Sorry about the lack of column last week. I decided that the upcoming Mario Kart special was more important to get done… and since Monday is really the only time I have to write, I’d rather do nothing than half-ass something. I have also given the Saturday Wrestling News position back to Flea as I’d rather read Flea than myself, and would also rather have my Friday evenings/Saturday mornings free to sleep in.
So now I’m going to be dedicating a bit more time to the music and movie section, and Grut and I will be moving the Grut Vs Daniels article to various spots around the site. The first feature, Grut vs Daniels: Matrix Reloaded is due out later today or early tomorrow to coincide with the release of the new movie.
Lots of stuff on the horizon here at 411, including 411Black, which is set for release around Thanksgiving. Right here on music (my columns, the plugs can go at the top), we got the News Release’s favorite writer, Aaron Cameron with Countdown to Resurrection, a ten part series looking at 2Pac Shakur.
Then, the new feature series that’s going to be spanning the next couple of months: Essentials. The gimmick is this… if each of the 411music writers only had 10 CDs they could take with them for the rest of their lives, which CDs would they be. I’m scheduled for sometime around mid-December. More on this story as it develops.
Mailbag
My buddy Doug: Could you please mention in your music column tomorrow that Fred Durst sucks and should try to avoid covers that he can’t even hit the notes on.
Consider it mentioned. Fred Durst remains the music celebrity most hated on by the News Release. However, I had made an effort not to mention him ever again, however for m’man Doug, I will break the self-imposed ban.
Epitaph cuts Staff
LA Based indie label Epitaph records has made the decision to cut 17% of it’s staff, which amounts to 7 of it’s 42 employees. Epitaph is home to such acts as Pennywise, Rancid, the Offspring, Bad Religion and a bunch of other bands that aren’t nearly as cool as the Dropkick Murphys… also on the label. The label insists this isn’t due to a downturn in business, but instead says it is trying to restructure by eliminating unnecessary and redundant positions. According to president Andy Kaulkin it is a simple measure to cut overhead.
Considering the band’s only major acts are Green Day and Offspring, I can’t believe they haven’t “restructured†before… a couple few times.
Dizzee Rascal
British Rapper Dizzee Rascal is ready to see his debut album Boy in Da Corner be released here in the US via Matador/XL Recordings. The album won the UK’s Mercury Music Prize, in September.
I don’t really find this particularly interesting, I just wanted you all to have the same thoughts I just had. That being someone rapping in a British accent.
Mario Sunshine Update
Sixty Stars. Rage-o-meter, on a scale of 1 – 100 is settling in right at about a 65. Basically because I have learned to turn it off before I get to pissed.
Sinead Who?
Sinead O’Conner, who is famous for ripping up a picture of the pope and for being the ugliest bald chick since any other bald chick is releasing what she said will be her final album. The 2 disc set is entitled She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty. OK, just the number of times I had to swap back and forth to type that raised the Rage-o-meter up another five points. Regardless, the set, released off Hummingbird Records is due out soon. The first disc contains a collection of demos and rarities, while the second disc is a live performance recorded in 2002 at Dublin’s Vicar St Venue.
For the six of you in the world that care about this story… that’s for you.
Big Screen Releases
Something being experimented with via Coldplay and Linkin Park is DVD Releases being premeired on the big screen. Coldplay’s new DVD “Coldplay Live 2003†was screened yesterday evening on various Regal Entertainment screens across the country. This will be followed by “Linkin Park Live in Texas†on November 17th. The one night only screenings include the entire set played by the band and a 40 minute tour documentary.
Now, I went to see Scary Movie 3 a couple of weeks ago and saw a poster for this Coldplay thing. I’m not a big fan of Coldplay, but I can’t see as where this is anything special. Why would anyone pay ten bucks to get a big screen showing of a DVD they can buy the following day for fifteen bucks? I mean, if the DVD was included in the price of admission, or even if you got a coupon for half off the DVD, I could understand it… but not just… “here’s ten bucks, I want to see the band perform on a big screen. It’s kind of almost not like a concert.â€
But, they’re giving a full go, after Linkin Park will be Avril Levine’s My World DVD. Whatever brigns the green, I guess… or, in the case of twenties, the green, peach, and purple.
Trying to stay Relevant
Since I already broke my self imposed Durst ban for the News Release this column, I wanted to include something lifted from Limp Bizkit’s Website. Durst posted the following:
“What up people!! It’s FD here. Just left rehearsal and we are doing a sick cover of one of my favorite artists on the Back2Basics tour. I would like one of you to be sure to get the best bootleg of it as possible!! I would like to put out a bootleg version of our performance in a live album and give whoever gets the best recording a producer credit on the album. It will probably say ‘Brought to you by…’
“And on the other end of things, I am gearing up for our next release. It’s gonna be a heavy one. Now that everyone has had a few minutes to live with [‘Results May Vary’] we think we can unleash a real single. It’s time to put our hearts where your eyes and ears are!! There is one thing we are sure of and that is that LIMP BIZKIT is a real f*cking rock band! Like or leave it. It’s time to show you what you’ve obviously forgotten!!! Get your ass out to the Back2Basics tour. The first show is in Vegas and I am stoked!! Vegas crowds are so f*cking dope!!!! See ya there. If not watch your back!!”
Does anyone else read that and wonder what in the hell the person that wrote it was thinking? I mean, come on. Was this throw in as many slang terms as we can think of to stay hip? What up, people? Give me a break. I mean, I know Durst is too big to write for his own site now, but Kee-rist… at least try to make it sound convincing for f*ck’s sake.
Evanescence Guitarist’s Walks Out?
Some problems in the Official Band of the News Release as Evanescence’s guitarist Ben Moody has walked out in the middle of their European tour. The guitarist and co-songwriter simply flew home without saying a word to anyone during a day off. The band was then left to play the rest of the dates of the tour without him. No one in the band is saying if he’s gone for good but Amy Lee, the other half of the band, was quoted as saying: You don’t do that to your band. You wouldn’t do that to your friends or your family. You don’t do that to anyone.
Apparently, this is not the first time Moody has done this, forcing the band to cancel tours in the past.
Got news for you Ben. I like your guitar work and I like your writing. However, Amy’s got the other half and, honestly, you ain’t what people are coming to see. They could exchange everyone in the band and, as long as she’s still there, people are gonna keep coming. Ain’t no one coming to an Evanescence show and saying “Awe f*ck, Ben’s not here… I want my money back.†Make your money and be happy or you’ll end up like the guys from No Doubt. Playing shit because the girl can do whatever the hell she wants.
Out Tomorrow
I’m excited to report that Sarah McLachlan, not seen with a disc of new material since 1997’s Surfacing drops Afterglow tomorrow. One of, I think, the most talented female performers in the world. The lead single, Fallen has been the most downloaded track on iTunes and the world is waiting to hear from her again.
Personally, I can’t wait… and hope to have a review up soon. McLachlan will be touring North America next summer and hopefully she will hit Montreal or, somewhere in NY.
In Other Reading
Four Reviews from Evocater. I don’t have the patience to link them all, so just check the Reviews Page.
Across the Pond by Phil McCann.
In Conclusion
I should be back later this week with a review of the Sarah Disc. Till then, enjoy the rest of the news staff.
