The Love/Hate Music News Report 09.20.12: Hangover!
Posted by John Downey on 09.20.2012
News and thoughts on Lady Gaga getting dissed by Madonna again, Ben Folds Five's video w/ the Fraggles, the Wu-Tang Clan getting sued, Vanessa Lachey giving birth and more!
Welcome to the only music news report on 411mania that is typed up under dim lights, the Love/Hate News Report! Let me tell you, writing a column while hungover is not ideal in any way. It brings up the futility of discussing demi-celebrities, knowing full well that we won't be talking about most of these people in two years. Also, bright lights hurt my eyes.
"But John," you might be asking, "why are you so hung over?" Well, I went to the Deerhoof show in Cambridge Tuesday night, and I had a blast. I also had a Grateful Dead cocktail and a jack and Coke. I expected to hear weird music, and that's what I got, but I didn't expect to experience one of the tighest-executed rock shows I've ever seen. You can read more about it when my brother posts his review of the show on Earbuddy, which is where Nick Krenn now exclusively writes. His last edition of The Music 3R's is up, but you can read more of his takes on important shit at Earbuddy. Anyway, yes, for once I am admitting that I am dogging this column. Or is that twice?
Oh, and to follow up on another story, my cousin didn't win the lottery. I know y'all were waiting to hear more about that. Anyway...
In this column, I will six pieces of news and offer context, levity, and humor where appropriate. The only criteria I have for selecting stories is whether I care about the subject matter or not—important stories that I don't care about will likely be covered in the Banal Minutiae section. I'm a dude in my mid-twenties, so don't expect me to indulge in too much celebrity gossip.
Contrary to beliefs that have been expressed sporadically over the years, most of the writers of 411mania, myself included, don't have the power to moderate comments, so if your comment doesn't make it through, don't take it up with me. Feel free to comment on any of these stories, but I hope that you take the time to express your opinion in more than one sentence. You have already taken time out of your day to read my column (and for that, I thank you)—you can certainly take the time to justify your views.
Ghostface Killah Announces New Album
As I mentioned in a column I wrote forever ago, Ghostface Killah is one of my four favorite rappers of all time, though I haven't had much occasion to heap praise his direction. Well, I might get that opportunity soon as his next album will be released in November, as opposed to Blue & Cream and Supreme Clientele II, which remain listed as "TBD". Priorities!
Twelve Reasons to Die will be released on November 20th and will feature production from Adrian Younge, whose previous credits include the soundtrack to Black Dynamite, so there's a good chance that it will sound good. Part of me wishes that GFK would finish one project before starting another, but if this is the only frustrating aspect of an artist's work, he's doing good.
Wu-Tang Clan Sued For Illegal Sampling
Maybe it's the jack and Coke speaking, but I don't know what is so difficult to understand about sampling in hip-hop. Most folks use the same chords in rock'n'roll, but nobody throws a shitfit because of how it is used. Yes, there have been instances of obvious sampling used to cover up shortcomings in a rapper's writing, but sampling has encouraged many hip-hop artists to go through old rock or folk records to try to find breaks and drums that no one else has used. Has no one heard Buck 65's "Driftwood"?
The laws of sampling, to me, are similarly clear: ask the artist/band for permission and pay them what they reasonably ask for. The Wu-Tang Clan (or, to be specific, the RZA) built their sound on samples, so they should know enough about it to avoid these sort of legal issues. Unfortunately, four members of the group have landed in hot water due to 2009's "New Wu", as Bridgeport Music and Westbound Records allege that they did not receive compensation for them sampling the Magictones's "I've Changed". A spokesman used a bit of technical talk, but let's see if we can hear it for ourselves. Here is "I've Changed":
And here is "New Wu" by Raekwon featuring Method Man and Ghostface Killah:
Well, that's pretty obvious. I'm surprised that they didn't clear such a clear sample. I don't know what the labels are asking for, but it will probably be much more expensive than if they had asked to use the sample in the first place.
Vanessa Lachey Gives Birth To First Child
She is a former MTV VJ. He rose to fame as part of a boy band. That it has taken them this long to have a kid together is surprising in retrospect (though their exes aren't what you would call spring chickens). I had almost forgotten that Vanessa Lachey (née Minnillo) was pregnant due to nobody posting a million pictures of her on 411mania. Perhaps I've trained myself to subconsciously ignore such posts.
On September 12th, Nick and Vanessa Lachey welcomed their first son, Camden John Lachey, into the world. Congratulations to the happy couple, and here's hoping their son does not work at the ballpark in Baltimore.
Immature Shit Comes From Madonna's Mouth
About Lady Gaga: "I love her. I love her. I do love her. Imitation is the highest form of flattery."
Madonna, can you hear me? No? Well, I'm willing to bet that one of your people is watching everything that everyone posts about you, whether it be positive or negative, so Mr. Madonna's Assistant, please give her the following memo: "You're old news. Your cranky attitude is making you less relevant by the day. You aren't targeting the same demographic as Lady Gaga, but the only person who doesn't seem aware of this is you. Down some schnapps, rest your feet on someone's back, try to get the fuck over it, and take heed to the immortal words of Skyler White…
Love, Downey."
THIS
Is there any element of this that is not worthy of praise? Not in the slightest. The Fraggles and Ben Folds Five? In the same video? I think the most important question to ask is "why doesn't this have a million views as of this writing?" Let's get on that, folks…
Deaths In Music This Week
Rapper Ervin McGuinness passed away in a car crash on September 2 shortly after tweeting Drunk af (sic) going 120 drifting corners #FuckIt YOLO. McGuinness had recently signed a record deal, and the music video for one of his songs, "Dreams", has over 100,00 views. Four other people passed away in the single-car crash, though McGuinness was not behind the wheel and police have yet to determine if alcohol was a major factor in the crash. He was 21.
McGuinness's passing has been widely ridiculed, but I'm not the sort of person to make fun of the recently-deceased. As such, I extend my condolences to the friends and family of the deceased.
One Sentence Banal Minutiae
FORMER AMERICAN IDOL HOUSE BEING USED AS A FAT CAMP
(obligatory joke involving Ruben Studdard)
RIHANNA OFFERS TO BABYSIT FOR SNOOKI
Thank goodness that Nick already made the tasteless joke, but there's little noteworthy about this newsbite without that sort of darkly-comedic observation.
LIL B RELEASES NEW SINGLE "CALIFORNIA BOY"
Just when I thought he couldn't get any more odd…
MILEY CYRUS AND LIAM HEMSWORTH HAVE "AFFECTIONATE" DINNER
The only thing that comes to mind is this, and I kind of doubt that happened.
LIL KIM DUETS WITH KELLY OSBOURNE
I'm surprised that Osbourne gave somebody like her the time of day.
WILL.I.AM'S MARS SONG WILL GET ITS OWN TV SPECIAL
Who did he go down on to get this honor?
NICOLE SCHERZINGER FIRED FROM ANOTHER VERSION OF THE X FACTOR
How does one fail at sitting around and telling people they suck?
KANYE WEST SPENDING ONE MILLION DOLLARS ON KIM KARDASHIAN FOR HER BIRTHDAY
If Nick was still writing the 3R's, he would spend a couple hundred words expressing his distaste for this news, but I'm convinced that Kanye spends at least $2,000 a day by lunchtime, so I barely care.
AMY LEE ISN'T SURE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH EVANESCENCE
Fucks given: 0.
THERE WAS SOME DUMB SHIT INVOLVING TATTOOS
Yep.
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And with that, we come to this week's playlist. This week, I'm highlighting Drowning In Footwear's Passion Fruit. Have I mentioned that this hangover has lasted the entire day? Enjoy. Note: NSFW.
Albums To Love
January: Attack on Memory, Cloud Nothings
February: Put Your Back N 2 It, Perfume Genius
March: 4Eva N A Day, Big K.R.I.T.
April: The Money Store, Death Grips
May: Cancer 4 Cure, El-P
June: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do, Fiona Apple
July: Confess, Twin Shadow
August: II, Nude Beach
Cheap plug: Earbuddy. Damn good source of music news and views. "Like" it on Facebook, too. The latest edition of my other column, "Own It Or Disown It", in which I look at Hanson's Middle of Nowhere, is up as well. The next seven days should be much busier for me.
And here it is, this week's Video To Love…
THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!
See you in seven...if you're lucky.
Ghostface Killah Announces New Album
Wu-Tang Clan Sued For Illegal Sampling
