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Archive: December 2009 (21-30 of 87)

Dec 17 2009 11:19 AM ET

Rage Against the Machine battles Simon Cowell for UK chart supremacy: Whose side are you on?

Categories: American Idol, Charts, Things That Are British

For reasons I would need a large academic grant and three or four years to fully explain, my homeland of Britain is absolutely obsessed with the question of who is going to have the No. 1 single at Christmas. In recent times, however, this has become something of a one-horse race, with the lucrative honor going to whoever wins the hugely popular, Simon Cowell-adjudged X Factor reality show. Then, earlier this year, some impish, Cowell-hating types began a Facebook campaign to get Rage Against the Machine’s awesome, and awesomely foul-mouthed, 1992 single “Killing in the Name” topping the charts instead.

Last week, Simon Cowell described the campaign as “stupid.” But over the past few days the battle has gotten a lot hotter. On Sunday, an 18-year-old named Joe McElderry won this year’s X Factor and yesterday he released his Christmas single, a version of the Miley Cyrus single “The Climb.” Then, this morning, RATM appeared on BBC Radio Five Live. Guitarist Tom Morello described the effort to get them to number one as, “a real, completely grassroots campaign, started by real fans of music.” Meanwhile, another band member (frontman Zack de la Rocha, I’m 99.9 percent certain) described Simon Cowell as someone who “seems to have profited greatly off humiliating people on live television.”

The band then proceeded to play a version of “Killing in the Name” that included a flurry of F-bombs, to the obvious horror of the BBC presenters who yanked the performance and made clear they had told the band to keep matters radio-friendly (though, as the main offending lyric is, of course, “F— you, I won’t do what you tell me,” you would have thought the DJs might have seen this turn of events coming). You can hear the whole shebang below. Meanwhile, it seems the chart race itself remains extremely close.

What do you think about all this? Would you consider buying “Killing in the Name” or even buying it again, just to tick off Simon Cowell (and to help the homeless charity Shelter, which is benefiting from sales of the track)? Feel free to compare and contrast the respective singles by RATM and McElderry and send me your report. Maybe I’ll get that academic grant yet!

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Photo credit: Rage: Lucia Graca/Camera Press/Retna; Cowell: Steve Finn/Capital Pictures/Retna

Dec 16 2009 02:58 PM ET

Miley, SuBo, Lonely Island ... What were your most-watched YouTube videos of 2009?

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Let's Argue!, Miley Cyrus, Susan Boyle, YouTube Delights

Yahoo has released its list of the most-watched YouTube videos of the year, and—shocker!—a certain Scottish Dream Warbler is far and away the champion, at 120 million-plus views.

Following Susan Boyle at a distant second—you’ll recognize him by the trail of cotton batting and wisdom-tooth drool—is “David After Dentist,” but music reigns again (adjacently, but again) with the third-place finisher “JK Wedding Dance Entrance,” a.k.a. the Midwestern Chris Brown Nuptial Boogaloo.

In the category of straight-up music videos, Pitbull’s “I Know You Want Me,” finished first with more than 82 million views, followed by a Miley Cyrus double whammy (“The Climb” at 64 million views and “Party In The U.S.A.” at 48 million). Andy Samberg and co. T-Pained their way to the no. 4 spot with SNL‘s “I’m On A Boat” (also at 48 million), and Keri Hilson took the fifth spot (35 million) with el señors Kanye and Ne-Yo with “Knock You Down.”

What got you through 2009 on repeat repeat repeat? Tell this guy, because he can hardly stand the suspense:

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Dec 16 2009 11:31 AM ET

Boyle, Bocelli score another spectacular sales week. But how did Chris Brown do?

by Whitney Pastorek

Categories: Charts, Chris Brown, Susan Boyle

At this point, it’s more or less old news to find Susan Boyle‘s I Dreamed a Dream (582,000 copies) and Andrea Bocelli‘s My Christmas (400,000 copies) packing a one-two punch atop the albums chart, and according to Nielsen SoundScan, those two artists have indeed done it again. This brings their combined sales total to somewhere in the neighborhood of 3.5 million records dispensed this holiday.

Down in the realm of mere mortals, the Glee 2 soundtrack debuted in third place with sales of 173,000, just slightly more than Lady Gaga‘s combined total for The Fame and The Fame Monster. Rapper Gucci Mane‘s sophomore effort, The State vs. Radric Davis, came out of nowhere to move 90,000 copies. And young riot-starter Justin Bieber saw the hysteria pay off with a 56 percent jump in sales of My World, to 101,000+.

Parrotheads snapped up 68,000 copies of Jimmy Buffett‘s Buffett Hotel, and Jared Leto‘s Thirty Seconds to Mars slung 67,000 copies of This Is War.

But the person to talk about is Chris Brown, who managed to overcome scandal — or exploit it, depending on your point of view — to sell 102,000 copies of Graffiti and land at No. 7. For a man whose last effort, Exclusive, sold three times that in its first week back in November of 2007, those aren’t huge numbers by any means…but back in November of 2007, Brown hadn’t yet been convicted of assault against his very famous R&B singing ex-girlfriend.

What do you think, Mixers? Did Brown move more or less product than you thought he would? What’s your take on the power of the Glee franchise? And have you caved and bought your copy of the Susan Boyle record yet?

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Dec 15 2009 07:26 PM ET

'Ziggy Stardust': the gayest album of all time?

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Let's Argue!, Things That Are Awesome

This week, Out magazine released its definitive top 100 picks of the Gayest, Greatest Albums of All Time—a list far more Louder than Bombs than Liza With a Z.

Perhaps that’s due to the judges: Gay icons and bold-faced PFLAG friends alike, from Boy George and Cyndi Lauper to Rufus Wainwright, Perez Hilton, Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste and the original angry inch, John Cameron Mitchell. Their choices are both expected (Madonna’s Ray of Light; ABBA’s Gold) and excellently aggressive (Lou Reed’s Transformer; The Gossip’s Standing in the Way of Control). You can taste the full rainbow by clicking through the links here; but first, let’s take a gander at no. 1, shall we? Take it away, Starman:

Readers, what artist or album on this list speaks most to you—the searing self-reflection of Antony and Ani? The disco-stick abandon of Dee-Lite and the Scissor Sisters? The Gay Sea Scrolls of George Michael, Diana Ross, et al? And who are minting future classics as we speak? Do tell.

Dec 15 2009 04:43 PM ET

Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth to tour together: Invest in ear-plug companies now!

by Clark Collis

Categories: Metallica, Tours

The loudest band of all time is Motörhead. Feel free to argue with me about that. But thanks to the fact that I once saw Lemmy and Co., you’ll have to speak up when you do it.

Anyhoo, if there is one tour that might collectively challenge Motörhead’s decibel count, it’s the forthcoming thrash-tastic team-up of Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth. That’s right, according to Billboard, the Big Four of thrash metal will be playing together this summer in Europe. Megadeth head honcho Dave Mustaine is describing the shows as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for heavy metal fans to see the four greatest heavy metal bands in American history,” on one stage. There’s no word on U.S. dates as yet. But with a prevailing wind, East Coasters will probably be able to hear their sets blasting across the Atlantic.

Do you agree that they are the four greatest heavy metal bands in American history? Would you consider heading to Europe to see the shows? And would you wear ear plugs at the shows? Let us know!

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Dec 15 2009 01:43 PM ET

Watch U2 and Elvis Costello mash up 'Pump It Up' and 'Get On Your Boots'

by Whitney Pastorek

Categories: Elvis Costello, Television, Things That Sound A Whole Lot Like Other Things, U2

On the season premiere of Elvis Costello’s Sundance Channel chat show, Spectacle, the boys of U2 joined the natty Brit and used the final musical performance to silence those gripers who thought “Get On Your Boots” was just a massive rip-off of Costello’s “Pump It Up.” Yeah, they sound similar. But if Elvis isn’t pissed, why should you be? Hey hey hey!

What do you think, Mixers? Awesomeness, or awfulness? And hey, are you watching season 2 of Spectacle? It’s pretty good, no? My favorite was watching the other two members of the Police restrain themselves from strangling a somewhat unrestrained Stewart Copeland last season. Do you have a fave moment from the show?

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Dec 15 2009 12:04 PM ET

Rihanna's nearly nude GQ cover: Yowza!

by Tanner Stransky

Categories: Let's Argue!, Rihanna, Things That Are Sexy, What the...?

Rihanna’s recent and continuing press tour—which has served to promote her latest album Rated R and give her a chance to talk about the situation with Chris Brown—undoubtedly had a “bare it all” vibe to it.

She’s been brutally honest about the abuse and what happened that fateful February night before the Grammys. But she’s taken that “exposure” idea rather literally with the January issue of GQ, which features her topless on both the cover (see: yowza image at left) and in an accompanying pictorial for the magazine’s January issue (where there’s even more yowza). Rated R? Indeedy.

Honestly, there’s not much left to the imagination here. While topless photo shoots are no revelation for GQ, it just adds another layer to the whole Rihanna makeover initiative. And now, we’re being beaten over the head with it, in case you didn’t know/realize: Rihanna is edgy! And sexy! And grown up! She’s going topless! She’s a hard-ened woman, dammit!

I’m totally fine with Rihanna’s decision to take it off. She’s a grown lady, she can do what she wants, and there’s a certain “I am woman, hear me roar!” vibe to this. But I do think it’s interesting because of what Rihanna means to young girls, and the role model image she’s been cultivating. Through all of her press tour, she’s emerged as an advocate for women who may be going through what she did.

And now, the top comes off on the cover of a men’s magazine? I mean, I guess the two things—her speaking out against domestic abuse and taking off her clothes—are not mutually exclusive. But it’s a sort of odd dichotomy, if you ask me.

But what do you think? Are you startled by Rihanna’s decision to bare it all on GQ? Do you think it jives with the rebrand Ri-Ri has been working on since her personal troubles earlier this year? Are you intrigued enough to pick up a copy of the magazine?

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Dec 15 2009 11:39 AM ET

ABBA, the Stooges, Genesis join Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Awards Shows, Let's Argue!

Mamma Mia! Can you feel the Raw Power, Fernando? Or is it just an Invisible Touch?

The Phil Collins-fronted prog-to-pop rockers Genesis, Swedish superstars ABBA, and Iggy Pop’s lust-for-lifers the Stooges lead the pack in this upcoming year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Reggae great Jimmy Cliff and ’60s Brit-rock pioneers the Hollies will also be honored.

Each band (including the seven-times-rejected Stooges) is scheduled to perform at the ceremony, which takes place March 15, 2010 in New York City and will air live on Fuse; ABBA, however, have not appeared live together since late 1982, and have famously turned down all previous reunion enticements (including a now-legendary offer of $1 billion in 2000).

The group’s Benny Andersson says the odds are “99 to 1″ they’ll be there. “It’s very tricky because Agnetha [Fältskog] is not flying,” he told Rolling Stone. “The people who are really fond of ABBA for what we did, I think we are doing them a favor by not going out.”

Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks, says he’s working on getting the long-departed Peter Gabriel to participate in the show, though it’s not guaranteed: “Peter is a bit elusive, but I’ll probably talk to him soon and see if he has any concept of what he wants to do. I don’t feel a great need to play. I’m happy just to drink.”

What do you think of this year’s winners, readers, and the likelihood/promise of their reunion performances? And what about the the ones who failed to make the cut—among them, Kiss, LL Cool J, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Donna Summer?

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Dec 15 2009 10:57 AM ET

Lil Wayne and Eminem drop new single 'Drop the World': What do you think?

by Tanner Stransky

Categories: Eminem, Lil Wayne

“Drop the World,” a new single from Lil Wayne and Eminem, is available for free downloading on the ‘nets this morning. As the Music Mix told you last week, Lil Wayne’s album Rebirth has yet again been pushed back, this time from Dec. 21 to an undetermined date in 2010, possibly as his label tries to find a hit that’ll help the record sell, sell, sell. Could “Drop the World” be that song?

From a couple of listens, I’m going to say no, unfortunately. Not a resounding no, by any means—there’s some life in this single—but it’s no radio-ready jam that’ll take the masses by storm. Why? “Drop the World” has a mesmerizing sort of intro, where Lil’ Wayne seems like he’s being contemplative: “I’ve got ice in my veins/Blood in my eyes/Hate in my heart/Love in my mind” the rapper intones. And that feels nice, actually. But it’s not long before the song devolves into a slurring mess. Lil Wayne quickly blows out the song, begins a string of f-bombs and n-words, and tells us that he’s gonna “pick the world up and drop it on your f—ing head.” Um, alright then. No thanks. Eminem’s entrance—about 2:15 into the song—is a highlight, although it’s nearly as enraged.

But, what do you think, Music Mix readers? Are you a fan of this new collab? Would it make you buy Lil Wayne’s whole album?

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Dec 14 2009 06:55 PM ET

Surfer Blood and Beach House: Which oceanic indie band is the shore thing? Let's sea!

by Joseph Brannigan Lynch

Categories: Buzzworthy, Indie Rock, Music, New Stuff

This January, indie rock has its first Battle of the Beach Bands! So let’s take a look, shell we?

Heavily tipped Floridian newcomers Surfer Blood release their debut Astro Coast on the 19^th and one week later Baltimore’s Sub Pop signees Beach House drop their third album, Teen Dream. (No word what Wavves, the Sea and Cake, or Modest Mouse’s “Ocean Breathes Salty” think about the aquatic competition.)

Since they burst forth from the froth a few months ago, Surfer Blood have been continuously compared to Weezer—which isn’t untrue, but it is misleading. They’re too adept at creating punchy power pop to be primarily inspired by Rivers Cuomo or Vampire Weekend (who they also sound like).

I’d wager these guys have a substantial collection of dollar-bin LPs from the Cars, Squeeze, Rick Springfield and probably even Boston. Heck, their best song—the near-perfect “Swim (To Reach the End)”—is a dead ringer for Asia’s “Heat of the Moment.” And there’s nothing wrong with that—arena rock is one of the few under-revived ’80s sub-genres.