia (that guy's gotta get a blog) of the Dwarves at the RU Sirius Show. I'd like to hear Yahoo Serious do the interview, but that's too much to ask.
• Robert Sillerman, who bought an 85 percent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises, is cracking down on Elvis impersonators. Luckily, it will have little impact on Australia.
• Tickets for Love, the Beatles musical in Vegas, went on sale yesterday. Don't worry, the show will feature plenty of BMX bikes.
  

Leonard Nimoy's Ballad of Bilbo Baggins

I'm sure most of you have seen this, but I have to run out to interview for Scott McClellan's old job and I don't want to leave you with nothing.

Roy Orbison on "The Johnny Cash Show"

I'll let the YouTube poster describe this one: "This clip features Johnny Cash singing a duet of "Pretty Woman" with Roy Orbison. It originally aired on September 27, 1969. (Roy's house had burned down just the year before, in 1968, killing 2 of his 3 sons. Johnny and Roy were good friends and next-door neighbors on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tennessee.) Johnny seems a little nervous in this clip and stays away from even attempting the high notes (he tells Roy at the end of the song 'I tried not to sing too much')." I've noticed that Cash often made self-deprecating comments when he did duets, especially when he played with Willie Nelson on VH1's Storytellers. I like that.

Bob Dylan on XM, Roy Orbison Exhibit, Abba Ringtones, Porn Innovation, Kanye Kan't Read Musik, Rubberband Frankenstein

• Bob Dylan's XM satellite radio show will debut May 3. It will be called "Theme Time Radio Hour" and will feature contributions from Elvis Costello, Charlie Sheen, Penn Jillette, Sarah Silverman, and Jimmy Kimmel. This is highly Advanced because not only does it show that Dylan embraces technology, but also he asked Jimmy Kimmel to contribute to his show.
• "Haunting & Yearning: The Life and Music of Roy Orbison," an exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, opens to the public today. That sounds like it would be all right, for a while, it might even make me smile, for a while.
• Abba are devoted to their ringtone project. If you want to download one and you're under 18, make sure your mama knows.
• Want innovation? Try the porn industry. But you can pretend you're doing it becaus it's funny, not sexy.
• Kanye West says he doesn't do "fast-food music" and that it took 50 hours to record the Mission Impossible III theme song. Why didn't he just buy the sheet music?
• This guy turned himself into Frankenstein's monster with rubber bands. And it's not Richard Dean Anderson.

Bruce Springsteen's New Band, plus New York Dolls Download, Ludacris Loves Shirley Maclaine, Go-Gos and Bangles, Ian Gillan, Pop Goes South

• Silver bullet: Bruce Springsteen will tour with a new band in support of The Seeger Sessions.
• Back to the future: Get a sneak peak at one of the new New York Dolls' songs.
• Chicken, Beer, and The Evening Star: Ludacris really wants to be in a movie with Shirley Maclaine.
• Egyptian Vacation: The Go-Gos and the Bangles are teaming up to "launch America's next girl band."
  
• I wonder if anyone will know the "Smoke on the Water" riff: Deep Purple's Ian Gillan got help from Joe Elliott, Johnny Rzeznik, Tony Iommi, Joe Satriani, members of Iron Maiden, and some Scorpions to commemorate his "personal history with songs from throughout his career."
  
• Rhetorical question: Why are all the best pop singers from the south?
  

Neil Young: Living With Advancement

The New York Times has an article about Neil Young's new protest album, Living With War, calling it "probably his most partisan work since the song 'Ohio'." Here's some other stuff they said:

"Elliot Roberts, Mr. Young's longtime manager, said the album would be 'more about soldiers' and "what it's like to all of a sudden be 18 and on the line."

The titles on the album include 'Let's Impeach the President,' which features Mr. Bush's voice overlaid above a 100-voice choir singing, 'Flip flop.' Another title is 'Lookin' for a Leader.' The album also includes an a cappella version of 'America the Beautiful,' sung by Mr. Young with the choir.

Mr. Roberts said that he did not know exactly what had inspired Mr. Young to record the new songs, which were written and recorded in a span of roughly two weeks, but that 'I know he watches the news.' He added that he believed the album's sentiments would resonate broadly, adding that 'it's not a political, Democratic versus Republican feel.'"

All of this is great, especially the a cappella "America the Beautiful," but personally I'd prefer another record like Trans or Everybody's Rockin'.

Kurt Cobain Gets Beaten Up by a Bouncer

Witness the high cost of Overtness as Kurt Cobain jumps into the crowd, then is beaten up by a bouncer who thinks that Cobain's solos are too often just a repeat of the vocal melody (and doesn't like getting hit in the head with a guitar).

ATB: Berry Gordy Musical, Lennon Sibling Rivalry, Mary J. Blige Blinged by God, Jamie Foxx, Franz Ferdinand's $50M Mistake, Jack White Has Brass Ones

• Berry Gordy's Motown musical, Ain't No Mountain High Enough, will debut in LA next summer. Great, now I won't be able to get to sleep for a year and a half. (Because I'll be so excited about the musical.)
• Julian and Sean Lennon will be releasing albums at the same time, reigniting their "long-running feud." Too bad John's not around to neglect Julian's album in favor of Sean's. (That's harsh, I know, but I'm always pulling for Julian, poor guy.)
• God wants Mary J. Blige to wear bling. And so do I.
• Jamie Foxx says he's here "to save R&B." Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease, I guess.
• Franz Ferdinand have turned down $50 million to do an ads because they worried that they would be "squandering [their] integrity." Being Overt really doesn't pay...
• ...but being Jack White does: He made some music for Coca-Cola commercials, for which I'm sure he will be paid handsomely. Did I mention that the tune is "brass led"? I've got high hopes for him.
  

U2besday: U2 Videos, on YouTube, on Tuesdays

Let's kick things off with a little bit of live "Rejoice" from 1982. Then...

• Their very first video, "I Will Follow."
  
• The video for "Two Hearts Beat as One."
• A live version of the U2/Johnny Cash number "The Wanderer" (no Johnny, though)
• An intimate, Joshua Tree-era performance of "Lost Highway" by Hank Williams.
  

ATB: Stooges Reunion, Snoop Dogg and Jason Alexander, Yes Reunion, Herb Albert (This Is the Remix), Solomon Burke, Joey Ramone Benefit

• Sounds like a fun house: Iggy Pop is "holed up in a little cottage in the boonies on a little river" in Florida writing music with the Stooges.
• The cure for the Seinfeld curse: Snoop Dogg and Jason Alexander are "set to team up for a quirky new horror comedy about a doomed Los Angeles neighbourhood."
• Change the name to Maybe: The future of Yes looks shaky now that their planned 2006 reunion tour has been scrapped.
• Rewhip it good: Herb Alpert's album Whipped Cream and Other Delights has been remixed by Madeski, Martin and Wood, and Dust Brothers Anthony Marinelli and John King.
• Big country: Solomon Burke got help from Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch and Patty Griffin on his upcoming album.
• Finally, the Strokes, the Dictators' Andy Shernoff, and Marshall Crenshaw will perform at the Joey Ramone Birthday Benefit next month.
  

An Axe to Grind: The Top Ten Guitar Gods Who Suck

I don't usually like to go negative, but the Pulitzer committee likes controversial stuff, so I thought I'd write about the ten worst best guitarists in rock history. They're the ones on every "Guitar Gods" list known to man but are all actually terrible either because they don't play tastefully, they're boring, they would collapse if someone took their pedals, or they are just awful in too many ways to mention. The list is in no particular order, except for the first name. (Thanks to those who helped me compile this list.)

1. Eric Clapton
2. Jerry Garcia
3. Carlos Santana
4. Tom Morello
5. Yngwie Malmsteen
6. Jeff Beck
7. Kirk Hammett
8. Michael Hedges
9. Jeff Healey
10. Joe Satriani

The Thin White DukeTube: "david bowie - long time ago in backstage"

Want to be like David Bowie? Better be ready to caress your body in paint. (The audio is fuzzy, but it's still enjoyable.)

Cilantro: Vile Weed

If you hate cilantro (like I do), go here. You can tell you story, describe what it tastes like to you, and even find people like you in your neighborhood. For me, cilantro is the raisin of herbs: It's everywhere, and it can turn something I love into garbage. It's not anyone's fault, it's just the way it is, and it would be Overt of me to eat something I don't like just because I'm worried that people will think I'm unsophisticated.

Men With Banjos Who Know How to Use Them (Featuring Steve Martin) on David Letterman

It's always great to watch Steve Martin play banjo, but what I like is how humbly he carries himself among the other musicians, who are, after all, some of the best to ever pick up a banjo.

ATB: U2 Is Number "One" in UK, Neil Young Secret Protest, Scary Movie Rules, Roger Waters, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson Atlantic Compilation

• "One life, with each other, sisters, brothers" has been voted the UK's favorite lyric. Oh great, now Bono is totally going to have a big head.
• Neil Young has secretly recorded an anti-Bush album that includes the song "Impeach the President." He calls it "a power trio with trumpet and 100 voices" at his official website and says it is "Metal folk protest." I call it Advanced.
• Scary Movie 4 made $41 million this weekend, the best Easter opening ever. Overt people will think this is bad, but we Advanced people know that it always good when Zucker/Abrahams are on the top of the charts.
• Roger Waters his moved his concert in Israel to a "mixed Jewish-Arab" village. Sure he can bring peace to the Middle East, but what about bringing peace to the Floyd!?
• Bruce Springsteen is preparing for the tour supporting The Seeger Sessions by playing benefit rehearsal shows in Asbury Park. I can't wait to hear his version of "Night Moves."
• A compilation from Willie Nelson's Atlantic years (the Phases and Stages era) will be released by Rhino in June. Hey, my birthday is in June (hint, hint).
  

Dukes of Hazard (Sheriff Fais Moi Peur) in French

C'est magnifique! I wonder what Cooter's name was in the French version. Anyway, enjoy.

ATB: Dolly Parton Cookbook, GN'R in Big Apple, Napster Stock, Jada Pinkett-Smith Rocks On, Brian May a Pawn of "American Idol"

• Trans-Fat America: Dolly Parton is putting out a cookbook called Dolly's Dixie Fixins.
• Don't tease me like this: Guns N' Roses are playing in New York next month.
• Who will work his shifts at the restaurant?: B.B. King is going out on the road again.
• Of course, I download the stock for free: Napster's stock jumped 12 percent (isn't that more like a lurch?) because it is thought that Ericsson will be a "significant growth driver."
  
• She's no Fresh Princess: Jada Pinkett rocks much harder than you might think.
• Simon Cowell is bad company: Brian May said his reaction to Ace Young's version of "We Will Rock You" on American Idol was made to seem more negative than it was, undermining Ace's chances.
  

David Bowie and Cher

Enjoy!

Friday Afternoon Videos: Talking Heads, R.E.M. World Party, Buzzcocks, the Smiths, Walker Brothers, Tim Buckley, Nilsson, the Specials

I know it isn't the afternoon yet, but maybe it will be when you read this. Let's start off with "Nothing but Flowers" by the Talking Heads. This video is as good as the song, and that's saying something. Then treat yourself to...

• R.E.M.: "Wolves, Lower"
• World Party: "Ship of Fools"
• The Buzzcocks: "Ever Fallen in Love"
  
• The Smiths: "Headmaster Ritual" (Madrid, 1985)
• Walker Brothers: "No Regrets"
• A spaceship, Rip Taylor, and Tim Buckley on The Monkees.
• Harry Nilsson: "Without Her"
• The Specials "Enjoy Yourself" (Don't want to leave you with another bummer!)
  

This Is Nerdcore

The first nerdcore compilation CD has finally been made! I'll let them explain:

"Banding together from around the globe, the most talented Nerdcore hip-hop artists who weren't too big, busy or full of themselves are contributing tracks for this monumental event in the making. More artists are signing on daily."
...
"The CD will be freely available by Bittorrent when it's released. There may be a few tracks that are Internet only, due to Creative Commons licensing considerations. But each artist will also have the option of selling copies at shows, etc. if they want to.

Finally, there will probably be several different pieces of cover art, and even different CD titles. For what it's worth, the version that will be released here will be called 'Rhyme Torrent.'"

Strictly speaking, I've never heard of nerdcore, but luckily I can post this and fool everyone into thinking I have. It's like being at a party and discussing the one thing you know about splines (their name) and then moving on to another conversation before you have to say anything else. Everyone walks off thinking you know all about splines when in fact you are actually an expert on nerdcore. And of course, I don't know anything about nerdcore or splines, so don't invite me to your party if that's what you're expecting!

ATB: U2 in Church, Tom Verlaine Times Two, Kelly Clarkson (shh), Jean-Claude Van Damme Breaks, Minutemen Doc, Twins Who Look Like Kenny Rogers

• Grace Episcopal Church in Providence just had a U2 Eucharist, the newest way to get people to come to services. Next stop: Pink Floyd laser light show (featuring God).
• Pitchfork says that Tom Verlaine outdoes Lou Reed for detachment on one of his two, yes two, new albums. Sign me up!
• Kelly Clarkson is readying herself for her tour. Why am I telling you this? It gives me the excuse to admit that I like her new song. It would be Overt of me not to do so.
• Just for fun: Jean-Claude Van Damme in Breakin'. (It synchs up perfectly with "Take the Skinheads Bowling" by the way.)
• The Minutemen documentary, We Jam Econo, will be at Honolulu Academy of Arts this weekend. Which reminds me: Why did d. boon sing about Vietnam so much?
• Kenny Rogers can't tell his twins apart. Just wait until they grow their beards!
  

Buy Elvis Presley's Home (No, Not Graceland)

Here's something interesting for you to consider: Elvis' first home at 1034 Audubon Drive is up for sale on eBay. Here's the description:

"The traditional one-story Ranch style house (ca. 1954) has a broad rambling facade and a low-pitched hip roof of vertical redwood board-and-batten siding with a brick wainscoting. There is a two-car attached garage and Elvis' pool and motorcycle garage are in the backyard. The house interior retains the improvements made by Elvis that allow the pool area to be visible from all the family areas. The front of the property is enclosed with a brick and metal fence installed by the Presley family. The home today looks much as it did during Elvis's tenure and will be sold as is."

Who said the housing crash-boom-bang is over?

ATB: MC Hammer Matures, Elvis and Easter, Dolly Parton, Sonic Youth Are National Treasure, LL Cool J Pumps You Up, Most Expensive Sandwich

• This is the way we write, we write: MC Hammer has written an article called the "Maturation of Hip Hop."
• The King is risen: It's Elvis weekend on Mojo Radio starting tomorrow.
  
• Lordy, lordy: Advanced Country Musician Dolly Parton and her husband are going back to the Georgia church where they got married to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
• Daydream National Treasure: Sonic Youth are set to join Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, and Fats Domino as "national treasures" in the National Recording Registry.
• Next stop, governor of California: LL Cool J is going to write a fitness manual called Platinum Body.
• And finally, here's the world's most expensive sandwich! They've obviously never been to Groucho's in Columbia, South Carolina.
  

Judas Priest Rocks the Quatrain

Just got a tip:

"Judas Priest are recording a concept album based on the life and predictions of Nostradamus. They will be performing it on stage as an epic musical."

You know, Nostradamus saw this coming:

And in the land of Advancement, a group of leathered men will appear:
The Overt will be against them,
The Great One will come into the vision of the Electric Eye
And the friend will be seen in the fiery place.

(A lot of people think that the last line was talking about Grim Reaper, but I don't think so.)

David Bowie's "Heroes" From 1977 Bing Crosby Christmas Special

This video is notable for lots of things, but the two things that jump out at me are the totally bitchin' miming (including the self-hug) and how much he looks like Jamie Lee Curtis. But is there a better song than this one?

Philly's Depressed Fest

If you are in the Philadelphia area this Friday, you might want to check this out:

"A TRIBUTE TO DEPRESSING MUSICIANS cover show featuring the music of Neil Young, Lou Reed, Townes Van Zandt, David Bowie & Leonard Cohen, 7-10pm, Green Line Cafe, 4305 Locust St., 215-222-0799."

This is a fantastic idea (and could have been called "A Tribute to Advanced Musicians"), but I have to warn you: It sounds kind of funny to do this, but in the end you will actually feel depressed.

ATB: Beatles Going Online, iTunes Join Mile-High Club, Michael Nesmith, RIAA Gets Tough, New York Dolls Get Help, Jack White to Kiss Kinko's Girl?

• One good thing has come out of the Apple v. Apple trial: Neil Aspinall revealed that they are digitally remastering the Beatles' catalog as well as preparing to make it available online. Wonder if they'll sell it on iTunes...
• Speaking of iTunes, they are in discussions with in-flight entertainment developers to bring the music service to airplanes. But how will I get to hear the best of Bob Newhart's standup if not on a plane?
• Michael Nesmith has put off being a media visionary for a while so he can make music again. And make jokes about inertial burn.
• The RIAA wants people to quit MIT to pay their downloading fines. Next come the broken kneecaps.
• The New York Dolls are getting help from Michael Stipe, Iggy Pop, and Bo Diddley on their upcoming record. That must have been hell on the caterers.
  
• Finally, Jack White has confirmed that he and the White Stripes are officially on a break. Gosh I miss Friends.
  

Personal File: Johnny Cash

This is interesting (from Billboard):

Amidst ephemera of all sorts stored in a room behind his recording studio, Johnny Cash kept hundreds of tapes. Within that trove was a set marked "Personal File," which turned out to be a pot of gold.

These solo recordings, made mostly in the 1970s, find the country music icon performing everything from what producer Greg Geller describes as "late-19th century parlour ballads to mid-20th century country hits ... songs inspired by recent events and experiences ... songs of faith and inspiration."

Fans will get a taste of the revelatory material with the May 23 release of "Personal File." The two-disc Columbia/Legacy set boasts 49 cuts, many of which include reflections by Cash that serve as introductions.

Among the highlights are such songs as "My Mother Was a Lady," "The Way Worn Traveler," "What Is Man," "Louisiana Man," "Saginaw, Michigan" and a rendition of the Irish traditional "Galway Bay."
----------
Here comes the Notorious C.A.S.H.!

Advanced Minds Meet: Bob Dylan and Lou Reed

Bob Dylan et Lou Reed
Video sent by LeBalayeur

Two of the giants of Advancement, Bob Dylan and Lou Reed, talk backstage about recording at Farm Aid, 1985. Please note that they are both wearing black leather jackets.

Bruce Springsteen Is Cornered

The folks over at The Corner took a break from blaming the messenger to discuss how they've given up on Bruce Springsteen., though they do give him lots of good advice about how he could make better music, namely avoiding politics. Oh, if only he'd go back to patriotic, nonpolitical stuff like "Born in the U.S.A." then he'd be good again!

More Cowbell: The B-52s Rock "Rock Lobster" Live

This is a great old live video of the B52s in their early days and boy were the girls cute! Fred Schneider has an incredible mustache and such bravado with that cowbell. I just about died from nostalgia poisoning.

ATB: Ray Davies Advises McCartney, Village People Cop, Son Jarocho, Bob Dylan Becomes Bob Dylan, Paul Weller

• Ray Davies has some interesting advice for Paul McCartney: Play folk music or collaborate with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Wouldn't it be great to be inside the mind of an Advanced artist for just a day?
• The Village People cop got arrested again. Too bad there was no Village People lawyer. The cop might have avoided all this trouble.
• Son jarocho has made a comeback. Hope you know how to slap a donkey's jawbone!
• Ever wanted to know how Bob Dylan turned into Bob Dylan? AmericanHeritage.com ("History's Homepage") knows. But the question is, how did he then turn into Bob Dylan?
• Paul Weller is releasing a double live album. It's called Catch - Flame! but I think it would be more successful if it had been called Weller Comes Alive.
  

Lou Reed: Hey Babe, Take a Look at These Wild Slides

This is a guided tour of Lou Reed's Overt and Advanced looks over the years. I hope you enjoy it.

Elton John as Donald Duck: The Picture!

Thank you to my favorite reader, Anonymous, who sent me the picture I was looking for!

ATB (Advanced Theory Bulletin): Explosive Madonna News, Blurry Cartoons, Sartre, Bebe and Ani, Restoration Hardware, Elton, Plus $218 Phone Bill

• My favorite copyright lawsuit, involving Madonna, a Czech explosives firm, and Semtex, is not going to happen. In case you were interested, guys can be Semtex Girls too.
• Drummer Dave Rountree of Blur has been collaborating on an animated TV show. In the first episode, a bunch of gorillas are massacred by a drummer without a band.
• While you might call the police to complain about your neighbor's music, the folks at Wired call Sartre.
• The Village Voice asks, "Is Bebe the new Ani DiFranco?" Please say the answer is no. (Sorry, I'm just not a DiFrancophile.)
  
• Need to restore your iPod? This guy has the answer.
• Elton John is selling his clothes again. I better get that Donald Duck suit this time! (By the way, I couldn't find a single picture on the Web of him in that costume. There's got to be a story there. I'll look into to it.)
• A man in Kuala Lampur got a telephone bill for $218 trillion and was given ten days to pay it. He immediately raised his debt ceiling, then cut taxes.