It’s been a great week of music news! Now I may not have as many stories for you as in the past (aw hell you don’t look at them anyway) but the ones I do have are pretty interesting.
It goes something like this: Marilyn Manson + Jason Mraz + Santigold + Beth Ditto = ridiculousness. And that’s not all. Pretty much every story I’m bringing you today has a touch of crazy. I love it!
Let’s see. This week I’m going to give you the news in a ridic-o-meter from 1-10. Starting with the least ridiculous…. if that’s possible.
Actually …. it is.
(Sidenote … was just searching for a picture on Google of ‘ridiculous’ and … so much fun! Have you done it yet? Do it now.)
1. The movie 500 Days of Summer is coming out soon, along with their incredibly indie/hip soundtrack. The only reason this made my list is because a) I’m excited and b) the ridiculousness lies in the narrator of the trailer.
1: The National are going to be working on yet another visual project (they’re friends/contributors of the great Yellow Bird Project) but this time with Matthew Ritchie, named “The Long Count”. The Dessner brothers will be given a 12-piece orchestra (mom, I’ve always wanted little men playing violins!) and will be creating pieces based on ideas such as the 1976 World Series and a Mayan myth. Wait… this story just got a little more ridiculous! Let’s bump it up to 2.
Here’s another 2. It’s pretty harmless and actually cute, but … Stars’ Torquil Campbell welcomed his new baby daughter into the world the other day. And what is her name? Ellington Beatrice Pepper Campbell. What on earth will her nickname be?!
Alright — there were two very bittersweet posts from NPR this week. First, (ridic-o-meter says “2″) there’s a really good feature on Beth Ditto and how she’s seen in the public eye. It’s sad, it’s proud, it’s nostalgic! It’s a lot of emotions rolled into one blog. Phew! But what’s more sad is their grief-post (ridc-o-meter “10″ – for the subject is near and dear to all of us music-lovers) on the death of the music press. Two music magazines bit the dust this week – JazzTimes and Performing Songwriter.
2: Grizzly Bear, who are actually playing in Toronto tonight (and I’m dying inside that I don’t have a ticket, DYING!) had an impressive accomplishment this week when their album Veckatimest debut at Number 8 on the Billboard charts! I’m happy for them. Even though the chart is infiltrated with pop music (which only makes me think of this now).
Okay… getting into more ridiculous stories now.
4: Form 696 in London is here to stay, says policeman! I know this story well because I wrote an article about it when I was in London, and I know how ridiculously people are taking it over there. OUTRAGE. Form 696 is a form that was passed that has police regulating events/big concerts in London. Apparently, said a policeman to me, it’s not even about smaller concerts – which is what everyone thinks it’s about. Anyways, there’s probably a lot of uselessly angry people in London right now fuming about this story. Sigh. Makes me miss that city a bit.
5: The amazingness that is the Sasquatch dancing guy went viral this week. Well deserved. Now let me get out my slow clap.
6: Santigold, who Sasquatch man was dancing to, is involved in a little bit of a scuffle in the music industry. Turns out her label is attempting to block a mixtape that was made in the States devoted to “Southern rap vocals”. Sigh – let the artist love the South! Kidding…
7: James Murphy decided to explain everything he went through at the MTV Awards…. and it was great. “i, as a person, am oddly frightened (i’m saying frightened here–not intimidated) by jim carey.”
7: The Grammys have ditched the “Best Polka Album” award from their roster. Thats… too bad. No really. They’ve also ‘merged’ a lot of awards. Really … talent should not be merged! This also kind of relates to that Southern mixtape a little bit. Also – what am I SERIOUSLY going to laugh at while watching the Grammys now? Oh wait …
9: Jason Mraz decided to go all all-mighty and preach about how much toilet paper you use. Seriously? This is almost as bad as every song title on his first album. You know what I mean.
9: Michael Jackson is upset that he’s playing 50 shows in London. He says he probably won’t be well enough to do them all. Hm … I think something’s missing. Oh wait … right …. common sense!
and last but not least, news from this morning. A good ol 10: Marilyn Manson cries after being denied drugs. Oh… so good! This could haunt him for a while, and I never thought anything could haunt that man. (Also inside the story, the NME reports “Will.i.Am will never make another solo album …. shame. Wait… he has a solo album?! Oh god… and Britney Spears wants to meet the Queen. LET HER.)
Alright, that’s that! Hope you enjoyed your weekly dose of RIDICULOUS.
Should the ridic-o-meter stay? Do you want to defend Manson? Discuss TV music awards? Or maybe just argue a little bit about Form 696? Well then, you have a few options! You can email Jess at roundletters@gmail.com, tweet her @comfortinwords or just leave a comment in the comment section.
