The Saturday Morning Car-Tune News Report 08.01.09: Cool Kids Never Have The Time

Posted by Lucas Wesley on 08.01.2009

A response to angry Smashing Pumpkins fans, new music from Warren G, Simian Mobile Disco, Jay Reatard, Willie Nelson, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and the Pope, Bob Dylan the painter, Beck keeps updating his website, Charles Manson and Phil Spector make unlikely bedfellows, Peter Hook regroups and more. Check out what we're talking about in the Saturday Morning Car-Tune News Report!

Welcome to Week 6 of the Saturday Morning Car-Tune News!

We're gonna do things a little bit out of order this week, but fear not, everything is hear. However, due to some spacing issues, Star Power is going first, then the news. Not a huge change, but it's something.

What with my current goings on and learning that Jack Bruce apparently received death threats for publicly saying that Led Zeppelin sucked, originally I was thinking about the possibility of doing a Star Power on fanaticism and loyal defense of bands and artists. Unfortunately, the best I could do there was compile a list of artists I saw to have the most fanatical, crazy fan bases: The Grateful Dead, Tori Amos, The Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails. Of course, there are also your classic rock sacred cows and all that, but there isn't much to say there. So that idea was scrapped.

Later, an interview with Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo wherein Thurston talks about how he and Neil Young shared Randy Bachman as an influence got me thinking about unlikely influences. However, that was a bit too open ended and was equally listy, and I don't really know who Randy Bachman is aside from the fact that the interviewer found it interesting, so I didn't have much to work with there either.

Then, I was just informed that Hell's Kitchen has returned for its sixth season and is already three episodes in! So I had to take a three-hour break from thinking and catch up on hulu.

Ultimately, I decided that I would reformat Star Power a little bit and throw it at the front, using it to respond to my detractors. So here it is, folks. The first ever responsive Star Power.

Star Power

A few paragraphs ago, I mentioned "my current goings on." For those not in the know, a position for which I don't blame you, after five weeks, I finally got a big fan response, but I guess it wasn't the most positive kind. A lot of Smashing Pumpkins fans were upset at my throwaway comment, "Are the Smashing Pumpkins really worth the 2-300 dollar range? Or are they just greedy? And if it's the latter, what does that say about the Wu-Tang Clan, who I saw just last year for $35?" Someone even made a blog about it. Thanks to fellow writer C.A. Bell for pointing that out to me. Since this has extended far past the comment box, I feel it deserves a little attention (unlike the various comments I occasionally get for making fun of Trent Reznor).

First of all, let me say how honored I am. There are two primary reasons a person becomes a music writer. The first is that they enjoy music, but aren't good enough to play music. Sure, some music writers also play music, but if we're known as a writer, let's face some facts. The second reason is the same reason anyone would enter any kind of public business: the love of attention. Needless to say, I'm loving this attention. If only Billy himself commented, I might pass out.


The incriminating evidence!

Getting to the point, let me say I really have no problem with the Pumpkins or whatever they actually price and I was just using them as an example. It could just has easily have read Cruefest or Bruce Springsteen, which hopefully exemplifies both sides of the good and bad. I have no idea what any of these people charge for their tickets, it was just a random outrageous number.

The only reason I chose the Pumpkins was the fact that about a year ago, maybe two, there was a video where Billy and the gang were playing a cover of "Everything Is Beautiful," which Billy used as a segue allowing him to complain to the crowd about the meaning of alternative and various other things, attacking their critics. I don't mean to knock it, I just don't really remember everything he said, so I'm being vague. However, at one point a member of the crowd is given the microphone, and he defensively yells "I paid 300 dollars for these tickets and it was the best night of my life." Now, in hindsight, I realize he could have meant several tickets (although when someone asks "how much are tickets?" you do reply in the singular, so I don't blame myself that much), and for all I know my memory is faulty and he said 100.

But the point remains that it was a relatively random name and an even more random number that didn't mean anything. There have been times where I was a huge Pumpkins fan and there have been times when I only liked various singles, Adore and Porcelina, but it remains that I am a fan of theirs. If they came to town, I might be willing to fork over a couple hundred bucks, considering proper timing and financial opportunity. I mean no affront to their fans and certainly no affront to them. It was an example, and a random, unchecked (not due to incompetence, but rather irrelevance) one at that. In fact, no more than two columns ago, I was defending Billy and his use of the Pumpkins name! Don't think too seriously about anything I write unless I give it more than a sentence, because it's mostly transitional. What I was saying was mostly bragging about the Wu-Tang Clan, anyway.



All in all, I'll try not to mention the Smashing Pumpkins again outside of token Simpsons references. It's too much work.

Okay, so, that's out of the way. If you'd like me to respond to your personal complaint or grievance, please write about me at your blog and alert one of our other writers, who will in turn alert me. Or alert me personally or post in the comments or however you normally would, but I like the attention so. Anyway, on to the news!

The Regular News

- Son of a...oh, what are the odds?! The Smashing Pumpkins have debuted a new song at a tribute to fallen Seed, Sky Saxon. Lyrically inspired by Saxon, it's called "Freak," and is a slowish relatively soft number, in the vein of "Today," to name a comparative classic. You can find various versions on youtube and around the web; I'm not linking to any because the quality of fan cams varies too much for me to call any definitive. I like it, but I'm just some nameless music writer trying to bask in Corgan's fame by insulting him. Oh, wait, I said I like it. More on my opinions on the Pumpkins as the story develops.



- In perhaps the most bizarre story I've ever read, now that Phil Spector has been transferred to Corcoran State Prison, a certain other inmate is looking for his musical chops to help him revitalize his long struggling music career. Charles Manson. Apparently, a guard handed Phil a note asking for his help. And Phil called it creepy. Phil Spector. The man pictured above. Called it creepy. If this actually results in an album (it likely won't because Spector's publicist has been vocal about Spector's fears about Manson, but Manson has released several from prison as is, by means I don't fully understand, so I suppose it's somehow possible), it will certainly have one of the craziest stories in music.

- The latest opus of Willie Nelson has a release date: August 25. This might be old news, I'm not sure. By my count, this makes Willie's third this year, the second of all new music. After his Western Swing album with Asleep at the Wheel, American Classic appears to be in the Stardust vein, with such classic pop songs as The Nearness of You, Fly Me To The Moon and Baby, It's Cold Outside. As a huge fan of Stardust, I'm excited but hesitant, since he's made plenty of attempts at recreating Stardust that never quite reach that album's peak.



- The world's cutest ukulele player, Kate Micucci has released a new song for the film Bart Got A Room, in which she co-stars. The song is called "It's Time To Get Laid," and is her usual cheeky, funny, adorable style. I don't think I need to tell you what it's about. As always, it has the catchiest chorus this side of manufactured pop, and it proves once again that the ukulele is the best instrument ever. William H. Macy (also in the film, presumably in a bigger role) guest stars. At least half of the reason I bothered mentioning this was the need of an excuse to post that picture.

- Bob Dylan makes art and stuff. It's very expensive, naturally. As part of his "Drawn Blank Series," Dylan has unveiled a collection of drawings for your purchasing. The interest can check out the art here. I'm not an art critic, so I offer no criticism or thoughts.

- A few weeks ago, I gave you some news on the new album from Bad Lieutenant, the latest incarnation of Joy Division/New Order with the departure of Peter Hook. Now, I tell you what Hooky's up to: along with the bassists from The Stone Roses/Primal Scream (Mani) and The Smiths (Andy Rourke), Hook formed Freebass. The debut LP has a track list, but no title or release date. However, it's apparently near completion, so fans of the bass can start getting ready.



- Warren G, a worthy side note in the history of g-funk, has prepared his sixth album for a September 29 release. The album, called Tha G Files, features Snoop Dogg and Ray J, likely amongst others. I haven't heard a Warren G album since Regulate and didn't realize he was still regularly releasing them, but cool. Maybe he'll teach stepbrother Dre some work ethic.

- Jay Reatard, the busy singles machine, is keeping, uh, busy. First, he'll be touring record stores around the West coast. The shows will all be free and all ages. And mostly in California, which kind of leaves me and the three billion other people not in California feeling a tad left out, but what are we to do? He has the rest of us in mind, however, as he's also the subject of what's been called a short documentary, "Waiting For Something," by directors Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz. From the trailer, I'm guessing it's your typical rock doc, only with a little bit less pretension. So that's nice. It'll be available on MySpace August 4. Finally, his latest album, Watch Me Fall, will be available on vinyl August 4 and on CD August 18.

- The new Simian Mobile Disco is getting loaded with guest singers. Gruff Rhys, Alexis Taylor, Chris Keating, Beth Ditto, and now my favorite, Jamie Lidell. I've never been too impressed by SMD before, but with these talented guest stars (and at least in Jamie's case, apparently co-writers) might push them over to the exciting side. The album is called Temporary Pleasure, out August 18. The Lidell song, originally, awesomely titled "Disco Fascist" but now renamed to the less awesome "Off The Map," is available on Jamie's MySpace.

- Time for you weekly Beck website news. After the recent passing of choreographer Merce Cunningham, Beck has posted a couple of tribute videos, relating a story about how he used to life across the hall from Cunningham Studios when he first lived in New York. I always say Beck.com is where music goes to live, and that continues even in tributes to the dead.

- Ghostface Killah is prepping the world for his latest R&B infused album and Only Built 4 Cuban Lynx 2 with the release of a new mixtape: RNB Fish. People interested in the new direction Ghost is taking and fans in constant need of new Wu alike can check it out here. In other Wu news, Raekwon has hyped his own album by debuting a new song, "House of Flying Daggers," with Deck, Ghost and Meth, allegedly produced by the late J Dilla. You can find it around.



- According to The Guardian website, there's a hot new artist with his debut album not far away. Pope Benedict XVI. The album is called Alma Mater and will have a rush release November 30. Some proceeds will go to underprivileged children. The word "some" there is a little odd, don't you think? It's the Pope! Shouldn't it be all? The album will feature some sung prayers (presumably hymns) in various languages, along with some modern classical compositions. I'm oddly curious, but I love oddities like singing Popes and stuff.

- It was my friend's birthday this week. As a present, he asked me to mention Iron Maiden in my column. I don't know of any recent Maiden news, but ask and ye shall receive.

Farewell Song

1963! And what a fitting song we have this year. Dedicating to all of my favorite Smashing Pumpkins fans, this song is a break up song of the highest caliber. It has also been described by it's songwriter as "a statement that maybe you can say to make yourself feel better...as if you were talking to yourself." Infinitely covered, the song is in fact partially based on an old folk standard by Paul Clayton, as was the tradition. The song is a classic and pretty much no one on Earth would argue that, and it stands to me as the defining moment in lyricism by one of the world's all time greatest and most legendary lyricists. The lyricist is Bob Dylan, the song is "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right."

Album of the year: the greatest live album of all time, James Brown's Live at the Apollo. I was going to onomatopoeia the interludes the band plays, but I can't type that fast.

That's all for this week, folks. I hope I didn't incite anyone into a blog creating rage this week, but if I did I'm sure I'll address it next week. I will now leave you with suggested titles for your blogs complaining about my article:

Dre's work ethic?
More like Kate Mi-Cooties! Dent May is the cutest ukulele player!
"No Recent Iron Maiden News" and other lies
Phil Spector: creepy?
Singing Popes
Tori Amos fans are not crazy and it's sexist to say that they are
"Off The Map" > "Disco Fascist"
Randy Bachman is the greatest guitarist ever!

Hope to see you all again next week for another thrilling edition of The Saturday Morning Car-Tune News Report!