With the recent (successful) landing of the Phoenix Mars Lander all up in the news, I’ve had Mars on the brain tons lately. In fact, I nerded out and downloaded an animation (from here) of the entry, descent and landing of the Phoenix Mars Lander and added a Black Moth Super Rainbow song to it. It’s pretty sweet. Check it out over on EARF… Mars fever! Let’s get people on that planet already. “Come on, Cohaagen! You got what you want. Give those people air!” Read more
Last night ABC aired the season finale of their hit show LOST. Per usual, fans of the series were given answers to many long-standing questions and then, ultimately, were left with a slew of new questions to ponder in the months leading up to the first episode of Season 5. One thing, however, is certain: the producers dig some late ‘80/early ’90s rock. Check out the Pixies song that featured prominently in last night’s finale posted below/after the jump.
In addition, click through to read my postulations about some of the big unknowns currently perplexing LOST fans and please post your own theories and thoughts in the comments. However, be warned: SPOILERS ARE CONTAINED WITHIN: don’t read this post if you haven’t seen the episode. Forward at your own risk… Read more
Look at poor Akshay Buddiga faint. This infamous clip from the Ghost of Scripps National Spelling Bees Past should be a warning to the precocious youngsters battling it out in Washington D.C. today (the Semifinals are on NOW on ESPN and the Finals are on tonight on ABC at 8:00pm): this competition is INTENSE.
Pitfalls and perils await kiddies; best to train hard and be prepared for ANY situation that may face you this afternoon. Like when the judges start throwing curveballs and present those deceptive words whose pronunciations bear little to no bearing on their actual spelling, stuff like that.
The disconnect between pronunciation and spelling is harsh. That’s why EF is here to give you a quick primer while you refuel on juice boxes and cookies in the Comfort Room. So in the off chance they hit you with a tricky band name during the Finals tonight, we’ve got you covered.
The Top 8 Potential Stumbling Blocks. Beware!
8. The judge says a word that sounds like “oh nye duh”; correct spelling is O-N-E-I-D-A: Oneida
7. The next word sounds like “bohn eevair”; correct spelling is B-O-N I-V-E-R: Bon Iver
6. The next one sounds like “luckily”; too easy right? Right. The correct spelling is L-Y-K-K-E L-I: Lykke Li
Congratulations, you’re down to the final 5. Grab another Capri Sun and continue your training…
5. This word sounds like “soof-yan stevens”; it’s one of the most mispronounced names in indie rock. That’s right, the correct spelling is S-U-F-J-A-N S-T-E-V-E-N-S: Sufjan Stevens
4. The next word sounds like “shoe shoe”; correct spelling is X-I-U X-I-U: Xiu Xiu
3. The final three. Okay, this word sounds like “lay sah vee fahv”; correct spelling is L-E-S S-A-V-Y F-A-V: Les Savy Fav
2. The judge says this one very quickly and it sounds like “sih ur rose”; correct spelling is S-I-G-U-R R-Ó-S: Sigur Rós
1. Your last challenge. The judge adjusts his glasses and says this word has a few different pronunciations. He first says something that sounds like “chik chik chik” and then “pow pow pow” before following those up with three clicking noises made with his tongue on the roof of his mouth. Tricky. The correct spelling is !-!-!: !!!
So there you go, you’re all set to dominate the competition today and tonight. Go forth and…wait, what’s that you say? The judges pick actual words and not band names for the bee? Oh….you may be screwed then. Sorry about that.
Swap out your boring strum bar with a real guitar string via this Rock Band mod kit
Watch Beach House play a song they just wrote while on a train in Norway
Yahoo! Music considers the 25 Most Rockin’ Guitar Riffs of all time
Steven Tyler went to rehab to find a “safe environment” where he could recover from foot surgery
David Cook has a record-breaking 11 new songs debuting on America’s Hot 100 singles chart
My Morning Jacket confirmed to play Toronto’s North By Northeast festival
Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett commissioned to do the two-minute title sequences for BBC’s broadcast of the Olympics
Sammy Hagar thinks his new band Chickenfoot - which also includes Chad Smith, Michael Anthony, and Joe Satriani - is as good as Led Zeppelin
“Bucky Little Wing” by Islands which clocks in at 9:38
“Bucky Little Wing” is a hidden track on the first Islands album Return to the Sea. Hidden in the puzzle above are 15 words pulled directly from the lyrics to the song. The words can be positioned forwards/backwards, up/down, and diagonally. If you’d like a hint, click HERE for a list of all 15 words you are looking for. Good luck! Read more
EAR FARM favorites Dead Confederate and All the Saints are finally in New York City tonight playing a show together at Pianos! Be sure to check out both bands as they’re undoubtedly going to blow the roof clean off that mother. For a preview of what to expect, check out the video (above) that we grabbed in Austin of Dead Confederate opening for R.E.M. during South by Southwest. Seriously, watch it. You get to see that at Pianos! Unreal.
More goodies after the jump… Read more
NME investigates the worst album covers ever
Sunset Rubdown do a Black Cab Session
Wired takes a look at some of the best new animated videos out there
Malawi court approves Madonna adoption
Cracked has 7 reasons why the new Kid Rock song may be the worst tune ever
R. Kelly’s defense claiming music critic Jim DeRogatis is guilty of child pornography for handing over Kelly’s sex tape to the cops????
Sony Music taps into its photo archive as a resource to use during hard times
So, Kanye is being all Kanyey and has just released a second eog-flippin’ video for “Flashing Lights”… the first one was directed by Spike Jonze. It was pretty raw. I think I like this one directed by Bill Pollock a lot more. Check it out below, as well as a few other brand new vids from El Jezel, Black Kids, and Cut Copy…
“Flashing Lights” by Kanye West (above)
Read more
Peru, Chile fight over potato’s origin: The historic rivalry between Chile and Peru has taken a new form as the two countries argue over the origin of the potato. Read more/above photo from HERE.
Listen: “Mashed Potato Time” by Dee Dee Sharp
View more offbeat news/bumper music matches after the jump… Read more
Band: These United States
From: Washington, D.C.
Sound: Delicately dense portraits and hyper-literate lullabies to the American soul and spirit
Similar Artists: M. Ward, Andrew Bird, Iron & Wine, Bon Iver
Listen Now: “First Sight”
Stereogum does a premature evaluation of Weezer’s forthcoming Red Album
Pick the song that will be inescapable by this time next month over at Idolator’s 2008 Summer Jam Tournament
A Brooklyn man convicted of music piracy may face five years in prison
Smashing Pumpkins to celebrate their 20th anniversary with a tour and DVD
Check out Rainn Wilson’s Sasquatch blog over at Rolling Stone
Ratatat announce small tour with a stop at Music Hall of Williamsburg July 15th
MuxFind lets you search and discover on Muxtape
Rock Band stage kit - complete with fog machine and stage lights - to come out this August for Xbox 360
EAR FARM’s Three for Free: three EF approved, free and legal MP3s posted each week. This week - three songs from artists on Lujo Records. Click on the artist name to go to their site, click on the song name to listen to the song.
Listen:
Pomegranates - “Whom/Who”
Islands made their second appearance - and first as headliner - at Webster Hall this past Saturday evening and filled the cavernous space with an appropriately large-sounding set. From the muscular opening riff of the show (and album) opener “The Arm” onwards… Read more
Prefix has a 3-part “illustrated review” of the recent Black Moth Super Rainbow/Subtle show at the Rock & Roll Hotel in D.C.
The Streets play first UK show in over a year
KEXP has a review of Day 2 of Sasquatch, and so does the A.V. Club
Yale gives Paul McCartney honorary music degree
Build your own mini music publication with Idiomag’s new widget
MuchMusic counts down the 12 most powerful musicians of today