M.I.A. Takes A Well Deserved Break

Over the last few days, since M.I.A.’s announcement of her European tour’s cancellation, word has been bouncing about the interweb of the MC’s probable back-out of the Bonnaroo Music + Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. Rumors flocked around about the artist’s fatigue and exhaustion, which it sounds like was bound to catch up with her eventually, after delivering countless performances of what has come to be known as one of this generation’s most exciting live acts. Well, M.I.A. DID make it to the festival yesterday (reflective dressed back up dancers and all) and during her performance, announced formally that, “This is my last show” and “I’m glad I’m spending it with all my hippies.” Most are speculating that the break is indeed a “break”, but there are sources that are claiming the Bonnaroo performance as her “last gig ever.” Regardless, Maya has recently admitted to have been writing new materiel while on tour, and vowed that her departure from the stage will not keep her out of the studio, saying, “At the end of the day, I’m here, you know.” This break conveniently comes only 3 weeks after the engagement between our neon spandex’d heroine & Benjamin Brewer of the relatively unknown band The Exit, who are actually pretty good.

Rest up, hoe.

The Incredible Hulk Is Not A Sequel

Okay, I was starting to think that I might be going insane, or just plain ol’ making shit up again. So, there is another Hulk movie coming out on June 13th, yet it has no relation at all to the Hulk film released in 2003, which sucked just as bad as I’m sure this one will. I have no clue how the fact that this film had already been made got passed the thousands of educated people it requires to create and distribute a movie, but I’m pretty sure that everyone (like myself) has been wandering around, bumping into shit, totally off-kilter, fighting away a disturbing sense of deja vu, thinking that they might just be going mad, but being too embarrassed to say aloud, “didn’t this already happen?”. I’m almost positive that half way through production someone must’ve turned to the director, holding up a dvd cover, asking, “should we just keep going?”. Not to mention the fact that The Incredible Hulk is just sorta gay–definitely not worth of back-to-back remakes. And even in the last one, did they ever explain how his shorts grow and shrink with his body? What are we supposed to be feeling as we watch a Hulk movie anyway? What am I supposed to be shouting at the screen, “yea! This guy can’t control his emotions! I’m SO into this!”. It’s just not as masculine as his veiny, roided chest would lead us to believe. I’m almost tired of this comic book movie genre anyway. At least the Marvel ones. Unfortunately the Spawn movie sucked so hard that Image Comics most likely burnt all their bridges to Hollywood. Otherwise I know that I wouldn’t be the only one eagerly anticipating a Gen¹³ movie. I was into Youngblood too, but I think all their costumes would just come across as being uber flamboyant on screen. Jim Lee was always a fan of that open-topped face mask kind of getup.

I guess the thing that triggered this post for me was that throughout the interwebbing blogs, there are “herds of nerds” that are literally FREAKING OUT because commoners such ourselves are making the misconception of this Hulk release being a possible sequel to the ‘03 film, when in reality, it’s just a very untimely waste of millions of dollars. So, our bad! I’m not joking. People are honest-to-god getting vicious about it. So, there it is–just to clarify, since before doing some minor research I seriously didn’t know if I was losing marbles. Geek on, brethren!

I’m going to let Best Week Ever wrap it up from here.

“Ok boys, “The Hulk” stumbled out of the gate, but we’ve got five years to completely reinvent the franchise, so let’s cast a new lead actor, think of a screenplay, write it, and come up with a concept for how we want to shoot the film that makes everyone forget about all that ridiculous Ang Lee crap in the first one.

[FIVE YEARS PASS]

All right, we’ve got Edward Norton starring and contributing his own script, we’ve got Tim Roth and William Hurt co-starring, and we’ve got the dude from “Transporter 2″ directing, which isn’t ideal, but at least he’s done action and he’ll be eager to take a crack at a more mainstream big-budget flick. I believe we’ve tied up all the loose ends.

OH MY GOD, WE FORGOT TO MAKE THE HULK NOT LOOK LIKE A TOTAL PIECE OF SH*T!!!! Awwwwww maaahhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!”

Ra Ra Riot Signs To Barsuk Records

For as long as I can remember turning over my favorite albums covers to lurk on all the label info printed on the back, Barsuk Records has been an ominous force in the delivery of amazing music. The most recent weapon in Barsuk’s arsenal of indie muzique missles are a band that goes by the name Ra Ra Riot from NYC. You can peep their official site HERE, which is just as whimsical and quaint as you would imagine from a tightly strung together art-rock indie band. RRR’s music is pretty with a (dull) edge. You’ll find cello (omg how art/indie is that?!) & flute-esque chorus riffs over the quick tapping of Cameron Wisch–resident beat constructioneer. Okay, let’s be honest… Sometimes this shit can just be “too” happy for me. I suppose the aged voice of lead vocalist Wesley Miles is the band’s only salvation from the gag me with a spoon chipperness that is oh so apparent in much of the group’s music. The band is relatively new, having formed in early 2006, so kudos to any group of worthy assholes that lands a spot on a label of indie goddom such as the Seattle based record makers in question. One of the bandmates really needs to go through some horrifically bad drug problems. That should serrate the band’s otherwise butter knife edges. Peddle through all the links above and check it all out.

Ten Tracks I Love Mix Contest

Bushy (formerly captain OURTALK and great friend to DBDF) is having a little contest for DJs, via the Hollerboard. I entered and so should you! Send links to your uploaded mixes to Stephen. We’ve made it so simple for you. Just click all the links in this post. MAY THE BEST MIX WIN!

Here’s the skinny from the man himself.
“Here’s the deal - You can use any remix og edit accapella instrumentals of the tracks. I picked songs I felt mostly everyone should know and have or could find right away from DJ google. A good vibe for the first one. Keep it light and fresh, like spring. Here’s the bonus–you can add one track but try to keep with the feel of the set!”

Tracks for the contest are as follows:
Burial - Archangel
Pryda - Muranyi
Pete Heller - Simpler
Lifelike and Kris Menace - Discopolis
Ame - Rej
Roykopp - What Else Is There
Frankie Knuckles - The Whistle Song
Syke & Sugastarr - No Love Lost
Dahlback - Everywhere
Gusto - Disco Revenge

As a bonus, you can check out my entry HERE.

Upcoming Coldplay Album Pre-Review & Rant

Coldplay has been good to me. As a white male, I’m genetically required to at least harbor some appreciation for the U2-esque orchestra accompanied, tortured-soul, love ballads of Chris Martin & the boys. With 2 amazing albums under their belt, plus 1 half decent one, and Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends slated for an international released of June 17th, which so far (based on the two tracks that have been pre-released) sounds disturbingly like lazy karaoke, I’m wondering if I should start looking for a new band to break up with my gf to. As a good white male friend of mine said, “maybe we just have to see them live”. This could be the case. And maybe they have chosen only mediocre songs to tease us with. Ya know–save the meat for the main course kind of thing. For those in my hood, you’ll be happy/sad to know that the band has made no plans to stop in Southern California while on tour in July. I’m suspecting a last minute sell out at Staple’s Center. What happened to the angelic piano of ‘Trouble’? Or the heart break of Parachute’s (teasingly short) title track? I used to fall asleep to ‘In My Place’ all the time. Musically speaking, the organ in that song is impeccably gorgeous. But it’s been many moons since we watched the sun set and listened to these Brits weep their limey little hearts out. They’ve fallen off and since been picked up by bros that aren’t afraid to cry, and as a result are (sadly) bigger than ever. How do I know? Well I read Kanye’s blog, duh! This is also how I found out about Oasis & The Postal Service. God bless band suggestions from 13 year olds who just bought their first Ipod. I guess this is how Kanye made all his money too. I feel it obvious to point out that their album titles have gotten progressively worse over time as well. Here’s the tracklist for Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.

01. Life in Technicolor
02. Cemeteries of London
03. Lost!
04. 42
05. Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love
06. Yes
07. Viva la Vida
08. Violet Hill
09. Strawberry Swing
10. Death and All His Friends

So, if you’re one of the 3 people that aren’t already tired of these 2 pre-releases, you can download them and judge for yourself by clicking HERE. We don’t even make you pre-order incase they are all just as bad.

The Helio Sequence Announces US Tour Schedule

After wrapping up quite a bit of European touring, Subpop’s The Helio Sequence have just posted dates for a full run of shows starting on the east coast on May 14th, and concluding June 17th at Slim’s in San Francisco. For the locals, all California dates will be accompanied by boy/girl instrumental duo Talkdemonic, who happen to be a personal fav of yours truly.

Check out the full list of tour dates HERE.

Re:Coachella

This past weekend in Indio has left me with a handful of awe-worthy memories, some overplayed tunes stuck in my head, sore feet, and the feeling that I sure would be pissed had I paid to get in. But I can’t be completely negative. There was a cluster fuck of amazing artist who blessed us with their music… Even if they did the year previous as well. And I can give thanks that I didn’t have yet another near death experience as I did in 2007. I can even go as far as to say that Kraftwerk wasn’t as weird (or interesting) as I thought they’d be. But how the hell do so many people make it through the weekend camping out in the literally blistering heat? Had we not had a pool just 5 minutes away to jump into I’m certain that I just might’ve died… Or come home after just a few hours.

It wasn’t all depressingly sweaty and strenuous however. We did get the pleasure of zoning out to St. Vincent & Portishead. And if you really need me to give you the run down on Prince, then all I can say is “Youtube that ish asap!” ‘In The Arms Of An Angel’ nearly made me forget that I had spent $80 on beer and a lemonade that tasted like cancer. M.I.A. (& her seizure inducing visuals) gave us all what we came for, but someone should really tell her to ease off the gunshot samples. I felt like I was at Virginia Tech for 40 minutes. And what can I really say about Hot Chip’s performances that you don’t already know? This was the only act that I had seen the year previous, but went back for more. As far as my math goes, it’s Hot Chip + desert = good times. At one point I even hoisted a friend onto my shoulders and pretended we were in Cancun on some MTV spring break show circa 1998 (minus Dave Holmes and Birkenstocks). I feel it necessary to add that my friend, myself, and the surrounding 20 lunatics were all topless at this point. For those of you who don’t know me, this is an extremely hilarious visual since I’m a pale 125lbs. Technically, I shouldn’t be lifting anything above my knees, but the bacon I ate that morning must’ve boosted my strength. Hulk status!

I peaced out Sunday morning, and headed back to cooler ground. I hear that Sean Penn got blitzed and tried to convince the sea of young people to (and I say this with extreme embarrassment and humility) join a caravan with him & (are you ready for this?) Everclear, which would travel to New Orleans and back… The purpose of said trip was never explained or even hinted at. I also heard that Roger Waters was amazing… And went on forever… And ever.