411mania.com: Music - 411 Music Fact or Fiction 01.18.12: Destiny's Child In Space

Round 1

1) You're not interested in a new album from Guns N' Roses.

Joseph Lee: FACT.

I haven't been interested in GnR since Axl replaced everyone. It's just not the same anymore. Exhibit A: Chinese Democracy. A punchline to a joke about waiting a long time for something in development hell. When it finally came out, it sucked. If that's what we can look forward to from future releases, then count me out. I'd rather listen to musicians that aren't fueled on nostalgia and ego.

Jeremy Wilson: FACT.

I'm pretty sure I've gotten this question before in a previous Music Fact or Fiction. I'm really hoping I'm not contradicting myself (so please don't look it up and make me look bad). Honestly, I can't really say I'd be looking forward to another album. I'd be happy for them if they made up and put their petty disagreements behind them and went on to make more music and tour and stuff. But honestly, I can't envision them coming up with anything better than Appetite for Destruction. I'd take a listen, but I doubt I'd go out and buy it or be super excited for it.

Score Card: 1 for 1

Round 2

2) The idea of shooting a music video in space seems frivolous.

Joseph Lee: FACT.

Yeah, if definitely does. Think of the money it would cost just to send Beyonce and Jay-Z in space, let alone training (you don't think they'll need some sort of training for how to handle themselves out there?) and getting all of that high quality video equipment out there. It just doesn't seem monetarily feasible to me. I mean, aren't we in a recession? I don't know or care how the music video would turn out, because I don't care about Beyonce or Jay-Z. Even for the music industry, this is a really big waste of money.

Jeremy Wilson: FACT.

Yes of course it does, but it also sound pretty awesome. I'm a big geek and I love space-stuff (that is the technical term, I believe). My favorite part is the quote from the source saying "Beyonce and Jay-Z seemed the obvious option." Really? Are they aliens? Is that why they're the obvious choices? 'Cause I'm pretty sure they're a little busy at the moment, anyway. Most new parents can't leave the child alone to go out to dinner. You're telling me they're going to go into SPACE, leaving their new baby alone down on the planet's surface? Unless they plan on bringing the kid along and maybe spinning him around in zero gravity as some sort of R&B intergalactic prop. Actually, I would totally support that. Blue Ivy could truly become "Destiny's Child...in Space!"

Score Card: 2 for 2

Round 3

3) Rihanna's comments about no one else being in her league are completely untrue.

Joseph Lee: FACT.

Out of context it makes her sound like an egomaniac. In context, it seems like she's trying to say she's too different to have any real competition. Her music is no different from anyone else, in fact if you played a Beyonce song and a Rihanna song right next to each other, I couldn't tell them apart. The only one I actually know is "What's My Name", because of a running gag I have with my brother. There's plenty of competition in her style of music. Lots of overproduced pop starlets trying to sound just a little less bland than the other.

Jeremy Wilson: FACT.

Seriously? On the surface, without context, that statement is fairly ridiculous. Guess what? Even with context it's still ridiculous. Of course, it's all subjective and I'm sure there are tons of diehard Rihanna fans who think she's all that and a bag of chips (yeah I said it; I'm a child of the '90s). Once upon a time, I really thought Rihanna could sing and cut it musically speaking, and maybe put herself in a different league of pop stardom. Now? As my father (who also used to be a fan) says, she's gone down the "ho" road, when she never really needed to. Even being crowned the biggest selling digital artist of all time (or something like it), does anyone really think she's head and shoulders above Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, etc...? Nah, didn't think so.

Score Card: 3 for 3

Round 4

4) You're excited about a new Alice in Chains album.

Jeremy Wilson: FACT.

No, not really. Although, if I could, I'd pull a Wilbon and say "push" or "Factiction" (not a real word). I can't say I'm a gigantic Alice in Chains fan, but I've liked a number of their songs in the past. I never checked out their 2009 album, but I'm happy they got some success with it and were able to come out with something after the death of Layne. I might give it a listen on Spotify or something when it comes out, but it's not really on my radar otherwise. Sort of like with Guns & Roses, it feels (at least for me) that Alice in Chains is from another era (aka my childhood). It's really been awhile since they've been hugely relevant. Good for them though for continuing to make music.

Joseph Lee: FACT.

I know some of the hardcore AiC fans cried blasphemy toward Black Gives Way To Blue but I really, really liked it. Obviously William DuVall is no Layne Staley, but he's a damn good singer in his own right. I thought the album was a great return for a band that probably shouldn't have come back after the lead singer died. That's either a death sentence for a band altogether (Nirvana) or it makes them forgotten after a sudden surge in popularity (Drowning Pool). If the new album is as good as the last one, I'm definitely excited.

Score Card: 4 for 4

Round 5

5) Amber Rose's debut single was nothing special.

Jeremy Wilson: FACT.

That's putting it mildly. What, are we judging all these against Kim K and "Jam (Turn It Up)" now? To be honest, I didn't really know who Amber Rose was before getting this question. The name rang a bell, but I could never put a face to the name, nor could I remember what she did or is famous for doing (apparently, it's Kanye). In addition to being involved with rappers (she's now with Wiz Khalifa), she seems to mostly be known as sort of a low-level model and for promoting marshmallow-flavored vodka. As for this little ditty...it's really bad. And I listened to it twice to make sure. The first time I thought it was really boring and fairly preposterous. Then I listened while reading the lyrics and...it made me yearn for Rebecca Black and "Friday." At least you could shut your brain off and dance mindlessly to that in a way that the high school version of you would find gleefully ironic. Of course, one would need plenty of marshmallow-flavored vodka to help ease the pain.

Joseph Lee: FACT.

I think I want to apologize to Jeremy for making him listen to the song. Here I was just talking about overproduced, bland pop. Some people think that because they're famous or they date musicians, they should try it. When has it ever worked? Think about all the celebrities who had terrible albums. At least Shaq's rap album was memorable.

Score Card: 5 for 5

Round 6

6) You will read Lil Wayne's prison diaries when they are published in November.

Jeremy Wilson: FICTION.

Wait, give me a second and let me rush to my calendar. "Hmm...November 2012. Thanksgiving is the 22nd. Hey, look at that! Lil Wayne's prison diaries come out the 28th, the same day as a lunar eclipse! I'll just put a BIG X over the 28th, and I'm set." No, I've got other things to do. I'll be happy if the man's memoirs are worthwhile and if he's able to turn his life around and stay out of trouble, but that doesn't mean I'll be pre-ordering my copy from Barnes & Noble.

Joseph Lee: FICTION.

Can't say I'm too interested in this, no. Nothing against Lil Wayne, I just don't care to read someone's diary. Anyone's diary. I doubt Lil Wayne's story is any more interesting than anyone else who has been in prison.

Score Card: 6 for 6

So you're both not interested in Axl doing a new album because it's not with the original band, but you are both excited for a new Alice in Chains album that only has one or two guys from the original band. Doesn't make sense.

Posted By: ee (Guest) on January 18, 2012 at 12:00 AM

I for one perfectly understand where they are coming from.

Alice in chains is way different because Jerry Cantrell not only sang on songs and played lead guitar, helped write many of the songs as well.

Oh then there is the little thing where the original lead singer Lain is dead...so getting them back together will NEVER HAPPEN.

I don't want anything from GnR except the original band to get back together. Time for Axl to grow up, get back with slash, and make money hand over fist touring and doing new records. It's not like the band is still kicking and able to play (though not sure in what kind of shape Steven Adler is in, they could always use Matt Sorum and be fine though)

Posted By: Guest#4670 (Guest) on January 18, 2012 at 08:11 AM