Archive: June 2009 (31-40 of 148)

Jun 23 2009 08:00 PM ET

Buzz Aldrin, rapper?!

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Categories: Strange Bedfellows, Things Nobody Asked For, Video Gaga, What the...?

In July 1969, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. became the second human being to set foot on the surface of the moon. Now he's striding boldly into another strange new terrain nearly four decades later: novelty rap. Yes, for some reason Aldrin has recorded a hip-hop song called "Rocket Experience" in order to raise funds for several space-related charities. Since this is apparently Unexpected Music from Famous Old Folks Week here at the Mix, go ahead and check out Aldrin's just-released video for "Rocket Experience," below.

I won't lie and say that Aldrin is anything resembling a talented rapper. Then again, the fact that he's premiering this video on FunnyOrDie.com suggests that he is perhaps aware of this fact. Anyway, if nothing else, this clip is worth watching just to see actual rap titans Snoop Dogg and Talib Kweli jamming away in the studio with Aldrin around the 3:00 mark. Those guys' co-signs have got to count for something, right? Also, let's not forget that Buzz Aldrin has literally walked on the moon, people. Eat your hearts out, The-Dream and Kanye! Check out the "Rocket Experience" clip below and let us know how you like Aldrin's space-age swagger.

More from EW's Music Mix:
Levon Helm's 'Electric Dirt': Stream the legend's whole new album for free, only here
Exclusive: Sugarland set for one-hour ABC concert special August 3
EW Exclusive! Hear a new Duncan Sheik charity track
Green Day's new "21 Guns" video: Watch it here

Jun 23 2009 07:47 PM ET

The Gossip's 'Music for Men': Snap judgment

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Categories: Snap Judgment, The Gossip

The-gossip_l Beth Ditto, plucky frontwoman of disco-punk trio the Gossip, has been in the headlines lately for feuding with Katy Perry, whom she finds "offensive to gay culture" for pretending to kiss girls and like it. But look! The Gossip's new album, Music for Men, is available to download on iTunes and other online services today. (The physical copy won't be available until October, which still makes no sense.)

Music for Men is significant for two reasons: It's the group's major-label debut, and it was produced by Columbia honcho Rick Rubin to boot. Certainly, Rubin's influence is noticeable, because Music for Men exudes polish at every turn. Something else that's noticeable: Someone pissed off Beth Ditto. The lady's clearly got some relationship angst to get off her chest. Sample lyric: "Love is a four-letter word that should never be heard." Yikes!

After giving the album a once-through, I still can't get over first single "Heavy Cross." We've pom-pommed for the tune in the past,but the frisky floor-banger is just as jubilant as ever on the album.The rest of the set, though, often seems stuck on repeat. "This is thelast time I love and let love," Ditto declares on "Love and Let Love."That's the exact love-gone-wrong sentiment she communicates onseemingly every track, and it quickly wears thin. There are only somany synth/guitar-driven beats that can accompany such whiny lyrics.

Music for Mendoes include a few flashes of variety. Lead-off track "DimestoreDiamond" pulls off its bluesy vibe with swagger and verve. The ode toMarvin Gaye in "Love Long Distance" is a welcome retro surprise, whilethe soaring vocals and grrl-power chorus of "For Keeps" are so good itmakes you forget it's yet another declaration against love.Still, by the time the clouds finally seem to clear for therambunctious punk-rockin' final track, "Spare Me from the Mold," Iwondered if it was too little, too late. Ditto's an outspoken,big-voiced talent — and the band's got spunk in spades — but thealbum's twee-er than a kid in a Dashboard Confessional t-shirt. Whilenot a bad thing, it's nonetheless best enjoyed in two-or-three trackdoses.

Has anyone else heard Music for Men? What do you think?

More from EW's Music Mix:
The Gossip's video for 'Heavy Cross': Yep…the song still rocks
The Gossip's new disco-pop single — song of the summer?
What are your picks for songs of the summer? We've got a few ideas…

Jun 23 2009 07:00 PM ET

Beastie Boys ready 'Hot Sauce Committee Part 1,' more reissues

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Categories: Beastie Boys

Beastie-Boys_l Four months ago, Adam Yauch told EW that Beastie Boys were working on “a pretty weird record.” One month ago, they announced the name of the album: Hot Sauce Committee. And today, they’ve added an intriguing flourish to the end of the title — it’s now Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, don’t you forget it — and revealed a September 15 release date as well as a tracklist including guest spots from Nas and Santigold. Sweet! Or perhaps I should say spicy!

Beastie Boys haven’t blessed us with an album since 2007′s instrumental The Mix-Up (which I found much more fun than EW’s reviewer at the time), and you have to go back to 2005′s To the 5 Boroughs for their last album with actual vocals. And Hot Sauce is only one of several cool projects the trio has coming up soon: 1994′s Ill Communication gets the deluxe reissue treatment July 14, and 1998′s Hello Nasty joins it on August 25. (Tricked-out editions of 1989′s Paul’s Boutique and 1992′s Check Your Head already arrived this January and April.) Looks like 2009 is going to be a banner year indeed for Beasties fans. Click through to the jump for the full Hot Sauce tracklist, then pipe up: How hungry are you for new Beastie treats?

READ FULL STORY »

Jun 23 2009 06:30 PM ET

Beyonce fights hunger with Hamburger Helper

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Categories: Beyonce, Charity

Beyonce_l Why on earth is world-famous super-diva Beyonce Knowles holding a box of Hamburger Helper brand instant food product in this snapshot? Because she's donating it to hunger-fighting charity Feed America as part of the new "Show Your Helping Hand" campaign, of course! I'm willing to bet that B hasn't actually tasted Hamburger Helper in years — though maybe her team of privately trained chefs includes that anthropomorphic glove? — but she generously took time out of her just-launched "I AM…" tour yesterday to donate some food to the campaign. She also encouraged fans to bring non-perishable items to her upcoming concert dates, where they'll be collected to feed the nation's hungry.

So, now you have one more reason to see this summer's Must Live Act. Bravo to Beyonce for supporting a great cause. This has been today's edition of "Random Celebrity Photographs with Totally Mundane Explanations." You're welcome.

More from EW's Music Mix:
Antony & the Johnsons' version of Beyonce's "Crazy In Love": Finally on vinyl (and CD)
Beyonce's new video for "Ego" — "Single Ladies" part deux?
Beyonce talks Rhythm Heaven, Guitar Hero, and more: An exclusive Q&A about music and videogames

Jun 23 2009 06:04 PM ET

The Clipse and Kanye West's 'Kinda Like a Big Deal' video: Watch it here

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Categories: Kanye West, Music Videos, The Clipse

I believe I might have mentioned once or twice how much I dig "Kinda Like a Big Deal," the accurately titled collaboration between the Clipse and Kanye West. It's a sure-shot contender for my top singles rankings this year. And while the video they just released for the song isn't quite as memorable on its own merits — all you get is the Thornton brothers and Mr. West standing around looking cool in a stairwell — you really don't need flashy visuals to make a track this hot work on screen. Check out the "Kinda Like a Big Deal" video (some NSFW language) and let us know if you agree. Just a few months, let's hope, until Till the Casket Drops!

More from EW's Music Mix:
Kanye is latest to leak Lupe Fiasco track; Lupe already CAPS-LOCK MAD
Kanye West and Lady Gaga to tour together: Clash of the (Ego) Titans?
Which summer show would you go see for 40 percent off?

Jun 23 2009 01:20 PM ET

Levon Helm's 'Electric Dirt': Stream the legend's whole new album for free, only here

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Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Downloads and Streams, Levon Helm

"Legend" is a term that often gets thrown around in an alarmingly casual manner. If anyone deserves that title, though, it's Levon Helm. As a drummer, he first backed Bob Dylan and then anchored the Band through several of the musical peaks of the '60s and '70s. And as a singer, in the Band and later, he's simply one of a kind. The man's voice alone, weathered and craggy even in his youth, ought to be declared some kind of national treasure.

So you can imagine how pleased the Music Mix is to be the only place where you can stream Helm's new solo album Electric Dirt, in full, for free, starting today. What are you waiting for? Cue it up below; catch up on Helm's recent activities by reading a profile that EW's Clark Collis penned in 2007; then let us know what you think of this master's latest work.

JUNE 30 UPDATE: Our free stream has ended. Electric Dirt is available for purchase in stores and online as of today.

More from EW's Music Mix:
Exclusive: Sugarland set for one-hour ABC concert special August 3
EW Exclusive! Hear a new Duncan Sheik charity track
Jack White's new band debuts on Conan
Green Day's new "21 Guns" video: Watch it here

Jun 22 2009 08:49 PM ET

Bruce Springsteen vs. Ticketmaster: The battle rages on

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Categories: Bruce Springsteen

Bruce-springsteen_l "We have no interest in having an ongoing conflict with Ticketmaster/TicketsNow or anyone else," wrote Bruce Springsteen's manager, Jon Landau, in a missive posted online earlier today. I am sure he means what he says. However, Landau makes this point in the final paragraph of a sternly worded 1,100-word screed about how Ticketmaster is dishonest and greedy, so we're going to have to spend just a little more time talking about the, yes, ongoing conflict between the Boss and the corporate ticketing behemoth.

A little context: Back in February, tickets for Springsteen's latest tour went on sale. Due to an alleged glitch, many fans who logged on to Ticketmaster.com promptly at the on-sale time were unable to buy tickets; in some cases, they were actually directed to Ticketmaster's new site TicketsNow, which offered those same tickets at hugely marked-up prices. As one of the fans who tried to buy Springsteen tickets that morning, I can tell you that it was an extremely frustrating experience. Anyway, Bruce posted an angry letter on his website at the time, ashamed Ticketmaster suits apologized, and that was that…

…Until this month, when Ticketmaster chairman Barry Diller made some cranky comments to the New York Post about how many seats Springsteen's camp reserves for its own guests. And that kind of sideways talk simply cannot stand. Cue Landau's withering retort, which you can read for yourself after the jump. Give it a look, then weigh in: Whose side are you on here? Personally, I certainly blame Ticketmaster for its own customer nightmares — but I am starting to wonder whether it isn't time for Springsteen to look into other ways of letting his fans see him in concert, before he has to hire a full-time furious-letter-writer to handle this apparently endless dispute.

READ FULL STORY »

Jun 22 2009 06:42 PM ET

Mikhail Gorbachev's 'romantic ballads' raise big bucks for charity

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Categories: Charity

Mikhail-Gorbachev_l How much would you pay for a single CD of "romantic ballads" sung in Russian by former Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev? Maybe, say, a hundred and fifty thousand dollars and change? Wait — before you answer, I should mention that funds from this hypothetical transaction would go to the charitable Raisa Gorbachev Foundation, which fights childhood cancer in honor of the onetime leader's late wife.

It was no doubt with those very noble motives in mind that an anonymous donor paid $164,940 for Gorbachev's Songs for Raisa at an auction in London this week. That is a lot of money to pay for an album recorded by a guy who is not generally known as a singer! But hey, having listened to one track that's online, I can say that Gorby's voice is actually not terrible. (Artists who use Auto-Tune to cover for your own vocal failings, take note: If Mikhail Gorbachev can sing in his real voice, so can you.) And the cause is obviously a good one. Sounds like this altogether random bit of news was a win-win situation for everyone involved. So: Any other former foreign dignitaries you'd like to hear sing for charity? Name your price, below!

More from EW's Music Mix:
Green Day's new '21 Guns' video: Watch it here!
Stream new Third Eye Blind single 'Don't Believe a Word' here
Mel Gibson directs Oksana Grigorieva's 'Say My Name' video: Snap judgment time!

Jun 22 2009 05:29 PM ET

Which summer show would you go see for 40 percent off?

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Categories:

DefLeppard_l

Is there anything more summery than the recession? Wait, don’t answer that. But hey, America — the corporate moguls at Live Nation feel your economic downturn pain. Today, they announced that June 24 is “No Service Fee Wednesday” (that’s got such a nice ring to it!), meaning you can snag a 4-pack of tickets — already being sold at a 17 percent discount — for up to 40 percent off the original price, if you buy at LiveNation.com.

In the glamorous legalese of the press release, “The service fee free 4-packs are available only at Live Nation ticketed amphitheatres in the U.S. and Canada for concerts including but not limited to…” and then they go on to list a bunch of stuff like Coldplay, Jason Mraz, Blink-182, and Def Leppard with Poison and Cheap Trick. FYI, “Parking, municipal taxes and certain venue fees may still apply.”

Me, I’d opt for the Def Leppard concert, because the way I see it, if I account for inflation since 1987 and figure I’m getting three bands for the price of one, that means Live Nation is basically paying me. They got the peaches, I got the cream, you know what I’m sayin’?

What about you, Mixers? What show will you snag at a discount? (The full “including but not limited to” list is after the jump.) And what tour not included here should maybe think about slashing prices?

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Green Day’s new ’21 Guns’ video: Watch it here!
Stream new Third Eye Blind single ‘Don’t Believe a Word’ here
Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong: The Music Mix Interview
The Dead Weather: Jack White’s new band makes its (unimpressive) TV debut
Beck working on cover album with MGMT, Devendra Banhart, Jamie Lidell, and more

READ FULL STORY »

Jun 22 2009 04:45 PM ET

Green Day's new '21 Guns' video: Watch it here

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Categories: Green Day, Video Gaga

Green Day's "Know Your Enemy" was a perfectly fine — if unadventurous and slightly repetitive — lead-off single to 21st Century Breakdown, but prospects are already looking brighter for the group's melancholic follow-up, "21 Guns." Why? Well, It's a much better song, with its melodic hook and soaring guitars. (Billie Joe hitting that high note on "gun" is perfection, too.)

The band's brand-new video for the tune also trumps "Know Your Enemy" in the visual department. In the clip, the guys and a young couple face a siege of gunshots in a disheveled motel room. While nothing particularly earth-shattering, the nicely-shot video does the song justice. What do you think, Mixers? Are you enjoying "21 Guns" more than "Know Your Enemy" too? Watch the video below and decide.

More from EW's Music Mix:
Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong: The Music Mix Interview
The Dead Weather: Jack White's new band makes its (unimpressive) TV debut
Beck working on cover album with MGMT, Devendra Banhart, Jamie Lidell, and more

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