fun ways to waste a friday

listmania!

amy winehousemartins

i think the subject header of this blog is my fave out of the brilliant unlikely band hybrids that the nme came up with this afternoon. hilarious stuff... continued below.

"A Friday afternoon in the NME office, post-fish and chips in the canteen, tends to result in nonsensical conversations.

Today, we were so amused at ourselves we decided to write a blog about it. Kicking off with an offhand comment about ‘Dinosaur Jr Senior’, we started yelling unlikely band hybrids back and forward at one another.

continued...

Here's a Top Ten of the best.

They are:

1. Leo Slayer – Curly-haired Seventies pop crooner-turned reality TV contestant gets a thrash metal makeover.

2. U2 Unlimited – Irish rockers take cartoon techno direction. Results hilarious.

3. Mama Crass – Honey-voiced harmonic anarcho-punk fusion ended by “ham sandwich” mishap.

4. Kool & The Gang Of Four - Fun-loving funksters get Marxist on our asses.

5. Razorlighthouse Family – The ultimate in AOR entertainment. Bare chests almost certainly involved.

6. Kate Nashville Pussy – Kooky songstress pens tunes about fighting and drinking riddled with vulgar terminology.

7. Radioheadouken! – Just because we love the idea of Thom Yorke in slightly more flamboyant stage gear.

8. Dirty Pretty Wings – Paul McCartney and Carl Barat recover from the loss of their errant writing partners, with mixed results.

9. Kanye Westlife – The world’s foremost rapper records some classic standards yer mum would love. In a rubbish white suit, and sporting a really crap haircut.

10. REM People – Alternative rock giants get into handbag house.

Bubbling under…Amy Winehousemartins, Coheed & Cambrian Wilson, Iggy Pop Will Eat Itself, Macca-Bee Gees, Clap Your Hands Say…Yeah Yeah Yeahs!"

click here for more brilliant examples, including some great comments like nirvanarama. endless hilarity.

thursday night raw

last night i made my first endeavors into the world of sushi. hubbie tim had bought me the whole kit and kaboodle last year for my birthday, and almost a year on i still hadn't got the nerve to dive into the raw flesh of salmon, tuna and all the rest. but last night hubbie brought home some lovely sushi-grade fish from the north dekalb farmers market - lovely food, shame about the service - so there was no choice but to get stuck in as it were. check out the fruits of my magic fingers!

hilly kristal rip

i'm not sure how i felt about cbgb. but there's no denying that without the club and it's owner/founder hilly kristal many seminal punk/new wave/great bands wouldn't have had a place to cut their teeth, make mistakes and get a first - possibly dreadful - show. i've heard some - like the lovely jeff from stomp and stammer - berate the club for it's open door policy on all bands, giving most everyone a chance to get on that stage and show their stuff. obviously this made for a lot of crap, but i think it was a great thing, to think of it as your duty to give all those struggling bands a chance when they're just starting out. sure they might be shit now. but where else could they figure out their limits and get some audience feedback ... and probably their beer bottles too.
and with all the ny clubs closing to make way for ridiculous real estate prices, it's definitely worth taking a moment to remember the lovely hilly kristal and cbgb.

perfection, thine name is janelle

saturday night was a religious experience, to say the least. not only did i get to check out a fine set by attractive eighties women at the new fatback studios (where they were recording their first record with a live crowd in all its sweaty, drunken glory), but i also got to witness the wonder that is janelle monáe.

monáe played sugar hill for the official cd release party for metropolis: suite i of iv. and i'm telling you, if you haven't seen her yet - you should. everyone who sees this girl goes mad about her - even my homebody hubbie, who i dragged off of the couch and out to the show at midnight. she performs like no other, with a captivating voice, serious dance moves, electric personality, boundless energy and a killer sense of style. like a love child of judy garland and james brown brought up on talking heads and michael jackson, there's no way she won't be a star.

do yourself a favor, get her record, see her live, have the experience and be converted. all worship at the church of monáe - hallelujah!

omnivore-liscious!

i've totally found my new favorite blog, courtesy of atlanta's creative loafing.

omnivore atlanta has all the latest and greatest from atlanta's food, dining, grocery etc scene. with the myriad of restaurants opening and small markets popping up, i'm going to be on this site every day. mmmmm. food.

the greatest band who never rocked

is that a smart title? i don't think so. there's a better one out there somewhere... suggestions?

anyway, i nicked this post from decatur cd's blog, who nicked it from earvolution.

anyhoo, the post is about the top ten band's who never exisited - and with my faves the rutles, school of rock, spinal tap and the blues brothers getting a nice mention, it's got to be the most fun rock 'n' roll blog post of the week.

ten best bands that never existed

cheesy blur man

blur's geeky, sweetheart of a bassist alex james has started making cheese. for real. check out the podcast on the guardian's website:
the cheese diaries

too bloody hot

ok, if the queen of soul has deemed this city too hot for her performance at the montreux jazz festival, then there's obviously something seriously wrong with the weather and we should all be able to cancel our own appearances for anywhere. ie. no work.

from the press release:
“Ms. Franklin released a statement to the media this morning citing high Atlanta temperatures for the cancellation of her show and that her performance would be rescheduled. Unfortunately, this show was part of the Labor Day Weekend Montreux Jazz Festival and we are unable to offer a rescheduling. Prior to this announcement, the Office of Cultural Affairs had secured an alternate indoor venue in case the heat became a real issue. Ms. Franklin’s agent was notified of the alternative yesterday and the offer was verbally declined. Without our consent or written confirmation of a final cancellation, a press release was issued by Ms. Franklin’s team to the Atlanta media this morning. It is truly unfortunate that this situation was handled in this manner. Ms. Franklin would have been a highlight to the festival and we are truly disappointed in this turn of events,” explains City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Director, Camille Russell Love.

bloody leaves falling like it's autumn, branches giving up and falling on my house. 103 heat index! what the hell?!

forty years young

so this september isn't just a big birthday month for yours truly (the big 2-5. scary) - it's also bbc 1's 40th anniversary. to celebrate they are doing what brit's do best (see nme, the official chart, etc etc) - putting out a covers album!

with a different artist covering a number one song from each year bbc 1 has been around, this record is bound to be a wicked schmorgasbord of music, from robbie williams to the klaxons, groove armada to razorlight. nice.

the track listing is as follows:

1967 – Flowers In The Rain (The Move) covered by The Kaiser Chiefs
1968 – All Along The Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix Experience) covered by The Fratellis
1969 – Cupid (Johnny Nash) covered by Amy Winehouse
1970 – Lola (The Kinks) covered by Robbie Williams
1971 – Your Song (Elton John) covered by The Streets
1972 – Betcha By Golly Wow (The Stylistics) covered by Sugababes
1973 – You’re So Vain (Carly Simon) covered by The Feeling
1974 – Band On The Run (Wings) covered by Foo Fighters
1975 – Love Is The Drug (Roxy Music) covered by Kylie
1976 – Let’s Stick Together (Bryan Ferry) covered by KT Tunstall
1977 – Sound & Vision (David Bowie) covered by Franz Ferdinand
1978 – Teenage Kicks (The Undertones) covered by The Raconteurs
1979 – Can’t Stand Losing You (The Police) covered by Mika
1980 – Too Much Too Young (The Specials) covered by Kasabian
1981 – Under Pressure (Queen & David Bowie) covered by Keane
1982 – Town Called Malice (The Jam) covered by McFly
1983 – Come Back And Stay (Paul Young) covered by James Morrison
1984 – Careless Whisper (George Michael) covered by The Gossip
1985 – The Power Of Love (Huey Lewis & The News) covered by Pigeon Detectives
1986 – Don’t Get Me Wrong (The Pretenders) covered by Lilly Allen
1987 – You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate) covered by Stereophonics
1988 – Fast Car (Tracy Chapman) covered by Mutya Buena
1989 – Lullaby (the Cure) covered by Editors
1990 – Englishman In New York (Sting) covered by Razorlight
1991 – Crazy For You (Madonna) covered by Groove Armada
1992 – It Must Be Love (Madness) covered by Paolo Nutini
1993 – All That She Wants (Ace Of Base) covered by The Kooks
1994 – You’re All I Need To Get By (Mary J Blige) covered by Mark Ronson
1995 – Stillness In Time (Jamiroquai) covered by Calvin Harris
1996 – No Diggity (Blackstreet) covered by Klaxons
1997 – Love Fool (The Cardigans) covered by Just Jack
1998 – Ray Of Light (Madonna) covered by Natasha Bedingfield
1999 – Drinking in LA (Bran Van 3000) covered by The Twang
2000 – The Great Beyond (REM) covered by The Fray
2001 – Teenage Dirtbag (Wheatus) covered by Girls Aloud
2002 – Like I Love You (Justin Timberlake) covered by Maximo Park
2003 – Don’t Look Back Into The Sun (The Libertines) covered by The View
2004 – Toxic (Britney Spears) covered by Hard-Fi
2005 – Father & Son (Yusuf & Ronan Keating) covered by The Enemy
2006 – Steady As She Goes (The Raconteurs) covered by Corinne Bailey Rae

phew. should be availble in the uk some time in september. same month as my birthday... hint hint.

CORRECTION: the record will actually come out october 1, according to the nme.

heathly dose of madness

just thought i should make a note of my night of judging at open mic madness last night. entropy was definitely the highlight of my night. their funky goodness and smart moves cheered me up no end - i highly recommend catching them live if you have the chance, no matter what kind of music you're into. seriously. wicked stuff.

in other last-night news, i'm feeling so knackered - i can't quite manage to shake the smoky, jack-and-coke, eardrum-shaking feeling. will be napping before picking up the hubbie from the airport that's for sure. lots of chilling tonight so i'm ready to rock 'n' roll tomorrow night at the star bar's big trouble in little 5 points. i mean, c'mon - the judies, the empties and de novo dahl, for free! good stuff.

a word to all pr, managers, bands etc

ok, first off, much love to all your folks working hard in the independent music world. whether you're a band doing your own promotions, or if you're a pr person pushing that act you know will be loved by anyone who just gives them a chance, or if you're the manager that takes on everything and won't sleep until you know the band are paid, back on the bus, ready for the next city. y'all deserve mad props.

but there's been something that's been driving me slowly up the peeling-paint walls in my dismal office.

it's lack of research. i know y'all have this thing called the internet right at your fingertips. so when you hear that pause on the other end of my office line after you ask for my email address, even though it's listed clearly in the magazine, on our website and on our myspace page (which also gives specific instructions for those wanting to be featured in the mag)... well, just know i'm trying my darndest to keep calm, polite and nice because believe me, we want your music and know that you really are working your butt off because you believe in this music and want us to believe in it too.

and i appreciate that.

just keep in mind the next time you call up a music ed, and ask for their email address or where to post a cd to - other folks might not be as cheerful and patient as yours truly. give it a google first.

rip tony wilson

i wanted to use the subject header "leader of the fac" but someone beat me to it.

for those of you who don't know, anthony wilson was debatably the man responsible for the madchester scene that rose up north in the late 80s and early 90s. he formed the factory label, signed joy division, founded the hacienda with new order and discovered the happy mondays. for starters.

he has been described as a git, tosser, wanker, cunt, and also as a visionary, champion for indie music, hero, music mogul... the list goes on. at least he was never boring.

if you haven't seen the semi-biopic (some call it utter bullshit, some call it the truth) 24 hour party people, rent it. now.

dancing queen

not sure if it was only british girls who loved this book, but i am super-excited about the news that not only is the bbc doing a new production of ballet shoes, the fab book by noel streatfield, but it'll be starring harry potter actors emma watson (hermionie), richard griffiths (uncle vernon) and robert hardy (fudge). great stuff!

bonnie prince booty

ahaha. hahahah. bwahahahahhahahahahah!



thanks to cable & tweed for bringing it to my attention.

great bath balls of fire!

or should that be great bath balls of bubbles? not sure about that one...

anyway, as if i couldn't be more excited with the new stores we're getting in atlanta - h&m, zara... and now my fave, lovely-smelling beauty product store lush is planning on making a splash into atlanta's proverbial bathtub this fall (same month as my birthday actually... hint hint).

and to top it off, my excitement at the news brought to me by my good mate and atlanta magazine fashion ed amanda brown got a mention in her blog shop girl. coolness.

bath bombs for everyone!

we're all mad here

i think all the cool open mic madness subject lines have been taken.

anyway, i've been asked to judge one of the nights at smith's olde bar's open mic madness next week - tuesday, hurrah! it'll be rad, as it always is, and other atlanta music biz lovelies like paste's caren and confessions of a music addict's leah will be there throughout the week. so you can't not go really.

stop by, have a beer, say hello. and rock out.

poker-faced steve

we all know how awesome steve albini is. if you don't, please check out any number of fantastic pieces of work her helped craft by bands such as the breeders, the stooges, mogwai, nirvana, pj harvey and the man's own favorite, jesus lizard. then you'll know.

anyhoo, so our new news ed in boston was helping me decipher the plethora of equipment in some studio, and was giving me some forums where lovely engineering geeky types talk about their favorite recording toys. and on a side note he pointed out this - of all things - poker forum, where mr. albini had strangely introduced himself and opened the floor to questions about his recording history. random, mad, bizarre and inspiring. check it out...
albini!

this simpsons avatar is made for walking

following in the footsteps of caren explains it all...