I'm On Rolling Stone!

This weeks end of the week questionnaire on Rollingstone.com, they asked what some of rocks most underrated bands were... I had listed the following as some of rocks most under appreciated:

-Depeche Mode
-Our Lady Peace
-MC 5
-Oasis
-Jarvis Cocker

Check out what others had to say at http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/04/27/weekend-rock-list-most-underappreciated-artists/

Also, Scroll 3/4 of the way down and you'll see my list.

Quick News

"This is LIVE EARTH!" No, not words that Gerrard Butler would be screaming at the concert to raise global awareness, they will be the words that the worlds greatest band that never actually existed will be screaming at London's Hyde Park on July 7. Spinal Tap has recently announced they will be one of the many acts for the Al Gore endorsed concerts taking place all over the world.

In more live news, U2 will be re-releasing Popmart: Live from Mexico City, the concert was one of the last shows of the tremendous world tour, the concert was originally released on that old format called VHS in 1999, now its getting the DVD treatment and much like U2's Live from Sydney DVD it will come in two formats, a special 2 disc version packed with bonus footage and a single disc. It is slated for a summer release...in related news U2 in 3-D will be premiering at this years Caans Film Festival before it opens stateside this December, for more on U2's PopMart tour see March Post Underrated Classic and for more on U2 in 3-D see this months post.

Prog-Emo Rockers Coheed and Cambria are entering the studio to complete the saga of its central song characters Coheed and Cambria, the album titled No World for Tomorrow, is set for a fall release.

Beastie Boys have an album title and a semi-new direction. The album The Mix Up is dropping in June, yet the band is saying it has a rock appeal and will feature no samples. Mike D had this to say about The Mix Up “It might make you flip your wig right off, or your hairpiece, if you’re a casual listener." It will be a throwback to the bands classic albums Paul's Boutique and Ill Communication, when the boys were not only rhyming, sampling, but also playing the instruments on the record.

Bjork Live on SNL

Just in case you missed it...Here is Bjork performing "Earth Intruders" from Volta...cant wait for this record to drop.

Bloc Party Cover Nelly Furtado

I have to admit..I like the Nelly Furtado track "Say it Right," there is something about it that you can jam out to. Apparently I am not the only one who thinks this, one of my favorite bands Bloc Party feels the same and are even acting on it by covering the song for BBC 1. Check it out here at http://www.stereogum.com/archives/005134.html

Stay in Touch with FFAF

Like many bands around using the YouTube as an outlet to better connect themselves with their audience England's Funeral for a Friend are doing no different. Check out what the band is up to on the road with their webisodes.... www.youtube.com/funeraltube

Studio 6A

One of the finest actors around, Liev Scrieber takes on the role of Conan O'Brian in a spoof on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Spiderman Webs Broadway

Spider-Sense is Tingling...The legendary Marvel Superhero is not only gearing up for theaters this summer and Spiderman week in New York, the character will shed his web on Broadway. Yes, that is correct, Spiderman will be joining the prestigious class of musicals like Legally Blonde, Le Stat and Tarzan. Probably the dumbest idea I have herd since Batman was supposed to be a musical earlier this decade. However, on somewhat of a better note, U2's Bono and The Edge will be writing the music and lyrics for the Spiderman musical, so maybe it wont be a total waste of time.

Indy Watch

Things just keep on rolling in the pre-production of the latest installment of the Hatted Crusader, late last week rising star Shia LaBeouf (Disturbia, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints), is set to star as Indys son. We still have no idea who his mother is, but this comes on the tales of Cate Blanchett recently signing on as Indys love interest. According to Indianajones.com Director Steven Spielberg had this to say about LaBeouf "We are excited about bringing Shia into our Indy family," said Spielberg. "His talent has impressed not only his audiences throughout his young career but the directors, producers and fellow actors who have worked with him in his television career and now his film career."

In related news LaBeaouf will host Saturday Night Live this weekend with musical guest BJORK!!!!

Buy Now!!!!

Another edition of records you should be spinning:

BUY NOW!!!!
Jarvis Cocker-Jarvis (Recommended if you like[RIYL]: Coldplay, Pulp (obviously), The Good The Bad The Queen)
Nine Inch Nails-Year Zero
The Fratellis- Costello Music (RIYL: The Strokes, Early Beatles, Kaiser Chiefs)

Currently Spinning:
Bloc Party- A Weekend in the City (Yes its still in my rotation)
4th25 - Live From Iraq (RIYL: Sage Francis, Wu Tang, Public Enemy)
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (RIYL: David Bowie, The Shins, Early U2)

U2 3D Trailer

For anyone of the millions that went to see Disney's Meet the Robinsons instead of Grindhouse this past weekend got their monies worth just in the trailers. At special 3D screenings of Meet the Robinsons fans were treated to the U2 3D concert trailer, however, I try not to dissapoint, here it is in 2D (unfortunately)
http://www.u2.com/highlights/?hid=359

Radiohead in Studio

Want to see what Radiohead are up to these days in the studio? Well head on over to
http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/ . It features photos and videos posted by Thom Yorke.

New French New Wave

One of the coolest and sexiest bands to emerge in the past few years is Frances Nouvelles Vagues a Calypso band that plays nothing but 80's covers. Check them out, you ll feel as if your sitting on the Mediterranean Cafe.
http://www.nouvellesvagues.com/english/music.html

Live Earth

The concert to help fight Global Warming, to last 24 spanning 7 continents organized by Al Gore and the same promoters of Live Aid and Live 8 finally got the ball rolling on the lineup for the biggest venues.
At London's Wembly Stadium:
BEASTIE BOYS
BLACK EYED PEAS
BLOC PARTY
CORINNE BAILEY RAE
DAMIEN RICE
DAVID GRAY
DURAN DURAN
FOO FIGHTERS
GENESIS
JAMES BLUNT
JOHN LEGEND
KEANE
MADONNA
PAOLO NUTINI
RAZORLIGHT
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
SNOW PATROL

For Giants Stadium:
AFI
AKON
ALICIA KEYS
BON JOVI
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
FALL OUT BOY
JOHN MAYER
KANYE WEST
KELLY CLARKSON
KT TUNSTALL
LUDACRIS
MELISSA ETHERIDGE
RIHANNA
ROGER WATERS
SHERYL CROW
SMASHING PUMPKINS (Reformed and Reunited)
THE POLICE

The concerts are to take place July 7 and the rest of the lineup for the other countries will be announced soon. Like Live 8, London of course got the better line up, if you can make it across the pond for the show, I suggest you do so. For more info head over to www.liveearth.org

Anniversary of Sgt. Pepper

With the worlds most famous Sargent turning 40 this year, the BBC is looking to celebrate the greatest album of all time with a special tribute concert featuring: Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs, The Fratellis, The Killers and many more to cover select tracks from The Beatles classic 1967 record. No word on what band is covering what track. The special will air June 2 on BBC2, good luck trying to hear it here across the pond.

Indy Watch

George Lucas and Co. are refusing to believe and give up hope that Sean Connery will not appear in the 4th Indiana Jones film, due out next year. Even though Connery is linked to star in the film, he insists he has no interest. Yet Lucas and Speilberg are "still trying" to get the screen legend to commit to the latest adventure.

Listen to New NIN

With the latest Nine Inch Nails record, Year Zero coming out in a few weeks. Trent Reznor has allowed fans to hear it NOW before it even hits shelves. This comes just a few days after Interscope records became infuriated with Reznor for deliberately leaking the full record on bit torrent sites. Anyway, Year Zero is here.. enjoy and prepare to get the shit scared out of you.

http://yearzero.nin.com/

Entourage

With the return of the coolest show of all time coming back to continue its third season, HBO's Entourage, here is a look at some of my favorite moments from the past couple seasons.

Nothing finer than having your favorite band an cast of characters join together.

Bob Sagets Rennasance


Johnny Drama getting "into" character while Ed Burns tries to Direct.

Movie of the Month - "The Road to Guantanamo"

For popular demand, many avid readers have been asking for me to write more on movies, this new feature is for them. Each month I will select a film that I think is important to see and worth my while to write about and for you to read. This month we will look at 2006's Docu-Drama The Road to Guantanamo directed by Micheal Winterbottom (24 Hour Party People, Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story) . Part Documentary, part narrative this film follows the true story of "The Tipton Three," three English Muslim men who were wrongfully accused as Taliban members during the U.S. led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. The film opens with the talking heads of the three friends and how they traveled to Pakistan to see their friend get married. Before getting married the men make a trip to Afghanistan to see the situation going on and to do some soul searching. After staying in the war torn country they decide they have had enough and want to get back, they link up with a driver who unknowingly had connections to terrorist cells and uses the men as members of the terrorist organization. While the friends think they are getting out of the country they get raided by U.S. military and are captured and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and are tortured and treated as terrorists, while the innocent men where just in the wrong place at the wrong time. While the pain and suffering these friends endure, all they can do is bond, pray and try to keep their spirits up. Please note the torture sequences are some of the most devastating and brutal things I have witnessed on screen. Its a story from those whose voice has been repressed by the prejudice and accusations brought forth to their culture by a select few. This had to have been one of the most thought provoking and important films I have ever seen, and anyone living in a post 9/11 World needs to see this film.

Underrated Classic - Oasis "Be Here Now"

What happens when you take the biggest band in the U.K. and rising stars in the U.S. and give them a mansion, millions of dollars and massive amounts of cocaine? You get this months Underrated Classic, Oasis Be Here Now. Upon its release this was the record to make or break the brothers Gallagher and Co., after riding the success of two highly acclaimed and best selling records 1994's Defiantly Maybe and 1995's (What's The Story) Morning Glory? The men from Manchester brought the second British invasion and now needed to capitalize on it. 1997 saw the release of Be Here Now, the fastest selling album in the U.K. ever. It's an album full of poppy rock anthems, drug endued lyrics and a special guest appearance by Capt. Jack Sparrow himself, Johnny Depp on slide guitar on the track "Fade In-Out." The issue with Be Here Now is what could the band do next? It was looked at as a critical failure, for the first time the biggest band in the U.K. herd something negative. However, like many of the underrated classics we have looked it, Be Here Now is not all that bad. Due to its critical failure the band hates it and it shows by having no tracks appear on the bands 2006 best of compilation Stop the Clocks. In an interview with Q Magazine last year Noel had this to say about the record "It's the sound of 5 men in a studio, on coke, not giving a fuck. There's no bass to it at all, don't know where that went. The songs are too long and the lyrics are shit and for every millisecond Liam is not singing, there's a guitar riff there in a Wayne's World style." But when looking at this record and hearing Noels quote it just sums up what Oasis is all about...not giving a fuck. Breaking this record down its a pure take on 70's rock and roll, and in actuality some of the bands best tracks appear on this record. Songs like the heartfelt "Don't Go Away," the Rolling Stones inspired "Magic Pie," and the neo-British Invasion anthem "Stand By Me." All in all, its not the most bizarre record they have ever done (See 2002's Heathen Chemistry) nor is it the worst (See 200's Standing on the Shoulder of Giants) but it is certainly the most interesting, there are sounds and things going on with Be Here Now that I am sure the band was or even still is aware of.

Bloc Party-Live on Letterman

Seriously, I love this band. Here is Bloc Party performing "The Prayer," from last weeks taping of Letterman.