News

Google: Still Fighting the Good Fight Against Chinese Censorship

Andrew Limbong :: Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 2:45 pm

Under the shadow of the Chinese government, Google has been cleverly circumventing the Internet censorship laws of the land. With the Chinese government calling Googleâ€™s ways of automatically redirecting users to its Hong Kong website “unacceptable” and their license up for review and renewal on Wednesday, it looked like the service would be exiting the country. But it looks like the sly search engine has found a way to appease the government and maintain its operation as an uncensored search engine for the Chinese people. MORE »

Watch: Holy Ghost! Remixes LCD Soundsystem

Andrew Limbong :: Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 11:45 am

Thanks to the folks over at [adult swim], Holy Ghost!â€™s remix of LCD Soundsystemâ€™s “Drunk Girls” have got a pretty rad video. Itâ€™s an interesting take on the song, in that it has nothing to do with the song, which was apparently their intent. Itâ€™s crust punks, by way of Mad Max, jousting on bikes! MORE »

Neutral Milk Hotel vs Phish

Andrew Limbong :: Monday, June 28th, 2010 6:50 pm

At a recent concert at the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Maryland, Phish was filmed covering Neutral Milk Hotelâ€™s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea,” with hilarious results. If the original song was a sobering eulogy for a certain specific Holocaust victim, Phishâ€™s version seems to be in commemoration of elevator music. The guitar solo at the end is particularly dicey, which is actually the one area Phish are supposed to excel at. Watch how Phishâ€™s version stacks up against the original… MORE »

Watch: Northside Festival, Titus Andronicus

Andrew Limbong :: Monday, June 28th, 2010 12:45 pm

Thereâ€™s something to be said about the type of person that a state like New Jersey breeds. Thereâ€™s the obvious stereotype thatâ€™s been proliferated by the Jersey Shore crew, but then thereâ€™s also the underdog archetype that New Jersey does so well. Upholding the tradition of Americana-inspired rock nâ€™ roll from New Jersey, of which Bruce Springsteen is God, punk rockers Titus Andronicus showed on Saturday that theyâ€™ve got the chops to be the best thing New Jersey has produced since the Boss himself. Continue reading to watch. MORE »

Explosions in the Sky Adds Two North American Dates

Andrew Limbong :: Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 3:15 pm

The beautifully epic instrumental quartet Explosions in the Sky have announced two dates preceding their appearance at All Tomorrowâ€™s Parties (New York). Some bad news, though. These will be their only shows in North America in 2010, so catch them if you can. Last time I saw them live, people around me were tearing up at how awesome they were. Keep reading for the dates. MORE »

Eliot Spitzerâ€™s New CNN Show

Andrew Limbong :: Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 2:00 pm

In a fairly shameless act of ratings-grabbing, CNN announced today that former New York State Governer Eliot Spitzer will be a co-host on a CNN “roundtable discussion” style show. Apparently defacing yourself publicly, sleeping with hookers, and ruining your marriage will get you a show on a 24-hour news network. MORE »

Oprah: Handicapped Hater?

Andrew Limbong :: Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 1:45 pm

There have been a lot of rumblings on the Internet lately about Oprah and her hatred for the handicapped. What could ever cause such vitriol to circulate about a good-natured talk show host whom everybody loves? MORE »

Rape Prevention at the World Cup

Andrew Limbong :: Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 6:00 pm

As masses gather in South Africa for the World Cup, it seems like a fine time to address a serious problem that has been ailing women there for some time. Itâ€™s called the “Rape-aXe,” and it can potentially save your soul. MORE »

Michael Jackson Made $1 Billion Since Dying

Andrew Limbong :: Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 12:00 pm

Itâ€™s been about one year since the death of Michael Jackson. All of us who felt like we lost a little bit of ourselves, a little chunk of our soul, once the King of Pop passed, have recovered and moved on. Or maybe not. MORE »

Teenage Fanclub Embark on North American Tour

Andrew Limbong :: Monday, June 21st, 2010 7:00 pm

Teenage Fanclub, who have been relatively quiet since the release of their last album Man-Made back in 2005, are taking a break from European Festivals and gracing American shores with a month long tour across North America supporting their latest release, Shadows. Starting September 22, the tour includes a show with Belle and Sebastian at the Williamsburg Waterfront in Brooklyn, an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on the 28th, and two shows with Merge labelmates Superchunk and Telekinesis in Seattle and Portland come October.

Being fairly seclusive Scotsmen, these guys donâ€™t seem to like touring too much outside of Europe, so catch them wherever you can. With the rate at which theyâ€™ve been releasing new material, who knows when theyâ€™ll tour again? And if you happen to live in the Pacific Northwest, you are unbelievably lucky. Haters of hooky pop and fun need not apply. MORE »

Bear in Heaven Releasing Remix Album and Touring Like a Beast

Andrew Limbong :: Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 5:30 pm

Brooklyn-based band Bear in Heaven hit it big last year when Pitchfork dropped a “Best New Music” tag on their album Beast Rest Forth Mouth. Now theyâ€™ve decided to expand Â on the album by rereleasing it via Hometapes, and adding an entire remix disc, making it into a double album monster. MORE »

Them Crooked Vultures Announce Benefit Shows for Eagles of Death Metal Bassist

Andrew Limbong :: Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 4:00 pm

The fine folks that make up Them Crooked Vultures have announced two benefit shows, one in L.A. and one in London, in order to raise money for Eagles of Death Metal bassist Brian Oâ€™Connor, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.

The London show is on July 5, at the Brixton 02 Academy. The presale begins tomorrow, here. Keep your eyes open for details on the L.A. show.

N.A.S.A Remix Album Coming Out. Sick Album Art.

Andrew Limbong :: Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 3:15 pm

The hip-hop duo N.A.S.A. (North America/South America) is set to digitally release a remix album called The Big Bang on June 30. Theyâ€™ve got a long list of remixers to put their own spin on tracks off of the feature-heavy The Spirit of Apollo, including Steve Aoki, DJ Chernobyl, among others. Theyâ€™re also including two of their own original, unreleased tracks on the album. Album art to follow. MORE »

Dance Party: The Dan Deacon Ensemble at Red Hook Last Night

Andrew Limbong :: Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 1:50 pm

Photo via BrooklynVegan.

The Dan Deacon Ensemble played a hugely fun set last night at Red Hook as a part of the City Parks Foundationâ€™s SummerStage series last night. He started his set by telling everyone to count down from 40. Of course, everyone complied. As the audience hit 0, we were treated to glorious synth noises and raging drum beats, from the 14-piece ensemble on stage. MORE »

Mogwai to Hold Public Screenings of their Concert Film, Burning.

Andrew Limbong :: Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 3:00 pm

The post-rock quintetÂ Mogwai have gotten themselves into a concert film, calling it Burning. To nobodyâ€™s surprise, itâ€™s in black and white. From the looks of it, the starkly depressing, but oddly uplifting, cinematography of the film fits the band perfectly. Fans will surely appreciate.

The movie comes out on August 24th, compiled with a live album called Special Moves, but theyâ€™re also holding public screenings throughout the country. MORE »